The power of Nakata's spell did indeed restore his wounds. His physical wounds. Most unfortunate then, that his mind and soul had received significant damage in that latest escapade. The sheer power that his soul channeled was too stressful for his body to withstand. In fact, if it wasn't for Nakata's healing, it was a strong possibility his body would have died within a few hours. To prevent the death of his body being immediate, however, his soul suppressed as much as of the stress as possible. This caused significant recoil — and his soul and mind went into a coma-esque state to heal itself.
In other words, he wasn't waking up soon.
He made no reaction whatsoever to his friends around him. He simply lay there on the grass of the field, his hand gripped tightly around the ring. Nakata might remember that Alistair's apartment was nearby, and for some strange reason he never kept it locked. "I highly doubt anyone would ever decide to steal my possessions." He had said.
—
Max collapsed at the entrance to the abandoned factory building that had since been taken over by Vardas and his gang. Blood was pouring from his severed arm, and he clearly would not live long in his current condition. He had little hope for his own survival, in all honesty. Even if he found someone to help him, Vardas would likely execute him for failing. But what was worse, his sister wouldn't receive the care she needed to live. That was the only thing on his mind.
He wanted to live, if only because he needed to save Kate.
The large iron door of the facility slammed open, and Vardas walked out with a young woman next to him. Vardas was in his typical attire - a well-kempt suit fashioned for someone of his husky size, along with a top hat and large pearl-tipped cane. The woman beside Vardas he knew only as Catherine. She clearly was not well taken care of by her 'employer', for her blonde hair was messy and her clothes were torn and dirtied, as if she hadn't seen a clean set of clothing in days or even weeks.
"Please Master! Please save me!" Max bowed his head so that his face was in the dirt. He was starting to feel faint.
"You have already lost what is most precious to you. I see no reason to allow you to live. You've failed me twice." Vardas replied with an indifferent voice. As if what he was stating was simple fact, no emotion involved.
"What!? No, Kate! You told me you would save her! How could you -"
"Save her? Do not mince my words, child. I told you I would keep her soul from leaving this world. Her disease was not curable, what made you think I could change that?"
"How could you! You tricked me!"
"I did no such thing. I kept my word - you did not keep yours. Do you not understand, Max? The reason you had such power? That ring was not a simple magical item. All things in life require sacrifice. It is the law of equivalent exchange, kid. To gain something, an item of equal value must be lost."
"What are you.. saying.." He fell over completely now, the loss of blood taking its toll. He felt his life slipping away.
"That ring contained the soul of your sister, Max. She was the one that gave you that power. And you allowed your enemy to take it from you. You lost your sister Max, not I. How can you ask me to save the life of a man who does not keep his word? I asked you to do one simple thing for me in return for the service I provided. I even made you more powerful than you could ever imagine, and not only did you fail me, you lost the single most precious thing in the world to you. And to make it worse, you are about to die right here in front of me."
Catherine remained silent, her eyes averted as if she was afraid to look up or even show emotion. Vardas kept his eyes on Max, watched him as the pool of blood gathered in size under him. Max's eyes closed, and his breathing ceased.
"Clean up this mess, Catherine."
In other words, he wasn't waking up soon.
He made no reaction whatsoever to his friends around him. He simply lay there on the grass of the field, his hand gripped tightly around the ring. Nakata might remember that Alistair's apartment was nearby, and for some strange reason he never kept it locked. "I highly doubt anyone would ever decide to steal my possessions." He had said.
—
Max collapsed at the entrance to the abandoned factory building that had since been taken over by Vardas and his gang. Blood was pouring from his severed arm, and he clearly would not live long in his current condition. He had little hope for his own survival, in all honesty. Even if he found someone to help him, Vardas would likely execute him for failing. But what was worse, his sister wouldn't receive the care she needed to live. That was the only thing on his mind.
He wanted to live, if only because he needed to save Kate.
The large iron door of the facility slammed open, and Vardas walked out with a young woman next to him. Vardas was in his typical attire - a well-kempt suit fashioned for someone of his husky size, along with a top hat and large pearl-tipped cane. The woman beside Vardas he knew only as Catherine. She clearly was not well taken care of by her 'employer', for her blonde hair was messy and her clothes were torn and dirtied, as if she hadn't seen a clean set of clothing in days or even weeks.
"Please Master! Please save me!" Max bowed his head so that his face was in the dirt. He was starting to feel faint.
"You have already lost what is most precious to you. I see no reason to allow you to live. You've failed me twice." Vardas replied with an indifferent voice. As if what he was stating was simple fact, no emotion involved.
"What!? No, Kate! You told me you would save her! How could you -"
"Save her? Do not mince my words, child. I told you I would keep her soul from leaving this world. Her disease was not curable, what made you think I could change that?"
"How could you! You tricked me!"
"I did no such thing. I kept my word - you did not keep yours. Do you not understand, Max? The reason you had such power? That ring was not a simple magical item. All things in life require sacrifice. It is the law of equivalent exchange, kid. To gain something, an item of equal value must be lost."
"What are you.. saying.." He fell over completely now, the loss of blood taking its toll. He felt his life slipping away.
"That ring contained the soul of your sister, Max. She was the one that gave you that power. And you allowed your enemy to take it from you. You lost your sister Max, not I. How can you ask me to save the life of a man who does not keep his word? I asked you to do one simple thing for me in return for the service I provided. I even made you more powerful than you could ever imagine, and not only did you fail me, you lost the single most precious thing in the world to you. And to make it worse, you are about to die right here in front of me."
Catherine remained silent, her eyes averted as if she was afraid to look up or even show emotion. Vardas kept his eyes on Max, watched him as the pool of blood gathered in size under him. Max's eyes closed, and his breathing ceased.
"Clean up this mess, Catherine."