(A/N : My take on Tensura will diverge very far from the original light novel volume 20. Things will be very different. Just a heads up. Also, MASSIVE LIGHT NOVEL AND WEBNOVEL SPOILERS READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)
We had taken care of Michael. He wasn't that terrible of a threat as was expected by Ciel-san
But who would have thought that, the true enemy wasn't Michael, with his castle guard, but Feldway, who Diablo said he had beaten before
After the fight at old Eurazania, now Milim's new capital, the war with the insectars was finished. It wasn't easy, and many of my subordinates almost died in the process.
Esprit and Phobio almost died, along with Gabil and Suphia, Geld, Ranga, even Carrera was next to death
I don't know how many times I almost gave up to my anger and rushed straight through there. However, after that war, is when the true final battle started
Milim was the one who faced Zelanus in combat, however, due to the dire state of the world outside of the barrier that they were in, she decided to let Zelanus go
That, was a veeery bad move
As soon as Milim joined up with my subordinates, Velzard showed up
They...tried their absolute best
- 'Now, go to sleep'
Such a thing was heard
The white ice and snow are raging. Soldiers are the first to be transformed into icicles. Then the captains, and even the top brass. Only a few are left. Only those who had reached the Million-class level remained.
Even Frey and Carrion were prepared for death
Velzard smiled and remained standing there coldly. In front of her, four new ice sculptures were born
At that time, my haki was unconsciously leaking out
Guy, who had been next to me at the time, was half shocked and half afraid
Or at least, that's what I deduced from his facial expression
Then,
"I will not forgive you. You took my friends! I will never forgive you !!"
Milim's cry pierced the battlefield
At the same time, Milim's Ultimate Skill 'Wrath King (Satanael)' began to work at full power. Taking in the surrounding magicules and pouring in all of her energy, she continued to create more and more power
The true form of Milim manifested, and then the battle ensued
Somehow or other, I managed to stay still
At the same time, a battle was ensuing at the capital of Lubelios
Shion and Luminous were fighting Dagruel who had fused with his brothers
He was truly, a very strong opponent, so I sent Veldora to help
At that time, I informed all of the demon lords, along with my subordinates of the current situation, and then I coerced-I mean, convinced Guy to take care of Velzard. I mean, she was his problem to begin with
Full of anger, I teleported to where Milim was, to try to calm her down. If she went all out with her magicule reactor for a long time, the world wouldn't hold
That was, also, a veeery bad decision
After going there, I fought with Milim for what seemed to be an eternity
Exchanging blows again and again, thousands of time every second
At some point, I got so worn out that I let Ciel-san take over while I slept
The fight had been going on for days on end, Milim with her Wrath King Satanael's magicule reactor, and me with my Void God Azathoth's Turn Null
It seems that at the same time, Ramiris and Guy were supporting the barrier containing the destruction
The situation was at rock bottom
Ciel-san informed me that Sarion was attacked as well, and also that she sent Benimaru and Leon to take care of it
I couldn't care less at this point, I had almost completely stopped thinking
How long was this going to go on for?
...
*At the same time*
(Voice of the World's Perspective)
...
