Ark Chess Player

"...Who is the monster, really?"

Talulah felt goosebumps rise on her arms as a strong sense of crisis surged through her, forcing her to turn her attention to her surroundings.

"Sister Talulah, behind you!!"

Mephisto's hoarse voice came through, and Talulah hesitated for a second before turning around and raising her sword to protect herself.

"Clang!!"

The Originium Greatsword clashed with the razor-sharp claws that were right before her eyes. Talulah was nearly crushed by the unimaginable force, and the Originium Arts covering her entire body almost collapsed. If Mephisto hadn't been there to tattle on her, Talulah would have been pierced through the back by Mon3tr.

Lin Lu did not press his advantage, but instead pressed the communication headset during the precious time that Mon3tr and Talulah were locked in a standoff.

Amiya, are you awake?

"...Dr. Kal'tsit? Have our communications been restored?!"

The little rabbit's voice sounded like an isolated child walking alone on the road after school, looking up and finding her mother coming to pick her up.

"No, I am Lin Lu, temporarily borrowing Kal'tsit... Doctor's power." Lin Lu then realized that his voice had also changed due to the transformation. He was a little confused. Should this be called cross-dressing or female transformation?

No, this isn't the time to think about that.

"Amiya, listen carefully, take everyone and evacuate, get out of here."

Lin Lu noticed Mephisto's gaze, turned his head and gave him a cold look, which startled the child so much that he fell to the ground on the spot.

Hmm? Is Kal'tsit's gaze really that fierce?

"Doctor, we won't leave you alone."

Amiya refuted Lin Lu without any hesitation.

Lin Lu was somewhat speechless. This was the first time Amiya had rejected his suggestion. Was this child going through a rebellious phase? But she was also thinking of him. Should he be happy or angry? Is this what they call—a middle-aged man encountering his adorable daughter snatching the cigarette from his hand and shouting, "Daddy, don't smoke anymore!"?

"Don't worry, while you're preparing to break through the Reunion Movement's interception, I'll also take care of Talulah." Lin Lu put on a cold and aloof expression, looking directly at Talulah and Mephisto behind her, drawing their attention to him alone. "I'll be fine, trust me."

"...That's true."

Amiya tilted her head back slightly and said with emotion, "After all, Doctor, you have faced far more than just battles of this level."

"I used to be really awesome."

“Yes!” Amiya nodded in agreement, raising her voice slightly. “It’s not just about the past; the Doctor is amazing now too! He’s always been my pride!”

"Amiya."

"Doctor, what's wrong?"

"Actually, our communication channel is a channel for all users."

"……what?"

Amiya blinked blankly, then turned her head and noticed that the operators around her were all secretly watching her.

As her gaze swept over them, the operators quickly lowered their heads, even Instructor Dobermann guiltily avoided Amiya's eyes. The fact that Amiya, who often acted like a little adult, could have such a childlike side warmed the hearts of many operators. Even though they were still in danger at that moment, they couldn't help but smile.

...Only Nearl looked bewildered; her headphones had been damaged in the battle, and she had no idea what had happened.

The little rabbit's thin face flushed red instantly, and she pressed her earpiece and shouted, "Doctor! Was this also part of your plan?!"

"You didn't expect that, did you, bunny! Being cute is justice!"

"Oh, Doctor Onore!"

Chapter Thirty-Four: I Will Change the Fate of the Infected!

"You guys go around and surround Rhodes Island, don't let them escape."

Mephistopheles quietly redeployed personnel, transferring some soldiers away as a precaution.

He certainly believed in Talulah's abilities, but he was somewhat unsure how much more capable this hooded man was.

"It's all for Sister Talulah, it's all for my compatriots," Mephisto thought to himself, and his legs finally stopped shaking.

Mephistopheles didn’t want to admit it, he would rather die than admit it, that he was actually so frightened by Lin Lu’s gaze that his legs went weak and he even felt like he needed to go to the toilet.

Rhodes Island... will never let you escape!

Mephisto cursed inwardly as he sneaked behind a heavily armored soldier, peeking out to continue spying on Talulah's battle.

Talulah felt like her body was about to fall apart; each attack from Mon3tr put her under immense pressure. In contrast, Mon3tr seemed completely unharmed. In reality, her attacks weren't ineffective, but rather…

"Hit her! Hit her! Let's fight! Yes, poke her ass, that's it! Good job, here's a little red flower for you."

...This annoying guy keeps using the injection gun to heal this Originium monster!

Talulah's face turned red with anger. No matter how calm she was, she was still disturbed by Lin Lu's trash talk.

This was probably the first instance of keyboard combat in the Terra Wars, where players would use witty banter to disrupt the opponent's concentration and ultimately achieve victory.

As expected of Lin Lu, he easily accomplished what others couldn't. Especially when he's wearing Kal'tsit's face and making sarcastic remarks, for some reason, it feels like he's getting a buff, making people inexplicably feel irritated.

