Ark Chess Player

It wasn't that monsters surrounded her, but that she surrounded the monsters all by herself.

Back then, Gavial treated this nightmare, which terrified his people, as a daily form of entertainment.

Gavial's combat prowess, comparable to that of a six-star operator, is the result of constant refinement and transformation through countless battles. She grows stronger in the harshest environments, learning from each fight and becoming more resilient with every injury.

She's been through countless battles and seen it all!

"Stop playing tricks, it should have been done a long time ago!"

Gavial's fist slammed into the skeleton hostage's fist, which was almost half her size!

"--Bang!!"

It looks like a small knife sawing a big tree, but upon impact, it's not the knife that breaks, but the big tree.

The skeleton hostage's wrists cracked with a sickening sound, and even the blood vessels surrounding his arms were ruptured, spilling out a trickle of amber liquid.

"Gahhhhhh!!!"

The skeletal hijacker unleashed a deafening roar that shook the air, transforming its fist into a palm and unleashing explosive power! It attempted to crush Gavial's arm with its sharp, cone-like fingers, a move no less powerful than five spears striking simultaneously.

Gavial was not afraid at all. Compared to the monster's annoying tricks, she preferred this pure clash of strength. She didn't think she would lose to anyone else in this regard; given a lever, she could move the entire Terra.

"Drink it!!"

Gavial let out a battle cry, the loudness of which determined her offensive power. She charged forward, her arm pushing against the skeletal hijacker's palm!

Anyone watching at this moment would be utterly dumbfounded.

Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, the chariot was overturned by the mantis.

With extreme force, Gavial pushed the skeletal kidnapper's hand inward. After a few seconds of stalemate, cracks appeared on the monster's wrist. At that very moment, the skeletal kidnapper's fingers successfully pressed down on Gavial's arm! The sharp tips pierced the white robe, but it no longer had enough nerves to control subtle movements; it could only swing its arm and fling her away.

Even if Gavial's strength is great, her weight is still at the level of an ordinary beautiful girl—cough cough, she has never falsified her physical examination results—well, she just changed it a tiny bit, a tiny bit.

"call……"

Gavial, flung into the inferno by the Bone Henchman, managed to land on a shield at the last possible distance, bending over to reduce the impact. This shield, which she had ripped from the Bone Henchman's right arm, could absorb magical substances generated from Originium elements, including the towering flames ignited by the amber solution.

A path was parted in the fire curtain, and Gavial, making full use of every advantage on the battlefield, rode the waves, growing stronger with each battle. She said she was fighting randomly, but she wasn't. She came out with a combo of armor-piercing, crowd control, and body-damaging attacks—clearly well-trained. Her offense was her defense, making her unstoppable. Later, she mentioned that she had trained for two or three years by the sea in her hometown. Ah, it seems she came prepared.

Just as Gavial swung his Origin Stone Staff to brake abruptly, stretched his neck, and strode forward, preparing to unleash another combo on the Bone Henchman, a familiar voice came from the side.

"Miss Gavial, we've arrived."

"us?"

Gavial instinctively turned her head and saw Amiya running towards them with Reunion cadres. She paused, calculating the time carefully; it seemed like less than five minutes had passed. What trick had Amiya used to lure them here? Was this a male or female ball? No, was it a boy or a girl?

"you……"

Gavial's gaze couldn't leave Alex's black stockings; those slender legs looked even more shapely than hers.

“Let’s talk about that later. Right now, Alex and we share the same goal,” Amiya said, her gaze resolute. “Let’s bring Misha home!”

Gavial nodded thoughtfully. She didn't treat Alex coldly just because he was a Reunion cadre. Since he was someone Amiya approved of, she would trust Amiya.

If the other party is planning to play tricks, that's fine too. She doesn't mind making intimate contact with the other party's nose with her fist. If one punch can't solve the problem, then she'll take a serious punch.

"It's settled."

Alex drew his gunblade, grabbed the harpoon mask, hesitated for a moment, and then hung it on his belt.

