Man on the ark, forced to become king

Even knowing that mercenaries who fall into enemy hands alive never have a good ending, it's still better than dying at the hands of that unseen Grim Reaper!

Unfortunately, they came to the wrong person.

With the support of magic, prayer, and combat skills, Lin Lu appeared behind a mercenary, wielding a black knife. His body had been completely erased from the eyes of others. His assassin's footwork allowed him to step across the sand without leaving any trace or making any sound. This was the state that every assassin dreamed of!

The mercenaries, having lost their composure, were like a herd of pigs fleeing in terror. They screamed and scattered in all directions, trying to crawl back into the vehicle and escape this terrifying place of death.

But the instant they sat in the driver's seat, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air, accompanied by a deafening roar. A burst of flames engulfed them and the vehicle, turning them into a raging fireball that illuminated a large area of ​​the desolate land under the night sky.

The explosive grenades from W became the death knell for all the mercenaries who wanted to escape by car. The whole scene was in chaos, and the crazed mercenaries almost lost their minds, waving their weapons into the air in an attempt to vent their fear.

However, the cold blades did not hesitate because of their movements.

The invisible blade was precise and efficient, silently slicing through everyone's throats. Lin Lu's figure appeared and disappeared amidst the explosion's flames and distorted air currents, like a ghost, but no one cared anymore.

Fear drives people mad.

Blood flowers bloomed one after another, reflecting an eerie glow under the flames. Corpses fell one after another, and all the surviving mercenaries were driven to destruction in extreme madness and fear. In less than ten minutes, the entire mercenary team of more than fifty people lay on the barren sand, their blood soaking through large areas of sand, and the strong smell of blood wafting in the wind.

The fire raged on, engulfing the entire area. Amidst the leaping flames, Lin Lu slowly walked out with her back to the flames.

boom!

The last grenade fell, engulfing everything in a raging inferno and illuminating half the night sky.

Chapter 89 Your life shouldn't be so cheap

"The invisible blade is the most deadly."

The flames spread out behind them, creating a chaotic and magnificent spectacle.

The bright red color slid from the tip of the knife, dotting the sand like drops.

A jet-black blade hung at her waist, and scorching heat swept in from behind. Lin Lu's figure flashed in the firelight, appearing beside W and pressing down on her shoulder.

"Alright, all fifty-seven targets have been eliminated. Well done."

"Tch, you've killed them all."

W reluctantly put down his weapon, licked his lips, and stared intently at the burning battlefield reflected in his eyes.

A mercenary group of fifty-seven men was wiped out. In this man's hands, even mercenaries who were used to the battlefield were no different from lambs to the slaughter. His strength was even stronger than that of some elite squads.

But that's just how the world is. The difference in strength between individuals is greater than the difference between a person and a dog. Whether it's a few people, dozens of people, or hundreds of people, when they encounter a truly strong person, it's simply a matter of how long they can last.

Without a doubt, Lin Lu is such a strong person.

"This is just the beginning."

Lin Lu casually glanced at the gradually quieting battlefield and shook her head slightly: "Since Babel Tower has put me in charge of this section of the defense, it means that we will definitely encounter stronger enemies later. These are just appetizers, ordinary mercenary teams with no strong members."

“True strongmen don’t stay in small mercenary groups; they can get by anywhere.”

W casually remarked that she didn't think there could be any experts in these ordinary mercenary groups. Those truly powerful mercenaries had already been recruited by the princess or the regent. These small groups at the bottom of society didn't offer much profit, so how could they be as reliable as a powerful force?

"makes sense."

Lin Lu agreed with her statement.

He pulled up the rolled-up mat, shook off the sand, spread it on the ground, and plopped down on it.

"Let's take a break. It looks like I won't be getting a good night's sleep for the next few days. Hopefully, Babel will move quickly."

"I also hope to go back soon, instead of staying in the wild eating sand."

W wholeheartedly agreed, noting that even mercenaries frequently stop in free villages or towns for supplies, and some larger mercenary groups even have their own stable bases. Spending long periods in the wilderness would be uncomfortable for anyone.

"Speaking of which, a question suddenly came to mind."

Turning her head, Lin Lu glanced at W sitting down beside her, then looked at the battlefield where the firelight had dimmed, and then at the gun used to fire grenades, lost in thought.

"You don't seem to be carrying many landmines and ammunition, do you?"

"If a battle like this could happen again, I'd be out of the game. I can still make a lot of earth-based bombs, though. Those things mainly rely on Originium Arts and don't require many materials."

Got it. When in doubt, use Originium Arts!

After reading a lot of information about Originium Arts from Penguin Logistics, Lin Lu felt that Originium Arts in this world were really a bit unreasonable. Some Originium Arts and spells could be learned through training, but more of them were actually some kind of innate 'talent'. They mostly appeared in Infected people. Their principles and methods of action were unknown, but they could still achieve considerable effects, and even made no sense at all.

This thing is practically omnipotent. For example, modern science can't turn potatoes into bombs, but Originium Arts might be able to.

but……

The acquisition of power inevitably comes at a price. For the infected, they can use Originium Arts far beyond those of ordinary people, but this also shortens their lifespan. Every spell they cast is burning their own life force until they are terminally ill and become part of the Originium.

