The Adventures of Rose Hood

“You can tell us, what does it mean?”

“Kala is not good.”

What? A contingency like that was made? That means that Purity figured out my goal earlier than my awakening. But I can play it off.

“What do you mean?”

“Rose suspected that she wouldn’t be the same after awakening, then she said that in her memories, she found something that she wasn’t sure what it meant, but then she set up the code phrase. We were to tell it if she tried to silence us.”

Everyone looked at me as they realized.

Silas struck, but he was too slow.

But Celios wasn’t.

_

Rose, no Kala’s head burst as Celios blocked her attack from reaching Silas.

She went flying into the wall before falling on the ground limp.

“That was a close one.”

“Celios? I thought you served her.”

“Nope, I serve Rose, who gave me one command.”

“What was that?”

“Protect you all. I already failed once. I’m not failing again.”

Kala stood up and her head slowly began to reform.

“You... insolent... brat... What are you doing?”

“Defending them.”

“You are forsaken, I can defeat you easily.”

“You’re right. I am, but I owe Rose my life. I gave her every right to kill me, but she curbed her anger and spared me.”

“What?”

“She never used domination.”

Kala’s eyes widened. And I couldn’t help but smile. I knew Rose would never take a slave.

“So, Kala, right? Let Rose out.”

“So... Was this your plan? You are smart.”

She seemed to talk to no one.

“Who are you talking to?”

"I mean, I ripped apart the system, but you still managed to not only reveal me, but unify them too. And when I was so close to getting Dallel where I wanted him.”

“WHO-”

Celios held an arm in front of Jalad.

“It’s incredible, even a contingency in place. If only you would actually merge with me. Then I would stop. No matter... it’s too late now. Rose, enjoy watching those you care about die because of you.”

What she said confirmed what I started thinking. Rose was independent.

“How about you die and give Rose back her body.”

Kala looked at me amused.

“If I die, Rose does too. I am her and she is me. She’s just being stubborn right now.”

“Eh, then let her out so she can forcefully merge you.”

Everyone looked at me in a measure of shock. I just sassed a literal god.

She laughed, and I saw an opening that only me and Celios saw. Her eyes were focused on Celios again, as if daring him to attack.

So, I did the natural thing and got an arrow lodged in her throat.

She coughed and spat out blood.

“Did... you just shoot me? Even though I look like this?”

The others also looked at me in shock.

“When I think of the level of torture you are putting Rose in, I stop worrying about scarring you.”

“Besides, you’re a god.”

She turned quickly, realizing Celios was not where he was supposed to be.

“You won’t die.”

She got kicked in the gut, causing her to crash into the bar.

She got up, snarled and launched at me and Celios.

We fought hard and in perfect synchronization. Almost as though we had done this dance for 50 years.

Kala struck at Celios, and I’d jump over and land an arrow, quickly followed by a blade.

“How are you that strong?!”

“When Rose beat me in the tournament, I realized that I was weak. To get stronger, I battled S ranks. They taught me. I specialized my technique to be able to take down one powerful target.”

Kala slashed, but I cut off her hand, causing her to screech.

Jalad, realizing what to do, charged in, cutting her side.

Kala was in terrible condition, and she staggered, barely able to stand. Then she looked up and it was as though her face had melted as she smiled. Her eyes were gone, and her mouth was in a massive toothless smile.

Then came her aura. It was no longer the rightness. It was fear, pure and unbridled, but I didn’t care.

Celios and Jalad both stumbled, but I was merely more infuriated.

“You are a liar. What is your true title?”

“I am the god of lies.”

She leapt, but I was fast enough. I blocked, and she merely kept mutating as she attacked in order to kill me. All kindness was a falsehood.

“You are cruel.”

Kala stood almost haggard, and her body seemed to be peeling. Inside was another face. It looked like a teenager.

“What is that?”

Even Celios was confused.

As her armor broke off with the skin, she was in some kind of uniform. But there was something that stuck out more than her horrific no-eyed smile.

“A knife wound?”

“No... no no no... Not now. Reform.”

Then the frame of Rose began to cover Kala’s form again.

I struck quickly, and this time, it had no effect.

My blade fell straight through, and I nearly fell.

Then Rose’s body fully reformed, body and all, but the smile was gone, and her face had returned to normal.

“You weren’t supposed to see that.”

She was in a rage, then I realized something.

“That was a human.”

She froze.

“Kala... are you... human?”

She shook and then slapped herself before turning angrily.

“No, I’m not a pathetic weakling like that.”

She struck, but then Celios said something that caused her to freeze again.

“You told us to never investigate other worlds. How did you know they were dangerous?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Reincarnation...”

“You don’t know anything, so stop trying to!”

She attacked, but her movements were slightly slower. I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. We thought of her as a monster, or an unkillable god, but she was just a human child given a lot of power.

“I don’t care about your sympathy.”

She sped up, and then the smile returned.

“I was vulnerable for one moment, and you think that will be enough to stop me?”

“What?”

“I was merely embarrassed that you saw my former weakness.”

I realized then that she was a child, but she was also terrifying, but my response was too slow.

“Hah.”

Her arm was in my stomach.

“Well... that sucks...”

I fell back, and I saw Kala flee quickly before Celios could attack again. My mind went dark.

“Call Elren!!!”

That was the last thing I heard.