The beginning after the end part 2

Scarlet is standing calmly but ominously.

Two snakes comes out from the woods, in which she captures with her grip. She then pulls it inward revealing an assassin mage who controls these snakes, who gets tugged into her direction.

"Damn it!" The assassin can't help but groan after Scarlet with her sharp fingernails one quick motion across the neck, slash his head off.

I can't believe she even took out Staviel easily, the green skull assassin. An A-class assassin and an irreplacable member of my guild.

Damn it, I underestimated her!

Afterward, a magically enhanced spear is shot out to Scarlet like a bullet.

Scarlet manage to sense it in time. She whirls and grabs it, but she is pushed backward from the momentum, she plants her feet on the ground until she stops.

Three S-class bounty hunters appear. These one are my top brass members. Karna, the Vile Venom, she is a unique variant of the lizard-snake man hybrid. She has the body and face of a lizard with black dishiveled hair.

Another one is, Heriott, the Grim Twister, an assassin fitting to assassinate people with monster like strength. He is wearing a tattered black robe with a skull helmet. He looks like he is crawling as he is holding a scythe.

The confident blond middle-aged man in between is Darg, the black star. He is often know for shooting his spear lethally like a shooting star.

The three of them are my trump card. Sending them here means, I'm serious in taking her down.

Darg raises his hand and summon an iron spear from thin air. "Scarlet Queen, huh? I have a thing for strong women, but too bad that you are my enemy."

Heriott's voice is creepy but low. "You are all giving her too much credit. Even I will be enough to take her down."

Karna cackles, "I agree. This will end quick." She jumps into the ground and digs down, then disappears.

Seeing Scarlet, she is calm. Regardless, she looked over her shoulder and leap just in time when a giant python comes out from the ground with its jaws wide.

Karna can turn into the Empress Python where her jaws can crush even the toughest monsters like nothing. If Scarlet got caught, she would be done for.

While Scarlet is distracted, Herriott leaps towards Scarlet with his scythe ready and swings it hard upon her, causing her to get blown away.

Scarlet falls quick but does a roll in mid-air to slow her fall and then land on her feet.

Herriott seems impressed. "Your quite tough aren't you? I intended to cut your neck but you used your arm to block my weapon just in the nick of time. You're not Scarlet for nothing."

Regardless, only a bleeding gash was left on her wrist. Even if she is tough, she is done few minutes later. That's because Herriott has a special ability that no one up to now has survived. It's the ultimate curse that will kill anyone.

Darg then shoots a spear at her in immense speed in which Scarlet moves her head sideways to dodge it.

Even though it missed, Darg is seen grinning. From where the spear went, it bounced back once it hit a tree but faster and lunge into her back. She moaned crouching after the hit.

"Once you are in my sights Scarlet, you are good as dead" Darg says.

Darg's rare spear the Thunder Fang can bounce on any object except conscious person, and the more it bounces the faster it gets.

Herriot jumps quick without giving Scarlet the chance to rest. He slashes her stomach area but manages to flinch in time just causing a shallow cut.

The spear from Scarlet's back return to Darg telekinetically. He then throws it again fast.

Scarlet grabs a rock and throws it to the spear and after hitting it, the spear changes its trajectory, moving slightly to the side and that's where Karna appears where she gets pierced through her eyes and through her python skull. She shrieks and falls down bleeding.

Darg sighs in dismay but he is nonchalant after seeing his comrade die. "Fuck, I guess I screwed up."

Herriot warns him. "Idiot, to your left!"

In a quick reflex, Darg performs a round house quick to his left. Scarlet appears before him only to get hit on the gut causing her to get blown away.

Darg sighs in relief. "Thanks for that Herriot. I'll buy you a beer after this."

Darg cracks his knuckles as he approaches Scarlet who is trying to stand. "You almost got me there Scarlet, but not this time. In the guild I'm the best there is on close quarters combat. I can do so much more than throw my spear." He runs towards her as he poses, ready to punch.

