Scott’s gaze alternated between the two, a creeping sense of unease slowly overwhelming him. No matter how much he stared at the duo, he couldn’t discern anything about their capabilities, and it terrified him. From his point of view, they were so powerful that they appeared ordinary.

“I’ll let the two of you talk in private, then,” the woman said.

“Thank you so much for listening to my request. I’ll be sure to keep my end of the bargain,” the lesser god of illusion said, chuckling as he waved at her.

Wordlessly, the woman took a step forward and disappeared from the room. Scott’s eyes bulged in their sockets; confusion evident. He had trained his eyes on her, especially after what happened during his arrival. He didn’t even blink, yet she had simply vanished as if it were the natural order of things.

“There’s no need to be surprised. It’s very natural that you can’t see her movement,” the lesser god of illusion said, using one hand to urge Scott closer.

Before Scott could voice his opinion, he found himself seated at a neatly prepared table filled with an array of delicious food and drinks.

I don’t like this feeling... Scott thought. He had never felt more powerless since entering the Tower of Champions. He focused on the lesser god of illusion, whose face still alternated at a constant rate. “I never got the chance to say it, but thank you for helping me out earlier,” Scott said softly.

Instantly, a system message appeared in front of the champion. However, a rogue tendril slammed into the notification, and it disappeared.

Huh? What the hell? Scott stared at his arm, watching as the tendril submerged into his skin once more. Then, he raised his head toward the lesser god, who stared intently with a curious smile.

“I’ve always wondered how you were able to reject my proposals so quickly. So, those little things are responsible, huh?” the lesser god of illusion nodded while reaching for a steaming cup of tea.

The smiling lesser god took three quick sips before lowering the cup. He then spoke once more, his curiosity evident. “Pardon me for being rude, but what exactly are you? You take the form of a human, yet your essence is that of nothingness. And those eyes of yours—one brimming with an otherworldly essence even foreign to me, and the other reminiscent of the administrator’s, which shouldn’t be possible.”

Scott replied matter-of-factly, “I don’t have to explain myself.”

The lesser god chuckled softly as he lowered his cup. “You’re right; you don’t have to say anything,” he said. “You should eat or drink something. I assure you, there aren’t any problems with the food and drinks.”

Scott remained in the same position, staring at the lesser god. “I’m alright, thank you. So, why exactly did you want to see me again?”

The lesser god ruefully shook his head and placed the steaming cup to the side. Sitting upright in his chair, he began, “It’s no secret that I would like you to be my sponsored candidate. There was no way I wouldn’t visit as soon as I heard you were here.”

Scott’s brows creased behind his mask. If he knows that I’m here, just how many other people are aware of this? he thought.

“Don’t be alarmed. Your location isn’t something that’s privy to everyone,” the lesser god said, sensing the anxiety in Scott’s gaze. “I share a special relationship with the lesser god candidate; that’s the only reason I was able to know.”

Scott’s demeanor relaxed a bit, but he remained curious why someone as lofty as the lesser god of illusion would come in person to find him.

“Truth be told, one of the main purposes of my visit was to sway you to join my order. Unlike the others, I have no other sponsored candidates, affiliates, or worshipers. You would instantly become the lesser god candidate, gaining full control of my authority, at least until the final contest,” he said.

Scott’s ears perked up. “That’s the contest between lesser god candidates, right?”

The lesser god of illusions nodded softly. “You’re half right. Those who cross the point of no return will also be present. However, not everyone will be vying for the authority of a lesser god.”

Scott’s brows creased. “What else is there to fight for? And if I remain without a sponsor until then, does that mean I’d be ineligible to contend for authority?”

Soft, eerie giggles echoed within the room, and reality itself seemed to warp subtly. “While the authority of a lesser god could be said to be the ultimate prize, there are many things worth fighting for. I can’t go into specifics, as it would be against the rules, but the authority of each floor, which usually goes to the examiners, will be up for grabs. A new administrator would be chosen too. There really is a lot to be gained,” he said with a smile. “The only setback, which is just a teeny-weeny setback in my opinion, is that you die if you fail,” the lesser god added.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Scott stared soberly at the laughing lesser god. Neither the thought of attaining glory nor the prospect of death stirred him. At that same moment, a stray thought filled the mind of the eldritch being. What is my purpose for climbing the tower? Do I want to be a god? Is it for revenge? Answers? Or am I just a vessel to bring destruction to this dimension?

Unbeknownst to the eldritch being, the darkness within the mask of the eldritch spawn stirred, and the yellow sign flickered.

“Oh?” The lesser god let out a startled whimper.

Scott attempted to raise his head, but his body refused to move. The lesser god’s voice filled his ears once more, but this time, it was different. Scott trembled in his seat as an ancient voice brimming with power rippled through his being. His consciousness wavered, and the world around him turned dark. The mass residing within his chest stirred, attempting to devour the eldritch being whole. However, the eldritch tendrils easily repelled the nihilistic mass. While both entities competed, Scott’s right eye trembled vigorously, newer cracks forming. The yellow sign became more tangible on the mask, and a hand extended out from the eerie darkness.

