Harem Legion: Queens of the Apocalypse-Chapter 115 She Died to Protect Me

"She... she shielded us... for our sake..." the female team member choked, tears blurring her face.

"What about the crystals? The Fire Crystals? Didn’t you take them with you?" Magnus roared, disbelief burning in his eyes.

"We used them! The captain used hers! But... but there were too many centipedes outside..."

Even Fire Crystals couldn’t save them. To protect the bus, Sophia and four of the girls crushed their Crystals and charged out. But the beasts outside... too damn many. As soon as they got close, those mutated centipedes and spiders threw themselves at them, no care for their own lives. In the end, Sophia and her team couldn’t hold the line. They fell.

"Where are the bodies? Did you bring them back?" Magnus grabbed the girl in front of him, his fingers digging into her shoulders. Her pretty face twisted in pain.

"Captain... please... it hurts!" she whimpered.

Realizing his grip, Magnus let go instantly. Another girl quickly stepped in, "The corpses are here! Captain’s body too - but... all her bones were crushed..."

"Where? Take me!"

Led by one of the women, Magnus rushed to the back of the bus. Three bodies lay there. One was Sophia.

They’re here. Good. If the skull’s intact, there’s still hope!

"Strip them. Now. Every piece of clothing off!" His voice was cold, commanding.

Most moved without hesitation. But one girl stood firm, red-eyed and trembling, "Commander, what - what are you doing!? Don’t... don’t defile them!"

"Do what I say! You want them saved or not!?" He glared, voice sharp as a blade. But seeing her stare back with that stubborn fire, he eased up just a touch. "I’m trying to save them. But I need your help. Can you understand that?"

"S-Save them? But they’re already..."

"You goddamn..." Magnus bit back the rest, face turning grim. No more words, just action - he stepped up himself, tearing Sophia’s clothes away.

When her limp, naked body was fully exposed, even Magnus - who’d seen death far too often - felt his chest tighten.

Her skin was still flawless, almost painfully pale. But underneath... wrecked. Bones all over twisted or snapped. Both knees shattered and bent grotesquely. Ribs crushed in, jagged splinters piercing into lungs... some even jabbed into her heart.

Please... please let the skull still be intact... let the brain be untouched!

He prayed under his breath, reaching out with a trembling hand. His finger pressed onto the black tattoo on his left hand.

Within seconds, a milky-white mist welled up from his palm. He started at her toes, slowly drawing his hand upward - legs, waist, belly, all the way to her head. Sweat dripped from Magnus’s brow, pattering softly onto the floor.

For five minutes straight, he moved his hands over every inch of Sophia’s broken body, focused and steady. Then he had her rolled over with the help of the other female team members, channeling the power of the Life Crystal across her back...

Altogether, it took about ten minutes. During that time, Magnus crushed another Life Crystal from his stash. Finally, the healing was done.

White mist from the crystals faded as Magnus slumped to the ground, gasping for air. Sophia’s body still let out faint cracking noises - the sound of bones knitting back together. Those sounds didn’t scare him. What did? Whether she’d wake up whole in the head. That was the gamble. Life Crystals could mend bodies, but not brains.

Another twenty minutes passed. Two more women were treated the same way, every step following the same method. When it was over, Magnus barely made it to a nearby cot before collapsing. "Water... and food. Get me something to eat."

He didn’t even know how many limits he’d pushed through. But now that the job was done, the pressure lifted. He felt like a man crawling out of a grave - barely alive. Even lifting a finger took effort.

What happened just now left the female team members speechless. Not one of them doubted him anymore. Two of them rushed over, handing him a bottle of water and a pack of dried beef.

"I’ve got chocolate too..."

A mindful one approached quickly. "Commander, don’t move. Let me feed you. You just rest."

*****

When Magnus opened his eyes again, it was dawn - six in the morning. He was still lying on the same cot.

"Magnus..."

Sarah had found a small stool somewhere and sat by his side all night. Sophia’s team had already returned to the main convoy. After Magnus ate something yesterday, he’d passed out cold, missing everything that came after.

"Sarah? What’re you doing here?"

He pushed himself up, lips dry, and scanned the room. "Where’s Sophia? The others?"

"They woke up last night," Sarah whispered. "Sophia is with Emily and the others. They’re in the RV."

"How are you feeling?" she asked quickly.

"I’m good."

Using both arms, Magnus stood up and pulled her into a hug, patting her head softly. "I’m fine. Come with me - we’re going to the RV."

"There’s porridge!" Sarah opened an insulated container. "Ms. Charlotte made lean meat porridge for you this morning. Eat some before we go."

He wanted to jump back into action, but seeing her concern, he didn’t have the heart to say no. He took the container and downed the hot porridge in a few gulps.

Then he and Sarah stepped out of the sleeper bus together. Magnus instinctively looked toward the sky. It was a clear blue, no clouds, no red dawn. The air carried a clean, post-rain scent. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

But the moment he turned his eyes back to the convoy, a knot tightened in his chest again...