I seem to understand Darg's plan. He is planning to distract her while the spear is on its way to hit her from behind. The spear must have already bounced a lot of time to gain a quick mounstrous speed.

When Darg takes a step and is about to punch her, he noticed his foot is stuck. He looks confused as he looks at his boot. The soles of his boots had blood on it. It's not his but Scarlet's. Its acting as a tough glue to the ground preventing him to take a step.

It got there when Darg kicked her on her stomach which had a wound from Herriot from before.

How shrewd of her.

Scarlet leaps up as the spear returns and pierces across Darg's chest, leaving a messy hole. He then drops on the ground to deliver a pool of blood.

Herriot appears before her, and swings his scythe, Scarlet tries to deflect his weapon by grabbing unto it but fails to do so and ends up getting her three fingers sliced off.

Herriot lands from a safe distance while Scarlet is still silent and calm.

"To think you even got Darg. Well, he was a fool. But this is the end."

Scarlet is experienced and skilled, however this is the end of the line for her. Herriott's special cursed ability, the Endless Torment, is a skill in which after having his scythe taste the blood of his enemy three times, he can summon the Tormentous Soul.

Herriot has now met all the condition since he slashed Scarlet three times.

All he has to do is to summon the Tormentous Soul. It is an immortal and powerful undead that can only be seen by its target. It will keep on following its target until its life is taken. Its the actual grim reaper in this world!

Herriot cackles as he removes his skull helmet, revealing a burnt face. He licks the blood off his scythe, and laughs hard like a mad man. "Kekeke!"

That is the final condition to summon the Tormentous soul.

Dark and ominous mana is seen getting denser around him. Looks like this will be Scarlet's end.

Regardless, Scarlet is silent and stands without worries.

Just when the Tormentous Soul is about to get summoned, Herriot begins to groan and cough hard. He tries to scratch his neck as though something is stuck in his throat. He then barfs blood as his eyes widens, finally, he falls to the ground.

I'm left speechless seeing Herriot to die pathetically.

No way, why didn't I realize it sooner? The blood that he licked was under Scarlet's control. She can manipulate her blood's properties seeing she can use it as a glue. So Herriott died when Scarlet transmuted her blood to become something lethal.

"Scarlet! Who the hell are you!"

She sighs deep. "I- I don't even know myself." She glares at me through her hood. "But, I will be taking your members hiding behind those woods as well."

I grit my teeth from anger. "Curse you!"

I speak my chant as I perform a two finger kujikiri handsign.

[Target:

Scarlet??

HP: ???

Level: ???

System:???]

I can't check her level, which means she is higher than mine. However, I get taken aback when I noticed she has a system.

A classmate?

She appears right before me, and then we exchange gazes in a split second. I grin widely as I stare at her. "I didn't expect you were my number one troublemaker... Myla!"

She claws me causing my body to crumble.

Thankfully, that body was just a dummy where I put my soul into using [Soul Dispersion] with my [Night Exorcist] System.

My real body is here in the dark chambers of the headquarters of the Underworld Guild, well, I'm the head of this place after all.

Regardless, that bitch, Myla is alive and she has become so much powerful, huh? What did she do to reach that power? She's probably more powerful than Shira or Jonathan.

I'll kill you someday Myla! But for now, I'll ease up myself from the stress you gave me! For real, I feel like killing a dozen from my anger.

There is a knock on the door.

"You're annoying! Who is it?!" I yell angrily.

"Umm boss, you told us to bring these two brats here."

Hearing him, I feel relieved and calmed down. I sat down while relaxed. "You may enter."

Two goons approach me with girls who are tied up. They pushed them in front of me. They seem to be commoners with their shabby and dirty clothes, but they don't look bad with some dressing up.

One goon scratches his head. "Uh, are you sure about this boss? These brats are annoying. There are better selection below. I highly recommend the mature blue haired woman with big melons."

Hearing his words cause me to frown. This must be a clueless new guy. Regardless, I just felt insulted.

Another goon elbows him to the side. "Hey stupid! Be quiet."

"You two, leave us be!" I yell.

