Episode 858 Rapid Progress (4)
The Game of Arcadium – Intellectual Conflict.
It is a game played by moving pieces on a grid-like board, much like chess, but there are quite a few differences, such as a much larger scale and various victory conditions in addition to capturing each other’s kings.
Who captures the King first?Who gathers the ancient knowledge first?Who loses the sages of power first?Who gets one of the three absolute rulers first?
In other words, it is essentially an expansion of an expansion of an expansion of chess.
As such, not only were there many types and numbers of artifacts given to each other, but various magical and mysterious elements were also incorporated. EvenVerden, who was listening to Luzak’s explanation, became curious.
“The characteristics of each piece are as follows… and I will explain the conditions for victory other than the conventional one.”
Luzak pointed to a specific tile that was a different color from the rest.There were a total of three of those tiles.
“These are called Ancient Knowledge. When you land on a tile, any piece can move one space once every three turns. Simply put, you are moving the Ancient Knowledge. If you are the first to deliver two of the three pieces of knowledge to the Sages in your own territory, you win.”
[Delivery Method?]
It will be delivered when you get within two spaces of the Sage. Like this, right here.
The moment Luzak placed the piece on the Ancient Knowledge tile, the tile’s light imbued the piece. When he brought it close to the Sage piece, the light transferred.
“Naturally, if you grasp an object that has acquired knowledge, you can seize ancient knowledge.”
As he swept his hand across the empty space above the board, everything returned to normal.
“This is not the only use for knowledge. If you pass over three of the five specific tiles on the board with an artifact containing one of the primordial knowledge, you can randomly summon one of the three Absolutes.”
Beta asked.
[Where is the specific tile located? And what is the Absolute?]
“The positions of certain tiles… also known as the Absolute tiles—change with every game. They are structured so that they are only revealed when a piece is placed on top of them. You can think of the Absolutes as gods on the board. Since each possesses tremendous power, summoning an Absolute is practically equivalent to winning the game. That is why they are treated as one of the victory conditions.”
Luzak gently stroked his nose, which resembled a walrus.
“Of course, it is rare to summon an absolute being in an intellectual clash. That is because the conditions are very strict. Unless there is a truly world-shattering difference in skill, it is a situation where one is completely excluded from a serious duel. Even if it is the gap between a VIP and a guest.”
This time, Verden pulled his lips away.
“If they were to summon that Absolute Being against each other, what would become of the game?”“It seems you are quite interested, Your Honor. I have never seen it myself, but… I have heard that there was such a case in the distant past. However, the results were not reported.”“If you were curious, you could have tested it yourself.”“I am an intellectual of this Arcadium. My desire to do so is as deep as the ocean. But how could I dare to do so?”
Luzak’s round eyes flashed.
“Intellectual clashes are the very creations of the Host, the deepest intelligence of the ocean and the master of Arcadium.”“The Host?”“No resident in Arcadium approaches this game half-heartedly. This is a game created by the Host with the intent of pitting one another’s intellects against one another. Knowledge is not something to be yielded, but something to be coveted. That is the essence of Arcadium. In other words, games here are nothing but a battle of the heart. Indeed, that is the rule.”
Luzak with a faint smile.
“However, the Guest of Honor and their party are not residents of this place. After all, they have never officially participated in the Arcadium. In a sense, they are somewhat outside the framework of the rules. That is why I can concede three moves. How could I demand a head-on battle from those who have never played the game before?”“…….”“Nevertheless, I have absolutely no intention of inviting defeat. Even a courtesy of three moves places a huge disadvantage on me. That is, provided you fully understand the rules.”
[understanding.]
Alpha, who was listening to Luzak’s basic explanation, raised one arm without hesitation.
“As expected of the guest of honor’s party, you possess the intellectual prowess. Then, may we begin immediately?”
Alpha turned around. Verden readily nodded. Turning back toward Luzak, Alpha’s single eye gleamed.
[check.]
Whoosh.
