Fyar returned Illya’s fake smile and squeezed her hand back.
Is there... a way... what can I do right now? Anything for you to live. Anything. Think... think... Fyar muttered inwardly.
"Fyar... Lady Illya..." Cyhas said in a calm tone.
Fyar and Illya turned to the girl at the same time. She was clutching the black orb necklace around her neck. Her gaze was serious. Beside her, Eutas, his mouth still sealed, looked at them hopefully.
Cyhas glanced at her father for a moment, then looked back at Illya and Fyar.
"I want to discuss something with you," Cyhas said.
Fyar and Illya nodded. Cyhas then moved closer and whispered something to Illya.
Upon hearing Cyhas’s words, Illya’s pupils widened. She was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly at Cyhas.
"If that’s the only way... then we must do it."
What did Cyhas whisper? Is there a way out of this insane situation? How could there be! Fyar’s brow furrowed.
He glanced for a moment at 00, who was eating heartily, paying them no attention. Then, at Zaefal, who was still standing in front, looking hesitant and angry.
He looked back at Illya.
"Fyar..." Illya said. "Come here."
Fyar moved his face closer. Illya whispered Cyhas’s plan into Fyar’s ear.
When Fyar heard what Illya whispered, his pupils widened.
That... damn... thank goodness... There’s still a way. There’s still a way. Although... we might be the ones who die, but... at least the people in this city will live.
Fyar moved his face away from Illya’s. "How many minutes?" he asked softly.
"Ten minutes, Fyar. Give us ten minutes," Illya said. Eutas and Cyhas nodded behind Illya.
Fyar was silent for a long time.
Ten minutes. The life and death of everyone in this city depends on ten minutes. Depends on how I can buy time so he’s distracted.
Alright. Based on his personality... what can I do to make him play around with me for ten minutes? A fight? That’s stupid. An argument? About what?!
What... what...
After thinking for a long time, Fyar found his idea. He let out a long sigh.
He looked toward Illya. He cupped her face, gently brushed her cheek with his thumb, and then kissed her forehead.
"Leave it to me, my love," he whispered.
He then looked at Eutas and Cyhas and nodded.
Fyar walked forward, slowly approaching 00.
00, who saw this, smiled, tilting his head slightly. "Ohh?! Do you want to keep me company, adventurer?!"
"YES!" Fyar answered firmly. "I have a game I want to play with you!"
Zaefal immediately turned his head, staring at Fyar with surprise. "Fyar? What are you talking about?"
Fyar stopped beside Zaefal and patted his shoulder. "Leave it to me. Go to the back with Illya and the others. They’ll explain the plan."
A plan? In a situation like this? Zaefal looked at Fyar, then at Illya, who gave him a tense nod.
He looked back at Fyar. "Alright."
Zaefal turned and limped back toward Illya, Cyhas, and Eutas.
"A game?" 00 asked, his voice filled with interest.
"You know," Fyar continued, walking casually toward 00. "I plan to enjoy the last hour of my life by sharpening my mind."
Fyar’s steps stopped in front of 00’s table. "You said you wanted to be rated as a genius, right? Well, I actually have a way to measure whether someone is a genius or not."
"Ohh?" 00 said.
Fyar smiled at 00. "Would you like to play a game of chess with me?"
00 flinched slightly. He was genuinely surprised.
"Pfft."
"Hahahahahhaah! Hahaahah!" 00 burst out laughing, slamming the table. The fruits on his plate trembled.
"Adventurer, oh adventurer! In the last moments of your life, you want to play chess?! You... you?! Hahahahah!"
Fyar just maintained his smile, waiting.
After 00’s laughter subsided, he looked at Fyar. "Hmm, hmm. Interesting, but interesting."
"But I want there to be a punishment for losing. To make it more fun."
"Oh, of course, of course," Fyar answered without hesitation. "Um, first, could you summon a chair so I can sit?"
"Oh, sure, sure! Sorry for not being prepared."
Click!
