The night after the terrace incident was strangely calm. The world below still shimmered faintly with the golden-blue light of the trust system, but in the upper air, the clouds seemed heavier—carrying a silence that did not belong to peace. Ryu stood alone near the edge of the terrace, his glove faintly glowing as thin trails of energy flowed from his palm to the tiles beneath his feet. The golden-blue squares pulsed in rhythm, but within them, something darker still hid—an echo of the pulse he had absorbed.He closed his eyes for a moment. The faint whisper of the cloaked figure still circled in his mind.“Your next move will be written from within your pieces.”That single line replayed like an unfinished melody. He knew what it meant. The next board wouldn’t attack from outside—it would infiltrate the hearts of his own people.Behind him, the heavy metallic door creaked open. Lyra stepped out, her footsteps light, her grin missing for once. The usual mischief in her eyes had been

The merged world was breathing in silence again.The night sky had finally begun to fade into the soft gray of dawn, but the horizon still carried traces of the fractured light from the last battle. The shattered fragments of the black portal had scattered across the upper atmosphere like dying stars—glowing faintly, dissolving slowly into threads of dust.Ryu stood at the edge of the highest terrace of the Central Tower, overlooking the new city built upon the ruins of countless worlds. Below, golden-blue energy squares pulsed faintly, spreading through the streets like veins of light, connecting every district to the Temple Core at the center.Lyra was sitting on the parapet, legs crossed, spinning her daggers in slow circles as her gaze followed the fading fragments in the sky.“So… the board finally quiet again,” she said, her voice carrying a rare trace of softness. “Feels strange, doesn’t it, King? Like the world itself is holding its breath.”Ryu’s golden glove glowed faintly a

The night had fallen over the terrace, but the golden-blue glow from the squares still pulsed like a living heartbeat. The wind was slow, heavy, and silent — as if the entire world was holding its breath. The aftershocks of the “Silent Countdown” still trembled faintly through the air, leaving behind invisible echoes that touched every piece of Ryu’s board.Ryu stood at the center of the terrace, his glove glowing with a steady but restrained light. The reflection of that glow flickered faintly in his calm eyes, the same eyes that had seen countless battles — not of weapons, but of faith. His voice was low, composed, yet the weight in it was unmistakable.“Something changed tonight. The board is no longer silent — it’s listening.”Lyra leaned casually against the parapet, flipping one of her daggers between her fingers. Her grin was faint, but it didn’t reach her eyes this time.“Listening?” she said, the usual teasing replaced with concern. “King, that sounds way worse than the silen

The night was deepening on the terrace, and a faint tension lingered in the air. The golden-blue squares glowed steadily across the floor, but subtle black ripples began spreading at the corners, like the countdown was testing the edges of the system. Ryu stood calmly at the center, his glove pulsing bright but slightly uneven, responding to the subtle disturbances around him.Lyra, spinning her daggers on the terrace parapet, spoke sharply.“King… the pulses are shifting subtly. It’s like the countdown is planting doubt where we least expect it.”Kael held his shield firmly and spoke in a serious, grim tone.“Ryu, this isn’t like the first cracks. The countdown is starting to interfere with how pieces see each other. One piece’s doubt can spread to another.”Elira stepped out from the healer tents, her soft warm tone tinged with concern.“Ryu… your trust is strong, but if pieces begin doubting each other, even loyal squares can falter.”Ryu looked at the terrace squares with calm det

The terrace was calm, yet the night air carried a subtle weight. Golden-blue squares on the floor glowed steadily, but Ryu’s glove gave off faint, irregular pulses—as if the countdown’s influence had not fully retreated. He stood in the center, calm, gaze sharp and unwavering.Lyra leaned on the parapet, daggers spinning, voice crisp.“King… the first betrayal was stopped, but your glove is still reacting. There’s something quiet stirring.”Kael held his shield firmly, tone serious and grim.“Ryu, even after one betrayal fails, the countdown doesn’t rest. The next move will be subtler—less obvious, but potentially more dangerous.”Elira emerged from the healer tents, her voice soft, warm, and cautious.“Ryu… your trust is strong, but the system is under increasing pressure. Even small cracks can cascade.”Ryu’s steel-toned gaze swept across the terrace squares, steady despite the faint pulse of his glove.“The board is only complete when the pieces move of their own will. But if a pie