The Fiend of Fire

As the two men continued along their way, the beauty of Anjima's cloud-ringed mountains was overshadowed by the destruction Atroma had wrought in its wake. The air became suffused with smoke as wildfires consumed the region's sparse stretches of woodland and transformed the once-tranquil nation into a hellscape of brimstone.

The two of them were drawing ever closer. A sour stench blowing downwind reminded Barion of a trip his foster father had taken him on as a child, towards the crumbling mountaintops of the eastern Steppe where pus-coloured, crystalline sulphur sprouted from the belching craters. His thoughts drifted to the events of 500 years ago, recalling the charred corpses of villagers unlucky enough to have been visited by Atroma's wrath. He was so much stronger when compared to his younger self, and yet he remained incapable of delivering every innocent from Demonkind's reach.

"I can tell you have something on your mind." Manyu's voice emerged from beneath the rushing winds, "Don't tell me you're still kicking yourself over what happened to Shukora?"

"...It was my responsibility to keep those people safe." He summarised.

"You are wrong." Manyu replied, "Such a burden can only be entrusted to a Hero. And the 'Hero' who was once Barion is long gone. You are now a man like any other, and like all men, you are destined to fail. But how you handle that failure will decide whether you improve from your mistake."

"I've had 500 years to improve. But even that much time isn't enough."

"Then what exactly are you striving for? Perfection?"

"...What's wrong with that?"

"You already know the answer." He accused, "There is no such thing. To become 'perfect' is to relinquish our humanity and become automatons--constructs with no other purpose than to carry out our destinies without considering our own opinions on the matter. It is in the nature of a man to be imperfect. That is the 'romance' which separates us from beasts, or from unfeeling, algorithmical existences such as Black Luna."

"You're saying it's not possible to guarantee peace?"

"What a childish dream." Manyu derided, "This 'peace' you believe in; the kind found in picture books and fables, does not truly exist. You may certainly guarantee a 'society', but conflict will always persist in one way or another. Perhaps that is why the legend of the Hero and Demon King has been perpetuated. So long as our dichotomous selves live on, there will always be a Hero to rally behind and a Demon King to oppose, and the world can continue to enjoy its 'fairytale' for as long as it desires."

"Do you think that's also the will of Black Luna?"

"Of course. I wouldn't think it unreasonable to assume that just about all of our woes can be traced back to it." He agreed, "-But would you call Black Luna evil? For us, the term has twisted in meaning, used in reference to a completely unredeemable existence whose sole purpose is to be exterminated. I would not call Black Luna's incomprehensible plans 'evil' in the traditional sense of the world. It must operate under the assumption that what it's doing is perfectly justified. But, overcome with that ceaseless pride, it is blinded to the possibility of being incorrect. That, I would say, is true evil."

"Shifting the blame onto another doesn't excuse the atrocities you played a part in committing."

"I'm not trying to excuse myself, Barion. Even knowing now that my efforts were all to benefit a grander, otherworldly purpose, I would still fulfil my destiny if given the chance to do it all again. Frankly, I believe that a world of black and white is far simpler to live in. Without Heroes, and without Demon Kings… would you trust those such as Granda to lead the world?"

"How do you suppose the 'humanity' originating from beyond the stars coped with no such simplicity?" Barion countered, "Progress towards a brighter future will be slow and marred with terrible trials. But if that's the way it was always meant to be, then I won't oppose it. Only in these last 500 years, each nation has risen from its ashes and developed independently of our influence. Imagine how much progress could be made if Demons no longer threatened us with oblivion every five centuries."

"Hm…" Manyu went silent for a moment, "Well, it's not as if any of us will be around to see a magnificent future forged in fire. I don't plan to elongate my life any further than this."

"I know what you mean." Barion related, "We only need to struggle for a little longer. Once Black Luna is destroyed… I'd like to spend all of my remaining years away from the noise and responsibilities."

"Right. Enough with this." The former Demon King resolved, "Look there."

As Barion redirected his attention to the road, his eyes widened in surprise. From his hilltop vantage, a surging wildfire obscured the faraway mountain peaks with smoke, and a cruel figure stood half-obscured by the fruits of its labours. When the term 'Demon' entered most minds, it manifested as the kind of devil normally seen in children's literature--horned and gangly creatures standing upon the legs of a goat. Of course, genuine Demons resembled nothing of the sort. But Atroma had always struck Barion as almost intentionally reminiscent of such interpretations.

