Dread and confusion tore through William's mind like a violent storm as he struggled to make sense of the impossible turn of events. His power, a rare gift that granted him the ability to foresee potential outcomes, had always been his greatest asset in battle. But when the dark-haired girl appeared, her presence seemed to shatter everything he thought he knew about his abilities.
The visions that flooded William's consciousness were unlike any he had experienced before. They showed a gruesome fate for the girl - one that ended with her death in various brutal ways. It was a chilling realization that left him torn between disbelief and terror.
How could this seemingly innocent child possess the power to surpass the limitations of a high-grade magic-restricting ring? It defied all logic and reason; it simply shouldn't be possible. Yet, William was no stranger to bending the rules to his advantage.
Beside him stood a formidable bodyguard, whose own power allowed him to bestow it upon others. Together, they conspired to find a way around the ring's constraints. Through a complex interplay of mental prowess, William and the bodyguard established a psychic link, allowing them to channel the future predictions into William's mind.
However, instead of being absorbed by the ring as intended, the rejected visions were intercepted by the bodyguard, who then relayed the information back to William. It was a convoluted plot, carefully crafted to deceive an opponent far younger and seemingly less experienced.
But even amidst their deceitful tactics, there was a recurring theme among the visions - Viktor emerged victorious. The knowledge of this brought both relief and unease to William's mind as he prepared to face his toughest opponent yet.
Despite the overwhelming odds stacked against him, Viktor's unwavering resilience and quick intellect proved to be formidable adversaries, relentlessly challenging William in ways he had never anticipated. Each move was a calculated attack, and fear mingled with uncertainty as William struggled to keep up.
But his pride would not allow him to suffer defeat at the hands of a mere child.
"Check," Viktor's calm voice pierced through the tension, jolting William back to reality. His hand trembled as he attempted to make sense of the unfolding events.
"I-I didn't see that coming," William stammered, still trying to process how he had been outmaneuvered.
"I said check," Viktor repeated, his finger pointing decisively at the board. In the midst of William's distraction, Viktor had deftly executed moves, each one playing directly into his calculated strategy. Step by step, play by play, he had systematically dismantled the champion of games.
Emeline and the onlookers watched in awe as the young boy skillfully cornered his opponent.
William's gaze fell upon the board once more, his eyes widening in disbelief. He had run out of moves - all of his once formidable strategies reduced to futile reactionary gestures. The pieces on the board mirrored his own emotions as he found himself retreating, attempting to escape from certain defeat.
With a sense of resignation, he maneuvered his last remaining rook, capturing a pawn in a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable loss.
"Wait...this can't be happening," William protested, his voice trembling with desperation. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he glanced up at Viktor, then back down at the board. But no one else seemed to notice the subtle nuances playing out on the chessboard - not even his loyal bodyguards, instructed to remain vigilant.
A triumphant smile graced Viktor's lips, his piercing blue eyes locking onto William's with unwavering intensity. The fear that gripped William transcended mere apprehension - it bordered on sheer terror, as he realized the depth of his impending defeat.
"D-demon," William muttered under his breath, a tremor of fear coursing through him as he attempted to pull away. Unbeknownst to him, his opponent executed the final move with precision, sealing William's fate and solidifying Viktor's victory as the ultimate chess master.
The room fell silent as Viktor declared, "Checkmate." The crowd behind him erupted into a chorus of disbelief and astonishment. How could this be? Had the child and the prince truly defeated the Champion of Games? The question echoed in the minds of the spectators, each struggling to make sense of what had just happened.
But for William, fear quickly gave way to anger. He jumped up from his seat and accused, "You damn cheater! You rigged the game!"
The once jubilant crowd now teetered on the edge of doubt. Could they have been fooled by Viktor Kirchner?
"You all believed that a man raised by the Heinous Emperor would play fair!? It was all a sham," William continued, his words casting a dark cloud over the audience's previous excitement.
Viktor's confidence wavered as he absorbed the accusations. Emeline looked down at him with confusion etched on her face, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding before them.
