image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
85) THE QUEEN'S ASCENSION
Alex returned to the chess arena, his mind racing with the wealth of information he had gathered. He had formulated his own strategy, but discussing it openly with Sophia would be dangerous—it would give away their plans to the opponent. Besides, Alex had come to a realization: something about this arena forbade the mention of names, just like many of the other strange rules governing this place.
He approached Sophia carefully. He immediately saw the positions on the board: Nyra stood as the white bishop, Ophelia as a white pawn, Luna and Elena as white rooks, and Bohn as a black pawn. In just one glance, Alex could sense the toll this journey had taken on Sophia. The battles between her witch's blood and her own humanity had surely been excruciating.
Worry gripped Alex’s heart as he looked into Sophia’s face. He had always been logical and composed, but this was different. He felt something he hadn’t expected—something overwhelming. He was deeply concerned for her. And in that moment, he realized the truth of his feelings.
He spoke softly, "I want to join you."
Sophia looked at him, her eyes soft but firm. "You have a role to play," she said. "I am going to become the Queen now. After that, you’ll step onto the board. You’ll know what you need to do."
Alex felt a surge of emotion he could no longer suppress. "I’ve been so worried about you," he confessed. "I never knew I could feel this way. I can’t hold it back anymore. Can I kiss you?"
Sophia nodded gently, tilting her forehead toward him. Neither of them had ever experienced love in this way before. But Alex, though inexperienced, leaned forward and pressed his lips tenderly to her forehead.
At that moment, a flood of Sophia’s thoughts, feelings, and memories rushed into Alex. Her pain, her doubts, her resolve—all of it flowed into him. He understood everything.
“I understand,” Alex whispered.
Sophia said nothing as she stepped onto the chessboard. Quietly, with graceful determination, she transformed into the white queen. Her queenly attire was a magnificent white robe embroidered with gold and red threads, telling a story as old as time itself.
The embroidery depicted the tales of "The Franks Casket" and "How the Whale Ended Its Life." The Franks Casket, a famous 8th-century artifact made from whale bone, now resides in the British Museum. Its panels are carved with scenes of myth, history, and prophecy. There are depictions of Volund from Norse mythology, the Adoration of the Magi, and Romulus and Remus being suckled by the she-wolf. The casket is adorned with 72 runes, a powerful number tied to ancient magic.
Sophia stood tall and serene, embodying both the title of "Highness" and the essence of a "witch." She was now ready to face whatever came next.
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
86) THE RETURN OF THE KNIGHT
Next to Sophia, who had transformed into the Queen, Alex found himself standing alone. The weight of the mission she had entrusted to him pressed heavily on his chest as he approached the chessboard.
Alex chose his position at g1, becoming the White Knight. Mounted on a brown thoroughbred horse, he donned chainmail armor that protected his entire body. His head was covered with a chainmail coif, and he wore a nose-guarded, cone-shaped helmet. In his hand, he carried a kite shield—an embodiment of a medieval knight.
Raising his voice, Alex called out, "I am the general of the White army! Who leads the Black forces?"
From the opposite side, a figure emerged, mounted on a restless black horse. The warrior's armor was a masterpiece—lacquered black scales (kozane) held together with purple and gold cords. The figure's presence was commanding, the two-piece suit of armor preserving both mobility and a sense of grandeur. His shoulders were adorned with black armor trimmed in gold, radiating a dignified power. Atop his helm, golden fern-shaped ornaments gleamed in the light.
“That armor... it’s Tokugawa Ieyasu’s,” Alex murmured, his voice thick with a mix of awe and understanding.
“Ieyasu,” Alex continued, “was a master of the long spear, a skilled swimmer, a horseman, and above all, a brilliant strategist. He created a military regime that sustained 260 years of peace.”
Looking more intently at the figure, Alex added, “Whoever chose that armor must know the deep history behind it—this isn’t a casual choice. Ieyasu represents stability, long-term peace, and the desire for order. This is Ardy’s wish… for the earthquakes to end, for the world to finally find peace.”
His eyes narrowed as his conviction solidified. “Black Knight, I have shown my face as a sign of respect. Now, remove your mask and reveal your true self.”
The Black Knight advanced, his black horse snorting with impatience. Slowly, the figure removed his mask. Alex’s heart skipped a beat—the face revealed was none other than Ardelbert von Ritterstein, the very person they had been trying to save.
At that moment, a Doberman named Gustav sprinted toward them, his tail wagging in joy. Behind him, the Chihuahua, Linehart, trailed close, carrying Sophia’s bloodstained pocket watch.
