Chapter 68 - Paradox Reunion

There were no signs of the Serpents of Infinity for the past thousands of years, you could say that they hid very well from Citadel's and Rimuru's range. There were, however, several reports about certain worlds and universes that they realized suddenly disappeared without anyone noticing. 

The missing ones were discovered just about the same time as the invasion, maybe a little bit after everything calmed down, but at the very least more than five universes got taken and completely blocked from Rimuru's control. 

This came as a surprise to everyone, especially since he had the Ultimate Skill: King of Passage Janus which allows him to travel to other universes that he can sense and been to. The fact that this happens means that there was someone among the enemy that has a similar ability that could counter Rimuru's that the enemy's side has.

This explains how they manage to create portals to different universes and even to Citadel. The serpents have probably been observing Citadel and the other universes for tens or hundreds of years in preparation for their attack. 

A lot of things have changed in Citadel since then, the universe where Citadel was, is no longer just the floating island. Using Rimuru's powers of Gluttony and Gate manipulation, he pulled worlds into Citadel that can prove to be useful to their cause. 

The residents of Agni's and Runa's kin are given each a world where they stay and reproduce. The facility that creates Enkis and Sirens also existed in those worlds, you could say they just relocated them to each one. 

Jahil and Lilith own one world in which they each get half of it, with one side focusing on biological advancement while the other on mechanical/technological advancement. 

And the last world that was added, which was now the official Citadel headquarters was a small world that is full of communication and connection to each and all universes that Central governs. Majority of the best fighters are ordered to reside in that world, so if an emergency comes all are prepared to engage in battle anytime. 

The former HQ is in the very middle of the four planets that orbit it. It became  the personal island of Rimuru and the others home. They had everything removed and turned it into a small paradise that has everything they needed to play and have a fun time in. 

Only those with Rimuru's permission are allowed to enter, no exceptions. 

Now, in the new world Citadel, a large structure was standing that was thousands of meters high, and at the very top floor was Rimuru's new office. 

He could be seen typing something into a glowing panel of light that was being projected by the four corners of his table. On the screen were letters that he would press as to input what he needed to be done. 

The room he was in was a twenty square meter big room, there were no doors on all side but he was covered in windows. No, the walls were simply glass that allows him to see the view outside of the large building. 

And from one of the corner of the room, a teleportation circle started to glow, and from that area a demon with black hair with gold and red streak appeared. "Kufufufu Rimuru-sama I have something to report." 

Rimuru not looking at Diablo gestures for him to come and report, as he was continuing in typing through the panel with both hands. While it would seem as he disregards Diablo's report, it was not true as he was attentively listening to Diablo's report. 

The problem was the large amount of work that was added to him on the pass thousand of years. While they could not find the enemy, they did however finish in surveying the entire Multiverse. They have officially taken control of everything and everyone that was not an enemy. 

"Due to a certain incident with Ultima and Carrera, we lost a few hundred saints in having them stop. This happened before I or Testarossa could come in and mitigate it, it was a pathetic reason to loss men." Diablo sighed as he continued his report. 

All of the primordials have gotten stronger and more experienced with their new Ultimate skills. The problem was that, there was no enemy to use them on, as even with power, if not used will not show its fullest potential. 

"How many do we have left anyway? Saints I mean, last time I heard about them we had about tens of thousands?" Rimuru replied unbothered by the death of saint class subordinates. 

After the successfulness of the dungeon plan, in just a year it manage to produce tens of thousands of sages, however that was were it ends, even after years of continues invasion no saints appeared. 

Then Diablo had a theory he wanted to try, using a hundred sages, he fought them (Of course he held back) and showed them true fear, and one saint bloomed from the death of the other sages. 

Seeing this, the other primordials copied him and they managed to make a few saints after torturing hundreds of sages. And this continued to this very day, in fact more than half of the saints are transferred to Citadel. 

Another fact is that, the universe of Citadel had a limit of strength when entering, Cherufe, Sprites and other weaker subordinates are no longer allowed in Citadel. The minimum required strength of those allowed in Citadel is Special-A, with majority of them only doing micellanoues stuff in Citadel like Jahil and Lilith's assistants or someone who process information in Citadel's net of universes that is provided by other subordinates. 

