Book 5: Chapter 96: Power


    <strong>Scarlet</strong>


    The instant I activate Crimson Overdrive after shooting it up over a dozen levels in one go, ck and crimson energy immediately covers my fist. Yes. ck and crimson. Not just the normal crimson.


    Rather surprising.


    Then I get a bigger surprise when I m my fist into the ground and a massive crack emerges going down farther than I can see.


    I awkwardly raise my fist while standing up straight again and staring at the massive fissure I made. One that is so deep Im pretty sure I can see some red light down at the very bottom that might just beva.


    Uh.


    Oops?


    <strong>It might be for the best that you test your new strength off world, </strong>Tar suggests as we both just kinda stare rather awkwardly at the red light. A light Im pretty sure is actually growing brighter ever so slowly until I finally seeva rising. But fortunately for me, theva stops rising about halfway through the fissure. Which means I didnt break into the core of the or something. <strong>Yeah, you should just go test yourself on a nearby.</strong>


    Right. Sounds like a n.


    I quickly make my way away from the massive fissure that Im sure no one will notice before floating up into the sky. Higher and higher until I t out leave the atmosphere and continue flying through space, having to adjust mentally to not breathing again. Just like when I was hunting the void creatures before this entire tournament began.


    Except this time its easier because of Ruler of Blood. A skill thats quickly bing one of my favorites.


    Not sure which I like more at this point. Ruler of Blood or Warden of the Red gue.


    Probably the Warden of the Red gue since it lets me directly devour the realities of others, raising my level in the process.


    Anyways, I continue floating through space for a bit, making sure to keep Tartarus in my sight so as to not get lost in space. Because that would be both awkward and not good.


    Eventually I stop at a random asteroid far enough away from Tartarus before enhancing my fist as much as I can with Crimson Overdrive and then mming it straight into the asteroid while also enhancing my fist with the Red gue in it and creating a drill of blood metal over it.


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    And the instant my drill-covered fist ms into the asteroid, it cracks straight down the middle. The tens of thousands of meters long asteroid.


    Just in split in half in a single punch.


    Hmm.


    Yeah.


    Probably for the best that I avoid using my full strength on Earth from now on.


    Makes me wonder if Gramps is capable of this and possibly more, since his level is higher. And hes far older and likely has even more physical enhancement skills than I have.


    Hmm.


    I nce back towards Tartarus before shrugging to myself and turning back to face a different asteroid. Then I create a bunch of blood and wrap the entire asteroid in it before moving the thing around a little.


    This is kinda fun.


    I continue experimenting for a little bit, doing whatever I can think of. Whether thats moving the asteroids, shattering them, crushing them, devouring them with Red gue to see if it benefits me any. Which it doesnt really do much.


    After finishing up with my experiments, I begin ying around with my strength, trying to adjust it so that I get the hang of it. A process that takes me a couple of hours to do.


    Then I begin to float back, only for Tar toment, <strong>Please tell me youre not just gonna leave this mess out here to possibly crash into Tartarus one day?</strong>


    I pause before turning around and waving my hand, sending a massive wave of Red gue out to devour all of the asteroids. And without pausing, I turn back around and begin making my way back towards Tartarus again.


    <strong>Ya know, youre acting rather calm despite this immense power youve gotten over the years, </strong>Tar suddenly points out about halfway through my trip.


    That almost has me pausing in ce, but I continue moving regardless.


    Well, I guess it doesnt really matter how strong I am so long as I can deal with the Voided Overlord.


    Then I can finally make my dreame true.


    I can feel Tars surprise through our bond as he asks, <strong>Wait, you have a dream? Why havent I heard about this?</strong>


    That has me sending him a raised brow, the tanuki sitting on my shoulder like always.


    You dont know? I just want to live in peace and be able to rx.


    He stares at me for a moment and mutters, <strong>Oh. Thats not what I expected when you said you had a dream.</strong>


    I face forwards again with a shrug.


    Meh.


    Its what I want.


    A peaceful life where no one bothers me. Where I dont have to deal with idiots attacking me, with demons attacking Earth, with the universeing to an end.


    One where I can just y video games or read. Where I dont have to, well, deal with idiots at all, really.


    <strong>Hmm, </strong>Tar hums for a second before I feel his tail thumping against my back. <strong>Yeah, I guess that fits what Id expect of you.</strong>


    Yep.


    I am me after all.


    That makes him snort right as we begin reentering Tartaruss atmosphere and descending downwards towards the central continent.


    After a moment of silence, I mutter out loud, Ya know, Tar?


    <strong>Yeah? </strong>he asks while ncing at me from my shoulder.


    Im d I met you, I tell him with a smile on my face.


    He just smiles back.


    Then a peaceful silence falls between the two of us as we both slowly descend towards the ground.


    Only to find Gramps standing in front of his castle staring up at us while tapping his foot with a frown on his face.


    Uh, he doesnt look happy.


    <strong>Ya think? </strong>Tar asks, his voice echoing in my head.


    You think its because of the fissure?


    <strong>Probably, </strong>Tar answers with a nod.


    Then any chance I can act like I have no idea who or what caused it?


    <strong>Nope, </strong>he says without any hesitation.


    Well, shit.