CHAPTER 49: AFTERMATCH

Ace struck the freshly bolted plate covering the undead horse’s chest. Rebound damage slammed back through his arms, tearing through what flesh remained and the Ink replacing it, rupturing both.

He squeezed his eyes shut and roared.

Is that rebound damage stronger, or is my body not keeping up?!

As the thought hit, his arms went limp.

He barely stayed on his feet.

Vision shook, tripled, then went dark at the edges.

He fought for breath, spent and reeling.

Weak? No.

The Conductor was stronger—far beyond a Ranker who hadn’t spent a month on Gravehaven Isle. Even Rank One couldn’t handle him.

When the undead horse whistled and reared, the Conductor checked it with the reins. The horse wheezed and tossed its head. It turned and left Ace kneeling, shoulders low, drained.

The Conductor’s Darkness Domain still darkened the forest floor. A small black ticket bobbed into the air. It swayed left and right, then settled in front of him.

[You have completed the hidden quest—The Conductor’s Trial.]

[Your reward has been claimed—The Ticket to the Conductor’s Judgment Game for the Sixteens.]

The ticket slipped into Ace’s System. It would pop up when the Judgment Game came due. For now, he had no room to think. Crimson Veins wormed deeper into his bloodstream, threatening his life. He vomited blood. More leaked from his nose, ears, and eyes.

Aish!

Cherry cried from Ace’s shoulder, but he didn’t have an ounce of strength left to answer.

So that’s what it means to face the Conductor. You lose something.

Ace barely felt his hands.

—

"Where’s Don Capo?! Did you really leave him behind?!" Alex shouted as they cleared the Conductor’s domain.

He’d wanted to scream back there, but Chaewon had shouted at him to run or Ace would never forgive him. She was right. He couldn’t argue with Godmother. Now he rounded on Marko, who dropped to the ground, beaten.

Marko stayed silent, fighting tears.

"Quiet, Alex! Marko tried to sacrifice himself, but Ace stopped him and went alone! Marko was already at that monster’s side, but you know how fast Ace is! And arguing is the last thing we need right now! Focus and believe in Ace!" Chaewon said.

You have to come back, Ace. You promised.

"Sorry..." Alex stared at the ground, teeth clenched.

Some time later, an eternity for Ace’s Core Team, the Darkness withdrew from the forest. It slid into the shadows under every tree, leaf, and root.

The sight was eerie, but no one slowed.

As soon as the danger eased, everyone sprinted back toward the forest’s heart and toward Ace.

Soon they found him, crumpled beside a tree in a pool of his own blood. Cherry sat on his head, holding back tears so none would fall on him.

"Ace!" Chaewon said, dropping beside him.

Veins knotted under his skin.

She saw his ruined hands and went pale. They were beyond destroyed; no modern technology could save them.

She forced down her fear and looked for a way to save him.

His fingers twitched. There was a chance.

"Hang in there, Ace! We’ll help you! First, we figure out what’s happening! Mercer, Marko, ideas?!!"

"I’m already using Rejuvenation Flux to slow the bleeding, but it won’t stop!" Mercer said.

Marko studied the Crimson Veins. "Their density matches potion density. This has to be blood, right?"

"Don Capo must’ve absorbed too much blood to heal while fighting! He leveled up his Life Steal Passive and the absorbing ability from the Drowned on Black Umi Wave. He told me!" Alex said.

"Cherry!" Chaewon looked at the slime. Scarlet tears glimmered in its eyes. "Absorb the excess blood. Try to clear those Crimson Veins, please!"

Cherry trembled.

It was why Ace was suffering the most. Fear gnawed at it.

It had never felt fear with Ace around. Only now did it learn what fear was.

Mercer checked Ace’s arms. "No veins here. Just like we thought. We have to speed the bleeding before those Crimson Veins wreck big bro!"

"Cherry! You can do it! You sucked up tons of monster blood! You even opened their wounds wider! Please, help us save Ace!" Chaewon said.

Her words reached Cherry and steadied it.

The little slime pushed its power into the Crimson Veins, punctured them, and drew the blood out. It was more precise than ever, doing everything it could to save Ace. Its small body swelled as it drank.

"Thank you..." Chaewon whispered.

Mercer worked with the same precision. "I’ll stop the bleeding from big bro’s right arm. He lost so much blood that there are no Crimson Veins left! He still needs more. We can save his arms! Big Marko, take the left!"

"Yeah."

It was pure luck Mercer found his staff on the way back.

The two healers did their best to save Ace’s hands. Meanwhile, Cherry’s work left no Crimson Veins on his skin. Cherry also confirmed nothing threatened his bloodstream. Even so, Ace’s arms and hands were in terrible shape.

"Will pouring the medium potion on his arms help?" Chaewon asked, ready to use the precious potion she’d gotten from Ace.

It was meant to save her life, but she didn’t hesitate to spend it on him.

Mercer and Marko traded a look. Neither was sure.

"Then he drinks it," Chaewon said. "We’ll stay here until Ace gets better. Alex, grab a shovel and start digging an underground camp."

"Yeah. Finally I can help," Alex said. He turned and got to work.

Chaewon popped the vial open and lifted Ace’s chin. "Slow sips. Drink. Do your best."

Ace’s eyes were barely open, but light crept back into them and color returned to his skin. The potion was tasteless, but warmth spread through him. His wounds were healing. Warmth eased him. Sleep pulled at him. He closed his eyes and dozed off, his wounds mending under the medium potion’s effect.

"It’s a miraculous potion, but his wounds are healing so slowly. His hands are barely regaining any flesh," Chaewon said, watching his hands.

New flesh bubbled there. The potion caused it. Yet the medium potion was supposed to be a miracle for low Rankers. How far ahead was Ace’s body?

Chaewon narrowed her eyes. I have to get stronger fast.