Whether it’s the Dong Clan or the Alliance, he still hasn’t decided which side to choose. He knows that deeper consideration is needed, but that will have to wait until he gets his hands on the compass.
Suddenly, Liang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he could see two shadowy figures approaching in their direction.
"Alliance members?" Dong Rui mused, her gaze fixed on the approaching silhouettes.
As the figures drew closer, their features became distinct - a man and a woman.
"Mast Clan people!" Dong Rui’s eyes flickered with recognition upon seeing the newcomers’ faces.
"Dong Clan’s little saintess," Lolas Mast exclaimed, his expression one of surprise, clearly not expecting to encounter a member of the Dong Clan so soon.
The previous round had been a considerable challenge for Lolas, and he had barely managed to overcome it, even though the experts chosen to represent the Alliance were not the Alliance’s top elite, they were still formidable opponents.
Just then, a resounding voice reverberated through everyone’s mind, "Congratulations on passing the first round!"
Hearing this, the participants all nodded in acknowledgement.
"The current round, however, will be quite different from the previous one. All of you who have made it this far have proven your exceptional skills in chess and strategic maneuvering."
"Each of you is now adorned in a unique costume, which reflects the first piece you acquired. These costumes hold no special powers, but the pieces you possess will be the key to your success. The objective of this round is to use any means at your disposal to eliminate your opponents’ monarchs within the time limit. You will have only ten minutes before the round begins."
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The four competitors exchanged brief, measured glances, the tension palpable in the air.
"It seems this round will be a true test of our wits," Lolas remarked, a hint of apprehension in his voice.
Seni’s eyes flickered with a quiet confidence, "You needn’t worry too much. I don’t believe the other parties pose a significant threat to us."
"Hmm, even so, I can’t help but feel a certain unease about them," Lolas replied, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Do you have any information about them?" Liang asked, his gaze shifting to Dong Rui.
Dong Rui nodded, "As a matter of fact, I do have some relevant information."
"The man is Lolas, the leading figure of the current Mast Clan generation. The woman beside him is his sister, Seni. Although she may appear weak, you should not underestimate her – her power is on par with that of an Enlightened."
Liang’s eyes widened with surprise, "You say her brother is the clan’s leader, so how is it that..."
"This girl has always preferred to remain in the shadows. Only a select few are aware of her true abilities. As for how I know this... Well, let’s just say it’s a closely guarded secret," Dong Rui replied, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Regardless, cultivation is sealed in this arena, so he holds no inherent advantage," Liang observed calmly.
"What do you think this round will entail?"
"A battle, no doubt," Liang answered, a hint of a smile on his face. "Look at their attire."
Dong Rui’s brow furrowed as she examined the others’ costumes. "From Lolas’ outfit, he appears to be a king, and Seni... Hmm, a pawn, perhaps?"
"Well, she certainly seems to have drawn the short straw," Liang commented dryly.
"Let’s focus on our own strategy first. In the previous round, we utilized the abilities of the bishop, the queen, and the knight. This time, we should limit ourselves to one ability each, so as not to exceed the threshold,"
Suddenly, a deep rumbling sound erupted from beneath their feet, causing the ground to tremble.
A massive fissure opened in the earth, its jagged edges quivering violently. From the depths, a colossal stage emerged, hovering just above the shattered terrain. The stage’s surface shimmered with an otherworldly glow, casting intricate shadows across the uneven ground.
Imposing pillars adorned the stage’s perimeter, each one etched with ancient runes that pulsed with a mysterious energy.
Dong Rui and Liang quickly ascended the stage, their eyes scanning the intricate details of the arena. Lolas and Seni followed suit, their expressions guarded yet determined.
Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed across the stage, and from the ground, countless stone chains erupted, quickly wrapping around Dong Rui and Lolas. The chains coiled tightly around their legs, effectively restraining their movement, but leaving their upper bodies free.
