Ancient Ark: A Dark-Themed Historical Survival Game

Shen Yinxu sneered, "A nobody thief dares to challenge me? He's courting death!"

"You talk too much nonsense!"

Xiao Yu summoned the heroic spirit first.

An archer shot an arrow at Shen Yinxu's head, but it bounced off his helmet and caused no damage whatsoever.

Xiao Yu's expression hardened slightly.

The archer aimed at the eye and drew his bow again.

"kill!"

Shen Yinxu suddenly spread his wings like a roc, knocking down the flying arrow in mid-air, and then launched a spear attack.

Xiao Yu immediately dodged to the side.

The red spear light grazed past and blasted a crater.

If he hadn't dodged that attack, he would have died. Xiao Yu remained calm and unperturbed, seizing the moment when his opponent was still recovering from the attack to launch a counterattack.

when!

He blocked with his spear.

Xiao Yu was instead forced back.

Shen Yinxu unleashed another powerful sweeping strike, the force of the spear whipping up a gust of wind like a sharp blade.

Speed, strength, defense.

The differences are enormous!

He also possesses five different gun skills, making him an opponent you absolutely cannot confront head-on; you can only play it safe and wear him down slowly.

Xiao Yu rolled away in an instant to dodge.

The ring was activated, emitting a fireball.

At such close range, the attack was bound to hit. It only dealt a mere 5 points of damage, but it caused a burning effect on the armor and temporarily forced Shen Yinxu back.

Xiao Yu seized the opportunity to use a Spirit Dewdrop and a Life Dewdrop.

"Prepare to die!"

Shen Yinxu, having suffered a setback, launched an even fiercer offensive. Xiao Yu, however, engaged in a fierce battle with him, seizing three opportunities to counterattack with corrosive fireballs.

The fireball's cumulative damage cannot exceed 20.

The burn inflicts over ten points of continuous damage.

Most importantly, the corrosive fireball can destroy armor, and the Bloodstained Blade also has an armor-piercing effect, which can continuously weaken the BOSS.

Xiao Yu was very familiar with the opponent's skills and style. He and the archer spirit cooperated steadily at both close and long range, and even ignored the absolute numerical crushing effect, and fought back and forth.

Clang!

Sparks flew.

Spears and swords clashed repeatedly.

Each collision brought a powerful force, enough to cause internal injuries to Xiao Yu's internal organs.

-1!

0!

1!

-0!

Xiao Yu suffered very little damage – almost none at all!

This is because wearing the new rhinoceros hide armor, the protective power it generates can always offset some of the internal injuries, making him more composed in this battle.

And because they consumed the dew of life.

This indirect harm poses a very limited threat.

-2!

-6!

-1!

-7!

Shen Yinxu was attacked multiple times.

The 1 or 2 points of damage were inflicted by the Heroic Spirit.

Level 2 archer spirits don't deal much damage. They're okay against mobs, but not enough against bosses. Even if Shen Yinxu's armor is damaged, his strong physique and protective power can almost completely negate the archer's attacks.

The role of archers is to provide harassment.

Xiao Yu personally delivered the output.

Each strike dealt more than 5 points of damage to Shen Yinxu. After a dozen or twenty rounds of fighting, Shen Yinxu's health bar was reduced to less than 30%.

"You Wu traitor are no ordinary person."

Shen Yinxu was both shocked and furious.

This person knows his moves inside and out, and is like an incredibly slippery loach that always manages to dodge deadly attacks. The rhythm of each attack, defense, dodge, and counterattack is flawless, as if he has practiced it hundreds of times.

He tore through his tattered armor, his wounds healed in the blink of an eye, his muscles swelled rapidly, his veins bulged, and his hair turned blood red.

"They're here!"

This boss will unleash its ultimate attack, "Berserk Blood," when its health drops below 30%.

It greatly enhances speed and strength in a short period of time, reduces skill cooldown time to one-tenth, and increases output and burst damage by nearly ten times!

Under these circumstances.

They're absolutely invincible!

However, maintaining this state will consume life force, and once it stops working, you will fall into weakness!

"Thief, don't run away!"

