From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

"Platinum Cavalier, L-shape to F7."

The Knight leapt forward, its lance raised, energy radiating from its glowing form. Ty watched in tense silence as Aldric's piece advanced, positioning itself in a place that threatened both his Bishop and his Pawn. This wasn't just an offensive maneuver—Aldric was forcing Ty to choose. He could only save one of the threatened pieces, and Ty knew Aldric was counting on that hesitation.

Phillis spoke again, "You have 60 seconds to make your decision."

Ty clenched his fists, his knuckles white. His eyes scanned the board, weighing his options. He could see the trap—Aldric was forcing him to react, trying to make him predictable. But Ty couldn't afford to be predictable. He had to break the cycle, to throw Aldric off balance. He looked down at his Life Coins—each one was an opportunity, a weapon he could use to turn the tide.

Without hesitation, Ty reached for a Life Coin, placing it into the Pyromancer Warlord—the Bishop that Aldric's Knight now threatened.

The Pyromancer Warlord glowed with a fierce ember light, its twin maces igniting with searing flames. Ty's voice was calm, resolute. "Bishop, Molten Smite."

The ground beneath the Pyromancer Warlord cracked and glowed, a flaming shockwave erupting from its form. Flames shot outward in every direction, engulfing the surrounding area. Aldric's Platinum Cavalier reared back, the flames licking at its spectral form. The shockwave reached Aldric's piece, the force of the impact knocking it backward, the searing flames leaving scorch marks in its brilliant armor.

Aldric's expression faltered, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn't anticipated Ty would go on the offensive, not like this. The Platinum Cavalier staggered, the flames having dealt significant damage.

"You're not the only one who can play aggressively," Ty muttered, his eyes meeting Aldric's across the board. There was a defiance in his gaze—a refusal to back down, no matter the odds.
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Aldric gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching as he watched his Platinum Cavalier struggle to maintain its stance. He nodded slowly, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. "Very well then," he said, his voice steady despite the situation. "If that's how you want to play, I'll oblige."

He reached for another Life Coin, holding it aloft for a moment before placing it into the Sapphire Enchantress—the Queen. Her sapphire robes shimmered, her eyes glowing with a renewed intensity.

"Sapphire Enchantress, Sapphire Storm."

The air around the Sapphire Enchantress seemed to crystallize, the temperature dropping rapidly. Ty watched as the area around his Pyromancer Warlord began to freeze, sapphire crystals forming and immobilizing his piece. The flames around the Bishop flickered, struggling against the encroaching frost.

Ty's eyes widened as he saw his Bishop trapped, its fiery aura dimming under the weight of the ice. He could feel the pressure mounting, the intensity of the match growing with each move. Aldric was relentless, every step calculated to maintain control of the board. Ty needed a breakthrough—and he needed it fast.

Ty's gaze flickered to the Life Coins beside him. The choice was clear: he could either accept defeat in this moment or take a risk to push back. Phillis's indifferent voice echoed, "Forty seconds remaining."

Ty clenched his jaw, the tension in the air weighing down on him. "No more hesitation," he muttered, his hand reaching for a Life Coin. He placed it onto the Pyromancer Warlord—the Bishop at D3. Immediately, the Bishop's fiery aura reignited, brighter and hotter than before. The twin maces in its hands burst into ember-like flames, licking up the sides of the Pyromancer's armor.

With a low growl, the Pyromancer Warlord raised its maces high, then slammed them down with all its might, unleashing Molten Smite. The ground cracked beneath the impact, fiery shockwaves spreading outwards, engulfing the surrounding squares—C2, C4, E2, E4, and F7—in a blazing inferno.

Aldric's Platinum Cavalier, positioned at F7, reared back, caught directly in the shockwave. Ty could see the spectral steed struggling, its armor beginning to fracture, the intense heat warping its edges. Aldric's confident facade shifted—his lips parted in a sharp intake of breath, and his hand gripped the edge of the board.

This was more than just a piece being threatened; it was the initiation of a Soul Coin battle. Ty could feel it—a pull, like his consciousness was being sucked into the piece. The Pyromancer Warlord's eyes blazed with renewed intensity, and Ty closed his eyes, feeling the surge of power as his own spirit connected with the Bishop's.

