Chapter 74 - The Merchant

Match's Perspective

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[You have mastered the [Blue Fire]- You can summon azure flames, which is more efficient combustion. This blaze would devour anything in its way. But do be careful when using this spell, especially when you are not versed in proficiently using your arcane.]

My system warned about the terrors that my abilities might bring to my body. It was the first time that my notification communicated with me. However, those things were not prominent for me right now.

I did not know what these details meant for me, but I needed to save Red! And I must save her now!`

But, alas, my body's reaction failed me. It happened so fast that I could not save the girl that I trusted the most.

The bullet hit Red, which rendered her unconscious… or even worse. Right before my eyes, Red fell to the ground. I did not want to think of that outcome anymore.

Even in her death, Red raised her arms, trying to warn me about the incoming shell in my direction. She whispered something to me, but I couldn't hear it. I could only guess that she wanted to warn me about the magic spell heading towards me.

Thanks to my roaring flames, the bullet melted right away, even before hitting my skin. The metal-containing shell dripped on the ground, covering a part of the soil. My sweat came dripping afterwards, telling me that the fire was too hot for me to handle.

My eyes glowed in the darkness, consuming both the foggy air and the things approaching me. Everything known to humankind turned into ashes, including the other projectiles racing at me. The flames coated my body, enhancing my defences. After some time, the twisting fire spread to the forest, hunting for these players.

Thousands of screams echoed inside the forest, telling me that the fire came into contact with these players. Some players even revealed themselves from the hiding spots, while others became dust with no one noticing it.

I brushed those adventurers aside and locked my eyes at the player still grabbing Red's thigh. I did not want to hurl a fireball on their way, thinking that my spell might hit Red. So I planned on going there myself to rescue my friend… who I already considered as my sister.

I leapt from the ground and headed towards Red. A burst of flames left my feet, amplifying my speed to reach my destination...

As soon as I landed on the ground, the flames burned the weeds, touching my feet. Those unfortunate plants had to kiss their soil goodbye, as I schemed on killing the players right after.

"S-Spare me! P-Please!"

"..."

My nerve wanted to pop right here and now after hearing such a pitiful wail coming from the player. I lifted my arms and conjured a magic circle in front of the man. After a few seconds, a burst of flames ate him alive.

"You didn't even spare Red. Why would I spare you?" My voice sounded low as the rock-bottom.

I narrowed my eyes and turned around, looking at the other player who thought of running away. But no matter how hard that adventurer tried, the flames were already blocking his path. There was nowhere else to hide besides fighting me.

"Going somewhere?"

"B-By the order of Asimov, Warner, I will arrest you for the crimes you committed!" The soldier exclaimed, as he aimed his gun in my direction. "You have the right to remain silent, NPC. Turn around and place your hands at your back!"

'Who does he think he is? Does this player know the situation?' I thought, as I prepared my set of spells on the palm of my hand.

I was not afraid of that weapon, since my fire was superior to that thing. Since I caught the bullets from before, that was enough to tell me that these players were the inferior ones. My flames were faster than any weapon they could find here in Code.

"Asimov? So that's the name of the game creator in this world?" I murmured, and sauntered towards the soldier.

That man in front of me had a stern look on his face. He had prepared himself to die on this battlefield. But with his last breath, that player wanted to take me down with him. Since all of his troops died from the flames, going back now would deem him a coward.

I had no time to idle around and chit-chat with this adventurer. If I want to save Red, now is the time to do that. However, I had a dilemma. This person might know something about this world that Red might want to know after she wakes.

"Yes! All the soldiers outside of the game came here to hunt you! Red Riding Hood! If we eliminate the cause of this catastrophe, the world will return to its order!" The soldier shouted, and held his weapon. "You are the primary cause of the disaster happening in this world! We plan on eradicating every NPC in Code! You cannot stop us! Even if you kill me, billions of my men will hunt you do-."

I had enough listening to the man's words, so I burned him using my flames. That soldier had no time to react as the fire zoomed in on his body. But he never wailed, unlike the rest of his comrades behind. That player took everything as if it was his time.

"I hope this war stops…" Those were the last words that escaped his mouth.

The player's corpse remained to kneel on the ground, staring at me with worried eyes. He knew I was still a kid despite being an NPC in this world. That soldier was just doing her job, and I was doing mine.

The adventurer wanted to stop this war and prevent the death of millions of humans by his side. I wanted to save Red and free ourselves in Code.

My flames had a mind of their own, as it continued finding players in the woodland. None of them fled from my spell, considering the speed and power that my abilities had. However, that arcane came with a price.

I fell on the ground and laid beside Red. All the energy remaining inside my body left me. As I gazed at my arm, violent cuts and burn mark emerged on my skin. My skin wailed in pain as if I drowned myself under a boiling pot of water. The only thing that I could think of was to wipe myself on a pillar of ice. I could only hope that rubbing my face on that chilling surface would make the sting go away.

"AARGH!" I screamed as loud as my lungs could. It was the only remedy that averted my focus from the churning sensation.

The glow in my eyes faded away and deactivated my powers. Since I already defeated the players, there was no use for me to use my powers.

'I killed them,' I thought, but shook my head afterwards. There was no point in bathing myself with regret and remorse for these players who hurt Red.

And I wanted to do this. Those people did bad things to my sister… to Red. I will return their favour to them!

'Match… stay focused… or else… you'll become… unconscious… "

Fatigue finally hit me as my view changed. All I could see became blurred images of trees and the horizons above me, distorting everything I see. It was as if my eyes bathed themselves underwater, and my muscles refused to move on their own.

But I needed to stay strong and carry Red away from danger! Red needed more medical attention than me!

The wounds on my skin became worse with every passing second. The flames that I commanded earlier ate my flesh and cut deep through my skin. I couldn't find any stream close by, and I did not know any spell that could summon water. There was nothing else I could do but to grit my teeth and suck the pressure up!

'I'm a strong girl… I'm a strong girl…' I repeated, while moving closer to Red.

Upon reaching for the hooded girl, I placed my arms around her head, caressing her crazed hair. Red always did this to me earlier, especially when we were inside the inn. She would tell me stories about her and how she got her powers. But right now, she was not awake in my arms.

"Pulse… good… "

Red instructed me to find a pulse in our wrist to know if someone was still alive. I was fortunate enough to feel something vibrating inside Red's skin. However, this was as far as I could go. I rested my head on Red's chest and prayed that someone would help us.

"Red! Match!" Olivia came rushing towards us, but she was too late.

I was already losing my focus as my body forced me to sleep. The last thing I saw was a figure of a man standing in front of Red and me. He wore an obsidian hood and had scales for skin. That mysterious man revealed his face.... But my conscience had already left my body.