Having anticipated this, Xiao Yu immediately retreated dozens of meters, using the terrain to dodge attacks. Although he appeared disheveled, he managed to avoid every subsequent attack.

The BOSS only has a little over ten percent of its health remaining.

Xiao Yu was slightly injured.

But he still has more than half of his life left.

Shen Yinxu was about to run out of steam, so he used all his strength to deliver a final blow, hurling his spear like a meteor at Xiao Yu.

A hair's breadth away.

The heroic spirit flashed forward.

He blocked an attack for Xiao Yu.

-28!

Thirty points of health were almost gone.

The archers were almost instantly killed.

After delivering this attack, Shen Yinxu could no longer maintain his berserk state. He knelt on one knee, panting heavily, and would be extremely weak in the next ten seconds or so.

The time has come!

Xiao Yu decisively retaliated.

Shen Yinxu drew his sword and barely managed to parry several times.

Xiao Yu stabbed Xiao Yu in the shoulder with his left hand and slashed Xiao Yu in the chest with his right hand.

-2!

-7!

Shen Yinxu staggered backward.

Life is almost over.

He had exhausted all his skills and was powerless to reverse the situation.

Xiao Yu attacked again like a wolf or tiger, a flash of light as fast as lightning slicing across the neck.

-12 (Critical Hit!)

"Helu...Sun Tzu...I cannot be defeated...I am not reconciled!"

Shen Yinxu clutched his throat, his eyes blazing with fury, but in the end, he collapsed, bursting out in a white ball of light.

[You have collected loot: Soul Essence +20, White Heroic Spirit Essence +1!]

【Heroic Spirit Essence (White)】, a high-quality white material, can be used to enhance the aptitude of gray heroic spirits.

Not bad.

This is a document for cultivating heroic spirits.

It can improve the aptitude of Grey Heroes.

These materials are rare, with a much lower drop rate than equipment, and are extremely valuable.

The soul essence reached 113/100.

The portion exceeding the critical value will dissipate if not used promptly.

Make a decisive breakthrough!

Your cultivation level has increased!

Xiao Yu felt his power increase once again.

His goal in entering the past was clear: to acquire the epic-level hero "Sun Tzu," rather than to level up as quickly as possible.

even so.

It reached level 3 in a short time.

This rate of improvement is satisfactory!

The boss's corpse gradually became transparent and disappeared, replaced by a treasure chest shrouded in white light. This was the treasure chest obtained by clearing the secret realm.

[You have opened a treasure chest. White Soul Stone +2, Golden Silk Greatbow +1!]

Another white item has been released.

【Golden Silk Bow】, a mid-grade white equipment, with a base attack of +6, a range increase of +5%, agility increase of +1%, and durability of 18.

A decent ranged weapon.

This bow, when combined with the abilities of archer heroes, has considerable practical value in combat.

You have passed the trial in the secret realm!

[This dungeon's rating: Perfect!]

You have triggered a hidden level in the secret realm!

Xiao Yu received a notification.

He returned to the bamboo forest.

The experience just now felt like a dream.

"You have passed the test and are qualified to play against me," Sun Tzu said with admiration. "Younger generations, would you dare to play black?"

"certainly!"

Xiao Yu sat down on the stone bench.

The surrounding environment then changed again.

The first round of trials was just the threshold; now comes the real strategic game of the Art of War!

This game is less like playing chess and more like a turn-based real-time strategy game.

The chessboard in front of the two quickly transformed into a sand table depicting mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and two armies facing off.

Each side possesses the military strength of its own country.

The game is played by manipulating chess pieces.

The two sides have more than a dozen different types of units, and there are restraint relationships between the units. The final victory or defeat is the destruction of a country.

Victory or defeat is not only on the chessboard.

In addition, it is subject to uncontrollable interference from the government, including factors such as timing, location, human factors, morality, military strength, food supplies, and intelligence.

This test.

The difficulty is far greater than the three rounds of trials.

After all, playing this game well is an extremely difficult task. It was only after collecting the experience and tactics of hundreds of masters in his previous life that Xiao Yu was confident enough to sit here.

This test.

It is irrelevant to numerical values.

Having a higher level is meaningless.

The game of Bing Sheng (a famous Chinese military strategist) not only tests chess skills, but also temperament, willpower, wisdom, and composure.

