Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

Lying on his back in the snow that almost buried him, the doctor appeared to be in saintly mode, staring blankly at the sky.

"Alright, everyone, stop fooling around."

Elki stepped forward and said, "I think we still have unfinished business. After losing Ms. Calesa's protection, we need to find a safe haven for ourselves."

"Why not just find a sheltered spot to set up camp?" Magellan asked, somewhat puzzled.

Elchi smiled and shook his head, looking up at the calm sky.

She whispered, "I see the future."

Simone's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing this.

She knew about the Cyclops' future.

These guys only predict tragedy!

Before Simone could speak, Elchi looked at her and reassured her:

"Please do not panic. This time I only predicted the coming of a rare blizzard and the blooming of a flower. I did not see any of you here."

However… Magellan, prepare yourself, you are about to embark on your journey home first.

"Huh?" Magellan was suddenly called out, and said in surprise, "But I haven't found it yet..."

"I will continue to search for your teacher. Please do not reject this destiny. You bear the responsibility of guiding this land."

Suddenly struck by such a heavy responsibility, Magellan's racial spirit instantly took over.

Simone stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Elchi, could you be more specific?"

Elchi said regretfully, "I have already told you everything I have seen."

The doctor sat up from the snow, his eyes behind his mask revealing a thoughtful expression.

He got up, brushed the snowflakes off his clothes, and asked:

"Elki, I have heard of your Cyclopes' prophecy. I have no ill will towards you, but if possible, I still hope that things will not develop as you predicted."

"I am destined to continue my journey into the extreme realm, and you and Simone cannot accompany Magellan back to safety. If she returns alone, guided by your prophecy, I do not wish to consider what Magellan's fate will be."

“I meant no harm either, Doctor.” Elkiel bowed his head and apologized to Magellan and the Doctor. “I was just conveying what I had foretold to you all, and I firmly believe in my prophecy.”

"In the words of the white-haired dog, prophecies are meant to be broken."

The doctor chuckled confidently: "That dog has already shattered at least two prophecies, and I can't fall behind. I'll be the one to break your prophecy next!"

The sky, which had been calm just moments before, suddenly picked up a wind, and thick, dark clouds gathered at the horizon, obscuring half the sky in the blink of an eye.

The sudden dimming of the light cast a shadow over everyone's hearts.

Only the doctor's voice remained calm: "Miss Prophet, now please follow the prophecy's guidance, and then... I sincerely invite you to witness the prophecy shatter beneath my feet."

Elchi silently watched the Doctor, and before the dark clouds completely obscured everyone, she raised her hand and pointed in a direction.

"Skadi, we need to hurry."

Typhon stood on tiptoe and looked at the distant sky, saying worriedly, "A terrible blizzard is about to happen. That Ursus army ignored my advice and changed their marching route. They're probably going to run straight into the blizzard."

Skadi's wandering thoughts were brought back, and she scratched her head sheepishly.

"Even if they listen to you, it's impossible for them to outrun a blizzard by human strength, right?"

"...That's what they say, but they're unfamiliar with the place, so you can't drive them away, and you can't keep them."

Typhon grumbled incessantly, "They continue to wander the ice fields, and I really can't imagine what good will come of it. Sacrificing themselves for more experimental data... Is it really worth losing your life for such a reason?"

"I really can't understand these Ursus people. Is war all they think about?"

Skadi said softly, "Sacrifice should not be encouraged, but it should not be denigrated either."

"Okay, I won't say anything more."

Typhon also realized that her attitude toward Ursus was too emotional, and she couldn't bring herself to tell Skadi, her friend from outside, all the grievances between Ursus and Sami. She could only keep all her complaints to herself.

Typhon glanced again at the churning dark clouds in the distance, and said solemnly:

"Let's keep going. We're getting close to the northern front. We must find the Tree Scar tribe's camp for shelter before the blizzard arrives."

Skadi also calmed her mind, which was disturbed by the voice in her heart, and trudged side by side with Typhon through the snow that had already swallowed her calves.

Dark clouds relentlessly pursued her from behind, and Skadi's vision was gradually obscured by a layer of white from the increasingly raging wind.

The two quickened their pace, but still could not escape the fate of having their hair gradually touched by the blizzard.

"Damn it, I haven't been to this area much, and I really can't find a suitable route right now."

By the time Typhon's complaints reached Skadi's ears, they had already been blown away by the wind and become indistinct.

Skadi suddenly felt something hard and smooth under her feet, and she stumbled and almost fell.

"Be careful!" Typhon quickly reached out to support her.

"What is that... a snowball?"

Skadi bent down to pick up the thing that had almost made her fall, and was instantly dumbfounded when she saw its true nature.

A seemingly ordinary snowball, its only special feature being its exceptional roundness, yet this tiny thing is able to support its own weight...

Skadi quickly stopped herself from having any impolite thoughts.

"It's Anma's love!" Typhon exclaimed upon seeing the snowball. "You're lucky to have Anma's love. It seems we're saved. Head in the direction where you almost fell!"

Skadi didn't understand.

What is Anma?

Before Skadi could react, Typhon pulled her in a different direction and they continued onward.

Dark clouds had reached overhead, and the white wind compressed their vision to the extreme. But this time, Typhon's steps were incredibly firm. Even though all he could see was a few meters ahead, he still kept moving forward in one direction.

Just as Skadi was wondering if Typhon had made a mistake, the outline of a tribe came into view.

