As they began descending the floors, it became clear that there were around 300 floors in total. The place was vast, incomparable to the stem in both length and height.
"The bottom, right?" Azarias asked, glancing at the woman beside him.
"Yes, I told you that already," she began to respond, but his barrage of repeated questions made her falter.
"Just trying to make you feel safe," Azarias said, a grin pulling at his lips. "What's your favorite era?"
"Oh, alright," she hesitated, caught off guard by his sudden shift in conversation. "That time I got reincarnated as a Neanderthal in the Prehistoric Era."
Azarias blinked, then leaned back slightly in disbelief. "That's a mouthful, isn't it?"
"No, I used it to pass university. I was taking a course on the environmental dynamics of different districts, plus the tiers of creatures from that era," Anna explained, trailing off. "It has all of that."
"Are they alright? The people from up, I mean," she asked after a pause, concern creeping into her voice.
Azarias gave her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, don't worry. They're fine."
They walked in silence for a moment until the door before them slid open with a faint hiss, revealing a dimly lit room. Azarias blinked in surprise at what he saw.
"Wow, I didn't think you'd actually keep her here," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief as he gestured for Anna to lead.
"You said she would be useful… At least that's what I heard from the guards," Anna explained.
The two continued until they reached the end of the massive dungeon and stood before a door. When they opened it, what lay beyond took Azarias by surprise once more.
"I didn't mean this useful…" Azarias muttered in shock. The room they entered was high-tech, a complete departure from the ancient dungeon. In the center of the room sat an empty jacuzzi, the room's décor dominated by gold and white. It gleamed, modern, and almost luxurious.
Valentina lounged on a sleek couch, watching television, but her eyes widened as she turned and spotted Azarias.
"Saint Azarias!" she exclaimed, standing up quickly.
"There's no need for that. I am far from one," Azarias responded, waving his hand dismissively. "Azarias is fine. When did you become so polite? Weren't you trying to kill me a few days ago?"
He turned to Anna. "Has she revealed anything useful?"
"Not that I've heard of. She… she seems to have a high appeal," Anna muttered, sounding uncertain.
"Oh, they said that," Valentina slouched back on the couch, wearing a casual top and shorts. "They really gave me a perfect room, didn't she?" she mused.
Azarias sighed, rubbing his forehead. He knew what all this meant. "Alright, I'm feeling up for a game of chess. If I win, you tell me what I want to know. If you win, I'll tell you everything about the 'church.'"
"A compensation?" Valentina responded sharply, raising an eyebrow.
"You're not strong enough to impose one on me—nor is she," Azarias added, pointing over his shoulder at Anna.
"Fine," Valentina shrugged. "But I don't want information on the church. I want details about the central district war."
"Alright," Azarias agreed without hesitation, but as he looked around the room, he noticed a problem. "Wait a minute, there's no chessboard…"
Timeskip
The two players sat across from each other, their gazes locked on the chessboard with unblinking intensity.
Azarias, methodical and deliberate, opened cautiously but with purpose. His first move: D2 to D4—a queen's pawn opening, immediately asserting control over the center of the board. It was a strategic opening, built on long-term planning, where every pawn would later have its weight felt.
Valentina, equally sharp, responded with Nf6, avoiding the more traditional pawn responses. This was the Indian Defense, a signal that she was prepared for a deep, positional battle. Already, psychological warfare was in play.
Not deterred, Azarias pressed forward with C2 to C4, expanding his control over the center. His pieces spread like roots, and his posture remained calm, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
Valentina had no intention of letting him dominate. She pushed her g7 pawn to g6, preparing to fianchetto her bishop—a flexible yet aggressive move.
"You—" Valentina began, but Azarias interrupted her smoothly.
"Play," he said, his voice steady.
Azarias calmly brought out his knight. Nb1 to C3, supporting the center and solidifying his control. The stage was set. It was time for Valentina to strike.
With a slight huff, Valentina complied. She completed her plan, bringing her bishop out to Bg7. The diagonal was wide open, cutting across the board, indirectly threatening the queen's side. A quiet development, but no less dangerous.
Azarias paused, then castled kingside. O-O. His rook now protected his king, but more importantly, he could continue to develop his pieces freely.
Without missing a beat, Valentina pushed her pawn to D7 to D5, contesting the center. The challenge was clear: battle for control or lose it.
The center was now contested, an invitation to battle. Pieces hovered, waiting to be unleashed.
Azarias didn't hesitate. He captured her pawn, C4 takes D5, and Anna, who had been silently observing, tensed slightly.
Valentina recaptured the pawn with her knight at Nf6 to D5. Material equality was restored, but the board had begun to shift into more dangerous waters.
Now, Azarias made his first subtle but dangerous move. Qd1 to B3. The queen crept into position, not only protecting the d5 square but also eyeing the vulnerable b7 pawn, creating a latent threat. The pressure was building.
But Valentina wasn't fooled. She fortified her defense. C7 to C6, preparing for a broader structure, guarding the knight on d5 and setting up a defense around their camp.
Azarias shifted, bringing his other knight into play. Ng1 to F3, quietly reinforcing the center. The plan was becoming clear—he was positioning for a future assault, but taking his time, waiting for the moment when Valentina would crack under the weight of invisible pressure.
