The Oracle Paths

The direct, violent route, severing the remaining infected flesh, inclusive of the corresponding portion of the Spirit Body. Given Ulfar's current mental state, his consciousness was likely not under his control, implying that it might come down to amputating part of his soul. The aftermath of such an act was unpredictable, ranging from transient amnesia to personality shifts and permanent memory loss.    

If possible, Jake would rather avoid this method. Not everyone possessed a Grade 10 Energy Spirit Body and Soul like him, enabling a relatively swift recovery from injuries that were otherwise nearly irreversible.    

To his knowledge, very few bloodlines had the innate ability to regenerate a Spirit Body, let alone a severely damaged Soul. Digestors were envied for this very ability as they were creatures that spontaneously originated from Aether. The genesis of their existence lied elsewhere.    

In general, if one sought to heal a damaged Spirit Body or Soul, they would need to turn to Soul Cultivation Techniques, akin to those utilized by Ghost Cultivators in fiction.    

Until now, Jake had never heard of such things but he knew they existed, having seen several listed at exorbitant prices in the Oracle Store.    

Other solutions for restoring a damaged soul rested on external aids such as a potion, pill, medicine, herb, or ingredient with spirit-revitalizing properties. Not only were such ingredients rare, but the recipes and technologies involved in concocting the corresponding potions and pills were even more fiercely guarded by those who possessed them.    

This made Jake regret losing Xion Zolvhur's Soul Stone. It disappeared after he had drained all its energy during his Fourth Ordeal.    

It was bound to happen sooner or later, but it had left him feeling rather despondent. He had no idea when he would come across such a heavenly resource again.    

In conclusion, the direct, violent method was out. The gentler option was left: the vaccine, or in its absence, the injection of an antibody serum.    

Problem: Jake had neither.    

"Given enough time, I might have researched a vaccine based on this virus, but I have a feeling it wouldn't have gone smoothly," Jake said with a wry smile, realizing bitterly what he would have to do to save Ulfar.    

[You don't mean to tell me you plan to voluntarily inject the virus and let it run free until your lymphocytes recognize the threat?] Xi critiqued, her tone a mix of reproach and disbelief.    

Aware of her legitimate concerns, Jake replied undeterred, "If you know, why ask? Don't overthink. What's the worst that could happen? Become a Digestor? I already am one..."    

Unamused, Xi retorted in an aggrieved voice, [Become a Sinewshade? In case you hadn't noticed, not all Digestors are created equal...]    

Jake shivered at her reminder but ultimately said, "I'll be fine. Just trust me. As always."    

[…]    

Jake's lips curved, knowing he had her implicit agreement. Determined, he crouched next to the unconscious Ulfar and flipped him onto his stomach to access the purulent lacerations on his back.    

Ignoring his revulsion, he traced his Cosmic Force-laden index finger down his friend's back, carving out several small samples of infected flesh. Following this, he thrust the same claw, wrapped in a faint force field, into his wrist, slashing it open.    

Without regret, Jake then injected the harvested samples into his bloodstream and waited for the first symptoms to manifest. As expected, his resistance to the virus was much stronger than his comrades'.    

Not only were his Constitution and Vitality vastly superior, but he possessed the true Cosmic D Starfeyrves Body, as well as the Starfeyrves Spirit Body and Soul.    

He had grossly underestimated the resilience of his own body against this virus, and when his wrist healed perfectly within a blink of an eye, he grimaced with a sense of bitterness. A quick glimpse into his Oracle Status confirmed that the virus had been instantly purged from his system.    

"Damn... At this rate, I'll never be able to naturally develop antibodies," Jake mused with a rueful laugh.    

His companions might have envied his situation, but alas, he was striving to become infected just like them. If the virus was vanquished before it even became a threat, how was he to save them?    

For the uninitiated in immunology, the immune system is comprised of various units, commonly referred to as white blood cells, of which the most well-known are the macrophages and lymphocytes. The former, akin to the body's default police force, devour any unauthorized foreign bodies on sight. The latter serve as strategists or scientists, devising specific weapons against these foreign bodies when the former is overwhelmed.    

Creating these targeted countermeasures, otherwise known as antibodies, took time for these lymphocytes. But once developed, they could be quickly mobilized in the future at the first recurrence of the virus - the very goal of vaccines.    

