Strange pursed his lips before finally saying, "I mean, what do you gain by comforting patients? Why waste time like this?"
Strange's sarcastic tone was typical. That was something Strange would say!
Christine sighed in relief before responding, her voice tinged with a hint of restrained anger. "Stephen, this isn't about wasting time, but you really don't understand the meaning of wasting time. Not everyone in this world thinks as rationally and coldly as you do!"
Strange shrugged as if unaffected by Christine's words. "Cold rationality isn't a bad thing in the medical field, Christine. Our profession requires us to think clearly, without being swayed by emotions."
Christine sighed, her expression softening slightly. "Then where is the old Stephen Strange? The one who was willing to volunteer in Brooklyn every weekend?"
Strange was silent for a moment before finally looking deeply into Christine's eyes. "My time is up," Strange said flatly, then turned and walked toward his operating room. However, before pushing the door, Strange stopped and glanced back briefly. "Because the old Strange has realized that he can't save everyone. And clearly, you haven't understood that yet. Before you mock me, don't forget that the number of patients I've saved is ten times greater than those I've turned away."
Without waiting for a response, Strange disappeared behind the door, leaving Christine in silence. Christine shook her head and murmured softly, "It's not that I don't understand that reality... But for me, the Hippocratic Oath is more than just words. Betraying that oath means betraying myself..."
Suddenly, an emergency broadcast echoed throughout the hospital.
"A major accident has occurred. All medical staff in the emergency room are requested to return to their posts immediately."
Christine jolted. The announcement was repeated, urging them to act quickly. Setting aside her emotions, Christine immediately ran toward the emergency room.
Upon arrival, Christine saw ambulances stopping one by one at the entrance. Paramedics rushed in with patients covered in blood, some in critical condition.
"Dr. Palmer!" someone called out.
"I'm here," Christine replied firmly.
"You just had a major operation. Do you need to rest?" the person immediately asked.
"No need. Push the patients to the operating room now!" Christine answered loudly.
"Understood!" The officer nodded immediately.
Without hesitation, Christine quickly prepared to perform the operation. Christine's movements were swift, her trained hands working tirelessly. While stitching the patient's wound, Christine asked the nurse beside her, "Crushed fracture, internal bleeding... What happened outside?"
The nurse swallowed before answering, "I heard a building in Henderson collapsed. Many people are trapped under the rubble."
Christine frowned. "What caused it?"
"Not sure. Even the victims who were rescued are confused. They say most of the victims died before they could be helped."
Christine's hands trembled slightly, but she quickly took a deep breath and refocused. This was not the time for Christine to lose control. As she finished her last stitch, she shouted, "Next patient!"
...
...
...
The line of ambulances still stretched for two blocks. Doctors and nurses worked tirelessly, trying to save anyone they could.
Despite the energy provided by the White Lantern Ring, Christine began to feel an overwhelming fatigue. As she looked around, she saw bodies covered with white cloth, being sent to the morgue one by one. Christine's chest felt tight.
After asking for permission from the department director, Christine left the emergency room and entered her office. There, without hesitation, Christine opened the window and jumped out.
In an instant, the energy of the White Lantern Ring flowed through Christine's body, wrapping her in a Lantern uniform. The uniform fit Christine perfectly, reflecting her slim yet strong figure.
The number of victims sent to Metro-General Hospital began to decrease, and the medical team could manage the situation there. However, Christine knew that help was still desperately needed at the scene.
As a doctor, Christine's limits were in the operating room. But as a White Lantern, Christine could be more than that.
Following the guidance of the Lantern Ring Spirit, Christine allowed herself to transform into a hero. With the power granted by this ring, Christine could do more than just save lives—she could prevent death before it happened.
With the Soul abilities bestowed upon her, along with basic White Lantern skills like flying, invisibility, and energy beams, Christine prepared to fly to the scene.
As Christine staggered across the sky and arrived near the Henderson Building, her eyes widened in disbelief. "This is unbelievable... This is really serious!"
The Henderson Building was not a foreign place to Christine. She often went there for lunch, as her favorite restaurant was right beneath the apartment building. The area was quite familiar to Christine—at least, until today.
Now, the place had turned into a blazing hell. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, obscuring the view like a curtain of darkness. Flames roared fiercely, licking the walls of the building and illuminating the night like a giant torch. The orange-red glow radiating from the fire cast moving shadows on the chaotic street below.
Beneath Christine, more than a dozen fire trucks lined up with spinning red and blue lights. Firefighters rushed back and forth, pulling hoses and spraying water with all their might. However, despite the continuous deluge of water, the fire seemed to have a life of its own—refusing to be extinguished, it continued to consume every corner of the building.
"What is really happening here...?" Christine felt panic rising. This was the first time Christine faced such a disaster, and she didn't know where to start.
As Christine's thoughts remained chaotic, a heart-wrenching scream echoed from above. Christine looked up, and her breath caught in her throat.
The fire had spread rapidly, blocking the exits on the lower floors. The emergency stairs that were supposed to be a lifeline could not be extended. People on the upper floors had no way out. With panic-stricken faces, they stood at the edge of the windows, staring down with overwhelming fear. As the flames crept closer, some of them finally made the horrific decision—to jump.
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