Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

The group traversed the underground structure of the core city and arrived at the surface.

Upon seeing the current state of the core city, the refugees from Lungmen couldn't help but show expressions of astonishment.

Dilapidated, chaotic, and devastated.

The current state of the core city is many times worse than that of the slums of Lungmen.

It's hardly an environment fit for human habitation.

Suddenly, fear gripped the hearts of the refugees.

The phantom crossbowmen also sensed something was wrong, quickened their pace to the back of the Sarkaz mercenaries, and asked:

"Why did we not protect the core city properly after seizing it, but instead made the environment so bad?"

"Wasn't our original plan to have Reunion occupy Chernobog, utilize the core city's mobility to establish a base, and better resist Ursus?"

The Sarkaz mercenary they were questioning exchanged a glance with his companion, nodded, and seemed to have made a decision.

Then he looked at the phantom crossbowmen and sneered:

"Since you've already sensed something's wrong, I might as well just tell you directly."

Talulah never wanted a base; she wanted the core city itself. Now, the core city is heading full speed ahead of Lungmen and will soon collide with it. The War of the Black Flame is about to begin.

These words immediately caused the refugees' expressions to change drastically.

The phantom crossbowmen reacted quickly, distancing themselves from the Sarkaz mercenaries and drawing their weapons to aim at them.

"Are you all insane?" a phantom crossbowman shouted. "I don't believe this is Talulah's doing. I'm going to see her right now!"

"Go see Talulah?"

The captain of the Sarkaz mercenaries sneered, "Ever since she was defeated by Qi Yan, even we haven't been able to see her. She's probably still hiding in the shadows recovering from her injuries."

However, we do not intend to take this opportunity to rebel against her. We like her orders very much, and we crave war; war is the destiny of the Sarkaz!

"That is your destiny. Do not insult the Sarkaz."

A somewhat cold female voice rang out.

W removed his mask, aiming his grenade launcher at the Sarkaz mercenaries.

"It's you?!"

As the Sarkaz mercenaries cried out in alarm, grenade launchers spewed flames, and the intense explosions instantly threw their formation into chaos.

The phantom crossbowmen immediately followed up with their attack, their bolts piercing the bodies of the Sarkaz mercenaries with a whooshing sound.

"Everyone else, follow me, let's run!"

Qi Yan raised his arms and shouted, leading the way to escape into the alley to the side.

The refugees didn't think much of it and instinctively followed behind Qi Yan.

The phantom crossbowmen were all somewhat bewildered.

Their courage to directly resist came from Qi Yan!

"What are you standing there for? Do you really think we can defeat so many Sarkaz mercenaries with just this few people?"

W shouted, pulling the phantom crossbowmen back to reality.

Under W's cover fire, the Phantom Crossbowmen made full use of their mobility, scattering and taking refuge in the houses on both sides of the street.

After W and the others had all safely evacuated, he quickly fled the scene as well.

By the time the Sarkaz mercenaries had regrouped, the streets were deserted, without a single person in sight.

"These bastards!"

The Sarkaz mercenary leader's expression behind his mask was extremely ugly: "W is a traitor. If you encounter her again, don't hold back. Tear her into a mangled mess!"

"So what do we do now? Should we continue the pursuit?" someone asked.

The leader of the Sarkaz mercenaries glared at him and shouted:

"Don't ask such a stupid question. The other side already knows the truth about the core city. If we let them run around the city and encounter the Patriots' guerrillas, they might leak the information, and our entire plan will be ruined."

After being thoroughly reprimanded by their leader, the Sarkaz mercenaries dared not say another word and immediately began to take action.

Chapter 103 We are the true Reunion Movement

Hundreds of meters from where they broke with the Sarkaz mercenaries, the Phantom Crossbowmen caught up with the refugees led by Qi Yan.

After they gathered, Qi Yan spoke first:

"Comrades, Talulah has betrayed our original ideals. As staunch warriors of the Reunion Movement, we must resist and not let the future of the Reunion Movement be ruined by Talulah's conspiracy!"

The Phantom Crossbowmen opened their mouths, wanting to question when Qi Yan had become a member of the Reunion Movement.

However, in the end, they chose to remain silent.

In this situation, they still have to rely on Qi Yan and W's leadership; otherwise, they would have no chance of winning against the Unification Movement, whose members are unclear as to whether they are friend or foe, and the Sarkaz mercenaries.

The refugees were so terrified that they were completely disoriented. The fact that they could still move around was already a testament to their excellent mental fortitude, let alone continue to think calmly.

W's figure rushed over from behind, his tone also carrying a hint of seriousness:

“Those Sarkaz mercenaries won’t let us go easily. We can’t stop; we must keep moving forward.”

The team sprang into action again, but none of them, including the phantom crossbowmen, knew where their target was.

Those who followed the Phantom Crossbowmen have chosen to betray them; their ideals seem to have become a pathetic joke.

Qi Yan walked ahead and spoke up to comfort her:

"Don't be confused, everyone. In the end, the core city will collide with the Dragon Gate, and no one will survive. So enjoy the moment!"

Everyone: "..."

After Qi Yan comforted them, they were somewhat devastated.

"Lungmen abandoned us, and even the Reunion Movement has turned into this. They haven't left us with any hope. What did we do wrong?"

Some of the refugees from Longmen couldn't help but cry out.

Despair seemed to be a contagious disease more terrifying than Oripathy, and it spread rapidly through the ranks.

