Every person, or rather, every being, lives to overcome unease and fear, to attain peace of mind.
"Unease" and "fear" are the negative facets of "living." In broader terms, all beings strive to conquer life's adversities to achieve a higher quality of existence.
Fear and unease are innate to life, instincts etched into its essence from the beginning, immutable and undeniable.
Even Tiamat, the Mesopotamian Mother of Creation, wasn't immune to fear. Her indestructible nature merely masked it, but losing what she held dear revealed her dread in unguarded moments.
This principle applies to Outer Gods as well.
They aren't devoid of fear; their immense power simply renders threats or death improbable. Their existence, born from the overflow of energy beyond the dream-universe, diminishes fear's relevance.
In their invincible might and infinite lifespan, fear is suppressed to a near-nullity, but…
Suppression doesn't mean absence.
If they truly lacked fear, why pursue Roy, the embodiment of possibility? Why risk everything for the so-called new world?
Initially, they couldn't articulate this sensation, but upon completing their emotional spectrum, the Outer Gods realized it.
They were afraid. They were terrified…
Of Azathoth's existence, of living within a dream, of a predetermined fate they couldn't escape.
Their pursuit of the new world was a quest for a realm of freedom, to unshackle themselves from fate, to find peace of mind.
This was the conclusion, an irrefutable one, undeniable by any Outer God.
Their goal was to break fate's chains, evade inevitable death, and secure peace… yes, peace.
To attain peace, beings instinctively chase a superior entity, entrusting their hopes and emotions to it.
This truth holds across time and space.
Subordinates pray to superiors, blindly following, trusting, burdening them with their hopes and emotions, pursuing endlessly. But when superiors falter under the weight, they, too, seek a greater entity, craving and trusting it more fervently than their inferiors.
This cycle persists until the first king emerges, until… the primal gods are born.
And those primal gods, at this universe's apex, are the Outer Gods.
But when the Outer Gods buckle under their burdens, facing unease and dread, what then? What can they do? What should they do?
Gazing at the Outer Gods before him, neatly aligned and divided by their stances, Roy's lips curved into a final smile.
"To find your peace, to chase the [new world], you used me and orchestrated all this."
How do Outer Gods find peace? The answer is clear: the new world.
A realm beyond their comprehension, free of fixed destinies, a place of true freedom.
Only there could they find peace. Reaching it would dispel the oppressive weight of endless eons.
Thus, the ark was conceived, its helmsman appeared, and the passengers were bound in place.
No need for subterfuge now. In mere breaths, every Outer God chose their side.
Over ninety percent, including the vociferous Ghroth and the initial intruder Daoloth, unhesitatingly stood behind Roy.
Yog-Sothoth and Shub-Niggurath, ever by his side, flanked him with Nyarlathotep, their choices clear.
Save for a few, wary and unwilling to fully trust Roy, the rest uniformly aligned with him.
"…What a crushing defeat."
Daoloth sighed softly, saying no more. The outcome was acceptable, but not what she desired.
Yet, with Roy unveiling all veils, she could only adapt, as did the others.
They were powerless now. Persisting in futile struggles would be too humiliating.
"You seek the ark, the new world, for peace. Likewise, I seek peace."
Roy surveyed the Outer Gods behind him, continuing, "But my peace is your opposite. You find peace entering the new world; I find it sending you out of this universe."
"Frankly, if any Outer God decided to stay, lingering in this relatively peaceful universe, that would trouble me. So… I'll send every last one of you to the new world, banishing you forever."
The cards were on the table, the dagger bared.
This was Roy's true intent.
How the Outer Gods left didn't matter to him.
But that they must leave was paramount.
"Now, let's discuss how to pack you all up and toss you out of this universe."
"First, I'll make it clear: I can sacrifice my body or status, but I won't join you, heading to some unknown destination in another universe."
"World-crossing? I've done it once. Don't ask me how a semi-truck managed it, but I'm not doing it again. If you ask me, try finding some semi-trucks yourselves. Maybe a blink, and you'll cross universes."
Close your eyes, open them, and cross universes? Impressive, right?
All Outer Gods: Real flashy, huh? Casually mentioning the ultimate goal we've pursued endlessly.
Would we need a kid we could squash to flaunt it otherwise? Man, I really want to crush him…
"Haha, Lil bro, that's quite a…"
"We tried. Didn't work."
The silent Outer Gods spoke as one.
To them, crossing universes was the ultimate pursuit, a must-achieve goal.
They'd seize any chance, any possibility.
So, upon gaining human vessels, their first act wasn't seeking Roy or causing chaos but heading to car factories, acquiring trucks.
They scouted pedestrian crosswalks, reenacting Roy's experience, semi-trucks barreling through, launching themselves, testing if it could breach the universe.
But, predictably… it failed.
