The Slayer Ascension: Cursed and Blessed.-Chapter 62: Forceful Rest

Chapter 62

Back at the Shural base, both Gazel and Blaze were already laid out in one of the infirmaries. The base had spared no effort. Their wounds were treated, bones set, burns sealed, blood loss stabilized. Everything that could be done had already been done.

Now all that was left was rest.

They lay side by side on separate beds, bodies wrapped in clean bandages, breathing slow and heavy. The healers had been clear. Push themselves now and their bodies might break down, treatment or not.

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

Then Blaze broke the silence.

"Thank you."

His voice was weak but sincere.

Gazel gave a short nod. Nothing more.

His thoughts were elsewhere. Back in that small world. Back to the moments where he had nearly revealed his secret. Twice.

The bitterness settled deep in his chest.

He knew the truth. Everyone did.

If anyone found out he was cursed, they would get rid of him. No hesitation. No debate.

And that was not how he planned to die.

He came here to get stronger. To achieve his own goals. Not to throw his life away helping others. He was not a hero. Never had been. He would always look after his own life first before worrying about anyone else.

After rebuking himself in silence, Gazel glanced sideways.

Blaze was already asleep again.

Peaceful.

Exhausted to the bone.

Gazel should not have been surprised. Unlike him, whose body had almost fully healed, Blaze was different. Fragile in comparison. Human in the worst ways.

Blaze murmured in his sleep.

"Thanks... Gazel."

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

Gazel raised an eyebrow.

"Is this idiot thanking me in his dreams now," he muttered.

Crazy.

He looked toward the window. Sunlight poured in, warm and bright.

"I can’t sit here forever," Gazel thought.

He pushed himself up.

His body responded easily. Almost back to peak condition.

He swung his legs off the bed and stood.

A female healer rushed over. "You are not back to your peak yet," she said, trying to stop him.

Gazel brushed past her. "Lying around all day will do me no good."

They were still arguing when it happened.

A pressure slammed into the infirmary.

Gazel’s hair stood on end. His heart thumped hard against his ribs.

What the hell was that.

The doors burst open.

A man stepped inside.

He wore pristine white garments. Clean. Perfect. His soft black hair was neatly combed, well maintained. Early thirties, maybe younger. At a glance, he could have passed for a sage.

The murderous look in his eyes shattered that illusion instantly.

"Where are the two newbies that came through the portal," the man asked.

His voice echoed through the entire infirmary.

Gazel’s blood ran cold.

His chest hammered violently.

This man was looking for him. And Blaze.

And he was not here to talk.

The healer stepped forward. "Master C, please."

She did not get another word out.

A crushing force slammed her into the ground, blood splattering across the floor.

Master C stared down at her, eyes bloodshot.

"I asked where they are," he said calmly. "I have a score to settle with them."

Gazel’s instincts screamed.

Run.

Not maybe. Not soon.

Now.

If he stayed, he would die.

No.

He would be slaughtered.

Especially if that man attacked him for a reason he had no idea about.

The tension spiked.

Healers, patients, people from nearby wards all froze, eyes locked on the scene unfolding in the infirmary.

Then another presence spread out.

Powerful.

But unlike Master C’s suffocating aura, this one was controlled. Calm. Firm.

Stepping through the far entrance was the head healer.

He looked to be in his early thirties as well. Shorter. Leaner. Not imposing by build, yet somehow impossible to ignore. With the most polite smile he could manage, he spoke.

"Cravian," he said evenly. "What you are doing is improper. If you have an issue, you should have come to meet me. Let go of my healer."

His voice was steady, filled with authority.

Strangely enough, the crazed man obeyed.

Master C released the healer and turned his attention to the head healer instead, eyes narrowing.

"Tell me where those two newbies are," he said coldly. "You should write a report to the Head Shural. Two of the newcomers are already dead. They died the moment they interfered with my creations."

Gazel’s heart pounded even harder.

He knew it.

This man was not here for explanations. Not for discussion. Not for justice.

He was here to kill.

What kind of Shural spoke about killing potential recruits like it meant nothing.

The head healer met Master C’s gaze, clearly familiar with that look. The look that said one thing.

You are insane.

"If you really expect me to hand my patients over to you," the head healer said, "then you are dreaming. If you have a score to settle, settle it with me."

He turned and stepped into his office.

Master C grinned.

The smile never reached his eyes.

He followed, muttering guttural words under his breath.

"I need to release some steam," he said. "No one should get close."

He stepped inside.

The door slammed shut.

For a while, there was only silence.

Then the sounds came.

Heavy impacts. Crashing furniture. The sickening crack of bones.

Healers and patients alike clasped their hands, praying for the head healer’s safety.

He was strong.

