New Game Begins

Two days after Yuuji's victory over Leon Vortan, the Academy of 64 Houses buzzed with rumors.

Something big was coming.

Whispers ran through the corridors:

"An official tournament?"

"For all the new Houses?"

"It's going to be brutal!"

In the central plaza, a massive magical projection activated, casting glowing letters into the sky.

The announcement echoed across the campus:

**"Attention all Houses!

The Academy hereby announces the 'Founders' Tournament!'

An official competition between all newly-formed Houses!

The winner shall receive:

1. Prestige.

2. Full funding for House activities.

3. Special privileges for entering the Royal Classes."**

The crowd exploded into excited cheers—and panicked murmurs.

Inside their small training room, Yuuji and his team watched the announcement in silence.

Mira whistled low.

"A tournament, huh... things just got serious."

Ayaka grinned, cracking her knuckles.

"Sounds fun! About time we smashed a few egos."

Clara closed her book calmly.

"Prestige and funding.

Good incentives.

But they also paint a target on our backs."

Yuuji leaned back against the wall, arms crossed.

He smiled faintly.

"Perfect."

Mira raised an eyebrow.

"Perfect?"

Yuuji nodded.

"This is our chance to shake the whole board."

At that moment, a courier mage knocked on the door.

A small enchanted scroll floated into the room.

Mira caught it and opened it quickly.

Her eyes widened.

"It's an official invite...

House Checkmate is accepted.

We're in."

The room buzzed with quiet excitement.

Their first real stage.

Their first real step toward the top.

Yuuji pushed off the wall and straightened his jacket.

"Alright, everyone...

get ready."

He grinned.

"It's time to show this world what real Checkmate looks like."

The next morning, Yuuji assembled the team at one of the academy's smaller private training fields.

The space was simple:

Open marble ground, spell-resistant barriers around the perimeter, and enchanted training dummies floating at random intervals.

Perfect for preparation.

Yuuji crossed his arms.

"Alright.

If we're going to survive this tournament, we need to tighten our teamwork.

Everyone has their role.

Everyone sharpens their strength."

Mira stretched lazily, twirling a practice sword.

"Finally! Time to let loose."

Ayaka punched her fists together, grinning wide.

"Let's wreck some dummies!"

Clara calmly adjusted her gloves, already glowing faintly with magic.

Yuuji pointed at Mira first.

"Mira. You're up.

Show me pure Knight mobility and strike power."

Mira grinned wickedly.

"Gladly, Your Majesty."

She dashed forward.

In a blur, Mira weaved between the dummies—

moving exactly like a Knight piece in chess: sharp L-shaped jumps, sudden angle attacks.

Every time she moved, her sword flashed—

one dummy after another exploded into magical smoke.

Yuuji nodded in approval.

"Excellent control of vectors.

Minimal wasted motion."

Ayaka clapped loudly.

"Move like that in the tournament, and you'll shred them!"

Next, Yuuji turned to Ayaka.

"Your turn, Tower Girl."

Ayaka cracked her knuckles eagerly.

She grabbed a massive hammer from the weapon rack, spinning it once.

Then, grinning fiercely, she slammed it into the ground.

BOOM!

A shockwave blasted across the field, wiping out half the dummies instantly.

Dust and debris flew everywhere.

Mira coughed, waving the dust away.

"Subtle as ever, Ayaka."

Ayaka just laughed.

"Why be subtle when you can be awesome?"

Yuuji smirked.

"Exactly what I want from a Rook.

Brute force domination."

Finally, he turned to Clara.

"Ready, Ice Queen?"

Clara nodded silently.

She stepped forward, raising one hand.

A glowing, complex spell circle appeared in the air.

In an instant—

razor-sharp icicles rained down precisely on the remaining dummies, freezing and shattering them cleanly.

No wasted movement.

No excessive force.

Pure, deadly efficiency.

Yuuji smiled faintly.

"Perfect Bishop control.

Precision is power."

Clara simply nodded once, her face calm.

Yuuji looked over his team—

grinning.

His Knight.

His Rook.

His Bishop.

Ready to shake the board.

The training session had barely finished when a loud voice echoed across the courtyard.

