System Alert!
Moon Eater's Awakening Forcefully Terminated. User In Critical Condition
Mist let out a dry chuckle. "Tch. That was a damn hassle."
His knees wobbled, but he forced himself toward Krad's unconscious form. The remnants of the Moon Eater's power still crackled faintly around him, but the worst had passed. Mist knelt beside him, placing a hand on his chest.
A soft glow enveloped his palm.
Celestial Healing: Active
Krad's wounds slowly mended, his breathing stabilizing. Mist watched in silence. He reached into his inventory, summoning a Celestial Stone, its soft blue glow illuminating the ruins. Holding it above Krad, he let its energy flow into him.
The warmth of the healing magic surrounded Krad's body. His fingers twitched. Then slowly, his eyes opened. The dim light of a ruined castle ceiling greeted him. The air was wet, heavy with the smell of moss and rot.
His body felt... strangely light. The suffocating presence that once gripped his mind was gone. But as his sight cleared, he saw Mist hovering over him, the Celestial Stone's light reflecting in his unreadable gaze.
Krad blinked. Then, realization struck.
"…You're healing me?"
Mist scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Nah, I just like wasting valuable Celestial Stones on unconscious idiot."
Krad sat up with a groan, touching his forehead. "What… happened?"
Mist's expression didn't change. "You passed out after beating that Goblin Orc. Pretty dramatic, really."
Krad froze. "…What?"
Mist leaned back against a fallen pillar, crossing his arms. "Yeah. After you collapsed, another Goblin Orc showed up. Nasty one. I had to handle it myself."
Krad's brows knitted together. Something about Mist's words didn't sit right.
His gaze dropped, and that's when he saw it.
A deep wound slashed across Mist's side.
The sight sent a jolt through him. That wasn't from a Goblin Orc. It was fresh. Too fresh. And looking at the way Mist's hand subtly gripped his ribs, he was still in pain.
Krad's stomach twisted. "Where did you really get that wound?"
Mist's face didn't even flinch. "Tch. Weren't you listening? That damn Goblin Orc got a lucky hit."
Krad's mind was still spinning.
The ruined castle around him stood in eerie silence, broken pillars and shattered stone illuminated by the dim light of the Celestial Stone. The air smelled of burnt earth, but all Krad could focus on was Mist and that damn wound.
"Why aren't you healing yourself?" His voice was firm.
Mist arched a brow, the usual smugness lingering in his expression. "Tch. Didn't I just save your sorry ass? And this is how you thank me?"
"That's not what I asked." Krad's gaze didn't waver. "You're injured. You can use healing skill. So why aren't you using it?"
For a second, Mist didn't respond. His eyes held Krad's, unreadable. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he waved a dismissive hand.
"Because if you kicked the bucket during this training session, Miss Vice would skin me alive," he said, a grin tugging at his lips. "Can't have her lecturing me for weeks just because the newbie couldn't handle a Goblin Orc."
Krad frowned. "That doesn't explain why you're not healing yourself now."
"Oh, come on." Mist tilted his head. "You really think I'd waste precious healing skill together with Celestial Stone on a scratch? I've had worse, believe me."
Krad's chest tightened. The way Mist spoke so casually, like it didn't matter. But it did.
Because no matter how strong Mist was, a wound like that didn't belong on someone like him.
And that sinking feeling in Krad's gut wouldn't go away.
"…What really happened?" Krad's voice was low now. "I remember beating that Goblin Orc. But everything after that…"
The memories were fragmented. Fading. He could still feel the rush of power that had surged through him. Like something had stirred inside. But then, darkness. And now, Mist was hurt.
Mist's smirk remained, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Like I said. Another Goblin Orc showed up after you collapsed. Took me by surprise, but I handled it. Simple."
He was lying. Krad could feel it.
Krad's fists clenched. "But why?"
"Enough."
Mist's voice hardened just slightly. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Krad pause.
"I told you," Mist continued, his grin twisting into something colder. "You passed out. I took care of it. End of story."
Krad wanted to argue, to demand the truth. But the weight of Mist's words or maybe the exhaustion still lingering in his body held him back.
"…Fine."
For now.
Mist's grin returned, as if satisfied. "That's more like it."
Krad shifted his gaze away, frustrated but unwilling to push further. His mind lingered on the gaps in his memory. Why couldn't he remember?
