Eric rasped and growled. He tried to catch air and grabbed the swarm with his hands, but they slipped through his fingers. He fell on his knees and crouched his back, laying on all fours like a beggar.

“As I said, it’s going to hurt. And that a lot. But I’ll make sure that you won’t die from it. The insects will disappear once you fall unconscious. Believe it or not, I’ve done this procedure many times. Most of the time, it killed the person. But when I was supposed to make them just unconscious, I succeeded too.” Nephthys tilted his head. “Huh? Usually, it should only take a few seconds. What’s going on?”

Nephthys bit his fingernail and walked towards Eric when a tentacle materialized out of Eric’s back. In its size, it could rival a tree trunk.

“Huh?” Nephthys eyes widened, and he held his arm in front of him. The blood tentacle struck Nephthys with all its might, propelling him against the wall. His body crashed against the cement. Cracks ran through the façade from the impact, and Nephthys dropped to the ground.

“What … the fuck?” Nephthys spat a glob of blood and grimaced. He ground his teeth and massaged his shoulder.

Eric was drumming against his chest. He gasped for air and retched, croaking like a dying animal. Tears ran down his eyes.

He had to get it out. He had to get it out.

It didn’t matter that he was in a battle. He had to get the insects out of his body. Every second, their corpses continued to dwell in his body, his skin would crawl. They floated through his body, dancing in his blood. They danced in his blood. He had to get them out, but his body wouldn’t listen.

He shivered and trembled. The temperature had dropped on him. He was freezing in the cold, and the repulsion had ceased his body’s functions. The sensations had burned themselves in its muscle memory, reliving them over and over until he had no other choice but for his Fylgja to activate. Just like the blood within his system had pierced the insects as they invaded his body, it swallowed their corpses and streamed down his mouth. A crimson-black goo splashed on the streets.

His blood torrented like a waterfall, and once he couldn’t throw up anymore, he sat on his legs. Dropping his arms, he starred at the colorless sky. His breaths sped up their intervals, and his clothes stuck to his skin. He was sweating everywhere while the taste of metal corroded his lips.

“Don’t tell me you used your own blood to pierce the insects inside your body.” Nephthys whistled. He had to support his arms on his legs, and like Eric, they were shaking. “That’s … hardcore.”

With his hands, Eric started to rub his face. He rubbed and rubbed as if trying to wipe away the filth from him.

They were all gone. The insects were gone.

A chuckle escaped Eric’s mouth, and he covered his eyes as the tears continued to run down his cheeks.

“It’s quite a repulsive technique, isn’t it?” Nephthys smiled at him. “Summoning flesh-eating insects, doing some nasty things with them, robbing graves to create ghouls. What does that say about me?”

“You…?” Eric growled like a dog.

He removed his hands from his face and glared at Nephthys. His eyes had become bloodshot, and his arms trembled.

After putting him through this torture, Nephthys had the gall to talk about himself? Was that a joke?

He clenched his hand to a fist. The shaking wouldn’t stop, and steam rose from the puddles on the street.

“Oh, looks like you’re angry.” Nephthys stood up and blew his nose. “Not that I wouldn’t understand it. It put you through some naaasty experience. You wish to pay me back for that, don’t you?” His lips twisted to a grin. “Too bad that won’t happen.”

What did he mean with that?

Eric shook his head. He took a step forward, but a force repelled him.

“What the…?” He raised his eyes and tried again without success.

No matter what he tried, he couldn’t move forward. Something stopped him in his tracks. It was like in front of him, the ground had ceased to exist, and a gulf had opened. His body denied him from progress.

“It’s useless.” Nephthys combed back his hair. “You won’t be able to take even one step further.”

“What have you done?”

“What do you think? Look at my final rune: Laguz. It creates a void sea that cancels the action of moving forward.”

“A void sea?” Eric gulped. “Like the Sea of Emptiness?”

Nephthys nodded. “In front of you is a sea with void-like qualities. It’s pure Mana. Chaos. Like the ocean serves as the border that separated the continents and used to prevent the exploration of the world, it keeps those who wish me harm from reaching me. It’s the ultimate protection. The ocean seems interminable to men if they venture on the rolling bark, and the waves of the sea terrify them, and the stallion of the deep heed, not its bridle.”

