Xia Yu picked up the Golden Order Seal and cast another incantation.
Law of Regression.
This was an incantation of the Golden Order Fundamentalists. It could heal all abnormal statuses, dispel special effects, and even shed all mimicry to reveal the true form of things. She wanted to see if this incantation could actually affect Oripathy.
Bathed in the golden rain of light, the surrounding Infected instantly felt a sense of relief wash over them.
The gazes they directed toward Xia Yu were filled with friendliness. A middle-aged mother holding a dying child nodded gratefully toward her. They could feel their conditions easing significantly within that golden radiance.
But it was not enough—not nearly enough.
Simple spells were no longer sufficient to meet Xia Yu's requirements. Merely alleviating pain didn't require her magic; many medical supplies could achieve that.
With that thought, Xia Yu looked toward the dim Elden Ring within her body.
The Elden Ring—or rather, the Golden Order within Xia Yu—was the manifestation of the rules of a world or a planet. The Ring was not brought by an outsider like the Greater Will; the Laws had existed since the era of the Crucible. The Golden Lineage had simply seized the orthodox position later on.
The Ring could perform many miracles. It could strip away or accommodate special rules, and even modify the fundamental laws of the area it covered. The most direct manifestation of this was Erdtree Burial.
When the people of Gold died, they did not simply perish. They were transported to the catacombs at the foot of the Erdtree for the rite of return. Since the rule of Death was sealed, the Erdtree took over the responsibility of the cycle of life and death.
It was precisely because of this that when Godwyn the Golden, the firstborn of the Golden Lineage, died at the hands of the Black Knife Assassins during the Night of the Black Knives, his fate of immortality clashed with the power of Destined Death. This created a "bug" in the world's logic, leaving him in a distorted, mutated state—flesh alive, but soul forever gone. He became the first of Those Who Live in Death.
Furthermore, Marika shattered the Elden Ring later on, ensuring this bug could not be fixed until the Ring was repaired. The citizens of Gold could neither return to the roots nor truly die. The withered, gaunt Golden Aristocrats wandering the Lands Between existed in despair, searching for a way to kill themselves.
Some bound themselves and offered their bodies to dragons, hoping dragonfire could end them. Others fruitlessly excavated the ruins of Farum Azula, hoping to find a shard of Destined Death to end their eternal lives.
They were not even the most miserable. That title belonged to the flesh slimes crawling on the ground. Those were once the people of Gold who, after dying over and over—even being eaten and excreted by beasts—could not die. Their bodies could not recover, leaving them as heaps of minced meat mixed with unknown debris, crawling around in despair.
Without a doubt, this was the influence the Ring could exert. This miraculous power could, in theory, completely rewrite the rules.
However, as one might know, the Ring was something developed bit by bit through primitive faith. Dynasty after dynasty had accepted and enshrined it. By now, it had become a mess of "spaghetti code." Trying to rewrite rules directly through it was no easy task.
Even though Marika governed the Ring for so many years, she could not achieve total mastery over it. Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to shatter it in the end.
Moreover, Xia Yu had not planted an Erdtree. She didn't even have a seed. The rules of the Ring could not cover the world, making large-scale miracles basically impossible.
But, if she released a spell through the Ring—not demanding a direct rule change, but rather enhancing an incantation based on the Laws...
Xia Yu shifted the energy source for the incantation from her own mana to the dim Ring within her. In an instant, golden rain covered the surrounding dozens of meters. The brilliance was so dazzling it seemed to eclipse the sun itself.
"Anton... Anton!" At that moment, a child cried out in surprise within the light. "Your hand! Your hand!"
Everyone looked toward the sound. On Anton's arm, which had just been covered in Originium crystals, the shards were cracking and peeling off. They fell with a rustling sound, revealing pale white flesh beneath.
Chronic illness receded; flesh and bone regenerated.
"Is this... is this a miracle?" A middle-aged Ursus woman nearby, holding Anton, murmured, "Child... my child..."
"Mama," the boy, who had been on the verge of death, reached up with difficulty to touch his mother's face. "I... I feel so light. Am I going to die?"
"No, you won't die. Child, you won't die!" His mother spoke through the relief of a narrow escape, watching the crystals fall from her son's body.
"Mine, my crystals are falling off too!" Someone else wiped at the crystals on their body and shouted in ecstasy, "It's true! They're really falling off!"
"What? Let me see... mine too!"
"And me! Me too!"
As the surrounding Infected discovered the changes in their bodies, their expressions shifted from disbelief to joy, and finally, to fanaticism.
They looked toward Xia Yu, standing in the light, with fervent eyes.
"God," Anton's mother knelt before Xia Yu while clutching her child. "Have you finally sent us your gospel?"
