Skarlet threw her cloak over her as she closed her eyes in preparation, she planned to throw her cloak after it took the acid attack. Though with the strength and quantity it probably wouldn't work out.

She wondered if she'd have the mana to heal the injury she expected to receive. Though that worry eventually faded as she turn and looked up.

"Mana shield." She mumbled, Andy was on one knee. He was casting a mana shield and the poison was sliding off it.

"Skarlet, you want to kill it yourself right?" Andy asked as he turned his eyes towards her.

"I need to, there's no other way." Skarlet replied with determination.

"A bit of advice, try heating an area of it's carapace then quickly cooling it. After that you should be able to pierce through it." Andy offered her a bit of advice, Skarlet nodded before leaping upwards with wind magic.

"Spirits of water, spirits of wind, frozen blast." As she chanted a swirling ball of wind and water appeared in her hand and combined into a swirl of ice. Skarlet spun and launched that spell at the spider's head.

Pop

The swirl of ice magic popped as it hit and a blast of cold air flew past Skarlet as she began chanting her next spell.

"Spirits of fire, shape and come forth, fireball!" A swirling ball of fire emerged in her hand and she immediately threw it at the icy patch on the king spider's head. A loud screech of pain erupted from it's mouth, it began to lash out in all directions. With that screech it opened it's mouth and revealed how mangled the inside was. The melted statue had melted all it's teeth and destroyed the interior of its mouth.

Crack

Skarlet, smiled at the sound coming from it's head. She used a burst of wind magic to throw herself down towards it's head. She pointed her sword at her opponent and with a shattering sound, she finally pierced through it's hard outer shell.

She disappeared inside and immediately felt like puking, she was covered in slimy bodily fluids. She'd dug herself into it's brain.

"Ugh, fucking disgusting." Skarlet muttered as she began pulling the final bits of her mana pool to cast a large fire spell.

Andy watched with bated breath as she had disappeared into the king Spider's head. It began to thrash and screech. Those sounds faded to gargling as it's black carapace began to glow a orangish red.

Bang

Andy winced as the spider's head exploded, a massive fireball engulfed it. He felt alarm rising as he leaped into it with wind magic and flew towards it's head. He saw something falling from it's head, smoke pouring from it. He recognized Skarlet, she seemed unconscious so he dashed towards her.

When he caught her he felt alarm once more at the state of her, she was covered in burns and her clothes were basically chared rags.

When his feet touched the ground she jerked awake and gritted her teeth, he watched her face recoil in pain.

"Damn, ha ha. I fucked him up." She mumbled as her hand raised, she felt her mana deepening and her strength leaping upwards. Similar to the mutant variant wolf, she felt explosive growth.

"Hey, you could have killed him easily huh?" She asked suddenly, Andy was taken aback, scratching his cheek before responding.

"Yeah, but that was your fight, so I let you fight it." Andy answered with resolve.

Skarlet slipped from his grip and began casting healing magic. As she did so she glanced around her, with the adrenaline fading curiosity filled that spot. What is this place? She wondered.

"Hey Skarlet, I came to investigate whether this was a dungeon or not. But I didn't expect to find such an old ruin, this place is over four hundred years old. Possibly even created during the war." Andy's eyes were shining as he looked around as well. He was a mage after all, and a wizard at that. There was no way he wasn't deeply interested in ancient knowledge.

Skarlet finished pouring magic into her gear and stood up, and approached where the Statue used to be. "Andy do you know why a Bronze statue of a demon would be here?" She asked with confusion while inspecting the base.

"Huh, wait, is this a mausoleum?"

"A what?" Skarlet asked, looking at him in confusion.

"Ah," he coughed for a moment before clarifying. "A tomb, that's what I meant." He approached the platform as well while scratching his chin. "Though, there doesn't seem to be a corpse. Unless?" Andy began circling the bronze base.

"A tomb?" Skarlet repeated with curiosity.

"Ah, I found something, there's a key hole here I think. It's got a bit of an odd shape though." Andy suddenly exclaimed causing Skarlet to approach where he was, she saw something, a thin slit in the back of the statues base. A thought came to Skarlet and she reached into her magic bag, retrieving a Jade dagger. With nothing but a hunch, she stabbed it into the slot.

