The Deceitful One

Darkness…

All Bryan saw was darkness. He tried to open his eyes but searing pain coursed through them, reaching his brain.

"Ughh." He grunted in pain.

Earlier he was woken up by the warm and wet sensation on his cheek. Hence, he extended his spiritual sense to look around.

He was in a large underground room with dozens of beds on each side. Injured people were being tended to on these beds. Bryan found this place familiar and he soon realized why.

"The infirmary beneath the church…" He muttered under his breath. This was his second time coming here. The first was when he killed Johnny. That was also the first time he had ever killed a person.

'Time sure flies…' He thought inwardly.

With the help of his spiritual sense, his gaze soon fell on Benny who was laying down on his chest and looking at him with watery eyes.

"Benny…" He mumbled. He then grabbed Benny by his armpit and gave him a tight hug. Benny too spread his arms and put them around Bryan's neck and began to sob.

He had never seen Bryan in such a miserable shape before. His entire torso had been bandaged by white thin strips of cloth. His left arm was missing.

And the worst of all, his eyes and forehead had also been bandaged! And two bloody circular patches could be seen on this bandage, directly in front of his eyes!

If one observed closely, one could even observe purple lines spreading all across Bryan's forehead and the area under his eyes.

'Bryan…what has happened to you?' Benny continued to sob as he mentally transmitted a message.

After observing himself and the severe wounds throughout his body, memories began to flood into his brain. Memories that he didn't want to recall. Memories that he wished were nothing but bad dreams.

Bryan felt tears stream down his damaged eyes, only they weren't tears, but blood!

He soon remembered the great battle that had taken place in front of the cave mine on the outskirts of Damascus.

He remembered Ron's betrayal.

He remembered Alfredo beheading Henry and Emma right in front of him.

And finally…

He remembered his teacher sacrificing himself to protect him from the thousands of blood-colored weapons.

Bryan finally couldn't hold it in any longer and completely broke down. He cried silently as he hugged Benny.

'Benny… teacher is no more. He died protecting me. I-I am truly pathetic and w-weak…' He mentally transmitted the message to Benny. The latter didn't reply, instead, he tightened his arms around Bryan.

'Everything is going to be all right, Bryan. I'm here for you' Benny comforted him.

The two brothers—one human and one cat—continued to hug each other as they sobbed silently. Scenes like this were common in the infirmary, currently. After all, a lot of people had perished in the incident last week.

And not just the infirmary, the whole of Damascus was currently going through a mourning phase. A gloomy atmosphere had enveloped the entire city.

"Oh? Look what we have here! The self-proclaimed 'man amongst men' is shedding tears." A familiar voice echoed in Bryan's ears.

'This voice!' Bryan was taken aback. He placed Benny on the bed beside him and released his spiritual sense once again. After all, continuing to use it non-stop was taxing on him, especially when he was in a weakened state.

Bryan's 'gaze' then fell on a group of people who were standing beside his bed and looking at him with worry. And the one standing in front of the group and also the one who had just spoken was none other than Andrew!

"A-Andrew!?" Bryan's body trembled as the white bandage around his eyes became bloodier—because of him shedding tears of blood.

The last time he had seen Andrew was when Ron had knocked him out unconscious and dragged him away from the cave mine entrance. Bryan had for sure thought that Andrew had also perished.

But now that he was seeing Andrew in front of him alive, he was filled with disbelief! But more importantly, he was happy.

He got up from his bed and hugged Andrew, "Y-You're alive! You're alive, that's good."

Bryan continued to sob as he hugged his close friend. Andrew on the other hand, felt the wound on his chest beginning to hurt again as Bryan hugged him tightly.

However, he didn't care. His eyes reddened and soon tears streamed down his face as he hugged Bryan back and patted him, "Hmph, how can I die so easily?"

The two shared a hug for a few moments. Bryan then went forward and hugged the rest of the members of the Strike Team as well—Elijah, Olivia, and even Robert.

They all were glad that Bryan had finally gained consciousness.

Robert patted Bryan on the shoulder and smiled, "How are you feeling now?"

"As you can see," Bryan looked at his missing left arm and smiled bitterly, "I can manage-"

"No, you cannot!" A heavy voice interrupted Bryan.

