Chapter 178 : Gentleness
Although Dr. Okali's hands were cuffed, her mouth wasn't gagged.
Humans attacked by Headhunter Bats would have an indescribable emptiness in their mouths. Instinctively, they would want to bite frantically, to fill that void with something.
So Dr. Okali lunged at Lonis without obstruction and bit down. (Suling was lowering the safety rope and couldn't come up to stop her.)
Rip!
Blood immediately splattered, crimson flowing across the floor. Lonis's skin was originally delicate, and now a piece of flesh was bitten off.
Intense pain instantly spread throughout her body. Lonis felt like her arm was breaking, the severe pain causing her whole body to break out in sweat, both arms trembling violently.
If an ordinary person encountered such pain, they would probably have fainted from it.
But Lonis only gripped the steering wheel tightly, not leaving the pilot's seat.
(Calm down, Lonis... there's no pain at all. You're a hero—you absolutely cannot retreat.)
Lonis knew her current body was weak and couldn't help Elucia at all, nor was she qualified to enter the research station to investigate.
But, but!
She had to do well at guarding the base: since she had acted on her own to rescue Dr. Okali, she had to take responsibility for it.
So Lonis didn't even cry out in pain. She just endured the agony and continued pulling the engine.
But at the same time, Dr. Okali opened her mouth again and bit toward Lonis's shoulder.
Rip!
Another vicious bite, and the girl's arm seemed completely bitten through. Bright red blood sprayed out, staining the entire control room.
But a slight smile appeared at the corner of Lonis's mouth.
Because the ship had taken off.
And her mission was complete.
......
Lonis didn't know how much time had passed.
She only felt excruciating pain throughout her body, as if immersed in concentrated sulfuric acid, with every inch of skin being bitten and corroded.
Until a gentle caress touched her arm, and Lonis felt much better.
Like being bound by a rope.
Continuously rising, climbing, her consciousness slowly awakening from this infinitely dark abyss.
That's right, just like this...
It seemed this wasn't the first time such a thing had happened.
Before she became a hero, she seemed to have heard this voice too. It was this voice that encouraged her to live on, to maintain her beliefs and defeat the invincible Demon Lord.
So...
......
"Really, Lonis you big dummy. I didn't expect that leaving you on the ship, you'd still get such serious injuries."
"Wuu?"
"Hmph, looks like I'll have to lock you in a box before you understand what danger means."
Lonis regained consciousness to find her head resting on something soft. Opening her eyes, she realized she was lying on Elucia's lap.
And the black-haired girl's eyes?
They looked at her with slight annoyance, that gaze like looking at a disobedient little pet.
"Elucia?"
"Don't move!"
Lonis instinctively tried to sit up, but immediately felt her body aching, her muscles sending signals of tearing weakness.
"Wuu ah!"
"I told you not to move."
Before Lonis could move around, Elucia used her palm to embrace the silver-haired girl.
Black hair slipped from her shoulder, the feeling on Lonis's cheek was somewhat ticklish.
Only now did Lonis realize...
The warm feeling she'd experienced earlier was actually Elucia. This black-haired girl had been holding her all along, using her palm to soothe the pain of her wounds.
"Wuu... (blushing slightly)"
"Really, I'm taking such gentle care of you, yet you still dare to resist. Looks like a little whip and gag ball are more suitable for a masochist like you."
"I'm... I'm sorry."
......
Lying on Elucia's lap, Lonis felt an indescribable sense of security.
After all, Elucia's expression indicated that everyone was safe, and the magic ship had successfully taken off.
It seemed she had finally been useful.
Finally played the hero and showed her heroic spirit once!
......
Just as Lonis was thinking this, Elucia snorted coldly:
"Hmph, Lonis. Although you successfully completed the task I assigned, I haven't settled accounts with you yet for acting on your own to save Dr. Okali."
"Eh? Elucia..."
Lonis wanted to explain.
But the girl immediately realized: no matter how she explained, she couldn't change the facts... She had indeed violated Elucia's orders and gone out without permission.
Although she had prepared by tying up Dr. Okali, she hadn't completely controlled the doctor, leading to being bitten herself.
So...
"I'm sorry, Miss Elucia. If you want to punish me, go ahead."
After saying this, Lonis closed her eyes with a red face.
Anyway, if she was punished, Elucia could also replenish her magic power... To protect her wife, it wasn't particularly shameful.
The silver-haired girl thought this way, but Elucia smiled slightly and said:
"Hmph, punishing you like this would make me seem too unreasonable."
"Eh?"
"After all, Lonis did merit by saving the day. So this time let's call it even—I won't punish you."
"!"
Although she didn't say it explicitly, Lonis could still feel that Elucia seemed very happy right now. Those crimson eyes no longer held aggression, but looked at her like a companion, appearing extremely cute.
"Elucia..."
"Mm, what is it?"
"Ah?"
Elucia's question made Lonis's heart flutter, and she couldn't even remember what she'd wanted to ask.
"Ah... I, I... what happened to my body?"
"Mm, right now you're like Dr. Okali—you've been infected with the Headhunter Bat virus."
"Ah, the Headhunter Bat virus?!"
"Yes, but your immunity is different from ordinary people. Those viruses can't invade your brain cells to make you violent, so they can only temporarily make you collapse weakly."
"What about Dr. Okali..."
"Her? I've already locked her in a travel case. Currently I'm discussing treatment strategies with Yi Cheng."
"Wuu..."
"Anyway, this is intellectual work. Lonis is a dummy, so you don't need to participate. Just rest peacefully in bed and recover."
"... (blushing)"
"In the next few hours, I'll have Bai Ye take care of you. If you need anything, just tell her."
❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀
......
Leaving the bedroom, Elucia's expression became somewhat serious.
She closed the door firmly and walked straight to Yi Cheng.
"Yi Cheng, how is Dr. Okali's condition?"
"Still unconscious, but I can confirm this concentration is extraordinary."
Yi Cheng shook her head, looking at the report in her hand: "Although I can't determine the cause, it seems Dr. Okali wasn't parasitized by Headhunter Bats, but was artificially injected with this virus."
"Artificial injection..."
"Yes, because the concentration is very high, with our current medical level, we have no way to treat Dr. Okali... I think in all the world, only that one great existence could have the means to expel the virus."
Yi Cheng spoke sincerely, but Elucia just snorted coldly:
"Hmph, stop flattering. Moreover, it's not me who controls the Flame Abyss, but Lonis."
"Your Excellency Captain, but Lonis is your maid, isn't she?"
"That may be so... In any case, I can activate the power of the Flame Abyss, but at the same time, you must also activate the power of Clear Temple. Only with our combined cooperation can we concoct a salve to drive out the virus."