Third-Person Perspective
The chess-patterned man tapped Hakoa Sora's forehead. A brilliant white light enveloped Sora's body as a translucent figure began to emerge. The process took several minutes until the figure fully separated.
Immediately afterward, the translucent figure shrank rapidly, condensing into a white king chess piece.
"You want to know about the other half? It's better if you discover that on your own."
The chess-patterned man extended his hand, grasped the piece, and tapped the table with his finger, disappearing from sight.
He reappeared in a different place.
A void.
A void filled with black smoke belonging to nothingness.
Here, there was no concept of time or space. Apart from the black smoke, there were vibrant, moving shapes—entire worlds. The chess-patterned man's complexion began to pale rapidly, his snowy white skin losing color as signs of decay appeared on his body.
No one could survive in the chaos! This zone was lethal to all forms of life.
"Whoosh!"
The man's expression remained calm, as if unaffected. He clapped his hands, and a white portal materialized before him.
Without hesitation, he leaped into the portal.
Like a crimson arrow, a red shadow darted through the silent void, following swiftly into the portal.
The portal gradually faded, vanishing without a trace.
"Haah…"
The chess-patterned man exhaled heavily, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.
He relaxed slightly, looked around, and nodded to himself in satisfaction.
The space he now occupied was a white-silver expanse stretching endlessly in all directions. There was no 'ground' or 'sky'; only white existed here.
With a snap of his fingers, a low white table appeared, accompanied by two cushions on opposite sides and two cups of tea.
The chess-patterned man seated himself on one of the cushions and resumed sipping his tea.
His expression was composed, and the earlier exhaustion disappeared. Within moments, the injuries on his body healed, and his attire was restored to its pristine state. He no longer appeared to have endured anything at all.
Quietly sipping tea, the chess-patterned man seemed entirely at ease. In this vast, isolated space, few could endure such solitude.
"Did you bring it?"
At some point, a black shadow materialized on the opposite side of the table. It made no sound as it settled down and also began sipping tea, equally relaxed. Its body was indistinct, formed of smoke. Hovering above it was a floating glass orb, inside which was a red shadow with wings and a long neck.
It was the same shadow that had slipped through the portal.
The chess-patterned man showed no surprise at its appearance. He nodded and said, "A former-chosen one with a suitable personality? Don't worry, I've found a good candidate."
"Still, do you think this will solve the problem so easily? Well, I have tp say: Things don't work that way in reality."
"Weren't you the one who suggested this solution?" the black shadow retorted. "Even so, after the complete failure with the clown, we have no choice but to try this. But what if this 'former chosen one' becomes another angry cat? You know, even that irritating clown you brought last time didn't turn into an angry cat."
"Didn't I say 'suitable personality'? Your worry is unfounded. I've seen this boy's memories and past."
"Oh, really? That's reassuring." The black shadow's voice was bitter. "Let's just hope the people of Cardinia stay quiet and don't ruin things prematurely. It would be such a waste to have it all fall apart too soon."
The chess-patterned man glanced at the crimson shadow confined within the orb.
"What will you do about the little lizard?"
"You don't expect me to Z it in, do you?" the black shadow refused firmly. "Ah, our sad and pitiful world has been invaded by outsiders enough as it is! Still, I suppose I'll let it in."
The chess-patterned man placed a finger on his chin, tilting his head as he said, "If the problem is as severe as you claim, then why hasn't another chosen one been born yet? That's peculiar. And with this woman you mentioned, I don't think the world cannot wield fate's power and create multiple chosen ones."
His tone was perplexed.
A complicated expression appeared on the black shadow's face. A brief memory flashed through its mind before it sighed and said, "There is a chosen one, unfortunately… their condition is a little-"
"Anyway, that's not my concern," the chess-patterned man interrupted, shrugging. He tossed the chess piece in his hand to the opposite side and said, "Sirius, with this, I've fulfilled my part of the deal."
The chess piece was none other than the soul of Hakua Sora, the young man he had met earlier.
"I don't care what happens in your world because I don't belong to it. So why should I care at all? I've entrusted the 'former chosen one' with the task you wanted, so just hope he doesn't die too quickly and completes his mission."
"I've given him a little assistance now; with that, you'll recognize him later easily. You can even help him if you wish."
Without waiting for Sirius's reply, the chess-patterned man waved his hand and said, "I've reached my limit. I'll take my leave now."
Cracks appeared across his body. From these fissures, ethereal black smoke seeped out.
The chess patterns in his eyes glowed with a deep silver radiance as he cast one final glance at the chess piece, chuckled softly, and disappeared like mist, never to return.
He was never seen again.
Sirius raised his hands in indifference.
His features were still indistinct, but his voice was lazy.
"The boy's destiny depends on him and no one else. I'll only lend him a bit of help. If he manages to kill the angry cat, that's something to celebrate. If not, what else can we do? I'll just wait for another outsider from you!"
Sirius touched his chin thoughtfully, falling silent for a long time.
"I suppose you still have some use in the end…"
He shattered the glass orb and touched the crimson shadow with his palm. Black lines swiftly appeared on the shadow, wrapping around and binding it completely.
He picked it up and placed it on the table.
"With this, my wager is complete." Sirius smiled, pulling a black chess piece from his pocket and placing it on the table.
"Whoosh!"
A black hole replaced the table, swallowing all three objects within.
Sirius's body disintegrated into dust, vanishing quickly.
Within moments, the white expanse returned to its usual calm and stillness.