Each and everyone you see in Citadel is at minimum a Special-A rank in strength. The species Enkis, Sirens, Archdemons, and thrones are what remains in Citadel aside from the human sages. 

"At the moment, we have an approximate of fifty thousand saints." Diablo stated as he looked at the metal bracelet in his arm, reading the list of saints that was recorded. 

"Then don't report those kind of things to me, just that much gone is a drop of water." Rimuru frowened as he continues his work, thinking of how wasteful that report was. 

"Apologies Rimuru-sama it was not actually what I planned to report, this was just informed to me a moment ago." Diablo bowed, planning on punishing the saint that gave him that information. 

"So? What is the real report?" 

"The person that Agni and Runa saw as they were fighting the serpent thousands of years ago appeared again, they managed to make contact with the person." 

Rimuru's fingers stopped typing, he finally looked at Diablo. "What do they say?"

"They wish to see you, after we informed them that we serve Rimuru-sama." 

"They know my name? Are they trustworthy?"

"Kufufufu Rimuru-sama need not worry, all the primordials are currently keeping watch on them with Agni and Runa in their battle form. They fully wish to see you, I believe that they wish to tell you something." 

Rimuru thought for a second, "Well no harm in going," Then suddenly from the side of Rimuru, a copy of himself started to appear. 

Parallel Existence, throughout the years of staying in the office on work, Velgrynd spread chaos more than Veldora could ever wish of doing. In the end, Velrgynd and Rimuru manage to create a skill that is the best version of body double, which spilts the person that both are the real thing. 

In fact, Rimuru could create six of himself at maximum. And right about now, two Rimuru's existed. One is in paradise island reading and enjoying some time with Velgrynd, and the other is working in the office. 

Creating a third one, this was the one that was going to go with Diablo to meet this mysterious person. Even if they were a threat, with all of them there and multiple lives of Rimuru, it would just be stupid to do something. 

In a certain world, in a certain empire, and in that empire a certain restaurant was reserve for the day. The door had its reserved sign placed, and all the workers were nowhere in sight. All of the people currently inside are silent. 

In the very middle of the restaurant was a lone round table with two chairs, one of the seats was occupied by a certain hooded and cloaked person that had all of their features covered. Not even their gender could be determined with how covered they were. 

Agni and Runa were standing just behind them, a little bit over a meter in distance. Meanwhile, the demoness trio were standing just about in the distance away from the empty sit. They were silently staring at the hooded person, prepared to go into action if they attempted anything. 

Same goes for Agni and Runa who were in their battle forms, as they know to be cautious, as for some reason, the person was stronger than them. While all of them were tense to the person sitting on the chair, the hooded individual was also tense with all of the powerful beings surrounding them. They are prepared to fight and escape if it was a trap to eliminate them. 

As the air in the restaurant continue to grow tense, the sound of the door's bell echoed in the silence. All of their attentions directed to the origin of the noise, with each step Rimuru walked in. 

"Sorry did I make you guys wait?" He waved, his appearance was to describe in one word was comfortable. Rimuru wore a hoodie with jogger pants, as he was a split of the Rimuru that was in the office, he had memories of the stress of the other Rimuru. Deciding to enjoy the relaxation of not being in the office anymore. 

The hooded person froze in place as they heard the voice of Rimuru, their head following Rimuru as he walked towards his place on the chair opposite of their own. As he sat down, Testarossa, the white primordial placed a cup of tea for Rimuru, while Diablo placed some sweets to pair with. 

Rimuru noticed that the person opposite to him was not even given any of the same treats. "Want some?" He asked as he pointed to his sweet, not getting a reply, he merely shrugs. 

"So you wanted to meet me, firstly I want to ask some question to you. Do you know those snakes? Why were you fighting them? If you were not hostile why didn-" 

"Rimuru-san," A voice was heard, interrupting Rimuru's list of question. The hooded person raised both hands to remove the mask covering the person's face, while the hood still covering the area around the person's eyes. With the hood falling of next, the face of a beautiful black heard woman with moist eyes and a soft smile showed itself. 

