The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

Chapter 589: Arcadia, The First Planet In All Creation (LXVI)

He stood in the middle of space itself.

The chamber had no walls, no ceiling, only an endless expanse of stars, nebulas, and galaxies stretching out in every direction.

Countless planets floated in the distance, some glowing with vibrant colors, others dark and mysterious.

Swirling clouds of cosmic dust and bright clusters of stars surrounded him, as if the entire universe had been condensed into this single, breathtaking view.

He was floating in the void, yet he could breathe and stand as if on solid ground.

The platform beneath his feet was the only thing anchoring him, a small circle of stone in the middle of infinity.

The purity of energy here was extreme, so dense and perfect that it felt like the source of all creation.

If someone cultivated from the beginning in a place like this, they could probably attain god status in a matter of days, even with mediocre talent.

The power in the air was so thick it literally vibrated against his skin.

"Phew... such a huge amount of energy and I still can’t heal this damned wound."

He took a small step forward, and then the air suddenly shimmered.

The Creator Woman appeared suddenly, standing a few feet away with her usual elegant, gothic beauty.

Her long dark hair with silver-white strands flowed around her, and her mismatched eyes, one glowing red, the other icy blue, looked at him with a playful smile.

She wore her black and white gown, the fabric clinging to her voluptuous figure as she floated gracefully in the void.

Aestrea’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

Their final battle was supposed to happen after this tower.

Why was she here now?

"Now... my dear challenger," she said softly, her painted-black lips curving into a smile, "this final challenge is... you need to win a game of chess against me."

Aestrea stared at her for a moment, processing her words.

’A game of chess?’

In the middle of this cosmic tower, after everything he had been through?

He let out a short, dry laugh, though the pain from his wound made it sound strained.

"Chess?" he repeated, his green eyes locked on hers. "After all the battles, the guardians, the fusions... you want to play chess?"

The Creator Woman giggled lightly, tilting her head as she floated closer. Her high heels clicked on the invisible platform beneath her, even though there was no solid ground.

"Why not?" she asked, her voice smooth and teasing.

"You’ve proven your strength in combat. Now prove your mind. One game. If you win, you get the rest of the Trumpets and the right to challenge me directly. If you lose... well, we’ll see."

Aestrea looked at her with a hint of... caution, but nodded nonetheless. He didn’t actually have a choice after all.

"Fine. Let’s play."

A chessboard materialized between them, the pieces glowing with cosmic energy.

The Creator Woman sat down gracefully on an invisible chair, gesturing for him to do the same.

"However..."

Her lips parted softly.

’Of course there was a catch...!’ Aestrea rolled his eyes inwardly.

"If we’re playing chess... it’s normal to have things to sacrifice for, no? I’m already putting up the Trumpets... but what about you?" she smiled playfully at Aestrea.

"What will you sacrifice? Your lovers...?" she laughed.

At those words, Aestrea’s eyes turned colder.

He thought about it... a sacrifice that could really match the Trumpets... he closed his eyes when he thought about it... but there was only one thing.

"...I’ll put up my true name..."

Aestrea’s crimson red eyes turned icy blue.

"Luntheris."

Swooosh!

[Approved]

Upon hearing Aestrea’s words, a flash of delight and extreme excitement appeared in the Creator Woman’s eyes.

His true name, [Luntheris]... it was simply... priceless. It was the name that had gone through over 99 reincarnations, solely alone, killing dozens of peak nine-star gods...

And also... if she possessed his true name, she would also possess him! So, he was putting himself at stake.

That thought... sent shivers down her spine.

The Creator Woman’s mismatched eyes sparkled with barely contained joy. The red one glowed brighter, while the icy blue one shimmered with pure fascination.

She leaned forward slightly, her voluptuous figure shifting in her black and white gown as she studied him with newfound hunger.

"Luntheris..." she whispered the name slowly, tasting it on her tongue like a rare delicacy.

"You really are full of surprises. Offering your true name... that’s something even I didn’t expect."

Aestrea remained calm, though his icy blue eyes showed no warmth.

He had made his choice.

His true name was the only thing valuable enough to match the stakes she was putting up.

If she won, she would own him completely, body, soul, and name. If he won, he would claim the final Trumpets and the right to challenge her directly.

