But this time—
It wasn't unstable.
It wasn't breaking.
It was… opening.
Godwin stood still, his gaze fixed forward.
A massive structure slowly formed in the darkness.
A gate.
No—
Not just a gate.
A colossal gateway, stretching beyond sight.
Its surface wasn't solid.
It looked like flowing energy—layers of existence moving endlessly across it.
Symbols appeared and disappeared across its form.
Unknown.
Unreadable.
But powerful.
Godwin narrowed his eyes.
"…So this is next."
The voice returned.
Calm.
Ancient.
"…The Gate of Origin."
Godwin crossed his arms.
"…And what does it do?"
A brief silence.
Then—
"…It separates those who touched the Origin…"
"…from those who can wield it."
Godwin smirked slightly.
"…So I've only scratched the surface."
"…Correct."
The pressure around the gate increased.
But unlike before—
Godwin didn't feel overwhelmed.
He felt… connected.
The energy resonated with him.
Not rejecting him.
Not fully accepting him either.
"…Incomplete recognition…"
He muttered.
The system responded instantly:
Status: Origin Phase (Incomplete)
Synchronization: 32%
Godwin's eyes sharpened.
"…So I need to increase this."
The voice echoed:
"…To pass the gate…"
"…you must achieve harmony with the Origin."
Godwin stepped forward.
"…Then I'll force it."
The moment he moved—
The gate reacted.
The symbols across its surface began to glow.
The entire structure pulsed with energy.
And suddenly—
The space behind him vanished.
No retreat.
Only forward.
Godwin stopped just a few steps away.
"…No turning back."
The voice replied:
"…There never was."
Suddenly—
The gate opened slightly.
Not fully.
Just enough.
A crack.
From that crack—
Something emerged.
Not a creature.
Not a person.
But a form made of pure energy.
Shifting.
Changing.
Unstable.
Godwin narrowed his eyes.
"…What is that?"
The voice answered:
"…A Fragment of Origin."
The fragment moved.
Not walking.
Not flying.
Just appearing in front of him.
Its presence alone—
Distorted space.
Godwin's instincts reacted instantly.
"…Dangerous."
Without warning—
The fragment attacked.
No movement.
No signal.
Just—
Impact.
BOOM—!!!
Godwin barely raised his defense in time.
The force pushed him back.
His feet slid across nothingness.
"…Tch—!"
He stabilized himself.
"…Fast…"
The fragment didn't stop.
It attacked again.
From multiple angles.
Simultaneously.
Godwin dodged.
Countered.
Adapted.
But—
This was different.
"…This isn't like the others…"
The fragment had no pattern.
No rhythm.
No logic.
It wasn't fighting.
It was reacting.
Purely.
Instinctively.
Godwin raised his hand.
Dark energy formed—
Then merged with light.
He attacked.
BOOM—!!!
The strike hit.
But—
The fragment reformed instantly.
"…It regenerated?"
The system responded:
Target: Origin Fragment
Nature: Non-physical
Damage Type Required: Origin-based
Godwin froze for a split second.
"…So normal attacks won't work."
The fragment attacked again.
Godwin dodged narrowly.
"…Then I need to use Origin energy."
He closed his eyes briefly.
Focused inward.
That same feeling from before—
The core.
The source.
The Origin.
"…Come on…"
Energy gathered slowly.
Not explosive.
Not wild.
Controlled.
Dense.
But difficult.
"…Still incomplete…"
His synchronization wasn't enough.
The fragment attacked again—
This time faster.
Godwin barely reacted.
The strike grazed him.
A sharp pain spread instantly.
"…!"
He stepped back.
Looking at the wound.
It wasn't bleeding normally.
It was… fading.
"…It's erasing me…"
The voice confirmed:
"…Origin attacks affect existence itself."
Godwin exhaled slowly.
"…Then I can't get hit again."
He focused harder.
His aura shifted.
Less visible.
More internal.
The energy condensed further.
"…I need more control…"
The fragment attacked again—
But this time—
Godwin didn't dodge.
He stepped forward.
Directly into it.
The fragment's strike came—
But Godwin raised his hand.
Origin energy gathered at his palm.
Just enough.
Barely stable.
CLASH—!!!
The energies collided.
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Godwin's body trembled.
The energy was unstable.
Breaking apart.
"…Not enough…"
But he didn't stop.
He pushed harder.
Focused deeper.
Compressed it further.
"…I won't lose here…"
Suddenly—
Something clicked.
The energy stabilized.
Not fully.
But enough.
The fragment paused.
For the first time.
Godwin's eyes opened.
Glowing faintly.
"…Got it."
He moved instantly.
Faster than before.
More precise.
More controlled.
He struck—
Using Origin energy.
SLASH—!!!
The fragment split.
But this time—
It didn't regenerate immediately.
Godwin didn't waste the moment.
He attacked again.
And again.
Each strike—
More refined.
More accurate.
More complete.
The fragment started to destabilize.
Its form breaking apart.
Its energy scattering.
Godwin stepped forward.
Calm.
Focused.
"…End."
He raised his hand one final time.
Origin energy gathered.
Stable.
Controlled.
Complete enough.
BOOM—!!!
The final attack landed.
The fragment shattered.
Completely.
No regeneration.
No recovery.
It disappeared.
Silence.
The gate pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
The voice echoed:
"…You have begun to understand."
Godwin exhaled.
"…Barely."
A new message appeared:
Origin Fragment Defeated
Synchronization Increased: 32% → 45%
Godwin looked at it.
"…Still not enough."
The gate opened slightly more.
But not fully.
The voice spoke again:
"…More trials await."
Godwin smirked.
"…Good."
He stepped forward.
Closer to the gate.
"…I'm just getting started."
Far beyond the gate—
Something moved.
Something far stronger than the fragment.
Watching.
Waiting.
To be continued…