The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

-Raye, you’re talented in taking drugs.

Zephyrus casually declared that.

-Well, not drugs particularly... but everything with essence and mana.

Then he followed.

"???"

Raye was confused by his words.

And seeing him like that...

-You said you have no talent, right?

Zephyrus asked that.

"Yeah..."

Raye responded, slightly frowning.

And just then—

-That’s actually not the case.

Zephyrus declared that, and Raye’s frown was replaced by surprise!

"What do you mean?"

Raye questioned. He was brimming with anticipation.

I mean, why wouldn’t he?

All this time, he thought that he was not talented—that he could only be mediocre at most in the things that he did!

But just now...

’Zephyrus said that I have a talent.’

Raye said in his head, dumbfounded. Experience new stories on freewebnovel

He immediately believed Zephyrus’ words because he was a ’High-rank’ spirit that had lived for more than a couple of centuries.

Anyway...

Using his tiny white wings, Zephyrus shrugged and started explaining...

-I’ve seen you absorb enhancement pills twice now, and you even did something wrong the last time.

-But instead of their effects being low to normal... you always get an abnormally high effect!

He proclaimed!

And while pointing at Raye with his cute wing—

-I think you absorb more or less twenty percent more than normal people from essences!

He exclaimed that proudly!

And hearing him...

"Haha..."

Raye let out a laugh in disbelief.

*****

Processing Zephyrus’ words just now...

Raye furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

Then, after a while—

"So you’re saying... My body is just better at absorbing essence and mana than normal people?"

He asked for confirmation.

-Yep.

Zephyrus simply nodded his small, cute head.

"And this means... If I take an enhancement pill, I get stronger faster than others?"

Raye followed up.

-It’s not just limited on enchantment pills... But basically, yeah.

Zephyrus confirmed again.

And hearing that—

’This is nice.’

Raye thought with a smile on his face.

He was relieved to know that he’s good at something!

Raye was already thinking about how to get stronger with this information!

Anyway, moving on—

-Alright, alright, you get it now. Let’s move on.

Zephyrus interrupted Raye’s stupor, waving his tiny wing.

-Let’s not waste any more time. Take the pills already!

He instructed to Raye.

"Ah, right."

Raye weakly whispered. He briefly forgot about this plan of his because of what he had just learned about himself.

Then, silently...

Fwish—

Raye opened his spatial storage and took out the three remaining enhancement pills!

And with the pills on his hand....

Raye looked at Zephyrus—

Their eyes met.

"Mhm..."

-Good luck.

They nodded their heads at each other.

And then, without any more further ado—

’Come on talent, help me get stronger...!’

Gulp—

The three enhancement pills slid down Raye’s throat.

And immediately—

"Ugh...!"

A scorching heat erupted from his core, spreading through every inch of his body like wildfire!

Inside and out!

"GAAAH...!"

His skin flushed bright red in an instant, veins bulging across his arms and neck. His breath hitched—he felt like he was being cooked alive!

"Haaa...!"

Raye’s body trembled, his muscles spasming uncontrollably as an unbearable burning sensation surged through his bones, his flesh, his very bloodstream!

And seeing this—

-What the hell?!

Zephyrus frowned real hard!

-Raye, focus! Control your breathing!

He shouted, his small wings fluttering anxiously.

-Guide the essence properly! Let it spread evenly, don’t let it stay in one place!

Zephyrus kept yelling instructions!

Though—

"Kh...!"

Raye could barely even hear him.

His ears were ringing. His heart pounded like a war drum, hammering against his chest as if trying to escape!

His lungs burned with every short breath he managed to take!

His entire body felt like it was being stabbed by thousands of red-hot needles, sinking deeper, twisting, and tearing his insides apart!

’It hurts...! It hurts so fucking much!’

Raye exclaimed in his head.

Then—

SPLASH—

Blood started gushing out his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth!

And it’s streaming like an open valve!

’Fuck...’

Raye’s vision blurred. His nails dug into the bedsheet, gripping it so tightly.

He couldn’t scream—no, he doesn’t want to scream and worry the old man!

’Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!’

Biting down hard on his lower lip, Raye forced his mouth shut!

-I covered your room with my skill, there’s no sound that will come in and exit this place, don’t hold back!

But when he heard that from Zephyrus...

"GRAAAAAAAHHHHH—!!!"

Raye roared in pain!

"GAAAAAAAAARGH!!!"

He continued shouting to ease off the pain he was feeling at least, even for a bit!

But then—

SWAAAAAA—

He was still feeling hot as fuck inside out!

It was as if lava was flowing inside his veins! Every muscle in his body kept convulsing violently!

Raye felt like his bones were melting. His skin felt like it would peel right off!

’Don’t fucking pass out!’

Raye said to himself!

He had to endure this. He had to!

"Hah...! Hah...!"

Tears fell out of his eyes along with the blood. Saliva started mixing too with the blood from his mouth!

Raye looks like a fucking mess right now, he was disgusting to look at!

But he couldn’t care less about that at the moment! After all, his mind teetered on the edge of unconsciousness!

-Damn it, Raye! Stay awake!

Zephyrus’ voice pierced through his hazy mind.

"GUURGH...!!!"

Raye groaned, the pain hadn’t gone away nor even eased a little.

-You wanted to get stronger, right?! Then fight through it! Guide the essence! Absorb it properly or it’ll burn you from the inside!

Zephyrus declared. He knows that Raye couldn’t hear him right now...

-Listen! The essence is too chaotic! Calm it down! Circulate it evenly, or your body might explode!

But he still continued, nevertheless.

Raye’s breathing was ragged. His body was drenched in sweat, blood, and saliva. His mind was screaming for relief, for escape—

But he clenched his fists!

’No. I’m not going to fail here!’

He refused.

And so—

Even through the excruciating pain, Raye tried to focus. Tried to grasp the mana that was rampaging inside his body.

He had to.

Because if he lost control now—

He wouldn’t just pass out.

He’d die!

...

Then...

As Raye was struggling to stay conscious—

"...?"

He suddenly felt a lot less hot!

This confused Raye. It was still hot as fuck, but it’s much better than before!

Curiously, Raye slightly opened his eyes and forcefully looked to his side...

And there—

-Meee..eee..p!

He saw Pyro, sending mana to him!

He was feeding Raye’s passive skill, fire tolerance, to make it stronger!

Pyro was struggling to do this...

He was just woken up by Raye’s scream, but after seeing his contractor in pain...

The cute fireball wasted no time and started helping him!

-Pyro! That’s good! Very good!

Zephyrus exclaimed with a smile.

’Thanks...’

Raye said in his head, looking at Pyro.

And with that, he continued absorbing the essence of enchantment pills!

"GRRRRRRGH...!!"

...

...

After receiving Pyro’s help...

Raye started screaming less!

His body returned to the normal color too, it was just slightly reddish!

And then, after about an hour of hellish pain—

Swoosh-

Raye successfully absorbed the essence of the three enhancement pills!

And as soon as he did—

Poff-

He let himself fall on the bed—

"..."

And he lost consciousness!