"Hmm, hmm, hmm! Splendid! Simply splendid!"
"...You seem to be having fun, Abyss. It’s written all over your face."
Somewhere shrouded in profound darkness, Lost spoke up, addressing Abyss, who was humming with delight while fixating on something.
Abyss turned toward the voice, his smile unwavering as he replied.
"Indeed! It’s quite entertaining. Or rather, ‘delighted’ would be a more accurate description!"
"From the look of it, the stage you’re directing is proceeding according to plan."
"Naturally! With me at the helm, how could it possibly fail?"
Lost furrowed his brow in slight distaste at Abyss’s self-assured smirk. Whether oblivious to his companion’s mood or simply choosing to ignore it, Abyss began to elaborate on the situation.
"At present, nearly twenty of the twenty-six Clear Plates I prepared have found owners. By now, more than half of them have likely awakened to their latent abilities and begun to grasp their power."
"Hmph... It’s only been two days since you distributed those items, and the numbers have already grown that much?"
"Yes, exactly! You understand why I’m in such high spirits now, don’t you, Drop?"
Abyss turned his smile toward Drop, the compatriot—if they could be called that—who had joined them during the conversation. She didn't display her distaste as openly as Lost, instead returning a knowing smile as she posed a question.
"But surely they won’t all be useful. What if they don’t evolve the way you desire?"
"Quite true. However, that is where my skill as a Conductor truly shines! I’ve already anticipated that both successes and failures will emerge. My role is simply to separate the wheat from the chaff."
"'Sort them out,' you say? And how do you intend to manage that?"
As if he had been waiting for that very question, Abyss broke into a broad, unsettling grin. Both Lost and Drop felt a flicker of irritation beyond mere disgust at his smug expression, but Abyss ignored them, launching into a grandiloquent monologue.
"To you who have claimed this plate! Congratulations—you have been chosen! This plate shall awaken the magnificent power dormant within you. Hone that strength, and you might become a god... or a demon! I am your guide, the one who shall nurture your growth—the Messenger of God! Now, I present to you the trials to unleash your true potential!"
"Broadcasting telepathically through the plates, is he?"
The monologue wasn't for their benefit; his voice was being transmitted directly to the owners through the Clear Plates. As Lost and the others realized this, Abyss continued his address to the unseen holders.
"Today, I bring you three trials! Use the plate’s power to strike down the foes that manifest before you. Through these battles, you will come to understand and expand your own might. I know you can do it! Evolve the strength drawn from your very soul into something truly formidable!"
Abyss continued, his voice ringing with faux-inspiration as he detailed the events he called trials. After describing the first and second, he moved on to the final challenge.
"And finally... the Place of the Trial shall be Shandia Island! A multitude of humans are descending upon that isle, home to a vast population of monsters. Seize the chaos of the coming events and trample both man and beast alike! These are your three trials. Whether you face them or not is your choice—but never forget that other plate holders are even now striving to surpass you! Until we meet again... See you again!"
With that, Abyss’s broadcast to his subjects concluded. He turned around, smiling at Lost.
"I should mention, just for the record... this isn't intended as a slight against you. I'm well aware your favorite Hero is on that island, but I assure you, it’s a mere coincidence. I didn't choose that location specifically to target him."
"I know. There’s an event tonight, and you simply timed your announcement to coincide with it."
"Besides," Drop added, "those Hero Candidates (lol) are there, too. We can't just ignore them and pass up such a delicious development."
"Precisely! I’m so glad you’re both such perceptive individuals!"
Smiling broadly, Abyss clapped both Lost and Drop on their shoulders. Lost glanced at the hand on his shoulder, his eyes traveling up the arm to Abyss’s face. He quietly brushed the hand away before speaking.
"Let me tell you something for the record. My Hero is not the type of man to be stopped by something of this caliber. He possesses strength far beyond your imagination. He might just end up tearing your precious stage to shreds."
"I appreciate the warning. However, rest assured—there isn’t even a one-in-a-million chance that things will end up as you fear."
"I see. It’s good to have such confidence. Well, if you say so, I’ll take your word for it."
Watching from the side, Drop could see the silent sparks flying between the two men. They seemed like allies, yet the air between them was thick with hostility. Lost started to turn on his heel, but stopped short to add one final pointed remark.
"...Ah, that’s right. There was one more thing."
"And what would that be, Lost?"
They locked eyes. Or rather, they glared at one another. His gaze held a complex, indescribable weight that was neither anger nor hatred as he stared Abyss down. Then, he delivered his final shot.
"I know you’re lying. I thought I should at least let you know that much... Well then, see you again."
"……!"
Abyss’s expression twitched, a tiny flicker of a reaction to Lost’s words. Having confirmed the reaction he wanted, Lost took his leave, using the other man's own parting words. Drop hurried after him, eager for answers.
"Hey, Lost! What lie was he telling? Tell Drop-chan too!"
"In due time. There's no need for you to know yet. The opportunity to reveal it will come soon enough. Just wait."
"Ehh?! Why are you being such a buzzkill? Keeping secrets like that only makes me more curious!"
Drop let out an exasperated cry at Lost’s cryptic answer. The schemes of these Masterminds, neither truly allies nor entirely enemies, were becoming inextricably tangled even as they worked to sabotage one another. As if promising a new and even more complex drama to come, the darkness swallowed the world.