Chapter 85: The Meeting

Chapter 85 - The Meeting

The scenes depicted on the big screens were a microcosm of multiverse conflicts, a spectacle of cosmic proportions orchestrated by the will of the Outer Gods. The room was filled with an eerie silence, punctuated only by the occasional clink of porcelain as the deities in human form took sips of their beverages and nibbled on their pastries.

They were beings of immense power, their every whim capable of reshaping reality, yet here they sat, observing the dance of destruction from a safe distance, as if it were nothing more than a macabre entertainment for their amusement.

On one screen they watched multiple artillery fires explode on a big screen, setting the forces of chaos ablaze. Gunfire, screams, heavy running on the ground, and cries of the madmen played the chaotic symphony of a conflict on the war-ridden soil.

As they observed the chaos around them, a small group gathered around a table laden with pastries and cups of lukewarm coffee and tea. The organizer of this party was the member of the group who wore a bright yellow three-piece suit, with a top hat that obscured his face.

After taking a careful sip of his coffee, he offered snacks to the others seated across from him. Each of these individuals, dressed in elegant three-piece suits and dresses, were his closest family members.

"I wonder, Nyarlathotep..."

The woman in a black dress began.

"Why did you decide to involve one of your new daughters in your nephew's chosen world? And why give her such a weak body at the beginning? It's not in your typical chaotic style. I expected her entrance to cause a major destruction to create a more bombastic arrival."

The being in the yellow three-piece suit, with a top hat obscuring his face, now known as Nyarlathotep, spoke.

"She is not getting involved in his game, Shub-Niggurath. She simply happened to be born as a moon goddess like her mother. As you all know, my brother, Zennji in Ta'agra, the outer god of stars, has a tendency to split his power to create his moon goddess."

"You also know she will eventually give birth to his son, which will lead to her death, and the child will defeat and devour him, becoming the new Zennji in Ta'agra, the outer god of stars. This will cause his endless cycle of rebirth."

"Indeed, Zennji in Ta'agra has always had an interesting life cycle."

Shub-Niggurath replied.

"Your father, Azathoth, out of boredom, gave your little brother such a sorrowful life—one much harder to predict than yours."

Nyarlathotep took a sip of his coffee and altered the trajectory of the bullets heading for Rebecca and her children, redirecting them to hit other forces of chaos and those trying to flee the combat instead.

"Bah, I can't believe how protective you are of your daughter and her children. What an intriguing development, son. You typically consume your brood."

Azathoth chuckled.

Shub-Niggurath leaned forward, her curiosity piqued by Nyarlathotep's response.

"So, you're saying you gave one of your favorite daughters to end your brother's lifecycle, and you're allowing her to be used as a broodmare for our grandson?"

Nyarlathotep hand paused mid-air, a croissant halfway to his mouth.

"A broodmare? You're one to talk mother, after you've given birth to so many of your young. But, oh no, she's more than that. She's a wildcard. Her existence, her birth, and her journey are all part of the grand tapestry that is the fate of this universe."

"But, I must admit, I do have a soft spot for her. Especially if something happens to her, my new wife Mirko won't let me touch her for a few millennia."

"I still can't believe you have a soft spot, for that mortal rabbit you turned moon goddess?"

Hastur, the Unspeakable One, scoffed from the corner, his features hidden by the shadows cast by his wide-brimmed hat.

"Love. That's so unlike you, Nyarly. You're the embodiment of chaos. You revel in the madness and the despair of lesser beings."

Nyarlathotep set down his croissant with a delicate touch, his unseen eyes seeming to gleam with amusement.

"Ah, but that is where you're wrong, dear Hastur. Chaos is not just destruction and madness. It is the catalyst for change, for growth, for evolution. And who better to embody that chaos than my own daughter?"

The room buzzed with whispers as the other deities considered the implications of what Nyarlathotep had said. It was true that the Great Race of Yith had predicted many things, and their prophecies were not to be taken lightly.

An elderly man who was a fragment of Yog-Sothoth, the All-in-One and One-in-All, spoke up from his position at the head of the table, his many eyes peering out from the depths of his cloak.

"Your daughter is indeed a force to be reckoned with, Nyarlathotep. Her actions have already set forth ripples that have touched the fabric of reality in ways we cannot yet fathom."

