The spiral staircase narrowed into a single luminous path At its peak shimmered an enormous gate carved from starlight and silence the threshold to the High Kingdom The wolf pup trotted forward with playful confidence but Serath stumbled behind weighed down by awe and fear
Ryo: adjusted his satchel of bread chewing casually.
Ryo: This place looks dramatic. Do they greet visitors with cake or just grim speeches?
Serath: swallowed his voice shaky.
Serath: The Crown of Worlds does not entertain jokes Many have perished before reaching this gate Those who dare to strike you will face annihilation
Ryo: raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
Ryo: Annihilation huh? Like bread going stale?
From the shadows a warrior appeared His armor was darker than the void and his blade seemed to slice the very fabric of light Where he walked silence devoured sound.
Kael: I am Kael of the Null Order I was chosen to test the one who approaches the Crown If you fail your existence ends If you succeed… the realms may never recover.
Ryo: tore another piece of bread his voice calm.
Ryo: Sounds exhausting Who invited you?
Kael: pointed his sword directly at Ryo.
Kael: The balance must be protected Prepare to be erased!
He lunged The blade sang with fury faster than lightning sharper than concept For anyone else it would have been the end.
Ryo: chewed unbothered.
Ryo: Stabbing huh? Always stabbing You guys really need new hobbies
The blade touched Ryo's chest A silence deeper than silence followed.
Kael: was gone No ash no echo no memory He had not died he had been removed The world itself forgot him The ledger of reality showed no entry by his name
Serath: collapsed to his knees trembling.
Serath: He… he is erased Not dead not destroyed erased No resurrection no return It is as if he never was
The wolf: pup barked once sniffing the empty space.
Ryo: brushed crumbs from his shirt.
Ryo: Yeah that happens People try to stab me and then they stop existing I don't like it it ruins the mood But rules are rules.
The air quivered Even the Overwatchers far above stirred uneasily This was no ordinary power This was not defense nor punishment It was correction A fundamental law bending to Ryo's existence: those who strike him vanish without trace
Serath's voice shook
Serath: Ryo… this ability… not even the highest creators possess it You stand beyond systems beyond law.
Ryo stretched yawning.
Ryo: I don't care about systems I care about good bread Still if someone's dumb enough to swing at me I guess the universe cleans up for me Convenient huh?
He kept walking the wolf pup bounding happily by his side The runes of the great gate flared brighter acknowledging him Something vast and unseen watched measuring him and finding no measure
Ryo: Let's hope the Crown has better snacks than you Serath Otherwise this trip is a waste.
Serath: still pale bowed his head.
Serath: You are already beyond all things The Crown of Worlds may not know how to face you.
Ryo smirked.
Ryo: Then let's make it interesting.
And so he walked on each step forcing the multiverse to rewrite itself around the being who could erase existence with nothing more than presence.