The incident in Siracusa had temporarily come to an end.
Lisa had finally reunited with her mother and was preparing to leave Siracusa for a while to head to Higashi. As for Sora, due to her original new song exploding in popularity online—although her lyricism and composition skills weren't top-tier, the artistic conception expressed in the song pierced deep into everyone's hearts. This level of popularity was somewhat similar to 'X Hero' from a previous life.
Because of this song, Sora had been ridiculously busy. She was working almost every single day. Her usual weekends were gone, replaced by participation in all sorts of activities, shows, and interviews, or striking while the iron was hot to record new songs and accept advertising deals.
In the blink of an eye, several more months passed.
People's clothes gradually changed from the short sleeves of summer to the long-sleeved jackets of autumn, and now to the heavy coats and cotton-padded jackets of the present.
Since Columbia was in the northern part of Terra, the average temperature was much colder compared to Iberia or Sargon. Although it wasn't as severe as Ursus, by the time December arrived, snow had gradually begun to fall.
The north wind wailed, its mournful howls whistling relentlessly outside the villa. The flowers in the courtyard outside had long since withered, and the trees were left with only bare branches, which were already piled high with snow.
"Ah~ Sitting inside by the fire on a snowy day like this is just too comfortable~"
Nian sat cross-legged on the carpet, huddled near the Victorian-style fireplace in the villa. Although the house had central heating, using a fireplace gave it a greater sense of history and warmth.
Of course, the only drawback was the certain probability of carbon monoxide poisoning and starting over. In the past, many families in Columbia did enjoy using traditional fireplaces for warmth, but who knows how many households died of poisoning each winter. Thus, fireplaces were gradually replaced by air conditioners and heating, with only a small number of households choosing to use them.
However, something like carbon monoxide was completely useless against Nian. Forget inhaling a little; you could shove carbon monoxide straight into Nian's mouth and make her inhale it for a month, and nothing would happen to her.
"Ugh..."
Dusk was sprawled listlessly on the sofa, dressed in thick, pink winter pajamas, her pair of long, snow-white legs propped directly on the coffee table, holding a Switch.
"Some people should just obediently enjoy their final moments. In a few months, *someone* will be leaving for Yumen City."
Dusk routinely teased her sister. Who knows how many times Dusk had brought up the fact that Nian would soon be leaving for Yumen City.
Dusk had hit Nian's sore spot. She pursed her lips, annoyed.
"So, what's for dinner tonight..."
People always get tired and sleepy in the winter, especially inside a warm house. Franka was lazily draped over the table, just like Dusk, wearing winter pajamas. She hadn't left the house all day, barely even moved, as if she were hibernating. She wasn't even wearing... her black stockings.
"Takeout."
Liskarm said from the side.
"Ah~ I don't want takeout anymore. I want to eat Miss Nine-Colored Deer's cooking... Miss Nine-Colored Deer's food is too delicious. I've gotten so used to it that I can't stand the stuff made by those so-called master chefs outside anymore. Besides, Miss Nine-Colored Deer's food can also beautify the skin. I've been eating it for a year, and my skin has become much more refined, like I'm eighteen again~"
"Give me a break. You're already pushing thirty, still eighteen."
Liskarm was as sharp-tongued as ever.
"You!!!"
Franka puffed up her cheeks angrily and stopped talking to Liskarm.
A month ago.
Nine-Colored Deer had suddenly bid farewell to everyone, preparing to return to Yan for a while. Although everyone was reluctant to see her go, they didn't try too hard to keep her. After all, this day was bound to come. Nine-Colored Deer had stayed in Columbia for a year and had become like family. Everyone was quite sad to see her leave like this.
Saga had also left long ago to embark on her new journey. Magallan, too, had returned from Siracusa, stayed for half a month, and then run off to some other place. There had been no news for several months; nobody knew where she was.
Franka said, "It's fine. Miss Nine-Colored Deer said she just hadn't been back to Yan in a long time and was just visiting. She'll probably be back before long."
Nian, who was warming herself by the fire with Surtr while eating ice cream, suddenly spoke up, "Uh... you might be disappointed. Her 'little while' might not be the same concept as your human 'little while'."