The Fiend was perhaps 5 or 6 metres tall. Not nearly as gargantuan as Tiamat or Leviathan, but certainly large enough to deter any would-be attackers. Its body was a patchwork of sanguine fur and skin clustered with gangrenous sores, from which boiling blood leaked freely. One would think that such a creature would be cursed with ceaseless agony, and the low whimpering which accompanied its breaths would certainly lend credence to that argument. While its siblings wielded power on an awe-inspiring level, Atroma was but a pitiful, eternally-wounded beast.

"What a sorry sight." Manyu lamented, "If I must be honest, I was almost delighted when you slew Atroma 500 years ago. It was like hearing that a sickly dog had been put down--saddening, but somewhat peaceful after the fact."

"I still don't understand how it can stay alive…" He muttered, "-And to think Witilla lowers herself to considering this lowly thing a 'sibling'. Once, I thought its suffering was deserved, but knowing the truth today… why would a creature like this be created willingly?"

"When one's only goal is senseless destruction, a world of endless possibilities opens up before him." Manyu recited, "Given the means and madness necessary to plot such a scheme, wouldn't you also create beasts that have no place walking these lands?"

"Madness… is that really what this is?"

"A madness that can only be understood by forces beyond our comprehension. Within Black Luna's maelstrom of analysis, monsters such as Atroma are declared the most efficient creations. Yes--very much unlike a God, it neglects to consider the natural beauty of its children, instead focusing singularly on those who would realise its ideals."

"Enough of this. I don't need to justify the death of a beast like Atroma."

"Yes. Let's be done with this business quickly. I'd like to sleep in my own bed tonight." Manyu raised his head, "-And what wonderful timing, too. It seems we've been discovered."

What little could be seen of Atroma's form seemed immobile in the smoke, but as Barion turned to face the creature, its sanguine eyes glimmered like jewels concealed within flaps of gangrenous flesh. As the two men readied themselves for battle, however, a strange sound burrowed into their ears--a ringing which was at the same time both inaudible and excruciatingly loud. Both Barion and Manyu were immobilised as sentences seemed to emerge from the nondescript tone.

[Scanning…]

[Terrestrial Inhabitants Confirmed]

[Executing 'Angel' Protocol…]

///NING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WAR///

[ERROR 6 (NARRATIVEINSTABILITY)]

[PRESENCE OF LEGACY DNA CONFIRMED - [SEED 1] [SEED 2]]

[PLEASE REMAIN CALM AND EVACUATE THE PREMISES IN AN ORDERLY MANNER]

It was as if a switch had been flipped. The monstrous figure of Atroma, who seemed ready to engage the two men in deadly combat, began to retreat like some kind of terrified prey. Great jets of blood and slag erupted from its boiling wounds as it ran, leaving a trail of melting biomass in its wake.

"Wha-" Manyu placed a hand to his forehead, "What was that all about…?"

"It's running away…" Barion blinked, watching the creature disappear into the distance, "Is it afraid of us?"

"Did you hear that as well, Barion?"

"I did." He paused, "Were those… Atroma's thoughts?"

"No. They sounded more like instructions." Manyu followed his gaze to the wall of smoke rising in the distance, "I wonder… was that the voice of Black Luna?"

"There's no time to wonder. If Atroma isn't interested in facing us, then we'll just have to chase it down. We should be able to outrun it with your hastening magic."

"After you, then."

As the two men took off after the Heavenly King, Barion couldn't help but question what he'd just heard. Never before had a Demon ever invaded his mind in such a fashion. What exactly had changed about him, that he was now privy to the inner machinations of Demonkind? Casting the thought aside, he resolved to save his questions for a less turbulent time, and focused entirely on chasing down Atroma.

They were proceeding through a deep valley in the mountains. It simply wasn't possible for Atroma to evade them, and the beast could only run so fast. Its desperation in attempting to escape, however, accelerated the destruction of Anjima as the creature's smouldering flesh continuously fell from its body before regenerating yet again, sprouting fresh wildfires across the undergrowth.

"We may want to do something before the entire country is set ablaze." Manyu suggested, "I've noticed that you haven't prepared a plan of attack. Is that intentional?"

"I only need to get close." Barion assured.

"Come, now. Charging headfirst into battle may be admirable from a warrior's point of view, but a war can't be won on strength alone."

