Chlorine Sodium's Arknights

It's always good to add a sense of ritual to one's life.

Thinking this, the girl gently waved her palm.

There was no need to hide her power, no need to suppress her abilities. The thrill of being able to unleash her firepower at will… it was indeed a little bit satisfying.

Just a little bit.

So, let's destroy it.

Purple light suddenly erupted in mid-air, and a concerto of destruction began its overture in the snowy night.

In an instant, countless Gates of Reason unfolded around her, and countless weapons appeared in the air. Each one shone with a dazzling, brilliant light, and the dazzling energy fluctuations proved the rarity of each weapon. One could even see exquisite patterns or markings on them, impossibly intricate.

Each weapon was a treasure in this world. Some had a sci-fi feel, while others carried an ancient aura. However, they all shared one common identity.

They were the protagonist's disposable projectiles.

Among them were many white, spiraling spears – Chlorine Sodium's true weapon, the Subspace Spear.

If pufferfish could see Chlorine Sodium in this state, they'd probably cry with envy. This was a super, ultra, enhanced version.

"What… what is that?"

In an unknown central control room, several people in white lab coats exclaimed as they watched the transmitted footage.

What kind of power was this?!

But this was only the beginning.

Because in the next moment, all the weapons in the air shot towards their target like arrows loosed from a bow!

In an instant, the light that bloomed after the weapons pierced the carriage and the ensuing storm distorted the surrounding light, the shockwaves sweeping over everything.

The heavy Landship was instantly twisted into a pile of smoking scrap metal, or it tumbled into the valley.

The entire convoy was as fragile and powerless as a toy in Chlorine Sodium's hands.

As for the drivers, they mostly died from the initial shockwave of the explosions, subjected to what was akin to saturation bombing.

"Everything is proceeding according to plan. The prey has taken the bait. Let's begin the second phase of the operation."

This seemed to be the outskirts?

Looking at the snowy scenery outside the carriage, Yelena saw the blurry silhouette of a Mobile City-State in the distance against the dark night.

Yelena was currently squeezed in with a group of people, arranged in the carriage behind a large transport Landship. However, the convoy had stopped here and showed no signs of moving forward.

This was clearly not some mine. Besides, the ones usually responsible for escorting Infected to the mines were either the Provost's Black Bugs or Ursus's Military Police.

But now, everything in front of her looked so unfamiliar. The guards standing at the door were soldiers wearing gray-black attire that resembled raincoats. More than the clothing, it looked like they were wearing a layer of cardboard.

They also had yellow special markings on their arms, but Yelena couldn't read, so she had no idea what the markings said.

However, these people all exuded an unusual aura.

Unfamiliar place, unfamiliar people, and it was very crowded and noisy all around, making it impossible to suppress the feeling of unease and fear.

This kind of development, where events were not dictated by one's own thoughts, always caused unease. Moreover, the environment here was not good. The fear and anxiety emanating from the people around spread like a virus, plunging everyone in the carriage into mass panic.

But due to the weapons the guards held, the people inside only whispered, not daring to escape.

However, these guards now seemed to be just watching them and the carriages, with no intention of taking them away.

What on earth was going on?

Just as little Yelena couldn't figure out the current situation and her exact location, someone inside the carriage suddenly wailed!

"Ahhh! My arm, my arm!!!"

What happened?

Yelena followed the sound and looked towards the front of the narrow cargo hold, where a middle-aged man in tattered clothes was.

He looked like an Infected. He was clutching his left arm, appearing extremely pained. Large beads of sweat dripped onto the carriage floor, and his arm was covered in Originium Crystals.

But that wasn't the main point. The main point was the Originium Crystals on his arm. The originally gray-black crystalline bodies suddenly became covered in strange patterns!!

It was as if someone had written countless dense and tiny characters on them, which gradually spread across the crystals, accompanied by eerie glowing dots!!

What was this?!

"A curse… it's an Ursus Mage's curse!!!"

Suddenly, someone shouted. It did look like a spell was being cast. Originium Crystals could sense the use of Originium Arts and react to them, but no one here was using Originium Arts.

Then, who was using Originium Arts, and why was his arm exhibiting such a strange reaction?!

However, what little Yelena didn't know was that the use of Originium Arts actually required Originium products as a medium. That's why most mages had an Originium Staff.

But in reality, as long as it was an Originium product, even holding a High-Energy Originium Bomb could serve as a medium, as long as you weren't afraid of it exploding.

It was just that no one had ever said that anything containing Originium could be a medium, even…

Including the Infected themselves.

However, such arts were too malicious and ancient. Apart from those who specialized in studying them, no one else would use them anymore.

However, here, the Ursus Mages also seem to have researched related content.

Although the utilization rate isn't high enough to restore those ancient and immensely powerful Arts, the effect has been achieved.

Because not far away, Ursus Mages in special military uniforms were already tracing mysterious symbols in mid-air.

Originium Arts are very idealistic; a thought, a notion, a movement, a chant, or even written text can serve as the key to activating Originium Arts.

And now, the Mage who has merely knocked on the door to ancient Arts is enough to unleash one percent of this ritual's power. Just one percent is enough to be awe-inspiring.

Because everything has a price, and when that price is paid inefficiently with lives, the power gained will be considerable.

On the altar deployed on the platform of the engineering vehicle, the massive spell had begun to brew.

And as the commander of the team, the Officer of the Magic Unit was already imagining the scene of shooting down the Snow Demon...

How exciting.

"Target, Snow Demon, commence bombardment!!"

ps: The first update after the recommendation. There will be another update this afternoon. I'm wondering if I should do a binge update this week?

Section 32, Chapter 32: [How can you lose when the dragon is on your face?]

Ursus.

For anyone on Terra, the first word that comes to mind upon hearing this name is "army."