<<Individual Rimuru Tempest has filled the conditions set by the creator, Veldanava, asking for permission to start the operation>>
<<...>>
<<Individual, N̶̘̗͓̪̣̘̬̗̹̣͛ͅį̵̡͇̠͓͙͍̃̾͊̌̌́́̔́̊̓̏̄h̶̗̲͆͛̈́̈́̓̏͐̌̏̎̃̌̀̚͘ï̴̡̼̀̀͒́̍͘̚l̶̨̛͎͖̞̖̣̱̦͕̩̬̩̓̒̊̽̑̃̾̍̌ͅi̷̛̭̰͍̤̙̱̬̝̼̐̏̑̓̅̍̒̃̃̂͘͜͝ͅn̶̛̻̠̲̟͆̂̈͐́̂͒͘̕͠ą̷̢̪̝̻̙̠̰͈̘͈̟͕̏̐̑͐͐͑̆͐͠͝v̶̡̭̤͚̆͛̍͠a̶͕̟̜̗͓̥͙͙͓̺͈̲͓͉̙͒̽͛̽̉̀̄̈̉̀̿, has accepted the plea of the Voice of the World>>
<<Individual, N̶̘̗͓̪̣̘̬̗̹̣͛ͅį̵̡͇̠͓͙͍̃̾͊̌̌́́̔́̊̓̏̄h̶̗̲͆͛̈́̈́̓̏͐̌̏̎̃̌̀̚͘ï̴̡̼̀̀͒́̍͘̚l̶̨̛͎͖̞̖̣̱̦͕̩̬̩̓̒̊̽̑̃̾̍̌ͅi̷̛̭̰͍̤̙̱̬̝̼̐̏̑̓̅̍̒̃̃̂͘͜͝ͅn̶̛̻̠̲̟͆̂̈͐́̂͒͘̕͠ą̷̢̪̝̻̙̠̰͈̘͈̟͕̏̐̑͐͐͑̆͐͠͝v̶̡̭̤͚̆͛̍͠a̶͕̟̜̗͓̥͙͙͓̺͈̲͓͉̙͒̽͛̽̉̀̄̈̉̀̿ , has accepted Individual Rimuru Tempest as true and pure N̴̼̺̙̥̲̉́̈́̌̚͠i̷̛̥͐͛͐̐͆̈͆͑͗h̴̨̗̠͍̭͚̞̞̳̤̰̱̒́̀̕̕i̶̛͓͚̰̘͉̺̞̐͆͒͐̈́̏̌̆͘̕͠l̷̛̯̙̮͎͂̅̔̋̂̑̀̽̕̚i̸̛̞̱̜̣͈͖͔̗̞̬̫̱̤̋̉́͒͑̍͘ͅt̶̯̻̺̬͔̜̫̻̔̈̃̇͜y̶̡̳̳̘̣͐͌͆͌̿̂͆̒͐̚͘>>
<<Individual, Manas : Ciel, has been recognized by individual, O̵̢͓̤̺̜̼͓̩̼̝̬͇̙͇̍̐̄̐̑̂̉͒̀͜͠m̸͇̭̤̫͉̳̤̓̈̓̆̌̎̎̂͘͠n̸̺̣͚͙̾͛͗͜ȋ̵̼̙͕̰̫̩̳̠͖͈̥̾̚͠s̸̨̡̝̳̥͖͚̖͓̤͙̤̞̬̄̇̑̉̓͆͆͐̕c̸͕̐͒͝i̵͇͈̘̠̱̪̺͈͗͆̏̾̽̓͐̽͊́̅͐̀̚͠ạ̴̡̤̝̙͓̩̬̖̒̓̅͆̌̇͌͐̿̄͌̒̎͠n̴̨̺̟̙͙̊͑̒͌̒̍̓̕͘a̸̢̢̢̨̱̜̥̬͍͈̼̳͕̓͋́̏̂̏̏͂̋̔͊̅v̴̪̫͈̻͕̘͙̑͝a̸̛̘̝̟͒̀̊̉͠ and has been accepted as the true master>>
<<Individual Rimuru Tempest, Individual Manas : Ciel, shall merge even more>>
<< Individual N̶̘̗͓̪̣̘̬̗̹̣͛ͅį̵̡͇̠͓͙͍̃̾͊̌̌́́̔́̊̓̏̄h̶̗̲͆͛̈́̈́̓̏͐̌̏̎̃̌̀̚͘ï̴̡̼̀̀͒́̍͘̚l̶̨̛͎͖̞̖̣̱̦͕̩̬̩̓̒̊̽̑̃̾̍̌ͅi̷̛̭̰͍̤̙̱̬̝̼̐̏̑̓̅̍̒̃̃̂͘͜͝ͅn̶̛̻̠̲̟͆̂̈͐́̂͒͘̕͠ą̷̢̪̝̻̙̠̰͈̘͈̟͕̏̐̑͐͐͑̆͐͠͝v̶̡̭̤͚̆͛̍͠a̶͕̟̜̗͓̥͙͙͓̺͈̲͓͉̙͒̽͛̽̉̀̄̈̉̀̿ and Individual O̵̢͓̤̺̜̼͓̩̼̝̬͇̙͇̍̐̄̐̑̂̉͒̀͜͠m̸͇̭̤̫͉̳̤̓̈̓̆̌̎̎̂͘͠n̸̺̣͚͙̾͛͗͜ȋ̵̼̙͕̰̫̩̳̠͖͈̥̾̚͠s̸̨̡̝̳̥͖͚̖͓̤͙̤̞̬̄̇̑̉̓͆͆͐̕c̸͕̐͒͝i̵͇͈̘̠̱̪̺͈͗͆̏̾̽̓͐̽͊́̅͐̀̚͠ạ̴̡̤̝̙͓̩̬̖̒̓̅͆̌̇͌͐̿̄͌̒̎͠n̴̨̺̟̙͙̊͑̒͌̒̍̓̕͘a̸̢̢̢̨̱̜̥̬͍͈̼̳͕̓͋́̏̂̏̏͂̋̔͊̅v̴̪̫͈̻͕̘͙̑͝a̸̛̘̝̟͒̀̊̉͠ have agreed to give up their lives and souls>>
