Asura in Arknights

The Sarkaz are a race born for war, not only active as mercenaries in every corner of Terra, but also engaged in a protracted war within their own race.

Their race has extremely low resistance to Oripathy, making them several times more likely to be infected than other races. In fact, it could be said that all of them are infected. Liz's healing magic can effectively suppress the onset of Oripathy and greatly extend a warrior's lifespan.

Such a miracle is almost impossible to replicate, and Liz's tragedy was born under this premise.

One side in the civil war discovered Liz, and this valuable item was so precious that even if it was destroyed, it absolutely could not be allowed to fall into the hands of the enemy. So, Liz was captured.

Like a canary kept in a cage, she was imprisoned in a dark and sunless cell all day long. Her daily task was to work like a machine, constantly providing treatment to one Sarkaz warrior after another until she was drained of every last bit of strength from their bodies.

To control Liz and prevent her from escaping, those people went to extreme lengths, using Originium Arts to brainwash her, drugs to control her, torture... they tried every method they could think of on her. If they weren't afraid of damaging this precious artifact, the Sarkaz wizards could have come up with even more tricks.

In a short period of time, the girl's body became riddled with holes because she could not withstand this inhuman torture.

One day, Shining, wounded on the battlefield, came into contact with Liz for the first time. She could not tolerate this inhumane atrocity and simply betrayed her own camp, leading Liz to fight her way out of the military camp.

Margaret, on the other hand, met the two of them while wandering after being expelled from Qazimir.

“Back then, in order to control Liz and to better exploit her abilities, the Sarkaz wizard used a large amount of central nervous system stimulants on Liz. And that kind of stimulant… is something that Kazdel’s industrial level simply cannot produce,” Shining said. “I heard that a similar drug has appeared in Kazimierz, and some knightly orders are using it extensively. I’m here to investigate this.”

Both Shining and Margaret can heal physical injuries, but the marks left by medication are difficult to remove, even now.

"It would be best to get the specific formula, but even if we can't get the formula, we must find a way to treat the aftereffects."

Upon hearing the seemingly unrelated words 'knight' and 'stimulant' linked together, Nearl couldn't help but show a hint of disgust. She answered solemnly.

“If it’s for Liz, then I’m willing to take that risk.”

Holy crap, how could someone be backstabbed like that?

I'll be updating the Kazimierz story collection in mid-October, and I freaking don't know what to say.

To avoid being backstabbed, I specifically chose Kazimierz, a character that already had an SS rank but didn't have much of a storyline, to write about. YJ, are you targeting me with precision strikes? You always time your backstabs perfectly.

I'm speechless...

Forget it, the YJ writers know nothing about Arknights, I'll write my own...

Chapter Six: Honesty

After dinner, I took the room key from the waiter.

By this time, the three apostles had already left, so Li Ang and his group had no reason to stay any longer.

Neither Leon nor Adele liked noisy environments; in this respect, they were somewhat similar. They preferred to read quietly without being disturbed by outsiders.

"I never imagined there were Sarkaz people like them..."

On the way to her room, Adele suddenly said this.

The two Sarkaz apostles were completely different from the Sarkaz Adele knew. Traditional Sarkaz were so good that they wouldn't even cut you, let alone heal you.

“This is the limitation of human cognition,” Li Ang said, opening the door to the room with a somewhat rusty key. “There are so many Sarkaz people in this world, there will always be one or two exceptions.”

Although the outward appearance of this inn is somewhat dilapidated, the interior furnishings are quite complete.

There was a large bed in the room, and the air smelled slightly musty, probably because the windows hadn't been opened for ventilation for a long time. However... for a post station in this remote border town, they couldn't ask for anything more.

Leon moved a chair out of the room and sat down, then gestured for Adele to sit on the bed opposite him.

After Adele, who was still confused, sat down, Leon said, "Adele, I'd like to take this opportunity to have a good talk with you."

Have you thought about your next steps?

After more than half a month of non-stop travel, they finally got a chance to catch their breath. The deadly crisis in Letania had temporarily passed them by, and now they had to face the harsh reality.

With her parents missing somewhere in the world and herself forced to leave her home, Adele found herself in a foreign land with Li Ang, someone she had only known for a few months. Adele's life hit rock bottom at this moment.

Upon hearing Li Ang's words, Adele's expression immediately dimmed. After a long pause, she replied somewhat absentmindedly, "I don't know..."

