I saw Alina's, Elijah's, Rowan's, and my mother's astral figures gathered around me with worried expressions on their faces. Lumina fluttered nearby, her tiny form almost lost among the towering figures.
Alina, her eyes searching mine, spoke first: "Magnus, we can't just stand by while you face these trials alone. We need to help you, especially in the Astral Realm."
I sighed, realizing the depth of their worry. "I appreciate your concern, but the Astral Realm is a dangerous place. I can't risk your safety. The trials are tailored to my abilities, and I need to face them alone."
Elijah argued, "But what if something goes wrong? What if you need backup? We can't just stay here and do nothing."
Rowan added, "Magnus, we've faced dangers together before. We're a team, and we look out for each other."
My mother, with eyes that conveyed both sympathy and concern, stepped forward. "Magnus, you're not alone in this. We can combine our strengths and face whatever challenges come our way. You don't have to bear this burden alone."
I shook my head, grateful for their loyalty but resolute in my decision. "Opening the gate to the Astral Realm is risky. It requires precision, and any mistake could have dire consequences. I can't put you all in that kind of danger."
Lumina chirped, her eyes pleading with me. She was a part of this, but even she couldn't fully convey the complexities of the Astral Realm.
I patted her and said, "Not you too."
Alina insisted, "We've faced risks together, Magnus. We're not afraid. Let us help you."
I looked at each of them, appreciating their determination yet holding firm. "I need to do this on my own. Trust me, it's the safest way."
Elijah crossed his arms, frustrated. "Dimwit, you're being too stubborn. We're a team, remember?"
I nodded. "And as a team, we need to trust each other's judgment. Mine is telling me this is something I must do alone."
A tense silence ensued as they looked at each other, debating the circumstances.
My mother, the voice of reason, spoke, "Son, if this is your decision, we'll respect it. But promise us you'll be careful. We'll be waiting for you here."
She clenched her fist as she continued, "But once you come back to the mortal realm, you will deal with my wrath."
Despite my sadness, I laughed. I had no right to be happy.
I gave her a smile and said, "Okay, mom. I will be waiting." She patted my head and said, "Sure. All the best."
Suddenly, I was teleported to the next floating island. As I took in the surroundings, a hauntingly familiar voice echoed through the astral currents—the malevolent doppelganger.
"Well, well, Magnus," the sinister version of me sneered. "I see you've managed to stumble your way through the maze. But don't get too comfortable. The real challenges are just beginning."
I tensed, preparing for whatever new trial awaited me.
The evil doppelganger materialized before me, a wicked grin on its face. "Welcome to the Ultimate Battle of Wits, Magnus. This is a game—a chess match—that will test your strategic prowess. Win, and you proceed. Lose, and... well, let's not think about that, shall we?"
The astral landscape transformed into a giant chessboard, with the pieces suspended in mid-air. The pieces weren't traditional; instead, they bore the semblance of various astral creatures.
King - Astral Monarch: The Astral Monarch, a regal and majestic being, emitted a radiant aura that symbolized its authority over the astral realm.
Queen - Celestial Sorceress: The Celestial Sorceress, adorned in flowing robes of astral mist, wielded a scepter that harnessed the power of distant galaxies.
Rook - Nebula Guardian: Nebula Guardians, towering entities with swirling astral vortexes, stood as sentinels on the board.
Bishop - Seraphic Emissary: Seraphic Emissaries, ethereal beings with celestial wings, glided gracefully across the astral board.
Knight - Luminous Steed: Luminous Steeds, astral creatures with a gleaming mane of stardust, galloped with unpredictable agility.
Pawn - Astral Acolyte: Astral Acolytes, small yet resilient entities, emanated a subtle luminescence.
The rules of this celestial chess match were known only to my doppelganger.
With a sly smile, it gestured to the board. "Shall we begin?"
I raised my hands and shouted, "Wait! At least tell me the rules."
My doppelganger smirked, "Uh. You caught me. Here are the rules." He sent a flying book into my hands and said, "I will give you ten minutes. Then we start the game." I nodded as I opened the book.
It read:
Astral Essence Moves: Each chess piece contained an Astral Essence, representing its unique abilities. The player could harness the essence to influence the movement and actions of the astral pieces. The king is the main source of the astral essence.
