Rampage.
For an esper, going into rampage was the same as death sentence.
Most of the time, when you went into one, the probability of survival was only 10% and that percentage was the highest recorded chance of survival if you received extensive guiding from your highest matching guide.
The earliest symptom was red veins appearing on your skin as veins burst inside your body, before heart and brain failure followed.
If the impurities weren't purified and the wavelength wasn't stabilized within 30 minutes after the symptom started to appear, the probability to survive got as low as 0%.
"Xain, take me to Ethan."
"What? Are you trying to kill yourself?!"
"Then what do you think we should do?! If he doesn't receive any guiding, he'll die!"
Ilyas was already desperate as he couldn't do anything to help. Now that Ethan was pushing his body's limit under the boss' influence, as a guide and his partner, Ilyas couldn't just sit down and watch.
A guide was needed on the field for this reason – as a safety net for espers. If he couldn't do his job properly, what use of him being here as a guide?
"Fine, I'll distract the boss, you go save Ethan."
Under Ilyas' determined gaze, Xain relented. The other members also had a similar expression as Xain.
"We'll cover you two."
They all had the same goal of saving their friend, and to do that, they had to stake everything.
SSSKKKK!!
A giant sphere of blood covered the already red sky. A motion of Ethan's hand was all it took to shape it.
Slowly, the sphere cracked open as it rotated, layers by layers, like a lotus blooming. Launching high-speed, sharp blades.
"Run!"
"Scatter! Quick!"
Buildings were ravaged in seconds, as they crumbled, people below them had to run to safety. Some who didn't make it alive were buried under the rubble. Those who weren't so fortunate were slashed along the blood blades.
Chaos was happening in front of their eyes.
CRACK!
Another light shield Francis deployed was shattered under pressure. The attack this time was smaller in scale so it was easier to shield, but with its constant rapid firing, the destructiveness increased.
"Ilyas, go now. We'll cover you from his attacks."
But this was the perfect moment to get closer, with chaos happening, Ethan would have less room to defend. And that's an opportunity not to be missed.
Carrying Ilyas on his arms, Xain ran along the sidewalk, hiding behind dust and rubble.
Whenever an attack came toward their direction, a slash from Marcello and a shield from Patricia and Cedric would protect them.
Once they circled around and got behind Ethan and the boss, Xain launched at full speed.
"Go! Ilyas!"
Both of them tackled different people at the same time.
Xain brought down the boss with him, while Ilyas wrapped his hand on Ethan's body.
CRASH!
THUD!
"Ethan! Come back to me!" Grabbing his collar, Ilyas kissed Ethan on his lips, performing guiding on him.
"You! What are you doing?! Retaliate Ethan! Ugh-" The boss' word got cut off by Xain's punches, but that one word was enough for the puppet to move.
The esper in Ilyas' arms faltered for a bit, before his eyes sharpened and flicked his hand.
SLASH!
Blood splattered on Ethan's face.
Blood not his own, but someone he held dear.
"Ilyas!"
Falling into the ground, blood soaked Ilyas' clothes red. But a smile adorned his face, because the white lily was now in his hand.
"NO! YOU BASTARDS!"
Having losing control over their puppet, the boss roared in anger, they summoned more monsters to attack the two — which Xain had to hold down.
With no will from its master, the sphere of blood lost its form, dripping down like a fountain. The focus on Ethan's eyes slowly returned before he buckled and coughed up blood.
But that didn't take long before he realized who the person in front of him was.
"I-Ilyas..."
Bloodied and hurt, the man that he slashed with his own power was lying weakly on the ground, clutching a white lily.
Dread immediately filled Ethan's heart. He crawled toward his guide, hugging his body. His hand trembled as he assessed Ilyas' condition.
The cut wasn't deep, he could still save him.
Even though it was hard for him to breathe, and every use of his skill felt like it was tearing him apart, Ethan raised his hand over the wound. Inch by inch the wound closed up at a snail-like pace.
But the person being healed — still holding to the last bit of his consciousness — was screaming in rejection inside his mind.
'No... No! Don't do it Ethan! Don't use your skill anymore!'
Ilyas wished he could speak, but the pain from the wound was overwhelming him. With a civilian's body, enduring this much was already a miracle.
"Ilyas!"
The other team members already arrived beside them. To their surprise, Ethan, who had broken free from the mind control was pouring the last bit of his power to heal Ilyas.
"Ethan-"
He didn't answer Cedric's call.
"Ethan!"
Cedric pulled his hand away from Ilyas' wound, it was then that his gaze finally met Cedric's. Seeing the expression on Ethan's face, Cedric widened his eyes.
A blank face covered in tears.
Guilt and pain were evident in his eyes.
"Medics will arrive soon, so stop using your ability. You might die at this rate."
Cedric couldn't offer any more help other than this. He could only stop his friend from destroying his body even further.
Ethan lowered his head, gazing at Ilyas in his arms. The wound had more or less closed up, Ilyas' breathing had already stabilized, so the first aid already worked. Then he turned his gaze toward the boss. Francis, Xain, Marcello and Patricia were holding them and their army of monsters off.
As long as the boss was still alive this incident could repeat again.
He had to kill them.
Holding Ilyas like the most precious thing in the world, Ethan gave Ilyas a kiss. It made Ilyas slightly open his eyes, which made Ethan sigh in relief.
'He's safe now, he's still alive.'
His clasped shut his trembling lips before whispering to Ilyas.
I love you.
Ethan stood up and handed Ilyas over to Cedric before turning toward the boss.
"Cedric, I'll leave Ilyas to you."
"What? What do you think you're trying to do?! Hey- Ethan!"
"Take care of him for me, yeah?"
Ethan gave Cedric one last smile before muttering under his breath.
"Sorry."
And…
"Thank you for everything."
BOOM!
"Ugh!"
"Kghk! W-What?! A blood wall?!"
The members holding off the boss had to back down because a sudden surge of blood separated them from the boss.
Using the enormous amount of blood pooling under their feet, the blood manipulator in their team had just created a dome, isolating the boss and himself.
"No! Ethan! Stop it! This is a suicide!"
Xain's shouts didn't register in his ear, his gaze was now only focused on the boss.
"Ethan!!"
This time, he wouldn't let anyone leave until one of them was dead.