The Damned Demon

Chapter 730  No Consequences For The Dying

The tension in the air was thick as Rebecca stepped forward. She clicked her tongue with an air of impatience, "Let's just kick that door down," she suggested, clearly ready to force their way in.

But before she could make a move, Asher silently moved past her, his steps steady and calculated. He reached the door, his hand gripping the handle with ease. With a subtle twist and a sharp pull, the door creaked open effortlessly, revealing the room beyond.

The trio stepped into the room, their eyes immediately widening at the sight before them. There, sitting at the far side, was Grace—her aged figure illuminated by the white lights above, looking older than usual with an air of despair around her.

In her hand, she held a syringe filled with a radiant green liquid, its soft glow reflecting off her tired face. Her fingers trembled slightly, her expression a mix of determination and regret.

"Grace, stop. What are you doing with that?" Asher's voice was low, yet firm, his gaze never leaving the syringe.

Yui and Rebecca's brows furrowed in unison as they recognized the syringe. Yui's voice trembled with shock, "I-Is that Eternum?"

Rebecca's eyes narrowed, disbelief creeping into her tone, "You... I can't believe you were planning to do something stupid like this!" She took a step forward, pointing at the syringe as if she could tear it from Grace's hands by force of will alone.

Grace sighed deeply, her grip tightening on the syringe. She turned to face them, her face drawn, as though she had already made up her mind but was still searching for some kind of validation, "I had asked Rachel to hand over some of this to study it and see if I could replicate it—create a version that wouldn't come at such a high cost. Something my son was probably working on before they stole the research from him. Something that could be made without letting girls like Yui and Emiko die in the process. But... I failed. And I had stashed a bunch of them away, never thinking I would use it."

Her voice grew quieter, heavier with the weight of her confession, "I know it would be wrong, especially since it's made from the blood of innocents. I never wanted to even consider this option. But..." She trailed off, her voice breaking, "We lost Emiko. And we all know that if my body had just been a bit stronger to handle my powers, she might still be here." She swallowed, her expression faltering as the sorrow weighed on her heart, "I know I shouldn't even be alive right now, but that doesn't make it easier. I am dying anyway. But at least I don't want my death to mean nothing after Emiko sacrificed her life for me." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The room was silent for a moment, as everyone took in Grace's words. Yui's eyes were wide, filled with worry, while Rebecca's face remained hard, though her brow furrowed in concern. Asher, however, studied Grace carefully, his eyes softening as he understood the depth of her pain.

"So you... you are planning to use that syringe to do what?" Asher asked, his voice full of concern, "You must know the consequences of using it. Didn't Rachel tell you what's happening to Lenny because of it?"

Grace's shoulders slumped slightly as she nodded slowly, "I know. But as I said, there aren't really consequences to a dying woman, are there? Maybe this is the only thing that could not only help me live a bit longer but also give me the strength I need to fight for you and for what Emiko believed in." She looked at him, her gaze unwavering, "But I won't use it unless you allow me to. I know I owe you that. It's your decision, master."

Asher's expression remained complicated as he stood there, his mind weighing the consequences. He could see the brokenness in Grace, the guilt and self-doubt that was plaguing her.

He understood her pain, the desperate need to make up for Emiko's loss, to find some way to bring meaning to the sacrifice. He also knew that Eternum might give her a chance—a fleeting chance to regain her strength, even if it came at a high cost.

He nodded slowly, his voice firm. "Okay... You may do it."

Yui gasped, her voice shaking as she turned to him. "B-But will it be safe? That thing seems to be brimming with pure, radiant energy. It might hurt Aunty Grace!"

Grace softly smiled at Yui, her eyes warm despite the heavy weight of the decision she was about to make. "Don't worry, child," she reassured her, "Even though demonic mana flows through my veins, my mana circuit is still made to channel radiant mana. What this serum will do is restore my mana circuit to a healthier condition, at least temporarily. But if you're worried, you can use your powers to help stabilize my body while it does its work."

Yui nodded, still anxious but trusting Grace's words. Her voice was fragile, barely above a whisper, "Mn....I will help you then, Aunty Grace."

Rebecca shook her head, mumbling to herself, "I can't believe this. How is nobody worried she's just going to get herself killed?"

Grace took a deep breath and held the syringe up to her arm, her fingers trembling as she prepared to inject it. The green light from the serum shimmered in the dim light, reflecting off her weathered face as she steadied herself.

