Ivan looked at the strange marks on the trees, confirming that the Guerrillas had indeed patrolled here.
But there was no one here now, which meant they might have run into trouble.
The Infected Control Squad's armament was insufficient to stop the shieldguard led by the Wendigo, so there was only one remaining option.
The Ursus Army Group.
Xing Chen was walking ahead when he suddenly saw two figures: Talulah and a heavily injured Alina.
He quickly greeted the two and told Theresa and Ivan to hurry over.
At this moment, Talulah took on a stance ready for battle, and Xing Chen immediately realized something was wrong.
They could fight, but Alina definitely wouldn't survive until a victor was decided.
Xing Chen was at his wit's end, so he quickly asked Theresa if she had any ideas.
Theresa was also anxious; a life was at stake, and that Draco wasn't cooperating.
So, in desperation, she picked up Xing Chen and threw him as a weapon, hoping to make Alina fall off Talulah's back.
Indeed, Talulah was also shocked by Theresa's actions. She could easily dodge ordinary projectiles, but if it was a living person, she would have to make a choice.
Time to speed up.
"Damn it! How did you drag this out?!"
Theresa checked the wound; it was a very common sharp object injury.
There was no active Originium attached, nor any strange witchcraft or Originium Arts.
As long as the bleeding was stopped in time, it wouldn't have deteriorated to this near-death state.
Even without your own Originium Arts, don't you Dracos know how to use fire? Burning the wound to stop the bleeding would also work.
She pulled out a diamond and forcefully plunged it in; the wound healed in an instant.
But the heartbeat still hadn't revived, so she had to use her hand to help it beat.
"(Sarkaz expletive), this much blood loss! Where am I supposed to find that much blood for you?!"
Not all races have the terrifying vitality of the Sarkaz; even the Goliath guarding the gate back then was almost chopped into mincemeat by the allied forces, but she stitched up the wounds, and now one person can make Rhodes Island run.
Moreover, blood loss wasn't the only problem; the decline in bodily functions caused by blood loss would severely worsen Oripathy.
Sarkaz have very long lifespans; even with Oripathy, mixed-blood Sarkaz live longer than other races.
And those Sarkaz who died prematurely, every single one of them suffered from severe malnutrition.
Their parents died early; when would they ever get to eat even a little bit?
And now this Aelafia also faced the risk of severe Oripathy deterioration, and they currently had no inhibitors on hand.
"Blood transfusion... Oripathy suppression..."
Xing Chen had told her that to prevent the immortal Black Snake from taking over Talulah's body, they had to rely on this Aelafia.
For this, him waking up and falling back asleep was an acceptable price.
"Is there... hope?"
Talulah had actually already accepted Alina's death, but hearing Theresa say there was still hope, a glimmer of it reignited within her.
"Um, can you be a little gentler... I don't feel pain... I'm just saying... I'm definitely injured... If you accidentally kill me, and Theresa and I come back, she definitely won't be saved..."
Xing Chen didn't speak Ursus or Gaul, and his Victoria was not very fluent, so he simply used his native language.
"Your Yan Country speech is so strange..."
No matter what, Talulah understood and, as steadily as possible, brought Xing Chen to Theresa.
Theresa immediately used her hand to cut Xing Chen's wrist, turning his blood into threads that continuously flowed into Alina's body.
As the blood was continuously transfused, Alina's complexion gradually improved.
As for Xing Chen, he hadn't been well since entering Ursus.
His friends who studied abroad would complain for three days and three nights about the terrible natural environment of the Northern Country when they returned; Ursus would only be worse.
"Am I in heaven...?"
Alina slowly opened her eyes and saw Theresa, wearing a black crown, in front of her.
"So this is an angel..."
For a moment, everyone present looked very awkward.
Except for Xing Chen, who had lost too much blood and was about to wake up.
"Um, Ms. Sarkaz, your companion isn't looking too good..."
The feeling of intimate contact with Xing Chen hadn't faded, and seeing Xing Chen looking half-dead, Talulah immediately became concerned.
"Then let's do this." Theresa stopped the witchcraft and used her Originium Arts to seal the wounds for both of them. "Your body is still very weak; I'll let you get some good sleep first."
With a gentle touch of her finger, Alina fell into a deep sleep.
Then, she used her Originium Arts to heal Xing Chen's fractures and internal injuries.
As for the excessive blood loss, it would reset with his status; the debuffs would be cleared to zero.
"Our situation is not yet safe; we must move quickly." Theresa carried Xing Chen on her back; he still had to use his last bit of strength to protect his eyes from being poked by the Demon King's horns.
"Which way?" Talulah carried Alina in a princess carry; the little deer was unconscious now, and carrying her on her back risked accidentally poking her with a horn, which would be troublesome.
"This way." Ivan waved, leading everyone back the way they came.
They had to return to the burial site to retrieve all the equipment, most importantly the communicator.
The communicators they held were different from ordinary Ursus military communicators; these could unconditionally receive military communications on all frequencies and could also contact individuals that ordinary people couldn't reach.
"Are you an Ursus soldier?" Seeing Ivan change out of his rags and into the brand-new military overcoat, Talulah immediately became wary.
Ivan said nothing, just pulled up his pant legs, revealing his Originium-covered legs.
"Here, put this on."
Talulah took the military uniform and found it a bit loose.
But there was no time to fuss now; the Ursus Army Group could follow at any moment, so she had to take off her blood-stained rags and put on the Ursus military uniform.
"How about we step aside?"
After Xing Chen said this to Ivan, everyone looked at him as if he were a rare animal.
"Alright, if you don't mind, then never mind."
After changing into military uniforms, Theresa and Talulah worked together to secure Alina in a corner of the carriage.
Ivan opened the communicator, keeping real-time tabs on the Army Group's movements. Theresa drove the vehicle, taking the group away from this troubled area.
As for Xing Chen and Alina, they were temporarily entrusted to Talulah's care.
The group sped across the snowfield for an unknown duration until Ivan received orders from the Army Group to cease operations. Only then did they find a campsite to stop and prepare to spend the night.
During their escape, Xing Chen noticed Talulah caring for Alina, but she kept turning to look at him from time to time.
Oh no, she wasn't interested in him, was she?
"Um, Talulah, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing, I'm just very curious," Talulah still didn't understand Theresa's act of throwing Xing Chen.
"Who exactly are you and her, and what is your relationship?"
