Chapter 14: Did You Bring a Guide?

Nyx and the others took notice; guides possess a keener mental acuity than sentinels and can sense things that others cannot. The sentinels surrounded the two as they moved, guarding against ambushes from the alien creatures.

They had spent a month in the contaminated zone, learning the traits of the alien species there. These creatures were highly organized, as if directed by some unseen force. There must be a leader alien constantly spawning new ones and commanding them; without finding its lair, complete eradication was impossible.

Despite their lengthy search, they failed to locate the aliens' nest. This level of organization contradicted their previous understanding, as most alien creatures were relatively independent and even the contaminated matter assimilated by pollution did not ally with them.

This internal strife among aliens and contaminants was one reason they could control the spread of pollution—larger predators consumed smaller ones, each staking out their own territory.

Yu Xia noticed the towering stone pillars among the ruins and asked Nyx quietly, “Was this once a prosperous place? The architecture resembles a palace.”

Nyx replied, “Yes, this was once a palace. Twenty years ago, Deman was still an S-class habitable planet, but now it has fallen to D-class.”

D-class denoted the lowest grade of habitable planets; anything lower was unlivable. Once a polluted zone formed, it affected the entire planet’s environment.

As they passed through the ruins and climbed a small hill, they unexpectedly encountered a squad of sentinels. This group of a dozen or so moved swiftly from Nyx’s side, heading in the same direction—apparently preparing to leave the contaminated zone as well.

The sentinels paused upon seeing Nyx’s group, then immediately approached them. Nyx gave a subtle signal to two team members, who understood and stepped forward to engage. The rest formed a barrier in front of Nyx and Yu Xia, shielding them from prying eyes.

Baru leaned close to Yu Xia, pulling up her collar and lowering her hat brim to cover most of her face. “Don’t speak,” he warned.

Yu Xia nodded in acknowledgment. She sensed the volatile mental energy emanating from the approaching sentinels; their psychic wounds seemed even more severe than those of Nyx’s team. Like a pack of injured, enraged beasts, they were restless and highly aggressive, triggering Yu Xia’s instinctive urge to defend and counterattack.

Under the pressure of their mental force, her ears transformed into fin-like appendages, and faint scales appeared along her cheeks.

Nyx noticed the change in the young guide on his back and turned his head. The first thing he saw was Yu Xia’s hand resting on his shoulder, its pale skin covered with a translucent layer of scales, thin membranes stretched between her slender fingers, and her fingertips sharpened.

Her breathing grew heavier, her heart raced. She resembled a beast encountering a natural enemy—highly alert and deeply uneasy.

Dolphins do not have scales nor grow claws, but Yu Xia’s mental form had mutated in response to the mercenaries’ agitated psychic energy; her defense instincts had triggered this transformation.

Such mental form mutations were rare among guides, as their psychic powers were stronger and more stable than those of sentinels. Guides underwent mental training and psychological conditioning from childhood, building a strong mental fortress that shielded them from sentinels’ psychic influence.

Only when a guide’s psyche was troubled, severely stimulated, or lacking security would such mutations occur. Facing too many sentinels suffering psychic trauma and restlessness could also affect a guide.

Nyx knew Yu Xia had once been imprisoned and secretly held by sentinels, possibly enduring terrible ordeals that left her mind and spirit hypersensitive and prone to stress.

His expression darkened with concern. If a guide’s mutation was left unchecked, matters could worsen. Sentinels’ mental breakdowns could be repaired by guides, but if a guide’s mental landscape faltered, even divine intervention might fail.

Guides naturally possessed strong mental defenses and rejection capabilities. They could easily invade or disrupt a sentinel’s mental state, but their own minds were heavily guarded.

If nothing went wrong, this was a powerful self-protection mechanism. But if problems arose, no one could breach their defenses to heal them.

However, Yu Xia’s mutation was not because of past trauma as Nyx suspected; it was merely a reflexive defense triggered by psychic disturbance.

Contrary to Nyx and Huo Lin’s assumptions, she had no dreadful imprisonment experience.

Under the current circumstances, even a trained guide would struggle amidst so many sentinels on the verge of psychic rebellion.

By now, the sentinels had reached them, scanning them shamelessly.

One sentinel, marked by a tattoo on his cheek, raised his chin and asked, “Which squad are you from?”

His demeanor and tone were brash, tinged by irritability from psychic damage.

“Nineteen Squad,” Nyx replied.

He noted that all members of this group were mercenaries. Nyx handed Yu Xia to Baru, who carried her on his back, and stepped forward to negotiate.

The tattooed sentinel, recognizing a leader among them, lost some of his swagger. “You’re all regulars from the Seventh Legion? So, you’re running too?”

Nyx cut through the small talk and stated their purpose bluntly, “What do you want?”

The tattooed sentinel eyed them, surprised at their good condition. He exchanged a glance with his comrades, who sneered, “They must be hoarding resources, keeping the good stuff for themselves.”

Immediately, the other mercenaries closed in.

The pressure from a dozen psychically agitated sentinels was formidable. Nyx’s team’s sentinels instantly assumed combat stances.

“Got any guide pheromones, brothers? Hook us up,” the tattooed sentinel demanded.

Seeing their hostile expressions, he was unafraid and noticed how tightly they guarded their backs, suggesting something hidden. He had not overlooked the faint alluring scent that had first drawn his attention.

“We serve the Seventh Legion, but you hoard supplies and don’t share. That’s not very fair.”

After speaking, two of his teammates tried to slip past Nyx’s group but were pushed back by sentinels standing guard.

Nyx pulled two vials of guide pheromones from his pocket and tossed them to the mercenaries. “Last two. Get lost.”

The tattooed sentinel took a vial and sniffed it. “Hey, this is top-shelf. No wonder it smells just like real guide pheromones.”

Baru and the others’ faces changed.

Nyx snapped, “You’re paid to do a job, so cut the crap.”

The tattooed sentinel shook the vial. “Thanks.”

He turned to leave, but before Nyx’s group could relax, he stopped, turned back with a crooked smile, and said, “You brought a guide, didn’t you?”