2 years Passed ever since the War Ended. It was a hard process. Not everyone was happy about it as war became more of a business for people and they were using it to gain wealth and Reputation. Taking away their only source of Income was a reason of many small Rebellions. Nothing Special though, small Coalitions and Guilds United Against me but They Ultimately failed. It was an expected result. After All, I held the ultimate Power.
7 trillion souls Lost in just two Years. A huge loss, Indeed. A Necessary Sacrifice that I was willing to make. I couldn't let the Traitors live. They would be mere Parasites. I wanted to get rid of Every possible Problem as soon as possible.
The Expansion was over after half a millennium. The Empire Took over 80% of the Universe. The Outskirts were still out of reach. They were the reason the war couldn't end. The Universe was vast. No one Could put up much of a Fight as they were going against Forces they could not even comprehend, but Everything took Time. Universe was not Infinite and I grabbed most of it. It was in my Palm. I ruled it. I was feeling So much power in my hand, I do not mean it in a traditional sense. Not Physical or Spiritual power, but Political. I was an Emperor. People Respected and feared me. My Word was a law.
But It was the Source of my corruption. All this power Made me a worse person. I needed some advice. That Is why I went to a Forgotten Planet P23. It has been destroyed during my fight with God alongside countless Galaxies. This was the Planet that I was hiding for 5000 years. It was Concealed by my Spell. Some may wonder: what was I hiding?
I entered the dark Chamber. It was Pitch dark in a small room. With a snap of my Finger, the Light chased down hungry Shadows.
In the Corner a Figure was Crowling. He had a long, Gray hair and Beard. He looked at me in Disgust and Stood Up.
"Harold..." His Voice was unfamiliar. It has changed.
"Old Man..."
"Why are you here?"
"I need an Advice."
"Then seek it somewhere else. I have nothing to talk about with a Traitor."
"You have no choice, old man. You are my prisoner. You shall do whatever I tell you to do."
"Or what? You will kill me? We both know that you can't."
"I can."
"You are slowly feeding On my Power. I can feel it. If you killed me now, you'd lose a huge source of Strength. You are not Omnipotent."
"Not yet."
"Your thirst for Power Is insatiable. I pity you, Really."
"I do not need your pity, Old Man. You shall Listen to me and Give me some advice. Understood?"
"Just do whatever."
He sat on the Cold Ground. I also did the same. I looked at him. He... Has changed. He was much weaker. I looked at his face and saw what remained from The God. Ever Since I Wounded Him with the Sword, It drained His Power Day By day. It would probably still take A few Thousand Years to Absolutely Drain his power and Become Omnipotent, but it was a sacrifice I was Gladly willing to make.
"I changed my ways, old man. The war Has ended."
He was Surprised.
"The War is over?"
"Yes."
"Why so suddenly?"
"I realized that..."
"You didn't become the God You wanted to be..."
"Yes."
"I've been there. I tried the same. Living beings are very complex. They have this... Urge to kill each other. You cannot end wars, Harold. Not for long."
"I will do it."
"I have been the God of this universe for much longer than you. I have been Observing living beings for 14 billion years and All they ever did was kill each other. You cannot just make them stop doing it. It is impossible."
"Beating you was also Impossible, Old Man."
"That was easy compared to what you are trying to accomplish. You cannot Stop the war in an entire universe. It is too much for you."
"I am not alone. I have an Empire. Your sons and Daughters are on my side. Coalitions, Guilds, and Alliances support my decision. I don't even know how many Mortal Warriors we have in our Army. Probably a few Sextillion living Beings ready to Fight Under my Flag. I have Everything needed to make Peace."
"Empire, huh? I thought all you ever wanted was to take the Golden Throne. So you decided to Unite an entire universe in your palm first and now you want to Stop all the wars? You are quite an Ambitious and strange Person. I could never understand your intentions, Harold. What has happened? What changed your Heart?"
"My heart is the same. I just saw myself and I didn't like it. As you said, Old man, I only wanted to Take The Golden throne once. I never thought about the Responsibility that would come with it. I've been thinking like a warrior, not like a God. I was a Ruler, Not a leader. An Emperor is sitting above everyone and Rules them, while the Leader is Leading everyone else. I... Lost Myself to the Power Your Throne Brought. My Ambitions... They Consumed me. And I say... No more. I shall be better than you, Old Man."
"Your Mindset has changed a lot, child. I am Impressed. I still remember The first time You took the Sword in your hand. You were so young and Foolish."
"Giving me the Sword was the worst mistake you could make."
"Perhaps. Now I will not find that out. You used it against me. It was a Gift, not a weapon. I always pitied humans. All you could think about was killing each other. I sent the sword to you because I believed You could unite them, Lead them, and create a better place."
"You never expected that I would leave my race behind?"
"No. You surprised even an omniscient God. You have always been a special Person."
"Still... Can I be a better God?"
