3 3 301 DialogEnable She once read about an article amongst many Golden Age works Yarha collected.
4 4 301 DialogEnable "I see the invisible bursts of gamma radiation from giant stars converting into pure energy by their own mass. I see the flashes that flicker from the far side of the universe."
5 5 301 DialogEnable —Just like all the births and demises she is witnessing.
24 24 301 The overwhelming gunfire pulls Liv back from the temporary connection. In her blurred vision, she sees the blood-soaked dove standing on a thorn in front of her eyes. It is flapping its wings and chirping loudly as if chanting a battle anthem.
25 25 301 The bird shakes off crimson Punishing Virus from its wings, revealing the white plumes under... It has become an egret.
26 26 301 Liv Why...?
27 27 301 Liv is slightly confused. She can only vaguely grasp the information as her memory is trapped among the vast amount of data.
28 28 301 Liv Where do you come from...? Why do you keep changing your look?
29 29 301 It didn't answer. Elegantly paced, the bird just walks around and sings. As it flaps its wings again, white feathers fall on Liv, throwing her into another data torrent.
49 49 301 After hanging up the comms from the World Government, I sit on the ground and let out a sigh.
50 50 301 ?? Officer Yelena...?
51 51 301 I heard the medic's voice behind me, but did not look back. Instead, I continue to gaze at the gunfire in the war zone.
52 52 201 1 500409 -450
53 53 201 2 500402 450
54 54 301 1 Medic I hope I didn't disturb you... 2
55 55 301 Yelena It's okay. Sit down. 1
56 56 202 1 2 1
57 57 301 I gesture her to take a seat.
58 58 201 1 500409 -450
59 59 201 2 500402 450
60 60 301 1 Yelena Have all the wounded soldiers been treated? 1
61 61 301 Medic Yeah, all done. The other two medics are recovering well. If time permits, they will all be fit for combat. We are running low on medical supplies though... When can we expect them? 2
62 62 301 Yelena Never. 1
63 63 301 Medic ...What? 2
64 64 301 Yelena The HQ wants us to give up this base and retreat before sunrise. 1
65 65 301 The medic's eyes open wide, unable to believe what she just heard. I see gunfire from afar reflected in her clear pupils.
66 66 204 2 5
67 67 301 Medic But there are still lots of soldiers outside the secure area of defense! Are we going to leave them all behind?! 2
68 68 301 Yelena You've already done a great job, medic. 1
69 69 202 1 2 1
70 70 301 These soldiers have given it all... Her kindness is invaluable to them.
71 71 301 All soldiers have developed trust in her. Some would even scream her name on the brink of death. She has made quite a name for herself with her fearlessness, along with her signature smile—my reprimand didn't work. She has already mastered the skill to treat the soldiers while comforting them, which is not a bad thing.
72 72 301 These soldiers have given it all... Her kindness is invaluable to them.
73 73 201 1 500409 -450
74 74 201 2 500402 19 450
75 75 301 1 Medic I... I can't... 2
76 76 301 Medic Why the rush...? Can't we wait for the other soldiers to retreat first? We tried so hard to save them... 2
77 77 301 Yelena The HQ always makes the most rational decision. We need to stop before it's too late. 1
78 78 301 Medic But I have been working so hard these days... I... 2
79 79 202 1 2 1
80 80 301 Her voice begins to tremble with sobs, but she soon realizes it is inappropriate to talk like this. She wipes her eyes and tries to calm herself.
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82 82 201 2 500402 19 450
83 83 301 1 Medic ... 2
84 84 301 There is a dead silence. Moments later, she whispers to herself.
85 85 301 Medic What's the point of this war...? Did I really save those lives...? 2
86 86 301 Yelena It's too early to doubt it. You will have more questions like this in the future, only more painful. 1
87 87 301 Yelena I used to ask myself over and over again. What's the point of this war? Will humanity win? Can the Punishing Virus truly be defeated? 1
88 88 301 Yelena Nobody has the answer. Maybe mankind only has a one-in-a-billion chance to win, but that's what we are fighting for. 1
89 89 301 Yelena It's like... um... The chance for humans to emerge on Earth was extremely slim to begin with, right? 1
90 91 301 Yelena But since we are already here as a result of that miracle, why don't we believe that mankind will also grasp that similarly slim chance to defeat the Punishing Virus? 1
91 92 204 2 16
92 93 301 With tears still on her face, the medic smiles.
93 94 301 Medic Yes... You're right. 2
94 95 301 Medic I will continue to fight, even for a one-in-a-billion chance. 2
95 96 301 Medic Yarha once said... we are just an advanced breed of primates on a minor planet orbiting around a very average star, in the outer suburb of one among a hundred billion galaxies. 2
96 97 301 Yelena What? Who? 1
97 98 204 2
98 99 301 Medic The soldier asking for help on the first day we arrived at the frontline... Remember? 2
99 100 301 Yelena Oh, Gloomy Face. Do you chat with them during their treatment? 1
100 101 301 Medic We don't have enough supplies. Sometimes, we couldn't give them general anesthesia during surgery. Talking to them can distract them from the pain... 2
101 102 301 Medic Flina loves desserts, so I often ask her to think of her favorite ones. It works well. Hayami has a little brother who she misses badly. She can endure any pain if we talk about her family. I hope she can go home one day. Yarha seems to be really into science. He always talks about it when he's nervous... 2
102 103 301 The medic talks about every patient of hers like they are her best friends. She will make a great doctor.
