Arknights Chronicles One

TG - 13 Distant Past

Year 1096, December 23, 19 : 42 PM
Location : Chernobog alleyway



The streets were eerily silent, the oppressive stillness broken only by distant explosions reverberating through the city and the faint echoes of their footsteps against the cracked pavement. Leading the group, Dobermann and Nearl moved with purpose, their postures tense but steady as they guided their comrades through the shadowed maze of the city toward the exfil point.

The group came to a halt, slipping into the shadows of an alleyway. Dobermann turned to face Nearl, her expression sharp and focused. "Our exfil is five blocks from here," she said quietly. "Any updates on Scout's team?"

Nearl shook her head, her voice laced with frustration. "No. We've tried to reach them, but all we get is static. Even on their dedicated channel, there's no response."

Dobermann clenched her jaw, muttering under her breath, "Damn it." Her gaze drifted to Ace, stationed at the back of the group, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings for any threats. His clenched fists and restless stance spoke volumes about his restrained frustration.

Dobermann exhaled slowly, her mind sifting through their options as the distant echoes of gunfire reminded them of the stakes. She turned to Nearl, her voice steady but low. "All we can do now is hope they're alright and waiting for us at the exfil point."

Nearl nodded, her tone commanding but tinged with urgency. "Agreed. For now, we need to focus on planning our route from here."

"Right," Dobermann replied, shifting her focus. Both she and Nearl turned their attention to Doctor Aaron, who stood quietly among the group.

"Doctor Aaron," Nearl called out, her voice soft but firm. "A moment of your time."

Aaron stepped forward, meeting their gaze with calm resolve. "What do you need?"

Dobermann glanced at the street beyond the alley, then back to Aaron. "We need your input on the safest path to the exfil point. It's going to be tricky, especially if Reunion is patrolling nearby."

Nearl added, "If there's a way to minimize risk while ensuring we're not delaying too long, we need to hear it."

Aaron nodded thoughtfully, already reaching for his map, his mind focused on the survival of the group. While the trio was talking about a safe route, Ace was standing alone in the back, his focus was on the alleyway but his mind was elsewhere. His mind wandered to a place both familiar and yet impossibly distant from the present.



Year ----, ----, ----
Location : Unknown



Loud laughter echoed through the cafeteria, drawing annoyed glances from a few nearby tables, while others simply ignored it, already accustomed to the noise. In a corner of the room, three individuals occupied one of the tables—two seated and one standing nearby.

"Damn it," grumbled Scout, slumping back in his chair with a look of defeat. Ace, who stood leaning casually against the table, chuckled softly in response.

"And the kid keeps his winning streak. Told you this would happen, Scout," Ace teased, a knowing smirk on his face as he watched his friend's frustration.

From across the table, another burst of laughter rang out. The younger player leaned forward with a triumphant grin, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Come on, Scout. It's just a game of chess," he said, his tone carrying a playful mockery. "No need to act like a sore loser."

Scout leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at the younger player across from him. "Shut it, Ronin. One more match," he demanded, his tone equal parts frustration and determination.

Ronin shrugged nonchalantly, a playful smile on his face. "Alright, if you're sure," he replied, beginning to help Scout reset the chess pieces. Once everything was in place, Ronin leaned back and gestured toward Scout with an open hand. "You get the first move."

Scout stared intently at the board, considering his options. Finally, he nudged a pawn one square forward, then leaned back into his chair, resting his head on his knuckles. Ronin studied the board for a moment before making his move—advancing his pawn two squares forward.

The two pawns were now dangerously close, setting up a potential capture if either moved forward again. Scout furrowed his brow, lips pursed as he deliberated, a small grunt escaping him.

After a moment, his hand hovered over a pawn adjacent to the one he'd moved earlier. With a decisive motion, he advanced it two squares forward, positioning it just beyond his original pawn.

Ronin's expression shifted as his eyes widened slightly, lips pressed together as if suppressing a laugh. He rested one hand on his cheek and the other on his torso, studying the board like it held some deep secret. Scout noticed and leaned back, a faint smirk of satisfaction tugging at his lips.

"Your move, kid," Scout repeated confidently, the spark of victory already glinting in his eyes.

