From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

The skeletal Knight galloped forward, flames trailing behind. It clashed with the Sapphire Cavalier, its blazing lance meeting the Cavalier's frosted weapon in a burst of sparks and steam. The board seemed to tremble with their impact. For a moment, Ty thought he'd finally gain an edge.

But Aldric was already prepared. He placed a Life Coin onto the Sapphire Cavalier, its icy aura intensifying. "Frostbreak Retaliation," he commanded calmly.

The Cavalier twisted with calculated precision, its lance arcing in a counterstrike that bypassed the Marauder's defenses. The Hellfire Marauder faltered, its flames sputtering before being extinguished entirely. Phillis's voice cut through the haze: "Ty's Hellfire Marauder defeated. Ty, two Life Coins remaining. Board status updated."

Ty staggered, his chest tightening as though the loss had physically struck him. Sweat dripped from his brow, his hands gripping the edge of the board for support. His vision blurred momentarily, but he forced himself to stay upright. Two coins left… I can't lose here. Not yet.

Aldric's voice was steady, with a hint of amusement. "Desperation breeds recklessness, Ty. Every piece you lose tightens the noose." He placed another Life Coin onto the Sapphire Enchantress. "Frost Dominion—expand Frost terrain to B5, C5, and E5."

The Queen's staff glowed with icy light as frost surged outward. The cold gripped Ty's remaining forces, sapping their strength. The Frost terrain now surrounded his King, isolating it further and leaving little room for maneuver.

Ty clenched his teeth, his jaw aching as he forced himself to think. His Pyromancer Warlord remained at C4, its fiery aura dimming under the frost's influence. I have to use what I've got left. I can't let him box me in.

He placed a Life Coin onto the Pyromancer Warlord. The Bishop's twin maces blazed with fire as it stepped forward. "Pyromancer Warlord, attack Gilded Sentinel at E5!" Ty commanded.

The Pyromancer charged, flames erupting from its maces as it slammed into the Sentinel's golden barrier. The shockwave rattled the board, cracks forming in the Frost terrain. The Sentinel wavered, its golden aura flickering under the onslaught.

Aldric's expression didn't change. He calmly placed a Life Coin onto the Gilded Sentinel, reinforcing its defenses. "Imperial Fortification," he declared.

The Sentinel stood firm, its barrier regenerating as the frost closed in around the Pyromancer. The Warlord's flames were smothered, its attack rendered futile. Phillis's voice rang out: "Ty's Pyromancer Warlord defeated. Ty, one Life Coin remaining. Board status updated."

Ty gasped, his knees nearly buckling. The loss of another piece hit him like a sledgehammer, the pain rippling through his chest. His vision swam, his sweat-soaked shirt clinging to his skin. One coin left. How did it come to this?

Across the board, Aldric's pieces advanced with surgical precision. The Sapphire Cavalier repositioned to C5, the Sapphire Enchantress moved to F6, and the Gilded Sentinel held its ground at E5. The Frost terrain surrounded Ty's King, suffocating any chance of escape.

"You've fought valiantly," Aldric said, his tone almost pitying. "But this game was over the moment it began. Checkmate is inevitable."

Ty's King stood alone, surrounded by Frost terrain and Aldric's pieces. The Gilded Sentinel loomed to its right, the Sapphire Cavalier threatened from the left, and the Enchantress stood poised for the final blow. Phillis's voice echoed: "King in check. One turn remaining."

Ty fell to one knee, his breath ragged. His hand trembled as he reached for his final Life Coin, the weight of the battle crushing him. His mind raced, searching for anything—any move that could turn the tide. Then, his eyes fell on the King.

The King's revival ability… but the cost… Ty clenched his fist, the coin biting into his palm. He forced himself to stand, his voice trembling but resolute. "A King's greatest power is bringing up those around him."

He slammed the coin onto the King. The board exploded with energy, the King's form glowing with fiery light. The Frost terrain melted instantly, steam surging upward in a blinding cloud. Ty cried out as pain wracked his body, his legs nearly giving out. The cost of the ability was excruciating, every nerve in his body screaming in protest.

