Enatur immediately turned his head, his eyes trembling.
"Rein?"
"What is it, Master?"
His hand reached for the ball robot, his curious gaze fixated on it. As if he still could not believe Rein was active.
"Why... back then, didn't you..."
Flashback:
Rein was at the warehouse station, floating toward her metal armor.
"Control room, open."
[System: Voice confirmed. Opening control room.]
The chest of the armor opened. Her form transformed, merging with the control chamber. "Copy all data into the armor's database."
[System: Data copying initiated. Data copying complete. Armor ready for use.]
Rein detached herself from the control room. The chest of the armor closed again, the light on its chest lit up. Rein Armor nodded.
"We must help Master. I will do anything necessary. Just like we planned, I will sacrifice myself to ignite Master's emotion. I hope that thing really appears." Rein Armor said.
"Hm, I hope so too. Let's do our best."
A dimensional portal opened. Both versions of Rein looked toward it. "That is Master's signal, enter the portal!" Rein said.
Rein Armor ran into the portal...
---
"That was what happened. As Master can see, I managed to buy some time."
Enatur let out a deep breath. "Rein, this is the first and last time you do something this foolish. Don't ever repeat it in the future."
"Understood, Master!"
His hand gently stroked the ball robot. "You know, Rein... losing someone precious hurts so much."
"Precious? Me?" her tone confused.
The corner of his lips lifted, his eyes glistening. "Someone precious is someone irreplaceable. Mom, my siblings, Shadow, Carl, Marissa, including you, Rein."
"That is why I don't want to lose any of you." Enatur let out a small laugh.
"In that case, Master is also a precious figure to me. I don't want to feel the pain you mentioned."
"I understand. I will fight too, Rein!"
The merging of Chloe's spiritual body and physical body only needed time. Yunia and the others waited patiently...
---
Two days passed. The daytime sky was covered by ash-colored clouds, bright yet without sunlight.
Enatur returned to his routine, interning at Nightya's hospital. He had spent two years doing internships and practical training with her. His Emergency uniform made his appearance look more mature, complete with his glasses.
Enatur was relaxing on the rooftop during his break, his eyes watching the view of the city.
Nightya opened the door, carrying two cans of cold drinks. She tossed one toward Enatur, and he caught it.
"You look perfect wearing the Emergency uniform."
"Are you trying to flirt with me?"
They stood side by side.
Nightya opened her drink. "How is Miss Chloe's condition?" She took a sip.
Enatur opened his can. "Still no word from Mom. It might take a few more days."
"Hm, I see." Nightya took another sip.
Her hand leaned on the railing. "Have you decided to become a doctor?"
His eyes stared straight ahead. "Not sure, Sis. I am still confused... but I can breathe easier now. Hope started growing again after we found Miss Chloe alive."
Nightya flicked his head. "You idiot. Decide it. Fight the Soul Core curse, or give up and accept it..." Her expression turned cold. "...making Mom's ten years of effort completely meaningless. Those are your only choices, you damn little brother."
Enatur stared sharply at her. "I already made that decision. I will not bow to that curse. That damn Soul Core will be the one bowing before me."
Nightya narrowed her eyes. "I believe you can do it." Her index finger pointed directly at his face. "Because you are my little brother."
A gust of wind seemed to rush through Enatur's chest, his blood turning cold.
He closed his eyes and laughed softly. His hand moved on its own, pulling Nightya into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Sis."
Nightya returned the hug. "Never forget that we are always here to support you, stupid little brother."
Enatur released her. "If I survive the curse, would my beautiful sisters be willing to be my harem?" he said with a small laugh.
Nightya rubbed his head roughly. "You brat. So that is what you think about us all this time?" She clenched her teeth with relief.
"Stop... stop... I was kidding. But maybe hoping a little!" Enatur laughed quietly.
Nightya looked at the sky. The ash clouds parted, letting sunlight shine on their faces. As if symbolizing hope.
"You... So, what is your next step?" Nightya asked.
"I got used to living like this, thinking of continuing a normal profession. But after seeing another world, it gave me the desire to explore many other worlds."
Nightya folded her arms. "I like your ambition... Then?"
"I realized that a normal life is not my path. My path is exploring those worlds, including the abandoned post-apocalyptic ones."
Nightya exhaled. "So you made your decision."
"Maybe..." Enatur said, his eyes trembling.
Her lips curved. "Good. That means you have not given up, right, you little brat?"
Enatur looked at his phone-watch. "Uwaahh... break time is over."
Nightya nodded. "Hm, it is time to return to Emergency."
They left the rooftop and walked through the door.
---
They walked toward Emergency. Here, senior doctors and interns handled many patients together.
While waiting, he sat in front of a computer. His hands typed patient data reports swiftly and precisely, without error.
