Horn may still harbor hope for Victoria. She has always regarded herself as a soldier of Victoria, one who has never betrayed it and never will.
But her teammates were in a different situation.
After their rescue, the aftereffects of dehydration and starvation left all six of them physically frail. The Tara corpses in the cell were riddled with pathogens, greatly increasing the risk of infection. Watching the comrades she had fought alongside for years reduced to this state, Horn clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
Her resolve wavered.
Her loyal superior, the one she trusted without question, had been killed by the Sarkaz of the Military Commission in Londinium. If Victoria had not fallen so far, they would not have tolerated such actions, and her superior would never have died.
Now her team had been betrayed once again by the Victorian army, a betrayal that cut to the bone. Had they arrived any later, it was very likely that only she and Bagpipe would still be alive in the Tempest Platoon.
"Prepare a sterile operating room immediately. Their condition is worsening, Miss Horn," the medic said urgently. "Are there any operating rooms in the barracks?"
Horn nodded at once. "The camp has a dedicated operating room for wounded soldiers. Follow me."
She immediately led the group at a run, the others close behind, carrying the stretcher bearing the six soldiers. When they reached the gate, Horn took out her military ID and scanned it. The gate did not open.
"My clearance has been revoked… Colonel Hamilton…"
Before she could finish, Bagpipe stepped forward and drove her boot into the metal door, leaving a deep dent.
"Stand back."
Hellagur drew his longsword. In the blink of an eye, the reinforced metal gate shattered into fragments.
"Thank you."
The medical operators were the first to reach the operating room. They rushed in at near lightning speed, disinfecting the area before carefully transferring the six Tempest Platoon members onto beds. No external wounds were found, but their fevers indicated a sharp decline in immunity. At this point, even a trace of Originium dust could turn them into Infected.
Having received Kal'tsit's medical training, the operators immediately administered nutrient solutions and gave medication to those still able to swallow.
Only after completing these steps did the medical staff finally breathe a little easier. They began gathering additional supplies from the infirmary, preparing for any emergencies that might follow.
After hearing the report, Hellagur nodded. These soldiers might not last until they reached the Tomorrow's Development branch. The assessment was reasonable. They would have to remain here for some time.
"I'll scout the camp again," Yelena said. "If I find anything unusual, I'll report immediately."
Yelena departed with the Yeti Squad and the Clever drones. Horn remained by the beds, looking at her teammates, some unconscious, others barely able to blink. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Captain… let's leave Victoria, at least for now," Bagpipe said quietly, her voice firm.
"Bagpipe…"
"Where can we go anymore?" Bagpipe's smile was bleak. "We retreated from Londinium to County Hillock, and now County Hillock is about to fall. Are we supposed to keep fighting for them in one noble territory after another?"
Horn had no answer. She stared at the floor for a long moment, then looked back at the six figures lying before her.
In her mind, she saw six coffins instead.
To remain loyal to such a Victoria would be nothing but blind loyalty.
She nodded. "The Second Tempest Platoon will temporarily take refuge with Tomorrow's Development. Until the situation in Victoria becomes clear, we will no longer carry out orders from the nobles."
"As you command."
Not long after, Hellagur learned of her decision. He solemnly welcomed Horn and her team's temporary joining. Loyalty was easy to demand, but realizing that one's loyalty had become blind was enough to plunge a soldier into prolonged anguish and doubt.
He contacted the base, informing them that Horn and the Second Tempest Platoon would be accompanying them, and asked about the progress of the operation against the Six Villains. The reply was brief. The adventurers and Outcast's squad had already returned, but Talulah's team had yet to make contact.
His adopted daughter was with Talulah's group, and her temporary loss of contact with the main force worried him, though not excessively. Clever would soon locate them.
Upon hearing that Talulah's team had not yet returned, the adventurers stationed at the branch immediately set out again. What had she encountered that caused this brief silence?
They already knew the fate of the HVTs. The only reasonable possibility was that Talulah was still on her way back.
"Clever, analyze the evacuation routes. Where would Talulah retreat to?"
A clear, azure map unfolded before Clever. Two red markers represented the remaining members of the Six HVTs.
One marked the Immolator's ambush site, another the distribution point meant to disrupt Tomorrow's development. Additional red points appeared as routes were traced and connected.
"Blue Rain Team, stay behind and secure the base."
"Understood. Leave it to us."
Kumori nodded slightly to Huangtian Houtu, then to Yanfei. The three teams immediately sprinted toward the location deduced by Clever.
___
What kind of flame is that?
Bang!
Black-red fire collided violently with eerie purple flames as Talulah swung her longsword. The resulting shockwave ripped through the ground, shattering nearby pipes. Filthy water burst forth, momentarily separating the two raging infernos and granting both sides a brief reprieve.
Neon gripped her greatsword in a reverse hold, breathing heavily. She crouched behind Talulah, peering through the cascading water at the figures standing on the opposite side.
They were hard to describe as terran. Lifeless, mindless, like walking corpses that existed only to obey.
Purple flames poured from their mouths and nostrils, their movements perfectly synchronized. It was grotesque. Yet they lacked the stiffness of true corpses, giving the unsettling impression that they were still alive.
The most striking figure stood at the very front.
A draco woman with long golden hair held a spear in her hand. Beneath a translucent coat, she wore a white dress, and under her short skirt were black, sheer knee-high stockings. Purple flames fluttered around her like butterflies, beautiful and deadly.
