As Heimdall made the awkward yet official announcement, a shimmering chessboard materialized in the centre of the ruined stadium. It was enormous, spanning the size of the original arena, with pieces crafted from cosmic energy, each one imbued with an otherworldly glow. The board floated in midair, suspended between the remaining fragments of the shattered sky. The pieces themselves were as grand and imposing as one would expect for such a high-stakes match — kings, queens, rooks, knights, and pawns, all sculpted in the likenesses of gods and legendary figures.
Ritsuka smirked, looking up at Chaos, who had taken her place on the opposite side of the board. "This is gonna be fun," he said, spinning his keyblade before setting it aside.
Chaos, her red dress shimmering like the cosmos, crossed her arms, her smile widening. "You've always been unpredictable, Ritsuka. Let's see if that helps you in chess." Her tone was playful, but there was a glint of seriousness in her eyes.
The crowd, still bewildered, sat back down in their seats, unsure of what to expect. Some of the gods muttered amongst themselves, trying to make sense of this cosmic twist. The humans, on the other hand, were still processing that their final hope lay not in brute force, but in strategy.
Buddha, lounging casually in the stands, chuckled. "Leave it to Ritsuka to turn Ragnarok into a game of wit. I like it."
Meanwhile, Erza and the others gathered closer, watching intently. "Ritsuka's smart, no doubt about it," Erza said, her scarlet hair fluttering in the remnants of the cosmic wind. "But Chaos isn't an opponent to underestimate. She might be playing around now, but she's the embodiment of unpredictability."
Milim grinned, bouncing excitedly. "That just makes it more interesting!"
Kukulkan nodded, her golden eyes narrowing as she watched the pieces assemble themselves. "It's a battle of minds now. Let's see how he does."
With both players in place, the chessboard shimmered brighter, indicating the game was about to begin. Heimdall, still unsure how to narrate a chess match instead of a cataclysmic battle, cleared his throat. "The final round… begins."
Ritsuka's first move was swift, as he directed one of his pawns forward, the piece glowing with the same dark, chaotic energy that defined him. Chaos, in return, smirked and mirrored his move with a pawn of her own, its aura swirling with her cosmic power.
As the game progressed, the chess pieces didn't simply move — they engaged in epic clashes. When Ritsuka's knight charged forward, it physically battled Chaos' rook, the sound of their swords clashing echoing through the stadium. Each piece carried its own personality, reflecting the nature of its player, creating a spectacle unlike any chess match ever witnessed.
"Seems like they're putting on a show, even with a chess game," Kukulkan remarked, leaning back.
"Ritsuka's style has always been about pushing boundaries," Erza added, her eyes glued to the board. "He'll fight with his mind just as fiercely as he would with his blade."
Move after move, the match grew more intense. The pieces clashed with greater force, some even dissolving into cosmic dust as they were captured. Ritsuka's calm, focused expression contrasted with Chaos' playful yet calculating gaze. Both were clearly enjoying the match, but there was an underlying tension. Every move could decide the fate of humanity.
At one point, Ritsuka leaned back, studying the board with a grin. "Check."
Chaos raised an eyebrow, looking at her king, now in danger. "Impressive," she said, her tone laced with admiration. "But let's see how long you can keep me cornered."
She moved her queen with a flourish, putting Ritsuka's pieces on the defensive. The cosmic energy swirling around her seemed to pulse with renewed intensity, as if the very essence of Chaos was influencing the board itself.
The crowd watched in awe, realizing this was not just a chess match — it was a mental duel of the highest order. Ritsuka and Chaos were both pushing the boundaries of strategy, weaving their cosmic powers into every move.
As the game neared its climax, the battlefield was nearly empty. Only a few pieces remained on both sides, each representing the last vestiges of hope for their respective teams. Ritsuka's eyes glinted with determination as he guided his remaining rook forward, cornering Chaos' king once again.
Chaos smiled, a playful yet resigned look on her face. "You've improved since our last game. But I suppose that's to be expected."
Ritsuka shrugged, his smile widening. "I've had a lot of practice. Checkmate."
