In the dim room of the catacombs of the church, Father Maximus played with his ceremonial knife.

The partially transparent handle reflected the light from the hanging braziers in the ceiling with each spin, followed by a quiet hum of the wind.

Pacing back and forth in front of a large pod filled with transparent liquid, Maximus was filled with impatience.

Observing an electronic screen with eyes full of expectation and worry, he spun the knife in his hand with a fluid motion one last time before tucking it in his robes.

Glancing at the pod every now and then, Maximus felt the stress get to him. Why would that sly bastard come to Runa? Don’t tell me he wants a piece of the pie?

Recalling his subordinates' report, he knew that either he would have to cooperate or clash with his ‘’companion’’ within the church.

Whatever, even if that hypocrite wants to fight it is of no concern to me. I have to just lay low for a while, but when I am done here...Hehehaea.

Weak whimpering followed by a woman’s quiet consoling carried over into his ears from a dark corner.

Putting on a smile on his face, the gloomy atmosphere around Maximus disappeared like a mirage.

‘’Good afternoon. Be quiet for now or father here won’t know what to do with you.’’ Turning his head towards a dark corner where a sole metal cage was located, Maximus spoke out with a soft tone.

Turning to the lone pod and placing his left hand on the transparent glass, Maximus spoke out with a compassionate voice.

‘’You must be wondering why you are here, but fear not, lost children of God. You will be freed. From this terrible nightmare.’’

Not expecting an answer from the cage, he continued on. ‘’One, fetch me the cup.’’

A cold wind blew and a shadowy figure disappeared from sight.

Impatient as usual. Tsk tsk, I should have calculated it before that she had no combat expertise versus grandmasters. Why is everyone around me so fucking incompenent?

Shaking his head in frustration, Maximus turned away and blankly looked at the nearby bookshelf.

Just as he thought further on the mostly failed operation at SDU, he felt his blood pressure rise while clenching his fist. With his left eye twitching, he tried to rationalize the chain of failures he experienced these past few days.

Taking deep breaths in and out, Maximus felt his psyche calm down. Yes…It was my mistake to expect One to deal with Murray. And all is not lost either if this works.

Raising his arm to pick up a book, he quickly flipped it open.

On the pages of the book, there were handwritten notes next to strange symbols that anyone could see depicted on the bodies of ‘one’ and ‘Two’ as tattoos.

‘’Not this… Or this.’’ Quietly muttering to himself, Maximus flipped the pages until he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a certain symbol with red markings and notes beside it.

Self Destruction. A truly powerful weapon, but sadly it would make ‘Three’ a single use consumable.

Having a difficult time deciding whether or not it was worth it, the smug face of Neville came into his mind. It was at that moment he decided to go through with it.

Chuckling to himself in a crazed manner, he took a long look at the pod.

I told you to not fail me. But as merciful as I am, you will be given your chance to prove your usefulness. Whether this works or not, depends on your willpower.

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‘’Nicole, welcome to my humble abode!’’ Erikson exclaimed with an exaggerated cheerness in his voice.

Sitting in a wheelchair with puffy, reddish eyes, Erikson tried his best to hide his depression.

Not even five minutes earlier Erikson had considered suicide as an viable option for his endless despair.

The leading doctor on the medical facility had delivered him the news that he will never walk again, and his strength would fade away slowly, day by day.

The betrayal from Larsson left him both emotionally and physically scarred.

It was unimaginable for Erikson to even entertain the thought that one of his trusted coworkers would thrust a poisoned dagger in his back, damaging the spinal cord.

Trying to wipe the gloomy atmosphere away with a strained smile, Erikson looked at the jubilant and happy Nicole bursting through the door with a small plastic container in her arms.

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Feeling touched at the sentiment his coworker was showing, Erikson could not help but weigh in the decision whether to live or die. Falling silent for a while, he reminiscenced the moment he woke up.

Back then, he had not even opened his eyes but heard the doctor's analysis by accident followed by a shrill yell from Nicole to make himself whole again.

