He should've been in that chair at the moment, with snivelling, conniving demons. Placating some, terrorizing some and cajoling others but he'd put someone else in that spot. It was for the better.

Dai wandered the streets and turned his attention to the chest wound. It was burning up now. He placed his hand on it and it was sweltering.

He needed an antidote, except, he was exhausted, his physical body was still tired from his battle with the hero. He placed his hand on it and parts of it felt puffy, like somebody had filled it up with fluid.

AI, scan physical body.

[Scanning...]

[Acute Physical Damage]

[Multiple Perforations Detected: Urgent Medical Care Required]

...

[Acute Chemical Damage]

[System Shutdown in Process]

How much time before I die?

[5 Hours]

This was a ticking time bomb in his chest, he felt a little woozy and off-balance. Tiny dots were appearing in his vision every now and then, yet he didn't want to sleep. He feared that he wouldn't wake up again.

He gave himself about four and half hours, otherwise he wouldn't be able to operate on himself. [Set Timer: 5 Hours]

He started going through all of the manuals. He narrowed it down to three different poisons or insects. There was ample detail about their symptoms and antidote's. He needed two things, access to particular insects and 3 particular cores. He would have to cut up his chest but that was for later.

Dai had access to more than enough insect cocoons. These cocoons were the result of a singular art: [Silk Cocoon]. It was very interesting, it was by far the most interesting art in the entire collection. It allowed the user to encase an insect into a cocoon that allowed them to either hibernate or even accumulate power for a breakthrough.

He had one problem, he couldn't learn it. Without any essence, how was he supposed to practice it? He searched through the manuals and the only way to 'hatch' these cocoons without magic was to provide the optimal conditions for them. However, that would take too long. 23 days for the first one.

He was starting to feel claustrophobic, he felt something whizzing by his head. He turned to it and it was nothing.

Tick, tick, tick. [30 Mins Elasped]

[Time Remaining: 4.29.54]

Insects and cores. He repeated this to himself like a mantra. He was drowning in waves of drowsiness, yet, he tried to keep his focus.

He needed to go down to the seamstresses shop. This annoyed him to no end, having to rely on someone else but he had to this, time was running out. A tiny voice in the back of his head was telling him that he couldn't show weakness, yet the poison was blowing through his system. Now wasn't the time for appearances.

The lobby was closed, he smacked his fist down on the counter. There was no response. He breathed out and his breath was raspy.

What is this poison!?

The seamstress walked out, her eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Do you know any insect arts?"

She cleared her throat. "Some...not for that..."

Dai smacked the imp's manual down on the desk. He would've loved to monopolize it but everybody has to do things they don't want to.

"Learn it!" He started going through his pouches and placed 1500 bulls on the counter. She raised a brow but reached for the manual.

He had a practical reason for choosing her, she was an arachnid. She should be talented in this aspect. The fact that she ran a silk shop, added to the appeal.

"Um..I have other clie-"

He stopped her with a wave of his hand. "You should understand something, learning this is not an option for you. If I see that my death is inevitable, I will rip you apart." There, the whip.

He grabbed a black robe, wrapped himself up in it. The slightest brush of the fabric against his chest sent spasms of pain up to his temple. Something occurred to him and he decided to ask her, "How much does a spirit stone cost?"

"500 bulls. It can be even more expensive then that."

"500 for one?" She nodded at that.

He walked out and took a deep breath. It burned, he felt tiny pin-pricks in his wind-pipe. Going out and hunting for the beast cores would be impractical and foolish at this point. It was the last option for him.

He headed down to the most popular inn in this town, there wasn't much competition. He found it filled to the brim, ale was flowing everywhere.

Dai spotted his man, it was hard to miss him with his striking frame. There were a few other armed demon's around him. They turned to him. Their eyes scanning, weighing him. They saw weakness and the scales in their heads were turning this way or that.

Dai ignored it. He sat down beside the minotaur, he was smiling and patted him on the back. Alcohol made him jovial. He threw his arm around Dai. "There he is! Our weary traveller!"

"I need a flaming mantis core, ice demon core (it has to be more than forty years old) and a sylph core (10 to 20 years)."

The minotaur's eyes sharpened at the mention of money. He was a wily old fox. "Those aren't going to be cheap."

"I can pay. Show me the goods." The minotaur led him down to his camels, they unloaded some chests.

Boxes with intricate carvings were lowered down. He brought out the mantis core first. "This is going to be 7000 bulls. I can't lower the price, three of my own nephews died getting it."

Dai could tell it was a lie and he was being ripped off, the minotaur could smell desperation. He examined it a little bit. He didn't want to be scammed, his literal life depended on it.

He had an idea of its shape from the manual. AI, compare sample image and core.

[Comparing...]

[Visual Similarity: 95%]

That was good enough for him.

He examined the other one and it had a visual similarity of [97%]. "Your total is 14000."

Dai counted out 24 spirit stones. The minotaur's eyes shone with greed. "You're off by 2000 bulls. I can take payment in bulls."

"No. That's all you get." Dai turned to walk away but the minotaur called him back. "What about the sylph core?"

The minotaur shrugged. It was akin to watching a boulder trying to shrug. "I don't have one for that."

These will have to do.

[Time Remaining: 3.59.45]