Arknights: I became an NPC in the online game

Felix shared the Maylander Foundation's plans with Saria—Kristen was busy conducting a kinetics experiment, Yara was in the middle of military business negotiations, and Felix found Saria meditating in front of the sandbag in the boxing room.

Saria had shed her usual scientific demeanor. Dressed in sportswear, she was mid-training. As she wiped the sweat from her face, Felix handed her a bottle of water. She quietly murmured her thanks.

"The Maylander Foundation… they're using you to draw the attention of the old guard in the scientific community."

She frowned. "But that's extremely dangerous for you, Felix. Those old fossils don't exactly have clean reputations."

"There are rumors," Felix said. "I heard about a Wrankwood scientist who was supposedly burned alive in a lab fire during an experiment at a tech company."

Saria's expression turned cold. She stopped wiping her face. "Every lab is equipped with cutting-edge fire suppression systems. That shouldn't happen—unless he was experimenting with something extremely hazardous, or…"

"Or he made enemies of those insects."

Saria closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she had regained her composure. She looked at Felix, calm and with a quiet sense of respect.

Truth be told, among all the researchers at Rhine Lab, Felix was an anomaly.

He brought capital into the lab, functioning as both a scientist and a businessman. He had the passion of a true researcher—often locking himself in his studio for a week at a time, fully immersed in his work. But he also bore the sharp scent of commerce, often asking Yara to negotiate prices with suppliers and buyers.

Saria respected him deeply. Rhine Lab's current prosperity was largely due to Felix's strategic dealings with the military and the Pioneer Association.

Her fists could protect Kristen and the lab—but she couldn't take Rhine Lab global. Only Felix had managed to do that.

As Rhine Lab expanded, Saria began to notice changes in Kristen… The once bright, innocent girl with a heart full of wonder from their college days had become a silent beauty with a sense of unwavering purpose. Her gaze often seemed distant—as if she were looking not at Saria, but past her, at the sky beyond.

If not for Felix's proposal—and his persistent reasoning—Saria might have never had the chance to reconnect with Kristen the way they used to. The time they spent together outside of work had felt like a return to college days. Though they still talked about research, they found rare moments to simply enjoy life.

Saria owed Felix a great deal for that.

"Felix," she asked quietly, "what exactly are you planning to do?"

He already had the answer. Without hesitation, he said, "What the Maylander Foundation is doing is basically throwing me into the ring… But even so, I think gaining a doctorate in just six months is worth it. Besides, I won't be staying in Trimount long. I won't give those insects a chance."

"You'll only be safe if I attract the majority of Rhine Lab's attention," Felix said calmly. "With various small and medium-sized tech companies going public, the market is already reacting. My current relationship with the military is stable—we can keep the peace for now."

"The world runs on profit, Saria. That's the reality. The military won't always give Rhine Lab special treatment. Eventually, market forces will catch up to us. What matters is learning how to hold on to what we have… and how to grow beyond it."

Saria sighed.

Felix spoke calmly. "Saria, the military's order isn't just about drone experiments."

Saria raised her eyes to meet his and saw the cold gleam in his golden gaze.

"Human experimentation can also be classified as a military directive."

Saria's body stiffened. A chill ran down her spine as her fists clenched. "Using living people in experiments is a violation of—"

"—This is what the military wants," Felix interrupted. "And you know exactly who those top military officials are."

It wasn't just a statement—it was a warning.

Felix had already deduced the ambitions of the Colombian government from the intelligence he acquired through the black market.

He understood the Colombian president's goals clearly: Make columbia great again, a full-force push to advance science, education, and military strength, to become Terra's superpower. Compared to other nations, Colombia did enjoy a unique set of advantages—but it also had critical flaw: its proximity to others superpower. Any attempt to unify the Terra continent would first require the approval—or at least the indifference—of those countries.

It was a strange and precarious balance.

Saria stayed silent. Sensing her hesitation, Felix softened his tone.

