Chapter 484: Powerless?

Chapter 484: Chapter 484: Powerless?

The Guardian Corps members remaining by Elder Shaw’s side spontaneously cleared out an area to use as a temporary shelter.

It was a place to put the rescued researchers; the injured were sent directly to the clinic. Right now, time was of the essence.

One after another, Guardian Corps members emerged in twos and threes, carrying or supporting researchers. They placed them in the temporary shelter, gasping for breath, before tirelessly diving back into the ruins.

To continue the search and rescue...

Elder Shaw had already sent for the medical team as soon as he learned the research institute was destroyed.

Now, seeing people being brought out, the medical team swarmed forward without needing to be told. But when they saw the casualties, they all froze. The situation was grim...

There was a hole torn through the victim’s chest, with blood sprayed across their upper body. Elder Shaw’s breath hitched. ’Is there any hope of saving them?’

Clearly, there was none. The heart had been torn right out.

Elder Shaw fell silent for a moment before saying with difficulty, "Quickly, check the next victim."

The medical team, split into five groups, was methodically treating the injured. If a victim was still breathing but their condition was beyond what the team could handle on-site, a member of The Guardian Corps would be assigned to escort them to the clinic.

As time ticked by, the secretary at his side began tallying the casualties against the research institute’s personnel roster.

Elder Shaw grew increasingly anxious, pacing back and forth.

Finally, the last member of the search party from The Guardian Corps emerged from the rubble. He shook his head in regret. "We’ve gotten everyone out who could be saved."

Frost Shaw wearily shook his head, dust flying from his hair. He took a sip of water to clear his throat. "Some were buried too deep, or they were already... mangled beyond recognition."

There was nothing more they could do.

A towering fury burned in Elder Shaw’s eyes. Before, he had only wanted to stop the mutated plant from harming people.

But now... he truly wanted to catch it and tear it to shreds!

’And that would be getting off lightly,’ Elder Shaw thought resentfully. He quickly gave the order, "Send them all to the clinic. At least it will make them more comfortable."

The on-site medical team could only provide first aid to stop the bleeding and manage the pain; further treatment was only possible at the clinic.

After all, supplies at the temporary shelter were limited.

Just as The Guardian Corps was escorting the injured to the clinic, Elder Shaw received a message from Logan Holland.

It was another disaster. The residential area had also been attacked by the mutated plant.

Fortunately, Elder Shaw had the foresight to station members of The Guardian Corps and superpower users there beforehand, so the casualties weren’t severe.

Waves of injured people were now being sent to the clinic. Lily Hart was running around frantically outside, and her team was just as busy inside.

But with only three Treatment Pods, it was far from enough. Then, with a flash of inspiration, Lily Hart duplicated the entire clinic.

’Hooray, six Treatment Pods! Everyone can be saved!’

The speed of treatment immediately increased. Given the special circumstances this time, Lily Hart gave everyone an eighty percent discount. ’They’re all poor souls...’

Thankfully, the Treatment Pods were incredibly effective, making the healing process remarkably fast.

Patients with minor injuries only needed three to five minutes. Even those with very severe wounds might take only seven to ten minutes, which was incredibly quick.

As Lily Hart bustled about the clinic, she prayed for everyone’s safe return. She was probably too far away now; she could no longer see the giant plant.

Even though she could no longer see it, that didn’t change the fact that Central Command was still in dire straits.

First, the research institute was destroyed, then the residential area was attacked.

Now, the core area was under attack. Elder Shaw and the others were being led around like donkeys chasing a carrot, rushing from one disaster to the next. Every time they arrived, they were greeted by a scene of utter devastation.

There was no pattern to the attacks, and they had no idea where it would strike next. All they could do was try to be prepared.

Everyone was being run ragged. They had just finished pulling survivors from the core area when, right on cue, the next attack began.

Frost Shaw’s face was grim. "We can’t keep going on like this."

Everyone knew this wasn’t a sustainable solution, but they were also completely powerless against the mutated plant.

They couldn’t catch it, they couldn’t see it, and they couldn’t even beat it.

They were completely on the defensive.

Elder Shaw looked exhausted. He took small sips from a bottle of water, worry flickering in his eyes. He knew this couldn’t go on, but they still had to save who they could.

And they had to continue taking what preventive measures they could.

Frost Shaw called Lily Hart. He could tell it was noisy on her end, like she was in a crowd of people.

"Lily Hart, can you hear me?" Frost Shaw asked softly, awaiting her response.

"Yeah. What’s up, Frost Shaw?" Lily Hart quickly found a less crowded corner to talk.

The moment Frost Shaw heard her voice, his anxious heart instantly calmed. He reported the facts. "We can’t find any trace of it, and we can’t figure out its attack pattern."

Lily Hart considered it. "Why don’t I come over and give it a try?"

’I have the system,’ she thought, ’which is like having a pair of X-ray eyes.’

’What if I get lucky and manage to find it?’

Frost Shaw hesitated. She had always been incredibly capable, rarely facing a challenge she couldn’t overcome. He believed this time would be no different.

She would be able to resolve this crisis as well.

"Alright. Be careful," Frost Shaw said.

Lily Hart agreed and asked Linnie Shaw from the bar to look after the clinic for her. She had to go to Central Command.

Linnie Shaw was worried about her but didn’t press the issue, simply nodding. "Be careful, then. Do you need someone to go with you?"

"I’ll be fine," Lily Hart replied, turning and heading toward Central Command.

She moved quickly, her retreating figure looking carefree. It was as if she were heading off on vacation rather than to rescue people from a disaster.

Linnie Shaw admired her relaxed demeanor but couldn’t help but worry.

This time, Lily Hart didn’t take her RV; she went alone.

Finding her own pace too slow, she summoned a Sunflower, sat on one of its broad leaves, and let it carry her off at a sprint.

Since the Sunflower had just a single stalk, two leaves, and a large, disc-like head of seeds, the way it moved was hilarious.

It bounded along, and each leap covered an incredible distance—ten or so meters in a single jump.

But sitting on its leaf, Lily Hart felt no bumps at all. The ride was surprisingly stable.

「A minute later.」

She arrived where Frost Shaw and the others were gathered.

Frost Shaw felt like he had just hung up the phone. Now, here she was, arriving on a Sunflower. Her speed was unbelievable.

He snapped out of his daze and hurried forward to help her dismount. Roman Rowe and the others quickly gathered around, their expressions visibly relieved, as if their savior had arrived.

Lily Hart nodded, wasting no time on pleasantries. Her eyes swept across the area, taking in the scene.

This was the core area, where Central Command’s leadership resided, but it was now completely unrecognizable.

It looked as if an earthquake had struck; all the buildings had been reduced to rubble.

Thankfully, however, after the research institute was destroyed, Elder Shaw had the foresight to have Logan Holland and his team move all survivors into the underground air-raid shelters.

A thick coat of "Plant-Death" ointment was also smeared around the shelter entrances. They had to stop it. They couldn’t let it slaughter any more people.