For Aldric, this was not unfamiliar territory. He steadied his breathing, narrowing his eyes as he placed his own Life Coin onto the Platinum Cavalier. The spectral steed stopped buckling, its armor shimmering with a sudden protective glow—Aldric was activating Spectral Fortification.

The board around them blurred for a moment, and then Ty and Aldric found themselves in a different arena—an ethereal, fiery battlefield. The Pyromancer Warlord stood across from the Platinum Cavalier, both larger than life. Ty could feel his own heartbeat syncing with the Pyromancer's, the heat from the flames radiating across the battlefield. Aldric stood, poised and confident, his Platinum Cavalier gleaming with a radiant, spectral light.

"This is where we settle it," Ty whispered, gripping the connection tighter. He could feel the Pyromancer's thirst for destruction, the heat building in its maces. The Platinum Cavalier, with Aldric's connection, seemed equally ready, spectral energy coiling around its lance.

The Pyromancer Warlord struck first, swinging one of its flaming maces in a wide arc. The Cavalier responded, its spectral steed dodging to the side, the lance thrusting forward in a counterattack. Sparks flew as the weapons clashed, flames against spectral light. Ty gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy on overpowering Aldric's defenses.

Aldric's calm facade gave way to concentration, his brow furrowing as he pushed back with everything he had. The Platinum Cavalier's lance glowed brighter, spectral energy rippling along its length as it parried another blow from the Pyromancer. But Ty could feel it—the strength of his piece was overwhelming Aldric's. The heat intensified, the Pyromancer's flames growing hotter, brighter, until finally, with a roar, it brought both maces crashing down on the Cavalier.

The Platinum Cavalier shattered, spectral shards scattering across the ethereal battlefield before dissolving into nothingness. The connection snapped back, and Ty found himself once again standing before the chessboard, his heart pounding. Aldric staggered slightly, his face pale, a pained expression crossing his features as he clutched his chest. The loss of a Life Coin was not just a strategic setback—it carried real, physical pain.

Phillis's voice cut through the haze, cold and detached, "Aldric's Knight has been removed. Board status updated. Ty, ten Life Coins remaining. Aldric, nine Life Coins remaining."

Ty allowed himself a brief moment of triumph as he looked at the board. The Pyromancer Warlord still stood, flames crackling around it, and the terrain around it—C2, C4, E2, E4, and F7—was scorched, smoldering with residual heat. The Platinum Cavalier was gone, its absence a testament to Ty's victory. But the celebration was short-lived.

Aldric's eyes, though pained, were fierce. He straightened, his gaze locking onto Ty's side of the board. "Not bad," he said, his voice strained but steady. "But let's see how you handle this." He reached for another Life Coin, holding it aloft for a moment before placing it into the Sapphire Enchantress—the Queen. Her sapphire robes shimmered, her eyes glowing with a renewed intensity.

"Sapphire Enchantress, Sapphire Storm."

The air around the Sapphire Enchantress crystallized, the temperature plummeting rapidly. Frost spread across the board, racing towards Ty's Pyromancer Warlord. The flames around the Bishop flickered, struggling against the cold. The scorched squares—C2, C4, E2, E4—met the encroaching frost, and for a moment, the two elements clashed, steam hissing and obscuring parts of the board.

The frost proved too much. It enveloped the Pyromancer Warlord, the flames sputtering out as ice encased its body. Ty could feel the resistance, the struggle of his piece as it tried to fight back, but the frost was relentless. The Pyromancer Warlord froze, its fiery maces lowered, its power sealed by the Sapphire Storm.

Phillis's voice echoed, "Ty's Bishop immobilized. Board status updated. Sixty-five seconds remaining."

Ty's heart sank slightly. He had gained a victory, but Aldric's counter had been swift and decisive. The terrain had changed once more—squares that had been scorched were now a mix of ice and steam, making them hazardous for movement. The steam created an obscured area, limiting visibility and making it difficult for either player to accurately assess the pieces within that zone.

Ty needed to think quickly. He couldn't let Aldric maintain control. His eyes scanned the board, settling on his Obsidian Sentinel—the Rook positioned on H1. It was time to bring another heavy piece into play, to change the momentum once again.