“Interesting,” the lesser god of illusions said.

Scott blinked multiple times, stunned and confused as he observed his surroundings.

What just happened? he thought as he raised his head toward the lesser god of illusions.

Unlike before, a blackened void had replaced the lesser god’s face. What the fuck is going on?

“Don’t be alarmed. What you experienced was simply an inkling of my authority,” the lesser god explained. “I had a suspicion you were affiliated with the remnants of the old order, but it seems I was spectacularly wrong. You’re affiliated with something even more sinister than them,” he declared.

The lesser god stood up from his seat, appearing next to Scott in a flash. “Now I understand why I was constantly rejected. I really pity you, my friend,” he said, slowly tapping Scott’s shoulder. “What awaits you isn’t something I’d wish on anyone, but it seems your fate is sealed.”

The lesser god of illusions stood up once more, and like before, he magically disappeared and reappeared in his previous location. “Just so you know, we are not afraid of war. Although you might stem from a higher reality, we are ready for you,” he declared.

Scott frowned. Although the words were directed at him, he could tell they weren’t meant for him. Rather, the lesser god of illusions was talking to Hastur through him.

Scott unwillingly opened his mouth, and a foreign voice echoed, “Only death awaits you!”

The lesser god of illusion chuckled, his shifting faces returning to their usual rhythm. Scott, meanwhile, felt a strange weight lift from his shoulders. Silence lingered in the room as the lesser god sipped from a fresh brew.

“I’m sure you have a lot on your mind. Do you mind sharing?” the lesser god asked.

Silence greeted his words. Scott sat upright, a dazed expression on his face, his vacant eyes staring into the distance. The lesser god spoke no further, simply enjoying his tea while occasionally glancing at Scott.

A moment later, Scott snapped out of his pensive state, focusing on the unfathomable being before him. “Can you see other versions of myself across the timeline?”

The lesser god lowered his cup, a dazzling smile spreading across his face. “Do you realize the true nature of that question?”

Scott's brows creased. He would be a liar if he claimed there was some deeper meaning behind his inquiry. He simply wanted to know if the lesser god could shed more light on his variants across the infinite timelines.

The lesser god chuckled softly, sensing Scott’s confusion. Then he began, posing a question to the eldritch being, “Have you peered into other timelines?”

Scott nodded, recalling his brief but memorable encounters with his living variants across the timelines.

“Who did you see?” the lesser god asked.

Scott's frown deepened. Who else am I supposed to see? he thought, remaining silent as he tried to remember if there was anything he had forgotten.

A moment later, he broke the silence. “I only saw other variants of myself. Was I supposed to see something else?”

The lesser god slowly shook his head. “Of course not. That’s perfectly normal for you. For me, however, what I see is different.”

“Huh?” Scott blurted out. “What else do you see?”

“I don’t think you realize how powerful that mask of yours truly is. Until now, who I have been spectating across the timelines is entirely different. I’m sure the other authorities are just as clueless,” the lesser god muttered, standing up. “Firstly, that body belongs to another person, and your consciousness has only taken possession of it. But what is even more surprising is the fact that whoever they were, they have suffered death in every possible timeline. Do you realize how ridiculous and unlikely that is?”

Scott remained silent, watching as the lesser god slowly inched closer.

“It was only a moment ago that I figured it out. That mask has been hiding such a huge secret all along. Don’t worry, though. I have no intentions of tattling,” he said, stopping at an abstract artwork.

The lesser god admired the painting for a moment before focusing on Scott once more. "Your variants are powerful, especially the point origin. They are highly motivated to reach the point of no return. Some authorities believe they will triumph in the battle for dominance. Others think your friends will be victorious. To be honest, I can’t wait to see their reactions when you join the fray," the lesser god muttered, appearing in front of Scott in a flash.

He stretched forth his hand, and a dazzling silver radiance enclosed the eldritch knight. "In your current state, it’s too easy for them to find you. We wouldn’t want that now, would we?" he teased, lowering his hand.

He took a step forward, leaving Scott in a confused daze. Then the lesser god halted, posing another question, "What is your name?"

Scott turned, meeting the eyes of the lesser god. He opened his mouth, and four distinct voices echoed simultaneously. Panic surged through him as he stood up, a sense of unease overwhelming his being. Of the four voices, he had clearly heard his own, which called out his name, and another which called Hastur’s. However, he couldn’t decipher what the others said.

"A god from a higher plane, an existence long forgotten, a forsaken soul, and someone who was once human. How riveting," the lesser god chuckled, taking another step forward.

Scott prepared to ask another question, but the lesser god vanished before his eyes.

A second later, a familiar voice filled the ears of the eldritch being. "We’ll meet again soon. Hopefully, we’ll be able to talk more. Until then, goodbye for now."