Yunyang heeded the advice and, after eliminating one last cluster of black mist, withdrew her mental energy.
Her mental value remained above 10%; aside from a slight mental fatigue, she felt no discomfort.
The Barbary lion had long since stopped struggling. It shook its massive head, and its originally bloodshot eyes gradually returned to normal.
Everyone in the First Army breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, the Commander's purification value had dropped!
The Commander wouldn't turn into a beast after all!
Yunyang leaned against Fu Shiyi's chest and looked up at the male, "Fu Shiyi, what's Commander Lei Ou's current contamination value?"
As soon as Fu Shiyi lowered his head, he unexpectedly found himself gazing straight into those beautiful eyes.
His arms tightened slightly around Yunyang. After a brief pause, he looked back at Leo.
A moment later, Fu Shiyi gave the answer: "87."
Due to the gap in rank, even though Yunyang had expended nearly 90% of her mental energy, she still hadn't managed to bring Leo's contamination value below 80.
But this number already filled the First Army—including Luo Yan—with unexpected joy.
Below 90 meant suppressants could be used!
Luo Yan stepped forward and bowed solemnly to Yunyang once more. "Lady Yunyang, thank you. You have saved Commander Leo."
After expressing his gratitude, he produced a suppressant from his spatial pocket.
"Commander, forgive me."
Guessing what he was about to do, Fu Shiyi held Yunyang and stepped back.
Leo's rationality was gradually returning. He recognized at a glance what Luo Yan was holding and obediently lowered his head.
Luo Yan used his ability to inject the suppressant into the Barbary lion's neck, slowly pushing the transparent liquid in.
Leo was long accustomed to such pain—he didn't even clench his claws.
Qin Mo observed this, seemingly moved.
Once the contamination value fell below 90, the suppressant took effect quickly. Before long, the Barbary lion's massive form shrank, eventually transforming into a tall male dressed in the Federal military uniform.
Leo stood nearly two meters tall, as straight as a pine, his gaze calm yet carrying a subtle killing intent—commanding respect without even trying.
Seeing their Commander revert to human form, the First Army members excitedly rushed over, hastily undoing the restraint straps.
Leo looked around, seeming relieved to find he hadn't caused serious damage.
"Luo Yan."
Luo Yan immediately straightened and snapped a salute. "Sir!"
"Did I hurt anyone when I lost control?"
This was the most severe loss of control Leo had ever experienced. He knew exactly how destructive his beast form could be, so his first question upon regaining consciousness was about that.
"No." Luo Yan stepped slightly to the side so Leo could clearly see Yunyang and the others behind him. "It was Deputy Adjutant Qin and Designer Fu who helped restrain you in time."
Leo naturally recognized Qin Mo and Fu Shiyi.
He strode over and gave both of them a Federal military salute. "Thank you."
Qin Mo's heart was racing with excitement, but he maintained his composure. "Commander Leo, it was my duty."
As a member of the Federal military, protecting the beastmen of the Federation was their responsibility.
Fu Shiyi, however, remained calm, merely nodding to Leo.
After thanking the two, Leo stopped in front of Yunyang, his straight back bending forward, offering his highest respect.
"Lady Yunyang, thank you for saving me."
Instinctively, Yunyang wanted to step back.
In her eyes, Leo was like the kind of big figures she'd only ever seen on the news in her past life—she felt she couldn't accept such a bow.
But Fu Shiyi, standing behind her, blocked her retreat.
The male bent down, his thin lips nearly brushing her ear, "My lady, you deserve it."
She was one of only three S-grade mental females in the Federation—one of the few salvations for S-grade and above males. She deserved the respect of every beastman.
Yunyang still felt a bit uneasy, but she stopped stepping back.
She kept herself calm and offered a faint smile.
"Commander Leo, please don't be so formal. You fight to protect the Federation. Any lady would have been willing to help you."
Leo, however, didn't straighten up. "Lady Yunyang, I have an impertinent request."
Yunyang: "Please speak, Commander."
For a moment, Leo didn't speak.
Conflict flickered in his eyes, but because he remained bowed, no one could see it.
After a long while, Leo spoke slowly: "I would like to ask you… to come to the First Army's garrison."
"Absolutely not!"
Before Yunyang could respond, Qin Mo rejected it outright.
The First Army's garrison was on the edge star closest to the insect race, constantly facing their threat. Especially with the insect queen's breeding season approaching, the insect race would cause trouble from time to time.
Though their lady's mental power was strong, her ability lacked offensive and defensive capabilities. If she went to the First Army garrison under these circumstances, who could guarantee her safety?
Even though Qin Mo understood why Leo was making this request, he was unwilling to agree.
Luo Yan hadn't expected his Commander to say that either. He opened his mouth, "Commander…"
"Just half a month. We will protect you with our lives. Please, help the First Army."
Leo, who wouldn't even blink while killing insect creatures on the battlefield, for the first time placed himself in such a humble position.
The First Army members around them all lowered their heads in silence.
They knew very well why their Commander was making this request.
Their garrison was the Federation's first line of defense. The First Army stationed there suffered constantly from contamination values. If not for the Federation's steady supply of suppressants, the entire First Army would likely have collapsed long ago.
Even so, the faces of the First Army grew newer with each passing year.
Those on the verge of collapse—refusing to lose control and harm their comrades—would, before their contamination values reached the point of no return, pilot their combat mechs and charge unhesitatingly toward the insect queen's home planet.
Even knowing it was a one-way trip, they chose to die for the Federation in their final moments.
Their Commander had witnessed too much of this.
He had been applying repeatedly with military merit to have the Federation send a lady to the First Army garrison.
But the First Army was composed mostly of A-grade and above ability users, while the number of A-grade mental females in the Federation was far too few. In the past two years, their garrison hadn't received a single lady.
Compared to Federal soldiers, A-grade mental females were even more precious to the Federation.
If the insect queen wasn't about to enter her breeding season, the Commander would never have made such an excessive demand.
Without purification, the First Army could barely maintain their sanity—how could they possibly hold back the insect race?
Xuan Yu said, "No, the First Army garrison is too dangerous. My lady cannot go!"
Two of her three beast-husbands objected vehemently, while the third remained quiet, simply looking down at Yunyang, watching for her reaction.
Yunyang, in turn, looked at Leo before her.
She believed that Leo meant what he said about protecting her with his life.
But Leo was a Commander—he couldn't oversee everything.
Yunyang hesitated briefly.
"Commander Leo, if possible, could you wait until my other two beast-husbands arrive? Then I'll go to the First Army garrison with all of my husbands by my side?"
With five beast-husbands whose abilities were at least S-grade, her safety would be guaranteed if they went together.
These words made the First Army members nearby look up sharply.
Lady Yunyang… agreed?
Qin Mo and Xuan Yu also widened their eyes.
"The female master!"