They get timid and stammer. "Ye-yes!" They then left quick.

I smile as I approach the two timid and crying girls. The older sister encroach over her younger sister as though protecting her. "Please, do anything you want to me. Just leave my sister alone."

"How old are you?"

"I-I'm 18."

I frown, afterward, I turn my gaze unto the younger sister. "How old is she?"

She tries to hide her younger sister from my sight. "She is just 9, so please, leave her be."

"That's good enough, while you, you may leave!" I speak to the older sister. I try to grab her younger sister but the older sister gasps as she does her best from not letting her go. "Please no!"

I get annoyed from her that I end up killing her mercilessly.

The younger sister cries and whose eyes become lifeless as she looks at the bloodied corpse of her sister. "M-Mia." She says with a broken voice.

I carry the younger sister who has now a blank expression, trying to comfort her as we go to give her a bath. While also, patting her. "Don't worry, everything will be alright. You will be my little princess for the night. No doubt, you will be very beautiful after this, hehe."

This world is the best since I can do whatever I want without consequences.

***

[Name: Ace

Level: 87

System Title: Rune Master]

[Ace]

A run down town in the northern east has been plundered by the Silvian Knights. Silvia, the country where we got summoned is waging war on this country, Tharlin. This small town is one of its casualties.

Lots of propagandas are against this country in which my naive classmates fell for easily. I can only sigh on them especially, the president. She is quite a fool.

In this country, dark magic is legalized thus it gets a frown with those countries who follow the Church of Light.

In my opinion, Silvia seems like the greater evil. Even though the country of Tharlin may have barbaric practices like an entertainment for a duel to the death or human slavery, Silvia has a deep hypocrisy in its roots.

Silvia still thinks its morally superior to Tharlin, thus with its narrative, they gain some support to wage war against Tharlin and steal its resources.

To be honest, I don't care about the politics. I only care about the people who gets caught up in this mess.

Right now, I'm using a bard's instrument, the lute to capture the hearts of the townsfolk survivors or at least mitigate their sadness. Some of their relatives were taken or killed after all. Their homes were burnt and destroyed.

Back in my world, I used to play in a band. I was the guitarist. But this world only has a lute instrument.

It's a bit different since pair of strings are tuned to the same pitch compared to the guitar which is only tuned in a single string.

However, with some practice I manage to even beat the most skilled bard just after a few months.

Right now, I'm singing some earth music classics to them. "...Never gonna run around and desert you... never..."

The children are listening with bright smiles even though yesterday they were sullenly in despair.

My lute has been inscribed with my [Runic Spells]. The runic spell will enhance the music of my lute, and increase its volume like a speaker. No wonder, anyone who listens to it will get engrossed into it since it sounds like a music from a music player.

After my concert, the lord of this place came to thank me. We gave some food and medicine after all to the townsfolk.

The one handing out the medicine is also my classmate, Sarah, I can't believe how much she changed now compared to before. Everyone can't help but gaze at her beauty, even I can't help it sometimes.

She has a long and smooth crimson hair that runs to her knee. She is beautiful and slim, like a model. She also hides one side of her eye giving her a mysterious but dazzling look.

[Name: Sarah

Level: 71

System Title: Witch Alchemist]

The potion she is giving is a high grade HP potion called [Superior Healing Potion]. She has been handing this out to the heavily injured but cure them very quick.

She can also brew different types of potion with her [Witch Brewery] skill. I rely on her too much, honestly, I don't know what to do without her.

I call out to her, "Sarah, how are things on your end?"

She nods gracefully, "Senior Ace, I seem to have a problem."

Sarah leads me to one boy around the age of 12. Along the way, she tells me about this boy. The boy never ate any food so she had to give him an [Encourage Potion] to alleviate his hopelessness and give him an appetite. However, its effects will be temporary, but it will give him some optimism in the mean time.

He clings on me with a desperate look. "Please help! You guys are strong right? My sisters, Mia and Thea have been taken away!"

Seeing his desperation, I pat his head and give him a warm smile. "Hey lad, why don't we start from the beginning?"