"Haven't you eaten, Tata? Put some effort into it, Tata! Tata, hurry up, Tata! Someone, pour Tata a cappuccino."

"Who are you calling Tata! Do you think you're worthy to call someone Tata?!"

Talulah was blinded by rage, and as her emotions flared up, an invisible fire erupted once more.

Lin Lu maintained his disdainful smile, but he never let his guard down against Talulah. He knew perfectly well that his ability to suppress Talulah was purely due to his unique ability perfectly countering hers. If he hadn't extracted the power of the Originium, he probably wouldn't have lasted more than three moves against her.

"Rhodes Island, it's time to end this."

Talulah flipped her greatsword and slammed it into the ground. The rising ring of flames barely managed to repel Mon3tr, leaving burn marks on its body.

Lin Lu frowned. He knew that the other party was starting to fight desperately, and he absolutely could not let her succeed.

but--

"Cough...not again?!"

A sudden, overwhelming pressure descended, causing all Oripathy sufferers, whether from the Reunion Movement or Rhodes Island, to experience physical pain.

Lin Lu's entire body was burning. He immediately knelt on one knee, barely managing to stay upright. He clutched his chest tightly, feeling intense pain beneath the soft touch. His heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, unable to keep beating, and his breathing became erratic.

Don't ask whether the campfire should be lit; first ask whether the cold and darkness are still there.

"Don't ask whether the bullet should be loaded; first ask whether oppression and exploitation still exist."

"Don't ask if the cause of justice has a tomorrow; first ask if injustice still exists today!"

Talulah chanted, and the power of the corrupted Originium spread across the greatsword, igniting the earth with crimson flames.

Disaster clouds gathered overhead, the dark clouds were pulled by an invisible force, and hurricanes swirled over the desolate square.

"Mon3tr, Mon3tr...Mon3tr!"

Lin Lu saw Mon3tr lying on the ground, its dark green Originium body rapidly turning white. It struggled to sit up but couldn't move. Its hawk-like crimson eyes stared intently in Lin Lu's direction.

Lin Lu felt a stinging pain in his eyes. He was hallucinating. The thing lying on the ground in front of him was not Mon3tr, but a gray wolf covered with Originium horns.

The gray wolf looked up at him, but its red eyes reflected another person.

"...Soujiro..."

The sound that came out of Lin Lu's mouth was not his.

He felt as if he was about to remember something, but an unknown force was holding him back.

Lin Lu gritted his teeth, stood up, and walked forward step by step, each step causing a tearing pain in his heart.

He finally understood what spell Talulah was casting.

Originium stones attract each other, and the same applies to natural disasters and infected individuals.

Talulah uses the infected as beacons, actively attracting the Cataclysmic Cloud and unleashing calamity!

Whether it's the Infected from the Reunion Movement or Rhodes Island, they are all pawns she uses on this land of Chernobog.

"Mon3tr, you've worked hard, come back now."

Lin Lu came to Mon3tr's side, reached out and placed his hand on its head, then pulled it back into its spine.

Lin Lu knew perfectly well that Mon3tr was merely a projection, a virtual entity projected into reality using the Ark Driver. Even if it completely disappeared, absorbed and obliterated by Talulah's magic, it wouldn't affect its true form, nor would it affect Kal'tsit.

Lin Lu understood, he knew, but he just couldn't bear to watch Mon3tr die.

"Rhodes Island, you cannot change your fate; despair is your end."

Talulah's spell was complete, and Lin Lu missed the best opportunity.

If he had reached out towards Talulah instead of Mon3tr, things might have turned out differently.

"Many people will die."

Lin Lu stared indifferently at Talulah and said calmly, "It's not just the people from Rhodes Island; you don't care about that either?"

At this moment, the turbulent sky turned into chaos, the lightning-streaked clouds were as red as blood, and at the center of the calamity clouds condensed a black Originium. The Originium fell, roaring down, the intense friction and resistance coating it with a layer of flames as its coat. The scorching heat burned everything, dragging a blinding tail of flames across the sky, emitting a deafening roar.

"The movement of integration is endless."

Even if they entrust their lives to you?

"We have never lost our compatriots, nor have we ever lost our brothers and sisters. When natural disasters strike the earth, when Originium spills across the old city, when dreams become reality, when the deep sea gives birth to life, we will meet again at the ends of this earth."

Talulah sneered, her smile was very cold.

“You’re right about one thing… The infected never leave; they’re always here.”

Lin Lu looked at her calmly, without sadness or anger, and pulled open the side of the Ark Driver with one hand.

A unique card landed in his hand. He raised his finger and tapped the card; it was a jet-black card.

"But you're wrong about one thing."

Talulah suddenly felt a sense of foreboding: "...What?"

Lin Lu inserted the black card into the card slot and slapped it against the side of the driver.

"I will change the fate of those infected!"

Chapter Thirty-Five: Hazard On!

"Warning! Hazard on!"