"Good," Satou said with cold satisfaction. "Because I'm going to—"

He never finished the sentence.

Without warning, his vision blurred. The room spun violently, and his body went limp. The rage that had been holding him upright suddenly couldn't sustain him anymore as the reality of his condition caught up.

His mana reserves completely depleted to absolute zero. His consciousness maintaining his body through sheer willpower alone. All of it crashed down on him at once.

"Satou!" Jessica caught him as he collapsed, her healing magic immediately activating. "His mana—it's completely empty! He's running on nothing but anger and adrenaline right now!"

"Get him lying down," Lyra commanded, her analytical mind cutting through panic. "Flat on his back, legs elevated. Jessica, focus on stabilizing his vitals. Seraphine, can you—"

"Already on it," Seraphine interrupted, her hands glowing with corruption magic that she carefully modulated into pure energy transfer. "I'm channeling residual power to keep his body functioning, but he needs natural recovery. Forcing mana into someone at zero reserves is dangerous."

Morgana moved closer, her own exhaustion forgotten. "His consciousness is trying to shut down completely. The body's defense mechanism when mana hits zero—forced unconsciousness to prevent permanent damage. We need to let him sleep, let his reserves regenerate naturally."

"How long?" Lyra demanded, her hand gripping Satou's tightly even as he lost consciousness.

"At least twelve hours," Morgana replied. "Maybe longer given how completely depleted he is. His body will wake him when it's safe, when he has enough mana to sustain consciousness without risk."

Jessica was already working, her healing magic checking every system, making sure the sudden collapse hadn't caused any damage. "Vital signs are stable. Heart rate elevated but steady. Brain activity normal. He's just... exhausted. Completely and utterly exhausted in ways I've never seen before."

Loki watched this with a grim expression.

"His willpower and his fury," Lyra corrected quietly, still holding Satou's hand. "He stayed awake through sheer anger. The moment he expressed it, the moment he let it out, his body finally allowed itself to shut down."

Seraphine's expression was complex as she continued channeling stabilizing energy. "That rage... that wasn't just anger at being attacked. That was someone who'd been violated on a fundamental level. Merc Assault didn't just try to kill him—they tried to break him using the people he loves as weapons. That's..." She paused. "That's the kind of violation that changes people. Hardens them. Makes them capable of things they wouldn't normally consider."

"You think he'll actually hunt Merc Assault down?" Cassius asked from his position by the door. "Go after him personally rather than just increasing defenses?"

"Without question," Loki replied. "I saw it in his eyes. That wasn't idle threat or momentary anger. That was a promise. Satou will hunt Merc Assault down, and when he finds him..." He trailed off significantly.

"When he finds him, Merc Assault dies," Lyra finished coldly. "And honestly? I support that completely. Anyone who tortures my partner for six hours deserves whatever Satou does to them."

"Mine too," Jessica agreed, surprising everyone with the steel in her voice. The gentle healer's expression had turned hard. "I don't care if killing goes against my principles. What Merc Assault did was beyond acceptable conflict. That was psychological torture. Satou has every right to end him."

"And I'll help," Seraphine added quietly. "When the time comes, when Satou hunts that bastard down, I'll provide whatever support he needs. Resources, intelligence, magical backup. Merc Assault hurt someone I..." She paused, the words catching in her throat. "Someone important to me. That can't go unanswered."

Loki looked around the room at the determined faces—Lyra's cold analytical fury, Jessica's uncharacteristic hardness, Seraphine's protective rage, Cassius's loyal readiness. "Well then. It seems Merc Assault has made enemies of not just Satou, but everyone connected to him. That's..." He smiled slightly. "That's actually quite appropriate. The assassin thought he was targeting one person. Instead, he's earned the enmity of an entire network."

"He'll regret that," Lyra said with absolute certainty. "Eventually, when Satou has recovered and we've gathered the information we need, Merc Assault will learn exactly what happens to people who hurt those we care about."

Morgana, who had been silent during this exchange, finally spoke up. "You're all talking about revenge and hunting down a legendary assassin. But you should understand—even diminished, even with his abilities partially consumed, Merc Assault is still extremely dangerous. He has centuries of experience, connections throughout the underworld, knowledge of techniques and methods most people can't imagine. Hunting him won't be simple or safe."

"We know," Lyra replied. "But it's necessary. As long as he's alive, he's a threat. Assassins don't forget. They don't forgive. And they especially don't forgive being consumed and crippled. Merc Assault will come after Satou again eventually. Better that we make the first move, hunt him on our terms rather than waiting for him to strike when we're vulnerable."

"Strategic thinking," Loki approved. "Eliminate the threat before it can regroup and counterattack. I can provide resources for the hunt. Intelligence networks, tracking specialists, combat support if needed. Consider it part of my obligations as Satou's sponsor."

"And I can provide access to underworld contacts," Seraphine offered. "The Fallen Spires has... connections in places most demon lords don't. People who know where assassins hide, how they operate, what they fear. I'll use all of it to help find Merc Assault."

They continued planning in quiet voices, not wanting to disturb Satou's forced rest but needing to discuss what would come next. Preparation. Intelligence gathering. Building the network that would eventually allow them to hunt down a legendary assassin.

Jessica remained by Satou's side throughout, monitoring his vitals, making sure his body was recovering properly. Lyra held his hand, her mind already working through strategies and contingencies. Seraphine maintained her energy transfer, ensuring his depleted reserves had the support they needed to regenerate.

And Satou slept, unconscious but not peacefully. His face occasionally twitched with remembered nightmares, his hands clenching as if gripping Void Fang, fighting battles even in forced rest.

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