Deathkeepers Bite and Her Recovery

Rumble~

The ceiling began collapsing. Debris everywhere.

I ran for the exit and ran down the long hallway, trailing behind me was Ichigo. A large stone detached from the ceiling and it was heading for me.

I think it's time I tested this ability.

"Freeze time!"

Crack!

Tick-Tick-Tick~

At that moment, everything seemed to have just stopped. In addition to everything looking black and white, except me.

Ouroboros seemed to be glowing at its brightest. I looked up at the large stone and launched several wind blades. Abruptly, everything seemed to fall down again, but the stone was cut into multiple pieces.

Guess that was one second. Now I need to wait five more seconds.

[Mana: 7750/8000]

*A few moments later*

[Time to escape: 5:19]

We had arrived at the large pool. The electrical eels were sending multiple waves of electricity along the water. I summoned the ogre again and rode on its shoulder. Ichigo got onto the other shoulder and we began moving.

A large rock was falling from the ceiling, and I activated the time stop.

Crack!

Tick-Tick-Tick~

I seem to be getting a bit familiar with this ability, though I wish it wasn't a bit obvious. I have to have my gauntlets equipped in order to use time stop. I mean, this can be really useful. Like sneaking into the women's bath without getting caught...

I mean what?

[Mana: 7142/8000]

Anyway, we had finally gotten to the other side. My spectrals are able to move in my stopped time, but they first have to be three meters near me, or else they will be frozen. I checked the timer again, and we only had five minutes left.

Along the way, there were fallen soldiers everywhere. They all seemed to be tired and weak. Well, they did fight some turtle monster thingies in here. Not like they had to face a time stopping and looping snake for a while. Now that I think of it, why wasn't I given a time looping ability? Oh well that doesn't matter, time stopping is where it's at.

I decided to evacuate them because that's what a normal human being would do. I may be a demon, but I'm still human! Both inside and outside!

I summon my spectrals and ordered them to carry any soldiers that we encounter. There were some cases where one of the soldiers tried to resist.

"Ahh!!! Get away from me!"

I had to walk over and explain to him that I'm an ally and that my spectrals are also allies. Eventually, he calmed down and finally decided to come along. Yeah, don't wanna be stuck in a dungeon that's about to collapse.

Now that we were nearing the exit, I don't think I'll need to have Ouroboros equipped.

"....h-h... help me..."

I looked over at a soldier who was piled up against the wall. I walked over and asked him if he was okay. His voice was very scratchy and dry.

"H-help... please..."

He showed me his arm, and it was all swollen. His veins were visibly black, and he was twitching at random intervals.

Could this be poison? But what kind of poison can do this? It's not like the Chronos snake's poison. I should give him the antidote I have in my storage.

I pulled out the antidote resting in my storage, and what I pulled out was a small vial with red liquid inside. I popped open the vial and removed the soldier's helmet. I wished I didn't do that though because the veins on his face were also black and visible. I hesitated before giving the antidote. Can the antidote even save this guy? The poison has already gone up to his head. Is there even any hope for this guy?

Nevertheless, I opened his mouth and poured the antidote into his mouth.

Now I don't know how to apply an antidote, so this is my best attempt. Slowly, the soldier's veins slowly returned to their original colors and his skin was now clear of any distinctions. So this antidote can get rid of any poison, even if it has gone up to the vital parts? I should use this when someone direly needs it.

After the man was calm again, he was carried by one of the ogres.

From here, I think we are alright.

Rattle~!

"Huh? What was that?"

Then out of the blue, a small snake lunged towards me with its jaw, no, maw open, and bit my left arm, which was exposed.

"Ack!"

Slash!

Ichigo quickly came to my side and slashed the snake into two. The snake let go and squirmed onto the ground, then laid there.

"My lord, are you alri-!"

The snake must've been venomous because my veins started to become black. A few seconds later, my whole left arm was covered in black veins.

I started coughing out blood and I felt my arm burning. How dumb could I be? After Ichigo had pulled my sleeve up, I forgot to pull it down because I was using Ouroboros.

I was thinking of ordering Ichigo to cut my left arm off, but the venom had already reached by heart area.

[Health: 10694/11000]

[Health: 10241/11000]

My health began to rapidly decrease. Oh jeez, when will Elixir Thrive activate? If I recall, it activates when the poison is at its peak.

So why isn't it starting?!

