Supported by the pillars of ice, Zheng Fan and Alphamon finally filled the board. Looking at the board with nowhere left to play, Alphamon reluctantly tossed aside the white piece already raised to place. Though black and white pieces crisscrossed the board, Alphamon knew without counting that the game was lost.
"You won. Could you tell me what you think of me?" Alphamon asked humbly.
"There's nothing to evaluate. I had better luck than you, right from birth. That's why I won," Zheng Fan replied.
"I know there's a much wider world beyond this one. The people there can see their entire world clearly from the moment they're born. But that isn't why you defeated me. Nor do I believe that explanation." Alphamon stared at Zheng Fan, refusing to accept his reasoning.
Zheng Fan thought for a moment, then said, "First, no one can see the world clearly. Even my birth only gave me a higher starting point and let me see more. No one has ever seen the entire world clearly. And if I must give a reason why I beat you, then it would have to be sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?" Alphamon asked in confusion. "Putting the bigger picture first?"
"Take a good look at my current condition." Zheng Fan stopped suppressing his aura, exposing himself to everyone's senses.
"Your power is only at Champion level," Alphamon said in surprise.
"I know how vast the world is, and I understand how insignificant life can be. Back home, when sacrifice is necessary, the strongest and highest-ranking people charge to the front," Zheng Fan said with a smile.
"Wouldn't sacrificing the strongest harm the bigger picture?" Alphamon had begun to understand what Zheng Fan meant, but still couldn't make sense of it.
"That's why we don't pin our hopes on the strong.