Fade had squinted his eyes. There was no one around.
Only Diablo and himself.
The silence had sent shivers down his spine. Where had all those people gone?
Just then —
He heard the sound of applause echoing right next to his ear.
As the sound of applause echoed in the arena, Fade flinched and raised his head.
Diablo was clapping with his hands together, his knees crossed, 5-6 meters in the air.
His eyes were shining. And he was smiling. That familiar, all-knowing expression.
"You have achieved incredible successes." We didn't expect a living being from this universe to be able to show such a performance... You surpassed our expectations.
Diablo's voice was deep, each word seemed to be pulled from the depths of time.
"At the same time, we also encountered a few unexpected surprises..." but these are not things you need to know right now."
Fade frowned. He was about to speak, but Diablo raised his hand.
"It's still early for answers." But rewards are given to those who deserve them.
Fade was watching Diablo in the air. His words were echoing in the void:
"You now have the right to choose." Three destiny lines have been created just for you.
And three gates appeared behind Diablo:
Path of Fire – A path dedicated to power and war, where you will bring your rivals to their knees with every step.
The Path of Mists – A route woven with wisdom, secrets, and shadows. The layers of truth are hidden here.
The Path of Balance – Both war and strategy; both destruction and healing. The path of those who walk the middle way.
As Fade was about to take a step, Diablo suddenly paused.
His face darkened. For a moment, he brought his head to his hands, as if a sudden pain had struck his brain.
He furrowed brows. His eyes were not fixed on the void, but higher up – on an unseen force.
He spoke in a voice that resembled a whisper, but Fade heard it clearly:
"...so that's how it is..." Alright, let it be that way.
Then he turned to Fade. The joy in his eyes had vanished. Instead… a serious, frightening seriousness had taken its place.
"There is a destiny that wants you."
"Something that no one has chosen before..."
"Even if he chooses, it's a fate that no one dares to face."
And suddenly, a crack appeared between the three passages. From there, not sparks, but cold breaths seeped through.
Another passage had appeared.
There were no symbols on it, just a pitch-black fog.
Diablo continued:
– The Path of Death –
"The path of those who walk on the threshold of the end and the beginning."
"Here, courage is measured by facing the darkness."
"With every step, you cross the fine line between life and death; you write your own destiny with your own hands."
"There is no turning back." But... if you succeed, even the Gods will have to recognize you.
Fade's eyes focused on the dark passage. While the other paths were covered with a captivating aura of gold and silver sparkles, this fourth path... offered nothing.
There was no hope, no promise, no reward there.
Just cold, silence, and endless uncertainty...
But something stirred within him.
A call.
No—an echo.
It was as if the oldest fears and wildest desires within him were echoing behind that door.
Fade stepped forward without saying a word.
When he took his first step, the ground creaked.
As if making this decision was even a challenge to reality.
A strange smile appeared on Diablo's lips. Neither pride nor respect. Just... curiosity.
"Let it be... You chose the Path of Death."
With every step through the passage, it was not light that enveloped Fade's body, but shadow.
It was as if it was sticking to his skin, seeping into his thoughts, questioning past.
As if this road was not just a passage, but a mirror.
The path of confronting oneself, speaking with one's own end, and being reborn.
As the darkness consumed Fade, the last sound he heard was Diablo's whisper:
"You're alone here, but you're never truly alone..."
"Your steps may be silent, but their echo shakes the universes..."
And then... the gate closed.
Fade disappeared.
The other portals flickered out one by one.
The stage was empty again.
Just Diablo...
And Fade's own reflection, but the one that remained there—Shadow—silently looked at each other...