Book 5: Chapter 43: A Long Road


    <strong>Scarlet</strong>


    <strong>Starting at the highest leveled Competitor, we have the Blood Cmity, also known as the Blood Lord, Leonidas Val Art de Archeron!!! The Royal Prince of the Demons of Tartarus and the second highest level being on Tartarus and Earth! </strong>King Oberon deres right as all of the light in the stadium vanishes before Leonidass tower begins to rise into the air a bit, a crimson light shining from the top of the tower where Leonidas is. And the demons in the stadium immediately go wild at the sight of him calmly waving back at them.<strong> And we have his partner, the First Princess of the Fae, ra, floating next to him!</strong>


    Now that he mentions it, I find Leonidass fae floating next to him.


    That aside though, I cant help but send an odd look towards King Oberon. Then I turn that odd look onto Tar.


    <strong>He may be quiet and stoic most of the time, but he really does like dramatics, </strong>Tar answers my unasked question. <strong>And hes been waiting for this tournament for over a century.</strong>


    Wait, is he in that big a rush to abdicate the throne?


    Tar nods, <strong>Yeah, apparently the throne takes a toll after centuries of being King.</strong>


    Interesting


    I turn my gaze back up as King Oberon introduces the next one.


    <strong>Up next we have the newly reached third highest level individual within the System, the Lord of Hellfire who has just recently awoken from his little rampage on Tartarus, Vorgrim ckthorn of the ck me!! </strong>King Oberon deres, making me blink for a moment before I realize that he probably shot up in levels thanks to his rampage. And right as the King is announcing Vorgrim, the light around Leonidas and his tower dim down while he lowers back to our level again with Vorgrims tower recing his own in height and brightness. <strong>And we have his partner, the Second Princess of the Fae, Ruby, floating by him!</strong>


    I turn around to look for Xyvandra, only for him to begin announcing the next one, surprising me in the process with who is the fourth highest level. Them having skipped the second highest level since The Reaper isnt here.


    <strong>Our fourth highest level individual within the System, the most powerful human being in existence also known by the Titles of the White Knight of Humanity and the Bane of Magic, we have Amelia Asger!!! </strong>The King shouts with excitement, making all of the humans in the crowd go wild. But I cant help but feel surprised by her passing one of the Demon Lords in level. <strong>And wee her fae partner, the Third Prince of the Fae, Sylvanus, floating next to her!</strong>


    I nce at Tar, but he just shakes his head, apparently not having known about Amelias rise in level either.


    Interesting.


    That along with her second Title-Bearing Mythic skill is a major boon for her battling capabilities.


    I cant help but wonder if her and Leonidas might end up shing at some point in the tournament.


    <strong>That would be a sight to see, </strong>Tarments, making me nod my head in agreement.


    Also, I know you said a while back, but what exactly can someone do with a faes name? Im kind of curious since your father isnt saying any of your full names in his introductions. Just your first names.


    Tarnds on my shoulder again as he answers, <strong>Since were entirely spiritual beings, bordering on informational beings, our name is our life. If we tell someone our full name, were basically telling them that well be with them forever. Because if they wanted, they could use that name to force a contract of any type they wish with the fae.</strong>


    I turn to stare at Tar as if hed grown two heads.


    And yet you told me your full name when we first met.


    He doesnt say anything in response as his father keeps introducing people, including Xyvandra and the other Knights followed by some ss V demons. Almost all of whom have fae princesses contracted to them, reminding me about the fact that there are only eight princess amongst the forty-eight siblings.


    After several announcements of time, I eventually smile and begin petting Tar while messing with my Red gue armor, shifting it around a bit to something else. Something that is made a lot better than someplicated set of armor, making it a lot easier for me to make.


    Lets go back to my origins a bit.


    Tar nces at me while sending inquisitive thoughts my way. But those thoughts turn amused when he sees what I turn my armor into.


    As if on cue, my tower begins to rise and a crimson light shines on me, revealing my new outfit.


    One that matches the original clothes that I was wearing when I first became a Guardian.


    A ck and red jacket over a ck shirt and ck pants.


    Although the clothes have a slightly crimson tint to them since its, well, made of blood.


    I put one of my hands in my jacket pocket, smirk, and raise the other hand while shapeshifting my arm into that of a beast. And as soon as I do that, the crowd goes absolutely wild. Both the humans <em>and </em>the demons, making me the only one to get apuse from both sides.


    <strong>And the one I know many of you have been waiting for, the eleventh highest level being out of thosepeting in thispetition, the one who has skyrocketed through the levels over the years from a basic mortal all the way to her current position in just a few years, </strong>King Oberon goes on amongst the roaring crowd as Gramps grins at his side. And I see Leonidas and Amelia smiling with pride as well, along with, after some difficult searching, my adoptive family in the stadium grinning broadly and cheering. <strong>The Apex Predator of the beasts, the Bane of Corruption who sessfully ended the multi-century curse on the demons, and the Warden of the Red gue, the most dangerous corruption in existence, I wee Scarlet Art Asger de Archeron to the Fae Crowns Tournament! And I wee her fae partner, the Eleventh Prince of the Fae, Tarankar, alongside her!</strong>


    The roaring in the crowd grows even louder, and even after my tower begins to lower again, the crowd just wont stop.


    And neither will the smile on my face.


    It really has been a long road, hasnt it?


    <strong>That it has, </strong>Tar mutters. <strong>That it has.</strong>