Ark Chess Player.

"Doctor, could you perform that again?"

Lin Guang's eyes were piercing, and her gaze made Lin Lu feel somewhat afraid.

Such a gaze is like that of a great sorcerer who has been single for thirty years, having grasped the true meaning of life, and then accidentally discovering a laptop that perfectly matches his XP system. It's as if he's opened the door to a new world, as if he's been bathed in holy light, and the tears welling up in his eyes contain unspeakable hardships and struggles.

"Ah this..."

Lin Lu took a step back and bumped into Amiya.

"Miss Nearl, Doctor, what are you talking about?"

"Amiya, I've got my eye on the Doctor's head."

"Lingguang, can you speak a language of the living?"

The three looked at each other in bewilderment. Amiya's expression shifted from confusion to terror, while Lin Guang remained enthusiastic. Only Lin Lu shrank her shoulders like a little girl about to be violated.

"Miss Lin Guang, please calm down."

Amiya raised her hand and placed it on Nearl's arm armor, and the burning passion in Nearl's eyes slowly subsided, calmed down by Amiya's power.

"I apologize for my rudeness, Doctor, but I am captivated by your power and I couldn't help myself."

Lin Guang lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly, her ears twitching slightly. After calming down, she realized just how excited she had been.

Amiya was even more confused. Not to mention now, the Doctor had never met Nearl before, so why would Nearl react so strongly to the Doctor?

"Linguang."

Lin Lu spoke slowly, removing his hood to reveal his cold eyes.

"I'm here, Doctor. What's wrong?"

Lin Guang subconsciously looked up and responded, meeting Lin Lu's gaze.

The next moment, the light vanished.

Lin Guang's breathing became rapid, as if he had been thrown into a pool full of ice. His senses became numb, his hearing was deprived, and the world in his eyes seemed to have lost its color.

Lin Lu calmly gazed at Lin Guang.

His spiritual domain no longer covers a building, a city, or a patch of sky.

Instead, they focus on one person.

Just as a processor can unleash its full performance when it focuses on a single task instead of multiple tasks, when Lin Lu's eyes were fixed solely on Lin Guang, it was as if a thousand gazes were converging on the Radiant Knight. It was as if he wanted to peel away everything about her, revealing everything about her, from her appearance and heart to the little secrets hidden deep within her soul.

Lin Guang felt incredibly insignificant in front of Lin Lu.

"Excessive curiosity will hurt you. Just this once, Nearl."

Lin Lu pulled his hood back up to cover his eyes, staring at her for a few more seconds, worried that the girl in front of him might not come back.

Lin Guang was somewhat dazed, quietly leaning against a tree, his consciousness slowly floating out of the lake.

She raised her hand, clenched her fist, and then slowly relaxed it.

“Thank you so much, Doctor. Your power has confirmed my beliefs and shown me the light to move forward. Like Shining, she carries the hope I have always pursued.” Nearl’s eyes regained their brightness, and she said earnestly, “From this day forward, I will do everything in my power for you and will never disgrace the name of Rhodes Island.”

"...It's good that you can cheer up."

Lin Lu struggled to resist the urge to reach out and grab Lin Guang's ear and stroke it.

If you try to harass female operators here, your career as a commander is over.

That said, so far, only two people have looked directly into Lin Lu's eyes without any reaction: Amiya and Lyudmila.

Amiya could understand; she possessed the power to see into people's minds and could resist the gaze of the spirit realm. As for Lyudmila... the Kingslayer... she seemed to have entrusted everything to Lin Lu from the beginning, opening her heart and soul to him. When obtaining information from her, he didn't feel any distance; rather, he felt a sense of closeness.

If the person who encountered Lin Lu in the sarcophagus earlier, instead of Amiya, had been the King Killer—what would have happened next?

Judging from his reaction, Faust, the sniper from the Reunion Movement, seemed to recognize me, Lin Lu recalled the scene just now. When his eyes met Faust's, the other's expression was a mixture of surprise and panic, like a middle school student who had gone to an internet cafe to play games and then turned around to find his homeroom teacher standing peacefully behind him, an indescribable sense of camaraderie.

Next time you have the chance, why don't you try taking off your hood in front of Little White Fur?

It’s really exciting.

Chapter Twenty-One: Azazel

Time unknown / Weather unknown / Low visibility.

The initial forecast is that the natural disaster will occur in one hour and ten minutes.

"The route... is set. This road will surely be full of twists and turns, and I hope everyone is prepared."

Due to the backlash from the spiritual realm and the interference of natural disasters, Lin Lu's digitized vision could no longer cover the entire area as freely as before. Even if he tried to extend it, he would vaguely sense the gaze of that ominous eye, which he was not yet strong enough to deal with directly in his current weakened state.