"Sigh." Seeing this, Xia Yu sighed and shook her head at Alina. "Now you know why I don't like staying with the Infected."
"I'm always soft-hearted; I can't help but save people when I see them suffering. But after they are saved, they invariably call me a god."
"Heh. I hate gods."
Furthermore, the salvation before them only served to highlight the prior suffering of the Infected. That Frenzied Flame was already burning fiercely, attempting to break through the seal of the Golden Needle and the Elden Ring to descend upon this world.
Meanwhile, Alina stood frozen like a wooden chicken.
"Is... is this right? Isn't Oripathy incurable?"
But they could no longer stay here. More Infected were gathering, seeing the fallen crystals on their companions and hearing the stories of what had just happened. Gradually, the eyes of these people also filled with fanaticism.
To be honest, with just this one move, Xia Yu could easily form a religion capable of spreading across all of Terra. It wouldn't even be impossible to eventually restore the Golden Lineage on Terra.
After all, the number of Sankta in Laterano was limited; they couldn't spread their faith to every corner of the world. But wherever civilization existed, there were Infected.
Oh, except for Kjerag. They had their beloved Goddess Kjeragandr; they didn't need other gods.
Xia Yu knew that by simply saving Alina, she would at most earn the gratitude of Talulah and those close to Alina within the Guerrillas. That wasn't enough—not nearly enough.
She had prepared two plans. One: if the incantations couldn't treat Oripathy, she would stay as a simple doctor.
Conversely, if she could treat it... that was a different story. People often don't cherish what comes easily. Xia Yu didn't want to collect medical fees from these people.
She needed to start with a "show of strength." People only realize the importance of an opportunity when they feel a sense of crisis, don't they?
'Ah, I'm so wicked.'
★ ★ ★
Soon, Xia Yu was invited into the main tent of the Guerrillas.
After seeing what happened, Patriot personally invited her. "Lady, please take the seat of honor."
His tone was incredibly polite. He had to be. In all these years, he had never heard of anyone who could cure Oripathy. Given the current state of the Guerrillas, how could he not build a good relationship with such a master?
"I'm a doctor. Just call me 'Doctor' is fine." Xia Yu shook her head. Instead of taking the head seat, she found a random spot below and pulled Alina down to sit with her.
"You healed many people. You have earned the respect of all Infected," Patriot said gratefully, returning to his seat and watching her.
"To be precise, my incantation did not heal them," Xia Yu replied, shaking her head. "It only temporarily suppressed the symptoms. Their illness will continue to progress."
Indeed, even with the enhancement of the Elden Ring, the Law of Regression was not enough to truly cure Oripathy. It could dispel abnormal statuses and perform miracles that modern medicine would find impossible—like restoring flesh already assimilated by Originium—but it still fell short of a cure.
Because the pathogen wasn't actually inside the human body; it was stored within all Originium.
In Terra, there were examples like the U-vica sisters—or as they were more commonly known, Astesia and Astgenne.
Only one of the sisters was infected with Oripathy, but the other, who hadn't even touched Originium, showed infection symptoms. Combined with the fact that Originium's mission is to collect information and devour the world, it was clear that Originium identifies its targets by coming into contact with blood—or rather, genes.
Because these unique sisters were too similar, the Originium that identified the genes of one began the collection process on the other as well.
Those who were temporarily treated by the Law of Regression might have the erosion of their flesh healed, but their information remained forever inside the Originium. As long as they stayed within the range of Originium, they couldn't escape a new round of assimilation.
Thus, treating the patient's physical body was a futile effort for a permanent cure. To truly eradicate the disease, one had to solve the problem of Originium itself.
"Even a temporary suppression is a result we could only dream of," Patriot's voice held a sliver of hope. "Doctor Xia Yu, your presence will bring salvation to the Infected."
"It will also bring destruction." Hearing this, Xia Yu shook her head and began her performance. "I never stay in one place for too long. As long as I stop my footsteps, those people will increase and grow like a rolling snowball... until I can no longer bear it."
"...The Infected have been in despair for too long," Patriot was silent for two seconds before continuing. "They will grasp firmly at any straw that might save their lives."
"And what about me?" To maintain her persona, Xia Yu looked up at Patriot. "To whom should I voice my despair?"
"Patriot—no, Buldrokkas'tee. Have you ever despaired? Faced with a Kazdel that saw no hope, why did you lead your people away? Faced with the powerful Ursus, why did you throw everything away and lead people to the tundra to resist?"
"I have saved enough. Truly, it is enough." She slowly lowered her head. "I really have no strength left."
"Apologies. We were presumptuous," Patriot lowered his head. "Doctor Xia Yu, I understand your meaning. The Guerrillas will not reveal your existence. You are forever free to come and go."