"Vikky...what's happening?" Emeline's voice trembled as she glanced around at the shifting mood of the crowd, now resembling an angry mob.
"We all knew that leader was corrupt."
"Like father, like son."
"Lies."
"Where is your proof?" Viktor's voice rang out, cutting through the rising uproar and momentarily quieting the mob.
"Proof?"
The man in the white suit returned to the table, his unwavering smile commanding attention. "William should have proof," he stated firmly.
"I can provide proof," he continued, approaching William with measured steps.
He placed his palm on William's forehead and a bright yellow glow appeared.
"If you are lying about Mr. Kirchner being a cheater, the punishment will be an immediate ban from this casino and we will have to inform the Grishan Royal Guard," he said calmly.
But William's expression showed no signs of uncertainty; he was convinced of Viktor's guilt, even though he was the one in the wrong.
"Yes! The boy is a damn liar!" William declared, pointing a defiant finger at Viktor.
The yellow light turned deep green.
"He's telling the truth."
"It's exactly what I expected from that man's son."
"Why did we ever doubt The Champion?"
Murmurs erupted from the crowd, a mix of disbelief and realization spreading among them.
"Mr. Kirchner... Cheating results in an automatic loss. So whatever bet you made with Mr. Jules, you must now honor it," the man in the white suit said solemnly, his words hanging heavily in the air.
Viktor stood up, gritting his teeth as countless eyes stared at him, each one acting as a silent judge.
"Viktor... What's happening? I'm scared, please tell me," Emeline whispered anxiously, her voice trembling with fear.
William and Viktor exchanged a silent look - one reveling in victory, the other frozen in confusion.
"Well well well… Mr. Kirchner, I'm afraid this is where your journey ends at this establishment. I had hoped we could be partners for a long time," Mr. M chimed in with a predatory smile, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
"Don't worry Viktor... I'll take good care of you and your little friend will be safe. Just do as we say," William interrupted with a chillingly serene smile, snapping his fingers to signal his bodyguards to advance.
Viktor recoiled, falling to the floor and raising his hands in defense. "W-wait," he pleaded, before a swift blow to the head sent him reeling. The world spun before him, his vision darkening as he glimpsed William standing above him, and then... blackness consumed him.
***
A hazy voice escaped my lips, filling the dimly lit room with a faint echo. The smell of moss, brick, and dust lingered heavily in the air, enveloping the space in an eerie atmosphere. My eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings, searching for any glimmer of recognition or clue to my whereabouts.
Amidst the looming shadows, a silhouette emerged - a feminine form crouched on the ground. Memories of the previous day flooded my mind, igniting a fiery surge of anger. Betrayal and deceit replayed like a cruel filmstrip, each moment etched with pain and frustration.
"William..."
My ability to wield mana had been stripped away by the anti-magic ring confiscated by William at the casino. Even in this dire situation, I was rendered powerless without my source. It seemed that not even my most basic defense mechanisms were within reach.
"It's no use," William's voice cut through my thoughts as he stepped into view, his expression oozing smugness and self-assurance. "This room is soundproof and magic-proof. Only those wearing specific wristbands can use any sort of mana abilities. So don't bother trying."
I found myself bound to a chair, tightly constricted by ropes that restrained my limbs. Emeline lay beside me on the floor, also immobilized. The bindings wrapped around both our hands and feet, leaving us completely helpless. As I surveyed the room with frantic eyes, I realized that escape was unlikely without freedom of movement. If only I had a weapon... but even the best-laid plans would fail with my hands tied.
Scanning my surroundings for any possible advantage, I noticed something peculiar - there wasn't a speck of dirt on my clothes. William's words echoed in my mind; they intended to ransom me off as leverage in their twisted game of power. If that truly was their plan, then perhaps I could buy some time until my father or the Royal Guard arrived. There was no need to struggle; surely, they wouldn't dare harm members of the royal family.
My heart raced with a mix of fear and anger as William's mocking words rang out once more.