Amiya also noticed that Lin Lu's condition was a bit off. The doctor, who had always insisted on taking sole command, was now willing to discuss the battle situation with others, which meant that he was indeed tired.

"PhD……"

"I'm fine, don't worry."

Lin Lu smiled and shook his head, then commanded, "Let's go!"

Squad E4 was responsible for clearing the way, Squad E1, with its majority of medics and casters, surrounded the middle, Squad E3 provided flank protection, and Squad E2 stayed at the rear to cover the rear. The vanguard teams were scattered among the squads to maintain regional communication and ensure the accurate transmission of command information.

"Ah, this clinic... Amiya, isn't it the one we came to before?"

The young medic pointed to a dilapidated high-rise building reduced to ruins. The signboard hanging on it had been smashed and was lying on the ground, with charred marks everywhere. Judging from the broken glass on the ground, it seemed that many Molotov cocktails had been thrown at it.

Amiya nodded slowly, her expression somewhat complicated.

Guard seemed to recall this and asked, "Is this the infected clinic shown in the records? Azazel?"

"……Yes."

“Sure enough, tsk, even though Azazel Clinic controls the entire underground intelligence network in Chernobog, they refused to cooperate with us. Back then, their attitude towards the Reunion Movement was also somewhat ambiguous, making it unclear which side they were on. Now they’re getting their comeuppance! If they had shared intelligence with us back then, or even warned us about the Reunion Movement’s upcoming actions, we wouldn’t be in this situation now.” Guard glared at the fire-ravaged building, showing no sympathy whatsoever.

“Not entirely.” Amiya shook her head gently. “I can understand them. It’s hard for wounded people to trust others again. The more suffering they experience, the more painful the scars become, and the more conservative their thinking becomes. In Ursus, infected people suffer terrible persecution if they are not wary of others. Even among infected people, it is not easy to trust each other, and not everyone is willing to take the risks we do.”

Lin Lu stared at the sign that had been broken in two on the ground and murmured, "What does 'infected person clinic' mean?"

“Ah… Doctor, Azazel is a black market clinic that only treats the infected. You've lost your memories… so you probably don't really understand the social situation of the infected, especially those within Ursus.” Amiya's expression was somewhat forlorn, her long ears drooping. She said in a low voice, “The infected in Ursus are basically either taken to quarantine zones or executed on the spot… Some infected who don't want to be taken to quarantine zones still try their best to live in the city. They carefully conceal their identities and do their best to survive. Azazel provides these infected with medical services and the most basic conditions for survival.”

Amiya clenched her fists, tilted her head back, and said in a deep voice, "I believe that Azazel must have refused the Reunion Movement's request for cooperation, which is why it was destroyed. I spoke with their current leader, who is a respectable person. Azazel was a vital pillar for the Chernobog infected, and I have always believed in that."

"Amiya..."

"Doctor, I haven't had a chance to tell you this since you woke up. But I believe you already sensed it."

Amiya slowly clutched the collar of her dress, her voice tinged with sadness. "Me, and Dobermann, most of Rhodes Island's inhabitants are Oripathy patients. This disease not only kills us, but it also grants us superhuman strength. Even without Originium Arts triggers, I can use the Originium seeping from my body to cast spells. This disease not only physically erodes our lives, but it also prevents us from living like normal people. We are outcasts; we are destined to be rejected by ordinary people."

“The town of Chernobog is the best example.”

"People despise, fear, hate, and antagonize those infected. Even if the infected have no connection with them whatsoever, the public still supports Ursus's expulsion and elimination of the infected. The root of it all is fear, and fear dominates the rules of society."

"..." Lin Lu listened quietly, took notes, and pondered.

"For those infected, choice is a luxury. Most infected people lose everything when they are diagnosed. No matter how brilliant their past was, they will fall to the bottom. Rhodes Island or Azazel, for those infected who have the opportunity to join, are probably the last refuge, a warm... home."

Amiya took a deep breath, controlling her emotions, and looked up at the apocalyptic clouds.

"Doctor, you probably don't understand."

"After an infected person dies, their body will become a new source of infection if not properly disposed of. Even in death, we infected people will be scorned by others. On this land of Terra, the only thing we can do is gather together and create a place for ourselves. Doctor, when you return to Rhodes Island to handle your work, you will understand. You will understand the reality of our situation. We have a very, very long road ahead of us."

Lin Lu nodded deeply, then looked once more at the now-ruined Azazel Clinic, lost in thought.

Ok?

and many more?

Back to Rhodes Island to handle work?

Lin Lu suddenly had a very bad feeling, a sense of unease that came from the tool's vigilance.

"Amiya's words weren't just for the Doctor, they were for you too."

