Saving an S-Rank Sentinel

Leon’s file

Early the next morning， Eric arrives at the White Tower to pick Mia up and take her to the Black Tower.

Mia is wearing a clean white lab coat and carrying a medical case. When she sees the military cruiser waiting in front of her， she opens the door and takes the passenger seat.

“Good morning， Eric.”

She gives him a slight smile.

“Good morning.”

Eric keeps one hand on the steering wheel. With the other， he picks up a file folder from beside him and hands it to Mia.

“By the way， here’s Leon’s file. You can read it on the way.”

“Thank you.”

Mia takes the folder， breaks the seal， and pulls out a stack of documents. She lowers her head and begins reading.

The first page contains Leon’s personal information.

A two-inch photograph is attached to the upper-right corner.

The man in the photograph has striking red hair， healthy tanned skin， and an unmistakably rebellious look in his eyes.

Mia’s gaze moves downward.

Height: 187 cm.

Weight: 82 kg.

…

Her eyes linger on the numbers for a moment before continuing down the page.

The next few pages contain Leon’s military record.

According to the file， after graduating from the Federal Military Academy， Leon joins the First Military District as a second lieutenant. In only three years， he rises to the rank of colonel.

Behind that astonishing rate of promotion is an equally impressive combat record.

He eliminates hundreds of Contaminants below A-rank， kills thirty-two A-rank Contaminants， and even takes down two S-rank Contaminants.

Mia can’t help feeling shaken as she looks at the staggering list of achievements.

Leon is only twenty-five.

His record is more impressive than that of many soldiers who serve in the military for far longer.

If he continues at this rate， Mia can hardly imagine how far this young man might go in the future.

Unfortunately， fate doesn’t seem to be on his side.

During his last mission， Leon’s mental world completely collapses.

Mental disorders come in many different degrees.

A mild case involves contamination of the mental world. A moderate case can lead to a mental outbreak. But a complete collapse of the mental world is considered a terminal condition among mental disorders.

In most cases， recovery is the exception rather than the rule.

Mia lets out a soft sigh.

Someone with such a promising future might now have his life completely ruined by this accident.

She turns a page and looks out the window.

The city passes by in a blur.

Most of the buildings lining the streets are black or gray， giving the entire city a dull and oppressive atmosphere. Most of the shops are closed， and there are few pedestrians on the streets. Those who do pass by hurry along， instinctively keeping their distance from one another.

All of this is related to the way Contaminants spread.

Contaminants can infect all kinds of living organisms， including animals and plants.

In the past， human society lacks effective methods of detecting Contaminants. Once a person becomes infected， their body gradually changes until they eventually transform into a new Contaminant.

Anyone who comes into contact with an infected person can become the next source of infection.

As long as the Contaminant is not killed or destroyed by a Sentinel， the infection continues to spread.

During that period， everyone lives in constant fear.

Keeping their distance from one another becomes instinctive.

Later， after years of research， the White Tower discovers that Guides can purify mild and moderate Contaminant infections. The death rate caused by Contaminants gradually begins to decline.

But keeping a distance from other people has already become a deeply ingrained habit.

Mia looks away from the window and lowers her head again， continuing to read the file.

The final few pages record the complete sequence of events leading to Leon’s mental collapse.

A month ago， Leon leads the North Wind Squad to explore an abandoned military factory.

That is where they encounter an S-rank Queen Ant.

A single S-rank Queen Ant is already dangerous enough.

What makes the situation even worse is the large number of worker ants surrounding it， ranging from D-rank to A-rank.

The entire North Wind Squad consists of only five people.

Even though every one of them is an elite soldier， they gradually find themselves overwhelmed when faced with the seemingly endless swarm of Contaminants.

If things continue like that， sooner or later， they all die there.

Leon realizes this quickly.

So he chooses to stay behind and hold off the enemy， allowing the other members to retreat and search for reinforcements.

The abandoned military factory is located far from any human settlement.

By the time the rescue team arrives， an entire day has passed.

The factory is littered with the corpses of worker ants.

Tests show that the Contamination level in the area has already exceeded the safe limit by a huge margin. An ordinary person who inhales even a single breath of air in such an environment is likely to become infected immediately.

The rescue team ventures deep into the factory and eventually finds Leon in its innermost section.

Strangely， the Queen Ant is nowhere to be found.

Leon， however， is still fighting.

By then， his mental world has already completely collapsed， leaving him with nothing but his instinct to fight.

The rescue team has no choice but to inject him with a powerful anesthetic before they can finally bring him back.

After Leon regains consciousness， he no longer recognizes anyone.

Anyone who approaches him is attacked without hesitation.

In the end， the military has no choice but to confine him in the research center beneath the Black Tower while searching for a way to treat him.

Just then， Eric steps on the brake.

Mia’s body lurches forward. The seat belt snaps tight and pulls her back into her seat.

“We’re here. The Black Tower.”

Eric’s voice comes from beside her.

Mia closes the file and looks up through the windshield.

A massive black structure stands at the end of the road， its towering form disappearing into the clouds.

Two armed soldiers stand in front of the Black Tower’s entrance.

Nearby， another squad of fully armed soldiers patrols the area.

Mia watches them for a moment， then frowns slightly.

“I don’t remember the security at the Black Tower being this strict before.”

Eric follows her gaze toward the patrolling soldiers.

“After Leon’s mental world collapsed， the military lost an S-rank Sentinel. The higher-ups are worried that someone might take advantage of the situation and cause trouble， so they’ve increased security.”

He finishes speaking and unfastens his seat belt.

“Let’s go inside.”