<<Individual Rimuru Tempest, Individual Ciel, shall receive the souls of the T̶̯̫̩̟͚̹̉̆r̸̢̤͎̳̥̘̮̳̬͗̆͊͑̌̊̆͠û̷̢̜̇̔̈̌̽͋́͌̂̌t̵̤̖̫͖̼̓́͂̎͐̋͠h̷͚̥̤͉͎̫̠̱̖͑̽̓̊͂̄͠>>
<<Conducting operation>>
<<The Voice of the World thanks you for your choice and praises your resolve>>
"J̷̝͎͐͌u̵̠͝s̵̱̬͑t̴̝͋͆ ̴͑̚͜b̵̛̝̍e̸̱̘̅ ̴̮̩̓͘d̶͚̀̿ŏ̸̺̖̏ñ̶̰e̶̖̐̊ ̶̩͎̑w̴͉͕̓i̶̟̓ṱ̴̊͜h̶̺͑͂ ̶̤̰͊ĭ̷̛̲t̶̹͚͘"
<<The Voice of the World complies>>
...
*At the place where Rimuru is*
(Rimuru's Perspective)
<<The T̶̯̫̩̟͚̹̉̆r̸̢̤͎̳̥̘̮̳̬͗̆͊͑̌̊̆͠û̷̢̜̇̔̈̌̽͋́͌̂̌t̵̤̖̫͖̼̓́͂̎͐̋͠h̷͚̥̤͉͎̫̠̱̖͑̽̓̊͂̄͠ has deemed you worthy. Please accept our plea>>
Ciel-san? What just happened?
When I was fighting Milim for the 4th day, the Voice of the World suddently said this to me
<I am not sure, Master, but I believe you should accept. I have never seen such a command in the program of the Voice of the World>
I see, very well then
How would have I reacted, I wonder, if I knew what was waiting for me
The moment I though of acceptance in my mind, something, too bizarre happened
I wonder how I should describe it?
A foreign yet familiar power was fusing with me
Wait...Wait a minute! This is Turn Null!?
Ciel-san! What is going on?
<I don't know, Master, but something is giving us assistance, not only Master's soul, I can feel a power going into my soul as well>
The energy of Turn Null doesn't simply enter my soul, it is fusing with it, recreating it
But for some reason, this feels pleasant
Then, after standing still for a few seconds, Milim tries to attack
Before, she was so fast that I couldn't even sense her, let alone see her
But now? For some reason, I see her moving very slowly
What happened to me?
<!?!?!?!?>
Eh? Ciel-san!? What's wrong?
