We're not really Doctors. (Shirou x Harem) Arknights x Fate

Chapter 27 - 2

They raced through the city at speed.

Cover didn't matter any longer. Not when The Reunion and the opposing faction had their hands full with the dark sludge. Fights broke up quickly and both sides were wary to continue after watching their comrades get swallowed.

"Ma'am."

"I know."

Kal'tsit took over one of the drones and sent them to where the sudden flash of yellow light appeared. The camera footage locked on to the area and a recognizeable tuft of blonde hair appeared on her screen.

"Everyone. We are diverting from our route to pick up operator Nearl." Kal'tsit barked out. "East, half a kilometer out."

Surprise shook the group, but was quickly calmed down. Nearl was one of the most skilled operators on the landship. Everyone knew of her. New operators came to her for training, and the former Kazimierzian knight was happy to teach them the ropes. When word spread that Nearl was captured during the Chernobog extraction, numerous members aboard the landship voiced to have the Pegasus rescued. Just like Amiya, Kal'tsit shut them all down.

It took them a couple minutes to jog there. Fortunately, Nearl was busy holding off what appears to be the same dark sludge Kal'tsit and Ace ran into. The knight was swinging a glowing sword at the mud which retreated into the ground.

Nearl's ears twitched in their direction as they arrived. She spun around, holding up the glowing sword filled with her arts at them. Her eyes widened when she realized who they were, and sagged in relief. She looked tired, but that didn't stop her from trying to rescue more civilians from the Reunion camps.

"Kal'tsit...everyone..." Nearl exhaled, her expression carried a multitude of emotions that she couldn't express properly. She shook visibly, her body releasing some of the stress over the past few weeks. Just the familiar sight of the Rhodes Island uniform gave Nearl some relief.

"Operator Nearl. How is your condition? Did the Reunion torture you?" Kal'tsit immediately asked for the knight's status. She rarely expressed worry in such an outwardly manner. Kal'tsit was a strict boss, but she carried a lot of their respect.

"...no. The Reunion didn't do anything..." Nearl looked at each of them, slowly taking in everyone before she returned her gaze to Kal'tsit. "If you came to rescue me, then this is a bad time." It was the worst time. Chernobog was a warzone, and that was not including the sudden appearance of the dark mud. Worse when Nearl couldn't explain what it was. It came out of nowhere and swallowed corpses. Fighting it was impossible until she used her power against it.

"We're heading to the control tower. If you have the energy, then we need your help." Kal'tsit briefly looked over Nearl. She couldn't see anything under the girl's clothes, but the rest of her examination told her that the knight was far from collapsing. From seeing Nearl push back the sludge, she was their best hope so far.

"I'll come with you." Nearl made up her mind on the spot. She last saw Shirou heading for the control tower. During that time, she had freed a couple more camps until the dark sludge appeared.

"Good. We don't have much time. We're heading for the control center to stop the city." Kal'tsit's attention drew to the new weapons Nearl was carrying. The sword and shield looked like nothing she had ever seen before. Did Nearl grab them from the Reunion? The Reunion must've pillaged quite the vault to have collected such unique artifacts. Kal'tsit didn't recognize their appearance.

Nearl noticed the glances the operators were shooting at the weapons she carried. She understood what was on their minds as they didn't look anything like the gear she used.