CHAPTER 13 THE PIECE AWAKENS
The light faded slowly, but the weight it left behind did not disappear.
Daeven kept his eyes on the mark carved into his hand, studying every detail as if it might change if he looked away. It wasn't just a symbol. It felt… deeper than that. Like something had been written directly into him, not on him.
Lyria was still staring at hers, her breathing uneven, her fingers trembling slightly as she traced the shape without touching it.
It feels strange… like it's alive.
Kael glanced at her own mark, then closed her hand as if testing something.
It's not just a symbol. It's a function.
The boy looked completely lost, his voice shaking.
I don't understand any of this… what are we supposed to do now?
Before anyone could answer, the core reacted again.
A low vibration spread across the board, and the screen above them shifted once more. This time, instead of a simple message, multiple lines appeared at once, moving rapidly as if processing something far more complex.
[ PIECE ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE ]
[ INITIAL SYNCHRONIZATION IN PROGRESS ]
[ INDIVIDUAL ATTRIBUTES WILL BE REVEALED ]
Daeven's gaze sharpened.
So this is where it begins.
A second screen appeared in front of him alone.
The others seemed to have their own.
He focused on it.
[ NAME: DAEVEN ]
[ PIECE: — ANALYZING — ]
[ COMPATIBILITY: IRREGULAR ]
The word irregular lingered longer than the others.
Daeven frowned slightly.
Of course.
Nothing about this would be normal.
Next to him, Kael spoke.
Mine already updated.
Daeven glanced sideways.
And?
She smirked slightly.
Rook.
Lyria blinked.
A rook? Like the tower?
Kael nodded.
Makes sense.
There was no pride in her voice. Just acceptance.
Daeven understood immediately.
Direct. Aggressive. Dominant movement.
It fit her.
Lyria looked at her own screen, then spoke more quietly.
Mine says… Bishop.
Kael looked at her.
That also makes sense.
Lyria frowned slightly.
What does that mean?
Daeven answered before Kael could.
It means your strength isn't direct.
A pause.
You move differently.
Lyria didn't seem fully reassured, but she nodded slowly.
The boy suddenly spoke again, almost shouting.
I got Pawn!
Silence.
Kael didn't react much.
Lyria looked slightly concerned.
Daeven simply glanced at him.
And?
The boy froze.
What do you mean "and"? It's the weakest piece!
Daeven looked back at his own screen.
Then said calmly:
Only at the beginning.
The boy blinked.
What…?
Daeven didn't elaborate.
Because he wasn't sure.
But it felt right.
The screen in front of him changed again.
[ PIECE: UNDEFINED ]
[ REEVALUATING… ]
[ ERROR DETECTED ]
Kael immediately noticed.
That's not normal.
Lyria looked worried.
What does that mean?
Daeven didn't answer.
His eyes were locked on the screen.
For a brief moment, the system flickered.
Then—
[ PIECE: ??? ]
[ CATEGORY: VARIABLE CLASS ]
Silence.
Even Kael frowned this time.
That's… not a piece.
The boy looked even more confused.
Then what is he?
Daeven exhaled slowly.
I don't know.
But he could feel it.
The mark on his hand pulsed slightly.
Different from the others.
Stronger.
Not in power.
In nature.
Then—
A surge of information flooded his mind.
Not words.
Understanding.
Movement.
Possibility.
Daeven suddenly staggered slightly, grabbing his head.
Kael reacted instantly.
What's wrong?
He didn't answer immediately.
Because for a moment…
He wasn't fully there.
He saw something.
Not the board they were standing on.
A bigger one.
Endless.
Layers of games stacked on top of each other.
Players.
Pieces.
Movements repeating across different scales.
And at the center—
Something watching everything.
Then it stopped.
Daeven inhaled sharply, his vision returning.
Lyria stepped closer.
Daeven?
He straightened slowly.
I'm fine.
But his voice was different.
More serious.
Kael narrowed her eyes.
You saw something.
Daeven didn't deny it.
Yeah.
A pause.
This…
He looked at the core.
It's just the beginning.
Before they could say anything else, the system activated again.
[ INITIAL ABILITIES UNLOCKED ]
The marks on their hands glowed faintly.
The boy flinched.
What now?!
Kael looked at her hand.
Testing.
A faint energy formed around her.
Not visible like light.
But present.
Daeven felt it too.
His mark reacted differently.
Instead of energy forming outside…
Something shifted inside him.
Like a door opening.
Lyria focused, her expression tightening as she tried to understand her own ability.
I think… I can sense something.
Kael looked at her.
What?
Lyria closed her eyes briefly.
Paths.
A pause.
Safer paths.
Daeven's eyes sharpened.
That's useful.
The boy looked at his hand nervously.
I don't feel anything…
Daeven glanced at him.
You will.
Eventually.
Kael smirked slightly.
If he survives that long.
The boy swallowed hard.
Then—
The core pulsed again.
Stronger than before.
[ PHASE 2 PREPARATION ]
The ground beneath them began to shift once more.
The stable area around the core started expanding, forming a new structured field.
Different from before.
More organized.
More intentional.
Daeven looked ahead.
This isn't survival anymore.
Kael nodded slightly.
This is competition.
Lyria looked uneasy.
Against who?
Daeven answered quietly.
Each other.
Silence fell again.
He looked at the remaining participants spread across the board.
Five thousand.
Now marked.
Now defined.
Now categorized.
Each one different.
Each one dangerous.
Daeven clenched his hand slightly, feeling the strange pulse of his mark.
A piece.
A role.
A path.
He still didn't know what he was.
But he understood one thing clearly.
In this game…
Knowing your role wasn't enough.
You had to surpass it.
The core emitted one final pulse.
[ PHASE 2 WILL BEGIN SHORTLY ]
Daeven looked forward, his eyes steady.
Let's see what kind of game this really is.
And somewhere deep within Keyros…
Something ancient watched him.
Carefully.