“Ugh... Ughhhh... Ughhhhh!”

It took a considerable amount of time to discern that the grotesque mass before them was indeed a person, and to identify where the face was. This was not only due to the severely disfigured state of the figure, but also because its appearance was quite different from that of an ordinary human.

Adorning its head were enormous antlers, while large wings protruded from its back. Its arms and legs were covered in thick, long feathers, making it difficult to discern their outline. Upon closer inspection, the face seemed to be a bizarre mix of human and beast.

Yuder, who had encountered many Awakeners with somewhat different appearances, rarely came across one with such a distinct and alien look. More precisely, it was this rarity that made this particular Awakener memorable.

'It would be harder to forget someone with such a distinct appearance.'

Kishiar, quickly noticing Yuder's subtle reaction upon recognizing the figure, silently mouthed a question.

'Is it someone you know?'

Yuder nodded slightly, yet noticeably enough for Kishiar to discern.

'Which side?'

Whether they had been allies or enemies.

Yuder pondered for a moment, gazing down at the groaning Awakener in pain. Then, he lightly wrote on the back of Kishiar's hand.

'He was once a member of the Cavalry. But he died early.'

The name of this Awakener was Elpkins. In his previous life, he had joined the Cavalry only about a year after they had dismantled several illegal fighting rings in the south. He was known for his immense strength, peculiar appearance, and even more remarkable regenerative abilities, which had garnered high expectations in the Shin Division.

However, Elpkins had a slight problem with his temperament. He would easily get overly excited over trivial matters and, once angered, would charge blindly into battle. His obsession with power was also much more intense compared to his peers.

His tendency to lash out in excessive fights, often ignoring the advice of colleagues during team activities, always kept his reputation within the Cavalry at rock bottom. There were several instances where he deliberately induced a rampage to accelerate his abilities.

'At least he knew to behave in front of me... but that was about it.'

Elpkins, increasingly unable to control his rage, met a gruesome end during a mission, unable to withstand another of his rampages. His regenerative abilities, which he had always relied on to save him from any peril, tragically failed him that time.

His death became a significant catalyst for Yuder to seriously acknowledge the dangers of an Awakener's rampage. It also contributed to the establishment of norms within the Cavalry, preventing members from recklessly inducing rampages for the sake of power.

Yuder briefly conveyed this event to Kishiar, while still looking down at Elpkins, who continued to suffer.

'I never mentioned that we met in the south in his previous life...'

Indeed, nobody would have wanted to admit being held captive in such a place. It was even less likely for the proud and fierce Elpkins.

In Yuder's memory, Elpkins had always been able to freely use his regenerative abilities, but now he lay bloodied and unable to use them, a sight that unsettled Yuder.

'The suppressive power permeating this entire underground space must be hindering his regeneration abilities...'

'Anyway, we must assess his condition.'

Yuder briefly glanced at Kishiar before leaping down from the ceiling to approach the figure. Even as he drew near, Elpkins seemed oblivious to his presence.

"Ughhhh…"

"..."

Up close, Elpkins' wounds were far more severe than they had appeared from a distance. His blood-stained wings were twisted and broken, and there wasn’t a single unmarred limb. The feathers, originally white and blue, were more than half plucked out, leaving his skin tattered and torn.

Compared to these, the flattened and swollen nose and face seemed almost less severe.

However, more than the wounds themselves, Yuder's gaze was strongly drawn to the ragged piece of cloth that barely served as Elpkins' clothing. Made seemingly for the sole purpose of display rather than to cover or warm, the garment was a humiliating sight to behold.

'I had planned to demolish this place after participating in tomorrow's fight... but the thought of having to fight in such attire makes me want to hasten our plans.'

Yet, it was this tattered cloth that revealed something significant. Yuder exhaled softly upon noticing Elpkins' deep wounds trying to close, unsuccessfully fusing and then halting repeatedly. Even under the suppression of his powers, Elpkins' regenerative ability was struggling to surface, indicating its substantial strength.

He certainly wasn't someone to die helplessly in such a place.

Kishiar, who had landed beside Yuder, murmured in a low voice.

"Hmm. His condition is not good. He needs immediate treatment."

Kishiar was not one to easily show emotion, but his tone conveyed a clear message. He, too, had seen and deduced the same things as Yuder, and this evidently led to a significant accumulation of discontent towards the fighting ring.

"Fortunately, he is recovering slowly..."

"Even so, prolonging his pain is not good. Let me take over for a moment."

Kishiar, a possessor of great divine power, rarely used it outside of treating Yuder, to the extent that it was almost half-forgotten that he possessed such ability.

"Are you sure you can manage?"

"I tested earlier and found that the suppressive power here strongly restrains the power of the Awakener, but doesn’t affect other powers as much. Treating him won't be a problem. However…"

Kishiar began to emit a dazzling white light from his fingertips, muttering to himself.

"Given the severity of his condition, this will use a lot of my power, so I might not be much help afterward."

That was not an issue. Even if Kishiar did nothing, Yuder could take action, and having him at his side would be more comforting. However, if Kishiar overexerted himself to the point of harming his own health, that would be a serious concern.

'I trust he won’t overuse his power, but I'm still worried.'

To feel more anxious about another's well-being was unusual for Yuder, especially concerning Kishiar. It was a strange and unsettling feeling, given his usually uneventful life.

"...Be careful."

Yuder spoke briefly before stepping back. Soon, Kishiar began to earnestly channel his divine power, initiating the healing process for Elpkins.

It took a considerable amount of time before the light finally faded.

"It's done. That's all I can do for now."

Kishiar spoke thus, but Elpkins, upon the completion of the healing, appeared almost fully restored on the outside.

"The external fractures and wounds are mostly healed, but even considering his regenerative abilities, it will still take a few more days of treatment to fully recover."

Kishiar, after taking a deep breath, staggered as he stepped back. Yuder quickly supported him, noticing the man's face had turned significantly paler in just a short time.

"Are you alright?"

"It's just a misstep... but your concern is so great, it makes me want to stay like this."

"This is no time for jokes."

Hearing Yuder's cold yet worried voice, the man smiled broadly. He then leaned his head against Yuder's hair.

"Um... Of all the powers I possess, this one seems to suit me the least. Even I can't be compatible with everything."

"..."

"But isn't the sense of fulfillment after using such power undeniable? I don't want to hide and never use the power I have. If there's someone in need, it should be used."

Yuder looked up at Kishiar and, after a moment, nodded with difficulty.

"Uh...ughhh... Y-you...who are you?"

Just then, Elpkins finally opened his eyes. Regaining consciousness, he was momentarily frightened by the strangers before him, but soon his surprise turned to astonishment upon realizing his body was fully healed.

"I... I was seriously injured from today's defeat... How did this happen? Did you heal me?"

"Yes."

"How...? No one is supposed to be able to use their powers here..."

"That's a secret."

Kishiar silently smiled and placed a finger over his lips. Realizing that these strangers had indeed healed him, Elpkins did not press further on how he had been treated.

Instead, he scanned Yuder and Kishiar with a look of wary yet trembling eyes.

"...You're not part of the Nukijo gang, are you?"

"No, we're not."