Chapter 1571 - How Long? (1/2)

Looking down towards his chest, Vincent saw the glow through his clothing. Just seconds ago, it hadn't been like that before, so he could only assume that the change was happening because of one reason.

Seeing this, Vincent lowered Quinn, whom he held in his arms, and the glow around his chest started to fade. But then, when he lifted Quinn again, it began to get brighter. Vincent continued to do this a few times, moving him up, then down, up and down again.

”Interesting…” Vincent commented.

”Can you tell us what the hell you are doing?” Jake replied.

”It's the Nest Crystal,” Logan answered, his eyes wide. ”Quinn had turned into this form because he absorbed the Nest crystal. Since the Nest Crystal in your body is reacting to it, Vincent, it must mean there's a chance Quinn...is alive.”

Hearing these words was the hope that everyone needed to hear. The hope that they were all looking for.

”But he's dead as well.” Logan placed his finger on his chin, not entirely understanding the situation Quinn's body was in at the moment and making everyone drop their happy expression in an instant.

”Is he alive or dead? Which one is it?” Layla asked.

”Whatever the case, it seems to be drawing energy from the Crystal. Perhaps if Quinn can use this energy, then he can live.” Vincent said. ”We don't know what state Quinn's body is actually in. If we wait any longer, there is a good chance we might miss an opportunity. If allowing him to absorb a nest crystal will bring him back, then so be it. I have already lived a long life.”

The others seemed saddened to hear this from Vincent. They hadn't known him long, but sacrificing one life for another just seemed strange, and most of all, they knew it wasn't what Quinn would have wanted.

”Calm down, Romeo. There is no need for anyone to sacrifice their lives.” Logan explained. ”Our best bet is to head to the settlement's lab to work out how the Crystal is working on Quinn in the first place. Remember, there is another Nest crystal in the vampire settlement.”

”The clones,” Jin muttered as he had figured out what Logan was talking about.

”Correct, the Nest crystal used to create the human clones. Also, the relationship between the vampires and the humans are good, and I am sure many in the Cursed faction will be willing to help out the vampires for the time being. Also, the vampires have ample blood storage anyway, so that should be enough for a while.

”There are other nest crystals out there we can use. We don't need to sacrifice anyone for Quinn.”

The smile had returned to the group's faces, and each of them started to head towards the settlement. That was until they saw several small black ships falling from the sky. Some of those in the group had seen them from before.

They were Dalki combat ships, and they weren't just the small pods the Dalki would usually use. Instead, these were scouts or battleships. Each of them crashed into the ground, hardly slowing down, and then coming out from them were the Dalki themselves.

The first one they could see was a two spike Dalki.

”Who are these? I thought we destroyed all of their motherships?” Vorden frowned.

”Indeed, we did destroy all of them,” Sam replied. ”But there are still a few stray Dalki's out there. The only thing I can guess is they saw the broadcast, and they knew that Graham was fighting on here. Maybe, seeing what state we were in, they've come to try to finish us off.”

Seeing the Dalki, there the group readied themselves for battle. For some reason, the two spiked and three spiked Dalki just didn't seem as threatening compared to what they had just been through. However, as each of them tried to gather some of their strength, they realised something.

Their bodies were extremely weak and tired. They had rested during Quinn's fight, but they only realised now that being so close to the battle, due to the pressure of everything going on from Quinn and Graham's battle, just being next to them had drained and tired them out.

”I don't know about the rest of you…but this fight might be harder than we thought,” Vorden said.

Just before the Dalki could reach them, though, they saw a young blond female's figure running fast through and swinging her giant sword. It erupted into flames, having slashed the first Dalki in half.

”Erin! She's still alive.” Layla was thrilled, and it looked like Erin, unlike the rest of them, had plenty of energy left to spare.

”All of you head inside the settlement!” Erin shouted. ”Do whatever it is you want. Quickly.”