ZWOOOOO
A sharp sound reverberated through the airspace over the ocean, leading towards a random direction.
A huge, white metallic exterior glimmered in the sky, filling the nearby space with its humongous presence.
"Leave me!" Edward retaliated while being pulled by the savants towards the control room.
"Is he poisoned?" one of the savants asked, glancing at the young man whom they had barely managed to pull here.
"B-but what if he isn't?" another inquired, while wrapping his whole arm around Edward's hand, their small size evident.
'?!'
Hearing those words, Edward's pupils trembled.
He realized that if these individuals discovered his current state—having lost all his strength, even the strength of an adult human—he would be in grave danger.
Indeed, his power had been reduced to that of an infant, unable to move his own body.
'I... can't die at the hands of these insects!' Edward cried out internally, knowing that these creatures were planning to kill him if he showed any weakness.
"Faster, you insects! Another army will be joining us in a few minutes. Move the ship!" Edward used the most feasible way to escape by lying instead of begging or using his energy.
He wasn't going to beg due to his pride and, having been attacked by Wyrncoil, he was powerless right now.
So, this was the only feasible way for him to survive the situation.
He had already saved himself from much more dangerous situations; now he just needed to wait until his body adapted somewhat to the artifact and allowed him to escape.
'I will remember to kill you one day, RYUK DEVEREAUX!' The humiliation of such a defeat was already indigestible.
His mind couldn't comprehend why no one from the Abernathy Family had come to protect him.
"Wh-what?!... Oh, yes, backup will join us soon," one of the savants stammered. Hearing Edward's words, they trembled, exchanging uncertain glances before slowly forcing themselves to pull Edward's body inside the control room.
.
.
.
.
"S-sorry, is backup arriving soon?" A savant arrived, trembling, towards Edward's figure lying down on the steps of the control room. Edward, supported by the wall, was looking towards the big glass window.
'...Damn it,' Edward thought, gritting his teeth. He glanced towards one of the corners where several small creatures stood, occasionally looking at him.
Seeing how even the savants sitting at the control panel were glancing at him, with only one trembling savant reconfirming after an hour of their travel, it was clear these insects were hell-bent on killing him.
"W-WAIT! Please suggest!" Edward instantly tried to calm the situation, understanding that if he somehow pissed off Ryuk, there was a chance this ship would meet the same fate as the other, burning away him and all the savants.
Of course, he didn't care about these insects or anyone else except himself.
The man who should have protected him was a useless cripple who died, making things more troublesome for him.
Those idiots accompanying him weren't even able to stop the Devereaux members.
They were all trash, individuals who were nothing but disposable to him.
[Now you're just being formal....]
"P-please, no, I want to hear your suggestion," Edward trembled, inquiring, looking towards the glass window while focusing on the voice since keeping his pupils in the screen's direction was taxing on his muscles.
[Hm, you aren't as dumb as you look.]
'...Asshole,' Edward felt his mouth twitching visibly, finally understanding the real face of the man who acted noble while defeating him, now using underhanded tactics to kill him.
Previously on the battlefield, the composed demeanor and charisma shown by Ryuk Devereaux were all just a facade to fool the outside world.
His real face was ugly—ugly enough to act kind and show mercy by letting Edward live, only to cunningly try to get rid of him later.
'You two-faced bastard!' Edward cursed inwardly.
[Listen, my child—no, my child can't be this horrendous. Just listen, then...]
'I will make you beg one day!' Every word from that mechanical voice was pissing him off.
Edward knew the reason Ryuk used that voice instead of his real one was to remove any evidence of himself.
[There are some tips I have analyzed from my data that I want to provide you. Do you get it?]
"Y-yes, I get it," Edward could only say, unable to nod or do anything with his nearly paralyzed body.
[First, it isn't painful if you accept it as a fleeting moment.]
'What is this shit saying?'
[Second, when stretched larger, begin with smaller ones to at least get used to it.]
'The fuck?'
[Third, enjoy the feeling of being fulfilled from within.]
'What?'
[Fourth and last, it's always painful the first time.]
'Huh?'