Aegon’s mind was, in contrast to before, completely still.

No thoughts could prevail in front of those eyes.

“Now, do you wish to know why this is the fateful day your past lives have been saving luck for?” The voice now clearly came from the mouth of the red-eyed being, even though Aegon couldn't see it, he knew it was there.

Not managing any resistance, his body unconsciously nodded yes and to those eyes it seemed enough.

“Good.”

Moving his eyes away from Aegon the creature focused its gaze up above and remained silent for a few moments.

Looking at this scene Aegon had the feeling that those red eyes, and that seemingly normal gaze were capable of seeing everything, even into the distant stars of the heavens.

Without moving its gaze, it spoke again.

“Then I need to tell you a little something about the world.”

“That thing you call cultivation is a fight against the heavens, and in a way, a ladder towards them.”

“You have probably heard legends of cultivators whose accomplishment left you in awe, tales of humans splitting mountains with one swing of their sword or others who managed to fly without the help of magical beasts.”

“You probably look up and even idolize those people.”

Taking a peek at the young man that was still kneeling on the ground and seeing no change in his expression it continued its speech.

“In reality those cultivators aren't anything special, in the broader universe those feats are considered trivial things, not even worth mentioning to anyone who calls themselves a cultivator.”

A little doubt crept into Aegon’s mind.

[How can cutting a mountain in half or flying be trivial? What else is there to achieve?] His mind simply couldn’t wrap itself around a scale of power where those actions would be called insignificant.

“I’m sure you’re doubting my words but you will sooner or later find out that I'm speaking the truth.”

“But moving on…. In an age so ancient that the only record of that time is a single legend there were three beings that faithfully cultivated and strove to better themselves in battle against the heavens only to ironically end up becoming the heavens themselves.”

Aegon cocked an eyebrow in confusion, he was pretty sure that what the creature had said was a metaphor but he couldn't grasp its meaning.

Giving a short laugh after catching Aegon's confused looks the beast explained matter-of-factly. ”They became gods.”

“They became the representations of certain… let’s say concepts, they became, the God of Wisdom, the God of Chaos and the Life-Bearer, a God of Life basically.”

Looking down at the stunned and incredulous expression of the youth still kneeling on the ground it simply smiled with its eyes and continued talking.

“I'm telling you this because you are in the presence of one of those divinities, not one of the original ones but a torch bearer after one of them, a successor if you will.”

Aegon’s mind was working on overdrive, trying his hardest to process this seemingly impossible information, yet he felt that the voice wasn't lying, his gut was telling him so, but before he could finish processing everything a bombshell broke his mind completely.

“And you are now the next chosen for the role.”

With barely hidden pity it added. “Congratulations.”

“Before you ask anything silly like why me? Or, am I special? Or, was I born with some kind of fantastical destiny? Let me answer all those questions for you.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be you until a few hours ago, that Direwolf was my previous choice, I was waiting for it to develop a consciousness but you guys ended up killing it before then. I thought I was doomed but then your curiosity got the better of you and now I have a whole new successor with an even worse talent.”

“Oh and if that answer didn't make the other two clear to you, it’s no to both.”

After a short pause he added. ”Any other questions?”

Aegon thought for a while, mind still in tatters from all the mental shock, and mustering his most polite tone he ended up asking the most irrelevant questions he could come up with which were also the ones he felt the most curious about. ”Hm sir, what should I call you? And of those divinities you mentioned which one are you?”

“Oh yeah, I didn't mention that, did I?”

All of a sudden the impenetrable darkness of the cave that up until now obscured everything except for the beast’s eyes and some chains slowly disappeared and the full extent of the beast in front of Aegon finally settled into his mind.

Looking ahead Aegon saw a massive wolf hundreds of meters tall, its fur was pitch black except for its wrists where shackles were placed, there the fur had fallen off and small glimpses of pinkish skin could be seen.

But the most eye-catching part of the beast was still its deep red eyes.

Raising his snout upwards in a teasing manner the beast asked. ”Which God do you think I am?”

“Fear?”. Aegon blurted out, his body driven to speak by dread and respect.

The beast's eyes reflected a moment of disappointment but it quickly vanished.

“That’s a way to put it, maybe one of the worst ones though.”

With his most serious look and pumping his chest out proudly the god proclaimed.

“I am Fenrir, the God of Chaos.”

Aegon wasn't really shocked by the revelation, that would have been his answer had his mind been under control, but in that moment his whole being wasn't his to control.

An awkward silence ensued between the two while Aegon processed everything he was told.

[Divinities? Chosen? The God of Chaos? What the hell is going on here?!]

Taking another look at the majestic beast sitting in front of him he couldn't help but wonder.

[Why would he abdicate his position as a God?]

[And why would he make someone who just stumbled into him his successor? Especially since he said that being able to cut a mountain in half wasn't something worth mentioning.]

[This seems fishy….]

Bothered by his questions but also afraid that asking too much could lead to his death, Aegon hesitated, but in the end his curiosity got the better of him.

“I know you said I wasn't special and I doubt that wolf was special either, so why would you make one of us your successor?”

“Now that’s a good question to ask.” The wolf praised.

“The reason why I even considered one of you for the honor of becoming my successor, even though you are both insignificant beings, is due to the fact that I don't have any other choice.”

“I'm dying and I'm stuck here, enclosed in my own body.”