DEMONIC-ANGEL

Scarlett narrowed her eyes, her gaze bouncing from one face to another in her room. "What happened?" she demanded, her tone sharp with suspicion.

Li Feng leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed as a smirk tugged at his lips. "See for yourself," he replied with an unsettling nonchalance, gesturing toward her.

Confused, Scarlett glanced down at herself. Her breath hitched. Her entire body was surrounded by a radiant red aura that pulsed like a living entity. It wasn't like the deathly dark red aura she wielded when activating her red eyes. This was different—divine yet untamed, pure but overwhelming. The glowing energy sparkled like countless fireflies dancing in the air, mesmerizing yet powerful.

"What is this…?" Scarlett whispered, her voice trembling with awe and unease. The light reflected in her wide eyes as she reached out, watching the aura swirl around her fingers like it had a mind of its own.

Without hesitation, she mentally commanded her system to open. The familiar blue interface blinked into existence, offering her a small sense of normalcy—until a notification popped up.

---

---

Scarlett froze. Her jaw tightened, and a sharp inhale escaped her lips. "What the fuck?" she exclaimed, louder than she intended, her frustration and disbelief echoing in the room.

Whenever someone tries to ascend to a higher form of being, the process isn't as simple as just gathering souls. First, they need to collect a massive amount of souls, but that's not all. They also need to be recognized by many people or creatures across the world. It doesn't matter if those people are human or of other races—what matters is that they acknowledge the person's existence and power.

The first time the people of Gwarga laid eyes on Scarlett, they could only think of one word: "Goddess."

Her presence was unlike anything they had ever seen. Her radiant beauty captivated them, leaving many enchanted without Scarlett herself even realizing it. Some were so taken by her grace and strength that they began to worship her in secret, seeing her as more than just a hero — they saw her as a savior, Who saved them from demon king.

Scarlett had already been revered in Dreadhaven, the place where her legend began. To them, she had always been a divine figure, the one who saved them in their darkest hour. But now, Gwarga too was beginning to see her in the same light.

Months ago, Scarlett's believers numbered only around 4,112 — nearly the same as the population of her village. But after the war with Lunaria and Tiathmet, everything changed. Her village grew as people sought refuge under her protection, and so did her followers. Now, her believers had soared to over 180,000.

The new believers were not just from Dreadhaven or her growing village. A significant number were from Gwarga — people who had witnessed her strength, her unwavering will, and her ability to stand tall even in the face of impossible odds. They didn't see her as a goddess of kindness and purity. No, Scarlett was something different. She was a goddess of pride and ruthlessness, a protector who wasn't afraid to use violence to achieve justice.

To the people of Gwarga, she wasn't just a savior; she was a symbol of revolution. They believed she would bring change, even if it meant cruelty to the wicked. She stood for her people, always ready to fight for what was right, even if her methods were harsh.

Of course, the so-called "justice"was a flat lie. , but that ended up turning her into "goddess of massacre."

"Why a goddess? Why not just a god? God sounds better!" Scarlett whined, crossing her arms with a pout.

Li Feng, standing nearby, sighed deeply. "

Lady Scarlett. We're in the demon realm. With only demons and monsters around, none of us ever expected to sense a divine aura. When we felt it, we thought it might be an invader or something worse, so we charged over... only to realize it was coming from you." His tone was exasperated, as though he'd just been through a long ordeal.

Scarlett exhaled heavily, running a hand through her hair. "Fine, I'll explain everything from the beginning." She launched into the story of how things escalated, how the lie of justice spiraled beyond her control, and how she ended up with this so-called "divinity."

When she finished, Baron, the towering figure with his rough voice, nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm… Lady Scarlett, this isn't bad news at all. In fact, it might be a good thing."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow at him, skeptical. "Good thing? How, exactly?"

Baron stroked his chin, his weathered face breaking into a faint smirk. "Ascension, my lady. No matter the traits one gains, becoming a deity or goddess always comes with immense power. The only difference lies in how that power is acquired."

