In a dimension separate from the Metaverse and from reality, two beings stood next to each other, watching Ren and his group move through the Palace.
The being on the right simply took the form of a man, his hair pulled into a ponytail and his face covered by a mask.
The being on the left was a mass of... something. Looking at it would drive any normal person insane.
"HA62JEEE CHEAT?" the churning mass echoed.
"Speak like a normal person," the suave-looking masked man said. "And I would hardly consider my actions cheating."
Suddenly the mass whirled and churned before coalescing into the shape of a man with hollow eyes and a face that looked human but wasn't quite. His eyes were wrong. The dimensions were wrong. His hair was spotty. But also full. It was a human face. But clearly not a human being.
"Hehe. I don't mind. It just goes to show that I am winning once again."
"You're only 'winning' in your own mind. I'm allotted this much seeing as your minion has..." The man trailed off before clicking his tongue.
"Hey hey, I can't control that thing. Think of what the cognition of the masses was that created it," the disturbing-looking man said with a chuckle. "Humans will fail. Again."
"They will not," the man said. "You know this. Which is why you manipulated that being to look for the Trickster."
"Hehe, I did nothing," the man laughed loudly. "That man is a treat!!! How beautiful! How chaotic!"
He stopped laughing and continued, "He saw through the hypocrisy of mortals and wants to destroy it all. I didn't say a thing. Nyx was the one who seduced him."
"I'm growing tired of this, Nyarlathotep," the suave man said. "I can overlook some mild cheating... but do not cause a repeat of the past."
"Look, Tatsuya is the only human I will ever respect for what he did. Is he an idiot? Yeah. But that doesn't stop me from respecting his actions. I don't want to repeat that. Let the mortals solve their squabbles. Our bet goes on, Philemon... my other half..."
"You're very lucky there has been no direct interference on your part. But that being has HARMED THAT CHILD," the man, Philemon, boomed in anger.
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