On a distant earthen slope, gazing at the firelight rising intermittently from the Silver Base, it seemed the fighting wouldn't end for a while yet.
"Phew~ We're finally safe now."
Lucia sat down on the ground with a thud. She could brag about this experience in her tribe for a whole year!
But compared to that, this strange Thanatos lying beside them was the most valuable thing.
"Hey, wake up. Thanatos, wake up."
Geno shook the Thanatos's body. Although it looked no different on the outside, its Black Core was currently dim and lusterless. Though not dead, it had clearly lost consciousness.
"How about you give him CPR?"
Lucia looked at Geno with a face full of anticipation. She hadn't had enough of the melodramatic tropes she fantasized about earlier; this was the perfect chance to continue the sequel.
"Stop messing around. How would CPR be useful for an Ethereal? I'd be better off giving it a blood transfusion."
Eh? That's right. Giving it a transfusion of 'blood' would work.
No sooner said than done. Geno cut a small opening on his own finger and controlled the Ether within his body to drift toward the Thanatos's core.
At the same time, he signaled Lucia to hide a bit further away; Geno was worried these Ether particles might aggravate Lucia's Corruption symptoms.
Fortunately, Geno didn't lose much Ether energy, and the Thanatos woke up very quickly.
Seeing the Black Core regain its luster, Geno stopped his actions, and Lucia leaned back in close again.
"Are you sober yet? Look at my finger, what number is this?"
Disregarding whether an Ethereal could count, Geno stuck out a finger and waved it in front of the Thanatos's eyes.
'Anby... Captain... '
"Was that you speaking?"
Geno was startled by the voice. He immediately looked at Lucia, but obviously, she hadn't heard it.
'Anby... Captain... I'm... sorry... '
Anby? That seemed to be the small squad captain he had transformed into earlier.
Thinking of this, Geno changed his form again, transforming back into that silver-haired girl.
Unexpectedly, the Thanatos actually became agitated. Its body couldn't stop trembling, and then it extended its broad arm-blade, seemingly wanting to touch Geno's face.
Geno flusteredly held down its arm—that was dangerous!
'I'm sorry... Captain Anby... I... was too weak... '
'But... with Captain Anby here... everyone... will surely live on... happily... '
It seemed it had been holding onto its last breath just for this. After the Thanatos finished this sentence, its body began to gradually dissipate, and its raised arm slumped down.
Accompanied by the scattering of the final wisp of Ether particles, this green-and-white figure completely vanished before Geno and Lucia.
"Geno, it..."
Lucia asked Geno cautiously, because she noticed that Geno's mood seemed a bit off.
"It's nothing. Let's go. I'll send you out of the Hollow first; your body can't delay any longer."
Geno left without staying a moment longer, appearing to be concealing something.
Lucia was confused, but she knew that Geno was not in a good mood right now, so it was best not to disturb him.
Just like that, the two walked one after the other, Lucia in front, Geno in back.
It wasn't until they reached the edge of the Hollow that Lucia bid farewell to Geno with a face full of worry, telling him she would come back to find him in a couple of days.
After seeing Lucia off, Geno didn't rush back to the hospital. Instead, he turned back to the outskirts of the Silver Base, to the place where the Thanatos had dissipated.
Looking at the Silver Base, which was gradually returning to silence, Geno felt a mix of complex emotions, and an inexplicable sorrow rose from the bottom of his heart.
'Just what kind of world... is this... '
At the moment the Thanatos dissipated in his arms, the memories of her life had flowed into his core along with the flood of Ether.
Thanatos—no, Silver forces squad Subject A423.
That was her name in life, or rather, her code name.
There were many subjects of the Silver Project, with serial numbers exceeding four digits. Yet, among them, the individuals who could truly fully develop from an embryo and achieve effective combat capabilities numbered only in the double digits.
Most of the other subjects died prematurely during growth or training, and what awaited them immediately after was only destruction.
Of course, that was the normal situation.
In reality, there were two outcomes for these subjects.
One: as Geno had seen before, they would die right there, then have their organs hollowed out for 'waste utilization'.
Two: like A423, they would be implanted with an excessive amount of Ethereal factors and Ether, thereby achieving enhancement.
If successful, they could obtain the chance to continue living; if they failed, they would completely turn into an Ethereal, becoming a research subject in the base.
In other words, all the Ethereals appearing in the base were Silver forces android subjects who had chosen to implant Ethereal factors but failed the enhancement.
The entire Silver Base was their massive graveyard.
And today's farce was their magnificent funeral.
What was buried was merely a group of pitiful people who had no control over their own lives or deaths.
Geno sat on the ground, quietly looking in the direction of the base. In his heart, he silently recited the Rebirth Mantra for these pitiful deceased souls, hoping their souls could find rest in another world.
"May your next lives not be lived in such a desperate era. May you become true humans."
With a father to love you, a mother to care for you, having people you cherish, and people who cherish you.
Afterward, Geno erected a stone marker to commemorate these innocent souls.
After doing all this, he finally stood up, dusted off his butt, and walked toward the abandoned hospital.
As expected... he got lost again.
"Huff~ Huff~ Finally, finally found the way."
The moon sank in the west, and the sun rose in the east.
It was dawn. Geno finally returned to the foot of the hospital building. Looking at this familiar small building, as well as the big hole he had patched up himself, Geno felt more relaxed than ever before.
Finally, having tossed and turned all night, he collapsed, unable to bear the exhaustion.
Just as his face was about to make sweet contact with the rich soil, a soft sensation came from against his face.
Accompanying it was a faint scent of milk.
-----------------
"Mmn, familiar ceiling."
"Stop spouting nonsense. What number is this!"
"Eight! Whoa whoa whoa! Wait! You're actually holding up eight fingers this time!"
It was the familiar awakening ritual. Geno hurriedly moved to stop Twiggy's atrocity, but unexpectedly, what he received was not a violent syringe, but the girl's warm embrace.
"Idiot! Big idiot! Didn't I say I'd be fine in just two days! Why did you go take such a risk!"
Looking at Twiggy with tear stains at the corners of her eyes, Geno sighed, admitting he was in the wrong.
In the middle of the night yesterday, Twiggy had a high fever and her consciousness was blurry, but she had a faint ominous premonition. She forced her body up to look, and sure enough, Geno was gone.
Looking at the note left on the table, she burned with anxiety. But with no strength in her body, she was helpless. She could only trust in Geno's power, waiting and hoping for Geno to return.
Thankfully, he had finally returned safely now.
Holding Twiggy, who had already taken her medicine and fallen asleep from crying and exhaustion, Geno looked up at the ceiling, reviewing the events of last night. For a moment, he felt a bit dazed.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
Thank you to all reader big shots for the votes, and thank you to @DemonEmperorZhuoFan big shot for the tip of Blades.
Please stalk/watch this small author even more vigorously~ (TwT)
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