When Xiao touched the second symbol, silence enveloped the universe.
It was as if all realms had stopped breathing — as if the fate of nine entire worlds had been placed in his hands.
The light that burst from the symbol resembled a newborn sun emerging from nothingness.
With its brilliance, everything began to change…
In a flash, Xiao glimpsed every version of the curse, everyone who had borne it before him —
Every hero who fell, every traitor, every one who chose silence.
Then he saw himself standing among them — different.
The blood flowing in his veins was no longer a mere curse...
It had become something new: *"Origin Blood"* — an essence that had never existed before.
Esther cried out, her voice filled with emotion:
_"Xiao!!! Are you… really you?!"_
But Xiao remained silent.
His eyes glowed with two colors: the ancient crimson and the newly-forged gold.
The entity, who had watched him since the beginning, spoke:
_"He's done it… he has broken the eternal sequence."_
The nine worlds began to tremble…
Ancient doors, sealed for ages, creaked open.
Forgotten souls were summoned from their slumber to witness the moment.
Among those souls emerged Thor, god of thunder,
Odin with his solitary eye, and Loki, grinning mischievously.
Odin said:
_"The blood has changed… who are you to shatter the gods' legacy?"_
Xiao advanced slowly — the earth cracked beneath him, and the sky above tore open.
He replied in a deep but calm voice:
_"I've come to restore balance… not to kneel."_
Loki laughed:
_"Hah! I'm tired of sobs and sighs… show me if you're worthy of that blood!"_
The battle ignited.
Xiao, Esther, and Heim stood against the gods of the North.
It was chaos incarnate…
Lightning shattered the skies, fire erupted from beneath the ground, and shadows devoured everything they touched.
Esther fought like fury itself —
Her spirit blade tore through walls of illusion.
Heim unleashed his newfound ability, *"Void Fist,"* to deflect Odin's strikes.
As for Xiao… he faced Thor head-on.
Each clash between Xiao's sword and Thor's hammer carved new laws into the air itself.
_"You're no longer human!"_ Thor roared.
Xiao didn't answer.
He channeled all his energy into his blade and finally shouted:
_"This is a curse… and this is its end!"_
He struck with a force never seen before —
And *truth itself exploded.*
Everything turned to light.
Then to darkness.
Then…