Dong Rui’s eyes widened in surprise, while Lolas let out a frustrated grunt. Seni and Liang remained cautious, their hands instinctively reaching for their concealed weapons as they observed the unfolding events.
The booming voice echoed once more, "The first round of the Monarch’s Gambit has begun! Use your wits and the pieces at your disposal to outmaneuver your opponents and eliminate their monarchs within the time limit. May the best strategists prevail!"
Dong Rui and Liang exchanged a quick, meaningful glance, their minds racing to formulate their next moves, fully aware that the true battle had only just begun.
Seni and Liang exchanged glances, it seems like the battle will be between both of them.
Seni waved her hand, instantly three white pawns appeared in the air.
"Merge!" Seni commanded, and the three merged into one piece, the piece turned into a white ray which then began to circulate, forming a white ring, which then flowed above her head.
Seni’s white pawns merged together, creating a more powerful piece that took the form of a glowing white ring hovering above her head. This display of her pawn’s unique ability to merge clearly demonstrated her strategic prowess.
Liang observed Seni’s move with an analytical gaze, his mind racing to devise a counterstrategy. Turning to Dong Rui, who was still restrained by the stone chains, he said, "It seems your information about Seni was accurate. She is not to be underestimated."
Dong Rui nodded, her expression pensive. "Indeed. We must be cautious in our approach. Her enhanced pawn piece could pose a significant threat."
"It’s my turn," Liang waved his hand, his two gray pawns instantly appeared, "merge."
Liang’s pawns swiftly merged, creating a smaller but equally captivating gray ring that hovered above him. The two glowing rings now danced around the stage, their luminescence casting an ethereal glow across the arena.
Seni’s eyes narrowed as she observed Liang’s maneuver. "So, you too can enhance your pawns. This should make for an interesting clash of strategies."
Raising her hand, Seni’s white ring pulsed with energy, its radiance intensifying. "Let’s see how your little ring fares against the power of my enhanced pawn."
With a flick of her wrist, the white ring shot forward, trailing a shimmering arc as it hurtled towards Liang’s gray ring. The two rings collided in a dazzling display of light, their energies clashing and pushing against each other.
Liang’s brow furrowed in concentration as he exerted his will, guiding his gray ring to match the sheer force of Seni’s attack.
Liang quickly turned his attention to the restrained Dong Rui. "Dong Rui, can you tell me more about the queen’s ability? I believe now would be the perfect time to put it to use."
Dong Rui’s eyes narrowed as she considered Liang’s request. "The queen’s ability allows me to cast a powerful spell that can affect multiple enemy pieces. However, I must be cautious not to exceed the threshold."
Liang nodded, his gaze shifting back to the ongoing clash between the two rings. "Then do it. Enhance my pawn’s attack, now."
Closing her eyes, Dong Rui concentrated, channeling her energy into the gray ring. A vibrant aura enveloped the ring, amplifying its power as it pushed back against Seni’s white ring.
The collision of the two enhanced rings sent shockwaves through the arena, the very ground trembling beneath their feet. Seni gritted her teeth, her expression one of determination as she poured more of her energy into her pawn’s attack.
Lolas, who had been observing the exchange silently, finally spoke up. "Seni, be careful. These two are proving to be more formidable than I had anticipated."
Seni’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Don’t worry, brother. I have a few tricks up my sleeve as well."
Raising her hand, Seni’s white ring suddenly split into three separate entities, each one darting towards Liang’s enhanced gray ring with incredible speed.
The trio of white rings swarmed around Liang’s enhanced gray ring, relentlessly bombarding it with a flurry of attacks. Liang gritted his teeth, his brow furrowed in concentration as he struggled to maintain the integrity of his piece.
Dong Rui, still restrained by the stone chains, watched the clash unfold with a mixture of concern and anticipation. "Liang, you must find a way to break through her assault. I can only sustain the queen’s enhancement for so long."
Liang nodded, his mind racing to formulate a counterplan. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Dong Rui, can you also enhance my knight’s ability?"