"After rescuing Misha, we must respect her wishes and let her decide where she wants to go. If she chooses me, then Rhodes Island should not stop us. If she chooses you... I hope you will take good care of her."

"Opening champagne at halftime is a big no-no. Let's talk about everything after we've rescued the people!"

Gavial immediately interrupted Alex's reckless act of raising the flag. She and Amiya exchanged a glance, and Amiya pointed to the Bone Lurker's shield. Gavial nodded knowingly, gave a thumbs-up, and exuded an air of "Leave it to me."

Gavial charged forward against the surging, intense air currents, her movements swift and powerful, churning the flames around her, and in an instant, she was before the monster. Her Originium Staff flashed at breakneck speed, leaving afterimages, and the scattering air seemed to groan. No one could discern the speed of Gavial's serious attack; in the blink of an eye, it seemed as if she had unleashed countless hammer blows.

"Clang clang clang clang!!"

The clanging of metal followed in quick succession, and bone fragments flew from the skeletal hostage's hands as she held them in front of her, looking extremely disheveled. Facing a monster several times her size, Gavial had never shown fear; she had always remained on the offensive.

"Hiss...whoosh."

Amiya took a deep breath, seizing the opportunity Gavial had created for her. The power of her Special Class class surged through the Ark Driver, and she once again moved as if into shadow. Her exceptional battlefield mobility allowed Amiya to unleash near-instantaneous teleportation skills; while not as effortless as the Kingslayer's, her current speed was still terrifying.

"—Clang!"

Alex gripped the Bonebreaker Gunblade, swung his arm sharply, and switched the gun mode to a blade.

Throughout the entire operation, Amiya did not issue any direct command orders to Alex. This was because their respective allies were different at the time. Without understanding each other's abilities, rashly demanding actions from the other could easily backfire.

Amiya's psychic powers allow her to see Alex's past, but she doesn't directly plunder all of his memories, so she doesn't fully understand him. Doing so would be a burden for her and could easily trigger resonance. Now is not the time to use this skill; she can't risk shattering her ring.

Feel free to improvise and adapt to changing circumstances.

This may sound irresponsible, but it is indeed the best approach right now.

Alex did not act rashly, but instead cooperated with Gavial to draw the skeleton hostage's attention.

The closer he observed the monster, and the more he combined it with W and Asahi's testimonies, the more he realized what heinous things Mephistopheles had done!

Even if it's broken... Alex considers himself a radical in the Reunion Movement, but he never thought of such a vicious act as sacrificing human lives.

If Misha were taken away like this, what would become of her? Alex merely thought about it, and his grip on the gunblade tightened even more, the ancient hunter's weapon, imbued with spirit, returning power to him.

"Shadow Strike".

Amiya's shadow overlapped with the silhouette of the skeletal kidnapper. She leaped forward, hurling the curved dagger she held in her left hand upward. A rhombus-shaped totem suspended in the void behind her formed a magical thread connecting the black blade, temporarily serving as a grappling hook.

The power of the special class is not just about increased speed.

The true significance of the Special Class lies in providing a choice of tactical branches, allowing for greater freedom in combat methods.

As the black blade, along with the spun thread, wound its way to the pillar connecting the skeleton hijacker's left arm to the shield, Amiya tightened the semi-solid black thread, pulling her body upwards. Using the momentum, she leaped, nimbly stepping onto the skeleton hijacker's frame to climb upwards.

Amiya raised her right hand, and another black blade slashed down with remarkable precision. Her wood-chopping technique was self-taught, learned from Katsura Kotonoha, and she accurately sliced ​​into the pillar connecting the White Bone Hostage's shield.

"clang!!"

A deafening sound rang out, and Amiya felt as if she were sharpening a knife rather than chopping bones. The gleaming, dark red, curved blade pressed against the connecting pillar, countless sparks sliding down from it, each spark a burning bone fragment.

To break through this shield directly using physical means, you'd need at least a battering ram or similar weapon, right?

Amiya couldn't help but smile wryly as she recalled Gavial tearing the shield apart. No wonder so many Rhodes Island members were afraid to train with Gavial; they were simply not on the same level. Looking back now, she realized Gavial had held back in the training room; otherwise, she would have destroyed Rhodes Island.

