Chapter 305: Fierce Match (2)

The five of them were all stunned to see these two Chess Pieces appear.

“This game is almost over!”

These two Chess Pieces were the ultimate forces of their respective factions, each capable of turning the tide of battle. By putting them into play now, the two Giants were undoubtedly accelerating the game’s pace.

Now, the five-person squad had two choices: either lead their Chess Pieces to capture the enemy’s base before the victor of the duel above was decided, or influence the outcome of the fight between these two new pieces.

And the five-person squad chose to do both!

“Shore, go help the Kingdom Hero fight the opposing Sin-eating Demon.”

“Wa Zai, I’m leaving the front line to you. Tie up the other Chess Pieces.”

“Guagua and Brother Niu, you’re with me! Protect the Giant Beast and charge the flesh wall!”

After a swift discussion, Skyrim made the final decision.

The group sprang into action.

Shore popped a Recovery Wax Block. After recovering a bit of his Spiritual Power, he once again fired his Magic Cannon. This time, his target was the Sin-eating Demon in the sky.

Shot after shot from the Magic Cannon streaked through the air. The Sin-eating Demon dodged nimbly, but Shore’s harassment created an opening for the Kingdom Hero, who seized the chance to press his attack from atop his Flying Dragon.

Wa Zai, in his Deep Sea Worm form, repeatedly dove to attack, swallowing one Demon Faction ship after another. He devoured the Water Demons in a single bite. Whenever he was injured, he’d find a ship to hide out on and eat a Recovery Wax Block before resuming his assault.

But the assault team, consisting of Niuniu and the others, ran into some unexpected trouble…

CLANG—

A crisp CLANG rang out. As Skyrim lowered his Small Shield, he thrust his sword at the ambushing Demon.

Black energy dispersed as the creature dodged the dangerous strike. It materialized on a Demon Bone Ship, looked at Skyrim’s group, and let out a hoarse whisper.

“This terrifying chessboard…”

“I must… get out of here alive…”

His whispers caught Skyrim off guard for a moment. But soon, the creature’s Prayer, carrying with it the spirits of the damned, came rushing at him, leaving Skyrim no time for further thought.

BOOM—

Thunder roared, waves crashed against the hull, and the battle grew more intense.

“Can you handle it over there?” Niuniu’s shout came from the distance.

“Don’t worry about me,” Skyrim replied, while checking the opponent’s information.

[Trapped Explorer]

[Tier: Molten Slag]

[Level: 30]

[Explanation: An Explorer trapped within the House of Giants. They are used as Chess Pieces, forced to endure one terrible battle after another for the Giants’ amusement. They will likely never escape…]

‘The Talent and Skill sections were both unknown, but I don’t care about that.’

‘According to the information from the Spirit Candle, it seems that besides the mindless Chess Pieces, there are also “special Chess Pieces” like this one, similar to NPCs.’

‘Explorers… So they were captured by the two Giants and forced to become Chess Pieces for this game…’

A flicker of pity crossed Skyrim’s mind.

But he didn’t slow down.

As their sailboat and the Demon Bone Ship crossed paths, he swiftly seized an opening. An arrow, burning with Warfire, pierced straight through his opponent’s neck.

With a final, hoarse gurgle, the Explorer clutched their neck and collapsed, their expression filled with resentment.

[You have killed the Trapped Explorer]

[Obtained: Wax Oil x49]

[Obtained: First Mate’s Old Cloak (Ordinary)]

[Obtained: Legend – House of Giants]

[Legend – House of Giants]

[Type: Letter]

[Content: “…Pass through Black Mist Canyon and behold the great pit, stripped of land and life, and there you will find traces of the legendary House of Giants… Endless treasures and opportunities lie buried within…”]

[Explanation: The legend of the House of Giants has attracted wave after wave of adventurers.]

‘So that’s how it is…’

Putting the items away, Skyrim was lost in thought.

‘Killing normal Chess Pieces doesn’t yield any loot, but killing this Trapped Explorer gave a normal drop.’

‘So I can be sure that this special Chess Piece wasn’t originally part of the game board…’

After killing two more Demon Chess Pieces, Skyrim took the helm, struggling to find his bearings amidst the storm and waves, and steered towards Niuniu.

