Scorpio's remaining human genes were fusing with the T-virus, and they began to fight the Gastrea virus for control of the body.
The once monstrous Scorpio started to shrink and gradually took on a human form.
When she finally transformed into a small girl, about 1.3 meters tall, Tina didn't hesitate. She jumped up, hugged the girl, and prepared to flee.
Scorpio's transformation stunned everyone, especially Seitenshi and her team. They had only ever seen people turn into Gastrea, never the other way around. It defied their understanding and made them realize that Tina possessed a method to transform the Gastrea virus.
Before Seitenshi could speak, Kikunojou Tendo gave the order. "Seize her!"
The airplanes that had been targeting Scorpio now turned towards Tina. But elite-born Chris was on the scene. He and Claire used their fighters' superior performance to harass the helicopters. Leon hovered the plane near Tina, who leaped aboard with the now-human girl in her arms.
With Tina safely on board, Leon maneuvered the plane and flew away. However, instead of leaving Japan, he flew several hundred kilometers to a relatively flat area to hover temporarily.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Leon asked.
Tina shook her head. "No, there are still people who need me here..."
"What about her?" Leon gestured to the girl in Tina's arms. Over time, she had turned into a human, but her cells were completely infected by the virus. She was now a viral human.
"I decided to watch over her for the time being. If I can't save her, I'll kill her."
Hearing this, Leon tossed a mobile terminal to her. "Take this and call us if you have any problems."
"Thanks."
Tina felt her heart warm as she held the mobile terminal. She hadn't expected that her friends from the game could come to the real world.
"Then we should get going."
"Don't forget to pick up Ada-san!"
"Won't forget."
A voice told Leon to leave, cautioning that staying could lead to international disputes. Knowing Tina was safe allowed his heart, which had been tense for so long, to relax.
As Leon left, the flip-brand mobile terminal in Tina's hand lit up. "Come with me, I'm not like that idiot," said Ada's image on the screen.
Seeing someone familiar, Tina refused. "No, there are still people here who need me, and more infected with the virus who need me. I can't just walk away."
"Stupidity is contagious. If you need anything, call your sister. I'll always answer."
"Thank you, sister Ada."
"Good girl~"
The screen went black, and then Chris and Claire's communication picked up. "Yo Tina, how are you feeling?" Chris asked.
"Fine as hell, how about you guys?"
"We..." Claire interrupted, "Stupid old man, don't waste time. Tina, it's time for us to go. Leon told us you're not ready to leave, but that's okay. I'll come to Japan soon to play with you~"
Claire's mischievous wink made Tina smile.
Chris cut in, "You need to be careful next. You're in a dangerous state right now."
Tina replied indifferently, "Is it as dangerous as when we were chased by the Tyrant?"
"Of course not! Go for it!"
"Hmm!"
They exchanged fist bumps over the screen. As the screen turned black, the two fighter planes in the sky flew away.
Looking at the girl in her arms and then at the airplanes fading away, Tina felt as if she were dreaming. The whole process was as thrilling as facing the final BOW with Chris and Leon.
"Is this... real?"
"You guess?" Liu Yuan's voice appeared beside her.
Tina nervously asked, "Boss, the game, is it really just a game?"
"Who knows? Just like the world we live in, it's not impossible to think of this world as an Earth OL with only one life."
"Then this memory..."
"You'll know tomorrow when you get on the game, won't you?"
"Thanks..."
Liu Yuan reached out and touched Tina's head. "Polite words are unnecessary. If you have the heart to bring more guests, go for it. Like Riku, if there's no money, you can bet your lifespans."
"But our lifespans..."
Tina knew deep down that the lifespan of a Cursed Child was very short, probably transforming into a Gastrea in their teens.
Liu Yuan loosened his hand and counted on his fingers, "I checked. Your lifespan, without external influences, is about eighty to a hundred years. Taking out a few decades to mortgage is no problem, and you can make money in the future to pay it back."
Liu Yuan wasn't worried about the money being returned. As long as the lifespan was mortgaged, if they didn't return the money, he could deduct it. According to the system, lifespan was equivalent to part of the soul, which held good value.
"Really?"
Tina saw more possibilities. Before, she thought about how one person could lead a group of kids. Now she could think about how a group of people could support each other. Only those with mature minds would be selected to enter the Internet cafe.
Looking at the contemplative Tina, Liu Yuan laughed, "I'm just an Internet cafe owner; I won't turn guests away."
Liu Yuan left, Tina's heart stabilized. Her goal was set, and there was no immediate danger.
Shortly after, Tina found Kayu Senju, while the silver-haired, red-eyed Scorpio in her arms opened her eyes.
"Mommy?"
With that cry, Tina felt abit awkward, but Hiruko Kohina's mind snapped.
"Kill you! Kill you!" Hiruko Kobina was impotently furious, while Kayu Senju silently watched from the sidelines.
Meanwhile, inside the Internet cafe, Kisara was still playing when Liu Yuan returned. Unable to sleep, he tossed and turned for half a day.
"Boss? You're back?"
"Back. What are you playing?"
"MC. Didn't you say you wanted to dig up blocks to build something before? I dug it up."
"Efficiency is quite fast, huh?"
Liu Yuan looked over. The night shift had finished digging up a slime block. Slime blocks in MC meant the area would spawn slimes, which produced slime balls, a valuable resource for players.
"That's for sure. Don't look at who I am. Come on, let's build."
"So I'm a tool man, huh?"
"Not really! You're my best and brightest companion."
"Are you sure it's not just the two of us at night and you have no choice?"
"Ch, I've been caught."
While bickering, Liu Yuan grabbed a bottle of Coke from the front desk. "Want a Coke?"
"Yes! Cold, not ice!"
"There's so much going on."
For both of them, tonight was another sleepless night.