Chapter 225 – A. B. C.

Chapter 225

A. B. C.

Date : Day 9 of Deepwinter 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Hyoren saw Jackey rush toward Arianna. His eyes followed him for only a moment. He nodded.

I can leave the Blancorn to them...

Jackey was already moving to protect Arianna, and Arianna had proven that she could stop the Blancorn with her Earth Wall. They could work together to fight the Blancorn.

Hyoren turned his attention toward the other half of the Floor Guardian—the Goblin Rider.

His grip tightened around both of his weapons.

His eyes narrowed. The crimson aura surrounding the Goblin Rider continued to flare, wrapping around its body and making the white mithril armor glow faintly beneath the red light.

The guardian was no longer mounted.

Without the Blancorn beneath it, the Goblin Rider moved differently. It was running with its own legs.

Its massive white lance was lowered forward. And unlike before, when it had wielded the lance with one hand while riding its mount, the Goblin Rider now gripped the weapon with both hands.

Its posture was lower. More direct. More aggressive. And its target was clear—Elise. The silver-haired elf was already moving along the outer part of the arena.

Hyoren's expression hardened.

He immediately chased after the guardian. His boots struck the stone floor as he accelerated.

“Strong Legs.”

The skill activated. A surge of strength ran through his legs.

Hyoren rarely used Strong Legs anymore.

As a tank, he usually didn't need to move around the battlefield this much. His role had normally been to stand his ground, control the enemy's attention, and absorb or redirect attacks with his shield.

But this battle was different. He wasn't fighting as a stationary tank anymore. He needed to move. And fast.

Fortunately, Accel Zone was still active. The light magic spell he had cast earlier continued to enhance his movement, and Strong Legs stacked with that effect. His pace immediately increased.

Hyoren crossed the arena after the Goblin Rider.

Ahead of him, the Goblin Rider continued its pursuit. It wasn't as fast as when it had been riding the Blancorn.

That was obvious. Without its mount, it had lost the tremendous speed generated by the six-legged beast's charge.

But for a lance wielder running across the arena—it was still surprisingly fast. And it was closing in on Elise.

The silver-haired elf wasn't standing still either.

She had already drawn Moonveil Bow and nocked an arrow. Her emerald eyes remained focused on the approaching guardian. She pulled the string back.

“Charge Wind Arrow.”

SWOOSH!

A green streak shot across the arena.

The Goblin Rider didn't slow down. It simply raised its massive lance.

CLANG!

The lance swept through the air and deflected the incoming arrow.

Hyoren’s eyes narrowed.

So even while running… It could still defend itself properly… what a troublesome guardian…

Elise's arrow had once again failed to do meaningful damage.

She immediately changed her strategy. Her feet carried her farther along the edge of the arena as she tried to widen the distance between herself and the pursuing guardian.

But the Goblin Rider didn't change targets. It continued after her relentlessly. Its red aura suddenly flared brighter.

The Goblin Rider accelerated. Its footsteps became heavier and faster as it pushed itself forward.

Hyoren's expression turned grim.

I need to slow it down...

He was still chasing from behind. The distance between them was gradually shrinking, but not quickly enough. If the Goblin Rider reached Elise first, it would have the advantage of its lance against the ranger.

Hyoren raised his right arm while running.

His dark eyes locked onto the Goblin Rider.

“Precision Throw.”

The Ninja Gloves covering his arms flashed. The black gloves were not ordinary equipment. They contained hidden weapons.

Hyoren had bought them from Borin specifically because he wanted some kind of ranged attack that he could use when his usual weapons couldn't reach an enemy. He rarely used it as normally he didn't really need ranged attack with both Elise and Arianna on his back.

But now—they finally had a chance to prove their usefulness again.

A faint flash emerged from the glove. A small weapon appeared. A kunai.

Hyoren's hand moved. The weapon launched forward.

SWOOSH!

The kunai flew through the air in a straight trajectory.

The Goblin Rider was still running. Still focused on Elise. It didn't notice the incoming weapon until it was too late.

SQUELCH!

The kunai struck its thigh.