Click

After an audible click the sound of gears spread out and they both stepped back as the base began to slide to the side, it revealed stairs descending into the darkness.

They looked at each other before heading down, a room opened at the bottom of the stairs.

She raised her palm and cast flame, giving the room just enough light to see that she was in some kind of laboratory. The test tubes, beakers, and just generic laboratory equipment. She noted that there were no spiderwebs here, it seemed the spiders hadn't touched this place. There were several shelves with assortments of chemicals and vials of old substances. I wonder how old this place is? She pondered as she rummaged through some drawers. Soon enough she found an old diary. It was dusty and burnt, she opened it to find that most the pages were illegible.

Skarlet slipped the diary into her pocket as she continued to examine the place.

Skarlet frowned as she pulled a sheet from a tank and revealed a large cylinder of glass with a monster floating inside. There were tubes and machinery infused with long empty magic crystals. The monster was long dead, it was a beast she didn't recognize.

Skarlet pulled the diary from her pocket once more and flipped through the pages, finally finding that one of the last pages was intact enough to read it.

Our Lord, The Demon King, has requested of me to do deeper research on the topic of the fossilization of the demons and the crystallization of their essence. He desires the key to the strings that connect the demons to their Lord. He wants to create demons who transcend, he wants subjects that can continue the fight after his destruction. The essence of demons crystallize and activate their fossilization upon the severing of the connection to their Lords Aura, finding a way around this is Paramount. But aside from that endeavor, his lordship has also requested of me to research the cycle in which the Demon Kings are birthed. As they aren't born in the realm of demons, each and every king was once human. Our Lord desires the ability to control his own awakening, he wants to be revived rather than replaced. It shall be my job to create a ritual to bring him back upon the situation where the hero slays him. So far, I made the urgent decision to study the magic circle that is transcribed when a Demon King is birthed, I shall make adjustments and see if a revival circle is possible from the remnants of the birthing circle.

"Huh, damn that's demonic calligraphy if I'm not mistaken, to bad. Would be really interesting to know what it says however, the writings of demons have yet to be deciphered." Andy was looking over her shoulder while lamenting that. Skarlet frowned as she realized that the writings were different than the language spoken and written by most the races. She hadn't noticed cause she could just read it. Why can I read this? She wondered before glancing back at the bottom of the page.

I have carved this circle into the floor of my laboratory, it's many intricacies shall be seared into my brain. I will make this circle my everything till I understand it like my own chemistry then I shall craft a new one. One that will awaken a new era of kings.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Skarlet set the book down with trembling hands, This book is over four hundred years old, this was written during the era of the Demon King. Wait, there's no information on whether he succeeded. I hope that a demon King doesn't rise during my quest, that would be frustrating.

Skarlet pushed Mana into her flame and it grew, revealing the magic circle on the floor. Skarlet felt a massive headache as she saw it, she fell to her knees and tears fell. Visions flashed through her mind as memories pounded her. A large cavern room with a massive magic circle carved into the ground, a man cackling as the smell of death and the scent of blood seeped into the air. Skarlet gazed at the blurry figure standing at the head of the circle. Who are you? Why can't I remember this, my parents were killed in a dungeon by monsters that took them by surprise. I was a burden, they died protecting me. . . Right, that's what happened right!? What are these memories they're wrong. There was no circle, there was no man, there was none it was all my fault I know I know. . . I thought I knew what I was guilty of.

"Skarlet?" Andy asked with a voice slowly following with worry and concern. He started to approach her only to pause as he felt her mana rising.

Skarlet's mana surged out as she stood up, she felt a mass of anger toward this place, she felt power rising up. Tears surged forward and a low guttural scream came from deep with in her as an explosion of mana erupted from within launching random spells of all four elements outward. her eyes turned black as a dark smoke enveloped her.

All she could hear was the sound of glass breaking and wood splintering. Andy reacted quickly, raising a mana shield as he was thrown back. A tornado of magic surrounded Skarlet as she screamed in pain. Her mana drained at a ridiculous pace before drying up, Skarlet collapsed as the tornado died down.

The magic circle below her glowed and the black smoke dissipated into the surroundings. Skarlet sank into the darkness swamping her consciousness.

