Ark Chess Player.

Amiya looked at Jessica, who was being held by Lin Lu. Her cat-like head was dull and her eyes were unfocused.

Even though Amiya was standing right in front of her, Jessica didn't react at all, as if she had locked herself away.

"Perhaps past psychological trauma has been triggered? She feels guilty and blames herself for her powerlessness." Lin Lu held Jessica, who was unresponsive. Her body temperature was low and she felt quite cold to the touch.

If left unattended, Jessica will never be able to leave this ruined city.

"Amiya, bring her back," Lin Lu said solemnly.

"Ok!"

Amiya took Jessica's hand, took a deep breath, and quietly activated her mental power, causing the blue ring to glow red.

Lin Lu caught Amiya, who was leaning forward, with a bunny in his left hand and a cat in his right, and silently leaned against the broken wall of the ruins. His gaze drifted beyond the building, veins bulging on the back of his hand, and a cobalt blue flame flickered in his deep eyes beneath his hood.

Shuangye looked up at Lin Lu, and she sensed... that the doctor was angry.

Jessica's heart, a gray world.

There was no color; the sky and coastline were grayish-white, inspiring a sense of despair.

This wasn't the first time Amiya had infiltrated someone else's consciousness, but no matter how many times, it always made her feel intensely uncomfortable. Everyone subconsciously hides things, fearing that their true self will be discovered—their weaknesses, their inability to say no, or even their little quirks. No one is perfect; not everyone can present themselves without reservation, hence the resistance, the erection of mental barriers.

Amiya stepped into the turbulent sea of ​​her heart, and waves of sorrow washed over her.

Each wave carries fragments of memory, and images appear before Amiya's eyes.

Jessica encounters an unexpected situation during her first mission with Blacksteel International: the intelligence she and her partner receive from their employer is entirely false. It's a massive trap, a scheme by a rival security contractor designed to distract Blacksteel International.

During that mission, the confident Jessica did not choose to retreat but instead held her ground within the encirclement, attempting to counterattack and eliminate members of the opposing organization. Her performance was perfectly linked to her outstanding training results; relying on her exceptional perception and tactical training, Jessica single-handedly outflanked the hostile security contractor. She silently killed nearly half of the enemy and even eliminated their top leader.

As Jessica smugly prepared to leave, she discovered... that her predecessor had sacrificed himself to save her.

She was once so arrogant, and now she is just as insecure.

That spirited young mercenary girl made a brief appearance during her first mission and gradually disappeared from people's sight.

For two whole years, Jessica had no new partner. Until the Blacksteel CEO transferred her to Franka's team, the insecure Jessica needed an extremely confident person as a role model to guide her out of the shadows of the past and step into the blue sky again.

"I see……"

Amiya walked step by step toward the isolated island of the Sea of ​​the Soul, facing the waves that stung her skin.

"Jessica."

Amiya called out to Jessica on the deserted island, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of the waves and could not be heard.

"Jessica!"

The further Amiya went toward the island, the stronger the sense of stagnation became.

Something was pushing Amiya, preventing her from moving forward.

“It’s okay, Jessica. We’re here. We won’t leave you alone.”

Amiya did not give up; she continued to move forward, her strong will shaking her inner world.

"You must pull yourself together, Jessica. You are a Blacksteel operator, and also... a member of Rhodes Island!"

Jessica's drooping cat ears twitched slightly as she looked up at Amiya, who had walked up to her.

"Amiya..."

Jessica murmured, and a ripple spread through the lightless world.

“Amiya…Amiya…I…it’s all my fault…I’m sorry, I’m sorry…I can’t do anything.” Jessica held her head and choked out a sob. It wasn’t just the recurrence of past trauma, but also the psychological shadow caused by her mistake that led to Frostleaf’s serious injury, which reminded her of her senior, Black Steel, who had sacrificed himself because of her.

"It's alright, Jessica."

Amiya gently hugged Jessica.

"I felt it; I've also experienced losing someone important to me."

"I also hate my powerlessness, being able to watch things happen helplessly, and being unable to do anything about it."

“I understand, Jessica… I’m the same as you.”

Amiya gently stroked Jessica's back, comforting the girl who had endured so much.

She saw Jessica, in her agonizing struggle, pull the trigger on Mephisto, attempting to kill the enemy leader and salvage the dire situation.

