Koki stood at the edge of a glowing chasm, the Forge's molten heart swirling beneath him like a sun bleeding through wounds in the world. Flames danced across blackened stone, whispering memories of stars long dead. The trial had begun the moment he stepped into the chamber—and he knew, instinctively, that this would not be a battle of strength alone.
Diana watched from behind the ancient archway, arms folded, her brow furrowed with concern. Even with all her experience, all her battles across dimensions and mythic realms, she had never seen this trial performed. It was whispered even among gods—dangerous, unpredictable, and impossibly rare.
Vorian stood beside her, hammer in hand. "You must not interfere. The Forge will test every cell of him. If he fails, it will erase him from existence… even from memory."
Diana's jaw tensed. "I won't let him die."
"You may not have a choice."
Scene: Within the Trial
The fire around Koki flared higher, forming a perfect ring of golden light. His breathing slowed. Sweat clung to his skin, though the heat didn't burn—it remembered him.
Then came the voice—not spoken, but resonating through his marrow.
"Koki Sarive. Child of Nyxara. Heir to the Infinite Flame.
You carry the Seal. You bear the weight. But do you understand what you are?"
Koki swallowed. "No… but I want to."
The voice became thunder.
"Then face what came before."
The flames roared—and from them stepped three figures.
Each one a version of himself.
The first was armored in obsidian and blood, his eyes seething with white-hot rage. His emblem—the Infinity symbol—cracked and glowing like it was carved from a dying star.
The second shimmered with serenity, dressed in robes of cosmic light, his eyes endless and calm, his aura vast as galaxies.
The third was broken—his body shattered and scarred, one eye missing, dragging a chain of golden fire behind him like an anchor.
Koki staggered back. "What… are you?"
The calm one spoke first. "We are your echoes. What you could become. What you must choose to embrace—or reject."
The broken one snarled. "And what you might become… if you fail."
The enraged version stepped forward, fists igniting with solar fury. "Let's see if you're worthy."
Scene: Trial of Strength – Echo of Rage
Koki had no time to react. The furious version of himself launched forward like a comet, slamming into him with enough force to crack the platform beneath them. Koki flew backward, rolled, and landed hard on one knee.
"This is you without control," the Echo of Rage bellowed. "Pure power. No mercy. No soul."
The next blow came faster, and Koki ducked just in time, countering with a punch that sent shockwaves through the air. Their battle became a storm—fist against fist, speed against speed, strength against strength. Sparks rained from every impact. Each strike Koki took made his body scream in pain, but he refused to fall.
His opponent grinned. "You fight well. But you hold back."
Koki snarled, lightning surging up his arms. "Because I know what I'll become if I don't."
He punched through the echo's guard, grabbed him, and hurled him into the sky of flame—where he dissolved into embers.
Scene: Trial of Balance – Echo of Infinity
The calm figure stepped forward next, unarmed. He bowed his head.
"You think strength alone will guide you?" he asked, voice melodic. "It won't. Infinity is not a weapon. It is a burden. A choice."
Koki stepped forward. "Then teach me."
The Echo raised a hand—and the world fell away.
Suddenly, Koki stood on Earth again. The street he grew up on. The sky above glowing warm and orange. He could smell the grass. Hear a soccer ball being kicked in the distance.
Then he saw her—his Earth-mother, the woman who had raised him with love and warmth, who sang to him when storms frightened him.
She stood across the road, smiling.
Koki tried to move—but chains of light wrapped around his arms and legs, holding him in place.
The echo appeared beside him. "Power demands sacrifice. If you awaken Infinity fully, you will never return to this life. Not truly. You will outlive your loved ones. Forget your name. You will become a god—while watching everything you love fade."
Tears welled in Koki's eyes. "That's not fair…"
"It never is."
The chains tightened.
"What do you choose, Koki Sarive? Mortality… or infinity?"
The sound of the Forge's heartbeat echoed. Koki closed his eyes—and saw Diana. Raven. Zatanna. Bruce. Clark. The people who were still fighting.
"I choose them," he whispered. "I choose both."
And the chains shattered.
The Echo of Infinity bowed. "Then you may yet survive."
Scene: Trial of Pain – Echo of Failure
Koki turned—and the broken version of himself still stood there, silent and trembling.
He approached slowly.
"You're the version of me that lost, aren't you?" Koki asked gently.
The Echo didn't answer.
Koki kneeled in front of him. "You saw what happens if I lose. If I give up."
Finally, the Echo met his gaze with a shattered eye. "They all died. Wonder Woman. Zatanna. The multiverse. I couldn't save them. I hesitated. And I let Infinity consume me."
Koki reached out—and touched the Echo's shoulder.
"I won't let that happen. I see you. And I forgive you."
The Echo closed his eye… and vanished like a sigh in the wind.
Scene: The Awakening
The fires roared to life. The Forge trembled.
Above Koki, the golden sun of memory began to collapse inward, coiling into a single point of divine gravity. Lightning cracked the air.
His body lifted into the air, suspended in radiant light. His hair flickered white. His emblem—the Infinity symbol—ignited on his chest, glowing with gold and blue flame.
Vorian spoke in awe. "It has begun."
Diana stepped forward, eyes wide. "Koki?"
His eyes opened—no longer brown, but twin stars, burning with light and purpose.
Koki Sarive had awakened the first level of Infinity.
And he had survived.
Scene Break – Olympus Trembles
Far above the mortal plane, in the halls of Olympus, the gods stirred.
Zeus leaned forward in his throne of storms. Hera's wine trembled in her chalice. Hermes halted mid-step.
A crack formed in the sky above their realm.
And from it, a whisper fell:
"The Seal has awakened."