Bryan turned his head toward the direction of the voice and spread his spiritual sense. He saw three people walking toward him. The one leading was the one who had just spoken.

When Bryan saw the fierce aura radiating from the man, he was slightly taken aback, 'Rank 4!'

However, after the battle that he had gone through and the things that he had witnessed, he was no longer intimidated by a Rank 4. After all, previously he had been attacked by a Rank 4, twice no less.

"Who are you?" Bryan asked calmly.

Victor was slightly taken aback at Bryan's calm demeanor. He nodded his head in approval and introduced himself, "Victor Smith, Nadir Silver Owls."

'Nadir Silver Owls? Were they the so-called reinforcements?' Bryan thought inwardly.

"What did you mean by I can't manage?" Bryan inquired.

Victor pointed at Bryan's eyes, "Those aren't ordinary wounds. It's the Curse of the Dead. If things go untreated, you won't be able to survive more than ten days. Meaning, you only have three days to live."

Bryan was taken aback and was filled with disbelief, "Impossible!"

Robert came forward and patted Bryan's shoulder, "He's telling the truth. This is a highly vicious curse."

"NO!" Bryan screamed in anger, "This cannot be! I cannot die! Not until I've killed Sean and all those who were responsible. I REFUSE TO DIE!!"

Inadvertently, a terrifying aura fused with killing intent gushed out from Bryan's body. Everyone around him took a step back as they stared at Bryan in shock.

Especially Tim, Elena, Elijah, and Robert. They couldn't help but be reminded of that day when Bryan had single-handedly defeated all four of them while still renaming unconscious. At the time, the same frightening aura was radiating from him.

When Elena was reminded of this, she couldn't help but grit her teeth and clench her fists in anger and frustration. That loss had left a deep scar on her pride as a Transcendent. She still refused to accept her loss.

Hence, when she saw Bryan lose control, she couldn't help but scoff. She was about to mock Bryan but was stopped by Tim. The latter looked at her and shook his head solemnly.

"Tsk!" Elena decided to remain silent, in the end.

"There is a way for you to live," Victor stated.

"What is it?" Bryan turned his head, "Anything! I'll do anything."

Looking at Bryan's desperation Victor couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He very well knew that Bryan wasn't desperate to live but to seek revenge.

He even felt that, if by any chance Bryan did manage to get his revenge, he would happily die after, or that he would readily sacrifice himself to make sure that the one responsible died.

'James… you've raised one hell of a student.' Victor thought inwardly. However, he would not let Bryan die anyways. This was the least he could do for his friend.

"What I have is a method of prolonging your lifespan. It's not a cure." Victor took out a small box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a green jelly-like substance.

"This is the crystal of the Meliko Tree. It can help you fight the curse and prolong your lifespan for another two weeks or so." Victor explained as he handed the box to Bryan.

Bryan looked at the small green jelly inside the box and muttered, "Two weeks…"

"But that should be enough time for me to get the help of a High-String Transcendent," Victor added.

Bryan raised his head and asked, "Do you know any High-String Transcendents?"

Victor nodded, "I know one. But…"

"But what?" Bryan inquired anxiously,

"It's going to be difficult asking for his help," Victor replied.

Bryan immediately took the green jelly and put it in his mouth. After gulping it down he looked towards Victor, "As long as there is a chance, I will do anything."

Victor looked at Bryan deeply for a few moments. His lips curled up into a smile, "James has indeed raised one hell of a student."

He then took out a familiar object from his pocket and tossed it at Bryan, "But don't worry, I won't let you die so easily."

With that said, he turned around and walked away. Tim and Elena looked at Bryan one last time and then followed after their teacher.

Meanwhile, Bryan caught the object that Victor had just thrown. He was greatly taken aback as he thought inwardly, 'My pocket watch! Did he find it on my body when I was unconscious?'

But there was an even more important question to be raised. Did Victor find out that the pocket watch was in fact a space-type storage artifact?

Bryan snapped out of his wandering thoughts when Robert stated, "Bryan, let's get you discharged from the infirmary. Tomorrow is an important day."

"What is it?" Bryan asked.

Robert replied solemnly,

"The Funeral."