As Ocythos continued to emanate a luminous glow, the temple trembled.
"Through the reservoir of power housed within, I shall achieve temporal omniscience and forge a connection to a primordial system transcending the realm of Lodernia, granting us enlightenment. I shall bestow mental fortification through my powers but it may prove insufficient. Endeavour to resist the exposure, Kaden. I shall lift the veil"
Kaden sensed the power surging around them as Ocythos's voice, laden with ancient syllables, reverberated through the air, each incantation a thread connecting them to forces beyond mortal comprehension.
The temple walls dissolved, seemingly tearing away into the depths of space, revealing a boundless expanse of star-studded darkness. Ocythos' form seamlessly blended into this liminal space and his voice resonated in the vast vacuum, each uttered word shaping vivid constructs and sceneries that illustrated the narrative.
THE REVELATION, OCYTHOS THE OMNISCIENT :
"In the genesis of all things known, there existed solely the Ancient Order. From it emerged the entirety of creation: The deities, the planets and stars, life and death stemmed from it. With time the Order succumbed to the influence of the Calamity and divided against itself. It fractured into fragments known as the Primal Shards that were scattered across the realms. The Pillars were the first of beings spawned from the Ancient Order, they were of two dominant races, the Elder Dragons and the Infernal Demons. They upheld the balance for several millennia until the Infernal Demons became tainted with greed and sought to rejoin the scattered Primal Shards to gain dominion over creation. The Elder Dragons opposed them fiercely and a battle ensued. They fought over creation for ages with brutal intensity and Endless Chaos was birthed from their conflict.
During their final confrontation and the culmination of their battle, both parties fought valiantly against one another and experienced great losses and short-lived victories. In a climactic moment, Aethrak- one of the surviving Elder Dragons- summoned the dimensional window and banished the Infernal Demons to the boundless abyss of the Forht dimension. With a final effort, the Demon Invictus absorbed the essence of his fallen brothers and blasted Aethrak with a powerful dark energy beam, inflicting serious damage upon him before the demon succumbed to the ultimate pull of the Forht. Aethrak was gravely weakened, he teleported to the realm of Lodernia, where he sensed the location of a Primal Shard and materialized before a young mortal sprawled in a pool of crimson, his garb drenched in blood. Aethrak discerned the vast and latent potential residing within this mortal. Despite sustaining a mortal wound to his chest and losing copious amounts of blood, he tenaciously clung to life through sheer force of will. The Dragon deemed him deserving of recognition, a worthy vessel. He proffered a deal through means of telepathy, speaking directly into the mind: His wounds would be healed on the condition that a soul-bond be forged between them, a powerful pact that combines the souls of two different entities and that together, they embark on a perilous quest to retrieve the Primal Shards before the infernal demons break free from their confines. The mortal, on the brink of death, agreed to the proposal made by the Elder Dragon. Aethrak initiated the bond ritual and merged both their essences together under the divine flame" Ocythos' voice fell silent, the temple returned in its former form
In the silence of the temple, Kaden contemplated the revelation he witnessed moments ago while Ocythos recovered from expending his god-energy.
"Kaden" Ocythos spoke, breaking the silence "I sense your inner conflict. You are now aware of your role, that grants you strength. Seek worthy allies, especially the dark swordsmith. Harness your power, you lack experience in combat but possess immense strength and speed, with a quick intuition and sharpened reflexes beyond mortal capabilities. You must commence your quest and succeed to deter the plans of the infernal demons"
"My life is bound to the dragon, I would have surely perished without its intervention. In return, I am sworn to fulfill our pact; to retrieve the Primal Shards and prevent the imminent apocalyptic chaos. By all means, I shall pursue the truth but this journey would remain inconceivable without the illumination you graciously provided. For this, I extend my profound gratitude" Kaden said
"Perhaps our paths may cross again in the distant future, in circumstances yet unknown. May your quest be blessed with luck and fortune Kaden, farewell" Ocythos said as he opened a portal before Kaden, connecting to Blackbough. Kaden bowed before the god in respect and followed through the portal that swiftly closed down after his passage. He walked a few yards and came across a mysterious steed, brown-haired and majestic, its name reading from a tag on its neck, "Argien". With a gentle hand, he reached out to stroke it's midnight-blue mane, feeling a sense of connection and purpose stirring within him. Kaden smiled gratefully, realising it was a gift from a certain friendly god he'd just encountered.
As Kaden mounted Argien, he felt a surge of determination coursing through him. With Ocythos' words echoing in his mind, he set off on his quest, ready to embrace his destiny and seek out allies who could aid him in his journey. The mysterious steed beneath him seemed to radiate an aura of divine blessing, reinforcing his resolve. With each step, Kaden moved closer to uncovering the truth and approached the many adventures that laid ahead.