The Golem Mage

788: Pill Effects.

788: Pill Effects.

“You’re from the Coral Clan, right?” the Fourth Elder asked almost immediately after he and the Third Elder had saved the mag, who had already given up on any chance of survival.

He had asked because he recognized the emblem on the mage’s robe, the Coral Clan was one of the oldest clans in the city, just like the Gordons.

While they weren’t particularly close, they had never been at odds either, to the Fourth and Third Elders, that was reason enough to help him.

“Yes, I am… Sorry you have to see me like this, come on, behead me now.

I don’t want to turn into one of those things.

If I die from the pain, I’ll just end up attacking my allies.

Do it properly—make sure I don’t turn.” The man responded, his voice strained.

With a grim expression, he pulled his robe aside, revealing the rapid spread of the infection.

Black, bulging veins climbed up his neck from his wounded hand, forming a twisted web beneath his skin, proof of how quickly the zombie virus was taking hold.

For now, he was still suppressing it with his mana, but the moment his heart stopped beating, the virus would break free, once that happened, it would spread into his brain, corrupting his memories and triggering an abnormal evolution.

He would become one of the specialized mutated zombies, a far deadlier threat than the common infected.

And yet, resisting with mana was only a temporary measure, because the longer the virus remained in the body, the stronger it became, relentlessly pushing its way toward the brain.

Delaying the inevitable would only make things worse.

And the stronger the virus became, the weaker the mage’s ability to generate mana, as time passed, he would eventually be unable to summon enough mana to stop the infection from killing his heart and invading his brain while turning him into a zombie.

That was why the man was pleading to be beheaded now, before the virus could spread to his head.

Because as long as he was decapitated before the infection reached his brain, he would die permanently, with no chance of turning, and the virus, without a functioning brain to corrupt, would quickly become inactive in a dead body.

But as the Fourth Elder looked at the mage who had lost all hope, a different idea formed in his mind.

Beside him, the Third Elder moved to fulfill the Coral Clan mage’s request, swinging his Naginata in a swift, precise motion to take his head.

But before the blade could land, the Fourth Elder’s spear intercepted it, the sudden block made his brother raise a brow in confusion,

‘why was the Fourth Elder stopping him?

Was he prolonging the suffering of a man who was already struggling against the relentless virus?’

“I want to try something first,” the Fourth Elder said, his gaze fixed on the infected mage rather than his brother.

Without further explanation, he pulled out a small object and tossed it toward the Coral Clan mage.

“Here, take this.”

At that moment, a strength-type, low Tier 7 zombie, sensing three unoccupied high-rank mages, swooped down to engage them, seeing the approaching threat, the Third Elder abandoned the conversation, trusting the Fourth Elder to handle whatever he was planning.

His left hand gripped the blade of his Naginata, and with a burst of golden light, the weapon’s edge expanded slightly as he dashed forward to meet the enemy head-on.

Meanwhile, the Coral Clan mage caught the pill in his trembling hand and stared at it in shock.

Even before inspecting it closely, the rich fragrance alone told him it was no ordinary pill, but as his eyes focused on its detailed engravings and distinct shape, his breath hitched, there was no mistaking it, he was holding a Tier 6 healing pill.

Ever since he was born, this was the first time he had ever seen a mid-rank healing pill in person, he had only recognized it so quickly because of the illustrations of it recorded in books, yet even now, he struggled to believe his eyes.

It felt almost as if his mind was playing tricks on him.

“What are you waiting for?

Quickly consume it and let’s see how much it can stabilize you!

We need every fighter we can get, and if this pill can help cure you even a little, then it’s worth the chance, get a little better and fight to your heart’s content!” the Fourth Elder shouted, his voice filled with conviction.

Something in his words struck a chord within the Coral Clan mage, and without hesitation, he threw the pill into his mouth, pushing aside any thoughts of consequences or the debt he might owe for such an expensive resource.

Before departing for battle, Alec had given each elder a bottle containing five Tier 6 healing pills.

He had called it a precaution, and though the elders were shocked that Alec had such rare items in reserve after all he had given the clan, but they were grateful for his dedication to keeping their clan mages alive.

Now, seeing the suffering mage before him, the Fourth Elder knew he couldn’t just stand by, not when Alec’s pills might help.

That was why he had acted.

The moment the mage swallowed the pill, the throbbing black veins of the infection, which had spread all the way from his left hand, suddenly halted, in fact, they began to recede, pulling back toward the original wound as if being forced into retreat.

The corruption stopped just shy of his elbow, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, the mage let out a deep, relieved breath, he could feel it, the virus had entered a dormant state, no longer advancing toward his brain, more importantly, his mana was regenerating.

It was clear now: he was no longer in immediate danger of turning into a zombie.

The pill had restrained the infection, buying him precious time.

However, the wound itself remained uncured and the battle wasn’t over yet.

The mage could feel it, he had a couple hours before the virus would resurface and begin to affect him again.

“Thanks.

I’ll make sure to use this opportunity to fight even more fiercely,” he said, his voice resolute, as he twirled his hand, casting a high rank water-elemental spell with newfound force and determination.

He was no longer fighting just to hold out, hoping to survive.

No.

Now, he was fighting to inflict as much damage as possible, especially if it meant he gets to help take down a Type 3 zombie.

He knew the truth, since the healing pill couldn’t completely cure the infection, he would eventually have to be put down later on.

After all no one in Estonia City had the wealth to keep supplying him with Tier 6 healing pills, and even if they did, they wouldn’t waste such rare resources that are super rare to get on someone who wasn’t essential especially when it only acted as a temporary blocker for the virus.

But for now, while the virus remained dormant, he was prepared to give his all.

If he was going to die anyway, he would take as many zombies with him as possible.

A mage with nothing to lose, one who knew his fate was sealed, was far more dangerous than he had ever been before.