She saw Frostleaf, who had risked burning her blood to cast a forbidden spell, leaving behind a solitary figure.

She saw so much, so much...

“Jessica, Frostleaf and Meteor are waiting for us.”

"The battle is not over yet. I need you to stand up and pick up your weapon."

"You will never be alone again. We will always be by your side. We will go back to Rhodes Island together."

"You don't need to be afraid anymore. We will never abandon you. You can unleash your full potential."

Amiya's hands glowed, and the warm light enveloped Jessica in her arms, making her feel safe and secure, like a cradle.

Jessica gradually regained consciousness and saw a mirror, in which another version of herself was smiling.

"You are an operator I can trust."

Sunlight pierced through the dark clouds, and the gray world regained its brilliance.

Jessica felt like she was having a nightmare. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Amiya smiling.

"Welcome back, Jessica."

Chapter 372 The City of Sin (Bonus Chapter)

"I'm sorry, it's all because I've dragged everyone down."

Jessica apologized, somewhat unable to look Frostleaf in the eye.

Frostleaf said softly, "After we return to Rhodes Island, study with me, and I will forgive you."

"Eh?"

"If I say I don't mind, you'll definitely remember it, right?" Frostleaf struggled to her feet, gripping her spear axe tightly against the ground to support her severely exhausted body. A smile appeared on her pale face. "In that case, come and take classes with me when we get back to Rhodes Island. I don't want to be a decorative assistant in the Doctor's office, unable to do anything."

At this point, Frostleaf glanced at the Doctor, who was being rotated 180 degrees by Amiya's grip on his waist.

As expected of a PhD, he seems to have gotten used to it and didn't even utter a sound.

"Okay, okay!"

Jessica's voice unconsciously rose; she felt slightly relieved.

Just as Shuangye said, even if she didn't really mind, Jessica would still feel guilty. She would only feel at ease if there was something Jessica could do, even something simple and small.

“The missing members of Scout Squad are just ahead, Amiya… I will follow orders, please do as I please.”

Jessica raised the gun, and her voice gained a little more confidence.

Although she hasn't been able to regain her confidence yet, she believes in Amiya.

Her faith lay in Amiya.

Amiya and Lin Lu exchanged a glance and smiled gently.

"Ah, ah, isn't Rhodes Island planning to come over yet?"

Just then, a hoarse, deep voice came from afar.

Lin Lu arrived outside the ruined building, his gaze piercing through layers of obstacles to look directly at Mephisto sitting on the high platform in the distance.

"Too slow. I spent a long time preparing this gift for you. Don't be so ungrateful." Mephistopheles waved his hand with a sneer, stopping the herd's attack and making way for these mindless zombies.

"Chernobyl, this sinful city has always been a thorn in my side. The reason I suggested that Sister Talulah take it was to avenge Ursus and those who persecuted us Infected. However, a troublesome fellow infiltrated this sub-city. The mayor of Chernobyl, this man is shrewd, he escaped with his men before we could act. He reacted quickly, unlocking the regional lock, throwing the city's Oripathy Infected into the fuel tanks, using people as living Originium, employing every means of transportation to propel the city forward—"

Mephistopheles stood up, his white robes billowing in the wind, his scarlet eyes reflected in his gold-rimmed monocle.

"But where can they escape to!"

Mephistopheles, like a mad poet and a mad orator, shouted in a hoarse voice, "Our compatriots have long been lurking in the various districts of Chernobog, waiting for their chance to strike. We have stopped these cities, stopped them within the reach of the natural disaster. These sinners will never escape my grasp. I have come, and I will give them the punishment they deserve. These perpetrators, these cowardly bullies, these inhuman butchers, how should we deal with them? There is only one answer—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"

"Flames, returned to you."

"I want them to become a symbol."

"A symbol that proclaims that all injustices suffered by the infected will eventually be destroyed—the symbol of the Reunion Movement!"

Mephistopheles lit the fire.

The flames spread and ignited the stone seat beneath his feet.

A putrid, musty smell erupted, and eerie patterns extended downwards.

"Rhodes Island Doctor, open your eyes wide and see the end of weak oppressors!" Mephisto pointed to the end of the Clear Zone. "This is the fate of those who are enemies of Reunion. Next, it will be you! Lin Lu!"

