Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"Now, we have to turn the tide."

Chapter 65: Arrogance

Night fell—well, actually, Noah didn't know whether it was day or night. Anyway, the atmosphere of martial law throughout the city made Miriam feel even more Gotham than Gotham City. So, let's just call it night. Now Batman and Robin... no, it was Noah and Ulpian who had understood Brandus's plans and were trying to make amends. They were now the true protectors of the city.

As the two walked through the streets of Agor, the air was already filled with tension, and a storm was brewing. The situation was now so bad that both of them felt a little powerless.

Brandus's memory flashed through Noya's mind like a flash of lightning. She understood better than anyone the dire situation. The beacons had originally been part of the Argol's strategy. Through precise distribution and positioning, they were intended to establish a long-term sea route, maintaining a stable connection between Argol and the mainland. However, all this changed fundamentally after Brandus modified the beacon's programming.

The beacon not only lost its original positioning function but instead became a tool for summoning sea creatures, emitting a special frequency that would lull deep-sea hunters into a deep slumber, rendering them unconscious and unable to resist. Even more terrifying, this frequency would also attract surrounding sea creatures, leading to a massive gathering of sea creatures. Ultimately, the entirety of Mirialum could be transformed into a vast sea creature nest, completely crumbling Agor's plans within this nest. The worst-case scenario is that humanity would be forced to assimilate with the sea creatures, losing any possibility of independent existence.

Noya and Ulpian quickened their pace, their vision of the meditation hall gradually coming into focus. Ulpian remained silent, but his emotional turmoil and slightly anxious gaze betrayed the urgency of the situation. He knew they had little time to waste.

Entering the Meditation Hall, the long corridor was dimly lit. As the symbol of Agor's supreme power, every stone wall here was engraved with the weight of history. The guards' gazes swept over them. They had already raised their weapons when they saw Ulpian, but before that, Noya had already waved his hand to hypnotize the guards present—there was no other way. They had no time to waste.

Noah knew that Clemenza was now in the deepest part of the meditation hall, and she had to make Clemenza realize the seriousness of the matter and make a decision in the shortest time possible.

As Noya and Ulpian entered the hall, Clemenza was at a large console, monitoring the progress of the Channel Plan. She was the central figure in the plan, directing all of Agor's strategic operations. Hearing footsteps, she turned, her eyes immediately fixed on Ulpian. She had clearly not expected to see him at this moment.

"Ulpian?!" Clemenza's voice was tinged with surprise and alarm, her eyes flickering between Noya and Ulpian. Her expression quickly turned calm and serious. She didn't immediately call for the guards. As the Archon, she keenly sensed something was amiss. "What are you doing here? The beacon deployment and the execution of the navigation plan are all proceeding according to plan. Gloria's team has already departed, so nothing should have gone wrong. Ulpian, you shouldn't be in a place like this right now. I could even accuse you of attempting to assassinate the Archon."

Noya knew that Ulpian's identity was special, and his presence had made Clemenza acutely aware that the situation was more serious than she had imagined. Ulpian's special status made it almost impossible for him to appear in public. After all, he was practically a wanted criminal in Agor, and only in a truly urgent situation could he be seen. And the current situation was the most critical moment.

Noah stepped forward quickly, his tone full of urgency.

"Clemenza, we don't have much time. There's a serious problem with the route plan. Brandus has modified the beacon's program, and the plan has completely deviated from its original intention. If we don't stop, the consequences will be irreversible."

Clemenza's brow furrowed slightly, clearly uneasy at this sudden news, but she remained calm and composed. "Brandus modified the beacon's program? Can you explain clearly, Noah? Brandus is our most trusted advisor. Why would he do this? And how did you know?"

Noah took a deep breath, suppressed the discomfort in his heart, looked directly at Clemenza and confessed.

"I killed Brandus and read his memories. His motivation wasn't to betray Agor, but rather he was consumed by his own sense of failure. He believed the Sea Heirs could never be completely defeated and that our only way out was to coexist with them. To achieve this goal, he modified the beacon's programming, rendering it useless for positioning and instead turning it into a device to summon the Sea Heirs. This would cause the Deep Sea Hunters to fall into a deep sleep and trigger the gathering of the Sea Heirs, turning the entirety of Miriam into a vast Sea Heir nest."

