"Lucky," Malzor finally conceded, his voice a low, gravelly rumble. "Because you delivered what you promised, even if the path was... circuitous. I achieved what I sought. But unlucky," he added, his gaze becoming distant, as if looking through Phantom and into the vast expanse of the Abyss itself, "because you revealed how much more there is beyond that ambition. The ceiling I fought so hard to reach is just another floor to beings like your creator, and to the Abyss itself."
He brought one massive clawed hand to his chest. "The fire I felt, the desperate need to rise... it's still here, but it's different now. Quieter. The chase was the essence, perhaps. Now that I've caught it, I see the endlessness of it all." He paused, a long, thoughtful silence stretching between them. "So, you are preparing a stage for your new host. What role do I play in this new act, Phantom?"
