Jun, Tuesday 11, 2007 - 2:55 PM

The night was cold and foreboding as the trio stood in the desolate clearing. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and an eerie silence enveloped the area, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves.

“Welcome,” Famine greeted, his voice a chilling whisper that sent shivers down their spines. “I’ve been expecting you. You've done well to defeat my steed.”

Famine's appearance was unsettling. He was a tall, slender man with long, flowing black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through you. His black cloak, adorned with a hood, shrouded his skeletal frame, where skin was stretched tight over bones, giving him a ghastly appearance.

“Yeah, it was pretty easy if I say so myself,” Norika boasted a cocky grin on her face, only to be met with a swift smack on the head by Scarlet.

“Don’t be so arrogant,” Scarlet scolded, her voice stern. “We don’t know how strong he is. If he’s anything like Death, whom Paradox fought, this battle will be difficult.”

“Oh, so one of you has fought my dear sister Death and survived? Impressive. You have my praise,” Famine's eyes scanned them before resting on Paradox.

Before anyone could react, a powerful bolt of lightning struck Paradox, sending him sprawling. Famine stood with a staff made of pure darkness in hand.

“What? That was only lightning! Father should’ve dodged it!” Norika exclaimed in shock.

“That staff is not ordinary,” Scarlet explained, her eyes narrowing. “It weakens our power and drains our stamina and hunger.”

“So, Mother, you mean the longer this fight drags on, the more at a disadvantage we’ll be?”

“Yes, Norika, that is correct—” Scarlet began, but before she could finish, Norika dashed forward with incredible speed, her sword drawn and ignited with her newly acquired "Existence Erasing Flame." She swung at Famine, only for her attack to be blocked by the staff of darkness, trapping her in a vortex of reality, shifting her from dimension to dimension.

“Foolish girl,” both Scarlet and Famine muttered simultaneously.

“She was naive, thinking she could defeat me alone,” Famine remarked, turning his chilling gaze to Scarlet. “Two are down, and there’s only you—”

His words were cut short as his right arm, holding the staff, was severed cleanly. Paradox floated in the air, legs crossed, one hand on their cheek, and the other holding a scythe.

“Did you really think I would be defeated by something like that?” Paradox smirked. “That’s hurtful. I thought you would be better at assessing your opponents.”

“Hmm, surprising indeed. To think you survived that thunderbolt,” Famine mused. “That was no ordinary attack; it had the properties of sealing powers. How did you counter it?”

“That’s a trade secret. How about you find out on your own?” Paradox winked before flying towards Famine, intending to bisect him. But Famine responded with a brutal knee to Paradox’s chin, sending them flying.

Scarlet watched intently, trying to discern the nature of Famine’s powers and how to counter them.

‘We cannot erase him from existence,’ she mused. ‘Or rather, that’s not true. The reason we cannot is because of Paradox. As long as he believes in that concept, it will always exist since he created this world and reality. It seems he hasn’t figured that out yet, and that’s why he cannot kill them.’

Paradox landed on a tree, regaining their footing before launching off it with great force, crushing the tree beneath them. In the blink of an eye, they appeared behind Famine, their scythe morphing into a sword. Slowing down time, Paradox unleashed a flurry of strikes, only to be met with a fist to the face, launching them back as Famine somehow dodged through the frozen time.

“Much better,” Famine said, flexing his now-restored right arm.

“Paradox isn’t going to win this by himself. He’s still holding back,” Scarlet noted.

“You would be correct. I’m only using about 30% of my power, and it seems Paradox is only using 50% of his. Does he have a habit of holding back in fights?” Famine inquired.

“Yes, he does, all the time. It’s why he’s almost been killed on several occasions. He doesn’t take fights seriously unless he deems his opponent worthy,” Scarlet responded.

Paradox appeared in a flash right in front of Famine, looking up at him. “I’m back,” Paradox said as if they weren’t just sent flying moments ago.

“Why don’t we stop holding back? This fight will never end if we don’t.”

“Alright, Famine. Don’t get mad when you lose.” Paradox’s smile faded, and his cheerful demeanor vanished.

At that moment, Norika broke free from the vortex of reality. “What did I miss?” She tilted her head, ignoring the fact she had been easily trapped.

“Not much, but now we will all stop holding back,” Scarlet responded as she charged at Famine, who struggled to keep track of her movements.

Scarlet darted around the forest, her blades cutting through the air with precision. She severed Famine’s limbs one by one, ending with his head, only for it to vanish, revealing it was an illusion.

“Paradox, why don’t you just end this battle already and stop playing around?” Scarlet glared at him, growing tired of the drawn-out fight, eager to heal Eve and leave.

“Nooo~ this fight is only getting started. Let me enjoy it,” Paradox responded nonchalantly.

“Fine, but I am going all out now,” Scarlet declared.

