Medically, the first line of treatment for atrioventricular node reentry tachycardia is adenosine.
It blocks the signal by increasing the half-life of the atrioventricular node where the signal returns.
But since this was a mana-induced arrhythmia, a different treatment was needed.
Raymond remembered a message from earlier.
[An ability that could be especially useful when treating patients with mana reflux!]
It seemed to suggest treating this condition with mana control.
'Careful.'
He manifested Mana Control and blocked the spinning mana in the atrioventricular node!
Then something amazing happened.
The heart stopped beating irregularly!
"... ha!"
Laina let out a deep sigh.
Her pounding heart stabilized.
"Are you okay?"
"Ah... Yeah."
Laina looked at Raymond with wide eyes.
'How did he manage to calm my mana heart's reflux so easily?'
She was beyond amazed.
Knowing nothing about medicine, she assumed that Raymond must have manifested immense mana control to stabilize the backflow of the mana heart.
'What is this crazy mana control, is he the reincarnation of a dragon or something?'
The mana control Raymond was displaying now was unprecedented.
"Unbelievable! Amazing! Great! Crazy!"
Laina shouted out a series of non-slang words that didn't match her elegant attire.
"It's a miracle! An innate mage?"
She cried out in a frantic voice,
'...The power of medicine, and skill.'
Raymond narrowed his eyes.
There was something strange about the look in the lady's eyes.
... He felt a sense of déjà vu. The déjà vu of Duke Leif!
There was something even more piercing.
'...An innate mage, that's not what I am.'
Who is an innate mage?
It was a constitution that legendary mages were born with.
He was not like that.
"I'm not that kind of person. I simply performed a miracle for the sake of the patient."
However, doubt lingered in her expression, and Raymond felt a sudden chill.
'Well, at least she can't be as relentless as Duke Leif, right? She's a renowned lady in her own right.'
The red-blodded lady.
Though he didn't know her personally, he assumed she carried herself with dignity.
Despite being addressed as Lady, there was more to her.
"..."
Laina's gaze bore into Raymond, reminiscent of, what was it called?
It was like the eyes of a lady.
The eyes of an exceedingly covetous lady.
It felt like staring at the most coveted jewelry in the world.
'... let's think about that later.'
Raymond swiftly averted his gaze, and Laina regained her composure.
"Oh, my apologies. Your Excellency, meeting you fills my heart with anticipation... I wonder if I could extend an invitation for dinner after this concludes. I would truly appreciate the opportunity to converse with you in depth."
Her words were polite, yet carried an unsettling undertone.
It hinted at an impending ominous event.
The "ho-ho" laughter and peculiar gaze seemed more unsettling than even Duke Leif.
Raymond feigned ignorance, blocking out the disquieting atmosphere by inserting the stethoscope's earplugs.
'I have no idea. I can't predict what's about to unfold.'
Considerable time elapsed in this tense silence.
Laina focused on her magic, and Raymond diligently worked to stabilize her mana heart.
The process unfolded smoothly.
The mana within the white crystal dwindled significantly.
The pinnacle of Archmage Magic!
'Hold on a moment. If the mana in the white crystal vanishes like this, won't it still be usable?'
Raymond's eyes widened with a sudden realization.
Unexpectedly, he had stumbled upon a significant treasure!
'Sure, as a magic stone, it's worthless without mana, but it can serve as a valuable resource for the medical industry!'
Among the resources required for the medical industry, obtaining white crystals had been a major concern, but now it seemed resolved!
'Alright, let's continue down the path to Super Rich...!'
However, as is often the case, happiness wasn't readily granted by the heavens.
Suddenly, a complication emerged.
"Keuk...!"
Laina unexpectedly groaned, and a sense of foreboding settled over the scene.
"archmage?"
"No, no, no, I can't continue; I've depleted all my available mana..."
She spoke in a faltering voice, drained after hours of employing neutralization magic.
'I can't believe I've used up so much mana.'
Initially, she thought her mana reservoir would suffice to address the issue when she initiated the spell.
Neutralization magic, while intricate, typically didn't demand an extensive amount of mana, and as a top-tier archmage, she possessed a substantial reserve.
Even the mana stored in the Red Blood Fan was considerable, leading her to believe it would be enough, but that wasn't the case.
'Still insufficient.'
However, the silver lining was that she had successfully neutralized the majority.
Now, less than 1% of the mana remained in the white crystal.
The challenge arose from the fact that the residual mana was volatile.
Left unchecked, it would inevitably trigger a sizable explosion.
'It might be less intense than the initial explosion, but still potent. Unfortunately, I lack the energy for further magical intervention...'
Just then, things took a dramatic turn.
Boom!
A loud boom echoed from within the white crystal!
"Big explosion!"
Laina shouted, the worst had happened.
Raymond could see it was about to explode.
'I need to use the shield!'
He had a trick up his sleeve for just such an occasion.
'Use a mastery item! Shield!'
But then an unbelievable message popped up.
[Skill, 'Mana Compatibility' you have increased your mastery of this item! You may not use this item twice in one day!]
