What made a soul worthy? And what was a soul? Is mine worthy? All questions that I would not be asking this person called Time.


    I needed to think about this, and I caught myself before asking if there was a time limit. That would be just like me; get all prepared and then mess up without even thinking. ??


    Time would have no meaning to a person like this, so I should have as much as I need, but that didn''t get me any closer to answering the question that I was asked. I needed to ask him a question, but there was only one thing that I really wanted to know after Hero had talked about the Dragon Nuts Booby-kai tournament, or whatever it was called.


    "If I am chosen, and you deem my soul worthy, what is it all for?" I asked, trying to be specific, but not at the same time.


    Time was silent, and he did not speak right away. I was left to wonder if I might have offended him or something; considering he was called Time, I thought he might be a faster thinker.


    "Even I need a moment to answer this question. While I may be called Time, and I may have control of it; in this ce, we are of the same time, and I can not alter it. As for your question, there is a tournament of sorts, but it is not the purely fighting type. If you can pass my judgment, then you will be transported to a new world with your pets, but there will also be four hundred and ny-nine others that will have passed the test there," Time exined but then said no more.


    I didn''t like that he called my girls pets, which immediately put me on edge with Time. He may be the god of the next level, but then that meant that my pets were his creation, and he should know that they are so much more than animals.


    "That did not answer my question; you told me about the things that it involved, but not how it was. That was the deal, right? I ask you a question, and then you answer it? Your words, not mine, and if you would have said that I could ask you a question and you might answer, then I would understand, but you have still yet to answer my question. Stop reading my mind and read the question," I said, crossing my arms, not really caring what Time thought.


    I had seen enough TV to know that Demons and Gods loved to mince words, and I wasn''t about to let some level two god y me for a fool. Fireden was not ring at me, but he gave me a strained look, so I started to tap my foot on the ground that wasn''t there.


    "I am surprised; normally, a witless person like you would just ept what I said, but as I have hoped, you are different. Yours and everyone else''s target is the tenth ne, and that is the final realm where what you call gods reside. Once we have found our next god, we will try again. Now, I have answered your question fully; it is time to answer mine," Time told me, and I nodded.


    "And I will give you my answer, but I don''t know if you are going to like it, but I didn''t really like your answer. I don''t give a rat''s ass if you think my soul or I am worthy! I have a great new life, and I thank you for that, but I am not about to butter you up to try to get first ce; not my style, and never was," I said, and Time/Fireden raised his eyebrow in surprise.


    "So, even after telling you that you will be a god, you still do not care?" Time asked me, and I shook my head no.


    "If you are the standard for a god, then no. In my mind, I see this as all a big game to you. I also think that you are the type that cares only about end product matters; to hell with what stands in the way. I am dealing with a woman with the same issue, and if that is what I have to look forward to, then I would sooner just die when my timees. At least I will be doing it with my friends and the people that I love and care for, the same ones you call my pets! Who do you have? Do you have a huge family that you will go back to after this meeting? I do, and I wouldn''t trade this life for the world or to be a god, Mr. Time!" I said, and to my surprise, he smiled at me.


    "You are right, and I don''t have what you have, but that is why I do this. One day, you will return to the stars with me, and we will all be waiting for you. I just hope that somewhere deep inside, you remember why you made this choice in the first ce. When this is all over, I hope…."


    I was back standing at the Lava Lake Crater again, but my hair was all standing on end, and a cold chill ran through my body. I knew that person, and his name was not Time, but that was all that I knew or thought I did.


    "Kazz, The Shaman, I give you my Bond as proof of my trust that you will do good for this world. I offer you the Primal Force of Fire to augment and collect all your Fire Bonds. Do you ept?" Fireden asked me, and I nodded, my body starting to calm down.


    <Are you okay? What happened?>


    Hero''s words jolted me from the thoughts that were trying to sink me, and I looked up at fireden while rying everything that had happened.


    "I ept your Primal Force of Fire Pact!" I said with confidence, and Fireden burst with light, but Hero had gone silent.