Chapter 361: All For This Moment

With the last effects of the sleeping serum dispersing, Scarlett was finally able to get a better grasp on her surroundings.

Unlike the mesmerizing sky she had gotten used to on the surface of Earth, she now found uneven ground surrounding her, like in the middle of a dome. Colossal artificial lights installed along the ceiling ensured the keeping of the day and night cycle in the underground colony.

Her nose twitched, sensing the toxins in the air. Had Scarlett been a mortal rather than a cultivator, her body would have started to deteriorate by the harmful particles in the air. Though sadly, being an Early Expert meant she was able to sense the disgusting stench that plagued the whole place with unwelcome clarity.

Her condition appeared stable, with no internal or outer injuries, while her attire looked whole and untouched. Whoever had abducted her, at the very least, hadn’t done her harm until now.

Finally, her eyes settled on the girl who gripped her hand and led her amidst the vast city in a desperate sprint.

Scarlett and the girl appeared to be of the same 165-centimeter stature. The similarities ended there. The girl had long and silky blonde hair. While Scarlett’s eyes gleamed in emerald light, the girl that led her bore blazing crimson eyes.

’It’s like the eyes Brother has when he is angry or about to fight.’ Scarlett thought inwardly.

Even if Scarlett could be considered a sheltered soul, not having spent her days in constant battle for survival, she still possessed utmost intellect.

Her savior, if she were to call the girl that led her that, was of the same age as her.

“What is your name?” Scarlett asked, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any kind of danger.

There was a long pause. The girl considered the point of even sharing her name before she answered.

“Charlotte.” Her voice was exhausted, running with everything she got, while making sure they weren’t followed took a great toll on her body.

Scarlett nodded. One of the core lessons she had absorbed from Michael was to always be inwardly suspicious and expect the worst.

Understanding where she was and if Charlotte had her best interest in mind were crucial for survival. It would do no good if she were to be led into a trap.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Scarlett’s tone was uneasy.

Taking a deep breath, Charlotte’s eyes darkened.

“Alright… but you should know, I wasn’t there from the start. From what I saw, it looked like you were being dragged off by two women. They didn’t seem to know how to handle themselves down in the underground city, and before long, a local gang went after them. At first, I was tempted to step in for my own gain… maybe make a profit somehow.”

She paused briefly.

“Somehow, though… I noticed you. I don’t usually take risks like that, but this time I did. I woke you up and got you out of there.”

Charlotte caught the suspicion in Scarlett’s eyes.

“Looking at your fancy clothes, beautiful face, and sparkling eyes, you must be one from above… You might not know, but here there are a lot of… disgusting men. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I let a young girl like you be taken advantage of by one of them, so I acted before thinking.”

A dry chuckle escaped Charlotte’s lips.

“Though I have a lingering feeling I will come to regret it.”

Scarlett frowned. “We are the same age. Why are you calling me a young girl—”

Before she could finish the sentence, several figures came out of hiding from the overflowing garbage containers. All of them were male, with slightly malnourished builds, all carrying daggers and excited grins.

“Ah, little Charlotte, fate must be on my side today for us to encounter each other.” The man at the front line mocked. “Mister Maverick would love to have an intimate chat with you… and that beautiful little lady with you is invited as well.”

Charlotte hissed. “Shit, I just had to run into the Black Vultures, today of all days!”

Her grip tightened, leading Scarlett to the side.

“Run faster! We will take a detour!”

Laughing, the men followed them eagerly.

“You might run, but you can’t hide little girls!”

Scarlett’s mind raced. Underground city, gangs, abduction, Charlotte helping her. Too many things were happening to make sense of it all.

’From the way I see it, Charlotte saved me and is now running from the Black Vultures gang. She could have abandoned me to fend for myself but didn’t, despite putting herself in more danger.’

Scarlett’s eyes sharpened. ’I can trust her at the very least.’

Usually in such a dire situation she would have called Michael, if not for help, at least for advice. Yet the communication device on her wrist was missing. Most likely her abductor had forced it off to minimize the chances of being tracked.

Scarlett was alone in an unfamiliar world.

The two continued to run along the narrow alley with the men hot on their tail.

“I have to make it out.” Charlotte murmured. “I can’t leave Betty alone.”

Just as the end of the alley came into view… And with it, the hope of shaking their pursuers, several more figures stepped out to block their path.

“We were set up!” Charlotte realized. The men pursuing them had purposely led them to their other group.

Before Charlotte could react, one of the men extended his hands and gripped her throat forcefully.

“Go to sleep now.” The man said with a grin. “Don’t worry. When you wake up, you’ll learn exactly what happens to anyone who tries to cheat Maverick out of his money.”

Gah!

Charlotte’s vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. Her mouth hung open, but no air would come. As her strength quickly faded, she forced her gaze toward Scarlett, who stood frozen in shock.

“F—fool… run…” Charlotte barely managed to whisper.

The men’s attention shifted instantly.

“She’s a bit young, but with a face and figure like that, no one will complain. Take her! She’ll sell well!”

Suddenly, everything around Scarlett slowed to a crawl.

’It’s happening again…’

The pursuers finally managed to catch up from behind, surrounding her from all sides. Charlotte’s crimson eyes dimmed as consciousness slipped away.

’Not again…’

What was a sheltered girl like Scarlett supposed to do? All of these men were armed, every single one having her worst intentions in mind.

’I don’t want to be a burden.’

Hadn’t she endured Devil’s merciless training for this exact reason?

’I am not a burden.’

Hadn’t she promised herself she would never hold her brother back again? That she would stand at his side, rather than remain hidden in his colossal shadow?

What was wrong with her? Why was she hesitating?

Doubt stirred deep within her, knowing that if she acted now, there would be no turning back.

The fine line between a normal person clinging to hope for redemption… and a true warrior.

“IT WASN’T FOR NOTHING!” Scarlett bellowed in fury. Pure adrenaline taking over her senses.

Suddenly, the men froze. Scarlett vanished from their line of sight, only to reappear behind one of them. Her legs wrapped around his chest, her hands gripping his head.

“She’s a cultivator!” Someone shouted.

Crack

Twisting his head a full 180 degrees, she snapped his neck, ending his life in an instant. In the same breath, she seized the dagger he had dropped before it hit the ground.

“I AM NOT A BURDEN!”

Gripping the weapon with such intensity she broke the handle, she moved at staggering speed.

In a silent motion, she drove the dagger into the neck of another, her free hand taking another dagger.

“Disperse!” One of the men shouted far too late.

Abandoning all hesitation, she double-wielded the daggers.

The head of the first man was pierced, the heart of the second impaled, the third had both daggers driven into his eye sockets, the fourth found all his arteries slashed, dying from blood loss, the fifth was gutted from top to bottom, and the sixth had his spine severed.

Coughing violently, Charlotte’s vision cleared. Her eyes fell on Scarlett, surrounded by the unmoving corpses of the men, her hands trembling and tears streaming down her face.

“I… I killed them all.” She whispered to herself, the weight of taking a life for the first time pressing down on her.

“W—Would my brother approve?” She murmured, biting her lower lip. “Or… would he grow to hate me?”

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