Ark Chess Player

Page 329

Blue Poison was defeated in that battle.

A village in Iberia was destroyed.

It was a village of only five hundred people. To outsiders, this number might seem insignificant, but to the inhabitants of Iberia, it was a large settlement. It was the hope for the Iberian people's heritage, yet it was tragically destroyed, and the surviving residents went mad. Some began to grow fish scales, some lost normal language skills, and some had their heads distorted into bizarre shapes… Ultimately, that dilapidated village disappeared into a corner of Iberia, and no one could find them again, as if they had been hidden away.

Blue Poison knew very well that sooner or later he would face the same situation again.

She had been preparing for this day for a long time.

"What is honey to me is poison to you."

Blue Poison held his breath briefly before pulling the trigger.

A poisoned arrow, gleaming with a bluish-purple light, pierced through the air and struck.

Blue Poison doesn't possess Platinum's exceptional combat talent or unparalleled marksmanship.

But she never slacked off, never neglected her duties, and continued to do what she was supposed to do despite the incomprehension of others.

This was true in the past, it is true now, and it will be true in the future.

The poisoned arrow struck Amida's head. The creature seemed to sense a strong sense of danger and tried to dodge the arrow. However, all of its limbs had been severed by Lin Lu beforehand, and its head was half-pierced through. It was just a hair's breadth away from killing the real mastermind.

"Waaah..."

Chen Huijie expressed her feelings.

Amida's head is melting.

Countless tentacles convulsed wildly, like dying insects making their final struggle.

The enormous almond-shaped stone bone was dissolved by the venom, and a human figure gradually emerged from the water.

This person was Mephistopheles.

Chapter 414 My Turn, Draw Cards!

Mephisto emerged from the remains of the Old Gods.

He was no longer human; half his body was corroded by filthy blood, and Amidala's eyes peeked from his bloody wounds. Almost all his skin had been peeled away, and with each step he took, he scattered black, poisonous dust, casting a shadow over the desolate land.

Mephistopheles raised his mutated right hand, sharp as a claw, each finger like a dagger. He pinched an arrow from his chest and easily pulled it out; the wound healed instantly, without even a physical healing process.

He smiled.

The laughter was shrill, like the wailing of a vengeful ghost.

Mephistopheles was a plaything of the Old Gods from beginning to end. He called himself the player, but he didn't even qualify to be a piece.

Lin Lu calmly watched Mephisto drag his mutated body toward him, using his data-driven spiritual domain to capture information about him.

"...It's hopeless."

Lin Lu said softly.

Mephistopheles was a sacrifice.

When he offered the lives of countless Oripathy-infected as sacrifices to summon Amidala, imprisoned in the Grail Dungeon, he became part of the ritual altar. Mephistopheles naively believed he could control everything, unaware that he had never truly lived for himself.

Lin Lu suddenly felt very bored.

A feeling of shared sorrow welled up in his heart; Mephistopheles was a tool, but wasn't he just as much?

Lin Lu took a deep breath; he decided to send this unfortunate opponent on his way.

"Yuanshan, suppress!"

"Yes!"

Operator Faruzan was already prepared, holding a sparkling Originium crystal ball in her left hand and a tarot card in her right.

"My turn, draw a card!"

"The Tower of the Void".

"The Chariot That Soars Through the Sky"

"Break the emperor's scepter."

The three tarot cards flew toward Mephistopheles, who was walking slowly, and the corresponding power of the tarot cards manifested as a physical form.

Towers, chariots, and the power of the emperor descended from the sky, casting blurry shadows in the void and suppressing Mephisto's actions.

An explosive burst of magical light flashed, and Mephisto's steps faltered, as if a mountain were pressing down on him. Blood mist rippled, toxic dust billowed, and the density of crystalline dust in the air surged to its peak in an instant. If this were Lungmen city proper, half the city would become a hellish place of high Originium radiation; unless Lungmen made a drastic decision, it would become a dead city.

Amida's eyes seemed to be completely focused on Mephistopheles. They all opened their eyes, and the chilling aura instantly dropped the temperature by ten degrees. Everyone present, except for Lin Lu, felt their heart skip a beat.

Yuanshan nearly dropped the crystal ball, but fortunately Lin Lu put his hand on her shoulder in time to steady her.

"Don't be nervous, I'm here."

"Ah."

Yuanshan pursed her lips, feeling the warmth of Lin Lu's palm, calming her restless heart.