Koskati showed no joy.

As she saw the outline of the tribe, she also saw a large number of corpses.

"It's an Ursus force, but not the same one we encountered. Just how many Ursus people did they send to get this far in?"

Typhon's complaints rang in Skadi's ears.

Skadi's vision was confined to a narrow area by the blizzard. She stared at the tiny world she could see, at the corpses, without saying a word.

The two traversed the desolate land where even the wind seemed to fall silent, and successfully entered a dilapidated tribe.

The battle that took place at this tribal stronghold clearly failed to completely keep the enemy out of their homeland; traces of the battle and piles of corpses were visible everywhere in the tribe.

Skadi and Typhon did not see a single living person.

"The warriors of the Tree Scar tribe may have retreated to the northern front to avoid the blizzard."

Typhon said with a headache, "But we obviously don't have that time right now. Let's hide here for now."

“The tents over there look fairly intact,” Skadi pointed.

Without delay, the two rushed into the tent to take shelter.

Inside the tent, Skadi saw a helmet lying quietly on top of a wooden crate.

Chapter 1038 Buried Together in the Dark

The blizzard outside the tent continued, causing the tent to shake constantly.

This seemingly simple tent, however, displayed amazing resilience, withstanding the howling winds without being blown away.

Skadi felt the temperature drop rapidly, and eventually her fingers began to stiffen.

The snowball she had put in her pocket also emitted a chill, making Skadi's already bad situation even worse.

Ever since Typhon hid in the tent and saw the abandoned helmet, he had been gripped by a depressed mood, staring at it without uttering a word.

Skadi was somewhat worried about Typhon's condition, but didn't know how to comfort him.

Having practically squeezed out the greatest social potential of her life, Skadi managed to come up with a question:

"Typhon, what is Ama's love?"

Upon hearing Skadi's question, Typhon snapped out of his reverie and explained:

“Ama is a being who protects the Sami like an ancestral father. She is pure and clear, representing beauty and benevolence. Oh, Ama, translated into your southern language, means old mother.”

“The old mother’s love…the ancestral father…the couple?” Skadi tried to understand this information.

“No!” Typhon finally laughed, “It’s just a symbol. The Father of the Ancestral Spirits and Anma are the common elders of all Sami people.”

Skadi nodded, seemingly understanding.

Then she suddenly pulled the snowballs from her pocket and shoved them into Typhon's hand:

"Take it, you need it more than I do."

Typhon pushed Skadi's hand away: "I don't deserve it. Ama doesn't like to shelter greedy people. It chose you, so it should belong to you alone."

"But……"

“There are no buts, Skadi, listen to me.” Typhon turned to look at the helmet again. “The Ursus forces that the Treescar tribe is facing are not the same size as the squad we encountered before. The warriors are going through an unprecedented battle.”

When a Sami warrior throws down his helmet to engage in battle, it means he has already resolved to die.

Skadi struggled to find the right words: "Typhon, I am not a Sami, and I am not good at comforting people, but I can sense the sadness in your heart."

I mean… Andasa, that cipher tablet we obtained, you said its revelation was a reminder to pay attention to things that shed tears.”

"Sadness? No, why should I be sad?"

Typhon's doubt when he asked the question did not seem fake.

This left Skadi feeling somewhat confused.

She pointed outside the tent, puzzled:

“You saw what was happening outside, and you saw this helmet with special significance, and you even had that expression on your face. I thought you would feel sad about this battle. Judging from my judgment, you should definitely feel sad.”

“I do dislike fighting, but I have no reason to be sad,” Typhon said helplessly. “Although the warriors of the Tree Scar tribe have retreated, they at least have the upper hand; the area outside is littered with the corpses of Ursus people.”

"Well, even if they are enemies, seeing so many vibrant lives lost before my eyes does evoke some pity in me, but it's alright, Skadi, you must have faith in my willpower!"

Typhon said a lot, but Skadi wasn't really listening to the second half of what he said.

She held the snowball in her hands and fell silent to herself.

Typhon scratched her head in confusion when she didn't get a response, but then she thought it made perfect sense since it was Skadi in front of her, and turned her head to continue examining the helmet.

The blizzard continued, but the two people inside the tent did not exchange another word.

Skadi held the snowball that seemed to never melt, her eyes vacant, lost in thought.

The howling wind finally subsided, and tranquility returned to the land.

Skadi took a deep breath, put Anma's love back into her pocket, got up to stretch her body which was a little numb from the cold, and pulled open the tent flap to step into the vast white world.

Typhon, carrying his helmet, followed behind and suggested:

"We are lucky to have survived this blizzard unscathed. Now let's hurry on our way."

“I want to bury those bodies first,” Skadi suggested.

"Ah this... okay."

Typhon was clearly reluctant, but since it was Skadi who made the request, she did not refuse.

After a brief discussion, Skadi took her greatsword and went to find a suitable flat area to dig a grave, while Typhon went to collect the remains buried by the blizzard.

The roar echoed, but Skadi's job wasn't difficult for her.

By the time Typhon dragged the two corpses over, Skadi had already dug two large enough graves.

"Why dig two?" Typhon asked, puzzled.

Skadi did not give a direct answer: "Please leave the bodies here, and I will take care of the burial."

"……All right."

Typhon looked puzzled, but obediently followed Skadi's instructions.

Watching Typhon depart, Skadi picked up an Ursus corpse and placed it in the grave, then placed another Sami corpse in the adjacent grave.