No, this time it's just timeline nonsense. Before I ended up here, you and your friends had just escaped to the underground training facility and I was on my way to meet you.

[ it sounds nicer when he glosses over it like this rather than going into detail about "the last thing he remembers" like everyone always wants to ask. the last thing he actually remembers is nearly vomiting in the elevator on the way down and literally kicking ivar out of it as soon as the doors opened. ]

From speaking with Jude Mathis when he was here, I gathered that he was from a later point in time after I'd already lost to you and your friends. Again, and apparently for the last time.

[ the way he says it is casual but biting. it's not like he hadn't considered that outcome going in. the idea that he might reach origin first to get his wish had always been a longshot, and barring that, his end was imminent regardless of how things unfolded. even if he'd beaten the ludger gang in that last fight, even if he'd managed to beat bisley to canaan, all the years of pushing himself and destroying himself for a shot at survival had ironically made it an impossibility in the end. his catalyst transformation had already started, and even if it hadn't, his body was falling apart.

but accepting it doesn't make him any less bitter. ]

The same is true of you, isn't it?