"Enough with the boring probing and games. Let's start something more fun, dear compatriot! Instead of groveling to get you to cooperate, I'd rather make you have no choice, like this…"
Clack!!
The raised arm bent slightly, snapping fingers in the air.
Instantly, massive clouds swallowed the clear blue sky.
Looking up, the heavens were cloaked in thick layers… no, not mere clouds. Not black or white, but a flickering greenish-black light, a torrent of impurity and corruption roiling within.
Boom!!!
With a deafening Roar! the festering torrent poured toward the school below, as if the sky had been breached, pale yellow liquid rushing down.
"Getting desperate, huh? So childish…"
Faced with this utterly irrational scene, Roy's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Though his body instinctively retreated, he didn't hesitate, raising the invisible sword and hurling it at the nauseating sky.
His speed and the sword's streaking light outpaced the torrent, allowing him to escape its engulfing rush. But even the terrifying invisible sword couldn't fully sever the impure yellow flow.
Whoosh!!!
The invisible silver light sliced through the sky, blocking most of the falling torrent.
Though it spared the school building beneath him, the field below wasn't so lucky.
The clouds didn't dissipate but grew denser. Dark yellow liquid poured down, reducing the once-vibrant, sprawling field to ruin in a single strike from the twins, Nug and Yeb.
Just minutes ago, it was a lively playground for students. Now, it was a desolate wasteland.
Plants and man-made structures dissolved into scorched mud under the torrent's corrosion. Steel, concrete, even massive statues rotted away.
Though the twins casually wreaked havoc, demolishing half the school, whether by miracle or intent, the students had organized an evacuation during Roy's clash with Nug and Yeb, miraculously surviving.
They huddled in the school building at Roy's feet, staring in disbelief at the apocalyptic scene outside, too terrified to make a sound, lest they draw the attention of the two monsters on the rooftop.
Inside a classroom, SHIKI furrowed her brow at the chaos. Confirming the disheveled figure dodging was Roy, she couldn't stay put.
Ignoring her teacher's shouts, she pulled a hidden knife from her pocket and climbed the stairs to the rooftop.
"Utterly irrational, yet fitting the nature of change…"
"Though I understand your concern, that's not a place you can go. At least summon your other self first."
"What?!"
A low voice sounded behind her. SHIKI spun around, startled, but saw only an empty corridor and…
Countless irregular amalgamations surged toward her, engulfing her instantly.
Then, nothing. Silence, as if it never happened.
"Look, look, compatriot! This is our gap. Even if that annoying sword protects you, how can it save these frail humans?"
"Yeah, Nug, he's so useless. Still incomplete, so weak."
Atop the massive clouds, the playful twins stood with arms crossed, addressing Roy, who stood ready below.
"I don't get it. Why obsess over these toys? Is he the type to get attached to them?"
"No clue, Yog-Sothoth. He's so weird. But if you don't want us to wreck your toy planet, try stopping us or surrender now. Otherwise, brace for an even wilder game. If you make us mad, this little tantrum will be nothing~" ×2
Giggling maliciously, the childish twin Outer Gods revealed their true intent, or rather, a blatant threat.
Rather than begging or negotiating, they preferred forcing compliance, like now.
If they failed, it didn't matter. They weren't key players. Nyarlathotep and Mother hadn't arrived, and even with their antics, Father hadn't stopped them, implying permission.
Indeed, Yog-Sothoth believed appealing to Roy's emotions or negotiating would aid their plans. But if that failed, aggressive methods like Nug and Yeb's weren't unacceptable.
Forcing Roy to comply through destruction was viable. Nug and Yeb weren't the only ones with this idea, but stronger Outer Gods kept others at bay. The twins were mere testers or scapegoats.
But…
There was no need to test further.
Yog-Sothoth glanced at Roy, his anger barely contained, and shook her head.
This reckless approach had no chance of succeeding…
She shook her head again.
Before Roy could act, she stepped in front of him.
From the start, she'd been reserved, unlike the other Outer Gods. She observed, treating Roy by her own principles.
Now, she protected this beloved child in her own way. Though she had ulterior motives, her actions were genuine.
So…
"Huh? F-Father? You're protecting him? That's too weird!"
"Yeah, Nug, why protect him? Didn't Father give the signal to act? I don't get it…"
"But at this point, even Father can't stop us, right? On this fragile planet, your output's limited. A bit too much force, and this planet's phase and concepts will pop like a candy~"
"…"
Yog-Sothoth said nothing, quietly watching their exaggerated performance.
Her silence indirectly affirmed their words.
Though eliminating Nug and Yeb, these disobedient, insignificant children, would take mere seconds, doing so would shatter the planet instantly. To spare Roy's feelings, she refrained from dealing with them directly.
"…Tch."
Seeing through Yog-Sothoth's silence and hesitation, and the truth in the twins' words, Roy clicked his tongue.
After all this back-and-forth, he'd grasped a few things.
First, these beings came for him, needing him for something.
Though unclear why Outer Gods of such power needed his help, the twins' grand but restrained actions showed they knew his personality and methods. Their threats were symbolic, never crossing the line, like splitting the planet in half.
They knew if they went too far, Roy would lose it, and talk of an ark or reaching beyond the world would be a joke.
Thus, Yog-Sothoth set a limit for Nug and Yeb: try to shape the future their way, but don't cross the red line, or face consequences.
In other words, if the twins couldn't break Roy's resolve or make him yield, their actions were pointless.
