Book 4: Chapter 91: Arrival and Challenge

Book 4: Chapter 91: Arrival and Challenge

The In-Between

This meeting is now over, King Oberon declares as he and every last one of the princes and princesses of the fae float in the In-Between, in the Void, right in front of a large breach where void creatures are starting to make their way out and into the void. But as they are merely the bottom feeders of the void creatures, they avoid the group of Royal Fae without hesitation.

Tar feels anxious as he awaits the final words his father gives, wanting more than nothing to return to check on the war between the demons and the humans, since the last time he checked, the humans were losing badly.

A couple seconds pass as the Fae King looks over the royals before he states, Make sure to inform all of your contracted partners of this news. You are now dismissed.

Without any hesitation, Tar immediately returns to Earth where he was before his father called for the fae royals. And what he finds is a wasteland in the place of Republics Military Headquarters, with the Knights all defeated and Satan fighting to get to the Red Knight, who is being protected by crimson lightning. Crimson lightning that Tar cant figure out the source of.

Tar bounces back and forth in the air, wishing he could help somehow. But he knows that if he were to get too close to the battle, even if Satan noticed him before his magic vaporized Tar, all Satan would likely do is send Tar to the demons for his own safety.

He wouldnt stop the fighting.

Please wake up soon Scarlet!

Ever since she entered her coma, Tar has felt lost. And if it werent for Amelia asking Tar if he wanted to go with her while waiting for Scarlet to wake up, he probably wouldve still been at her bedside, lost in his own weakness. Weakness that allowed his contracted partner to get hurt so badly her own soul was almost ripped apart.

His own failure to get past the lunatics barrier and contact the Demon King sooner.

Tar continues watching the battle, hoping against hope that something might save the Knights. That something might save the humans before the demons fully win the war.

Hes already felt his contract with Scarlet weakening over the past year thanks to the reality damage she took, even if its still holding on and merely needs a bit of her mana given to him willingly to repair. And now he has to sit by and watch as what shes been fighting for, for a long time now comes crashing down while she herself isnt even capable of helping.

Tar feels tears beginning to form in his eyes. Something he didnt even realize was possible.

Then Satans face takes a turn as he sighs at the same time that Scarlet deactivates her transformation and returns to her human form, somehow floating up into the air to a point several meters away from Satan at the same elevation. And Satan mutters, Guess I have no choice.

Tar frowns at his words, only for Scarlet to speak, Did you have fun playing around during my nap?

And Tar can truly feel the anger behind her words. Anger hes never heard from her before. Not at this degree.

To Tars surprise, Satan just looks up into the sky with something akin to resignation, then he looks at Scarlet again and says, His Majesty suspected something like this might happen.

Oh? Scarlet utters, clenching and unclenching her claws slightly in the process as if having difficulty controlling her anger. And what did dear old Grandpa say about this?

Tars eyes widen in surprise at Scarlets usage of the word Grandpa instead of her usual Gramps.

Oh shes hella pissed.

If the Princess awakens and arrives before the moon falls and the last drop of blood is shed, she is bound to be a lot stronger than she was before her coma, Satan says as if he were quoting the Demon King. So you are you give her a test of your own making. And should she pass this test, Satans eyes narrow. You are to withdraw all forces back for the time being and not strike again until one month after the assault.

Silence fills the area as shock spreads to every last person in the devastated lands. Even Scarlet shows extreme shock at the order.

The silence is eventually broken when Satan states, no longer quoting the Demon King, And I have a test prepared just for you should you wish to challenge it. His eyes narrow. But know this. Should you challenge my test, I will not save you even if you are to die as is the oni way.

Scarlet stares at him for several seconds before asking, The test?

Satan grins and spreads both of his arms out as he raises his voice, his words echoing all throughout the continent, throughout the warzones, Scarlet Art Asger de Archeron, should you manage to defeat a Class V demon whose exact level is of your own choosing, then the demon forces will withdraw and not attack the humans even if a Fracture appears on Earth for the period of one month!!! His grin grows wider and he narrows his eyes. Do you accept?!

No one says a single word for nearly ten seconds before, to Tars and Amelias horror, and even Satans own horror, Scarlet opens her mouth and answers, I accept.The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.