The Goblin Rider's body jolted. A guttural roar escaped from beneath its helmet. But it didn't stop. Its leg had been wounded. Blood began to flow.

Yet the crimson aura around its body continued to burn.

The enrage state was still active. The wound didn't matter. The Goblin Rider simply forced its injured leg forward and continued running.

Hyoren's eyes narrowed.

It ignored that too...

He immediately recalled the weapon.

“Return.”

The kunai embedded in the Goblin Rider's thigh vanished. A moment later, it returned to the Ninja Glove with a satisfying metallic click.

Hyoren continued running.

The Goblin Rider had finally been wounded. For the first time since the battle began, blood was visible on the guardian's body.

But it hadn't slowed. If anything—it seemed even more determined. Its red eyes remained fixed on Elise.

The Goblin Rider continued its pursuit, its massive lance lowered and held firmly with both hands.

It had identified the silver-haired ranger as the one responsible for continually poisoning its mount.

And now, even without the Blancorn beneath it—it was determined to kill her.

***

Hyoren continued chasing the Goblin Rider while Elise ran ahead of it, desperately trying to maintain the distance between them.

From an outside perspective, the sight was almost comical.

One man was chasing a goblin. The goblin was chasing an elf. And the elf was desperately running away from both of them. It could have looked like some strange chase scene from a comedy.

But in reality, there was nothing funny about it.

This was a life-and-death battle. If the Goblin Rider caught Elise, it would kill her without hesitation.

Hyoren pushed his legs harder, his breathing steady despite the strain. His eyes remained fixed on the Goblin Rider ahead of him.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the distance between them began to close.

But Elise realized she could do something. She could help. She didn't need to defeat the Goblin Rider. She only needed to slow it down.

While continuing to run, Elise reached for another arrow from her quiver. She didn't stop. She didn't even turn her body fully around.

Instead, she drew the bowstring while running and loosed the arrow without properly aiming at her target.

“Tracking Shot.”

SWOOSH!

The arrow flew forward.

For an ordinary arrow, its trajectory would have missed the Goblin Rider in the back completely.

But the moment the skill took effect, the arrow abruptly changed direction in midflight. It curved through the air, guided by the power of Tracking Shot, and corrected its trajectory toward the target.

The Goblin Rider reacted immediately.

CLANG!

Its lance swept sideways. The arrow struck the weapon and was deflected away.

But Elise didn't lose her rhythm.

She immediately drew another arrow.

“Tracking Shot.”

CLANG!

Then another.

“Tracking Shot.”

CLANG!

She continued releasing arrows one after another while running. Each arrow curved unnaturally through the air, attempting to find its target. And each time, the Goblin Rider deflected them with its lance.

But what Elise did was not futile. The Goblin Rider was getting slower. Only slightly. Barely enough to notice at first. But every time it had to turn its lance to intercept an arrow, its movement was interrupted for a fraction of a second.

The Goblin Rider had to keep responding. That tiny interruption accumulated.

Elise smiled.

If I keep doing this...

She glanced back.

Hyoren was getting closer.

Hyoren will catch up…

She continued running. She continued firing. She didn't need to defeat the Goblin Rider. She only needed to buy Hyoren enough time.

***

Hyoren chased after them. The distance continued shrinking.

Elise's arrows were doing their job.

The Goblin Rider was still moving quickly, but its pace had been disrupted just enough for Hyoren to gradually close the gap.

Finally…

Hyoren was close enough. He could catch up. His hand tightened around the Étendard Sacré du Lys.

But then his eyes narrowed.

Something is wrong…

The Goblin Rider's posture had changed. Its body lowered. Its movements became more deliberate. The Goblin Rider held its lance differently. And the lance itself had begun to glow.

Hyoren immediately recognized that stance. He knew that posture. He knew that glow. More importantly—he knew that skill. He had used it himself many times.

His eyes widened.

“The Goblin Rider is charging its Meteor Thrust!”

Meteor Thrust—an active skill of Spear Mastery.

Hyoren possessed the same skill.