She stood in knee deep black murky water as a figure approached her, he looked like that statue she'd melted while fighting the spider.

"Hello, Skarlet, was it? I am Galen, the Demon King." He smiled as he spoke authoritatively.

~

Skarlet awoke while being carried back, she quickly protested to being carried and was back on her feet in no time. They returned to Aguris together, heading for the guild. Andy has said he needed to talk to her about something as the guild Master.

"Hey girlie." A voice called out, Skarlet paused and turned to see Yofen, the dwarven blacksmith she'd gotten acquainted with. They were passing his shop on the way to the guild.

"Um hello?" She asked him, he looked worried.

"How the hunt go?" He asked while crossing his arms.

"We killed the King Spider and I got my sword back." She answered him, not wanting to talk long, but not wanting to not tell him what happened. Even though being around people made her anxious, she considered Yofen a friend and wanted to tell him.

"Well, I'm glad ya ok." He smiled warmly at her. "How's that armor?" He asked suddenly.

"Amazing, it's much stronger than what I had before and it's got self repair magic on it. I couldn't have asked for be- be-" suddenly she realized she'd got excited and her voice trailed off while her face turned red. " be-better gear."

"Haha, you jumped out of ya head for a moment there." He smiled, "glad to hear ya like it."

She nodded, a small embarrassed smile on her face, "Thank you Yofen." She waved to him as she dashed after after Andy to catch up.

She pushed open the doors and immediately everyone looked at her, their gaze searched her. She looked down nervously as she headed towards the receptionist. Damn, why is everyone suddenly so interested in me. It's making me self-conscious.

Suddenly Skarlet felt someone grab her, she turned to see a familiar face. Amethyst, Aiko was right next to her.

"Hey, Cody told us that you wanted to come help too. But that you were tied up. I thought it was important to let you know we're ok." Amethyst explained, a serious look in her eye. "I-We didn't want you to worry about us ontop of all the other things you worry over. You got a lot weighing you down, we were trying to help you with that not add more to it." Amethyst had started to say I, but Aiko had yanked on her sleeve.

Skarlet only nodded, there was guilt rising, but she did feel a weight lift like a breath she'd been holding in finally found an escape. I was worried, I did wanna help. I'm sorry. Skarlet pulled from their grip and approached the counter. Amethyst and Aiko watched her go, she could feel their eyes. I betrayed you, I don't deserve that worry and care you have for me. Just resent me like everyone else please.

When she got to the counter, she pulled the Spider Lord's eye out from her bag. She set it on the counter, the girl behind the counter was Sasha, who's eyes widened as she picked up the eye.

"The King Spider, I managed to kill it while scouting sorry." Skarlet forced out her report, the receptionist nodded, she grabbed the eye and brought it to the back. Skarlet waited a bit before the receptionist came back.

"Alright, here's your reward." The receptionist told her, handing her a bag of money before lifting the desk partition. "The Guild Master is waiting." Skarlet followed her into the back, she wondered what he wanted from her.

"Hello Skarlet, come in." The guild Master greeted her at the door. "Sit, I have a commission for you."

She gathered herself after a moment of silence and followed him into the room.

"here put your guild card here." Andy pulled out a device she recognized as the thing the receptionist used to raise her rank previously. Skarlet placed her guild card in the magic device and placed her hand on top. She pushed magic into it like before and it glowed, Andy seemed satisfied.

"You've ranked up, you're D rank now." He explained to her, as she took her card back "Now, let's talk about that commission. There's someone being targeted by assassins, they need a gu-"

"No, I won't take it. I need to train more, I'll take monster subjugations." Skarlet cut him off, she realized what she'd done and looked down, her ears burned. "S-sorry."

"Skarlet, you can't refuse a direct commission from a guild Master." He spoke firmly, "I'll introduce you to Maria, come." The guildmaster got up and led the way back to the lobby, Skarlet sighed but she could only follow.

They headed down the street towards a familiar inn, Skarlet followed him inside and up the stairs. They stopped in front of a door, Andy knocked and the door opened to reveal Cody looking a little confused

"Andy?" Cody asked as he let the guild master in. "What is it."

"We can start pressuring Seraph now. Though, the assassin managed to vanish." Andy explained in embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck. "If you see him or a young dog beast kin could you bring them back to me?"