As Luzak gestured, all the pieces rose up and landed in their respective camps. There were a total of 1,024 tiles. Judging by the scale, it seemed it would require a considerable amount of time, but…
“I will impose time limits on each other according to the rules. 10 seconds for me, and 40 seconds for you. This is also part of my consideration.”
[huh.]
Rejecting favorable conditions in a situation like this is an emotional decision. Alpha made an extremely rational judgment.
“Very well.”
Luzak bent his upper body slightly.His face came a little closer to the board.
“Put the first move.”
Exactly.
Alpha moved his arm. The piece moved straight out of his territory.
“……??”
It was a moment later that Luzak’s expression twisted.
* * *
Ruzak kindly explained the rules on the board, as if to prove that his assurance of taking the game seriously, including the intellectual clash, was not a lie.While he may have had various ulterior motives, underlying it all was the confidence that he would never lose, even if it meant giving up three moves first.
In a game like this, a small mistake is bound to lead to defeat later on.
However, no matter how disadvantageous the situation may be, as long as you manage it before it snowballs, you can always seize the possibility of a turnaround.
But I picked the wrong opponent.
If Verden’s magical understanding is unrivaled, the computational abilities Alpha and Beta inherited from the Creator are unrivaled.In this game, experience is merely a negligible factor in their win rate.
Tap tap. Tap tap. Tap tap. Tap tap… … Tap tap. Tap tap… … Tap tap.
Whenever Luzak made a move… Alpha finished every turn in less than a second, as if he had already decided what to do.
Before you know it, the pieces interlock and occupy numerous tiles.
Luzak’s speed gradually slowed, and soon his fingertips trembled briefly.
What, what is this?
I intended to exploit a weakness and capture the king to finish the game using standard tactics… but something went wrong. I looked down at the front line facing the opponent’s pieces.
Predicted the number.
If you attack with the Wizard piece, the front line will collapse 9 moves ahead. If you switch the Knight piece to defense, it will be unmanageable after 23 moves. If you block with the Civil piece, the risk of the Sage piece being captured within 15 moves increases rapidly.
One of the key fronts for victory or defeat has been lost.
That is not all.
One of the Primordial Knowledge has been stolen. Two Absolute tiles are exposed. An opponent’s piece containing Primordial Knowledge has passed through one of them, and while maintaining the front line, they are utilizing other pieces to extensively explore tiles that no one has reached.
Luzak twitched his eyes.
‘Surely not the Almighty… …?’
For Alpha, every move is based on reason, but victory is a separate matter. This was because he was so curious about what the absolute piece was.
In other words.
Of course, it is rare to summon an Absolute Being in an intellectual clash. This is because the conditions are very strict. Unless there is a truly world-shattering difference in skill, it is a case where one is completely excluded from a serious duel. Even if it is the gap between a VIP and a guest.
It meant that the two beings had different levels of intellectual ability.
[Tick-tock.]
Alpha ticked the second hand.Time limit.Ruzak swiftly moved the pieces before ten seconds had even passed. Hot emotion began to mix with his cold reason.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Luzak’s speed increased by two levels.Knowledge and experience harmonize.Expanding all fronts, he obtained one of the other primordial knowledge and interfered with the opponent’s search for the Absolute tile.
It was a tactic befitting a VIP of knowledge.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
However, Alpha spectacularly thwarted all of Luzak’s strategies and tricks. Alpha’s high-level mage pieces exploited the gaps in the overly expanded front line.
Whoosh—bang!
The High Wizard piece destroyed Luzak’s Commander and Wizard pieces. The sight of pieces moving on their own to attack and defend against opponents was quite a spectacle.
Verden stroked his chin.
It seems just like seeing the real thing. I understand why it is considered sacred in the Arcadium.
Despite dominating the battlefield, Alpha’s search did not cease for a single moment. In doing so, it succeeded in locating the third Absolute tile.Just then, the artifact containing ancient knowledge passed through the second Absolute tile.
Alpha began moving a significant amount of power all at once to the third Absolute tile.
“profit……!”
[… … .]
Luzak fought back until his head burned, but he was blocked time and time again.Crushing defeat, crushing defeat, and more crushing defeat.Just how far ahead was he looking? It was impossible to win this battle of wits.