Meteor Thrust required the user to charge Aethell into the spear for several seconds. Once sufficient power had accumulated, the skill would propel both the user and the spear forward for an instantaneous burst of movement over a distance of roughly ten to twenty meters.

It wasn't simply a powerful thrust. It was explosive movement combined with the momentum of the spear.

And the Goblin Rider wasn't aiming at Hyoren. It was aiming at Elise.

Elise's back was exposed and the gap between them was now under twenty meters. If the Goblin Rider released Meteor Thrust at this distance, the attack would reach her almost instantly. She would be skewered before she could react.

Hyoren's expression hardened.

“I need to stop it!”

He raised his left arm.

The Étendard Sacré du Lys was still in his left hand. He quickly transferred the mithril spear into his right hand. The long spear settled firmly into his grip.

Hyoren lowered his body slightly as he ran. The tip of the mithril spear pointed directly toward the Goblin Rider.

Then he activated the same skill—Meteor Thrust. Aethell began gathering within his spear. The tip started glowing.

Hyoren's eyes remained locked on the Goblin Rider.

He calculated everything. The distance. The Goblin Rider's speed. His own speed. The activation time of Meteor Thrust. The distance the skill would propel him. The position Elise would occupy when the two attacks were released. And the position of the Goblin Rider.

He adjusted the tip of his spear slightly.

He wasn't aiming directly at the Goblin Rider. He didn't need to hit it with Meteor Thrust. He needed the movement. He needed to intercept its attack at exactly the right moment.

I need to match its timing…

Hyoren poured more Aethell into the spear. The glow at its tip intensified.

Ahead of him, the Goblin Rider's lance was glowing as well.

Two spears. Two warriors. The same skill.

Hyoren made another decision.

He needed to stop the Goblin Rider's attack. And he knew exactly what he needed for that. While still charging Meteor Thrust with the mithril spear in his right hand, Hyoren activated his Ring of Arsenal with his left hand.

“Swap. Sword to shield.”

The equipment changed instantly. His shield appeared in his left hand—the Steel Kite Shield. His sword was replaced, leaving him with the shield ready for the incoming impact while the mithril spear remained in his right hand.

Hyoren continued running. Spear in his right hand. Shield in his left. Meteor Thrust charging. His eyes never left the Goblin Rider.

Then—the Goblin Rider's lance flashed.

Hyoren saw it. The charge was complete.

“Now!”

He released his own skill.

“Meteor Thrust!”

Both warriors were propelled forward at almost the same instant. A sonic boom erupted through the chamber.

The Goblin Rider shot forward like a spear itself, its lance aimed directly at Elise's defenseless back.

Hyoren's trajectory was slightly different. His mithril spear was aimed just ahead of the Goblin Rider. He wasn't trying to strike the Rider. He was intercepting it. And just as he was propelled forward, Hyoren raised his shield.

The two trajectories converged.

Then—a deafening impact shook the chamber.

BOOM!

The Goblin Rider's lance slammed directly into Hyoren's Steel Kite Shield. The force was tremendous. A crack immediately spread across the shield. Then another. The metal buckled under the impact.

CRACK!

The shield shattered.

But Hyoren didn't stop.

His left arm remained forward even after the shield was destroyed. With the shield gone, his hand was free. He reached forward and seized the Goblin Rider's lance. His fingers wrapped tightly around the weapon.

The force of Meteor Thrust continued pushing the Goblin Rider forward.

Hyoren used his own body as the anchor. His boots scraped violently across the ground. His body was dragged backward several meters. His muscles strained. His feet dug into the stone. The force threatened to tear the lance from his grip.

But Hyoren held on.

He refused to let go. He continued using his entire body to absorb the momentum. Another meter. Then another.

The Goblin Rider's charge gradually lost its momentum. Then—it stopped.

***

Hyoren's entire body was hurting.

His arms trembled from the force he had just endured. His shoulders burned, his muscles strained to their limit, and pain ran through his body from the impact. His left hand was bleeding.

But he didn't let go.

For the first time since the battle had begun, the Goblin Rider had been stopped. Completely.

The Goblin Rider twisted its body and tried to pull its lance free.

