Volume 5 part 2: The Blight Demon

14th of the Black Star

7:58PM

‘I could use the Cydian Knight Ant.’

Arthur had his storage artifact back, which had all of his hosts. Although he might be able to fight all the Hashashin, he wouldn’t be able to protect Christopher and the rest.

“Hand over the Vial.”

The leader of the Hashashin demanded while extending his hand toward Gaffron Gaol.

“You’ll just kill us if we hand it over. Break the thing, Gaffron! Might as well take them with us if we’re going to die.”

“No. Don’t. We only need the Vial.”

Christopher’s bluff worked on the Hashashin, who lowered his hand and hastily responded.

“Give… give it to them.” The Devil Doctor squeezed those words between his long and heavy breaths.

Gaffron, who was the center of attention, let out a sigh and threw the vial toward the Hashashin.

[Weak Telekinesis]

Arthur activated his skill and made the vial fly into his hand.

“You have my word that we will not harm you.” Spoke the Hashashin as his eyes focused on the Parasite.

His voice contains a bit of wariness. Unlike his comrades, he was heavily wounded and wouldn’t be able to join the fight.

“Why should I trust in the words of an assassin?”

[Wither Touch]

Arthur stalled for time as his finger clutched the vial and absorbed the sinister and colorless energy within it. Within moments, he felt a cold and almost suffocating sensation as a tiny bit of the vial’s gas was absorbed into his body.

[Law of Resilience Lv1 → Lv3]

[You obtained the skill: Spirit(Passive Lv1)]

[The Chamber of Choices has been updated!]

[Mist of Decay Lv7 →Lv9]

[Sub-skill ‘Harrowing Death(Active)’ obtained]

“My Master only ordered us to retrieve the vial. We can choose to kill you or let you leave. Circumstances made us fight each other, but I do not want to waste the lives of my men.”

The Hashashin paused and swept his gaze across the eight of them,

“A fight against you all will result in deaths on both sides, which will make the delivery of the vial back to our Master all the more difficult. Is that enough of a reason for you?”

“If you only want the vial then tell all your men to leave. Once they’re gone, I’ll give it to you.”

“...”

Surprisingly, after a brief silence, the man raised his hand and signaled the assassins, who swiftly retreated out of the ruins.

‘They really left, but that’s making me worry even more. Whatever.’

Arthur threw the vial toward the Hashashin, opting to trust his instinct and not attack.

His objective had been to get to the Devil Doctor, so there was no need to continue antagonising the Hashashin- and by extension- the Sultan.

Obtaining new hosts and benefiting from the contents of the vial were a much-welcome bonus.

“Phew! They’re gone!”

Christopher sat on the ground, his hands shaking ever-so-slightly.

Charles stuffed a large book into his satchel and then ran to the Devil Doctor.

The young apothecary showcased his efficiency and skill by stopping the bleeding and pouring a couple of herbal mixtures and ointments on Sephron’s chest.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, friends!”

Gaffron let out a couple of coughs before smiling and approaching Arthur and the rest.

“Neither did we.”

“Hahahaha!” Gaffron thoughtfully eyed Arthur, seemingly suspecting something, but he didn’t ask anything. As it was, the situation was already delicate and there were more pressing matters to take care of.

“Thank you, boy. Please take me to the laboratory.”

“It’s already collapsed, old man! Also, we have some questions for you.”

The Devil Doctor ignored Chris as Charles helped him stand up and walk toward the underground corridor.

The rest quietly followed, but Evelyn kept her blades in hand and didn’t pull her gaze away from Sephron’s back.

“What happened?”

“Chris teleported us to a strange room with somesort of a riddle. Isabella triggered an alarm so we made a run for it.”

“I.. It wasn’t me. It’s the orb I had swallowed. I don’t know what happened.” The young girl sounded apologetic as she walked next to Arthur while clenching her fists.

“Alright. We’ll talk about that once we’re out of here.”-Arthur

…

His condition notwithstanding, the Devil Doctor was able to use his magic, which was actually a much stronger version of Arthur’s [Weak Telekinesis], to move the rubble out of the way and clear some of the laboratory.

