Arise From Weakness (OC/ Male Reader x Arifureta)

(S3) Chapter 65 Hold On To Hope

No one's POV

Upon defeating all of the Cockroaches, both Nhazul would land on a platform, while Yue was in Hajime's arms, marveling at Yue's work.

Hajime: That's one hell of a spell. I knew I could count on you, Yue.

Yue: Hajime...

Yue staggered, utterly exhausted after using such a large-scale spell. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gazed into his eyes. As if trying to make completely sure her feelings and his had both returned to normal. After a few moments, Yue smiled, which Hajime returned back.

Yue: Hajime... Thanks for the meal.

Hajime: Bwah!?

She started sucking his blood, both to restore her mana and as an expression of love. She was a vampire, after all. Rolling his eyes Nhazul would go to leave, however he would feel something latch onto his back. Looking back, he'd see Yue, smiling the same way she did with Hajime.

Yue: I'm not full yet. I want some of big brother as well.

She said, before going to suck his blood as well, expressing her love for her surrogate older brother, causing him to sigh annoyingly. Eventually, the three would returned to the platform where the others were waiting. Both
Shea and Kaori ran up to him the moment they landed. landed.

Shea: Nhazul! Yue! Hajime! Are you alright Because we're not! Tio was so cool a few seconds ago that I think I've been scarred for life!

Kaori: Hajime, Nhazul, Yue! Listen to this! Tio actually seemed like a big sister for once! It was terrifying!

Nhazul and Hajime: Huh...?

Tio: Y-You two, there's a limit to how rude you can be... Haaah... Haaah... But alas, your insults feel so good!

Tio twitched in pleasure, like the pervert that she was. From the looks of it, she was back to normal.

Hajime: She looks like her usual perverted self to me.

Yue: Yeah... She's as pathetic as always.

Tio crumbled to the ground, her entire body shivering in ecstasy. It appeared her legendary dragon mode had been a product of the emotion reversing magic. It was only under its effects that she'd acted normal. Shea and Kaori would likely never see the creepily cool and scarily reliable Tio ever again. Whether that was a good thing or not, no one knew.

Afterward, Kaori and Beru would heal everyone, and they took a short break to eat some rations and catch their breath. Right as everyone was starting to feel rested, almost as if the labyrinth had been waiting for them to recover, the part of the Grand Tree near the ceiling began to glow. It extended at a downward slant, heading toward the party's platform. Once it arrived, it twined itself around the wooden platform and became another path. Then, the wood on its surface undulated and stretched until it turned
into a set of stairs.

Hajime: I really hope that last trial was the final one...

Hajime said with a rueful smile. The aftereffects of Overload hadn't disappeared completely yet. Nhazul and the others nodded in agreement. The party climbed up the flight of stairs and found a familiar hollow greeting them at the top. The magic circle inside was visible this time. Once everyone was inside, it began to glow, and they were teleported once more.

This time, Nhazul, Hajime and the others found themselves inside a garden. The garden was about the size of their school gym.
Canals crisscrossed the neat lawn, crystal clear water flowing through them. Trees were spaced at regular intervals, each bearing delicious-looking fruit.