THE MOMENT
Ballisea sat on a mountain top watching the world sink into the sun. She could have opened a portal large enough to incinerate the Earth in an instant; but, she enjoyed watching everything burn. However, this time she was interrupted by a young man in a black suit. He wore an orange tie with matching orange spectacles; he walked out of a portal and stood next to her on the mountain.
"There's no way back," Billy said. "Her update crashed every loop that was in effect." Ballisea nodded quietly. That was what she'd been expecting to hear ever since she realized Billy couldn't reset the time loop. "But, there is good news," he added. Ballisea turned to him and raised a single eyebrow.
"All the Zeros you evacuated...," Billy gestured at the empty, burning world around them. "..you don't have to do that next time," he smiled at her. A black portal washed over Ballisea from her horns down. When it cleared she was standing in front of Billy instead of sitting down.
"Do tell," she said.
"You know the bet between you and Regal?" Billy said, his grin grew wider when Ballisea gave him all her attention.
"Yes?" Ballisea asked. Billy shrugged.
"I guess Ms. Sharp isn't as detail-focused as she claims; that bet never happened," he said.
"You mean I can...," Ballisea's eyes widened with hope. Billy nodded.
"Murder all the Zeros you want," he said. Ballisea smiled; but, it dimmed after a moment and she shook her head.
"Not yet," she said. "If Regal still thinks the bet is on, this might work in my favor...," Ballisea said. Billy nodded.
"Thank you for the information," she said. Then, she added another instruction before dismissing Billy. "Proceed as if the bet were still in place; no one else is to know yet."