A simple wooden chair appeared beside Fyar. Fyar pulled the chair out, sitting down to face 00.
"Just a second... let me remember if I’ve ever stored a chess set in..." 00 paused for a few seconds. "Oh, yes, yes!"
Click!
A wooden chessboard appeared on the table, replacing the plate of food.
00 looked at the chessboard for a moment before looking back at Fyar. "What’s the punishment if you lose?"
"Hmm," Fyar covered his mouth with his hand, pretending to think. "Cut off both my hands, and this artifact is yours."
Fyar took the pistol from his pocket and placed it on the table.
00 picked up the pistol. "What is this? I’ve never seen it before. Ohh, this is cool, cool..."
"But..." 00 paused. "It’s not enough. If I cut off your hands... It’s not fun enough."
"Oh, you have another suggestion?" Fyar asked.
"Yes!" 00 answered cheerfully. He pointed behind Fyar, toward Illya. "I’ll kill that girl right in front of you."
00’s eyes stared sharply at Illya, then back at Fyar. "Uhhh, if it’s like that... uhh, fun, fun! It will definitely be very, very thrilling! How about it, adventurer?"
The smile on Fyar’s face didn’t change.
He reached out his hand to offer a handshake.
"One second," 00 said. "If you win, what do you want? Besides me stopping this ritual, of course."
"Hmm, I don’t really need anything." The smile on Fyar’s face then changed into a mocking one.
"Just beating you and proving that I’m smarter than you is enough for me."
00’s pupils widened. His shoulders trembled slightly. "Ha... ha..."
"You’re interesting, you damn kid." 00 then shook Fyar’s outstretched hand. "What’s your name?"
"Fyar."
"Alright, Fyar. Here’s your artifact." 00 handed Fyar his pistol.
Fyar took it and placed the pistol beside the chessboard. Its barrel was aimed right at 00’s stomach.
"Alright, let’s begin, Fyar."
Fyar moved his Knight. (1. Nf3)
00 nodded. He moved his Pawn. (1... g6)
"Hey, Fyar," 00 said. His eyes were on the board.
"Hm?" Fyar moved his Pawn. (2. e4)
00 moved his Bishop. (2... Bg7) "What do you think consciousness is?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Fyar replied, pushing a Pawn. (3. d4)
"Yeah, consciousness," 00 said. He advanced a Pawn. (3... a6) "We suddenly realize we’re alive. We think. Animals don’t have that. Except for other races, of course."
Fyar advanced his Pawn. (4. c4) "I don’t know. Ask someone else."
00 moved a Pawn. (4... d6)
Fyar developed his Bishop. (5. Be2)
00 advanced his Pawn, attacking. (5... c5)
Fyar captured the Pawn. (6. dxc5)
00 captured back. (6... dxc5)
"Let’s change the subject," 00 said. "Do you prefer women with short hair or long hair?"
He’s deliberately trying to break my focus , Fyar thought. He moved his Queen. (7. Qb3)
"Short hair. My girlfriend has short hair."
00 moved his Knight. (7... Nc6) "Oh, what a shame. I have long hair."
Fyar castled short. (8. O-O)
Five minutes.
00 jumped his Knight. (8... Nd4)
Fyar captured the Knight. (9. Nxd4)
00 captured back. (9... cxd4)
"Do you think men who go to war are prone to cheating?" 00 asked.
What kind of stupid question is this , Fyar thought. He pushed a Pawn. (10. f4)
He glanced back. Illya, Cyhas, and Eutas were standing with their backs to them. They were focused on the necklace. Zaefal stood guard.
00 moved his King. (10... Kf8)
Fyar pushed a Pawn again. (11. e5)
00 moved his Knight. (11... Nh6)
Fyar moved his Rook. (12. Rd1)
00 moved his King again. (12... Kg8)
Fyar developed his Knight. (13. Nc3)
00 countered with a Knight. (13... Nf5)
Fyar attacked the Knight. (14. g4)
00 moved his Knight. (14... Nh4)
Fyar developed his Bishop. (15. Be3)
00 captured Fyar’s Pawn. (15... Bxg4)
Seven minutes.