She knew the risk of disclosing this matter directly, but now she had no choice but to tell the truth.

"If you have any doubts about my methods, I am willing to accept any trial from Agor - but time is running out now. We must race against time if we want to turn the tide."

Clemenza's face grew serious, her hands clasped on the table, her eyes filled with hesitation and deep thought. Noya knew that as a governor, she had to carefully consider every decision, because her every move would directly affect the fate of the entire Agor.

"You mean, Brandus is trying to make us coexist with Haisi?" Clemenza asked in a low voice, obviously still trying to understand the situation.

Noya nodded and continued, "Yes, he believes that war is endless, and that the Haisi's rate of evolution has outstripped our weapons development capabilities. Brandus believes that rather than endlessly fighting, it's better to gamble on the possibility of coexistence with the Haisi. But in reality, doing so will only lead to our assimilation into the Haisi and the complete loss of our identity."

Clemenza fell silent, pondering for a moment before her gaze returned to Ulpian. She knew he wasn't just one of the deep-sea hunters; he held a special place in Agor. His rational and calm presence at this moment clearly indicated he shared Noya's sentiments. His arrival signaled that the situation had reached a point where it was unavoidable.

"Ulpian, what do you think about this?" Clemenza's voice was low and calm.

Ulpian remained motionless, speaking coldly, "Noa's words are true. Brandus did not betray Agor, but he fell into despair. He didn't believe we could win, so he tried to use this extreme method to lead us down a path of no return. If we don't stop, the consequences will be worse than you can imagine. Miliarum will become the lair of the Sea Si, and all of Agor will be devoured."

Clemenza's expression grew even more solemn. She knew Ulpian wasn't someone who would show up easily, and if he did, it would mean the situation could no longer be resolved through conventional means. She was intensely weighing the pros and cons. The Channel Plan was her core strategy. If it were abandoned, Agor would lose its vital connection with the outside world. However, if it continued, the result could be the destruction of the entire Agor.

"Noah, you said the beacon has lost its positioning function and has become a device for summoning Hai Si. So what can we do now?" Clemenza asked with an urgent calmness in her tone.

Ulpian whispered, "I'm going to stop Golletia. If the beacon is activated, everything will be irreversible. I didn't undergo surgery, so the beacon won't work on me. I'll do everything in my power to stop them."

Clemenza nodded, her tone calm but urgent. "Gladiya has already left with the beacon, heading for Nest 38. To ensure the secrecy of the operation, they have implemented a complete communication silence, making conventional contact impossible. Ulpian, you are our only chance."

Ulpian's eyes hardened. Without another word, he turned and prepared to depart. His mission was clear: prevent Goletia from activating the beacon in the lair and prevent the situation from becoming irreversible.

As for Noah, Clemenza was silent for a moment, then made a quick decision. She pulled a key from the table and handed it to Noah. "This is the control key and authorization for the Beacon Tower. You will regain control of the Beacon Tower, and I will do everything possible to contact Gloria."

Noya took the key and breathed a sigh of relief, but she knew it was far from over. She had to rush to the beacon tower and regain control of the situation.

"Noah, the fate of the beacon tower is in your hands." Clemenza knew that she had to stay in the center at this time, mobilize the resources of the entire Miriam, enter a wartime state, and prepare for the next possible attack by the sea. She could not move and could only ask Noah for help.

The troops are divided into two groups and time is running out.

As Noya quietly ascended the steps of the beacon tower, her emotions surged like the tide. She had long expected Amaya to be waiting for her. Ever since they'd parted in the dome control room, Amaya had been watching from the shadows, as if waiting for this moment.

Amaya stood at the foot of the beacon tower, gazing up at the building that once symbolized Agor's future hopes, her eyes filled with mixed emotions. She turned her gaze to Noya, a gentle smile playing on her lips, a hint of dependence and longing.

