"Infected Pickets?"
Alina's heart skipped a beat.
She was now extremely worried that she was the reason these people had been led here.
"Absolutely impossible!"
Lucas Reeve's words interrupted Alina's worries.
"I didn't hold back at all back then. I tore their souls to shreds. If nothing unexpected happens, they'll spend the rest of their lives drooling and babbling like idiots."
"Then..."
Alina still had some doubts in her heart.
They weren't afraid of a single group of Infected Pickets.
With Patriot's Shieldguard Squadron and FrostNova's Yeti Squadron in the whole village, they wouldn't need to be afraid even if a group of Ursus regular army came, let alone one group of pickets. But behind these people was the whole of Ursus. Kill one group, two more come; kill two groups, a whole regiment comes. It's endless, unless they can go head-to-head with all of Ursus.
Since a large group of these damn Infected Pickets had suddenly arrived, seemingly with a purpose and heading straight for them, it meant they must have received some kind of information.
However.
None of them found it strange.
After all.
They never thought they could hide from these damned pickets in one place for long. Unless they entered the uninhabited frozen tundra, they could shake them off, but aside from the temperature, food was the primary problem in the desolate tundra.
Although Alina's ability had given them new hope, her ability was still in the development stage, and there was still a long way to go to truly solve the food problem.
The meeting certainly couldn't continue.
The entire village mobilized according to the plan originally designed to deal with searches.
The Guerrilla Squad left first, hiding outside the village. After all, the Guerrilla Squad was too conspicuous a target. FrostNova's Yeti Squadron lay in wait inside the village, ready to act. As for some of the lightly infected with less obvious features, they were used to act as busy, ordinary villagers. The severely infected, with very obvious symptoms, either left with the Guerrilla Squad or went into hiding.
To make the picket team think this was just an ordinary village.
Of course.
This was just a hope.
Whether they could fool them or not depended on a certain amount of luck.
It would be best if they could fool them.
If they couldn't, they would have to kill these soldiers, and then the Reunion Movement would immediately pack up all the luggage they could carry and continue to move to a new location.
The Reunion Movement acted quickly.
Many of the Infected, after experiencing the oppression of Ursus, almost instinctively feared the Infected Pickets. Some people were so scared upon hearing that the Infected Pickets might be coming that they sat directly on the ground, their legs trembling so much they couldn't even stand up.
Twenty minutes later.
The people in the village had mostly been moved.
Only a small number with strong mental fortitude remained here, acting as ordinary villagers. Alina was among them, but Talulah was not. The other ordinary Infected didn't know Talulah's identity, but Alina knew it very well.
As if coming from hell, the piercing and sharp sound of snowmobile engines came from a distance, echoing throughout the village. Many of the remaining Infected were a little scared. Although they knew that their trusted Guerrilla Squad would definitely rush over to save them if things went wrong, but... to come into contact with these claws of Ursus, these demons... it was impossible not to be afraid.
The engine sounds were many and varied.
From the sound alone, one could tell there were quite a few Ursus soldiers.
The engines died down.
From the snowmobiles, an unknown number of Ursus soldiers swaggered over, holding crossbows or other weapons. They were all uniformly dressed in thick military greatcoats with fur hats on their heads.
Alina hid in her room and secretly peeked outside. Lucas Reeve was also watching the show from the side.
"Hiss... The way these soldiers walk... it's so familiar..."
This scene was somewhat familiar, it even struck a chord in Lucas Reeve's DNA. He had the urge to go up and give each of these swaggering Ursus soldiers a big slap across the face.
This group of soldiers came to the center of the village and shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Where are the people of this village? Come out! We are the Infected Pickets. According to a report from a concerned party, this village of yours seems a bit strange, and there might be Infected hiding inside! Everyone, get out here for inspection!"
A report?
Lucas Reeve was stunned.
However.
Alina had a sudden realization.
It must have been a report from a nearby village. After all, during their time stationed here, she had traded items with many of the nearby villages numerous times, and almost never went to the trading posts in distant villages. This point could indeed easily arouse suspicion among these ordinary villages.
