Chapter Twenty-Six: Half the Team Lost
Initially, Luo Ling hadn’t been near the edge of the Incubation Barrier, so she hadn’t noticed.
Only now, after seeing the Distorted Beasts’ corpses dissolve, did she realize that the Incubation Barrier was slowly expanding.
The expansion accelerated after both bodies had completely vanished.
“Could the Grotesquery within the Incubation Barrier be absorbing their power?”
Luo Ling’s heart sank. She remembered that in the original timeline, the Incubation Barrier was far larger than its current size.
What had happened in between… was obvious.
“It seems quite active…”
Linna chuckled wryly, her expression bitter.
This wasn’t good news for them.
“Regardless, Miss Orion, you should rest for a bit.”
Luo Ling helped the weakened Linna to a nearby pile of rubble. The blood-stained girl in damaged armor leaned against a broken wall, forcing a smile.
“Don’t call me by my code name. My name is Linna.”
Luo Ling hesitated, then nodded.
“Bai.”
She was currently in her White Witch form, so she would use the White Witch’s name.
“Miss Bai, you must have accepted my mother’s commission, right?” Linna said slowly, her gaze shifting to the silver strands peeking out from beneath Luo Ling’s cloak. “The Sacred Tool ‘Gloomlight’ and my bullets are from the same battle, trophies my mother acquired.
“It seems she has great faith in your abilities to give you such a valuable Sacred Tool.”
Luo Ling wasn’t surprised that Linna recognized “Gloomlight,” simply nodding without further comment.
She still couldn’t determine the nature of this current spacetime, nor whether these events were true history.
Or perhaps… altered history.
“If only I were stronger, or more versatile with my abilities.” Linna said regretfully. “My abilities are somewhat flawed, or rather… specialized. I can’t precisely control all metals. Compared to manipulating elements, I’m better at transforming them… unlike other Elemental path Awakened Ones.
“I… can only attack.”
Luo Ling nodded, understanding the difference between Linna and other Elemental Awakened Ones.
She neither created nor controlled elements.
The surrounding rubble contained various metal objects, yet Linna hadn’t used any of them, relying solely on her firearm.
Linna’s firearm allowed her to transform metal elements into powerful projectiles, but her specialization limited her to offensive capabilities, lacking the balanced approach of a typical Elemental path Awakened One.
In this respect, she resembled a Judgment path Awakened One more.
Luo Ling knew that Linna revealed this weakness to avoid appearing as if she were hiding her true strength, a sign of trust.
Only after seeing her mother’s belonging did Linna lower her guard completely.
“I think I’m also quite specialized.” Luo Ling said. “I can do a bit of everything, but I’m not particularly good at anything.”
Healing, reconnaissance, control, infiltration, offense… Luo Ling could do them all, but aside from infiltration, she wasn’t exceptional at any of them.
As they chatted, their guard slightly lowered, Luo Ling’s spores detected movement nearby.
“Who’s there?!”
Luo Ling stood up abruptly, one hand supporting Linna, the other reaching for “Severance” at her waist.
Linna, hearing Luo Ling’s shout, instinctively placed her hand on her firearm.
A cold glint flashed, a lightning-fast attack directed at them… or rather, at Luo Ling, who had made the sound.
Through her spores’ vision, Luo Ling easily tracked the attacker’s movements.
Just as her eyes turned grey-white, about to use “Complete Domination,” the attacker’s sword stopped inches from her face.
A surprised voice echoed,
“Captain Linna? You’re still alive?”
A young man with short blond hair stared at Linna in disbelief, his hand trembling slightly around his sword.
“You know each other?”
Luo Ling asked, noticing Linna’s surprised expression as she looked at the young man.
“Frick?”
“Yes…”
Frick sheathed his longsword, his face filled with relief.
But Linna quickly regained her composure, staring at Frick and asking abruptly,
“Who is the second member of the ‘Hunt’ team?”
“Helen, Miss Marianne Helen.”
“Which cafeteria in the troupe had the worst food?”
“Victoria Tavern.”
“What was the objective of our mission?”
“To rescue the ‘Dawn Wind’ troupe, but we failed.”
Frick answered all of Linna’s questions without hesitation. Only then did Linna relax slightly, confirming that her teammate was still sane, not transformed into a Distorted Beast.