"Noah, you're finally here." Amaya's voice was no longer defiant, but instead held a hint of tenderness and attachment, as if she were anticipating Noah's approval. Pointing to the towering beacon tower, she whispered, "Look! This tower once represented the pride and future ambitions of the Agor. But now, it only brings destruction. The Agor's arrogance will ultimately consume them... Do you understand, Noah?"

Noah took a few steps forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Amaya, their gaze gazing into the distance over the spire. She sensed Amaya's dependence on her, as if every word she spoke was a test and a request, seeking Noah's approval.

"Arrogant? What I see is Agor's vision for the future." Noya's voice was gentle but firm. "Every challenge humanity undertakes is to control its own destiny. Perhaps this behavior may seem arrogant to you, but it is precisely this arrogance that keeps us moving forward."

A hint of hesitation flashed in Amaya's eyes, like a child's confusion before its mother. She whispered, "But Noa, don't you think this destruction is inevitable? Humans have always tried to conquer nature, but in the end, they will only be defeated by it. I... I just want to prove that my choice is right."

Noah sensed Amaya's struggle and couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy. Though Amaya had merged with Haisi and her ideals had become extreme, she remained the same Amaya, craving approval. Every word she spoke seemed to be a quest for Noah's understanding, a desire to prove she was on the right path.

"Amaya, you don't need to prove anything to me," Noya said softly, a hint of tenderness in her tone. "Every choice you make is to find a new path. But you must understand that the world is not only for the strong to survive. The strength of mankind lies not only in military force, but in their courage to constantly seek a way out."

Amaya's eyes flickered with complex emotions, as if she found some comfort in Noya's words, yet also a touch of unease. She sighed softly, "But, Noya... can you understand my feelings? I don't want to see you perish. I chose to merge with Haisi because I believe this is the future. I hope you can see this, that everything I do is for your understanding."

Noah looked at Amaya quietly, with an indescribable complex emotion in her heart. She knew that Amaya was not cold-hearted, she was just persistent in her beliefs and wanted to gain Noah's approval by proving herself.

"Amaya, you are the Amaya I know. No matter what choices you make, you will still be you." Noya's voice was firm and tolerant. "But please understand that I will not give up on the future of mankind. We are on different paths, but that doesn't mean we can't understand each other."

Amaya lowered her head slightly, her expression softening, as if Noah's words had comforted her. She raised her head and whispered, "Noah, I never doubted you. But I just hope... you can understand my choice. Perhaps this is our only way out."

Noah looked at Amaya, a complex mix of emotions welling up in her heart. She knew Amaya wouldn't easily change her beliefs, and this conversation wouldn't have a simple conclusion. However, she still hoped that through this conversation, Amaya would understand that even if their choices were different, a deep connection still existed between them.

"Maybe we can't change each other's minds," Noah said softly, "but we can still face the future together, no matter what the outcome."

Amaya's eyes flashed with a hint of tenderness and complexity. She nodded slightly, as if accepting Noah's answer, but also maintaining her position. They stood at the foot of the beacon tower, facing this building that symbolized Agor's future and destiny. She would not stop Noah from doing anything. She believed that all of Noah's choices were made with careful consideration. However, she finally spoke when he inserted the key, intending to stop the beacon tower's startup process.

"...Do you really think that the Channel Plan is just that?"

"...?"

——Warning, you do not have the authority to terminate the startup. Warning, this order comes from the Supreme Archon Helatia——

——The route plan must be implemented. Please stay away from the beacon tower. The plan must be implemented.

As the announcement sounded, Noah's face turned pale in an instant.

——Democratic tyrant, Helatia did not give Clemenza the authority to terminate the plan.

She had planned everything, but she had never imagined that the person who would push Miriam to the worst end would be the Supreme Archon, Gloria's mother.

"—You knew that a long time ago?"

"No, I just know the Agor too well, and the arrogance in their bones too well. Noa." Amaya shook her head and extended her hand to Noa. "Noa, you lose this time. Human arrogance has once again taken away their only chance, their only hope."