Yes, whole. A man disabled from the waist down was in Erikson’s opinion a fate worse than death. What would he even do after the incident?

While the poison was solved, the damage was already done. It would be hard if not impossible to pursue grandmaster level strength and he could not enjoy a life with no sex or normal activities.

With a somewhat forced smile, Erikson motioned Nicole to take a seat. ‘’Take a seat Nicole, I already have my own.’’

‘’Maybe for now, but wait till you see what I brought with me.’’ Completely disregarding the depressed undertone in his voice, Nicole skipped with light steps next to him.

‘’Whatcha got there that has you so fired up Nicole? You made me soup?’’

With an exaggerated horrified expression on his face, Erikson could remember the last time Nicole cooked something for the whole squad, leading to two food poisonings and the rest retching.

The facial muscles of Nicole twitched violently as she tried to keep her smile on her face, but her eyes clearly reflected embarrassment.

She hit Erikson on the shoulder squarely with some force behind it.

‘’You don’t have to remind me every time I bring something, last time the soup was an accident, do you hear me? A C C I D E N T.’’ Emphasizing the last part heavily, Nicole shifted the topic quickly.

‘’Just don’t be a buzzkill Erikson. I brought you some good shit but you don’t even know how to appreciate the lengths I went to get this.’’

Finally relaxing his tense eyebrows and his expression, Erikson paid close attention to the small plastic container.

With a single look, there was not much of it and he could not determine what it was.

‘’What is that? Cream for my puffy eyes? You shouldn’t have, I’ll be fine after a good night's rest hahah.’’

Now with some liveliness in his voice, Erikson was in a mood to joke around after seeing the contorted face of Nicole. Tapping her shoulder jokingly, Erikson asked with a somber voice. ‘’So what is it, really?’’

Taking a few steps backwards, Nicole embraced the container carefully, like a mama bear protecting the cubs. ‘’It’s the sacred medicine of the Titanapes, but seeing your attitude just now, I think I could use it more…’’

With a thud, Erikson fell off his wheelchair, shocked. ‘’Are you fucking kidding me? Gimmegimmegimmegimme!’’

Unceremoniously crawling towards Nicole like a hungry zombie, Erikson abruptly stopped and made a grim face as if he realized something. ‘’If you are fucking joking with me, don’t blame me for biting your leg.’’

Nicole, trying to suppress her giggles, waved the container back and forth and saw Erikson’s eyes follow it like a hawk.

‘’Nah, I am not kidding this time. It’s the real deal. Maybe I could spare some for you if you ask me kindly?’’

‘’Great and kindhearted Nicole. My heart longs to run in the great, green pastures but my body is telling me no. Would you be my savior and free me from this prison of a chair?’’

With a flat monotone, Erikson’s eyes twitched as he recited a long, insincere plea for help.

Bursting into laughter, Nicole sighed a breath of relief in her mind. The reason she was frantically looking for any means to help Erikson was because she was afraid that he would lose all hope and end it.

But looking at the spirited Erikson now asking for the medicine flat on the floor, she knew that his will to live was ignited once more.

‘’Fine, fine. Stop it already.’’ Nicole shook her head with a bright smile on her face and dragged Erikson towards the wheelchair, before assisting him to get back sitting.

‘’Here you go. Hopefully it is as powerful as it is rumored to be, otherwise I am out of ideas.’’ Carefully passing the container to Erikson, Nicole hoped in her heart that he would be able to walk once again.

Erikson held the container with trembling hands and asked Nicole with a quiet voice.

‘’Are you absolutely sure you are willing to give this to me? I mean it could push you towards greater heights…’’

Knowing that Titanapes sacred medicine could not be bought like cabbage or beer, he felt guilty.

‘’Yeah man I am sure, don’t be such a pussy. Where is the cocky and confident Franz Erikson that works with me?’’ Nicole slapped Erikson's back of the head lightly and continued.

‘’It wasn’t cheap, you know… When you recover, you will have to help me share the costs.’’

With a slightly reddened face, Nicole spoke the last sentence quietly.