Jack's pupils dilated for a second before he put his forced and calm facade once again. "Haah, I think it's obvious at this point."
"I still remember back then, a long long time ago. Papa prayed and told me to grow big and strong. And then, I noticed that I have a complication with my body and I was barely able to muster any strength.
"If the gods didn't want me to become big and strong, then I shall make that statement come true! By my own power and determination alone!"
"That is what my daughter will say!" Jack caressed her hair even more, whilst tightly gripping her hot wrist, trying to not let her go.
Another hour had passed. The girl mostly talked about her experience in middle school with all kinds of events and hurdles that she overcame by being persistent and determined.
Cruciatus felt like Jack had heard the same story again and again, but it didn't matter to him because his only current joy was to see her daughter smiling, and being strong.
"... I know that you're putting one of those cooler dolls on my hand." The girl squinted as she put her biggest smile on—that was what she thought she was doing. While in Jack's eyes, her face was barely moving anymore. "It's helpful, I feel really refreshed. Thank you so much… You're... The best papa in the world..."
Jack kept holding her hand and the cooler doll tighter and tighter. He didn't reply, because he couldn't.
One by one, the tears were dropping and immediately turned into steam the moment it reached her skin. What was above the falling droplets, was the face of a heartbroken man who failed to preserve his utmost treasure.
"I'm sorry…" Jack clung and raised her lifeless hand as he pulled it to his forehead. "I'm sorry, I couldn't protect your mother. I'm so sorry, I couldn't protect you…"
What was left of the man was a writhing and echoed muttering of despair.
Cruciatus was forced to spectate this event. He gazed and gazed as the man he knew as a strong figure plunged into ever seething despair.
After another hour, he was brought back to the same white space. What felt like hours to him was actually a mere second in real time. At first, it was hard to digest what was happening as he didn't have that much experience in interacting to capture any kind of logic and common sense.
But if there was one thing for sure, he had found the answer for his prolonged question.
"Your adversary is not strong, my child." The smoke began to swirl around Cruciatus, as it kept whispering its words, "These so-called imperfections were once called 'humanity'. They were weak, fragile, restless, and there were abundance of them within this uncharted world. You're once a 'human' too, and you've passed the trial, the suffering. Hence your name, Cruciatus.
"Humans are gullible. Just because of a mere loss of their family, they could crumble easily like a thin stack of cards. You, on the other hand, are the opposite of them. You prevail without flinching, despite being thrown into the pit of darkness for millions of years.
"You, Cruciatus, are the strongest." The smoke began to exude a purple glow as it continuously became more and more hostile, wrapping itself around Cruciatus. "You deserve better. Override his soul, and broke upon the turmoil to the outside. This is your chance."
Cruciatus pondered, the meaning of life, the meaning of power, the meaning of his story—he took a deep breath, as he let all of his memory surged through his soul.
"I was wrong about you, 'Mother'." Cruciatus let the malicious smoke coated him, layer by layer. "You're not selfish, nor evil, nor heartless."
"I'm really pleased."
"You're batshit blind!"
The child of darkness transformed his dagger into a gauntlet on his arm. With an ounce of anger, Cruciatus grew numerous limbs from his back and sprawled it around to deter the 'Mother' substances away from him.
"You're making the wrong choice."
"An eyeless person like you is not qualified to determine what makes a person strong!" Cruciatus conjured thousands of black portals around the vast space. The gauntlet on his right arm started to spread through all of his existence, protecting the 'weak' him from any kind of temptation and pain.
He then branched and grew all of his limbs at extreme speed, splitting again and again as he sent more of his newly generated limbs into the black portals of flesh.
Cruciatus growled even more, "You're but a mere weak creature, you hide your real appearance away from me, and you dared to act like you know anything about fortitude at all!? Hideous! I'm disappointed at myself, for knowing that you exist within my memory all along!
"Now! Butter your blind eyes till the end! I will show you! What strength truly is!"
At that same time, on the other side—Jack had stumbled upon the eerie entity made out of dark crayon's scribble that went through the mirror from the other spectrum. The entity reached his hand to Jack. Within his clutch was a small dagger with dripping blood.
Wary of the existence in front of him, Jack stepped back as he deployed his octopus limb to his tailbone.
"I'm afraid that I'm a little bit hazy to do anything as of now." A reluctant grin appeared on Jack's face. "But if I have settled this down, then let's dance!"
[Old fart, you're too tired_
[He is not hostile.]
"Oh..?"
The entity of darkness paused for a few seconds before letting out a booming voice.
"Be not afraid, Jack Armstrong."
"... Cruciatus? Is that you?"
The entity nodded. "I'm not one, but many. There are more than thousands of souls, residing within an ultimate lifeform, which is your friend." The dagger in his clutch morphed into the very same glaive that Cruciatus had. "As for me, I have my own name.
"My name is Judas, and I want you to bring peace."