Gustav received the watch and leaped toward Ardelbert. At first, Ardelbert flinched, hesitant about the dog’s sudden approach, but Gustav quickly wrapped the chain of the pocket watch around his neck.
The transformation was immediate. Ardelbert’s eyes softened, and a sense of calm washed over him. He whispered, "I understand."
Gustav, now content, nestled against his old master. He radiated a quiet joy, his body trembling with relief. He would never leave Ardelbert’s side again, and the reunion filled him with overwhelming happiness. Linehart, seeing this, gave a satisfied nod before hurrying back to Sophia’s side. The small dog sat tall at her feet, proudly displaying his role as her loyal protector.
Alex, now fully in his role as the White Knight, raised his voice once more. “White army, prepare yourselves!”
The white pawns stomped their feet in unison, shaking the ground beneath them.
“Black army, prepare!” Ardelbert called in response, and the black pawns mirrored the action, sending tremors through the battlefield.
“Strike your chests!” Alex commanded, and the white pawns pounded their chests with fierce determination, the sound echoing like thunder.
“Strike your chests!” Ardelbert echoed, and the black pawns followed suit, the powerful blows reverberating across the arena.
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As the two armies prepared to clash, Alex and Ardelbert shared a brief glance—a silent understanding. Though Ardelbert was back to himself, they would continue this performance, hiding their true intentions from the watchful eyes of the Earth’s gods. The battle had only just begun, but beneath it all, both knights knew that peace was within reach. They just had to play their parts.
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
87) CHECKMATE
The White Knight moved swiftly to f3. Dark shadows awaited him ahead, but without hesitation, he claimed the f3 square. Something had shifted in the atmosphere. A subtle tremor of tension rippled through the battlefield, the air thick with anticipation. It was then that the Black Queen emerged, gliding gracefully to h6. Her presence was cold, calculating, and beautiful, her gaze surveying everything, her strategy quietly forming in her mind. Silence fell over the battlefield—a calm before the inevitable storm.
The White Knight issued his next command. "Advance the pawn to d3!"
The pawns unsheathed their swords in unison, the metallic sound reverberating across the battlefield. Their advance was relentless, like an army already certain of its victory, marching with unyielding force.
The White Pawns stomped the ground, the force of their collective movement causing a deep rumble to reverberate through the earth. The Black Knight moved next, his approach predatory, advancing to h5 like a hunter poised to strike, applying pressure on the White pieces. The Black Pawns pounded their chests in unison, their oppressive presence dominating the scene.
Without a moment's hesitation, the White Knight resolved to press on. "To h4!"
His leadership rallied the White army. The White Pawns stomped the ground once more, their movements echoing with increasing power. The White Knight glared directly at the Black Queen from his new position, unwavering.
Yet the Black Queen remained calm, her beauty hiding a cold, reptilian demeanor. Her eyes, nearly inhuman, reflected an eerie serenity. One wrong move could unleash her wrath, and no one would be spared. Slowly, the Black Queen glided to g5, her every step exuding calculated menace.
The White Knight spurred his horse to f5, darting across the battlefield. The knight swiftly circled behind enemy lines, his movements as swift as the wind, leaving no room for the enemy to react. He weaved through the board, his presence impossible to ignore. The Black Knight, as the commanding force of the opposition, shot him a withering glare. The Black Pawns advanced to c6, their silence even more unsettling than the previous noise.
The White Knight, undeterred, commanded his forces. "Move the pawn to g4!"
The White Pawns stomped in approval, rallying behind their Knight. The Black Knight’s horse grew restless, shifting anxiously as the Black Knight retreated to f6, preparing his defenses. The Black pieces took up their shields, creating an impenetrable wall of protection.
The White Knight did not rush his actions. Using the queen as a secret weapon required patience. He had to wait for the perfect moment, unleashing her only when the opponent had forgotten her. It was all about subtlety and long-term planning. His gaze flickered to his own Queen, still lying in wait. Her entrance had been carefully delayed, her moves minimal, waiting for the right time.
Sophia, observing from her position, quickly ran the numbers in her head. "If the Queen moves now, the probability of success stands at 62%. But… if she waits two more moves, the chances rise to 77%." Her calculations weren't based on intuition—they were derived from years of data, algorithms, and countless simulations. She quickly sent the data to Alex. Transformed into the White Knight, Alex had grown to be someone who could respect and rely on numbers, something he once disregarded. He glanced at the figures Sophia provided, considering them carefully. Where once he might have trusted only his instinct, now he valued her calculations, understanding that both human intuition and cold data had their place in battle. This moment represented their growth—Sophia, learning to trust in others, and Alex, learning to respect others’ strengths. They were no longer just individuals in a game, but teammates who believed in each other.
