Ark Chess Player.

“Razer!!”

Franka held the semi-conscious Razer and anxiously checked her condition.

"Red Gang, how much explosives did you stuff in there? Tell me honestly, were you ever bullied in Lungmen? With such firepower, you blew up half the area—" Franka's expression changed. She seemed to remember something and said nervously, "Razer, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me for all the offenses I've committed before! I shouldn't have stolen the pudding you put in the fridge, I shouldn't have worn your clothes and stretched your shirt so much that I embarrassed you!"

"Cough, cough... I, I didn't put in that much explosives, and it's impossible for me to carry that much explosives with me! Wait, you stole my pudding!? You even lied to me and said Jessica ate it, which made me question her, and she was so scared that she cried."

Razer's almost unconscious consciousness was brought back to its senses by Franka's anger. She grabbed Franka's collar and ripped it open, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin.

"The next day when I returned to the dorm, I found four whole boxes of puddings, all delivered by Jessica. I wanted to return them to her, but she cried and refused to accept them. After that, she didn't dare to speak to me for almost a week... Was all of this part of your plan? You even schemed against Jessica's personality, are you even human?!" Razer's eyes were practically spitting fire, wishing he could beat this fat fox to a pulp on the spot.

"Hehe." Franka stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Hey, you bastard!"

Franka watched as Liskarm erupted in anger, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had managed to rouse Liskarm back to life.

The fake medical operative only knows how to throw bandages, wield endorphins, and summon medical drones.

A true medical operator! She can wake someone up with just her words, and even give them an SP+1 buff.

Franka breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Razer had recovered, and said, "Even if the explosives malfunctioned, you were the one who pressed the remote control, right? Didn't I just tell you to wait a moment? I already said, the Kingkiller hasn't returned yet—Holy crap, the Kingkiller!"

Franka turned around abruptly, realizing that things were in serious trouble.

They were barely able to withstand the aftershocks of the explosion, let alone the regicide at the epicenter!

Razer frowned, pulled a bomb remote control from her jacket pocket, and handed it to Franka. The remote control was still switched off. She gestured, "I didn't detonate it, and besides, we don't have enough explosives to place in so many places."

“It’s not you, it’s the cadres of the Reunion Movement, W.”

Amiya stood up, shaking off a cloud of dust, looking extremely disheveled.

Her hands still bore the marks of spellcasting, black gas swirling around them, as she had been continuously casting barriers to ease the burden on the lightning serpent. It was because of their combined efforts that they were able to weather the aftershocks of the explosion…

And what about the regicide?

Amiya closed her eyes, trying to sense the presence of the Kingslayer through her mental powers and confirm her condition.

Just then, a thick gray fog filled the air.

The fog was so damp that it was almost impossible to see anything around you.

"Is this the spell of the kingslayer?"

Franka asked, having researched information about the Kingslayer and heard of her Originium Arts.

"No, no, this isn't the aura of the Kingslayer..."

Amiya shook her head, her consciousness expanding into the distance. Her resilient mental energy surged outwards from her location like a tidal wave, rushing in all directions like a rising tide. It swept across ruins and crumbling buildings, enveloping almost half of the fifth district of Lungmen's outer ring.

Amiya's mind was filled with a jumble of information. It was the first time she had encountered such a situation. She slowly filtered out the information she needed and began to grasp this power of the mind.

Suddenly, Amiya opened her eyes, and a flashing arc of electricity burst forth in the air.

The bolt of lightning revealed a strange figure that appeared behind Franka.

"—Franka!"

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Chapter 303 Saving the Soldier, the Kingslayer

"Franka, get down!!"

Razer shouted anxiously.

Franka instinctively lay down upon hearing this.

Her movements were quite practiced, and she even subconsciously stuck out her buttocks and twisted her plump waist.

Franka was pondering whether the gray mist was an Originium Arts of the Kingslayer one second ago, and the next second she was obediently lying down by a single sentence from Liskarm. The whole process was quite coordinated; even in such a serious setting, she could act cute so naturally. Truly Franka.

