Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 116: Book 2: Chapter 30: Martyr

Read chapter 116 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 2: Chapter 30: Martyr Book 2: Chapter 30: Martyr “Eric!” Alex was already on the ground beside him. There was no delay or hesitation as he dropped to his knees and pulled his brother-in-arms up to his chest. He ignored the curious stares, and the low murmurs of the people around him. The politics of the garden suddenly meant nothing to him. This was not the typical negotiations one did over wine, nor the hooded insults or back handed compliments they had prepared for, it was literal survival. He checked Eric’s pulse with two fingers pressed against his jawline. He found it, weak, frantic fluttering. Eric’s jaw was seized tight, and his skin felt clammy to touch. The pink bubbles of blood and saliva still frothed from his mouth as he convulsed slightly. This wasn’t another stat refinement this time, it was poison. It has to be. Something fast, aggressive. Internal bleeding already, unconsciousness near instantly. A shadow dropped beside him. “Allie—” He didn’t even need to say more. She was already uncorking a potion, fingers trembling as she forced the vial between Eric’s lips and tipped it. The liquid glowed briefly as it was forced down his throat. Alex was forced to helplessly watch as Eric coughed a weak, choked sound, then the glow of the potion dulled. “Not enough,” Allie whispered. Her voice was rigid. But her eyes were wide with worry. Alex’s mind clicked. “Your wound transfer. Use it.” “What?” “Move the poison into me.” ““No. Alex, that’s not—” She shook her head sharply. “That spell doesn’t work like that. I can only take it into myself, not pass it to someone else.” “You can change it,” he said, already rolling up his sleeve. “If there’s anything I learned from Sylvaris it that. You were taught by Celeste a bit too right? She explained spells to you? Magic is about intent, focus, will.” She stared at him. “Even if I could, you don’t know what this poison is. You could—” “I’m not him,” Alex said, voice low. “My body’s not normal anymore. My vitality has been refined twice, and the differences thanks to my… condition. I can survive it.” She hesitated. He could see the war inside her, the medic instinct battling the friend instinct, fear knotted under her ribs and coiled behind her eyes. “Allie,” he said again. “Trust me.” She swallowed, then nodded once slowly. Her hands moved, one hovered above Eric’s chest, the other to Alex’s arm. She closed her eyes. Through his [Aether Sight] ability, Alex could see the energy moving beneath her skin as she worked the start of the aether pattern for her spell, threads of gold and soft blue rising with her breath. “I don’t know if this will work,” she said. “It will,” Alex said. “Make it mine.” She began to speak, not loud, not soft. A healer’s mantra rewritten in real-time. Alex focused with her. On the shape of the energy as she wove the spell patter, its weight, its will. And then he felt it, like ice sliding through his veins. Like thorns threading under the skin and grabbing hold of his bones. A shock of something putrid pressed into his flesh. It coiled, and twisted, and burned. Alex hissed through gritted teeth. His fingers clawed into the grass. The poison moved fast, trying to carve him out from the inside. He felt the caustic energy eating at his muscles, bones and tissues. His body fought back, its structure rigid and strong, fighting to hold against whatever the substance was. The sheer amount of aether packed in his very cells helped as well, as the substance had to eat through the energy dense flesh, causing to slow down its mad hunger to devour him. But even then, it wasn’t enough. Alex could feel it, slowly, methodically, the poison would get him eventually, he couldn’t stop it. Obby, I— Then the substance reach his brain, hitting his consciousness like like an eight tonne mother badger. He could hear the faint call of Obby’s voice in his mind, as well as Allie calling out to him from far away. But it was muted, dulled. His breath caught, eyes flashing pale wi