…

The chaos from the death of the Demon King Chess Piece still lingered, weakening the Demon Faction’s forces. Even the Sin-eating Demon in the sky was affected.

Under these conditions, the five of them worked in concert with the Giant Beast Montario in a coordinated assault, advancing on the wall like a hot knife through butter.

Meanwhile, Guagua and Niuniu were at the vanguard, piloting a ship laden with Foul-smelling Feces Qi toward the Demon Faction’s flesh wall.

But the Demons obviously weren’t going to let them approach so easily; Demon Bone Ships were swarming to surround them.

“There’s a guy on the flesh wall aiming at our ship!”

Spotting the Giant Crossbow on the flesh wall, Guagua’s heart tightened. He shouted anxiously, no longer bothering to pinch his nose against the surrounding Foul-smelling Feces Qi.

If their ship was destroyed, they would have to wait for the next opportunity.

“I’ll block it! Niuniu, you keep charging!”

Guagua steeled himself, deciding to risk blocking the attack.

“Got it,” Niuniu replied bluntly, even adding a hurried, “Do it now!”

However, just as Guagua moved to block one attack, another Giant Crossbow took aim at their ship and fired.

Niuniu’s pupils contracted.

His mind raced, calculating the optimal solution in a split second.

With a roar, he snatched a nearby Soldier Chess Piece and hurled it with all his might.

BAM!

The Bone Arrow impaled the Soldier and exploded violently in a cloud of black energy. The poor Soldier Chess Piece was utterly obliterated.

Niuniu breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Good, that blocked it.’

He then turned his gaze to the other Soldier Chess Pieces on the ship.

SPLASH!

But just then, the Kingdom’s Giant Beast Montario, with cover and support from Wa Zai, broke through the Demon’s defensive line. Its massive body now led the charge.

“ROAR!”

With a furious roar, Montario swung its incredibly heavy fists, bringing them crashing down upon the Demon Faction’s flesh wall.

The entire flesh wall shook violently at this moment.

“ROAR!” “HISS!”

This move was like kicking a hornet’s nest. Countless Demon Chess Pieces turned their ships toward Montario at the wall, the City-Destroying Giant Bone included.

Even if it meant being swallowed by the storm and taking damage, they were determined to kill the Giant Beast at the flesh wall.

But there was no way Niuniu would let these Demons kill their siege beast.

‘Once the flesh wall is breached, our Chess Pieces can pour in. Victory is at hand!’

And what he had to do now was buy time!

“Again!” Niuniu roared loudly. “Get the ship over there! Blow them all to hell!”

“CHAAAARGE—”

The sailboat, reeking of Foul-smelling Feces Qi, charged headlong into the densest cluster of Demon Chess Pieces and exploded with a tremendous BOOM, sending shockwaves across the water.

The advance of many Demon Chess Pieces was checked.

A second, and then a third Giant Beast Montario quickly joined the battle, roaring as they assaulted the flesh wall.

“Wither…”

On the flesh wall, a figure who was clearly not a Demon stood nearby, chanting a Prayer in an attempt to stop the Giant Beasts’ assault.

However, an agile figure leaped down from one of the Giant Beast’s elbows. An Energy Ball and a blade descended simultaneously, finishing the chanter off in a clean strike.

[You have killed the Trapped Explorer]

‘I figured there had to be more than one special Chess Piece on the flesh wall.’

‘That Charged Attack that heavily damaged the Giant Beast earlier must have come from them. They’re a much bigger threat than the regular Chess Pieces.’

[Obtained…]

With no time to check his loot, Skyrim rapidly shifted the form of his Applicable Curse Formula, alternating between Magic and Combat Skills to mow down the Demons swarming onto the flesh wall.

“Go, Skyrim! It’s all up to you guys now!”

Guagua, who had been instantly killed by the Bone Arrow, didn’t immediately go back for Resurrection. Instead, his attention was glued to the flesh wall.

It was the same for Niuniu at his side.

BOOM!

With another tremor, the flesh wall seemed to reach its breaking point. Chunks of flesh and gore crumbled from the breaches on top.

“ROAR!”

The Giant Beast Montario let out a Battle Cry amidst the storm. Its arms glowed with light before crashing down with immense force.

BANG—

The flesh wall shattered and collapsed. Seawater surged wildly through the breach.