Silence returned.
Not the peaceful kind—
But the kind that comes after something massive has been forced to stop.
The multiverse still trembled slightly, recovering from the clash.
Worlds floated more steadily now.
Cracks still visible—
But no longer spreading.
Godwin stood in the center.
Calm.
Unshaken.
His aura had changed again.
Not just powerful.
Not just controlled.
But… dominant.
"…95%…"
He muttered.
"…So close."
The watcher appeared nearby.
This time—
It didn't look calm.
It looked… cautious.
"…You've crossed a line."
Godwin glanced at it.
"…Which one?"
A pause.
Then—
"…The one no Origin user should cross."
Godwin smirked slightly.
"…Too late for that."
Before the watcher could reply—
The entire multiverse froze.
Not slowed.
Not shaken.
Frozen.
Even the floating worlds—
Stopped moving.
Godwin's expression changed instantly.
"…This isn't you."
The watcher whispered:
"…No…"
Then—
A presence appeared.
No distortion.
No dramatic entrance.
Just—
Existence.
A figure stood far ahead.
Simple.
Calm.
Silent.
But its presence—
Was absolute.
Godwin felt it immediately.
Not pressure.
Not power.
But something deeper.
"…So you're the one."
The figure didn't move.
Didn't react.
Then—
It spoke.
"…You took longer than expected."
Godwin's eyes narrowed.
"…You've been waiting?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…For someone to reach this point."
The watcher stepped back slightly.
For the first time—
It showed fear.
"…He shouldn't be here…"
Godwin noticed.
"…You know him?"
"…No…"
The watcher whispered.
"…But I know what he is…"
Godwin looked back at the figure.
"…Then explain it to me."
Silence.
Then—
"…I am what exists beyond balance."
Godwin smirked faintly.
"…That sounds vague."
"…You call it balance…"
"…The Devourer maintains it…"
A pause.
"…I define it."
The space trembled slightly.
Godwin's expression hardened.
"…So you're above it."
"…No."
"…I am the reason it exists."
Silence.
Godwin stared at him.
Then—
"…So you're basically the final boss."
The figure tilted its head slightly.
"…If you require a term…"
"…Yes."
Godwin smiled.
"…Good."
The watcher shouted:
"…Don't engage him!"
"…You're not ready!"
Godwin didn't move.
Didn't step back.
Didn't hesitate.
"…I'm at 95%."
A pause.
"…That's enough to start."
The figure raised its hand.
Instantly—
The multiverse shifted.
Worlds moved.
Reality bent.
Time distorted.
Everything—
Responded to him.
Godwin's eyes sharpened.
"…So this is your level."
"…No."
A pause.
"…This is the minimum required to exist here."
Godwin's smile widened slightly.
"…Even better."
Without warning—
Godwin moved.
Faster than before.
Sharper than ever.
He attacked—
But—
Nothing happened.
His strike—
Didn't land.
Didn't connect.
Didn't exist.
Godwin stopped instantly.
"…What?"
The figure stood in the same place.
Unmoved.
"…Your attack never reached me."
Godwin frowned.
"…I saw it hit."
"…You saw an attempt."
Silence.
Godwin's mind raced.
"…He didn't block…"
"…He didn't dodge…"
"…He erased the interaction."
The realization hit instantly.
"…That's not defense…"
"…That's control over reality itself."
The figure spoke again:
"…You are close."
"…But not complete."
Godwin clenched his fist.
"…Then I'll complete it."
The figure shook its head.
"…You misunderstand."
A pause.
"…Completion is not given."
"…It is taken."
Suddenly—
The space collapsed around Godwin.
Not destroyed—
Compressed.
His connection to the worlds—
Severed.
"…Tch—!"
World Sync weakened.
Origin flow disrupted.
For the first time—
Godwin struggled.
"…This pressure…"
The watcher whispered:
"…He's testing your existence itself…"
Godwin gritted his teeth.
"…Good…"
"…Then I'll push through it."
He closed his eyes.
Focused deeper than ever before.
No system.
No support.
No external help.
Just—
Himself.
"…95% isn't enough…"
"…Then I'll break past it."
His aura exploded—
But not outward.
Inward.
Deeper.
Stronger.
The space trembled.
The figure watched silently.
"…Interesting…"
Godwin's eyes opened.
Glowing.
Different.
"…I don't need 100% given to me…"
He stepped forward.
"…I'll force it."
The multiverse reacted violently.
Energy surged.
Reality shifted.
Something was about to happen.
Something big.
Very big.
The figure smiled faintly.
"…Then show me."
To be continued…