"[Hunger King], the Present World may hold what you seek. Though the hope is slim, this is your last chance. After all, once the End of the World meets its end, what you seek will be nothing but a vain hope."
A solemn, majestic voice rang out.
The gaunt figure said nothing, merely stepping toward the Present World.
The crescent moon shifted into a last-quarter moon, and a landscape of shattered walls grew clear from a blur. That had been the moment when its emotions ran fiercest, when its obsession had nearly burned it away.
Countless curses erupted, and agonized wails filled the wilderness.
"[Hunger King], please spare us! We didn't know it used to be your enemy."
"Please, we're willing to join you, become your followers, and submit to you."
"Stop! I can't take it anymore!"
The Calamities, starved until saliva streamed from their mouths and their eyes bulged, knelt and kowtowed incessantly, striking until flesh flew and bones lay bare.
One Calamity, unable to endure the torment, lost its reason. Following the scent of blood, it crawled toward a kowtowing Calamity, then opened its bloody maw and bit down hard.
Dizzy from kowtowing, the other Calamity gazed at the unmoved, gaunt figure in the distance. Unable to bear its hunger any longer, it bit into the Calamity lunging at it.
"Hahahahaha! We weren't human anymore to begin with! We're Calamities, monsters, ghosts forever denied rebirth! Eat you all! Eat you all!"
The chewing sounds of flesh and bone being gnawed and torn rang out alongside deranged laughter as an utter frenzy of mutual devouring unfolded.
The leading Calamity looked in terror at the figure before it. "We came from the same world, at least! Do you really have to wipe us out to the last one?
"Even if