"Don't worry, we won't lay a hand on you, Your Highness," he taunted, his tone dripping with disgust. "But the slave is fair game, right?"
With a single clap, the room was flooded with light, revealing our surroundings in stark clarity. We were on the top floor of the real casino, its darkened windows signaling the late hour and lack of other patrons. We were completely alone, at the mercy of our captors.
My voice trembled with impotent rage as I shouted, "Don't you dare touch her!" I struggled against the ropes that bound me, but they held fast. With a jolt, I tumbled face-first onto the cold, hard floor, still firmly ensnared in the chair.
"You filthy cheater! My father will make sure you pay for this!" I seethed, my frustration mounting as I watched William tear Emeline's blouse from her body with a cruel flourish. Her clothing fell away, revealing her vulnerability and exposing her to the lecherous intentions of these men. Despite the fear and uncertainty clouding her expression, there was a glimmer of defiance in Emeline's eyes as she stared back at our captors.
And then, she smiled - a gentle, reassuring smile that warmed my heart and eased the weight of our dire circumstances. In that fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still, and all I needed was to see my big sister smile at me.
Emeline's smile spoke volumes - it was a testament to her unwavering faith in me or perhaps a silent acceptance of the fate that lay before us. She would endure whatever horrors these impure men intended to inflict upon her, all in the name of keeping me safe.
As I strained against the constraints binding me, my mind raced with possibilities. The thought of impure magic danced in my mind like a shadowy specter, its implications unraveling before me. Magic derived not from the pure source but from the mana particles swirling in the air.
These spells were among the most notable manifestations of tainted power - abilities to manipulate the world without physical touch.
Time seemed to crawl as my mind frantically searched for a solution. Without access to my own pure magic source, I desperately tried tapping into the ambient mana that surrounded us.
The two bodyguards standing watch in the room were positioned on opposite sides, one stripped down to his undershirt while the other stood fully clothed. The magic-conducting wristband of the latter glinted under the dim light, a stark contrast to the bare skin of the former. William and his accomplice had removed their bands, leaving them vulnerable to the insidious influence of impure magic.
Suddenly, a soft hum filled the air, accompanied by a subtle tremor that seemed to emanate from within. It was a sickly sound, like nails scraping against a chalkboard, causing a shiver to run down William's spine. Without warning, the bodyguard who had undressed let out a strangled cry, his face contorting in unbearable agony. His skin turned a sickly shade of red and purple as if being poisoned from within, his body convulsing uncontrollably as he clawed at his chest and eyes in a futile attempt to rid himself of the torment. It was a horrifying sight that left William frozen in fear and disgust.
"Agh, Ah!" he gasped, his voice choked with pain. His struggles grew more frantic, his movements becoming erratic as he writhed on the floor. William and his companion rushed to his side, hastily dressing themselves once more.
"Jeffry!" William shouted, panic lacing his voice as he knelt beside the stricken guard. His attempts to calm him were futile as the bodyguard's condition continued to deteriorate before our eyes.
With a strangled cry, the guard clutched at his chest as if something were trying to claw its way out from inside him. His words were barely audible amidst the waves of agony wracking his body.
"Your source?!" William's voice shook with disbelief as he stared in shock at the guard's distress.
For a moment, his attention shifted towards Emeline and myself, but it quickly snapped back to the scene unfolding before him. Something had changed - something was different about the captives now. While one lay crumpled on the ground, the other... was floating, suspended in mid-air along with the chair and ropes that had once bound him.
A surge of energy coursed through me, raw power bursting forth as the chair and ropes exploded in blisters, freeing me from my restraints. The room was plunged into darkness as the lights flickered and died, leaving only sporadic bursts of illumination from the raging storm outside.
"W-w-what's happening...?" William's voice faltered, his confusion palpable as he struggled to comprehend the chaos unfolding around him. The air crackled with an electric energy, and I could feel my own powers growing stronger by the second.