Ronin glanced between the board and Scout, removing his hand from his cheek. A playful smirk crept onto his face. "Are you sure you want me to?" he asked, his tone dripping with mischief.

Scout's expression shifted as he leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at the board before locking them on Ronin. "Don't tell me you can already end the game. We've only moved three pieces!" he exclaimed, a mix of surprise and irritation in his voice.

Behind him, Ace stifled a laugh, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth between the two.

Ronin bit his lip, pretending to deliberate, his gaze flicking between the board and Scout. Then, with exaggerated slowness, he leaned forward and reached for his queen. Moving it swiftly to the other side of the board, he placed it just beside Scout's pawn. He sat back with a triumphant grin.

"Checkmate."

Ronin burst into laughter, rocking back in his chair as he took in Scout's stunned expression. Scout's eyes darted across the board in disbelief before he dropped his elbow onto the table and buried his forehead in his hand.

"I hate chess," Scout groaned, his voice dripping with frustration.

"I love chess," Ronin replied, the joy unmistakable in his voice. His laughter only intensified as Scout snapped his head up to glare at him.

"Careful, kid. You're this close to wearing this board as a hat," Scout threatened, his tone only half-serious.

Ronin quickly averted his gaze, biting back another laugh. He muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Scout to hear, "Totally worth it."

Ace let out a small chuckle as he began resetting the chessboard. "Alright, my turn now," he said, his tone light but focused.

Scout stood up, grumbling under his breath as he stretched. "Go for it. Just make sure you're prepared to lose, Ace."

"Already am," Ace replied dryly, letting out a tired sigh.

"Oh, come on, guys!" Ronin interjected with a mock-hurt tone, a playful grin on his face. "That's just not funny anymore. You're making me feel bad over here."

"You should feel bad," Scout retorted, crossing his arms and glaring down at the seated Ronin. "I hate this stupid game."

"It's not that hard, you know," Ronin replied casually, leaning back in his chair like it was the easiest thing in the world.

Scout raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, really? Then enlighten us, chess master."

Ronin smirked, his gaze flicking between his two friends before speaking in a calm, almost cryptic tone. "The battle always favours the one who watches, not the one who rushes."

Both Scout and Ace exchanged puzzled glances, waiting for him to explain further. Ronin leaned forward, his smirk widening as he added, "What I'm saying is... you lost the moment you accepted my offer to let you go first."

Scout's jaw dropped slightly as realization dawned. Ace, meanwhile, couldn't hold back his laughter as he gestured to the board. "Well, I guess I'll take that as my first lesson—never let Ronin talk me into anything."

Ronin's grin remained unwavering. "Now you're starting to get it."

"But even if I'm the one making the first move—" Ronin reached out, sliding one of his pawns two squares forward with a confident grin. "I still win."

Scout scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief, while Ace chuckled and moved his own pawn two squares forward. "Do you think like this in actual battle, too?" Ace asked, his tone curious.

"Even more than here," Ronin replied smoothly, his movements deliberate as he advanced his bishop, placing it beside Ace's pawn with calculated precision.

"You see, chess is a lot like the battlefield," Ronin continued, gesturing at the board as if it were a map. "If you let your enemy make the first move, you can learn what they're aiming for before they strike."

Ace moved his pawn one square forward, positioning it near Ronin's bishop. Ronin, maintaining his calm, pointed at Scout with a playful smirk. "Take Scout, for example."

Scout raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued despite his scepticism. "What about me?"

"Before the game even started, I knew your focus was singular: you just wanted to win," Ronin explained, leaning forward slightly. He reached for the bishop he had placed earlier, moving it away from Ace's pawn. "That's why, in every match, I build a wall—blocking your pieces from reaching my king and queen. It's not flashy, and it's not easy, but it's effective."

Scout frowned, clearly frustrated but also begrudgingly intrigued. "So you're saying you just... stall me?"

"It's not stalling," Ronin shrugged nonchalantly, his tone calm as he corrected Scout. Meanwhile, Ace moved another one of his pawns forward by two squares, occupying the spot where Ronin's bishop had been just moments before. "It's controlling the board. If I know your moves before you even make them, I'm not defending—I'm dictating the game."

