Wasteland Echoer.

"So, the two scientists have already arrived in Vasilysk?" A trace of uneasiness flashed across Yaroslav's face, but he quickly adjusted his expression and showed some expectation.

After all, Sophia beside him is a lost person, an identity that would bring her unnecessary risks in most cases.

The more intense the war and the more difficult the times, the greater the hatred people will have for the Lost.

Although the Lost Ones were once human beings, and were individuals who survived great pain and disaster by relying on strong spiritual strength, they were victims of tragedy and death.

But among the humans under the jurisdiction of the Federal Council, except for a few individuals personally recognized by Vasily, the other Lost Ones, if they did not have strength comparable to the "small monsters", would probably have been thrown into the fire by the violent citizens and turned into a pile of dust and bones.

Even though Yaroslav reported the matter of Sofia staying with her to Vasily again the day before yesterday and received a positive response, he vaguely remembered that Ross was a psychic, a "magic psychic" who was "not infected by the Careless Man virus."

After the "National Assembly" last month, the Federation passed a law on the "identity of people with special abilities", called the "Regulations on the Confirmation of Types of People with Special Abilities", which defines people with special abilities as: "infected" or "non-infected" people who have physical fitness that surpasses most ordinary humans, far surpass humans in various physical tests, have excellent mental strength, can master one or more types of magical power, are conscious, and have no signs of mental breakdown or attacking humans.

The psychics are divided into four categories: "Lost Psychics", "Natural Psychics", "Inherited Psychics" and "Awakened Psychics".

The "Lost Type" specifically refers to former Lost or Semi-Lost ones who recognize the Federation and human identity but have been infected with the "Heartless Virus". They are very unlikely to suffer mental breakdown or "mania" and support the Federation, so they are worth fighting for.

The "natural type" and the "inherited type" are both humans who have comprehended the magic power after a certain level of training and mental strength has reached a certain level. They are difficult to be invaded by the "heartless virus". Before the Steam Age, they were called "magicians" or "magic power users". The only difference between the two is whether they have a family magic bloodline inheritance.

The last type, the "awakened type", does not know how they acquired extraordinary abilities. They naturally acquired the magical power and physical strength of the Lost Ones or magicians in a daze. Since they are not clear about the source of their power and recognize their human identity and the Federation, they can still be classified as psychics.

Yaroslav knew that the rush to pass the law defining the identity of people with special abilities was Vasily's advance arrangement in order to quickly restore order and prosperity after the war.

Now, the Federal Council, including many non-Viking military high-ranking officials, are extremely optimistic about the "Evolution Platform" and the "Gnadi Siege". They believe that this is the last battle of the entire Federation against the "Heartless People" and the Lost Ones in the Wasteland Era, and that it will surely succeed.

In this atmosphere that is gradually becoming impetuous and violent due to the illusory victory, once Sophia's identity is known and exposed, it will not only bring trouble to her, but also disrupt some of Vasily's arrangements.

Yaroslav remembered that Igor should not possess magical power. He seemed to be a little dissatisfied with the Federation and should not bring instruments to detect the identities of the Lost, such as the "Radiation Detector K-01" or the "Burn Liquid Detector".

However, Ross's admiration for Vasily and the Federation Council was beyond his youthful appearance, even more fanatical than veterans like Yaroslav. Once he realized Sofia's identity...

Thinking of this, Yaroslav couldn't help but shudder, and it also brought him back to the bitter reality from his brief contemplation.

"What's wrong, Commander Yaroslav?" Seeing Yaroslav staring at the desk in a dull manner for a while, Kuka looked at him with worry and asked with concern.

"Maybe I'm running out of energy. I'm old too, and commanding two important wars is already the limit of my physical strength." Yaroslav rubbed his temple, trying to hide his previous thoughts as much as possible, and answered with half-closed eyes:
“I am very grateful to Commander Vasily for no longer allowing me to concurrently serve as the chief executive of the four regions of the Arctic Special Zone, but only letting me serve as the acting chief executive of Vasilysk and Kanosk, so that I can focus my limited energy on the more important military affairs.

