Mida City, Outside the City
Mo Tan and Yu Cheng had just exited the city gate when they heard a boisterous clamor, occasionally interspersed with shouts and cries of pain. For a moment, Mo Tan almost thought he had stumbled into the bustling morning market he usually frequented.
Yu Cheng timidly Shrink her neck, turning her head to Mo Tan and whispering, "It seems everyone is doing quite well."
The people not far away were the heroes who had just defended this city and thousands of civilians. They were now chaotically undergoing checks by several clergy members. Most of them were combat professionals; although their strength was generally subpar, their chances of being infected were not very high, so Mo Tan had not listed them among those who needed priority treatment…
"Let's speed up," Mo Tan's expression was a bit heavy. On one hand, there were less than two hours left until the theoretical mutation outbreak period. On the other hand, he suddenly realized that his online time today had not been short, meaning he could disconnect at any moment. Spreading rumors about him being physically weak was minor; it would be troublesome if Yu Cheng's divine arts were disrupted and she had no target.
“And Xia Lian’s physical condition might already be very bad. At the very least, it certainly wouldn’t be as optimistic as she made it out to be. Otherwise, she would have no reason not to personally treat those severely injured.”
Mo Tan looked back at the city with some unease. He had noticed something was off with Xia Lian when he was at the City Hall earlier. Although she acted normally, Mo Tan noticed a shallow dent where Xia Lian had been propping her cross when they left…
The Holy Maiden might already be struggling to hold her weapon.
"What are you thinking about?" Yu Cheng tilted her head and asked curiously, "You seem… a little serious."
Mo Tan sighed, "Xia Lian."
"Oh?!" Yu Cheng gasped, covering her mouth, then lowered her voice and said, "You like the Holy Maiden type?"
Mo Tan shot the girl an annoyed look, "I'm not interested in my 2D wife."
"2D is great! I have a lot of 2D wives!"
"Girl, show some self-respect…"
A moment later, the two arrived at the infected gathering point about a kilometer from Mida City. From afar, they could smell a very unpleasant stench, along with sporadic moans.
Over three thousand people who had lost their temporary homes were gathered here. Although many clergy members, mages, alchemists, and paladins were constantly treating or comforting them, this still could not dispel the fear in their hearts.
Those suffering from the Plague had endured too many blows in these short ten-odd days. Last night, they had watched their former friends, relatives, and compatriots turn into monsters and go on a rampage. Even the most resilient individuals were probably at their breaking point now.
They did not know when the Plague would take their lives, did not know if the people around them would turn into monsters and bite through their throats in the next second, did not know if they themselves would turn into monsters and harm their loved ones, friends, or any innocent person. Some weak-willed individuals even attempted suicide to end this pain and pressure.
"I don't want to die, but what good is living?"
A pale-faced Dwarf elder trembled as he raised a small knife, giving a bitter smile to the Sun God Sect priest in front of him, "I'm sorry, I know you tried your best, but I also tried my best…"
Not far away, Mo Tan hesitantly raised his hand, a Condensing Light Arrow appearing in his palm.
Should he stop the old man? What good would stopping him do? Even if he could save him, how many more couldn't be saved?
Thinking of this, he suddenly felt a little dejected. There were at least tens of thousands of such people in Misha County. Was this really meaningful?
A fragrant breeze swept past Mo Tan. He was startled for a moment, and when he reacted, he found Yu Cheng had already jogged to the Dwarf elder, firmly and gently holding his emaciated wrist.
The introverted girl, who would be startled by mere laughter and scolding nearby, showed no hint of fear or hesitation in this makeshift gathering place filled with despair and pain, standing before the old man whose body was covered in festering sores and whose entire back was bloody and mangled. She simply held his hands, which were still oozing pus.
"Sometimes, dying might be much easier than living." Yu Cheng smiled gently, her words sounding somewhat familiar to Mo Tan. A gentle Holy Light spread from the girl's fingertips, enveloping the old man who was ready to embrace death.
【At the Ina Town blockade, I said the same thing…】
The Condensing Light Arrow in his hand gradually dissipated, finally turning into sparse golden light that diffused into the air.