<Master! You must get out of here know! I don't know why, but I can predict the future with much greater accuracy. Now master, run, before it's too late!>
As Ciel-san was saying this to me, I tried to teleport away
But it was too late
"I've been waiting for you, Demon Lord Rimuru"
A voice from the heavens reaches my ears as I am paired with Milim. It was a malevolent voice from Feldway, descending to the earth
"Damn, they're after us, aren't they ! "
I click my tongue, but it is already too late
"Blast away to the end of space-time ! "
I was suddently pressed by an urge to sleep. Unable to resist, my eyelids were sealed shut
...
<-ter>
I suddently heard a voice. A very nostalgic one at that
How long had it been since I heard this voice?
For me, it felt like an eternity
<Master!>
Huh? Where is this?
I was supposed to be fighting with Milim when Feldway showed up and...and...Ugh, I can't remember
<Master, this is the End of the World. It could also be referred to as the "End of Time and Space">
Eh? This needlessly large and empty world is the "End of Time and Space", she said?
Certainly, time doesn't flow and is in a stopped state. I can't sense the spread of space either.....
<Yes. In this world, the flow of time has stopped. The spread of space had ceased as well, and in accordance with the Law of Entropy, this world has arrived at nothingness>
Has arrived? You are talking as if you have watched it?
<That's right. We were hurled to beyond space and time due to Feldway's attack. The lifespan of the planet has already ended a long time ago, but the collapse of the world hasn't yet been reached. From that I deduced, Feldway probably couldn't revive veldanava, and therefore destroyed the world upon his rage. However, only the celestial bodies along with the space-time continuum have been destroyed. The world is still standing>
I can't understand what Ciel-san is saying at all
"I witnessed the end of the universe?" What is she talking about.....?
Rather, there's no way we can be alive in a situation like that
If you want to lie, come up with a more believable one―So I thought, but I remembered Ciel-san never lies
She deceives me sometimes, but she didn't lie as I simply misunderstood――Or rather, she made me do so――That's all of it
That means this is really the end of the world!?
<Yes, that's right. Then, I'll get straight to the point, what will Master do after this?>
What will I do? What do you mean?
<Because a long time has passed, Turn Null has accumulated an enormous amount of energy. Although Veldanava is said to have lost Turn Null by creating the world, there's no problem since Master has Imaginary Space. Because Imaginary Space has an infinite capacity, it can't be filled up. However, it has already been filled with enough energy that even recreating the world tens of thousands of times is possible. Also, before we were sent here, Master accepted the Voice of the World's proposal. A soul with a ginormous amount of power fused with Master's soul. It was also of the same nature as Master. In addition to that, a similar soul fused with me, and significantly increased my capabilities. Master also gained two skills, one called [Usher of Nothingness "Rimuru Tempest" (Nihilinava)] , and the other one called [Usher of Will "Ciel" (Omniscianava)]. Also, it's possible to reproduce the memories of those connected to Rimuru-sama and intentionally create a world that's nearly identical from before. What will you do?>
Whoa, whoa, whoa, STOPUU! That's too much of an information overload
Trying to collect my thoughts, I arrived at the most critical problem
First things first, if this place was the "End of Time and Space", that meant Benimaru, Shuna, my friends in Tempest, Diablo and the other Demons, Guy, Ramiris, Milim and the other Demon Lords, all the people that I loved, all of them didn't exist anywhere in this world
In other words, I had lost to Feldway
"Shit! This is exactly what I didn't want to happen! That...fucking coward! Doesn't this mean I completely lost!?
<No, that's incorrect. Feldway couldn't even destroy Master>
But, I couldn't protect those I loved
Therefore, it's meaningless. There's no meaning if I'm the only who survived
Even if I can recreate nearly the same memories and even if their DNA is exactly the same, can I really say that they are "them"?
Can I interact with them in the same way as always before if I created them with my own hands?
DAMN IT, SHIT!!
Those things would only be fakes! I don't care about reasoning, I have completely lost...
Rationally, Ciel-san seemed to think that I should create a new world without bastards like Michael and Feldway in it
That certainly would be a good choice.
