After observing the chessboard for a moment, Ron immediately noticed something unusual.
"We have to play our way across." Ron's voice was unusually calm. Facing this giant wizard chess board, a sense of focus and composure never seen before appeared on his face, which was usually a bit lacking in confidence.
This was Ron's domain, and he had absolute confidence in his ability to checkmate anyone on this battlefield.
"It's obvious," Ron pointed to several empty positions on the board, "we must take the place of those missing black pieces."
Harry and Hermione exchanged a look, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.
This meant they would personally participate in this violent chess game played with giant stone statues.
Every time a piece was "taken," it would involve a real impact and smashing.
"I'm terrible at chess," Harry confessed.
"Me too," Hermione echoed. Her wisdom was more reflected in logic and knowledge than in this kind of strategic game full of variables.
"Don't worry," Ron patted his chest, his eyes shining, "I'll direct you."
He began to assign roles.
"Harry, you go be that Bishop." He pointed to an empty spot in the C-file.
"Hermione, you go be the Castle." He pointed to another empty spot in the E-file.
Ron himself walked over to the Knight's position in the G-file and vaulted onto the tall stone horse.
"We must win." He tightened his grip on the reins, his gaze like fire as it swept across the row of silent and deadly white pieces opposite them.
Hermione took a deep breath and stepped onto the base of her "Castle."
Lia the Cat gave a light leap, jumping onto Hermione's shoulder, then climbed to the top of her head, finding a comfortable spot to crouch down.
A small white Ragdoll Cat, crouching on top of a giant black Castle piece—the image was full of a bizarre sense of drama.
Lia the Cat blinked her large blue eyes curiously, looking at those giant stone figures opposite them that were filled with an aura of "life."
When the three of them were in position, the white pieces on the opposite side of the board moved.
A white pawn moved forward two squares.
"Crack... Boom."
The sound of stone grinding against the floor echoed in the empty room, carrying a heart-palpitating sense of weight.
"Alright, the game begins." Ron licked his dry lips, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. "Pawn to E4, advance!"
Following his command, a black stone pawn also moved forward.
The chess game unfolded from there.
Ron displayed an astonishing talent for command. He calmly observed the situation of the entire board, every move carefully considered.
"Harry! Three squares diagonally! Take that Knight!"
Harry nervously moved according to the command, and the Bishop statue he represented slammed violently into the white Knight opposite him.
"BOOM!"
With a loud bang, the white Knight statue was instantly Diffindo under the impact, stone fragments flying everywhere! Harry was jolted back half a step by the massive force, his face turning pale.
This was too real.
The game proceeded with extreme difficulty. White's offensive was incredibly fierce, every move carrying a ruthless intent to kill. Several black pieces were smashed to pieces right before their eyes.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Ron's forehead as his brain worked at high speed.
If it were a normal match, he had a hundred ways to win.
But while protecting these three pieces and fighting at the same time, even Ron felt immense pressure.
The game gradually fell into a stalemate; the number of black pieces dwindled, while the white side maintained a powerful offensive. Especially that white "Queen"—she had no face, but every move carried a majestic air of looking down on everything and a lethal threat, leaving the black side's defense precarious.
The Castle played by Hermione was firmly pinned to the back rank, unable to move. She clenched her fists nervously, her heart filled with a sense of powerlessness, able only to place all her hope in Ron. On her head, Lia keenly felt Hermione's stiffness and her unconcealable tension.
Lia the Cat followed Hermione's gaze and locked her eyes onto the most majestic and most unsettling figure for Hermione: the white "Queen."
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