103 104 204 2 19
104 105 301 Medic He seems to be always pessimistic... He once told me that perhaps the fate of humanity was to embrace doomsday and be destroyed. 2
105 106 301 Medic I couldn't answer him back then, for I was also lost... But your words made me start thinking of my duty, Officer Yelena. 2
106 107 301 Medic No matter how I ended up here, as long as I can do my little part and help others... 2
107 108 301 Medic I'll be very happy already. 2
108 109 204 1 7
109 110 301 Yelena You always give me surprises, medic. 1
110 111 204 2
111 112 301 Medic ...Huh? 2
112 113 204 1
113 114 301 Yelena Your greatest strength is the ability to spread hope in a world of despair. 1
114 115 202 1 2 1
115 116 301 She flushes once again at my frankness. Somehow, I feel like her red face isn't that frail anymore.
116 117 201 1 500409 -450
117 118 201 2 500402 5 450
118 119 301 1 Medic Someone once saved my life. I will be ashamed if I waste it away... 2
119 120 301 Medic And it was your guidance that helped me find the meaning of my life. If I can pass on this faith, my life and that person's life will also be continued on this land. 2
120 121 301 Medic Allow me to express my gratitude once again... Thank you, Ma'am. 2
121 122 202 1 2 1
122 123 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The reflection of gunfire from afar flickers on her face. She closes her eyes and mumbles, as if making a prayer to the battlefield.
127 128 301 AniZhuanchangEnd I couldn't catch her last word, but it sounds like "mother."
128 129 201 1 500409 -450
129 130 201 2 500402 450
130 131 301 1 Yelena Speaking of it, I know a way to quickly make your wish come true. 1
131 132 301 Medic Hmm? What is it? 2
132 133 301 I raise my steel arm and half-jokingly say.
133 134 301 Yelena You can swap into this. 1
134 135 301 Medic C-can I? 2
135 136 301 Yelena ...Of course not. Back in my hometown, I could fight a bear barehanded. 1
136 137 301 Medic ...I'm sorry. 2
137 138 301 Yelena Actually, I don't know. The World Government should have made a lot of Constructs now, but apparently they can't be used yet. I'm just an experiment. 1
138 139 202 1 2 1
139 140 301 I twist my right arm. It makes a horrifying clink and turns over. The medic turns pale and I feel like she is going to rush over to fix my arm, so I quickly twist it back to the correct position.
140 141 301 She wants to touch my arm, but takes her hand back after seeing the scratch marks on it.
141 142 201 1 500409 -450
142 143 201 2 500402 450
143 144 301 1 Medic ...Does it hurt? 2
144 145 301 Yelena The pain module can be turned off, but I hate it because... Um... I don't feel like a human anymore. It's like I'm just a running machine. 1
145 146 301 Medic How did they... modify you? 2
146 147 301 I try to recall but cannot find any good memory, so I give an obscure answer.
147 148 301 Yelena The pain is worse than local anesthesia. In fact, they could not use anesthesia at all in the surgery. It would make... M.I.N.D. unstable. 1
148 149 301 Yelena There's nothing good about it. I only did it because there was no other way... 1
149 150 301 Yelena The best vessel of human soul is still the human body. It's nature's selection. Extracting the soul and putting it elsewhere will inevitably change its shape. 1
150 151 301 Yelena It takes a lot more effort to barely maintain the soul's original form. 1
151 152 301 Medic Is that so...? I'm sorry, Ma'am... It must be difficult. 2
152 153 301 Yelena But compared to the human body, the power it brings matters a lot more in a war. We don't have much choice in this age. 1
153 154 301 Medic ...Thank you. 2
154 155 301 Medic No matter what... I will not fail you. 2
155 156 301 Yelena ...It's getting late. Time to go back. We need to evacuate before dawn. There's not much time left. 1
156 157 202 1 2 1
157 158 301 AniZhuanchangBegin She also gets back on her feet. Not sure how I feel about retreating, though. Should I even be relieved?
160 161 301 AniZhuanchangEnd I return to the camp and announce the decision. But during roll call, I am told that we have one soldier missing.
161 162 201 1 500409 -450
162 163 201 2 500403 450
163 164 301 1 Soldiers It's Yarha... I saw him go out on crutches a few hours ago. I thought he was going to the john... 2
164 165 301 Yelena Have you searched everywhere? 1
165 166 301 I try to hold my rage. Cowards, deserters, and dropping the ball at crucial times are all among the things I hate the most.
166 167 301 Soldiers We did, Ma'am! We searched within the area of defense, but couldn't find him anywhere... 2
167 168 204 1 5
168 169 301 Yelena Forget about him! All teams file in and move out! If anyone ever sees that deserter on the way, unless he can give me a satisfactory answer, shoot him on the spot! 1
169 170 202 1 2 1
170 171 301 Before the soldier can answer, I hear another panicking voice.
171 172 202 1 2 1
172 173 201 1 500403
173 174 301 1 Soldiers Ma'am! Medic Liv... has also gone missing! 1
174 175 202 1 1
175 176 201 1 500409 7 -450
176 177 201 2 500403 450
177 178 301 1 Yelena ... 1
178 179 301 Soldiers We don't have time. A large number of Corrupted are heading this way. They are just 8 kilometers away... 2
179 180 204 1 5
180 181 301 Yelena Doesn't matter! All teams speed up! Prepare to retreat! 1
181 182 202 1 2 1
182 183 301 I know what she's up to. But how can she be so foolish?!
183 184 301 AniZhuanchangBegin I have mixed feelings. Anger, resentment, reluctance... But there is an army waiting for me. I cannot stop here.
185 186 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Fifteen minutes later, we are already standing outside the camp. I take a last look at the battlefield behind, but still cannot get over it.
186 187 301 Yelena Move out.
187 188 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin As I ordered, the Ground Force retreats from Base 068, marking the complete loss of CPF 068.
