Darkness died as Death descended, the Timeline twisting Spacetime overhead.
[My Scion…]Death hissed, carrying amusement.
The Timeline's words were crisper. [… Nyarlathotep. To call upon me like this… what have you decided?]
Kai stared at the darkness, sensing a chill running down his spine.
If this wasn't a sign of Death and Timeline working on a grand scheme, then he didn't know what would be.
"I have some questions," Kai said, dropping all pretenses. "I think… You are willing to answer…"
Both Death and Timeline chuckled this time.
The Ad Infinitum and Lucky Intuitions both directed their entire Proficiency toward the Eldritch Entities instantly.
"Did you know that I would become Nyarlathotep?" Kai asked Death.
[No.]
Kai's brows pressed together under the yellow hood.
Before he could ask about it, though, Death had more to add, shocking him.
[I made an… what you humans like to say… an educated guess. If your poisoned Luck wasn't a sign, then it was the Item… Something that should have been given by a Timeline from this Random World.]
[It was not the case…] Timeline joined in. [The Great Old Contract holds the data of all Items bestowed upon your kind. The Book you carried, used, and flaunted left and right… It didn't belong to Us.]
Kai let out a sigh, confirming his doubts.
[Then you went ahead and became an Outer One.] Death hissed, still holding a blatant mockery. [And We began giving a… helping hand, counting on you becoming Nyarlathotep.]
"Is that why you asked for me for the Karmic Dissolution Mission?" Kai asked Timeline.
[Why not?] The Timeline asked back. [Once such a Mission was assigned to an Outer One, it more or less confirmed the most probable trajectory… You — were always fated to become Nyarlathotep.]
Kai scoffed. "What if I hadn't?"
[You must have… processed? Yes — processed it already, my Scion.]Death hissed, the darkness gaining size. [Neither Bubble's Timelines nor Bubble Entities tolerate an Outer One…]
[We would have erased your existence.]Timeline summarized.
Kai took a deep breath, drumming his fingers on the chair's arm.
"What is your goal, then?" he asked, the Ad Infinitum going overload to find any discrepancy in Their words. "I can understand the Timeline. She has a motive. To become a Pillar Existence, She would need someone like me.
"What's in it for you… Death?"
Silence.
Kai felt like the darkness was taking shape in front of him.
Once again, he found himself helpless… The mysteries he carried around him were getting torn apart, limb by limb.
As if hundreds of years had passed, Kai was losing the sense of living.
In the next moment, he found Death staring at him right into his demonic eyes.
[Why ask something…] Death asked with a flat voice. [… that you already know the answer to… Oh, Lucky One…]
Thump!
Kai huffed and puffed as Death retreated, his heart thumping wildly against his chest.
He had thought of it. It was only one Lucky Intuition among several billion. But, despite finding it absurd, the Ad Infinitum had stored that Intuition separately.
[Verse Fusion…] The Timeline said, almost kissing Kai's neck. [… We call it a Bubble Paradox. Becoming a Pillar Existence is what all Timelines long for. It's in Our nature. We are born with it. We die with it. I wanted to become one, too. Then, you went and did something crazy.]
[You obtained a Bubble Paradox of your own, my Scion.] Death said, greed oozing out like a tsunami from the darkness.
Kai's slitted pupils thinned even more. "What's so special about a Verse Fusion?" he asked. "There have been…"
Suddenly, the Ad Infinitum corrected Kai.
[Haha… Not just a Bubble Paradox.] Death's rattling hiss screeched in Kai's ears. [An Outer One's Bubble Paradox. Nyarlathotep's Bubble Paradox. And — All Bubbles, paradox or not, need a Bubble Entity, my Scion.]
Silence.
Yes. Death wanted to become a Deep One of Kai's Verse Fusion as well.
"HAHAHA!" Kai laughed like a maniac, almost holding his stomach. "HAHAHAHAHA! You have watched me for so long… Haha… Do you really think… that I would let you just walk over me… Hahahaha!"
For a while, neither Death nor Timeline said anything.
From even Their perspectives, one thing stood true, despite Kai's ridiculous existence when compared to them.
There was no way to predict him.
There was no way to say, no matter how accurately one looked into the future or in the past, what Kai would end up doing in the next moment.
[Enough!] Death hissed, hurriedly. [We came here with a proposal. Not to force you to give up your world.]
Kai wiped the laugh from his face, a small smile persisting on his lips.
Did He sense something? Kai thought, finding it quite amusing. Did They see the entire planet collapsing in the next few seconds?
From Timeline's terrifying tone, it certainly did seem the case.
[Whatever you have done to the planet core without my knowledge…] She warned. [… You will be wise enough not to use it.]
"That's the thing…" Kai said with Calm. "I don't do well against threats, Ma'am."
[Humph!] The Timeline scoffed.
"What is this proposal?" Kai asked, staring into the darkness.
[It is true, my Scion.] Death hissed. [No matter the nature of Bubble, without a Bubble Entity, it's inviting trouble. You already know a way to get one for your Bubble Paradox, don't you?]
Kai nodded, remembering the Half-Deep One that had almost ended up replacing him as Contestant in the Primordial Tower.
[You snatch Timelines from different Bubbles.] Death explained. [Then, little by little, elevate your existence to become a Deep One yourself. But, for this, you must stop being a…]
"Contestant," Kai said, finishing the sentence.
[Yes.] Death hissed. [But, if you don't want to step on a failed path, then you can let me watch over your world, instead. You called Us because you want to add this Timeline to your world, right? Haha…]
Kai didn't deign to answer.
[I agree.] Timeline said flatly.
[Not all Bubble Entities will be so willing to let go of their Timelines, my Scion.] Death told Kai. [I can help you with that. If you are willing to let me seep my Authorities into your Bubble Paradox, then…
[I, Death the Artificer, will be your vanguard in your quest to conquer Timelines.]
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