"So you're the famous House of Checkmate?"

Everyone turned.

A group of students stood at the edge of the field—

but these weren't ordinary spectators.

They wore sleek, dark uniforms embroidered with crimson sigils.

At their head stood a tall boy with sharp silver hair and a lazy smirk on his face.

On his chest gleamed a House badge: House Blackthorn.

One of the rising elite Houses.

The silver-haired boy stepped forward casually, hands in his pockets.

His aura was confident.

Arrogant.

"Name's Reign Hartwell.

Captain of House Blackthorn."

He looked Yuuji up and down like he was evaluating a market item.

"Heard you beat Leon.

Not bad... for a rookie."

Behind him stood two others:

• A dark-haired girl with narrow eyes and a pair of sharp daggers at her waist—she watched Mira coldly.

• A tall, curvy mage with long wavy blonde hair—who openly ogled Yuuji with a flirtatious smile.

Reign chuckled.

"We're entering the Founders' Tournament too.

And guess what?"

He pointed dramatically at Yuuji.

"Our first goal: Crushing you in front of the entire Academy."

Mira bristled immediately, stepping forward.

"Tch. Big talk for someone who needs backup to look impressive."

Ayaka cracked her knuckles.

"Bring it. I'll smash your fancy hair into the ground."

Clara simply watched calmly, calculating.

The blonde mage behind Reign winked at Yuuji.

"Ignore them, cutie.

If you get bored of your grumpy team, come hang with me~."

Mira physically twitched at that, fists clenching.

Yuuji stepped forward, hands casually in his pockets.

He smiled.

Calm.

Unbothered.

"You can try." he said simply.

"But remember—"

He raised two fingers.

"It only takes one checkmate to end the game."

Reign's smirk sharpened.

"Heh.

Then we'll see if your little House can survive the opening moves."

He turned on his heel, his team following.

The field slowly emptied.

Yuuji watched them go, his smile never wavering.

But inside—

he was already thinking five moves ahead.

The next evening, the Academy's Grand Assembly Hall was packed.

Students, professors, nobles—

all gathered to witness the Founders' Tournament Draw.

Above the stage, a massive magical board hovered, glowing with the names of all participating Houses.

Yuuji stood with Mira, Ayaka, and Clara off to the side.

Mira folded her arms, scanning the crowd suspiciously.

Ayaka bounced on her toes, looking eager for a fight.

Clara simply adjusted her gloves, indifferent.

The Headmaster, a stern-looking man in silver robes, stepped up to the podium.

His voice echoed magically:

"We welcome all Houses to this historic competition.

Today, we decide your fates."

The crowd hushed.

The board began to shuffle names randomly, spinning faster and faster.

Finally—

House Checkmate vs House Vermillion Rose

Mira whistled low.

"Never heard of them. Newbies?"

Clara narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Vermillion Rose... sounds aristocratic. Likely dangerous."

Yuuji smiled faintly.

"Doesn't matter.

We beat whoever's in front of us."

At that moment, a soft, elegant voice spoke from nearby:

"You're confident. I like that."

Yuuji turned.

A girl stood a few meters away, watching him calmly.

She was beautiful—

but not flashy.

Dark violet hair tied neatly.

A perfectly tailored black and crimson uniform.

Her House badge: a single crimson rose entwined around a chess queen.

Her gaze was sharp, almost unsettling—like she was already three steps ahead.

She smiled faintly.

"I am Selene Vermillion.

Head of House Vermillion Rose."

She curtsied gracefully.

"It would be an honor to crush your House personally."

The entire room froze.

Students gasped.

Professors muttered.

Selene just smiled coolly.

Mira stiffened immediately.

Ayaka growled under her breath.

Clara raised one elegant eyebrow.

Yuuji chuckled softly.

He stepped forward, hands in his pockets.

"Selene Vermillion, huh?

Well..."

He smiled wider.

"You're welcome to try.

But don't blame me when you lose."

Selene's eyes gleamed with dangerous amusement.

"I wouldn't dream of it, King Serizawa."

She turned gracefully and walked away, her long coat swirling behind her.

Yuuji watched her leave.

And for the first time...

he felt a genuine chill of excitement.

The true game was about to begin.