Ark Chess Player.

The soft shout pierced through the shrill air currents.

As if an earthquake had struck, the mobile city of Lungmen trembled.

The earth cracked open, revealing the steel facade of the mobile city. High-pressure fire surges whipped up countless ruins of dilapidated buildings, and these flying debris, mixed with carbon ash, were pushed like a sudden rain towards the outskirts of the slums.

Amidst the thick black fog, a cobalt blue ghostly flame quietly rose—a discerning eye that sees through the true world.

Silvery-white bones covered Lin Lu's body, an illusion created by the rapid flow of photon blood. As the emergency response system ensured the crisis was averted, the photon blood vessels gradually dimmed, revealing a breathtaking beauty.

A wisp of white mist swirled around the dark gold armor, as if it were draped in a thin feather robe.

The lithe battle armor, perfectly tailored to Lin Lu's physique, was displayed in the air. Golden dragon patterns meandered across the intricate outer armor, seemingly alive as they swayed with his body. Its horns resembled those of a deer, its body undulating like a snake or python, its scales like a fish, and its claws like an eagle's. The Great Flame Divine Dragon's vertical pupils remained fixed ahead, as if it would descend upon reality at any moment, crushing its enemy with a single claw.

Even the helmets that used to look rather bulky now appear majestic and dignified.

With a gentle sweep of the Eye of Judgment, the ghostly flames flickered, and both the Sentinel and Arno were rendered immobile, giving them the illusion of being watched by hundreds of people.

This suit of armor was meticulously crafted by Bai Huang, the head of the Army Without Borders' research and development team. She poured all her regrets from the past few years into it, hoping only to avoid losing her beloved again. It may not be Terra's strongest armor, but it is certainly the most suitable for Lin Lu.

It boasts exceptional speed, lightweight weaponry, and versatility across all dimensions, and can also be used directly as a trigger for Originium Arts. If there are any drawbacks, they include relatively poor endurance and defensive capabilities, a lack of heavy weapons, and the consumption of Originium energy during use.

"Then, before being eaten by the other party, let's eat the other party first."

Lin Lu looked up at the noisy, skeleton-wielding raiders and delivered his judgment.

The skeletal raider, which was destroying the defenses, froze, its triangular head slowly turning. It was difficult to discern the extent of intelligence this artificial anomaly possessed, but it sensed danger; its biological instincts screamed in terror.

“——Ah!!!”

The raider galloped forward on all fours like a wild horse from hell.

It is more inclined to destroy its enemies than to flee.

At the same time, Lin Lu also got moving.

Lin Lu took a step forward, creating a shockwave, and instantly appeared in front of his target. His data-driven spiritual domain surged with a vast amount of numerical data; his clear and active brain analyzed and calculated mathematical formulas: point of force application, wind speed, deviation value, landing point—all calculations completed! It took only 0.045 seconds; his condition was perfect, ready to perform a function kick at any moment.

"go with!"

Lin Lu kicked Arno, sending him hurtling into the air like a shooting star.

The sentry stared blankly at Lin Lu. Although he felt that what the BOSS did was wrong, he inexplicably felt a sense of satisfaction.

Well done!

This kind of shameless person who hugs people, lifts them up, spins them around, and rubs their face on them as soon as they meet them deserves to be kicked out! Even the Flin Cafe would never let someone like this in, no matter how much Lungmen Dollars they pay!

In reality, Lin Lu did not kick someone out of revenge because he had been tricked; absolutely not.

Mr. Lin has always been broad-minded, so why would he get angry because of a naughty child?

Okay, Lawyer Lin did it on purpose.

I'm coming clean, I'm not pretending anymore.

I'm giving you a chance; let's see if you can prove yourself.

Arno, kicked into the air, showed no surprise. Instead, he seemed to enjoy the weightlessness of his descent after reaching the critical point. His pale face flushed an unhealthy red as he let out a terrifying laugh and excitedly drew his black and white longsword.

Lin Lu's planned landing point was the massive chest cavity of the Bone Raider, filled with amber-like solidified material.

The data analyzed by the Borderless Army intelligence team, combined with the information Lin Lu obtained through the Spirit Realm, complemented each other, filling in any gaps. The data showed that this monster had undergone several mutations; if it couldn't be completely eliminated in one go, the remaining remains could regenerate. At the very least, the "birdcage" on the raider's chest had to be destroyed, as it was one of its core components.

Just as Arno was holding his twin swords and plunging them into the cage of the Bone Raiders, Lin Lu turned to look at the Sentinel.

"are you ready?"

"Ah I……"

I want one too?!

The sentry was stunned; he clearly had so much to say.

But when he looked at the man in front of him, all the words stuck in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound.

—I have a question for you.

The sentry opened his mouth, but could not utter a sound.

He was afraid, afraid of hearing the answer he didn't want to hear.

"…I'm ready."

