★138
It feels like I'm playing chess against Michael."
I muttered, the analogy fitting more than I cared to admit.
"Velzard, the Knight, just knocked out my Bishop and two Pawns—that's the Eastern Empire gone in a single strike."
He made his next move, pushing forward his pawns. I countered, dropping Rook One and a Pawn, claiming his advance and reclaiming a portion of the territory.
Then he threw three more pawns at me. I responded with Rook Two and Knight Two, cutting them down efficiently.
On the surface, it might look like I'm losing—like ordinary chess would dictate defeat—but that's not the case. Two Queens remain untouched, still poised to dominate. Control the board, and our victory could surge past sixty.
'It's still a low number, I know, but I won't underestimate the enemy. Their strategy is deliberate, cunning… and I need to respect that if we want to survive."
(Queen 1 Atlas, Queen 2 Scarlet King, Knight 1 Tokito, Knight 2 Raiden, Rook 1 Noble squad, Rook 2 Noble squad, Bishop 1 Majo, Bishop 2 Clones)
Michael never attacked Tempest directly. Not yet, he didn't need to because now that I've entered the game, his plans must change. The enemy's true weapon was not only strength, it was strategy.
By the time Rimuru, the leader would be forced to act decisively, Michael planned to have already won the game of territory and attrition. But that's not going to happen.
Michael can't act carelessly or he'll end up losing more pieces. If that happens, his 'strategy' won't save him because I'll ascend the heavens to go deal with him.
Beneath it all, Kazalim continued his dark miracle, churning out more vessels, more hybrid monsters in elven shells, reincarnating chosen souls from across time. More soldiers = more problems which I'm not ready to deal with.
"Eto, Shinn—go. Fish out that bastard Kazalim. Use that dagger… and finish her for good."
My voice came out colder than I intended, but there was no room left for hesitation.
"Roger."
Kazalim wouldn't be alone. She'd be heavily guarded, tucked behind layers of defence and loyalists who'd throw their lives away for a few extra seconds of her survival.
Still… if she fell, the pressure on our side would ease. The board would shift, even if only slightly. And right now, even a slight shift mattered.
Beyond the front lines, in the quiet folds of shadow, the Demon Lords began to rally. The Octagram—shaken, yes, but far from broken—held fast to their plans.
Their resolve hadn't crumbled. If anything, it had hardened, sharpened by the chaos around them. They must've discussed some strategies in previous banquet but it looked like I came in too early and stole the show.
"Well… considering who I'm up against, I'd say my involvement is the only reason this day hasn't already collapsed."
I said quietly, more to myself than anyone else. The admission tasted bitter, heavy on the tongue.
"For what it's worth, I'm sacrificing my soldiers—buying time for the Octagram to come up with something stronger. Something that actually holds."
The words hung in the air, thick with the weight of lives already spent and those about to be. I exhaled slowly, forcing down the tightness in my chest. There was no space for doubt now. Not when every second cost blood.
"If they lose this war…"
My voice hardened, losing whatever softness remained.
"I'll kill them all."
I paused, just long enough for the truth beneath the anger to surface.
"I'm not willing to let my family's sacrifice go in vain."
The war was still young, and every move from here on out would decide how deep the scars would run.
Guy, ever silent, began to prepare for his return to the battlefield. It'll be too late so my guess is he'll go after his partner, Velzard.
And Rimuru, ever burdened by the weight of others' lives, stood between peace and annihilation. Where the hell is he anyway?
Feldway, Michael's right hand, prepared to deploy the final wave, a crushing force meant to erase resistance in one blow. The new world was taking shape.
Feldway singlehandedly infiltrated Tempest in search of the Hope King Sariel. I didn't panic, because I was waiting for this moment.
The forces engaged in combat with the highest-ranked Seraph. I immediately deployed the remaining Rooks but it still wasn't enough, the parody Scarlet King was also useless.
However, it's all part of the plan. With Rimuru absent in Tempest, heck even if Rimuru is here, they won't stop Feldway from getting what he wants.
He mercilessly cut down the foes before him, forcing her to show up before him. She knows he's here for her so she's going to fight so as not to carry the burden of those who died to protect her.
'She's feeling something towards them. She'd rather die than have people die for her. Hinata once did the same, lied to buy time for me to return. I wonder if I'll find myself in this situation one day.'
The said character was the Chosen Hero, Chloe Aubert.
She appeared before Feldway in her adult form and a fierce battle began. Feldway wasn't giving his all, instead focused on Ultimate Dominion to get control over her. Chloe was stubborn and was resisting the Skill which should've been impossible.
However, she'd just proven something unsettling—that Dominion wasn't absolute. Not when free will was involved. Not when something could resist even time itself.
Free will…
'Do Stars even have that?'
We're born with High Divinity Points, raised as gods by default. Apathetic by nature because that's how gods are meant to be. Power enough to conquer the cosmos alone, to create almost anything we desire—yet somehow, we can't change ourselves.
'So…'
I asked myself once again.
'Do we really have free will?'
I let the question sit there, heavy and uncomfortable.
'Maybe not.'
But what if we do? What if it's there, buried somewhere deep inside us—locked away beneath layers of instinct, expectation, and design?
A freedom we've never been allowed to touch, or maybe never dared to reach for.
I found myself staring into nothing, lost in the thought. There's no luxury in life greater than freedom. None. And yet, for beings like us… it might be the one thing we've never truly had.
"I'll find it."
I murmured, more to myself than anyone listening. "I'll unlock it."
The thought settled deep, anchoring somewhere beneath the noise of war and duty.
Freedom wasn't some distant reward waiting at the end—it was part of the journey itself. Every step, every choice, every mistake. And if I wanted that freedom… if I wanted it to mean anything…
Then I needed free will.
'Thanks to Entares's story, freedom is part of my journey now. And I'll stop at nothing in achieving it."
With Chloe reaching her limit, I stepped in without hesitation and pulled her out, teleporting her straight to Star Island before the strain could finish her off.
Even from that distance, even through layers of concealment, his eyes found mine. Feldway's glare cut through everything—cold, filled with a silent promise of annihilation. It lingered, heavy and unspoken, like a threat waiting for its moment.
Then, without so much as a heartbeat of delay, two signatures appeared above Star Island.
I rose to my feet at once, the chair scraping faintly behind me as I moved. There was no point sitting any longer. No point pretending this was still distant.
I teleported outside and faced them head-on, the air around me tightening as I stepped into the open, ready to confront whatever had decided to come knocking.
"Uninvited guests."
I said, eyes still closed as the wind dragged at my short hair and tugged against my clothes at that altitude. The air was thin, sharp, yet the stillness between us felt heavier than any storm.
In my mind, the board was already laid out. The Queen and the Knight had cornered the King. Every route narrowed, every option stripped away. Checkmate wasn't here yet… but it was inevitable.
I let out a slow breath, steadying myself before opening my eyes. The game wasn't over—but it was reaching that final, unforgiving stretch where every move would decide everything.
"How can I help you?"
To be continued:)