Hyoren threw his mithril spear to the ground and gripped the lance with both hands. The Goblin Rider pulled harder.

Hyoren's boots scraped against the stone floor. But he held on.

The Goblin Rider tried again, using its monstrous strength to wrench the weapon out of his grasp. It couldn't.

Hyoren's fingers tightened around the lance despite the blood running down his hands.

A smirk appeared on his face.

“Got you.”

He gripped the lance even tighter.

His body was hurt. His arms were hurting. His hand was bleeding. But none of that mattered. He wouldn't let go.

The Goblin Rider had finally lost its momentum. And Hyoren wasn't going to give it another chance.

“Elise! Do it!”

But even without Hyoren's order, Elise already knew what she needed to do. She had already understood the moment she heard the two skills clashed. The instant she heard the enormous explosion behind her, Elise turned around.

Her emerald eyes immediately found Hyoren.

He had stopped the Goblin Rider. He was holding its lance. The Goblin Rider was struggling to break free.

Elise didn't hesitate.

Her body moved almost automatically. Her hand reached for an arrow. She nocked it onto the Moonveil Bow. Her expression hardened.

There would be no second chance. If Hyoren lost his grip, the Goblin Rider would be free again. And this time, it would return to its attack.

Elise knew what she had to use—her trump card. The skill she had been saving for the very end. A skill that allowed her to imbue her arrows with Sacred Wind—the wind containing the power of Goddess Sylvana.

Using Sacred Wind would consume almost all of her remaining Aethell. That was why Elise had saved it. She had deliberately held it back throughout the battle. She had waited for the right moment.

And now—the moment had come.

“Enchant Magic : Sacred Wind.”

An emerald aura immediately enveloped the Moonveil Bow. The bow began to glow. Brighter. And brighter. The emerald light intensified until the entire weapon shone with a brilliant radiance. Sacred Wind flowed through the bow, ready to imbue every arrow fired from it with its power.

Elise drew the bowstring. The emerald radiance grew stronger. She continued charging.

In front of her, Hyoren was still holding the Goblin Rider's lance. The Guardian continued struggling, desperately trying to break free. But Hyoren held.

Elise took aim.

Her eyes settled on the Goblin Rider's head. She released the arrow.

“Charged Sacred Wind Arrow!”

A sonic boom erupted behind Elise.

BOOM!

The arrow launched from the Moonveil Bow.

But it no longer looked like an ordinary arrow. It was almost like a beam of pure emerald light. A brilliant green line connected Elise's bow to the Goblin Rider's head. There was almost no delay between the shot and the impact.

The arrow crossed the battlefield in an instant.

BOOM!

The Sacred Wind Arrow struck the Goblin Rider's head. No—it didn't merely strike it. The Goblin Rider's head was completely disintegrated by the overwhelming force of Sacred Wind Arrow. The arrow continued flying until it finally slammed into the arena wall across the battlefield.

The Goblin Rider remained standing for a moment. Its body was still held in place by Hyoren's grip on its lance. But there was no longer a head atop its body.

Then its body slowly began to dissolve. Particles of Aethell slowly scattered into the air. The white armor. The massive lance. The body of the Goblin Rider. Everything gradually dissolved until nothing remained.

Silence descended over the arena.

The Blancorn was gone. The Goblin Rider had been defeated.

And with it—the Guardian of the Third Floor had finally been completely defeated.

***

Silence descended upon the arena.

The battle was over. The only sounds that remained were the ragged breaths of Hyoren and Elise. They had won. They had somehow defeated the absurd combination of the Goblin Rider and Blancorn.

Yet the moment the last particle of the Goblin Rider vanished, the adrenaline that had been keeping Hyoren moving finally faded. And with it came the pain.

Ouch… My body hurts…

Hyoren looked down at his body.

His arms were aching badly. The impact from stopping Meteor Thrust had left his entire upper body sore, and his left hand was still bleeding from gripping the Goblin Rider's lance.

He slowly flexed his fingers. Pain shot through his arm. But he could still move them.

Hyoren gave his hand another careful squeeze.