The very foundation of the Ursus Empire was built upon the numerous capable and deadly full-time soldiers under its leader.

Back in the era when soaring eagles ruled this Land of Winter, the First Emperor of Ursus led a band of mercenaries and fought a legendary, protracted guerrilla war across Ursus.

Finally, they fought their way from the border districts all the way to the Presidential Office in the Winter Palace.

From then on, Military Supremacy became synonymous with Ursus.

The history of Ursus is a history of expansion. The barren northern wilderness yielded nothing, so to survive, they had to raid and invade the south.

When limited resources had to support a larger population, the only solution was expansion. If a territory of ten by ten could only yield one-tenth of the resources, the best solution was to seize another ten-by-ten territory from their neighbors.

If they lacked quality, they would compensate with quantity.

Therefore, in Ursus, the military is an unimpeded pass. The blood of Ursus people flows with a violent gene; the ultimate solution to all problems is violence.

Unlike the balancing act of Victoria, or the proxy wars favored by Columbia, Ursus people always prefer to get their hands dirty.

The same arrogance, but a different approach.

From ancient Counts personally wielding sabres to present-day actions where they dismiss proxies they deem unsatisfactory and act themselves.

Ursus is a nation that prefers directness over convoluted schemes.

It was like this before, and it's the same with this Snow Removal Operation.

You Snow Demon like to ambush our transport teams? Fine, we'll conceal our main force around the transports and prepare for a real fight.

However, it must be said that while Ursus may not excel at everything, their execution is remarkably swift. In a short period, they mobilized several units from their subordinate armies, rapidly assembled them, disguised them, and waited for their prey to take the bait.

"Excellent, continue fire support!"

At the Central Command, Grand Duke Ivanov Kim Yusupov sat calmly in the central position of the General Headquarters, observing the images transmitted from the front and the arrangement on the sand table.

The sand table was small, very small compared to the various campaigns he had experienced before. It was merely an ambush in a small region, not even a significant battle, at most just an operation.

And the opponent was only one individual.

At least, that's how it appeared from their current perspective.

There is nothing that cannot be solved with force; if it cannot be solved, it means the current force is insufficient.

And now, the Grand Duke was full of confidence, confident that he could resolve the Snow Demon issue in one go.

After all, the Ursus army's formation was impeccable. White and gray-black uniforms were arranged on the ground, appearing dense and orderly like termites emerging from their nest from a distance. Above the formation, the Ursus Double-headed Eagle Banner was held high.

They could crush enemy formations in the past, and they could crush the conspiracy behind this one now.

The Originium Arts, released under immense pressure, had a world-shattering effect. The artillery positions next door were reloading the Siege Cannon shells into their barrels. Every shot was deafening, even loosening the snow on the ground.

Everything seemed unstoppable; the very earth trembled.

The advantage is ours, could Grand Duke Ivanov Kim Yusupov, as the commander, not understand this situation?

How could they lose? Favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support were all firmly in his grasp.

Favorable timing: The operational timing and deployment were all in Ursus's hands.

Geographical advantage: This was Ursus's homeland. The harsh winter of the frozen land itself was a weapon against attacks, making past invaders taste the terror of the cold. The timing and location of the operation were chosen after repeated deliberation.

Popular support: Numerical advantage.

With Mages leading the charge and being surrounded and attacked under heavy encirclement, how could they possibly lose?

Even a beginner could win this.

The Snow Demon in the sky also cooperated perfectly with the commander's plan, beginning to dodge artillery fire and moving towards the north, the direction where the army formation appeared to be thinnest.

Was it trying to escape?

Through the observation instruments, the Imperial Guard compiled all the intelligence gathered from the battle's start until now and transmitted the Snow Demon's new movements to the Fire Support Team on the ground.

"The front group begins to advance and tighten the encirclement, while the rear group extends its firepower!"

The intelligence officer relayed the information layer by layer, finally reaching the frontline fire support position. With the captain's order, the engineers in the front group began loading the massive siege cannons onto the landships, preparing to maneuver towards the designated direction.

Attack, advance, and finally achieve victory. War is that simple and that brutal.

Seeing the Snow Demon attempting to break through, the soldiers were encouraged by their successful attacks and worked even harder.

Meanwhile, in the makeshift detention camp management area, Yelena watched in horror as the Infected around her fell one by one. Fear spread like an invisible demon killing people!

Those who fell writhed in agony, and after a brief struggle, they began to twitch uncontrollably with inhuman screams, blood seeping from their pores. Blood and fluid erupted from their eyes, noses, and mouths.

Originium Crystals were also spreading rapidly. Even in the distance, the sounds of Originium explosions could be heard, along with screams from the terrified crowd.

Those around who hadn't yet shown symptoms either stood frozen in place or tried to escape, frantically pounding on the doors and yelling for the guards outside to let them go.

The already narrow indoor space became chaotic and noisy, the air thick with fear, making it impossible to stay calm. Yet, no matter how they pounded, even those who appeared to be well-dressed Non-Infected pleaded their case, it was useless. No one paid attention; everyone seemed to have gone mad.

Only little Yelena remained, curled up in a corner, hugging her knees, witnessing this apocalyptic scene.

"Older sister..."

Perhaps due to fear, a subtle cold current emanated from Yelena, slowly swirling around her. It was suppressed power, and the girl could still control it for now, but as her panic grew, her control began to wane.

Soon, she might be killed not by the strange symptoms, but by the cold current she herself created.

However, no one present noticed the girl in the corner...

ps: Ugh, the formatting is messed up again. Is this a bug? Cihui Mao, fix your potato servers! Why learn from Ubisoft? [eyeroll]

Speaking of which, I bought Watch Dogs 1 in China, so why doesn't it have Chinese?