Ark Chess Player

"Ah...ah..."

Lin Lu moved his numb tongue, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, as if his brain marrow had been drained and then refilled with other fluids.

No, this feeling doesn't seem to be an illusion; something in my mind has truly been taken away.

“Ibidas… what did you do to me?”

Lin Lu gasped, clearly sensing that something had replaced a part of his consciousness.

He searched earnestly, and a disc appeared in the center of the lake of his thoughts, like a fallen star.

Ibitas raised her hand and tucked the stray ends of her hair behind her ear, revealing her sculpted, icy beauty.

Lin Lu had thought she would never change her appearance, but her cheeks looked a little hot, and the thin blush on her cheeks added a lot of bright color.

“I ate... Rom's... pocket watch.”

She spoke slowly, her expression still devoid of emotion, but her voice was far more melodious than the one that resonated directly in Lin Lu's consciousness. She spoke softly and slowly, seemingly lacking confidence in her words, unsure if she had mispronounced any characters.

"Its pocket watch... left with you... will eventually turn you into a spider too, which is very dangerous."

Ibitas said softly, trying to make her tone sound more nuanced, but she was still not very good at expressing her feelings.

Lin Lu frowned. What the hell was this, turning into a spider? And who was Rom?

"but……"

Ibitas seemed to realize that what she was about to say was important to Lin Lu, and her unchanging expression finally showed a slight change.

She actually—she actually frowned!

Lin Lu was shocked. A medical miracle! Facial paralysis was cured!

The anemone, supporting herself against the wall as she climbed up, revealed a motherly smile of contentment, seemingly happy for her child growing up, with tears welling in her eyes.

"Take the pocket watch, and you'll die..."

Ibitas spoke slowly and deliberately, and then, as if she wanted to give up, she turned and glanced at the anemone.

Encouraged by the mentally challenged maid, she clenched her little hands and persevered, refusing to give up.

Ibitas said earnestly, "I have given you my mark."

"As my subordinate, the time you have overdrawn will be made up for by me."

Lin Lu stared at her, dumbfounded. The amount of information was too much for him to process in an instant.

Ibitas was not lying; everything she said was true, but she was unaware that Lin Lu had lost his memory.

For Ibitas, Lin Lu was her hero, even if he did it in a different way, he still managed to take her away from the cage that had been built just for her.

Ibitas slowly climbed off Lin Lu, her white, form-fitting long dress swaying slightly. For a moment, Lin Lu seemed to see a dazzling Milky Way beneath her dress. The strands of hair that had been binding Lin Lu's limbs and neck gracefully returned, gathering behind her head like flowing spring water.

"Although I'm not entirely sure, my life is now in your hands, isn't it?"

Lin Lu sat up from the ground, suppressing his wildly beating heart and trying his best to keep his tone calm.

He had intended to stand up and look down at Ibitas, but a part of his body had already stood up prematurely due to the intense kiss. If he remained standing, what would be looking down at Ibitas would probably be a twelve-inch Ultraman-level Tower of Babel, so he decided it was better to stay seated.

Copper smelting BISS.

Elements outside the periodic table are also not allowed.

Lin Lu speculated in his heart that Rom's pocket watch was likely something that would drive him mad, but it was also something that could prolong his life... This thing was most likely the reason why he was able to challenge Ibitas's true form time and time again before he lost his memory.

Without Rom's pocket watch, there probably wouldn't have been a chance to reset the quest.

...Wait, maybe the reason I'm lying in the sarcophagus is because of Rom's pocket watch?

Lin Lu made a gesture in confusion, waving it twice at the ground, but no white, viscous, and tough substance shot out.

Come to think of it, someone like him, who independently developed the Ark Driver, is definitely like Iron Man, right?

The poor rely on mutation, the rich rely on technology.

Ibitas tilted her head, trying to understand Lin Lu's meaning. After thinking for a moment, she slowly shook her head.

"If you die, I will die too."

About the Golden Treasure Chest!

Hi, nice to meet you who are reading this before reading the rest of the book! I am Silent Joy and Sorrow!

Readers who have read this far from the first chapter, thank you for your hard work after a busy day. Please sit down and have a cup of tea.

I understand, I understand, good luck, good luck.

I mainly want to talk to you all about this~

After all, a work is part of its author, and an author is part of its work, isn't that right?

This is a slow-burn, story-driven Arknights fanfiction. While staying true to the official character designs of each operator, it unfolds a new tale. This story will have its ups and downs, but it will ultimately have a happy ending. This is my writing style, and also my personal aspiration.

"Life is bitter enough, at least the coffee should be a little sweet."

This story will focus on the main plot, with original side plots as supplementary elements.

While ensuring the story is told, there will also be romantic moments between characters, fun daily life scenes, and a deeper understanding of your favorite operators.

—By the way, this "in-depth" doesn't refer to that kind of in-depth, so don't misunderstand.

This story incorporates numerous elements, including transformation elements, knight elements, and references to games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, and Metal Gear Solid. It also features Cthulhu's romantic moments, ACG references, and meme-worthy moments. Hopefully, it will resonate with you, and you'll leave your mark in the comments and review sections.

