…
"Have you seen him yet?" Francia asked while looking straight ahead.
They are both flying towards the subway station where Lance, Rion, and Leona ran from, along with the hero who is keeping up with them by just using his legs while killing some of the creatures he encounters.
It has just been roughly 10 minutes since they started their search.
They're moving at a pretty steady pace, considering Lance needed to use his
Francia gave another stamina pill to Lance as he broke out of his dazed look.
"y-yes…" Lance stuttered in amazement, looking at the scene below him, absentmindedly taking the pill from the witch.
With a gulp, he once again felt rejuvenated.
'Banzai for the Stamina pills! With these things, humankind can now work 24/7 machine factory style!' Lance felt proud for the upcoming future of an efficient workforce in different industries…
Specifically, all the animators for the anime studios.
Gotta thank the creator for making the ideals 'real'!
Looking back again at the battle engaging before his eyes, Lance really can't help but feel astonished.
Below, the grotesque monsters that ravaged the city are being destroyed like grass on the sidewalk of the road by humans who are dressed in various fantasy clothing you can see in games!
Some of them are dressed in various knight armor using various weapons such as swords, daggers, rapiers, mazes, you name it!
They're also using different sorts of magic and enchantments.
Most females are dressed like witches riding their own floating broom, using different types of magic which either provide support or attack directly.
SHRRAAAA!!!
Attracted by the roar, Lance looked as he saw hundreds of these grotesque monsters being cut into meat dice by a single female dressed in lightweight body armor.
Holding her rapier while moving with graceful steps, she then motioned a stabbing gesture as multiple of those monsters regardless of size and number, were punctured with gaping holes.
While another female dressed in a witch robe summoned chains made of light, restraining a giant fat monster that seemed to be a strong creature amongst the rest.
Before it was even able to do anything…
A male in leather armor grunted. The gauntlet that he wore then illusively expanded, with a leap, he flew and smashed the giant grotesque monster on the head.
The head collapsed inwardly, while black blood splattered everywhere, followed by the fat monster falling lifelessly to the ground.
"Can you not make too much of a mess every time you kill!?" The woman who chained the monster yelled, looking at her once clean robe tainted with pungent black blood.
"..." while the knightly woman holding the rapier didn't comment, but was clearly dissatisfied seeing the dry look in her eyes.
"Ah… sorry, my bad." The male in leather armor laughed wryly, looking innocent.
…
"...damn." Lance whispered, looking at the scene, completely stunned.
"Heavens…"
"...oh my god."
"holy crap…"
.
The same can be told by the people who are getting saved below, their astonishment is tremendous beyond belief.
Some even started crying and praying to God, while others started cheering the heroes and witches in pure excitement and hope.
Glancing at his reaction, Francia found it entertaining as she just made a small smile, while Alterick laughed.
"Hahahaha~ what you're seeing right now will be something normal in the future! These guys are just your typical members in our factions!" Alterick felt a bit proud.
These are just their typical members?
Them!?
Looking again at the monsters getting destroyed and the supernatural humans who are using different spells and weapons as you would see in MMORPGs.
Lance's eyes glittered in excitement looking like a kid.
"Ehem. I know you want to enjoy watching but… don't you have a friend to save?" Francia interrupted wryly, reminding Lance.
"O-oh… right!" Realizing their goal and that his friend might be in danger, Lance immediately used his skill as they proceeded to where Rion is.
A few moments later.
Under the intense searching and usage of his skills, at some point, his
Under the effect of the stamina pill, he continuously used his
With his understanding and familiarity with its usage, he felt that it became easier with each use and less taxing on his stamina.
Thus, with his continuous usage,
He can also feel that his
'It must be because I'm quite familiar with the use of these skills.' Lance remarked as he continued searching.
Lance felt it was such a weird feeling.
There is no gauge meter or progress bar that tells you if one of your skills is about to level up, but you can vaguely 'feel' the progress if it will happen.
It's like the information in those game-like texts just indicates what you have as of current, but the system doesn't tell you everything in detail unlike in a real MMORPG game.
To be exact, it feels incomplete.
Upon the constant mapping, Lance uses his
He knew that Rion wouldn't stay in the subway as he was being chased by those humanoid monsters before they left.
So he suggested checking the vicinity first…
And good thing he did because soon after, Lance's face paled in disbelief and worry.
