The intent to "cooperate" had only just been established within the cavern when the silence of the three parties, each harboring their own thoughts, was broken by the Evil God's inhuman laughter, as though he had suddenly remembered something funny.
"Hahahahaha! I almost forgot!" The Evil God's shadowy body swayed, his swirling eyes turning toward Black Zetsu. His tone brimmed with schadenfreude and the excitement of someone about to share a major scoop. "Speaking of that bastard Ōtsutsuki Isshiki... there's something I think I ought to remind you of, little black fellow, while you're busy resurrecting your mother."
Black Zetsu's two topaz eyes focused on the Evil God. His shadowy outline rippled slightly with confusion and a trace of foreboding.
"Remind me? About Ōtsutsuki Isshiki? Didn't Mother personally... a thousand years ago?"
"Kill him?" The Evil God interrupted Black Zetsu, his laughter growing sharper and more grating. "Hahahaha! Dead? Yes, he 'died,' just as I was 'killed' by him back then! But look at me now. Aren't I 'alive' and well?"
Black Zetsu's shadow abruptly stiffened! What did that mean? Could it be...
"You mean... Ōtsutsuki Isshiki... is still alive too?!"
For the first time, Black Zetsu's voice wavered with unmistakable horror, even taking on a shrill note of disbelief!
How was that possible?! Mother had dealt with him herself. Had she still left a threat behind?!
"What else did you think?" The Evil God sounded as though it went without saying, with even a hint of contempt for his naïveté.
"He's an Ōtsutsuki! A treacherous little bastard who likes ambushes and fights dirty, yes, but he has no shortage of ways to stay alive. When he ambushed me back then, my soul was scattered, leaving only a trace of an imprint clinging to existence through evil thoughts. As for