Breaker

Yun Lintian tried his best to stabilize his mind. His hand moved on its own, slamming a pawn forward with enough force to crack the board.

Clink.

Ping Heng's eyes widened.

The pawn had been insignificant before—a forgotten piece at the edge of the game. But now? Now it was a blade at the throat of fate itself.

Yun Lintian didn't understand how he'd done it. His mind was fracturing, his body failing. But something deeper than thought had guided that move—something primal, something that refused to lose.

The floating islands shuddered, their fragments realigning into new constellations.

Ping Heng exhaled slowly. "I see."

He moved his queen.

Clink.

The world broke.

Yun Lintian felt his ribs crack, his knees hitting the ground. Blood poured from his nose, his ears, his eyes—but still, his hand reached for the board.