The named calamity stared at the members of the hound extermination crew, his smile brightening the longer he watched. Then he pointed toward Scott. “Your eyes are so fascinating,” he began, taking a step forward. “Can I have—” the calamity paused, feeling a hand land on his back. He turned instinctively, locking gazes with Orion, who had regained his mobility. The clone and variant exchanged gazes, each wearing a delirious smile. A tense silence soon enveloped the immobilized prisoners, as they could only watch the two men.

“You woke up sooner than I expected,” the named calamity declared, breaking the silence. “That’s impressive,” he praised, nodding gently.

Orion’s clone chuckled, maintaining eye contact with the variant. “It was quite challenging. Your mental network differs from mine but is surprisingly similar too. It seems we all think alike,” he declared, taking a step forward. The variant also took a step closer to the clone.

Both men approached each other, stopping barely a foot away. Wordlessly, they began examining each other's body, their curious eyes filled with excitement as they muttered inaudibly. Soon, they took turns exchanging body samples, including hair, saliva, skin peelings, nails, mucus secretions, and blood vials.

Ten minutes later, both men ceased the exchange and swapped positions. Orion’s clone now backed the hound extermination crew while the variant faced the immobilized champions.

“Are you ready?” the variant asked with a smile.

“I honestly can’t wait,” the clone said with an even brighter smile. “Let’s do this,” he declared.

Both men shook hands simultaneously, their eyes glazing over as runic scripts flashed across the whites of their eyes. Their forms shuddered uncontrollably while contrasting bubbles formed beside them. The clone’s was reddish-grey, while that of the variant was lilac with tinges of black. Both bubbles intersected rapidly, causing the men to tremble even further, their smiles almost ecstatic.

At that same moment, the strange force binding the hound extermination crew dissipated, and Slim, Zara, and Ember prepared to move. “Wait,” Scott called out mentally.

“Buddy, this is the perfect time to get away from that lunatic. We can take Orion with us too,” Slim said, staring nervously at the immobilized clone and variant. Only now did he understand what Scott meant by them standing no chance against the named calamities.

“It’s too late to run,” Scott suddenly declared. “This is a version of Orion we are dealing with. Do you honestly think he would let us go without something planned out?”

“That doesn’t mean we should just stay here and wait for that crazy bastard to toy with us,” Zara countered. “He’s a named calamity,” she added.

“You’re right, but he is also a version of Orion,” Scott began. “It seems he suffers from the same obsession as our Orion, so that could work out in our favor.” Scott said, stretching toward Plume, who was on the verge of dissipating. Blackened tendrils drew the Trisos closer and then Scott continued, “I don’t know what they’re doing right now, but before they started, Orion told me to wait. I believe he knew we would have thought about running too.”

The expressions of the prisoners darkened. They had been with Orion long enough to know about his genius intellect, often overshadowed by his maniacal obsessive tendencies.

“We really need to catch a break,” Slim sighed, relaxing his guard. “I hope those two are able to settle things among themselves,” he muttered.

Zara and Ember also relaxed their tense features but remained on guard. After all, there was no telling what would ensue from the strange exchange between the clone and variant. The group focused on the duo whose right hands remained locked in a handshake. The bubbles surrounding them turned clear the more they collided with each other. Soon, a field of colorless bubbles enshrouded the duo. At that point, the pupils of the men returned, and the bubbles disappeared. They both cocked their heads backward, cheerful laughter escaping their mouths.

Scott, Zara, Slim, and Ember exchanged confused glances, unable to discern why the duo laughed.

“I can’t believe you’ve met over a hundred of us,” Orion chuckled loudly, tapping the shoulder of the named calamity.

“No wonder you’re with them. I knew it had to be something interesting for you to travel with them,” the variant laughed even harder while also tapping the clone’s shoulder.

“So much information. I can’t believe the timelines are that fascinating,” Orion managed to say, his expression brimming with excitement.

“But why is your timeline so unique?” the named calamity questioned, using his free hand to rub his jawline.

Once again, the members of the hound extermination crew exchanged confused glances. Orion and the named calamity talked over each other continuously, each laughing as they expressed their thoughts aloud. From their unintended ramblings, the group could piece together clues on what they aimed to achieve from the previous exchange.

Orion’s clone suddenly stopped laughing; he sighed, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you encountered variants who didn’t want to search for the truth. How pitiable,” he said, sighing once more.

The variant also stopped laughing. “Finally, someone else understands. Why would anyone give up the great thirst for knowledge?”

The clone shook his head. “I guess there are things neither you nor I can understand. At least, you were able to assimilate their knowledge,” he said, sighing once more. Then he raised his head, locking gazes with the calamity. A smile parted his lips as he asked, “How long do you think it will take for my main body to get here? Let’s take a guess and see who’s right.”

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The clone and variant smiled, and instantly both declared their answers aloud, “Two years,” they said simultaneously. Both men laughed once again, excitedly tapping each other on their shoulders.

Once again, the members of the hound extermination crew exchanged glances. Neither of them could make sense of what was happening, nor could they predict what would happen next.

The variant and clone suddenly turned toward the group, their keen gazes lingering on Scott. The named calamity snapped its fingers, and the world itself seemed to stop. Both men appeared next to Scott, the trio enshrouded in a thick, churning fog.

Scott stared at the fog impassively, then his gaze shifted toward the named calamity who rotated around his body, curiously observing him. Scott turned toward Orion’s clone, and the clone grinned, giving the voidweaver a thumbs up.

The named variant stopped in front of Scott once more, his smile dazzling. “I have seen a lot of creatures since entering the tower, but nothing like you. You are weak now, but the seeds of chaos and annihilation will definitely blossom in you someday, and I can’t wait to see it.”