Perhaps it was because her head was still spinning from the successive explosions, or perhaps it was because Franka had been trained to obey Razer instincts. Lying on the ground, Franka couldn't help but wonder if she had gone too far with Razer? Had she trained her to be so obedient? She had always thought of herself as the cunning seme, and Razer as the tsundere uke.

—If Razer knew that Franka was thinking about all sorts of strange things, she might just cast a spell on Franka.

Razer's expression was solemn, with a bluish-white current flashing between the horns on his head, and he raised his Flash Shield high with both hands.

Counterattack arc triggered!

The rushing lightning pierced through the dense fog, which provided excellent concealment, and revealed a rather terrifying human figure.

The pale mask developed large cracks, revealing lifeless eyes and the stark white bones exposed to the air after the flesh of the cheek was torn open.

The Reunion Movement's standard protective gear was stretched taut by muscular armor. A soldier, nearly two meters tall, stood behind Franka, holding a matte-finished short blade. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that most of his body was charred, but there was no actual damage. It seemed that all the explosions had been blocked by his eerie muscular armor, which reflected a hard, cold light like granite.

"Wow!!"

Franka quickly pulled her raised buttocks back down, feeling the electric current pass over them, making her feel weak all over. While she didn't mind Razer having this novel way of doing things, she was very concerned about the voltage, power, timing, and location!

Behind Franka, the skeleton soldiers were forced back several steps by the Originium Arts of Liskarm, raising their arms to block the man-eating lightning. Small pieces of flesh kept falling off their arms, perhaps because the violent explosion had greatly weakened their defenses.

Amiya didn't let the opportunity slip by. She seized the moment, gathering her magic, and black arcs of electricity tore through her palms, transforming into beams that shot through the enemy. Her Originium Arts were far more powerful than Liskarm's magic, instantly blasting her opponent ten meters away. However, Amiya knew very well that her mental strength had been compromised by continuous combat. She could have pierced the enemy's chest, but she couldn't control her power.

Amiya needed time to catch her breath, but unfortunately, her enemies wouldn't just sit idly by.

"Wow! My day has arrived!!"

Franka, still in a sexy reclining position, drew her thermite sword. With a sudden burst of power from her leopard-like thighs, she leaped behind Amiya! The blazing white thermite sword shone with a sun-like brilliance, capturing an irregular outline that was too blurry to discern.

"I could smell your disgusting, rotten odor from far away!"

Franka's sword pierced the air, tearing through the empty void and slicing through the metal sheet, green viscous liquid gushing from the tip.

The skeleton soldier, maintaining his invisibility, looked down at his chest. To remain invisible, he hadn't activated his armor, making his defense far inferior to the other skeleton soldier. Moreover, he had previously been hit by W's mine explosion, significantly reducing his defense; naturally, he couldn't withstand Franka's thermite sword, which reached a temperature of 2500 degrees Celsius.

Even so, the skeleton soldier's strong vitality was still struggling, trying to raise his hand and grab Franka's sword!

How could Franka let her opponent succeed? She seized the opportunity, unleashing three lightning-fast sword strikes that pierced through the invisible skeleton soldier's head, heart, and lower body, leaving bloody holes. These were all vital areas of the human body; damage to any of them would be fatal.

Even so, the cautious hero Franka still felt uneasy, so she added ten more sword strikes.

The blazing white light dispelled the gray mist, and the skeleton soldier, pierced by the swift swordsmanship, trembled violently. He attempted to regenerate, his tattered body showing signs of writhing, and copious amounts of slime oozed and evaporated from his charred wounds, emitting a foul stench.

To Wolper, who has a keen sense of smell, the smell was like sewage that had been fermented, making him want to vomit.

"Enough! Let it burn!"

