Chapter 85: Decisive Chess!

Above the opposite throne.

The figure shrouded in endless murderous aura seemed to find it somewhat dull.

It even switched to an even more languid posture.

Is that all?

The game begins!

Su Ming immersed himself in the game, his expression focused.

"Interesting!"

No wonder he's bad at chess!

Every move of the AI and that guy opposite was beyond his expectations.

It was so abstruse it made his scalp tingle!

At first, both sides placed pieces like flying arrows.

All moves were rigorously structured, balancing attack and defense.

But they lasted no more than ten moves.

The figure on the opposite throne slowly sat up straight.

A few more moves passed.

The intervals between his hand gestures issuing orders grew longer.

The murderous aura swirling around him surged wildly out of control!

He grew impatient!

In contrast, Su Ming.

Remained as calm as a still ancient well.

He even, after waiting so long, let out a bored yawn.

It was too brain‑burning; he couldn't comprehend…

He simply stopped watching!

A full half hour later.

Prompted by the Rule, the skeletal king finally moved again!

His arm dropped unwillingly.

Within the mysterious black formation, a demigod wielding a massive axe let out a desperate roar.

Stubbornly braving the crimson side's artillery, it shuffled forward one step!

Abandon the chariot to protect the general!

Seeing this, a hint of sarcasm finally appeared in Su Ming's eyes.

The tide has turned!

Is the next a trapped‑beast fight?

No!

It's the most cruel slow‑burn siege!

Su Ming put away his phone and slowly rose from his own throne.

He looked down over the vast, boundless divine‑and‑demon battlefield and took a deep breath.

"Soldiers advance seven, retreat one!"

Boom!

Within the crimson formation.

That line formed by countless ordinary soldiers had always served merely as cannon fodder and a defensive line.

But now!

The frontmost divine‑demon soldier's eyes erupted with divine light!

It moved!

In one step, it leapt across the boundary river formed by temporal‑spatial turbulence!

Crossing‑river pawn!

The moment it set foot on the opposite bank.

Its previously ordinary body swelled explosively, its momentum climbing step by step!

Charging forward without retreat, death and life intertwined!

Block?

No one can block now!

The black side's old General could only pace back and forth within the nine‑grid.

Watching this crossing pawn, step by step, it finally stopped in front of it!

Finishing blow!

A long sword cleaved down, blood splattered on the spot!

The entire divine‑and‑demon battlefield instantly fell into dead silence!

"You lost!"

Su Ming spoke softly, looking at the guy on the opposite throne.

Boom—!

The figure suddenly rose from the throne!

Endless murderous aura burst outward, finally revealing his true form!

Skeleton King!

In the hollow eye sockets, two clusters of eerie blue soul flames burn, enough to incinerate the star sea!

It is the very one who was on the altar before!

In the next second, the bone claw shimmering with dim light reaches Su Ming's head!

However…

Crack—

A faint sound.

The Skeleton King's movement abruptly halts.

He lowers his head in disbelief.

His right arm begins to shatter.

Immediately after…

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Bang—!!!!

The Skeleton King turns into a cloud of bone dust, returning to void!

"Huh…"

Su Ming stands in place, his mind and spirit unable to settle for a long while.

He can feel that the opponent truly intended to kill him!

He was almost truly dead!

But the Rule of this Wan Zai Chess Game saved him!

Loser, die!

No matter how strong, no matter how unwilling!

As long as you lose, everything is gone!

At that moment.

Below, that crimson sea of war stirs.

Countless divine and demon legions all look up together.

Their gazes are filled with frenzy!

Immediately after.

A figure steps out from the General's tent in a single stride.

Shedding the board's constraints, they pass through the dimensional barrier.

In an instant, they appear before Su Ming.

Clad in red-gold Dragon Scale armor, with a heroic visage and extraordinary bearing!

It is…

the General Chess!

He solemnly holds a tray with both hands.

On it, a chess piece made of starlight lies quietly!

"You are great!"

The red-gold sovereign's voice is deep and resonant, echoing with the clamor of golden spears and iron horses.

His gaze falls on Su Ming, full of admiration and approval.

"General, I've waited for you far too long!"

Su Ming says nothing, merely watching quietly.

"Eye of Truth, activate!"

Hum—!

Within his vision, the information of that starlight chess piece becomes clearly visible.

Name: Dingding Chess Piece

Quality: Legendary

Function: The world is a board, all beings are pieces! Holding this, one may assign up to 15 targets!

2 Chariots, 2 Horses, 2 Cannons, 2 Ministers, 2 Scholars, 5 Soldiers!

Chariot: "Rushing Straight"! Speed doubles during linear dash, with damage bonus!

Horse: "Stepping Gap Flash Move"! In complex terrain, movement speed does not decay, with a small chance to evade damage!

Cannon: "Barrier Blast Kill"! When attacking from behind cover at range, damage is increased!

Minister: "Close Guard Boost"! Near the Dingding Chess Piece holder, all attributes receive a slight increase!

Scholar: "Close Attendant Alert"! When moving toward the Dingding Chess Piece holder, speed doubles, and observation/reverse observation abilities improve!

Soldier: "Fight to the Death"! The poorer one's condition, the higher the damage!

"Sss!"

Good stuff!

Absolutely good stuff!

This is meant to make him…

Forge a private army?!

"Under my command, we lack a strategist like you, capable of setting the world's balance!"

The red-gold sovereign sees light in Su Ming's eyes, his smile deepening, and solemnly extends the tray forward.

With your help, I, the commander, can finally break this ten‑thousand‑year cycle, step off this board, and wage war across the heavens!

Then, you will be beneath one person yet above ten thousand others!

Su Ming smiled in thanks and took the Dingding Chess Piece!

Good!

The Red‑Gold King laughed heartily, spread his arms, and stepped forward.

"Come, let me, the commander, give a proper hug to the top contributor!"

Su Ming did not refuse and also spread his arms.

The two of them embraced tightly.

However, at that very moment.

Puff—!!!

The light clang of a blade entering flesh sounded especially harsh!

The smile on the Red‑Gold King's face instantly froze.

A pitch‑black dagger swirled with countless souls, at some point pierced his Dragon Scale armor that could resist divine weapons!

"You..."

His eyes were filled with shock and incomprehension.

Su Ming's face remained expressionless as he thrust his arm with force!

Puff! Puff! Puff!

One slash!

Two slashes!

Countless slashes!