Luo Ling watched silently. She didn’t entirely agree with Linna’s method of confirmation. If it were the Puppet Ballad, these memory and sanity tests would be meaningless.
Of course, she was the only Puppet Ballad in this world. Besides, Luo Ling had also confirmed through her own methods that Frick was human, completely human, with no traces of Grotesquery influence.
Linna sighed and shook her head.
“Although I’m glad to see you, Frick, I have bad news.
“Wilson is dead. He transformed into a Distorted Beast, and I killed him.”
Frick’s expression didn’t show surprise, but a bitter smile.
“Captain, I have worse news.
“I encountered Helen and Lucia. They’re also dead.”
Linna’s eyes widened in shock.
“They’re dead? How… how is that possible? Helen and Lucia’s abilities are… how could they die?! Did they encounter the awakened ‘egg’? No, even if they faced it head-on, they shouldn’t have…”
“They’re dead.” Frick interrupted, his voice filled with grief. “I escaped. They’re still… wandering in the core area.”
“But… I didn’t encounter them…”
Linna still couldn’t believe it. Wilson’s death was already a devastating blow. If her other teammates were also…
This was just a Dangerous Grotesquery Incubation Barrier. Even if the “egg” fully awakened, they should have been able to escape.
“Accept it, Captain. I haven’t encountered you in the core area these past few days either… you must have been lost, never reaching the core area.” Frick sighed. “However, I haven’t seen Old Victor either… but he wouldn’t get lost. His chances of survival are… slim.”
Frick briefly recounted his experiences after being separated from the team.
Driven by instinct, all the transformed humans were converging on the core area. Few remained in the outer regions.
That was why Luo Ling and the others hadn’t encountered much danger.
Frick, trapped in the core area, had fought his way out after several days.
He had encountered countless Distorted Beasts, all Awakened Ones caught within the Incubation Barrier, not just members of the “Dawn Wind” troupe.
When Frick encountered Helen and Lucia, they had already transformed.
Of the six members of the “Hunt” team, three were confirmed dead, one was missing, and only two remained.
Linna remained silent for a long time, then said with a heavy heart,
“…We need to call for backup.”
The situation was far worse than she had imagined. According to Frick’s account, the core area of the Incubation Barrier was like hell.
“I sent a distress signal three days ago.” Frick shook his head. “But I haven’t received a reply. Given the current situation, it’s hard to say…”
Linna looked up at the bright moon in the sky.
She thought of Wilson, whom she had just killed, and the unfortunate troupe leader.
“Frick, what do you think… what are Old Victor’s chances of survival?”
“Given his strength, maybe twenty percent.” Frick replied.
“If we leave and return, how long would it take?” Linna asked.
“Entering the Incubation Barrier is far more difficult than leaving. I believe headquarters has received the distress signal and is preparing a rescue operation, but… I’m afraid…”
Frick trailed off.
He understood Linna’s intentions.
If they left now, returning would be difficult and time-consuming.
Old Victor still had a twenty percent chance of survival. If they found him, the remaining team members could work together to escape.
But if Linna abandoned the rescue and left now… Old Victor would surely die.
Such a choice…
Wasn’t something a captain would make.
“Miss Bai,” Linna turned to Luo Ling and whispered, “Let Frick escort you out… You don’t need, nor should you, be involved in the upcoming danger.”
Frick looked at Luo Ling curiously, a strange glint in his eyes.
It was this cloaked girl who had first detected his presence. Looking closely, she seemed quite young, not even old enough for regular school.
He had wanted to ask Linna about this strange little girl, but hadn’t had the chance.
“There’s no need to escort me.”
Luo Ling untied the straps at her waist, setting little Odeletta down.
Little Odeletta looked around nervously, staying close to Luo Ling, the only person she trusted here.
“Just send her away.”
Luo Ling hadn’t come here to escape danger, but she wasn’t confident in protecting little Odeletta in the upcoming battle.
Besides…
She was concerned about little Odeletta.
She knew the Odeletta from the present timeline. After returning, she could ask her about this timeline.
Whether it would affect the present world or was merely a simulated experience… she could uncover the truth.