Scott frowned, glancing at Orion’s clone. He could infer that the named calamity had figured out his ties to Carcosa and Hastur from whatever experience they shared earlier. “Have you encountered any of my variants?” Scott suddenly asked.

The clone and variant exchanged knowing grins, and then the named calamity spoke up, “I have met and slain several Eidolon of Envy, but no one like you.”

Scott’s brows shot up, his curiosity piqued. Then a thought filled his mind as he declared, “Does that mean you inherited the title at some point?”

The variant shook his head, chuckling softly. “It seems you know about the transfer too. How amusing.” The variant paced around Scott once more as he continued, “Sadly, that entity didn’t want me anywhere near the title. I killed quite a lot of her servants, you know?”

Scott narrowed his gaze. “Her?” he frowned, recalling the encounter with Sibiru in the mirror domain.

“Yes,” the variant nodded. “She didn’t even bother taking revenge, it was as if she couldn’t wait for those poor fellas to die.” The variant paused in front of Scott once more. “They all detested you, and I can totally understand them.” He grinned, stroking his chin. “It was fun watching your antics via their memories. Your variants are beyond ruthless. I want to meet them someday. Can you imagine how much knowledge they would have acquired?”

Scott’s gaze shifted between the variant and the clone who shared the same delirious smile. Ignoring their obsessive nature, he posed another question, “You sifted through their memories, right?”

“Let me guess, you want to know what that entity wants and why it chose you, right?” the variant asked with a smile. “I’m also certain that you’re curious about your friends from Earth?”

Scott nodded. The variant chuckled once more before pointing to the clone. “He knows everything now, so you can ask him,” he said, tilting his head to the side. “But I have questions too,” he declared. “The war, you want it to happen, right?”

All traces of the variant’s smile had disappeared, and there was a bone-chilling coldness in his eye. Scott met the calamity’s gaze, his expression unchanged. “I couldn’t give two fucks about any of that,” he declared solemnly. “However, it’s only a matter of time before Hastur descends. It will happen.”

The named calamity smiled once more, gently patting Scott’s shoulder. “I can’t wait,” he said. “A higher dimension. I’m so excited,” he giggled.

The variant took three measured steps backward before turning to his left. There, Plume’s withered form manifested. “You ought to be careful from now on,” he declared, producing a golden seed from his inventory. Pulsating veins ran along the length of the seed, and the faint outline of an embryo could be seen through it. The veil covering the area instantly dissipated, and time seemed to flow again. Zara, Slim, and Ember blinked nervously, confused and stunned by the clone and variant’s sudden arrival. They stared at the seed the variant held, their gazes narrowing as they observed the seemingly living item.

Without warning, the variant threw the seed at Plume, and the Trisos greedily absorbed the item. Her withered form instantly regenerated, and she became whole again. A confused daze lingered on her visage as she observed the somewhat familiar terrain and unfamiliar faces. She tried to move, but her body wouldn’t listen, as if some parasite had taken control over her mind.

Scott turned toward the Trisos and frowned a little. Is this her main body? What the hell was that seed? he thought.

“Trisos are almost impossible to kill,” the variant said mentally, chuckling softly. “Do you know how many times I have killed this one over the last three years? Yet I keep finding her spores everywhere. It’s basically a game to me at this point.”

Scott didn’t care about the information at all; the fact that the variant could project his words into his mind like the Asura could stirred his interest—an observation the variant noticed.

“She will make a fine addition to your team. Her healing abilities are exceptional. You can’t tell when you’ll need it. Trust me, you’re going to be visiting a lot of dangerous places during your missions,” the variant said out loud.

“Huh? Why would we do something like that?” Zara interjected. “Even if, and that’s a big maybe, she joined us, it would be for only this mission. The rules state that we can’t leave this place until we accomplish our mission, and I can tell you that we are not spending seven more years here,” Zara declared.

The variant chuckled, turning toward Orion. “She talks a lot. I like her,” he said with a smile before turning toward the brawler. “You won’t have to worry about that.”

“What does that even mean?” Zara asked, frowning.

Scott spoke up before the variant could, “She’s a clone, independent of her main body. She might not even share the same memories as her prime,” Scott explained.

“Bingo,” the variant chuckled. “God, it has been a long time since I said that.” He laughed even harder, with the clone joining in.

“You’re not considering this, right?” Ember asked mentally.

Scott turned toward the dragonkin. “I’m not sure yet, but we could use all the help we can get,” he replied.

“What if it’s some sort of devious plan or something?” Zara asked, joining the mental conversation.

“We are fucked either way,” Slim chimed in. “I don’t think he needs a scheme to beat us, my leader. I doubt we’d be alive if he truly wanted to hurt us.”

Zara frowned, unable to deny Slim’s words. From what she knew about Orion, he was just as merciless as he was curious; and if the variant was anything similar, then it wasn’t far-fetched to believe they would have long died if he had any malicious intentions.

“I’d hate to disturb you while you discuss, but I must bid you farewell at this point,” the variant said softly, sighing as a tinge of regret clouded his visage. “I truly wish I was privileged to accompany you, but alas, Calamities like me are eternally bound to serve the council,” he sighed once more, shaking his head.

“You could, you know,” the clone suddenly said, giggling.

Zara, Slim, and Ember shot the mage a deathly glare, as if asking him what he was doing. Orion pretended not to notice their questioning gaze as he took a step forward toward the variant. “We could always do that, you know,” he winked.

“Oh?” The face of the variant lit up in realization. “Yes, it has been a while, so I totally forgot about it.”

The variant and clone exchanged nods, and the variant suddenly disappeared. “What a guy,” Orion muttered softly, a smile parting his lips.

“Can someone tell me what the hell just happened?” Zara asked, voicing the same question plaguing the minds of the other champions.