Alexander was silent. After a while, Matthias has already placed another two pieces on the board, forming a significantly strong formation. Seeing that his army was outnumbered and the situation for his army was dire, his aura suddenly completely transformed. Seeing the change, Matthias' lips curled up even more.
Alexander's gaze was hardened as he started to make his move. He placed down his stone, being followed by Matthias' response to his move, followed by another, and another.
A battle of attrition began between the two father and son pair. Matthias sometimes let Alexander move twice or thrice, while occasionally smiling from time to time. Alexander went all out with his attacks, occasionally devouring the armies of each other.
Different from ordinary Go, their stones could be said to be just like chess, having certain abilities that differ to other pieces. Alexander, fully going all-out, used his general and elite pieces to destroy Matthias'.
The atmosphere around them became suffocating as the battlefield became extremely tense. If looked at another perspective, they could be seen to have drawn their blades and going at each other's necks.
Silently, Cane and Sigien arrived and watched the match with bated breaths. They looked at the current Monarch and the future Monarch going head-to-head at each other.
Soon, the board was nearly filled with stones. Looking at it, the white could clearly be seen to have dominated the battlefield. In the image, black soldiers constantly endured and defended against the attacks of the white army.
Sigien looked at the projected battlefield and sighed with a whisper, "His Majesty and His Highness are both terrifying commanders."
"No, wait." Cane suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked at the board. He then sighed in amazement, "Heh. It's decided."
At the table, Alexander smiled with pride as he saw himself winning against his father. He looked at his father triumphantly but was bothered when he saw that his father that he thought became miserable while thinking about his situation was smirking, as if everything was all according to his plan.
Matthias noticed his gaze and returned it with a smug look. Alexander was nervous and looked at the battlefield, but saw nothing wrong, "Why are you smiling? I am already winning!" He asked tauntingly.
"Son, haven't you noticed anything odd with my moves?" Matthias asked back.
Huh? Alexander was confused and looked at the pieces. Suddenly, his eyes widened with shock. Only defense-excelling stones were used! He analyzed the board once again and saw something even more petrifying. An empty spot leading to my army!
He hadn't had the chance to move again when Matthias spoke casually, "In this battlefield, the stones have hierarchy in strength, defense, and ability. In particular, there's one piece that could only be used once and lose its efficiency and overwhelm an entire formation if used correctly."
"In this battlefield, only one stone piece has the power to resist its might."
"Unfortunately.." Matthias smiled as he lifted a piece from the bottom of the board on his side, showing it to Alexander "..you used both early." He smiled sinisterly and moved his hand down the board, causing Alexander to grimace.
Ppak! The stone landed on the empty spot with a loud sound. Then, everyone went silent and one could hear a pin drop.
Then, the sound came. Duun!
A loud horn sounded as a huge black armored army galloped with their horses with an unstoppable momentum. It was a general piece; A Commanding Cavalry!
As soon as the piece landed and the image was projected, the army that represented the commanding cavalry on the projection rushed down and wiped out the white army. After they decimated the white army, the eleven white stones on the board that were surrounded by Matthias' pieces were absorbed by the board, being completely gone from the game.
Immediately, the situation turned against Alexander. Alexander tried to counterattack and regain his superiority against his father but Matthias had already started to release his assault pieces, slowly draining away the strength of Alexander's pieces. A little more time later, Alexander was left with one piece to fight against the humongous army of Matthias. The whole game lasted for four hours.
Alexander sighed, "I am defeated with a landslide."
Matthias smiled and stood up, "This is the fickleness of the battlefield, Alexander. It would not always go your way, and you sometimes need to adjust."
"If you've adapted a defensive stance, you could've lasted a little longer in the game." Matthias said as he stood up.
"But I would've still lost." The low-spirited little commander of his sighed.
Matthias looked at him pitifully and walked to him, "Oh, you." He bent down to him and patted his back, "My son, It may have been useless in our game, but it's entirely different in a real-life battle." He consoled his son.
"In a real battlefield, every second that you are alive counts." Matthias stated, "If you survive long enough, another allied army would've come and helped you to rise once more. Always remember that, but don't always rely on it."
Listening to him, Alexander reluctantly raised his head, having a pitiful-looking face. Matthias' lips twitched and reprimanded, "You're acting nothing like a man who cultivates the art of the spear. You don't have their temperament nor their aura. What's wrong with you?"
"Can't I act like this in front of my beloved royal father?" Alexander rebuked.
Hearing his answer, Matthias gawked but warmed up inside. He suddenly gasped and said, "I almost forgot." He went to the throne and picked up a long thing clothes in black cloth.
"Happy birthday." Matthias greeted and extended the thing to his son. Alexander gasped and almost teared up before forcing it back. He reached out and received the thing and slowly unclothed it.
Soon, a long fiery red partisan spear was revealed, shining with a fiery blaze. It emitted a hot glow as its long and wide blade that was created from a special type of obsidian or meteorite shone with an orange aura. In the middle of the blade was a red crystal that was filled with a god's power. The red shaft of the spear was made from a mysterious metal that he could feel to be very hard. At the bottom of the spear was a pointed red stone that Alexander felt to contain very hot energy.
Tied on the hilt of the spear was a starry red cloth that accentuated the look of the weapon. When Alexander fully unwrapped it, partnered with the simple black and gold colored hanfu that he was wearing, he looked extremely like a War God.
"This.." Alexander gasped as he gazed at the epic-looking spear with amazement.
"That is now yours. Give it a name and bond with it using a drop of your blood." Matthias spoke.
Alexander continuously gazed at the weapon for minutes. After looking at it, he bit his thumb, letting a drop of blood ooze out from his finger. He slid his thumb on the spear as he muttered the words, "From now on, you are named as The Spear of Kelseus. Join me in battle as we sweep all the realms."
Matthias heard the name that he chose and nodded with approval, "Good name. From the word 'Kealsieseus' in the Spirit Language, translating to The Spear of the Burning Star or Morningstar."
Alexander smiled, with his father liking the name that he chose. Then, Cane and Sigien, who was watching at the side, moved forward, facing the two, and knelt on one knee, "We greet Your Majesty and Your Highness." They two curtsied.
Matthias glanced at them and nodded in response, "Stand up." With his order, the two stood up straight. Cane was the first one to talk by bowing down and cupping his fists, "We greet Your Majesty for winning the battle. You have made an impressive move."
Matthias replied casually, "It's nothing. I am just lecturing and testing my son if you have done your teachings efficiently." He then glanced meaningfully at the advisor.
Sensing his gaze, Cane gulped with nervousness when he also heard Matthias' response. He then turned to Alexander and congratulated, "We congratulate Your Highness for receiving a glorious gift from His Majesty The Emperor!" He bowed.
Seeing that Cane is already slightly shaking, Alexander smiled and slightly nodded, "Thank you."
Cane and Sigien sighed with relief, "Fortunately, His Highness is perceptive." They thought.
"Your lowly servants would take their leave." The two bowed and walked backwards, exiting the Throne Room.
Matthias looked at them as long as they left. When he couldn't see them anymore, he smirked and chuckled. Looking at him, Alexander gawked, "You shouldn't do that to your subjects, Father." He reprimanded.
"They should experience these kinds of things sometimes, Alexander. They shouldn't think that I am always an easygoing and kind person." He replied.
Then, Alexander suddenly asked, "Father, what is with that Go board? How come it can project images of battlefields and armies?"
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