What did it feel like to watch a thirty- or forty-story skyscraper looming right down on you?
Lynch finally understood.
When the difference in physical size reached a certain threshold, it triggered a quantitative leap into a qualitative shift.
He couldn't even feel any threat from its form or any stimulation from mysterious filth; sheer size alone was enough to impose an immense psychological pressure.
Countless deadly hounds roamed and prowled all around him, seeming ready to pounce and tear him to pieces at any moment. Before him stood the mountain-like giant wolf, looking down upon him from above.
Yet Lynch no longer recoiled. He simply offered a composed smile, calmly gazing at the colossal behemoth in front of him.
Mulsith-ha, the Lord of Tindalos, King of Hounds, and ruler of the City of Tindalos.
Unlike lower hounds driven purely by appetite, it was the sole embodiment of order amidst the chaotic hounds.
Similar to Tawil at'Umr, the All-in-One avatar of Yog-Sothoth, the Lord of a Billion Radiance, it transcended all time and space from the moment of its existence. It existed at every single point in time in this world, spanning from the beginning to the end, running through the world's entire history.
Yet unlike Yog-Sothoth, during the Era of Fallen Gods that marked the end of the Mythological Era, Yog-Sothoth claimed authority over time and ascended to the supreme divine altar, whereas Mulsith-ha suffered defeat in the struggle and retreated into the Corner of Time.
Unwilling to accept defeat, it initiated an endless, eternal war against Yog-Sothoth, hoping to use it as an opportunity to break the barrier between curved time and angular time, allowing the City of Tindalos to descend upon the River of Time—just as the All-in-One's Gate of the Silver Key did.
However, lacking authority over time, it fell into an ever-deepening disadvantage throughout the war. For this reason, in a future distant by hundreds of millions of years, it finally turned to its former allies, the Yithians, requesting their technological creation: the stagnation block.
Yes, the Yithians from the Mythological Era were allies of Mulsith-ha.
During the height of the Yithians' power—the mid-Mythological Era—they had engaged in multiple large-scale conflicts with the hounds. Ultimately, both sides compromised: the Yithians gained the privilege of using communicators to shield their perception from the hounds, while in return, they bound themselves to an agreement never to enter the River of Time in body or soul, traveling through time using brainwaves alone.
Throughout the long, eternal war that followed, the Yithians remained strictly on the sidelines, neither offending Yog-Sothoth's faction nor breaking their agreement with Mulsith-ha. They maintained neutrality until Mulsith-ha requested the stagnation block from them.
The Yithians also had a covenant with Yog-Sothoth and wished to preserve their neutrality, making it inconvenient to deliver the stagnation block directly and invite Yog-Sothoth's wrath. However, in the Fifth Age, Yog-Sothoth happened to require the Yithians' assistance to enable Lynch's entry through the Gate of the Silver Key. In exchange, Yog-Sothoth agreed to let the Yithians hand over the stagnation block.
This was the explanation the Yithians had provided to Lynch on the way here. It helped Lynch understand that, much like Yog-Sothoth wanting him to find the Necronomicon, Mulsith-ha had its own desires—and the unfortunate Yithians caught in the middle took advantage of this opportunity to avoid offending either party.
Because the Yithians traveled through time as brainwaves, they were incapable of carrying physical objects, necessitating a third party like Lynch to deliver the item directly to Mulsith-ha.
Mulsith-ha shifted its eyes—which seemed to harbor the stars of the cosmos—toward Lynch. The cold eyes stared intently for a moment before the giant beast leaned down and sniffed at Lynch.
The close contact set Lynch's blood racing. He gained a literal understanding of what it meant for a single strand of fur to be thicker than his waist—quite literally, without any rhetorical exaggeration.
When it raised its head again, the hostility and vigilance surrounding the giant wolf had faded. It took two steps back, sat on its haunches, and tilted its head back...
Holy shit. Lynch gritted his teeth and prepared himself mentally just in time. The next instant, a wolf howl nearly pierced his soul. The thunderous sound struck like a bolt from the blue, shaking his spirit body into a dazed blur.
Along with the howl, a mental thought was conveyed into Lynch's mind. Though devoid of spoken language, Lynch could clearly sense the intent of welcome and anticipation.
Your delivery has arrived, please confirm receipt.
Amused by his own internal joke, Lynch pulled out the object of his journey.
It was a perfectly square metal block that looked quite heavy, yet held in his hand, it felt virtually weightless, as if floating on air.
The stagnation block—one of the high-tech creations of the Yithians, far superior to something like a stun gun.
This object was a product of warped time. Originally, its effect allowed one second inside to equal a thousand years outside. As Yithian technology advanced, the ratio improved until one second inside translated to a million years outside. Thus, they used stagnation blocks to preserve essential items so that they could still function normally in the distant future—and, once again, because they could not carry physical objects themselves.
When the Yithians had explained it to him earlier, he assumed the King of Hounds wanted whatever was kept inside the stagnation block. Only after asking for clarification did he realize the creature wanted the block itself.
Though a mortal creation, it pushed time distortion to the absolute extreme, unifying the contradictory concepts of an instant and eternity within a single tiny metal box.
Pushed to the limit, such distortion transcended mortal limits and bordered on the domain of the divine. For a unique entity like Mulsith-ha—one that had failed to claim authority over time yet still transcended all temporal bounds—this concept offered invaluable reference.
In fact, according to Milt, this was the exact reason Yog-Sothoth desired the Necronomicon. That book too had been penned by a mortal body yet contained the ultimate truths of the world, serving as a reference to deepen Yog-Sothoth's mastery over Divine Authority.
Meaning after this transaction, both sides would gain an upgrade while the stalemate remained unchanged. No wonder this battle was destined to rage until the end of time.
The sense of anticipation from the titan grew increasingly distinct. Although the giant wolf sat haughtily motionless before him, its huge eyes locked tightly onto the box in Lynch's hands, its gaze following its slightest movement.
This suddenly gave Lynch the sensation of feeding a pet. A wave of amusement instantly dissipated the lingering gravity in his heart, shattering the omnipresent pressure. He almost felt tempted to wave the box back and forth before tossing it over.
Better not. Regardless of the world, play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Besides, I'm representing the Yithians right now. If I don't want to be hunted down by them later, I shouldn't embarrass myself.
Feeling a bit regretful, he nevertheless maintained a solemn and dignified expression on his face as he took two steps forward, raising the box into the air.
“In accordance with the covenant of the future, I present this bound object on behalf of the Great Race of Yith. May the barrier of angular time eventually be shattered, and may the race of Tindalos march toward victory.”
Swish! A bizarre tentacle erupted from within the hound, snatching the stagnation block in an instant before retracting. Just like that, the strange metal box vanished into thin air inside the creature's body.
Silence. Pure silence.
The hound remained stock-still, both sides bathed in quiet.
Was it over just like that?
Just as doubt crept into Lynch's mind, the giant wolf suddenly opened its massive maw and lunged forward, swallowing him whole in a single gulp.
Rate on N.U.
