Chapter 146: Concern.

Chapter 146: Concern.

If you want to read up to 20!! chapters ahead go to /cornbringer

If we reach top 4 or 5, I'll post another chap.

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[Adam C. POV]

I crumpled against a tree, my hands clutching at the searing wound in my abdomen. Each ragged breath sent a wave of dizzying pain washing over me, and I watched, as droplets of dark red blood trickled down my side and soaked into the parched ground beneath me.

I chuckled.

Fucking dragons, I swear.

"I need a drink," I muttered to myself, as I reached for the flask in my pocket. The one I had for special occasions, like this.

Taking a swig of the fiery liquid, I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on healing my wounds. My mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts, but I knew I had to focus if I wanted to stay alive.

The sound of footsteps snapped me back into reality.

"Adam?" Gildarts gasped, his eyes widened in horror as he took in the scene in front of him: My pale face, trembling lips, and the blood oozing from the gaping hole in my abdomen that was pooling around me.

"Don't worry, I've had worse," I groaned, trying to muster up a weak smile. Needless to say, this was a big lie, out of all the wounds I had received so far, this was by far the worst.

Gildarts shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. He knelt down beside me, placing a shaky hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I should have recovered from her attack faster."

"It wouldn't have changed a thing," I grunted, attempting to sit up straighter.

The only thing that could've changed that outcome was using my Bankai. But that was a one use only card, one that I was saving for Acnologia.

If only I could use my full power, things would've never turned out the way they did. Unfortunately, Shinigami powers are not meant to be used in human guise.

"I'm weak," Gildarts muttered his voice barely above a whisper as he bowed his head in shame. "I couldn't protect you; I failed you."

Great, now he's depressed as well.

I guess it is time to snap him out of it, Clive style.

Taking a deep breath, my right hand shot forward, slapping him with all my strength. "Could you stop talking like I'm going to die?"

"Adam!" Erza cried out, tears blurring her vision.

His eyes fluttered open with a yawn, and a faint smile graced his lips. "Erza, Laxus, what are you guys doing here?" he asked.

Laxus, knees hitting the ground, pressed his hands against Adam's wound, trying to stop the blood. His hands were trembling. "Hold on, Adam, we'll get you out of here, don't you dare to fucking die on me!" his voice broke.

Adam raised a shaking hand to touch Laxus' cheek, before slapping him with the force of an Ox. "Don't fucking shove your dirty hands in my wound!"

"The hell was that bastard?!" Laxus barked back, for a brief moment forgetting about the situation.

"What's that? Do you need a hearing aid, double AA?" Adam replied with a playful chuckle.

Erza's sobs choked the air. She reached out, touching James' hand. "You're not dying?" she whispered; her voice filled with all the pain in the world.

Adam shook his head. "No, I healed most of the damage already, now I just need to get some medical attention and the rest should come down easy."

Laxus blinked away the tears that had formed in his eyes, his expression softening as he realized Adam was going to be okay. "You scared the shit out of us, man," he muttered, bringing his blood-soaked hands to his head. "Slap me again, and I'll fucking kill you."

"Bring it on, Pikachu," Adam replied with a smirk.

"Enough!" Erza shouted, her hands clenched into fists. "This is not the time for this."

"Erza, it's okay-" Adam began, but was cut off as Erza's hand swung through the air and connected with his cheek in a sharp slap. Tears were streaming down her face as she glared at him, her chest heaving with emotion.

"Do you have any idea what it felt like to feel your magic fading? To think I might have lost you?" Her voice was raw, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. "You can't joke about this, not now, not ever."

For once, Adam was silent. He looked up at Erza, his own eyes tearing up a bit. The familiar cockiness that he was known for, faded from his face, replaced by something much more vulnerable. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Serves you right," Laxus muttered, turning away to hide anyone seeing a sign of his vulnerability. "You should know we care. You're a dumbass, but you're our dumbass."

Erza knelt down, taking Adam's face in her hands. "Promise me, promise me you won't ever scare me like that again," she choked out between sobs.

Adam's face softened, and he nodded. "I will do my best."

"Adam, I found some doctors!" Gildarts' voice broke through the moment, as Gildarts ran toward them, a group of medical professionals, and medical equipment all tied to his back.

Adam blinked. "Where did you find them?"

"He broke into the hospital and kidnapped us," One of the doctors muttered. "He tied us to his back and asked what we needed to treat a... gaping hole in someone's abdomen, once he had everything we told him we would need, and whatever he considered we could need, he rushed here at what I can only assume was supersonic speeds."

Adam chuckled. "I'm sorry, but could you put aside your discontent with him, and help me up?"

"I made an oath, and your father terrifies us, so yes, we will help," One of the doctors, the oldest one, sighed. "Now please untie us scary man, so that we might treat his wounds before an infection takes place."