Francia, who noticed the change in his vibe was about to ask when she heard Lance's shout:
"There he is!"
Looking at where he is pointing, Francia and Alterick both nodded as they all proceeded to a nearby big manor.
Upon arriving at the door, Lance looked at the big claw marks.
The door was almost destroyed, he tried to use the doorknob and open it, but to his dismay, the doorknob turned but he couldn't push or pull it open.
Seeing Lance struggle, Alterick tapped him on the shoulder:
"Let me."
Lance stepped aside, and Alterick casually unsheathed his sword at his waist.
With a casual swing…
The door was split in half along with the earth wall behind it.
"Let's go." The witch gestured while the males immediately followed.
…
"Holy Christ…" Lance muttered and immediately held his nose at the horrid smell.
Under the guidance of his
Looking at the mess before them:
Black and red blood are splattered everywhere with a thick pungent scent of rotten blood lingering in the room.
Upon observation, one of the wolves with a distorted head lies lifelessly with a screwdriver yanked in its eye.
While the other is directly impaled by a rough stone spike looking like a barbecued dog, with its black blood dripping over.
Rion, who is at the center, looks like a corpse with blood all over his body.
"Good sir!" Lance immediately ran, seeing Rion's condition.
On the other hand, Francia who saw Rion's state frowned a bit.
Checking his pulse and hearing the faint heartbeat, Lance was instantly filled with relief, he immediately gestured that he's alive.
Without any hesitation, Francia opened a vial of a slightly darker healing potion and poured it on Rion's body.
After a few seconds, seeing the wound not heal unlike when she did with others, her frown grew deeper.
With a flip of her wrist, a rune-inscribed monocle appeared on her hand, closely inspecting Rion's body.
Noticing tons of microscopic black creatures inside, slowly destroying his body and soul, Francia's eyes turned serious this time.
She looked at the dead wolves with their razor-sharp teeth, Francia sighed.
"His soul is being devoured.."
"What?" Lance felt a bad premonition.
"These monsters contain some sort of poison… no, corruption… We do not have much specifics about it yet, but their corruption has the ability to eat a body and soul, preventing their prey from healing…"
"That's just according to the report though." Francia's expression turned grave, looking at the frothing mouth of the dead wolves.
"...speculation?"
"This is our first time dealing with these monsters. As such, we're not sure… we just heard about this after our faction members were wounded and exposed by the fluids these creatures have."
"I still wanted to test my luck if the potion will work despite the report… but well." Francia shook her head.
"… you have other ways to save him, right? If it's a poison or something, you must have some sort of antidote or detoxifying item!" Lance's face despaired, looking at Francia for any hope.
The witch hesitated a bit… but still shook her head.
"What I used right now is a pure 'High-Level Rejuvenating Potion' that can detoxify most poisons and can cure all wounds. While the potions I used to heal the three of you are its diluted versions."
"The problem that boy has is that both his soul and body are being eaten by the corruption… The healing of the flesh is easy, but the damage to the soul is not…"
"..." Lance's hope was lost, he was too distracted to see the hesitation on the witch's face.
He did not need to ask if the witch has any soul-healing item, if she has, she would've used it already… and even if she has one, he knew there was no way the witch would use it.
Even favor has its limits too.
It was pretty obvious that a soul-healing item is something beyond someone could give to a stranger.
Seeing the hesitation on her face, Alterick spoke:
"These creatures have appeared out of nowhere, no warnings, no any predictions… well, except for the Priestess' words."
"We're still lucky we were able to come here with the sudden invasion, although a bit late…"
"… If it weren't for the scouts that immediately reported to us, the Earth… our home planet might've been…" the hero gritted his teeth a little, unwilling to continue his next words.
"Things have been unpredictable, ever since those monsters started spawning… casualties skyrocketed, mass extinction of races are all around, and the damage done will take many years for it to recover." The hero sighed, letting go of the frustrations.
"This is why we proceed with caution, as it is the first time we're dealing with these abominations."
"Dealing with the unknown is way scarier than dealing with a strong opponent."
"But…" Alterick looked at the hesitating Francia, the hero continued:
"You do have a way, right?"
Francia's face seems to struggle as if she's making the hardest decision of her life.