"Really?" Xia Yu stood up and smiled at him. "Then I'll leave now. Is that okay?"
Alina immediately grew tense. She knew exactly what Xia Yu meant to the Infected. If the Infected in the camp...
"Of course," Patriot nodded. "You are, naturally, free."
"Good, I'm leaving." Xia Yu donned her helmet and walked out of the tent.
She saw FrostNova and Talulah standing outside, looking restless—especially FrostNova. They had already heard from others what happened and had seen the group that was treated.
"Apologies, Doctor. If you blame me for last night's..." Before she could finish, Patriot's voice came from inside the tent.
"Yelena, let the Doctor go!"
Hearing this, FrostNova slowly lowered her head and made way. "Apologies. Truly, my apologies, Doctor."
Talulah also silently moved aside.
The surrounding Infected had already surrounded the tent. Their yearning gazes were fixed on Xia Yu.
"I will see you out, Doctor Xia Yu," Alina stepped forward, walking in front of Xia Yu and facing the Infected.
"Doctor, I..."
Before the Infected person could speak, Alina interrupted them. "Thomas, move aside!"
"But Alina..."
"Move!"
Talulah also stepped forward, hand on the hilt of her longsword. The crowd was forced to part.
Xia Yu walked out slowly. Every step seemed to tread upon their hearts. People wanted to speak up to ask her to stay, but they were all glared back by Talulah.
Step by step, until they reached the main gate. Xia Yu looked at Alina.
"Honestly, I had my weapons and spells ready," she smiled. "I thought I was going to have to fight my way out again."
"Again?" What did "again" mean? Did it mean she had to fight her way out last time too?
Alina and Talulah exchanged a look. No wonder Doctor Xia Yu was so averse to staying with the Infected. She must have had many bad experiences in the past.
"Honestly, do you really not plan to stop me?" Xia Yu suddenly asked. "These thousand people are all Infected, including many fully armed warriors."
"I would never do something so despicable!" Talulah said firmly. "If you are willing to stay, you are most welcome. If you wish to leave, no one may force you!"
"The current tragic plight of the Infected was not caused by you. Even if you possess the magic to save them, you have no responsibility or obligation to do so."
"You seem... very different," Xia Yu turned to look at Talulah. "Truly different."
"Er, many people have said that about me," Talulah gave a hearty laugh.
"Too naive," Xia Yu shook her head.
"People have said that too," Talulah continued to smile. "But I feel that if people call this naivety, then I don't plan on changing for the rest of my life."
"Then I hope you can maintain it forever, like a fighter who never admits defeat."
"Speaking of which, someone like you... I've met someone like that in the past. She was a truly good person, but unfortunately, she didn't meet a good end. You and she are truly too similar."
"Really? May I ask her name?" Talulah was somewhat surprised.
"Never mind the name; it's too complicated to explain," Xia Yu shook her head. "You only need to know that she failed, succumbed to the darkness, and abandoned her former ideals. Talulah, I hope you don't follow in her footsteps."
"I won't. Never!" For some reason, Talulah suddenly thought of the Black Snake's existence.
Xia Yu gave her a meaningful look, then turned to Alina. "Right, I almost forgot. The seasonings you promised me..."
"I'll go get them!" Talulah started to turn around but was held back firmly by Alina.
The latter pinched her, gave her a glare, and then turned to Xia Yu with a smile. "I'll take you to get them right now."
"Then let's go." Xia Yu turned and headed back into the camp. Alina led her toward the logistics area in the rear.
Along the way, the Infected wanted to follow, but they were stopped by the Guerrillas sent by Patriot.
When they reached the kitchen, Xia Yu looked at the baked bread, patted her stomach, and said, "Since we're already here, I hope you don't mind me grabbing a meal?"
"As many as you like!" Talulah reacted instantly and answered.
Xia Yu smiled.
'Plan successful.'
She knew her acting wasn't great and the transition was abrupt, but so what? Could the Infected do without her magic? Even if someone saw through it, they would only think she was testing whether the Infected were trustworthy, rather than thinking she had other motives.
After all, before thinking someone wants something from you, it's best to look in the mirror first.
A doctor who could cure Oripathy... where couldn't such a person make a fortune? Even in Ursus, where discrimination was at its peak, such a person would be a guest of honor for the nobility. Would they need to risk their lives to plot against a guerrilla band of a thousand people? With that magic, they could have anything with just a wave of their hand.
Oripathy didn't just infect the poor; plenty of upper-class people were infected, and they had more than enough money to buy their lives.
Sorry, but having nothing to fear truly means being able to do whatever one wants. When you are overqualified, even if there are flaws in your behavior, people will find excuses for you.
And these actions weren't just for the Infected.
Xia Yu looked at Talulah's back.
'You're watching, right? Black Snake?'