When he opened his eyes, Serin found himself in what seemed like a massive colosseum.
He stood within an elevated, floating pavilion from which the entire arena could be seen. On the opposite side of the colosseum, mirroring his own position, another pavilion hovered in the air.
In the middle, there was the arena.
A massive chessboard with large pieces made out of stone that looked archaic. The pieces stood on their original squares like door gods.
The pieces resembled one of those non-standard, fancy chess sets meant for decoration, but the pressure radiating from them told a different story.
Serin looked around and saw that the entire place was empty. There were seats for spectators, just like in a colosseum, but the seats were vacant, and the arena felt deserted. It was also deathly quiet, but silence had been Serin's long-lasting friend anyway.
"It's almost like the Colosseum of Rome… but on steroids," Serin thought briefly as the sheer magnificence reflected in his eyes.
The walls were inscribed with unknown symbols and murals that Serin had previously seen but ignored. The sheer magnitude of the building made him gasp.
Serin had a complicated look in his eyes as he stared toward the opposing pavilion beyond the chessboard. Vaguely, he could feel a presence standing there, looking back at him.
In his vision, Serin could see the opponent's name and other information.
"Wasp…" he muttered, clenching his fists in frustration.
Serin could also see another timer ticking down like a death knell. There were just five minutes left. His heart began racing wildly. On one hand, there was the excitement of doing what he loved most; on the other hand, there was the unfortunate reality of the situation he was in.
Serin was conflicted for a moment before he sighed helplessly. "It's… not my fault. There's no choice," he thought.
Serin recalled his past life. In the Candidates Tournament, in the final round, he had been on the verge of winning the game against his much older opponent. He and his opponent had both known that it was over.
Serin enjoyed crushing his opponents on the board. He enjoyed winning, and he enjoyed the adrenaline pumping through his body in the final moments.
Deep in his heart, he would also feel gleeful seeing his opponents realize that it was over… that they had messed up… and that they had lost the biggest opportunity of their lives.
But now that someone's life was at stake… Serin couldn't help but feel reluctant. In the end, no matter how much he wracked his brain, there was no solution.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a familiar voice entered his ears as a projection of a human figure appeared before him.
"You're the person who was beside me in the Precipice, aren't you? Stockfish… What a strange name," Wasp said.
"Yes…" Serin replied awkwardly.
"Where are you from? I'm from the Republic!" Wasp asked, his voice brimming with curiosity.
Serin did not know what to say. He could not understand how his opponent could be so calm. Perhaps, like him, Wasp was also confident of winning? Or perhaps people in this world simply did not care at all?
"Hey! Why are you dazed?" Wasp asked.
"It's nothing… I'm from the Solmarch Empire," Serin put away his thoughts and answered.
Wasp stretched his hand and, after a brief hesitation, spoke slowly, "Hey… the game is about to begin."
"Yes," Serin answered.
"I'm sorry… but you won't be able to win against me," Wasp said, guilt evident in his voice.
Serin looked at Wasp's distorted figure on the screen. It was small. Suddenly, his eyes widened as a thought crossed his mind. "Could it be that… my opponent is a… child?"
Serin gulped as his heart sank. His fingers dug into his own skin. "Why do you think so? I'm warning you…" he said, as though the warning would be of any help.
Wasp chuckled awkwardly. "I didn't mean to be arrogant…" he said while rubbing his head in embarrassment.
"It's just that… my father always says that if I ever, by chance, get chosen by the Gods to be an Apostle in this arena… then I will definitely survive the first stage!"
Serin felt his throat tighten. He gave a dry laugh and said, "You seem to be… quite familiar with this."
Wasp tilted his head in confusion. "Aren't you as well? Do they not teach chess in the Empire? It's so scary… anyone can be chosen as an Apostle at random."
"Of course… I knew that…" Serin blabbered absentmindedly, his thoughts drifting wildly.
Then—
He heard a reluctant sigh. Behind the shroud, Serin could feel sadness and regret radiating from Wasp. To this, he could only smile bitterly.
"Well, goodbye then. And I'm sorry…" Wasp said.
Serin simply nodded.
As the timer came to a halt at zero, Serin instinctively calmed down, his mind focusing.
If there was one thing chess had taught him, it was that one should never underestimate one's opponent, no matter how strong one believes oneself to be.
