[NETWORK] Death of the old world, let the rule of strength begin!

[warped_ken_amada]

[Soon after a dead Falcon appears in the Velvet Room...]

I have observed this dimensional crossroads and I have been disappointed. So many of you have been blessed with great individual power, the ability to change the world, and you all squander it.

Wake up! The world you are living in is based on nothing but lies! The "rules" and "morality" are not necessary things to live in society, but cowardly artifices used by weak men to exploit others despite their lack of strength! The root of everything, what allows you to take action, what arbitrates conflicts, is power. Even the modern societies of lies are based upon it! They rely on the collective power of the masses to uphold their rotten structure! But we are beyond that.

A new age is beginning. The old world is dying, and a newer, fairer world dawns! The collective power of the masses which has allowed such perversion is weaker than our own individual, gifted power! Break the shackles of the old societies! Tear them apart! Rebuild them anew, under the rule of strength, as they were always meant to be! You who are gifted with strength, take your righftul places as rulers!

Or oppose me if you wish, but be aware that I am in a league of my own. Your robotic friend thought himself strong, and look what happened to him. In the end, you are my inferiors. Keep that in mind, and we should get along fine.

Comments

[takutomaruki]

I am being smug when you are being insulting, Ren?

[willowandoak]

ye
idk why the hostility surprises u dude when maruki is such a threat in so many worlds and like. fucks with people personally
i cant rly think of a persona world where maruki isnt a danger tbh?
and theres no evidence that ur any different except that u say so

[takutomaruki]

I understand your hostility, Ren, truly. From what I’ve gathered, it seems my actions in other dimensions have left a trail of suffering, and if I were in your position, I might feel the same. But you need to understand—I don’t remember much beyond December 24th. Whatever I’ve done elsewhere, I am not that Maruki. Not anymore.

Azathoth knows this truth better than anyone, and I’ve been working to untangle my scattered memories to ensure I don't repeat mistakes I can't even fully recall. I am conflicted—if my powers are a threat, I must tread cautiously. But I also won’t allow myself to be judged solely on actions I don’t remember or to have my abilities weaponized by those who see them only as tools.

I am not claiming to be innocent or blameless. I just want you to see that mistakes, struggles, and regrets aren’t unique to me. From what I’ve observed, your other selves and others in your circles have made their own errors. Maybe the real question is whether we use those failures as reasons to condemn each other—or as reasons to understand.

I’ll say this, Ren—if this Amada-kun has some tether to his humanity, something that could allay his hostilities and teach him humility, I could help. I would even be willing to try. But only with mutual respect. Otherwise, I will simply defend myself against him when the time comes. Nothing more, nothing less.

With that, Maruki switches off his phone- eyes shutting close in deep contemplation before his attention goes back to his lab. Ken Amada- whoever he is; must have his own weakness. Perhaps all he can really do is investigate.

Locked to sunflowren

[lakebrat]

Ren, is it me, or is the way he talks about his Persona - I assume Azathoth is his Persona - odd?

I've heard that name somewhere too.

[willowandoak]

no yeah i saw that too
like azathoth is some other guy
caradoc doesnt know anything i dont know

[lakebrat]

My Personas have perspectives I don't share. Insights about the Metaverse, even. But I don't know if it would occur to me to offer Lancelot as a character reference.

I placed it, by the way. Azathoth is a deity in the works of Lovecraft.

[willowandoak]

sure he thinks things i dont think but hes never like. told me a fact
except about ancient wales sometimes ig
...i would say that suits maruki as a persona but is it actually just a persona
bc if its actually smth else then i dont like the implications tbh

a bit later

[lakebrat]

I went to the library. "the mindless entity Azathoth, which rules all time and space from a curiously environed black throne at the centre of Chaos."

Sound familiar at all?

[willowandoak]

huh
dont like that
did it say anything about turning into a persona for ppl who want to be gods

[lakebrat]

Not that I saw. It will take me a few days to go through Lovecraft's whole collected works in English. But then, nothing about the Lancelot myth, or Caradoc's history, mentions Personas.

There are other Lovecraftian Personas, of course. Hastur is one. [Abyssal Eye is cool, shutup.] But, again, he doesn't offer me character references.

[willowandoak]

lancelot and caradoc are just personas though
like i get where theyve come from
the question is whether azathoth is smth else
are u gonna read in the library, do u want me to bring u food

[lakebrat]

You'd do that for me?

[Awww.]

[willowandoak]

keep it up and ill change my mind

[lakebrat]

Oof. I am told.

I was going to spread out in Leblanc, but I'd have more access to study materials in the library. If you wanted to bring food, I'd owe you dinner, of course.

[willowandoak]

i also accept other forms of payment
ill bring u smth later

[lakebrat]

Thanks

Make sure you do.