Azazel Infected Clinic.
Hellagur was currently standing by the side of a somewhat dim hospital room. His resolute and handsome face, full of the unique charm of a mature man, showed a hint of worry and a touch of pain, though these expressions were well hidden by Hellagur. As someone who had seen great storms and was accustomed to life and death.
After taking over [Azazel], he felt his heart had softened quite a bit.
On the hospital bed.
A young girl, who looked to be only about ten years old, was convulsing in extreme pain. On her small body, terrifying and grotesque Originium crystals were constantly crawling across her skin. Nearby, beads of sweat trickled down Liz's beautiful face.
Under the influence of Liz's Originium Arts.
The staff in her hand, inlaid with Originium, continuously emitted a warm glow like the sun. This light could barely alleviate the pain of an Infected's Oripathy. However... this young girl's acute Oripathy outbreak was particularly severe this time, and even Liz's abilities couldn't suppress it.
She felt a sense of unwillingness.
Clearly, the little girl's soul was in immense pain... yet she was powerless at this moment...
Liz reluctantly withdrew her power, using her staff to push herself up from the stool, and shook her head at Hellagur behind her.
"I'm... I'm very sorry... Mr. Director, I can't do anything more..."
Beside her, Shining patted Liz on the head, trying to comfort her.
Hellagur let out a heavy sigh, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"No need to apologize... Miss Liz, you've already done your best..."
"Grandpa Director... Grandpa Director!!"
On the bed, the girl in agony from the Oripathy outbreak kept calling Hellagur's name. Hellagur immediately rushed over and held the little girl in his arms.
"It's alright, it's going to be alright."
Hellagur's heart was filled with sorrow.
He originally thought that after his best friend died in front of him, his last weakness would disappear. He never expected... that after taking over [Azazel], his weaknesses would only multiply. Or rather, Hellagur was happy to have more and more weaknesses.
However....
An immense pain spread through his heart.
These children all had Oripathy, including Hellagur himself. However, because Hellagur's own strength was so formidable, although he was now old, Oripathy couldn't pose much of a threat to him in the short term.
The weaker a person's constitution, the greater the threat of Oripathy.
Over the years, Hellagur had lost count of how many children had died in front of him due to Oripathy. Despair, helplessness. Even for him, who had once dominated the battlefield, he felt so hopeless for the first time.
He tightly hugged the little girl in his arms. Outside the room, many children were waiting, both big and small. The youngest was only six, and the oldest was in their late twenties. However, to Hellagur, never mind twenty-something, even forty was still like a child...
They prayed outside. Over the years, more and more of their companions had died from Oripathy, and all they could do was pray. Some children even couldn't help but cry, crying for the friend who was about to lose her life, and also crying for their own similar future...
Just then, the sound of two hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
Hellagur suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his golden eyes.
Actually.
Hellagur had already despaired after Miss Liz's treatment failed. However, in moments of despair, people are more likely to believe in the last straw they once distrusted. With no other options, Hellagur dialed the number on the business card Lucas had left him. He hadn't expected to need help so soon.
Bang.
The clinic door was pushed open.
Hellagur quickly stood up. Liz, Shining, and Nearl were also surprised to see the two young women who walked in from outside.
"Miss Alina! Miss FrostNova!"
"There's no time, Mr. Hellagur."
The moment Lucas entered the room, he could see how critical the little girl's condition was. The Originium crystals on her body had already spread severely across her skin. If they were any slower, she might not be savable.
"Mr. Hellagur, could you please step outside? Uh... could you three ladies please step outside as well?"
Lucas could tell.
The medicine developed by Silence would be useless for this condition. Only he could suppress it by acting personally.
Hearing Lucas's words.
Hellagur left without any hesitation. Shining and the others also quickly went out. They were now extremely curious as to how these two young ladies would treat this little Infected girl who seemed to have no hope of rescue.
The door closed.
FrostNova quickly went to draw the curtains.
At this moment, the little girl was too weak, so weak that she was barely conscious. Lucas promptly left Alina's body and entered the little girl's. Her soul within was in a terrible state.
During the acute phase of Oripathy, the Originium fragments were like countless needles, constantly stabbing the little girl's internal organs. Lucas didn't hesitate and immediately used his ability. With the injection of a special power, the incredibly violent Originium crystals slowly, slowly became docile.
