Today... one last time (5)
The potion exploded between us, and the world turned gray.
The acidic stench of the mixture hit my nostrils like a punch to the brain.
I felt the effect instantly.
The liquid, laced with corrosive properties, bit into my skin, sliding through the torn fabric and making direct contact with open wounds.
The pain came like a wildfire.
''Argh… shit…'' I groaned, stumbling back.
The masked man screamed.
Not in rage — but in pain.
His wounds began to rot around the edges.
The blood, once hot and flowing, now looked thick. Almost solid.
The exposed patches of skin started to necrotize, darkening like dead flesh left in the sun.
My vision trembled.
My arm — the same one that had been slashed before — now throbbed like it was about to explode.
[Agility temporarily reduced. -20%]
[Endurance compromised and reduced by 15%.]
[Current state: Severe]
Luxxion whispered the stats as my body screamed.
But he also whispered something that kept me standing:
[Enemy is in critical condition.]
[Attack opportunity detected. Take it, Perseus.]
Between the pain tearing through my guts and the haze threatening to knock me out, I saw the masked man stagger.
The sword he held began to tremble.
The putrid aura — that vile, almost living thing — lost its shape.
And then, it exploded.
Fragments of dark energy shot in every direction, tearing into the ground and leaving scars in the air.
It hit us both like bullets from a pistol.
The man dropped to his knees.
His eyes behind the mask went dim for a second.
He coughed blood — dark red, like he was spitting out his own liver.
He was human. Like me.
And I knew.
This was it.
With what little strength remained in my legs, I charged.
My spear glowed in my hands.
It thrust, fast and clean, striking the side of his neck.
The sound was sharp.
Flesh tearing.
Blood gushing.
But he still moved.
Even with the aura gone.
Even with his body in shreds.
He still tried to kill me.
The blade came in a wide arc — a strike of desperation and hate.
I couldn't fully dodge — I felt the steel slice into my side, burning like a live coal.
I dropped to my knees. My fingers shook.
Gongja hesitated in the background.
Maybe because of the potion.
Maybe from fear.
But I couldn't wait.
A question surfaced in my mind: Can I really kill someone?
Someone real?
No rewinds?
But the answer came as a single impulse:
"Either you kill… or die."
I screamed.
With every ounce of strength I had left, I pulled my spear—
And drove it into the masked man's left eye.
The skull gave way with a sickening crunch.
[Strength: 1 Star (65% → 89%)]
[Endurance: 1 Star (55% → 81%)]
[Potion effects are ending and will soon be reversed!]
[However, the stats will revert to their updated values with growths!]
[Temporary physical condition: Critical]
He shuddered.
His hands let go of the sword.
His body fell backward with a thud.
Blood poured across the ground like ink, mixing with the purple smoke from the earlier potion.
Did I… do it?
My legs gave out.
I collapsed.
Gongja ran to me, yelling something. But my head was buzzing too loudly to understand.
Luxxion's notifications flashed across my vision, blinking like alarms on a sinking ship.
But I didn't read any of them.
I only saw the face of the dead man.
''Did I… win?''
That was my last thought before the pain dragged me under.
[Your body is in critical condition.]
[Your consciousness is being transferred.]
That was all I heard. It wasn't Luxxion's voice. It was different.
And I felt myself sink.
______________
Gongja hesitated.
Not because he wanted to. But because fear truly froze him.
The potion's explosion.
The aura's explosion.
Both had hit not only the enemy… but also Liam.
The plan — if it could even be called that — nearly went up in smoke because of him. Because he hesitated. Because he watched.
He shouldn't have stopped.
But he did.
It was only when the Sword Emperor's voice roared in his mind, thunderous like a bolt splitting the sky, that he finally came to his senses.
But the fight…
Was already over.
The corpse lay sprawled on the ground.
A spear blade pierced the masked man's face.
From the left eye through the skull. Like a grotesque skewer of flesh, blood, and bone.
Gongja gripped his dagger tight.
And even so, he drove the blade straight into the corpse's chest.
The heart. Where the heart should've been. Just to be sure.
It slid in without resistance.
He pulled it back out.
The sound of flesh tearing was almost worse than the silence that followed.
After that, he did the best he could.
Dragged Liam. Lifting him alone was impossible, but with the help of gravity and a surge of late adrenaline, he managed to sling the boy's body over his shoulder.
His skin was burned in several places. But the side… the side hit by the aura…
It was raw flesh.
Melted skin. Exposed muscle. The smell.
Of death.
Gongja poured potions. All he had.
They weren't enough.
But at least, the bleeding stopped.
At least… on the outside.
Internal bleeding was a damn question mark.
He had no time for doubt.
He took the masked man's sword, wrapped it in thick cloth — the thing still reeked of that putrid energy — and left the tenth floor before anyone else could show up.
He crossed the Tower's halls until he reached the first floor.
Moved through alleys like a shadow. Avoiding glances. Shortcuts. Backstreets. Side entrances.
The Sword Emperor wouldn't shut up for a second, trying to give instructions on how not to carry a half-dead body like a sack of potatoes.
But Gongja could barely hear him.
He had only one thought:
Get to her shop.
The door opened.
''Hey,'' Gongja said, trying to keep his voice steady. ''I need help.''
The Alchemy Master looked up from the counter.
Her expression changed instantly.
''...What happened to him?''
''It happened.'' he answered. ''Can you save him?''
The woman dropped everything and rushed over.
She touched Liam's face. Then his arms. Examining every wound with her eyes.
''External bleeding has stopped.'' she muttered. ''But this…''
Gongja said nothing.
She exhaled, shutting the shop door with a loud click and locking it tight.
''Maybe.'' she said. ''But not here. Take him to the back.''
He obeyed.
They passed through curtains, shelves full of vials, potions, essences, ingredients with unpronounceable names. Until they reached a small room with a low bed.
He laid Liam down there.
The boy groaned something unintelligible.
The Alchemy Master was already preparing things. Bowls. Jars. Wisps of steam rose into the air.
''I need absolute silence.'' she said.
''Got it.''
She looked at him.
''And I need you not to panic.''
''Can't promise that.''
''Then shut up.''
She got to work.
Gongja watched. Unblinking.
Her hands were fast. Precise. Liquids were poured. Compresses pressed down. A soft, greenish aura began to wrap around Liam's body.
A faint glow.
A gentle warmth.
But the pain didn't leave his face.
Gongja clenched his fists.
The Sword Emperor spoke.
''What's up, Zombie Kim?''
''…Don't start.''
''I'm just asking. You saw what I saw, didn't you?''
''I did.''
''Then you know what that means?''
''That we almost lost?''
''No. That you hesitated. That if it weren't for that kid, you would be the one with your face buried in the ground right now.''
''...''
''You still think you're not weak?''
Silence.
Gongja looked at Liam.
Then at his own hands.
And sighed.
A notification sounded. But it wasn't from the Tower.
It was different.
[You have received an invitation to join a group chat.]
[Invitation sent by: Luxxion.]
[Do you wish to accept?]
He stared at the message.
And didn't know how to respond.