Eryx woke with a start, his breath catching as a sharp ache lanced through his skull, radiating from his forehead. He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples. Despite the pain in his head, his body felt different—lighter, strangely unburdened. The constant ache in his shoulder was… gone.

He rolled it experimentally. No internal burn, no sharp spasms. It wasn’t until his fingers brushed his shoulder that he realized something was amiss—or rather, something was unexpectedly right. He could actually feel.

Pulling up his shirt, Eryx inspected the spot where the Black Frog’s poison had been ravaging his skin. The dark veins were completely gone, replaced by smooth, unblemished flesh. It had been weeks since the area looked so healthy.

“What the hell?” he muttered, lowering his shirt.

He frowned as fragmented memories scattered in his mind like smoke. The A-Class healer had tried to stabilize him when the Brass Doomwing attacked. But, as always, he’d experienced the usual healer rejection symptoms. Yet, she was the first A-Class healer he’d encountered. Maybe her abilities worked differently? Could the initial symptoms have been his body rejecting the healing, only for her strength to overpower it?

Eryx shook his head. That’s impossible. I can’t be healed. He rubbed the back of his neck, unease prickling at his skin.

Before he could dwell further, the sharp ping of his wrist module shattered the silence. Grimacing, he tapped the device. Gio’s face appeared on the holographic display, his grin wide and infuriatingly smug.

“I knew you’d pull through,” Gio quipped.

Eryx stared at him, deadpan. “Do you have something useful to say?”

Gio laughed, entirely unapologetic. “We’ve got a situation. The domain’s gone haywire, and I’ve lost contact with the rest of the Crystal Guild Raiders. Their last known coordinates are synced to your module. Oh, and the evac team’s on its way. Try not to wreck the transport this time.”

“That’s what you get for splurging on upgrades,” Eryx replied flatly.

Gio waved him off dismissively. “Stay sharp, though. Something’s off about this place.”

The connection cut before Eryx could retort. He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

The map on his wrist flickered to life, marking the last known location of the Crystal Guild Raiders. He moved quickly; they didn’t seem to be too far ahead.

When Eryx arrived, he stiffened, sensing the ripple in the air—the telltale sign of a Looper monster.

“Of course,” he muttered.

The Looper specialized in trapping its victims in mental loops, feeding on their confusion. They were nearly impossible to escape alone. Eryx let his shadow energy seep out, probing for the source. It didn’t take long to find—a massive, coiled serpent with scales that shimmered like fractured glass. Its jaws were clamped around its own tail, completing the circle that powered its trap.

Eryx approached cautiously, his shadow energy gathering at his fingertips. The Looper didn’t flinch—a strong offensive monster with almost no defensive capabilities, making it a sitting duck.

With a swift motion, Eryx lashed out, his shadow slicing cleanly through the creature’s neck. The ripple in the air dissipated instantly.

Stepping over the creature’s twitching body, Eryx scanned the clearing. The Crystal Guild Raiders were scattered, dazed but unharmed.

Hansel spotted him first. “You must be the son of the devil.”

“What makes you think I’m not the devil himself?” Eryx asked.

Relief spread across Hansel’s face. “I thought you were a goner for sure this time.”

“Like I said, worry about someone who needs it,” Eryx said. “Gio’s sending evac—”

The forest trembled, the earth quaking beneath them as guttural roars filled the air. From the shadows emerged hulking figures—Changrilas, their massive ape-like forms bristling with rage. Their claws dug into the ground and trees, launching them closer at a fearsome speed.

“Perfect,” Eryx muttered.

Hansel’s face paled. “Changrilas? Here?”

“Keep an eye on the healer,” Eryx said over his shoulder, barely glancing at Freya.

Hansel hesitated. “You can’t take them all—”

Freya flushed, twisting her hands nervously. “I—I can take care of myself.”

“Good,” Eryx said, his tone indifferent. “Then we won’t have to save you this time.”

A deep flush bloomed on her face.

As the group regrouped into an attack formation, Eryx reached for his dagger, only to find the holster empty. He paused, his fingers hovering where the blade should have been.

It was gone.

His brow furrowed. The dagger wasn’t just a weapon—it was a part of him, forged using his shadow ability. Not just anyone or anything could touch it without suffering critical repercussions.

But Eryx didn’t have time to dwell on his missing weapon. As the first Changrila lunged, he sidestepped gracefully, his shadow energy coiling around his hands. The ease with which he could wield his powers confirmed the poison had been completely extracted.

Hansel watched as Eryx moved with unnervingly, almost inhuman speed, disposing of the Changrilas one by one. Despite the overwhelming dominance over the monster frenzy, a frown formed on Hansel’s lips—the last time he’d seen Eryx move like this was years ago, before his first monster injury. After that, every healer session was a nightmare that caused a negative toll on Eryx’s body, eating away at him.

Despite the headache pounding in his skull and the dagger’s absence, Eryx moved with a precision that felt… unfamiliar. It had been years since he felt this strong. The raw power coursing through him was intoxicating.

And now that Eryx had tasted it again, he'd do anything to never lose it.