With that final move, Chaos' king fell. The board shimmered one last time before dissolving into stardust, signalling the end of the match. The stadium erupted into a mix of cheers and stunned silence. Humanity had won, not through sheer strength, but through wit and strategy.
Heimdall, still processing what had just happened, raised his horn once again. "The final round of Ragnarok… has been decided. Humanity… is victorious!"
Ritsuka stood tall, stretching casually as if he had just finished a leisurely game with an old friend. Chaos, now back in her usual form, walked up to him with a grin. "Well played. Looks like I owe you a… reward."
Ritsuka smirked. "I'll hold you to that."
As the crowd erupted into celebration, the gods were left to contemplate their defeat. But for Ritsuka, it was just another day of rewriting destiny in his own unique way.
Ritsuka and chaos return to his harem, as he looked at all them and will Goll and Brunhild was there as well
Brunhild just looked at him. "May I ask what your and Chaos actual relationship is".
Chaos just spoke. "Friends with benefits"
Goll just blinked. "Friend with Benefits....but but but the legends say that you two are enemies"
Ritsuka just looked at Chaos. "Right the early days, yeah what about it".
Ritsuka leaned back, crossing his arms casually, his expression relaxed as he glanced over at Chaos, who was now seated beside him. She was lounging comfortably, her cosmic aura dimmed to a more approachable level. Chaos let out a soft chuckle, enjoying the looks of confusion and curiosity coming from the others in the room, especially Goll and Brunhilde.
Brunhilde narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced by the ease with which Ritsuka and Chaos were discussing their past. "You fought entire battles that shook the very foundations of existence," she said, her tone serious. "How does that turn into… friends with benefits?"
Ritsuka shrugged nonchalantly. "Back then, it was a different time. We were on opposing sides, sure, but we weren't exactly enemies in the traditional sense. It was more like... rivals, you know?" He glanced over at Chaos, who nodded in agreement.
"Exactly," Chaos added, waving her hand dismissively. "It's all part of the grand game. Conflict, battles, those things are just one aspect of existence. But once the fighting stops, well..." she trailed off with a knowing smirk, casting a playful glance at Ritsuka. "Sometimes, the lines between enemy and ally get blurry. Especially when you've shared so many... intense moments together."
Goll, still processing the casual conversation about such monumental events, stammered. "But... but you two were supposed to be these forces of destruction! The legends make it sound like you wanted to annihilate each other!"
Ritsuka laughed softly. "Legends tend to exaggerate. We both had our roles to play in the grand scheme of things. Sure, we clashed — hard. But deep down, we understood each other better than anyone else. After all, when you're as powerful as we are, there's not many people who can keep up."
Chaos leaned in closer to Goll, her cosmic eyes twinkling with amusement. "And besides, what's a little destruction between friends?" she teased, earning a slightly panicked look from the young girl.
Erza, standing nearby, crossed her arms and gave Ritsuka a raised eyebrow. "So let me get this straight. You and Chaos, who were once these almighty cosmic forces in conflict, are now... what? Teammates? Lovers? Chess partners?"
"All of the above," Ritsuka replied with a grin. "We've been through a lot. It's complicated, but it works."
Milim, who had been quiet until now, suddenly burst into laughter. "Ha! I like it! You guys are like the ultimate rivals, but in a fun way! Makes sense that after all that chaos—no pun intended—you'd end up like this."
Kukulkan tilted her head, observing the dynamic with mild amusement. "It's true. Power often finds a way to coexist, even if it starts in opposition. Perhaps this was always meant to be."
Brunhilde still seemed uneasy, but she wasn't about to argue. "I suppose it makes sense, in a way. Still, it's a lot to take in."
Chaos leaned back, stretching her arms with a content sigh. "Well, whether you like it or not, here we are. And as Ritsuka said, we've got... benefits." She winked mischievously, causing a few of the harem members to blush.
Ritsuka smiled, looking over at his gathered companions. "Don't worry, nothing's really changed. This is just another part of the journey." He then glanced at Brunhilde and Goll. "And Chaos is a friend, not an enemy anymore. You can trust her—well, mostly," he added with a teasing look toward Chaos, who grinned in response.
