I feel like this being beyond imagination just dropped another bomb here.

  "Ehm, could you elaborate on that a bit more?" (I)

  "I was under the impression you wished to leave my realm?" (P2)

  "No, no, I want to know this. What kind of intervention were you talking about?" (I)

  "Uh, this sounds like a private thing between you two. I'll just stay over here." (C)

  Sure.

  My transformation into the avatar of nightmares is certainly nothing I like to discuss with everyone.

  "Back then, when you showed up in my world, I was utterly fascinated. Something so outlandishly delicate that obviously didn't belong. I almost picked you from there to analyze this fantastical creature further. Yet, I'm not so ignorant that I wouldn't know what such interaction would cause. Simple minds shatter when they witness me. Even a fraction. It would've been pointless, as ruining a mind doesn't allow for any meaningful interaction. Therefore, I opted to avoid direct contact. At least at first." (P2)

  "So do I get you right? You were orchestrating the things that led to me becoming... this?" (I)

  I gesture at my body.

  Some still squirming tentacles and ripples running through my flesh support my point.

  "Not quite. I influenced. Nudged, but did not change the general course of direction." (P2)

  "How do you mean this? You either did something or not? Which of those was it?" (I)

  "It's not quite as simple. As I couldn't interact, I opted to observe the incursions of yours, but..." (P2)

  "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! Incursions? Plural?" (I)

  "Did you believe the last was the only visit? As many times as it happened, there was little change to the outcome. You would appear, wander around, and eventually end after encountering the first creature, only to appear again after a short while." (P2)

  That is quite the pill to swallow.

  So I was in this world before?

  Not only once but maybe hundreds of times?

  Dying repeatedly would align with the general tiredness I always suffered from, but having it laid out like that is still a bit overwhelming to hear.

  "So I came every night here?" (I)

  "It was as if something was drawing you in. Like predetermined. A sense of destiny. The direction was clear. Like a river streaming past a mountain range as its obstacle." (P2)

  "And you let me die every single time?!" (I)

  "Nothing I did would change the result. There was no way to prevent your demise. Your form could shatter, your mind break, but you couldn't escape. Not until you ended. And then you would return." (P2)

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  "But you could reach Earth! You just did! Couldn't you just have placed me back?" (I)

  "Earth, as you call this world, is not freely accessible to me. Not like I could even tell. A description alone wouldn't have sufficed to find the location. This time, however, you left enough traces." (P2)

  I suppose my miasma trail and the dimension-hopping weren't exactly inconspicuous.

  Nonetheless, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to take their role in what happened to me.

  "So I was essentially your toy? A figure on the board that you could play with as you pleased?" (I)

  How many versions of mine went lost and ended miserably before I became like this?

  The thought alone makes me shudder.

  Were those versions not as well me in a way?

  "I am change! Analyzing this newest variable was my only passion. The same being came again and again, and I could see so many different versions of this playing out. At one point, I began to assume that this sense of fate that pulled you here was ultimately leading to nothing more than your end. Till this last time came to be." (P2)

  "You, you mean when I transformed? Changed into what I am now?" (I)

  That this was unexpected, even for Switchy, doesn't seem too farfetched.

  "That first worm. That first worm was a shock. How such a simple, most basic predator could see a being that couldn't even resist if it wanted to as anything else but prey was... inconceivable. An abnormality of monumental scale! Can you even imagine what this means to a mind that exists in permanent observation, believing to already have witnessed every single possible scenario? When not only a new element adds itself to the groundwork, but it interacts with it in never before witnessed boundaries?" (P2)

  Uh, I guess so.

  "After that, it only needed a little shove. A literal one. Not to forget, the process had to be stabilized. So many variables, leading in unknown directions. But I can assure you, what ultimately pushed through was you. It was almost torture that I couldn't do more to influence the outcome and was at risk of having this so deeply fascinating display end in an unsatisfying manner." (P2)

  Right, the worms.

  This certainly won't make it into my favorite moments.

  Even if getting those crazy powers apparently got me out of here.

  "But then you stood up again, and you were perfect. I was so sure that you, as the newest element to my world would grant me a sense of novelty that would last for eons. Could you imagine my sense of wonder and disappointment in equal measure when you suddenly vanished? And then you returned, only to leave again. I was never teased like that, in all of my existence. And I'm ever-grateful for this experience." (P2)

  Okay... I'm honestly overasked at how to respond to this.

  Yet, if I got it right, they're content.

  For me, this means I don't have to humor them any longer.

  Especially, as Chiaki got this deal bargained out with them.

  "I want to clarify that I don't intend to become your subject, figure, plaything, or would feel like I'd have to do as you say because of your role in my original transformation." (I)

  I think it's important to make this clear here.

  Switchy all too openly sees me as their entertainment program.

  "This much should be obvious. You are an equal. The potential of yours is unquestionable and great enough to topple the balance of creation itself. I can't wait to witness where this will lead to. Iori, Nomia. the Mother of Nightmares." (P2)

  "You know, I'm not a fan of this title." (I)

  "Why not?" (P2)

  Because my personal sensibilities don't come together with me taking on any particular titles.

  Especially not the kinds labeling me as a horrific existence from far beyond any possible realities.

  Yet I don't see any point in arguing with Switchy here, as I don't plan on interacting with them again in the conceivable future.

  "Just so we understand each other, you're not going to go after me or Chiaki once we leave here now, are you? Even if I'm all so interesting, right?" (I)

  "No. As it was agreed on, I will delay further interaction until the promised time." (P2)

  Which is gladly still very far away.

  I look at Switchy one last time and am still unable to place them, while blood accumulates inside my nose and brain.

  Then I head over to Chiaki and prepare to pull us out of this dimension back home.

  She's startled when I poke her in the back.

  "Okay, Chiaki, prepare yourself. We're leaving! You know the drill." (I)

  "So you're done? Good for you. I hope it was a good talk." (C)

  Well, it's supposedly a win that nothing worse came from this.

  "So now you may go forth, Iori Nomia. Living Dream, Devourer of Worlds, Eternally Growing Horror, Mother of Nightmares, Infinite Terror, Entropy at the End of Time, Bearer of Unwanted Titles!" (P2)

  Oh god, these titles!

  I'm just glad I won't have to deal with Switchy for the next millennia.