I hadn't been aware of it myself, not until I met another version of myself. But apparently, they happen alongside all other timelines, branching off toward different endings. The other me, the Living Flame, had come from the 999th turn specifically. One of my comrades has regressed over numerous turns and kept his memory of each life beforehand.

[ it's A MESS ] As how I knew it, normally they are gods of other worlds, eldritch-like beings whose forms can resemble anything, yet nothing.