Chapter 66: Ishamara

Ulpian's figure melted into the dark current, the waters seeming to acknowledge a part of him. As the foremost deep-sea hunter, he had never feared the unfathomable depths of the waters. While the surgical flaws had burdened him, they had also granted him abilities unfathomable to ordinary humans—including an unwavering sense of direction. He could never get lost in the currents; whenever he chose, he could always find his destination. And now, the destination was crystal clear: Lair 38.

The deeper the current went, the greater the pressure. Everything around him was gradually swallowed by darkness, as if the edge of the world had arrived. Only occasional flickers of light floated around Ulpian like ghosts. They were jellyfish-like sea urchins, guarding their nests here, like a group of undead wandering the abyss of the ocean. They approached Ulpian, slowly circling him, yet without any hostility, as if they regarded him as one of their own. This scene gave Ulpian a sense of familiarity, yet also a slight sense of unease.

He didn't stop, his body gliding forward with the current until he finally reached the entrance to Nest 38. He pressed his palm against the outer wall, and as if responding to his breath, the wall vibrated faintly, and the entrance slowly opened. As Ulpian stepped into the nest, the scene before him froze him in place—the interior was so quiet it felt as if the world had stopped. Next to the beacon, Skadi, wrapped in a thick layer of seaweed secretions, hung in the center of the nest like a cocoon. Her face was pale, and her body curled up, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Everything within the nest seemed too quiet. The only bright spot in the pitch-black space was the beacon embedded in the center of the nest. It had been activated, emitting a low, pulsing sound. Ulpian's gaze swept across the nest, realizing something unusual—besides Haisi and the beacon, the only person sleeping within the nest was Skadi.

At that moment, she was curled up deep within her lair, as if dragged into a deep sleep by an invisible force. Ulpian's heart suddenly tightened, and he immediately realized that this was exactly what Noya had warned him about. The beacon wasn't just a positioning device; the frequency it emitted could lull deep-sea hunters into a deep sleep, and Skadi had already fallen victim to this trap.

A thought suddenly crossed Ulpian's mind: Where are the others? Where are Gloria and Laurentina?

——About an hour ago——

As they entered the waters surrounding Lair 38, the vision of Glacetia, Laurentina, and Skadi gradually filled with darkness and dim light. Countless jellyfish-like sea creatures floated around them, hovering like ghosts. Glacetia remained focused, her mission clear and precise—place the beacon in the center of the lair, creating a safe passage to land for Agor.

Every breath carried immense pressure, the presence of the sea creatures making the surrounding water seem unusually heavy. The outer walls of the nest flickered faintly with the light of the sea creatures, as if they were monitoring these foreign invaders, but they didn't immediately attack. Gladia was puzzled by this, but she knew that the sea creatures' actions might not be in line with common sense.

"Let's speed up," Goletia whispered, clutching the beacon tightly in her hand. Laurentina stood beside her, vigilantly observing her surroundings, while Skadi stood guard in the rear. The three of them formed a tacit team, coordinating seamlessly.

When they finally reached the core of the lair, Gloria carefully inserted the beacon into its designated spot. It emitted a low, pulsing sound and flickered with a faint blue light. As the beacon activated, Gloria breathed a sigh of relief, believing her mission accomplished.

"The beacon has been placed," she whispered, turning to Laurentina and Skadi with a look of nervous relief.

Yet, Skadi's brow furrowed. A sudden unease rose within her, an inexplicable intuition telling her that something was amiss with the beacon. The faint pulse seemed to resonate with her mind, giving her an invisible tug.

"...Wait, Gloria." Skadi broke the brief silence, her voice more serious than ever before. "There's something wrong with this beacon."

Goletia was stunned for a moment, then her expression changed slightly. "Problem? The beacon has been rigorously tested. It's impossible—"

"I can feel the vibrations it emits," Skadi interrupted her, her voice calm but firm, "It's not a normal beacon. It is affecting us." As she spoke, she raised her hand to signal Laurentina, her eyes filled with a strong sense of alertness.

Confusion quickly morphed into alarm as Goletia looked toward the beacon. The pulsing sound in her ears seemed to grow clearer. Laurentina also sensed something strange. She gently covered her ears, her brow furrowed. "It's definitely a little strange... This sound isn't right."

