As soon as the first round began, the character controlled by Eriri launched a fierce attack. Judging by the action, it was an almost one-sided beatdown. (Continued)

Of course, he'd have to pay komi for it.

"Please."

Watanabe Yoshitaka gestured for him to begin.

He was inviting Izumi to attack as he pleased.

"Tap!"

Hasegawa Izumi picked up a stone between two fingers, unhurriedly. Then he fixed his gaze on a spot and placed it on the board with a crisp click. It was as if a golden light flashed before everyone's eyes.

Everyone stared at the board.

His first move had landed on the Tengen!

Heaven and Earth Unite!

To someone who didn't know Go, there was nothing surprising about playing the first stone anywhere on the board. But to someone who knew even a little about Go, the Tengen was hardly a good choice for the opening move.

Go was all about making liberties. Players usually took a star point first to make attacking and killing easier. Playing at the Tengen could leave a group vulnerable to having its liberties tightened, making it harder to control the strategic space of the board.

At the same time, opening at the Tengen was considered disrespectful to one's opponent. It was best not to play the first stone there.

Of course, some players of earlier generations had tried it, but their reasons varied from person to person.

For now, at least, the spectators had only two thoughts.

Either this guy was a complete beginner, playing randomly, and the match was just a farce.

Or he was being deliberately disrespectful, convinced he could win no matter what he played, so he simply didn't care.

The spectators watched in silence. Though the other members of the Go Club said nothing, their strange expressions were impossible to miss.

"What's going on? Was there something wrong with Izumi's move?"

Takanashi Rikka whispered in Fujiwara Chika's ear.

"It's because..."

Fujiwara Chika quietly explained.

"I'm sure Izumi-chan has a reason for it."

She still believed in him.

"Hasegawa-kun, was that a mistake? Or..."

Watanabe Yoshitaka hesitated before finally asking.

He was starting to wonder if his opponent was just trying to drum up attention and had no intention of playing seriously.

"This is the Heaven and Earth Unite style."

Hasegawa Izumi raised his eyes slightly and looked at his opponent as he spoke.

Is that some kind of Joseki? How come I've never heard of it? Is this guy trying to bluff me?

Watanabe Yoshitaka's mind filled with complaints, and his gaze turned strange.

"Please continue."

He prompted his opponent.

It was only natural that his opponent couldn't understand.

Forget someone who'd only just passed the professional exam—even a ninth-dan master might not understand its subtleties.

After all, this technique had already surpassed the ordinary, so it was only natural that no one had heard of it.

He was only here to win the Go match, so there was no need to explain any more.

"Very well."

Watanabe Yoshitaka stopped dwelling on it. His eyes sharpened as he focused on the game.

Whether his opponent was pretending to be a master or was really a beginner, he had to win this match for the Go Club's reputation.

After thinking it over, he chose a corner to occupy.

But just as he placed his stone—

Tap.

Hasegawa Izumi placed another stone without the slightest hesitation.

Watanabe Yoshitaka still couldn't understand what this move was meant to accomplish.

And yet, inexplicably, he felt a very real pressure.

No, don't be afraid! Maybe it's just a psychological tactic. I only need to play my own game. Hasegawa wasted his opening advantage, so my odds of winning should be pretty good! I've got the advantage now!

A bead of cold sweat ran down Watanabe Yoshitaka's forehead.

As the game continued, his opponent kept placing stones quickly, as if he hadn't given them any thought at all.

The more he played like that, the more sweat gathered on Watanabe Yoshitaka's brow.

If the players themselves felt this way, the spectators were even more bewildered.

What on earth was going on? What were they even playing?

Faced with this bizarre sight, no one dared to speak.

It was no exaggeration to say that, apart from Hasegawa Izumi, nobody present could make sense of the game.

"How's it going now, Fujiwara-san?"

Takanashi Rikka tugged on Fujiwara's sleeve and asked anxiously.

"I-I can't make sense of it, Takanashi-san... Maybe their skills are just too high? But so far, I can't tell who has the advantage."

Swirling symbols appeared in Fujiwara Chika's eyes, and her voice had taken on a robotic tone.

Her brain had clearly overloaded from all the calculations.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

By now, Watanabe Yoshitaka had devoted his full attention to the board, trying to figure out how to win. The only sound was the steady, crisp clicking of stones as they fell, each one striking straight to the heart.

"Am I at a disadvantage? When did that happen?"

Suddenly, as he surveyed the whole board, his pupils shrank.

In theory, his setup should have given him the advantage. After all, his opponent had opened at the Tengen!

He swallowed and reached into the bowl for a stone, only to find that his hand had missed one.

How could that be?

Watanabe Yoshitaka glanced to the side and realized he'd reached into the wrong place. His expression turned awkward.

He picked up a stone and prepared to place it, but halfway through, he hesitated again.

That move won't work! I need to play somewhere else!

He wavered until the countdown began.

"Ten... nine..."

I'll just have to trust my instincts!

Time was running out. With a sigh, Watanabe Yoshitaka placed his stone near the edge, blocking his opponent.

Tap.

Golden light flashed across the board again. For a moment, he even thought he was imagining it.

But when he looked at the board again, cold sweat poured down his back.

This move had a completely different effect from the previous ones. His disadvantage was now unmistakable.

Could this guy actually be giving me a Simultaneous Game?

He looked up.

His opponent sat right in front of him, his expression barely changed, calm as ever. Like an immortal seated high among the clouds, he had everything under control as he looked down over the board.

Only then did Watanabe Yoshitaka feel the pressure rising within him. It was no less imposing than that of his ninth-dan master.

I'm going to lose!

He recognized it clearly.

The others who understood the rules had also begun to see how the game was turning out.

"The Club President is going to lose?"

The club members felt their hearts sink.

"Izumi-chan is going to win!"

Fujiwara Chika's face lit up with delight.

Everyone wore a different expression.

Even so, Watanabe Yoshitaka refused to give up and struggled through a few more moves.

"It's over."

Hasegawa Izumi murmured. He raised a stone high, then declared with ringing authority:

"Heaven!"

"Earth!"

"Unite!"

Heaven and Earth Unite!

In that instant, from Watanabe Yoshitaka's perspective, the person before him radiated a mysterious aura. A golden current flowed along his arm and the stone, like a dragon reaching out its claw, before the stone landed!

Tap!

Brilliant light burst forth again, so dazzling that he could barely keep his eyes open.

When he opened them again, the game was already over.

The white stones had been utterly defeated!

"I lost."

After the game ended, Watanabe Yoshitaka conceded without hesitation. He placed his hands on his knees and bowed his head slightly.

"Mm."

Hasegawa Izumi nodded gently, without the slightest hint of pride.

For him, a victory like this was only natural.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

Asahi Shizuku applauded and praised them.

"That was a truly spectacular game."

The result of this match had completely exceeded her expectations.

This victory proved one thing.

Hasegawa was serious. He wasn't joking around!

That made this news worth recording, and the challenges to come worthwhile, too.

So she was much more enthusiastic now.

Who would be the next victim...?!