Chapter 9

The voice that echoed in Chen Anya's mind made his expression even more solemn, but his hand did not hesitate. He directly picked up a chess piece and was about to place it on the position the voice had indicated.

Chen Anya was already certain that the voice in his mind was not a sudden inspiration of his own.

As for what it actually was, Chen Anya did not yet know.

However, Chen Anya only needed to know that this voice could help him defeat the annoying brat in front of him, and that was enough.

Indeed, Chen Anya, who originally did not dare to hope for a win, immediately felt a wild ambition to win after the voice appeared consecutively.

*Clack!*

With a crisp sound, the black piece landed precisely on the board.

"This move... this move..."

Ichiru Shinji, looking at the move Chen Anya made, couldn't help but be taken aback.

Chen Anya's move was not a response to Ichiru Shinji's attack but instead placed a piece at the 16th row and 15th column, which is the high point in the upper right corner.

The small point is a position near the edge next to the star point, while the high point is a position farther from the edge on the star point.

Chen Anya already had a piece on the star point in the upper right corner.

Now, these two black pieces, placed side by side, echoed with the black piece Chen Anya had placed at the 12th row and 15th column, forming an unconventional two-line three-space formation.

Although Chen Anya's two-line three-space formation did not immediately threaten the white pieces that had already invaded the upper right corner, nor did it consolidate the precarious territory in the upper right corner,

it had already built a defensive fortress.

If the white pieces did not take action, the black pieces could very well use this defensive fortress as a stepping stone to reclaim the lost territory in the upper right corner.

"Is this a coincidence... or..."

Ichiru Shinji's heart wavered.

However, Ichiru Shinji quickly calmed his wavering heart.

Because Ichiru Shinji firmly believed that no matter what, the winner of this game would be himself.

Without hesitation, Ichiru Shinji directly picked up a white piece and placed it at the 17th row and 17th column, which is the three-three point in the upper right corner, directly invading the heart of the black territory in the upper right corner.

Ichiru Shinji's move did not choose a stable reinforcement but instead aggressively declared war on the black pieces again.

At this moment, the black and white pieces seemed to transform into two armies, one building defenses and the other waving flags and beating drums, ready for a major battle.

For a moment, on the battlefield of the chessboard, silent smoke and a tense atmosphere were spreading.

Without realizing it, the spectators held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Even Miki Yuki was completely absorbed by the game, carefully observing the black pieces, trying to understand her father's chess principles.

In another world, Sanki Soji once again replicated Ichiru Shinji's three-three move.

Upon seeing this move, Sanki Soji did not hesitate at all, directly picking up and placing a piece with fluid and graceful movements, a sight pleasing to the eye.

Sanki Soji's move did not respond to Ichiru Shinji's declaration of war but instead placed a piece in the upper left corner, targeting the white piece at the star point in the upper left corner, making a two-space high approach.

This two-space high approach was placed at the same row as the white piece at the star point in the upper left corner, with a two-point interval.

Moreover, this two-space high approach formed a three-point large jump with the black piece already placed in the middle star point, mutually supporting, ready to attack or defend.

Seeing this, Ichiru Shinji's brows furrowed, his expression changing, and he held a white piece in his hand but hesitated to place it.

Ichiru Shinji did not expect that the black pieces, which were originally scattered in the upper left corner, would be connected by this two-space high approach.

At this moment, in Ichiru Shinji's eyes, the black pieces in the upper left corner were like a weak, sick cat that had transformed into a lion gradually baring its fangs.

No, more accurately, the black pieces in the upper left corner were a lion from the beginning.

It was just that before, this lion was sleeping and pretending, so it appeared weak and powerless.

Now, this lion has been awakened...

It seemed to notice Ichiru Shinji's scrutiny, and in Ichiru Shinji's eyes, the lion suddenly lifted its head and let out a domineering roar.

"Roar!!"

The sound waves surged, as if substantial, echoing in Ichiru Shinji's ears, making him feel fear.

This fear made Ichiru Shinji's proud heart feel humiliated, and he became angry.

Ichiru Shinji suddenly looked up at Chen Anya, his eyes fixed on him, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Why did you pretend to be a beginner? Is it to humiliate me?"

Without waiting for Chen Anya's response, Ichiru Shinji, for the first time, showed a determined look and said firmly, "No matter what you want to do, the winner of this game will be me."

"And you are destined to become a stepping stone for me on the path to becoming a Go Saint."

As he spoke, Ichiru Shinji no longer hesitated and placed a piece.

The club members watching the game, for the first time, felt Ichiru Shinji's firm belief and slightly changed their perception of him.

But it was only a slight change; Ichiru Shinji was still seen as a delinquent, arrogant, conceited, and difficult to get along with...

Chen Anya, upon hearing Ichiru Shinji's words, remained silent and did not respond.

Because Chen Anya did not know how to answer Ichiru Shinji's question.

Should he say, "I am really a beginner, but there is a voice in my mind teaching me how to play chess?"

Not to mention whether anyone would believe this, just considering Ichiru Shinji's personality, he would definitely think Chen Anya was humiliating him again after hearing such a 'far-fetched' statement.

Such an answer would not only fail to resolve Ichiru Shinji's problem but also make the situation more complicated, clearly not a good choice.

As for the path to becoming a Go Saint that Ichiru Shinji mentioned, in Chen Anya's view, it should be the 'Go Saint' title among the seven major titles.

In the world mission issued by the system, the Go Saint title is also one of them.

This means that in the future, there is a high possibility that Chen Anya will also strive for the Go Saint title.

It is just unknown whether, at that time, Ichiru Shinji will be a companion on the path to becoming a Go Saint, ahead of Chen Anya, or... already left behind by Chen Anya.

On the other side, Sanki Soji, through his daughter, learned of Ichiru Shinji's determination. His serious expression slightly changed, and he murmured, "Aiming to become a Go Saint... What a coincidence..."

As he spoke, Sanki Soji's spirit and energy continued to rise, quickly reaching its peak, and a formidable aura enveloped him.

In the process, Sanki Soji slowly picked up a black piece, looked at the chessboard, his eyes shining, and said solemnly, "Since that is the case, let me, in the name of the Go Saint, respond to your determination!"

"Boy named Ichiru Shinji, come, let me feel how firm your determination to become a Go Saint is!"

Then, a black streak of light flashed through the air and landed heavily on the chessboard.

*Clack!*

...