Ultimately, the sentry chose to flee.

Let's at least wait until this battle is over before asking...

The sentry took a deep breath, turned his back to Lin Lu, and gritted his teeth.

"Go ahead and kick it!"

"What are you thinking? One person is enough to break the birdcage. You guys are responsible for destroying the other parts."

The sentry tilted his head, puzzled, and asked, "You...you?"

"correct."

Lin Lu shook his head, extended his left hand, and placed it on the sentry's right hand that was holding the military flag.

Dark red light swirled up the tattered flag, and illusory figures materialized.

"Look, everyone's here."

Chapter 327 Operation Burning Ashes (4K)

The highlands, far from the paths of moving cities, are constantly eroded by strong winds.

There once was a legendary force here, all of them Sarkaz, whose fighting style was feared by all.

Countless forces, coveting the Sarkaz forces, came seeking them out, sending messengers in an attempt to recruit them, but the vast majority returned empty-handed. Those few who tried to subdue them by force were all defeated by sheer power and perished on the Wind-Eroded Highlands.

Trying to roll up your sleeves and flex your muscles in front of the Sarkaz is just asking for trouble.

The Sarkaz forces refuse any olive branch offered by any power. Each of them has had enough of the betrayals caused by the power struggles within the Kazdel kingdom and is unwilling to entrust their lives to anyone again. They once all had passion flowing in their veins, but that passion has long since cooled after countless acts of deception.

Over time, this wind-eroded highland became the resting place of this unit, a desolate desert that no one cared about.

until one day.

This legendary Sarkaz unit has completely disappeared; not a single person has been seen.

Some dared to climb to the high ground and were surprised to find that the dilapidated Sarkaz camp still showed signs of human habitation. Even the firewood enclosed in the mud bricks was still burning, the embers emitting a faint warmth and occasionally reflecting light in the howling wind.

However, the adventurer couldn't find a single person. He even risked his life by shouting on the spot that the Sarkaz were just biscuits! He completed the epic achievement of insulting the Sarkaz in a Sarkaz camp. You should know that the last person to complete this achievement is now seven feet old.

However, the anticipated bloody scene of twenty Sarkaz bosses rushing out and beating up the adventurer did not occur. The adventurer then truly realized that this Sarkaz force had vanished without a trace.

Some say this is divine punishment for the demons, a cycle of karma.

Some say it's because these Sarkaz people have been refusing to leave and have offended so many powerful factions. Perhaps these factions have united to launch a surprise attack and slaughter them all in one night.

Some say it's because the Sarkaz's Black Festival is approaching, and they, dressed in bizarre black costumes, embark on a journey of requiem. They play arrhythmic songs on primitive instruments, swaying and dancing in harmony with the spirit of the earth, marching to the horizon.

There are many different opinions, but what remains unchanged is the fact that this unit simply disappeared without a trace.

Later, according to the recollections of the local nomadic ancestors, it seems that on the night the demons disappeared, countless balloons flew into the sky.

This is utterly ridiculous. It's impossible that these Sarkaz hunks, each weighing two or three hundred pounds, are flying off in balloons, right? What is this, a balloon adventure? Where did this fairy tale come from? If the protagonists in the fairy tale were replaced with Sarkaz, maybe it would make sense.

As a member of that legendary Sarkaz unit.

The sentry said it was real, not a dream.

The legendary Sarkaz forces, capable of confronting any army head-on, were all silently wiped out overnight by a single person.

This sounds even more childlike than a balloon adventure, and even children would angrily criticize it for being illogical. But it's true. The Sentinel, barely regaining consciousness, realized he was strapped to a strange device. Then, this device, resembling a posture corrector, produced seven or eight balloons surrounding a larger, multi-layered structure, pulling him upwards and lifting him off the high ground. As the base of the device ignited, the Sentinel soared into the sky, emitting a tenor voice like that of Pavarotti in the Terra world.

Accept it; this is the sentry's final warning.

That night, the Sarkaz, jolted awake from their coma, were astonished to find themselves equipped with Fulton recovery devices. While still conscious, they experienced firsthand what it meant to ascend vertically 800 meters, and also learned what it felt like to have a cold.

This is the encounter between the legendary Sarkaz forces and the legendary BIG BOSS of the mercenary world.

The BOSS's personal military force, combined with the ideology of the Army Without Borders, profoundly and physically shook the Sarkaz. This is also the origin of the defense squad; this Sarkaz force does not need to participate in other missions. They are the shield of the Army Without Borders, and their duty is to guard.

Ultimately, they fulfilled this duty, guarding the place until the very last moment.

Lin Lu placed his left hand on the sentry's hand, who tightly gripped a tattered battle flag. A dark red glow enveloped the flag, and surging Originium particles filled the gaps, revealing the symbol of the ancient monster Behemoth once more! Huge spiral horns, terrifying muscles like rock, a body so massive only a herd of beasts could rival its size, and sharp claws. This was a totem, a team emblem, and above all, a belief.

