Someone in Arknights, Starts as Griseo

I'll try to write the next chapter a bit faster. Let's see if I can finish this battle by midnight. Keep the pressure on.

Chapter 86: Expanded Abilities and w's Return

"Success."

As Griseo spoke, the brown light flowing from her body quickly receded, disappearing into her form.

"Bang—"

The rock floating in mid-air rapidly fell to the snow, landing with a dull thud.

This was the experiment Griseo had wanted to conduct.

She had been pondering whether she could extend her abilities, by "staining" herself with others' colors and directly using their power, rather than expressing it through her paintings.

Clearly, Griseo's long-held hypothesis had just been directly confirmed. She could indeed imitate and use others' abilities by "staining" herself with their colors.

However, the experiment just conducted was only in its initial phase.

The little loli wanted to know if the degree to which she stained herself with colors would affect her ability to use them.

With an idea in mind, Griseo immediately put it into action. She spent some time removing Mudrock's color from herself, then, relying on her memory, stained herself with it again.

Then, she continued to use Mudrock's ability to manipulate rocks.

Ultimately, Griseo concluded that the deeper the color stain, the more profound her understanding of the color owner's ability, and the smoother her use of it.

However, for the little loli, the strength of the color stained from memory was sufficient. After all, she rarely had the chance to act, nor did she intend to casually use others' abilities.

Besides, Griseo's main occupation was still being a painter. What painter fights and kills? Therefore, this newly expanded ability was merely a trump card kept in reserve.

Furthermore, if the little loli herself were to act, she might not use the colors of Terra's inhabitants, but rather the colors of other Elysian beings from "Griseo's" memory.

This was because, unlike the people of Terra who still existed, they might resist Griseo using their abilities, but the Elysian beings would not.

Although the colors stained from memory wouldn't be very deep, they were more than enough to use.

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

Seeing that Griseo had completely stopped her actions, Alyona slowly walked up to her and asked with a hint of confusion.

"Mhm, the experiment is finished. This ability isn't mine... I borrowed it from Sister Mudrock." Hearing this, Griseo lightly nodded her little head and whispered an explanation to her companion.

"...So that's how it is."

After hearing Griseo's explanation, Alyona pondered for a moment and then understood her meaning.

To be honest, Alyona had never expected that Griseo could use others' powers by staining herself with their colors.

?;'

However, the little white bear still felt it necessary to remind Griseo, so she spoke again, her expression becoming serious.

"Don't tell anyone about this ability of yours unless it's absolutely critical. Not everyone is kind, and you might be mistaken for a thief..."

Having lived a difficult life in the frozen land, Alyona had suffered greatly and naturally understood the darkness in people's hearts. If she hadn't been wary of others, if she hadn't assumed the worst of people, she might have died long ago...

Therefore, Alyona understood how much apprehension and targeting Griseo's ability to imitate and use others' powers would attract if it were exposed.

"Mhm... Don't worry, besides painting, I hardly ever use anyone else's colors. And even if I did, Sister Sakura's colors are much stronger than others'."

Hearing Alyona's words, Griseo felt a warmth in her heart. A flicker of happiness flashed in her violet eyes before she lightly nodded her little head in agreement.

Although the little loli hadn't intended to use others' abilities in the first place, being suddenly cautioned by her companion made her feel very good. The colors around her felt warm.

"Alright, let's hurry back. Fortunately, there's no one around here. Honestly, next time you have an experiment, tell me first."

Saying this, Alyona took two steps forward and gently ruffled Griseo's fluffy little head.

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

Hearing this, Griseo obediently nodded and agreed.

Afterward, the two didn't linger any longer and quickly left hand in hand.

After all, with all the commotion, it was getting late. It was almost lunchtime, and around this time, Alina usually finished teaching the children and returned.

If they didn't hurry back, they would truly be caught.

At noon, by the campfire near the tents—

"Ah woo..."

Griseo took a bite of the soft, stewed potato, feeling quite content.

After all, w wasn't at the camp for lunch today, giving her a rare chance to eat in peace. Moreover, both of her goals for the morning had been almost completed, and she had even expanded on two small matters.

However, these weren't the reasons Griseo was happiest about. What made her happiest was... that as soon as w returned, she could see the painting made especially for her.

Softening her heart was impossible. Ever since someone had planted a bomb in her potatoes, the little loli's heart had completely hardened.

Now, it was nearing night. A light snow began to fall from the sky, and the heavens had turned completely gloomy.

"W is back, just not over here yet. Hedley, go tell her about the current situation."

Ines, sitting by the campfire, glanced at the Azure Knight standing motionless not far away before quietly speaking to her comrade.

The reason Ines didn't go to find W herself was simple: besides being comrades who had faced life and death together, they were also rivals.

If she were to go, W would undoubtedly mock and laugh at her.

"Alright."

Hedley, sitting nearby, nodded slightly without refusal and stood up to head outside.

"Honestly..."

After Hedley left, Ines couldn't help but narrow her golden eyes, silently watching Mister Knight's shadow sway in the firelight, and murmured.

ps: I can only say I finished before midnight, but I didn't finish checking. Checking really wastes time, I'm screwed.