"Our lifespans are limitless. To us, 'a little while' could be a few days, a few months, or it could be a few decades, a hundred years."
"F***!"
Franka flopped listlessly onto the table. "A hundred years.... The weeds on my grave will be ten meters tall by then...."
Seeing Liskarm looking at her.
Franka retorted, "Don't worry, the weeds on your grave will be ten meters tall by then too...."
"The weeds on my grave probably won't be as tall as yours."
Franka laughed. "Hahaha, you can't beat my height in real life, and you can't beat my grave-weeds after death."
Suddenly.
Franka froze. Seeing everyone looking at her like she was an idiot, Franka instantly realized. *Not as tall as hers* meant *living longer than her*!
"By the way, where are Lucas Reeve and Jessica?"
Franka suddenly remembered and asked curiously.
Nian thought for a moment, skillfully licking her ice cream as she spoke, "At the company, I think. It seems a brand-new Oripathy suppression medication is about to undergo its final phase of testing. If the experiment is successful, this drug will probably be able to replace all previously marketed drugs in terms of effectiveness."
Franka's eyes lit up, and she nodded excitedly. "Great! I really hope I can live to see the day Oripathy is cured. Although my own Oripathy was personally suppressed by Lucas Reeve, there are so many Infected in the world."
—————
"Phase one testing is about to begin."
Inside Raythean Medica's most core laboratory, Jessica stood by the central operating table in a sterile suit, her lively eyes fixed intently on the scene before her.
Silence, Shining, and Nearl, several of Raythean Medica's original veterans, also stood nearby.
Lying on the operating table was a young child. Quite a few ugly Originium crystals were growing on his body. There was fear in the child's eyes, and his father stood beside him, holding one of his hands.
A week ago.
A breakthrough Oripathy suppression medication was born in Raythean Medica's labs. After a series of tests, it had reached the final testing phase. In the past, they usually would have invited their dear workhorse, Ceobe, to be the final test subject. However, because Ceobe, and even many of the Infected around Lucas Reeve, had their Oripathy activity reduced by Lucas Reeve's abilities, their symptoms had become mild. If they were used, the drug's efficacy couldn't be accurately demonstrated. They had to use an Infected person who had never received treatment.
Originally, Jessica was prepared to recruit someone from the public.
The safety of this could be 100% guaranteed; the only uncertainty was the drug's effectiveness.
Coincidentally, a child of one of the core researchers involved in this project had suddenly contracted Oripathy a few months ago. At the father's request, his child became the volunteer.
"Relax, little one."
Silence coaxed the child in the same way she would coax Ifrit.
Then, as the syringe was inserted, the dark green liquid, along with the power of Lucas Reeve's Rules contained within, was injected into the child's body.
There was no pain.
After just a short while, the Originium crystals on the child's body shrank by a tiny, visible amount.
This scene was witnessed by everyone present.
The child's father, being a researcher himself, naturally knew what this meant. He was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. This meant that even if Oripathy couldn't be cured, it could be slowed down, and lifespans could be greatly extended.
Silence immediately gave the child a full examination.
Just as expected.
This child's original somatic cell-Originium fusion rate was 12%, but now it was only 10%. It seemed like only a 2% reduction, but in reality, that 2% was enough to let an Infected live for several more years.
Moreover.
This drug was truly epoch-making. Because in the past, including the Oripathy suppression drugs produced by Rhodes Island, they only delayed the onset of symptoms. For example, an onset might occur once every six months, and after using the drug, it might be once a year. Delaying was not the same as alleviating symptoms. In fact, all of Raythean Medica's previous drugs were more or less the same—they only delayed.
But this time, the drug could truly be called an *alleviation*!!
It wasn't just the child's father who was excited; Silence and Shining were also extremely moved. Nearby, Nearl's breathing also grew heavier, her eyes shining brightly, her hands clenched into tight fists below the operating table.
If this drug really hit the market, the Infected in Kazimierz... could....
Lucas Reeve, who witnessed everything from within Jessica, nodded in satisfaction. The core of this new medication was still the power of the Rules provided by Lucas Reeve. After Silence's team integrated this power in a new way, they had finally completed this epoch-making drug.