The beacon's pulses gradually grew more rapid, as if responding to their perception. Goletia's face darkened, realizing that Skadi's intuition might be correct. Just as she was about to withdraw the beacon, a sudden wave of sleepiness washed over them.

Skadi immediately felt the intense drowsiness, realizing it was the unique vibrations emitted by the beacon. Her mind began to blur, but she fought to stay awake. She realized they had fallen into a trap and needed to leave the nest as soon as possible.

"Hurry, get out of here!" Skadi shouted, but her voice was beginning to fade.

Gloria and Laurentina hadn't fully realized the source of their sleepiness, but their bodies were already beginning to grow heavy uncontrollably. Gloria struggled to resist the overwhelming urge to sleep, but her body was gradually giving in. Her fingers trembled slightly, and the scene before her eyes gradually blurred.

At the last moment, before they were about to lose consciousness, Skadi gritted her teeth and pushed the sleeping Gloria and Laurentina toward the lair's exit. Every fiber of her being fought against sleepiness. She would never allow herself to lose her family again. With her unrivaled strength among all deep-sea hunters, she pushed them forward, smashing through the walls of the sea heir's lair, made of sea heir secretions, and drifting out into the sea beyond.

After completing this, her vision was gradually swallowed by darkness, and the pulsing sound in her ears became more and more rapid. In the last moment before she completely lost consciousness, a familiar figure appeared in her blurred vision.

Is it Noah?

Noya's smile remained as gentle as ever. She leaned over to Skadi and held her tightly in her arms. Skadi was absolutely certain it was Noya, that she had found her. She felt instantly relieved. Yes... Noya would definitely come. She would definitely notice everything and save them all.

After all, she has always done this -

But before she closed her eyes, 'Noah' spoke.

"I found you, Isamara." Noah whispered softly in her ear, his voice gentle but firm.

Skadi wanted to respond, but found that her voice was no longer audible. Her consciousness completely sank into darkness, and the only thing she could feel was Noah's warm embrace.

However, the darkness in the lair did not end. The beacon continued to emit its pulse waves. And Skadi, also in this wave, fell into a deep sleep.

When Ulpian arrived, he didn't hesitate, rushing towards Skadi's cocoon. The sea's secretions were tough and sticky. His hands tore through the thick shell, and the seawater rushed in, a chilling sensation instantly sweeping over his body. Yet, Ulpian's movements were still swift and powerful, and he pulled Skadi from the cocoon. Her body felt heavy, as if trapped in an endless dream, unable to awaken.

Ulpian hugged Skadi and examined her face carefully. Her breathing, though weak, was still there, which made him feel slightly relieved. But then, his eyes shifted to the beacon in the center of the nest.

The beacon still emitted those unsettling pulses, seemingly resonating with some form of the Sea Heir. Destroying it now was pointless; the beacon's function had clearly gone haywire, summoning more Sea Heirs to gather. Ulpian knew that remaining here would be tantamount to self-destruction. The most urgent task now was to get Skadi away and find the other deep-sea hunters as quickly as possible.

However, just as Ulpian was about to leave, his eyes stumbled upon a line of inscriptions beside the beacon—an ancient symbol, a relic of a prehistoric civilization. Ordinary people couldn't understand these words, but Ulpian was different. As the First Hunter, he had systematically studied these prehistoric symbols. As his gaze rested on the writing, a distant memory surfaced in his mind.

He whispered the words:

"Precious, I'm here to see you."

Ulpian's brows suddenly furrowed. This sentence seemed particularly abrupt and ominous at this moment.

Ulpian's gaze remained fixed on the line of ancient text, his mind instantly swirling with a myriad of thoughts. This inscription was clearly more than just a simple message; it seemed to foreshadow a deeper conspiracy. However, in that brief moment, Skadi in his arms suddenly moved.

Without warning, her hand suddenly rose and plunged into Ulpian's chest with lightning speed. He felt a chill in his chest, and pain raced through his nerves like an electric current. Ulpian's body tensed instantly. Although his reaction was quick enough, the blow came so suddenly that he didn't even fully react.

