Origin stood atop one of the floating cubes, deftly maneuvering it to avoid the relentless barrage of cubes launched by Saruto. The cubes rained down like deadly hail, but Origin dodged them all with chilling skill, as if reading their trajectories before they even moved.
Saruto watched the scene with weary eyes, then realized something crucial: the cube Origin was perched upon was the key to his balance. He slowly raised his hand and stopped the cube's movement. Origin froze for a moment, a look of surprise on his face. He looked up to see dozens of cubes approaching from all sides. "This is the end for you, Origin," Saruto said, his voice weary but resolute.
Origin smiled confidently. "No… not yet."
He began to unleash his power, reaching out to try and regain control of the cubes. But Saruto wouldn't back down. He unleashed his own power, focusing his will entirely to prevent Origin from regaining control.
The cubes hung suspended in mid-air, caught between two opposing wills. It pushed, sometimes toward Saruto, sometimes toward the Origin, until the pressure reached its limit. All the cubes collapsed and shattered under the force of the impact.
Both collapsed to their knees, exhausted. The Origin tried to get up, but was surprised to find that the cube he was standing on began to move again, toward Saruto. "Damn it…isn't he exhausted yet?" he said anxiously.
Saruto, however, was still kneeling, his hand raised, controlling the cube despite his extreme exhaustion. The Origin jumped off him, trying to escape, but Saruto noticed him immediately. He aimed a cube at him and launched it with all his remaining strength.
The cube slammed into the Origin, knocking him to the ground with a powerful impact. The cube closed on him, crushing his body and preventing him from moving. The cube eventually shattered under the pressure, and the Origin lay on the ground, unable to rise.
He raised his head with difficulty to see Saruto approaching him, staggering, his body burdened with exhaustion and injuries. Origin tried to get up before he could be caught, but Saruto gathered what little strength he had left, formed a concentrated shot at his fingertip, and fired. It pierced Origin foot. Origin fell again, and the next moment, Saruto reached him. "I told you so," he said in a hoarse but steady voice. "This is the end for you."
Origin laughed despite his condition and said admiringly, "Congratulations, Saruto... You've passed the third test."
Saruto placed his hand on Origin, saying, "I've got you."
Then he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Hours later, Saruto awoke to find all his injuries healed. He looked up and saw Origin sitting before him, as calm as ever. "You've succeeded in your training, Saruto... Congratulations," Origin said, smiling.
"So... is the third test over? Hades said it might take six years."
Origin nodded. "Hades was right. This training was merely preparing your body for what's to come." "Is there more training?" Saruto asked anxiously.
"Not training... but the final test," the Origin said sternly.
He looked directly at Saruto and added, "You must absorb me."
Saruto eyes widened in surprise. "If you absorb me," the Origin continued, "you will become a demigod, as I promised. Your Dark Power will increase, your Intelligence will grow, and everything I possess will be added to yours."
"Then I'll reach a whole new level of power..." Saruto murmured.
"Yes... but there's a price," the Origin said.
"What is it?" Saruto asked earnestly.
"As Hades said... it may take six years or more," the Origin replied in a heavy voice. "Are you prepared to take that risk?"
Saruto hesitated for a moment, then remembered his goal. Umbra. Revenge. And everything he had lost because of it. He raised his head and said firmly, "I agree."
The Origin smiled. "Very well... but there's one last condition." "And what is it?" Saruto asked.
The Origin replied in a cold, decisive voice, "If you absorb me… you must relinquish all your feelings."