Sarkaz flag.

The miracle used by the Sarkaz Sentinels.

One after another, the illusory figures returned in response to the call of the military flag.

Crimson horns, countless scars etched on his strong body by years of war, yet also honing his skills to perfection. The Sarkaz swordsman holds a sword in his left hand, his priestly mask adorned with blood-red patterns, and a uniquely shaped pendant hangs around his neck, exuding an aura of piety.

The blood-stained grey robe exuded a terrifying aura, and the fearless Sarkaz piercer revealed an arm wrapped in grey bandages, firmly planting a crudely made spear weighing a full forty kilograms on the ground. This was a weapon used for long-range assaults; its distinctive spearhead appeared unpolished, bearing countless dried bloodstains, and seemed to have a tetanus-like effect.

The Sarkaz sniper's silhouette gradually became clearer, revealing sharp, falcon-like eyes beneath his dark gray visor. His massive physique didn't hinder his shooting ability; on the contrary, his stronger body allowed him to wield the enormous dragon-slaying crossbow with ease. The bolts alone were a full meter long; it was hard to imagine just how ferocious the enemies he had faced must have been.

The Sarkaz Grudge, whose body was nearly 40% eroded by Originium, stood frozen in place. Her limbs twitched intermittently, like a person experiencing a seizure and temporary brain dysfunction, unable to control their body. The Grudge slowly turned to look at the Sentinel, and whether it was a misperception or not, the pupils peeking out from the bronze visor seemed to reveal a hint of tenderness.

The spirit of the Sarkaz will never perish.

The sentry's hands were trembling, and he almost dropped the battle flag, but Lin Lu's palms held him firmly.

The last phantom appeared in front of the sentry, and a half-real, half-illusory hand reached out and clumsily patted his head.

"You've grown taller."

The sentry was hallucinating.

If he could meet that person again, he would definitely say that, absolutely.

"Big brother..."

Tears blurred his mask, and the sentry lowered his head, sobbing uncontrollably.

Sarkaz Demon Swordsman.

He was the one who took the best care of the sentries, without exception.

He was the one who rescued the Sentinel from the battlefield of Kazdel.

Without him, the sentry would have starved to death long ago, or been devoured alive by hungry refugees.

He also taught the sentry how to utilize his strengths, guiding him to become a soldier responsible for the entire team's reconnaissance, patrol, and early warning missions.

The Demon Swordsman essentially entrusted the safety of everyone to the Sentinel, and the Sentinel lived up to expectations. Upon sensing danger, he could use his Originium Arts to warn the entire group. Furthermore, the Sentinel could provide enhancements, putting nearby Sarkaz comrades in a state of combat readiness and boosting their fighting strength. The Sentinel proved through his actions that he was a valuable asset to the team and far from a burden.

The phantom of the Sarkaz swordsman slowly looked at Lin Lu, who bowed his head heavily, like a knight receiving baptism from the Pope.

The other Sarkaz heroes also turned their gazes to Lin Lu, their eyes filled with anticipation, as if they couldn't wait any longer.

Lin Lu understood their wishes, and slowly clenched his left hand. The left handprint hidden in his gauntlet shone like a branding iron.

This strange mark has been with him since he awoke. At first, he thought it was a Command Seal, but what Command Seal could extract Originium-related substances into pure energy? And could it also awaken spells deeply engraved on the Originium Arts trigger device?

However, it does have one thing in common with Command Seals.

Command Spell: Magic Amplification.

Here it becomes Imprint: Originium Amplification.

"Ash Etching - Fearless Charge II".

"Etching with Ash - Accumulating Hatred, Part 3"

"Flame Etching - Imminent, Part 3"

Lin Lu transformed the pure Originium energy into an amplification effect, covering the Sarkaz banner.

Fearless Charge II: Sarkaz Piercer's speed-based dash damage multiplier is increased to 1000%, and dash speed is increased to 1.5x.

Accumulated Hatred, Part 3: Increases the attack power of Sarkaz Hatreders by 80% and ignores 70% of the target's spell resistance.

Impatient - Part 3: Sarkaz Spellswordsman's attack speed increases by 80%, movement speed increases by 50%, and defense increases.

This is similar to how Lin Lu, in response to the Reunion Movement's nighttime attack, bestowed Originium power upon the Kingslayer to unleash her potential.

However, there are some differences between the two. When Lin Lu awakens the Kingslayer, he needs to carefully control the power within the limits her body can handle, ensuring it doesn't burden her. Originium is like a double-edged sword; used well, it can slay any enemy; used poorly, it can cut one's own hand. But these Sarkaz spirits are already dead, so he can unleash their power freely.

Even so, if these Sarkaz spirits were still alive, they would surely accept it gladly.

This is the kind of battle they want.