The strength of Black's clustered pieces appeared overwhelming at first glance, but it created a false sense of superiority—much like a larger army that seems more powerful. However, White’s strategic positioning subtly weakened Black's attack, setting up for a decisive counterstrike.
The battle was fierce, each side advancing and retreating with precision. The White Knight's gaze flickered to Luna, who had moved to g1 as a Rook. Her expression was vacant, her eyes focused only on the Black Pawn that had once been her beloved. All the while, Nyra, filled with anticipation, trembled with excitement, unable to hold back his eagerness to engage.
The Black Knight, ever the strategist, issued a grim command. "Capture the Bishop on b5."
A massive hand descended from the sky, crushing Nyra's Bishop with brutal efficiency. The sound of breaking filled the air, and Nyra's shattered pocket watch clattered to the ground, split in two. The remaining pieces stood frozen, their expressions betraying their silent horror.
Sophia's eyes welled with tears, streaming down her face. The toll of the battle was heavy on her heart, but still, she stood tall, her spirit fighting to remain unbroken.
"Advance the pawns!" the White Knight commanded. The White army surged forward, determined to exact revenge for the fallen Bishop, pressing ever harder against the Black Queen.
In response, the Black Queen slid silently to g6, her dark, emotionless eyes locked on Sophia. There was no mercy there—only the endless abyss of her malice.
The White Pawns continued their assault, advancing to h5, refusing to relent. Once again, the Black Queen retreated to g5, unshaken. Finally, Sophia herself advanced, her Queen stepping to f3, rallying the White army and tightening their grip on the Black forces. The Black Knight fell back to g8, plotting his next move, but the tide was turning.
The White Bishop struck decisively, capturing the Black Pawn on f4. The Black Queen hastily returned to f6, fortifying her defenses once more. The battle raged on, the White Knight driving his steed to c3, continuing the relentless pressure. The Black Bishop, not ready to concede, advanced to c5, inspiring the Black forces to fight on.
The White Knight, sensing an opportunity, moved boldly to d5, targeting the Black Queen. But in retaliation, the Black Queen captured Ophelia’s pawn on b2. Once again, a giant hand descended, crushing Ophelia under its weight. Sophia, tears blurring her vision, watched in anguish as Ophelia’s body collapsed, her pocket watch shattered like the others. There would be no mercy in this game, not yet.
The White Bishop moved swiftly to d6, only to see Luna captured at g1 by the Black Bishop. Luna vanished, her final thoughts lingering on the image of Bohn, the man she loved. Sophia's heart ached, her emotions nearing their breaking point. Tears had dried up, and now only pain remained—a searing pain that gripped her chest and mind.
The White Pawns continued to advance, determined to pave the way to victory. Sophia, though weary, guided her army toward their final goal.
The Black Queen struck again, capturing Elena’s Rook at a1. Elena’s body fell to the ground, her watch destroyed, and the Black Queen now directed her deadly gaze at the White King. The White King, sensing the threat, moved to e2.
The Black Knight, his face twisted with a sinister smile, advanced to a6, confident in his position. But the White Knight would not relent. He pressed forward, capturing the Black Pawn at g7—Bohn’s final moments played out in quiet dignity as he disappeared, his watch splitting in two.
The Black King retreated to d8, but the outcome was already clear. The moment of victory was drawing near, and the end was within reach. The Black King was confident in his victory. In fact, the entire Black army felt a sense of superiority as they watched the White warriors vanish one by one. All except for the Black Knight, who alone saw through the illusion.
Sophia’s Queen delivered the final check, and Sophia knew the time had come—she would be the one to fall next. The Black Knight, Ardelbert, the very man she had come to save, would be her executioner. Sophia and Alex exchanged a silent glance—they had sacrificed their friends, hoping to deceive the Black army into believing they had won, all while fearing their ploy might be uncovered at any moment.
The Black Knight captured Sophia’s Queen. As she fell, Sophia smiled through her tears. "It’s over." Her pocket watch split, and the game should have ended there, with White's victory assured. The White Knight, Alex, declared checkmate at e7 with his Bishop. The final move had been made, and White had won.
Yet the earth trembled, as if dissatisfied.
"More sacrifices!" the voice of nature demanded.
Both the White Knight and Black Knight dismounted their horses, kneeling before the earth.
"The game is over," they declared in unison. "We have fulfilled the terms, offered the sacrifices. Now, stop the quakes, as promised!"
In that moment, the ground fell silent, and the world was once again bathed in stillness. Both the Black and White Knights, exhausted from the battle, collapsed into unconsciousness, their task complete, but the cost of peace still unknown.