Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill-Chapter 99: Rescuing Azael (4)

Max stepped forward once more, his hammer steady in his hand. His legs trembled, but his gaze radiated confidence.

In front of him, Dante—inside Azael’s body—breathed with difficulty. His shoulders rose and fell unevenly. Green fire ran through his wounds like exposed veins, pulsing with every beat.

His eyes glowed. But there was no calm left in them. Only fury.

"...my horns..."

His voice came out broken. Distorted.

"...that bastard cut them off..."

Max didn’t answer right away.

With his free hand, he opened his backpack. He rummaged briefly and pulled out the vial—the one containing Lamia’s poison.

The dark liquid sloshed inside the glass.

Dante saw it and smiled. But it wasn’t an amused smile.

It was... irritated.

"...don’t even try."

He straightened his body, though the pain still ran through him.

"It won’t work."

His fingers tensed.

"I already know all your tricks."

Max swallowed. The fear was there.

Of course it was. Anyone would feel it.

But he didn’t stop.

He tightened his grip around the vial, and stepped forward.

"...I still have to try."

Dante vanished.

No, he didn’t vanish. He lunged.

The ground cracked beneath his feet. Green fire marked every step, as if he were burning through the limestone floor.

His claws rose, aimed straight at Max’s chest.

"I’ll tear you apart—!"

But—

CLACK.

A skeleton knight appeared. It stepped in front of him.

The blow destroyed it.

The claws tore through bone, pulverizing it instantly.

But that was exactly what Max wanted.

"Now."

Another skeleton emerged behind him, lifting him and launching him into the air.

Max passed over Dante. He twisted his body midair.

And—

BOOM.

The hammer came crashing down onto his back.

The wounds split open.

Green fire burst out from within.

Dante growled.

And in that same instant, Max uncorked the vial, pouring some of it over him.

The poison fell directly into the open wound.

Sssssss—

The liquid reacted immediately, as if taking effect at once.

Max hit the ground and rolled.

And in that moment, a window appeared before his eyes.

[Skill activated: Effect Amplification][Poison effect has been enhanced]

Max smiled faintly.

"...good. It works."

Dante froze for a second. Just one.

And then—

"—AAAAAAAGH—!"

His back arched. Green fire shot out from the wound.

But it wasn’t the same. Something else was there.

A different burn. Deeper. More corrosive.

"...what... did you do... to me...?"

Even so, he didn’t fall. Didn’t stop.

His eyes locked onto Max again, and he advanced.

Abby shouted from behind.

"Max, watch out!"

She dragged herself slightly, trying to stand.

"It’s my brother’s body!"

Her voice broke.

"I... I can feel he’s still in there!"

Max heard her.

For a second, he looked at that body.

Azael’s. Broken. Being used. Forced to move.

And he clenched his teeth.

"...forgive me, Azael."

His voice came out low.

"...I really mean it."

He looked up.

And Dante was already on top of him.

He leapt, like a beast.

No technique. No control. Just pure rage and instinct.

His claws came down with all their force.

They struck Max’s chest.

CLANG.

The adamantine armor absorbed the blow.

No damage.

The system reacted.

[Damage received: 0][Condition met: activating Return Gem]

And—

CRACK.

The impact rebounded, straight back at Dante.

His own claws shattered. Severed.

The force traveled back into his arm, opening more wounds.

Green fire burst out like blood.

It hit the ground, burning it.

The stone melted beneath every drop.

Dante staggered back a step. His breathing turned erratic.

"...no... don’t mess with me..."

Max stood up. Stared him down.

"...looks like you’re not fighting with your head anymore."

Dante growled, clutching his arm.

"shut up..."

Pain coursed through him.

"shut up..."

Max didn’t hesitate.

He twisted his body and threw the hammer.

The air split.

No warning. No time.

Dante tried to react, raised his arm.

But he wasn’t fast enough.

BOOM.

The hammer slammed into his face. His head snapped back.

And at that same instant, two more skeletons emerged behind him.

They grabbed him—one on each arm—pinning him in place.

"—what—?!"

Max was already there, vial in hand.

And he poured it again, directly into the open wounds of his arm.

Sssssss—

The poison seeped in. Deep.

Dante screamed—a truly agonizing scream.

"—AAAAAAAAAAAGH—!"

Green fire exploded—bursting from every wound.

The skeletons couldn’t endure it. They caught fire. Their bodies blackened, and within seconds, crumbled into ash.

Dante dropped to his knees. His body trembling and burning.

But he could still fight.

Though he couldn’t stand immediately. His body remained hunched forward, supported by one knee.

The green fire no longer flowed steadily... now it burst out in waves. As if something inside him was failing.

"...ngh... ah... gh—!"

He grabbed his head, digging his fingers into his white hair. His face twisted into pure agony.

It wasn’t just the poison.

It was worse.

Much worse.

His body trembled violently.

Flames erupted from his chest, his arms, from the wounds Max had forced open. But they didn’t strengthen him... they tore him apart from the inside.

"...what... is this...?"

His voice came out disoriented. For the first time... uncertain.

The poison spread through every part of that body. It felt like needles. Like acid. As if something was corroding the bonds that kept him tied to that flesh.

And then, another spasm. Stronger.

Dante clenched his teeth.

"—NO—"

His eyes flickered.

And for a moment, they weren’t his.

Max saw it.

That small shift. That crack.

"...Azael..."

Dante grabbed his head with both hands now, gasping.

"...get out of... my head... damn you..."

His knees trembled.

The body... was rejecting him.

Not completely. But enough.

Max didn’t hesitate. He tightened his grip on the hammer and lunged forward.

"NOW!"

He sprinted and leapt.

The hammer rose above his shoulder, ready to come down straight onto the devil’s neck.

But Dante reacted. His body twisted sharply, his leg lashing out.

THUD.

The impact struck Max square in the torso.

The air was knocked from his lungs.

"—GH—!"

He was sent flying backward, though unharmed.

He didn’t crash uncontrolled. At the last moment, he slammed his shield into the ground.

SCRRRT—

Metal scraped against stone as he slowed his momentum.

Max ended in a crouch, breathing heavily.

But his eyes... never left the target.

In front of him, Dante continued to writhe. His body no longer responded as before.

Green flames burst out uncontrollably. Some erupted in small explosions. Others leaked like cracks of light beneath his skin.

His movements were erratic.

"...no..."

Dante took a step forward, and nearly fell.

"...this body... is mine..."

But his voice no longer sounded certain.

Another tremor ran through his back. The fire exploded from the wound Max had poisoned.

This time... Dante screamed.

Max watched him, still on guard.

And for the first time since the fight began...

He saw something that hadn’t been there before.

A real opportunity.

Because that monster, was no longer winning.