This process lasted for a full half hour.
During this half hour, Lucas continuously used his ability to pacify the Originium crystals in the little girl's body, putting them into a temporary dormant state, as if coaxing a child. Due to his full concentration, even as a soul, Lucas was exhausted.
Finally...
After another twenty minutes.
The Originium crystals in the little girl's body finally settled down and entered a state of slumber.
At this point.
After the Originium crystals in her body were brought under Lucas's control, the intense pain inside the little girl finally stopped. Lucas quickly exited the girl's body, returned to Alina's, and cast [Mirror Flower, Water Moon] to create a different memory of the treatment for the little girl.
Phew...
Lucas breathed a sigh of relief.
To an outsider, it might not seem like much. However, after entering the little girl's body, Lucas was truly exhausted. If not for his own soul power being inherently strong, if he had the soul strength of when he first awakened, he would probably be so tired he'd want to sleep immediately.
At this moment.
Hellagur was waiting anxiously outside the door.
Finally.
The door to the hospital room opened.
Hellagur, Shining's group of three, and many of the children praying nearby all crowded around, their eyes wide as they waited for Lucas's answer.
"Miss Alina... how is the child's condition...."
Hellagur asked slowly.
In reality, he had already given up all hope and just wanted a clear answer from Lucas.
"She's fine now. You can go in."
Lucas said casually, as if he had just done something very minor.
Sigh~
A long sigh escaped Hellagur's lips. In that instant, he seemed to age even more. The surrounding children were now sobbing.
"Thank you, Miss Alina, Miss FrostNova, for coming all this way. I'm sure the child would be incredibly grateful to you...."
"???"
Huh?
At this moment.
Lucas, standing by the door, felt his eye twitch. A million question marks flashed over his head.
"Are you guys... crying for the wrong reason?"
Lucas retorted.
"Sigh... Miss Alina, everyone has their own fate. Over the years, we've already..."
"Huh?!!!"
Hellagur hadn't even finished his sentence when he suddenly realized that what Lucas had just said wasn't 'my condolences', but 'she's fine now'!!
"Huh! Huh!!!"
Hellagur's eyes widened in disbelief. His usually golden and sharp gaze instantly turned from a hawk's to an owl's.
"I'm sorry... Miss Alina, I'd like to go in and see for myself..."
With that said.
Lucas stepped aside, clearing a path for Hellagur. Hellagur rushed in, and not just him; Shining's group of three anxiously followed behind. The group of children waiting outside also eagerly rushed in.
When Hellagur saw the little girl lying on the bed, though still a bit weak, but otherwise fine, he was too moved to speak.
"Grandpa Hellagur!"
The little girl waved at Hellagur. He quickly walked over, held the little girl in his arms, and gently ruffled her hair.
Really...
She was really saved!!!
At that moment.
The children in [Azazel] erupted in excited cheers. The intense psychological whiplash was like being sentenced to death one second and then being saved the next. Even though the little girl was now sitting by his side behaving as if nothing had happened, Hellagur still felt it was somewhat unreal.
Or rather.
He had never imagined.
That in this world, there was truly a way to suppress Oripathy!!
It wasn't just Hellagur.
At this moment.
Shining, Liz, and Nearl, who were standing to the side, also had their eyes wide open.
The trio had traveled to many places and helped many of the Infected. They naturally knew why Oripathy was called a terminal illness—because there was no way to treat it. Even alleviating the symptoms was a luxury. And this kind of severe, acute outbreak of Oripathy was basically a death sentence, with no chance of help.
But...
But....
A living example had appeared right before the eyes of Shining's trio.
As healers, Liz and Shining knew perfectly well how severe this little girl's Oripathy had been. But... Oripathy that severe had actually... actually been suppressed.
This girl...
No... or rather, this girl with a mismatched soul inside her, what kind of person was she?
It wasn't just the children and Hellagur who were happy; Lucas was ecstatic at this moment.
Because after treating this child, everyone in [Azazel] had provided him with a whopping twenty thousand Prayer Power in one go. What did that even mean...
Adding this thirty thousand.
