Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

"Your Grace, we saw your daughter on our way here."

The shapeshifter slowly crouched down.

Windermere's already somewhat unfocused pupils seemed to be stimulated, and they contracted slightly.

Kal'tsit narrowed her eyes slightly, using her gaze to stop Logos and the others, allowing the shapeshifter to converse with Windermere.

To be precise, it was the shapeshifters who unilaterally initiated the dialogue with Windermere.

Windermere was too exhausted to utter a sound at this point.

“Your Excellency can rest assured,” the shapeshifter said softly. “She is with Princess Vina’s lost companions, as well as the rest of Rhodes Island who were unable to gather, and the two Sarkaz who are skilled at healing others are also there.”

The absolutist who has severed ties with the past has overcome her inner demons and has protected your daughter very well.

Windermere's lips moved slightly, but he didn't make a sound; instead, he looked relaxed.

She seemed to have completely shed her last burden, and her pupils began to dilate again.

“…Hmm.” Seeing this, the shapeshifter scratched his head and asked Kal'tsit, “Shouldn’t a healer show concern for the patient before saving them? Am I mistaken?”

“Generally speaking, what you are doing is known in this land as end-of-life care,” Kalshile replied with a blank expression.

"But we're here to rescue people."

"Then I'll trouble you to hurry."

Despite Kal'tsit's urging, the shapeshifter remained unhurried: "This is a deal; this treatment requires a life for a life."

"We promise you."

Before anyone could answer, the Doctor, who had been trying to keep a low profile behind Kal'tsit, spoke up.

Ignoring Windermere's weak, defiant gaze, he walked up to the shapeshifter and said earnestly:

“I know very well that the death of the Blood Demon Lord was averted when you appeared here.”

Even so, I am grateful that you were still willing to spare the Duke of Windermere's life.

"Did Qi Yan say anything to you?" the shapeshifter asked.

The doctor fell silent this time.

He simply looked down at Windermere, at the other’s eyes, which were once again filled with regret and resistance.

The Doctor knew in her heart that if she could, Windermere would not want such a terrifying opponent as the Blood Lord to live; she would rather give her own life for this great victory that belonged to Victoria.

However, because of the doctor's promise, the shapeshifter had already placed his hand on Windermere's wrist.

The green fluid slowly covered Windermere's arm as he analyzed the other party's information.

The shapeshifter's appearance gradually changed, as did his aura. In just a few breaths, another Windermere, dressed in a Rhodes Island medical operator uniform, appeared on the land.

The 'Windermere' calmly raised his hand, plunged it into his chest, and slowly pulled out a still-beating heart.

"This should be enough for Dr. Kal'tsit to help her hold on until she has access to adequate treatment."

'Windermere' placed the heart into Windermere's chest, while simultaneously controlling his power to merge with the other's body.

After doing all this, the shapeshifter severed its connection with its heart.

"One life for one."

The shapeshifter said softly, "May our individual lives accompany you on your journey. You have won once again; this is a great victory for you."

Windermere felt the life force emanating from his body, his eyes filled with an extremely complex mix of emotions.

The shapeshifter rose and walked toward the Blood Lord.

Logos held the bone whistle, watching him silently, seemingly conflicted.

In this situation, he felt he had a good chance of preventing the shapeshifter from taking the Blood Demon away.

"It's no use, young banshee."

The shapeshifter saw through Logos' thoughts and calmly said, "Before coming here, we had already set up an altar for the Blood Demon. Even if you try to stop us, we can still take him away. All we need to do is touch a drop of his blood."

Logos sighed softly, put away his bone whistle, and stepped aside.

Without any hindrance, the shapeshifter successfully arrived before the Blood Lord. Looking at the disheveled fellow before him, the shapeshifter revealed a smile.

The shapeshifter held the pebble between his fingers and dropped it precisely onto the Blood Demon Lord's forehead.

Blood Demon Lord: "..."

"We've come to rescue you," the shapeshifter said with a smile. "But you're extremely weak, so I've found you a great place to recuperate. Now we only need to charge you three times the admission fee, how about that?"

Blood Demon Lord: "…………"

He suddenly felt that it wouldn't be so bad if he just died like this.

But when he thought of the Sarkaz’s unresolved hatred, the Blood Lord gritted his teeth and forced himself to sit up.

Since he can still live, he can't stop here.

The shapeshifter watched the Blood Demon Lord struggle without offering any help. Instead, it leaned down and whispered a demonic word in the Blood Demon Lord's ear:

"Besides the admission fee, we have one more small request."

"...What are the requirements?" The Blood Demon Lord had a bad feeling.

"Call us Dad."

The Blood Demon Lord lay back down on the spot, his single eye dim and lifeless.

He has only one wish now.

This wish cannot be fulfilled; even in death, he will not rest in peace, nor will he be able to return to the embrace of the souls.

Supported by this overwhelming obsession, the Blood Demon Lord struggled to turn his head and spoke to Logos, which was not far away:

"After I die, you don't have to play a dirge for me, but I beg you, please be sure to leave a note on my epitaph..."

Shapeshifters and dogs, parentheses, in unison, back brackets, stay away!!!

Chapter 730 The Duke's Meeting

The shapeshifter left.

