"Exactly as you have said… To become the greatest Alpha you wish to be, you must become evil—to eventually turn out good," the priest affirmed, agreeing with Bernard's earlier declaration.
He extended his hand forward. "Come closer, Alpha. Let the mind of the spirit come into you."
Bernard stepped closer, cautiously. As instructed, he inhaled the white smoke—the sacred mist of the land of the holy ones.
The moment the smoke entered his lungs, Bernard collapsed to the ground. His senses became overwhelmed, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. He couldn't explain what had come into him.
"The one who brings terror to you and your kind is coming... and the storm will be far greater than you've imagined," the priest muttered, now in a trance. "Be strong and ready. For what you see before you… is never the full picture of the terror to come—not just to you, but to the entire universe!"
He moved erratically with the smoke waves, arms raised, voice deep and haunting.