Moreover, the current Ursus government was practically brainwashing people about the evils of the Infected, making almost every ordinary citizen, even those who had never seen an Infected person, inherently fearful of them. A report was indeed very likely...
Damn it!!
"Alina, have you forgotten who I am?"
Lucas Reeve smiled faintly.
Alina was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood, but she was a little embarrassed.
"Mr. Reeve, wouldn't that be a bad idea? You've already helped me twice. If this time you also..."
Alina felt very bad about it from the bottom of her heart.
Even though Lucas Reeve was just a soul.
He had helped her time and time again, so selflessly. He even patiently guided her on how to cultivate vegetables yesterday and chatted with her late into the night. Alina really didn't want to trouble Lucas Reeve. If this continued... how could she ever repay this kindness in the future...
"It's fine. Your continued wishes are the greatest help to me."
Lucas Reeve guided Alina to make a wish, because there was an ability Lucas Reeve really wanted. If the system could assign this ability, it might be much more convenient in the future.
"Then... Mr. Reeve, can you make it so these Ursus soldiers don't discover us?"
"Of course. Wish received!"
[Wish detected. Assistance required? (6/10)]
"Confirm."
[1. Dark Side of the Moon (from DOTA) 2. Ability: I Am the Sun! 3. Shikai: Mirror Flower, Water Moon]
Among the three abilities provided by the system, there was indeed the one Lucas Reeve wanted.
The first option.
Dark Side of the Moon, which could allow himself and those around him to enter a state of invisibility simultaneously. Although the effect was good, compared to the other options, a simple invisibility ability was a bit lackluster.
The second option.
To emit an extreme light comparable to the sun, which could instantly burn the eyes of people nearby. The system's angle on this was clever. Alina's wish was for the soldiers not to discover them, so just blinding them would prevent them from discovering anything, right? A bit of a genius move...
The third option.
Mirror Flower, Water Moon: Controls the opponent's five senses, causing them to perceive a specific target's appearance, form, mass, feel, and even smell differently, thereby creating a realistic illusion in the enemy's mind. It's similar to a genjutsu-type ability, which is exactly what Lucas Reeve needs right now.
He already possessed sword skills, an ultimate move, and a support ability. This special illusion-type ability was also what Lucas Reeve needed at the moment.
However, the only regrettable thing was.
Same as last time with Getsuga Tenshou.
Mirror Flower, Water Moon only provided the ability, not the Zanpakutō. This meant Lucas Reeve could directly use Mirror Flower, Water Moon with his Spiritual Power, but in return, without the amplification from a Zanpakutō, the power of Mirror Flower, Water Moon would be relatively weaker, and its effectiveness would be determined by Lucas Reeve's spiritual strength.
It would have a full hypnotic effect on those with weaker spiritual strength than his own, but for those with stronger spiritual strength, the effect might be greatly diminished. Moreover, the effect of this ability would also increase as Lucas Reeve's spiritual strength increased.
Although it lacked the help of a Zanpakutō, it was still a very powerful ability in itself.
Lucas Reeve chose the third option without hesitation.
In an instant.
Lucas Reeve felt as if his soul was immersed in water, incredibly clear and refreshing. The ability of Mirror Flower, Water Moon was instantly carved as the fifth brand deep within Lucas Reeve's soul.
Only five chances left...
I can't just use the system's help carelessly anymore. The last five chances must be exchanged for the five abilities I need most.
"Alina, relax your mind. I'm coming in."
Looking at the approaching Ursus soldiers, Lucas Reeve said quickly.
"Huh?"
Alina was stunned for a moment, her face blushing slightly, and then she realized he was talking about a soul exchange...
What terrible phrasing.
"Mhm! Come in, Mr. Reeve! I'm ready."
Soul Exchange—
Right now.
That Mr. Patriot seems to have left the village. At this distance, he shouldn't be able to detect the soul exchange between me and Alina.
Just as the Ursus soldiers outside were about to shout again and force their way in.
Lucas Reeve walked out of the house.
The moment he came out.
Lucas Reeve didn't give these soldiers even a fraction of a second to react.
He directly waved his arm.
