Season 2; Chapter 6: Intoxicating

Helios fell onto his knees as he stared at the unconscious, hibernating? Lawrence. He spat blood but did not feel pain. A moment earlier, when he was about to strike, his anelace melted just before it reached Lawrence's skin. Then Lawrence's aura burst, knocking him away and onto his knees. He had nothing to use whatsoever to defeat the unknowingly hibernating Lawrence.

Nothing except one more thing. The Pill. He hesitated, not wanting to think of it. Helios thought of any other more solutions to his problems but found nothing. He insisted on not using it, but what else could he do? The pill he kept was the only thing that could strengthen him to match with his opponent to some degree. What he didn't want was the process.

"What else can I do? There must be a way!" he groaned. He was foolish to think highly of his weapon against a low-ranking inheritance. There was no way he could've known that the Topaz Flame could melt his Enhanced Anelace. It was a Semi-Sacred Treasure, after all.

He stopped and stood, "How about my colleagues? No. I mustn't rely on them. But what else could I do?" he was on the verge of insanity, thinking plausible ways to survive. No. There was no way he would persist after this. After all, he attacked an Imperial.

"So... I don't have a choice, do I?" he mumbled in defeat. He took out 'the pill,' hesitating for a moment.

He gulped then swallowed the pill. He retreated, few meters away from Lawrence, waiting for the effects of the drug. Then it happened. His internal organs screamed pain, and so did he, so loud, so excruciating to hear.

Then he fell. Not unconscious, but paralyzed. Because of the pill, the effects had already triggered, causing his inability to move. He felt numb, everything. Everywhere. He shifted his sight to meet the figure of Lawrence. He saw no movement, sighing. Because of that, his consciousness felt relief. Now, he was able to relax until the side-effects of the drug wear off then he moves.

He was able to move his fingers, little by little. Next was his toes. Ah..., He felt at ease. He moved his arms, pushing himself slowly off the ground. After, he felt his legs- finally free from the numbness. He stood but failed, placing him into a kneeling position. He tried once again- failed again. Once more, he stood. This time, he was successful. But his legs trembled.

The numbness was gone, and he could once again move. But he felt the pain progressing to each corner of his body. He groaned, enduring the torture. "I will never use this," he uttered in a laughing but in pain manner. Finally, the ache lessened. He focused his gaze towards Lawrence - who seemingly still hasn't finished with his hibernation - and glared.

"He must be hibernating... if so, I must take full advantage of this." without hesitation, he advanced towards Lawrence. His speed increased, allowing him to move faster than before, and in just a second, he was in front of Lawrence. Near enough to land a punch, so he struck. Before his blow could land on Lawrence's cheek, a powerful wave of combustion had hit him again, pushing him away from Lawrence once more.

He was pushed, not injured. But since he expected retaliation, he was not surprised. "Just like when I was about to strike my Anelace, you retaliated. Are you even unconscious?" he asked. No response.

In defeat, Helios sat to think for a moment. "The guards behind are probably dead. But not all of them. Maybe 'they' are chasing those who escaped. These people inside 'his' mansion are probably waiting for me to come in. So coming in to find a proper weapon is not an option." he paused, "This moment is a perfect chance for me to leave. But what's the use of escaping now? The prince has already seen me, and so did his servants. Furthermore, leaving a task unfinished - an important one at that - would only put me on the spot. God knows what punishment I would receive." his face gloomed.

Then he closed his eyes, focused his concentration- sharpening his senses. As if seeing a vision, he saw the surrounding. He saw, touched, smelled, heard, and tasted. His face twitched, "bitter," he uttered. Then he saw his daggers- felt their edges; smelled their metallic scent, and heard their tingling sounds. Then everything went black?