He had no idea that the truth. The real reason behind Mist's wound. Was something far worse than he could imagine.
Because Mist knew.
The moment Krad lost consciousness, the Moon Eater's Awakening had taken over.
And if Krad ever found out the monster he'd become and what he had done to a human player like him... he might never forgive himself because he's an idiot.
System Alert!
User Recovery Complete
System Interface Reactivated
A familiar chime echoed in Krad's ears as his system interface flickered back to life. Translucent panels materialized before him, the glowing blue text sharp against the gloom of the ruined castle.
Health Restored: 78%
Mana Restored: 65%
Status Effects Cleared
System Interface Stabilized
Krad exhaled, the weight on his chest finally lifting. But the lingering unease from Mist's wound remained. The system might have declared his recovery complete, but something deeper had shifted. A fragment of the monstrous presence from before still gnawed at the edges of his thoughts.
He pushed the discomfort aside, his gaze flickering to Mist. The rogue leaned against the cracked pillar, arms crossed like he hadn't just drained a rare Celestial Stone on someone else. Despite his usual cocky demeanor, there was a stiffness in his stance. The wound at his side still pulsing with pain.
"You should use a potion. Or---" Krad's voice was low.
"Don't start," Mist cut him off with a dismissive wave. "I told you, I'm fine. Unlike you, I can handle a little scratch."
A scratch. Krad clenched his jaw. That was no ordinary injury. Even at a glance, the dark veins creeping from the torn flesh were far from normal. But every time he opened his mouth, Mist shot him that same irritating grin. Like it was a joke.
"Your system isn't even alerting you?" Krad pressed. "A wound like that should've triggered a status effect. Corruption? Bleed? Something."
"Tch. My system knows better than to nag me," Mist quipped. "Unlike someone I know."
DING!
A sharp notification interrupted him. His interface flashed once more.
User Inquiry Detected
Displaying Combat Log
A thin screen unfurled before him, text scrolling in real time. Krad's eyes scanned the log.
You defeated Goblin Orc
EXP Gained: 8,500
You obtained: Torn Orc Hide x1, Foul Essence x1
Skill Activation: Evade
Combat Evaluation: Error
Krad's pulse quickened. Error?
"What the hell…" he muttered.
But before he could delve further, Mist's voice snapped him back.
"Oi. Stop making that face," Mist sneered, though his voice carried a tinge of caution. "Whatever you're digging up in that system of yours? It's not worth it."
Krad's fingers twitched. "Why would the system log an error?"
Mist clicked his tongue, pushing off the pillar. "Because the system's buggy, dumbass. It happens. Especially when idiots like you mess around."
Before he could respond, Mist's body suddenly jerked. His smirk faltered. A tremor ran through him.
"Oi---"
The rogue staggered. His knees buckled as his breath caught in his throat. The hand that had been gripping his side tightened, his fingers digging into the torn fabric. Blood dark and sluggish seeped between them.
"Captain!"
Krad lunged forward, but Mist's body gave way before he could reach him. He crumpled to the ground, his ragged breaths breaking the eerie silence of the ruins.
DING!
A harsh chime rang through the air. Krad's system interface flared open once more, flooding his vision with crimson warnings.
System Alert!
Player 'Mist' Has Collapsed
Critical Condition Detected
True Damage Revealed
"True damage?" His voice trembled. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Then the screen flickered again, and his stomach dropped.
Injury Identified!
Curse Slash of the Vessel detected
Status: Incurable by standard means. all potions, healing magic, and recovery items are ineffective. Support Player required for emergency healing
Krad's heart pounded. "No... no, no, no. This can't be happening."
He knelt beside Mist, panic surging through him. The rogue's face was pale, his breaths shallow. The dark veins that had twisted around his wound spread further, creeping beneath his skin like a sinister web.
"Damn it!" He slammed his fist to the ground.
Mist coughed weakly, his eyes flickering open. "Heh… I told you…" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Just a scratch…"
"Shut up," Krad growled, his voice cracking. "You're dying, and you're still trying to act like it's nothing?"
Mist's lips curled into a weak grin. "Not… dying. Yet."
Krad grit his teeth. "You idiot, captain."
Suddenly, the air thickened. A foul energy slithered through the ruins, accompanied by a low, bone-chilling hum. The shadows around them twisted unnaturally, writhing like serpents.
