Scarlet

The third book really isn’t much use in the end. All it does is go over the specific differences in how the laws apply to a human compared to a Guardian. But I do feel like it could be something that might be tested over in a class, so I make sure to read it all anyways.

By the time I finish reading it and look out the window, I realize that it’s already the afternoon, and my stomach is growling rather loudly. So I grab the three books and head off to turn them back in before going to the cafeteria and grabbing some food.

Several minutes into my meal though, I hear someone approaching my table. And when I look up, I find it to be Sylver who doesn’t seem to be all that happy.

“I’ve been looking for you for hours now,” he states, irritation clear in his tone. “Where have you been?”

I stare at him for a few seconds before answering, “I was reading up on Guardian Law in the library.”

That seems to surprise him for a second, following which he lets out a sigh. “The library. Of course.”

“So, why did you need me?” I ask before digging into my food again, occasionally glancing at him in the process.

He watches me eat with an incredulous look on his face as he says, “Your father told me to train you today since he couldn’t make the time to do it.”

I finish chewing the food I’m eating right now and mutter, “Oh.”

Sylver watches me eat for a few more seconds then sighs and sits down at the table. “I’ll just wait for you to finish eating then.”

Cool.

In hindsight I should’ve expected Allen to be too busy to train me and teach me on a daily basis. He is after all the CEO of one of the most successful companies in the world, and the leader of a powerful Association. Which comes with a lot of responsibilities.

“You’re not even going to comment on his calling Allen your father this time?” Tar asks out of curiosity.

No point. Everyone just keeps doing it anyways since it’s clear that Allen thinks of me that way. And while I do view him as a father, there are reasons why I can’t admit to it out loud. At least not until I’m strong enough that my orphan status doesn’t matter.

So why bother correcting it every time?

It’d just get old fast.

The tanuki doesn’t say anything in response to that.

Time passes and soon enough, Sylver looks incredibly bored. That is, until right before I finish eating, when a shattering sound resonates throughout the city and the air itself becomes tainted red.

Practically everyone shoots to their feet as a siren then begins echoing across the city, marking the beginning of another Demonic Assault.

“Everyone, begin preparations for the Assault as you wait for your assigned Fractures,” Sage’s voice echoes from the intercom, just as emotionless as always. “They will be sent to you through your terminals shortly.”

The intercom beeps as it’s shut off, leaving me frowning at the mention of a terminal.

“You haven’t gotten yours yet,” Sylver says as he taps the thing on over the forearm of his clothes. Then he reaches up and taps on the amulet he’s wearing, making it transform into a full body magi-tech suit. “Your orders should be going through my terminal as well.”

As if summoned by his words, his terminal flashes and Sage’s voice echoes out of it, “Sylver and Scarlet, you are both to head to The Ancient Dragon 5 Star Hotel to deal with the Class I Fracture there.”

Sylver immediately begins grimacing, likely at being stuck ‘babysitting’ again. But this time it goes away as he turns to me with a blank expression and says, “Well, let’s go.”

I make a sour face at the thought of riding on a hover cycle with him again.

I’m left gawking for a second in front of the massive building that is apparently a five star hotel after we make it to the Fracture. The thing stands at what must be a hundred floors with a giant dragon snaking up the building in what I believe is the old world Eastern style of dragon? The one that looks more like a snake with wings than a dragon. A big snake with wings.

“Snap out of it,” Sylver says, breaking me from my stupor to find him dismissing the hover cycle and walking over to the building’s grand looking entrance. “Sage says that the core we’ve detected in the building is on the rooftop penthouse, where the building was apparently hosting a massive party. And the building itself is giving off Class I signals.”

I quickly follow after him to the entrance as he continues talking, “This time I’ll be leaving you to clear your way past each floor upwards as I skip through the stairs to the higher levels. Unlike the last Fracture, the majority of the people are on the top floors of the building, so the rest of the floors should have a much lower chance of casualties.”

Without hesitating, we both pass straight through the active shield into the hotel, following which he makes a break past the demons in the entry hall to head towards the stairs. Meanwhile I take a second to focus on the demons themselves.

|Demon Spawn – Subspecies: Panther – Level 2|

|Demon Spawn – Subspecies: Panther – Level 3|

|Demon Spawn – Subspecies: Panther – Level 2|

|Demon Spawn – Subspecies: Panther – Level 4|

|Demon Spawn – Subspecies: Panther – Level 4|

There aren’t any hounds on the floor, with the only type of demon here being panthers. And they’re all quite weak in terms of level compared to the last demons I faced.

The panther spawn themselves are honestly a little similar looking to the hounds. But as panthers instead of hounds. They have black fur with streaks of red going through the black, along with glowing red eyes that honestly remind me a little of my own eyes.

Without wasting any time, I immediately use blood boil on half of them, drawing their attention to me as that half begins whimpering and falling to the ground with small bubbles of crimson blood popping on their skin, soaking their fur in the process and painting the black parts crimson. After that, I activate my claws on both hands and rush in, focusing hard in order to use the new combat moves Sylver and Allen taught me on the creatures before I eventually move on to demons that can actually prove more of a challenge.