"It is you right? Rimuru-san..." The person asked, attempting to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes. 

Rimuru stared at her shock, he knows that face, he knows that voice. He remembers, from the memories of Future Rimuru. A girl with black hair, a girl that in a way saved his life before, a girl that was called as his student before. "Chloe? Are you Chloe?" 

Hearing Rimuru's voice, suddenly Chloe who was sitting on the other side of the table crying was in Rimuru's lap as she hugged him deeply, burying her face in his chest. The others were surprise as they could barely notice her movement, some had a few ideas of what happened but as they planned to remove her, Rimuru gestures for them to let her. 

Rimuru may not know her personally, but the future him does and he considers her as a student. He patted her head and let her release everything that she's been holding back. He does not know why she was crying, all he knew was that the Chloe he knows should be 2 thousands years after Veldanva's death, and yet she's here and the Star dragon is still alive. 

It must have been his fault again, something must have changed that affected the poor girl dragging her into the past as well. Especially with how she was seen thousands of years ago, Rimuru frowned as he knows how fragile a human's mentality is, and the poor girl that is hugging him right now has been alive and traveling alone for at the minimum of thousands of years. 

"Sorry Chloe, it must have been my fault you're here." 

Chloe still deep into Rimuru chest shook her head, "No, it's fine Rimuru-san. I, I was just scared, this was a first time going this far in the past, I didn't know what to do and.." She let out all of her problems and the things she kept in her mind. 

Rimuru didn't understand majority of it, but accepted all of her words to make her relax. 

After crying for half an hour, Chloe finally stopped and removed her face on Rimuru's chest. She still didn't leave Rimuru's lap though, much to the demons irritation. 

"Can you tell me how you got here, in the past I mean." Rimuru asked as he ignored the death glares the surrounding people directed at Chloe. "Keep in mind, I am not the Rimuru you know, I'm a reincarnation of a fraction of his soul, though reincarnation to the past anyway." 

Chloe looked shock for a few seconds and then a few more staying silent, Rimuru took note the fact like she was thinking something. "Well, if Rimuru-san already destroyed the timeline, then I guess telling the truth won't hurt." She gave a small laugh giving up in hiding certain information. 

"All I recall of you is that your my student and I gave you that mask on your waist when I went to war," Rimuru pointed seeing the mask hidden under her cloak near the waist. "Aside from those fact, I don't really have any memory of you. So, can you return to your seat?" 

"Why? I've been looking for Rimuru-san for thousands of years, can't you let me stay here a little longer," She tilted her head, it would have seem innocent if not for the fact that her eyes tell a different story. 

"A friend of mine said that if I don't keep enough distance to women, I might get killed in my sleep by Velgrynd." Rimuru said as he recalled Sylvia's words that were said with a mix of jest, as she laughed. 

Chloe was confuse hearing the Scorch Dragon's name. "Velgrynd? The Scorch Dragon? Why?"

"Ah, well we're in a relationship you see, for a few thousand years now." 

Chloe frozed again, this time no matter what Rimuru does she doesn't move. Then she stood up from Rimuru's lap and sat on her chair before placing her head to the table mumbling to herself about something about how cruel fate is and how she did her best and yet...

Rimuru scratched his head, he could somewhat guess why she was reacting like that but he can't really fall for a woman he only just met. There is also Luminas that kept reasonable distance, respecting Rimuru's decision of being together with Velgrynd. 

Not like Velgrynd would have mind, but Luminas did not know of that. And Rimuru is playing the waiting game as always, and will probably do the same with Chloe. Not like he needed to wait to long, with Chloe's determination and obsession of Rimuru. 

A/N: Fun fact, around the end half of this chapter was rewritten from scratch, I forgot to save it and when I came to check the progress, I was only around half. I stressed looking for the progress I made. 

Well Chloe is finally added to the story, I guess the mysterious figure is too easy? I mean who else right? Can't add too many oc characters. (Or can I?)