The members of the Santorini team trudged through the rainstorm for two hours before finally finding a cave large enough to accommodate the four of them and their two tents.
By this time, everyone was soaked to the bone, looking like drowned rats. They took turns going into the tents to change out of their wet clothes.
The rain on Planet Eshuinuo was mixed with sea spray and had a high salt content. After being drenched, everyone felt their skin tighten, and their eyes were red.
Elizabeth and Lian Sheng broke out in small bumps all over their faces and bodies. It stung a bit after they dried off, but applying some medicine kept it from getting worse.
Maxim lit the campfire with trembling hands. The moment the flames rose, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness they had brought enough fuel this time, otherwise today would have been truly unbearable.
The team members unanimously moved closer to the warm fire.
Mika's ears drooped halfway down, pressed against her head. After her fuzz and hair dried by the fire, they noticed salt frost had formed on some parts.
This day had been incredibly frustrating...
When had they ever been chased like this? Several times along the way, she had wanted to throw caution to the wind and just fight the First Military Academy head-on, but reason told her it wasn't the best time. It was so annoying.
Elizabeth continuously rubbed her arms with her hands. Walking in a rainstorm for two hours was no small test of their physical strength and endurance. Once their body temperature dropped, their energy depleted even faster.
Seeing everyone looking so dejected, she told them to quickly open a pouch of nutrient solution to replenish their energy.
"At least we managed to shake off the people from the First Military Academy."
Lian Sheng dug out some cold medicine from his spatial button and handed a pill to everyone.
"Yeah, not being eliminated and no one getting hurt is a good thing! Take your medicine, we can't afford to get sick right now!"
The three of them took the pills and swallowed them down with water.
Maxim stared blankly at the heavy rain outside the cave for a long time, then unexpectedly pulled out a pot and set it over the fire.
"...I saw Qilin use this on Planet Kashile last time, and it seemed pretty convenient."
Lian Sheng looked at the pot in surprise for quite a while.
"Uh, but we didn't prepare any ingredients."
"I meant to boil some hot water..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Mika pulled a few fish out of her spatial button.
"They jumped up on their own while I was keeping watch at night... I figured I should keep them just in case."
"Pfft!"
Elizabeth couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Beautifully done, Mika."
Now they were set. They had fire, a pot, fish, and there was no shortage of rainwater outside.
Maxim immediately walked to the cave entrance to start preparing the fish, while Elizabeth and Lian Sheng simultaneously pulled out a few bottles of basic seasonings.
"Captain, you brought some too!?"
"The big feast on Planet Kashile last time was very interesting. I thought there might be a chance during the competition."
"Hahahahaha... Achoo!"
"Are you alright?"
"I might have caught a little chill. I'll be fine after drinking some soup and resting for a bit."
"Alright, you don't need to keep watch tonight. No one or mutant beasts will come out in such heavy rain."
Everyone thought the rainstorm would last a night at most, but unexpectedly, it poured for two whole days!
Aside from Qilin and Valk, both the First Military Academy and Santorini were extremely anxious.
The scores of their two schools were roughly the same, both hovering around one hundred and forty points.
This minor typhoon had wasted a full two days of their time. The competition was about to end, and they still hadn't even seen a trace of the bonus point button!
To make matters worse, the First Squad's boat still broke after holding out for a day...
It was originally just a small hole, but due to the strong winds, sharp objects like branches and stones occasionally smashed into it, and it quickly turned into a large hole about a meter in diameter!
In the middle of the rainstorm, Leola had no way to start repairing it, and could only watch helplessly as the tear grew larger and larger...
The basic materials on hand were definitely not enough. Now they could only hope there would be no maritime activities in the next two days.
Fortunately, their mechas showed no signs of corrosion. They wondered how the other teams without protective shields were enduring this.
Santorini's Lian Sheng had taken medicine immediately after getting drenched in the rain, but he still developed a fever in the middle of the night.
Although his temperature wasn't too high, it had clearly affected his overall condition.
His fever didn't break for two days. Elizabeth wanted to send him out of the competition several times, but Lian Sheng stubbornly pestered her into letting him stay.
"Will people never get sick when they go to the battlefield in the future? Won't they have to endure it then? I'm just adapting in advance right now, cough cough.
Besides, out of the four teams, we are the only ones without components suited for Planet Eshuinuo. I'm the only mecha mechanic on the entire team. If I leave, who will repair your mechas!?"
Maxim irritably scratched his messy hair.
"After we get out of here this time, I must properly study mecha mechanic knowledge!"
Lian Sheng took a sip of water to soothe his uncomfortable throat.
"How much can you learn from last-minute cramming? Not to mention that the environment of every planet is different.
Don't worry, Captain. I know my own body. I've always gotten sick quickly and recovered quickly. Who knows, maybe I'll be fine after another night's sleep?"
Hearing him say this, the worry on Elizabeth's face didn't diminish in the slightest. She had never approved of team members going into battle while sick.
Especially since Planet Eshuinuo's environment was very unfriendly to patients...
Mika, however, stood on Lian Sheng's side.
"Captain, I'll protect him.
You must tell us if you feel unwell, do you hear me?"
Despite Lian Sheng being the youngest in their squad, he was actually the most stubborn!
This person was fiercely obstinate; once he decided on something, it wouldn't change. If they forced him out against his will, he would definitely be angry...
Moreover, Lian Sheng wasn't wrong. As soldiers, they would indeed encounter all sorts of situations. Right now, there were still safety instructors watching over them, so adapting early might not be a bad thing.
Receiving his teammate's support, Lian Sheng nodded frantically.
"Mhm! Okay!"
Elizabeth also knew his personality well. After thinking for a moment, she had no choice but to relent.
"If your condition worsens, I will send you out of the competition no matter what."
Lian Sheng smiled.
"If it gets worse, I'll take myself out, alright! How could I stay and drag you guys down?"
Elizabeth pursed her lips, watching him finish a pouch of nutrient solution, take a fever reducer, and then chug a bag of water.
"Let's move out. We must find the academy's bonus point button today."
"Yes!"
Just as she finished speaking, He Siyu's spiritual energy enveloped them. The Santorini team members hadn't had time to put up their spiritual energy shields, so they could only stand ready for battle.
"Santorini, do you want to form an alliance?"
...Did the typhoon blow He Siyu's brains out? Just two days ago she was hunting them down all over the world, and now that the rain stopped, she wanted an alliance?
Several team members had ugly expressions, but Elizabeth wasn't in a rush to retort. She wanted to hear what else she had to say.
"I'm guessing the other two squads are also on the island, and I believe you must have noticed.
Today is already the sixth day, and we still haven't heard the broadcast for the bonus point button. This doesn't make sense."
Transmitting so many words in one breath over such a long distance meant He Siyu also had to take a rest.
But she didn't have to wait long. Elizabeth's voice echoed directly in her mind.
"Two against two? Can the First Military Academy be trusted?"
He Siyu was mildly surprised, but then she smiled.
Who said Elizabeth was only good for mental attacks?
"At least they're more trustworthy than Qilin and Valk, don't you think?"
"...Pleasure working with you."
