Ark Chess Player

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.

Lin Lu clenched his fist, and blood seeped from between his fingers.

He kept his emotions in check, waiting for Amiya to give instructions.

"PhD."

Amiya's gaze was fixed on the evil spirits of Babel. She could sense something ominous stirring within the Doctor. She saw a possibility: if Lin Lu were allowed to fight freely, it would inevitably result in a humiliating defeat where both sides would perish.

Mephistopheles doesn't deserve to send Lin Lu back to the abyss; it doesn't deserve it.

The possibility of changing the world lies in Amiya's hands.

"I am not the same person I was back then."

Amiya grasped Lin Lu's hand, feeling the warmth of his hand and the hot blood clinging to her palm.

“Although you have lost your memory, Doctor, and can’t remember—” Amiya gritted her teeth, fragments of memory flashed through her mind, and she gripped Lin Lu’s hand tightly, “Back then, I was timid and fragile, easily frightened, and relied on you, entrusting everything to you… I have always relied on you to move forward, and even now, I may not look any different from three years ago.”

"Amiya..."

Lin Lu was slightly moved, and his rationality, which had almost slipped to the other side, returned slightly.

“Doctor, I’ve seen far too many tragedies. Of course, I don’t want to see them happen again, but I know…” Amiya turned to face Mephisto, raising her hand as black threads of magic altered the shape of the air. “Some things can’t be solved by ignoring them. I must move forward, I cannot retreat, I must continue fighting!”

"Doctor, please lend me your power! The power to defeat Mephistopheles!"

Lin Lu gazed at Amiya, then raised his left hand, which was white from clenching his fist, and gently placed it on Amiya's hand.

"Ouch!"

Chapter 373 The Ominous Star of Silver Wings (3K)

"All personnel on high alert!"

The central area of ​​Chernobog 14.

Superintendent Chen and Inspector Hoshiguma of the Guard Bureau stood at the front of the squad. Superintendent Chen raised his hand and made a tactical gesture, indicating that they should stop.

Along the way, they encountered strange enemies. Some barely clothed Oripathy infected individuals rushed at them like madmen. Judging from their appearance, most of them were Ursus people, presumably local residents. These crazed infected individuals numbered at least nearly a hundred, and soon they surrounded the Guardian team's retreat route, forcing them to move towards the city center square.

If the Guard Bureau and Rhodes Island are cooperating, then they would know that Rhodes Island's mobile squads have encountered the same situation. At this point, the best option is definitely not to comply with their wishes, but to fight their way out.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".

"Hoshiguma, can you hear me?"

"Hmm..." Hoshiguma slowly opened her eyes. The Oni race has a very keen sense of perception. When fully focused, they can see things a kilometer away and hear the sound of Originium worms crawling in the artificial earth layer beneath their feet.

"Intense battle sounds are coming from the city center, and the rustling footsteps of Originium Bugs can be heard around the perimeter of the ruined city. From our rear, we can hear... the panting of the enemy." Hoshiguma hesitated for a moment, but still did not refer to those beast-like enemies who devoured people as Infected.

"Is the Reunion Movement conducting human experiments here?"

Hoshiguma felt a chill run down her spine, and not only her, but the other team members also turned pale.

The Guard Bureau has never been afraid of thugs, no matter how vicious they are, they are still human. But the enemy they are facing now seems to be beyond their comprehension, like a monster that has stepped out of a horror novel.

Monsters in human skin are often more frightening than deformed wild beasts.

"I don't know... but we'll find out soon enough."

Superintendent Chen picked up his standard-issue longsword and placed his other hand on the hilt of Chi Xiao's sword.

Chixiao's Dragon-Slaying Sword is a technique meant to kill, and she wouldn't hesitate to draw it to slay the culprit who caused all of this.

"All personnel, listen up! Immediately replace the Originium filter. Everyone must return to Lungmen safely."

Chen Huijie shouted, as she could sense that the area ahead was a disaster zone caused by Originium.

"Rhodes Island...is it just ahead?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Jessica, Meteorite, crush the enemies that stand in our way."

"Frostleaf, don't rush forward! Stay within cover!"

"Doctor, I'll break through with you!"