Talulah exhaled slowly, her gaze locked onto the figure as her grip on the longsword tightened.
"Neon, I'll buy you time. You need to leave immediately and inform General Hellagur of what's happening here. We have to withdraw from County Hillock, now."
It was not that the enemy's strength vastly exceeded theirs. Rather, the existence before her was already dangerous enough. To it, the remaining Tomorrow's Development operators would be nothing more than insects.
"Yes… I'll report to General Hellagur right away, Captain."
"I'll be fine. I'll hold them off."
Black-red flames surged once more as Talulah tore through the darkness like a blazing arrow. Neon clenched her teeth and turned back, looking at the operators injured by the strange purple fire soldiers.
"We have to leave, now!"
"But Captain…"
"We're only a burden here!"
Raising her voice, Neon grabbed a fallen operator and ran. The others cast one last glance at the black-red flames that pierced the darkness, then retreated deeper into the underground waterways.
"These flames are fascinating," the golden-haired draco woman said with a smile, feeling the heat pressing against her.
The intense burning sensation was one she had not felt since parting with her sister. Now, she felt it again.
"I'll return your words to you."
Black-red and purple flames intertwined and devoured each other as Talulah fought, all while guarding against the walking corpses whose eyes spewed violet fire.
The black-red flames erupted outward, engulfing everything in their path and reducing it to ash. The underground waterways dried up completely. The eerie soldiers were left as charred remains, never to rise again.
Only one figure remained.
Talulah's longsword collided with her opponent's spear. Talulah was forced back a single step, while her opponent slid three steps away.
"I see. Her physical strength surpasses mine, but when it comes to controlling the primal flame, I seem to have the advantage."
Talulah glanced at her uniform, scorched and torn by purple fire. At some point during the clash, the Tomorrow's Development protective suit, designed to withstand Originium Arts, had become as fragile as paper under those flames.
This fire…
"You… you're a Draco, aren't you?"
"Oh my, you're a Draco too, aren't you?" The blonde woman smiled, her expression alluring and dazzling amid the purple flames. "I never imagined there would be a third Draco on this land. What a small world."
"And what a coincidence. You're from Tomorrow's Development," she added lightly, licking her lips.
"So what?" Talulah frowned.
"Hehe. My man is the leader of Tomorrow's Development. Didn't you know?" The blonde woman winked, her green eyes gleaming.
"Bullshit."
Talulah scoffed. The woman before her was clearly not one of Tomorrow's Development, yet she dared to claim she belonged to Felix. It was laughable.
"But don't you think that only a man like the King of Liberation is worthy of our status?" the blonde woman said with a smile, one hand drifting to her lower abdomen. "On this land, only he deserves to bear Draco's offspring."
"Did you join Tomorrow's Development for him?"
The woman's smile did not fade. "Draco have always been honest about their desires. Don't lie to yourself."
"Bastard!"
Talulah's face flushed with anger. This was an utter disgrace to the name of Draco. Talk of marriage and offspring in the middle of a battlefield was absurd.
"As a Draco, just like any other, you have the right to take part in the power struggle of Victoria," the woman continued calmly. "The throne of Victoria is meant only for Draco and Aslan. As a Draco, this is a responsibility you cannot escape."
Talulah frowned. "I have no interest in the throne of Victoria."
"Really, Talulah?"
Her name was spoken with uncanny precision. Talulah's flames surged once more. The blonde woman went on, unfazed, "I've heard of the Reunion Movement. A tragic ending. Those noble Infected warriors never returned home, nor reached the future promised to them. Don't you want to change that? Once you hold power, everything you desire will be within reach."
"Shut up!"
Talulah slashed forward, a flash of light tearing through the air. The blonde woman laughed softly as a barrier of purple flames swallowed the black-red sword light whole.
"Think about it," she said gently. "You wouldn't be fighting for Tara alone, but for all the Infected. What a noble cause."
"You claim you're fighting for Tara?" Talulah sneered. "You bombed Tara civilians and used the people of County Hillock for terror attacks. Look around you. Aren't these corpses all Tara? Is this what you call fighting for them?"
"Heh. What are such sacrifices compared to a greater goal?" the woman replied indifferently. "The Tara people desire revenge, and they are willing to pay for it with their lives. I will not let their sacrifices be in vain. Every action makes Victoria bleed."
A distant sniper shot cut through the air, dispersing the purple flames around her. The blonde woman smiled faintly. "So your reinforcements have arrived. I won't trouble you further. With County Hillock on the brink of collapse, cherish these final moments."
She performed a refined aristocratic salute. "Please convey my love to my husband, His Highness the King of Liberation. Eblana."
"Don't think you can escape!"
Sniper rounds and crossbow bolts poured down. Eblana laughed softly as purple flames flared again, and her figure vanished into nothingness.
"You arrived just in time. Thank you."
Talulah exhaled deeply. Sweat beaded across her forehead. Facing Eblana's flames had been no small ordeal.
"Are you alright, Talulah? What kind of enemy was that?"
Yanfei lowered her sniper rifle. After receiving Neon's call for help, she had rushed over at once. Through the scope, she had only seen strange purple flames, not the enemy herself.
"…A formidable one," Talulah said gravely. "I need to speak with Felix."