Scarlet began to transform. Her white hair grew to her ankles, and her eyes glowed a bright, piercing crimson. Her skin took on a porcelain complexion, and her curvy, voluptuous body was accentuated by a skintight black and red jumpsuit. Black wings sprouted from her back, made of a dark, shadowy material that seemed to absorb light and emitted a faint, eerie glow.

Wasting no time, Scarlet absorbed the light around her into her wings before releasing two powerful beams of light at Famine, who barely dodged them.

Seeing her attack miss, Scarlet stepped forward and appeared behind Famine, creating a wormhole and pushing him into it while launching massive black holes after him.

Paradox, about to comment, dodged a beam of light aimed at his head, forcing him to keep quiet.

“Wow, Mother is so cool~ I wanna fight her in this form. It would be epic,” Norika said in awe.

Just then, a crack appeared in space, and out came Famine, his cloak in tatters, revealing his bony body.

“That was quite an attack. With your speed, I barely escaped,” he praised Scarlet.

“Enough talking. More fighting.”

Scarlet moved swiftly, both swords in hand, launching a relentless assault on Famine. He blocked her attacks with his staff, which began to absorb her power, weakening her.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“What will you do now? The more you attack, the weaker you become,” Famine taunted.

Scarlet didn’t respond, continuing her barrage of attacks, though they were noticeably weaker.

“He’s in for a rough beating if he doesn’t transform into his true form,” Paradox remarked.

“What do you mean, Father?” Norika asked.

“When Scarlet’s power weakens to a certain point, this battle will be over. Trust me, I’ve seen it before, and it’s not pleasant.”

Scarlet continued her assault until a small crack appeared in Famine’s staff. She sighed deeply before thrusting both swords forward, creating two huge gaping holes in Famine’s chest.

"What? How? You were nowhere near me and should be far weaker now," Famnie stuttered in disbelief.

"Simple," Scarlet replied, her voice calm and confident. "My power is control over time and space. I shortened the space between us, making it as if you were just inches away."

Angered and on the defensive, Famnie decided it was enough. His body began to glow and change with a bright light. As the light faded, a very handsome man stood in his place. With piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair, he was tall and lean, with broad shoulders and a strong physique. He wore a black suit with a red cape flowing behind him and carried a staff made of pure crystal.

"Now, why don’t you show me what you can do, woman? Maybe I'll make you mine," the transformed Famnie said, his eyes glinting with lust.

"Is it me, or did his whole personality change after the transformation, Father?" Norika asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"It’s not just you, Norika. He really did change," Paradox responded, scanning Famnie with his Omni-Watch. "From what I can gather, if he finds a strong or beautiful woman, he will try to make them his."

"Gee, talk about a perv. But I can tell he's very strong in this new form. I can't wait for my turn to fight him."

"What do you mean, 'your turn,' Norika? You can fight him now."

"No, Father. I may love fights, but I believe in a fair one-on-one match. Those get the blood pumping."

'Does she get off on fights now?' Paradox thought to himself. "Whatever you say, Norika." He turned his attention back to the battle at hand.

Scarlet moved so fast that even Paradox and Norika couldn't see her as she grabbed Famnie's head and slammed it into a tree, spinning around and launching him meters away into a mountain.

"So I'll take that as a 'no,' hmm?" Famnie's voice echoed from behind Scarlet. "Is it because there is someone you love?"

"I don't have to answer you. So why don't you just die already?" Scarlet's eyes heated up before shooting a powerful beam of heat, which Famnie blocked and redirected with his crystal staff.

"My, my. No need to be like that. We can both have a good time." Without moving, Famnie appeared in front of Scarlet as time slowed. To her surprise, despite her ability to move through time, she found herself moving sluggishly. Unable to react, Famnie lifted her chin and stole a kiss.

"He's done it now. I honestly feel bad for him," Paradox remarked his eye and fingers twitching in annoyance.

"What do you mean, Father? Why do you feel bad for that jerk, especially when he kissed Mother?" Norika asked, peeved.

"Well, this isn't the first time. Because of how beautiful she is, many men have tried to sway her, to no avail. One in particular got too handsy, and let’s just say nothing remains of him to this day."

"Is Mother that scary when she's angry?"

"Yes, yes she is. As strong as I am, I would never fight an angry Scarlet."

An Oni manifestation of her anger appeared behind Scarlet. The air around them grew cold, while the ground trembled. She slammed her twin swords together, turning them into a bow, which she drew back, shooting an arrow of time.

Famine lazily dodged the arrow and was about to speak when the arrow appeared right in front of him, piercing his heart.

"How?" he clutched his heart. "How did that hit me? I know I dodged it."

"Hn. That is no ordinary arrow. It is a temporal arrow. It traveled back in time and struck true as it never misses its target."