Franka focused intently, completely abandoning any intention to play tricks. She was determined to get her revenge for the humiliation she had suffered at the hands of the Skeleton Soldier! Countless sword lights and afterimages struck the Skeleton Soldier. The blazing white sword light could not be concealed even by the darkest fog, making it appear as if a small sun was rising on the ground.

With a hundred swords drawn simultaneously, Franka confidently sheathed her sword, subtly suppressing the trembling of her right hand, the hilt of the sword swaying slightly.

Before her, Mephistopheles' masterpiece, one of the skeletons, was reduced to fragments by the thermite sword.

Franka thought to herself, "It's already been chopped into mincemeat, it can't possibly come back to life on the spot, can it?" Her entire right arm was trembling. If this thing could reassemble itself, then she would—take Amiya and Liskarm and run!

What's the point of fighting now?!

Lungmen Royal Guard Bureau, come out and clean up the mess!

The sticky, dark green slime that had formed into a mass was completely evaporated by the high temperature, and after struggling for a while, the skeleton soldier lay down completely.

At the same time, something broke apart in the thick gray fog, producing a crisp sound, and even the fog dissipated somewhat as a result. Although the fog shrouding the ruins had not completely dissipated, it was much better than the previous state where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"Is this even human?!"

Franka couldn't help but swear. She removed the Originium Arts from the thermite sword and could clearly feel that its durability was almost gone. If she heated it any more, this crafted rapier would become a mere fire poker, the kind that would melt. Fortunately, Rhodes Island would reimburse her for repair costs after this mission; otherwise, she wouldn't just have been working for free, she'd have to pay out of pocket half her fortune!

Amiya shook her head, looking quite bewildered.

“I can’t sense any emotion from them, nothing at all, just emptiness. They may have been dead long ago, but…” Amiya organized her thoughts, gazing at the burly infected man who had risen again in the distance, and suddenly understood something.

This wasn't the first time she'd seen this kind of monster.

That night, Amiya witnessed the tragedy in Upper Chernobog while aboard the Bad Guy transport plane.

The Reunion Movement intends to extend its reach into Lungmen this time. If they are allowed to continue, the tragedy of Chernobog will inevitably repeat itself. If the insane infected, who feed on the flesh and blood of the living like zombies, appear in Lungmen, chaotic information will spread throughout the world. Once the Oripathy infected are labeled as monsters… a world war may break out, and the struggle between the infected and ordinary people will become a fight to the death!

Amiya was sweating profusely. She felt that the Reunion Movement had gone mad and was driving everyone to their doom!

"The corpses are fighting?"

Franka felt a chill run down her spine. Even though she had participated in numerous biohazard protection missions, she still felt a fear of the supernatural. After all, no one wants a corpse that should be lying in a cemetery to be on their doorstep the next second!

"It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's our enemy, we'll defeat it."

A few wrinkles appeared at the corners of Razer's eyes, and the injury on her arm throbbed faintly, showing that she was extremely unhappy.

She sighed, "Franka, stop looking around, the enemy is coming!"

On the other side of the dense fog, a skeleton soldier in muscular armor raised his hands high, plunging them directly into the ground. Black smoke poured from his hands into the ground, followed by a huge crystalline object rising from the ground. It was building material carbonized in the violent explosion, which the skeleton soldier had actually pulled out, and not only that, he had reinforced and secured it.

"Snapped--!!"

The skeleton soldiers hurled the boulder directly at Amiya and the others, their speed increasing dramatically, instantly creating a series of explosive sounds as it pierced the air.

Razer retracted her flash shield and, almost without hesitation, chose to leap to the side. She was a heavy-armored operator, but she wasn't stupid! When she didn't need to protect the operators behind her, she naturally tried to dodge enemy attacks whenever possible, without wasting stamina.

Everyone easily dodged, and just as Franka was wondering if it was too easy, the carbonized crystalline boulder emitted a red light!

"Everyone, get out of the way!"

Amiya shuddered as she sensed a massive energy contracting and regrouping within the boulder, causing ripples to spread through the air.