Well... it's not broken, at least…

That was enough for him.

He quickly pulled a green Healing Potion from his pouch and drank it. The effect was almost instantaneous. Warmth spread through his body as the potion began healing his injuries. The worst of the pain quickly faded.

Hyoren let out a quiet breath.

Then he looked toward Elise. The silver-haired elf was swaying slightly on her feet. She had spent almost all of her remaining Aethell on Sacred Wind. Her body was clearly exhausted, but she was still standing.

Hyoren smiled.

“Good work, Elise.”

Elise returned his smile. She walked over to him, her silver hair swaying gently with each step.

“Mm. Good work, Hyoren.”

Their eyes met for a moment.

Then both of them looked toward the other side of the arena. Their other companions had finished their battle as well. Blancorn was already gone, its body completely dissolved into Aethell.

Jackey was still standing. Though, he was covered in blood. His Illusion Viper leather armor was torn, and his left arm hung limply at his side.

Behind him, Arianna was also still standing. She was panting heavily, her body swaying from exhaustion.

For a moment, Hyoren thought they had both managed to remain standing.

Then—Jackey suddenly collapsed.

“...!”

He fell forward, face first.

Hyoren and Elise exchanged a glance. Neither of them needed to say anything. They immediately ran across the arena.

***

Jackey couldn't keep himself standing anymore.

The moment his adrenaline faded, the pain came rushing back all at once. His broken ribs screamed with every breath.

His shattered left arm throbbed with pain, hanging at an unnatural angle. His vision became hazy. His strength disappeared.

Jackey dropped to his knees.

What…

The Bloody Axe slipped from his right hand and clattered against the stone floor.

He tried to catch himself with his remaining hand. For a moment, he managed to stay upright. But his body had already reached its limit.

I can't move my body…

He panted heavily. Every breath brought another wave of pain through his broken ribs.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Then he coughed. More blood spilled from his lips. His chest barely moved as he struggled to breathe.

He glanced at his back. Arianna was running towards him with a face full of worry.

Jackey forced a smile.

I'm happy… Arianna is not hurt…

His body trembled. He couldn't hold himself up any longer. He collapsed forward.

***

Arianna was already exhausted.

The concentration required to cast her modified Earth Spikes had left her head aching badly. Her body felt heavy, and her breathing was still unsteady.

But the moment she saw Jackey fall, none of that mattered anymore. Her exhaustion was replaced by panic.

“Jackey!”

She rushed to his side.

“Please... come back to me, Jackey!”

Jackey was a mess. His leather armor was torn apart in several places, and blood covered his side. His face was pale. His breathing was shallow.

Arianna's hands trembled as she reached for the pouch on her belt.

She pulled out a green Healing Potion. The cork made a soft pop as she pulled it free with her teeth. She immediately knelt beside Jackey and carefully lifted his shoulders, cradling his head in one hand.

“Drink this, Jackey. Come on.”

Her voice trembled. She pressed the bottle against his lips and tilted it upward. The viscous, sweet liquid flowed down his throat.

Arianna watched anxiously.

She waited for the potion to take effect. But—it didn't. At least, not enough.

Jackey's left arm was still broken, hanging at an unnatural angle. His chest remained collapsed from the impact. His broken ribs made every breath shallow and painful.

His eyes rolled backward. His breathing became weaker. Blood trickled from his mouth. And every time he breathed, more blood spilled out.

Arianna's face slowly lost its color.

She stared at him.

The Healing Potion should have healed him! What kind of injury did he get!?

It should have begun repairing his wounds almost immediately. But Jackey was still badly injured. Far too badly injured.

“...No.”

Arianna's voice was barely audible.

She looked at Jackey in horror. The potion wasn't enough.

For the first time since the battle had ended, Arianna realized just how serious his injuries were.

***

Hyoren and Elise quickly arrived at Jackey and Arianna's side.

The crimson-haired mage was still cradling the Cat-clan Beastkin in her arms. Her face was as pale as a sheet. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she desperately called her lover's name again and again.

“Jackey... Jackey...”

