Chapter 3

I rushed in the direction I felt was my home. The darkness around me slowly began to thin, the endless horizon of souls fading into a shimmering light ahead. My heart pounded with hope as I pushed forward, the faint pull of familiarity guiding me.

Finally, I saw it—a large portal glowing faintly in the distance, standing like a beacon of salvation. I quickened my pace, my soul practically trembling with relief as I approached it.

"Finally!" I gasped, standing before the swirling gateway.

But then, something felt... wrong. My senses screamed at me, a deep unease gnawing at my core. This wasn't the way home.

"Huh?"

It was then I noticed the truth: this wasn't the only portal here. Beyond this one stretched a vast horizon filled with countless others, each glowing faintly in their own colors. They shimmered like stars against the dark expanse, each one leading to a different world.

I turned back to the first portal, stepping closer to the stone pedestal it rested upon. Words glowed faintly across its surface, etched in a script that pulsed with energy.

"World: Terrium

Current Status: Normal

Incoming Danger Level: 3

Age: 50,000 years."

I skimmed the rest of the inscription, but my eyes caught on the name: Terrium.

"This isn't my world!" I muttered, panic rising in my chest. "My world is Elmestine! Where is Elmestine?!"

I whirled around, frantically moving from portal to portal. Each pedestal bore a similar inscription, detailing the world it led to. But none of them bore the name I longed for. I kept searching, determined, even as the enormity of the task threatened to crush me.

The number of portals seemed endless, stretching far beyond what my eyes could see. My soul ached with exhaustion, but I refused to give up. Time meant nothing to me anymore—I was a goddess now, and if the portals were infinite, so was my resolve.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I found it.

"Elmestine..." The word escaped my lips like a prayer. My trembling hands reached out to touch the pedestal as I read the inscription.

**"World: Elmestine

Current Status: Harmony

Incoming Danger Level: 0

Age: ??? Years.

Expected Time of Existence: Infinite.

Due to the sacrifice of a 'God,' this world has become eternal. You cannot enter this world."**

The words hit me like a blow. My heart skipped a beat as the weight of their meaning sank in.

"No..." I whispered. I stumbled forward, pressing my hands against the barrier that surrounded the portal. It resisted me, a silent, impenetrable wall.

"This can't be right!" I cried out, pouring my magic into it. Fire, lightning, wind—every element I could summon crashed against the barrier with earth-shattering force. But it didn't even flicker. Desperation clawed at me as I unleashed spell after spell, my power surging to levels that could reduce a continent to ash. Still, nothing happened.

When I had exhausted every spell I could think of, I collapsed to the ground, trembling. My chest heaved with dry sobs, tears streaming down my face like rivers. One of them fell onto the pedestal, and the stone suddenly began to glow.

I scrambled to my feet, watching as the glow intensified. Slowly, an image formed within the portal's surface.

It was Elmestine.

My world appeared before me, beautiful and radiant, just as I remembered. Lush forests, gleaming cities, sparkling rivers—everything was perfect, untouched by time or conflict.

But what drew my attention most was a familiar group of figures. My friends—Fate, Time, and Creation—were sitting together. They were in a grand hall, the kind we used to gather in before battles. There were four chairs, but one of them was empty.

Fate's composure finally cracked. She screamed, lashing out with her magic and shattering the empty chair into pieces.

"Fate!" Creation shouted, rushing to her side.

But Fate buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking violently. "I-I can't take it anymore!" she sobbed. Her trembling hand moved to summon a blade of light, aiming it toward her own heart.

"No!" Time intercepted her, gripping her wrist tightly. "You can't do this! She gave up everything for this world! Do you want to stain her sacrifice by running away from your responsibility?"

Fate froze, the blade dissolving in her hand as she broke down completely. Creation, too, seemed shaken, his usual calm replaced by a storm of emotions. "For the greater cause," he murmured, his voice hollow.

"Yes," Time said firmly. "And to honor her memory, we must ensure her belief stays true. We must let this harmony continue forever."

I reached out to them, my hand trembling. "I'm here," I whispered. "I'm still here..."

But the vision faded, and the pedestal's text shifted slightly.

**"Please understand that you cannot enter this world again. Your presence may disrupt the balance of power and harmony.

Thank you for your sacrifice. Your legacy shall endure."**

I stared at the words, my tears falling freely. The weight of it all settled over me like a crushing tide. I had saved my world, but in doing so, I had lost it forever.

Then, a voice echoed in my mind, calm and mechanical.

"Congratulations. Your verification is complete. You are 'Death,' the Goddess of Death Who Brings Harmony."

The title hung in the air, heavy with meaning. I stood there, staring at the portal, my heart aching with a mix of pride and sorrow.

"I can't go home," I whispered to myself. "But I can ensure it stays safe... forever."

With one last glance at the glowing portal, I turned away. My journey wasn't over—not yet. Somewhere out there, beyond the endless horizons of portals, a new purpose awaited me.