Chapter 72: Electrotherapy
Dusk Palace, Seventh Floor.
The cries of the wounded and the stench of blood permeated the seventh floor. Contractors wrapped in bandages sat scattered around the area.
"Boss, when's chow? I'm starving to death."
A contractor with a broken leg leaned against the wall, chewing on something unknown. His jaw muscles were well-developed, suggesting he often chewed on things.
"Almost there, wait."
A regiment leader replied impatiently. Several other regiment leaders were beside him, discussing something.
"Boss, even if I'm gonna die, at least let me die with a full stomach."
The legless contractor muttered, then fell silent when he noticed his regiment leader's gaze turning sharp.
The few regiment leaders sat in a circle, with Yan Chen at the center.
"We successfully repelled the first wave. Based on current casualty numbers, the Apocalypse Paradise side can't hold out for ten days. If they launch an attack like this every day, within five days at most, our numbers will far exceed theirs. Then we can consider a counterattack..."
As Yan Chen spoke, he noticed the other regiment leaders staring intently at him.
"What?"
"Yan Chen, your hand..."
One regiment leader pointed at Yan Chen's hand, his expression grim.
"My hand?"
Yan Chen raised his crystallized left arm. He had already taken an antidote potion earlier, but the effect was minimal. Fortunately, there were signs of recovery—the crystallization wasn't irreversible.
As Yan Chen lifted his crystallized left arm, he saw large cracks spreading across it, threatening to shatter at any moment.
For a close-combat magic lancer like Yan Chen, losing a hand was no small matter. It would drastically reduce his combat effectiveness.
The OL-dressed beauty beside Yan Chen saw this and immediately placed her hand over his arm.
"Boss, didn't you get a notification?"
A pink energy surged from the OL beauty's hand, clinging to Yan Chen's left arm like glue, binding the cracked limb together.
"Candy, come quick."
The OL beauty shouted. Soon, a girl with a slightly chubby face ran over, a faint sweet scent emanating from her.
"This isn't good."
Candy examined Yan Chen's left arm, realizing the severity of the situation. She was Yan Chen's top healer, skilled in both healing skills and medical techniques.
Most healers relied solely on skills, but Candy was different. In the real world, she was an intern doctor. After entering Reincarnation Paradise, she combined healing skills with medical expertise.
"Is it serious?"
Yan Chen suddenly recalled a line Xi had said earlier: 'Maybe this meeting is our last.'
"Very, very serious. These crystals are gradually eroding your body."
Candy hooked her finger behind her. Yan Chen's trusted aides understood and set up a tent on the seventh floor, a red cross embroidered on it.
"Excuse me."
Yan Chen walked toward the tent. Suddenly, someone spoke.
"If it's completely hopeless, come find me."
Su Xiao, who was playing a game on his tablet, spoke up. The Dusk Palace was filled with contractors everywhere, making opening chests or similar activities impossible. He could only kill time with games.
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Yan Chen paused. Candy pouted.
"Brother Bai Ye, you have a way too?"
"Yes, but it's not gentle. If you were a mage, it would be completely hopeless. Fortunately, you're not."
Su Xiao's fingers moved in blurs. The puzzle game he was playing was getting harder. As for Yan Chen not being a mage, he had sensed that from their first meeting. Yan Chen's aura was different from a mage's.
"What method?"
Yan Chen wasn't worried about Su Xiao plotting against him. The Reincarnation Paradise faction was essentially trapped in the Dusk Palace. Internal conflict at this point would be idiotic.
"Electrotherapy."
A spark of 'arc' flickered between Su Xiao's fingers. Seeing this 'arc,' Yan Chen instinctively stepped back.
"That thing... isn't good."
Yan Chen sensed that what Su Xiao held wasn't electricity. Electricity didn't have such a terrifying aura. This was a devouring, extremely hostile energy.
"So, come find me only when your people are completely out of options."
Su Xiao continued playing his game. Yan Chen was a key combatant on their side, so Su Xiao naturally wouldn't let him die. Based on Yan Chen's previous performance, he was someone worth cooperating with. As for his sister-complex hobby, that was none of Su Xiao's concern.
"Thanks."
With that, Yan Chen walked into the tent.
"Professor Yang."
Candy made a funny face at Su Xiao before following Yan Chen into the tent.
No one noticed that Yan Chen's steps toward the tent were somewhat 'resolute.' Don't be fooled by Candy's cute appearance and occasional playful antics—she seemed like a soft, delicate girl who could be easily pushed over. But when she started surgery, she became a demon, with a ruthlessness beyond imagination.
Once, when Yan Chen was severely injured, Candy removed his heart and all vital organs, using life-support devices to keep him alive until they could return. Yan Chen would never forget one of Candy's actions: after removing his heart, she swallowed. It wasn't out of fear but curiosity about what his heart tasted like—whether to boil it or fry it.
Candy was the female version of Hannibal. How could there be harmless, cute contractor girls in Reincarnation Paradise? Most such girls were workers.
The OL beauty went in and out of the tent. The first few times, there was nothing unusual, but later, faint traces of blood could be seen on her.
Seeing this, the regiment leaders showed thoughtful expressions.
Cries of pain came from the tent. Su Xiao's fingers paused as the character in his puzzle game was crushed by a mechanism, the screen turning black and white.
The tent flap lifted, and Candy emerged in dark green surgical scrubs, a few blood spots on her fair face.
Candy walked calmly to Su Xiao and bowed slightly. "Mr. Bai Ye, our regiment leader would like to discuss something with you."
"Mm."
Su Xiao stood up. Since Yan Chen had sent for him, it meant Candy couldn't resolve his crystallization.
As for Su Xiao's method, it was simple and brutal: use Cyan Steel Shadow energy to devour the energy causing Yan Chen's crystallization.
Su Xiao entered the tent, and a rusty smell hit him—the smell of blood, all too familiar.
Yan Chen lay shirtless on a simple hospital bed, about 40 centimeters high with lifting functions.
On Yan Chen's chest, three large areas had crystallized, forming pale red crystals connected to his muscle tissue. As for his left arm, it was completely crystallized, the pale red crystal arm resembling a work of art.
"Candy said I have about ten hours left."
Yan Chen's breathing was labored. One of his lungs had already crystallized. This crystallizing energy was like a stubborn maggot clinging to bone.
Just as Su Xiao was about to examine Yan Chen's condition, Yan Chen raised his hand, signaling him to wait.
"Bai Ye, did you take care of that arrow guy?"
The 'arrow guy' Yan Chen referred to was Lan Jue.
"Taken care of."
"Good."
Yan Chen thought for a moment, then said, "Your combat strength is formidable. If I don't survive this, Xi can only be handled by you. Those regiment leaders are no match for Xi. As for the Goddess of Fortune and the Insect Girl, they can at most stall Xi. Grey Bear has decent strength, but he's too reckless."
After saying this, Yan Chen took a few deep breaths.
"Also, the reason I ended up like this is because I killed Xi once."
"You killed Xi once?"
Su Xiao's eyes narrowed. The intelligence he had received earlier indicated that Xi could revive eight times, meaning she had nine lives. Now Yan Chen was personally confirming Xi's revival ability.