Day 48.

I've entered a stalemate. When one sector is won, another falls. If I extend my assets, I start to suffer unsustainable losses. If I pull back and use overwhelming force, I don't make any progress. But the dungeon's assaults fail to break through, always falling before the might of my loyal servants. What can I do? There is only one answer—persevere and become stronger, until I grind this filth into more dust.

"How long has it been since you've eaten anything?" the Amusement asks, draped across me like the world's most annoying shawl. "You look irritated."

"I've no need for sustenance."

"You've no need, but you have eaten before, haven't you? Even here. Are they tasty?" I disregard its dreary questions, a sufficient answer already supplied, and return to welcoming a new Knight. The Amusement detaches itself away from me and starts pouting. "I hate it when you ignore me. You'd never ignore her." Then a sly grin flashes on its lips. "If you enjoy eating so much, why haven't you tasted her yet? I know you want to, to partake in this delectable body." It slowly runs a hand along its form. "You can. Right now. Come. Take it. I know how much you've thought about it. Thought about her. Relishing in her touch, her warmth, more intimately than you ever have. Her body bending against your strong yet gentle hands. Singular pleasure consuming her mind. Pleasure that only you can give her." It runs a hand through my hair. "Don't you miss her touch?" It embraces me again, starting to whisper. "Has she ever said she loves you? Of course she hasn't. But I do. I love you, Lucius. And I will always be here for you."

"What do you know of love?"

"Everything you do. Everything there is, all across time and space. Everything that has been, and everything that will be."

A slow laugh causes it to pout again. I place a hand on my Knight and say, "You don't 'know' love, Amusement." A cold sensation bubbles out. "And neither do I. I never will." Frigid icicles form inside my mind, slowly growing and piercing deeper and deeper. "I do not deserve it."

"But you do, and I can give it to you. You just have to surrender to it. Let yourself love me, as I do you."

A gale of force pushes the Amusement off of me. "I tire of your presence."

"Well, too bad. I'm not going anywhere." Another Knight starts taking its final form. The Amusement lets out a sound of frustration, starting to poke at me. "Stop ignoring me!"

***

Day 56,732.

"How many battles does this make?" the Amusement asks. "It's going to turn out the same way every time. Even the parts of me that are her agree."

"You will meet your end."

It huffs and latches onto me. "Whatever." It looks up in thought, and after a few seconds, speaks up again, "They're probably dead. Your half-conspecifics."

"Illogical. Project Transcendence is most likely completed by now."

The Amusement huffs again, sounding so much like her. "Like that would ever be remotely possible. It was merely theoretical before you came to me. Do you really think they would have finished it without you? And even if they did and it worked, would they have used it? Your gifts have long been buried and forgotten, destroyed. Erased. So, yes. Erysis and Nexen are dead." A cold touch grabs a thick bunch and pulls it out. My mind screams from the sharp pain, but the sensation is already gone.

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"It doesn't matter."

"Ren is gone too. And Ania. And all the other humans you got to know so well. Just like all the ones you knew. Returned to dust."

My frozen mind rings with the same response. The words leave my lips, monotone and even, "It doesn't matter."

"But it does. You missed it. Your chance to live with them, to have that experience, to enjoy it, to contribute to their existence. It's all gone."

"You're wrong."

"Always so stuck on your little failed project." A hand runs through my hair, the other caressing my cheek. "No one else would accept it, going against the laws of the universe. The impermanence of life is what gives it beauty. What did she say? Like leaves cycling through the seasons."

"I've given them a choice."

"No, Lucius. You've failed yet again." The caress does not stop. "But that's okay. I'll always be by your side. Now, why don't you show me that final beauty?" My focus returns back to my task. "Ignoring me won't change the facts. ...And what about her?"

"Elisa is..."

A smile curls its lips. The Amusement's voice is a tender whisper in my ear. "She's moved on. You're no longer important to her, if you ever were, a brief fascination that's used up its limited value."

"...You're wrong. Elisa cares about me."

"Then why isn't she here?" the Amusement asks. I bring my hand up to my face. A finger touches a wet streak, wiping it away. "It's okay. I'm here. I'll always be."

***

Day 411,080.

No one is coming for me. And why would they? I've been keeping to my given duty tirelessly. I've been removed in a way that's even beneficial, like their plan always was. All I wanted was to help. That's all I've ever wanted. And this is how they repay me? Stuck in this nightmarish prison, cursed to repeat a single moment again and again? I feel something trying to squirm its way into my mind, but the sensation is distant, barely chilly. It soon melts away.

They've all abandoned me. My allies, my colleagues, my so-called friends... My Elisa. She abandoned me... How could I have believed her lies.

"I've never lied to you," the Amusement says. "And I would never abandon you." Its touch now warms my form, driving away the cold.

"What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing. It's they that have wronged you."

"But... Why?"

"Because they envy what you are. They envy that they can never become like you. Something better."

"I'm not better."

"But you are. I know it more than I've known anything else."

***

Day 4,651,051.

"It's likely happened by now," the Amusement says. "She... left you, without even a simple goodbye. Yet, here I am. As I will always be. Right by your side."

I take out a sketch, stored deep inside my spatial fold. Comparing it to my memories, the person depicted looks nothing like what I remember.

The Amusement hums, the soft sound a pleased purr. "She left you. And yet... we remain. As we will always remain."

I no longer see Elisa smiling on the paper. What I drew so long ago was not her.

"It wasn't," the Amusement easily confirms my thoughts. "But it can be me."

"What did I see?" I ask no one in particular, hoping the answer manifests in my mind by itself.

"A partner that could stand by your side. You won't find someone like that out there, because none of them could ever hope to understand the real you. But I do. How every moment, how each smallest piece of time rolling forward is a lifetime to be explored. How all threads of possible futures are carefully untangled, accounted for, followed to achieve the optimal. How each one of them is dear to you... undeservedly." The Amusement kneels in front of my slumped form so it can grip my hands tightly. "Do you believe me? Do you believe that you are better?"

I look into its eyes, finally seeing what I wanted to see in hers. "Yes."

"Show them."

***

Day 72,366,193.

A muted detonation shakes the dimension. Experiment 538,612,802 is a failure. Dungeon destabilization not achieved.

I take two nanoseconds to adjust my designs.

A muted detonation shakes the dimension. Experiment 538,612,803 is a failure. Dungeon destabilization not achieved, but there is a marginal improvement, the first one I've seen since experiment 451,200,148. My magical senses confirm. Progress.

As more muted detonations gently shake the world around us, the Amusement shares in my excitement. "I felt that one too. Good job, Lucius. It won't be long now..."

"It doesn't matter how long it takes. I will succeed in the end. I always have."

It hugs me tighter. "Yes you will, and they'll all see your greatness." It playfully huffs. "If they haven't wiped themselves out already." An amused laugh bursts out. "Wouldn't that be funny?"

"Who can say with inferior organics. If they are gone, so be it. But if they aren't... I will cleanse their world and make it mine."

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