After walking for some time, we reached a chamber deep within the cave.
At its center stood a large wolf statue—the same one I had seen at the cave's entrance.
The room itself was simple.
Just a podium where the statue stood… a small staircase leading up to it…
And walls of solid white ice, gleaming faintly.
The Guardian Spirit stopped at the doorway and gestured for me to enter.
"Go inside," he said. "Stand before the statue."
I gulped and padded forward, moving slowly. My paws made faint crunching sounds on the icy floor.
The room was cold, silent, and strangely… empty.
Nothing else stood out—just the statue.
I climbed the stairs and stood in front of the towering wolf figure.
I waited.
…Nothing happened.
I glanced back at the Guardian, hoping for a clue—but he looked just as puzzled as I was.
Why isn't anything happening?
Suddenly—
The ground beneath me shook violently.
The whole chamber trembled like a wild earthquake.
I yelped and dropped low, hoping the ceiling wouldn't collapse.
But after a few moments, the shaking stopped.
I carefully stood up, heart racing.
"Guardian?" I called out.
But he was gone.
What the—?!
Where did he disappear to?
As I turned, I felt a strange glow coming from the statue.
I looked up—and gasped.
Cracks were forming along its surface.
Its eyes began to glow bright white.
The entire statue seemed to be… moving on its own.
My legs started trembling uncontrollably.
Then—the statue's mouth opened and a deep voice echoed through the room.
"Do not be afraid, child," it said calmly.
"All this shaking… all these unnatural events… are happening because I have descended into the mortal world."
The voice was so powerful I felt my bones vibrating.
A GOD had descended?
Just a few days ago I thought this world was normal—no magic, no gods.
And now I was standing in front of one?!
This can't be real.
I must be dreaming!
Desperate to confirm, I headbutted the floor.
THUD!
"OWWWWWWWWW!!!"
Nope—definitely not a dream.
I groaned and looked back up at the glowing wolf statue.
The god only shook his head at my ridiculous behavior.
Then he spoke again.
"Before I grant you your reward for the Blood Trial, I must acknowledge… you have done something no other has ever done.
And for that, I will give you a special record.
But first—I have one question for you.
Answer truthfully, and the nature of your reward may change."
I quickly nodded.
"Yes!"
I'd be a complete fool to say no to a god.
The god's glowing eyes narrowed slightly.
"Good. Then tell me—who are you?"
The question caught me off guard.
"Uh… I'm a wolf," I answered uncertainly.
The god's gaze seemed to pierce through me.
"Then tell me your name."
"I… I don't have one," I admitted.
The god's voice deepened.
"Oh? Are you sure, Gray Soliski?"
BANG.
It felt like lightning struck my heart.
HOW?!
How did he know my name from my previous life?!
I instinctively stumbled back in shock, my mind screaming.
This is impossible!
But then again… this is a god. Maybe it isn't.
My voice trembled.
"Y-Y-You… know…?"
The Wolf God laughed deeply.
"Of course I know. I am a god.
It is natural that I can see the true nature of your soul.
And your soul… is not that of a wolf—but a human."
His words echoed through me.
I stood frozen, my brain spinning.
"I even know your old world—Earth," the god continued.
"You are a special case. Never have I seen such a thing.
You despised being human, and yet here you are—reincarnated into this world as a wolf.
A being that should not exist."
I swallowed hard.
In the back of my mind, dark thoughts crept in.
Is he going to kill me now?
If I'm not truly a wolf… will he erase me?
My whole body tensed, prepared for the worst.
But instead—the Wolf God only laughed harder.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! You are amusing, child.
Even now, your first thought is that I might kill you."
He smiled warmly.
"No. I will not kill you. Quite the opposite."
He gazed at me, eyes glowing even brighter.
"I descended to the mortal world specifically because of you.
A wolf with a human soul… such a thing should be impossible.
Yet here you are."
He paused.
"For you, child… I have a special gift."
The god extended one great paw and touched it gently to my forehead.
The moment he did, my vision blurred.
I felt an overwhelming wave of energy surge through me.
Darkness.
I collapsed instantly, consciousness slipping away.
As I drifted into unconsciousness, I heard the god's voice one last time.
"We will meet again.
For now… live your life."
With those words, the glowing statue began to fade from view.