The King raised its scepter, the fiery light spreading to Ty's remaining Pawns. Their forms ignited with renewed strength, their daggers glowing with molten energy. The Frost terrain was driven back, and the board shifted once more. Phillis's voice rang out, her tone uncharacteristically sharp: "King's revival ability activated. Pawns empowered. Frost terrain neutralized. Ty, zero Life Coins remaining. Aldric, three Life Coins remaining. Board status updated."

Ty stood, his body trembling but his eyes burning with defiance. "It's not over," he growled, his voice hoarse but unwavering. "I'm not done yet."

Aldric's calm demeanor faltered for the first time, his eyes narrowing as he reassessed the board. The game had changed—Ty was cornered, but he wasn't defeated. The tension in the air was palpable, each move more critical than the last. Steam continued to shroud parts of the board, Frost terrain radiated an icy glow, and scorched patches burned faintly.

Ty's chest rose and fell heavily. His sweat-soaked shirt clung to his back, and his hands trembled as he reached toward the board. His Queen, stripped of a Life Coin, stood beside his King. Without her abilities, she was vulnerable—but also unpredictable.

"I've got nothing left to lose," Ty muttered, his voice low but firm. His eyes flicked to Aldric's Sapphire Cavalier, an icy menace perfectly positioned to block Ty's remaining options. Ty's Queen could move freely, but a single misstep would cost him the game.

"Queen to E6," Ty commanded.

The Flamecaller Sovereign glided across the board, her once-blazing form now dim but resolute. The Queen moved diagonally, placing herself directly in the path of Aldric's Sapphire Cavalier. Ty's intention was clear—to eliminate the Cavalier, regardless of the cost.

Aldric's eyes narrowed. He tapped his chin thoughtfully, his remaining Life Coin glinting in the dim light. "You're a gambler, Ty," he said, his tone unreadable. "But do you understand the stakes of this bet?"@@novelbin@@

Without hesitation, Aldric placed his final Life Coin on the Sapphire Cavalier. The Knight's icy aura surged, Frost spreading from its position and locking the surrounding terrain in a crystalline sheen. "Sapphire Cavalier, engage the Queen," Aldric declared.

The Soul Coin battle began.

Soul Coin Battle: Ty's Queen vs. Aldric's Sapphire Cavalier

The chessboard dissolved into an ethereal arena, a swirling clash of fire and frost. Ty stood behind the Flamecaller Sovereign, her molten staff glowing faintly against the encroaching cold. Across from them, Aldric's Sapphire Cavalier sat astride its spectral steed, its frosted lance gleaming with deadly intent.

The Sovereign struck first, her staff igniting as she swung it in a wide arc. Flames erupted, consuming the frozen terrain beneath the Cavalier. Ty felt a surge of hope—perhaps her raw strength could overcome the frost-bound Knight.

But Aldric's voice rang out, calm and commanding. "Frost Spiral."

The Cavalier's lance spun, unleashing a vortex of ice that tore through the flames. Ty's Queen staggered, her molten aura flickering. The Frost terrain beneath her feet sapped her strength, dulling her fiery resolve.

"Keep fighting!" Ty shouted, gripping the connection to the Flamecaller Sovereign. She lunged forward, her staff descending in a fiery strike aimed directly at the Cavalier's core. The blow connected, sending shards of ice scattering, and Ty felt a surge of triumph.

Aldric, however, remained composed. "Frozen Counter."

The Cavalier retaliated in an instant, its frosted lance striking upward. Ice formed along the Sovereign's molten staff, spreading like a creeping virus. The Queen faltered, her movements slowing as the Frost consumed her.

Ty gritted his teeth, pouring his will into the Sovereign. She roared, flames bursting from her form as she broke free of the ice. Her staff glowed with renewed intensity as she unleashed a molten shockwave, engulfing the Cavalier in a searing inferno.

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The Frost terrain cracked and splintered, the heat overwhelming its stability. For a moment, it seemed as though Ty might gain the upper hand.

But Aldric was prepared. "Spectral Shift."

The Sapphire Cavalier's steed reared back, leaping gracefully out of the inferno. The icy aura surrounding the Knight expanded, snuffing out the remaining flames. The Cavalier charged, its lance piercing through the Sovereign's molten shield.

"No!" Ty shouted as the Sovereign staggered. He could feel the connection slipping, the strain of the battle pushing him to his limits. The Cavalier's final strike was swift and merciless, its frosted lance shattering the Sovereign into a thousand ember-like fragments.