"Han, go and warn the others-" His sentence was abruptly cut off as if he had been struck by a massive object, sending him flying into the wooden wall with a loud crash that echoed through the building. A flurry of sparks erupted in the room, casting eerie shadows as bolts of lightning crackled from within.
One bolt of energy shot past William, slamming into one of the guards known as "Jeffrey" with a powerful impact. "Ahh!" Jeffrey's agonized screams filled the air as he convulsed in pain before the sparks dissipated.
In the dim light, I came face to face with William, my body flooded with adrenaline. I struck him hard in the stomach, causing him to stumble backwards and slam into the same counter where he had orchestrated our capture. Jeffrey tried to get up but was suddenly knocked flat by an invisible force, leaving him defeated on the ground.
A crushing weight, invisible yet palpable, bore down upon Jeffrey. His head compressed under the pressure, his arms snapped like twigs, his body flattened to the ground until he was nothing but a broken and mangled mass. The force continued to press, squeezing every inch of air from his lungs, leaving only a ragged gasp escaping through his lips as he lay sprawled on the unforgiving ground like a discarded rug.
***
"You... You monster!" William's voice cracked as he spat out the words, his body trembling with a mix of fear and anger. He scrambled to his feet, only to be met with a sudden explosion of glass. The windows in the building shattered all at once, sending shards flying in all directions like deadly confetti. William was caught in the midst of it, his body impaled by the sharp pieces with precise accuracy. His legs gave out beneath him as he slumped to the floor, a grotesque scene unfolding before him.
Rich, dark streams of blood oozed down his motionless form, creating a macabre halo around him as it pooled on the ground. The sharp edges of shattered glass jutted out from his chest, arms, and head, like twisted fingers holding him in place against the wall.
Viktor's expression remained stoic as he surveyed the scene before him. His body seemed to be in a trance-like state, but deep within the depths of his eyes lay a flicker of humanity.
But that spark was quickly overshadowed by a deep rage, a seething well of anger that threatened to spill over.
"There were three of you..." Viktor's voice was barely above a whisper as he focused all his energy into disappearing from his spot. In an instant, he reappeared before William, leaving him suspended by the now retreating glass bindings. The man's body slid down the wall, a grim descent mirrored by the darkness in Viktor's eyes.
"I found you," the third and final guard shrieked as Viktor materialized in front of him. The once cold and unfeeling child now wore a grin stretching from ear to ear as he seized the guard by the collar.
As William trembled, struggling to remain conscious, he bore witness to the unfolding horror before him. With a swift and ruthless motion, Viktor raised his foot and brought it down upon Han, again and again and again. Each merciless blow struck with unrelenting force, causing William's heart to ache with helplessness as he watched his friend and bodyguard endure the brutal assault.
William had always relied on his intellect to overcome his adversaries, manipulating and crushing others with his cunning. But this... this was beyond comprehension. It was as if a god had descended from the heavens to toy with mere mortals, leaving William questioning how a mere child could possess such unfathomable power. How could this same child wear a smile as he ruthlessly brutalized another human being?
But William soon realized that this was no ordinary child. This was a demon incarnate, a being devoid of humanity and consumed by darkness.
The cruel onslaught continued until, abruptly, the smile vanished from Viktor's face. Placing his hand on Han's chest, a loud pulsing noise resonated through the building. There were no flashy displays of magic or dramatic gestures—just a sudden brightening at Han's stomach followed by the abrupt cessation of struggle in his body as it went limp. In that moment, William knew that something far more sinister than any human could ever fathom lay within the depths of Viktor's twisted mind and soul.
The realization dawned on William like a bolt of lightning- Viktor had channeled the powerful, electric force through Han's skin and tissue, causing his insides to instantly liquefy. The pungent smell of burnt flesh and hair filled the air, making William's stomach churn with horror and disgust.
Despite the overwhelming shock and terror coursing through his veins, William summoned all his strength and rose to his feet. He stumbled towards the door, unable to look away from the flattened body of his other friend and bodyguard lying in a pool of blood and gore.
