Chapter 301: Legacy
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." –2 Peter 3:10
Inside a spacious room sat the one man who would ensure the end of this world, Arthur Bennett.
He was seen looking at a board in which game pieces were neatly aligned in their formation. Outside the window, trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the sunlight cast patterns on the floor.
The room, simple but well-organized, offered an uninterrupted view of a calm landscape. This was a moment creeping towards normalcy, but Arthur's face remained stoic as he observed the positions of the shogi pieces.
Shogi, often referred to as Japanese chess, differed from American chess primarily in its use of captured pieces, which could be reintroduced into play by the capturing player.
Across from him sat Kimimaro. Arthur recognized Kimimaro's intensity; it reflected both respect and fear.
They had been playing shogi, a game Arthur had initially known little about. Yet, he had learned quickly under Kimimaro's tutelage, absorbing strategies and moves that had taken years for others to grasp.
Today, he sat confidently like a predator assessing its prey.
"Your moves have improved," Kimimaro commented, shifting a pawn forward. "You're quite the genius."
"I prefer to use the word 'wise,'" Arthur corrected.
Kimimaro glanced up to ask, "What's the difference, my lord?"