Frick was startled by the sudden appearance of little Odeletta, but after a closer look, his expression turned to surprise.
“Are you… Grand Duke Leiberich’s daughter?”
Little Odeletta’s confused expression flickered, and she looked up at Frick.
“Big brother, do you know me?”
Frick immediately knelt down, executing a knight’s salute.
“Frick, Crown Guard Knight of the Bavarian Duchy, at your service, Lady Leiberich.”
He was sweating slightly, seemingly nervous about little Odeletta’s presence here.
Odeletta von Leiberich tilted her head, puzzled.
Seeing Frick’s respectful gesture, Luo Ling and Linna exchanged glances, confusion evident in their eyes.
“Odeletta, are you some important person?”
Luo Ling stroked little Odeletta’s hair.
“Am I?” Little Odeletta scratched her head. “I guess so…”
“Lady Leiberich, please allow me to escort you out of this dangerous place.”
Frick extended his hand, looking at little Odeletta nervously, hoping she wouldn’t refuse.
Little Odeletta looked at Luo Ling reluctantly, but with Luo Ling’s silent consent, she nodded.
Frick sighed in relief, gently taking little Odeletta’s hand, then turned to Luo Ling and whispered,
“Miss Bai, are you sure… you’re not leaving? It will be very dangerous.”
He stared intently at Luo Ling, but she felt something strange in his gaze.
“I have some skills of my own, so there’s no need for you to worry, Sir Knight.”
Luo Ling adjusted her cloak, concealing her face again.
“…”
Frick hesitated, then nodded slightly.
“Alright, if you insist.”
They quickly made their way to the edge of the Incubation Barrier.
As Frick slashed at a weak point in the barrier with his sword, a crack appeared, opening a path to the outside world.
Luo Ling seized the opportunity, trying to send her spores through the crack to scout the outside.
Whether it was the true present world or the outside of this current timeline.
But unfortunately, it was like an unloaded game map. Her spores vanished without a trace, no information returning, not even the effect of being annihilated by the Realm of Nothingness.
“Miss, will we meet again?”
Little Odeletta looked at Luo Ling reluctantly. This mysterious girl, similar in age, who had saved her from danger, had left a lasting impression, despite their brief encounter.
“If nothing unexpected happens, yes.” Luo Ling nodded.
Little Odeletta’s eyes lit up, just like when they first met.
She stared at Luo Ling, memorizing her features.
The next moment, little Odeletta’s form vanished through the crack, leaving the Incubation Barrier, only her childish yet determined voice echoing faintly.
“Good luck, ‘Diviner’ Miss…”
“Miss Bai, you should have left with Lady Leiberich.” Frick said softly.
“Yes, Miss Bai, you really didn’t have to accompany us on this dangerous mission.” Linna sighed. “Old Victor is our teammate, not yours…”
She had used a Sacred Medicine to restore her Inspiration and was no longer on the verge of collapse.
“Why do you think… I came here?” Luo Ling turned slightly, giving them a mysterious smile. “What we’re about to witness… is the true purpose of my journey.”
“Seriously, how much did my mother pay you to risk your life like this?” Linna ruffled Luo Ling’s hair, her gesture no longer as respectful and distant as before. “If you think it’s not enough, I’ll ask her for more.”
“It’s more than enough.” Luo Ling smiled.
Frick’s expression changed slightly, seemingly affected by Linna’s mention of her mother.
But he quickly composed himself, stepping forward and saying,
“Captain, Miss Bai, we shouldn’t delay. If we’re going to rescue Old Victor, we should leave now.”
“You’re right, let’s go.”
Linna nodded, picking up her firearm and following Frick.
She was directionally challenged. Without someone to lead the way, she would likely never reach the core area.
Luo Ling walked behind them, her short legs struggling to keep up with the two taller adults.
Suddenly, she raised her hand.
Her gaze fell on a simple iron ring on her finger, vibrating slightly, seemingly resonating with something.
It was the Torchbearers’ token.
“Are there Torchbearers members nearby?”
Further down, on her wrist, a cartoonish watch also vibrated.
It seemed… there was also a Company member nearby.
“How strange.”
Luo Ling muttered, tucking the two tokens back into her hair, leaving only the hourglass pendant around her neck.
Leave a Reply