At the same time, Amiya also felt a little relieved.

If Gavial is not there, she will face a tough battle alone against the monster.

"Gawoowoowoo!!!"

The skeletal kidnapper let out a shriek, attempting to use its Iron Mountain Lean to shake off Amiya and repel the obstructing Gavial. But its movement was cut short by Alex, who was poised to strike, severing its already wounded left leg with two slashes from his gunblade. Gavial had nearly shattered its left leg at the start of the fight, and Alex's finishing blow sealed its fate.

The massive figure crashed to the ground, forced to brace itself with its hands for balance, its triangular head turned toward Alex. Seemingly intimidated by its weapon, it extended its claws with a mixture of bravado and cowardice, completely ignoring Amiya.

The Bonebreaker Gunblade is an ancient hunter's weapon guarding the Grail Dungeon, possessing a unique lethality against this abyssal derivative. Its predecessor, Gehrman Donpson, was the gatekeeper of one of those dungeons.

Of course, that's all in the past.

The current owner is Alex.

He's not a hunter, but he's willing to hunt nightmares.

Alex looked at his hand gripping the weapon. He didn't know why, but when he severed the skeleton kidnapper's left leg... he felt every cell in his body cheering for it, a kind of illusion of his blood boiling.

They stepped forward to save something.

They fought bloody battles to protect something.

This is not to satisfy anyone's selfish desires.

It's not about being manipulated or treated as a tool.

Isn't that enough of a reason to wield a sharp blade?

Alex seems to be just a little short of finding the answer.

Chapter 342 Crimson (4K)

"Just a little bit more..."

Amiya's left hand tightened the illusory thread, pulling the black blade upwards to slash. Her right hand wielded the knife, continuously applying two diametrically opposed forces simultaneously to the arm support connecting the skeletal kidnapper to the shield.

"Zizzi-"

Compared to the muffled cracking of bones, it sounded more like the clanging of metal, and even Alex felt a faint stinging sensation in his eardrums.

The skeletal kidnapper swung its injured left arm, along with Amiya, who refused to give up, and extended its claws toward Alex. It was incredibly fast, like a frightened beast, instinctively using movements that exceeded its limits.

Amiya knew this was a bad situation, but she didn't want to give up.

It was so close—so close!!

Amiya!

Alex shouted, "Trust me!"

A strong will sweeps through the spiritual world, causing ripples to spread across the lake of the soul.

Alex opened his defenses completely to her, conveying all his desires and thoughts to her.

Amiya clearly sensed Alex's emotional fluctuations. She slowly relaxed her clenched teeth and nodded.

Without needing verbal confirmation, Amiya chose to believe him.

Don't use the suspect, but don't use it.

These are essential qualities for leaders and commanders.

Amiya stepped onto the shoulders of the skeletal kidnapper and leaped upwards, appearing as light as an elf in the moonlight. The thread she held in her left hand snapped, and the black blade flew out of control, but was quickly reconnected by the thread that reappeared from the diamond-shaped totem, and was nimbly retrieved back into her hand.

As the skeletal kidnapper's claws attacked, Alex dodged to the side at the last second, raising his gunblade to block in front of him.

"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!!" The skeletal kidnapper's claws scraped against the gunblade, creating blinding sparks. Through the pair of deformed gunblades, Alex withstood the powerful impact with his body. The wound beneath the bandages, which had just begun to heal, was mercilessly torn apart by this force, and warm blood seeped into his clothes, carrying away his body heat with the evening breeze.

Alex could have dodged earlier, but he couldn't miss this opportunity.

"Break!!"

Alex roared in battle, pressing down with both hands to cleave the amber veins of the skeletal kidnapper's wrist. His armor-piercing talent activated, ignoring 70% of the enemy's defense and shattering their tough bone! Combined with the fact that the Bone-Smashing Blade countered the Grail's Abyss derivative effect, he successfully gained the upper hand in this standoff!

"Crack, crack, crack..."