In his childhood, when Ming You was just ten years old, his life changed dramatically. His mother became mired in debt, and his father, unable to bear the burden, abandoned the family. In this chaos, Ming You sought salvation in hobbies—something that could distract him from dark thoughts and add color to his gray existence. He tried football, volleyball, baseball, and even hockey, but none of these activities brought him satisfaction.

One day, sitting at a chessboard, he felt he had found what he was searching for. Chess became for him not just a game, but a true art form where he could express his intellect and strategic thinking. However, soon his attention was drawn to something more dynamic—basketball. He watched as the ball soared into the hoop, as players battled for victory, and realized that this was exactly what he needed.

By the age of fourteen, Ming You's life changed again when his mother committed suicide, unable to cope with the debts and despair. This was a devastating blow for him, but during this dark period, a girl named Sun Hee, with long light brown hair, helped him cope with the loss.

"Ming You, are you okay?" she asked, looking at him with concern. "You look very sad."

"I'm just thinking about my mom," he replied, trying to hide his emotions. "She wouldn't want me to feel this way."

"You're not alone," Sun Hee said, taking his hand. "I'm always here. We can get through this together."

One day, during another chess game, Ming You decided to play with her on the edge of manipulation. He made her sacrifice her queen, assuring her it was just a joke, that he was doing it for love.

"Are you sure you want to continue?" he asked with a sly smile. "Maybe we should just play something else?"

"Are you crazy?" Sun Hee exclaimed. "Do you really want me to sacrifice my queen? That's not fair!"

"But it's for love," Ming You said, winking. "You want me to win, right?"

She looked at him in confusion but eventually agreed.

"Okay, if it makes you happy," she sighed, sacrificing the piece. "But you know this isn't fair, right?"

Ming You won, but his joy was overshadowed by the question she asked, looking at him in bewilderment.

"Are you willing to kill for victory?" she asked, looking him in the eyes.

"What? No, of course not," he replied, embarrassed. "You're more important to me than any victory. I was just joking."

"I hope you haven't forgotten that," Sun Hee said, smiling faintly. "Sometimes victory can cost too much."

"We'll be together, no matter what," he reassured her. "I won't let anything tear us apart." Ming You confidently said, then kissed Sun Hee, and they fell onto the bed.

However, Ming You's happiness was short-lived. Soon, his uncle and aunt decided to take him in and move to another city. This meant he would have to part with the girl who had become his source of light in the darkest times.

"Ming You, we need to talk," his uncle said as they sat at the table.

"About what?" Ming You asked, feeling his heart tighten.

"We've decided it would be best if you moved in with us," his uncle said. "We want you to live with us. It will be better for you."

"But I don't want to leave!" Ming You exclaimed, unable to hold back his tears. "I can't leave Sun Hee!"

"This is not up for discussion," his uncle said, his voice turning stern. "You need to think about your future."

"But she's important to me!" Ming You insisted. "I can't just leave everything behind!"

"Ming You," his aunt interjected, "we understand how hard this is for you, but this decision has been made for your own good."

After the discussions, Ming You, along with his uncle and aunt, got into a taxi and headed to another city.

After moving, Ming You desperately tried to practice basketball, as there was no one left to play chess with, and he channeled all his aggression into the game, hoping to escape reality by immersing himself completely in it.

A whole year passed since Ming You was forced to part with Sun Hee. This year became a true test for him. He sank into depression, losing interest in everything around him, but trying to release his aggression during basketball training, which did not help. Each day felt like the last, and his only solace came from thoughts of revenge and victory. He dreamed of returning and showing everyone that he was not broken.

Ming You looked at himself in the mirror, seeing a sixteen-year-old boy, 178 centimeters tall, his black hair nearly reaching his nose, his eyes and forehead unobscured, but his eyes were completely empty, like darkness; yet, within them, one could still attempt to find humanity. Ming You stared at himself, trying to figure out how to cope with his despair.

One day, when his uncle and aunt returned home, Ming You could no longer contain the growing tension. He knew they could not understand his pain and would never appreciate his passion for victory. Suddenly, madness overtook him.

"Uncle, aunt, or mom and dad, if you prefer, the shower in the bathroom seems to be broken, and I'd like to talk to you," Ming You innocently called out, putting on gloves and sliding a knife under his shirt.

"Dear, he called us parents. Finally, he acknowledged us today," his uncle said to his wife. "Let's see what's going on," he replied to Ming You, unaware of his intentions.

"Ming You, I'm glad you called us. While your uncle checks the shower, we can talk; after all, we're here to help you," his aunt said kindly.