Mind Link: The player and the doppelganger were mentally linked to the chess pieces. This link allowed them to perceive the unfolding strategies, foreseeing the opponent's moves and adjusting their own accordingly. It can be used only once.
Astral Challenges: Certain squares on the chessboard were marked as challenges. Landing on these squares triggered ethereal trials that tested the player's intellect and astral prowess. Success in these challenges grants strategic advantages.
Cunning Gambits: The doppelganger could employ cunning gambits, introducing unpredictable elements to the game. These gambits aimed to disrupt the player's plans and force them into precarious situations.
Checkmate and Progression: The ultimate goal was to reach the opponent's king, symbolizing a checkmate. Winning the chess match allowed progression to the next astral trial, while losing entailed unknown consequences.
I finished reading the book and glared at my doppelganger and said, "You made this match in your favor. Bastard." The doppelgänger gave an evil laugh.
He pointed to me and said, "You are right. Anyway, the time is up. Let the match begin."
The chess game had started. I took a deep breath, focusing on the floating board before me. The malevolent doppelganger mirrored my intensity, his sinister grin revealing a thirst for victory.
I started by moving by the bishop's pawn once. I planned to use the Caro Kann opening. The doppelganger responded by advancing his knight, a cunning gambit that hinted at a strategic twist. Then I moved the queen's pawn twice.
The doppelganger, in response to my opening moves, mirrored my pawn advancement. His malevolent laughter echoed through the astral realm as he moved his dark-squared bishop diagonally.
Opting for a bold strategy, I maneuvered my knight to a challenge square. A piece of parchment stood up. There was a riddle in it. It read:
[ RIDDLES: Solve to get a strategy boost]
[ RIDDLE 1 ]
[ I have cities, but no houses. I have ]
[ mountains, but no trees. I have water, ]
[ but no fish. What am I? ]
I thought hard, but the answer wasn't reaching my head. I pondered, Something that has cities but no houses... hm... this is hard. I thought for some time, and then the answer struck me. It was a 'MAP.'
I shouted, "Map." The parchment lit up and signaled that it was okay. I had passed the challenge.
The chessboard transformed into a realm of shifting constellations, and I navigated the astral patterns, unlocking deeper insights into the upcoming moves.
The doppelganger, sensing my growing strategies, unleashed his first cunning gambit. His queen danced across the board, creating illusory duplicates that obscured the true position of his king. I focused on the mental link to discern the real threat.
I glared at him and said, "This isn't a battle of wits at this point. You really don't have any brains."
My doppelganger snickered and said, "Does it look like I care? You are merely a bitter loser."
The mid-game unfolded with strategic maneuvers and counter-maneuvers. I advanced my pawns cautiously, maintaining control of the center while keeping an eye on the elusive doppelganger's king.
I smirked as I looked at the center. "We will see about that soon."
I realized the need for additional strength, so I directed my rook to an Astral Challenge square. I pondered, Will it be another riddle?
The parchment stood in place, and it read:
[BRAIN TEASERS: Solve to gain 'The Second Chance']
[ BRAIN TEASER 1 ]
[ A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the ]
[ other. The man calls his dog, who immediately ]
[ crosses the river without getting wet and without ]
[ using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it? ]
What the hell is this question? How did they even cross the river? I thought of the answer, but I couldn't get it. My doppelganger was laughing at me. This made me more motivated for the answer. At that moment, I remembered a scene from Frozen 2, where Elsa was trying to cross the ocean. It struck me.
I pointed to the parchment and said, "The river was frozen." I smirked as I looked at the annoyed face of my doppelganger. "Beat that!"
The parchment began to glow, indicating that my response was correct. I had gained a second chance.
As the match approached its climax, the positions of our kings became pivotal. The doppelganger's moves became more unpredictable, forcing me to think several moves ahead. I had to use my second chance to rethink my strategies. It was a do-or-die situation.
In a daring sacrifice, I positioned my queen to threaten the doppelganger's king. He responded by entangling my rook in a web of deceptive moves.
I looked evil at my doppelganger and said, "You're in my hand."
"Checkmate."