[COD] Newbie's Rise to Power

He pulled out a military-grade compressed biscuit from his pocket and took two bites. The dry, crumbly biscuit stung his throat, but he could only swallow it with difficulty.

In this kind of weather, the water in the kettle is too frozen to drink directly and needs to be heated.

But he still had to dig at least three meters deep, and there was no time to rest.

He had to finish before dark, otherwise it would not only be inconvenient to move around at night, but also dangerous due to the drop in temperature.

As the shovel plunged into the soil, it brought out several icicles resembling earthworms. He gripped the pickaxe tighter and quickened his pace of digging.

The mound of earth beside him was already above his knees. Every few digs, he had to use a shovel to throw away the loose soil, otherwise the new soil would soon be covered by the wind and snow again.

As dusk gradually fell, the earthen cave finally began to take shape.

Kruger curled up and crawled inside to test the height. Soil was falling from the top of his head, and the cave walls needed to be reinforced with branches.

But at this moment his physical strength was about to be exhausted, so he could only carry 'you' into the earthen cave first, and then boil some hot water for himself. The heat caused a layer of white fog to form on his protective goggles, so he immediately took off the goggles, revealing his tired eyes.

Since 'you' are still here, he doesn't feel comfortable leaving to find food. Fortunately, he brought some military rations, enough to last him for the next two days.

After eating something simple and drinking some water to replenish his energy, he turned on his portable light and continued 'working'.

Using the dim light, he began to build using sawn pine branches, planks, and waterproof cloth.

First, pine branches were inserted into the cave wall one by one in an interlaced manner, trying to make them as close together as possible to enhance the support.

He would press down hard with his hands and pat with a shovel every time he inserted a pine branch to ensure its stability.

Next, they unfolded a waterproof cloth and carefully covered the pine branches.

The tarpaulin fluttered in the wind blowing into the hole, and he quickly used stones to weigh down the edges to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.

After securing the waterproof cloth, he used wooden planks to cover it, creating a cave with wooden planks covering the inner walls and filled with pine resin.

After building another wooden bed, Kruger took 'you' out of the package and placed you on the wooden bed.

He took a glass jar out of his bag and placed it next to you. Inside the jar, which was tied with colorful string, were five paper stars.

That was a little gift you gave to Kruger when you left the Chimera base.

You've preserved it so well!

You sighed with relief, noting that even the climb hadn't damaged the fragile jar, demonstrating his carefulness.

However, the little surprises didn't stop there; Kruger pulled out another string of things from his bag.

He turned on the switch at the very end, and a string of star-shaped yellow lights suddenly lit up, emitting a warm glow in the dim cave.

He attached the string lights to the 'wall' next to you with wooden pegs, then took your hand and apologized with a smile:

"I'm sorry, it's really inconvenient to install a spotlight for you, but it's very bright."

"I used a low-temperature lithium battery for it, which can withstand temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius, so you don't have to worry about it running out of power."

"At least... not until I come next time."

You nodded, understanding that he couldn't stay with you in this environment forever, but...

You: But I'll be very lonely here all by myself, Kruger.

He can't hear you, so he just keeps nagging you:

"Keegan did a good thing by freezing your body in time, which slowed down your brain death."

"Perhaps I can still save you, madam."

ch.342: I hope the gods will favor me this time.

"As long as there is no brain death, brain recovery can be promoted by stimulating brain nerves."

"Once your brain recovers, you have a chance to wake up!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if the hope of success was right before his eyes.

You gently cup his face in your hands and look at him with pity.

It's no use. Didn't you say before that brain transplants would cause rejection? What's the difference between living and dying then?

Your body is already damaged, and even if a miracle were to happen, the only way would probably be a brain transplant.

As if he knew you would say that, his eyes gleamed with a kind of fanaticism.

"Don't worry about rejection. We won't change bodies, or we can create a body that won't be rejected!"

People who previously scoffed at such far-fetched ideas are now talking about them with hopeful eyes.