Fyar captured the Bishop back. (16. Bxg4)
00 attacked Fyar’s Bishop. (16... f5)
Fyar pushed his Pawn. (17. c5+)
00 moved his King. (17... Kf8)
Fyar moved his Rook. (18. Rxd4)
00 moved his Queen. (18... Qc8)
Fyar retreated his Bishop. (19. Bf2)
00 captured the Pawn. (19... fxg4)
Fyar was captured back with the Bishop. (20. Bxh4)
00 captured the Bishop. (20... Qxc5)
Fyar moved his Knight. (21. Ne2)
00 advanced a Pawn. (21... b5)
Nine minutes.
Fyar moved his Queen. (22. Qe6)
00 advanced a Pawn. (22... a5)
Fyar moved his Rook. (23. Rc1)
00 shifted his Queen. (23... Qa7)
Fyar sacrificed his Rook. (24. Rc8+)
00 captured the Rook. (24... Rxc8)
Fyar was captured back with his Queen. (25. Qxc8+)
00 moved his King. (25... Kf7)
Ten minutes.
Fyar looked back. Illya was now wearing Cyhas’s necklace. The necklace was glowing faintly. Illya looked at Fyar and nodded.
Fyar took a breath. He looked back at the chessboard.
Fyar pushed his Pawn. (26. e6#)
Checkmate.
A moment of silence.
The game lasted almost exactly ten minutes.
"You’re not as smart as I thought," Fyar said. He started to laugh lightly. "Pfftt... what was that?"
00 looked slightly annoyed. His jaw tightened. "I’ve only been playing for three months, man! It’s normal to lose!"
Fyar raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of cowardly excuse is that? Huff, I seem to have overestimated you."
"Huff, you’re not as smart as I thought. And apparently, you’re dumber than me. Hahh, why can someone as stupid as you be a leader? Hahaha, are your members sane?!"
The smile on 00’s face disappeared. He stared at Fyar coldly. "Shut up."
"Oh? What? Shut up? Are you offended because you lost to someone who’s going to die in an hour? Is that the story? Haha??"
Fyar slammed the table. "YOU’RE AN IDIOT!"
"You’re a narcissistic, ungrateful bastard who thinks he’s smart when you’re actually just stupid! Admit it, son of a bitch! ADMIT IT!"
00 growled. His face was red. His eye twitched in anger.
I managed to provoke him. Now for the fatal part. Let’s see if his ego is still this big, Fyar thought.
He took a long sigh. "Alright. Let’s try one more time. Maybe you just weren’t focused, right?"
00’s eyes lit up. A smile returned to his face. "Heh... alright, Fyar."
00 then reset the chessboard.
While 00 was busy arranging the pieces, Fyar looked back. He saw Illya, who was now wearing Cyhas’s black orb necklace.
Fyar nodded at Illya and pointed to his pistol. Giving a signal.
Illya gave a tense nod.
Fyar turned back to 00. "Are you ready?"
"Heh," 00 replied. He moved his piece. "A good move."
Fyar slowly moved his hand toward a pawn.
But just as his hand was inches away...
Sst!
His hand shifted to his pistol. He grabbed it.
And immediately shot 00 in the head.
BLAM!
00’s head exploded. His magic died instantly. He didn’t have time to react.
Sst!
Illya, at the exact same moment, teleported to Fyar’s side. She was clutching the black orb necklace tightly.
"ILLYAAAAA!" Zaefal shouted.
Ssst!
WHOSSSSP!
It all happened in less than three seconds.
Instantly, an intensely bright white light illuminated the entire square, swallowing Fyar, Illya, Zaefal, Rasie, Cyhas, Eutas, and 00.
After the light faded, the square was now empty.
The blood-red seal above the city slowly cracked, faded, and disappeared.
Nothing was left.
(End of Volume 1)
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