She solemnly took out a tarot card, a card that should not be used unless absolutely necessary... and now was the time when she had to resort to it!

"The priestess destroys everything."

As the fourth tarot card descended, the illusory projection became much clearer, and even the terrifying aura emanating from Mephistopheles was suppressed.

Yuanshan's expression was solemn; she couldn't hold on for long, as this was her most powerful spell.

If even this can't subdue Mephisto, then there's nothing she can do.

However... she absolutely cannot accept just giving up like that.

True duelists will draw their next card even when their life is as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind!

Holding the Originium Crystal Ball in both hands, Yuanshan unleashed a spell imbued with mystical energy towards Mephisto like a tidal wave, giving him no chance to catch his breath.

Lin Lu's cobalt blue eyes sparkled with flames as his brain raced, analyzing the overall situation.

"The Shining".

Yes, I'm listening.

Lin Lu looked at Shan Ling, who remained unfazed even as the mountain collapsed before him. Shan Ling looked back at him, her gaze calm, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter.

"Shining, deploy a magical barrier. Protect our operators; they absolutely cannot inhale the dust." Lin Lu pointed to Chen Huijie, who was itching to act but afraid of disrupting Rhodes Island's command, "And her too."

Chen Huijie's shoulders trembled; she felt a little uncomfortable being called out by name so suddenly.

She hasn't joined Rhodes Island yet!

"Yes, Doctor."

Shining smiled gently, raised the lantern in her left hand, and shook it lightly.

A warm light emanated from everyone, a magical shield from the Shining Spirit, a semi-transparent crystalline barrier protecting them from the scattered poisonous dust. Moreover, it could also block enemy attacks.

Dogmatic stance.

This is Shining's strongest magical barrier. If even Dogma can't stop it, then the only thing left to protect his friends... is this sword. I really don't want to have to draw that sword again; so many bad memories will flood back.

"—!!"

Mephisto let out a guttural roar under the priestess's projected spell, half his body's eyes turning bloodshot, his mutated right arm swelling. He took a sudden step forward, crushing the card. His crimson eyes darted around, staring directly at Nearl, or rather, past her, at the calm and collected Lin Lu. The charred Originium dust spread again, quickly engulfing the surroundings, attempting to obscure the setting sun.

"Waaah..."

Yuanshan's body swayed heavily, and even the Originium Crystal Ball in his hand developed a crack.

“Yuanshan retreated and focused on recovering from the mental fluctuations caused by the spell backlash. Thanks to you, I have found the law of victory.” Lin Lu chuckled. He was not lying; the time Yuanshan bought him allowed him to concentrate on observing Mephisto’s attribute changes.

Holding the broken Originium crystal ball, Yuanshan didn't show off, but nodded and stepped back.

The moment Lin Lu returned to Rhodes Island, a new message was added to the tactical training of all operators.

"On the battlefield, you must absolutely obey the commander's orders."

These rules were specifically formulated for Lawyer Lin.

"Blue Poison, can you control the spread of this dust?"

"Eh?"

Lin Lu gently patted Lan Du on the shoulder.

Blue Poison turned her head sharply, looking in surprise at the Doctor's hand on her shoulder, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Lin Lu was stunned, not expecting such a strong reaction from the other party.

Although Lin Lu was well aware of the power of his gynecological expertise—ranging from stimulating female hormones to regulate menstrual irregularities, to clearing blood vessels, promoting blood circulation, moisturizing the skin, and even beautifying the complexion and ensuring a good night's sleep—he hadn't expected his hands to seem to have evolved again. Damn it, what was going to happen if this continued?!

Lin Lu could swear to God that he absolutely had no intention of harassing Lan Du just now; he was just worried because she seemed a little absent-minded. He had a feeling that she was overthinking things, suspecting that the poisonous dust on Mephisto was accidentally caused by her, and that she was being unfairly blamed.

Heaven and earth can bear witness that Lin is not so infatuated with every woman he meets.

Although he was a PhD, his love was universal.

"You...you bumped into me?"

Blue Poison blushed and asked in a low voice.

Lin Lu took a deep breath. "If this has caused you any discomfort, please allow me to apologize. Please do not report me to Amiya."

No! No, I meant—

Lan Du mustered her courage, pursed her lips, and raised her index finger.

"Please do it again, just one more time. Could you please do it just one more time?"

"..."

Lin Lu was speechless for a moment.

He looked down at his hands, then looked up at Blue Poison.

—Something's not right with you.