Chapter Two: Dual Abilities Guide
1258 Words
Things at The Lost Fort had been getting worse and worse lately.
Luna was the only Guide here. A Control-type, C-class—it was no surprise she'd been assigned to The Lost Fort. In theory, she should've been the lifeline of every Sentinel.
But this lifeline only showed up two or three times a month. And even then, the effect was barely noticeable.
"Guide Luna, can you please take responsibility for your duties as a Guide?!"
Commander Dehn's voice shook the office so hard the windows buzzed.
He was the highest authority in the base. In just three months, he had watched his Sentinels fall out of control one after another—break down, collapse, get sent into isolation rooms.
Half his hair had gone white.
Luna leaned back in her chair, expression unchanged.
"And how exactly am I not responsible?" she said flatly, like it had nothing to do with her. "I'm a Control-type Guide. Pacification was never my strength. Higher-ups never cared about whether these Sentinels live or die anyway. I'm already being generous by helping at all."
Dehn's fists clenched so hard his knuckles cracked.
"Then find a Guide who's willing to come," Luna added with a faint smile.
Her tone carried blatant mockery.
"Preferably a Healing-type. If you can find one, I'll step down immediately."
Dehn froze.
A Healing-type Guide. There were barely any in the entire galaxy. And the few that existed were tightly controlled by the Central Tower.
A discarded base like theirs had no way to compete.
He opened his mouth, then swallowed the words back down.
He couldn't afford to clash with her.
The Guide Protection Center didn't care who sent her here or what mistakes she'd made. If she filed a complaint claiming mistreatment, she could be pulled out the next day.
And then The Lost Fort would lose even its last lifeline.
Dehn turned and left the office. The door slammed shut behind him.
Luna stared at it for a long time. Slowly, the curve of her lips faded.
She looked out the window at the gray sky and said nothing.
—
Under the same sky, another group was heading toward the base.
"Miss Guide, where are you from? Why would you end up in a place like this?"
A Sentinel walked two steps behind Arya, careful not to get too close. His Spirit Beast was restless in his mind, and he had to keep forcing it down.
"I don't know," Arya said, shaking her head. "About my past… I don't really remember."
Her tone was calm, but Kai noticed the slight crease between her brows.
Not sadness. Confusion.
Like she was trying to recall something she should remember—but couldn't quite grasp it.
Kai walked beside her, eyes fixed on her profile.
He didn't even realize his gaze had shifted from guarding to unable to look away.
His Contamination Level had dropped to a point where he didn't need constant suppression anymore. The Spirit Beast's earlier contact felt like it had cracked open a window in his mind—stale air finally flowing out.
His body felt more stable than it had in years.
And the woman walking beside him… the faint scent on her made his heartbeat faster than usual.
He took a quiet breath, then acted like nothing happened.
"This place is dangerous, Miss Guide!" another Sentinel said, leaning in with bright eyes.
"Why don't you come to The Lost Fort? We've got plenty of high-level Sentinels. We can protect you!"
The word "protect" made several of them instinctively straighten their backs.
Arya glanced at them.
A group of tall men, still covered in blood from the battlefield, all suddenly standing upright like schoolboys waiting to be praised.
Her lips twitched slightly, but she held it back.
"Sure," she said lightly.
The Sentinels exchanged looks and nearly celebrated on the spot.
Kai lowered his eyes and glanced at her.
"Once we get to the base, you'll need to take a Guide rank test," he said evenly.
"Don't worry. The base offers the best treatment for Guides. Salary, benefits, accommodation—all top tier."
His tone was official.
But the tips of his ears were red.
Arya didn't notice. She was looking down at Shuangshuang, who had popped its head out on her shoulder.
The little thing had returned at some point and was now lazily licking its paw, like it had just had a good meal.
—
The testing room was icy blue, filled with metallic, high-tech instruments.
A half-meter-tall robot rolled over. Its round body had a screen displaying two cartoon eyes.
"Hello, Arya!" it chirped happily. "I'm Xiao Qi, your friendly ability testing partner!"
Arya bent down and looked at it, then gently patted its round head.
"Hello. Thank you."
Her voice was soft, carrying a faint smile.
Xiao Qi's screen-eyes curved into crescents. If it could blush, it probably already would.
"Please place your hand here."
Xiao Qi rolled beside a cylindrical machine and pointed at the glowing panel on top.
Arya stepped forward and placed her hand on it.
The next second—
A blinding white light exploded from the machine.
The entire room turned pure white. Arya instinctively closed her eyes.
The light lasted about three seconds, then faded like a tide pulling back.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Lines of text appeared on the display:
Ability Type: Dual Abilities
Control Type Level: A
Healing Type Level: S
Arya tilted her head.
"What does dual abilities mean?" she asked.
Xiao Qi didn't respond.
Its screen-eyes were frozen wide open, staring at the results.
Its internal system had already gone into full chaos.
Dual abilities. Control A. Healing S.
There were barely any Guides above A-class in the entire Alliance. And this woman had two abilities—and one of them was the rarest Healing type, directly at S-class.
"Is something wrong?" Arya suggested kindly. "Should we try again?"
Xiao Qi nodded mechanically.
Second test.
Same white light.
Same result.
—
Outside the testing room, the hallway was already packed.
Base officials, high-level Sentinels, and a few curious onlookers crowded together. No one was leaving.
The news spread faster than wind: the new Guide had been inside for a long time and still hadn't come out. Maybe the machine was broken. Maybe something had gone wrong.
Dehn stood at the front, hands behind his back, expression grave.
The base hadn't had a Guide who actually wanted to be there in a long time. He hadn't expected much—but this time, for some reason, his heartbeat felt strangely fast.
Kai leaned against the wall on the other side of the corridor, arms crossed.
His face looked calm.
But if anyone looked closely—his amber eyes were fixed on the door without blinking, the light in them shifting faintly, like he was waiting for an answer… or a fate.
The Sentinels behind him whispered.
"Why is it taking so long…"
"Could she actually be high-tier?"
"Did you smell her scent? I feel like my head's clearing up already…"
Dehn took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
"What's going on?"
His voice echoed inside the room.
Arya turned around, her purple eyes meeting his.
Xiao Qi stood behind her, its screen still flashing wildly.
Dehn's gaze fell on the display.
He froze.
Dual Abilities.
Healing S-class. Control A-class.
In the hallway, every Sentinel saw their commander stop dead at the door.
No one spoke.
Only Kai, still leaning against the wall, tapped his fingers lightly on his arm.
Waiting.
- Writer