She proceeded to shoot another arrow, which Famnie tried to destroy by slamming his staff into it. The arrow stopped in time by the temporal energy emanating from it, then pierced Famnie again, this time blowing a hole in his head.

Following up, Scarlet absorbed all the light around them, making everything pitch black. She then released the energy, shooting out two giant beams of light, obliterating Famnie and reducing him to ashes.

'He’s not dead. He just left, seeing that this battle would only end in his utter defeat. I would too if I had to fight her,' Paradox mused as he sensed Famnie's departure.

"Well, good job, everyone. Seems it's all over." Paradox pointed toward the grass and trees, noting how they were regrowing rapidly now that Famnie was gone.

"Why don’t we all go back and heal Eve and Zeyla? It’s been like five days since we left to find Famnie." He turned around, making his way back home with Scarlet, now in her base form, and Norika following closely behind.

Jun, Tuesday 11, 2007 - 3:15 PM

Once they made it back home, Paradox used his Omni-Watch to heal Eve and Zeyla. Their bodies rapidly healed, returning to how they once were.

"I’m going to sleep. Don't bother me for a month." Paradox went to his room and fell face-first onto his bed, instantly asleep.

"Ya know, he could have ended that battle far faster if he stopped holding back and fully mastered his [Omnipotent] form. He's just far too lazy," Scarlet remarked.

"What do you mean, Mother? I thought Father already mastered that form when he was training," Norika asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Yes, he has 'mastered' it to the point of being able to do almost anything. But the true power of the form lies in his mind. Once he masters that, something truly amazing will happen, and he will be unstoppable."

"I’m going to force Father to train. I want to fight that form so badly," Norika said, her eyes clouded with a lust for battle, her cheeks reddening.

"In due time, you will also be able to rival your Father. You have that same potential for power as him. If anything, you are a paradox yourself."

"Really? Who cares about that stuff? Paradox, concepts, it all means nothing when you can have a good battle."

"Always thinking with your fists, aren't you, Norika? You really need to cool it before something bad happens and you find yourself in danger."

"Stop worrying so much, Mother. I’m already strong enough to fight on equal terms with Father. No one can defeat me. Haha!" Norika boasted, causing Scarlet to shake her head, wondering if her daughter had a few screws loose.

The day ended with all three of our heroes going to sleep after a stressful day. But what they did not know was that the next time they encountered Famnie, he would not be alone.

–Epilogue: The Author's Room–

"Wow, these last few chapters were awesome. Though it did teach me that I may be strong, but there are stronger people out there than me. It would be too boring if I became too strong. I’ll have to make a whole arc dedicated to training and unlocking that power Scarlet was talking about but that will have to come later don't yall think" Paradox said, appearing out of the story and into the room of the author while talking to the readers.

"Waa! How did you get here?"

"Simple. I imagined it. I know this world is all fake—the real me but not at the same time," Paradox put his hand on his chin. "It’s confusing. I was created after things from your dreams and favorite shows, as well as I come from your world its all confusing and I hate thinking."

"Yeah, but that does not explain how you are here."

"Enough of that. I am here because I am here. Now let’s start coming up with ways to unleash my true power. What do you say, Author?"

Paradox's laugh echoed around the room as the author sat there, confused about what was happening and how the character they created could just appear whenever they wanted.

"I’ll tell you this: I can come here since I am a figment of your imagination. Wherever there is imagination, I can go. I’m just amazing like that. Now, in Volume Two, we should do a power reset to make me weaker and make my fights harder then make a whole arc about me gaining my true powers and taking down every being in existence. What do you say?"

"What? No! If I did that, the story would not make sense."

"Nani? The story already makes no sense. There are far too many powerful beings in it, and the balance of the world is trash. Come on, you haven’t even gone into depth about my powers or the Omni-Watch itself. If we were to do this, we could expand the story and powers, and, most of all, I could have awesome fights. And if I want to get strong fast, I can just go to the 'Hyper Dimension' and fight ENOs. So just do it."

"Alright, fine. We'll do that. But don't blame me if things change."

"Oh, yeah. Also, progress the heroes and villains in Volume Two as well. And make a government. That would make things entertaining."

"What if innocents get injured or towns get destroyed because of this?"

"That is none of my concern. All I care about is an awesome adventure and epic fights. The lives of others mean nothing to me. I am Paradox. And, Author, if you ever go against me, I’ll kill you. PS: Stop bringing in overpowered characters so much. Ciao." Paradox vanished as if he were never there, leaving his threat hanging toward the author about what he would do if they did not listen.

“What the freak is even going on” The Author Shouts in their room, in disbelief before realizing what kind of personality Paradox has, noting that he does not care about anything or anyone, as long as he is having fun, he will do both good or evil, for his enjoyment, which sent shivers down his spine. He goes back to writing trying to figure out what chapter to create next.