No matter the truck's make or fuel, they tried everything, only to be flung meters away, gaining nothing.
Some persisted, playing bumper cars, but it was futile.
Crossing universes via semi-truck was absurdly abstract, its failure unsurprising.
"You actually tried?"
Seeing their awkward expressions, Roy paused, picturing Outer Gods lining up at crosswalks, getting launched by trucks, pedestrians screaming, calling police, causing traffic jams.
Talk about… troubling the cops.
"…Uh, Lil bro, let's drop the truck talk and focus on the ark."
Nyarlathotep scratched her cheek awkwardly, continuing, "Lil bro, what's worth staying in this doomed universe for? Come with us. It's just consciousness and avatar transfer, but with this universe's stolen power, we'd be safe in another. Even as avatars, as long as our essence persists, we can reclaim our power, growing stronger post-escape. It's just time. So, really, won't you come?"
"I worried about the ark's capacity, but seeing your sword and performance, I'm sure it exceeds expectations. Taking more lives along is feasible."
Pointing at Arcueid, Nyarlathotep added, "Even this girl and the one in the vortex, taking them is easy, so…"
"No need. I said I'm not leaving, even if this universe will end. So what? Can you guarantee escaping one dream won't land you in another, still shackled?"
"That time scale terrifies you, but for me, whether I'll see this universe's self-destruction is unknown, so I don't care."
Despite Nyarlathotep's earnest plea, Roy remained unmoved, harboring no desire to leave.
Perhaps his perspective diverged vastly from the Outer Gods', or losing so much blinded him to cosmic truths, leading to this seemingly foolish choice.
But he stood firm. This was his decision.
He'd help them escape to the new world, but only if he stayed behind.
"You're really…"
Knowing Roy's stubbornness, Nyarlathotep sighed, nodding reluctantly.
As the most human-like Outer God, Nyarlathotep's curiosity and understanding of Roy surpassed even Shub-Niggurath's maternal claims. Having simulated his personality and choices in her domain, her knowledge could fill a book. Her "Lil bro" wasn't mere affection but profound empathy.
"Your terms are feasible, but the cost to you is greater, deeply unfair."
Nyarlathotep said helplessly.
"Tell me."
Roy wasn't surprised, already suspecting as much.
"Everything. You must sacrifice all you are."
Yog-Sothoth answered.
"Your body is the ticket, granting us vessels to evade Father's gaze. Your status is the quota, the cabin housing us. The Third Magic and more are the fuel, powering the cosmic leap. Your soul… is the beacon, ensuring the ark doesn't lose its way. Everything you are is indispensable."
"But… that's the safest route."
Yog-Sothoth sighed, looking at Roy impassively. "Anticipating your possible refusal, I devised alternatives. The soul's beacon can be substituted. My early presence and contact with you confirmed this. It may not reach your universe, but as a torch to prevent us from straying, it's enough. The other conditions, however, are non-negotiable."
"So…"
"I must give up my status, body, and Third Magic, handing them to you, to complete this ark?"
"Correct."
"That's… quite a sacrifice. Giving up everything again, for you?"
Muttering Yog-Sothoth's terms, Roy let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"Talk about full-service."
Seeing Roy fall silent, fearing he'd backtrack and prolong the stalemate, the Outer Gods hastily interjected.
"We could-"
But Roy had no interest in their offers or excuses. Their words were meaningless now. He was in charge.
He wouldn't let them set terms or propose nonsense.
He was the one dictating, not them offering, he'd demand, and they'd deliver.
Covering his face, Roy gave a wry smile, then decided.
Swish!!
Tossing the invisible sword to Nyarlathotep, Roy turned, surveying the Outer Gods behind him, and issued a command as a human.
"Go clean up your messes. Fix this world's hazards. Deal with sleeping Great Old Ones, misbehaving Outer Gods, and potential threats like the Land of Steel, Coral of the Moon, celestial disasters, and UOs."
"Consider it labor for your freedom, a mercy from me."
"Arcueid…"
Ignoring Shub-Niggurath and Nyarlathotep's eager expressions, Roy leaned into Arcueid's embrace, closing his weary eyes.
This was his utmost effort after letting go of everything.
This burden was beyond Zelretch or the Counter Force.
It began with him; it should end with him. Soon, he'd retire, truly, completely.
Would he ask Aozaki Touko for a new body? Or let Altrouge lock him in a spear cage in the underworld?
Didn't matter. Either way suited him.
At least, in his final act, he'd use these reckless beings to craft a relatively perfect world.
"Yo, get moving. The sooner you finish, the closer you are to your new world."
"Just a heads-up: I'll inspect your work. No slacking or half-hearted efforts."
With a casual reminder, Roy fell silent, closing his eyes for a rare nap.
No response came, but in seconds, the Outer Gods crowding the Wandering Sea vanished.
At that moment, the planet faced a true anomaly.
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