"Hmmmm" the creature hummed as it looked at lord khaos, before ripping the rift apart completely revealing a magnificent dragon whose form spanned galaxies, its golden mane dazzling enough to blind any onlooker, black scales that barely allowed light to escape, and eyes as red as rubies.
"Well, shit," Lord Khaos cursed, his 'eyes' widening as he stared at the creature. "God beast," Lord Khaos exclaimed, turning to John and giving his shoulder a pat. "Kid, you're screwed," he declared, swiveling his attention back to the god beast.
John stood there, rendered silent, as Lord Khaos looked into his eyes and patted his shoulder.
"Now, I'm guessing you don't plan on going one-on-one with the kid here since you said it's not time yet. But he's already here, and he needs a trial, so do me a favor and let him attempt ascension," Lord Khaos requested in an amused tone, his amusement stemming not from any concern for John but from the entertainment value of the situation.
The god beast turned its head toward John in silence and posed a question, "Even if you hadn't asked, I likely would have done so, hatchling. Will you survive?" The god beast's words prompted Lord Chaos to glance in John's direction.
John nodded, not having any better response given his bewildering circumstances.
"Then step into the rift," the god beast ordered as its claws opened another tear in space.
"Got it," John replied, his mind having gone blank some time ago.
"Phew," John sighed with a gulp, taking a step into the rift before it sealed behind him.
"Could you fill me in on why the god beast chose this moment to appear?" Lord Khaos inquired, turning his gaze to the god beast with his arms folded.
"I didn't choose to appear. The kid called me... and so did Father. He said 'he' has awakened, and an amusing spectacle will soon unfold," the god beast revealed, its eyes fixed on Lord Khaos.
Lord Khaos stared at the god beast momentarily, seemingly taken aback by its words. Eventually, he nodded and commented, "This is amusing... Has it been a millennium since we've had something interesting like this?"
The god beast regarded Lord Khaos with a perplexed expression, to which Lord Khaos merely shook his head in response.
Meanwhile, within the rift that John had just entered, the voice of the god beast resonated, sending shivers through the boy's core. "I'll subject you to three trials—one for your past self, one for your present self, and one for your future self. Fail one, and... I think you understand the stakes," the god beast's voice soothed as the scene before John transformed.
"You won't make choices here. This is purely a test of your mind. If you endure without breaking, you'll pass," the god beast clarified, as the surroundings shifted and its body began to move.
'Wait, this...' John thought, observing the vast army of soldiers assembled before him.
"Set up camp, lads. We'll need proper rest before we press our attack again," a man in resplendent golden armor commanded, removing his helmet and signaling the soldiers to halt.
'The Grand Commander of the South, Brock Reeves, and this is...' John pondered as he surveyed the towering landscape around him.
'The Massacre of Cerro Valley,' John remembered, understanding the historical event the god beast referred to.
'And I have to live through it again...' John contemplated, as his body involuntarily moved toward the grand commander.
"Sir, this seems like a risky move. The enemy could ambush us if we're out in the open like this. We need to reach Lhottose Pass to secure a safe retreat or at least a defensible campsite," John's body expressed concern, while the real John, unable to control himself, frowned and echoed the words he knew were coming: 'Major, I understand your concerns, Lieutenant, but take a look at the troops behind you. Can we make it to Lhottose like this?'
"Major, I understand your concerns, Lieutenant, but take a look at the troops behind you. Can we make it to Lhottose like this?" the general recited, repeating the words verbatim.
'But, Commander, my instincts tell me this is a bad idea,' John protested internally, and as he did so, his body articulated, "But, Commander, my instincts tell me this is a bad idea."
'Your instincts are merely an echo of my words. If you're so worried, scout the area,' the commander's response aligned perfectly with John's prediction: "Your instincts are merely an echo of my words. If you're so worried, scout the area."
'Understood, sir,' John thought, and as his body carried out the action, he uttered, "Understood, sir." With the scene unfolding before him, John's face became a battleground of conflicting emotions.