In Arknights, I Turned into Griseo at the Start

I'd try to write the remaining chapter a little faster and see if I could finish the battle by midnight. Hurry me along.

Expanded Abilities and W's Return

"Success."

As Griseo's words fell, the brown shimmer flowing over her body quickly receded into her and vanished.

Bang—

The rock floating in midair swiftly dropped onto the snow, landing with a dull thud.

This was the experiment Griseo had wanted to conduct this time.

She had been wondering whether she could expand her abilities—whether, by taking on someone else's color, she could directly use their power instead of expressing it through paintings...

Clearly, Griseo's long-held hypothesis had just been proven. She really could imitate and use someone else's abilities by taking on their color.

However, that experiment had only been the initial stage.

The little girl also wanted to know whether the degree to which she took on a color would affect how well she could use the corresponding ability.

With an idea in mind, Griseo immediately put it into practice. She spent some time shedding Mudrock's color from herself, then reapplied it based on her memories.

Then she continued using Mudrock's ability to manipulate rocks...

In the end, Griseo came to a conclusion: the deeper the color she took on, the deeper her understanding of its owner's abilities, and the more smoothly she could use them.

Still, for the little girl, the strength of colors recreated from memory was already enough. After all, she rarely had to fight in the first place, and she had no intention of casually using other people's abilities.

Besides, Griseo was still a painter at heart. What kind of painter went around fighting and killing...?

So, she only intended to keep this newly expanded ability in reserve.

Even if it truly came down to Griseo herself having to fight, she probably would not use the colors of people from Terra, but the colors of the other Flame-Chasers from "Griseo's" memories.

Unlike the people of Terra who still existed here, who might resent Griseo using their abilities, the Flame-Chasers absolutely would not.

Although colors taken on through memories would not be especially deep, they were more than sufficient for practical use.

"Are you done with your experiment? That ability of yours..."

After seeing Griseo completely stop moving, Alyona slowly walked over to her side and asked in confusion.

"Mm, I'm done. This ability isn't mine... I borrowed it from Sister Mudrock."

Griseo lightly nodded her little head and quietly explained it to her companion.

"...I see."

After hearing Griseo's explanation, Alyona thought for a moment and understood what she meant.

Honestly, Alyona had never expected Griseo to be able to use other people's power by taking on their colors.

?

Still, Little White Bear felt it was necessary to remind Griseo of something, so she spoke again with a serious expression.

"Unless it's a critical moment, you shouldn't tell anyone about this ability. Not everyone is kind. Someone might see you as a thief..."

Alyona had struggled to survive on this frozen tundra before, suffering through all sorts of hardships. Naturally, she understood the darkness in people's hearts.

If she had not guarded against others, if she had not assumed the worst of them, she might have died long ago...

So Alyona understood how much wariness and hostility Griseo would face if this ability to imitate and use other people's powers became known.

"Mm... Don't worry. Other than painting, I almost never use other people's colors. And even if I do, Sister Sakura's colors are much stronger than anyone else's."

Hearing Alyona's words, Griseo felt warmth rise in her heart. A trace of happiness flashed through her violet eyes before she gently nodded and agreed.

Although the little girl had never planned to use other people's abilities anyway, being warned by her companion still made her feel very happy. The colors around her seemed warm as well.

"All right, let's hurry back. Luckily, there isn't anyone around here. Honestly, if you want to conduct an experiment next time, tell me first."

As she spoke, Alyona stepped forward and gently rubbed Griseo's fluffy little head.

"Mm... I'll tell you first next time, Alyona."

Hearing that, Griseo obediently nodded and agreed.

Afterward, the two of them did not linger any longer. Holding hands, they quickly left the area.

After all that fuss, it was already getting late.

It was nearly lunchtime, and Alina would usually be finished teaching the children and heading back around then.

If they did not hurry back, they really would get caught.

At noon, by the campfire near the tent—

"Ahm..."

Griseo opened her little mouth and gently took a bite of the soft, boiled potato, feeling quite pleased.

After all, W was not in camp at noon today, so she could finally enjoy a quiet lunch.

And the two goals she had set that morning had not only been nearly completed, but she had also expanded two little aspects of her abilities.

However, that was not what made Griseo happiest.

What made her happiest was that once W returned, she would see the painting Griseo had specially drawn for her...

There was no way she was going soft.

Ever since someone had stuffed a bomb into a potato, the little girl's heart had completely hardened.

By now, night was approaching. Light snow drifted down from the sky, and the heavens had turned completely gloomy.

"W is back, but she hasn't come over here yet. Hedley, go tell her about the situation."

Sitting beside the campfire, Ines glanced at the Azure Knight still standing motionlessly in the distance before quietly speaking to her comrade.

The reason Ines did not go find W herself was simple.

Besides being comrades who had faced life and death together, the two were also bitter rivals.

If she went, W would most likely mock and ridicule her.

"Fine."

Hedley, sitting beside her, did not refuse. He gave a light nod, rose to his feet, and headed outside.

"Honestly..."

After Hedley left, Ines could not help narrowing her golden eyes slightly. She silently watched Mister Knight's shadow swaying in the firelight and murmured to herself.

P.S.: I did finish writing before midnight, but I didn't finish proofreading. Proofreading really takes too much time. I'm done for.

