Chapter 526: Fujiwara no Sai and Alpha Dog (2)
[TL/N: Read my new work - Detective Conan: I'm a Succubus?!]
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"May I ask, O High God, what is the principle of the game you just played? I couldn't understand it at all," asked Fujiwara earnestly as the game concluded.
"Fuck!! A ghost!"
Hearing the unexpected voice, Alexander leaped from his seat. In the process, Little Flandre, who had been sitting on his lap, toppled to the floor. She got up, dusted off her skirt, and looked at Fujiwara with an aggrieved pout.
It's all this ghost's fault! If he hadn't scared Big Brother, Big Brother wouldn't have thrown her off!
"I'm not a ghost, High God," Fujiwara stammered awkwardly, confused by the overreaction. To him, this was heaven, and Alexander was clearly a divine being. Of course, a god should be able to see him.
"My apologies. You're indeed not a ghost. But, uh… I'm not a god either," Alexander replied, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Just then, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
Ding! Congratulations, Master! You've encountered the descendant Fujiwara no Sai and acquired a random ability: Spirit Transformation.
The Spirit Transformation ability allows the user to transform into a soul form, gaining characteristics such as immunity to all attacks, the ability to pass through physical objects, reside within a target's subconscious, and conceal one's presence. However, in soul form, the user cannot physically interact or attack.
Huh? This ability is incredible!
Alexander had expected to gain Fujiwara's exceptional chess skills, but this? This was on another level entirely!
"Too bad I can't interact physically in soul form," he muttered to himself. "Otherwise, it'd feel like living in a transparent world… Wait, no! What am I even thinking?" He quickly shook off the stray thought.
Meanwhile, Fujiwara continued, "Then… This isn't heaven?"
"Nope," Alexander replied. "Alright, let me explain."
Alexander took a moment to clarify the situation to Fujiwara, who stood there in stunned silence as the explanation unfolded.
"So… you're saying my world is actually an anime world, and this world was created by you?" Fujiwara finally asked, his voice trembling.
"Well, more or less," Alexander said with a casual nod.
At this, Fujiwara collapsed dramatically to the ground. Alexander blinked in surprise. For someone who prided himself on being the creator, he wasn't used to such a big reaction.
"You're truly a god!" Fujiwara exclaimed, clasping his hands together. "Please teach me the Hand of God!"
Alexander sighed inwardly. The Hand of God? Really? He could barely win a game of Gomoku against Flandre earlier. How was he supposed to teach something that transcendent?
"I can't teach you the Hand of God," Alexander finally said. "It's not something that can be taught. It's something you must discover on your own."
"Yes! I understand!" Fujiwara declared, eyes gleaming with determination.
Alexander was taken aback. "Understand? What do you understand? I don't even understand it myself!"
Fujiwara, however, remained resolute. "It's true that finding the Hand of God isn't easy. It requires relentless effort and the perfect player. But in my current state, I can't play Go against others..."
A trace of sadness crossed Fujiwara's face. Seeing this, Alexander couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Fujiwara no Sai—this was a man who had devoted his entire life to the pursuit of Go. Even after death, his obsession with finding the Hand of God hadn't waned. Such unrelenting passion was nothing short of admirable.
"You know what? I can help," Alexander said after a moment of thought. "I might not be able to teach you, but I can arrange matches for you with some of the world's top players."
Fujiwara's eyes sparkled with hope. "Thank you, Mr. Alexander! Tell me—who is the strongest Go player in this world?"
Alexander paused awkwardly. Truth be told, he had no idea. He didn't keep up with news in the Go world, let alone know who the current champions were.
Just then, the TV screen flickered on, and a news report began:
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"Sports Express: At the recent Sports Culture Expo on November 6, Alpha Dog, known as the strongest modern Go player, amazed audiences with a spectacular live man-machine match. Competing against more than ten players from around the globe, including the 'World Champion Men's God Team' comprising two Go champions, Alpha Dog demonstrated unmatched prowess and emerged victorious!
Alpha Dog's developers claim that its latest system upgrade has made it virtually flawless!"
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As the report concluded, Fujiwara's eyes lit up with excitement. "Flawless! The strongest in the world! The pinnacle of the Go universe!"
He turned to Alexander with fervent determination. "Mr. Alexander! I want to play Go against this Alpha Dog! I must defeat it and find the Hand of God!"