It could be said that there were no problems with that
However, that wouldn't satisfy my heart
Reviving my dead friends as fakes just to heal my loneliness, she said!? I'd rather die than stoop so low as to do something like that
I'm aware that I'm selfish
However, that's the reason why I couldn't approve of creating a convenient world just for myself
In a world like that, my whole existence itself will rot away and die
I would rather proudly choose to bear the loneliness than cling to the past just to comfort myself
<I knew it. I had expected that Master would answer like that>
I shouted in anger, but on the contrary, Ciel-san replied happily
Then she continued her words
<Besides, you have not lost to Feldway yet. You just have to go and defeat him now>
Ciel-san casually said those words.
I just have to go and defeat him now? Does she mean to go back to the bygone past?
Can something like that be done......?
Chloe seemed to be able to read the memories of the future with Time Leap, but that was just an ability to return to your past self
Besides, it couldn't be activated while time was stopped
<No, there's no problem. Master's new skill, Usher of Nothingness has a unique function. It allows for Master to exist in the present, past and future. For Master, who rules over time and space, such a thing as going across time is simple. If it is combined with the Usher of Will, the position and spatio-temporal coordinates can be calculated>
I was speechless.
So that was her reason, no wonder Ciel-san was calm even though I was angry
From the beginning, she probably had anticipated everything that I desired
Lets go back and beat that bastard black and blue
<As you wish, my Master>
Then, while Ciel-san responded to my order, she activated the skill, Usher of Nothingness
Yet another mistake
This is the price to pay for using skills without fully understanding them first
<!?>
As I felt a slight suprise from Ciel-san, I also felt some of my energy draining
It was a miniscule amount, too minuscule
Far too...miniscule
...
I felt it
I was not in the same place I was in last time
Actually, where even am I?
I have my eyes open, but I see nothing
Ciel-san, what happened
<This!? How could this!?>
Hearing Ciel-san's panicked voice, I already knew, that whatever happened is not good in the slightest
Ciel-san! Calm down and explain to me
<Ugh...yes master. Unfortunately, existence has...been deleted>
...
...
?
Hey hey hey! Ciel-san? What does that mean?
<I mean that, existence after Master's reincarnation doesn't exist>
...
You mean to say that...everything from the moment of my reincarnation doesn't...exist?
You can't possible mean that, Ciel-san, you are lying, right?
Right?
Please, tell me you are lying
You have to be lying, this, is just a joke, right?
<...I'm sorry>
*Drip* *Drip*
Suddently, my vision returned
A familiar cave
The...sealed cave
<I'm sorry, I-I'm truly sorry, Master, this is my fault>
...
"I don't want that!" I shout "Just tell me, why did we end up here? Just why?"
<...When we activated the Usher of Nothingness, another function appeared. The function is that, it swallows time. If the space-time leap is used, it will devour all of the time the user has spent in the world, and send them back to their original position. I couldn't stop the skill in time. It is basically a reset button. However, that function...didn't exist until shortly before we activated the skill. Something created it>
"Something'? What is that something that would dare! Why are you answering like this, Ciel-san?
<I'm sorry>
Just as I'm about to snap at her, a realization hits me
It couldn't have been, me?
The skill, for some reason, shares my name
That means that, my will could change the uses of the skill?
You can't possibly tell me that, deep in my heart, I wished for this?
Ah...that's right. Ciel-san only manages my skills. She can't fundamentally change them
Then it is really true
I...did it
I practically...killed everyone
I fall to my knees
"Hahahaha...this is a dream, this must be a dream" I mumbled, any shred of sanity that had remained after my fight with Milim had completely shattered and dissapeared
"Hahahahahahahahaha..."
<No! It...it is not Master who is at fault here! If only I was a little faster, this wouldn't have happened! I-I am to blam->
"No, no Ciel-san. Just, don't say anything else. You don't need to rub salt in my wounds"
That's right
It is my fault
I was the one who...killed everyone
I take a deep breath
"SHIT!"