It hurt like hell. My stamina was drained and my vision was all blurry. Oh god, this thing hurts.

Ding!

[Time: 0:59]

Sh*t... I only got less than a minute to get out of here. I hope my spectrals didn't miss a single soldier or I'll kill them again!

"Ichigo..."

"As you wish."

Responding to my call, he put my arm over his shoulder and began carrying me.

Eventually, we reached the surface. I don't know how much time had passed, but it was quick as the timer had only ten seconds left.

Ahh, I think I should have my spectrals return to me now.

"You did good... you can return..."

Ichigo nodded and placed me on to the ground carefully. Then he erupted into purple dust and vanished.

***

I must've lost consciousness right there. Because now I was inside of a... tent?

I was lying on top of a futon mattress and a blanket covering me. My clothes were neatly folded next to me. Wait... am I naked? Who the hell stripped me while I was asleep?! Oh wait, I have my boxers on, that's a relief.

Then someone entered the tent.

"Greetings."

He said with a soft and deep voice. This man was muscular. He was wearing a black tight tank top which reveals his abs and golden armor on his lower body. He was also carrying a gigantic sword on his back.

"Who are you?"

I asked.

"I am Grisha Castil, a high-ranking officer of his majesty's imperial army."

He said proudly. A high-ranking officer, huh? So he's probably a commander or something. I think he was the one that was leading us into this dungeon. Well, he didn't do much, but he did evacuate most people and warned us about that Earthshaker.

"Noctem, I have a question for you."

"Huh? How do you know my name?"

"Your... guild card."

Oh right.

"So anyway, what's your question?"

"How were you able to recover from a Deathkeepers bite?"

"Huh? Deathkeeper?"

"You were bitten by one of the most venomous snakes in this world. How were you able to recover so quickly?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you came out of that dungeon, you were bitten by a Deathkeeper, am I right?"

Deathkeeper? Is that what that snake was called? I think that's a bit exaggerated, that snake wasn't that dangerous...

Actually, maybe it was. That guy looked like he was on the verge of death. Don't tell me I looked like that. I think my Elixir Thrive effect activated when I went unconscious.

Now to answer his question.

"Yeah, I was."

"So how did you recover? There is no antidote in the market that can cure a poison inflicted by a Deathkeeper, so ho-"

"With this."

I pulled out an antidote from my storage. Grisha inspected, and I gave it to him so he could have a closer look.

"Fascinating... so you recovered using this?"

"Yeah."

Well, not really, but I could've. The reason why I'm not telling him that I can recover from any poison without drinking an antidote is because if word got out that I could recover from any form of poison, then my blood would be extremely valuable. I mean, my blood must contain some kind of cell that gets rid of the venom. Hmm... but then, I think I would only be cured if Elixir Thrive activates and I don't think that will work for others. But just to be safe, I won't reveal my secret.

"Where did you get this?"

"Oh umm, I got it from my father who died years ago. He left me some of these just in case I was bitten by something venomous."

I lied straight on the spot. What was I going to tell him? That I got it from a system that grants me rewards for completing stuff? Pff, yeah right, like he's going to believe that.

"How many do you have on you?"

Grisha asked me.

"Uhh... I have 8 more."

"Can I buy them off you?"

"Huh? Why?"

"The king's daughter is in need of an antidote that can cure his daughter from poison. I believe this can help her recover."

The king's daughter is poisoned? Well, it wouldn't hurt to sell him this, would it? I guess I can sell it to him.

"So how much will you offer?"

"How does 1 platinum coin for each vial sound?"

"A platinum coin? How much is that in gold coins?"

"A hundred of them."

WHAT?! So if I sold him all of my antidotes, I can get 9 platinum coins, which means... 900 gold coins?!

Money...

But should I sell him everything? I think I should just sell him three. After all, I do need some of these for myself. Well, not specifically myself but for other people, like that princess.

"How about just three of them?"

"S-sure!"

"Alright."

I sold him three vials of antidotes for three platinum coins. Hohoho, I'm technically rich!

Now, I hope the princess recovers. I actually don't know if the antidote works for every kind of poison but I believe it will work.

***

<>

Two days had passed after that.

Echo was walking up to Fritz with a scroll in his hand. The king noticed Echo approaching him and asked.

"Report?"

Echo bowed and opened the scroll. Echo was not only the guild leader of the top guild but he was also the king's advisor.

