The void collapsed.
Not slowly.
Not gently.
But violently—
As if reality itself had decided to reshape around Godwin.
Fragments of existence fused together, forming a new space.
A battlefield.
But not like before.
This place felt… absolute.
No distortion.
No instability.
Everything was perfectly balanced.
Too perfect.
Godwin stood still.
"…So this is the next stage."
His voice echoed softly.
But even that echo felt controlled—restricted.
Like this place allowed nothing unnecessary.
The pressure was still there.
But different.
Not crushing—
But watching.
Judging.
The unknown voice returned.
"…You stand before the Judgment."
Godwin's eyes narrowed.
"…Then start it."
Silence.
Then—
"…Very well."
Suddenly—
A figure appeared in front of him.
No flashy entrance.
No explosion.
Just… existence.
It looked like him.
Exactly like him.
Same face.
Same body.
Same aura.
Godwin didn't react immediately.
"…A clone?"
The voice corrected:
"…A reflection."
"…The version of you that understands the Origin."
Godwin smirked slightly.
"…So I just have to beat myself?"
The voice answered:
"…No."
"…You must surpass yourself."
The reflection moved first.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just pure action.
BOOM—!!!
Godwin barely blocked the strike.
The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…That's fast…"
The reflection didn't speak.
Didn't react.
It attacked again.
Faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
Godwin dodged—barely.
"…This isn't just me…"
"…This is a better version of me."
The battle intensified instantly.
Every move Godwin made—
The reflection countered.
Every attack—
Predicted.
Every strategy—
Broken.
Godwin stepped back.
"…It knows everything I'll do…"
The voice echoed:
"…Because it is you."
Godwin clenched his fist.
"…Then I just need to go beyond what I know."
He attacked again.
This time—
Faster.
More aggressive.
He combined elements mid-strike.
Fire and darkness.
Light and earth.
Water shifting into blades.
But—
The reflection adapted instantly.
Matching him.
Countering him.
Overpowering him.
BOOM—!!!
Godwin was pushed back hard.
His body slid across the ground.
He stopped himself.
Breathing heavier now.
"…This is getting annoying…"
The reflection stood silently.
Perfect.
Unshaken.
Unbreakable.
Godwin wiped the blood from his lip.
"…Alright…"
He stood straight.
"…Then I'll stop fighting like myself."
The reflection tilted its head slightly.
For the first time—
A reaction.
Godwin closed his eyes.
Not focusing on power.
Not on speed.
But on something deeper.
"…The Origin…"
His aura shifted.
Subtle.
But real.
The energy around him became denser.
More refined.
Less waste.
More control.
The reflection moved again—
But this time—
Godwin didn't react immediately.
He waited.
Watched.
Felt.
And then—
He moved.
CLASH—!!!
Their attacks collided again.
But this time—
Something changed.
Godwin didn't overpower.
Didn't rush.
He adjusted.
Mid-movement.
Mid-impact.
Mid-decision.
The reflection's eyes flickered.
Just for a moment.
Godwin saw it.
"…Got you."
He shifted his stance.
Changed rhythm.
Broke pattern.
The reflection attacked again—
But this time—
It hesitated.
Just slightly.
And that was enough.
Godwin stepped inside its range.
Closer than before.
Closer than expected.
And struck.
SLASH—!!!
A clean hit.
The reflection stepped back.
A visible crack appeared across its form.
Godwin exhaled.
"…So you're not perfect either."
The reflection straightened.
Then—
Its aura changed.
Darker.
Heavier.
More intense.
The voice echoed again:
"…It is adapting."
Godwin smirked.
"…Good."
"…So am I."
The battlefield trembled.
Both moved again.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
Their clash became a blur.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Two identical forces—
Evolving at the same time.
Godwin's mind sharpened.
His instincts refined.
His control deepened.
Then—
Something clicked.
A realization.
"…I get it now…"
He stopped mid-battle.
The reflection attacked—
But Godwin didn't defend.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Into the attack.
BOOM—!!!
The strike landed.
But not fully.
Godwin redirected it.
Minimal movement.
Maximum effect.
The reflection staggered.
Just for a second.
Godwin spoke quietly:
"…This isn't about beating you."
"…It's about becoming something you can't copy."
The reflection paused.
The voice echoed:
"…Correct."
Godwin's aura changed again.
But this time—
It wasn't visible.
It wasn't explosive.
It was internal.
Stable.
Absolute.
"…This is my path."
The reflection charged again—
But now—
It couldn't keep up.
Godwin moved unpredictably.
Not random.
But beyond pattern.
Beyond logic.
Beyond imitation.
SLASH—!!!
Another strike.
The reflection cracked further.
Godwin didn't stop.
He continued.
Each movement—
More refined.
More precise.
More complete.
The reflection weakened.
Its form destabilizing.
Its movements slowing.
Finally—
Godwin stood in front of it.
Calm.
Controlled.
Unshaken.
"…You were strong."
A pause.
"…But you were still me."
He raised his hand.
Energy gathered.
Pure.
Focused.
Origin energy.
"…And I've already moved forward."
BOOM—!!!
The final strike landed.
The reflection shattered.
Breaking into fragments of light.
Then—
Nothing.
Silence.
The battlefield faded.
The void returned.
The pressure disappeared.
The voice echoed once more.
"…Judgment complete."
Godwin exhaled slowly.
"…So I passed."
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"…You are now recognized."
A new message appeared.
Trial Complete
Status: Approved
New State Unlocked: Origin Phase (Incomplete)
Godwin looked at it.
"…Incomplete…"
The voice replied:
"…Your journey has only begun."
Godwin smiled slightly.
"…Good."
"…I'm not done yet."
The void shifted again.
And far ahead—
A new path appeared.
Darker.
Deeper.
More dangerous.
Godwin stepped forward without hesitation.
"…Next."
To be continued…