"Why am I so stupid?! Didn't I specifically tell her to never leave my side? Why did I permit her to do so? So I don't stagnate her growth? How many more things do I need to fuck up to learn my lesson?!"

Like a bulldozer, Michael tore through everything in his path.

"Wasn't that Grandmaster Michael?!" A soldier that barely managed to catch a glance of his figure exclaimed.

"Leave him alone! If he is heading to the Overlords, he is digging his own grave, I say! Our safety takes priority."

Unwilling to aid him in his battle, every soldier, regardless of their realm, evacuated from the district with everything they had. Other Grandmasters included.

Michael didn't pay them any attention, interpreting it all as noise.

Finally he reached his destination. Scarlett had been sent to one of the many cities that, aside from military troops, housed a great number of civilians.

Though it was far-fetched to call the remains of the settlement a city. Houses lay ruined on the ground, as civilians fled without even bothering to carry their belongings.

"Soldier!" An old woman carrying a baby in her arms approached him.

"There were a few soldiers that came to our aid, but then these scary aliens appeared and—"

The spinning in Michael's head intensified. Not sparing the woman more time, he headed to the center of the slaughter.

Corpses of aliens and humans alike were scattered lifelessly on the ground.

"Where is she? Did she escape?"

Michael hoped, scanning the surroundings eagerly.

Roar!

In the midst of his search an alien of the Etrox race appeared. Despite it being merely an Elite being, it didn't shy away from charging Michael.

Swosh!

Without looking at the challenger, Michael swiftly moved behind it and placed his hand on its spine. With a firm grip, he yanked it out in one smooth motion, causing the alien to crumple to the ground, unable to support its own weight.

"Help!"

"Save my child!"

Cries of pleas resonated from the burning buildings. The moment the soldiers had learned what they were truly up against, no one had been mad enough to remain lingering in the area.

Michael being the only exception.

"She isn't here." He assured himself, hope slowly rising in his heart. "She must have evacuated! There is no other way to explain it—"

As he rounded the corner, his breath caught in his throat a moment later.

Thud!

His heart felt like it was about to leave his chest any moment.

"S—Scarlett…?"

Quietly he approached a lying woman that bore a striking resemblance to her.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

"Michael?"

As if awakened by his voice, the woman raised her gaze. Slowly a pained smile tugged at her breathtaking face.

"Can you... forgive me?" Scarlett's voice was barely above a whisper. Michael had to lean in close to catch her words.

"I... pressured you into letting me join the military. Then I only made things harder for you, forcing you to watch over me and train me... and for what? To end up like this."

"..."

Speechless, Michael moved his gaze lower. Towards Scarlett's waist, or at least to where it should have been. With the lower part of her body being torn off, a crimson puddle had begun to form beneath her.

"Stop talking." Michael ordered, taking the healing syringes he had on him and injecting her.

"It's pointless." She coughed blood. "You know better than anyone that a wound like that isn't healing."

Michael gritted his teeth, then attempted to slow down the bleeding.

"Don't worry, you will be fine. I will make sure of it." He stated, his tone void of his usual coldness.

Weakly, Scarlett put her palm on Michael's cheek.

"I killed one... a General. My teammates didn't hesitate to run when they heard that Overlords had been spotted, but I stayed behind, trying to save as many civilians as I could. That's when I ran into a General and took it down in a one-on-one fight, even though I was still just a Master."

A low giggle escaped her mouth. "I advise you to watch your back. Perhaps… You aren't the only genius in the family."

Michael frowned. "Stop talking and conserve your energy. You are two years younger than me. I forbid you to die before me, you hear?"

Nevertheless, despite his best efforts, Scarlett's eyes gradually began to dim, the last vitality leaving her body.

"Before I go, I have to know… Do you have the strength to forgive me for my selfishness?"

Michael gritted his teeth. "Forgive you? Don't be ridiculous. I am proud of you, always have been. If mother and father were here, there is no doubt in my mind that they would feel the same way."

Scarlett's eyes widened in surprise, her lips curling into a faint smile.

"I am glad." She murmured, her arm falling to the side.

"..."

"Scarlett?"

Michael gently shook her body, not getting a response in return.

"Stop pretending and open your eyes."

In spite of his denial, he knew the truth. His sister was dead.

Michael was the last member of his family.

As he stared at the body of his sister that slowly lost its warmth, the voices of the haunted civilians began to drown out in the background.

"Why am I still here on the front line when I have no reason to fight anymore?" He whispered to himself.

Just then a ragged voice, one clearly not belonging to a human, reached his ears.

"This aura… A Grandmaster remains? Not too bad. If there isn't at least a little resistance, taking over the city will not be that pleasurable."

Shifting his gaze, Michael focused on the three Overlords that had been ravaging the city up until now.

"Ah... of course, there's a reason to be here." A dark chuckle escaped his lips as he slowly rose to his feet.

When a soldier loses everything dear to their heart, there's still one thing that could drive them to keep going.

Vengeance.

"I won't rest until every last one of you is dead."

Michael proclaimed, his voice ringing out in the burning district as the three Overlords observed him with varying degrees of expressions.

Eventually one of them stepped forward, a horrendous smile spreading across its gruesome face.

"I would like to see you try."

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