Takakai didn't know how he'd regained mobility in this situation.
What he was experiencing now was similar to what he'd felt at the end of previous dungeon clears—where he'd passively observed traces of the KP's manipulations like watching a movie, unable to interact.
But this time was different.
As that bastard ranted and tried to kill him—
—Takakai's paralyzed body had inexplicably begun to move.
He could feel his limbs again, sense the unnatural stillness around him, and—most importantly—realize the KP's grip on his throat had weakened.
If the KP had once been an untouchable, higher existence…
…then by personally interfering, by cheating, he'd lowered himself to Takakai's level.
And now, Takakai could reach him.
"Hah…"
A breath. A clenched fist.
[W-Why can you—Ghk?!]
Before the gaudily dressed man could react, Takakai yanked him up by the head—
—and drove a fist straight into his meticulously maintained face.
CRUNCH!
The nose shattered first.
Then the cheekbones caved in, collapsing with a sickening snap.
An eyeball burst, viscous fluid spraying.
Teeth scattered like broken glass.
The punch landed with cartoonish force, cratering the man's skull, knuckles plunging deep as if to punch out the back of his head.
[Guh—!?]
The KP flung backward, skidding across the floor like a dying animal.
Takakai cracked his neck. Rolled his shoulders.
And stalked forward.
[H-How?! In this space, you shouldn't be able to—!]
The KP's face reformed, bloodstains the only remnants of damage as he scrambled up, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Dunno. Why don't you figure it out, master?"
Takakai grinned, hefting the bloodied chainsaw.
"After all… I've got so much to discuss with you."
The revving blade drowned out the KP's next words.
Was this… fear?
The KP's hands trembled as Takakai charged.
[Impossible! You're garbage! A lowly—GYAAAAAAAAH!!!]
The chainsaw impaled his chest, lifting him off his feet, then slammed him down with enough force to bounce his body.
[STOP! STOP!]
The KP wrenched the blade free, regenerating instantly—
—only for Takakai to kick his legs out, stomp on his throat, and saw through his torso again.
[NO! NO PLEASE—!]
Rip.Tear.Repeat.
Limbs regrew only to be lopped off.
The KP's screams were music—a fraction of the suffering he'd inflicted.
[I-I'm superior! You can't—HRK!]
A kick to the jaw sent him sprawling.
The chainsaw descended—vertical, bisecting him from skull to groin.
[AAAAAAAAAAAA—!]
Flesh knitted back together.
Pain lingered.
The KP crawled, whimpering, as Takakai dragged him up by the hair—
—and smashed his head into the wall.
Again.
Again.
Again.
A bloody, merciless execution.
No trial. No fairness.
Just vengeance.
When the KP finally stopped moving, reduced to a twitching heap, Takakai dropped him.
"Hah…"
He wiped blood from his hands, surveying the frozen world.
"You've watched long enough. Show yourself."
[A masterful performance. Your technique reminds me of certain action games.]
A figure materialized beside him—a top hat and suit, empty where a face should be.
[Call me Faceless. For one who needs no name, it suffices.]
A bow, eerily precise.
[I wish our first meeting had been under better circumstances.]
"You helped me move?" Takakai eyed the entity coldly.
[Only slightly. We restrained his resistance, but your mobility…]
A gloved hand gestured to Takakai's wrist—not quite pointing at the black watch.
He can't see it?
A flicker of realization.
"So KPs aren't united. What, was he breaking rules?"
Takakai's tone was casual, but he recognized this entity—the Nutty Putty Cave KP, who'd once spoken through Susan.
[Rules are everything. Without them, there are no games, no stories.]
Faceless turned to the whimpering KP.
[Pathetic, Writer. Modifying rules mid-game? Personally interfering?]
A disappointed headshake (shoulders unnaturally still).
[You've disgraced us. You're fired.]
[F-FIRED?!]
The Writer shrieked, pointing at Takakai.
[HE'S the cheater! That power—rewinding time—it's impossible!]
[He ruined my perfect tragedies! He deserves—]
[Silence.]
Faceless's voice dropped, venomous.
[Do you truly not understand?]
A step forward.
[His 'cheat' costs him. Every rewind is paid in agony.]
[Bodies broken. Loved ones slaughtered. A curse worse than death.]
[He earned that power. You? You're nothing.]
The Writer quaked, broken.
Then—
A vibration.
Time stirred, resuming.
The black watch split open—
—and the Writer screamed as invisible forcesdragged him toward it.
[NO! NO! FACELESS, HELP—!]
A gulp.
The Writer vanished.
[Now, order is restored.]
Faceless turned, bowing again.
[Until we meet again, great one.]
"Wait."
Takakai's voice stopped him.
"Has anyone else… had this?"
A gesture to the watch.
Faceless hesitated.
[…You are the first to survive its curse.]
A pause.
"What is it?"
The question hung in the air.
Faceless leaned close, voice reverent.
[The Key of All Things.]
And with that—
—he vanished.
Time resumed.
The dungeon collapsed.
And Takakai stood alone, the watch pulsing silently on his wrist.