Several nurses carried a patient while performing first aid. His eyes scanned the Emergency area, seeing senior doctors examining other patients.
His face paled.
"Please do not let me handle a patient alone!"
A male nurse approached him. "Doctor Enatur, we have a male patient experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, coughing, and nausea. Please attend to him immediately."
"Argh, I knew it! Why did I say something that brought bad luck!"
Enatur immediately took a stethoscope, put on gloves, and wore a mask.
"All right, let us check him." he said.
The nurse nodded. Enatur examined the patient using the stethoscope pressed to his chest.
"Hm, strange sound between the pericardium and the heart... this is Pericardial Effusion. Set up echocardiography and IV access. We will perform pericardiocentesis."
The male and female nurses rushed to retrieve equipment. They set everything up quickly. The syringe pierced the patient's skin. Enatur gave him a sedative.
Sweat trickled down his temple, his hands trembling slightly. Time felt frozen, but his gaze stayed focused.
"Call a senior doctor to perform the pericardiocentesis!" he said.
The male nurse scanned the entire Emergency room. "All senior doctors are attending other patients right now."
The female nurse narrowed her eyes. "You are the only doctor left. There is no time, Doctor Enatur. Waiting for Head Doctor Nightya will be too late."
For Enatur, the Emergency room seemed to narrow. His face turned pale, sweat pouring from his skin.
"But I still..." his voice broke.
The patient's hand grabbed Enatur's. His head moved in a slow nod, his gaze filled with hope.
The male nurse tapped Enatur's shoulder. "Doctor, let us do this together!"
Enatur turned back, gripping the patient's hand tightly. "Do not worry. I will definitely save you."
He grabbed the transducer and placed it on the patient's chest, watching the echocardiography closely.
"This procedure is usually done by seniors, but they are all treating other patients... I cannot hesitate."
He lifted his head slightly. "Here. This is the safest point to insert the needle."
"All right, Doctor!" the female nurse prepared the syringe and other tools.
Enatur took a deep breath while she disinfected the patient's skin. He measured the dose of local anesthesia.
"I'm injecting local anesthesia into the skin and tissue along the insertion path until reaching the pericardium."
"Prepare the flexible guidewire... I am inserting the long needle."
"Yes!" the male nurse responded.
The needle was inserted slowly toward the pericardial fluid under echocardiographic guidance, Enatur injecting a bit of saline through the echocardiography. His hands trembled as the needle slipped in.
"Guidewire ready, Doctor!"
The flexible wire slid through the needle into the pericardial sac. The needle was then slowly removed.
"Dilator," Enatur said.
"Yes!" the male nurse handed it to him.
Using the dilator, he expanded the insertion tract. The catheter was inserted smoothly.
"The catheter is connected to the three-way stopcock, extension tube, and collection bag."
Fluid from the pericardium flowed out.
Both nurses exhaled deeply. Enatur's breath trembled, sweat dripping onto the floor.
"Secure the catheter to the skin with sterile tape," he said breathlessly.
"Yes, Doctor Enatur. You did very well," the male nurse said, patting his shoulder.
"That was seriously nerve-racking for me... Hahaha," Enatur said.
He sat back at the computer, calming himself after the intense pressure.
Enatur rubbed his forehead. "This is my debut handling a patient alone."
Nightya walked quickly toward the patient Enatur had treated. Her sharp gaze examined the patient's condition closely.
Nightya frowned. "Who handled this procedure?"
"Doctor Enatur did very well, Head Doctor. The patient will be monitored closely and taken to the special care unit," the female nurse said.
"He did it?"
Nightya nodded. "All right. Do a chest X-ray, make sure there is no complication like pneumothorax and confirm drainage success."
"Yes!" the female nurse replied.
Nightya stepped toward Enatur, her gaze fixed on him. "Good work, Enatur."
"That really scared the life out of me."
Nightya chuckled softly. "Haha... you should be proud, because you did it without any issues."
A nurse approached them. "Doctors, another patient just arrived!"
They immediately rushed to treat the next patient. This time, Enatur assisted Nightya until his shift ended.
Meanwhile...
---
Reaper Realm, where the Grim Reaper race lived. A crow perched on a tree branch. Its cry echoed sharply, shattering the silence.
They were still performing the ritual to merge Chloe's spiritual and physical body. Without stopping, without rest, they gave their best to complete the ritual.
A massive burst of energy thundered, strong winds sweeping through the cold air. Chloe's physical body released thick violet-black spiritual energy.
Her eyes slowly opened. Her naked body was covered by a thin cloth. Her feet walked through the air, each step sending ripples of wind.
She tilted her head left and right, stretching her stiff neck.
"At last, the ritual is finally complete!"