You shake your head, trying to persuade him:

That's impossible. Once someone is dead, they're dead. Don't waste your future on me.

Kruger, give up on me.

Give up on me. You have a long road ahead of you. Don't waste your time on an impossible goal.

"I can't give up on you! I said I would never give up on you, not even in adversity or death!"

He suddenly retorted excitedly, his voice echoing in the narrow cave.

Then, receiving no response, he fell silent once more.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have yelled at you."

He lowered his head, pressed his forehead against the back of your hand in apology, and then gently pressed his cheek against it.

"I just can't give up like this. I promised you, I just don't want you to be disappointed in me..."

"I just..."

His tears flowed slowly down the back of your hand.

"I just want you to smile at me again, to hear...you tell me from your own mouth that you love me too."

"OK?"

Tears streamed down her pale arm, only to be stopped by the golden bracelet. The liquid spread along the bracelet, gradually enveloping half of it.

The golden-bodied, green-eyed snake head, bathed in the shimmering water, seemed almost alive.

The usually arrogant man shed tears, asking you with bewilderment and unease, "How can this not move people?"

You raise your hand and, together with 'your' hand, touch his cheek.

You didn't answer him because you knew he wouldn't change his mind.

A gentle breeze blows, and you and he both look towards the cave entrance.

A ray of golden light shone in through the cave entrance, but it brought no warmth whatsoever.

Daylight broke...

He turned around, bent down, and placed a kiss on your knuckles.

"I must go now, madam."

"I hope the gods will favor me this time."

After saying that, he put your hand down, raised his hand to put the mask back on, and turned to walk towards the cave entrance.

Watching his retreating figure, you subconsciously want to stop him, feeling in your heart that you will regret it if you don't!

Kruger, don't go!

You shout loudly.

The person who was about to crawl out of the hole suddenly stopped.

He slowly turned around...

Then all that could be seen was the girl lying stiffly on the wooden bed, her face appearing strangely healthier under the yellow starlight.

His brows furrowed, but his tone remained firm.

"wait for me."

Then he came out of the cave and used a flattened boulder to block the entrance, completely concealing the scene inside.

He bent down and used an entrenching tool to cover the boulders with snow before braving the wind and snow to begin his return journey.

And you, in a panic, floated toward him as he covered the cave entrance with stones!

Nourishes—

Even though it was only a little over three meters away, your spirit seemed to be imprisoned. As soon as it touched the stone at the cave entrance, its consciousness suddenly became blurred!

You suddenly realize that today... is the eighth day.

Nourishing~

A strange sound rang out, like the sound of electricity, or like the hissing of some kind of animal.

A chilling aura seeped into your limbs, making you feel a cold electric current coursing through your body before you completely lost consciousness...

"Beep! Beep beep—"

The monitor's regular beeping echoed in the quiet room!

On the hospital bed, the pale-faced girl's head was buried in the pillowcase, and her chest, which had been flat, began to rise and fall suddenly, like a stranded fish bouncing erratically.

Her fingers suddenly twitched under the sheet, so slightly, yet it was like a pebble thrown into a lake, causing the monitor's sound to suddenly become shrill!

On the screen, the previously steady green heart rate line suddenly shot upwards, the number jumping from 62 to 89, and then shakily climbing to 95.

The nurse, who was checking the records, suddenly looked up and almost stumbled to the bedside. Her gaze first fell on the monitor and then slowly moved to the girl's face.

The girl's black eyelashes fluttered slightly beneath her eyelids, and then, like a butterfly struggling to break free of its cocoon, her somewhat lifeless eyes slowly opened a crack...

"woke up?!"

The nurse's voice was filled with excitement as she quickly pressed the call bell by the bedside, gently placing her other hand on the back of the girl's hand.

Can you hear me?

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. When the attending physician opened the door, the hem of his white coat was still fluttering.

He walked straight to the foot of the bed, glanced at the monitor, and then leaned closer to shine a flashlight into your pupils.

"Your eyes are still reacting to light, and your blood pressure is slightly high. Don't use sedatives yet."