Also, I originally thought I could finish this volume quickly. Looking at the current progress and emotional development, it seems like it will take a while longer. So, don't rush.

Hurry it up.

Chapter 87: Mockery and Stunned Silence

"Huh? That little kid did something like that? She actually made that Knight wait for me there. Heh~"

As W walked back to the tent, she listened to Hedley's words, a hint of excitement appearing in her golden eyes.

"It looks like last night's events really angered her."

"You did it again... Never mind, what are you going to do?" Hedley asked, covering his face with a headache as he saw W's reaction.

"What's there to do? Of course, I'll go see what that little kid is up to. Hedley, are you scared?" Seeing Hedley cover his face, W put on a punchable expression and said.

"That's not it. It's not like she's looking for me. But are you really planning to just accept that painting? Although Ines and I don't think it's fatal, there's definitely something strange about it."

Hedley habitually ignored W's annoying expression and reminded her again.

"What else? Or would you rather I blow up that blue Knight? Hahaha, that would be hilarious."

W heard Hedley's words, but whether she cared was another matter.

The reason W was so "careless and unconcerned" was naturally because, after this period of contact, she was very sure that a certain little loli wouldn't act recklessly.

Let alone endangering her life, the possibility of her losing a limb was extremely slim.

The reason for this certainty was simple: W had discovered that Griseo seemed to care a lot about Talulah and the others and didn't want to cause them trouble.

Under the current circumstances, Reunion couldn't afford to fall out with the Sarkaz mercenary group.

Therefore, in this situation, W knew very well that as long as she didn't go too far, Griseo wouldn't turn against her.

It was precisely because she had realized this early on that W had been constantly provoking Griseo during this time...

"Fine, you be careful."

After hearing W's words, Hedley shook his head helplessly, giving up on further admonishment.

Because Hedley knew that W had heard him, and his comrade wasn't stupidly crazy. Moreover, he understood the current situation of Reunion, so he wasn't overly worried.

Hearing this, W just smiled and responded nonchalantly, "Yes, yes, yes, I know. Am I that unreliable?"

"Let's go back quickly. I've been running around outside for so long, I'm hungry. Who's cooking tonight?"

"Ines."

"Tsk, it's her..."

Afterward, W and Hedley quickly returned to the vicinity of the tent. Although the area had become livelier with the return of W's squad members.

W, however, noticed the tall, azure Knight floating not far from Ines almost at a glance.

And when W saw the Azure Knight, the Knight also saw her.

At this moment, the Azure Knight, who had been largely motionless all day, suddenly moved and headed towards W.

His sudden action startled many who were secretly watching him.

This included Ines, who had appeared calm and indifferent, quietly tending the fire nearby. After all, she was one of those secretly observing.

Seeing the Azure Knight approaching her with a painting in his hands, W curled her lips into a wicked smile and said:

"Yo, I heard they said you've been waiting for me here for a long time. So, I've always been curious, do you have thoughts? Can you speak? Or are you just a pure doll?"

"..."

The Azure Knight naturally wouldn't respond to W's questions. After all, for him, his little princess's orders were the most important thing at this moment.

Moreover, Mister Knight had never had a good impression of this woman who looked like a cockroach... In fact, if his little princess hadn't stopped him before, he might have already jumped out to teach her a lesson.

And it wasn't just Mister Knight; the other princesses' guardians also had a poor impression of W... even the hot-tempered Tyrant was barely holding back.

"Tsk, looks like you can't speak? How boring. Tell me, if I were to take you apart, would that little kid be sad?"

w wasn't surprised that the Knight hadn't responded to her; if anything, her mischievous streak only intensified as she stroked her chin and began to ponder seriously.

"?"

Even the gentle Mister Knight was starting to lose his patience.

The next instant, the Azure Knight suddenly exerted force, his movement speed drastically increasing. He transformed into a pale blue shadow, darting in front of w.

Then, before anyone, including w, could even react, he pressed the drawing in his hand against her face.

To be honest, if Mister Knight hadn't been reluctant to ruin his little princess's artwork, he wouldn't have just stuck it to her face. At the very least, he would have smeared it…

"!"

Seeing the drawing suddenly pressed against her face, w's pupils contracted. She instinctively drew the knife from her body to counterattack.

Although she eventually realized the Knight had no ill intentions, she didn't retract her strike.

However, her attack only managed to graze Mister Knight's arm, sparking a string of fire but leaving barely any trace.

Afterward, as w calmed down slightly, she grabbed the drawing in front of her with her hand and held it.

She didn't rush to look at it, though. Instead, she gazed at the Azure Knight before her and continued to mock him.

"It seems you're not just a puppet after all… Can you even speak? Or is someone controlling you from behind?"

"…"

Facing w's renewed mockery and probing, the Azure Knight didn't even spare her another glance. He simply vanished before everyone's eyes.

After all, the princess's assigned task was complete, and he could return to report. Who would want to stay here and deal with an infuriating, mouthy… w?

"Sarkaz profanity! How boring…"

Seeing the Knight disappear, w finally couldn't hold back and cursed. However, compared to yesterday, her complexion was much better now.

"…"

After a short pause, w's emotions completely settled. Only then did she lower her head to look at the drawing in her hands.