Lucas's total amount had increased from over thirty thousand to over sixty thousand. It wouldn't be long before he broke the hundred thousand mark..
Thirty thousand...
Hiss.
Lucas sucked in a breath.
As expected.
The wishes of children are pure, and their gratitude is pure.
Just like with Ifrit.
He had only helped one child and immediately received thirty thousand Prayer Power.
But he had provided so much important food to the Infected of the Reunion Movement, and even helped them repel the Emperor's Blade, yet the most he got at one time was just over ten thousand Prayer Power. Moreover... the number of these children was actually about the same as the number of Infected in Reunion. This comparison immediately showed the difference.
Hellagur quickly recovered from his excited state. He patted the little girl's head with great affection and said kindly.
"Grandpa will make you all chicken soup tonight."
He then stood up and invited Lucas, his companion, and Shining's trio to his office for a discussion.
This time was completely different from the first.
Sitting in the office.
Hellagur's gaze towards Lucas was incredibly fervent, as if he had discovered a treasure. His golden eyes had lost much of their sharpness. It wasn't just Hellagur; Liz, at his side, was also extremely curious. She kept sizing up this cute young lady who had another soul within her.
Liz was different from Shining.
Shining could vaguely perceive some difference in the soul, but Liz's own senses were so acute that she could clearly feel the presence of souls. From the very first time she met Lucas, Liz had already seen that beneath Alina's body, besides her own soul, there was another male soul hidden, and that soul was in control for almost the entire time.
She knew very well.
The one who had just treated the little girl was not the soul of the girl they could see, but this male soul.
"Thank you so much, Miss Alina!!"
Hellagur stood up directly and bowed deeply to Lucas with utmost respect. In his entire life, he had never shown such a gesture of respect to anyone. Even during his campaigns in the north and south, when he had an audience with the emperor in the palace, he had only bowed slightly, not a full ninety-degree bow like this. This showed just how grateful he was to Lucas.
At the same time.
Another 4000 Prayer Power flowed into Lucas's soul.
Hiss...
Is this Mr. Hellagur's Prayer Power so strong?
It's almost like Jessica's back then. After he helped her overcome her cowardice, Jessica also gave Lucas over four thousand Prayer Power.
"There is no need for such formalities, Mr. Hellagur."
Lucas quickly waved his hand.
"It was the least I could do."
*After all... you've already paid the price.*
A full thirty-four thousand Prayer Power. His total Prayer Power had now reached seventy thousand.
Very satisfied.
Hellagur didn't ask how Lucas performed the treatment. He knew that this treatment method was definitely a top secret for Lucas. If he pried, he might upset the other party. A person who can alleviate Oripathy...
Terrifying...
So there really are such extraordinary people in the world.
As expected.
Throughout the world, there are many talented individuals. Ursus is still too small.
"Miss Alina, regarding our previous discussion... I am very sorry... I clearly didn't help you with much, and even rejected your request... yet you still..."
Hellagur let out a heavy sigh.
He had met too many people over the years.
Selfless people were rare.
But selfish people were a dime a dozen.
Or rather.
Human nature is inherently selfish.
'You helped me, so it's only natural that I help you.'
'You rejected me, so it's only natural that I don't help you.'
Lucas smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Hellagur, your refusal was because you were unable to help, within your means. But before you refused us, weren't you willing to take the two of us in?"
Hellagur shook his head with a bitter smile: "If you and the Reunion Movement wish to cooperate, I can agree. However, my abilities are limited. I may not be able to shelter too many people. This is Ursus, after all."
"That's alright, Mr. Hellagur."
"There is one other thing I was preparing to give you, as a sign of our Reunion Movement's sincerity."
With that said.
Lucas took a metal briefcase from FrostNova's hand and placed it in front of Hellagur. With a click, it opened, revealing ten syringes lying inside. Each syringe was filled with a dark green liquid.
"This?!"
Hellagur was puzzled.
The three from Shining's group also leaned in for a closer look.
"This is an injectable solution that can somewhat alleviate Oripathy, jointly developed by our Reunion Movement's Lucas Reeve and Raythean Medica. This is the first batch, and we intend to give it to you."
"This!!!"
Hellagur's face was a mask of utter shock.