Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Next Steps... Calling for a Raid

Chapter 40: Next Steps... Calling for a Raid

The overwhelming stench of burnt flesh and blood saturated the air, choking him. Axel could barely breathe, let alone move. His clothes clung to his body, drenched in a cocktail of sweat and blood—not just his own but Noel's too. He collapsed onto the scorched ground, its heat biting through his skin.

His vision blurred.

'What... just happened? My head... it feels like it's splitting in two. I can't... I can't get up. No, I'm on the ground... again.' Axel struggled to focus, his mind swimming in pain and confusion. His vision slowly adjusted, though the world around him still spun in disorienting circles.

[HP 2/70]

'Damn it! I need... a potion!' His thoughts were sluggish, his body even more so. He fumbled into the system menu, fingers trembling. His mind raced as he tried to remember how to navigate the familiar yet distant interface. Everything felt slower, like his body was stuck in molasses.