"Be quiet and watch."

As he spoke those words, Barion launched into the air, careening towards the Fiend without a spare thought dedicated to his own safety. Utterly devoted to the possibility of escape, Atroma didn't even turn its horned head to acknowledge his approach--which made it all the more impactful when the back of the beast's skull was suddenly caved in by a monstrous punch. Barion's fist seethed with pain as it buried itself into Atroma's head, spurts of blood hotter than magma spitting at him like fry-oil. Retracting his arm, he and the beast both were sent falling towards the ground.

"Ah! Shit, that hurts!" Writhing as the sticky globules of flesh ate away at his skin, Barion spent a few disgraceful moments reaping what he had sown. All of a sudden, his brutish approach to exterminating Atroma didn't seem half as desirable.

"Excellent work." As Manyu approached, he offered a dry applause to Barion's carelessness, "Or, perhaps not. What exactly did you think would happen if you attacked the Fiend of Fire so carelessly?"

"Ah…" Barion grasped his charred fist and groaned, "I killed it, didn't I?"

"I would certainly hope so." The former Demon King's gaze fell upon the downed beast, "-And with only a single punch, too. Do you ever think to yourself that you may have become a tad too strong for your own good?"

"I need to be…" He muttered, "Who knows how powerful Black Luna really is?"

"I don't suppose you're expecting me to heal those burns?"

"What a kind offer. If you wouldn't mind."

"Sometimes I find myself wishing that we were never granted the gift of magic. That way fools like yourself would be forced to confront their bull-headedness." Kneeling down, Manyu prepared to use his body as a focus for a healing spell, "Just another shortcoming we can blame on Black Luna, I suppose."

As he busied himself with licking Barion's wounds, Manyu made sure to cast a cursory glance towards the body of Atroma every so often, knowing full-well that the beast might have been playing dead to lower their guard. As fresh, boiling blood leaked from the cavity in its skull, however, he was quickly convinced that the Heavenly King wouldn't be getting back up again.

"Well, I must admit that even I wasn't expecting it to run away. Seems you've developed quite the reputation." He mused, "Almost makes me wonder why I was even forced to tag along with you."

"We were too late…" Barion replied, "It doesn't matter how strong I am--there are only so many places I can be at once. If we'd only arrived an hour sooner-"

"Let's not retread this argument, shall we?" He interrupted, "What matters is how the war is handled moving forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, focus on how you can change the future. Remove the weight of those you've failed from your shoulders and allow the guilt to persuade you into new action."

"Is that how you coped with it?" Barion asked, "Being the Demon King."

"I never blamed myself for those that Demons were responsible for killing."

"But you never acted to oppose them. Isn't that just as terrible?"

"Whether it is or not doesn't bother me in the slightest." He resisted, "I am past caring. I desired for the world to suffer, and that was precisely what happened. But all those who wronged me are now dead, and the world is a different place, so now I will fight to save it."

"I still won't forgive you."

"I was never seeking forgiveness in the first place. Only what I desired."

As Barion's blackened hands were healed, he breathed a sigh of relief as the pain vanished.

"Now…" He muttered, standing up, "How are we going to get-"

[Scanning…]

The two men froze in surprise as a familiar tone began to invade their heads.

[Fatal Damage Sustained]

[Entering Hibernation Period…]

///NING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WAR///

[ERROR 6 (NARRATIVEINSTABILITY)]

[PRESENCE OF LEGACY DNA CONFIRMED - [SEED 1] [SEED 2]]

[HIGH PROBABILITY OF EXPERIMENT FAILURE AT CURRENT VECTOR]

[INITIATE MUTATION? (EXPECTED IMPACT ON HABITABILITY - MINOR)]

[[YES] NO]

"That sound again!" Barion clenched his eyes shut, "Manyu!"

"- ---- -- ---!"

His companion's voice was drowned out by the excruciating tone. As the two of them writhed on the ground, Atroma's corpse began to undergo a terrible metamorphosis, with muscles bulging beneath its patchy skin as pustules of cream-white fluid hiving from its body sent jets of steam into the air as they ruptured. As Barion fumbled to regain his composure, the pain rattling through his skull proved too much for him to bear. As he peeled his eyes seconds before losing consciousness, he witnessed something peculiar--a mountain, or something like it, shifting uncontrollably behind the paralyzed form of Manyu.

Then, an instant later, his world went black.