Dobermann patted Guard on the back and said earnestly, "Organizations of infected like Rhodes Island, where there's no distinction between individuals, or extremely fanatical infected organizations like Reunion, are actually quite rare. Most places where infected gather become breeding grounds for local military and police forces, and the abandoned can only silently endure countless humiliations. I can understand your complaints, and I can also understand Azazel's predicament. After all, Azazel is far too influential in Chernobog. Whether he continues to remain neutral or sides with the other, Azazel will exert tangible or intangible pressure on either faction."

"...Okay, I understand."

Guard covered his arm, the part of his body infected with Originium.

"I almost forgot my original intention when I joined Rhodes Island. I hoped to make a difference with Rhodes Island through my own efforts. At first, I was confident, but in front of elite operators, I realized that I was nothing."

“Guard…”

Doberman didn't know how to start the conversation.

As an instructor at Rhodes Island, Guard is no exception; newly recruited operators are usually trained under Dobermann.

In her mind, the gap between Guard and Elite Operators was probably thirty of them, enough to match Ace? Perhaps even that wouldn't be enough…

“It’s alright, I… I believe in the Doctor.” Guard looked at the Doctor, his right hand on the hilt of his sword, a surge of strength welling up within him. He said, “The Doctor said that my potential is no less than anyone else’s. I may not be good enough or qualified yet, but I will do what I can. If I ignore something that is easy to do, I will definitely regret it. I don’t want to have any regrets, that’s all.”

"Ah."

Lin Lu smiled and nodded slowly.

at last……

The only discordant voice in the group.

Disappeared.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Natural Disasters

In order to contact the reconnaissance team as soon as possible and head to the extraction point together, at Amiya's suggestion, the Rhodes Island team chose to break through directly instead of taking a detour.

"With our current troop size, we are not suited for narrow urban warfare and are easily ambushed by the Reunion Movement, which employs human wave tactics. However, the Reunion Movement's soldiers are not as strong as ours. Underneath their well-equipped armor and camouflage, most of them are just ordinary Oripathy infected. We should fight quickly and decisively, rushing through in one go to minimize the number of engagements with the enemy. Disrupt their formation and retreat swiftly."

"That's what the young leader of Rhodes Island said," she said, gazing intently at Lin Lu, seeking his approval.

She wanted the doctor to rest a bit, as he had been directing several battles without a break since the sarcophagus awoke.

Lin Lu agreed to Amiya's suggestion, or rather, he thought so too.

……

"Looks like we've shaken off those guys for now. Are you all alright?"

Lin Guang's aura remained perfectly composed; even after a fierce and rapid assault, her fighting spirit remained high.

Overall, the Rhodes Island team maintained a perfect record with no casualties. Even though they were tired, everyone knew that they couldn't stop to rest now.

Ace scrolled through the electronic map and said in a deep voice, "We're almost at the southern exit. Let's hold on a little longer. However... the situation is still far from optimistic. There are bound to be Ursus military police or Reunion Movement forces at every exit of the city. Judging from the noise in the distance, they're probably Chernobog residents trying to escape the city."

"Um……"

Amiya fell silent.

Without a doubt, these local residents who did not have time to escape Chernobog were stopped here by the Reunion Movement, and their fate is self-evident.

Ace seemed to sense Amiya's suppressed emotions and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Speaking of which, I've been here before. A year ago, there was a building here. I came to Chernobog on official business and brought my daughter here to admire the flowers... Back then, irises were her favorite flower."

Ace's voice slowly faded as memories of the past flooded back during his dazed state. He gazed at the ruins before him, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

“Ace… … ”

Amiya felt even more depressed.

It wasn't until the doctor's voice brought them back from their sorrow.

"Attention all squads, prepare to break out again. There are large numbers of Reunion soldiers ahead... as well as civilians in Chernobog."

Lin Lu gazed into the distance. Surrounded by burning ruins, people continued to die on the filthy land. The cries of civilians, the roars of the Reunion Movement, the resistance of those unwilling to compromise, and the decapitation of others in terror. A torrent of negative energy continuously transmitted into Lin Lu's mind through the digitized world.

"Amiya... no, the whole squad, listen up, listen to me."

Lin Lu took a slow breath, suppressing the discomfort and anxiety in his heart, and said word by word, "Give up these pointless thoughts. We have no advantage and no extra time. No matter how crazy the Reunion Movement is, for us... everyone's safety is the most important thing."

There always has to be someone who plays the villain.

But let me, this nasty little devil who crawled out of a coffin, play the villain instead of the young rabbit.

"Since you have all entrusted your lives to me on the battlefield, my task is to ensure that each of you can return home."

"Others are not in my consideration."

Lin Lu's unwavering insistence on command stemmed from this very reason: he carried the expectations of everyone on his shoulders, and only in this way could he force himself to achieve perfection. A voice always echoed in his ears, compelling him not to abandon anyone in the team. In the battle against Mephistopheles, if he were to employ the tactic of sacrificing a move, he could quickly reverse the disadvantage, leaving his opponent with no options.

"PhD……"