"Out of the thirty, only 13 of them were cleared."

"How many tragedies?"

"A few hundred my lord, no deaths have been recorded, just injured."

Fritz sighed in relief. He didn't expect to be this lucky. As long as there weren't any deaths, there was nothing major to worry about.

Well, except one...

Fritz shook his head and looked up at the ceiling.

"My precious daughter..."

Yes, the princess was still poisoned. She was given treatment and the priests from the church even casted her with healing magic, but nothing worked. The poison was too potent. She only has three days left to live.

"There is no hope..."

BAM!

Grisha barged into the throne room and approached the king.

"Your majesty!"

He looked over at Echo.

"Kneel before his majesty. Then you may speak."

Echo said as he glared at Grisha. Grisha nodded and knelt. Then he got up.

"Your majesty."

Fritz lifted his head and glanced at Grisha.

"What is it?"

Grisha reached into his pocket and pulled out three vials of red liquid. Echo tilted his head and Fritz stared at him.

"This is a special kind of antidote, I believe it will cure her highness."

"And what makes you think that will heal my daughter? I have tried everything. And nothing works. What makes you thi-"

"This was able to heal a Deathkeeper's bite with serenity!"

When he said that, the whole room went silent. The servants stood still, and the knights in the room looked at Grisha.

"Really?"

"Yes..."

But can it really get rid of whatever poison that was inflicted on to the princess? The king couldn't believe it but Grisha was wearing a confident face.

"Give it here."

Echo said, and Grisha tossed him a vial. Echo popped the vial open and sniffed it a few, then he consumed it.

A few seconds passed, and Echo nodded towards the king. He was checking if the vial was contained with poison or not. Just a precaution.

Slowly, the king's eye sparkled with hope. Can this antidote really save his daughter? He's tried everything and was on the verge of giving up. This must be a gift from the gods.

"You!"

He called out to a maid.

"Deliver one of these antidotes to my daughter's room."

The maid nodded and walked over to Grisha, who handed her a vial. Then she walked up the stairs and headed towards the princess's room.

When the maid got there, a female knight who was wearing silver armor was guarding the room. The knight was masked, and that intimidated the maid.

"What is your reason for coming here?"

She asked, and the maid responded.

"I am here to deliver an antidote to the princess."

"How can you be sure that's not poison? Did Echo check it?"

"Yes, he did."

The knight hesitated for a moment, but then gave in and opened the door into the princess's room. As the maid walked in, there was a lady sitting next to a girl lying in her bed. The girl was all pale, paler than snow. The lady turned her head towards the maid. This lady is Floura Von Regium, wife to the king.

Her eyes were all red from sobbing. Hearing the news of her daughter's eventual death made her depressed, and she has never left her daughter's side. She had tried everything to help her daughter, but nothing worked.

"What is it?"

She asked the maid. The maid bowed and handed her the antidote.

"This is an antidote. It may cure the princess of the poison."

The queen hesitated as she took the vial. It was small and didn't look any special. How was it going to heal her daughter?

But she was desperate, she wanted her daughter to become healthy again.

So she popped the vial open and gently lifted her daughter up. The princess weakly opened her eyes and looked at her mother.

"Mother..."

"Honey... drink this. It will help you get better."

She placed the vial near her daughter's mouth and gently poured the liquid. The princess began to drink it and suddenly, her skin began to regain its color. Then she took the vial away from the queen's hand and swallowed it all.

The princess looked at her hands and she didn't feel any fatigue anymore.

"M-mother..."

"M-my baby..."

Floura hugged her daughter tightly and began to cry. The maid that was watching this was in shock and ran out the door, shouting.

"The princess is restored!"

***

Fritz walked into his daughter's room and hugged her tightly.

"Emilia, my sweet girl."

"Father."

Fritz caressed his daughter's face and kissed her on the forehead.

Everyone smiled as they saw this heartwarming reunion. If it wasn't for the antidote that Grisha brought in, Regium would've lost one of their important figures.

"Thank you Grisha, how should I repay you?"

"Well umm... I don't think I should take credit for this."

"Why? You saved my daughter."

"I uhh... didn't get the antidote on my own."

The room went silent for a bit, but then Fritz continued.

"Who was it that gave you this antidote?"

Grisha looked at the king and smiled.

"It was given to me by a fellow named Noctem."