Khalifa: Queen in the Apocalypse

Chapter 153: Butterfly Effect

Khalifa entered the room to see the old general with a tube inserted on his neck, various machines—a lot of which they had just retrieved from the mission—surrounded his bed, barely keeping him alive.

Her abrupt entry surprised the nurses and doctors. However, they were very professional and were only distracted by her beauty for a second, before yelling for her to leave.

Instead of answering them, she raised her hand and mist formed and emerged from her hand, quickly enveloping the old man.

"What??"

The nurse’s noise attracted the soldiers outside and they barged inside the room, hearts raised.

Without exemption, they all gaped as the mist enveloped the general.

"What are you doing?!" A quick-acting soldier raised his voice, gesturing to take out his gun.

However, cold hands kept his hand and gun in its holster.

"What?!" He gasped, shocked by the sudden hand that appeared in front of him. What made it worse was when he realized he couldn’t move at all!!

Similar sights happened around the room, with Kaize and Cauis standing between Khalifa and any distraction to her what she was doing.

A few people’s feet—including Hilten’s—were literally even buried on the ground.

"We’re trying to help," Kaize said, "It’s not like you could’ve done anything. Anyone who stops any attempt to save the General’s life has questionable motives."

"How dare you!!"

"You have no right!!"

But the three did not say anything else, making sure to stop anything that could harm her.

One even turned to look at Ryo with a sneer, "Well, someone will definitely benefit from the General’s death."

Ryo, Kaize, and the others frowned.

Ryo pursed his lips and frowned, "I do not want his position." He just said, but men who were in power generally didn’t believe in such words.

Khalifa had told them of this guy’s shortcomings—a lack of EQ and speaking skills—so Cauis spoke for him instead. "Had we not arrived, none of you could’ve or would’ve done anything.

"I assure you, things wouldn’t get worse with Khalifa here."

He said this but the ground underneath them vibrated a bit, very threatening.

With such guardians, the old men could only stare at what was happening with furrowed eyebrows, hoping for the best.

As for which outcome was ’the best’, differed on a case-by-case basis.

Minutes ticked by and no one spoke. They could only watch the woman in front manipulate the mist skilfully, controlling it as if it had a life of its own.

If one didn’t think of the possible repercussions, the sight itself was incredibly mesmerizing.

Soon, the mist disappeared, and everyone was taken out of their daze. They looked at the woman who, using her ability, eventually made a diagnosis. "It’s poison."

"What?"

"How could that be possible?"

"That can’t be!" The doctor’s eyebrows furrowed. "I would’ve…" then paused, looking at her seriously. "What poison?"

"It’s poison that targets the nervous system, causing rapid paralysis and respiratory failure."

"How do you know this?"

"My ability is controlling liquids." She told them, "No matter whether you believe me or not, I can easily prove it."

Water formed a shining barrier around the general’s body. Going in, it prevented the toxin from spreading further.

She closed her eyes and sensed the poison’s molecular structure.

She manipulated the water to counteract the effect of the neurotoxin, neutralizing its potency.

All these took a toll on her and her men looked heartbroken at her increasingly pale face.

With heavy concentration, she focused on the molecular structure of the liquid. In this microscopic level, she attached her own elements to the poison.

Using gentle rhythmic movements, she condensed the poison to a single spot near an opening, protecting the organs at the same time.

After a while, her movements slowed and she looked at a nearby doctor who flinched under her stare, "Don’t you want to study the poison?"

The doctor blinked, taking a moment to understand, and he immediately turned to a nurse. "Get me a clean container!" He said, and took a clean canister nearby.

Seeing that they were ready, Khalifa guided the poisoned toxin out of his mouth.

Disgusting black liquid came out of the general’s mouth and the doctor quickly took the container to get it.

It was an incredibly tedious process that consumed all the energy from her wild night.

In front of everyone’s eyes, they saw the general regain some color, his breathing returned to its steady rhythm.

Everyone’s shoulders slumped, mostly of relief. While some… of disappointment.

The general was half-conscious through all of this. He wearily opened his eyes to see a pale Khalifa.

"General!"

"You’re awake!"

"Thank goodness!"

General Lee ignored them and glazed eyes looked at the dazed girl on the verge of losing consciousness.

His experienced eyes could see the poor girl’s eyes drooping, and her legs losing balance.

With his remaining strength, he told them of some instructions.

"One… of the townhouses reserved… for guests." He said, very laboriously. "Let her have it."

The other soldiers were taken aback, but quickly gathered themselves, knowing full well that the girl deserved the treatment.

"Yes, general!"

As he said this, Khalifa lost the feeling in her legs, quickly caught by her men. "Khalifa!" They yelled, and she found herself against the professor’s reassuring chest.

"How are you?" He asked, very gentle, but she was already dazed at this point.

It didn’t take long for her to completely lose consciousness, but she had a smile on her face as she slept.

She thought that perhaps saving the general’s life now would change a lot of lives, including Kylo’s.

And she would later find out that she was right.

What she didn’t know at this time was that the rescue mission that killed Kylo was delayed so many months because General died early.

This delayed the mission so much that the zombies had gathered too much strength that even Kylo was unable to deal with them.

Except for her generous donations and building of safe houses, this could be said to be her most impactful move.

With this single move, she changed a lot of fates from the Books.