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The truth was overwhelming.
While it may be a romance story, there are constant reminders that there is something awfully sinister and dark that is happening within Mount Ebott, and there is Fridge Horror abound as more pieces of the puzzle reveal themselves.
- Somehow, someway, Asriel Dreemurr won, and now possesses control of not only enough power to destroy the world, but the ability to reverse time and destroy and play with humanity however much he pleases.
- As Frisk traverses the Underground, they and the reader are confronted with a kingdom that is completely devoid of life. While Frisk is left in trepidation wondering why everyone is gone, anyone who is familiar with the True Pacifist Ending of Undertale knows Asriel is the reason monsters disappeared.
- The first few chapters firmly establish that Asriel barely retains any of the qualities he once had as a child, and is mostly subsumed by the sociopathic egotism he acquired as Flowey the Flower. He has already killed/vanished several people for the crime of coming into his Mountain, and has imprisoned and psychologically abused Napstablook for 11 years. The only reason he has not destroyed humanity, and has any semblance of kindness left is because of his love for Frisk. Without them...
- It might be easy to forget that if not for their mutual self-discipline, Asriel's self-imposed restraints with the contract, and Frisk's forethought in amending the contract, their bond could easily have devolved into an extremely abusive romantic relationship. They came very close when Frisk refused to wear the robes he chose with him demanding they strip naked as punishment (a punishment he quite thankfully immediately regrets and stops before it is carried out). This all happened on day 1.
Frisk: Rule or no rule, I’m NOT comfortable with this and I REFUSE to be treated like a doll! It makes me feel like…I don’t know… like a slave!Asriel: YOU A R E A SLAVE! - Frisk's nightmares. Alost every time Frisk goes to sleep next to Asriel, they experience a nightmare that reveals a terrible facet about the Absolute God of Hyperdeath, yet Frisk either fails to remember them or does not make the connection.
- Chapter 12: Flowers falling from the sky transform into fireballs that destroy the world. This all but confirms that the worst had occurred: Asriel Dreemurr successfully eradicated mankind and destroyed the world in at least one timeline, and was merely "almost" killed in the process.
- Chapter 13: Monsters have devolved into shadows bare of any identifying features save a silhouette in the shape of their former outline. They are in a far worse condition than when Frisk tried to save them in the canon fight with Asriel. Terrible enough that the monsters have degraded over 11 years, but given Asriel's time powers, the process has probably taken place over a much, much longer time period.
- Chapter 16: One of the shades is Toriel. Her dialogue indicates the monsters have some awareness of the outside world.
- Chapter 17 (pictured): A disembodied head of Asriel is pouring out a black goop from his mouth, drowning Frisk within it. This goop, which Frisk describes as "truth", indicates that Frisk would be absolutely horrified of Asriel if they ever knew what he had done, which is made so much worse when you realize he was the one that took away the memories of this truth from Frisk in the first place.
- The second half of chapter 22. Dear god, the second half:
- What started off as a romantic tour of space transforms into a nightmarish reveal of the Truth: Asriel spent three years in space trying to commit suicide in various manners. When that was not enough, he then resorted to unleashing his frustration and hatred of humanity by destroying the Earth.
- He didn't do this once, nor even a few times. Asriel Dreemurr destroyed the world thousands of times. His kill count is in the trillions.
- He then demonstrates this live, in person, to Frisk. First by destroying the Moon, then destroying the Earth itself. Again.
