Chapter 20: The Titan

Stan's POV

"Yummy, this is so good."

Looking at him and listening to him, no one would think he's an all-powerful entity.

But I'll admit, seeing the Collector like this is pretty comforting.

"If you're done, we should get going." I'm currently at the Boiling Isles.

Seems like my fight with those brats was felt all the way here. There are even civilians gathered at the Emperor's Coven asking for explanations. It feels a bit like the human world.

Civilians, they're never happy.

"I'm almost done, but... I want another one."

I sigh, a bit tired of this little glutton. I ended up dragging him to the castle after promising to make him ice cream later. It's not really difficult for me.

Worst case, I'll ask Arlecchino to handle the situation.

....

"Well, it seems you haven't fled." I walk through the Emperor's Coven without a single member showing obvious hostility towards me.

Lilith must have briefed them about the situation. She's really competent, and given her intellectual mind, I think she'll get along well with Ford and Terri.

"I'm going to un-petrify the people I turned to stone and take control of this place as the new representative of the Titan, or simply put, I'm the new Emperor." I made a mask using the plant glyph. That's also how I recreated my arms after they were destroyed.

They look normal thanks to an illusion. I'm not very comfortable using too many nanomachines to regenerate this much.

The mask I made looks exactly like Belos's.

I don't intend to be a mysterious sovereign hiding his identity behind a mask. No, I just want to use this to show that Belos is gone.

"Excuse me, but I doubt the people can trust a... stranger who came out of nowhere," Terra's voice was hesitant but clearly audible to everyone.

I couldn't deny her words either.

"I agree, and that's why the Titan will grant me this right." My words confused those present, including the Collector who seemed to be pouting in a corner.

"Uh... I think I'm completely lost, could you explain more simply?" Raine rubbed their neck, uncomfortable.

"Why explain when I can show? The people will follow me after seeing Belos's actions towards them and hearing the Titan's opinion." As I spoke, I walked towards the heart above the Boiling Isles' throne.

"You've been trying to contact me since I arrived in this dimension, haven't you?" I said, reaching out towards it.

I felt my eyes become extremely heavy, as if I was sleepy.

This is a sensation that shouldn't happen with my current body, but I decided to let go.

"Hello... Stan Pines, the human who travels through infinity." A familiar creature, not only in appearance but also biologically, stood before me.

The Titan.

(Image)

"You can call me Stanley, after all, you're older than me, haha." During our discussion, I didn't stop observing and analyzing this dimension.

I remember that Luz was able to access this place twice, physically and spiritually.

There's also what the Titan said about the strange ground in this reality, called the in-between dimension.

He mentioned that if Luz dove inside, she wouldn't be different from someone dead. I'm very curious to study this place.

"You're really friendly, I like that." He nodded, not addressing anyone in particular, then continued.

"I understand you want to become Emperor and need my support to do it 'peacefully.'" The Titan's friendly atmosphere suddenly became serious.

I wanted to open my mouth to speak, but the Titan continued.

"You know, Stanley... I'm not against the idea of someone guiding the Boiling Isles, but I want to know one thing before considering you the right person for this role."

The Titan's face was right in front of me, observing me with its single eye.

"What's really the difference between you and Belos, in the end? Because I see two obsessive maniacs."

"Yes, you haven't killed anyone in the Boiling Isles... at least, not yet. You also have good intentions, but I've seen plenty of people like you in my long life."

"You think your actions are right and justifiable, and in the end, you make others suffer to satisfy your selfishness." I could detect sadness in the Titan's voice; it seems he's comparing me to someone.

I suppose I remind him of the Collector's race.

"So tell me, Stanley, what makes you different from Belos? Or, more simply, how can we be sure you won't become another Belos?"

I remained silent. Honestly, I had no logical and correct answer to give him.

The only logical option here would be to just leave and take control of the island by force to exploit its secrets and riches but...

"I can't..." I said quietly while clenching my fists tightly.

"What!" The Titan seemed surprised by my answer.

"I can't guarantee that I won't end up like Belos, that I won't succumb to my desires or that I won't be corrupted by the infinity of realities and time that awaits me."