However, when he saw the destroyed materials, beyond crushed corpses, and the spilt potions and other vials, his expression turned heavy with sadness and despair.

“It’s over…” He muttered, no longer bothering to look around.

With Charles’ help, Sephron sat on one of the still intact wooden chairs, his hand pressed against his chest.

“Even this is not working anymore.”

He took out the only ring he had been wearing, the storage artifact, and threw it on the ground.

Instead of bombarding him with questions right away, Arthur stood a bit at the back along with Evelyn and Christopher.

Isabella was curiously walking around and studying the ruined books and the other oddities that, albeit being broken, could be seen once the debris was removed.

“Sir Sephron. I don’t have any Healing Potions.”

Gaffron apologetically lowered his head, his face solemn.

“A potion will not get rid of the Darkness ruining my body. It really got me good.” Some blood leaked out of the Devil Doctor’s lips as his chuckle turned into a chain of worrying coughs.

“S-sir! I need your help!”

Charles couldn’t hold himself back anymore. He stuttered a bit, but he looked resolute as he stared at the injured old man.

“Life Eternal! Does it exist? Are the legends true?”

Only now did the old man pay close attention to the young Apothecary.

“I-I’m a traveling Apothecary… Charles Harper.”

“Oh…” After a momentary pause, Sephron shook his head once,

“You should give up on Life Eternal, Charles. Even if such an Elixir could be made, its effects wouldn't be what you wish them to be. No concoction can bring the dead back to life, nor could it make someone truly immortal. It’s all a delusion.”

“But there have been records of it being used and seen! The sap of the Night Tree… The Goblet of Fai-”

“It’s a lie. As an apothecary, you should aspire to help and treat people, not chase after impossibilities.”

“...”

Charles, his face slightly red, didn’t rebuke. Nevertheless, Sephron’s words didn’t change his mind or weaken his resolution.

“I… I believe it’s real! It has to be! Otherwise there wouldn’t have been so many mentions of it.”

“It could be. But so what? Most of the ingredients cannot be found here. Heh! If such an outrageous Elixir were to be made, do you think the Gods will just watch? ‘Tis folly, kid.”

Charles took out the encyclopaedia he had stolen from the laboratory before it collapsed and started flipping through the pages as he backed away. He no longer paid the Devil Doctor any attention, his eyes obsessively fixated on the contents of the book.

“My savior.” Sarcastically spoke to the Devil Doctor as he shifted his attention to Arthur. There wasn’t a hint of gratitude in his voice or eyes, just suspicion and wariness.

‘It said he was a parasite. But it doesn’t make sense for a parasite to be traveling with humans.’

“The Darkness will consume me before long, but I will not let my soul be taken by that monster. In return for ‘rescuing’ me, I will advise you all to leave as soon as possible.”

“I need some answers first.”

Arthur glanced at the listening Gaffron before approaching Sephron.

“That Gargoyle came to my world decades ago. It killed and devoured the souls of everyone in my village. Did you send it?”

The Devil Doctor frowned, “I did not. Gargoyles devour Souls to sustain and empower themselves, but I personally chose what souls it would devour.”

The doctor stopped for a bit, seemingly pondering about something.

“Then why did it appear there?”

“A Gargoyle cannot travel as it pleases. However, even if it was bound to me, it could have been summoned.”

“...”

Arthur stood there, confused and unsatisfied about the answer. It didn’t make any sense for the Gargoyle to be summoned as, barring him and Chris- whom it tried to kill as well- the Gargoyle slaughtered everyone. If there was indeed a summoner during that night, Arthur would have seen him.

“What do you think, Chris?”

“I don’t know. He doesn’t seem to be lying.”

“Then who summoned the Gargoyle? We were the only survivors.”

Arthur and Chris whispered to each other while the Devil Doctor thoughtfully stared at them.

“A Gargoyle cannot hurt its summoner, but it will take its rightful price once the deal is completed. Many of those who foolishly summon it fall prey to it and have their souls taken. However, it will not take it on the spot, but slowly drain it from the summoner.”

Gaffron, who had been attentively listening, also joined the conversation,

“Gargoyles are creatures from Hell. Darkness-aspected and imbued with a powerful Evil Spirit. It takes more than a simple ritual or a basic summoning spell to call it.”