Also, I originally thought I could finish this arc soon.

But looking at it now, there's still relationship development to write, so it'll probably take a while longer.

So don't rush.

Hurry me along.

Taunts and Stunned Silence

"Huh? That little one actually did something like that? She made that knight wait there for me all this time? Heh~"

As W walked back toward the tent, listening to Hedley, a trace of excitement surfaced in her golden eyes.

"Looks like what happened last night really made her angry."

"What did you do this time... Forget it. What are you going to do?"

Seeing W like this, Hedley covered his face and asked with a headache.

"What else? Obviously, I'm going to take a look at what that little one is up to. Don't tell me you're scared, Hedley?"

Seeing Hedley covering his face, W wore an infuriating expression as she spoke.

"That's not it. He isn't here for me."

"But are you really planning to accept that painting directly? Ines and I both think it won't be fatal, but there's definitely something strange about it."

Hedley ignored W's punchable expression as if he were used to it, then reminded her once again.

"What else am I supposed to do? Or would you prefer that I blow up that blue knight? Hahaha, that sounds like fun."

W had listened to Hedley's words, but whether she cared was another matter entirely.

The reason W could be so carefree and unconcerned was naturally because, after spending time with her, she was now certain that a certain little girl would not do anything reckless.

Let alone anything that would threaten her life, the chances of Griseo even severing one of her hands or feet were practically nonexistent.

As for why she was so certain, the reason was simple: W had noticed that Griseo seemed to care deeply about Talulah and the others and did not want to cause them trouble.

Given the current situation, the Reunion Movement could neither afford nor had the means to fall out with the Sarkaz mercenary group.

So W knew very clearly that as long as she did not go too far, Griseo would not turn against her.

It was precisely because she had noticed this long ago that W had kept tugging at Griseo's tiger whiskers over the past few days...

"All right. Just be careful."

Hearing W's words, Hedley helplessly shook his head and gave up on continuing to warn her.

He knew W had taken his warning to heart, and his comrade was only crazy, not stupid.

Besides, he understood the Reunion Movement's current situation, so he was not overly worried.

In response, W merely smiled and casually said, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Am I really that unreliable?"

"Let's get back already. I've been running around outside for so long that I'm starving. Who's cooking tonight?"

"Ines."

"Tch, it's her..."

Soon, W and Hedley returned to the area near the tents. Although things had become much livelier now that W's squad members had returned—

W noticed the tall Azure Knight floating not far from Ines almost at first glance.

And when W saw the Azure Knight, Mister Knight saw her as well.

At that moment, the Azure Knight, who had barely moved all day, suddenly began moving toward W.

His abrupt action startled quite a few people who had been secretly watching him.

That included Ines, who had seemed calm and indifferent as she silently warmed herself by the fire nearby.

After all, she had been secretly observing him too.

Watching the Azure Knight approach with the painting in his hands, W curled her lips into a malicious smile and said,

"Yo, I heard you've been waiting here for me for a long time. So I've been wondering—do you have thoughts of your own? Can you talk? Or are you just a simple puppet?"

"..."

Naturally, the Azure Knight gave no response to W's questions. For him, carrying out his little princess's command was the only thing that mattered at this moment.

Besides, Mister Knight had never had the slightest favorable impression of the woman before him, who looked like an American cockroach...

If Griseo had not stopped him before, he might have already stepped out to teach her a lesson.

And Mister Knight was not the only one. The other guardians of the princesses did not think much of W either...

Even the hot-tempered Tyrant was nearly unable to hold back.

"Tch, so you can't talk? How boring. Tell me, if I took you apart, would that little one be sad?"

W was not surprised that the knight did not answer. Her malicious amusement did not lessen in the slightest; instead, she rubbed her chin and seemed to seriously consider it.

"?"

Even someone as gentle as Mister Knight was beginning to lose patience.

The next instant, the Azure Knight suddenly exerted force. His speed sharply increased, and he shot toward W as a pale blue blur.

Then, before anyone—including W—could react, he slapped the painting in his hand onto her face.

Honestly, if Mister Knight had not been unwilling to damage his little princess's painting, he would not have merely pressed it to her face.

At the very least, he would have smeared it across her face instead...

"!"

Seeing the painting suddenly slapped onto her face, W's pupils constricted. She instinctively drew her knife and struck back.

Although she realized afterward that the knight had no malicious intent, she still did not stop her attack.

Her strike merely scraped Mister Knight's arm, throwing off a string of sparks and barely leaving any mark.

After W calmed down slightly, she grabbed the painting before her and took it into her hand.

However, she did not hurry to examine it. Instead, she stared at the Azure Knight before her and continued taunting him.

"So you're not just a puppet after all... Can you talk, then? Or is someone controlling you from behind the scenes?"

"..."

Yet in the face of W's renewed taunting and probing, the Azure Knight did not even spare her another glance before vanishing in front of everyone.

After all, the task his princess had assigned him was complete. He could return and report back.

Who would want to stay here and face that infuriating American cockroach... W?

"Sarkaz profanity! How boring..."

After seeing the knight vanish, W finally could not hold back her curse. Still, her expression was much better than it had been yesterday.

"..."

After taking a moment to completely calm herself, W lowered her head and looked at the painting in her hands.