But Master C was insane.

"Do you still want to leave?" the nurse whispered.

She had returned, her eyes different now. Fearful. Urgent. Almost pleading.

"I promised you. If he finds you, it will be over."

Gazel forced a smile that never reached his eyes.

"Sorry," he said quietly. "Looks like I still need more rest."

He turned quickly and rushed back to his bed, pulling the sheets over himself and shutting his eyes.

His heart raced.

The thought of nearly dying again sent chills down his spine.

"Forget it," he muttered. "Rest."

Gazel woke up with a splitting headache.

The light outside had dimmed. The evening sun hovered low in the sky. Night would come soon.

He stared ahead, memories of his days as a demon hunter surfacing uninvited.

The headache surged.

Sharper. Worse.

He squeezed his eyes shut, gripping his head.

"What is happening," he thought.

"Hey," Blaze’s worried voice reached him. "Are you okay?"

Gazel opened his eyes.

Blaze looked better. Color had returned to his skin. He seemed more vibrant, closer to how he looked when they first met.

Days ago.

Or weeks.

Time in that messed up world had never made sense.

Seeing the worry in his friend’s eyes, Gazel felt something twist in his chest.

Friend.

The word felt strange. Unfamiliar. But after everything they had been through, Gazel could not deny it.

He gave a small smile. Not much, but real.

"Don’t worry about me," Gazel said. "It’s just a splitting headache."

He tried to sound casual. Tried to brush it off.

It did not work.

Blaze did not look relieved. Not even a little. He bit his lip, then sighed.

"Actually," Blaze said slowly, "we’re not safe yet."

Gazel raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean."

"We’ve been summoned by the head healer," Blaze replied. "To clear up some things about the world we escaped from."

At once, the memory of noon slammed into Gazel’s mind.

Master C.

The pressure. The killing intent.

A shiver ran down his spine.

He swallowed and nodded.

Together, they headed for the head healer’s office.

The head healer was already there.

He looked mostly fine, if one ignored the massive bruise on his chest and the swelling around his left eye. It seemed there was a limit to what even healing arts could fix.

Gazel felt a twinge of guilt.

The man had taken that beating for their sake.

"Sit," the head healer said. "We have a long evening ahead of us."

He smiled.

It was not really a smile.

What followed was a storm of questions.

How they entered the small world. How they survived inside it. How they escaped.

Gazel and Blaze answered everything. There was nothing to hide. They were victims, not culprits.

They told him about the Shural named Xon.

The head healer frowned and checked the registry.

"There is no Shural by that name," he said.

The words hit hard.

Gazel and Blaze exchanged stunned looks.

Betrayal settled in.

After a few more questions, they were dismissed, but not without a warning.

"Stay away from Master C," the head healer said seriously. "Let him calm down first before you explain anything. If you face him now, I doubt even the Head Shural could save you in time."

They left in silence.

Outside, near the corridor that split toward their assigned rooms, Blaze finally spoke.

"Do you think Xon tricked us."

Gazel shrugged. "No idea. Maybe he lied on purpose. Maybe he just thought it was fun."

He paused. "We both know he’s probably a psycho."

Blaze laughed quietly. "You’re not wrong."

Then his expression softened. "Still, I hope he survived. He saved us."

Gazel shrugged again.

He was about to say good night when pain exploded behind his eyes.

His vision blurred.

"Ahh," he hissed, dropping to one knee.

"Are you okay," Blaze asked quickly. "Maybe you should see the head healer."

Gazel shook his head. "No."

Blaze tried to argue, but Gazel cut him off, forcing himself to stand.

"Good night," Gazel said, already walking away.

Blaze froze.

For a second, he could have sworn Gazel’s eyes had turned red.

He blinked.

They were normal again.

"Must be stress," Blaze muttered. "I need rest."

He walked away.

Gazel reached his room.

The headache worsened with every step.

By the time he shut the door, the pain was unbearable.

He clutched his head and collapsed to his knees.

It felt like his brain was crushing itself.

Minutes passed.

The pain eased.

Barely.

He dragged himself onto the large bed, body trembling, mind numb from the agony.

Then, deep into the night, it returned.

Stronger.

Violent.

A blinding surge tore through his head and flooded his entire body.

Gazel opened his mouth in a silent scream.

No sound came out.

Then darkness took him.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then it began.

His fingernails lengthened, sharpening into deadly claws. Muscles bulged beneath his skin, swelling with unnatural strength. A jagged gray horn tore its way from his head.

His eyes snapped open.

Burning red.

His teeth warped into terrifying fangs as his chest rose with a deep, inhuman breath.

One word slipped from his twisted mouth.

"DEATH."

The demon had awakened.

TO BE CONTINUED.