In a grand hall in the heart of the United Kingdom, the whole world watched in suspense. This was no ordinary chess match. No, this was war.

On one side of the table sat Caius Albright, the national chess champion of the United Kingdom. With graying hair but an aura of charisma, he was known as the "King of the United Kingdom" in the world of chess. Opposing him was Ivan Dragovich, a Grandmaster from Russia—a man who resembled a Soviet stone statue—cold, sharp, and emotionless.

"Whoever wins, takes the world," Ivan said as he placed an hourglass on the table.

"And whoever loses, loses everything," Caius replied with a wry smile, though his hands trembled slightly.

The match lasted for six grueling hours. The chessboard became a battlefield, with each piece a lifeless soldier carrying the weight of a nation.

[ Chess Match ]

c4 e5 – Caius opened with The English Opening, but Ivan immediately seized space with e5, controlling the center. Nc3 Nf6 – Both players developed their knights, vying for dominance over the board. g3 d5 – Caius prepared a Fianchetto, but Ivan aggressively responded with d5, challenging Caius's control. cxd5 Nxd5 – Caius exchanged pawns, but Ivan maintained central dominance with his knight. Rc1 f5 – Ivan launched a pawn storm with f5, opening Caius's position and exerting more pressure. dxe4 Be6 – Ivan strengthened his position, tightening his grip on the game and limiting Caius's options. Rxf3 Nd4 – Ivan placed his knight on d4, threatening the rook and completely dominating the board. Bf1 Rf3 – Ivan's attack intensified, using precise tactical strikes to break Caius's defenses. Kg2 Rxf2+ – Ivan sacrificed his rook to unleash a devastating attack on Caius's king. Qd8# – Checkmate. Ivan forced the final move, sealing Russia's victory.

Caius stared at the chessboard. He analyzed every possibility—but there was only one conclusion.

"Checkmate," Ivan said in a low but powerful voice.

Caius clutched his head, sweat dripping from his forehead. He had lost. The United Kingdom had lost.

Before he could say anything, the doors to the hall burst open. A squad of Russian soldiers stormed in, rifles aimed at Caius. Ivan merely nodded. Without warning, gunshots rang out, echoing through the grand hall.

Caius collapsed onto the chessboard, his blood staining the very pieces that had once been his army.

The United Kingdom now belonged to Russia.

Somewhere else in the now Soviet-occupied city, a scrawny teenager sat alone in a tiny room.

His name was Elias Albright, the youngest son of Caius. He had no idea how to move forward after what had happened.

Not that he cared.

"Life is like a game of chess," Elias muttered to himself while poking at his cup of instant noodles. "Except I'm not a king, not a queen, not even a knight. I'm just… a useless pawn."

Elias had stopped caring a long time ago. Ever since the event known as the "World Chess War," he had become a young man filled with sarcasm and exhaustion.

"Imagine… my dad died because of chess. Chess, of all things! Was there really nothing more serious?" Elias chuckled dryly, glancing at the old chessboard sitting in the corner of his room—his father's final board.

But there was something strange about it.

Sometimes, Elias could swear the chess pieces were watching him.

Not that he cared.

"My life is like chess puberty—no direction, no strategy, and full of checkmates," Elias mumbled before shoving a spoonful of half-hardened instant noodles into his mouth.