Eric didn’t give Nephthys an answer. Without saying a word, he pulled out his gun and pressed the trigger. A crimson bullet shot out of the muzzle. A swarm of insects appeared and caught it. In its cloud, the flesh-eaters devoured the blood until nothing was left.

Nephthys clicked his tongue and shrugged. “Yeah, you got me. I exaggerated a bit. It isn’t exactly the ultimate defense, and there are ways to sidestep the restrictions. But in your current situation, can you afford them? You’ve already lost a shit-ton of blood and Mana.”

Eric grimaced.

“Sure, you can try to shoot me, but you’re not in the Mana realm anymore. Neither your blood nor your Mana will replenish. Your reserves are limited. And if you continue to shoot them away, what’s more likely to happen? That you get lucky and hit me, or that you run out and die? And I can tell you already, summoning a tentacle or whip won’t solve the problem, either. As I said, my rune separates me from those who wish to harm me. If you let go of your desire, perhaps we can find a solution?” Nephthys chuckled. “Of course, that’s a paradox. If you don’t wish to harm me, how can you fight me, the enemy? If you wish to fight me, how can you reach me? Still, perhaps it would be best if you ask yourself. Why do you wish to harm me? What have I done to earn your ire?”

“Are you messing with me?” Eric raised his voice.

“See it as whatever you want.” The smile on Nephthys’ face disappeared, “But you’re the one stuck. If you wish to progress, you have to think of something.”

Eric took a deep breath.

Nephthys was right. He could wait for his Mana to fill up, but who knew what could happen to Altera and Ragna in the meantime? He had to get out of here, and it didn’t look like he had any other choice.

Why did he want to harm Nephthys? Wasn’t that obvious? They were opponents, and Nephthys’ attack had tortured him. He could still remember the disgust, and his body would never forget the feeling. It was like he was drowning, only worse. The knowledge that insects invaded his body would mess with anyone’s head. He wanted to puke and puke, but he couldn’t.

Nephthys had hurt him, and he wanted to pay him back for his actions. What was wrong with that? Wasn’t this human? No one would fault him.

But they were enemies on the battlefield. He should expect that Nephthys would try to kill or hurt him or take him out. Yet, why had he become so angry? They had betrayed him: Nephthys, Altera, Ragna, his brother.

He was so sick of that. But what was he supposed to do? Abandon them? They all had their reasons, but it didn’t change that it hurt. Should he forgive them? Of course, that was noble. But would that bring him justice? Would that prevent them from betraying him again? Why did he have to be the better man?

Eric started to chuckle.

Because someone had to. He was the only one capable of filling the role. Altera was a bundle of issues. Ragna was desperately trying to keep her shattered life together. Nephthys had his own alignments, and his past had to hunt him. He couldn’t trust Jareth, and Grendel and Puck had probably their own goals they had to reach at all costs. If he wanted the world to change, he had to take the first step. Whether his actions would ever lead to something, who knew? But he had to be the backbone his friends could rely on.

Eric sighed. His shoulders dropped, and he took a step forward.

“What?” Nephthys raised his eyes. “What’s happening? Why can you pass the ocean?”

“It’s your rune. What do you think?” Eric smiled.

Ragna told her she hoped that he would meet someone he could betray her for. At that time, her words came from her heart and her desire for him to find happiness. That brat was something. She could be callous yet so compassionate. But in hindsight, she was wrong. He already found those people. And he wouldn’t betray for them. No, he would sacrifice all he had for them.

“That can’t be.” Nephthys shook his head. “I fucking tortured you. Why don’t do you wish to harm me? Are you crazy?”

Yet, Eric walked further towards Nephthys.

Yeah. For others, it looked crazy. And it was. It was an unequal relationship where he might sacrifice everything, and they would take everything. But he had chosen this path, and he would walk it until the end.

Nephthys gulped. Fear and confusion had carved themselves in his face. He walked backwards, increasing the distance between the two until the wall cut off every possibility of a retreat.

“That doesn’t make any sense. You should hate me.”

“I promise I’ll never hate you.”

Eric grabbed his arm and pressed him against his chest. He smiled at him and caressed his chest.

“Huh?” A red flush spread across Nephthys’ face.

“But I’ve to support my friends.” He let go of Nephthys, and a red cocoon wrapped around his body. “The blood will disappear in around ten minutes. So, don’t worry. See you later.”

And Eric left the alley.