Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game
Chapter 49: Ch47. RE: [World Quest] (5) - Berserk

Chapter 49: Ch47. RE: [World Quest] (5) - Berserk

Sarissa’s breathing came in deep, steady bursts as she hurled another wave of fire toward the approaching [Fallen Puppets]. The flames surged and swallowed them whole, consuming their grotesque fusion of metal and flesh in a raging inferno. Yet, even as they crumbled into charred remains, more kept coming, an endless tide of abominations clawing their way toward her.

She barely had time to wipe the sweat off her brow before lunging forward, her sword cleaving through the air with precision, a smile threatening to curl her lips upward.

[You killed a...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

Her body moved on instinct, honed by countless regressions, endless deaths, and fights she had lived through time and time again. But something was different this time.

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

The energy coursing through her veins, the unnatural swiftness of her reflexes, it felt like her mind was clearer and sharper. Even the fatigue that was slowly piling up, was accumulating far slower than usual.

A teacup. That’s what Miles had given her in the middle of battle. A strange, healing potion disguised as a very pretty and fragrant tea.

Sarissa had consumed dozens, if not hundreds of healing potions throughout her many regressions. She knew how they felt, the gradual mending of wounds, the warmth spreading through her muscles as her body knitted itself back together. She even memorized the shapes of every flask up until now.

And that teacup was no healing potion, at all.

No...

That was something else entirely.

Her wounds had sealed almost instantly, and instead of just feeling refreshed, she felt stronger, hungrier.

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled...]

She twisted midair, bringing her sword down in a devastating vertical strike, cleaving a puppet clean in half. The system notifications barely had time to register before she was already on the next target.

[You killed a Monster...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

She barely processed the notifications. They didn’t matter. Not now.

A puppet lunged at her from the left. She twisted, ducking just beneath its clawed hand before driving her sword up through its jaw, piercing straight through its skull. As it collapsed, another lashed out from behind. Without thinking, she pivoted, raised her free hand, and let her flames erupt in a violent burst.

[Mad Fire].

It had always been her greatest weapon. Unrelenting, unstoppable. It was destruction incarnate, a force that devoured everything in its path. And right now, she felt like she was the fire.

[You killed a Monster...]

[You leveled up]

Another lunge, another kill.

Sarissa’s vision blurred at the edges, not from exhaustion, but from something else. A burning sensation in her chest, a thrill she had never quite felt before. She had fought thousands of battles, and died in hundreds of ways, but this? This was different. This was carnage in its purest form, unfiltered, undiluted.

She was losing herself in it, her lips curled upward, stretching like a manic grin.

The [Fallen Puppets] were relentless, but so was she. Each kill sent more energy flooding into her, fueling her body like an endless surge of power. Her movements became faster, her flames hotter. She could feel her own strength expanding, pushing past the limits she had always known.

’Yes. Kill...’ She thought, all previous questions disappearing from her mind like nothing else mattered. ’Kill... Kill...’

[You killed a Monster...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

Another kill. Another rush. Another level.

Time felt meaningless. She was aware of nothing but the fight, the thrill of tearing through her enemies like they were nothing. She wasn’t even thinking about it anymore; her body moved on its own, cutting down every puppet that dared to approach.

[You leveled up]

Her flames raged out of control, spreading wildly around her, charring the battlefield beyond recognition. The heat was suffocating, the air thick with smoke and the scent of burning metal and flesh. But she didn’t care. She welcomed it.

[You killed a Monster...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

She was winning.

More puppets fell before her, their twisted, grotesque forms reduced to nothing but ashes in the wind. Sarissa was unstoppable, a force of nature, unlike anything this battlefield had ever seen.

[You killed a Monster...]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

[You killed...]

[You killed...]

[You leveled up]

Sarissa staggered slightly as the system echoed in her head, a notification wind appearing before her.

[Congratulations. You have reached Level 50]

[You have met the requirements to unlock the World Quest]

Her breathing was ragged, her fingers twitching as she slowly lowered her sword, noticing, little by little, that no [Fallen Puppet] was coming at her anymore.

Level 50.

She looked around, seeing only ashes, scorched asphalt, and no monster anywhere to be seen.

She had done it.

The moment she had been striving for, the goal she had chased relentlessly, had finally been achieved, even though with a different objective than in any of her previous turns.

It felt... Exhilarating.

Sarissa exhaled slowly, forcing herself to focus, the grin on her face making her cheeks hurt. The battlefield was eerily silent now, save for the flickering of dying flames and the occasional crackle of burnt metal collapsing under its own weight.

"Hey, Miles, Look! I-" She turned, her heartbeat slowing one beat at a time, her sight focusing again. Across the battlefield, where the asphalt was cracked and devastated from the aftermath of their battle, two figures remained.

Miles stood tall, his scythe resting against his shoulder, his stance unwavering. In front of him, on his knees, was Shinji.

Beaten. Battered. Bloodied.

Sarissa took a slow step forward, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

Miles raised his scythe, the sharp edge gleaming under the storm that began to pour, putting out the remnants of Sarissa’s fires, poised to strike.

Sarissa’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide.

"No, wait!" She shouted as Miles’ scythe fell, mercilessly.