Chapter 205: A Mature and Reliable Socialite
"This… this…"
The soldier struggled to open his eyes. His body, which had felt as heavy as lead, now felt as light as if he had just soaked in a hot spring after a long time without a bath.
His somewhat confused mind became even more bewildered after witnessing a Mara-struck soldier transform back into a human state with his own eyes.
He thought he must have died.
Or perhaps he was dreaming in a deathbed vision at the end of his life.
That was the Mara-struck state!
It was common knowledge among Xianzhou people that the Mara-struck state was an incurable disease. Anyone who succumbed to it would lose their sanity and gradually turn into aggressive walking corpses.
Several major upheavals and periods of chaos in Xianzhou history were related to the Mara-struck state, and the Xianzhou had never given up efforts to solve the problem of the Mara-struck state.
However, this power from destiny was too overbearing; other than suppressing its onset, the Xianzhou had no other way.
Yet, what did he see now?
A comrade who had fully turned Mara-struck was actually saved!?
"These monsters are indeed mutated humans."
No one had yet noticed the soldier's awakening. The Astral Express crew's attention was all on Bronya and Seele, observing the soldier, clad in uniform armor, slowly returning to normal.
Stelle and March 7th were quite calm seeing this scene; the group didn't know much about the Mara-struck state, only thinking that the two had healed the cursed, infected soldiers.
"The Mara-struck state is indeed very tricky."
The crimson light dissipated. Bronya sheathed the black and red katana, took a deep breath, and gracefully spun the sword before storing it in her system space.
Only by combining the Jizo Mitama, which hosts the essence of life as an ultimate virus eroding a Herrscher, with the Black Abyss White Flower, which possesses the power of creation and decay, could the Mara-struck state be barely suppressed.
It couldn't be completely cured, only delayed and slowed down. As for how long it could be suppressed, that depended on the individual's condition.
For those who practiced good health, delaying it by several centuries would not be an issue. However, if the Abundance power was re-triggered by man-made disasters or diseases, someone who was fine in the morning might relapse in the afternoon.
"It's indeed related to consciousness."
Seele put away the Black Abyss White Flower, gazing thoughtfully at the unconscious soldier lying on the ground.
Erosion plus life and death wasn't enough. If the authority of consciousness, the Feather of the Dawn Realm (Yu Duchen), which could burn memories, were added, perhaps the Mara-struck state could be suppressed to its limit.
Complete elimination was certainly impossible, unless a "three Divine Keys" treatment package with the Feather of the Dawn Realm was regularly applied—three cores per treatment.
Without saying much, increasing one's lifespan by four or five times shouldn't be a big problem.
But Bronya and Seele weren't Abundance healers, nor were they so selfless. Currently, it was purely an experiment to see if erosion combined with creation and decay could control the Mara-struck state.
"It really… changed back! It's healed!"
The severely wounded soldier struggled, trembling, to his feet, letting out an incredible cry, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"You're awake~" March 7th was the first to turn and greet him with a smile.
"Thank you all profusely for saving my life!"
The soldier thanked them repeatedly, bowing deeply to everyone. His body, just recovered from severe wounds, was extremely weak, and he nearly fell halfway through the bow.
"Don't mention it. You're very weak right now; don't act rashly."
Welt Yang, the closest, timely reached out to support the falling soldier and asked in a deep voice, "What exactly happened here?"
"I'm not clear either." The soldier shook his head.
Although he didn't know the identity of these people, they had saved his life and brought his Mara-struck comrade back—either was a great kindness!
"A Mara-struck disaster suddenly erupted in the port, and we were ordered to suppress it…"
The soldier briefly explained the situation. He was just an ordinary Cloud Knight soldier, with limited knowledge.
"Two benefactors, can you cure the Mara-struck state!?"
After explaining the situation, the soldier was still surging with emotion, his face flushed with excitement as he looked at Bronya and Seele.
"Mara-struck state? Are you referring to those monsters?" Bronya feigned the confusion of a newcomer.
In reality, her knowledge of the Mara-struck state was limited to the "moe-yin" state of the white-haired, red-eyed ice beauty and konjac snacks.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, I can't completely cure it, only suppress it, and the consumption isn't low."
"Is that so."
The soldier nodded, the light in his eyes dimming slightly, but his gaze towards the two still full of respect.
He had originally thought these two adults could rescue a colleague who had fallen into the Mara-struck state, but it seemed they couldn't. Even so, this was the first time he had heard of anyone being able to save someone who had fully transformed into the Mara-struck state. Thinking about it, it made sense; accomplishing such an unprecedented feat must be extremely difficult!
"Do you know how to leave the port?"
Welt Yang glanced at Stelle and Caelus, who had started bouncing around and rummaging through boxes again while he was talking to the soldier, and continued to ask.
"To leave the dock, you need to take a Star Skiff, but there are many Mara-struck individuals over there, benefactors, could I please ask for your help again…" the soldier pleaded.
"Yes." Welt Yang nodded.