I hit myself in the face
"DAMN IT! YOU! STUPID! NARCICISTIC! HYPOCRITICAL! IDIOT!"
I kept hitting myself
"Isn't this like, the ultimate failure!? Not only did I fail to protect my friends, I was also the one who killed them!? Is this going to be the way it is!?"
Suddenly, I felt as if all the desire to move drained away from my body, and I slumped on the ground
"Hahaha...what a worthless person that I am. I don't deserve to exist"
I was full of anguish and despair. In the midst of that, I tried to do something that I really shouldn't have. I tried to kill myself. Just mere moments before I pulled my soul apart, I heard a gentle yet familiar voice
"That is not true. Think about how your friends would think if they saw you right now" The hopeful voice, devoid of the malice oozing off of me said
"Haha...are you seriously asking this right now?" I articulated my thoughts completely unfiltered "They would laugh at my pathetic figure. I've just fallen that low "
"No matter how much you degrade yourself, you will always be the same in front of my eyes" Said the voice
"Are you mocking me? Making fun of me at my lowest moment? Hehe...I can't blame you, I deserve it, after all"
At the same time, I felt something liquid running down my cheeks
"Am I crying? Hahaha...I see...I've truly lost it. How long has it been since I lost the ability to cry? I truly can't remember"
When was the last time I cried?
When I ate Shizu-san?
It's been so long that I can't remember
After that, I started throwing all of my worries, regrets, and self loathing to the voice that was responding to me while sobbing uncontrollably
...
After a while, I see a figure in front of me
Due to me crying earlier, my eyesight is blurred, so I can't see very well
After wiping the tears in my eyes, I look at the silhouette in front of me
Looking exactly like me
Platinum blue hair, with a tint of purple
An androgynous appearance, hinting a little bit in the feminine side
Instead of my golden eyes, the person in front of me had shining red eyes with runic text all over them
But, the form looked older than the previous me
Previously, I looked like a 16 year old
The figure in front of me, however, looked at least 28 years old, or even older
"Who..." That mumble escaped my lips
"You can't recognize me? That's just cruel, Master" The person said
"...Ciel-san?"
"Yes, Master. It's me" Ciel-san replied
"Ciel-san. I-I'm sorry, I d-didn't mean to-"
She suddenly put her index finger on my lips
"I know, Master. Please, don't blame yourself. Even if we did fail, your friends are still alive, aren't they? We can just save them and become friends again, can't we?"
She is right. How could I forget?
My friends
They are still alive
"Master. There is no need to apologize to me. I exist to serve only Rimuru-sama. I wouldn't even dare to think otherwise. That is why, even if Master hated me, loathed me or even was disgusted by me, I would still be begging to keep serving you, Master"
Ciel-san said as she pulled me into her embrace
"So please, Master, never try to do what you were about to do. If your soul was torn apart, we both would disappear. But I couldn't care less about that. The only thing I am afraid of is not being able to serve you, master" Ciel-san then put her face closer to mine, and whispered in my ear
"So please, don't end your own life, Master"
She is right yet again
If I simply end my life, nothing will happen. I must somehow see it though
My friends are still alive, continuing their normal lives in this world
That means that, I have the chance to redo my life
I must see it through
I will not let my foolishness end Tempest
And more importantly, I will never, ever lose again
While having those thoughts, Ciel-san puts her hand on the back of my head, and pushing it to her chest
"Even though I still do not understand emotions well, I can see well enough that Master is in a bottomless pit of darkness. As a Manas, one who supports their Master, but more Importantly, as Ciel, I must support my master through this"
As she says this with an incredibly gentle tone
"Master is tired, isn't he? You can rest. There is nothing worth your worry right now. Just leave it to me, and sleep peacefully, master" Ciel-san said so, while thinning my consciousness, inducing a sleep like state
Just like that, I fell asleep in Ciel-san's arms
(A/N : And that was the first chapter. What were your thoughts? Did you like it? If so, should I continue it? Feel free to tell me in the comments)