Ark Chess Player

"Oh? It seems you trust her more than I, the doctor."

"...Where did this Yin-Yang magic come from? I can't handle it, I can't handle it."

Lin Lu shivered, but not because of Amiya's sarcastic tone, but because of the warning issued by the newly online Spirit Realm.

"Twenty, sixty, one hundred and sixty, three hundred and forty, four hundred... What the hell? Is the Reunion Movement planning a team-building barbecue here? So many people!" Lin Lu frowned, waved to Du Bin, and took the electronic map. He mentally planned out the number of enemy troops and their route, then drew a circle on the electronic map with his finger.

"Doctor, are you serious?"

Do I look like someone who would joke around?

"I sincerely hope you're joking..."

Dobermann looked at the tactical map, her scalp tingling. Soon she didn't need to look at the map anymore, because the Reunion Movement members had poured out from all directions.

The desolate square, the collapsed slope, the dilapidated buildings, and the ruins—everywhere emerged Reunion Movement soldiers dressed in white robes, with long scarves bearing the burning flag symbol tied around their arms.

"No wonder. Apart from those who were smashed to pieces by Originium, they have no fear of natural disasters. Even if a natural disaster strikes, to put it bluntly, even if hundreds or thousands of Reunion members die, the remaining people are enough to drown us a dozen times over," Dobermann said self-deprecatingly. "As long as they are infected, regardless of race or original identity, when they put on masks and white robes, they are Reunion. Their support is virtually endless. Do we still have a chance of winning?"

"some."

Lin Lu raised his hand and tapped Doberman on the head, while simultaneously drawing a straight line on the tactical map.

"Continue along the retreat route! Fighting the enemy in an open area like the plaza is tantamount to suicide. Reorganize the troops after leaving the plaza. Once the breakout is successful, disengage immediately before the enemy forces have fully regrouped. So what if they outnumber us dozens of times? We still have a chance, no need to panic! In short..."

"Don't stop!"

Then they were forced to stop.

They had to stop because their retreat route was blocked by the massive Originium stones that had fallen. These Originium stones spread rapidly across the ground like parasites, taking root and sprouting into jagged, sharp clusters that emitted a cold, metallic gray luster.

“The Originium… has it started growing like crazy?! We’re at this critical juncture, yet everything is hindering us. If only we could have broken through half an hour earlier—” Dobermann clenched his fists, his emotions quite anxious, his brows furrowed, his mind tense.

It's not her fault. Even if she wanted to take another route, the original streets were buried under the collapsed ruins, and the buildings destroyed by the natural disaster became obstacles.

It's as if natural disasters are all on the side of Reunion, and that Reunion is the only righteous party. Reunion used the disasters to completely destroy Chernobog, which was both revenge and a declaration—as long as everyone is infected, there will be no discrimination. In the face of death, everyone is equal.

"What are you doing, Doberman?"

Lin Lu walked ahead, extending his left hand toward the cluster of Originium that could easily pierce a person.

"Doctor, danger!" Dubin was startled by Lin Lu's actions and tried to stop him, but Ace stopped him.

Ace calmly replied, "Trust the Doctor."

"But... even a slight scratch from this highly radioactive Originium can't stop the infection, even with emergency delay medication."

"It's alright. You know, the doctor back then could stop a tsunami with his bare hands."

"???"

Doberman looked puzzled and tilted his head.

Then she saw the Doctor reach out and shatter the Originium cluster.

"!!!"

Doberman was so startled he almost jumped up on the spot!

"Hurry up and leave, are you waiting to have a late-night snack with the Reunion Movement?"

Lin Lu shook his left hand; the back of his hand was a little hot. Although he had extracted an entire Originium cluster, it contained too many impurities, so it didn't provide much energy. This inferior Originium also caused him to hear faint wails and his head to buzz, but fortunately, it only lasted for a few seconds before stopping.

Dobermann slumped his shoulders slightly, seemingly understanding why Amiya was so determined to take the Doctor away.

The Doctor's battlefield command abilities, as well as the incredible power he just displayed, are absolutely essential for Rhodes Island.

But this sense of security was only momentarily gone. Doberman smelled an extremely terrifying odor—the smell of burning, the smell of steel and sulfur, the smell of death.

Not only Dobermann, but even Nearl noticed someone approaching from behind, closing in on Rhodes Island's lines.

There was only one person.

But this made the Radiant Knight feel fear and helplessness.

The soldiers of the Reunion Movement stood on the perimeter, surrounding the plaza, but made no other move, simply observing silently. Their fanatical gazes were fixed on the person walking at the front, back ramrod straight, each one proud to be a member of the Reunion Movement.

"All operators... maintain the highest alert level." Amiya's voice came through the communication headset.

“Amiya…” Nearl felt a chill run down her spine. An unprecedented sense of oppression emanated from the newcomer, and even the sky turned blood red as a result. She couldn’t help but murmur, “This… is probably a flame that can burn the entire earth… She, she is a living monster.”

Amiya held her breath slightly, clenched her sweaty palms, and stared straight ahead.

"She is the leader of the Reunion Movement, the tyrant of the infected."

"Talulah".

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Tyrant

Talulah walked slowly toward the Rhodes Island front, the ruins of houses that blocked her path melting away into molten iron.

The extremely terrifying Flame Originium Arts seem capable of burning the earth to ashes.

Amiya pursed her lips, her eyes filled with determination, and took a step forward.