I couldn't help but sigh sadly. That's also why Arlecchino exists and why GIFfany stays by my side.

They are safeguards to prevent me from becoming something else. That's also why I established this "no kill" principle.

I understand now why the Time Lord (Doctor Who) refuses to kill.

This man, literally possessing reality, understood that he is, in a way, a dictator. He forbade himself from killing voluntarily to avoid becoming something horrible.

"Then why do you desire this despite everything? Why do you want more knowledge, more power, more experience?"

Good question, I don't know. At first, I wanted to survive and I decided to eat that mushroom, then I started to get hungry.

Like every creature in this world, I started wanting to satisfy this hunger for knowledge that gnaws at me.

"Don't just stand there, ANSWER ME, STANLEY PINES!" The Titan seemed to be losing patience.

"Titan, like you and other living beings, I have desires... even if I know they might not be mine originally." I look at the Titan's single eye.

"I intend to satisfy this hunger and, by the way, avoid becoming as twisted as Belos. For that, LEND ME YOUR HELP!"

At that moment, it was no longer Johan from Earth speaking before this superior being or Stan Pines, a grandfather worried about his grandchildren's future, but simply a man concerned about his infinite future.

"*sighs*, it's madness to understand such unreliable or illogical thinking and reflection but, I want to believe in you and trust you." The Titan backed up slightly.

His heart started to glow; I could see he had returned to his frivolous and friendly mood.

"Stanley, I have a favor to ask you."

I already had a small idea of what this service was, but I chose to feign ignorance and nodded.

"I want you to tell this to my son King #####, you'll find him with a witch nicknamed the Owl Lady or simply Eda." I listened carefully before expressing my approval.

"Excellent, I'm going to make you emperor now, but forget the idea of being my representative since I plan to die after."

"What? What do you mean you're going to die?" I was a bit disconcerted by the situation.

"I plan to bequeath all my remaining powers to you, I'm a bit tired of staying in this place and I can see that my son King is living properly." There was a solitary atmosphere around him.

"So, do you accept my inheritance in exchange for watching over the Boiling Isles sincerely, even if one day you end up twisted by infinity?" He extended his hand toward me for a handshake.

"I'll be the best emperor possible and I'll deliver your message to King." Strangely, I could feel the sentiment of relief and relaxation emanating from the Titan.

....

Narrator's POV.

"Why is he just standing there in front of that thing?" Hunter asks while observing Stan's back.

"I think he's trying to contact the Titan," explains the Collector with a hint of annoyance.

He still had some anger towards the Titan for imprisoning him for centuries due to a misunderstanding.

*trembling*

"What's happening now!!!" Terra shouted while trying to keep her balance.

While everyone was trying to keep their balance or fly using their palismans, Stan was suddenly absorbed by the Titan's heart before several glyphs started appearing on it.

[People of the Boiling Isles, I am the Titan and I have an announcement to make] a voice was heard telepathically throughout the Boiling Isles.

"You hear it too?"

"Who cast a spell on my mind?"

"What's happening, I hear a voice"

The witches and demons of the Boiling Isles were all confused by the sudden anomalous situation. First, it was a shock wave followed by an explosion.

Now, they're hearing voices.

[I am happy to have had a people like you, but unfortunately, my time has come]

[I, Titan, declare Stanley Pines as the new emperor and proclaim Belos as the shame of the Boiling Isles' history]

Naturally, the inhabitants of the Boiling Isles were confused by the sudden situation.

Many even suspected it was a joke by rebels practicing wild magic who wanted to discredit the emperor by pretending to be the Titan.

*boom* an explosion of light emanated from the Emperor's Coven castle, curious witches and demons instinctively gathered there.

"Am I entirely biological now?" Stan's voice resonated in the Royal hall after the light disappeared.

"Who... who are you?" The question everyone had on their lips came from Number 5's mouth.

She was hypnotized by the humanoid creature that emerged from the Titan's heart; the magical energy emanating from him was just too pure and abundant.

She wanted to eat it so badly, but she knew she could get hurt trying without precaution.

"I am... Stan Pines, Emperor of the Boiling Isles and heir of the Titan."