I Shall Devour Everything

Arion was a bit surprised that she was still waiting outside. He quickly put on some pants and a shirt before saying, "Yes. I am *cough* ready."

'Phew, that was close!'

Arion also didn't know why he was feeling nervous, as if he was seeing Mei for the first time. But other than that, he was now feeling extremely confident of himself. It was as if he was literally reborn into a different person.

The door opened, and he saw Mei coming in with a happy smile while looking at him keenly.

She was feeling relieved and happy again that Arion was alive and well. In fact, he was more than well now that he was able to walk and became strong enough to stand on his own feet.

"Ari...you…" Mei didn't know what to say as she slowly approached Arion and had to raise her head slightly to look up to him.

Before, she always had to lower her head and sometimes her back to talk to him. But now he was looking so tall and drop-dead handsome, she could hardly believe how such miraculous changes happened to him.

Arion didn't say anything but quickly grabbed Mei's wrist and pulled her towards him for a hug.

"Ah!" Mei was startled as she fell onto his chest, her head resting over his shoulder.

"Sister Mei…" Arion whispered as he hugged her close, her soft body seemingly melting onto him.

Just like Mei, Arion was also very happy that he got to somehow return home alive and see her again just when he thought he was going to die again with many regrets.

He remembered how all these years, only one person supported and believed in him no matter what.

If it were anyone else who would support a disabled person like him in this kind of world?

He literally had a godsend angel looking after him for all these years without whom he might not even be alive today to become the person he was today and enjoy her warmth.

Mei was a bit taken aback by the sudden hug, but she smiled as she put her hands over his back, feeling just as happy as Arion was.

However, since she was so close to his body, she could feel the well-defined muscles underneath his shirt and how firm they felt to the touch.

She felt as if she was hugging a grown-up man, and that thought made her blush which she tried to hide by burying her face onto his muscular chest.

But sensing the familiar scent from his body, she was sure that this was Arion himself and not an unknown entity that took over his body to have his body go through such miraculous changes.

Arion slowly raised his head and looked at her beautiful hazel eyes, noticing how mesmerizing her eyes looked.

Feeling his intense gaze, Mei lowered her head shyly as the two of them remained in silence.

Arion smiled, noticing her abashed face, and asked innocently, "Sister Mei, why are you lowering your head? Let me see more of that beautiful face."

Mei was surprised and embarrassed to hear such words from him, making her avoid his gaze even more.

She lightly fisted his chest with a red face, "Enough of teasing me. Now tell me, are you feeling alright? Do you feel any pain or any other discomfort?"

Arion smugly smiled, "Of course not." He then took her hand and pressed them over his chest and abs, "See how healthy I am. I have never felt better or this good before. I literally feel as strong as a bull."

"Okay,okay. Then it's all good…" Mei awkwardly put down her hand after Arion made her touch his rock-hard abs and robust chest.

Arion then realized that out of his excitement, he made a maiden feel over his body. But he was surprised to see her shy since he had never seen her being this red-faced before.

She had bathed him while he was completely naked and even touched his little brother when it was in a shriveled-up state.

A smile slowly crept up his lips as he put together some things in his mind and said, "Sister Mei, why are you so shy?"

As if a rabbit whose tail got stepped over, Mei suddenly looked at him and said while awkwardly shaking her head, "I-I am not." She then puffed up her cheeks and grabbed Arion's ear, "You cheeky boy, teasing me now that you are bigger than me, huh?"

"Ow…" Arion winced playfully and asked with a dashing smile, "You don't want me to?"

His arms were still hugging her willowy waist, enjoying how soft and supple her curves were while looking into her eyes.

He felt like he was the luckiest guy alive, given the recent turn of events. He got to walk and experienced a physical rebirth while getting to hold the beauty he loved most in his arms.

Hearing his question and seeing how increasingly close his face was approaching hers, Mei only smiled as she lowered her head again and came out of his embrace.

Arion smiled since now he was sure that he was no longer a little kid in her eyes. He had been feeling too bad before since he was not only stuck in a kid's body but had a useless little brother as well.

But now, he at least had a mature look to him, and his little brother was on overdrive. He was an adult in his previous life, so it didn't feel good to him that he was stuck in such a small and weak body of an adolescent.

"I..I actually wanted to ask something…" Mei said as she awkwardly pinched her ear and continued as she looked at him with a concerned expression, "What happened after you got dragged away by the Dreadlings?"

"I was trapped in some underground cave, and somehow I was able to use my legs. I then tried to escape, but there were too many Dreadlings, and I got overwhelmed before a giant…" Arion's expression became confused as he was unable to remember what happened after he got his heart pierced by the huge and deadly Dreadling.

Earlier, he was too excited to think about what happened, but now that he had the time to settle down his thoughts, he couldn't help but wonder how he was even alive after having a Dreadling pierce his heart.

He continued in a confused tone, "Did you guys save me before I bled to death?"

"Bled to death?" Mei's expression became even more confused and a bit worried as she continued, "We found you lying near a dead Queen Jawfiend, and you were in perfect condition, without any injuries, let alone a scratch."

"What?!" Arion's jaw became slack, unable to believe how it was possible. He thought it was Mei who healed his injuries no matter how unlikely it seemed.

He said in a tone of surety, "I am sure that Queen Jawfiend attacked me, and I was too weak and helpless to resist. I clearly remember it piercing my heart with its large stinger. It couldn't have been just a nightmare…" Arion mumbled as he trailed off while touching his chest.

Mei was feeling perplexed now that she finally heard Arion's side of the story. How could he survive when his heart got pierced, especially considering the state he was in. 

Not only that, she felt pained that he had to suffer so much all alone.

She began to tear up, "Ari...I am sorry for not being there for you...I...all this could have been prevented if—"

Arion immediately stepped forward and hugged her again as he gently said, "Hey, hey...it was not your fault, and I would never blame you for anything. In fact, I only have endless gratitude for you for being with me all these years. Besides, no one could have predicted those monsters would attack our peaceful ward out of nowhere after so many years."

Mei softly smiled as she cupped Arion's face and said, "No wonder Heavenly Mother bestowed her grace on you and helped you come out of such a dangerous situation, alive and well."

Arion knew that this Heavenly Mother was Alara, the goddess that many people worshipped since she was said to be the being that breathed prana into their world, including the big moon, which was named after her as a sign of respect and worship.

However, Arion didn't have much belief in these gods and anything superstitious. He, however, said with a smile, "Not really. It's because you were praying for my well-being that I was able to return back to you."

Mei smiled as a reddish hue spread over her cheeks, making her look even more lovely. She then looked at him and said, "Whatever happened to you in there...you surely changed...in a good way."

She then suddenly became thoughtful and asked, "But are you sure that nobody else was there with you in the nest of those Jawfiends?"

Arion now realized that he got trapped in the nest of those Jawfiends, which was nothing more than the place where the Queen Jawfiend bred.

"Of course not. But I do feel like I forgot something but just can't put my finger on it," Arion said as he pulled his brows together.

Mei sighed, "It's fine. We will find out when it's time, I guess." She then continued with a smile, "By the way, have you noticed what your Defity is right now?"