"Well you are on the right path, that's for sure. Ending wars... If you will manage to do that, maybe you will also Earn my respect and I will forgive you..."
"Forgive me? I do not need your forgiveness! Do you think I regret What I did? You think I wouldn't do the same thing If I had the chance?"
"Of course you would. You always hated me, haven't you?"
"I had my reasons."
"Yes, Indeed. I wasn't a Good Person."
"You are not a good Person."
"Aye."
"You never deserved to Rule the Universe."
"I never chose to do it. I was Just Here. What would you do if You were in my place?"
"Make everything perfect."
"All I made was a Spark, Harold. I didn't Shape Everything. The Universe formed on its own."
"I heard that Story from you one too many times. I know that already."
"Then why do you keep making me say the same thing? It feels like you need someone to Blame. You were always searching for someone to blame and you found me. Indeed, it is a good choice. If God is Omnipotent and Can do Anything, why do Innocent Children die? Why is there a war if God is Watching it Happen?! I understand you far too well."
"Why didn't you help us?"
"Because I am not a perfect being. I chose to ignore many terrible things simply because I had other business to do."
"What was more important than Innocent Lives being lost?"
"Saving more lives. Necessary Sacrifice. I believe you already learned the hard lesson. Blood Should be Shed. That's the Price of Peace. It cannot be achieved easily. You will always have enemies. They will oppose you..."
"And I will beat them as many times as It takes. The universe deserves to Thrive. It deserves peace. I could hear screams. I could feel lost lives going either to hell or Heaven. There was no end to it. I want it to end. I want everyone to go to Michael's Vicinity. Lucifer can Starve to death when he does not have enough slaves any longer. I want no one to suffer. Only those who deserve it".
"Kill me and Let's find out if I'm deserving of Heaven or Hell."
"Old man... You sound like a Depressed child. Get it together."
"Is not that what you wish to find out? If I will go to hell, you will believe that your actions were justified. If I go to heaven, you will blame yourself as you Enslaved an innocent person."
"Innocent? You dare say that Word?"
"Compared to you, Harold... I am But a Child. The Things you have done for power... What you have done to the Gods of Olympus, to Buddha and Odin... I have seen a lot of terrible things but the Slaughter that You committed... It was terrifying. I know that I'm not an innocent soul, but I am sure Lucifer Cannot wait for you to die."
"Perhaps. He could never stand me."
"He's a Rebel. He always has been."
"He can continue being such a [Rebel] and He will lose his head."
"I wouldn't be surprised if you did it. I cannot Predict your Moves, after all."
"No one can. I do what I want to do."
"Yes, of course."
A short silence.
"I shall Depart." I broke it with my Words.
"Are you satisfied?"
"Not Quite. Your Words Troubled me, old Man. You said it is impossible... And I will prove you wrong. But I believe it will be Difficult. Changing the Nature Of Living beings..."
"Yes, it will be Difficult. You need to become Wise and Learn how to Achieve peace easily. Use your Brain more, not your Weapons and You may actually do it."
I didn't say anything. I just stood up and Looked down on the weakened Old Man. I could see that he didn't Despise me that much anymore. I could even Read a glimpse of Respect in him. It felt good. This man never respected me. All he had ever seen in me was a ruthless murderer.
"Do you still see a warrior when you look at me?" I addressed him.
"Yes."
"I guess I haven't changed much, then..."
"When you fight for Peace, you should be both a Warrior and a wise Man. You should be Smart and Brave at the same time. That is the way of a Great God."
I smiled. Old man...
I pulled the Chrimson Devourer and Drove it in his Heart. I could see the Shock on his Face. Once Again, I was Unpredictable. I surprised the God Once More. He grabbed my Hand.
"You didn't keep me alive for my Power, did you?" His Voice became even weaker.
"I did. As you said my Thirst for Power Was Insatiable. No more. I do not need your Omnipotence. I have Allies by my side. I am no longer alone."
He smiled.
"You... Have Changed. Keep the same course. Do not Follow the Thirst for power. Maybe you can finish the work that I started. Maybe you can bring absolute peace..."
"I will. You can rest now. We shall see if you will go to hell or Heaven."
"I shall go to neither."
"What?"
"Only Souls are going to Those two realms. I have no soul. I was never born. I was made by External forces."
"External Forces? You are telling me such a thing now?!"
"Do not... Follow the thirst for blood, Harold. Be better than me."
The Crimson sword started Eating Old Man's body. His Energy was getting Transferred to me. I could feel his Power flowing through my body. It was incomplete form, of course. I couldn't feel omnipotence in my veins. I was close, indeed, but not Omnipotent.
Soon there was nothing left of the Old man. The Sword Devoured him entirely. It was quite ironic. It was the Weapon that He gifted me a long time ago. It was the key to my power. I killed countless gods with this sword and took their power. In the end, I killed him with the same sword as well. Quite... Poetic.
The God Was dead.