'It's kind of unfair that everyone else gets to be happy and humane, but when it's my turn to ascend… I have to make such a major sacrifice…'
Even for others, ascending to become a demi-god came at a major cost to their inner humanity, but they were all people who had never had to suffer from the curse of a destroyed heart.
Rio was already lacking a heart, and whatever pieces he had were now being asked for payment in return for greater power.
This critical 'choice' was the biggest reason why Rio was still suppressing his ascension and didn't just break through the moment he reached the threshold of ascension instantly.
Polishing the mind and journeying through the Demon Continent were Rio's excuses to delay for time and find some solution to this predicament.
But of course, the time he had wasn't much; the clock was ticking. He couldn't just keep standing at this 'Fork' for eternity; he had to choose a 'Path' sooner or later.
