In the heart of an endless sea of merciless light, heavy footsteps echoed.

  They marched, one after another, with urgency and sheer stubborn determination, climbing toward the top of a colossal staircase.

  And there, at the summit…

  A promise.

  Majestic, impossible to ignore: a golden door so intricate it laughed in the face of mere mortal description.

  "Is this truly the path… or just a test designed for fools like me?"

  Each step conquered felt like hauling a dragon’s corpse uphill.

  And with every step, a nagging little doubt crept in:

  The staircase seemed to mock him, stretching on forever—as if the heavens themselves were placing bets on how long he’d last before giving up.

  Time dragged on.

  His body held strong.

  His stubbornness refused to quit.

  And then, at long last…

  There it was.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The magnificent golden door.

  No—magnificent was an insult.

  This thing didn’t even seem real.

  Every carving, every curve, every glowing rune etched into the metal…

  The gold pulsed. It was alive. It judged.

  Nothing in the world could hold a candle to it.

  Not temples.

  Not towers.

  Not even the wildest dreams.

  The journey… it had been worth it.

  A hand—clad in gleaming silver gauntlets—rose slowly, trembling.

  He hesitated.

  But before his decision could solidify…

  The door swung open on its own.

  And on the other side stood a figure bathed in light so blinding the world itself seemed to vanish.

  Silence reigned.

  Then—

  A voice.

  Calm. Familiar.

  “So… you’re still alive, after all.”

  The light swallowed everything.

  ?