A faint light flashed in his dark and deep eyes.
[ Shatter, Mirror Flower, Water Moon ]
In an instant.
The sound of a glass bottle shattering echoed in the minds of the Ursus soldiers, incredibly clear, as if it had shattered right inside their heads.
These men slowly stood frozen in place.
Lucas Reeve continuously implanted false images into their minds, controlling their senses to make them believe that everything happening was real.
And then...
A scene of utter pandemonium unfolded before Lucas Reeve.
Because Lucas Reeve had implanted completely false images into these people's minds, while their bodies remained standing here, it was like wearing VR goggles—what their eyes saw was not on the same channel as their actual surroundings.
So.
The leading soldier captain, under the influence of Mirror Flower, Water Moon, faced a pillar and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hmph, trying to escape!! You worthless peasants!! You're asking for a beating!!"
However, this soldier captain started wailing on the wooden pillar in front of him, even getting addicted to it, letting out creepy "gagaga" laughs.
Elsewhere, a soldier started yelling arrogantly at an empty wooden bucket not far away.
"I think you might be an Infected! Come with us!"
"What, you dare to resist!!"
"You're asking to die!!"
Then this soldier kicked the wooden bucket, knocking it over.
After that, the soldier very arrogantly said to the bucket: "Scared now, aren't you! Come with me!!"
After saying that, he hoisted the wooden bucket onto his shoulder and left the village.
And another one was even more absurd.
"Well now, old timer, you have such a pretty girl in your house!! I seriously suspect this girl of yours is an Infected, let me check her out!!"
With that said.
This soldier threw himself onto the snowy ground, pawing at the snow with a lecherous grin on his face.
"Trying to resist! See how I deal with you!!"
Such a scene could only be described as pandemonium, especially one soldier who was even lying on the ground, twitching continuously, engaging in a passionate collision with the hard, cold earth.
How should I put it...
Anyway, Lucas Reeve thought it looked pretty painful.
Hopefully... he can keep it. After all, from Lucas Reeve's perspective, his little brother already seemed stiff from the cold, even turning a severe shade of purple. It might require 'amputation'.
However.
This person's every sense had been completely affected.
So.
Even if you chopped off their hands in reality, nine times out of ten, these people wouldn't feel a thing.
Finally.
After messing around in the "virtual" village for a while, these soldiers left on their snowmobiles, satisfied. And after they had traveled some distance, the effect of Mirror Flower, Water Moon automatically dissipated. However, in their memories, the village where Alina was located was naturally just a village of ordinary people, with no mention of any Infected.
The 'pandemonium' of these soldiers was naturally witnessed by many people. Many of them almost couldn't hold back their laughter amidst their confusion. Although they didn't know why, it was true that these soldiers had suddenly gone crazy and left. They had finally survived this ordeal safely. Many members of the Reunion Movement breathed a sigh of relief.
"Senior Patriot... what just happened?"
Far from the village.
Patriot's squad and a portion of the Infected squad led by Talulah were hiding, observing the situation from the shadows, even prepared to rush out and kill these Ursus soldiers at any moment.
However...
When they personally witnessed the scene of these Ursus soldiers going mad.
Patriot and Talulah were also at a loss for an explanation for a moment, not knowing the reason.
This self-directed, bewildering behavior reminded Talulah of the word 'hallucination'.
As someone who had once been part of the Ursus nobility.
She naturally knew that some Ursus nobles were particularly fond of hallucinogenic drugs. After taking these drugs, the behavior of those corrupt Ursus nobles was similar to that of these soldiers just now.
But it didn't make sense.
How could it be such a coincidence?
If it were one person on drugs, that could be explained, but everyone was like this? It was completely inexplicable.
Could it be Alina?
From Talulah's perspective, she could see that the moment Alina walked out of the room, the behavior of these Ursus soldiers gradually became more abstract, starting a piece of their own performance art.
"Senior Patriot... this is...."
Patriot said without thinking: "A mental... level... influence..."
"Mental level?"
Talulah frowned slightly.
"Could it be!!"
"No, no! Isn't Alina's Originium Arts just for catalyzing plant growth?"