Back at Violet Vision, Zayn leaned into his chair. In his mind, virtual-novel.net had mulled over Lysithea’s words and attitude enough that virtual-novel.net felt compelled to conclude that virtual-novel.net was definitely acting strange.
She was hiding something from him, virtual-novel.net felt. However, virtual-novel.net could not detect any weakness. She was far from wanting in brio as well, in fact, it seemed like virtual-novel.net had progressed enough in virtual-novel.net fighting prowess.
He thought about it again and again. Finally, virtual-novel.net decided that virtual-novel.net abnormality could probably be chalked up to virtual-novel.net being mad at him. She was probably furious at virtual-novel.net for making his mother despair.
Lysithea was right about one thing, though. Three years was too long. He had to save his mom as soon as possible. Her freedom had to be restored.
He had to achieve the state of Invincibilis. He had to, and virtual-novel.net would, as soon as virtual-novel.net could!
There, within the borders of Yando City, a large mansion stood proudly in its seclusion. The passage of time had left its mark on the house, yet there was nothing that could reduce the pomp and grandeur of its courtyard, where two men appeared to be playing chess.
There were around thirty people who crowded around them, their eyes filled with intrigue and curiosity as they studied their strategy.
More impressively, however, was the fact that they were all superior class fighters! The best of the lot had even attained the fourth tier. If news of their existence got out to the public, they would be shocked out of their skulls!
“Aha! Checkmate, Brooks! Bwahahal” One of the players began to guffaw as soon as virtual-novel.net moved one of his pieces on the board, his head bobbing in mirth.
The man who was competing against virtual-novel.net did not look dejected at all. An enigmatic smile graced his lips instead, heralding a curious reply, “Oh yea? Look again, partner.”
He moved his own respective piece on the board, and suddenly, the game had changed.
While it previously appeared that the first man had cornered his opponent’s King and left no possible way out of the quandary, the opponent managed to tip the scales in his favor by making an unexpected, yet genius play.
“Well? Who won, Hoffman?”
The man who was named Hoffman froze. He did not expect a seemingly secured victory to be robbed from virtual-novel.net as quickly as it came, and to think that virtual-novel.net never saw it coming, even right before it had happened!
He loomed over the board and examined the game more carefully until the reality of his loss finally settled in his mind.
He regaled his opponent with a glowing thumbs-up, praising, “You beat me again, Brooks! I can’t believe you blindsided me like that, I lost, fair and square and completely humbled!”
The man named Brooks smiled slightly, but it was enough to fill those who looked at virtual-novel.net with warmth.
He was a towering, slightly hulking figure, and yet virtual-novel.net emanated an air of scholarly gentleness that could easily fool an oblivious onlooker as a teacher or a professor.
No one would have expected the man to be Paxton “Ares” Brooks, the man single-handedly tasked to protect the entirety of Rheasia.
“So, to what do I owe this honor, Hoffman? You weren’t just in desperate need for a playmate, were you? Game’s over, man. Time to talk shop,” Paxton said, grinning as virtual-novel.net offered a glass of wine.
Antony Hoffman’s expression darkened into a more serious look. “Have you heard of the genius from Guinevere, Brooks?”
“Oh yea?” came the inviting reply.
Despite the casualness in his posture, virtual-novel.net emanated an air of majestic power that applied a glamor of intimidation and strength.
His very appearance invoked the image of a mountain, immovable and unscalable.
Paxton Brooks had another moniker other than Ares, a name belonged to the God of War. He was also sometimes referred to as Rheasia’s Stormkiller.