Chapter 21: A Game Of Checkers In Hell: Part 2

Sleep, Wake up,Eat,Play.

Then—

Sleep, wake, Eat, play.

That was Alexander’s life ten years ago: a repetitive loop of actions with nothing left but regret.

It all started after he won that year’s high school checkers tournament — an eleven-year-old beating countless pros in a battle of minds. It was something to behold, and the news spread like wildfire across Japan.

Not long after, his parents realized what they had: a serious talent, their ticket out of poverty.

Greed replaced love. Day and night they worked him, ignoring his health. He was given no time to rest or recover. At every tournament he won, people cheered, adored him — but everyone was blind to the fake smile he wore.

Little by little the feeling gnawed at him from the inside, slowly pushing him toward the edge. He heard his parents laughing and drinking, enjoying the fruits of his suffering.

Then…

He snapped.

He killed them with a kitchen knife in their sleep.

Blood covered his hands. Unlike others, the kid was calm and collected. With his intellect he plotted an explanation, blaming thieves for the assault.

—

Now — in Midgard.

[30:00]

Heat suffocated their bodies; veins bulged beneath skin as their bodies reacted to the oppressive air. A baseball bat gleamed in an enemy’s hands.

“Kill them, boys. I’ve softened them up for you!” he said, a murderous smirk spreading across his face.

The real fight began. Confidence surged in the attackers as they saw how effective their plan had been.

But the boys were reluctant to give up. They continued fighting even as their movements slowed.

A punch, a kick, a swing of the bat — all failed to connect. Their speed was unchanged; clearly they had already started adapting to the harsh conditions.Ulike the two builders are used to carrying heavy loads even in the worst weather; that alone had given them an edge in this war.

Jamie kept dodging the combined attacks, eyes fully concentrated, uncovering openings like a strategist. No one could blame the attackers — they lacked much combat experience.

A swing of a katana. He ducked, lowering his head; his sharp hair danced in rhythm.

“Another one!” he thought.

Every chance to land a deadly blow appeared, but he never seemed to desire to take it. The memory of the plan he had sanctified was still fresh.

Earlier…

He was with Bray outside their fence. They stood still, curious, searching for anything that would lead them to Greg’s corpse. The area was ruined, disarranged in a way that spoke of the battle that had transpired earlier.

“Infinity!” Jamie whispered. “This power could be a bug.” He looked at his clean right arm, aura simmering. “If a lot of people know about this, it could lead to big trouble. The best choice is to keep my powers a secret.” He clenched his fist.

—

Aaah!

Bray attacked. The chain coiled around his arms, the knife at its end. He pushed with momentum; blue hair whipping back. The enemy parried. Bray kept his balance and launched again at the man approaching from behind. The man fell as Bray’s kick struck his head.

“We need to find Alex!” Jamie shouted, dodging from side to side.

“I know!” Bray replied, shouting as if they were far apart. “He’s dead by now!” one of the attackers said, slowly regaining his footing after a narrowly avoided strike. “And his special skill won’t help him!” he added with confidence.

The opposing side fell silent, each surrounded by two turned killers. For a second they were overwhelmed, collecting themselves for the next round.

With a flick of their eyes, they exchanged messages. Everyone knew what to do.

Jamie moved near the walls of the room.

“There’s no running away, kid!” the man said, closing in.

They attacked in turn, trying to pin him to the wall. Even with sweat stinging his eyes and his body aching, he managed to dodge. Although they missed, their blows left a dent in the wall that separated the room from who-knows-where.

“Finally!” Jamie thought, proud of the destructive holes that marked the fight.

“Time isn’t on my side — have to speed this up!”

“You’re doing nothing, weaklings!” he taunted.

The man’s fist tightened; veins bulged in his arms and legs with the force to land a destructive blow.

Pwah!

A fist-sized hole formed. Sand spilled onto the cemented floor on the other side.

The man staggered in surprise, eyes and mouth wide. He hadn’t expected Jamie to bait him into doing the work.

Jamie smirked and muttered, “Thanks.” He suddenly drove his arm forward with force — a surprise punch to the man’s jaw.

The man flew up, knocked unconscious in midair, saliva spraying from his mouth; his body vibrated and then fell.

Silence followed, the wonder of Jamie’s power shining bright.

The other man snarled. He lunged after Jamie, brutal and relentless. The man raised his arm, trying to pin Jamie down, but Jamie stepped on his legs; with the enemy’s eyes unhinged, Jamie used him like a catapult and crashed through the wall with the debris.

“Get over here!” the man screamed as if just waking from a deep slumber. He rushed off, following Jamie and leaving Bray to face his own opponents.

Tension and silence peaked, but something different was happening — Bray was adapting to the heat. His posture and eyes said it all.

“Impressive, kid,” the confident man sneered, underestimation in every word. “I survived the slams; I can survive anything!” He pointed the knife.

Without warning, the other man attacked him, intent on finishing everything. As he closed in, Bray didn’t move — he stood head-on, trade punch for punch. The confident man smirked, concentrating; suddenly everything became clear. Bray’s head elasticated, moving in a way the man couldn’t predict. The man pulled back and threw another punch, but the attack did nothing.

Bray stepped back, rotated the chain at his neck, and stabbed. The blade clicked the man’s neck; he died instantly.

The confident man’s expression changed. He knew the battle had turned. He rushed to the wall and punched a red button with all his might.

A creak followed.

Thirteen outlets opened through the walls.

Vwah!!

Poisonous gas poured out, quickly intoxicating the air.

“We are going to die together!” the man declared, eyes wild. “Those pipes are releasing a toxin that will kill us all in seconds!”

“Shit!” Jamie coughed. “A perfect win condition! You and your friend will die here!”

Cough. Cough. Jamie pushed himself forward, choking as a burning fog filled his throat. Their eyes flooded with panic — they were in danger.

In the other room, Yuno enlightened Alexander.

Yuno smirked, grin bright and wide.

“You think I don’t know that?”

“That’s why I resorted to using one of the most destructive forces no strength can parry.”

Alexander concentrated his eyes as if asking him to continue.

“Poisonous gas!”

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