[Cooldown 18 hours, 21 minutes, 25 seconds remaining].
'... what?'
Raymond was dumbfounded.
Now what?
'You're lying! I was counting on this! What am I supposed to do!'
Raymond repeated, denying reality.
'Use the item! Use the item!'
But it was no use.
All he got was a message.
[Cannot be used multiple times. (Cooldown 18 hours, 21 minutes, 17 seconds remaining)]
[Cannot be used multiple times. (Cooldown 18 hours, 21 minutes, 16 seconds remaining)]
Raymond's complexion went white.
He was completely screwed!
"Lady L-Laina, when the explosion occurs, how strong is it? Can a half-grade shield withstand it?"
Though they have managed to remove a substantial amount of mana, the force of the explosion should have diminished. However, the response was disheartening.
"It will be less intense than the initial one, but it will still be formidable. You'll require a shield of at least an 'Advanced' grade."
Advanced!
A B-grade magic employed by high-level mages.
Regrettably, Raymond was incapable of utilizing it at the moment.
'Ugh! What options do I have?'
"Is there no alternative, archmage?"
"My mana is depleted, rendering me unable to deploy my shield magic, and we lack the time to make a getaway."
Raymond's face fell.
'No! I refuse to meet my end like this! I haven't tasted wealth; life's been harsh!'
In the face of impending doom, a montage of struggles paraded through his mind.
Even after awakening as a player, not a single moment of triumph had graced his existence.
Only hardships.
'I didn't endure all this just to die like this; it's unjust! I can't die until I savor the fruits of wealth and glory!'
Raymond frantically searched for a way out, his mind racing.
He recalled the quest description.
"It may seem formidable, labeled as 'High' difficulty, but there must be a workaround."
That had been the case with every quest he had encountered.
Initially insurmountable, yet solutions always presented themselves, albeit extraordinarily challenging.
He was convinced it was no different now.
Moreover, the quest description explicitly stated:
[Use your abilities to prevent a catastrophe in the land!]
'It said my abilities are needed to solve this situation, not the crazy lady's!'
Raymond thought desperately.
His mind spun incredibly fast with the will to live.
And then he found the answer.
'What?'
Raymond swallowed hard.
He looked at the 'Healer's Mana Usage' skill again.
[A: You can absorb highly concentrated mana stored externally, such as spirit stones, for your patients in a very, very inefficient manner.]
'With this ability?'
Now that he thought about it, the mana that was surging out now was also highly concentrated mana stored inside the magic stones!
'Of course, the meaning of this ability is to absorb the excess mana from the magic stones for the patient.'
Since this was for the patient's sake, he could absorb it anyway.
But Raymond swallowed hard.
'But how can I absorb something like that?'
The mana was ominous to say the least.
It looked like it would rot you if you touched it.
Absorbing something like that?
'Heuk, I think I'll die if I absorb it.'
Raymond frowned.
At that moment, the situation became urgent.
Goooooooooo-!
An eerie resonant sound began to reverberate.
It looked like it was about to explode.
That's when Laina made her final move.
"Give me some mana...!"
She squeezed her mana heart and tried to use her shield magic.
Raymond clenched his fist and cheered her on.
But much to Raymond's dismay, her overzealous attempts backfired.
"Ugh!"
Unable to hold on, she collapsed with an inarticulate groan.
"archmage!"
He checked her in surprise, but she was unconscious.
'She's fainted from the strain on her heart.'
She would recover in a little while, but that wasn't the problem.
Gooooooooo!
My mana pulsed even more frantically.
'Damn it, I don't know! I'll do something.'
If he stood still, he'd die anyway.
Raymond resolved to attempt something daring.
'I refuse to meet my end like this! I am destined to live a life of opulence!'
With determination, he laid his hand upon the spirit stone.
'Absorb!'
No need to vocalize the command; it flowed from him effortlessly, as though ingrained in his instincts, absorbing the mana as naturally as moving his hands and feet.
Then, an extraordinary miracle unfolded.
Boom.
A weighty sound reverberated.
The oscillating mana ceased.
As if time had frozen.
'...No?'
Raymond squinted, bewildered by this incredulous occurrence.
"Is it over?"
It wasn't.
A message flashed.
[Beginning absorption of mana into your veins.]
"......!"
Like the ticking of a second hand, the stagnant mana resumed its movement, leading to an even more astonishing development.
Oomph!
It felt as though he had plunged into an immense vortex, his mana swirling and surging with wild abandon.
Towards Raymond's hand, in contact with the megalith!
The atmospheric vacuum seemed to draw in the air.
"Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Raymond let out a horrified scream.
Dismayed by the overwhelming rush of mana, he attempted to retract his hand, but it proved futile.
It was as if his hand had been ensnared by potent adhesive.
'I miscalculated; accepting mana of this magnitude will lead to my demise!'
This wasn't an exaggeration.
There was no conceivable way to endure and survive the torrent of mana surging with such intensity.
'To meet my end like this...'