The Nameless are warm-hearted, good people; they wouldn't stand by and watch others die.
"Hey~ time to go… Hiss~ what are you two doing!"
March 7th looked around, searching for the two gray-furred ones who had transformed into the Fourth Calamity, scavenging for crystals.
Then she saw the two gray-furred ones pointing at the decorative porcelain in the port, discussing something, and then Stelle took out her baseball bat and Bang~! smashed the porcelain decoration to smithereens.
March 7th's heart skipped a beat. With a guilty conscience, she turned to look at the Cloud Knight soldier and sighed in relief when she saw he hadn't noticed them.
"Coming right now!"
Stelle happily picked up the crystal that popped out of the smashed treasure chest, while in March 7th's vision, the item in Stelle's hand was porcelain fragments.
The entire process, if seen by outsiders, would definitely make them think the two had some serious mental illness, like 30-year brain thrombosis patients. But March 7th… she was already used to it.
However, she felt this act of destroying property was a bit inappropriate, but crystals were good things… forget it!
Anyway, she couldn't stop Stelle and Caelus. Thinking that they had saved two Cloud Knights, and would save more soldiers next…
…this small issue probably wouldn't be pursued, right?
"Four pieces, two each."
Stelle gave Caelus two sparkling blue crystals, holding one in her other hand.
After completing their "loot division," the group proceeded under the soldier's guidance.
"It seems the evacuation was timely." Welt Yang looked at both sides of the road.
Along the way, they saw many wounded, all Cloud Knights judging by their attire; no civilians had been harmed.
As they walked, they suddenly heard soldiers shouting from around a corner ahead.
"Protect Miss Tingyun!"
"Don't hold back, they've already fallen into the Mara-struck state; they are no longer our comrades…"
Everyone immediately sped up.
Then, they saw a dozen Cloud Knights desperately fighting against dozens of Mara-struck individuals.
Caelus was immediately attracted by the weapons used by the Cloud Knights.
"It seems many soldiers here are skilled in Ashina swordsmanship."
The weapons, resembling long-handled guandao, could fire lasers, possessing both long-range and close-quarters offensive and defensive capabilities.
Others wielded flying swords, shooting energy bullets from their tips.
The Cloud Knights' combat discipline was not on the same level as Belobog's Silvermane Guards; they had tacit cooperation, mutual trust, clear division of labor, and formidable combat power.
However, the Mara-struck soldiers on the opposite side were not low-level Rift creations; they were transformed Cloud Knights themselves, possessing a certain degree of their former combat skills.
Coupled with their abnormal self-healing ability, this still left the Cloud Knights at a disadvantage, especially since they also had to protect an important, non-combatant individual.
That was a fox-eared girl.
Her figure was graceful and well-proportioned, adorned with a star-embroidered brocade robe with gold ornaments. Her fluffy fox ears were the same color as her chestnut hair, and the soft, bushy fox tail behind her was slightly taut.
Her revealed noble aura made it clear at a glance that she was extraordinary.
Leaning against a container, the fox-eared girl, protected at the rear, was exceptionally alert. Having already been observing the battlefield, she immediately noticed the commotion.
She turned her head, and her gaze met Caelus's in an instant.
Caelus's expression remained unchanged, but he began to ponder.
He didn't know the detailed plot, but he had seen the famous scene of Tingyun's neck snapping. The Xianzhou's BOSS seemed to be possessing this fox spirit.
But Caelus didn't know: when did that Aeon of Destruction's Emanator possess her?
Was Tingyun herself or the BOSS right now?
Wait, was that…!?
"Benefactors!"
The weak soldier, acting as their guide, had an anxious expression. He saw a comrade, weakened by fatigue, whose armor was cut open by the sharp blade of a Mara-struck individual's elbow, the blood staining his arm guard red.
In a precarious situation, March 7th quickly looked at Welt Yang: "Uncle Yang!"
"Mm."
Welt Yang did not step forward. Instead, he raised his cane and swung it horizontally, and the space ahead seemed to briefly vibrate.
Among the forty-plus Mara-struck soldiers surrounding the Cloud Knights, black spherical objects condensed beside the nineteen soldiers who were at the front line of the attack.
Those soldiers hadn't even reacted to what was happening before their bodies were horrifyingly torn apart and exploded by the terrifying gravity.
Caelus blinked.
Reality wasn't a turn-based game; it was perfectly reasonable that with Welt Yang's power, he could easily annihilate all the small fries.
As for why he only eliminated slightly less than half, leaving more than half…
Caelus pondered for a moment and took out his yo-yo.
"Let's go!"
"Oh oh!"
Stelle grabbed her baseball bat, March 7th drew her bow, Bronya readied her gun, and Seele drew Black Abyss.
Welt Yang tapped his cane on the ground, and gravity waves spread, providing support.
Helping and saving people was an opportunity for friendly interaction with local forces. He couldn't be the only one to act; everyone needed to lend a hand.
This was the experience of a mature and reliable socialite.
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