For me, seeing your posts makes me really, really happy. Sometimes I'll post "GKD" in the comments section and then update more, because seeing your responses motivates me and helps me resist the urge to play games, allowing me to focus on writing.

This year has not been easy. In March, I resigned for various reasons, gave up a lot, and chose to start writing again.

Writing a book is going against the grain, and it's normal to fall down along the way.

I just wish the way I fell could have looked a little better.

With the financial support of my friends, I decided to give it my all and become a real tough guy.

"HENSHIN!!!"

Because this is a book I'm confident I can show to my family (I don't believe it).

If you happen to have read this book before the main text, I hope you'll give me a chance to try it out; perhaps it will suit your taste. If you enjoy it, that would be wonderful.

To all the readers who have been following this book, or those who have added it to their collections and are waiting for it to grow before reading it, thank you for your support with your recommendation votes and encouragement with your comments. Love you all, sending you love!

May all readers of "The Chess Player of the Ark" find peace and joy in all their actions and words.

Oh, there's one more thing.

An extra chapter will be added tonight.

Chapter Sixty-Six Anemone

"What do you mean by that...?"

Lin Lu was confused; it sounded like the two of them were bound together.

If Lin Lu is lost, Ibitas will die as a result.

"It means exactly what it says, Dr. Idiot."

Anemone came up behind Ibitas and picked up her beautiful, flowing hair, which cascaded down the ground like a silver river, and tied it into twin ponytails.

Despite having just been slammed against the wall by Ibitas, leaving a head-shaped notch in the wall, the anemone seemed completely unharmed and lifeless.

“Ibitas is a good girl, you can’t bully her. During the days you were unconscious… I’m not just referring to the three short days on Rhodes Island! During the three years you lay in the sarcophagus, it was this girl who fought day and night against Rom, who was eroding your body. Without her, you would have become an artificial monster, endlessly freezing time on that day. Either the world would be destroyed by you, or someone would come to their senses from the cycle and team up to kill you.”

Anemone cradled Ibitas's delicate, silky hair in her hands and couldn't resist taking a sniff. It smelled so good.

"Oh, this."

Lin Lu was speechless for a moment.

Seeing Lin Lu's discomfiture, Yinlianhua's pretty face immediately lit up with a smug look.

“I yelled at you to stop, and look, the other person obediently stopped, but you still pushed your luck.” Anemone put her hands on her hips, her clear eyes revealing her contempt without any politeness. “Not only did you break the rules and sneak away, but you also grabbed the wrong person and ruined my clothes like this. How are you going to compensate me, Doctor?”

"...Tsk."

Lin Lu turned his head away unhappily.

Despite being a traitor, he spoke with reason and evidence, leaving the other man speechless and forced to admit defeat.

Hehe!

The anemone hopped and skipped around in front of Lin Lu, sticking out its pert buttocks and twisting its waist. Its arrogance was so overbearing that its overflowing silliness almost overwhelmed Lin Lu.

"What's wrong? Oh dear, why is my silver-tongued doctor so silent? Is it because you know you're wrong? Come on, apologize to your sister." Yinlianhua approached Lin Lu with a wicked smile, her long white legs almost touching Lin Lu's face, a typical case of taking advantage of someone's kindness.

Lin Lu flew into a rage: "You're dreaming!! Even if I die, even if I jump out of here and die outside, I will never submit to you!"

"Sigh, it's alright, no need to apologize. Who told me to be the Doctor's loyal and reliable little angel! Don't worry, Doctor, I won't tell anyone about how you got beaten up and pinned to the ground and kissed and rubbed after your foul play!" Anemone tilted her head at a 45-degree angle and added, "But you also know that the PRTS system isn't human."

"I'm sorry, I was wrong."

Lin Lu raised both hands, a standard Myrtle operator's signature pose.

"Hey, I didn't hear you."

Lin Lu suppressed his displeasure and shouted, "I'm sorry! I was wrong! Please forgive me!"

Anemone put her hand to her ear, bent over in a perfectly standard hooligan squat, and said in a roguish tone, "Ah, ah, what was that noise just now? Huh?"

Enraged, Lin Lu's forehead veins bulged. He leaned close to Yinlianhua's ear and said coldly, "Confirm uninstallation of 'Anemone.exe'?"

"I'm so sorry, boss!!"

With a thud, the anemone's rascal squat turned into a full-on sit, the movement natural and fluid, the posture standard and perfect.

She also very obediently presented a pure white cloth garment with a light lace trim and a small blue bow, exuding a sense of purity and clarity.

Because the two were standing very close, Anemone "accidentally" placed the pure white triangular piece of fabric on Lin Lu's face. A faint fragrance wafted into Lin Lu's nostrils, accompanied by a damp sensation; his face was covered in water.

"Silver! Lotus! Flower!!"

Lin Lu suddenly swung his hand and snatched the fabric away!

He's not some innocent, naive, oblivious protagonist from a light novel. How could a dignified old pervert not recognize what this thing is?