The Villain's Story

?The rhythmic sound of his footsteps resounded in the hallway, he was holding the panacea phial like it was a lover, and he was still clad in his armour.

'Tick.' Tok.'

"Ha...."

He sighed, as he approached the door to her room. There was a sort of heat radiating from the room. It was so intense that he could feel it here, even with his cold body.

He whipped his hair back, and muttered to himself.

"Must be the phoenix bloodline at work."

He remembered leaving the bloodline energy of the phoenix with Samantha, since it had great healing capabilities, he gave it to her to ease her suffering.

He hoped it would help in curing her curse, but that was merely a wish. The phoenix bloodline was strong, but to deal with a curse, the speciality of demons, was hard. But it was hard only because the bloodline was still weak. Alan had focused on it for a while, but no matter how much he did, it wouldn't be enough to level it up that much.

The phoenix bloodline, if it was at full strength, would have treated the curse without any issue...so it was regrettable Alan couldn't bring it to its full potential yet.

"Finally..."

However, no matter how much he could regret not fulfilling the bloodlines' strength, he couldn't cure Samantha like that. He needed to do something else to do it. Maybe in the future the bloodline would prove useful.

He opened the door, which opened with a shrill metallic creak. He was afraid it would disturb her sleep, but thankfully, it did not. The room smelled like the ordinary hospital room.

He had heard how many times Samantha whined and wished to at least go outside, but if she was disconnected from the machines keeping her alive, the bloodline alone would only delay a painful death.

He had heard it many times... And he blamed it on himself of her inability to be a child.

He moved in front of her bed, looking at her from above. She was once...nearly dead.

Rotten skin, her hair gone, her bones as week as brittle wood, her flesh corrupted and infected and her blood weak.

Her body had been through such trauma when the curse had been inflicted upon her, and even more trauma when it had gone fully active.

That was her state which drove Alan to so desperately defeat the tower and get the wooden container in his hands. He had done so, so much to get this, only for her to be better.

"Finally..."

He muttered again, as he did not even want to recall the emotional trauma his sister had suffered. From the death of her parents, to the abuse at the orphanage and being treated horribly due to the condition of her legs.

It was a wonder how she was...normal.

"It's okay... You'll be fine now."

Alan muttered, as he caressed her head.

Holding the Panacea Phial, he slowly opened the bottle. But before he could do it fully, the communicator inside the hospital room rang.

'Ring.'

The sound irked him, he didn't expect it at all. With a frown on his face, he picked the phone up.

"What is it?"

He asked, with the angry tone of voice. He was clearly displeased that his chance to cure his sister was interrupted. Furthermore, he didn't want to delay this any longer. If the phone call, from whoever it was, was not important...

He would simply hang up, and not attend it again, Heck, he'll destroy the damn thing if it made too much noise.

"Have you used the panacea yet?"

"..."

The voice was not familiar to him. It wasn't even displeased at the lack of a greeting. But the fact that they dared to ask 'that'.

It was, quite literally, a form of suicide at this point. The only thing that would make it worse was...

"Are you interested in selling it?"

He had to control himself in order to not break the communicator. He hung up, the voice behind it was unable to finish its sentence.

"The big pharma are interested in pur-"

His eyes grew cold, hoping nothing else would disturb it now. He held his sister's head up, and when he was about to open the bottle... The fucking voice was still there.

Using the radio system, it announced itself again.

"Please think about this, there are many more people under the curse of a demon, people who would stop at nothing to get a cure. One life...can save many."

[Skill: Dragon Eyes has been activated.]

"Timothy Hugh, chief executive at Parker Pharmaceuticals."

Alan's voice grew cold, and informed the voice that he knew who he was.

"How did yo-"

"One more fucking word, and I will make you sure you beg for death."

In an instant, the radio system, as well as anything in the room that would hinder his goal, was destroyed.

Silently, with the expert usage of mana.

"Ugh..."

Alan groaned, his vision growing blurry. He had used his skill too many times now, and for long durations, he could feel his vision diminishing with each second. Fearing he would actually go blind, he stopped himself from using it any more.

He opened the bottle. A thick, lovely, and flowery like scent permeated throughout the room. Alan's sensitive nose perked up instantly. And an intense urge to devour the liquid was felt.

[Supreme Dragon of Ice, Lanesha advises you to take your sister to the Jade Palace after feeding the Panacea to her.]

"... Good to see you again."

He said to her, noting her advice. A supreme should know what to do best. He didn't know why the Jade Palace was mentioned, but he did have to admit he didn't know everything about it.

He put his hand underneath Samantha's neck, and slowly whispered in her ear.

"Sam."

Once again.

"Sam."

Once again.

"Sam."

Finally, the little girl woke up, struggling to keep her eyes awake. She was excited her brother had come to meet her after so long, but was bitter about it as well.

He didn't come to meet her all this time, according to her. Sadly, She didn't know Alan was with her most of the time. Even during his stay at Terra Damnum, he would always come when she was sleeping, staying close.

He just...wasn't there when she was awake, or struggling to be awake. He knew he couldn't live with himself if he saw the pain in her eyes. The torture and torment she underwent.

But, even if she was unaware, she couldn't express her bitterness. Her body... just couldn't.

"I'm sorry."

He apologized first, knowing her thoughts. Samantha had a hard time processing his words, The scent of the Phial invaded her body and was already causing a reaction, making her stronger, but urging her to rest as well. It was as if the item knew who it was for. What purpose it served already.

It was like... the liquid and the container was alive. Itching to already fulfil its purpose.

"Can you drink this medicine?"

He asked, continuing.

"It may be bitter, or it may be sweet... Just drink it, alright?"

He was unaware how the Panacea tasted. He had heard most effectives medicines were incredibly bitter, he hoped Samantha wouldn't have a reaction to it and vomit it out.

That wouldn't be helpful.

The little girl nodded with her red eyes, and Alan slowly moved the panacea to her mouth. The tip of the container touched her tender, cracked lips and the liquid gently moved down her throat. Alan could already feel a change in her mana.

He continued to feed it to her, slowly but surely, until Lanesha stopped him.

[Supreme Dragon of Ice Lanesha says it is enough.]

Hearing her words, he brought the bottle away. Still dubious, and somewhat afraid, he doubted himself, and her words.

[Supreme Dragon of Ice Lanesha tells you to check her status for yourself.]

Activating Dragon eyes and bearing with the pain, he checked the status of his little sister.

----Status----

[Name: Samantha Peccator (10)]

Species: Human.

Statistics:

Strength: G-

Endurance: G-

Intelligence: B

Charm: B

Mana: D

Agility: G-

...

...

...

It went on and on. Alan read it multiple times, until a sting in his eyes, followed by tears not caused by the pain, dripped down his cheeks. As usual, and as expected. Her physical attributes were the lowest of the low. Weaker than even a child half her age. It was expected. Her other attributes stayed the same, except for her mana which had got weaker due to her curse. But, her physical attributes and other stats were improving due to the Panacea

But...

"... Finally... its..."

But...

But it was gone.

The same curse, the curse that plagued his mind and her body, which brought both of them with an unimaginable amount of pain. What had caused them, endless suffering...?

The very abomination that was his nightmare, and her reality...

It was finally, finally...!

"Gone."