Crimson Pawn Ascension

At the prestigious Meridian Academy, seventeen-year-old Alastor Valentino believes he's finally found his place among the most gifted minds of his generation. The ancient institution, nestled within the mist-shrouded peaks of the Ethereal Mountains, has produced legendary scholars, inventors, and leaders for over three centuries. Every student possesses a unique cognitive enhancement-some can process information at superhuman speeds, others can manipulate probability, and a rare few can peer into the threads of causality itself. Alastor's own ability to perceive hidden patterns and connections has earned him recognition, but also the attention of forces he doesn't yet understand.



When students begin participating in an elaborate strategic game known as the Celestial Gambit, Alastor discovers that this isn't merely an academic exercise or prestigious competition. The game's intricate rules seem to adapt and evolve, drawing players deeper into scenarios that feel unnervingly real and consequential. As brilliant minds clash across ethereal boards that manifest from pure thought and energy, Alastor begins to notice disturbing patterns-certain moves carry weight beyond the game itself, and some players never return to their dormitories. With each passing day, the line between academic achievement and something far more sinister grows thinner, and Alastor realizes that the prestigious academy harbors secrets that stretch back to its very foundation.