"Did I scare you? If so, I'm sorry, Faust."
"Who do you think you are to scare me?! Me!"
"I just need you to listen."
"Everyone wants someone to talk to. What am I, a therapist? Get lost."
The black cloud tried to continue, but Faust had already chosen his prey.
"One mo—"
Fwoooosh
Faust suddenly pushed off the ground with his right leg, leaping forward. He aimed his left hand at what he guessed was the cloud's heart—only for it to pass straight through.
Huh? What the hell was that?
"Seriously, Faust. You tried to rip out the heart of a cloud? A cloud. A. Cloud. Just please, you are better than this. (-_-)"
The black cloud was still looking at the spot where Faust had been standing before attacking. Since Faust had passed right through it, there was no point in even turning around.
Its mocking tone made Faust snap. Normally, him snapping spelled disaster for his opponents—but this time his opponent was a cloud. A cloud.
Still… It doesn't matter. Nothing can stop me....I guess?
"Cloud!"
"…?"
Faust raised a hand to his mouth. Then, as if one hand wasn't enough, he suddenly pressed both hands to his face.
And started laughing like a maniac. Wildly. Long, unbroken, hysterical laughter—
"ahah— hahahah…. AAAAAAAAAHHHHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
"Hm… Huh?…"
"S-s-sorry— AAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAH??"
The black cloud finally gave in to curiosity. It didn't understand what was happening—couldn't understand. Faust had suddenly burst into meaningless laughter. Had he gone insane? At that moment, only Faust himself would know.
Am I losing it?… ahahaha… I-I-I don't know why… aaahahahahaaaaah… b-but… AHAHAHAHA… I CAN'T STOP! WHY CAN'T I STOP!?
The black cloud's silhouette began to solidify. Not fully human—yet—but no longer just smoke. A man, surrounded by a fierce, swirling aura.
"Maybe… THIS will be enough to convince you to listen and take me seriously"
The cloud was no longer a shapeless form. It was now undeniably human. It wasn't a random transformation—clearly, it was something meant to make Faust take it seriously. To make him listen.
At first, Faust narrowed his eyes, watching it shape itself. Trying to make sense of it. Trying to recognize it. He knew it wouldn't change form for no reason.
What the… hold on—
The eyes he had narrowed to improve focus slowly widened in shock.
"Ah. No. No no no."
"Will you listen now?"
"You son of a bitch. I won't even kill you. I'll just make sure you wish you were dead."
"Is that so, Faust?"
"That's so, ######."
"So you do remember my name."
Faust began walking toward the cloud—slow, heavy steps that shook the ground like a small earthquake.
Bam!....Bam!.....Bam!....
"Careful, Faust. Your steps are shaking the ground."
They stood face to face. Faust was at least thirty centimeters taller and broader, but both carried the same unshaken confidence.
"Talk."
"As you wish…"