"If you hadn't believed Ursus's side of the story, you would see that people like him are not uncommon."
"Although, there's only one infected person called 'Patriot'."
"His wife died early, and he lived with his son."
"Oh, right, he's a demon, one of the fiercest among them, yet his son became a scholar, a Wendigo scholar... perhaps the first in Ursus's history."
"Bozhekasit became infected with Oripathy in the last battle he participated in."
"His soldiers helped him conceal his condition. He hid everything from his son, not wanting to burden him. He just wanted to die in that dark corner, with his diseased body."
"However, during the 'Great Rebellion,' his son was actively advocating for the rights of infected people. They hadn't been in contact for a long time, and he was still seen as an Ursus pawn."
"Indeed, he was. Upon receiving orders to maintain order at all costs, he allowed soldiers to use their weapons. Conflict erupted, and people kept falling in the falling snow."
"Then, he saw his son on the street. His son, without warmth."
"I wonder if he thought of his son when he held me."
Frostnova spoke a lot more when talking about Patriot.
Mo Zhi listened intently.
Because she felt that Frostnova and Old Man Patriot both had a chance to join the island.
This was clearly foreshadowing Old Man's subsequent storyline.
Regarding this tragic old man, Mo Zhi, while feeling emotional, was also considering his role. Could he be a Defender? Wouldn't a Guard be too overpowered?
At least, in everyone's eyes at the moment, the designer had provided so much backstory for the character with the intention of him joining the island.
Not to sharpen the knife further, to make the cutting feel more impactful.
After all,
The pioneers like Honkai Impact 3rd and FGO had not been released in this world.
Such unique ways of delivering emotional blows were still sealed away.
"His son fought for infected people like him in his own field, and he killed his own son with his own hands."
Frostnova's words gradually became more frequent, especially when mentioning Old Man. She always sighed with emotion.
From then on, a guerrilla force that made Ursus people tremble with fear emerged in the Northwest Tundra.
The title of Patriot was backed by such a sad past.
He loved his country, and for his country's order, he mistakenly killed his son who fought for infected people like him. How much torment must he have endured?
Mo Zhi couldn't imagine, and no one could truly empathize.
Frostnova told the Doctor that she learned all this from Big Brother. Big Brother himself had never mentioned a word to anyone.
Furthermore, before Bozhekasit saved Frostnova, he had already traversed four mines, four mines that had been rendered lifeless.
She was fortunate, and at the same time, confused. What did the Patriot who saved her find in herself? Kinship? Redemption? Or psychological comfort? Frostnova herself couldn't be sure.
"Cough, cough..."
Frostnova, who was about to continue speaking, coughed violently. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, and a trace of blood flowed out from between her fingers.
【Are coughing and internal bleeding also your... infection symptoms?】
"Probably. It's nothing, maybe just the after-effects of overusing Arts."
Frostnova explained calmly, "This episode was quite severe. It hasn't happened in a long time."
"I've experienced coma, full paralysis, and even after regaining consciousness, inability to move freely. I know my physical condition like the back of my hand."
【You cannot use Originium Arts anymore.】
"If I don't, will you fight in my place?"
Mo Zhi was choked with laughter by Frostnova's words. If it were possible, she truly wished the Doctor could fight in Frostnova's stead, allowing her to rest.
The more she used such Arts that severely depleted her physical functions, the more her lifespan could be affected, possibly even leaving her with lasting ailments.
Alas, the Doctor was a weakling, and Rhodes Island was merely surviving in the cracks.
They didn't have that kind of strength...
"Rhodes Island's... what should I call you?" Frostnova's contemplation brought Mo Zhi back to reality.
【You can call me like the other Rhodes Island Operators.】/
"Dr. Mo Zhi?"
Frostnova raised an eyebrow slightly, "I admit you Rhodes Islanders are good fighters, but I still can't trust you, especially since you were originally just a pharmaceutical company."
【Rhodes Island has many things to do.】
Oh, right, a pharmaceutical company.
Everyone who heard this involuntarily wore amusing expressions.
"Things unrelated to combat are none of my concern."
"In Chernobog, I saw your firm stance in your battles, but I couldn't judge your righteousness."
"I heard Alex died at your hands, which made me suspicious of you."
"Now, I cannot let you leave and allow you to harm more Infected of the Reunion."
This, perhaps, was Frostnova's reason for having to fight.
She had always stood firmly on the side of the Infected.
However, there were many misunderstandings between them. Even though the Doctor had talked to her at length, and her overall impression of Rhodes Island had improved slightly, she still maintained a cautious stance.
Then, they began to discuss their understanding of death.
Frostnova couldn't help but murmur, "Am I afraid of death?' I heard the Ursus garrison called me the Snow Wolf Princess, the Death of Winter..."
"In reality, we are just a few tattered squads, wandering the tundra, barely surviving."
"My Arts are powerful, of course, and my body, as you can see."
Her gaze softened somewhat, pulled by memories. "I considered my abilities a blessing, but the old stubborn man treated it as a curse."
"I couldn't feel any cold, even when crossing swamps, even when icy water soaked my calves."
"The old man still wouldn't let me on the battlefield, but his men had already suffered many casualties. He lit an oil lamp and sat quietly. I thought he was crying, and I didn't know if I should comfort him."
"In the fifth year, I summoned a blizzard in front of the enemy for the first time. One soldier froze into an ice block, and another soldier accidentally slipped on the ice block, and both shattered into ice shards."
"I joined the battle. The soldiers looked at me with awe. My brothers and sisters were proud of me, and I told other Infected – [This is our Eldest Sister, she saved all our lives]."
At this point, Frostnova's gaze gradually focused, then dispersed. "Honestly, did my Arts really save anyone?"
"The children from the mine carried the Originium I created, and we became the 'Snow Wolf Squad'."
Off-stage, Mo Zhi nodded. So the Snow Wolf Squad were the children who survived the mine with Frostnova back then.
Those people would ultimately only bring cold, the cold of winter where no new life could be born.
Even so, Frostnova still felt fortunate. At least they were all still alive.
This, perhaps, was Frostnova's understanding of death.
At the same time, she was a person who distinguished between favors and grudges. Towards those Ursus people who used weapons to harm the Infected, she wished she could cut their throats with her own hands and drink their blood raw.
But towards the Ursus civilians, she would even be grateful for their help when she was evading pursuit.
In Frostnova's eyes, Ursus people were never cold-blooded beings. The real enemy was only the Ursus Empire that had driven the Infected to a dead end.
Even in such an environment, Frostnova's values remained very upright.
Perhaps this was why she always held back when dealing with Rhodes Island Operators.
It was this very aspect that completely captivated the audience.
This villain was too charismatic.
They couldn't resist!
...