The Bigshot's Superstar Wife - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Sick

When Athena struck the final blow, silencing the last of the Zerg-infected beasts, the battlefield grew eerily still. Are we done?

The only sound was the steady rhythm of rain drumming against the forest floor. It’s raining harder, we need to go back.

Mors had successfully restrained the Zerg-puppet Daphne, binding her with glowing restraints that pulsed faintly in the dim light.

The two stood under the relentless downpour, their clothes soaked and clinging to their bodies.

Athena wiped the rain from her face, her sharp gaze fixed on the rising floodwaters around them.

“By any chance,” she began, her voice calm but tinged with concern, “can the virus survive in water for an extended time?”

Mors let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his damp hair. “The virus can persist in water for about a day, but only if it doesn’t find a host in that time.”

Athena crossed her arms, her brow furrowing in thought. “So it’s entirely possible that it could search for a host during that period.”

We cannot stop this calamity at all, Athena sighed. “With the floodwaters rising, there’s a chance that animals, or even people, could get infected in areas we haven’t even reached.”

How about the crew? We are not the only ones on the planet. There are several field experts and staff. I hope they’re safe somewhere…

Mors nodded but clarified, “The virus can only spread through water if a Zerg-carrier dies and its remains contaminate the source. The infection doesn’t happen just by proximity, it needs that trigger.”

“That’s true,” Athena agreed, her tone serious, “but we don’t know how far the floodwaters have carried this contamination. We don’t even know how many infected corpses might already be polluting other areas. This is bigger than we thought.”

Mors glanced at the murky, swelling waters around them, his expression unreadable.

The heavy rain made it difficult to assess the full extent of the flooding, and the growing darkness of the storm shrouded their surroundings in gloom.

He finally turned back to Athena. “You’re right. We’re working with too many unknowns, and we can’t risk leaving this unchecked.”

“For now, let’s check on Xianli. He’s been in close proximity to Daphne for the longest time. If there’s even a chance he’s been exposed to the virus…”

Athena nodded, understanding the unspoken urgency in his words.

Without another word, the two began making their way back toward the cave, their boots splashing through the waterlogged ground.

The rain continued to fall heavily, a constant reminder of the ticking clock they faced in containing the spread of the Zerg virus.

As Athena and Mors finally reached the cave, exhaustion weighed heavily on their bodies, their movements slower with each step.

The battle had drained them, but their resolve kept them going. They stepped into the dim light of the cave, the air heavy with the scent of wet earth and damp stone.

Xianli was still lying where they had left him, his skin pale and clammy. His body was burning with fever, his breath shallow and labored. He can’t be infected…

Athena knelt beside him, checking his pulse and scanning for any signs of infection. “His temperature’s dangerously high,” she muttered, her voice edged with concern.

She gently placed a hand on his forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him. “We need to get him to safety, but first, we need to contain this fever.”

I even doubt if there’s a safe place on this planet.

Mors stood over them, his brow furrowed.

He reached into his pouch, retrieving a small vial. “I’ll give him a pain reliever and some fever-reducing herbs. It’s the only thing we can do for now.”

As Mors prepared the herbs, Athena glanced around, catching her breath. Please don’t be infected!

Their fight had taken its toll, her soaked hair stuck to her face, and her muscles ached from the prolonged battle.

She hadn’t realized how much time had passed since they had started, nor had she considered the hunger gnawing at her stomach.

Meanwhile, the live stream viewers, still watching the unfolding events from their screens, were buzzing with concern and worry for the three of them.

[What’s happening? Xianli looks like he’s on the verge of dying! Is he infected?]

[I don’t know, but he looks so pale… and the fever doesn’t seem normal.]

[Athena and Major Mors are exhausted! They didn’t even stop to eat or rest… they’re pushing themselves too hard.]

[OMG, Xianli’s fever is so high! I think he’s in serious danger… Is there anything they can do?]

[But wait… are they still on the run from the Zerg? I don’t get it, didn’t they just battle those beasts? And they didn’t even stop to eat!]

[They need to get some rest and food! I think they didn’t even have breakfast!]

[Yeah, I haven’t seen them eat or drink anything for hours… What are they doing? They need to take care of themselves first!]

[Look at how worried they look… especially Mors. It’s like they’re pushing themselves to the limit. What if they collapse from exhaustion?]

[Athena and Major Mors are so strong, but I’m worried. They need food. This situation’s insane, and they haven’t had a bite.]

Athena glanced at the burning fire and sighed softly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. I will survive! We will survive!

Despite the chaos surrounding them, it was comforting to know that they could still rest for a while. But there was no time to think about it.

“We’ll manage,” Athena murmured to herself, then refocused on Xianli. “We need to stabilize him, and then we can think about what comes next.”

Mors handed her the vial, and together, they began treating Xianli, trying to ease the fever and keep him stable for as long as they could.

The storm raged on outside, but within the cave, the sense of urgency only grew, each passing moment bringing them closer to a new set of challenges.

Xianli’s fever slowly began to subside after they administered the herbs, and his breathing became less labored. Thankfully, he wasn’t turned.

His eyelids fluttered open, and his gaze was unfocused at first, but as his surroundings came into clearer view, he began to recognize the faces of Athena and Mors.

A faint groan escaped his lips as he tried to sit up, but his body felt weak, like it was made of lead.