Yui stood near her, watching anxiously as Grace carefully pressed the needle into her vein, her hands shaking. Grace closed her eyes as she slowly pushed the plunger down.

The room was thick with tension as the green serum flowed through Grace's veins, the radiant energy within it coursing into her body, beginning its work. Yui stood close by, her hands trembling as she placed them on Grace's shoulders, channeling her healing energy with everything she had. Her eyes were wide with worry, her brow furrowed as she tried to stabilize Grace's frail body while the transformation began.

"Ungh…"Grace winced, her face contorting in pain. The serum was working, but its effects were far from gentle. Dark vermillion veins began to creep over her skin, snaking up her arms and across her face in a twisted pattern that seemed to pulse with the serum's power. Her breath came in ragged gasps as the pain tore through her, her body trembling as if it couldn't handle the sudden surge of energy.

"Aunty Grace!" Yui called out, her voice filled with desperation as she focused harder, pushing more of her healing energy into Grace's body, "Hold on! Please, just hold on!"

Grace's hands gripped the sides of her chair, her nails digging into the wood as she arched her back in agony. Her face twisted in pain, her lips curling as she struggled to keep herself steady. "It's... it's too much," she gasped, her voice shaking as she fought to keep control, "I... I didn't think it would hurt this much..."

Asher furrowed his brows as he saw what was happening to Grace. He did hear from Rachel that the first time someone takes the serum…it wouldn't be easy at all.

But he had trust in Yui and Grace to pull through this.

Rebecca, standing at the other side of the room, looked on with concern, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her voice was a mixture of skepticism and worry, "This is madness. No one should be playing with something like this... Especially not someone in her condition."

Asher's eyes flicked between Grace and Yui, his gaze intense, "She has no choice," he muttered under his breath, but the words were more for himself than anyone else. His voice was low, haunted with the same weight of uncertainty that hung over them all.

"Something is happening…" Rebecca mumbled with her brows pulled together.

Grace's body shuddered violently as the transformation reached its peak, her once-ashen skin now glistening with sweat. Her hair, once a dull shade of fading red, began to shimmer and darken, a fiery vermillion hue that cascaded down her back like a torrent of flame.

Her body, once frail and broken, seemed to stretch and shift, her curves becoming fuller, more pronounced. Her skin smoothed out, her cheeks filling with youthful vigor, and the dark veins that had marred her skin began to disappear, leaving her with a healthy, glowing complexion. Her lips, once chapped and pale, were now plump and velvety, a deep shade of red.

The room seemed to hum with energy as Grace's transformation finally began to slow, the painful grimaces on her face giving way to a quiet, almost stunned calm. Yui, exhausted from the effort, staggered slightly as she withdrew her healing powers, unsure if she could still help without pushing herself too far. She stood there, wide-eyed, as the woman before them slowly stood up, the change complete.

As Grace straightened, her long, fiery red hair flowing around her like a halo, she exuded an aura of power that was impossible to ignore. The strength in her stance, the fire in her eyes, the undeniable beauty that now radiated from her—it was clear that the woman who stood before them was not the same one who had struggled with the serum moments before.

Her figure was stunning—her body now full, curvaceous, and every bit the fiery beauty she had once been. Her brown eyes, now sharper, more intense, locked onto Asher, Yui, and Rebecca, and they all felt the weight of her gaze. She was a force to be reckoned with, her aura boundless, her power palpable in the air around them.

Yui's jaw dropped, her eyes filled with shock and awe, "Aunty Grace... you... you look..." Her words faltered as she tried to process the sight before her. She had never seen her this way—this vibrant, this alive.

Even when she had absorbed life crystals to make herself younger, she never looked this good.

Rebecca stepped forward, her eyes narrowing, a mix of awe and disbelief on her face. "What the hell…?" Her tone was incredulous as she glanced between Grace and Asher. "That serum can work this good?" She could imagine the old crones back in her world salivating at the sight of this serum if they knew about its effects.

Asher's eyes were glimmering with astonishment as he looked at Grace who looked no older than her mid-twenties, "That serum seems to have restored your body to its prime condition. How are you feeling now?" She looked even more gorgeous than he ever imagined.

Grace stood tall before them, her well-endowed chest rising and falling with each breath, her expression fierce yet determined.

She looked down at herself, lifting her palms, as if she were still trying to come to terms with the power coursing through her, "I…I feel like I can…" She raised her gaze, her eyes glinting with killing intent, "…finally kill the Thundering Reaper by myself."