Arknights: Studying medicine can't save Terra

The two former bosses who had been watching from the sidelines huddled together, squatted down side by side to minimize their presence, and began to listen in with glee.

Friston didn't bother with these two outsiders from another civilization; his thoughts were already somewhat blocked by the doctor's strange remarks.

This feeling... why does it seem so familiar...?

Holy crap, Qi Yan!

Friston's voice rose a few decibels:

"Doctor, what did Qi Yan do to you? Why do I see his shadow in you?"

"Ugh, I'm carrying a bunch of curses right now, you could say I'm covered in dog filth."

The doctor complained bitterly, then regained his composure: "But don't be too nervous. Apart from these curses, I am still rational. I am who I am, and I remain the same."

Friston seemed conflicted, but more than that, he was puzzled.

The doctor's outrageous statement was completely different from the image of the 'prophet' in his inherited memories.

But as the doctor regained his composure, Friston felt as if there was nothing wrong.

This strange situation caused the Friston chip to become somewhat overloaded.

But Friston quickly suppressed these confusions and instead brought up the previously shelved topic:

"Doctor, you have amnesia, but you just said you stand on Terra's side. Why would you make such a choice so easily while suffering from amnesia?"

Kal'tsit was clearly nervous about this question and opened her mouth to interrupt the conversation, but was interrupted by the Doctor again.

“I think you’ve got the order wrong, sir,” the doctor said calmly. “I first imprisoned Precyth in the Originium, and then, officially and with no other choice, decided to stand on Terra’s side.”

"I don't understand."

"Okay, then let me be more specific."

The Doctor patted Kal'tsit on the shoulder, signaling her not to worry, and then walked past Kal'tsit to face the huge spherical instrument in front of him.

He took a soft breath and said in a calm tone:

“I came here and saw all this, and I feel sorry for myself, but I don’t want anything from here.”

I came here solely to keep my promise to Precyth.

As for your dilemma regarding your stance, well, that's something Kal'tsit has been worried about all this time, so I might as well lay it all out here.”

"PhD……"

Kal'tsit finally managed to speak, but was interrupted yet again by the Doctor waving his hand.

She shut her mouth, feeling a little annoyed, but she knew this wasn't the time to be petty.

She felt she really needed Qi Yan right now.

It was because of Qi Yan that Kal'tsit dared to bring the Doctor to confront the truth of the 'Preserver Project'.

But now the doctor suddenly tells her that Qi Yan is preparing...

As Kal'tsit drifted off into thought, the Doctor's voice echoed through the empty underground space:

"I have amnesia. My current memory begins with a somewhat jarring electronic alarm. I was awakened from a stone coffin by a little rabbit named Amiya."

After that, I was inexplicably dragged onto a journey of escape by her and a group of people. During this time, I met that white dog. Both of us were taken back to Rhodes Island by Amiya and began to officially walk on this land.

Honestly, I don't remember anything. I woke up like a blank sheet of paper and was immediately pushed forward. Kal'tsit didn't tell me anything, Amiya was clearly confused too, and the white-haired dog was busy looking for pretty girls and handsome guys the whole time... What a bunch of bad friends."

The doctor lowered his head and let out a soft chuckle.

No one chose to interrupt at that moment.

The doctor chuckled a few times and then looked up again:

"Although the experience was chaotic and most of the people I met were annoying friends who could drive you crazy, this feeling was not bad."

With everyone's company, I gradually came into contact with this land, met more and more people, and experienced more and more things. I thought that it would be fine to just get by like this.

As it turns out, after going to Victoria, I discovered that Kal'tsit had allowed Amiya to wake me up just so I could work for her!

Kal'tsit pursed her lips, seemingly thinking of the even more outrageous things the Doctor had done before losing his memory, and turned her face away, too annoyed to look at him.

The Doctor noticed Kal'tsit's slight mood, crossed his arms and sighed, but ignored her.

Under Friston's silent gaze, the doctor continued:

"It was during that time in Victoria that I slowly came into contact with things that happened before I lost my memory. Although everyone was a bunch of riddle-makers and no one was willing to reveal the truth, I realized that I had committed a crime of betrayal..."

Or perhaps two games.

It was during this trip to Victoria that I saw again the figure that had flashed through my mind, Precys.

I don't remember her, but she gave me a familiar feeling, yet she acted like we were old friends from the start, talking to me about things I couldn't understand… This reminded me of my experience after being awakened by Amiya.

Kal'tsit's pupils contracted.

This was also the first time she had heard the PhD student recount his personal feelings about this experience.

A faint sense of unease welled up in Kal'tsit's heart.

She became even more eager to find Qi Yan.

"However, I'm not the same person I used to be." The Doctor's tone suddenly changed, becoming flippant. "Little Precyth, I used the white dog's crazy remarks as cover, and with just a few simple questions, I got her under my thumb and extracted a lot of information from her."

"You all—Presses, Kal'tsit, Amiya, and even you, sir, whom do you see me as?"

Before anyone could speak, the doctor shook his head and said, "It's not important. I'll say it again: I am who I am, and I'll always be the same."

Friston said softly, "Doctor, so this is why you made this decision? Because of your amnesia, you hate the responsibilities these people have placed on you?"

"Did I say I hate it?" the doctor chuckled. "I was just remarking that although everyone genuinely cherishes and protects me, upon closer reflection, only that white dog treated me as 'me' the whole time."

Chapter 1191 He walked at the forefront of everyone.

Kal'tsit's hands, hanging by her sides, clenched unconsciously.

In her spare time, she would frequently communicate with the doctor, check on his physical condition, and care about his mental stress.

