The ground trembled without warning, and the cave began shaking with an unsettling intensity.
The world around them seemed to writhe, as if they were afraid. And then, from the very fabric of reality, a tear appeared—a rift, from which the very essence of the void itself bled into existence.
From the crack emerged the ominous entity.
It was an abomination of darkness—its form was humanoid, but featureless save for that monstrous, jagged jaw. Its presence was overwhelming, filling the entire cavern with aura of unfathomable power. Ayin and Zesh instinctively know—It was a being that transcended their understanding.
And it was smiling.
Forget about charming, warm, or even kind smile.
Creepy—stretched from nonexistent ear to ear, deep red almost bloody gum, jagged, sharp teeths.
Ayin and Zesh shuddered instantly.
But before they could react, the being walked out—once its dark blurry leg stepped on the floor, the cave break. And it wasn't metaphor. The pale ground, the bone like wall, the red ceiling, all of it, no exception, like shattered glass falling to the unknown.
The next moment the siblings realized their situation, everything was all but darkness.
Fear.
What could the twin felt at this moment but terror?
However, Zesh still gritted his teeth and took a step to protect his sister, baring his fangs fiercely.
Zesh growled, his body trembled from the sheer air of that being's presence. He was straining his muscles so much to keep his trembles in check that bloods start to flow again from his just closing wounds.
He could still felt the ground even though there was nothing, so it's probably just illusion.
"Well, well, well," the void entity's deep dark voice boomed with a surprisingly casual tone, as if it were speaking to old friends.
It stared at Ayin and Zesh battered form, dried blood on their fur, and their dirty appearance. "Look at you two similar face, all bright and shiny!" it added with a mischievous chuckle. "Hey, why so serious? I'm not here to eat you or anything."
But Zesh didn't bother to amuse it's humour. He roared while sending telepathic voice,
"What?" the being tilted its head, "You.. forget? Are you really don't remember? I mean, you walked here by yourself.. while carrying your sister obviously."
<…What?>
Zesh was shocked as his last memory before passing out resurfaced in his brain, <…inside the dragon? Wait, yes! I'm walking into the dragon's maw! I should meet the dragon, BUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!>
His eyes glinted ferociously, the possibility of being lied to made his heart bubbled with fury.
Seeing his brother growing bloody appearance, Ayin also steeled herself and stepped forward,
The void being puffed itself up, smile deepen with sense of pride. "Ah, my little pups, so full of fire! You're in one of my dimensions. Don't mind the mess—it's a bit dusty. It's not every day you get visitors. And as for why you're here…" the entity's smile fade, replaced with confusion as it stared at Zesh, "Didn't you come here because that old woman choose you? While you, cutie, has been chosen by that old man… right?"
Zesh snarled fiercely,
"That dragon! That big black dragon!" the being speak with exasperation while gesturing funnily, "Truly, what happened with your head? Hey, little sister, check out your brother's head, who knows just what has those humans thrown at his head!"
<….>
"…no, I mean, I'm older than you, so…"
Zesh: <…>
"….."
Ayin: <.....>
There was silence all around.
Zesh was shocked; ONE, that gigantic, titanic abyssal nightmarish black dragon, was a she? Why he couldn't detect any feminine trait or whatsoever female things from her then?! TWO, what the hell happened to his sister in this short period of time? Has she always this hard-boiled? She even dared to yelled at such being?! THREE, what old man? What chosen by old man?!
Zesh was even shocked. After all, the being in from of them was truly monstrous. But the way it act just now, too casual, too friendly that she slowly adapted. And that sentence was straw that broke the camel's back. If the being had attack her out of anger, or at least show some angry reaction, maybe she would feel better. But no. The being had no eyes, but she felt that it was staring at her, blankly. She felt so awkward.
The void being was speechless, its didn't know what should its say to lead the conversation again.
'Should I scare them first?' It contemplated.
The tense atmosphere turned strange.
Zesh coughed, both telepathically and verbally before spoke,
"…ask your sister, dude."
<….>
Zesh glanced to the side, <…sis?>
Thus, she proceeded to recount everything.