Lin Lu stood silently in front of Amiya, blocking her view.

"PhD……"

"Don't look."

Lin Lu raised his hand to cover Amiya's eyes, suppressing his rage, his tone as cold as the frozen ground of the northern ice plains.

No wonder Kal'tsit appointed Amiya as commander. If Lin Lu had been given the reins, he would probably have lost his mind and recklessly stepped into the herd to sever Mephisto's head.

Whether it was a trap or not, he was determined to annihilate this demon.

"Doctor, please remove your hand."

Amiya said in a firm and unwavering tone, “I have already witnessed his actions in the upper town of Chernobog. Turning a blind eye will not solve the problem. I must see it, I must do it. It is my duty, and it is also my own will.”

"...Yes, Commander."

Lin Lu sighed softly and stepped aside to avoid him.

"hiss……"

Amiya gasped.

What came into Amiya’s view was a picture of hell, a furnace of malice and madness.

Mephistopheles sat on the stone throne beneath him, its true form revealed in the flames: a blood throne made of countless corpses.

The symbol of the Reunion Movement, the burning flag, now stands out starkly against the backdrop of the overcast, abandoned city. Like a thorn, it pierces deep into the hearts of everyone who sees it.

Jessica's shoulders were trembling, this time not from fear, but from anger.

"Why...why did you do this...why!!"

"Jessica, calm down!" Meteor pressed down on Jessica's shoulder to stop her from acting impulsively, but Meteor was also burning with rage. She stared at Mephisto, who stood in the flames, defying life, and roared, "Damn it!"

Frostleaf gripped the spear and axe tightly, a flush rising on her pale face as if a fire were surging to her throat.

Amiya stood beside Lin Lu and questioned Mephisto, "Did you do the work on Upper Chernobog and the abandoned Chernobog district?"

"Of course! This is my masterpiece, creating the sinful capital of Ursus where sinners pay for their evil deeds! It's quite amusing, really. With just a little trickery, I made these people kill each other without hesitation. A piece of bread, half a bottle of water, and the deaths of some people are enough to make the rest obediently slaughter their own relatives and friends without batting an eye. They should thank me; this is the most effective way to reduce deaths."

Flames licked at Mephistopheles' white robes as he continued to mock the dead inhabitants with disdain.

"Originium has brought us more than just suffering and discrimination; it has also bestowed upon us power. We, the chosen ones who wield this power, should stand at the top of the world! How dare these incompetents defy me, who possesses the power of Originium! Chernobog is merely the first step. I will set the world ablaze, and from this day forward, I will condemn these incompetents to endless toil, forcing them to atone for all their sins!!"

"..."

Amiya ignored Mephistopheles' impassioned speech and silently looked around.

The Reunion Yeti Squad members wore expressions of anger; they vehemently disagreed with Mephisto's actions. What difference was there between Mephisto and the Ursus Warlord? He was merely shifting the balance of power between the Infected and ordinary people! This was undoubtedly a self-destructive move; Mephisto would push all Oripathy infected worldwide to the opposite side of the world, and war would be imminent! Countless innocent victims would be lost.

Frostnova stood at the front of the Yeti squad, proving her point through her actions.

One after another, streaks of black ice crystals pierced through the air, their deadly sharpness aimed at the arrogant Mephistopheles.

"Frostnova, are you really planning to betray Rhodes Island? Even if you're a former comrade, I won't let you go."

Mephisto waved his hand, and a spell mixed with tainted blood blocked Frostnova's ice shards. His talent in Originium Arts was not as good as Frostnova's, so several ice shards still pierced through the barrier, just a hair's breadth away from piercing his face.

"Shut up! I won't let you slander the ideals of the Reunion Movement anymore!"

Froststar's gaze was icy, and the heat around her was instantly drained away, as a chilling current swept over Mephisto.

The Yeti Squad is sharing the burden caused by Originium Arts, and they are proving with their actions that Mephisto will never gain anyone's approval.

Amiya turned to look behind her. Jessica's eyes were bloodshot, Meteor's face was cold and stern, and Frostleaf silently used the Rhine Life First Aid Spray that Jessica had given her earlier. No matter how expensive it was, it was meaningless if you didn't use it when you needed it.

Amiya's gaze finally settled on Lin Lu.