No, it's too close, there's no way I can dodge it!

Amiya's mind raced, and after a brief hesitation, she made her decision immediately.

Without realizing it, she had become accustomed to making choices.

Amiya focused her mind and began chanting rapidly, swallowing all her fear and a resolute will rising in her eyes. As the Originium Arts unfolded layer by layer, a dense magical barrier covered the giant rock, like layers of Ursus dolls.

Suddenly, Amiya remembered a little bit of knowledge that the Doctor had once taught her.

"It is better to guide than to block, and better to guide than to block."

Amiya decided to remove the barrier pointing above the boulder, deliberately leaving an opening for the vent.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!!"

Cracks appeared on the crystalline object, the turbulent gas compressed to its limit, the earth trembled, and a deafening explosion occurred! Terrifying energy surged and collapsed, converging and erupting with a violent and ferocious force, billowing black smoke soaring into the sky! The mist that shot straight into the sky transformed into dark clouds, flashing with dark purple electricity, resembling a calamity cloud that inspired fear, and even the magical barriers set up by Amiya were successively destroyed.

Fortunately, Amiya had a flash of inspiration; otherwise, given their speed of dodging, the black smoke would have caught up, and even the Thunder Serpent wouldn't have been able to stop it.

The surprise attack failed, and the muscular, armored skeleton soldier gradually faded away. Before he disappeared, his lifeless eyes remained fixed on Amiya. The skeleton soldier's soul had long since been replaced by another substance, but he would still act on instinct, tracking and hunting his target until the mission was complete.

“…Amiya.”

Razer and Franka quickly returned to Amiya's side.

Both of them looked serious, especially Franka, who couldn't smile anymore.

Even when fighting against the Bone Shatterer, Franka felt no fear. Even when she was overwhelmed by the Bone Shatterer and could hardly breathe, she still felt she had a chance. But now, she felt her heart pounding and her back going weak; things were beyond her comprehension.

The skeleton soldiers were actually able to transfer the damage they took to the building materials and detonate them. If Franka hadn't completely killed the enemy, the energy generated by the hundreds of thermite swords would have flowed back... Just thinking about it made Franka's right hand go numb.

“Amiya, I have a bad feeling. The Reunion Movement has sent out more than just two of these… super soldiers.” Razer took a few seconds to think of what to call these monsters, coughed lightly, and continued, “The Reunion Movement has been pursuing Misha, and there’s a high probability that they will send super soldiers to the rear of the squad. Misha may be in danger.”

"You need to... make a choice."

Amiya fell silent. She turned to look in the direction of the flickering, fiery phantoms—the very ruins from which they had evacuated, now engulfed in flames. Moreover, the danger in this area had exceeded her expectations; continuing on this path… might come at an irreparable price.

Amiya made many choices today, and every choice has a result.

She didn't know if her decision was right, but she believed she wouldn't regret it.

"Franka, Razer."

Amiya's eyes, as blue as the ocean, shone with unwavering determination.

Her deep gaze seemed to pierce through the thick fog; she seemed to have already seen the figure of the kingslayer.

“You all immediately return to the rear of the squad and begin the retreat. I will go and bring the Kingslayer back. I know she is not dead yet; I can feel her fighting spirit. She is still holding on…” Amiya said earnestly, “I told you, I will not let her fight alone.”

Upon hearing this, Razer wanted to say something, but Franka stopped her with a gesture.

Franka shook her head.

Here, Amiya is the commander; what they need is to obey orders, not to refuse or make excuses.

Razer pursed her lips tightly, took a deep breath, and said solemnly, "Amiya, if you don't return within ten minutes, we will bring the Rhodes Island team to your aid. Please remember, between you and the mission objective, we will choose you. You are our commander, our employer... and our friend."

This is Razer's biggest concession; she is not only a partner of Rhodes Island, but also a mercenary of Blacksteel International.

As mercenaries, the safety of their employers is of paramount importance.