"Right, it's him, that muscle old man." the void being nodded approvingly.
Zesh also enlightened.
And so, another five minutes to recount everything.
Before Ayin's self-destructive words could cause reaction, the being of darkness spoke, "Alright, now we all clear. You, chosen by the grumpy dragon. You, chosen by the annoying elves. And meeee!" it pointed at itself with a wide grin, "I'm the deliveryman!"
<….>
<…..>
"Nah, I'm joking! But yes, I'm a messenger kinda thing!" it cleared its throat awkwardly.
But then, the air suddenly shifted.
That ominous and horrifying atmosphere returned, causing the twin to tensed up again.
"I am the One Who Delivers."
The entity of void spoke, its voice echoing off in the darkness. "I bring you what you have been chosen to inherit. I do not guide. I do not warn. I simply deliver what has been entrusted on me."
Ayin and Zesh stood stock-still.
If before they could still react and joking around, they're practically frozen now. The being leaves no more room for compromise.
"You, Elden beast," the entity continued grandly, "Will inherit the Dantian of the ancient gods. One of Light. One of Darkness. You will each bear the weight of these power. You may reshape this world with them, or you can die in the attempt."
Without another word, the entity raised its hand.
Towards its mouth.
The jagged maw opened wide and reached inside. But there was no gum, tongue, nor teeth inside. NO. Ayin and Zesh saw something completely different—Void, a sea of stars, a universes evolving, heavens even wider than what they have always know above—They both panted wildly as the mouth finally closed.
It was instant, but for them, feels like the eternity.
Truly, for that instant, they feel like their souls are about to fall into that sea of stars.
"This is your inheritance," the entity intoned, its voice deep and emotionless, attracting their attention.
Right now the being holds something.
It was pure all white. A bright, radiant of light, emanating a soft yet eternal brilliance that filled the darkness with an air of serenity.
A deep, endless black, swirling and roiling like the sea of void itself, a shape that seemed to consume even the darkness around it. If if wasn't for the light sphere, no one will be able to see it.
Each shape was unmistakably familiar.
Yet, completely different.
The two contrasting force hovered just above its palm, spinning in a perfect balance inside its prison like dark fingers, and the shape of each was undeniably familiar—the shapes of a early fetus, curled within the perfect sphere. They twisted and shimmered, exist as one, yet entirely separate. The dark flickered chaotically, while the white one hummed with peacefully.
They need one another to grow.
Yet, forever connected and bound in opposition.
"The essence of Light and Darkness. The forces of order that bind the universe together, inside these two Dantian. Now, choose."
As it said that, the suffocating air receded and the twin regain their telepathic ability.
"You may choose, little sister," it specifically deepened its tone on the last words.
"Trust?"
The void entity let out a low chuckle filled with dark amusement. "You think trust is a luxury I afford? No. I have said all that needed to be said. I am but a humble messenger, and I WILL deliver what is entrusted to me. Whether you like it or not, whether you want it or not, whether you accept it or not, I DON'T CARE."
A chill ran down Ayin's spine,
Zesh also spoke up as he snarled, his eyes filled with defiance.
"Oh, young Zesh… your arrogance is amusing." it laughed low and mocking, like thunder rumbling from the depths of the abyss. "And little sister, my goals are beyond your understanding."
It stretched out its other hand above the black-white sphere. In that instant, the sphere of perfect balance' constant rotation stopped abruptly. But its not done. It brought the sphere before its chest and with a low grunt, make a pulling motion—at the next instant, a heaven shaking explosion of chaos.
Zesh instinctively protected his sister with his body and prepared for the pain to come.
But strangely, there was none.
"Open your eyes upon the legacy of ancient gods." the void monster's voice echoed.
Ayin and Zesh opened their eyes tremblingly, only to saw the all black monster, standing like a primordial god with white sun fetus in right hand and blackest moon fetus in left hand. Their breath caught in awe growing fear, completely loss for words.
