Master of the Gates

[INTRO — CORRUPTED TRANSMISSION, DISTORTED WHISPERS] SYSTEM FAILURE. REALITY: UNSTABLE. DIMENSIONAL AUTHORITY: REVOKED. THORTHU: CONTROL LOST. THE WITCH: “No… this is impossible…” XC: “Who is controlling the gates?” [Three distorted notes ring out.] DJ MUSHROOM: “Tralala… lalère…” [Silence.] DJ MUSHROOM: “Did you really think I was just here to play music?” [VERSE 1 — DEEP, MENACING MALE VOCALS] I wore the smile, I played the fool, I made your nightmares dance to my rules. You saw a clown beneath the light, While I rewrote your worlds each night. Every kingdom, every throne, Every universe was mine alone. You called me chaos, you called me strange, But I was the hand that controlled the game. [PRE-CHORUS — GLITCHING VOCALS, RISING TENSION] Every door… was built by me. Every soul… belongs to the key. Every choice you thought was yours… Was written before the opening doors. [WHISPERED CHANT — STEREO VOICES CIRCULATING] Tralala… lalère… One mind. One master. Infinite worlds. No way out. [CHORUS — EXPLOSIVE, DISTORTED INDUSTRIAL DROP] I AM THE MASTER OF THE GATES! THE END OF WORLDS, THE HAND OF FATE! I BEND YOUR MINDS, I BREAK YOUR SKY! YOUR LITTLE UNIVERSE WILL DIE! TRALALA! LALÈRE! NO GOD CAN SAVE YOU FROM DESPAIR! TRALALA! LALÀ! I OWN THE WORLDS BEYOND THE STARS! BOW TO THE BEAT! BOW TO THE VOID! EVERY REALITY IS DESTROYED! [VERSE 2 — UNSTABLE RHYTHM, MALE AND FEMALE VOICES] The Witch raises her hand, but the spell turns black, She tries to run, but the doors pull her back. Her deepest secrets scream through the air, A thousand versions of her stand there. XC ignites his electric blue flame, But every reflection calls him by name. He strikes the darkness, the darkness replies, With XC's own face and a thousand blue eyes. [THE WITCH — BROKEN, TREMBLING VOICE] “I opened no door… I chose no side… Was every step just a place to hide?” [DJ MUSHROOM — CALM, ALMOST AMUSED] “Oh, my dear Witch… You never opened a single door. I simply allowed you to believe you did.” [BREAKDOWN — MUSIC COLLAPSES INTO GLITCHES] [XC — WHISPERED] “Thorthu… you knew?” [THORTHU — DISTANT, DYING TRANSMISSION] “I guarded the gates… I never owned the keys…” [STATIC] [DJ MUSHROOM] “Exactly.” [THE BEAT RETURNS BACKWARDS] [BRIDGE — HAUNTING CHOIR, DISTORTED ORCHESTRA] No beginning… no ending… No more heroes… no defending… Time is folding… space is bleeding… Every living mind is dreaming… One command… One vibration… I control… YOUR CREATION. [FINAL BUILD — RAPID HEARTBEATS, ALIEN VOICES] XC: “I WILL NOT BOW!” THE WITCH: “YOU CANNOT OWN US ALL!” DJ MUSHROOM: “I already do.” [Silence — 2 seconds] DJ MUSHROOM: “Now… Let's change the universe.” [FINAL DROP — TOTAL MUSICAL CHAOS] I AM THE GATE! I AM THE KEY! I AM THE END OF WHAT YOU SEE! THE STARS GO DARK! THE SUNS COLLAPSE! THE LAWS OF TIME BEGIN TO CRACK! TRALALA LALÈRE! THE VOID IS EVERYWHERE! TRALALA LALÀ! THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM WHAT YOU ARE! EVERY WORLD! EVERY MIND! EVERY SOUL LEFT BEHIND! I DON'T DESTROY WHAT I CONTROL… I ERASE THE RULES THAT MAKE YOU WHOLE! [OUTRO — CHILDLIKE MUSIC BOX, SLOWLY DETUNING] DJ MUSHROOM: “You were looking for the monster…” [Soft laughter.] “You were dancing with him.” Tralala… Lalère… [FINAL SOUND: ONE LOW FREQUENCY — ALL AUDIO CUTS TO SILENCE] REALITY STATUS: UNKNOWN. [END OF TRANSMISSION]