[arrive.]
“ah!”
Luzak was shocked. He had missed his chance while focusing on the opening he had barely found. The primordial knowledge Alpha had obtained reached the final Absolute tile.
Paaaat!
An intense blue light covered the board, as if encompassing the world. Soon, where the light had subsided, a specific wizard’s artifact was placed.
Luzak swallowed hard.
The magical, absolute.
[Hmm. Attack?]
The Absolute Master of Magic, having heard the command, pointed at an opponent’s piece within 15 tiles. The color of the flame rising from his fingertips gradually changed and turned ‘white’.
‘… … ! That flame… surely it isn’t the Three Absolute Beings.’
Verden, Alpha, and Beta could not take their eyes off the magic of the Absolute Being’s artifact.
───!
The moment the white flame flickered and faded, Luzak’s objects evaporated.As if they had never existed… Luzak muttered blankly as he looked down at the nearly empty front line of the intellectual conflict.
“W-what? This is ridiculous. Me doing this so unilaterally… This kind of energy would be impossible even for a single-digit VIP. Unless this is a host…”
[give up?]
Luzak flinched.
“……What would be the point of doing any more?”
[Can I ask a question?]
Instead of comforting Luzak, Alpha got straight to the point.
“……Ask.”
[check.]
Putting the identity of the board aside for a moment, Alpha pointed at Verden as if he had been waiting.
[Name. Answer.]
* * *
Ruzak, still reeling from the shock of his crushing defeat and mentally reviewing why he had lost, suddenly lifted his head.
“Name?”“Shelbron greeted us by name in front of the mansion. On the other hand, you and Shelbron simply referred to us as guests of honor. Why is there such a difference?”
Verden leaned straight back against the backrest.
Beta added.
[Shelbron mixed lies with the truth and secretly displayed hostility and mockery. Just then, Ruzak appeared and induced a game, wagering on the questions. Coincidence is rare. There is ample reason to be suspicious.]
“……?!”
Shelbron’s eyes widened at the sudden mention of his name. Ruzak glared at him and faced Verden again.
“And it seems you didn’t know exactly who the guest of honor was until I told you. Considering the host intends to treat me as the guest, that was impolite in many ways.”“…….”“If the question is difficult, I will change it.”
Verden’s gaze turned cold.
“Was it really the host’s intention that we came here through [Gring Arcanum]?”
Silence fell.
Shelbron was fidgeting. Luzak met Verden’s gaze straight in. Then Luzak spoke in a low voice.
“exactly.”
Bang!
Shelbron and Ruzak were crushed by gravity in their respective places. Both groaned violently at the pressure their bodies could barely withstand.
“Half of it is a lie.”“To see through a lie so precisely… Heh heh, indeed, the Guest of Honor must be a transcendent being. And possesses such extraordinary inner insight.”“Ughhhhh…!!”
Luzak did not lose his vitality even as he trembled. To Verden, those eyes were familiar. They were the kind of gaze filled with curiosity.
Judging by the circumstances, the host’s order to bring me here is true, but it looks like Luzak used Shelbron to set up this gathering in the process. Was it simply to satisfy his curiosity? Because he heard the guest of honor was coming, but wasn’t told who it was?
It is a reasonable guess, but given the lack of information, hasty judgments must be avoided.There is only one path leading to the correct answer.
Meeting the owner of this place.
“Where is the host?”
Shelbron squeezed out a voice.
“Ho, the host is…!”“?!”
At that moment, Verden’s senses reacted.
Suddenly… … I was struck by the feeling that a ‘huge eye’ was staring at this place.
dripping.
The sound of knocking on the door.
As Verden opened the door with
A tall being with a humanoid body and a head resembling an ‘octopus’ sat looking down at Luzak and Shelbron, who were lying face down on the floor, with its hands clasped behind its back.Then it turned its gaze to Alpha and Beta, who were standing next to Verden.
You arrived early, Asher.
A voice that was polite yet somehow clingy echoed through the room.
The host appeared.
