In the heart of the Black Hall, where the seats wrapped around the celestial table, the game began. The timer on the wall glowed red, dropping from 60 minutes. With each passing second, the silence weighed heavily.
Serafino stood behind the table, staring at the black piece Franco had placed: a black king from a stone chess set.
Serafino (with a quiet smile):
"You know, Franco... I didn't expect you to make it here. I expected you to die in the first round, like your father."
Franco (in a steady voice):
"And that's where the difference between me and him is... he believed you were human."
Marco (looking around):
"Okay, where's the fight button? Usually in movies, you press a button and laser monsters come out or something."
Rocco (whispering, watching the seats):
"Look... some of these seats are moving. There are people who come here physically."
**
Indeed… some seats began to fill with men in various masks and costumes, representing the "Big 10" who rule from behind the curtain. Among them, there was a familiar face.
Savio (backing away lightly):
"This… this is Carus! Isn't he dead?!"
Carus (in a hoarse voice):
"I'm not dying, Savio… I'm just shedding my skin."
Franco:
"The dog barks again."
Carus (laughing):
"Oh, no… this time I'll bite."
**
Colombo was engrossed in a device he was placing on the table. His eyes never left a small screen.
Irina (worried):
"Are you hacking the system?"
Colombo:
"I'm planting a new game… chess with a bomb. Every wrong move? An explosion."
**
Serafino (advancing):
"Let's understand the rules. Ten players. Ten seats. One stone is the king. Whoever controls the king… controls the world."
Lucchini (deadly calm):
"And what if I smash the table?"
Serafino (looking at him coldly):
"Two thousand children from our laboratories in the south will die. Is that enough?"
**
The battle wasn't physical... but mental.
Franco sat in a seat reserved for him, and the other seats were activated by Zacrota's AI, simulating the minds of those who had passed away and those waiting in line.
Each player placed a piece... and each piece carried a decision in the real world.
Marco (sarcastically):
"Oh my God, we're playing chess against people who kill if they lose... and get killed if they win."
Franco (whispering):
"Focus... every move here affects the course of events outside. We need to move the king's piece toward the end."
**
In the third round, a robotic hand moved from inside the table... and placed the "white queen" piece in front of Franco.
Serafino (laughing):
"The minister is your brother, Franco... a modified robot carrying your blood cells."
Franco (in a low voice):
"My brother is dead."
Serafino:
"You made a mistake. We brought him back... but he's working with us."
**
Suddenly... a young robot appeared in the hall's entrance, looking eerily like Franco, but with dead blue eyes.
Young robot:
"Order: Protect the king. Destroy anyone who opposes."
Rocco (grabbing his gun):
"I hate copying souls... Should I shoot?"
Franco:
"No. This is my showdown."
**
Franco moved toward his robot brother. His steps were slow, as if on a tightrope between life and death.
Franco:
"Remember me? My name is Franco. You were jealous of my chess game... and stealing my pieces."
Robot (in a robotic voice):
"Memories are unnecessary. Order: Attack."
**
But suddenly… the robot shuddered. The chess piece in Franco's hand, and the memories he'd broadcast through the device, began to seep into the modified brain.
Colombo (in surprise):
"He's hesitating…!"
Marco (smiling):
"So even the dead can cry… if only they remember they were human."
**
The robot recoiled, then fell to its knees.
The robot (in a strange whisper):
"Franco… my brother… beware of Serafino… he's not…"
And exploded.
**
Everyone recoiled in shock. Franco stood there, motionless, his eyes wet, not because of the explosion… but because of what remained of his "brother."
Serafino (in an icy voice):
"The king is dead. The game is over."
**
But suddenly… another piece on the table lit up. The knight.
Irina (stunned):
"This… wasn't part of the set."
Colombo (screaming):
"Someone hacked the game! Who?!"
**
At the last moment... a man appeared, cloaked in a dark blue robe, his face hidden.
The mysterious man:
"I am neither a king... nor a soldier... I am the knight who strikes without being seen."
**
Next chapter: "The Knight's Deadly Move"
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