At the very same moment —within a far-off, desolate sector—
"…!!" A pale-skinned old man snapped his narrow eyes open. Slowly, the corners of his lips crept upward into a twisted grin, revealing beneath it rows of rotten, broken teeth. A hoarse chuckle escaped his throat, then grew louder and louder.
"Hehe… haha… hahahahahaaa—!"
The old man rose unsteadily to his feet, spreading his arms wide as if welcoming the world, his laughter swelling until it echoed endlessly through the void. An aura of absolute blackness seeped from every single cell of his body; even the smallest movement made it seem as though he were eternally wrapped in thick, choking smoke, a living shadow given form.
He began to descend from his ivory throne, each step slow and deliberate. "Haha… hehe," his eyes gradually sharpened, focusing for the first time in ages. "At last… at last, the suffering has ended… the torment is finally over…!"
CrackCrack
