"The last contact reconnaissance squad has also been recovered!"
The medical operator reported the battle situation to Kal'tsit, her face grim. "The situation is not optimistic."
"Reddened skin, systemic hypothermia, tissue necrosis..." Kal'tsit looked at the rows of injured soldiers. "All frostbite?"
"Amiya, all rescue teams have arrived at Rhodes Island. We have rescued all reconnaissance squads except for the Meteorite squad."
Kal'tsit connected to Amiya's communication device.
She reminded Amiya that no operators had sacrificed their lives during the mission, only suffering frostbite to varying degrees.
It was important to note this.
Kal'tsit surmised that there might be some special Reunion members lingering in the sub-city.
Their combat methods were peculiar, not as mindless as typical Reunion members.
"Kal'tsit is truly amazing!"
Mochizhi exclaimed, genuinely acknowledging Rhodes Island's strategist.
"We only learned about the existence of a squad called the Yeti squad through Frostleaf's words due to the overhead perspective, while Kal'tsit quietly deduced it by analyzing the injured."
"And she also provided a crucial piece of information: no sacrifices among the reconnaissance squads, only varying degrees of frostbite."
"This gives us two clues."
Mochizhi held up one finger: "One, the Yeti squad is different from other Reunion members in their bloodlust."
Then he held up his middle finger: "Two, there is a powerful Arts user in the opposing team, whose Arts were released with considerable precision, resulting in severe injuries but not death."
'Makes sense!'
'I admit your analysis has some merit, but why are you giving me the middle finger?'
'I hope the artist can make the character art for the Yeti squad's Arts user look good.'
'Damn, is a villain boss really going to invade the island? No way, no way (anticipating with excitement)'
.......
Many viewers began to look forward to it. Operators with villainous attributes... tsk, was there even a need to consider it?
If they appear, I'm pulling until I get them!
"I... understand." Amiya looked expectantly at Mochizhi. "Dr. Mochizhi, you understand too, right?"
【Understood】
Kal'tsit: "Good."
"I'm going to get to work."
Before leaving, she didn't forget to remind Amiya: "Amiya, even if Mochizhi is very useful, don't rely too much on any one person."
"Watch out for your ring."
"I know."
After hanging up, Amiya looked at the Doctor. "Actually, Doctor Kal'tsit is very worried about you too."
"Unknowingly, dangerous beasts have bared their claws."
"However, our purpose here has never been to escape. Rhodes Island, move forward!"
.......
Meanwhile.
Kal'tsit contacted someone else: "Red, can you hear me?"
"Yes, rendezvous at the east entrance of the slums."
"Just the two of us."
"No problem."
"We are enough to deal with Reunion."
???
Mochizhi was baffled. What was going on?
Who was Red?
Were the two of them enough?
Where did Kal'tsit get her confidence?
Was it Red?
Could it be a foreshadowing, and the Doctor would have to rescue Kal'tsit with Amiya later?
Playing out such a cliché hero-saves-the-beauty plot?
Given Lingjing's style, it was unlikely.
Mochizhi shook his head and dismissed the thought.
It was a bit unrealistic.
However, this was not the time to consider these things. A new round of battle had begun.
4-7 was quickly cleared, followed by another wave of grunts.
Currently, as long as Mochizhi didn't see the boss, he didn't feel any pressure.
Through 4-7, Rhodes Island also successfully found Chen, who had gone missing.
"I was impulsive, I'm sorry."
Chen also blamed herself for being too rash, rushing forward without confirming if the target was Talulah.
This had caused her teammates behind her to worry.
In this Originium-infused area, ordinary people were at risk of infection.
Amiya suggested that Chen return to the rear and rendezvous with the Guard Department.
After parting ways with Chen, Amiya quickly reached the coordinates of Frostleaf provided by Kal'tsit.
However,
They were not here. Amiya could not find the three members.
The nearby smell of burnt char made her feel a little sick.
After searching for a while, Amiya followed the sound of fighting and found Frostleaf, who was engaged in combat with a Reunion Arts user.