【But she, without hesitation, without a care, is so much more dazzling.】
Mo Tan sighed softly, then walked to the Sun Priest and asked, "How many severely injured people like this old man are there still?"
"At least over a hundred," the novice priestess, with a blazing sun emblem pinned to her chest, said with a bitter smile, "A small portion of them are similar to this old man, but most of the severely injured were hurt by the Mutants last night."
Mo Tan nodded. "Thank you. We're here to help. Could you please gather the severely injured people together?"
"I'd be happy to," the other party smiled faintly, "if you have a way to heal them."
"Holy Maiden Wang Yu is already doing that," Mo Tan nodded slightly and said softly, "I'll leave it to you."
The priestess looked at Yu Cheng in surprise, then bowed to Mo Tan and said, "Okay, I'll find people to gather the severely injured here. May the sun god… uh, and the Dawn Goddess (she glanced at the Holy Emblem on Mo Tan's chest) be with us."
A moment later, the Dwarf elder in front of Yu Cheng had fallen into a deep sleep. The grotesque ‘Plague by-products’ on his body had mostly healed, his complexion had improved significantly, and before losing consciousness, he had also given up the idea of suicide.
"Mo Tan Tong Xue, lend a hand." Yu Cheng, having stood up, turned back with a sweet smile, then raised her hand and flicked out a golden arrow shrouded in a spiral band of light.
Mo Tan raised his hand and lightly waved, a barrier silently unfolding and, in the next second, canceling out Yu Cheng's divine art in mid-air.
The Reinforced Condensing Light Arrow under Dark Interference had the weakest lethality; this was the conclusion the two had reached after many experiments. Although it still had the power to directly defeat the Law Decree Shield, it had no additional effects and gave people ample time to react. In contrast, the Reinforced Holy Healing was much stronger; not only could it appear directly on the target, but it could also ignore defensive Laws, and one use could reduce Mo Tan’s health by at least 10%.
"But when there are more people later, let's still use Holy Healing." Mo Tan opened the scripture in his hand, healed himself, and shrugged, "Otherwise, people will think it's strange that you keep 'biu-ing' me for no reason."
Yu Cheng nodded obediently, looking at Mo Tan with some curiosity. "What are you thinking? Your eyes look strange."
"Nothing, I just think you're a bit dazzling." Mo Tan turned his gaze to the deeply sleeping old man and chuckled, "You're clearly timid, yet unexpectedly responsible."
Yu Cheng swayed her body with her hands behind her back, shyly saying, "I'm just a little shy around strangers, not very timid, and I can't just ignore people who are suffering in front of me."
"But there are too many people who need saving." Mo Tan looked around the small, makeshift camp, smiling bitterly, "To be honest, I hesitated just now."
The girl, however, nodded. "I felt it, Mo Tan Tong Xue. The skill you wanted to use earlier… you were going to stop this old man from committing suicide, right?"
Mo Tan nodded silently.
"Then we think alike!" Yu Cheng took out a bottle of blue, tasty mana potion and took small sips, smiling happily, "So this is good~"
Mo Tan was startled for a moment, then suddenly thought that if he were in his 'lawful good' personality, he might have more in common with the girl in front of him.
This discovery made him feel a bit a bit amused and frustrated.
"Mo Tan Tong Xue is very gentle~"
Yu Cheng, however, said something abruptly.
Mo Tan laughed wryly, "Why did you suddenly switch to a Japanese art style?"
"I mean it."
"I don't feel it at all…"
"And very tolerant!"
"Huh?"
"Very considerate, in short."
"Uh…"
"So, do you want me to put in a good word for you with Holy Maiden?"
"Heh, did you clarify that misunderstanding from last time?"
"…"
Ten minutes later
Approximately eighty severely ill infected civilians were gathered here. Some of them, whose injuries were too severe, were even carried by Paladins. They were placed at the main entrance of this makeshift camp, looking extremely panicked…
"They're probably worried we want to 'deal with' them." Mo Tan smiled bitterly as he looked at the pitiful people who had almost lost the ability to move on their own, sighing softly behind Yu Cheng, "Let's start as soon as possible. We don't have much time."
The girl nodded, took a step forward, closed her eyes, and began to pray softly.