This lesson had come embarrassingly and painfully when he had once lost to an untitled opponent while being a Grandmaster himself.
Wasp's image disappeared, and everything fell silent. Then, another timer appeared in front of him. It was like a chess clock, but one that did not need to be physically pressed. Similarly, the fancy black pieces on the gigantic board below did not need to be moved either. Everything was controlled through the mind.
Wasp began by playing the king's pawn and then waited.
Serin did not make his move as the clock on his side began ticking. His face was full of conflicting emotions, and his mind was filled with hesitation and uncertainty.
He could not bring himself to play and defeat his opponent on the board, even though he had done so countless times in his career. He could not bring himself to move the pieces knowing that it would cost a child his life.
By now, Serin had realized what kind of world he was in through the chatter he had heard within the castle, as well as the fragmented memories of the real Serin.
Looking at the opposing side, Serin could vaguely see and feel the presence of his young opponent.
"A child can face a trial of life and death without burden… then why can't I?" Serin raised his head, his eyes now holding newfound resolve.
Having no other choice, Serin finally made his first move. Glancing up, he saw that he was now behind by thirty minutes on his clock.
Serin did not care.
He would not be a World Championship contender otherwise. Such a level was too easy for him.
The game finally continued. Each side made their moves one by one. Wasp took time to think before playing his moves, as if to be certain.
For Serin, it was far too easy—much easier than his opponent could ever imagine. Serin did not belong in the Novice rank in the first place, so this match was entirely unfair. But so was life.
The only mercy Serin could show his young opponent was to completely control the flow of the game to his will. That way, his opponent would not think that he never had any chance at all.
Young Wasp fought valiantly. Like a veteran general, he attempted to create weaknesses in Serin's position, only to be thwarted at the last moment. Then, Serin would face pressure and appear to be in trouble—alas, the game would remain equal until the very end.
In the endgame, Wasp made an inaccuracy, and Serin pounced.
As fiery as the game had been, it ended abruptly. There was nothing to be done. Serin's pawn could not be stopped by Wasp's king in time.
Wasp resigned.
The silence that had always been there suddenly began to feel oppressive… unnerving.
In his pavilion, Wasp was shaking, his eyes wide open and his head lowered.
"How… how is this possible?" he muttered in horror.
The young boy from the Republic began going through the entire game. Suddenly, he raised his head in shock. Gritting his teeth, Wasp looked toward Serin's pavilion in the distance, his voice shaking with fear as he mumbled, "Who… who are you?"
Unfortunately, there was no time for despair. All was not over—there was still hope to come back. This time, Wasp would play as black. It would be life and death.
The second game began shortly after.
The clocks began ticking. Serin played the queen's pawn opening, and by move six, the game had completely gone crazy. The tension was palpable, as it seemed like anyone could win.
Serin's king was in danger, and Wasp capitalized promptly by launching a frantic attack. "Good! Burn out of time! I won't let you breathe!" Wasp blurted out excitedly.
It truly seemed like he would win.
However—
It wasn't meant to be.
Serin found all the "only moves" in the position and somehow emerged from danger, surviving.
Then—
Wasp blundered.
To the young boy's horror, somewhere along the way… he had overpushed.
His queen was trapped!
There was no way to survive.
Tears flowed uncontrollably from his eyes as he froze and repeatedly mumbled, "No…! I don't want to die…"
Serin had his eyes closed, his arms twitching. "It was inevitable. There was no choice… I'm sorry!" he called out in sorrow.
In the end—
Time ran out. The game ended.
Above the arena, the clocks disappeared, and the score appeared.
Then suddenly, Serin heard Wasp's voice again. "I… I don't want to die…"
"I'm sorry…" Serin responded.
"You… I know that you held back… didn't you?" Wasp asked in a quiet voice.
Serin did not answer.
"I know it… I… I don't blame you," Wasp said, raising his head. Through the translucent screen before him, Serin could almost feel the myriad emotions behind that distorted face.
"What is your real name?" Serin asked, his voice raspy and choked.
Wasp smiled faintly through the tears. Wiping his eyes, the boy from the Republic said, "My name is Adam Feller. Don't you forget it!"
Serin nodded. Then—
There was no then, only the cold, mechanical voice ringing in his head.
[ You have won, Apostle. Congratulations. ]
[ Finalizing rewards… ]
[ You have acquired – Uncommon Blessing: Anchor ]