Ark Chess Player.

Patriot did not believe Lin Lu's words. He looked at Lin Lu calmly, but his eyes were filled with raging anger.

"You're lying."

“My daughter, to whom I entrust the Sarkaz amulet.”

"This amulet can withstand prolonged torment. Fatal wounds and organ damage are no good. But it can withstand the drain on its life force."

"Until it breaks."

"I said, when she becomes my amulet, I'll shatter."

"I will go and save her."

"but--"

Patriot slowly opened his clenched fist; it was the other pair of amulets, which were also broken.

Frostnova once asked Patriot what it would mean if both amulets were to break.

At that moment, Patriot did not answer; he simply lowered his head in frustration and remained silent.

He didn't want to answer because he didn't want to see that day come.

Now that both Sarkaz amulets have shattered, his beloved daughter Yelena—

"Father-in-law, I'll have a Rhodes Island medical operator start a video call, you can take a look."

Lin Lu stood beside Patriot, carrying the mobile terminal. He carefully held the terminal in his silver-white metal gauntlets, just like a young person teaching an elderly person how to use modern technology during the Chinese New Year. The atmosphere was incredibly harmonious.

"Doctor, can you hear me?"

The medic on duty, Hibiscus, waved enthusiastically from the other end of the screen. She saw Lin Lu in Noah's armed state and Patriot with deer antlers and red eyes appear on screen at the same time, and for some reason, she was in high spirits.

Lin Lu nodded and raised his hand to indicate, "Furong, this is the family member of the patient behind you. Could you please adjust the rear camera? The patient's family member has doubts about Rhodes Island's medical methods. Let him see for himself that Rhodes Island's medical technology is number one in Terra!"

"Yes, Doctor!"

The hibiscus is lit, so obediently do as instructed.

Patriot's hand was originally on Lin Lu's head, and he only needed to squeeze hard to crush Lin Lu's head, but... when he saw Froststar's face appear on the mobile terminal screen, his hand stopped and could no longer move.

Froststar wore a faint smile, seemingly lost in a beautiful dream, her even breathing rising and falling in a relaxing rhythm. Perhaps it was because of a hearty meal and the consumption of Lin Lu's blood, but Froststar's face appeared slightly rounder and radiant.

How long has it been since this child slept so peacefully?

Patriot remembers the last time Frostnova slept so peacefully was when he first met her.

In the mines of northern Ursus, a young girl about to be executed by the Ursus overseer unleashed an extraordinary talent for Originium Arts. She bought her companions in the mine a fraction of a second, a second that changed everyone's fate. The guerrillas arrived, Bodracas arrived, the brutal overseer fell on the icy plains, and the girl, unable to control her magic, collapsed. At that moment, Frostnova smiled, for she had protected the others.

"Yelena...Yelena...my daughter."

Bozokastie reached out his hand, trembling.

This soldier, a true hero, whose hands never trembled even when fighting unarmed in the harshest conditions. Yet now, he carefully took the mobile terminal from Lin Lu's hands, as if holding the thin rope that connected him to his beloved daughter, afraid that it would break if he pulled it.

Seeing Patriot's expression, Lin Lu patted him on the shoulder and smiled like a fellow father.

"Aren't you afraid this is a recording, or that it's fake?" Lin Lu joked.

"...Even if it's fake, I...can't let go."

"Bozokasti said in a trembling voice.

As he felt the Sarkaz amulet shatter, he felt something in his chest break along with it. Memories of Yelena flooded back, filling the old man, who had once lost his beloved son and now his daughter, with a profound sense of despair.

Yelena, fast asleep in her hospital bed on Rhodes Island, helped him rebuild his broken heart and find himself again.

"Oh, right, I have some good news to tell you."

Lin Lu called out, "Fu Rong, gently poke Yelena's cheek, just a little."

"Yes, Doctor!"

Furong's energetic voice came through.

Bozokasti was taken aback and quickly said, "No! It will cause frostbite—uh?!"

On the mobile device screen, Furong tilted her head, revealing her lovely face.

She reached out her small hand and gently touched Froststar's cheek; it was incredibly smooth.

Froststar's cheeks looked incredibly soft, like pudding.

This left the Patriots dumbfounded.

Patriot knew Frostnova's constitution; even he, an ancient Sarkaz, could not withstand Frostnova's catastrophic cold!

Does Yelena's current change in physical condition mean... there's a chance to cure Oripathy?!

Patriot turned sharply to look at Lin Lu, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Lin Lu smiled but didn't offer any further explanation.

Yes, Rhodes Island now has a chance.

Since Lin Lu's blood could save Frostnova from death and remove the Originium signature from her body, and considering that Lin Lu once severed the Chernobog disaster cloud with a single strike, shattering meteorites into a fine rain, with each Originium fragment falling from the sky being remarkably pure and virtually devoid of radiation, does this foreshadow... the possibility that Rhodes Island possesses the potential to change the world?

“Father-in-law, after this matter is over, I would like to invite you to Rhodes Island.”

Lin Lu extended his hand to Bo Zhuokasti, his silver-white gauntlets reflecting the light.

"When Yelena wakes up, I hope you can give her a father's hug."

Chapter 444 Shield Shattered

Lin Lu retrieved the mobile terminal.

"Father-in-law, see, I didn't lie to you."

Lin Lu patted his chest confidently and said righteously, "You can rest assured to hand your daughter over to me. From now on, I will have to call you father. You've hit the jackpot. I didn't even agree when the Emperor of Great Yan asked me to recognize his ancestors. Now you're standing at the top of Terra. In terms of seniority, no one can compare to you."

"If she's okay, then that's good."

Patriot relaxed his shoulders slightly, and the way he looked at Lin Lu changed a little.

