The Gate pulsed again.
Not gently.
But with force.
Like something behind it was reacting to Godwin's presence.
The crack widened slightly…
Then stopped.
Godwin stood just a few steps away, his eyes fixed on the shifting surface.
"…45%…"
He muttered.
"…Still far."
The voice echoed once more.
"…The Origin does not yield easily."
Godwin smirked.
"…Good."
"…Because I don't plan to take it easily either."
Suddenly—
The Gate trembled violently.
The symbols across its surface began to glow brighter than before.
Not one.
Not two.
But many.
Godwin's expression sharpened instantly.
"…This feels different…"
The voice spoke:
"…You have been acknowledged."
A pause.
"…Now you will be tested further."
The crack in the Gate expanded again.
This time—
Wider.
Deeper.
And from within—
Multiple forms emerged.
Not one fragment.
Not two.
But five.
Each one different.
Each one radiating a unique presence.
Godwin's eyes narrowed.
"…Five at once?"
The system activated:
Detected: Multiple Origin Fragments
Types: Fire / Water / Earth / Light / Dark
Threat Level: High
Godwin exhaled slowly.
"…So now it's elemental…"
The fragments didn't wait.
They attacked.
BOOM—!!!
The Fire Fragment moved first.
A wave of burning energy surged forward.
Godwin dodged instantly.
But before he could counter—
The Water Fragment struck from behind.
A sharp, flowing blade aimed directly at his back.
Godwin twisted—
Barely avoiding it.
"…Tch—!"
Then—
The Earth Fragment slammed down from above.
CRASH—!!!
Godwin blocked—
But the impact forced him down.
The ground—no, space itself—cracked beneath him.
"…They're coordinating…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…This isn't random."
The Light Fragment moved next—
Blinding speed.
A piercing strike of pure energy.
Godwin raised his defense—
But the Dark Fragment followed immediately.
A shadow-like force wrapping around him.
Restricting.
Binding.
"…Damn—!"
For a moment—
Godwin was overwhelmed.
Attacks from all sides.
No opening.
No pause.
No mistake.
Each fragment worked perfectly with the others.
A flawless system.
Godwin forced himself free—
Exploding his aura outward.
BOOM—!!!
The fragments were pushed back.
Just slightly.
But enough.
He stepped back, breathing heavier now.
"…This is different…"
"…This is a real trial."
The voice echoed:
"…The Origin tests balance."
"…Not just power."
Godwin clenched his fist.
"…Balance, huh…"
The fragments attacked again.
This time—
Faster.
Sharper.
More synchronized.
Godwin didn't rush.
Didn't panic.
He watched.
Analyzed.
Adapted.
"…Fire leads…"
"…Water supports…"
"…Earth controls movement…"
"…Light strikes…"
"…Dark binds…"
His eyes glowed faintly.
"…So that's the pattern."
He moved.
Not randomly.
But precisely.
He dodged the Fire Fragment—
But instead of retreating—
He stepped forward.
Directly toward the Water Fragment.
The unexpected move disrupted their rhythm.
Godwin struck—
Using Origin energy.
SLASH—!!!
The Water Fragment split slightly.
It didn't break—
But it weakened.
"…One down… almost…"
The fragments reacted instantly.
They adjusted.
Changed pattern.
Now—
Light led the attack.
Faster.
More aggressive.
Godwin smirked.
"…Good."
"…Adapt."
He matched them.
His movements sharper now.
Cleaner.
More efficient.
The battle intensified.
Godwin's control improved with every second.
Every clash—
Refined his Origin energy.
Every dodge—
Sharpened his instincts.
Then—
He saw it.
A flaw.
Small.
But real.
"…Their connection…"
"…It's not perfect."
The fragments weren't one.
They were linked.
But not completely unified.
That link—
Was their weakness.
Godwin focused.
Compressed his energy further.
Not spreading it.
Not wasting it.
Just one point.
One strike.
One moment.
He waited.
Patient.
Calm.
The fragments attacked again—
Perfect coordination.
But Godwin moved differently.
Not reacting.
Predicting.
At the exact moment—
He stepped forward.
Between attacks.
Into the center of their formation.
The fragments reacted—
But too late.
Godwin raised his hand.
Origin energy gathered.
Focused.
Sharp.
Precise.
"…Break."
BOOM—!!!
A massive pulse of Origin energy exploded outward.
Not wide.
Not chaotic.
But targeted.
Directly at their connection point.
The fragments froze.
For a second.
Then—
Cracks appeared.
One by one.
The Fire Fragment shattered.
The Water Fragment destabilized.
The Earth Fragment collapsed.
Light flickered.
Darkness broke apart.
All five—
Destroyed.
Silence.
The Gate pulsed again.
Stronger.
Brighter.
Godwin stood still.
Breathing steady.
But his aura—
Was different now.
More stable.
More complete.
The system activated:
All Fragments Eliminated
Synchronization Increased: 45% → 60%
New Ability Unlocked: Origin Pulse
Godwin looked at his hand.
"…Origin Pulse…"
He clenched it slowly.
"…Now we're getting somewhere."
The Gate opened further.
Much wider now.
The space beyond—
Visible.
But still unclear.
Still distant.
The voice echoed again.
"…You are progressing."
Godwin smirked.
"…Obviously."
A pause.
Then—
"…But the next trial…"
"…will not test your power."
Godwin raised an eyebrow.
"…Then what?"
The voice answered:
"…Your existence."
Godwin's expression didn't change.
But his eyes—
Sharpened.
"…Good."
"…I was getting bored."
Far beyond the Gate—
Something moved again.
Not fragments.
Not energy.
But something real.
Something alive.
Something watching.
Godwin stepped forward.
Closer to the Gate.
Closer to the unknown.
"…Let's see what's next."
To be continued…