Frostleaf told Amiya that Jessica and Meteorite were still in the center of the plaza. She had drawn the enemies out alone and happened to encounter Amiya, who was rushing to their rescue.
As they were talking, an unwelcome guest caught up. "Little fox, where have you been hiding?"
Mephisto said playfully in a cat-and-mouse tone, "Come out, I see you."
"For every minute you hide, I will break one of your companion's fingers."
"Are you still trying to escape?"
"Mephisto!" Amiya gritted her teeth.
"Shh! She's bluffing," Frostleaf immediately stopped Amiya from acting impulsively, and her wounds reopened with the agitation.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Frostleaf, are you okay?"
"Minor injuries."
Frostleaf hid behind a building, staring intently at Mephisto. It was evident that Frostleaf had extensive combat experience.
"We need to contact Meteorite and the others first—" Amiya took out her communication device and uttered a confused "Hmm."
She discovered that even after crossing the contaminated zone, the communication still could not be connected.
"Look at this."
Frostleaf took out a communicator that had turned into an ice sculpture and handed it to Amiya.
"Is this your communicator?"
All these communication devices had frozen into ice.
"Mephisto is just a distraction," Frostleaf's voice carried a deep sense of dread. "In this ruined city... there are more terrifying things lurking."
"Terrifying things?"
"The Yetis. If you run into them, things will become difficult."
Amiya asked, "Is it that Yeti squad? They...?"
"It's hard to explain in this short time. The low temperatures in the entire area, and the encounters of various squads... are all the work of these guys."
Hiss!
Mochizhi gasped. This Yeti squad seemed to be outrageously strong.
"This Reunion squad seems to have carved out their own territory in the ruined city," Frostleaf seemed to have discovered their objective during her maneuvering with them.
As night fell, Amiya successfully evaded enemy sight in the dark and found Meteorite and Jessica.
Here, Amiya demonstrated another of her abilities: emotion absorption.
When her hand touched the terrified Jessica, a strong sense of sorrow flooded into Amiya's heart.
She understood that this child had endured the most terrifying fear of her life.
Amiya continuously encouraged Jessica within her subconscious.
The tearful cat-headed girl finally showed a flicker of reaction.
"Amiya?"
Jessica, as if grasping a life-saving straw, called out with all her might.
"Amiya..."
Slowly opening her eyes, Jessica saw Meteorite, whose face was half-covered by her chest.
"Are you alright, Jessica?"
She turned to look at Amiya, who was sweating from her forehead, and asked, "I was... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't expect..."
"It's okay..." Amiya's lips curved into a sweet smile.
"Those... those... sob..." Jessica was still somewhat fearful.
"I feel it," Amiya's voice was like a spring breeze, soothing Jessica's disturbed and trembling heart.
"Yes, I've experienced it too—"
"—Wanting to run, but being unable to move—"
"—Wanting to scream, but being unable to make a sound—"
"I understand, Jessica... I've experienced it too."
She was the youngest in the group, yet she comforted the traumatized Jessica like a little adult.
Mochizhi felt increasingly heartbroken watching this outwardly strong but inwardly sensitive bunny.
What kind of goddamn skill is this, emotion absorption?
Isn't this clearly designed to hurt my bunny?
Lingjing, you have no heart!
"Don't be afraid anymore. You are with us now, you are not alone. We will always be by your side. We still have to go back to Rhodes Island together. Closure and Projekt Red are still waiting for you."
The warmth of human life is the most comforting.
"Here, take this, this is the last one." Amiya conjured a mushroom pie and handed it to Jessica.
A faint aroma filled Jessica's nostrils, and she swallowed.
"Thank you, Amiya!" Jessica's eyes gradually regained their radiance.
"Amiya... did you just use...?" Frostleaf asked with some concern.
"You have to... keep it a secret from Doctor Kal'tsit, okay." Amiya tugged at Frostleaf's sleeve playfully, and then gave the Doctor a wink!
Kal'tsit: I know everything.
Poor bunny...