"It's just that I'm half a soul away from meeting the real master. I just hope that after the war and the mission on the 'Evolution Platform' are over, I can build a small house on the plains of Nebsk with my granddaughter Sophia and spend the rest of my life happily and peacefully. Let's not talk about this anymore. Secretary Kuka, you were talking about the two scientists just now, right? Where are they now?" "Oh, they're already at the 'Universe Core Experimental Field' that was built two months ago. A week ago, you successfully transplanted the 'Silver Universe Fantasy Wood' there. It can absorb the 'dark energy' in the universe and the 'H3 element' in the moonlight to power the [Core] and other experiments." Kuka answered with a serious expression:
"Igor and Ross's team should have entered the 'experimental field' and are debugging the equipment. When the moon rises at night, they will try to activate the [core] here in Vasilysk to find the location of the 'Tianshu Evolution Platform'. Regardless of the results of this experiment, they will give you a copy of the information they have and tell you how to lead the army to break through the wind wall."

"Oh, then I have to meet them first and exchange the information we each have. By the way, Kuka, did Commander Vasily give me the 'authorization'?" Yaroslav stood up and asked while adjusting his military uniform.

"'Authorization'? Yes, there is. Before the war with 'Heartless Man' and 'Spear of Odyssey' is completely over, as long as Igor and Ross's scientific research team stay in the Arctic Special Zone, you can command them." Kuka said, walked behind Yaroslav, patted his shoulder with epaulettes, and said:
"We in the Federal Council all know how hard it is for you to command the war, but please make sure to rest and take care of yourself. If you fall at this critical moment, it will not only be a loss to the war situation in the North, but also a major loss to our entire Cruz Federation.

"In addition, Commander Vasily is willing to promise you that as long as the war is won and the 'Restart Era' is successfully launched, you can retire with the highest honor in Cruzde's history, and get a piece of land, a villa, and a substantial pension. You can spend your old age in a dreamlike peace with your granddaughter."

……

"Future" was awakened by the noisy sound of waves. As usual, he endured the severe headache that he occasionally encountered as a lost person, opened his eyes, and briefly escaped from the thick and hazy atmosphere.

Carrying a body that was almost too heavy to move, "Future" slowly stood up and looked at the unfamiliar space around him.

This seemed to be a cliff by the sea. Looking back, "Future" discovered that there was only a strange fog symbolizing danger, and half of the world that was still glowing white in the dim state.

Looking forward, the sky was gloomy, and the sunlight was completely swallowed up by the dark clouds, revealing a dim scene as if one was trapped in a land of death.

Before my eyes was an ocean that also had no end in sight. Pure black waves kept surging, occasionally splashing into the air and transforming into scarlet waves.

Looking around, "Future" did not see any plants, only some huge rocks that were carved into strange human shapes that he could not understand, stretching between the cliffs and the ocean, forming a physical barrier that prohibited passage.

"Is this another 'I Elishela'? Or is it a dream created by the [Prophet] or the [Dream Maker]?" "Future" guessed, stretched out his right hand, and scratched his arm with his sharp nails. A scarlet mark instantly appeared, followed by severe pain and bright red blood gushing out.

Fortunately, "Future" is a lost person, and this wound does not have much impact on him. In just a blink of an eye, the wound heals quickly at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving only a disgusting blood stain.

"This is not a dream, nor is it a purely 'spiritual' thing created by the 'Construction' skill. But I remember that I fought with the incarnation of the 'Lord of Darkness' in a foggy forest. It seems that... I was injured by him, and then I lost consciousness." "Future" stood on the edge of the cliff, letting the salty sea breeze blow, thinking:
"It would take at least half a month to walk from here in the forest to the nearest ice-free port. I... have never been unconscious for that long. For us Lost Ones, being unconscious for more than seven days would risk degenerating into a 'heartless person'. In addition, Marco entrusted the crazy woman Talia to protect me to the 'Belstrunai' area. She would not abandon me without further orders.

"And now, not only are there no humans or Lost Ones here, there are no plants either. There are only some creatures that look like crows or vultures hovering over this black ocean. So, there is only one explanation."

"Future" activated the "searching" ability exclusive to the [Explorer]. Soon, after a quick spell, his brain felt as painful as if it was pierced by tens of thousands of steel needles. A piece of information was forcibly inserted into his brain.

After a burst of rapid breathing, "Future" murmured to himself:

"This is not a dream that the sleeping people are trapped in, nor is it a reality that the awake people can never escape from. Instead, it is a transitional area between the 'spiritual realm' and the 'real realm', a mysterious and terrifying area called the 'middle silence realm'." (End of this chapter)