Here, the predicament was that Jake's macrophages had no trouble handling this virus. Why call upon researchers to develop a nuclear bomb when a single policeman, armed with nothing more than a humble baton, could quell the rebellion alone?    

Jake's immune system was simply too robust.    

"I'll have to take direct control of my immune system to prevent it from doing its job," Jake's brows twitched at the realization that he would have to slit his wrist again.    

With the knowledge from his previous experience, he expertly extracted new samples, eliciting a groan from the King of Beskyr, then injected the contents into his veins with an expression as flat as a calm sea.    

This time, he gave his white blood cells no chance to display their capabilities. Like a general, he commanded his troops to ignore the invader and beat a strategic retreat.    

Thankfully, his Agility (Body Control) and Perception were high enough to handle this situation. He didn't even need to resort to his telekinesis.    

Intrigued as a child watching a colony of ants go about their business, Jake watched with interest as the virus managed to penetrate the core of his cells with ease, but his face fell when he saw the virus exiting them without any repercussions.    

"Damn, I forgot about my luck stat," Jake cursed inwardly, observing how an array of improbable micro-events was preventing the virus within him from achieving its purpose.    

[Be patient.] Xi chided, holding back her laughter. [If even Ulfar was infected, you don't have to worry.]    

Jake wanted to remind her that Ulfar only ended up in this state after overdrafting his luck, but he held back upon seeing a luckier virus sample successfully integrating into his DNA.    

Impatient, he observed the enzyme responsible for reading his DNA with restrained excitement and nearly let out a cry of joy when, after a myriad of failures, the virus managed to replicate. This was only because Jake had allowed it to do so all along, even personally controlling his enzymes to guarantee the result.    

With this initial success, Jake replicated the same process in his other cells, literally assisting the virus in the conquest of his body. It was likely the first time in human history someone deliberately sought to fall ill with a zombie virus without a cure.    

Regardless, where there's a will, there's a way. After a few minutes, Jake coughed up his first gout of tainted blood with a sense of exhilarating satisfaction.    

"At last!"    

The truth was, the antibodies had been ready for a long time. He had merely allowed his symptoms to worsen intentionally to ensure his antibodies could not only defeat the virus but also reverse the damage already inflicted.    

His goal was not only to save Ulfar but also Lucia and the other disciples.    

[You're taking unnecessary risks.] Xi admonished him without a trace of humor this time. She was visibly upset, and rightly so. [What if your antibodies fail? Does Lucia's life really mean more than yours? What am I supposed to do if you die? Follow you to your grave? Become a Sinewshade too?]    

Jake grew solemn at his AI's complaints. His actions were indeed risky. He was nearly 100% confident everything would go as planned, hence his stoicism. But from the perspective of those who cared about him, it merely looked like recklessness and a suicidal act.    

"I'm sorry, Xi. I won't do it again."    

[Hmmm. As long as you understand your mistakes.] Xi hummed in a pacified tone.    

With the issue settled, Jake let his symptoms deteriorate even further, until his skin began to peel away in flakes, revealing the vermilion flesh beneath.    

At this stage, murderous impulses and a familiar hunger began to torment him, and his vision started to blur, as his cognitive abilities rapidly deteriorated. It would take more than that to make him forget who he was, but it was a sign that the infection had reached not only his brain but also his Spirit Body.    

Odd, disconcerting things began to happen beyond this stage, making him rethink his understanding of the virus.    

"Alright, it's enough," Jake decided suddenly, feeling that he had seen enough.    

With a single thought, he unleashed all the antibodies his lymphocytes had been continuously producing as if breaking a dam. The result was immediate.    

A lightning-fast counterattack and a total victory!    

If it wasn't for the remnants of skin and tainted blood at his feet, one might have thought he had rewound time with a snap of his fingers. He was completely healed.    

With the matter of the antibodies settled, the next steps were child's play. Having extracted his own antibodies to create a standardized serum - one Ulfar's body wouldn't reject - he injected it without hesitation into the heart of his companion's infected wounds, standing back to let the magic unfold.    

A few heartbeats later, the purulent slashes ceased their oozing. The wounds then began to close, his back transforming into a canvas of smooth, flawless skin once more.