Originium.
A crystalline mineral rich in energy, brought to Talos-II by humanity.
Originium exists in several forms. It is the single most important natural energy source and industrial raw material in human applications. Its energy density is extraordinarily high—usable either by direct combustion to release power, or through further processing.
It is, without question, a gift of nature.
But it isn't flawless.
When Originium releases its vast internal energy, it does not leave residue like ordinary fuels. Instead, it gradually breaks down into fine particulate dust. This process is known as Originium activation.
Activated Originium carries a risk of spreading Oripathy.
On Talos-II, however, this risk has been effectively brought under control.
Beyond that, the energy Originium releases can be converted through multiple pathways—into heat, and into virtually any other known form of energy.
This property is called Originium adaptability.
It is precisely this adaptability that cements Originium's unshakable position at the center of human economic activity.
As an aside—
One of Terra's three "Prime Originium" seeds made its way to Talos-II.
All Originium on Talos-II traces back to it, because Originium has the ability to grow naturally.
One of the Union Guild's major tasks is to cultivate Originium crystal clusters across the surface of Talos-II, ensuring the resource can be mined sustainably.
More than that—
A fact only recognized in modern times is that Originium is an artificial information carrier. It can reshape the environment it inhabits—甚至 influencing the course of biological evolution.
As for what its creators truly expected of Terra's civilization… we still don't have a clear answer.
But one thing is certain: no matter how you look at it, separating humanity from Originium is no longer possible.
Because Terra's civilization is built on Originium.
The damp air here was terrible for a patient's recovery—if anything, it could worsen symptoms.
So when an episode struck, it was almost like a death sentence.
"She… I don't know when she caught Oripathy. And now we've run out of medicine. I—I don't know what to do…"
Kaja looked at his sick younger sister, his voice filled with helplessness.
The moment Hao Fan heard Oripathy, his expression changed.
Any Doctor who'd played Arknights knew what that word meant:
An incurable terminal disease.
Perlica, however, stayed composed. She crouched down and asked gently, "How do you feel? Where does it hurt?"
"Sis… I…" Aji's lips moved, but she was too weak to finish.
Kaja's panic deepened.
"She… these past few days she keeps saying the 'stones' hurt. Her stomach hurts too. It hurts even more when she tries to eat."
He swallowed hard, eyes reddening.
"Last night she had a high fever… and there were sparks snapping around her. I—I was terrified…"
"I understand," Perlica said, still steady—calm in a way that made people feel safe. "Classic Oripathy presentation. External crystallization, internal compression, and uncontrolled Arts discharge… There's still time."
She looked up. "How long has she gone without medication?"
"Nearly two weeks," Soss answered with a weary sigh from the side. "We used to pick up some meds from the Guild. Then the Riftbreakers started hitting us. The survivors fled down here. The medicine ran out… and Aji's condition took a nosedive."
The shelter leader's eyes were heavy with powerlessness.
What he said, though, made Hao Fan catch an important detail:
The timeline.
Aji wouldn't be dosing every single day, so it wasn't like the attack had happened exactly two weeks ago.
But this shelter also clearly wasn't built yesterday. They'd been hiding for a long while.
Meaning the first strikes—meant to cut off information—had begun far earlier than anyone expected.
And to avoid alerting the Guild, the earliest stage had likely been small-scale harassment, quietly sealing routes, ensuring no one in the area could escape.
By the time the Valley Passage turned into this disaster, the Hub Base had known nothing at all.
This wasn't the work of a disorganized rabble.
A plan like this… the once-scattered Crushbone clan couldn't have pulled it off.
So the mind behind it had to be that mysterious leader—
Nephis.
"Saving her comes first," Perlica said, having reached the same conclusion but refusing to dwell on it now.
"I still have a few doses of Oripathy suppressant. It should ease the symptoms."
She drew a metal case bearing Endfield's emblem from her Protocol Originium.
She keyed in the password, opened it, took out a dose, and injected it with precise, practiced motions.
At once, the faint crackle of sparks around Aji vanished—her unstable Arts discharge settling down.
Even the Originium crystals spreading along her arm stopped worsening, the disease brought under control.
Hao Fan, hidden beneath the shadow of his hood, felt genuine shock.
The refugees' eyes changed too—wariness loosening into something closer to trust.
"Thank you! Thank you—thank you so much!"
Seeing his sister push herself up, looking like she'd finally escaped the brink, Kaja's breath shook as he let go of fear he'd been holding for days.
"I was so scared something would happen to her… Endfield—you're our lifesavers!"
"No need to thank us," Perlica said softly. "Oripathy can't be fully cured, but with regular suppressants, most symptoms can be controlled."
She gently ruffled the little Perro girl's hair. "How is it? Does it feel better?"
"It… doesn't hurt as much," Aji said, lifting her head with a clean, innocent smile. "Thank you,姐姐!"
"Thank your brother, too," Perlica said with a light laugh. "He ran out into danger just to find medicine for you. Rest well. Your body is still very weak—you'll need time to recover."
"Okay…" Aji nodded obediently. "I feel… kind of sleepy."
She lay back down, eyes fluttering.
Kaja sank to the ground beside her and stayed there, silently keeping watch—no longer wanting to go anywhere at all.
"…That's good."
Under the hood of his Doctor's coat, Hao Fan smiled—quiet, heartfelt.
"Not as hopeless as it was back on Terra," he murmured.
"Thank God."
....
My Patreon : patreon/RuneA
If you want to read the novel in advance, you can subscribe for early access. I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in
I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length. If you're following a particular series, please wait your turn a little
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it