She had to confront the enemy, not just because she was the leader of Rhodes Island, but because she knew that if she couldn't stop Talulah... maybe it would be Dobermann, maybe Nearl, maybe Ace, maybe Guard... some people would never be able to return to Rhodes Island.

"Amiya, don't go! Take the Doctor away quickly, quick—"

Lin Guang stopped her, using his body to shield her from getting closer.

Amiya shook her head: "No, I can't leave you all behind!"

"Amiya, listen to me." Nearl knew Amiya's personality. Although she was usually as gentle as a little rabbit, when she was determined, even if you pointed a gun at her, she would still stubbornly press her head against the muzzle and refuse to back down.

"You felt it too, that's not a monster we can defeat. Although I hate to admit it, I don't have the confidence to beat her... or even stop her. If this continues, the entire rescue team will perish here. This isn't what we came here for. Don't forget why we came here in the first place."

"No! I can't let you take any more danger. You've already shouldered enough!" Amiya clenched her fists. "We can fight together, we can..."

"What about the doctor? Can you guarantee the doctor's safety?"

Lin Guang shouted, "If you and the Doctor die here, then all our efforts so far will have been in vain!"

Amiya trembled. She turned to look at Lin Lu, then slowly lowered her head to look at her trembling hands.

"Amiya..."

Lin Guang took a slight breath, then gently placed her hand on Amiya's shoulder, her gaze soft.

—Are these young and tender shoulders the ones that have carried Rhodes Island all this way?

"Take the Doctor away from here, take the Doctor back, back to Rhodes Island."

Nearl raised her warhammer high, the Radiant Knight's brilliance illuminating everyone once more. She roared, "E4 Squad, stay here with me to cover our retreat! We will not let a single Reunion member escape! We are knights, knights of Rhodes Island, knights of the Ark! The spirit of chivalry will never die!!"

“And my squad.” Ace raised his tower shield and gently touched it against Nearl’s black shield.

"Ace! Your squad is the most intact. Amiya needs you!"

“Near Light, is this the time to say such things?” Ace watched quietly as Talulah melted everything around her into a puddle just by passing by, and sighed, “This fire is a bit too big for lighting a cigarette, but it’s not unacceptable.”

"Who's talking nonsense at a time like this?!"

"Wait a minute, who's that person behind Talulah...?"

Ace narrowed her eyes slightly, as if she had spotted someone familiar.

"Mephisto, are these the people?" Talulah stopped and asked calmly.

“Yes, Sister Talulah.” The white-haired boy, standing like a guard, bowed and said, “Rhodes Island is the one that assisted the Ursus people in harming our fellow countrymen.”

"...It seems the Kingslayer has disappointed me after all."

Talulah sighed softly, drew her black Originium Greatsword, and seemingly casually swung it upwards.

The surrounding scenery distorted instantly, and the air wailed as it compressed, as if something had been ignited.

Flames, flames that burn everything, orange-red flames that spanned a hundred meters without showing any signs of weakening, attacked the Rhodes Island position!

"Radiance!!"

Lin Guang roared in battle, her golden steed spread its wings, and she leaped into the air, an invisible shield of light forming in front of her to meet the pillar of flame.

One second, two seconds, the light shield shattered, yet Lin Guang remained unyielding. The black shield stood before her, the flames being forcefully parted by her body. Her armor gradually twisted and deformed, covered in black marks, but even so, she refused to retreat a single step.

"Drink it all!!"

Nearl invoked Originium Arts, its final brilliance coalescing onto the shield as it flung the remaining embers into the sky.

The fireworks faded, leaving behind a scorching heat that permeated the desolate square, but the hearts of the Rhodes Island residents remained cold.

"Near Light!!"

Dubin rushed to Lin Guang's side, who was kneeling on the ground, to check on her injuries.

"Cough cough... It's okay, it's okay, step back. I'm fine, it's just... a little hot." Nearl's long, golden hair was tinged with flames, emitting a pungent, burnt smell. The communication headset she wore on her head completely failed under the intense heat; she shakily removed it, revealing her burned ear.

"Nonsense! Not a single part of your armor is intact, how can this be considered nothing!" Dobermann stretched out his hand, but then helplessly withdrew it, shouting behind him, "Medical team, come over here immediately to give her emergency treatment, take off her armor, quick! Before it sticks to her skin!!"

"Back off, Doberman...back off!"

Dobermann gritted his teeth and said, "Near Light, when are you going to change this stubborn temper of yours?!"

"Everyone, be careful! Crouch down!!"

Ace shouted, lunged forward, grabbed Dobermann's shoulder (who was too anxious to pay attention to the enemy), and pulled her down.

"—!!"

An invisible flame erupted and spread in mid-air, sending a sniper who hadn't managed to crouch down in time flying into the air. He fell heavily to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, instantly losing consciousness. Those around him rushed over to provide emergency treatment.

"Cough, cough... What is this?!"

Lin Guang managed to utter a sound, feeling as if dozens of lit cigarettes had been shoved into her throat, choking her so much she felt like she was about to vomit her soul out.

"An invisible flame swept over, making the attack difficult to detect. Nearl, retreat. In your current state, you can't withstand a second attack; don't make a pointless sacrifice!"

"...What kind of monster are we fighting?" Nearl quipped.

"Perhaps she's just a girl who's gone astray."

Ace raised his shield, stood in front of her, and left her with his back turned.

"Rest now, leave the rest to us."

……