Jackey didn't respond.

His eyes were barely open, and his breathing remained shallow. Blood still stained his mouth, while his broken left arm hung at an unnatural angle.

Arianna's hands trembled as she supported his body.

“Jackey... please...”

Elise crouched beside them.

Her expression tightened the moment she saw Jackey's condition.

“He is heavily wounded...”

The Cat-clan Beastkin who had been laughing and shouting throughout the battle was now barely conscious in Arianna's arms.

Hyoren nodded. His expression became serious.

“I need to save him.”

He quickly activated his skill.

“Magic Eyes : Diagnostic Sight.”

His eyes began to glow. The skill displayed Jackey's current state before him.

Cat-clan Beastkin - Level 21

Weak Point : Brain (Head), Heart (Left Chest)

State : Critical Condition. Brain Hemorrhage (Mild). Ruptured Spleen (Mild). Traumatic Pneumothorax (Severe). Collapsed Lung. Fractured Left Costae 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Fractured Right Costae 5, 6 and 7. Fractured Humerus. Fractured Radius and Ulna. Multiple laceration wounds.

Hyoren's expression darkened.

The skill showed him exactly how badly Jackey was injured. There was no exaggeration. His condition was genuinely critical.

No wonder the Healing Potion couldn't heal him…

These injuries were far beyond what an ordinary Healing Potion could properly treat. This kind of wound needed a high-grade Healing Potion.

But they didn't have one.

Arianna watched Hyoren's expression.

“Leader...?”

Her voice trembled. She didn't need to ask what he had seen. His expression alone had already told her that Jackey's condition was terrible.

Hyoren quickly crouched beside them.

“Arianna. Let me heal him.”

Arianna immediately nodded.

“Please, Leader... save him.”

Tears continued falling from her eyes. She carefully adjusted Jackey in her arms, giving Hyoren access to his body.

Hyoren nodded.

“I will... Please hold him still.”

Arianna tightened her arms around Jackey.

“I will.”

Even though her hands were trembling, she forced herself to remain steady.

“Jackey... stay with me.”

She whispered the words close to his ear.

“You'll be fine... Leader is going to heal you.”

Jackey gave no response.

Arianna bit her lip. She was terrified. But she couldn't afford to move.

With Magic Eyes : Diagnostic Sight still active, Hyoren could see every wound inside Jackey. Every fractured bone. Every damaged organ. Every injury.

I can't treat everything in one go…

If he tried to heal all of Jackey's injuries simultaneously, he risked losing focus on some of the more complicated wounds. He needed to treat them one by one.

He needed to perform triage.

Hyoren's glowing eyes moved from the top of Jackey's body downward.

ABC… Airway. Breathing. Circulation.

His airway was clear. But his breathing was compromised. His circulation was compromised as well.

I need to treat the most threatening one first...

Elise watched Hyoren closely.

She could see the concentration on his face. She also noticed how exhausted he already was. He had just fought an entire Guardian battle. Now he was using what remained of his strength to keep Jackey alive.

Arianna noticed it too.

“Leader... are you able to do this?”

Hyoren didn't look away from Jackey.

“I can. I will save him.”

His answer was short. But firm.

Arianna nodded. She trusted him.

Hyoren continued examining Jackey through Diagnostic Sight.

Based on the results of his appraisal and his knowledge from his four years of medical university, he knew Jackey had several life-threatening wounds. The brain hemorrhage. The collapsed lung. The pneumothorax caused by the broken ribs piercing the lung. And the ruptured spleen.

He had to decide which one needed to be treated first.

Hyoren looked at Jackey's head.

The brain hemorrhage is small. The risk of increased intracranial pressure was low. It needed to be treated. But it could wait a little longer.

His gaze moved downward.

He looked at Jackey's abdomen. The ruptured spleen.

Grade II…

Given a few hours, Jackey would lose too much blood. It was dangerous. But it could also wait for a little while.

Then Hyoren looked at Jackey's chest. His expression hardened.

But this… He can't breathe properly with a collapsed lung…

I need to restore his breathing…

And quickly…

Humans couldn't last long without breathing.

