Within the unchanging time of his realm, Elios sat alone, the voice of Sentinel now absent, having already answered all his questions.
As he gazed into the vast destruction below, he knew—though he did not understand why—that the broken moon, cleaved in half, and the dark red sky beneath the clouds represented the darkness dwelling within his soul.
Meanwhile, the clouds upon which he sat symbolized the in-between, a fragile balance in existence.
"There are people who always say, 'Search for balance, only then will one find true peace.' They spend their entire lives meditating in silence and seclusion just to witness this beautiful sight. Yet one who touches the path to ascension may see this—and more… How horrifying."
"You never know if the truths you uncover will be good or evil. No—can a truth even be evil or good? If everything stands as one side of a coin, then who stands in the in-between?"
"The one from outside."
"I get it now. It represents two sides of a single coin—both good and evil. But the in-between can only be represented by the one who flips that coin. Let's say heads equals good and tails equals bad. Then the person in control—the one outside—the one who flips the coin, is the one who chooses to be good or bad."
"Is that not a truth in itself?"
Damn. It sounds so weird. I sound like some philosopher. But then again… I suppose I'm somewhat close to that. After all, I was once a grand priest.
His eyes fell upon the still world of his realm. Closing them, he reached out with his senses, feeling everything within this world—everything he was permitted to sense, at least.
Interesting. In my realm, time does not flow unless I will it to. Yet at the same time, I know exactly what time it is in the outside world. How odd.
Raising his hand to the sky, he willed the clouds surrounding him to form a pillar that ascended. Then he willed them into a dragon soaring through the skies, a fish swimming in an endless sea of air. Ultimately, he gathered them into a single mass and sent it crashing to the ground.
A dense fog spread across the landscape, far thicker than any ordinary mist. He felt the humidity against his skin, yet at the same time, he remained dry—as if no matter what effects may occur here, nothing would ever truly last.
With a dismissing wave, he allowed the clouds to resume their previous shape around him.
So this is the effect of will. One can will things to happen. Though, I imagine I can only do this because it is my realm. After all… I am not even an unborn.
I wonder… What does a god's will look like?
His lips curled into a slight, smug grin, and in a soft voice, he murmured, "I suppose I'll just have to find out for myself."
"Gaia, I accept your trial. Summon your gate to the ancient world. No matter what you place before me, I will defeat it."
A voice, surreal and harmonic—filled with care and love—resounded through his realm. This time, unlike many others, it carried weight. Emotion. Power. Will. Conviction behind every single word spoken.
[Ascender Elios. The gate to the first trial has been opened. I warn you—once you enter, you cannot leave until you complete your trial. And even after you depart, that gate will remain open for the rest of your life.]
[Are you ready?]
Gaia, Mother Nature Incarnate… Bring it on.
Then, a coalescence of power that did not belong to him—thick, dense, unimaginably potent essence—coursed through his world.
Rays of brownish-golden light surged forth, streams of power escaping from his body as if using him as a conduit. The energy coalesced before him, solidifying into a gateway formed of raw power.
So this is the strength of one of the forces of nature… Incredible. I… I wish this power had been there when I needed it.
Looking away momentarily, ignoring the spectacle unfolding before him, his eyes gleamed with emotion buried deep within. Closing them for a brief moment, he felt his realm respond to his feelings, but he willed it to remain still and unacknowledged.
Opening his eyes, the emotion was hidden—buried deep within the crevices of his soul. Raising his gaze, he met the sight of a golden portal, outlined in blood-red—a shade darker than the sky of this new world.
Encasing it, forming a sort of door, were the familiar clouds of his realm—holding the energy trapped within, preventing it from escaping.
[This is your moment. Go forward, Ascender Elios. Take your final stand and prepare for the final ascent—for humanity's survival.]
No words were needed. No farewells, no greetings, no well wishes—just silence.
In a realm devoid of time, a mother watched as one of her children stepped forward to brave the dangers of a world forgotten by time itself.