The cold touch spread from his chest, and Skadi's hand was deeply embedded in his body.

He lowered his head, looking at his chest. The sea water began to gradually become stained with a layer of deep blue mist. It was not bright red blood, but his deep blue blood, which no longer belonged to human beings. It was slowly spreading from the wound into the surrounding sea water.

The pain did not frighten him, but instead calmed him down quickly.

"Skadi..." Ulpian whispered, his voice slightly hoarse from the pain of his wound. By this time, he had realized what had happened. Skadi's arm slowly withdrew from his chest, her fingertips still stained with his blue blood, and a completely uncharacteristically charming smile appeared on her face.

"I recognize you. It was you who was supposed to kill me." Skadi's voice was different from usual. A strange smile was revealed in her deep voice. "Ulpian."

Her eyes were filled with an indescribable emotion, as if the one standing before Ulpian wasn't the deep-sea hunter he was familiar with, but some completely mutated being. Ulpian's chest still ached slightly as he felt Skadi's hands slowly cup his cheeks, their hands cold yet full of strength.

“…Isamara…”

"...Oh, you know my name." 'Skadi' no, she should be called Ishamara, "Am I sick? Or am I dreaming? I dreamed that the black sky was our sea, and I swam upwards with others without sinking at all. Strange, so strange, is this my future? Their faces are blurry, they, they... No, no. I won't lose anything more, my blood relatives, now... become my partners?"

The song—the song rang in Ulpian's dying ears. Indeed, something was crawling up his body, trying to assimilate it.

His body was too much like the Sea Si, and except for his will, he had almost completely become a part of the Sea Si. And now, He was devouring his human side, assimilating himself, destroying - He was rebuilding - He -

Ulpian's eyes narrowed, fatigue sweeping over him...

Ulpian's consciousness gradually faded, the excruciating pain in his chest washing over him like waves. His deep blue blood diffused through the water, seemingly merging with the surrounding sea creatures. He didn't know how much longer he could hold out, nor did he know if he still had enough blood and strength left in his body to sustain his movements. However, at this crucial moment, he could only rely on the faith buried deep within him and seize his only chance.

Skadi was no longer the warrior he knew. Her eyes were hollow, emitting an unfamiliar and dangerous aura. Her once fearless soul seemed to have been completely devoured by some dark force. Ulpian knew that all of this was controlled by Hai Si. The "Skadi" before him was no longer the familiar comrade, but possessed by a greater power.

He hesitated no more.

He slowly raised his hands, gripping Skadi's neck with a viselike grip. His eyes held a deep resolve and coldness. Even with his body weakened to the point of breaking point, he had no intention of retreating. Ulpian knew that if he allowed this body to continue to be controlled by Hai Si, Skadi would no longer be herself, but would become nothing more than a tool of Hai Si.

The strength in Ulpian's hands gradually increased. He felt his fingertips sink into her flesh with enough force to stop any creature's breath. His eyes remained unwavering as he gazed calmly into hers, trying to find any trace of Skadi's remaining consciousness.

However, the face that originally belonged to Skadi suddenly revealed a strange smile, as if she had already determined that she had won. This smile made Ulpian's heart feel like it was stabbed, and he realized that the woman in front of him was no longer the same person.

"Get out of her, Isamara!" Ulpian's voice echoed like thunder in the dark lair, carrying with it all his fury and determination. At that moment, his eyes gleamed coldly, as if he were willing to pierce the sea-born being hidden within Skadi with his will. He gritted his teeth, his hands tightening, and the flesh of his neck began to tear with a sickening sound.

Skadi's body began to struggle violently, but Ulpian didn't let go. Although his body was gradually losing strength in the pain, he still held her neck tightly, not allowing any resistance. Hai Si's instinct tried to protect this body. Skadi's hands desperately scratched Ulpian's arms, leaving deep scars and even visible tearing of his flesh.

However, Ulpian didn't care. All he was looking at was Skadi's eyes - he had to wake her up, or end her.