"Ms. Francia, please I beg of you. I know this is very selfish of me, but I will do everything to pay what you have to give just to save good sir's life." With a glimmer of hope, Lance faced Francia, making eye-to-eye contact.
"He saved our lives, even if we just met for a brief moment. I can tell he is not a bad person. No bad person will stay behind just to buy some time for a couple of strangers he just met to escape." Lance bowed for the sake of his bro.
Even for the small time they spent, escaping and running for their lives, he can feel that Rion is not what he seems to be on the outside.
One proof is how he broke his character when he found out he has become a 'player' in some sort of isekai novel.
Another one is their telepathic bro code understanding, with just a glance of their eyes, they understood what to do when the situation calls for them.
His otaku sense tells him that he found his lifelong brother as a man of culture!
Besides… What he just said is true.
Despite being goofy, Lance is not dumb when it comes to human emotions.
Before they left along with Leona and Cindy, he saw for a brief moment that Rion's hand shook for a while, despite saying he can hold off the monsters to buy them some time.
Lance felt fear coming from Rion at that time, despite masking it so well from his tone and posture.
He even suspects that the man is fooling himself, consciously oblivious at his own fear.
Lance understood that Rion was scared at that moment… no, the whole time.
From the moment they saved Leona from the bus to treating her wounds with his sloppy medical skills, all the way to when Rion sacrificed himself to buy them some time.
He just hasn't said anything.
Rion is scared.
Who wouldn't?
In the face of death and the pressure of the crisis, average people will feel fear.
If thrown into a life-and-death situation, seven out of ten would run for their lives, even sacrificing others for the sake of survival, two might be frozen on the spot by fear, and the last one might be the only person who can think clearly and respond simultaneously to the situation.
But even so… the last one doesn't guarantee that he or she will save others despite being rational at the situation.
Thus, it is praiseworthy that they were able to think clearly, despite being thrown into this chaotic situation all of a sudden, and Rion's actions are even more commendable.
It is normal to feel fear.
It is okay to be scared…
He too felt afraid of those monsters, despite his fantasy excitement.
And Lance can give his credit and respect to the man who can still think of others and sacrifice himself, despite being fearful for his life.
It is a stupid personality that people can take advantage of in this selfish world.
But it's a type of 'stupid' that he can respect and give his trust to.
Seeing his bow with his utmost sincerity and will.
Francia gave up her hesitation, as she deeply sighed.
She looked like a person who just released their long-awaited diarrhea.
"Oh~ An old witch was finally defeated by a youth's plea? Is the world ending right now!? HAHAHAHAHA~" The hero laughed loudly as he found this scene quite fantastic.
For a selfish witch to give her precious object for the sake of others, especially someone they don't know?
No way!
Is the world ending or something?
As for why Alterick deduced it was something precious, he knew Francia would make that face whenever it is something very important to her.
Actually, most of the witches would do.
It's just that most of them are sly creatures, who tend to mask their expressions most of the time.
But it is a bit different for this 'selfish' witch…
It is a naive expression that he gets to see, as someone close to Francia.
Most witches are usually selfish, workaholic maniacs who tend to spend their life researching magic and all the aspects around it.
They tend to feel neutral about others who are not related to them getting killed.
They don't give a damn unless it is the safety of their whole society like it is right now.
That's why in Francia's case for a witch like her, she's quite a rare specimen of her kind.
Maybe that's why Alterick, who is a hero, tends to partner up with this hopeless old witch, despite being a sly fox outside but a goddamn softy on the inside.
"SHUT UP!! I'M NOT OLD, AND I'LL GET THE FEES LATER WITH INTEREST, IT'S ALL IN THE PLAN, OKAY!?" Francia basically roared, veins popped on her head.
And as usual…
"HAHAHAHAHA~" The hero just laughed louder.
Lance who saw this just smiled seeing the interaction of the two.
Aware that she lost her composure, Francia coughed as she went back to the topic:
"Ehem."
"Yes, just like this barbarian over here said. I do have a way."
"Lucky your friend here has a talent for magic... or nothing else can save him."
Francia once again gestured with her hand, pulling a big flask out of the small leather pouch that appeared.
!!!
"The Elixir of Awakening!" Alterick's eyes widened in disbelief, upon seeing the big flask.
"Yes." Francia gave a serious affirmation, nodding her head.