Otherwise, why would beings capable of tainting the planet with their torrent only destroy buildings and the field, leaving everything else unscathed? Beyond scaring Roy, what was the point?
Because of SHIKI, they didn't dare touch the school building. All Outer Gods knew if anything happened to that girl, this couldn't end peacefully.
So, despite not knowing what they wanted, Roy was certain they needed him, weren't entirely reckless, and had something to ask of him.
Thus, Roy decided to bolt. Since they were after him, they'd follow, starting the next round of destruction.
If he wasn't here, this place would be safer. And he needed time to analyze what was happening and why.
Though Outer Gods, only three had appeared. Others might have different stances or be unable to act directly, giving him time to maneuver.
Defeating multiple Outer Gods was impossible; Roy wasn't delusional. To resolve this, he needed to uncover the full truth and find a solution.
So…
"Don't engage them, Ab. Let's get out of here."
"Okay."
Roy instructed Abigail, who didn't object, nodding silently and leaving with him without hesitation.
This left Nug and Yeb, mid-boastful speech on the sky's canopy, looking awkward.
"Nug, they left…"
"I saw, Yog-Sothoth. They just up and left."
"Now what? Keep wrecking this place?"
"Forget it. It's pointless. We can't harm the life here, and smashing more buildings, no matter how grand, means nothing. So…"
They exchanged a glance.
"Let's play a chase game! Round three!!" ×2
"Woohoo!"
"…"
In another dimension, Daoloth, observing from afar, chuckled at the scene.
"A rational judgment. What a clever kid…"
"Helping you a bit wouldn't hurt. You can't escape the final outcome anyway."
Whoosh!!
In an instant, Yog-Sothoth whisked Roy away from the school, speeding toward a relatively safer, more open area.
Why relatively safe?
To Outer Gods, this planet was a glass bead, easily crushed with a pinch. No place on it was truly safe.
But this escape looked odd, even embarrassing. Yog-Sothoth, in Abigail's petite form, carried Roy over her shoulder as they fled.
Image wasn't the concern now. Saving the planet from these clearly unhinged Outer Gods was.
With Yog-Sothoth's help, Roy slipped from Nug and Yeb's grasp. The twins would likely track him down and use force to coerce cooperation.
It was hard to imagine their methods. For Outer Gods with cognition so alien to humans, their actions wouldn't stop at kidnapping, threats, or violence. They might even dangle Earth before Roy, forcing a choice.
Sure, they kept saying "cooperate." but cooperate with what?
They'd been cryptic from the start, not saying what they wanted or what he could do. How could he comply?
"So, are you still not telling me what you Outer Gods want? What can I do for you? What do you need me to do? Why the obsession with coming here and pursuing me?"
As they fled, Roy questioned Yog-Sothoth.
"If you were reasonable or benevolent, I'd help within my power and send you off, the quickest, easiest way. But you know what I'm thinking, right?"
"…I know."
Yog-Sothoth nodded slightly, her calm expression unchanged, not hiding anything.
"You're truly important. All Outer Gods, including me, need your cooperation for a plan, to build a unique, irreplaceable ark, like in the scriptures."
"Ark? What ark? Don't you Outer Gods move freely through the cosmos in body and spirit? Why need an ark? And I don't exactly look like a spaceship builder."
"No, not a spaceship for cosmic travel, but a deeper vessel to cross the universe's barriers, the boundaries of dreams, to carry us to a new world, the ark all Outer Gods anticipate."
"…"
"How many does 'all' mean?"
"The literal meaning, all compatriots (Outer Gods) in the cosmos qualified to know this."
Roy's heart sank. Multiple Outer Gods? No, all Outer Gods!! To him, it made little difference, unbeatable enemies either way, but it chilled him further.
"Fine, a new world, all Outer Gods, the beloved one, crossing the cosmos, so much I don't understand. Whatever your schemes, stay put and wait until I figure this out. If you're asking for help, act like it!!"
"…"
Yog-Sothoth fell silent.
This wasn't about power gaps or their requests. It was pure caution, avoid rash moves that could cause irreparable harm before understanding the truth.
In dangerous situations, planning before acting was key. To avoid blunders in this chaotic mess, he needed clarity.
"Let's find a place to rest and explain everything clearly. My head's a mess."
"I'd rather finish this and send you all packing, but I need the full truth first."
"No problem."
Abigail nodded slightly.
But at that moment, having lost Roy's trail despite Yog-Sothoth's expert concealment, Nug and Yeb grew furious in the city.
Though only minutes had passed, for impatient children, it was an eternity, especially as their childishness intensified in human form.
"So boring! Father actually helped him escape!! Why?!"
"No clue, Yog-Sothoth. But it's expected, right? Father's neutral but clearly leans toward that kid, like Mother."
"Why, Nug? We're their real kids, yet they favor an outsider?"
"What's wrong, Yog-Sothoth? Jealous?"
"Nope."
"You totally are."
"Maybe a tiny bit."
"Hehehe, so childish, Nug."
The twins wandered the streets, chuckling oddly.
"Hey, did you find that schoolgirl I told you to look for? We can't hurt her, but keeping her close is fine. Where is she, Yog-Sothoth?"
"No luck, Nug. I sensed her, but she vanished when I got close. The building was full of humans screaming at me. So rude."
"Gone? Oh well, probably Father or another compatriot intervening. No matter, if we can't find her…"
"Let's flush him out! Turn this city upside down, and he won't sit still!!"
"Hehehe~!!!"
___
If you're interested in reading more that 50 chapters, feel free to visit my pat reon,
https , // www .pat reon. com /XElenea