Krad's breath hitched.
DING!
Warning: Cursed Presence Detected
Entity Identified: Cursed Elf Fairy (Barbara)
Threat Level: S-Extreme
A sound like cracking branches echoed as the shadows peeled apart, revealing a figure.
The Cursed Elf Fairy emerged, her slender, twisted form draped in rotting vines and tattered silk. Her once radiant wings were now skeletal, with holes that oozed with dark mana. Hollow, green eyes locked onto them, glowing with malice. Her face a grotesque blend of sorrow and rage twisted into a hollow grin.
"Poor intruder," she whispered.
Krad instinctively moved in front of Mist, his body trembling. The oppressive aura of Barbara crushed the air around him.
"What… what the hell are you?" Krad snarled, forcing his voice steady.
Barbara giggled, "You tore the veil. Now the echoes of the Moon Eater gnaw at your soul." Her eyes flickered to Mist. "And he… is the price."
DING!
Warning: Player 'Mist' Entering Final State. Death Countdown Initiated
Time Remaining: 00:05:00
His eyes widened in horror. A glowing crimson timer materialized above Mist's body, its numbers mercilessly ticking down.
"Five minutes…?"
His heart pounded. He could barely hear the rhythmic tick, tick, tick of the countdown.
"No," Krad gasped, his body trembling. "No, no, no. There's no way---"
But the truth was undeniable. In this realm, the boundary between virtual and reality had shattered. If Mist died here, his real body would die too.
And Barbara knew it.
"You carry the stench of guilt," she sneered, stepping closer. "The vessel's awakening shattered the balance. The curse devours him. And no potion, no skill, no stone can undo what has begun."
Mist coughed, blood trickling from his lips. His body convulsed, the veins of corruption crawling further beneath his skin. His breaths grew shallower.
"Damn it," Krad hissed, his eyes burning. "There has to be a way."
The system had demanded a Support Player. But they were alone.
He turned to Barbara, his fists clenched. "There has to be a way to stop it!"
She smiled coldly. "A choice, little vessel. Offer yourself. The cursed power within you and I shall spare him."
The air twisted. Dark tendrils wrapped around Krad's wrists, his body trembling as the oppressive weight of the Cursed Elf Fairy magic bore down on him.
System Prompt: Sacrifice Detected
Offer Acceptance: System override enabled
Initiate? Yes / No
Krad's finger hovered. But then...
"Don't… you dare."
Mist's voice, weak but defiant, broke through the haze. He gritted his teeth, his eyes burning through the pain. "You think… I'd let you pull that hero crap?"
"But you'll die!" Krad shot back, desperation cracking his voice.
Mist's bloodied grin widened. "Then I die. But not like this."
Barbara cackled. "Such bravado for one so broken. Foolish human."
But then, Mist's weak laughter joined hers. "Foolish? Nah." His eyes gleamed with something sharper than pain. Resolve. "What's foolish is thinking I wouldn't see through your lies."
Krad's gaze shot to Mist, confusion swirling. "What?"
Mist's trembling hand gripped Krad's wrist tightly. His voice, though weak, was venomous.
"She's lying. That cursed hag doesn't want to save me. She wants to devour you."
Barbara's grin twisted, the shadows around her writhing. "What nonsense do you speak, wretch?"
"You think I didn't notice?" Mist coughed, dark blood dripping down his chin. "The way your aura slithered when you mentioned the Moon Eater's awakening. You want its power. You're desperate for it. And what better vessel than him?"
Krad's fists tightened. The weight of Mist's words crashed down on him.
Barbara's voice turned guttural. "The Moon Eater's power is not yours to protect. You are nothing but fragments of a broken world. That beast's soul shall be mine."
"Like hell it will." Mist's voice was low, but his glare burned with defiance. "And I bet you're not even as strong as you act. Otherwise, why offer a deal? You're scared, aren't you?"
Barbara's skeletal wings snapped open, a deafening screech echoing through the ruins. The shadows twisted, forming monstrous tendrils that lashed at the air.
"You dare insult me, mortal?!"
Krad moved, stepping in front of Mist. His knuckles cracked as the last remnants of his strength surged through him. The air thickened with killing intent.
DING!
System Alert!
Battle Initiated
Barbara's twisted grin returned. "Very well. If death is your wish, then I shall grant it!"