Chapter 2576: Story 2577: The Gate of Origin

The ancient door stood before Victoria Kane and Lyra.

Seven enormous symbols burned across its surface, each representing one of the virtues that had awakened the ancient guardians.

Courage.

Compassion.

Hope.

Sacrifice.

Freedom.

Wisdom.

Memory.

Behind the door, something continued knocking.

Slowly.

Patiently.

As if it had been waiting since the beginning of time.

Victoria tightened her grip on the Dawnblade.

"What is behind it?"

Lyra stared at the door.

"I don’t know."

The crimson eye above them laughed.

"Neither does creation."

Black shadows poured across the golden realm.

Victoria stepped in front of Lyra.

"Then we’ll find out."

She raised the Dawnblade.

The seven symbols responded.

Golden light spread across the door.

But nothing happened.

Lyra stepped forward.

"Victoria."

She placed her hand against the first symbol.

The door released a deep pulse.

Courage awakened.

The second symbol followed.

Compassion.

Then Hope.

Sacrifice.

Freedom.

Wisdom.

Finally, Memory.

All seven symbols ignited.

The knocking stopped.

Silence filled the realm.

Then a voice came from behind the door.

"Who seeks the beginning?"

Victoria answered.

"Those who refuse to let the end decide everything."

The door trembled.

"Who carries the Dawn?"

Victoria placed a hand over her heart.

"I do."

"Who carries the Memory?"

Lyra stepped forward.

"I do."

The voice became quieter.

"Then open the door."

Lyra looked at Victoria.

"Together."

They placed their hands against the ancient surface.

The Gate of Origin opened.

A blinding white light flooded the realm.

Victoria shielded her eyes.

Beyond the doorway was not a room.

It was an endless ocean of stars.

But these stars were different.

They were unborn.

Each floated inside a transparent sphere, waiting for its first moment of existence.

Evelyn’s voice echoed faintly through the gateway.

"Those aren’t memories."

Victoria stared in wonder.

"They’re possibilities."

Lyra nodded.

"The worlds that could exist."

Suddenly, the Void creatures surrounding them recoiled.

The crimson eye disappeared.

For the first time, the enemy seemed afraid.

"Close the Gate!"

Victoria turned toward the darkness.

"Why?"

The Void answered with rage.

"Because possibility is the one thing we cannot erase!"

Victoria smiled.

"Then that’s exactly what we’ll protect."

Behind the Gate of Origin, a massive golden figure appeared.

It had no face.

No crown.

No weapon.

It seemed to be formed from countless unborn stars.

Lyra whispered,

"The First Creator."

The figure looked toward Victoria.

"I am not the creator."

Victoria frowned.

"Then who are you?"

"I am the choice that existed before creation."

The words echoed across eternity.

"Every world began because someone chose that it should exist."

Lyra stepped closer.

"Then the Void wants to destroy choice itself."

The figure nodded.

"Yes."

A violent tremor shook the realm.

The merged black sphere above Asterion began cracking.

Nox’Rath’s voice reached them through the Heart.

"Victoria! We can’t hold them much longer!"

Victoria looked toward the endless unborn worlds.

Then toward Lyra.

"We need to protect this place."

Lyra nodded.

"But how?"

Victoria raised the Dawnblade.

The seven symbols on its surface began glowing.

"By giving creation more choices."

She turned toward the Gate of Origin.

"Open every pathway."

The First Creator raised one hand.

Thousands of golden gateways appeared across the unborn stars.

Each gateway connected to a possible world.

The Void screamed.

"NO!"

Black tendrils rushed toward the Gate.

Victoria and Lyra stood together.

The seven ancient guardians appeared behind them, their weapons blazing.

Valerius raised his crimson spear.

Nox’Rath spread his silver wings.

Azrakar roared.

The First Hunger stepped forward.

For the first time, every ancient force stood on the same side.

Victoria raised the Dawnblade.

"This isn’t the end of creation."

She looked toward the countless possibilities.

"It’s the beginning of everything."

The Gate of Origin exploded with golden light.

And somewhere beyond the unborn worlds...

A new star opened its eyes.