Arianna noticed Hyoren's expression change.

“What's wrong with his chest?”

Hyoren answered without looking away.

“His broken ribs pierced his lung. His lung collapsed, and there's air and blood in the pleural space.”

Arianna's face became even paler. She looked down at Jackey.

“His... lung...?”

Hyoren nodded.

“I'll fix it first.”

He placed his hand over Jackey's chest. His hand hovered there for a moment.

I need to restore his broken ribs that pierced the lungs. Then restore the lungs itself.

The image of human anatomy was sharp in his mind. He knew the structures. He knew where the damage was. And he knew what he needed to repair.

“Healing Light.”

The glow around Hyoren's hand brightened. The Light Magic flowed into Jackey's body.

Hyoren focused on the anatomy of the costae.

One rib at a time. He carefully guided the healing magic toward the fractured bones. The broken pieces slowly moved back into their proper positions. Then the magic began mending them. The fractured bones were gradually restored to their original shape.

Arianna watched in silence.

Her eyes were fixed on Jackey's chest. She could see the subtle changes. The unnatural movement caused by his injuries gradually disappeared.

“Jackey...”

She whispered his name.

Hyoren continued concentrating.

Good… The ribcage is restored…

He looked down again.

Jackey's chest no longer collapsed. But his breathing remained shallow.

Hyoren immediately understood why.

The pleural space is still full of air and blood because of the earlier trauma. Repairing the ribs wasn't enough. The lung itself had been damaged. He needed to repair it as well.

Hyoren used his magic again.

“Healing Light.”

The light flowed deeper into Jackey's chest.

This time, Hyoren focused on the damaged lung. The pleura. The lobes. The alveoli. The bronchus. One after another, he carefully repaired the damaged tissues.

His breathing became ragged. Sweat began forming on his forehead. He was already exhausted after spending so much Aethell during the battle. And now he needed to maintain an enormous amount of concentration while using Healing Light to repair Jackey's injuries.

Elise noticed his condition.

“Hyoren.”

He didn't answer. His attention remained entirely on Jackey.

Elise looked at the sweat running down his face. She knew he was pushing himself.

Arianna noticed it too.

“Leader...”

Hyoren finally spoke.

“I'm fine.”

His voice was strained, but he didn't stop.

“Just keep holding him.”

Arianna nodded immediately.

“I will.”

She held Jackey even more carefully.

“Come on, Jackey...”

Her voice trembled.

“Please keep breathing.”

For several tense moments, nothing seemed to change. Then—Jackey's chest moved. A small breath entered his lungs.

Arianna's eyes widened.

Another breath followed. His chest rose again. The rhythm was still weak, but it was no longer as shallow as before.

Arianna stared at him.

“He's... breathing better.”

Elise released a small breath of relief.

“He is.”

Hyoren watched Jackey carefully. His breathing was becoming more stable.

He finally nodded.

Good… The most threatening wound is taken care of…

But he wasn't finished.

There were still many injuries left. The brain hemorrhage. The ruptured spleen. The fractured humerus. The fractured radius and ulna. And the multiple laceration wounds.

He still had a lot of work ahead of him.

Before he could continue, Elise quickly crouched beside him. She held out a blue Magic Potion.

“Hyoren. Drink the potion first. You spent too much Aethell!”

Hyoren looked at her.

For the first time since beginning the treatment, he allowed himself to pause. He gave her a tired, wry smile.

“Thank you, Elise.”

He took the potion from her and quickly drank it. The blue liquid replenished his depleted Aethell.

Elise watched until he finished drinking.

Only then did she relax slightly.

“You were pushing yourself too hard.”

Hyoren lowered the empty bottle.

“I know.”

His gaze immediately returned to Jackey.

Arianna was still cradling the Cat-clan Beastkin. Tears continued running down her face.

But now Jackey was breathing.

She pressed her cheek gently against his head.

“Please stay with me, Jackey...”

Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Hyoren looked at the injured Cat-clan Beastkin. Then at Arianna. Then at Elise. The battle was over. But for them, it wasn't truly over yet.