The chessboard between them glowed brighter, the pieces humming with cosmic energy as the game officially began.

The Creator Woman moved first, her delicate fingers sliding a pawn forward in an elegant manner.

"Your move, Luntheris," she teased him softly, but her eyes burned with intense excitement.

’Pawn to e4, huh?’

The white pawn advanced two squares from its starting position, claiming central space with quiet confidence.

Aestrea’s icy blue eyes studied the board for only a second.

His mind, sharpened by countless reincarnations and battles against peak gods, had already calculated dozens of responses and their branching variations.

1... e5

He mirrored her move, advancing his own king’s pawn. The black pawn settled into place with a soft hum of energy.

The Creator Woman smiled faintly, her painted-black lips curving as she slid her next piece forward without hesitation.

2. Nf3

The white knight jumped to f3, attacking the e5 pawn while developing a piece toward the center. Her red eye glowed brighter with excitement; the icy blue one sparkled with calculation.

Aestrea responded instantly.

2... Nc6

The black knight developed to c6, defending the pawn and preparing for further development.

He leaned back slightly on his invisible chair, one hand resting near his bandaged wound while the other hovered over the board.

The Creator Woman’s smile widened.

3. Bb5

The white bishop developed to b5, pinning the knight on c6 against the king. A classic Ruy Lopez... very aggressive but refined.

Aestrea answered without pause.

3... a6

The a-pawn advanced, forcing the bishop to decide its future. The move was sharp and direct.

She didn’t retreat, but instead, she captured.

4. Bxc6

The bishop took the knight.

d4xc6

The exchange simplified the position slightly but gave Black the bishop pair and a solid pawn structure.

Aestrea recaptured immediately.

4... dxc6

The d-pawn took back, opening lines for his queen and light-squared bishop.

The Creator Woman tilted her head, studying the position with delight. She moved again.

5. O-O

White castled kingside, bringing the king to safety and activating the rook.

Aestrea responded calmly.

5... Bd6

Developing the bishop and preparing to castle. The position remained balanced, but the strategic battle was intensifying.

She pushed forward.

6. d4

The central pawn advanced, challenging the center immediately.

Aestrea thought for a moment longer than before. He could feel her pressure building.

6... exd4

He captured, opening the e-file.

She recaptured with the knight.

7. Nxd4

The knight jumped to the strong central square.

Aestrea developed his other knight.

7... Nf6

Attacking the e4 pawn while preparing to castle.

The Creator Woman smiled again, this time with clear competitive fire.

8. Nc3

Developing the last minor piece and defending e4.

Aestrea castled.

8... O-O

The black king reached safety.

The position was now fully developed for both sides.

She leaned forward slightly, her voluptuous figure shifting as she considered her next move. The tension was already palpable.

9. Bg5

The bishop pinned the knight on f6 to the queen, a classic attacking idea in this structure.

Aestrea’s expression remained calm, but his mind was racing through complex variations. He played the most solid response.

9... h6

Forcing the bishop to decide.

She retreated the bishop but kept the pressure.

10. Bh4

Maintaining the pin.

Aestrea broke the pin with his queen.

10... Qe7

The queen moved to e7, unpinning the knight and adding pressure down the e-file.

The Creator Woman’s eyes narrowed with focus. She moved her queen forward.

11. Qd2

Connecting the rooks and preparing for central action.

Aestrea developed his last piece.

11... Be6

The bishop came to e6, challenging the strong knight on d4.

She took.

12. Nxe6

The knight captured the bishop.

Aestrea recaptured with the pawn.

12... fxe6

Opening the f-file for his rook and strengthening his center.

The position was becoming highly complex.

Both sides had clear plans as White was aiming for kingside pressure and central control, while Black had a solid structure and potential counterplay on the queenside and down the f-file.

The Creator Woman moved her rook into play.

13. Rae1

Bringing the rook to the open e-file.

Aestrea responded by activating his own rook.

13... Rad8

Placing the rook on the d-file, eyeing the white queen.

The Creator Woman smiled again, her fingers hovering over her next piece.

14. e5

She pushed the pawn forward, gaining space and attacking the knight on f6.

Aestrea’s eyes sharpened.

This was the critical moment.

14... Nd5

The knight jumped to the strong central square, counterattacking and blocking the e-file.