"I'm doing this to ensure Rhine Lab survives," he said. "Saria, your responsibility is different from mine. I can keep Rhine Lab moving toward the future—but that's not your job, is it?"

Saria tightened her fists and slowly nodded. "I'll deal with any filth inside Rhine Lab."

With that, the tension between them eased. The sharp edge in their conversation vanished.

Felix smiled. "By the way, Saria... I'm curious about your strength."

His gaze swept over her. Having just finished her workout, she wore only a sports vest. Her toned physique was on full display—not bulky like a bodybuilder's, but balanced and well-defined. Her muscular structure was refined and symmetrical, a result of her Originium abilities. She didn't need excessive training that would build heavy, inefficient muscle.

But she did have abs.

"Why?" Saria raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Thinking of challenging me?"

The scene reminded him of a moment from a previous life. Back then, for the sake of showmanship, Felix had snorted and yelled dramatically, "What, you think I'm weak?! Come at me with everything you've got! It's only justice if you crush me!!!"

He had already known Saria was unbeatable. She had generously given him one minute to summon his mechanical army. Then she picked up her shield and activated her calcification ability.

The outcome… well, everyone knew it. To this day, Felix still felt a bit of PTSD whenever Saria smiled like that.

"I've found someone who might be a worthy opponent for you," he said, changing the subject. "Interested?"

Saria was intrigued. Since Felix was recommending the match, she nodded.

Felix pulled out his mobile terminal and dialed a number.

"Hello? Boss, what's up?"

"Degenbrecher, come to Rhine Lab. I found someone for you to spar with. Give her some pointers."

"Got it."

Degenbrecher agreed without hesitation.

Felix, recalling his earlier conversation with Muelsyse, then sent out another call—to summon her as well.

---

Degenbrecher entered the designated training room, clad in her usual military uniform. She pushed the door open and swept her gaze across the room. Her eyes passed over Felix and Muelsyse—who were seated nearby, munching on candy and popcorn—before finally landing on Saria.

Saria's orange eyes narrowed slightly. In that moment, her mind drifted back to her childhood—to the scene when her father first taught her the full training regimen. It was brutal and clearly unsuitable for a child; the drills made her knuckles bleed. Yet she endured it. As her father instructed, she struck the sandbag over and over again, driving out cowardice and any impractical emotions from her body. Other people's emotions were full of flaws. She only needed to find the moment of greatest disorder to break through their defenses in a single, decisive blow.

Though Saria never embraced combat the way a professional boxer might, the technique he taught her had carried her this far.

Now, facing the blonde, golden-eyed Caprinae who entered the training room, Saria was reminded of that immovable sandbag from her childhood.

Degenbrecher, for her part, saw strength—raw, unyielding strength—in Saria. Vigor. Resolve. Persistence. Saria wasn't just a fighter; she was a protector. Degenbrecher could see it in her eyes—there was something she was willing to stand her ground for.

Having experienced countless battles of all sizes in Kazimierz, Degenbrecher had developed an instinct—a subconscious reaction. From someone's aura alone, she could gauge their strength.

She said nothing. With a graceful flick, she tossed her golden hair behind her, drew the longsword from her waist, and took an offensive stance.

She lived for moments like these. She loved to fight.

Saria remained silent. She didn't reach for a shield. Instead, she raised her fists and took a boxer's stance. Calcification began spreading over her arms and hands, the quiet crackling of solidifying calcium audible even from the spectator seats.

The cold blade arced through the air, carving a streak of silver as Degenbrecher advanced. Her footwork was measured, almost elegant. She moved with the precision of a veteran of knight tournaments, exploiting blind spots, applying relentless pressure. She didn't hold back. Every swing of her blade exuded authority and finality.

Her sword slashed like a whirlwind, fast and unyielding. Watching from the seats, Felix was reminded of the light cavalry from the past—his own specialty was also rapid thrusts with a rapier, relying on a barrage of shallow cuts to wear down the enemy.

Does Degenbrecher only know one fighting style? Probably not. Felix wasn't yet fully aware of her combat history, but what he did know was enough: Degenbrecher stood at the pinnacle of knighthood. She was born for battle.