But as the doctor just stated, she never tried to delve into the doctor's inner world.

Perhaps it was to avoid suspicion, perhaps it was out of fear, perhaps it was...

It doesn't matter anymore.

The important thing is that she really wanted the doctor to stand by her side.

The Doctor once again noticed Kal'tsit's emotions.

This time he finally turned his head, pulled down his mask and gave Kal'tsit a reassuring smile, then quickly looked away and kept rubbing his nose with his hand.

After confirming that the brief eye contact had not triggered the curse, the doctor breathed a sigh of relief and continued to Friston:

"After saying all that, what I really want to tell you is that this place called Terra is quite interesting, and I wouldn't mind traveling with my companions here."

Not long ago, I was ordered by the white-haired dog to run to a snowy, icy place to deal with a problem. I almost froze to death. Then I discovered that the problem I was supposed to deal with was Precy.

When two people and things I was unwilling to part with were suddenly placed on either side of the scale, I was honestly a little angry that time.

I... have chosen betrayal once again. I stand firmly by Priscilla's side, challenging my new friends in Terra.

Friston asked doubtfully, "So, you actually chose your own civilization?"

"Yes, I stand on the opposite side of the Terran civilization," the doctor said frankly.

"Then why..."

"I lost."

“I lost completely. Even though I teamed up with Precys and gave it my all, I still realized the gap between myself and that bastard.”

The doctor looked up at the darkness above the underground space, a darkness untouched by light: "But do you know what? Do you know what? When I failed, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief."

The responsibility I carried disappeared because my rivals crushed my other options and moved on past me.

Now, that bastard Qi Yan is bearing all the responsibility and leading the way for everyone; he's protecting us all very well.

The underground space fell into a deathly silence as the doctor finished speaking, and no one spoke for a long time.

After a long pause, Friston said in a low voice:

"That deity named Qi Yan is worthy of respect."

"Excuse me for interrupting you," the doctor said in a deep voice. "Please do not refer to him as a god. He is my friend, a man named Qi Yan..."

"I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous," Friston apologized sincerely.

The doctor shook his head and didn't say anything more.

Friston spoke with obvious respect in his voice, in a low voice:

“I think I understand your choice, Doctor. Our civilization has come to a complete end. What follows is the era known as the Terra civilization.”

"why?"

Why can only one civilization exist between another? Why must the arrival of the Terra civilization mean the inevitable demise of the previous civilization? Or, what is the standard for the demise of a civilization?

The doctor asked with genuine curiosity, "I have forgotten what the civilization I was born into looked like. Has it grown to the point of unifying every corner of the world?"

If so, is it a brutal civilization that nipps all budding civilizations in the bud to ensure its own hegemonic status?

If not, then how did she coexist with other civilizations?

"Hehe...haha...hahaha!"

Friston suddenly burst into laughter, which grew louder and louder until it echoed so loudly in the underground space that it became deafening.

The doctor shook his head, still a little dazed from the shock, and waved his hands repeatedly at Friston, begging for mercy.

Seeing this, Friston quickly stopped laughing, though his tone still betrayed his amusement:

"Doctor, do you know? After I made the agreement with Qi Yan, he asked me this question before he left."

"An agreement?" The doctor's attention shifted to another piece of information.

“Yes, I made an agreement with Qi Yan,” Friston explained. “As you can see, the ‘Preserver Project’ has been a complete failure, with no possibility of recovery. In my final days, I also made a decision.”

I gave the last remaining traces of energy to a member of the Terran civilization. Rather than letting this last flame die out in my hands, I preferred to give it to a new civilization, so that it could burn even brighter in its final moments.

In my opinion, Terra is the most tragic civilization, but also the most fortunate. She was destined not to win the pursuit of the end, but she will be the last firework before the end!

"I pass on the flame to those who come after me; I ignite hope; I witness rebirth in death!"

The doctor said calmly, "If I'm not mistaken, that dog definitely didn't want it."

"Yes, he sabotaged that girl named Christensen's plan and threw back the spark I sent out."

Friston showed no annoyance at being interrupted; instead, his smile deepened. "Next came the content of our agreement. He said..."

Why should the future of Terra be bestowed upon us through the hands of others?

“No, that’s not like him.” The doctor shook his head.

“You two are indeed very good friends,” Friston exclaimed. “After saying this bold statement that even shocked me, Qi Yan suddenly grinned mischievously and said he wanted to make a bet that Terra could break through the sky without my spark.”

If he succeeds, I will honor my bet and give all the technology I possess to Terra.

“That’s right, taking things along with the food is that bastard’s style.” The professor nodded.

“He’s really special, but…” Friston’s tone suddenly became a little confused, “He said something strange that I don’t quite understand.”

He grinned at Christensen and said, "Look, old men are so lucky. They get welfare."

All four people present couldn't help but chuckle softly.

But Kal'tsit suddenly stopped laughing, nervously looked up and grabbed the Doctor's sleeve:

"No, now that things have come to this, we can't afford to waste any more time. We need to stop Qi Yan!"

"You're going to betray us too?" The Doctor turned his head away from Kal'tsit's eyes. "Qi Yan is working hard to make Terra's future path smoother. He's looking for a way out for Terra."

"No...it shouldn't be like this!"

Kal'tsit said urgently, "Bozokasti told me that we can't just hide behind Qi Yan. We are comrades, and we must move forward side by side with Qi Yan!"

I don't understand why Qi Yan wanted to leave, but... but I don't want to lose him!

I must stop him, I must keep him here!

Why should Terra's future rest on his shoulders alone?!