"It's useless. Even so, it's just a waste of time for me. I can still kill you when the time comes."
Fitoria froze for a moment but then responded calmly.
"Just wasting a little time? Are you overestimating yourself or underestimating me?"
Jason flashed a grin, showing two rows of white teeth. With a twist of his right hand, a wooden box about half a meter long materialized in his grasp.
He opened the lid, revealing bottles of medicine neatly arranged inside—at least two or three hundred of them.
Earlier, Jason had obtained the medicine formula from the pharmacist in the capital. Throughout his journey, he had diligently gathered medicinal ingredients to experiment and blend. Unlike Iwatani Naofumi in the original tale, Jason had no need to sell medicines for profit, so most of these concoctions were kept for his own use.
Moreover, Jason could enhance these medicines through the use of the Shield, ensuring they were of the highest quality. Most importantly, with his personal touch, the efficacy of the medicine was further amplified.
"You're quite resourceful to have amassed so many potions. It seems dealing with you will cost me more time than I initially thought."
Fitoria's surprise deepened as she gazed at the wooden box in Jason's hands, but her confident demeanor remained unchanged.
"If I told you I have more of these wooden boxes, would you believe me?"
Jason rotated his right hand again, pulling out more wooden boxes one by one from his Air Shield's storage. However, wary of Fitoria's potential surprise attacks, he swiftly returned each box to the storage space.
Despite his speed, Fitoria caught on. Each box was different from the others, confirming that he wasn't bluffing.
If each box contained two to three hundred bottles, and Jason had revealed eight such boxes, he possessed roughly 2,000 potions. If there were hidden compartments in the boxes, the total could easily double.
A cold breeze blew past, unsettling Fitoria, throwing her thoughts into disarray.
It dawned on her that Jason was far more formidable than she had anticipated. His defenses and recovery abilities were exceptional, rendering regular attacks ineffective. Only high-level skills could deal any real damage to him.
With such a stockpile of potions, Jason's endurance was terrifying. In contrast, Fitoria would continue draining her SP and stamina in prolonged combat. Once exhausted, she would be at a severe disadvantage. The outcome of the battle had become uncertain, and it was impossible to predict who would emerge victorious.
Realizing the odds, Fitoria acknowledged that defeating Jason was far more challenging than she had imagined. Even if she managed to kill him, the price would be steep and unreasonable.
And with the waves of catastrophe threatening the world, weakening herself too much would hinder her mission to protect it.
"It seems you don't think you can kill me," Jason said, sensing Fitoria's killing intent receding.
"Indeed," she admitted. "You've grown far faster than I expected, and the amount of medicine you carry makes it impossible for me to eliminate you now. But infighting among the four saints must not be allowed. That's an unchangeable truth. Even if I can't kill you, I have other ways."
Hearing these words, Jason felt a sudden ominous chill run down his spine. Without hesitation, he vanished from the spot.
However, Fitoria was faster. She shot toward the direction where Raphtalia, Jack, and the others were.
Suddenly, the sounds of explosions echoed continuously in the distance.
"What's happening?"
"I don't know," Jack said, frowning. "That's the direction where Lord Shield Hero and Fitoria went earlier. But if it's them, everything should be fine."
"No one else should be able to enter the area," Raphtalia noted. "The barriers are still active."
Hearing the commotion, Raphtalia, Jack, and the others stood up and exchanged concerned glances.
"Fitoria said she wanted to discuss something with Sir Shield Hero. Could it be that their conversation turned into a fight?" Lilith mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
"Master!"
Filo couldn't contain her worry and started running toward the noise to check on the situation.
"Filo, wait! Master Jason specifically ordered you not to leave this area without his permission!" Raphtalia shouted, blocking Filo's path. Despite her anxiety, Raphtalia remained committed to following Jason's orders.
"But... Master might be in danger!" Filo protested, shifting uneasily.
"Everyone, calm down," Irene said firmly, though her eyes betrayed her concern. "Even if Master Shield Hero and Fitoria are fighting, we wouldn't be able to help. We'd only slow him down."
"Yeah," Lilith agreed. "Maybe they're just testing each other."
Her words offered a bit of relief, and the group managed to regain some composure.
But as time dragged on, the explosions persisted. Tension mounted, and their patience began to wear thin.
"It's been over half an hour, and the noise still hasn't stopped," Jack muttered. "I can't stand this anymore. I'm going to check it out."
"I'm coming with you," Raphtalia said. "If Master punishes you, I'll share the blame."
Raphtalia could no longer suppress the unease in her heart. Her fear for Jason's safety outweighed any concerns about defying his orders.
But just as they were about to leave, a figure appeared before them.
"Fitoria..."
Just as Raphtalia was about to ask what happened, she saw Fitoria raise her right hand and point it at her.
Fitoria began to chant.
In an instant, a gust of wind swirled around Raphtalia, forming a vacuum cage that trapped her within.
"What are you up to?"
Raphtalia struggled, but the razor-sharp winds of the cage sliced into her hand. Blood trickled down her palm, staining the air with a faint metallic scent.
"Fitoria, what are you going to do with Raphtalia?"
Filo shouted, panic gripping her voice.
Jack, Irene, and the others immediately reacted, drawing their weapons and surrounding Fitoria in a flash, ready to defend Raphtalia.
Fitoria paid them no mind, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
Moments later, Jason emerged from the open space ahead, his eyes immediately locking onto the situation.
"Although I can't kill you," Fitoria said coldly, "I can easily kill your followers. If you swear to cooperate peacefully with the other three heroes, I will release them. If you refuse..."
Fitoria's fingers curled slightly, and the vacuum cage constricting Raphtalia tightened, forcing her to huddle closer to herself to avoid the sharp currents.
"How dare you threaten me with them!"
Jason's eyes darkened as he spotted Raphtalia's injured hand, then glanced at Jack, Irene, and the others. Rage simmered in his chest, spreading through him like wildfire.
"For the sake of the world, what difference does it make if a few demihumans and humans are sacrificed?"
Fitoria's voice remained emotionless, and her cold, detached gaze rested on Raphtalia, as if her life meant nothing.
Her indifference fanned the flames of Jason's anger. Never before, since arriving in this world, had he felt such fury swell within him.
"Master Jason," Raphtalia's gentle voice broke through the tension, soft and soothing despite her situation. "I don't know what happened between you and Fitoria, but please, don't lose yourself because of me. You gave me this life. I don't want to become a burden that drags you down."
Her words, tender and heartfelt, only fueled the fire in Jason's soul, as if gasoline had been poured onto his growing rage.
"Hate? Anger? Do you want to destroy everything?"
Suddenly, Jason heard a voice, unfamiliar and alien—yet strangely captivating.
It wasn't the voice of the system he relied on.
It was dark and low, resonating in his mind like the whisper of a devil, speaking straight into his ear with an allure that sent a shiver down his spine.