Against lightly-armored opponents, she relied on sheer strength to dominate. But against someone like Saria, whose physical power was immense, Degenbrecher shifted her strategy—using speed to defeat might.

After only a few exchanges, the edge of Degenbrecher's blade had already grazed Saria multiple times. Although Saria managed to evade direct hits, fine cuts remained—traces etched into her calcified arms and fists.

Suddenly, Saria ducked low, dodging an incoming strike with feline agility. She seized the opening and launched a counterattack—a devastating punch aimed directly at Degenbrecher. Her metalized fist cut through the air with a sharp whoosh.

This was Saria's thunderous retaliation.

Felix and Muelsyse's eyes lit up from the audience. Wonderful! It was truly wonderful—like watching a live broadcast of the Kazimierz Knights' Tournament.

Degenbrecher sensed the strength behind the strike and was slightly surprised. She used Saria's force to retreat a few steps.

"What a powerful Originium Art," she commented. "If you train for a few more years and master your Originium arts, it might become difficult for me to beat you."

In other words, the current Degenbrecher was still capable of defeating Saria—and that was only natural. Saria had only graduated from university a few years ago. How many years had Degenbrecher been fighting?

"If I didn't have Originium Arts," Saria replied, shaking her head, "I would've lost long ago."

Her tone wasn't self-deprecating. She glanced at Muelsyse, who was smiling in the spectator seats. Her expression suddenly froze, and she broke into a fit of coughing.

"Senior…"

"My codename is Degenbrecher."

"…Can I ask for more guidance, Senior Degenbrecher?"

Saria took up her stance once again, the calcification spreading across her arms.

Degenbrecher smiled—a smile Felix had only ever seen on the battlefield. It was the kind of smile that appeared when one met a worthy opponent. To her, Saria had already qualified as prey.

"Here it comes!"

Boom—

---

"Felix, would you care to explain why Saria's training room looks like a disaster zone?" Yara stood with her arms crossed, pacing before her desk. With a frown, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I thought there had been an experiment gone wrong—or that the military had launched an assault."

"The military wouldn't dare to, and they wouldn't act so rashly either," Felix said with a nod.

Yara's expression darkened. "Do you think this is funny?"

"I'm telling the truth," Felix replied calmly.

Yara had a headache. She already had three metaphorical children—Kristen, Saria, and Muelsyse. And now… another one? Felix? He was the youngest, after all.

When had she started thinking of Felix as a reliable adult?

"…Regardless, the repair costs will come out of your budget."

"Okay," Felix agreed without hesitation. "Military commissions are profitable enough. With that kind of money, I could afford to demolish half of Rhine Lab's facilities."

Yara's expression grew even darker.

Felix coughed awkwardly and stood to leave her office. Despite everything, he still respected Yara as the maternal figure of Rhine Lab and didn't want to provoke her too much. Who would've thought Degenbrecher and Saria would go that far—and even the spectator seats weren't spared? In the end, it was Muelsyse who had to use water to carry him out of the impact zone so he wouldn't get crushed by falling pillars.

After this bout, Saria had clearly realized the flaws and shortcomings in her fighting style. With guidance from the Degenbrecher, she would definitely grow stronger than she had in her previous life.

Thinking about this, Felix shivered involuntarily.

Damn it… what are you so scared of? Saria's not going to punch her own teammates!

He was genuinely afraid of being beaten up.

But then again, maybe that certain famous NPC in this life wouldn't last three punches either…

Degenbrecher approached Felix, her expression refreshed and spirited.

"It's been a while since I've had such a satisfying fight," she said with a chuckle. "Felix, you really found a good opponent for me."

"You think that highly of Saria?"

Degenbrecher's smile faded slightly. She paused for a moment, then spoke thoughtfully.

"I can feel it—her Originium Art is evolving. I can still win against her now, but in the future… she'll be able to take down ten opponents on her own."

"She'll be the strongest shield—and the sharpest spear. I'm looking forward to seeing what she becomes."