Chapter 779: Bubble Paradox — Timeline and Death’s Crazy Offer!!

Darkness died asDeathdescended, theTimelinetwisting Spacetime overhead.

[My Scion...]Deathhissed, carrying amusement.

TheTimeline’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 ofDeathandTimelineworking 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..."

BothDeathandTimelinechuckled this time.

TheAd InfinitumandLucky Intuitionsboth directed their entire Proficiency toward the Eldritch Entities instantly.

"Did you know that I would become Nyarlathotep?" Kai askedDeath.

[No.]

Kai’s brows pressed together under the yellow hood.

Before he could ask about it, though,Deathhad 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...] Timelinejoined 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.] Deathhissed, 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 askedTimeline.

[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.]Deathhissed, the darkness gaining size.[Neither Bubble’s Timelines nor Bubble Entities tolerate an Outer One...]

[We would have erased your existence.]Timelinesummarized.

Kai took a deep breath, drumming his fingers on the chair’s arm.

"What is your goal, then?" he asked, theAd Infinitumgoing overload to find any discrepancy inTheirwords. "I can understand theTimeline.Shehas a motive. To become a Pillar Existence,Shewould 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... Themysterieshe 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 foundDeathstaring at him right into his demonic eyes.

[Why ask something...]Deathasked with a flat voice. [... that you already know the answer to... Oh, Lucky One...]

Thump!

Kai huffed and puffed asDeathretreated, his heart thumping wildly against his chest.

He had thought of it. It was only oneLucky Intuitionamong several billion. But, despite finding it absurd, theAd Infinitumhad stored that Intuition separately.

[Verse Fusion...]TheTimelinesaid, 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. Iwantedto become one, too. Then, you went and did something crazy.]

[You obtained a Bubble Paradox of your own, my Scion.] Deathsaid, 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, theAd Infinitumcorrected 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.Deathwanted to become aDeep Oneof 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, neitherDeathnorTimelinesaid anything.

From evenTheirperspectives, 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!] Deathhissed, 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.

DidHesense something?Kai thought, finding it quite amusing.DidTheysee the entire planet collapsing in the next few seconds?

FromTimeline’s terrifying tone, it certainly did seem the case.

[Whatever you have done to the planet core without my knowledge...] Shewarned.[... You will be wise enough not to use it.]

"That’s the thing..." Kai said withCalm. "I don’t do well against threats, Ma’am."

[Humph!]TheTimelinescoffed.

"What is this proposal?" Kai asked, staring into the darkness.

[It is true, my Scion.] Deathhissed.[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.] Deathexplained.[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.] Deathhissed.[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.] Timelinesaid 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.]

*********************

AN: Up to 60 more Chapters are available in advance across three Tiers. You can even subscribe Trial Tier for just 1 dollar to have an experience of exclusive Chapters for an entire month. I hope a few of you will consider supporting the work. [Use the link in my bio to access all options]

100 Power Stones: +1 Bonus Chapter