With the man in blue's help, Aeris's team freed their military vehicle from the body of the huge Mountain-Eaters.
Then they raced toward the base, the vehicle rattling over rocky terrain.
Aeris stood on the roof, her rifle steady as she fired at the creatures chasing them. Her heart pounded, but she kept her focus, knowing her team's survival depended on her aim.
"Sir, any idea what's happening at the Eclipse Orchid?" she asked, her voice calm despite the chaos.
The man in blue scanned the horizon, his armour rippling faintly with magical runes. "No clue. But an emergency call means it's bad."
Aeris nodded, squeezing the trigger to down another Mountain-Eater. Silence fell between them as she kept shooting, and he stayed alert for new threats.
Soon, the massive five-story Eclipse Orchid rose before them, with a layer of toxic green mist surrounded its entire frame.
Without a word, the man in blue leaped off the vehicle, vanishing toward the Orchid at blinding speed.
"Drakna, floor it!" Aeris shouted. "We need to get there now!"
"On it!" Drakna, the team's fiery dwarven driver, yelled, slamming the accelerator. The vehicle surged forward, jolting everyone in their seats.
***
As Aeris's team sped toward the base, chaos erupted near the Eclipse Orchid.
Vehicles battled swarms of Mountain-Eaters, their claws tearing at armored hulls.
Aeris's team joined the fight, blasting creatures to clear a path. They pulled up beside another vehicle, and Aeris leaned out, wind whipping her hair.
"What's going on?" she called.
A soldier shouted back, "We don't know much! We need healers urgently!" He pointed down the path. "There's a temporary base that way. Head there and help!"
"Got it!" Aeris replied, signaling Drakna to speed off.
In the distance, they spotted armored vehicles and tents clustered together. Another vehicle rolled up beside them. "Identify yourselves!" a soldier demanded.
"Hunting Team B-12," Aeris answered. "What's the situation?"
"The Orchid released a new poison—it burned straight through our armor. Many scientists and soldiers were exposed.
Healers, get to the medical tents. Everyone else, report to the command post for new orders."
"Understood," Aeris said. Her team split up—William, Tonto, and another healer rushed to the medical tent.
While Aeris and the others headed to the command post. She glanced back at William, hoping he was ready for what awaited.
Inside the medical tent, William faced a grim scene.
Soldiers lay on cots, black pus oozing from their skin, their groans filling the air with pain.
Healers worked frantically, sweat dripping down their faces.
"Stop staring and help!" a medic barked, shoving crates of needles, creams, and IV bags into their hands. "You know how to treat Toxcarver poison, right?"
"Yes," William said, moving to a patient whose face was half-covered in black pus. He grabbed supplies, his hands steady despite the chaos.
"You sure you know what you're doing, kid?" a nearby healer asked. "Head wounds are tough."
"I've done this before," William replied, his voice firm. "Head injuries kill faster, so I'm starting with them."
The healer watched him work, then nodded and turned back to her patient.
Hours dragged on. More healers arrived, but the flood of injured soldiers didn't stop.
William moved from one patient to the next, his focus unbreakable, though exhaustion weighed on him.
"It… hurts…" a patient groaned, his voice barely a whisper. "Please… make it stop…"
William's eyes widened. "His pupils are dilating! He's going into shock! Get the emergency kit!"
An assistant rushed over with the kit. William injected an adrenaline vial into the patient's thigh.
Seconds passed—nothing. The man's bracelet flashed red, signaling his heart had stopped.
"He's flatlining! Defibrillator, now!" William shouted.
An assistant handed him the device. William pressed the pads to the man's chest. "Clear!"
One shock. No response. William started chest compressions, counting under his breath. "Come on, stay with me."
"Clear!" Two shocks. Still nothing. Sweat dripped down his face as he pumped his chest again.
"Clear!" Three shocks. The tent grew quiet. William's hands trembled, but he kept going.
"Clear!" Four shocks. No change. The bracelet stayed red.
"Clear!" Five shocks. The patient's chest remained still. The poison had won.
William's hands shook as he lowered the defibrillator. He'd lost another one. Swallowing hard, he forced himself to speak.
"Patient deceased at 16:04, July 23, 5002," he said quietly to a nearby soldier. "Please, take him away."
He stood, the weight of failure heavy on his shoulders, and moved to the next patient.
No one offered comfort as more soldiers and scientists were dying, demanding every healer's attention.
Tonto glanced at William, his eyes lingering with quiet concern before he returned to his work.
***
In a large semi-truck, soldiers in blue armor and scientists stood around a holographic table.
The hologram showed the Eclipse Orchid, its toxic mist swirling in real-time.
Jacob, General Isaac's right-hand lieutenant, sat at the head of the table, his authoritative presence commanding the room.
"Are we still uprooting the entire plant, or has the plan changed?" a senior soldier asked, breaking the silence.
No one spoke at first, their eyes locked on the hologram. Dr. Henry, a scientist in a white coat, answered.
"The Orchid's poison isn't like the Toxcarver's. It adapts to threats."
"What do you mean?" Jacob asked, his voice steady but edged with urgency.
"Our suits were designed to resist Toxcarver poison," Henry said. "But the Orchid's mist melted right through them. It's more corrosive—though less lethal. Most of our people survived."
Jacob leaned forward. "So the plant changes its poison depending on what it's up against?"
"Exactly! That's why we must uproot it to study its adaptive abilities."
Jacob frowned. "Doctor, most of your scientists are down. Our soldiers are falling back to send healers to the injured.
With High-Mage Gerald and General Isaac tied up, and Mountain-Eaters pushing us back, I'm not sure we can even harvest the Orchid, let alone uproot it."
Dr. Henry's face darkened, his eyes dropping to the table. "No… we can do it. With my remaining scientists and your soldiers, we have a chance."
"You're suggesting we pull more soldiers from the frontlines?" Jacob's voice rose, his calm cracking. "That'll weaken our defenses and cost hundreds of lives!"
Dr. Henry started sweating under Jacob's intense gaze, but he clenched his fists, determined not to let this opportunity slip away.
"Lieutenant Jacob! The Marshall himself ordered the Orchid's uprooting. Are you defying his orders?" he shouted, avoiding Jacob's eyes.
The room froze. Jacob stared at Dr. Henry, who kept his head down. After a tense moment, Jacob relented.
"Fine. I'll send all available units to uproot the plant. Elite units will hold the frontlines. Is that acceptable, Doctor?"
Dr. Henry took a deep breath. "Yes, that's fine."
"Then let's draft a new plan," Jacob said. The group began discussing, the tension fading as they focused on the mission.