W... If I remember correctly, she didn't have a staff, which means she always cast spells empty-handed.

"I'll find you a portable staff when we get back. If you can avoid using Originium Arts in the future, then don't use them."

"Are you worried about me?"

The mercenary girl's expression turned strange for a moment, but she quickly returned to her usual slightly dangerous smile.

"We cannot survive without fighting. That's our current situation. It may take a long time for me to master the Flame Prayer you taught me and convert it into combat power. If I don't use Originium Arts, then I won't be of any use."

Not using Originium Arts means giving up at least half of one's combat power, which is absolutely unacceptable. W rejected the idea without even thinking about it.

For her, who had not yet shaken off the mercenary mentality, living without value was no different from dying. She would never allow herself to become a useless piece of trash, even if the price of that power was her life.

"Trading life for power isn't wrong; quite the opposite, many people do it, but—"

Lin Lu's face darkened, and she grabbed the mercenary girl's wrist with a serious expression.

“Your life should not be so cheap. As the original people of gold, you have a greater value than to be a expendable commodity in war.”

"Well, you're the boss, you have the final say."

After staring at his face for a while, W nodded, which was considered as agreeing to the request. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but her expression seemed to have become gentler, as if she was really smiling.

At that moment, she suddenly had a very strange feeling—it was the feeling of being cared for, a novel experience she had never had before.

She was a mercenary who roamed the battlefields and wastelands, and also a Sarkaz who was contemptuously called a 'demon.' These people seemed to be born to be expendable in the hands of certain powerful figures, mere numbers to fill the gaps in the war.

Nobody cares what they think or do.

Mercenaries exist as weapons, and can be discarded after use, especially on this land and in this country.

Perhaps in the eyes of those high-ranking patrons or noble lords, the mercenaries at the bottom are just a string of numbers that can be deployed at will, and their only purpose is to be consumed.

To date, Lin Lu is the first person she has met who is truly willing to respect her, and that respect for equality is reflected in every aspect of her life.

If that's the case... since it's his request, then W is willing to try.

She liked the feeling of being cared for and respected. As for Originium Arts... she didn't need to use them. She had survived until now not only because of Originium Arts, but also because she had mastered new combat methods. Therefore, she could make up for the lost combat power sooner or later, and even become stronger. At worst, she could just work harder and double her efforts.

Equal treatment deserves equal reward, and time will prove everything—she will never become useless trash and be discarded again.

Chapter Ninety: Stormy Weather Approaches, Great Battle Imminent

How much longer until we reach Kazdel?

On the deck of the steel behemoth, Theresa stood at the edge, gazing into the distance, and asked softly.

The heavy steel slowly writhed on the barren land, and a gentle breeze lifted large swathes of cloth used for covering, rippling outwards like waves on water.

To some extent, Rembitox and Kazdel are very similar. Years of mining have made the countryside of both countries equally desolate, and from a high vantage point, they are almost indistinguishable, even to the most familiar people—especially in the border regions.

Without the detection of professional instruments, even the owners of this land would have no way of knowing where they are or where they are going.

"We are about to reach the border. We have received a message from the front that the attack against this operation has begun. All crew members are ready for battle."

The fully armed Babel Tower agent calmly answered, with an entire combat squad standing ready behind him.

Its towering body, like a city wall, blocked the oncoming wind and waves, resembling a great mountain, indestructible.

"is it?"

The princess's pale pink eyes reflected the distant scenery. Her gaze was deep and focused, and her ten fingers, adorned with black rings, were crossed in front of her, seemingly gleaming.

"It seems my brother received the news long ago. How large was the attack?"

"Based on post-war analysis, the attackers were mostly ordinary mercenary teams that were hired. They were numerous, but their overall strength was average. They were scattered and unable to break through our defenses along the way. We cannot rule out the possibility that they were using this opportunity to probe our intelligence."

This is what cannon fodder is all about.

To deal with an unseen enemy, first scatter some sand. When the sand settles, it will naturally outline the desired shape. The hired mercenaries are like the scattered sand. The employers don't care about their lives or deaths; in fact, they only realize their value when they die.

Their role ends there.

"That's definitely his style. Get ready for battle, ACE. I have a feeling the real battle is about to begin, but don't be too nervous. I'll step in at the crucial moment."

Having worked and clashed with her brother for decades, Theresa knew him all too well. The speculation that ACE made was very likely something that was already happening. He was a general who was truly skilled at planning wars and would not waste his strength meaninglessly. After probing for the information he wanted, there would definitely be a storm waiting for them.

“We are ready at any time, Your Highness. You only need to observe the battle from the ship; there is no need for you to take action yourself.”

Her Highness the Princess is not in good health—this is an open secret. Every elite operator in Babel knows this to some extent and understands the danger of that power. Therefore, ACE does not really want Theresa to personally engage the enemy.

If even their own leader is forced to personally intervene, what use are they?

Even allowing the enemy to get close to this ship would be a dereliction of duty on their part. ACE is not prepared to let that happen. Their purpose is to keep the conflict out of Her Highness the Princess's sight, not to expect their leader to step in and save people at critical moments, which would be a great insult.

"Oh, by the way, any news from the Golden Tree?"

Theresa smiled gently and suddenly asked a name that was somewhat unfamiliar to ACE.