At first, she had thought about investigating the truth behind her parents' deaths, but after more than ten days on the run, Adele gradually emerged from her grief and came to understand many things.

Although she was very unwilling, she really had to investigate something that had no clue whatsoever. Adele didn't even know the exact location where her parents had their accident.

Since Adele was able to take care of herself, the Naumans often went out for months at a time. Field research was a huge waste of time, and the longest Adele hadn't seen them was a whole year.

Just like before, Adele had no idea how many places her parents had traveled to or where they had finally stopped. The only clue was the badly damaged notebook in Adele's hand.

Adele's experience in Letania had taught her that what happened to her parents was not simple, which is why she took all the research data they left behind with her when she left.

Even if they can use the notebook and these research materials as clues to find the truth about their parents' deaths, how many dangers will they encounter on their journey? How many times will the encounter outside Letania City happen again?

Ultimately, is this really a good thing for her and for them?

If it were just Adele alone, it wouldn't matter; even if she went to her death, it wouldn't be a big deal. But now she wasn't alone... Thinking this, Adele couldn't help but steal a glance at the young man opposite her.

Adele never imagined that a casual act just a few months ago would bring such a big change to her life. At the time, she really just felt that she bore some responsibility for what happened to the other person.

"what happened?"

Noticing Adele's gaze, Leon asked.

“It’s nothing.” Adele shook her head, then let out a soft breath. “Anyway, let’s go to the Great Knight’s Territory to find Sister Sarah first. As for the other things… I need to think about them more carefully.”

Adele needs to seriously consider the road ahead, what she should do, and... the matter between herself and Leon.

Just thinking about it made Adele feel like her face was burning. Although she had a vague premonition before, it still made Adele feel very flustered when Leon said it out loud.

When a person is in a semi-conscious state, what they say can't possibly be a lie. Moreover, Li Ang has proven his feelings with his actions. Who would be willing to take such a risk for someone they've only known for a short time, except for the person they love?

If that's how the other person feels, what about Adele? What kind of thoughts does she have about Leon?

Disgusting? That's simply not a valid question.

Although Adele is kind-hearted, she is by no means naive. If Leon's personality and behavior annoyed Adele even slightly, she would not have repeatedly offered him a helping hand, let alone invited him to stay at her home temporarily.

But if we're talking about liking someone... actually, Adele doesn't really know what liking someone means.

Adele simply felt that Leon had calmly and seamlessly integrated into her life, as if they had been living together in this way for a long time.

Could this subtle feeling be considered liking someone?

Just as Adele was pondering this question, she suddenly felt a large hand cover her head.

"I'm sorry, maybe I was a little too hasty."

Gently stroking Adele's soft hair, Li Ang said apologetically, "These things... really can't be rushed. Adele, take your time to think it over."

"It's okay, whatever decision you make, I will support you."

"……Um."

The room fell silent for a moment.

After hesitating for a while, Li Ang scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Actually, there's something else... I think it's necessary to tell you now."

"?" Adele tilted her head, puzzled, and looked at Li Ang with some confusion.

"There's something I've kept from you for a long time. Actually, my Originium Arts... can not only sense the surrounding situation, but also accurately sense other people's emotions."

Adele blinked, still somewhat confused about what Leon was trying to say.

“Um… I mean… when you’re with me,” Li Ang said cautiously, afraid of upsetting Adele, “I can roughly guess what you’re thinking.”

"..."

A moment later, Adele understood the deeper meaning behind Leon's words. A blush spread across her face and down to her neck, making her whole body look rosy.

In other words... all my thoughts along the way have been exposed?

Chapter Seven: The Night Is Still Long (2k5)

The human heart is the most difficult thing to see through in this world.

Li Ang can sense other people's emotions. In a sense, he has the ability to see through other people's hearts. If this is not made up at the beginning, it will be difficult to say it later.

The ability to read minds is something that most people find repulsive.

However, Li Ang also knew that there are no secrets in the world, and the secret of his Originium Arts would be exposed one day, especially by Adele, who was with him day and night.

Over the past few months, Adele had also vaguely sensed a sign, and almost exposed herself during the conflict with Liz's Originium Arts just now.

After some consideration, Li Ang decided to take this opportunity to tell Adele about it. Admitting something voluntarily and being discovered by others are two completely different things.

Even Adele herself may not have realized that her personality is actually a bit awkward.

If Li Ang told her about this on his own initiative, Adele might be very angry for a short time. However, once she calms down, the matter will be over and will not affect their relationship in any way.

