CH270

All he wanted to do was give into his body’s demand that he pass out, but he knew that he couldn’t. They were in a state of emergency. Even though Greed would be able to repair the damage he’d put his body through working it like that, it would take days that they didn’t have. If he couldn’t move, he needed to at least be able to think.

It was with that goal in mind that he looked at the enchantments that were within his field of view and focused on them, making himself fall into everything that made them what they were. They both needed more time than what they had, and he was determined to get it, if alone to spite the god that went to all of the effort to make the trial.

As he did, Greed spoke to him and he let one of his minds listen half-heartedly, though he didn’t speak back. He didn’t think he could. Rolling over and his brief exchange with his sole companion had used up his last bit of whatever energy Greed had managed to provide him and all that was left was pain.

He wasn’t positive what had been done, but he was fairly sure that instead of a buff, Greed had forcefully used magic to make his body work beyond its limits, destroying itself in the process. It was one of the more destructive potential aspects of the life affinity, one most people couldn’t manage unless they’d awoken their skill, and even then wouldn’t use unless things were beyond desperate, not that Ben disagreed with his choice. If Greed hadn’t done that, they’d both be dead.

Ideas kept spinning around his brain and he wanted to test them, but it would need to wait. He would need Greed’s help, as well as enough strength in his arms to move them, which meant none of what he wanted to do could be put into practice until later into his healing. For the time being, he could only refine his thoughts to a razor’s edge, ready to cut away the problem that was the trial.

“Greed, I need a knife.”

Those were the first words he spoke as soon as he could after almost twelve hours of healing. He could have asked by connecting to the crab, but his arms were still too damaged to move at the time, there had been no point. Now at least one was functional enough to grab onto something if he had to, and he didn’t want to waste another moment.

“Is it important? Honestly legs, if we have to go through the next section in what? Two days or less? I’d rather get you into the best shape you can be for it.”

“It is. I’d go so far as to say if I succeed we’ll probably live, and if I fail we’ll die. I think we both know that I won’t be in tiptop shape by the time the countdown’s done, and you must need to stop to replenish mana soon, right?”

“Well, I’m still buffing myself, but yeah it’s getting tight. Alright, give me a minute ‘cause lucky you, there’s two piles of old crap this time.”

“Yay,” He managed to get out sarcastically as the other left to get what he was looking for, dragging it to his hand as he did before restarting on treating all of Ben’s wounds, ensuring he wouldn’t die before the next part of the trial came.

With knife in hand, he grasped it tightly, placing the arm that held it across his chest so he could get a better look, only to need to make one more request of Greed.

“Looks like I may need some cloth to prop my head up a bit too please.”

It wasn’t for comfort, though he would definitely appreciate whatever little bit he could get. He needed to prop his head up to be able to get a better look as he worked on the knife, wanting to see every enchantment he’d be making in detail as he did.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

This time Greed did exactly as he was asked without arguments. He knew as well as Ben that things were already looking bad, if there was a chance then he’d take it.

It was only as Ben was set up that he looked at the fragments of ancient enchantments and cleared them all away that he got to work. Using the ring system that he’d experimented with before the last section, he placed a series of them on the knife before breaking them down.