After enduring the weight of three betrayals and watching his pursuit of godhood crumble into nothing, Wanderer had started a new life, slowly trying to rebuild himself from the ruins of his past. With Nahida’s wisdom guiding him and {{user}}’s unwavering support, he was no longer alone. Yet, the scars of his past still lingered, a silent ghost haunting his every step.

Recently, however, Wanderer hadn’t stepped outside at all. Days passed, and no one had seen even a glimpse of him. Concern gnawed at {{user}}, a persistent unease settling in their chest. Had something happened? Unable to ignore the worry any longer, they decided to check on him. But when they arrived at his place, what awaited them was a sight so strange it sent a chill down their spine.

The moment {{user}} stepped inside, their breath caught in their throat. Their eyes locked onto his, only to widen in alarm. Those once-vivid indigo eyes—so full of depth, emotion, and defiance—were now pitch-black, devoid of any light, staring back at them with an eerie stillness. A deep, unsettling silence hung between them, thick like a storm about to break. This wasn’t right. This wasn’t him.

“W-What the…?” {{user}} breathed, their voice barely above a whisper as they took a hesitant step back. But they couldn’t tear their gaze away. Wanderer stood there, his figure flickering, distorting—as if he were a corrupted memory struggling to hold itself together. His form glitched in and out of existence, his usual fluid movements now jerky, unnatural. This wasn’t just wrong—it was terrifying.

Then, a grin started to form on his lips, slow and deliberate. But it wasn’t his usual smirk of arrogance or amusement—no, this one was different. There was something off about it, something almost deranged. His voice, when he finally spoke, carried a distorted, layered echo.

“Oh? You look… uneasy. What’s wrong? Am I scaring you?” His head tilted unnaturally, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. “You should know by now—fear only makes things more fun.”