But Valentina was no fool. She responded with e7 to e6, solidifying her center and preparing to develop her dark-squared bishop. Both sides were playing a deeper game now, seeing moves not just for their immediate impact but for their long-term effects.
Then came the shift.
Azarias, ever patient, moved his queenside rook to d1 (Rfd1). He now had control of the open d-file. This was a move of precision, a way to exert dominance over the center of the board. His pieces were perfectly aligned for a breakthrough.
Sensing the shift in power, Valentina castled kingside. O-O. Her rook now joined the fray, and her king was safe—for now—but the real plan was to get her other rook into play. The game had entered a new phase—both sides were fully developed, ready to unleash their true intentions.
But Azarias wasn't finished. He advanced his pawn with E2 to E4, boldly challenging the knight at D5. The tension had reached its peak.
"Oh, would you look at that…" Azarias remarked slyly, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I thought you said no talking," Valentina muttered, her attention never wavering from the board. Azarias didn't respond.
Valentina retreated, pulling her knight back to f6. The move preserved her material, but it relinquished control of the center. Now, Azarias had the upper hand.
But Valentina countered. She pushed her pawn, A7 to A5, creating threats on the queenside and preparing to pressure the white queen if it stayed too long on b3. This was a high-level game of tension and release. Each move felt like a tightening coil, ready to spring.
Not one to miss an opportunity, Azarias moved his queen back to C2, positioning it for an impending assault, while keeping an eye on the weaknesses in Valentina's defenses.
Azarias didn't flinch. He calmly moved his knight from Nf3 to d4, seizing control of critical squares and threatening to dominate the board.
Then came the pivotal moment. Valentina advanced her C6 to C5, attacking the knight and locking down the center. It was a bold move, but it left her vulnerable on the light squares.
Azarias, with a subtle nod, saw his opportunity to exploit that weakness. He advanced his pawn to d5, tearing open the center and forcing Valentina's pawn to capture: c5xd5. With her pawn structure shattered, Azarias was ready to strike.
He developed his bishop with Bc1 to F4, its diagonal aimed straight at the exposed g7 square. The pressure was mounting, and Valentina could feel the noose tightening.
She tried to bring her forces into play, moving her rook to D8 to relieve some of the central pressure, but Azarias wasn't done. He moved his knight to G5, setting up a deadly combination with his bishop and queen. His eyes were fixed on the f7 square, ready to deliver a devastating blow.
Valentina had no choice but to defend. She pushed her h7 pawn to h6, kicking Azarias' knight, but this was exactly what Azarias wanted. He smiled slightly as he sacrificed the knight immediately: Ng5 takes f7!
The pawn fell, and with it, the defenses around the black king were shattered. Valentina had no choice but to recapture, Rxf7, but now her king was exposed, standing alone amidst the chaos.
Azarias advanced his queen. Qc2 to g6, eyeing the weak dark squares around the black king. The pressure was mounting, unbearable.
In a final act of desperation, Valentina tried to defend with Qb6, offering an exchange of queens, but Azarias was unrelenting. He slid his rook up the open d-file. Rd1 to d8+ (check before assault), forcing Valentina's king to h7.
Valentina was trapped.
"You sly..." She mused.
Azarias delivered the final blow. Qg6 to g7#, checkmate.
The black king, surrounded by its own pieces yet helpless to stop the coordinated attack, was cornered.
There was no escape.
The match was over.
"Checkmate," he said, his voice calm and assured.
Valentina's eyes darted over the board, searching for a way out, but there was none. She had no defense. She sighed and tipped her king over in defeat.
"That was easy," Azarias said.
"2-0," he finally said.
"Alright, you win, no need to rub it in..." she muttered begrudgingly, her expression unreadable.
Azarias leaned back, a small smile on his lips. "Now, tell me what I want to know."
The oppressive atmosphere of the fortress pressed down on Azarias as he stood, posture rigid with tension. Valentina's piercing gaze bore into him, her eyes glinting with a blend of curiosity and cunning.
"You planned it from the beginning, didn't you?" Her voice was silky smooth, every word precisely measured.
Azarias rose slowly, his movements deliberate.
"I read chess before coming here," he said flatly, his tone unreadable.
"Tell me everything," he commanded, turning to face her fully. His unwavering stare locked onto hers—a silent battle of wills unfolding.
Valentina's lips curved into a sly smile.
"My loyal blade. A celebration of war. You are about to sacrifice something."
The words lingered in the air, heavy with implication.
"That is—" Azarias began.
But she cut him off, gently.
"You didn't say how I'd tell you, did you? That's everything I know," she added, savoring each syllable. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Now, would you excuse me? I'd like to use my jacuzzi."
She turned away, gliding toward the steaming bath, every step a deliberate performance.
Azarias sighed, a trace of begrudging admiration in his voice.
"Yet you call me sly."
His gaze shifted to Anna, who stood quietly nearby, watching everything with focused intensity.
"Let's go. That should be enough information."
He moved toward the door, hand closing around the ornate handle. As it swung open, the contrast between worlds became stark—the polished elegance of Valentina's chamber yielding abruptly to the grim stone of the fortress. A jarring transition. Luxury melting into harsh reality.
"I didn't mean this useful," he muttered yet again under his breath.
Before he could step through fully, Valentina's voice called after him.
"I'm so alone," already preparing to slip into the steaming jacuzzi.
Azarias paused, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"She really is my type," he murmured, more to himself than to Anna.