Ronin leaned in, his fingers moving with calculated precision as he positioned one of his pawns next to the other, preparing for his next move. Ace let out a low whistle, reclining in his chair. "Remind me to never challenge you in anything that requires strategy," he said with a rueful grin.

Ronin chuckled as he watched Ace knock his bishop off the board with his pawn. "Hey, it's all about understanding your opponent. Whether it's chess or combat, the principle's the same."

"By the way..." Ronin leaned forward, grabbing his queen and placing it between Ace's two pawns. He looked up at Ace with a smirk. "Checkmate."

"What?!" Both Ace and Scout said in unison, eyes wide with shock as they stared at the board.

"How?" Scout asked, his voice tinged with confusion and curiosity.

"I don't know what the Doctor called it, but this move is 'something defence.' " Ronin replied with a shrug. He glanced at the two of them, their stunned expressions Ace let out a weary sigh, his gaze drifting to the dark sky above as the weight of the moment pressed on him. Ronin's words echoed in his mind, fragments of the past merging with the present.s making him burst into laughter again.

Ace let out a tired sigh but couldn't help chuckling. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, and shot Ronin a smile. "Alright, tell me, how did you do it this time?"

Ronin wiped the laughter from his eyes and straightened up. Clearing his throat, he began explaining. "The first attack is never the final one—let them open the door, and you shut it behind them."

Noticing their puzzled looks, Ronin pointed toward Ace's pieces on the board. "Look at how you placed your pieces."

"I deceived you by placing my bishop next to your pawn, near your base, forcing you to counter it by placing a pawn in range to take it." He continued, pacing through the steps.

"When I took my bishop back, you moved a pawn forward, thinking you'd capture it."

"Then, I moved a different piece far away from the action, creating a bait to draw you in. You took it, and finally, I placed my queen between your two pawns, exploiting the opening on your king."

After Ronin explained his moves, he looked up at Ace's and Scout's bewildered expressions. The silence hung in the air for a moment before Ace let out a small chuckle. "Hats off to you, kid. Both in chess and on the battlefield, you're undefeatable."

"Well, on the battlefield, yes. But in chess, not really. Doctor Aaron still beats me easily," Ronin replied with a casual shrug. Ace hummed thoughtfully, while Scout shook his head.

"You hang out with Doctor Aaron too much. You're becoming a creepy chess master like him," Scout said, glancing away.

"Well," Ronin began, leaning back in his chair and placing both hands behind his head, his smug expression widening, "at least I'm not a sore loser like some people."

Hearing his words, Scout slowly turned his head towards Ronin. A wide smile began to form on Ronin's face as he met Scout's gaze. Before Ace or anyone could say anything, Ronin shot up from his chair, his laughter ringing out as he bolted for the exit. Scout quickly followed, yelling, "Get back here, you little shit!!"

Ronin's laughter echoed through the cafeteria as he and Scout raced toward the exit, with Scout hot on his heels. Ace watched them go, a bemused smile tugging at his lips as he shook his head.

He let out a chuckle before slowly standing up. He gathered the scattered chess pieces and carefully placed them into a small box. With a resigned sigh, he picked up the board and the box, heading toward the exit.

"I have to find them before they get caught by Doctor Kal'tist," he muttered to himself, the thought of Kal'tsit's wrath only spurring him on faster.



Year 1096, December 23, 19 : 44 PM
Location : Chernobog alleyway



Ace let out a weary sigh, his gaze drifting to the dark sky above as the weight of the moment pressed on him. Ronin's words echoed in his mind, fragments of the past colliding with the harshness of the present.

A grunt escaped him as a memory of Ronin surfaced—young, sharp, and confident, leaning over a chessboard with a hand resting on his chin. "I know you're clever, kid. I've fought against you and alongside you enough times to see that. But—"

The image flickered, morphing into the present Ronin. His face bore two scars, and his empty right sleeve fluttered in the breeze, a silent testament to battles long past. Ace's grip tightened on his hammer, his gaze falling to the ground. "Everything feels so twisted now. The kid wasn't dead—he was hidden, kept from us. Kal'tsit knew, but she never told us. Not even Amiya."

Ace's scowl softened, his eyes widening slightly as realization dawned. "Then Ascalon must've known too. She's always with Kal'tsit, always in the shadows. She must have known what happened to him—what he's been through."