Goll finally seemed to calm down, though she still looked somewhat bewildered. "I guess the legends really don't tell the full story."
"They rarely do," Ritsuka said, smiling softly. "But that's the beauty of living in the present. You get to make your own story, no matter what the legends say."
With that, the atmosphere relaxed again, and the group continued their conversation, the tension from the battlefield long gone. Whatever the future held, it was clear that Ritsuka's ever-growing family—now including Chaos herself—was ready to face it together.
Kukulkan, Erza and Milim then spoke. "I am kinda surprised you didn't add her to your harem".
Ritsuka just looked at her. "Not all the woman's in my life I want to have as my woman".
Chaos then spoke. "And not like he didn't give the offer before".
Ritsuka then looked at them. "Plus not like the other Primordial greek gods, like Gaia, Nyx and other when they saw me with who is basically there mother got scared that I would take there mom away from them"
Kukulkan chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "So, you actually made the Primordial Gods scared of you, huh? Guess it's not every day someone gets that reaction from gods like Gaia and Nyx."
Erza crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Ritsuka. "You've been making waves in places we haven't even seen yet. Sounds like there's more stories you haven't told us."
Milim, ever the energetic one, bounced up next to Ritsuka. "I think it's hilarious! The big bad Primordials freaked out because you were getting too close to their 'mother.'" She grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Bet they didn't expect you to be such a charmer."
Ritsuka scratched the back of his head with a slightly embarrassed smile. "It wasn't intentional. Gaia and Nyx are forces of nature, and they didn't really understand what was going on at first. When they saw me with Chaos, they assumed the worst."
Chaos laughed, her voice rich with the echoes of the cosmos. "It was amusing to see, honestly. Gaia especially, she practically begged me to keep you away. Nyx, on the other hand, was ready to curse you into oblivion if she thought you were going to 'steal' me."
Ritsuka shook his head. "Yeah, that was an awkward conversation. I had to explain to them that I wasn't interested in taking over their entire pantheon, just because I was close to Chaos. I mean, seriously, what do they think I am? A god collector?"
Erza smirked. "Considering how many powerful women you have around you, it's not hard to see why they'd think that."
Milim snickered. "But come on, how could they not? You've already got a literal army of goddesses and powerful women by your side. I mean, look around!"
Ritsuka let out a small sigh, his smirk betraying his amusement. "That's beside the point. Not every woman in my life needs to be part of my harem. Some relationships are just... different. Chaos and I have our own dynamic, but that doesn't mean we need to be romantically involved."
Chaos smiled softly, her cosmic aura shimmering faintly. "Exactly. Besides, I enjoy our relationship as it is. There's no need to complicate things, and we have history that goes beyond what most of you can comprehend."
Kukulkan nodded thoughtfully. "It makes sense. Not every bond needs to be romantic. Some connections transcend those boundaries, especially when dealing with beings as old and powerful as Chaos."
Ritsuka leaned back, crossing his arms with a relaxed grin. "Exactly. Chaos and I respect each other, and that's more than enough. And as for the Primordial gods... well, they'll just have to deal with it. I'm not here to disrupt their existence."
Milim playfully punched Ritsuka's shoulder. "Well, whatever happens, I'm sure you'll manage to keep things interesting! Whether it's adding new people to the harem or not."
Erza nodded in agreement. "Just don't forget about the ones already by your side, Ritsuka. We've been with you through a lot."
Ritsuka gave them all a warm smile. "Don't worry, I won't forget. Each of you is important to me in your own way, and that's never going to change."
Chaos stood up, stretching with a content sigh. "Well, that was a fun conversation. But I think it's time for me to return to my duties in the cosmos. Try not to get into too much trouble while I'm gone."
Ritsuka chuckled. "No promises."
With a final wave, Chaos faded into the shimmering ether, leaving behind only a faint trace of her cosmic presence. As the room settled, the remaining members of the group looked at each other, their bond stronger than ever.
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones