"If you successfully fulfill this contract and heal the wound in time, you will prove that you not only possess Power, but also the potential and temperament to wield such Power to uphold 'Order' rather than for mere destruction..."
"I, Phaethon, can guide you and provide the necessary 'witness' and 'bridge'..."
"I will help you ignite the Divine Fire, construct a Divine Format, and step into... the true Domain of the Gods."
Guidance and aid on the path to godhood.
This promise was so momentous it would make any mortal powerhouse's breath catch and their heart pound.
Roland was no exception, of course, but he wasn't swept away by the prospect.
Instead, he endured the excruciating pain wracking both his soul and body, held on to his clarity, and asked in a low voice within his mind.
"What is the cost?"
Every deal has a price.
The greater the reward, the more staggering the hidden cost.
"The cost?"
Phaethon's massive, cyan-white vertical pupil blinked almost imperceptibly.
