The gate that appeared in the sky was more than just a passage—it was an echo of an ancient, forbidden call, one that could only be heard by those who had abandoned a part of their humanity. And yet, Xiao did not hesitate.
He ascended.
Each step toward the gate demanded sacrifice. Every memory left a scar upon his skin. Before him, fragments of his past shattered and reformed: his mother's face, his first battle against *Olvar*, the screams of the children he saved in *Nard Village*, and even that strange dream before his blood awakened— *Astaire's face, streaked with tears*.
But he passed through, because beyond the gate… was not a world, but a *dimension*.
---
Xiao stepped into a translucent realm— *as if inside the heart of a living being*, pulsing with ancient rhythms. The ground was crystalline, the ceiling distant like the sky. And at its center… seven colossal statues, each embodying a fallen god.
As he approached, the statues *moved*.
The statue of *Thor* raised a shattered hammer, *Loki* laughed—without a mouth—and *Odin* 's eyes were torn, yet saw what should never be seen.
Xiao dropped to his knees—the pressure was unbearable.
Then, a woman's voice emerged—the same one from the gate:
> *"To reach the Core… you must face the shards that fell from the First God."*
Suddenly, light exploded around him, and he found himself in *seven arenas*, one after another, each holding a battle against a divine fragment.
---
*The First Battle: The Shard of Rage*
Before him rose a fire-born beast, formed of *living embers and ash*, breathing flames that *poisoned the soul before the body*. Its name was *Ragnar*.
Without warning, the battle began. *Xiao's sword trembled, his blood boiled.*
But instead of resisting, Xiao *closed his eyes—and embraced the rage*.
Rage became power.
With an unprecedented strike, he shattered the beast, leaving behind a *scarlet sphere*, which fused into Xiao's heart.
---
*The Second Battle: The Shard of Pain*
Xiao stood before the *skeleton of a small child* —which then transformed into *a thousand faces*, screaming at him:
*"Where were you? Why didn't you save us?"*
Xiao fell to his knees, yet *he did not run*.
In a broken voice, he spoke:
> *"I am no god… but I will never let it happen again."*
And from his heart, *light began to dissolve the shadows*.
---
Thus, in every arena, he confronted a *shard*:
- *The Shard of Vanity* unleashed his old, arrogant self.
- *The Shard of Regret* forced him to relive his first kill.
- *The Shard of Love* made him witness *Astaire dying in his arms*.
Each time, Xiao emerged *stronger… yet more fractured*.
---
At the end of the path, there lay a *broken bridge*.
And waiting at its far end stood *Heim*, his old friend, without his usual armor.
Heim smiled and said:
> *"Welcome to the God's Crossing, Xiao… Let's finish what we started."*