Arknights' Lock of Heaven

Until she saw the end of the document, where Kal'tsit meticulously described how, after undergoing special treatment using Originium Arts, Specter no longer went berserk and attacked others, her greatsword clattered to the ground.

"She behaved perfectly normally and did not attack any of the doctors who treated her during the observation period."

"She doesn't just drag people around and introduce them to churches that she herself can't even explain."

"In short, apart from the memory she lost for unknown reasons, she now behaves no differently from any other ordinary Oripathy patient."

"..."

Skadi could hardly believe it.

She couldn't believe that her trip out had caused such a change in Ghost Shark's condition.

In Kal'tsit's summary, everything was moving in a positive direction.

Skadi's eyes were somewhat dazed.

Ghost shark, ghost shark...

Even though she wasn't on the same team as Skadi in Agor, Skadi still had a deep impression of her.

Having lost contact with her companions and her hometown, Skadi's only solace in the past is Ghost Shark, who has been infected with Oripathy for unknown reasons.

Why did Skadi stay on Rhodes Island?

Because apart from this place, she could find no one else who could cure Ghost Shark.

Even though Kal'tsit always tells riddles, at least her medical skills are genuine, and her understanding of those things is not fake.

Skadi had grown accustomed to life on Rhodes Island.

Each time, after returning for two days to rest, I would check on Ghost Shark's condition, then take on the next mission, complete it, return, check on Ghost Shark again (who still showed no improvement), and then take on the next mission.

These days went by one after another.

She gradually became numb.

She came here this time because she learned through some channels that the key to the so-called knight's treasure had some unknown use for Kal'tsit.

So she didn't tell anyone, picked up her greatsword, and came to Drip Village alone.

She has done things like this many times before.

Kal'tsit, Kal'tsit, this mysterious woman.

Even after knowing her for so long, Skadi still couldn't see through her true nature.

All I know is that she knows a lot.

Therefore, for Specter, even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, she would get what Kal'tsit needs.

Aside from her brute strength, she couldn't find anything she could trade with Kal'tsit.

The once technologically powerful Agor has fallen silent, and Skadi has lost her homeland.

Now, Ghost Shark, this mentally unstable former comrade-in-arms, is her only remaining hope for the past.

So, even if it costs her everything, she will cure Ghost Shark.

After reading the report in her hand, Skadi looked up and carefully examined the person in front of her.

Her long, cyan hair fluttered in the wind, and her face, which was so beautiful that it made people sigh with admiration, looked at him with a hint of expectation. Her limbs, with their thin arms and legs, did not resemble the fierce warrior who could wrestle with him.

“I haven’t seen you on Rhodes Island,” she said, looking into Xia Yu’s eyes, “but your name seems to ring a bell…”

“I’ve never seen you either,” Xia Yu said with a strange expression, “but I’ve known of your existence for a long time.”

Seeing Skadi's probing gaze, he sighed and explained, "We were roommates sharing a cabin..."

"The third room to the left of your dorm is my dorm on Rhodes Island."

“Roommate…” Skadi suddenly realized what was going on.

I was wondering why I felt like I'd seen the name Xia Yu somewhere before.

Oh, it's the person who just moved in.

The fact that this person was able to move into this dormitory means they're not an ordinary person.

At least his status wouldn't be lower than that ever-smiling dragon girl.

Although Xia Yu's gossip was rampant on Rhodes Island, even operators like Anto who were away had heard about it, Skadi's popularity on Rhodes Island...

No one would discuss these things with her.

That's why she knew nothing about Xia Yu.

"May I see your Originium Arts?" Skadi pondered for a moment before asking, "You said you used, um, Originium Arts to heal Specter, right?"

Her gaze swept up and down Xia Yu's body. If it was that electromagnetic cannon that inexplicably appeared out of the sky before... how could this thing cure diseases?

She was curious.

“Uh, Originium Arts,” Xia Yu paused for a moment after hearing her request, then replied, “Of course.”

Then, golden chains emerged from behind him and slowly moved toward Skadi.

Skadi frowned upon seeing this.

Chains? Not the previous ones...

Before she could figure it out, the Lock of Heaven was already beside her.

Skadi's mind was already too full to hold any more complicated thoughts.

That faintly visible aura was an irresistible temptation for her.

It was as if... as if... even Skadi couldn't describe the feeling.

It's that kind of feeling, that kind of feeling like being reborn...

Driven by instinct, she reached out and grabbed the chains in front of her.

At the moment of contact, Skadi seemed to hear a mournful wail that was not human.

Holding the chains in his hands, even though his body showed no change, he inexplicably felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

My whole body felt incredibly light.

The drowsiness in my mind was swept away, and the faint murmurs disappeared.

It's like someone who has been plagued by tinnitus for years suddenly being freed from the disturbance, experiencing a feeling of complete rejuvenation...

Skadi is beyond description.

"Hmm~"

Her body involuntarily emitted sounds of joy.

Xia Yu, sitting opposite, seemed to have anticipated this.

Then a barely perceptible blush slowly crept onto Skadi's face.

Titi is a normal girl, but this voice is just too suggestive.

After a long silence, she took a deep breath and put the previous embarrassment behind her.

"..."

"Ghost Shark, is she in the same situation as me now? Does her condition improve just by being in contact with you?"

The girl's shyness was just a fleeting thought; she quickly transformed back into the fearless warrior she once was.

She found that her current situation seemed to confirm a long-held suspicion that had been lingering in her mind.

“Hmm,” Xia Yu nodded upon hearing this, and said, “Actually, I didn’t do much, I just let her come into contact with the chains.”

“It seems my guess was right,” Skadi murmured to herself, “Indeed…it’s related to the deep sea.”

After he brought her back to Rhodes Island, Kal'tsit told him frankly that Oripathy alone would not have caused her to be the way she is now.

There must be other contributing factors.

Skadi has been searching for clues all these years, but unfortunately, it's as if those people never existed; everything has long since vanished without a trace.

Thinking of this, she raised her head and looked deeply at Xia Yu.

Originium skills?

She didn't believe it. She had seen and killed far more sorcerers than anyone else, including countless Originium Arts.

This method... is simply unheard of.

If its mere existence is enough to isolate it from the influence of the deep sea, then its very existence is remarkable.

If he had been there in that battle...

Perhaps, a few more comrades will survive.

I won't have to wander this continent all alone anymore.

His only companion, Ghost Shark, has gone mad.

Skadi took a deep breath as she thought about this.

I still haven't been able to fully understand Kal'tsit; I never expected she would know someone like that.

Skadi clearly saw Xia Yu as a valuable resource in Kal'tsit's ever-present network of connections.