Since there was no S-rank sentinel to match Ling Xuan, the Central Tower dispatched him to the Seventh Defense Zone, where the fighting was most intense, to serve as the chief medical guide.
Ling Xuan's gaze lingered briefly on Li Yuheng and Shu Bai.
There was no small talk.
He quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice slightly hoarse from overusing his mental energy, yet still clear and articulate:
"Beta Type 2, three confirmed. Approximately the size of two adult human heads, extremely strong, but relatively weak against cohesive mental blasts or physical armor-piercing projectiles."
He spoke very quickly, while simultaneously sharing a simplified structural diagram with the two of them.
“I’m barely holding the eastern barrier up, but it can only last for seven more minutes at most. There are too many wounded, and I can’t spare any mental energy for attack support. If you can clear Beta 2, the pressure on the barrier will be reduced, and I can organize the remaining forces for a counterattack and open up the connection to the main position.”
In fact, beneath this extremely rational exterior, Ling Xuan's heart is undergoing a tremendous transformation.
In just a few days, the intense fighting and heavy casualties in the Seventh Defense Zone, like the roughest millstone, have completely distorted his cold perceptions based on hatred and efficiency.
He witnessed firsthand the extreme cruelty of war.
It is no longer a single tragedy of parents being torn apart in distant memories, but a large-scale meat grinder that is happening every minute and every second.
The word "revenge" seems so pale and personal in the face of such a vast amount of death.
He must do everything in his power to save every life that can be saved.
The mind is constantly under high pressure, and every attempt to release tension may result in either a scream of collapse or a deathly silence of nothingness.
As the chief medical guide, his role was redefined.
He is no longer merely a theoretically auxiliary component in combat, but also the last line of defense for stabilizing the mental state of the wounded, preventing sentries from going berserk, and providing emergency psychological trauma treatment.
He had to establish initial mental connections with sentinels in various states, many of whom were emotionally broken, in great pain, or even aggressive wounded.
This forced him to understand, accept, and even soothe those “unstable” emotions that he had once most rejected.
He discovered that pure reason could not quell a broken soul, and sometimes a touch of clumsy empathy was more effective than precise mental control.
His definition of "powerful" has also been completely broadened.
He had seen sentries whose internal organs were spilling out, yet who still used their last bit of willpower to lock onto their target, just to buy their comrades three seconds of time.
I've also seen squads with a rating of only C, yet they managed to take down small insect hives with their amazing teamwork and tactical coordination.
The power that erupted in dire circumstances, surpassing any rating, shook his past almost instrumental understanding of "powerful, stable, and reliable."
There are many forms of power, and not all values can be measured by data.
Before Li Yuheng and Shu Bai arrived, he single-handedly held up the barrier of the wounded area on the east side, his mental strength nearly exhausted.
That feeling of helplessness, of being unable to support the whole organization, is etched in my memory.
He personally experienced how vulnerable a guide is on the front lines without the support of strong combat sentinels.
At the same time, we have come to a deeper understanding of the energy that a truly harmonious "sentinel-direction combination" can unleash, which is far more than just one plus one equals two.
It's a chemical reaction that can create miracles that transcend individual limits.
Sentinels are not a standardized tool for guides, and guides are not merely logistical units that ensure the operation of sentinels.
They are each other's only blade and sheath.
Between them, it is a trust of life to life, a resonance of wills, and the only coordinates anchored to each other on the edge of destruction.
The intense treatment over the past few days, facing life and death, and bearing immense pressure alone, have created undeniable cracks in Ling Xuan's originally cold and rational exterior.
He became more silent, but also more resilient.
The indifference in his eyes was replaced by weariness, focus, and something deeper.
He began to understand the weight of emotions, the meaning of sacrifice, and the responsibility of protecting—these complex and heavy things…
It cannot be measured by the word "efficiency" that he used to believe in.
Therefore, when he saw Li Yuheng and Shu Bai appear, he felt only a numb sense of acceptance.
They are the most suitable sharp blades at this moment.
That's enough.
"The structural diagram has been received." Shu Bai's voice interrupted Ling Xuan's fleeting thoughts.
He quickly scanned the information shared by Ling Xuan, his eyes sharp. "Three Beta 2s, leave the physical penetration to me. Li Yuheng, focus on mental interference and barrier maintenance, don't let the minions interfere with me."
“Roger that, my sentry.” Li Yuheng grinned.
Ling Xuan watched their almost wordless cooperation, his eyes flickered slightly, but in the end he simply nodded: "We will do our best to maintain the eastern barrier. Good luck."
…
"Are you embarrassed by the compliments?"
After successfully completing the mission, Li Yuheng came out from the lieutenant's place and slowly followed behind Shu Bai.
Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.
On his pale left arm, a shallow but gaping wound was oozing blood, its edges tinged with an ominous charred black, and bearing the corrosive marks characteristic of the insectoids' acidic bodily fluids.
Li Yuheng's pupils contracted, and the smile on his face vanished instantly.
He strode up to Shu Bai, grabbed his wrist without a word, and exposed the wound to the light.
"Was that from the Zerg? Did it burn? Did it cause paralysis?"
Shu Bai seemed to want to pull his hand away, but Li Yuheng held it tightly.
He pursed his lips, looked at Li Yuheng's focused and serious profile, and finally gave up struggling.
"It's nothing. Just a superficial wound."
"A superficial wound is still a wound... Oh dear, how come I didn't see it just now... Don't you know how filthy the Zerg stuff is... What if it gets infected?"
Without giving Shu Bai a chance to refute, Li Yuheng tore open the fabric of Shu Bai's combat uniform on his left arm, exposing the wound completely.
Seeing the wound showing signs of corrosion, Li Yuheng frowned even more deeply.
Then, he gently hovered his right palm above the wound, and a soft, pure white light emerged from his palm, slowly enveloping the scar.
Shu Bai's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
He could clearly feel Li Yuheng's spiritual power, like a gentle stream of water, carefully enveloping the wound, dispelling the slight corrosive sting, and bringing an indescribable comfort and coolness.
The wound began to heal at a visible speed; the charred edges faded, and new granulation tissue slowly grew and closed up.
This feeling is very unfamiliar.
Over the past six years, he has suffered many injuries, most of which he hastily treated himself or relied on the powerful self-healing ability of an S-class Sentinel to tough it out.
No guide had ever provided him with such meticulous and focused treatment.
Just then, a slightly hurried sound of footsteps approached.
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