"This is the elven power," the pure, holy fetus of light shine brightly, "It carries the wisdom of elves and their knowledge of magic. Upon inheriting this Dantian, you'll acquire unparalleled magic; froze the sea, burn the heaven above, everything's within your grasp."
The blackest fetus then hummed ferociously, "The power of the dragon." the being raised it as well, "This Dantian contain the power, the legacy of the ancient dragon of the past. Once you inherit this power, you will obtain everything that the dragon had; rise above the clouds, make the demons and gods alike weep, trample the heaven and earth—"
Zesh interjected, his scarlet-blood gaze fixated on the darkness-form fetus,
Ayin cast questioning gaze on him, but he stay quiet.
Power…
Right now, all he wanted, is power.
He crave power. And what's more powerful than dragon of the past? Titan obviously. But there was no titan's legacy, so dragon was the best choice. The nightmare was still roaring alive in his mind—Titanic physique, gigantic might, unparalleled power.
Zesh must protect his sister at all cost.
He wanted revenge.
He will save his mother.
And to do that, what more suit him than the dragon's overwhelming might? Magic? No. He may be talentless and stupid Elden beast, but he knew how magic works. He also knew that to fulfill all his desire, he didn't need flashy things like magic.
Claws, fangs.
Tear their skin and bone, feast on their flesh and blood—He had everything he need except power.
The dragon surely appeared in his dream for a reason.
"Then it's yours."
The dark entity smiled wide approvingly as it lightly pushed the blackness towards Zesh.
They both caught off guard at the casualty of the process, after all this's inheritance. Not mentioning the owner, the process should be, at least dramatic. But the being—While they were still in disbelief, the dark fetus closing on with fluid movement, turning smaller along the way, until it small enough land between his eyebrows.
In the next instant—
Zesh began trembled violently, his eyes unfocused, his wounds opened and bleeding again.
But the void's being stay indifferent.
Right now, within Zesh's mind, he saw a boundless void, endless and eternal. Sun and moon exploded and reformed in an infinite cycle, each detonation sending waves of destructive power coursing through his body and soul. Primordial runes blazed, incomprehensible yet brimming with profound meaning.
"Sadly, you don't have a choice on you anymore, little sister." it smiled.
Ayin stood between her brother and the void being, her eyes red from panic,
"Refuse?" The void entity tilted its head thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose you could, but… that would be very problematic for you. Besides, you don't have a choice right now. The deal is already made."
Without warning, the entity's hand shot forward, and the fetus of light burst toward Ayin.
She yelped as the force of light entered her body through the spot between her eyebrows and collided with her soul. There was a moment of intense, blinding agony, followed by an overwhelming surge of power.
Ayin's body quaked as her mind, she saw an endless expanse of light, warm and encompassing.
Even outside, she was cocooned in light.
Like the sun.
The only light in this expanse of endles darkness.
Rivers of pure radiant energy flowed through her newly awakened Dantian, their currents tranquil yet unyielding. Each drop of light seemed to contain a world of it's own, filled with the breath of life.
Ayin's body elevated as the light healed her wounds, even filled her skinny frame with renewed flesh and bloods. Her fur shimmered, growing brighter until it seemed to glow with an internal radiance. Her body became leaner as though she had shed all burdens and impurities. The energy within her Dantian swirled with serene precision, the rhythm of harmony.
But as she embraced the light, she was overwhelmed by a sense of vastness.
As if she were a mere speck within an infinity.
The tranquility threatened to erase her individuality, to dissolve her very sense of self. But at this moment—she heard the old elf's voice in her mind.
On the other side, Zesh's fur darkened further.
His wounds has long healed, his body now swelling with power. Shadows has coil around him like snakes, alive and writhing, as though he had become the heart of an eternal abyss. He felt the chaotic energy surging within his new Dantian, a torrent of destruction and creation that threatened to overwhelm his soul—But then, in the depths of his Dantian, a single draconic rune stabilized. It shone like a beacon, anchoring Zesh's consciousness amidst the chaos.
"Very good, it seems they really want to let these children inherit what remained of their powers."
The dark being watched the process in silence.