For a time, the marching speed of the team was affected, becoming increasingly sluggish, and the team showed obvious signs of becoming scattered.

The phantom crossbowmen exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and growled:

"Cheer up, everyone! Hopefully, this isn't something left to us by others; it's something we have to earn ourselves!"

You are all still alive, your hands and feet belong to you. You have not fallen. Talulah is the leader of Reunion, but Reunion does not belong to Talulah. Reunion belongs to everyone in it!

We are the true Reunion Movement!

The refugees stopped crying, their eyes red and swollen, and silently stared at the phantom crossbowmen.

The phantom crossbowman's eyes, hidden behind his mask, gradually hardened as he met the refugees' gaze:

"You may have only chosen to join our Reunification Movement because you have no other choice. We don't mind. We will still protect you until the last one dies."

The Reunion Movement is a fight for the infected, a fight to end suffering on this land, and a fight so that everyone can stand tall, breathe freely, and live together like everyone else on this land.

Ursus oppresses us, so we will rebel against Ursus; Talulah betrays us, so we will rebel against Talulah!

The Reunion Movement will not be destroyed, never!

The despair in the group had not disappeared, but the atmosphere was no longer as negative as before.

The cries of the refugees ceased, some people's fighting spirit rekindled in their eyes, some lowered their heads and remained silent, and some clenched their fists and stepped forward resolutely, following behind the phantom crossbowmen.

"Keep moving... We have a goal, we're going to find the captain."

The phantom crossbowmen advanced again, but this time, their steps were firm.

Then, W coughed lightly and reminded him:

“If I remember correctly, that’s Sarkaz mercenary territory. You’ve gone the wrong way.”

The phantom crossbowmen's high spirits faltered.

They turned their heads and decisively recognized the real 'big daddy' in the current situation.

"Miss W, could you please show us the way?" the stripped Phantom Crossbowman asked obsequiously.

That thing had already been fed to the dogs when he was threatened by Qi Yan and humiliatingly stripped off his clothes.

“Hmm… let me think.” W tilted his head and thought for a moment, then pointed in a direction. “I don’t know the layout of the core city now, but based on my judgment of the behavior of Sarkaz mercenaries, this is the safest route.”

"Everyone, follow Miss W's lead!"

The Phantom Crossbowman gave a shout and decisively followed behind W.

Qi Yan stroked his chin and silently followed in the group.

Since he remained silent, no one dared to provoke him further, fearing that another few words of reassurance might spill from his mouth.

The procession moved through the dilapidated streets, where the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and burning.

They constantly encountered sporadic attacks from Sarkaz mercenaries, but under the leadership of W, the former leader of the Sarkaz mercenaries, the Phantom Crossbowmen always managed to find a precise opening and lead the team out of the encirclement.

Just as they reached an intersection, the phantom crossbowmen all stopped in their tracks.

They encountered another group of Sarkaz mercenaries.

This time, however, the Sarkaz mercenaries didn't spot them immediately; instead, they were confronting a guy dressed in a Reunion uniform.

Qi Yan peered out from the crowd and couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

At this moment, it seemed that the Sarkaz mercenaries and the Reunion member had completely broken down in negotiations. The Sarkaz mercenaries swung the large sword on their backs and slashed down at the Reunion member's head.

"W, help!"

They shouted in unison.

"Why didn't you say so earlier!"

W's expression changed slightly. He drew his grenade launcher and fired a quick shot, then swayed and charged towards the Sarkaz mercenary.

The grenade exploded beside the Sarkaz mercenary who was wielding his knife. The massive impact caused him to stagger, and the blade in his hand veered off course, grazing the shoulder of the Reunion member before falling to the ground.

However, the two were too close together, and the grenade explosion also affected the Reunion Movement member.

The Reunion member didn't have the same robust physique as the Sarkaz mercenaries; his body was thrown to the side by the impact of the explosion.

The other Sarkaz mercenaries reacted quickly, spotting W charging towards them and the Phantom Crossbowmen poised to strike at the crossroads.

"It's that traitor and the refugee group. They're really asking for death by offering themselves up to us."

The Sarkaz mercenaries were not alarmed but delighted, and they all drew their weapons to prepare for battle.

As a result, W moved like lightning, rushing in front of them, casually throwing down a few grenades, grabbing the clothes of the Reunion member, and turning to run away.

This move enraged the Sarkaz mercenaries:

"You think you can save someone right under our noses? Do you think we're invisible?"

"What's the difference between you and air?"

A cold voice came from behind the phantom crossbowmen.

Qi Yan slowly walked into the line of sight of the Sarkaz mercenaries and raised his hand to remove his mask.

Chapter 104 King Yama: What was that thing that flashed past the door?

The Sarkaz mercenaries' arrogance seemed to be extinguished by an invisible hand.

They all recognized Qi Yan's face.

Then, they made their own choice.

It's unclear who first let out the strange cry, but the group of Sarkaz mercenaries, devoid of their previous arrogance, turned tail and scattered in all directions.

They usually cherished these weapons, which they always claimed were their life-saving weapons, but now, because holding them would slow down their escape, they threw them to the ground without hesitation, hoping to run faster.

Qi Yan coughed lightly and said calmly:

The Sarkaz mercenaries froze in place.

Qi Yan did not use any special methods, and the Sarkaz mercenaries were not attacked, but none of them dared to disobey Qi Yan's orders.