"He escaped?" Cody asked, slight annoyance and surprise in his voice

"Well, apparently one of my employees got close with him, and they escaped together." Andy sounded annoyed, "but not before telling who hired him."

"It's Seraph yes?" Cody asked, Andy nodded, Skarlet stepped into the room. "Skarlet." Cody was surprised to see her

"I've given her the commission to guard Maria while you and I go to confront Seraph." Andy explained, Cody nodded, "She's been rising recently, and has already stopped an assassination attempt once. She should be able to protect them."

"Yeah, thank you Skarlet." Cody nodded to her as she moved into the room, Andy led Cody out into the hall. She mostly ignored him, just a simple nod as he passed.

Skarlet sighed as she looked at the Noble and enslaved beast kin in front of her. She crossed and sat down in the chair at the desk. It was quiet, and the atmosphere was awkward. But almost like she sensed it, suddenly Maria broke the silence.

"You're very pretty Skarlet."

"U-hm." Skarlet was taken aback, she wasn't sure what to say. "Thank you."

The fox girl huffed, "She means it you know, don't try to read too deep into what Maria says, she's too honest for her own good."

"Clara! When you say things like that it feels like you're picking on me. You should speak about me with respect or like a hero that survived a death defying adventure and saved his city. With awe and reference." Her tone was playful, she wasn't serious.

"For me to do that you'll have to go on a death defying adventure." Clara replied.

"It might happen sooner than you think." Skarlet mumbled, If what I've been told is true, there's a beast coming.

Clara stared at Skarlet, I didn't mean to say that out loud, damn beast kin and their good hearing.

"Skarlet, did you say something?" Maria asked, glancing between them.

"Are you threatening Maria?" Clara was on her feet, hostility in her voice.

"Of course not, disregard what I said it has nothing to do with you two." Skarlet replied, stepping forward, her hand went to her sword. "Unless you want to fight, I'm not against showing you the danger of baring your fangs at me fox"

"Guys calm down, Clara, back off and sit down. Skarlet, it was a misunderstanding I'm sure." Maria stood up between them, Skarlet sat down, pushing away her embarrassment that was rising. There was no reason for me to get so hostile. Skarlet masked her embarrassment with silence.

Maria sighed and turned to sit on the bed, "this is awkward." She said, "You're not good with people are you."

"No." Skarlet spoke simply, her gaze was out the window.

"You don't seem to want to be here?" Maria pried gently.

"No, I'm busy, but this commission was from the Guild master, can't turn it down." Skarlet explained.

"Oh, we inconvenienced you, I apologize." Maria bowed, causing Skarlet to stare.

"You're an unusual noble." Skarlet said hesitantly, this caused Maria to chuckle. "I'm very different than my father, I'm sorry for what he did to you."

"I'm fine, It's ok." She replied, sighing. "I'm just a little Impatient." Maria nodded, yawning. Though another thought had crossed Skarlet's mind. When she has approached Clara she sensed something unusual. It was dark magic, an attribute no one would have been able to sense except Skarlet.

Having dark magic as your main attribute was very rare thing and a great shock for Skarlet when she first got her attribute tested when she became an adventure at thirteen. But due to her affinity with the darkness attribute she could also sense others that had the same attribute. It was the same with every other attribute fire mages could sense other fire mages.

However, the problem was that Clara's main attribute wasn't darkness. She could sense the darkness inside her however it was not hers almost as if someone had injected it in her it rejected her even while it circulated in her body. It made Scarlet intrigued but she felt like getting involved with it would be troublesome she simply ignored it as it didn't seem to be causing any problems.

"It's getting late, we should lay down and get some sleep." Clara spoke up, Maria nodded as she plopped onto the bed beside Clara. Skarlet watched as they curled up together, they were obviously close. Skarlet frowned, Maria was definitely not like Seraph, she seemed to not see Beast kin as tools or collectables. Interesting, I actually wouldn't mind supporting her, my home would be bettered by her different views.

Skarlet sighed, nothing's likely to happen tonight, she leaned back in the chair. Though was unable to actually fall asleep, she sighed as a couple hours passed, Maria and Clara were both sound asleep snoring.