"Yes, I have something to tell you, but I don't think the dead will be interested," Ming You said indifferently, closing the bathroom door.

"What are you talking about?" Meanwhile, Ming You had already pulled the knife from under his shirt.

"The shower is fine, what's wrong?" his uncle said before turning around, but Ming You was already cutting his aunt's throat when his uncle saw what was happening.

"Are you out of your mind?!" his uncle shouted, trying to break free as Ming You lunged at him.

"This is for victory!" Ming You growled, ignoring their pleas.

A stab... Splatter...

Ming You plunged the knife into his uncle's throat. Shortly after, he dismembered their bodies, erasing all traces as if it were just another task.

When he finished, he carefully placed the body parts into garbage bags and took a shower, washing the blood off himself. Then Ming You took all the money in the house and went outside with the "trash" bags, throwing them into a dumpster.

His heart raced in his chest, but he felt adrenaline coursing through him. He took a taxi back to the old city, determined to reunite with Sun Hee.

When they met, she looked happy, and his heart shattered with pain.

"Hi, Ming You! How are you?" she asked with a smile.

"I'm... okay," he replied, trying to hide his feelings. "How about you? Is everything good?"

"Yes, I have a boyfriend now," she said, and her words pierced him like a knife.

"A boyfriend?" he repeated, trying not to reveal his pain. "Congratulations."

"Thank you! Can we go for a walk?" she suggested, unaware of his internal struggle.

"Yeah, sure, how about we walk to that abandoned building where we had so much fun?" Ming You said, doing his best to conceal his emotions and intentions.

"Okay, how are you doing? Have you made any friends there?" Sun Hee asked as they walked together to the abandoned building.

"I want to talk to you and discuss everything when we get there, is that okay? I just think that place is a bit quieter," Ming You said, his eyes slightly reddening, but he managed to say it without hesitation.

"I'm fine with that; I like that place too," Sun Hee had no idea of her ex's intentions.

When they arrived at the abandoned building, Ming You, struggling to contain his emotions, led her inside.

"You know, it's so quiet and peaceful here," he said, sitting on a stone. "Let's sit down and talk; grab that stone behind you."

Sun Hee nodded and turned to pick up the stone when Ming You stood up, grabbed the stone, and aimed for her head, throwing it like a basketball, but he hit her in the back instead, as the weight of the stone was quite different from that of a basketball.

"What are you doing?!" she screamed, turning around.

After the stone hit her back, Ming You panicked and kicked Sun Hee's legs, causing her to fall. Then he began to kick her in the throat to silence her. His mind was clouded. Ming You sat on his ex-girlfriend's stomach and pulled the knife from under his shirt, tears streaming down his cheeks, dripping onto Sun Hee.

"I'm sorry, Sun Hee," he exhaled, "it's all for victory."

"For... what... k-khuh... victory?" she asked in a hoarse voice, looking at him in horror.

But Ming You did not answer. He suddenly stabbed her by knife, and her eyes filled with fear. Sun Hee could no longer ask questions; her life was fading, and Ming You felt his obsession completely engulfing him.

After that, Ming You, with trembling hands and a bloodied knife, aimed it at his veins, wishing to end his own life. But at that moment, something inside him stopped him, as if a second personality was whispering about the need for absolute victories.

"No!" he shouted, realizing he couldn't allow himself to lose.

"By killing yourself, you won't achieve absolute victory; don't make yourself lose," the inner voice of Ming You spoke.

"No! I've already lost! I have no place in this world!" Ming You said to himself, tears in his eyes.

"I will replace you, granting you victory, absolute victory," the inner voice grew louder.

"I hope you can win in my place," Ming You said despairingly.

"Don't doubt it; now go, I'll take care of everything." Ming You calmed down, changing his desperate expression to indifference. After these words, the first personality of Ming You, which still held a trace of humanity, simply evaporated, leaving only his obsession with victory.

He dismembered Sun Hee's body, covered his tracks, and discarded her remains in the trash, just like he did with his uncle and aunt.

Gathering his thoughts, Ming You headed to the streetball court, where a crowd was placing bets. He knew that there he could find his new goal—a victory that would fill the emptiness inside him.

"Hey, guys, want to play?" Ming You shouted to the crowd making bets on the players.

"You're pretty bold!" shouted one of the guys. "This isn't child's play, kid; we play for money, and quite a lot of it, heh-heh."

"I have something to bet," Ming You replied, pulling out his uncle's and aunt's wallet. "So, how about a game?"