The night air on the terrace was now hot and crackling. Golden-blue and black sparks violently clashed over the terrace’s bright squares, and their rhythm felt even more aggressive—the pieces were directly targeting the countdown’s core. Ryu lay unconscious in the center of the terrace, his glove dim and reacting with a barely active pulse, and thin blood still spread from its edge across the terrace floor.Lyra held her daggers tightly on the terrace parapet and shouted in a sharp and commanding tone.“Listen everyone! The King is unconscious, but this is our biggest move—break the core! Your move is yours!”Kael spoke into the communicator with a grim and firm tone loudly.“Knights! Lock formation—push to the center of the core. One wrong move and everything goes black, but this is our chance.”Elira sat beside Ryu, her warm but firm tone calm.“Ryu… you are impossible. Even if you are unconscious, your board is winning today for you.”---At Kael’s outpost, the knights gripped thei

The night air on the terrace was now cool and peaceful. Golden-blue squares on the terrace floor glowed with a soft and calm steady rhythm—as if the entire board was finally breathing. The countdown’s presence had ended, and for the first time there was complete silence in the air, only of faith and victory.Ryu was calm in the center of the terrace, his glove now reacting with a soft and regular golden pulse, and a rare peaceful expression on his face. His breathing was heavy but now stable—The King was finally resting.Lyra stood near the terrace parapet, having put her daggers away in her belt, and spoke softly in a relaxed tone.“King… you are impossible. You literally broke your body, but you won. Now you can finally sleep.”Kael spoke into the communicator with a serious but proud tone calmly.“Ryu, you are impossible. This board is your victory, and we will continue to run it even without you.”Elira knelt beside Ryu, her warm and soft tone almost like a lullaby.“Ryu… you are