Cause and Wait

Even though Alaris managed to push away the great blocks of debris which had fallen on him, the pressure of Undeath continued to press down on his body like a mountain. He tried to use his Perfect Aura to shield himself against the effect, but it was no use. With or without the Aura, he still felt as though the air was being sucked from his lungs. Or perhaps it was more like he felt as though life energy was drained from his body forcefully.

He struggled to even speak. One of his lips was hanging by a thread of skin below his mouth, blood red.

The rest of his injuries looked even more brutal. However, the fact that he had even survived the encounter with Mercella's corpse – which had become some kind of Divine relic abused by the nine – was a miracle.

Alaris wasn't satisfied with this miracle though.

He couldn't help but regret his choices.