Lucien nearly bit his tongue in anger as he unleashed a torrent of curses, immediately rushing toward the kneeling figure before it was too late—before Zephyr lost all control.
Because if he truly did—it wouldn't just be City M—the entire Eastern Continent would be gone, erased from existence. And Lucien wasn't joking because Zephyr was the first and only SSS-rank Esper alive. As someone who had read the story of this world, Lucien knew just how much destruction a berserk Esper could bring, let alone one standing at the very peak of the power ranks. Not even the protagonist would be able to stop him.
Even if this side character was blind, his power going out of control would bring a great disaster Lucien could not afford!
Of course, the memory of being intensely kissed until he blacked out—was still fresh in Lucien's mind, but with the dire situation before him, he couldn't even grab the culprit by the collar and demand an explanation, prompting another angry curse to slip out.
"Crazy Motherfucker!"
Still...
What he did know was that this man had saved him. This Esper, who couldn't even see and didn't even know the extent of his own power, had risked his life to save him.
He had also healed him. The proof was crystal clear—after all, Lucien could feel that every shattered bone in his body had been restored, with no trace of the injuries that had once given him unbearable pain.
That was why, along anger, a storm of complex emotions churned in his eyes.
Gratitude for having his life saved, guilt at the thought that if he simply hadn't gone to find him and shouted toward Nana, Zephyr might never have ended up falling into this dungeon, frustration at his own weakness—and beneath it all, a faint sense of relief at realizing that this powerful SSS-rank Esper was not heartless after all, that he would save those in need with everything he had.
If Zephyr could hear Lucien's thoughts at that moment, he would have smiled with a hint of amusement, wondering how Lucien had even reached such a conclusion. After all, Zephyr knew he was not a good person.
He had saved Lucien because, in this life, Lucien alone held that meaning for him.
With a few rushed strides, Lucien was already before Zephyr's kneeling figure.
His knees buckled as he dropped down without a trace of fear, toward the violent, zigzagging currents lashing at him and the corrupted energy that prickled at his skin.
Lucien reached for Zephyr's shoulders, feeling the chill emanating from him. The clothes the man wore were bloodied and torn in several places. Even his silver hair, like moonlight, was streaked with blood.
A loud, firm voice escaped from Lucien's lips as he squinted his eyes, attempting to shield them from the raging dark energy.
"Look at me! I will guide you!"
"Just hold on a bit longer!"
Lucien received no response, but the cold body he was holding twitched as he began channeling his energy. A wave of soothing power poured from his palms into Zephyr's body in an attempt to cleanse his energy.
It was fine when Lucien started.
But Lucien's face paled when he felt the violent, churning dark tide within Zephyr—his own wave of calming power colliding against it like a drop against a storm, too insignificant to even make the corruption waver. Unlike before, when he had guided Zephyr unconsciously, this time he could feel it—how his guiding energy was being swallowed. It sent chills down his spine.
In just a few breaths, more than seventy percent of his guiding energy was drained.
If it continued, he was sure he would be sucked dry and might even faint again!
Lucien didn't even have time to savor the pleasure their 100% compatibility brought before he jerked back with a startled gasp, instinctively trying to distance himself as Zephyr's corrupted energy tried to force its way into his body through their connection—it was clear the Esper, having tasted the brief relief his guiding suddenly brought, was now hungrily demanding for more.
Suddenly, a line from the novel flashed in Lucien's mind: If an extremely strong Esper forces his energy into a weak Guide's body to obtain forced guiding, there is a chance the Guide's body might explode if the rank imbalance between the two is too great.
Finally, Lucien felt scared.
He knew very well that Zephyr was an SSS-rank Esper, and yet, as an A-rank, he had still tried to guide him. Where had he gotten the courage to?? Had he lost his mind earlier, rushing in to guide him?!
Damn it!