A brilliant Dawn Wish pierced through the clouds, falling directly from the sky onto a dozen injured individuals who had already lost consciousness. They were placed in the center of the crowd, the most severely injured and deeply afflicted by the Plague among the three thousand-plus people. Simply put, they were on the verge of death at any moment.
Yu Cheng clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and golden flames suddenly surged around her body, contracting slightly at the same frequency as the Dawn Wish that seemed to connect to the clouds, as if performing some kind of resonance.
【Dawn Wish】
Holy Light Active Skill
Mastery Requirement: God-blessed one of Dawn Goddess 'Pa Ke Xi'
Cost/Restriction: 30% Max Mana, 30% Max Faith, 30% Max Stamina
Effect: Restores a large amount of health to units in the designated area, and purifies all theoretically dispellable negative statuses. Cooldown: 90 minutes.
【Note: Hello, the deity you are calling, God knows if it's in the service area, but because you have activated the 'God-blessed one' advanced VVVVVIP service, you can still successfully cast this spell. Thank you for your payment, wish you a happy game. PS: If the mall system was activated, we'd be rolling in money, wouldn't we?! I'm not convinced!!!! — Chief Financial Officer's final word.】
This was a straightforward, powerfully effective, side-effect-free, and incredibly high-yield heaven-defying skill. Not only were its effects outstanding, but its mere 90-minute cooldown was excessively short. The Dawn Wish, hailed as a high-level VVVVVIP skill, certainly lived up to its seemingly nonsensical remark.
Gareths had previously been forcibly pulled back from the brink of death by Yu Cheng using this skill.
Moreover, this time, before casting the skill, Yu Cheng had successfully triggered the Dawn Goddess’s Inconstant Divinity through continuous attempts, gaining a terrifying 100% increase in skill effect and a 50% reduction in cooldown.
And so, a miracle occurred!
The moment the light receded, those severely injured individuals who had originally been deemed beyond help simultaneously opened their eyes. Not only did all the injuries caused by the Mutants on their bodies fully heal, but even the Plague that had deeply permeated their bones was purified completely.
In front of everyone… they were completely cured.
The originally lifeless crowd erupted. They had witnessed with their own eyes a dozen people, clearly beyond saving and waiting to die, recover their health. The hope that had once subsided in their hearts immediately reignited.
"Holy Maiden, please save me…"
"Praise your power, praise Dawn Goddess!"
"We are saved! We are saved!"
"Holy Maiden, please heal my father. I would even offer myself…"
"Aren't you a woman?"
"Yes."
Their eyes regained their sparkle, and the candle-like flame of life that had been flickering in the wind began to burn wildly again under the light of hope.
Who would want to die if they could live?
Yu Cheng, as expected, was startled by the sudden clamor, then smiled with relief and whispered, "Everyone, please don't rush. I will help as much as I can…"
Given how soft her voice was, no one heard her.
But Mo Tan was already prepared…
He suddenly stepped forward, then loudly, bizarrely, and madly began to sing: "Ah oh! Ah oh ei, ah si de ge de ge duo!"
Yu Cheng: "?"
Everyone: "?"
Mo Tan continued: "Ah si de ge dai de ge dai de ge dai! De ge dai de di dou de ge dai de ge dou!"
Yu Cheng: "An… Anxious?"
Crowd: "???"
The entire place was silent.
"Oh dear~~ Hmm? Quiet now?" Mo Tan subconsciously sang half a line after everyone quieted down, then let out a long sigh and clapped his hands, "Alright, alright, everyone listen to me. Holy Maiden will do her best to heal everyone, but that kind of miracle cannot be used frequently. However, even other divine arts can alleviate your pain. You are the group with the worst physical condition, so you will receive priority treatment, but I hope everyone doesn't get too chaotic. Holy Maiden has a very poor psychological tolerance, and if you scare her, we're done for~! Alright, now please stay where you are and don't run around. Holy Maiden will heal everyone one by one!"
Crowd: "Oh~"
Yu Cheng: "Wow!"
Mo Tan turned back and gave a dry laugh, "Why are you surprised?"
"You sing well!"
"…"
Chapter 185: The End