'No wonder… So that's why she's very unwilling to give it... It's her lifelong work.' Alterick can't help but see Francia in a new light of deep admiration and respect for her decision.
The hero knew that she would be sacrificing an important thing, but he definitely didn't expect it would be the potion she was working on for the past 80 years!
For a witch, her lifelong work and project is her life… her everything, and for Francia to give it, makes Alterick think twice if he should stop her, he knows how important it is to her.
As a hero, he has great sympathy for others, especially of his own kind.
A hero must be selfless and must save others, especially those who are in need.
But as an old friend of Francia and a human being, he too has a limit on how much he should give to others, particularly to strangers.
Don't get him wrong, as a bearer of the hero title, he will do pretty much everything as long as the sacrifice isn't greater than the one's being saved.
But, in this case…
Is it worth it to give your 'everything' for the sake of others who you even don't know?
Despite being a hero, he has a bit of reluctance within his heart, he regretted a bit that he suggested something that might be unnecessary and could possibly be something that his friend might regret doing.
Alterick shook his head, removing this ridiculous thought out.
'Since when did I become this selfish?' The hero laughed to himself as he found the irony in his thinking and title.
On the other hand…
Lance, who is on the side completely oblivious to the topic, looked at the big flask.
The flask is shaped intrinsically, with golden rims and designs on its outer layer, on the cork part lay a golden cap and a dragon-shaped gemstone at the top.
While symbols and mini-magic circles, and runes are engraved on the body of the flask.
One can see that it is a special container for the liquid inside.
However, contrary to the extravagant flask, the liquid inside lacks appearance. It looks translucent, just like normal clear water.
Of course, despite the liquid's appearance, Lance doesn't dare to question its effects and power.
Seeing the great shock of the hero and the hesitation of the lady witch is enough to give him an idea of how powerful and rare the liquid inside the special-looking flask is.
In gacha terms, it is not an exaggeration to call it an SSR… no, a UR rarity item!
"... So what does it do?" Lance felt nervous, and at the same time excited, he gulped to moisten his dry throat.
"Are you sure, old witch?" Alterick on the side asked a serious question as he looked at Francia.
"... Yes." The witch didn't even bother retorting the way he called her, she closed her eyes and responded after a resolute sigh.
To be honest, she didn't even know why she would offer something very important to her, to someone who she doesn't even know.
But for some reason… she just felt an invisible force and a strong urge to do it.
It is some sort of intuition that she has, and that intuition never betrayed her, in fact, it is that same intuition that saved her life countless times and brought her here to who she is right now.
If it were any other time, regardless if it was someone really special, she wouldn't yield to using her lifelong work that easily.
But today, despite the pain and hesitation, she once again decided to follow her intuition…
And soon in the near future, that act of hers will do her more than what she gave as a result.
…
"... No worries, I won't use all of it. Just enough until the corruption has disappeared from his body and soul."
"A little should be enough for his soul to recover.."
"... As for the specific effects, I'll explain later. Your friend doesn't have much more time after all." with the monocle in her eye, she can see Rion's soul slowly dissipating, and his heartbeat dropping fast.
Lance nodded, as Francia gestured at the big flask.
After a series of word enchantments and incantations, one by one the runes and magic circles lit up, as the eyes of the dragon-shaped gemstone opened.
Slowly, the cap was unsealed, while a pure magic power was unleashed into the room.
Whoooooshh~!
The area around the manor was trembling, as the dead wolves were instantly purified by the aura coming from the flask!
Lance's face paled as he found it hard to breathe.
What kind of power is this!? The cap was just released and it feels like a whole mountain just fell on his whole body!
Seeing his state, Alterick immediately went ahead and got him to a far enough area for him to breathe.
"Thanks."
"Hahaha~ No problem, actually, sorry that I forgot to warn you." Alterick laughed as he scratched his head in embarrassment.
Lance nodded, shock and disbelief glinting in his eyes.
To his surprise, the once transparent liquid turned into colorful lights that were constantly moving.
"What is that…?" Lance looked at the flask in amazement and awe, slowly catching his breath.
"The Elixir of Awakening, a potion that has been the work and struggle of the 'Alchemical Witch', Francia Hanelin for the past 80 years." The hero casually said without looking away at the commotion before them.
…