Sun Tzu gave Sun Tzu a three-piece handicap at the start.

This was an opportunity that Xiao Yu had secured.

He clearly realized that the strategist was invincible, and even if he were to face him with a three-stone handicap, his chances of winning would still be zero.

So how do you win?

The opening of Sun Tzu's Art of War states: "War is a matter of vital importance to the State; a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

The highest level of Sun Tzu's Art of War is "to subdue the enemy without fighting," and its path is "the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to disrupt his alliances, the next best is to attack his army, and the worst is to besiege his cities."

Victory was not achieved.

Plan your defeat first!

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated!

This test requires us to recognize and admit that we are no match for Sun Tzu. Only in this way can we turn the tide and find a glimmer of hope.

We cannot send troops!

Because if they were to send troops to confront Sun Tzu on the battlefield, they would be utterly defeated in just a few rounds.

The right approach is to defend!

Having the first move in the first three rounds is crucial.

This allowed Xiao Yu to promptly deploy troops to the front-line cities, thus creating a defensive posture to maintain the stability of the rear base.

Next.

The long and agonizing test has begun!

Xiao Yu spent more than half an hour on each round; only those with great perseverance and composure could play this game well.

In the 10th round, Sun Tzu launched an attack, while Xiao Yu deployed his defenses and refused to engage.

In the 20th round, Sun Tzu's army approached the city, and Xiao Yu put up a resistance.

In round 30, Sun Wu gained the upper hand, and Xiao Yu began to set up a second line of defense.

In round 60, several cities on the front lines fell, the first line of defense collapsed, and Sun Tzu's army advanced with unstoppable momentum.

In the 100th round, Sun Tzu's army launched a fierce attack on the second line of defense. Xiao Yu continuously reinforced his troops for defense, but never launched an attack, seeking only to make the defense watertight rather than counterattack.

In round 150, Sun Tzu's army once again gained the upper hand and advanced with unstoppable momentum.

By round 180, Xiao Yu had lost many cities and his defenses were riddled with holes.

In the 200th round, nearly half of the country under Xiao Yu's control had fallen, and the overall situation was extremely precarious, with little chance of holding out any longer.

At this time.

A turning point has arrived.

Sun Tzu waged long-term campaigns.

Its internal affairs collapsed.

Favorable timing, geographical advantage, popular support, moral support, military strength, food supplies, and intelligence were all lost one after another.

This caused Sun Tzu's army to lose its support, and its fighting strength collapsed at an alarming rate, with its overall strength reduced to less than one-tenth.

Finally, the opportunity to turn the tide has arrived.

In round 220, Xiao Yu reclaimed all lost territory.

In round 240, Xiao Yu took advantage of the chaos to annihilate the enemy's main force.

In round 260, Xiao Yu invaded enemy territory as if it were empty.

In the 300th round, Xiao Yu successfully captured the capital, and the entire enemy country surrendered.

When the chessboard of heaven and earth disappears.

Xiao Yu returned to reality, his face pale, his lips chapped, and he looked haggard.

How intense are 300 rounds?

Seven days and seven nights have passed!

He maintained his energy and condition entirely by consuming mental dew; otherwise, he wouldn't have been well-prepared and had a good grasp of the strategy beforehand.

Even if Xiao Yu were to fight a hundred times.

He has no chance of winning!

"good!"

Sun Tzu smiled.

I feel relieved and gratified.

"Deep-sea pollution has led to the decline of the past, and the fate of humankind hangs in the balance. Fortunately, we have encountered a talent like you from a later generation. I am willing to lend you my remaining spirit!"

He paused. "Would you accept?"

"This junior is deeply honored!" Xiao Yu rose and bowed respectfully. "I will certainly not disgrace the name of the Sage of War!"

All efforts.

All the effort.

It's all worth it!

Sun Tzu did not say another word.

He transformed into a pure and vast orange-quality heroic spirit, within which seemed to be thousands of troops arrayed, mountains and rivers spread out, and the sun, moon and stars revolving, all of which eventually merged into Xiao Yu's body.

You have obtained the "Spirit of Sun Tzu, the Master of War"!

We've got Sun Tzu, the master strategist!