At first, Patriots had a very bad impression of Lin Lu, so bad that he felt like he was going to tear out Lin Lu's heart and lungs (physically).

However… Lin Lu’s willingness to let go in order to protect Frostnova deeply shocked Patriot. He was blinded by the battle and did not notice that Frostnova, suffering from the backlash of magic, was caught in the aftermath of the battle and was teetering on the brink of collapse.

The patriot was filled with lingering fear at the thought that he had almost hurt his daughter.

“Very good, it seems we have reached a consensus. Let’s stop the core city together, and then we can all go back to Rhodes Island for a victory celebration.”

Lin Lu walked toward the command tower, but Patriot silently blocked his way.

"Father-in-law, would you like to watch the video call a little longer?" Lin Lu asked with a smile.

Patriot did not answer; he simply silently raised his rusty spear and two-meter-high shield.

"It seems not..." Lin Lu sighed softly, his gaze slowly hardening. "Do you know where this core city is headed next?"

"I don't care. I don't care about Longmen or Da Yan."

Patriot said nonchalantly, "I don't care. She's proclaiming that this is Ursus territory."

The Reunion Movement must not destroy itself.

If the Reunion Movement is destroyed, what will become of the Infected? How many years will it be before the Infected raise the banner of resistance again? Ten years? A hundred years? Or a thousand years? That's too long. How many more people will perish while waiting for the Infected to raise the banner of resistance once more?

Patriots dare not gamble.

Even though he knew Talulah was mentally unstable.

Allowing Mephistopheles to commit atrocities and betray her compatriots is enough for the patriots to hang her in the square.

But he didn't do that.

Patriots cannot allow the downfall of the Unity Movement to be recorded as a result of internal strife.

This is not for the present, but for the future of those infected.

"It seems you already know."

Lin Lu shook his head helplessly, "Fine, I'm not going to reason with you. It's pointless."

Noah Armor's mask fell from above with a crisp, clear metallic sound, and cobalt blue flames floated from its dark eye holes.

“I don’t think you’re being unreasonable, because this is war. War doesn’t distinguish between right and wrong; everyone is a loser.”

Lin Lu clenched his fist slightly, his silver-white gauntlets moving with a dexterity that seemed like extensions of his fingers. He was different now than he was in the upper Chernobog district. Back then, he hadn't allowed PRTS to connect to the digitized spiritual domain, so his mental connection with the Noah Armed Forces could only unleash twenty percent of its power. Now, with the support of the Anemone—Elmoni—he could unleash his full potential.

"Are you planning to attack all at once, or... did you not have enough fun fighting in the ruined city and now want to start a second round?"

Lin Lu's gaze passed over Patriot and fell on the guerrilla shield guards behind him.

"This is a battle between you and me."

Patriots have provided the answer.

"good."

Lin Lu nodded in agreement, pointed to the W behind him, and indicated: "King against king, general against general, soldier against soldier."

“Okay.” Patriot nodded slowly.

"What a load of bull! I'm not one of yours!"

W grumbled as she got up from the ground, turned and ran. If she continued to watch the drama unfold… she didn't think she could handle the Patriots' Shield Guards in her current state. They were highly trained warriors, their contributions to Ursus's numerous victories in recent years making them seasoned veterans. She chose to stay with Bodracuste, wandering the North, fighting for the Infected, fighting for the enslaved.

"Patriot, there's still a chance to turn back. Don't you want to hold your grandson?"

Lin Lu reminded him, but it was clear that the other party only had one response.

"Rhodes Island, I am about to march."

Patriot raised his spear high, and the Sarkaz's sorcery transformed into a curse that clung to the spear, creating a suffocating sense of oppression that could be felt even from several meters away.

There is no escape, the only option is to fight.

In the ruined city, Patriot fought Lin Lu with his bare hands, and every blow nearly reduced the ravaged city to ruins.

Both of them were now fully armed, creating a truly astonishing spectacle.

"boom!!"

A silvery-white arc of light flashed like lightning, and Lin Lu appeared before Patriot. His extremely fierce close-quarters combat skills were like a reappearance of ancient martial arts mecha style. In the midst of twists and turns, a series of fist shadows, trailing white steam, landed on Patriot's tattered armor, producing thunderous roars.

"So fast!"

The shield guards were so astonished they couldn't close their mouths.

This was the first time they had ever seen someone who could directly suppress the captain. Was this even human?

Patriot was caught in Lin Lu's relentless and fierce offensive, his chest, shoulders, and even head receiving merciless punches. Lin Lu's movements were ruthless, each strike delivered with full force; an ordinary person would have been crushed long ago, yet Patriot refused to retreat an inch!

"Ho!"

Patriot anticipated Lin Lu's movements and swung his tower shield, landing in Lin Lu's inevitable path, as if Lin Lu had deliberately moved closer to him.

"Come!"

Lin Lu had no intention of retreating. If he stopped now, he would inevitably be attacked by the Patriots' guns and spears!

Even the Noah Armed Forces might not be able to withstand the Patriots' full-force attack, a fact Lin Lu was well aware of.

Therefore, Lawyer Lin chose to confront them head-on.

The silver-white armor resembled a bright, full moon, captivating all who looked at it.

Lin Lu swung his right arm back and leaned his body backward, like drawing a bow to its fullest extent.

Knight Fist!

The next moment, the ground shook.

The shield bearers closest to the shield bearers swayed from side to side, holding their shields in front of them to maintain their balance.

The sharp clang of metal clashing against metal created a shockwave, sending W, who had secretly run back to peek from afar, flying and disappearing without a trace.

The ravaged land was cracked open, with irregular patterns spreading across the foundation of the core city.

As the thick white fog dissipated, only one person remained standing.

This person is a patriot.

Patriot's tattered armor shattered completely, revealing his Originium-like black body.