"Day Mother," a young man said, his voice steady but laced with deference as he bowed deeply, his form radiating heat like a star. His hair blazed with solar flames, flickering with an inner fire, and his eyes glowed with the fierce intensity of a supernova. This was Hector, an eternal phoenix bearing the Blazing Sun bloodline, a being feared across existences for his ruthless strength when necessity demanded, his presence alone scorching the air with faint wisps of heat.

"I'm aware, Hector. A new Night Father has emerged," the Day Mother replied, her voice serene yet sharp, cutting through the light like a blade of radiance, interrupting him before he could elaborate. The light pulsed subtly with her words, the realm responding to her utterance, a ripple of energy affirming her omniscience.

Hector straightened, his fiery aura steady but his expression grave. "What should we do about the emerging Father of the Night?" he asked respectfully, his tone edged with urgency,"We find him before the Abyss Patriarch finds him, and most especially Chaos. I fear what will become of our origin point should the new Night Father fall into their hands," the Day Mother answered, her voice calm but heavy with a weight that made the light tremble faintly, a subtle shift in the realm's radiance betraying the gravity of her concern.

"And? Should we extinguish him, Day Mother? Or should we make him an ally?" Hector sought further instruction, his flames flaring slightly with his question, the heat around him intensifying as he probed for clarity.

"That decision will be made when the time comes," she replied, her tone measured and final, the light stabilizing around her like a veil of certainty, leaving no room for debate.

Hector's eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance crossing his radiant features. "Mother, you can't possibly think of sparing him. Don't tell me you still hold mixed feelings toward the last Night—"

"We do not speak of him. Not in my presence. Do I need to remind you of that, Hector?" the Day Mother interrupted, her voice sharp now, the pressure within the realm thickening instantly. The light grew blinding, pressing against Hector like a physical force, his fiery aura dimming under its weight, the heat of his presence cooling as if quenched by an invisible hand.

"Forgive me, Day Mother. I stepped out of line," Hector offered, bowing again, his voice strained as he felt the crushing pressure, his flames subdued. The pressure vanished the next moment, as if it had never been, the radiance softening around them once more.

"Where can we find him, Day Mother?" Hector asked, his tone careful now, seeking direction without overstepping, his eyes lowered in respect.

"I can't pinpoint him. It seems Aamon ensured the protection of his successor before his demise. As to be expected from an annoying one like him," the Day Mother explained, her voice calm once more, though a faint trace of irritation lingered at the mention of Aamon, the light around her throne flickering subtly.

"So what do we do? It's near impossible to find him among the clusters of existence planes out there," Hector said, his voice reflecting the daunting scale of the task, the flames in his hair steadying as he contemplated the challenge.

"Then we wait for him to make his appearance. If the new Night Father is anything close to Aamon, it won't be long before he appears before us. A century to a millennium should suffice for him to grow strong enough to reveal himself," the Day Mother predicted, her words carrying the certainty of one who had seen eons pass. Unbeknownst to her, the one she spoke of was no mere successor—Aaron was a complete and utter monster, his rise propelled by a system.

---

[Congratulations on reaching Eternal rank host!]

[You have fulfilled the hidden requirement]

[You have completed the tutorial phase]

[Pick an evolution path]

[Dominator/Protector]

[NOTE: Your choice cannot be altered afterwards]

[Your reward and system update will follow your evolution path!]

"What's going on, system? And what do you mean tutorial phase?" Aaron asked, his voice sharp with curiosity, leaning forward as if the system's voice might materialize before him, his mind racing to process the unexpected turn.

[You have been going through the tutorial and a hidden mission at the same time. It's the way of knowing if you were worthy or not,] the system replied, its tone calm but firm, unveiling a layer of its purpose that Aaron had never suspected.

"Worthy? What do you mean worthy?" Aaron pressed, a spark of indignation flaring in his chest, his hands clenching as he paced the chamber, his boots echoing softly against the stone.

[Worthy to be the host of the system. You were given a time span of a decade to reach the Eternal rank. The first official step of going beyond the small confines of the world you find yourself in. And you have done so within the stipulated time, while your attributes and taste for growth were being examined.]

Aaron's eyes widened, a mix of shock and betrayal surging through him. "So all along I've been going through some kind of test? You traitor! What would have happened if I had failed?!" he yelled, his voice echoing off the walls, the runes flaring briefly in response to his agitation, their glow pulsing with his anger.

[I would have left and found another host, leaving you to your mediocre life,] the system replied matter-of-factly, its tone devoid of apology, cutting through Aaron's anger like a blade through silk.

"Tsk," Aaron clicked his tongue, his irritation simmering but tempered by the realization that he had passed. "Anyways, I passed. That's all that matters. So what's up with this evolution path?"

[It's just what it means. What path do you wish to take going forward? The righteous and clear path of a protector, protecting those in need as you climb higher in strength, or the gray path of dominating and ruling all as you rise in strength.]

"What about the dark path?" Aaron asked, his tone laced with curiosity, a playful smirk tugging at his lips, half-expecting the system to indulge his whims.

[We don't do that here,] the system retorted, its voice dry, almost scolding, as if chastising him for the thought.

"Tsk," Aaron clicked his tongue again, chuckling softly as he promised himself to cut back on the memes he'd been indulging in. The choice before him was monumental, and he leaned against the cold stone wall, his mind weighing the paths with careful deliberation. The righteous path of a protector, always playing the hero, saving those in need, felt noble but restrictive, demanding selflessness and mercy at every turn. The gray path of a dominator, ruling with strength and bending others to his will, offered freedom—freedom to be just or cruel, forgiving or vengeful, as he saw fit.

A week ago, his choice might have been different, swayed by ideals of heroism and justice. But the recent rebellion had been an eye-opener, a harsh lesson in the nature of power and loyalty. Not everyone deserved mercy. Not everyone deserved salvation. And definitely not everyone deserved his help. Playing the role of a hero filled with only justice was exhausting, vexing, and wholly unsuited to his nature. Aaron was petty—unapologetically so. Those who stood against him were swept aside, their defiance crushed without hesitation. Those who wronged him rarely, if ever, found forgiveness. Mercy was a rare gift, one he bestowed only when it suited him, and that was a choice he made sparingly.

"I choose the dominator path," Aaron declared, his voice steady, a confident smirk spreading across his face as he made up his mind after weighing the pros and cons.

[Are you sure?]

[Decision cannot be altered after choice is made!]

[Proceed?]

"Yes. Go for it. Let's see what you have in store for me," Aaron replied, his smirk widening, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, the runes on the walls pulsing faintly as if sensing his resolve.

[Congratulations! You have chosen the path of the dominator!]

[The system is being calibrated to match your evolution path!]

[Updating system patch]

[23 hours, 59 min, 40 seconds]

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