But if Adele discovers this herself, even if she doesn't say anything, an invisible rift will have already formed between them.

Li Ang chose to detonate this time bomb himself, revealing everything, which was better than ruining his relationship with Adele.

After Li Ang revealed the truth, Adele became unresponsive. She clenched her hands tightly and sat there without saying a word. If Li Ang hadn't heard her slightly rapid breathing, he would have thought she had fainted.

After waiting for a while, Li Ang asked hesitantly, "Adele... are you alright?"

At this moment, Adele's shame and anger had reached their limit. The instant she uttered those words, the balloon, blown up to its maximum size, burst with a bang.

Adele stood up stiffly, glanced at Li Ang, and then slowly bent down, bringing her head towards Li Ang's chest.

A very bad premonition suddenly arose in Li Ang's heart, but before he could make any move, Adele had already taken a step and rushed towards Li Ang.

"puff--"

A pair of sharp little horns pressed against Li Ang's chest, and he felt all the air in his lungs being forced out by Adele's impact.

Wow, it was a headbutt?

Li Ang was now sincerely grateful to the doctor who had helped treat his abdominal wound; if it weren't for her help, he would probably be lying on the ground bleeding profusely by now...

However, if Li Ang's injury hadn't healed, Adele probably wouldn't have made such a dangerous move.

Despite the pain in his chest, Li Ang forced himself to take a breath. At that moment, countless works he had read before inspired him. He hugged the girl who had suddenly entered his arms tightly and refused to let go.

With a series of dull thuds, Li Ang tumbled off the chair with Adele in his arms, and the two rolled several times on the ground before coming to a stop.

Feeling the presence of the girl in his arms, Li Ang smiled.

The two lay face to face on the floor, embracing each other, neither speaking first. An indescribable atmosphere began to fill the air between them.

Li Ang could sense that at first, Adele still harbored some shyness and resistance, but gradually, this resistance turned into relief. Although that touch of shyness remained in Adele's heart, the girl was no longer as nervous as before, and her tense body gradually relaxed.

The girl curled up into a ball, almost completely nestled in Li Ang's arms. Li Ang felt better than ever before, and all the negative emotions that had been building up over this period of time were instantly swept away.

Seeing that Adele's emotions had gradually calmed down, Li Ang tried to reach out and stroke the girl's fair neck.

The moment his palm touched her skin, Li Ang could feel Adele's body tremble slightly, before quickly returning to calm.

Perhaps due to nervousness, Li Ang felt that Adele's neck was slightly hot to the touch. While tucking the girl's disheveled hair, he took the opportunity to ask, "Um... Adele, have you forgiven me?"

Adele did not answer.

After a while, Li Ang heard a soft murmur coming from his chest, "Li Ang... can you let me go now...?"

Li Ang suddenly found it somewhat amusing. After all this time, was this all Adele wanted to say?

As for his answer... of course he wouldn't let go! How could he so easily let go of something he already had in his grasp?

So Li Ang answered confidently, "I won't let go!"

"...I understand, I forgive you."

Perhaps because she had been held by Leon for so long, even Adele's voice had become a little soft, "Back then, we had just met, so it was normal that you didn't tell me all your secrets... So I'm really not angry now..."

Not angry? Who said that? Then what's with the slight embarrassment and annoyance you feel now?

In a joking tone, Li Ang said something extremely serious: "In that case, from now on, I will not hide anything from you."

After saying this, before Adele could react, Leon picked her up and stood up from the ground.

"It's getting late, Adele, you should rest too."

After putting the dazed Adele on the bed, Li Ang said, "Get some sleep. If there's nothing else, we can set off tomorrow."

"And what about you?" Adele asked instinctively after snapping out of her daze.

"Me?" Li Ang was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Oh, you mean this? Don't worry about me, I can sleep on the floor."

Li Ang understood the principle of knowing when to stop.

There was only one bed in the room, so it was naturally given to Adele. Leon was prepared to lie on the floor for the night. Anyway, he was physically strong, and his abdominal wound had been healed, so he had no worries. He figured that one night wouldn't be a problem.

Sensing emotions is ultimately just sensing emotions; Li Ang could never fully see through what Adele was thinking.

Li Ang thought that Adele would obediently lie down and rest after hearing this, but Adele's reaction was beyond Li Ang's expectations.

Lying in bed, Adele had her back to Leon and muttered softly, "...This bed is big enough for two people to sleep in."

"..."