The deities fell into a contemplative hush, their thoughts drifting to the girl and boy who were unknowingly at the center of their cosmic deliberations. Rebecca, a moon goddess, and The soon Zennji in Ta'agra, the outer god of stars. They were a living embodiment of a celestial prophecy, a beacon of hope and terror in a world poised on the brink of a new era.

"Her path is her own to walk."

Nyarlathotep said finally, picking up his coffee cup once more.

"But I will not stand idly by while others seek to manipulate her for their own ends. Her fate, like that of all my children, is bound to the whims of the Great Race of Yith. But it is also entwined with the mood of her mother, and with the fate of the stars themselves."

The room grew quiet again as the Outer Gods digested this revelation. They knew that when Nyarlathotep spoke of destiny and fate, it was not to be taken lightly. The Crawling Chaos had a plan, and it was one that would undoubtedly shake the very foundations of existence.

The screens flickered and the chaos continued in each different world, a silent backdrop to their cosmic strategy session. Each god took a moment to ponder their next move, for the fate of the universe they were watching, it was not something they decided not to take lightly.

And in the grand game they played, the lives of mere mortals were but pawns to be used and discarded. Yet, in the heart of this cosmic chessboard, there were always new players, ones with the potential to checkmate their favorite Gamers.

The conversation grew more intense as the deities around the table considered the implications of Nyarlathotep's words. The fate of their universe was a complex web, and the actions of one seemingly insignificant being could send shockwaves through the very fabric of reality.

The Lady in the Black Dress, Shub-Niggurath, leaned back in her chair, stroking the fur of one of her young that lay at her feet. It was one of her creatures from her own realm, a symbol of her power over the fertility of the cosmos.

"So, you're saying, Nyarlathotep, that this girl is not just a pawn, but a wildcard that can change the outcome of the game?"

Nyarlathotep nodded, his eyes hidden behind the brim of his hat.

"Indeed, she has the potential to be much more than that. Her humanity, her compassion, her very essence is a catalyst for the chaos we crave. And yet, she is also the key to the end of her own world's cycle."

The being known as Cthulhu, a creature of unspeakable power and ancient wisdom, stirred in his sleep. His tentacles twitched as if he too felt the significance of the conversation.

"The Great Race of Yith foresaw this, did they not?"

Asked the deity known as the Faceless One, a being with no discernible features other than the shifting shadows that made up its form.

"They did."

Nyarlathotep replied.

"But even their sight is limited by the whims of the Outer Gods. The girl's free will, her choices, they are the true wild cards in this game. And I for one am curious to see how she plays her hand."

The deities looked around the table, each contemplating the role they would play in this unfolding cosmic drama. Some saw opportunity, others danger, but all recognized that the stakes were higher than ever before.

The room grew quiet again, the only sound the soft crackling of the fireplace. The flames danced in the reflection of the screens, casting flickering shadows across the faces of the gods as they watched the scenes of war and destruction.

"But what of the boy, Zennji in Ta'agra child?"

A whispery voice spoke up, belonging to a deity so ancient that their true form had been forgotten even by the other gods.

"Is he not also part of this prophecy?"

"Ah, yes."

Nyarlathotep said with a smile.

"The son of my brother, destined to devour him. But the boy is young, and his path is not yet set in stone. He too has the power to change the outcome of this dance."

The room grew tense, the air thick with anticipation. They were all eager to see how the lives of the mortals would intertwine with the fate of the gods.

"So, we wait and we watch."

Said the Yellow King, emerging from the shadows at the back of the room.

"We guide where we can, but ultimately, it is they who will determine the course of the cosmos."

The deities nodded in agreement, and the room returned to a semblance of order. The screens continued to show the battles raging across the multiverse, but now, their eyes held a new spark of interest. The fate of worlds lay in the hands of these two beings, and the gods had their bets on the outcome.

Nyarlathotep took a deep breath, the scent of the pastries and coffee a reminder of the delicate balance between order and chaos.

"Let us enjoy this brief moment of respite before the storm, my friends. The fate of the cosmos is in motion, and it is a thrilling sight to behold."

And with that, the deities returned to their refreshments, their conversations turning to more mundane matters, the fate of the universe set aside for the moment. But in the back of their minds, the game continued, and the pawns of the mortal world danced to the silent tune of the cosmic players.