“He is right. Generally, an appropriate sacrifice and a correct summoning derived from a Grimoire are… needed.”

The Devil Doctor wiped his bloodied lips and then pressed his fingers against his chest, where his heart was.

“I don’t have a lot of time left. I strongly suggest you to leave before I die. I’m going to explode.”

“Explode? Wait wait!”-Chris

“Master. The ground is shaking… I suspect the constructs that appeared in the ruins beneath us are still active. We need to leave.”

“So it was you who activated the ruins? But how…” Sephron shook his head and refrained from inquiring any further.

He had been here for many years but was never able to reach those ruins. Still, he couldn’t have known that Chris literally teleported inside of it.

‘This is it? All that search for… this?’

“If you came looking for me then you must know about the Circle of Damnation.” Added the Devil Doctor out of the blue.

“The Holy Necromancer was the one who helped me summon the Gargoyle. I don’t think he suspected that it would go rogue and even manage to absorb and integrate Light Energy into its body. Still, he might know, or be involved, in whatever happened to you.”

“Why are you telling us this?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Sephron chuckled and, with great difficulty, laid on the ground.

“I’ve always known that the Gargoyle would do something behind my back. It was a mistake to summon it.”-Sephron

Isabella walked closer to him and looked down at his deathly pale and wrinkly face, “You’re about to die yet you’re not afraid.”

“Many think that Death is just the beginning. Also, I have brought this upon myself. The only regret I have is not being able to discover the truth behind the DNE Gene.”

Isabella knelt down and grabbed the old man’s hand.

“May you rest in peace, old man.”

“...”

He smiled at her as an ominous Darkness slowly spread from his chest to the rest of his body.

“In the ruins we were in… there is a trapdoor behind three broken pillars. They lead to a safe path out of the desert and will help you avoid the explosion and the flames. Don’t dally here. Move!”

When Sephron squeezed what remained of his strength and shouted, they all snapped out of their daze.

Arthur sighed and walked toward the exit along with Chris and Evelyn.

“Goodbye.” Muttered Isabella as she let go of the old man’s hand and followed after them.

“I will not give up on Eternal Life.” Spat Charles while hugging the encyclopaedia and sprinting away.

Only Gaffron Gaol waited there, though no one returned for him.

“You… ah…” As if realizing something, the Devil Doctor looked at the elderly mage with half-closed eyes. He even let out a self-mocking laugh.

“An Archmage?”

“That was the title I was given a long time ago.” Responded Gaffron as he sat down and watched the dying Sephron.

“The best doctor in this world failed to treat me.”

“Your… your condition. It wasn’t natural?”

Gaffron nodded but it didn’t deign to elaborate.

“I see… nevertheless, I wish you the best of luck.”

Seconds later, the Devil Doctor’s body burst in crimson flames.

Gaffron stood up and waved his staff while chanting incantation, turning his body gaseous and invulnerable. He slipped into one of the many holes in the ceiling and escaped with ease.

‘They’ll send someone for whatever is left for my research… heh! They’ll find nothing but ash.’

…

“Fuck! Jump jump!”

Chris quickly located the trapdoor and beckoned everyone as the temperature rose and the entire ruins shook.

A powerful shock wave destroyed the walls leading into the corridor, and just as a wave of scarlet flames erupted forth, Arthur conjured a barrier while the last of his group, Charles, leapt into the hole.

They only fell 3 or 4 meters, which was enough to injure anyone but Charles.

“My ankle… it’s broken.”

The apothecary winced in pain as his shaky hand took out a potent ointment.

“We’re safe, ri-”

Chris was interrupted as the trapdoor was incinerated and the wave of fire descended with a frightening speed.

“Run!”

Evelyn picked up Charles and sprung into a sprint. Isabella and Chris moved next, leaving Arthur, who raised his hands and used the barrier to momentarily stop the flames.

‘What the hell is that?!’

A dreadful-looking face could be seen in the flames as, like a sentient being, they kept hammering down on the Sanguis Barrier.

“Faster! This thing is alive!” Screamed Arthur as he hastily backed away while enlarging the barrier.