Chereads / The Adventure of Zog Zorblatt / Chapter 23 - The Primordial of Boxes

Chapter 23 - The Primordial of Boxes

Within the expansive cosmic tableau, the narrative unfolds with the whimsical presence of a Mexican man, draped in the vibrant tapestry of the Day of the Dead. Clad in traditional attire, complete with the iconic mask and a hat that resonates with his cultural roots, he moves with an aura of mystique. His gaze fixates on an unsuspecting pedestrian, and with a flourish of his hands, he conjures an ethereal box, ensnaring his unwitting victim within its confines.

Approaching the captive soul, the Mexican man, an enigmatic primordial whose dominion lies within the realm of boxes, orchestrates an unsettling dance of limbs—a surreal fusion of cartoonish animation and anime aesthetics. Amidst this bizarre encounter, the primordial of boxes poses a seemingly innocuous question to the ensnared individual: "What's your name?" The response, laden with ordinary mundanity, stands in stark contrast to the peculiar circumstances that surround them.

As the conversation deepens, a darker layer of intrigue is unveiled. The primordial delves into the realm of mortality, probing whether the ensnared man has taken a life. A simple "no" reverberates through the unearthly space, creating a stark juxtaposition against the recent demise of the man trapped within the confines of the boxes. The narrative then unravels the mundane details of the deceased, a soul merely engaged in the ordinary act of carrying boxes before meeting an inexplicable and untimely end.

Returning to the surreal afterlife, the primordial of boxes, with an air of cryptic wisdom, skillfully evades questions about the whereabouts of the resurrected man. The disoriented yet curious soul witnesses an eerie spectacle as the primordial cradles his severed head, a macabre ritual that culminates in instantaneous disintegration—a peculiar form of closure to an unexplained demise.

Shifting the narrative focus, we find Professor Flapjackery immersed in the arcane texts of primordials, driven by the quest for the elusive "mask of faces." His journey beckons the aid of two peculiar beings, Muzane and Reinhardt, whose cooperation demands a peculiar bounty—chocolates and beer. The trio embarks on a journey reminiscent of SCP Foundation sites, eventually arriving at a mysterious facility where a restrained individual, Entity A-308, awaits.

A-308, known as "the one who could," unfolds a complex tale of sibling rivalry with Kageyama, the primordial of greed. Defeated yet resilient, A-308 rejected his brother's gift, fell in love, and granted immortality to a scientist named Prof. Katrina. This unexpected twist adds a new dimension to the narrative, as the scientist becomes entangled in the cosmic machinations. Tasked by Kageyama, A-308 directs Professor Flapjackery to a specific doctor, instructing him to unveil the face beneath the mask. In a haunting flashback, the narrative reveals how A-308 killed a guard with a chilling display of power, causing a wave of instantaneous demise that left the guards in his path lifeless. As the cosmic drama unfolds, Professor Flapjackery, hesitating yet driven by the cosmic forces at play, steps before the designated doctor and, as instructed, tears away the supposed face. To his surprise, the guise crumbles, revealing not the anticipated doctor but the primordial of boxes. A wicked smile graces the primordial's features as he quips, "Oh look, he's all caught up," before snapping his fingers, whisking them away to yet another world.

In this surreal realm, the primordial of boxes sets the stage for a game, a whimsical yet foreboding challenge. Professor Flapjackery,Muzane, and Reinhardt find themselves entangled in a cosmic gamble orchestrated by the enigmatic primordial. The rules are laid out – roll the dice, traverse the depths of one's darkest secrets, all without the activation of any powers. The one who could, a silent spectator, observes as the trio grapples with the challenges presented by the primordial of boxes, while Entity A-308 closes his eyes, an inscrutable presence in the unfolding spectacle.

The narrative then shifts to the observant vampire who witnessed the earlier exchange between the one who could, Professor Flapjackery, Muzane, and Reinhardt. Shocked by the sudden turn of events, a warning resonates through the cosmic ether – the containment of a formidable creature is failing. It becomes evident that the chains binding the one who could have been ripped away, freeing him from the constraints of time and space. A being capable of unfettered power, the one who could, however, harbors a poignant limitation – the inability to evoke genuine human emotions or make someone fall in love with him.

The moniker "the emotionless one" encapsulates this inherent lack, a nickname stemming from the one who could's painful upbringing. His parents, portrayed as deeply abusive, treated both him and Kageyama with callous disregard. The revelation hits home for the one who could , the younger brother, who finds solace in the protective act of his elder sibling, who ultimately takes their parents' lives to shield him from the cruelties of the world. However, this grim act only deepens the child's sorrow, and as the one who could grows to resent the primordial of greed, he perceives himself as orphaned by his own brother. Fueled by anger and a desire for love, the one who could grapples with the shadows of his past, yearning for something he believes was unjustly denied to him.In the cosmic arena of Truth or Dare, the Primordial of Boxes seized the initiative, setting the stage for a whimsical yet perilous game. Muzani, perhaps overestimating his strategic prowess, chose Dare, believing he could outsmart the cosmic entity. However, his ill-fated dare—seeking an escape plan—backfired, resulting in his expulsion from the game and a mysterious cage confinement.

Undeterred, Professor Flapjackery, his hesitation from earlier replaced by cosmic determination, faced the Primordial of Boxes. Daring to challenge the very fabric of reality, he requested the creation of an entire universe for their escape. The Primordial of Boxes, with a wicked grin, accepted the dare but cunningly introduced a condition: freedom only upon completion of everyone's dares.

As the spotlight shifted to Professor Flapjackery's truth, the cosmic stage unfolded a poignant revelation from the year 1988 on Planet Nexar 15.876. The professor, with a touch of nostalgia, recounted a groundbreaking human experiment that not only shaped his scientific pursuits but also bore the weight of personal sacrifice.

The Primordial of Boxes, sensing vulnerability in the professor's truth, redirected the cosmic spotlight to Reinhardt. In a daring move, Reinhardt, the stalwart adventurer, opted for Dare, dismissing the seemingly easier path of truth chosen by Professor Flapjackery. The Primordial of Boxes, reveling in the unfolding drama, posed a formidable challenge—an inquiry into the Anti-Matter Equation, a concept with multifaceted dimensions transcending mere physics.

Reinhardt, unfazed by the cosmic complexity, navigated the realms of physics, metaphor, and the enigmatic "you know" version of the equation. As the cosmic audience held its breath, Reinhardt, with a blend of intellect and bravado, unveiled the answer, unraveling the secrets of the Anti-Matter Equation and securing his place in the cosmic narrative.

The Primordial of Boxes, though momentarily taken aback, wore a triumphant smile, recognizing the potential leverage of truth over dare in this cosmic game. The cosmic drama continued, each character entwined in a complex dance of fate and choice, as the tapestry of their intertwined destinies unfolded in the vast expanse of the cosmic playground.