The Gate stood before him—
Now almost fully open.
Its surface no longer flickered chaotically.
It was stable.
Complete.
Waiting.
Godwin stood just a few steps away.
His aura was calm.
Controlled.
But beneath that calm—
A terrifying power was building.
"…75%…"
He muttered.
"…So this is the last step."
The voice echoed one final time:
"…Yes."
"…Beyond this gate…"
"…there is no system."
Godwin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…No system?"
"…Correct."
"…Only the Origin remains."
A pause.
"…And what exists beyond it."
Godwin smirked faintly.
"…Good."
"…I was getting tired of rules anyway."
Without hesitation—
He stepped forward.
And crossed the Gate.
Everything disappeared.
No light.
No darkness.
No sound.
Nothing.
For a moment—
Even Godwin's sense of self faded.
Not erased—
But suppressed.
Then—
Something appeared.
A figure.
Standing in the distance.
Still.
Silent.
Waiting.
Godwin's vision stabilized.
His body reformed.
His senses returned.
But—
Something was different.
The system…
Was gone.
No interface.
No notifications.
No support.
"…So it's true…"
He looked at his hand.
Energy still there.
But raw.
Untamed.
Unassisted.
"…No system…"
"…No limits."
The figure ahead moved.
Slowly.
Calmly.
And as it came closer—
Godwin's expression changed.
For the first time—
Since the beginning—
He felt it.
Pressure.
Not overwhelming.
But absolute.
"…So you're the final test."
The figure stopped.
Just a few meters away.
Its appearance—
Simple.
Human.
No armor.
No aura explosion.
Just… existence.
"…I am not a test."
Its voice echoed.
Deep.
Ancient.
"…I am the end."
Godwin smirked slightly.
"…Same thing."
Silence.
Then—
The figure spoke again:
"…You have reached the Origin."
"…But you do not understand it."
Godwin tilted his head.
"…Then explain."
The figure shook its head.
"…No."
"…You will learn."
A pause.
"…By fighting."
Godwin's smile widened.
"…Finally."
No countdown.
No signal.
No system.
Just—
Movement.
The figure disappeared.
Not fast.
Not teleportation.
Just—
Gone.
Godwin reacted instantly.
He turned—
And blocked.
CLASH—!!!
A simple punch.
No energy.
No magic.
Just raw force.
And yet—
The impact shook everything.
Godwin slid back slightly.
"…That's strong…"
The figure stood still.
"…You rely too much on power."
Godwin replied:
"…And you don't use any."
"…Because I don't need to."
The figure moved again.
Faster.
Sharper.
Precise.
Godwin countered—
But barely.
Every move—
Perfectly calculated.
No wasted motion.
No excess energy.
"…This isn't just strength…"
Godwin realized.
"…This is control at another level."
The figure spoke:
"…You gathered power."
"…I became it."
Godwin's eyes sharpened.
"…Then I'll surpass it."
The battle intensified.
Godwin used everything.
All elements.
Dark energy.
Origin energy.
Everything.
But—
The figure avoided it all.
Not by speed.
Not by power.
But by understanding.
Every attack—
Read.
Every move—
Predicted.
Every strike—
Countered.
Godwin stepped back.
Breathing heavier now.
"…This guy…"
"…He's not stronger than me…"
A pause.
"…But he's better."
The figure nodded.
"…Now you understand."
Godwin clenched his fist.
"…Then I just need to get better."
He closed his eyes.
Not focusing on power.
But on control.
On intent.
On existence.
"…No system…"
"…No limits…"
"…Just me."
His aura changed.
Not bigger.
Not stronger.
But deeper.
More refined.
More complete.
The figure watched silently.
"…You are beginning to see it."
Godwin opened his eyes.
Now calm.
Focused.
Different.
He moved.
This time—
The figure reacted.
CLASH—!!!
Their attacks collided again.
But now—
Godwin wasn't forcing power.
He was guiding it.
Each movement—
Precise.
Each strike—
Efficient.
Each action—
Perfectly controlled.
The figure stepped back slightly.
For the first time.
Godwin smiled.
"…Got you."
The battle continued.
But now—
It was equal.
No overwhelming force.
No domination.
Just—
Skill.
Control.
Understanding.
Finally—
Godwin stepped forward.
One final strike.
Not explosive.
Not flashy.
Just—
Perfect.
…Impact.
Silence.
The figure stopped.
Then—
Smiled faintly.
"…You have reached it."
Its form began to fade.
"…The Origin…"
"…is not power."
"…It is balance."
Godwin stood still.
Breathing calm.
Mind clear.
"…And now…"
The figure's voice echoed one last time—
"…You are ready."
Everything shattered.
Light returned.
The Gate disappeared.
The void vanished.
Godwin stood—
In a new space.
Not a battlefield.
Not a trial.
But something greater.
A world beyond worlds.
A new message appeared.
Not from the system.
But from within him.
Origin Phase: Complete
State Achieved: True Origin User
Next Stage: Unknown
Godwin smiled.
"…So this is it…"
A pause.
Then—
"…No."
He looked forward.
At the endless space ahead.
"…This is just the beginning."
Far beyond—
Something watched.
Something even greater.
And this time—
Godwin walked toward it.
Without hesitation.
To be continued…