"Different how?" Scarlett asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Well, take Lady Lunatic, for example," Baron explained. "She craved a quick and overwhelming boost in power. So, she became the Succubus Queen instead of aiming for godhood. Why? Because the power of a goddess depends on the quantity and quality of believers. The more devoted and pure the faith, the stronger the goddess. But Lady Lunatic, who only inspired fear, could only gather worship from succubi. No other race would ever kneel to her. So, choosing to become a Succubus Queen was the smarter path for her."

Scarlett's eyes narrowed slightly as she processed his words. "Hmm… You're surprisingly knowledgeable, Baron."

Baron scratched the back of his head, chuckling sheepishly. "Hahaha… This is nothing, my lady! Just common knowledge."

Li Feng crossed his arms and scoffed. "Hmph. I already knew that too. It's not that impressive."

Scarlett smirked, turning her gaze to Li Feng. "Oh, really? Then what about angels? How do they gain power?"

Li Feng straightened up, clearly trying to hide his uncertainty. "Angels? Well… it depends on the good deeds they perform. There are ranks, from no wings to four wings. But in all of history, no angel has ever ascended to the level of Archangel. As for fallen angels, no one knows how *they* gain their power."

"Hmph. That's what I'd expect from you — no real answers," Scarlett said with a smug grin.

"You—!" Cross marks seemed to appear on Li Feng's forehead as he clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. But in the end, he said nothing, leaving Scarlett to smirk triumphantly.

Semiath spoke with determination, his voice steady. "We, of course, believe in Lady Scarlett. And as our population grows, so will her power! That's why this is a good thing. We should find a way to influence other races to worship you as well."

"Hm…" Scarlett muttered, her thoughts swirling.

"The more believers I have, the more powerful I become. And if I grow stronger, so will those who've made a pact with me. This… this could be a very good thing.", Her mind raced as she considered the possibilities. But then reality set in. "The problem is both the quantity and quality of believers".

She frowned slightly. "Demons and monsters are usually loyal to their own region's demon king, while humans worship gods like the Goddess of Love or the Goddess of Beauty and Battle. Turning them into my followers won't be easy".

Deciding to put these concerns aside for now, Scarlett exhaled deeply. "This is something I'll deal with in the future. For now, I don't lack strength."

She glanced at the group before her, her Blue eye gleaming. "But isn't a divine being's aura supposed to be golden? Why is mine red? And even though it's red, it still feels divine?" she questioned, her voice calm but curious.

Xai Feng folded her arms and nodded. "That's because the red aura reflects your nature, Lady Scarlett. However, the divinity in your aura comes from the purity of the faith of those who believe in you. Their unwavering devotion has made your aura pure, even if its color is unique."

"Oh…" Scarlett's lips parted slightly as realization dawned on her. She nodded to herself. "I see now."

Her thoughts wandered again. "I already have two auras. The first, my red aura, comes from my red eye. The second, my blue aura, comes from my blue eye. And now, this third one… " She sighed inwardly. I have so much potential, but I can't seem to focus on just one thing. It's all too much at times.

Breaking out of her thoughts, Scarlett crossed her arms and smirked slightly. "Alright, enough talk. Shh, shh… I'm naked here, and I need to change," she said mockingly, raising an eyebrow.

A sly smile spread across Xai Feng's face. "Oh, you're going to change, alright. But not into your usual outfit. You'll wear this." She pulled out an elaborate set of clothes and a few shimmering pieces of jewelry, holding them up with a satisfied look.

Scarlett's expression immediately soured. Her red eyes narrowed, taking on a cat-like annoyance. "Again with the feminine clothes!" she groaned in disappointment.

"Today is the ceremony for your ascension to the throne, remember? Of course, you need to dress according to tradition," Xai Feng said firmly, stepping closer and placing the ornate outfit in Scarlett's reluctant hands.

Scarlett stared at the garments, her annoyance evident. "Hmph. Fine," she muttered under her breath, already dreading the process.

Xai Feng smiled triumphantly. "Sister Reiza will help you change." She turned and walked toward the door, waving casually as she left. "Don't take too long!"

One by one, the others followed suit, leaving the room until only Scarlett and Reiza remained.