Chapter 101 Taken Hostage
Amidst the turmoil, several fighters had inadvertently ventured dangerously close to the adversary’s lines Ultimately, when the foes executed their self–destruction strategy, though these fighters pulled back, the visceral aftermath scattered far and wide–flesh and blood flung across the battlefield. Tragically, some were caught in this ghastly spray, among them Kallum, who bore the brunt of it.
Ryder’s expression darkened as he remarked, “Mr. Kallum, are you insinuating that…”
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Just then, his communication device began to chime insistently. He swiftly attended to the call, and the voice of Quintus, tinged with panic, permeated the line from the other end.
“There’s a dire situation. Ryder! A handful of us, about four or five, have started feeling terribly ill. Those individuals who attempted to thwart our efforts earlier, they’re all carriers of the disease!”
Ryder was struck by an overwhelming sense of disbelief. What manner of illness could manifest so quickly and spread with such virulence?
A sudden flicker of dread pierced his thoughts. “K Virus!”
Kallum spat out yet another mouthful of blood. The phrase “K Virus” simultaneously flashed across his consciousness. For the first time in his existence, a profound sense of fear overtook him.
Should it indeed be the K Virus, the likelihood that he might never again lay eyes on Calista was agonizingly high. That departure they had recently might well have been their final goodbye.
Ryder was dumbfounded by the severity of the situation. The contingent that had just departed numbered in the thousands–two thousand, to be precise. If all were to fall victim to this virus, merely to target Kallum, it spoke volumes of the enemy’s mercilessness; it was almost demonic in nature.
What was more, the K Virus, known for being incurable, would not typically be unleashed unless there was an intent to decimate an entire nation–to obliterate the very fabric of the world!
The virus, which first surfaced over two centuries ago, had claimed upward of a million lives since its
emergence.
When the initial outbreak struck Turlen, the global community of virus research experts converged to try to manage the situation.
Despite their efforts, the virus proved unstoppable and incurably lethal, spreading swiftly and universally fatal within a month. During those despairing times, the grim recourse was to euthanize those afflicted. Their remains were incinerated in large numbers, their ashes buried deep underground.
Over a hundred years previously, an epidemic had devastated an entire city. Ultimately, the entire area. was cordoned off under strict quarantine, The government of Turlen mandated that all residents remain indoors, effectively scaling all exits and condemning the inhabitants to a fate of isolation. To this day, that place remains deserted, now notorious as a haunted ghost town where, if one dares to visit at night, the eerie sounds of frantic knocking can still be heard.
If the entire group of people was infected, this could spell the end of Lostaria.
At that moment, Kallum, still able to think clearly, hastily communicated with the Lostarian government, alerting them to the potential resurgence of the K Virus. The officials, upon realizing the gravity of the threat, quickly dispatched their most elite unit to tackle the virus with decisive and rapid action.
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Chapter 101 Token Hostage
Fortunately, the scene of the recent encounter had been a deserted urban area, which aided significantly in containing any potential spread of the virus.
Kallum remained composed as he issued another directive, this time to Gunner, to quarantine the afflicted individuals and transport them to the military district. Though the K Virus was formidable, a development. had been made in the form of an antibody. If administered within the first two hours of infection, it offered a slim one percent chance of survival.
He then relayed a detailed message back to his home nation, emphasizing the critical importance maintaining national defense measures.
of
Soon, the physical toll became too much for him, and beads of sweat the size of beans began to form and trickle down his forehead.
“Hurry back! Get to the military district! There’s still a chance if we administer the antibodies now…” Ryder urgently directed the pilot, who promptly executed a sharp turn.
Meanwhile, Kaiser tried to speak but found himself overwhelmed, unable to articulate a word. Those afflicted with the K Virus typically suffered a fever for three days, with many succumbing to the fever
alone.
At that precise moment, Kallum’s communication device unexpectedly rang again. He instinctively answered, only to be greeted by a shrill voice that resonated with menacing calm. “Mr. Kallum… Your reputation precedes you…”
Kallum tensed, biting his tongue to maintain his focus, yet the voice on the other line continued with a measured cadence.
“Although we’ve never met, Mr. Kallum, you’ve caused me considerable suffering. There’s a proverb in your nation, reprisal for a wrong should be directed at the perpetrator.’ If it weren’t for your intervention, military might have advanced unchecked. Your creation of the antiviral capsule thwarted what would been a swift conquest of your nation! We’ve been strategizing this for decades, but you’ve thwarted ry step. Mr. Kallum, surely you must realize who I am by now, correct?”
Indeed, he recognized the voice as that of Uriah Jurickson, the mastermind of the unrest within Lostaria, a man of ambitious designs.
Kallum’s eyes became bloodshot with fury as he demanded, “Where is Calista? Where is she!”
“I had no idea you were such a romantic, Mr. Kallum. Initially, I dismissed her as a trivial matter, but clearly, I was mistaken,” the voice taunted, followed by a sinister chuckle.
Then, chillingly, the voice instructed, “Come, young lady, tell him who you are.”
A palpable silence ensued, yet it felt as though Kallum sensed something, his voice quavering slightly. “Calista?”
Calista herself had never anticipated finding herself in such dire straits. Shortly after her fall, she found herself encircled. Had it not been for her injured thigh, she might have evaded capture far more adeptly.
Once captured, though, she quickly resigned herself to her fate.
Kallum carried a significant burden, not merely of personal attachment but of broader implications. She couldn’t allow herself to be used as leverage against him. Thus, even when Uriah taunted her by prodding her wound with a knife, she remained stoically silent a testament to her resolve.
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Chapter 101 Taken Hostage
Uriah’s eyes gleamed with intrigue as he observed the young woman’s fortitude, finding her quite fascinating.
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