Victory in the Chess Game

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[Purchase: Skill: Grandmaster of All Chess - 250 Points]

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[Skill: Grandmaster of All Chess has been equipped.]

A vast torrent of information—knowledge of various chess games, openings, midgame tactics, endgame techniques, classic matches, and positional judgment—flooded into Kazehara Tetsu's mind and swiftly merged with his existing thoughts.

In an instant, when he looked at the International Chess board before him again, the feeling was Completely Different.

The strengths and weaknesses of every opening, the possible follow-up variations for each move, all manner of classic tactical combinations, and positional judgment were as clear as an innate instinct.

"Please guide me well, Classmate Sakayanagi."

Kazehara Tetsu's voice was calm, yet carried an unshakable, powerful confidence.

And so, borrowing a seat from a senior, the Two People began their Chess Match.

"Let's guess for the first move."

Sakayanagi Arisu said, picking up a white pawn and a black pawn, preparing for the customary coin toss to decide who goes first.

"No need."

Kazehara Tetsu made a gesture of invitation. "Ladies first. I'll take black."

As soon as he said this, faint murmurs arose from the surroundings.

In International Chess, moving first with white does indeed hold a slight advantage, which often becomes more important in higher-level games.

"In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

She extended her slender fingers and pushed the e2 pawn to e4.

A standard King's Pawn Opening, aiming to control the center and open the line for the King's Bishop.

Kazehara Tetsu responded almost without hesitation, moving the e7 pawn to e5. A symmetrical King's Pawn Opening.

The opening phase passed without incident, both sides methodically developing their pieces and contesting the center.

Sakayanagi Arisu's move speed was not slow, showing a solid foundation and proficiency.

As for Kazehara Tetsu, his responses were so fast they barely required thought, as if everything was within his expectations.

Soon, both sides had castled on the board, moving their kings to relatively safe flanks.

When the pieces were mostly deployed and the contact battle was about to begin, Sakayanagi Arisu struck first.

Using a tempo, she moved her queen to the King's Wing, forming a potential attack combination with her bishop and knight, threatening Kazehara Tetsu's seemingly solid King's Wing position.

"A very sharp attacking start," Kazehara Tetsu evaluated inwardly.

Sakayanagi Arisu's chess style carried clear aggression, skilled at finding and creating opportunities.

If it were an ordinary amateur expert, they might quickly crumble under her storm-like assault.

However, in the eyes of Kazehara Tetsu, who possessed Master Level vision, this wave of attack, though fierce, was not without flaws.

He precisely calculated the next dozen or so variations and found that purely defending would put him in a passive position, but if he went against the grain instead...

He didn't choose to reinforce the King's Wing. Instead, he suddenly played a seemingly inconsequential move: Queen d8 to e7!

This move both strengthened the protection of the e5 pawn and secretly committed his queen to a potential counterattack in the center, while also opening up the d7 Square for the c8 bishop's escape route.

Sakayanagi Arisu's offensive momentum stalled. She keenly sensed that if she continued to press the King's Wing attack, her own rear might expose a weakness. She had to spend a move adjusting a Pawn Structure to consolidate the center.

Kazehara Tetsu immediately seized this opportunity, pinning Sakayanagi Arisu's knight while threatening to weaken the white side's King's Wing defense through exchanges at an opportune moment.

The Chess Game instantly shifted from Sakayanagi Arisu's one-sided attack into a complex midgame struggle.

Every move Kazehara Tetsu made not only neutralized the opponent's threats but also continuously accumulated small advantages—a better Pawn Structure, more active piece positions.

Sakayanagi Arisu's brow furrowed tighter and tighter, and her move speed noticeably slowed.

She found that the Kazehara Tetsu before her had a seasoned chess style, deep calculations, and an extremely profound understanding of the position.

Every response he made felt uncomfortable for her, as if all her intentions were seen through and all her attack routes were blocked in advance.

Was he really "just a little"? This was clearly professional-level, or even higher!

The surrounding spectators, especially the club members who understood chess, also saw the trick.

The Two People's chess skills before them were nothing like what someone their age should possess—too strong!

"This... these two are way too skilled... so strong!" someone whispered in awe.

"Especially that guy, his calculation power is terrifying."

On the board, Chess Pieces were continuously exchanged.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Sakayanagi Arisu's forehead.

She tightly pressed her Lips, her eyes fixed on the board, trying to find a glimmer of hope for a comeback.

Kazehara Tetsu, however, remained calm and composed.

He even had the leisure to glance at Sakayanagi Arisu, savoring the sight of this proud girl trapped in a desperate situation during their mental duel—her unwillingness and stubbornness laid bare.

In the end, Kazehara Tetsu used a rook-and-bishop coordination to create an unstoppable checkmate threat.

Either lose the rook, or be checkmated.

Sakayanagi Arisu's fingers hovered over the chessboard for a long time before finally falling weakly.

She gently tipped over her own king—a gesture of surrender.

"I lost."

Her voice remained calm, but if one listened closely, a faint tremor could be detected.

For someone who always presented herself as composed, this was already a significant emotional fluctuation.

Kazehara Tetsu looked at the girl across from him, her head lowered, and said nothing.

He knew that this victory carried far more weight for Sakayanagi Arisu than the one he had won earlier by exploiting a loophole in the rules.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked up, her expression already restored to its usual indifference.

"You deceived me, Kagihara."

She said slowly, "You said you 'only know a little.'"

"I did say that,"

Kazehara Tetsu admitted openly, "But what I didn't say is that my 'little' might be a bit different from what others understand as 'little.'"

He paused, a hint of amusement in his tone, "Besides, isn't it easier to win when your opponent underestimates you? That's also a strategy."

Sakayanagi Arisu was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"It seems I not only underestimated your methods, but also your chess skills—or rather, your 'learning ability'?" She implied, clearly suspecting that Kazehara Tetsu had deliberately held back before.

"But next time, I won't let you win so easily."

"Anytime." The corner of Kazehara Tetsu's mouth lifted into a confident smile.

Just then, a senpai walked over, his eyes full of admiration, "Both of your chess skills are top-notch. Would you be interested in joining our club? You could represent the school in various competitions in the future."

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Kazehara Tetsu. She didn't speak, only quietly gazed at him, as if waiting for something.

Seeing this, Kazehara Tetsu shrugged helplessly, then spread his hands and said, "Didn't I already say it before? I don't want to waste my time on something like this."

Sakayanagi Arisu slowly turned to the senpai, a faint smile appearing on her face, "I'm really sorry! I might have to pass on your club. After all, seeing your level of chess just now, it really doesn't spark any interest."

Though her words were tactful, their meaning was unmistakable.

She had no interest in this club, and even felt their chess skills weren't worth her participation.