The surge of anger subsided momentarily, giving way to a deep, unshakable unease. Ace's thoughts returned to the events of the day, the choices made, and the consequences unfolding. The image of the current Ronin, battered yet determined, lingered in his mind.

The fact that he wasn't allowed to go after Scout gnawed at him. Ace had been ready—eager even—to risk everything for his comrade. But knowing that Ronin, in his current fragile state, had gone instead stirred something deeper. A wave of nausea hit him, a mix of guilt, frustration, and helplessness.

"I feel sick," Ace muttered under his breath, the words heavy with everything he couldn't say aloud.

"Ace?" A gentle voice called, pulling him from his thoughts. He turned to see Amiya standing behind him, her expression laced with concern. Her gaze, so earnest and kind, only deepened the weight in his chest.

"Amiya. What's up?" Ace asked, masking his turmoil behind a faint smile.

"Doctor and the others have finalized a safe route for our exfil," she replied, her voice calm but tinged with worry. "I came to let you know."

Ace chuckled lightly. "Doctor's still as sharp as ever, even with his mem—" He stopped mid-sentence, the mention of Doctor Aaron's amnesia igniting his earlier thoughts again. His gaze shifted back to the dark alleyway. "Does the kid... does Ronin know about Doctor's condition? He said he was spying on us, but..."

"Ace?" Amiya's gentle call brought him back to the moment.

"Hmm?" He turned back to her, his tone composed. "Yes, Amiya?"

"You looked deep in thought before I arrived," she said softly, her concern more evident now. "Are you okay?"

Ace found himself frozen, Amiya's words echoing in his mind. How could he possibly respond? How could he explain the storm of thoughts churning within him—the struggle to make sense of everything? How could he tell her that her brother, who she had mourned for years, was alive? That he had been hidden away in this very city, only to reemerge battered, scarred, and missing an arm?

And now, despite everything, Ronin was heading toward Scout's last known location, burdened with a mission that should never have been his to bear.

Ace clenched his jaw, his gaze falling to the ground. The weight of his silence hung heavy in the air, the words he couldn't bring himself to say forming an insurmountable wall between him and Amiya.

He glanced briefly at the others before meeting Amiya's concerned gaze again with a smile. "I'm fine, Amiya," Ace said, his voice steady but distant. "I just... I have a lot on my mind."

"Let's go. The others are waiting for us."

Amiya hesitated but then gave a small nod, turning to walk back toward Doctor Aaron. Ace watched her go, her presence a comforting yet bittersweet reminder of the bonds they all shared. The moment she turned away, Ace's forced smile faded, replaced by a grim expression. Concern etched deep into his features, he turned back to the alleyway one last time.

"I know you're clever, kid," he said in his mind, gripping his hammer tightly. "You always want what's best for everyone... but this time, please—"

His voice cracked slightly as he whispered, "Keep yourself safe as well."



Year 1096, December 23, 19 : 49 PM
Location : Korneychuka Street



The crunch of debris and the scrape of overturned furniture echoed along Korneychuka Street. The ruins of a tall building, toppled by Reunion forces, now sprawled across the road, crushing smaller homes in its devastating collapse.

Amidst the chaos, Reunion soldiers moved methodically, their steps measured as they were searching through the debris. From behind a large piece of rubble, a faint, flickering light hinted at another presence.

The metallic click of bullets sliding into the cylinder of a revolver broke the silence. Michael crouched low, finished loading and snapped the cylinder into place with a practised motion.

"Six in the chamber, twelve remaining," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and steady as he made a mental note of his remaining ammunition.

"I have to be precise with my shots until Ace and the others arrive." Peering cautiously around his cover, his sharp eyes locked onto the figure dominating the shattered street. A woman with long, flowing black hair stood tall amidst the devastation, her piercing gaze sweeping over the ruins as if seeking out her prey. Every movement of hers radiated an unnerving calmness, a hunter at work.

Michael's grip tightened on his revolver. "Hopefully they will arrive in time."





To be continued in TG - 14 Guardian Sankta

Author note : Blame H14-2 in the new chapter for not being able to post a new chapter. F that Chalice Of Mortality that make the enemies almost unable to kill.