"Hm?"
Lucas Reeve, who was thinking about what to eat tonight, seemed to sense something. It was an extremely strong wish, as if crying out.
——————
This was a pitch-black forest.
Under the night sky, snow drifted from the dark heavens. The wailing north wind howled incessantly, so cold it felt like fine needles piercing through the skin and stabbing straight into the marrow.
Sona ran desperately through the boundless forest.
Her long, fiery red hair and a squirrel tail of the same color were as dazzling as a moving flame in the cold December night.
Blood constantly seeped from her forehead, flowing past her eyes, down her delicate cheeks, and onto her snow-white neck. The smell of blood seemed to be intensely alluring to the creature in the darkness. Sona could even faintly hear terrifying wolf howls coming from nearby.
Her suit of knight armor was extremely tattered, so tattered that it made one wonder if it was knight armor at all, or just scrap pieced together from a garbage heap.
The knight's longsword in her hand was already broken in half. The armor on her thigh was torn open, exposing her pale white skin, which was turning blue from the freezing weather.
Sona kept running, her face filled with desperate panic. She never imagined that she would just sign up for a competition with a hefty reward that allowed Infected to participate, only to be forcibly thrown into this artificial forest with many other independent knights. A group of rich people was watching from drones in the sky, and there was only one condition to get out of here: be the last one alive.
Originally, Sona thought it was only independent knights in here. However, when the organizers released a humanoid monster she had never seen before from a cage, she finally realized that this group of people had no intention of letting any of them leave alive. How could these independent knights who had not yet earned their titles be a match for this humanoid monster?
Torn to shreds by sharp claws.
In the audience stands.
Many wealthy merchants wearing masks were incredibly excited at this moment.
"There's only one pitiful little squirrel left. Should we open a betting pool on how long she'll last?"
"I'll bet ten million she lasts ten minutes."
"Ten million, five minutes."
"Three minutes."
"....."
Different times were spoken so easily and coldly from these people's mouths. No one thought this little squirrel could escape alive.
Possible?
Impossible.
If a knight ranked high in the regular season standings were here, they might be able to kill this monster. But a group of Infected who didn't even have formal knight titles? Impossible.
*AWOOO!!*
A fierce howl came from the distance, accompanied by footsteps like an earthquake.
Sona barely managed to turn around and parry the blow with the broken sword in her hand. The intense impact sent her flying, slamming into an artificial rock wall nearby. A large mouthful of blood spurted from the little squirrel's mouth. The tattered armor on her body finally gave way and completely fell apart, revealing her underclothes and Sona's slender, almost skeletal body.
Despair....
Sona couldn't even stand steadily.
But the monster didn't rush in for the kill. Instead, it approached slowly, like a cat toying with a cornered mouse.
*Ugh!!*
*I don't want to die... I don't want to die...*
*I want to live...*
*I just want to live....*
*There are still so many people waiting for me...*
*They can't live without me.....*
Sona forced herself to stand up. Familiar faces flashed through her mind. They were all Infected, and she was their... only support! Her legs were already trembling wildly from despair. She had no strength left. The pain in her body made even clenching her fist a huge problem.
*Aaaah!!*
The monster roared and pounced. Sona swung her longsword, which now had only a short stub of a blade, at the monster.
*I can't die!!*
Suddenly.
Time for the entire world seemed to stand still.
A voice resounded in Sona's mind.
"Do you want to live?"
Sona didn't know if this was a pre-death hallucination, but she still nodded resolutely.
"I do!!!"
"The contract is hereby formed."
Suddenly!
Sona felt as if she had lost control of her body in an instant. She could only watch as a bystander. She saw her body move nimbly, like a streak of light. She saw flames igniting on her longsword, which had been broken down to just a tiny piece of blade. She felt a new power pouring into her body.
The next second.
Sona watched with her own eyes as she passed through the monster's body, her hands moving with unbelievable speed, unleashing an unknown number of slashes. Just like that, this monster, which had killed countless knights, died right in front of her.
And in the audience stands.
Many of the wealthy merchants who, just a second ago, were betting on how many minutes Sona would last, now stared with wide eyes, standing up in disbelief.
How... how is this possible!!
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