Archive Of Potentialities.

Short story: The bane of history - Epilogue.

On a different section of the battlefield, located kilometers away from Rohr and his opponent, Fiablo stood triumphantly over his own foe.

It had been a hard fought battle but he had come out on top, effectively removing the stain his previous loss had put on his record.

Contrary to expectations, Fiablo felt no happiness at his victory, no. His mind right now was filled with emotions of awe and nostalgia.

“Kill me.” Momentarily distracted from the sight of Ingracia which was all but a mass of floating rocks and debris now, Fiablo turned his head to the vanquished hero.

“And why should I listen to you?” His question wasn't asked in spite, it was a straightforward challenge he extended to the hero.

She didn't respond, her fingers were still clutched tightly around the shaft of her broken spear, her face a mirror to the hopelessness and futility that dominated her heart.

Just like the demon, her eyes were fixed onto the distance, beholding the excessive destruction that logically should have spread far enough to reach them but was restrained by some unknown force.

Fiablo decided to ignore her, instead turning his attention to the somewhat familiar scene in front of him.

It reminded him of the days of old, when the inexplicably powerful beings had leveled their strength against each other.

Even back then, as someone with limited capacity for complex thought, it had fascinated him. How did it feel to hold so much power over the world? What was that feeling of being above everything, having only equals, but no betters?

It was a height he hoped to reach someday, no matter how long it took him.

“When did it all go wrong…? Ingracia was doing fine till that person showed up…” Resha lamented.

Fiablo was sure she couldn't wrap her mind around it, the development of the situation had been awfully spontaneous and chaotic.

“You wouldn't understand. Only by seeing them in their prime will it dawn on you.”

She turned her eyes to the demon, suddenly coming to the realization that a being as old as this one might know something she did not.

“Tell me, who were they? I was told one of red and blue had been responsible for shaking the kingdom.” Her tone was pleading, searching. She was so desperately trying to find some sort of closure, and she hoped Fiablo would grant her this much.

On a normal day, Fiablo would have kept quiet but right now he was convinced of one thing.

Rimuru Tempest had returned, and in a very flashy way, he had made it clear that he was here to stay.

“I suppose you've heard of the last Tenma war, and the state of the cardinal world before its occurrence.” He began.

She gave a stiff nod in response.

“Well, that thing you can sense over there, with its terrifyingly potent aura, is the being responsible for putting an end to the war. Permanently.” Fiablo just said what came to mind, he wanted Resha to fall into more confusion.

“I don't understand…why…?” Her voice was soft but the incredulity it carried would be hard to miss.

“Hmm? Why what?” Fiablo knew exactly what she was asking about, but he had no intention of answering an unsaid question.

“Why would someone like that meddle in the affairs of people like us? It makes no sense!” Her voice rose as she grappled with the sheer unfairness of the situation.