After staring at those slightly trembling legs for two seconds, Shu suddenly felt his consciousness return to his body. His brain, previously blocked by pain, finally began to function again.
But it was only a slight recovery of his thinking ability. Control over his body, and even control over [Wish], had not yet returned to Shu's grasp.
Right now, Shu was no different from a conscious person in a vegetative state.
Sirin knelt beside Shu, holding two disposable syringes. One was already inserted into Shu's neck, and under Sirin's control, the medication was being slowly injected.
As the liquid entered his system, a strong palpitation suddenly arose. This palpitation was even able to contend with the pain wracking his body, suppressing most of it.
Concentrated Adrenaline Potion, a Future City product, and also the masterpiece that had cemented Old John's friend's position as a Holy Hand.
[Panacea Potion]
This was a potion capable of temporarily boosting a person's controllability, explosiveness, endurance, physical utilization rate, and brain utilization rate to 100%.
In that instant, everyone became a Homu Captain, or even far surpassed one.
At the same time, its side effects were equally terrifying. Muscle atrophy, bone decay, and so on were merely the most basic costs. The vast majority of users would suffer brain death after using this potion.
The few rare survivors would experience intellectual decline and other brain-related problems.
If it were just that, the [Panacea Potion] probably wouldn't have been enough to elevate Old John's friend to Holy Hand status, as its side effects were too severe.
What truly elevated this potion to legendary status wasn't its moderate production cost, but rather—its effects were determined by the injected dosage.
If one understood a person's maximum tolerable dosage, then that person could maintain their peak state at all times without suffering any side effects.
Injecting a certain amount yielded corresponding effects. While creating cost-free super-soldiers, it could also produce a large group of self-destructing infantry with terrifying physical capabilities. This potion almost rewrote the landscape of warfare during World War I.
Sirin was injecting Shu with a full dose of the [Panacea Potion]. After injecting only about a tenth, Sirin quickly withdrew the needle.
A normal person's tolerance limit was around one-seventh. However, Sirin remembered Shu's concerningly poor physical condition displayed in the [Demon Lord's Castle] and had to reduce the dosage.
A strong, powerful heartbeat resounded in the darkness. His long-congested nasal passages finally filled with fresh air!
Shu's body felt divinely aided. Life's instinct made him begin to breathe rapidly. The [Panacea Potion] at this moment acted like adrenaline, forcibly dragging Shu back from the brink of death.
Burning his bridges.
Heartbeat restored, breathing restored. Shu still couldn't control his body because after Sirin removed the [Panacea Potion] needle, she immediately plunged the other syringe into Shu's neck.
[Potent Anesthetic]
Shu: "..."
It's fine, he still has [Hope]...
The Key of Remembrance in Sirin's hand glowed faintly, obstructing Shu's abilities. Sirin had practically read the entire Key of Remembrance and naturally knew how to use it.
Back in the [Demon Lord's Castle], it could suppress Shu's low-power [Hope]. Now, with Shu in such a weakened state, as long as Shu didn't unleash a self-destructive burst, the Key of Remembrance could keep him suppressed.
Betrayed from behind...
Fortunately, the anesthetic not only robbed Shu of control over his body, but the empathetic pain that had been tearing him apart also weakened considerably.
His mind gradually clearing, Shu gasped for air, barely managing to turn his eyes towards Sirin and Bella.
Seeing the entire syringe successfully emptied, the two, who had been tense, finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Lady Sirin, since he's alright now, let's leave quickly!" Bella came up behind Sirin and pulled her up.
Sirin was also panting slightly, standing with Bella's support.
Shu's weary gaze met Sirin's. Sirin shook her head.
"No, Bella... It's too dangerous here... We'll take him with us..." Sirin said through gritted teeth.
Shu never truly hurt me from beginning to end... How could I leave him here alone?
"What?!" Bella's eyes widened. She rushed in front of Sirin, flustered. "But... he clearly... just now he..."
Bella's body language was even more expressive than her words, though neither conveyed much information.
Clearly, she also realized that Shu seemed to have never made any move to harm them. When she had wrapped her arms around Shu's waist, she had been prepared to be hit, but Shu had merely grabbed her by the scruff of her collar and tossed her aside...
If one insisted he was the Demon Lord, well, both their identities had disappeared now. Whether Shu was the Demon Lord was up to Lady Sirin to decide.
And clearly, Sirin didn't think he was.
Bella looked at Shu, who was quietly breathing on the ground, his forehead covered in sweat. Then she looked at Sirin, clutching the Key of Remembrance, her injured knee still untreated. Suddenly, Bella grabbed her hair in frustration.
"Aaaah—! If I knew this would happen, I would have just left with Lady Sirin directly!!"
After a somewhat self-deprecating shout, amidst the shaking of the entire building, Bella bent down, grabbed Shu's hand, and, under Shu's surprised and uncertain gaze, hoisted Shu onto her small back.
Shu's knees still dragged on the ground. Bella's face flushed red with effort as she dragged Shu and ran out.
Sirin paused, a slight smile playing on her lips, then followed Bella.
But just as she took a step, the pain in her knee made her suck in a sharp breath. Bella quickly turned to look at Sirin, only to see Sirin shake her head.
"I'm fine... You just carry Shu." With that, Sirin followed.
The pain in her leg didn't greatly impede her movement. Sirin's pain tolerance was also beyond that of an ordinary person. But Bella's heart ached watching her!
Although Shu couldn't move, his hearing, sight, and even sense of smell were fine.
He heard Bella's constant muttering.
"Bella's back is reserved for Lady Sirin... not for bad guys who bully Lady Sirin..."
"Lady Sirin is actually willing to endure pain to let you use Bella's back... Lady Sirin is such a good person..."
"Damn adult, so heavy... Lady Sirin, to be considerate of Bella and not tire Bella out, only weighs 40 kilograms... You must be over 50..."
Shu: "..."
I'm 180cm tall; I'm truly sorry I couldn't manage to get down to 40 kilograms...