Once they officially entered the mobile medical unit, Jiang Hui and Clarens were finally removed from the chaotic battlefield, completely out of danger.
Of the two, Clarens was in far greater need of treatment. He had been unconscious for some time, even during the most critical moments when he nearly faced death by being crushed. Yet, he showed no signs of waking, as if he had fallen into a deep, deathlike coma.
The soldier who initially examined him had noted that Clarens, due to excessive blood loss, was experiencing a rapid decline in physical stamina and vital energy. To preserve bodily functions, his body had entered a self-protective state of functional shock. However, unlike his body’s critically low metrics, his mental state was surprisingly active—he might still be conscious.
As expected, after entering the mobile medical unit, the medics performing emergency treatment discovered that Clarens’s mental force remained fully alert. Despite outwardly appearing comatose, his consciousness was clear, able to perceive subtle changes in the external environment, even hearing and sensing them.
In this polarized state, the pain he experienced was several times more intense than when fully awake.
Had he been in such agony all along? Vividly feeling the searing pain of his wounds, overwhelmed by the chaotic cacophony of the outside world, and acutely aware that he was facing a catastrophic disaster… yet powerless to act, he could only keep his eyes shut, his soul trapped in a helpless shell, futilely awaiting death.
Imagining such a plight, Jiang Hui felt an indescribable pressure crashing down on her, suffocating her with its weight.
‘You must be suffering, too, right?’ Jiang Hui was pushed aside by the medics urgently tending to Clarens. She gazed at his pale face at the center of their efforts, his eyes tightly closed. Yet, whether it was her imagination, she vaguely sensed him struggling restlessly in the darkness.
“But we both survived… so wake up soon.” Everything will be alright, Jiang Hui thought silently.
“Young lady, come sit over here. Let me check on you—your complexion doesn’t look good,” a gentle-looking female medic said, placing a hand on Jiang Hui’s shoulder and guiding her to a nearby medical bed.
The mobile medical unit was spacious, staffed with four or five medics. However, aside from the medics and related personnel, the only patients were Jiang Hui and Clarens—or rather, they were the only two survivors transported.
Of the two, Clarens’s condition was undeniably more severe. The soldier who contacted the medical unit had likely already reported Clarens’s condition, so as soon as they were brought aboard, all the medics in the cabin swarmed to begin emergency treatment on him.
They had questioned Jiang Hui, but her condition appeared stable, and she insisted on checking on Clarens first, following the medics to his side. As a result, she hadn’t undergone any medical examination during that time.
The female medic, who had been observing Jiang Hui since earlier, noticed her complexion growing increasingly pale. Concerned about possible hidden internal injuries, she took the opportunity to give Jiang Hui a dedicated check-up.
The results showed no major issues, but there were still plenty of problems. Jiang Hui had varying degrees of muscle strain and overexertion in her hands, legs, and throughout her body. These issues weren’t yet noticeable but would likely become apparent by tomorrow. Moreover, the ordeal had triggered a particularly troublesome recurring condition: mental energy depletion.
This was not good news.
Over the past few months, Jiang Hui had suffered multiple injuries, with her mental energy depleted to varying degrees. The medic Michael, who had examined her at the time, had shaken his head in disapproval. He warned her that if she didn’t want complications with her potential third awakening, she needed to be more mindful of her mental energy state and avoid repeated depletions.
Her internalized brain domain exhibited external symptoms and anomalies that even Michael, with his extensive medical experience, couldn’t fully decipher. Unable to stay and monitor her constantly, he could only advise Jiang Hui to vigilantly track her mental state to prevent destabilization.
To that end, he taught her several techniques and exercises to strengthen her mental energy and worked to balance her brain domain’s energy state. Before leaving the resident star system, Michael had confirmed that Jiang Hui’s mental energy depletion was fully resolved, with no lingering issues—a diagnosis he personally endorsed.
Following his regimen, Jiang Hui conducted several adjustments and training sessions, which not only enhanced her mental energy’s flexibility but also significantly stabilized her previously unsteady mental energy barrier.
She even felt her mental energy had slightly improved. Just days ago, she had undergone high-intensity mental energy activities during mech training without any issues, a clear sign of full recovery.
Yet, after attending today’s match and enduring the ensuing catastrophe, she had once again depleted her mental energy. This underscored the immense pressure and strain she had endured today. Had the situation dragged on any longer, she likely wouldn’t have lasted much longer.
The female medic, unaware of Jiang Hui’s medical history, couldn’t access detailed personal records in the rudimentary conditions of the mobile unit. Seeing what appeared to be relatively mild symptoms, she breathed a sigh of relief and promptly retrieved a mental energy supplement for Jiang Hui to take.
Noticing Jiang Hui’s silence, the medic assumed she was frightened and offered soft words of comfort…
Jiang Hui wasn’t truly scared; she was simply exhausted. Even now, with the tension easing and both she and her companion seemingly safe, she couldn’t fully shake the lingering impact of the brutal scenes she had witnessed, leaving her slightly dazed.
This dazed state persisted until the mobile medical unit’s door suddenly opened, and a group of people rushed in.
The medics had already performed emergency treatment and stabilization on Clarens. His condition was now stable, awaiting formal treatment at a hospital.
Given Clarens’s critical condition, the medical unit was expected to head directly to the nearest military hospital without stopping. However, judging by the timing, they couldn’t have reached the hospital so quickly. Moreover, the group that entered had bypassed the pilot’s authority and barged in—more like intruders than visitors.
When they entered, the medics had dispersed to the other end of the unit, monitoring and analyzing Clarens’s vital signs to ensure his survival.
Jiang Hui sat quietly on a nearby bed, waiting for her friend’s treatment to progress.
The sudden arrival of strangers, their unfamiliar and aggressive presence, jolted her out of her vacant state. Yet, amid the unfamiliarity, there was a faint trace of something familiar. Before she could pinpoint it, the group sprang into action.
“Jiang Hui… Clarens?!” The boy, usually carefree and a bit reckless, had never seemed so unhinged as he did now. His hoarse voice carried a hint of a sob, trembling with emotion.