It seems his siblings were taken by some strange men that look like adventurers, after they survived the attack from the Silvian army.

"Please, you are gonna help me right?" He looks at me intently as he awaits my response.

I grin with confidence, "of course, we will find the kidnappers and return your sisters!"

Seeing the boy, his eyes now glow and he is filled with hope. However, Sarah pats my shoulder so we can talk privately.

When the boy is gone, Sarah speaks to me with concern. "Senior Ace, don't tell me--"

I nod with a sigh, "yeah, if it's not the Silvian army who took them it must be the Underworld Adventurers. That guild!"

"What are you gonna do? Those girls could no longer be alive."

"Well, I will find them with the best of my capability. For now it would be better to lie."

"Let's just pray things work out."

"I hope, but I have a bad feeling about everything. Especially, since the air is now changing."

"Ace, what do you mean?"

"Right now, the president and some of our classmates are battling what they claim as the source of all evil. However, killing him won't solve all our problems. What comes next will hard to predict."

***

[Karthus]

Right now, I got saved when someone pulled me away from the True Hero's swing. But this person is even more bad news. He is wearing a mask with a crimson robe. He is holding my neck not letting me escape from his grasp.

I recognize him, "Demon! What are you doing in this place!"

"Karthus, for you to die here is a waste. I want you to die with purpose."

"Don't tell me!"

[Leon]

Looks like another shady character has showed up. Is he Karthus' ally? It doesn't seem to be that way. But Karthus called him a demon?

Just what the hell is going on?

Kelvin stands up. He glares at the shady character as though annoyed. "Seriously? Another boss is going to appear? I bet you are not even that tough!" He grins as his eyes glows in orange.

Kelvin has a special skill that lets him determine a lot about his enemy, even if they are higher level than him. However, after Kelvin reading the stranger, shakes from despair. He falls on his knees and wets himself. "You're kidding. That person is level 400!"

Kelvin's friends runs up to him since he fainted on the spot.

As for us, we are frozen on the spot after hearing it. We can't believe it.

Level 400? That's absurd! Even the class pres is still around at level 140.

The mask man declares, "heroes, I welcome you in this new turning point of this world. This will be the new era, of blood and darkness. In fact, this is just the beginning."

A group of black robed people show up out of nowhere behind the masked man. One says, "lord Rixer, we have siezed Karthus' possessions and we did what you told us."

Judging from the voice, it's from a woman. Regardless, are they the new cult?

"What about Scarlet?" Says the masked man.

"She's now currently on the task. Now, should we kill these heroes?"

We feel disturbed after she says that. We keep our guards up, however, the masked man only responds with a laugh. "Hahaha, leave them be. We have nothing to gain from these weaklings."

Shira stands up firm with her sword ready. "What did you say?!"

The masked man glares at her, then in a split second a lethal slash runs across her chest, causing her blood to spill out.

"Keep quiet, insects!"

Huh?!

Does my eyes decieve me? The only thing he did was look at her and now she is down. What the--?!

Regardless, I ran to the president from worry. After I reach her side, I let her sleep on my arms. Its a deep cut but she can manage.

Afterward, the masked man made it clear the difference between our strengths. In his eyes, we could just be worthless ants.

We cannot help but cower in fear in his presence until they left.

Damn it! President, I promise I will become stronger just to protect you.

***

[Myla]

The wind feels cold.

It's probably how I feel after killing around a horde of the underworld guild members. Right now, their corpses have piled up into a heap. I stand on it with the last man alive begging for his life.

I quickly end his life as to put him out of his misery. I don't like seeing people in pain even if they were awful people.

A dashing man with a suit shows up from the foggy woods. He holds a black book on his arm and smiles amused. "Good job Myla."

"Don't call me by that name and If you don't need anything else, I'm taking my leave."

"Well, I'm just surprised how you changed a lot from 2 years ago when I found you."

I continue walking and ignore him. I don't want anyone to call my by that name. Maybe, my old self has already died.

Is there a chance that I can find myself again? Verni, if you were here what do you think?