Dragging the Blood Demon Lord, who was as withdrawn as a corpse, away step by step.

Ahead of them was Wellington's fleet speeding towards them.

But the shapeshifter did not try to avoid it.

Just as they said, once they came into contact with the Blood Demon Lord, no one could stop the two of them.

Before the fleet even got close, Wellington's decisive command style was already on full display, with a barrage of artillery fire spanning half the battlefield, precisely engulfing the figures of the shapeshifters and the Blood Lord.

Wellington stood on the deck of the high-speed warship, silently watching the distant flames, his face showing no joy.

"You have a cruel heart."

The shapeshifter's voice suddenly appeared behind Wellington.

Amid a gasp of surprise, Wellington slowly turned his head and found that the appearance of one of his confidants beside him had completely melted away, revealing the original form of a shapeshifter.

"When did it happen?" Wellington asked.

"It's been half a month already."

Wellington nodded, seemingly unaware of the danger posed by the shapeshifters, and began to ponder the plans he had made over the past two weeks, speculating on how much information he had revealed.

Beside him, a large number of his henchmen brandished weapons and attacked the shapeshifter.

The shapeshifter effortlessly dodged the attacks and asked Wellington a question:

"Aren't you going to support your prince?"

Wellington did not answer, but instead ordered again: "Continue bombarding the Blood Lord on the battlefield!"

Sensing Wellington's attitude, the shapeshifter shook its head somewhat boredly, its body transforming into a green fluid that quickly disengaged from the battle, leaping off the warship and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

After the shapeshifter left, his confidants gathered around Wellington with lingering fear, wary of a recurrence, and even began to be wary of their colleagues.

"Put down your guard. There is no need for questioning on the battlefield. You only have one task: to obey my commands."

Wellington, with a stern and authoritative expression, issued a warning to his confidants.

His trusted confidants immediately bowed respectfully.

At this moment, the staff officer who had been hiding not far away and witnessing everything cautiously stepped forward, only to be locked in by the gazes of his confidants.

"Let him come over," Wellington said.

His confidants made way for him, but kept a close eye on the staff officer.

Caught in the gaze of numerous menacing eyes, the staff officer's back was drenched in cold sweat. He forced a smile and said:

“Duke, based on the Shapeshifter’s words, Princess Abrahana is likely currently being targeted by the Sarkaz. We should immediately send reinforcements.”

“I need to determine whether Windermere is alive or dead. If she is not, I will take her to see Castle,” Wellington said calmly.

"But what about His Highness..."

Before the staff officer could finish speaking, Wellington's gaze swept over him, and without any intimidation, he scared the staff officer back to the point.

Wellington withdrew his gaze and said calmly:

"Since Your Highness has not requested assistance, we cannot make decisions for her. We should proceed according to plan, first completing my meeting with the other dukes, and then discussing the matter of sending reinforcements."

"You are not allowed to question your king; I don't want to hear such remarks again."

"Give the order to continue the advance."

On the battlefield, after Kal'tsit checked Windermere's condition, a hint of relief finally appeared on her face.

"Her condition has stabilized for now, but she still needs more precise treatment immediately." Kal'tsit turned to look at the Duke's fleet that was approaching from both sides. "Doctor, what is our next plan of action?"

The doctor glanced at Windermere, who was unconscious but whose breathing had stabilized:

"Once Shining and Nightingale rejoin the team, you take them to borrow the medical equipment on the Duke's warship and get Windermere out of danger completely first."

"Doctor, I know you must have your own plans, but I must remind you."

Kal'tsit stood up and looked directly at the Doctor: "Rhodes Island already has enough of Qi Yan, who is often lazy and doesn't share information. If we have another one, we'll be in a difficult position."

"Isn't the white-haired dog generous enough?" the doctor chuckled. "He speaks so directly, yet he never hides information."

"And I think you've misunderstood something. This time, I truly have no plan whatsoever. In a battle of this magnitude against the Blood Demon Lord, my involvement in command would only backfire."

Kal'tsit was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement with the Doctor's answer.

But then she asked a familiar question:

"Did Qi Yan say anything to you?"

"...He needs to rest now, and he also needs time to think about some things."

Kal'tsit stopped asking questions and summoned M3, who had just recovered, to lift Windermir up.

The Doctor also turned to look at Kroos, who was standing to the side, lost in thought, seemingly pondering something:

"Stop spacing out, your ancestor isn't dead."

"I feel like the High Overlord probably wishes he were dead right now." Kroos came to her senses and gave a wry smile. "Doctor, what are your plans?"

"Find a way to restore Rhodes Island's communications immediately. My best intelligence officer was taken away with the airship. Now it's up to you."

Hearing the Doctor's plan, Kroos finally cheered up again:

"I thought I'd really become a mere accessory after Ines came along."

"almost."

When Cleopatra Hilton was provoked, she showed her two little tiger teeth, as if she wanted to rush up and bite the hooded man a couple of times.

The Doctor waved his hand dismissively, shooing Kroos away, before turning his gaze to Amiya.

He hadn't forgotten the sound of Amiya's ring shattering during the battle.

Before the Doctor, Kal'tsit had already walked over to Amiya, took her hand, and began to examine her carefully.

The doctor stepped forward and asked:

Do you need to draw my blood?