With all his musculature nearly bleeding and aching, Arthur ran slowly to his house. This run mainly depended on jumping, as it was the only part of the musculature that was working correctly at the time.
Relying on the sheer strength of his muscles, Arthur jumped between the houses and apartments.
The color of his irises were now completely red, and his sclera were still white. His mind was racing, so he remembered something.
"System, why isn't the 'Demonic' skill's side effect manifesting?" Arthur questioned. He remembers that in the description he spoke of a progressive loss of reason during use.
'I understood!' Arthur nodded. He only asked because it was too suspicious, as he previously found it impossible to regulate an skill. 'If certain conditions are met, can I change a skill's stats? Better question, can these skills be changed because they are mine?'
Countless questions arose in Arthur's mind as the system fell silent and didn't answer him. These questions began to cause Arthur more doubts about what kind of existence the System was.
'Is he really something or someone... difficult question...' Arthur began to push these unanswered questions to the back of his mind.
At the same moment he put those doubts aside, he was already close to his house. With a gentle leap, he controlled his body perfectly and landed on a small platform next to a second-floor window. It was where there was a small observatory with a telescope and a few more things that Arthur asked the Guild to put there.
Without making the slightest noise, and also preventing any drop of blood from touching the floor, Arthur walked through the house.
He checked with his perception and saw that Thomas was already asleep. His breathing was smooth and rhythmic.
Arthur went down to the kitchen and grabbed a first-aid box, also left there by the Guild. As it was prepared by them, it was much more complete than a normal first-aid kit. He also took a large bag and spilled all the ice cubes he had in the freezer inside.
He then walked to his room and left the door open. A few moments later, he returned and taped a piece of paper to the door, written a few words for Thomas.
After that, Arthur carried the box and bag to the bathroom and locked himself in there. Immediately turning on the bathroom tap, Arthur took out 10 vials of health potion.
'How much is my HP?' Arthur questioned the system.
<2500 and falling!> The system responded in its cold, indifferent voice.
Arthur frowned and asked again, "Why didn't I get any alerts about this when I got hit?"
'Well, so basically I'm on my own to find out.' At that moment, Arthur took off his coat and shirt and looked at the bloody hole in his chest. 'Not that I'm going to need someone to let me know I might die after getting shot like that.'
Arthur answered 'No' to the system question.
On Arthur's back it was also possible to see five small tears, as if they had been cut.
"Why am I not feeling this pain?" Arthur again asked the system. Not that he really wasn't feeling the pain, but rather that a hole in his chest should hurt more than his muscles.
"What will happen when the skill's duration runs out?"
"How long?" Arthur worried a little, as he didn't want to make Thomas worry about him.
"Brain Strength?" Arthur found it strange, as there was no such statistic on display.
"Understand. You're very cooperative today!" Arthur grinned as he stared at his bloodied body in the mirror.
By this time the bathtub had enough water. Arthur then poured the ten bottles of health potion into the bathtub, leaving the water with a reddish appearance. He also opened the bag and placed the ice. Tap water is already naturally cold due to the cold at night, so the ice was just to maintain this state for longer.
He then opened the first aid box and left some things ready for when he woke up. He grabbed some bottles of 70% alcohol and threw the content in the bathtub.
Knowing that everything was ready and prepared, Arthur plunged his body into the icy bathtub. The color of the water immediately turned blood red, giving it a slightly creepy look.
Arthur's chest wound also began to sting with brutality, and he finally began to feel. In addition to that burning, he also felt five more in his back, but it wasn't even close to the one in his chest.
Teeth clenched, Arthur closed his eyes tightly and sank his head into the icy water.
'System, can the skill be disabled now?'
'Understand. So I'll have to wait for this shit to end while I suffer like a bitch... it's getting better...'
Arthur then resisted the pain the entire time, for about 10 minutes. It was hell he calmly endured. From the moment he drowned his head in water, the information his brain was processing started to be mostly about his body, then all the signs of pain and weariness came pouring in, pushing his nerves to the limit.
When the 10 minutes were finally up, Arthur blacked out.
***
In the building almost destroyed by Arthur, several vehicles surrounded him with ambulances as well. Many police were standing guard outside and others were ushering figures straight to the patrol cars.
Black bags were also arranged in rows inside the building, but there were no police inside, just the sheriff deputie and some people in black clothes and the guild symbol on their chest.
"I really didn't expect the operation to be taking place in this building. I apologize for the inconvenience!" The deputy spoke in an embarrassed voice.
"No problem!" The figure who appeared to be in charge spoke in a monotone voice.
As soon as the deputy left the room, the lead figure signaled to the others inside the room and they followed the deputy furtively. Soon after, some light noises sounded and the figures returned carrying another black bag.
"Let's go!" The figure spoke again and all the figures left the building, leaving cleaning up to the police.
***
"Are you all right?" Outside the logistic shed, site of the fake operation, Gabriel, or Shadow at that moment, was talking to Shine, Blaze, and Magikeen.
Some vehicles and ambulances were at the scene, and Shine was being treated by some paramedics at the scene.
"Do I look okay?" Shine spoke in an angry voice.
"I'm better than him…" Blaze said with a smile.
Magikeen said nothing and just nodded. Her cloak was a little bloodied in some parts, which she tried to hide.
"Looks like you've been assigned to a fake operation, but the culprit has already been found. Still, you managed to complete the quest, despite all the mess…" Shadow spoke to them, trying not to remember all the slightly disturbing information.
Cracks in the floor, attempted murder, and then an operation finished in less than a minute, the distance being ridiculous for a normal person.
"What about that sucker?" Shine asked, clearly referring to Arthur.
"Your rewards will be given later, with a small bonus. Enjoy!" Shadow avoided the question and turned to leave.
After that, Blaze also left, with some questions he knew couldn't be answered. Magikeen also left shortly thereafter and Shine was taken to the hospital as a better operation could be conducted there.
***
At dawn, an ambulance was quickly going to the nearest hospital when it was interrupted by an abrupt brake from the driver.
"Hey, what are you-" The driver tried to speak but felt something hit him and fainted.
"What was that?" The paramedic accompanying Shine in the ambulance was in doubt.
But those doubts were erased when the ambulance doors opened and she passed out.
The only person left conscious in the ambulance was Shine... and the hooded figure in front of him.
"Magik-aaargh!" Shine tried to speak, but felt a sudden pain in his other ear, the one that was untouched...until now.
"Don't speak my name!" A cold voice came out from under the hood. The figure soon pulled a sharp knife from its back and approached Shine.
"What the hell do you want??" Shine was already panicking, not knowing where he had offended her.
Magikeen raised the knife high and made a downward slashing motion, inserting the knife inches from where Shine's balls should have been.
"Watch your mouth!" The voice came out again, along with the figure of Magikeen.
The paramedic and the driver woke up a short time later, with the cars honking behind them and Shine completely passed out, both ears bleeding.