The stairs shimmered with each step bending from one universe to another Stars flickered suns collapsed and galaxies rewound in reverse like broken clocks Serath staggered clutching at his armor as the shifting realities pressed against him Ryo however simply chewed another piece of bread unfazed.
The voices returned layered like an endless choir.
Ryo… why ascend? You already surpass the limits of story You do not belong here.
From the void to the left of the staircase figures materialized colossal silhouettes that dwarfed even galaxies Their outlines flickered sometimes resembling faceless authors writing with quills of light sometimes resembling beings of pure flame or endless eyes They were the kind of entities mortals would call gods of gods creators above creators.
Serath fell flat to the step trembling T-The Overwatchers…! They are the ones who even the Crown of Worlds bows to!
Ryo squinted at the shifting shapes Overwatchers? Sounds like a board game You guys write stories for fun or what?
One of the voices rumbled shaking the staircase itself.
We do not write for fun We are the architects of fiction itself Every god you've seen every kingdom every world they exist because of us We are the limits beyond all limits.
Ryo scratched his head Cool But if you're so strong why are you blocking a staircase? Shouldn't you be busy creating or… I don't know editing typos?
The entities pulsed brighter their forms trying to smother him in light For Serath it was unbearable he screamed covering his eyes as cracks spread through his armor But for Ryo the light was nothing It bent around him like water slipping past stone.
Strange one of the voices whispered He is not affected… He is not bound to our scripts He stands outside the pen outside the page.
Another voice answered almost nervous Perhaps he was not created Perhaps… he simply is.
Ryo yawned loudly Look I didn't climb these stairs to listen to glowing thunder voices talk about me like I'm some rare bird Move aside before I get cranky And trust me you don't want to see me cranky I start eating all the snacks in sight.
The wolf pup barked as if to agree.
For the first time the Overwatchers hesitated These were beings no one had ever defied no one had ever ignored Yet here stood someone treating them like background noise.
Serath whispered voice breaking Supreme one… you are resisting the raw presence of those even gods fear This is beyond impossible.
Ryo shrugged Nah it's just bread You guys are probably too uptight to enjoy carbs
The staircase rumbled Slowly the Overwatchers pulled back their titanic silhouettes dissolving into mist Before vanishing completely one voice echoed softer than the rest.
Ryo… there will be no limits left for you to surpass Be warned Even the Crown of Worlds cannot contain what you are becoming.
The mist scattered The stairs calmed returning to their steady spiral.
Serath struggled to stand still shaken I… I never imagined… they yielded to you You're not just strong Ryo you're beyond definition Even the authors of reality cannot grasp you.
Ryo patted his satchel Yeahvwell I'm also hungry again Let's hurry this up If this Crown of Worlds guy doesn't have better bread than the bakery I'm leaving.
The wolf pup wagged its tail hopping ahead up the steps.
Serath looked at Ryo with a mixture of fear and awe Truly… you are already the strongest being in all existence And yet… I fear even this journey may not be ready for you.
Ryo smirked Then it'll be fun.
And with that he continued upward one step at a time leaving behind even the entities who claimed to rule fiction itself.