Scarlet

After dealing with the void invasion at that odd world with the spaceships, I head on to the next world that the angel-like spirit sends me to. Then I do the same thing there, repeating the process of slaughtering and devouring all of the void creatures before moving on to the next one. And just like that, I continue going from one world to another to another, devouring millions of void creatures and very slowly raising my level.

A process that takes longer and longer with each level gained.

But I need to keep it up. Because if I don’t, I won’t be strong enough to absorb the Red Plague world that’s chasing me along like a lost pup.

I’ll just be overwhelmed by it and the Red Plague will be released on the universe after the death of my mind.

One world after another, I save who knows how many worlds, spending who knows how long doing nothing but fighting. I don’t sleep, I don’t eat, and I don’t rest.

I just fight and fight and fight, saving one world after another. Meeting one spirit ruler after another.

None of them spend long speaking with me, and I’m pretty sure they actually somehow know I’m coming. Whether it’s due to some sort of communication network between them or a prophecy of some sort.

Because every time I arrive, right after I finish off the void invasion, the spirit ruler comes up to me and teleports me away to the next world.

Every single time.

It ends up being incredibly difficult to tell time during this due to the fact that I’m out in space during all of this, and going from one world to another. So there’s no sun or days to judge by.

After who knows how long, I finally find myself reaching level 2400. Which is the bare minimum level for me to feel like I have even a chance of absorbing the entire Red Plague planet.

I stop moving entirely after seeing the level-up notification. Something I’m still surprised about even after seeing quite a few of them during this hunt.

Because I wasn’t expecting the System to reach this far away from Tartarus.

Then again, Tartarus and Earth are halfway across the universe from each other. Yet the System can still reach both.

Stolen story; please report.

Makes me wonder what would happen if fae went to these other worlds and started contracting people, spreading the System further.

I look up at the sun in whatever solar system I’m currently in. Then I just stare at it for a little bit before a certain Fae King appears right in front of me with a severe expression on his draconic face.

“Scarlet, the situation on Earth has been worsening over the few weeks you have spent on your hunt,” Oberon declares, surprising me by the fact that I’ve apparently been doing this for a few weeks straight nonstop. “Please deal with the Red Plague problem as soon as possible before returning. I fear a Class V Corrupted Fracture will open up any day now. And more after that.”

His words have me staring at him for several seconds as thoughts run rampant through my mind.

Am I strong enough yet to absorb the Red Plague? If I’m not strong enough and I try anyways, the universe will be doomed.

But… if I keep waiting until I feel safe about this, Earth may end up destroyed before the void invasion even reaches it. And then what would the point of my actions be? What would the point of my life be, considering everything in my life has been for that prophecy to save the universe. To save Earth and Tartarus.

I look down at my hands, which are covered in my glowing Red Plague in the form of claws. Then I clear up the plague to look at the pale skin of my hands beneath, along with the glowing red claws attached to each of my fingers naturally.

Would everything I’ve been working towards go to waste?

I think I can take the planet now, but…

“Scarlet, stop overthinking it,” I hear a voice echo in my head. A very familiar one that I’ve grown to miss over the months of its absence. “This isn’t like you to overthink things like this. Just do what you feel you need to do.”

I lift my head to find Tar floating next to King Oberon, making my mouth part open slightly at the sight. Then I close it again.

He’s right.

It’s not like me to overthink things like this.

When did I start thinking like that? Why?

I normally just take things as they come and adapt to them… is it because of what’s at stake that I changed that?

Why should I change?

The faintest hint of a smirk stretches across my face.

Right.

There’s no need to worry about this before. Since when did I care about going in when I’m perfectly ready?

Allen complains about my recklessness for a reason after all.

No reason to stop now.

I let out a genuine chuckle at that before focusing fully on Tar as the guy looks rather amused, no doubt at my thoughts.

“There’s the Scarlet we all know and love,” Tar comments. Then his amusement cranks up a notch and he adds, “And the Scarlet who is now being worshipped as a goddess across over a hundred worlds.”

That has my eyes widening into saucers as I shout, “What?!”

He bursts out into laughter at that, making me scowl at him. But despite this, I can’t help but feel nostalgic. Since I haven’t spoken to him for so long.

Eventually I find myself smiling at him, and he smiles back.

It’s nice to have you back, bud.

“It’s nice to be back,” he comments before casually pointing above his head. “By the way, did you notice the change?”

The… change…

I didn’t notice it before, but there’s a crown over his head.

A… crown…

“All hail King Tarankar,” he says, smirking at me with a look that makes the crown look ridiculous on him.

My smile grows wider.

Congratulations on winning the Fae Tournament, Tar.