Every fiber of his being was screaming at him to run, to put as much distance as possible between himself and the nightmarish scene he had just witnessed. His legs trembled uncontrollably as he sprinted away, his mind reeling with the sheer desperation of survival.
But as he looked back over his shoulder, he beheld a sight both eerie and strangely beautiful. The white-haired devil known as Viktor, his face twisted in rage and power, suspended himself in mid-air with telekinesis, hovering before the distant, pale orb of the moon. His dark cloak billowed out behind him, adding to the otherworldly aura that surrounded him.
But then, like a sudden and unexpected shift in the weather, all of the hate and lust for violence that had been etched onto Viktor's features vanished. His expression softened, as if a switch had been flicked inside him, and his eyes no longer burned with malice, but instead held a sense of peace and understanding.
William collapsed to the ground, his body wracked with uncontrollable spasms of distress. Every muscle in his body clenched and released, causing him immeasurable pain. As he lay there, helpless and vulnerable, Viktor descended from his lofty perch and rushed to his side.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Viktor's voice cracked with anguish, tears streaming down his cheeks as he clutched at William's coat. "I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry. I swear to the Gods I'm sorry."
William lay flat on his back, gazing up at Viktor with a mixture of pain and resignation etched upon his features. Despite the betrayal and hurt he had just experienced, there was still a glimmer of compassion in his eyes.
"Don't be, kid..." he murmured, reaching out to grasp Viktor's arm weakly. "I told you it was a dog-eat-dog world... You, you were just the bigger dog, haha." A fit of coughing wracked his body, blood staining his lips as his grip on Viktor slackened.
"Sir, I can heal you! I know basic healing magic, I can help until the knights or medics come," Viktor screamed out desperately, willing to do anything to ease William's suffering and make amends for his actions.
William's voice was weak and raspy as he spoke, "Listen here, kid... I've only cheated against two opponents in my entire career. And in the past twenty-three years, I have never lost a game. But about a year ago, I had to cheat against an older man. He knew I was cheating but let me get away with it."
"But then you showed up, and you called my bluff. I poked the bear and paid the price... Just promise me, kid, promise me that you won't end up getting eaten... This world is brutal, and sometimes people have to cheat to come out on top. But you're strong, so eat all you can. I'll be watching from above, haha... Ack!" He couldn't hold back another coughing fit before looking into Viktor's eyes with a soft expression.
"Thank you, kid... Today you made me realize something," he whispered before his arm went limp and the light faded from his
Viktor didn't have a moment to process his emotions before Emeline burst out of the shop. During the chaotic situation, he had used his mana to put her to sleep, and he was prepared for her anger and resentment upon waking up. Instead, she clung onto him tightly, offering solace in her embrace.
"It's alright, Vikky... Those people deserved what they got. You did the right thing. Let's just go home, okay?" Her voice shook as she pulled back to meet his gaze.
Viktor nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him amidst all the turmoil. The fear and terror that William had caused were now replaced with a newfound respect for Viktor's power. Although it was a heavy responsibility to carry, Viktor accepted it with determination, knowing that he was in control of his own destiny and driven by his own strength and beliefs.
*****
The following morning, the patrol Knights arrived at the site of the triple homicide in shock. "Oh my goodness... This is a massacre," one of them exclaimed.
"Quick, ones alive!" another Knight called out, directing the others towards the body. As soon as they reached him, they bombarded Han with questions. "What happened? Can you remember anything?" they asked urgently.
Han, struggling to stay conscious, shivered as he spoke. "The... The boy... He was a demon. He was a monster..." His voice shook with fear and disbelief.
"What do you mean? What did you see?" The knights pressed for more information, their brows furrowed with concern.
"The White Devil! The boy! He did it. It was the Devil himself," Han repeated before his eyes glazed over, the memories of the previous night's events overwhelming him once again.
The knights exchanged worried glances as one of them asked, "Do you think demons were involved in this, the 'white devil'?"
"I can't say for sure... But I hope we never encounter this 'White Devil' again," another knight whispered with a hoarse voice and trembling body, still shaken by the horrors they had