There ack of bodyguards in bck suits, surrounding a familiar blonde girl. That’s the oppressive se that greeted Yuel and the others on their way to the waiting room.

  Perhaps this image didn’t tell much to the others, but it sent a shiver down Yuel’s spine.

  "Um, guys...” Yuel nervously looked around. “Let's take another route-"

  "Yuel Fermond," the blonde girl called out as if sensing Yuel's iions from afar.

  Oh no... Yuel forced a weak smile as he slowly turo greet the galnt figure.

  "Good day to you," the girl greeted him.

  "G-Good day..." Yuel squeezed out a reply while gulping. Why is she here? This is the st pce where I'd ever expect to run into her...

  "Oh!" Vi excimed. "Are you not Fiona La, the princess of the chess world!?"

  "Yes, I'm Fiona," the girl replied with a smile. "o meet you all, fellow members of Stratus."

  Wait, what? Sweat formed on Yuel's forehead. Why would she know the name of a Cssmaeam? There's absolutely no reason for somebody like her to possess suowledge. Unless she’s... gulp.

  "’tis must be a whim of fate!!" Vi bowed deeply. "I'm hoo be in your presence, yhness!"

  "Please, raise your head," Fiona requested. "The title of a 'princess' is nothing more than the media's exaggeration In truth, I'm but a teenager, just like the rest of you."

  "One heck of a beautiful teenager,” Luke whispered to his clubmates, but they ignored his usual shenanigans.

  At least, he had the decy to say that in a low voistead of openly hitting on the princess. Pyful as he was, the peasant knew his p the hierarchy.

  However, not everybody shared the same se about the galnt figure in front of them.

  "So, is she someone famous?" Kai asked.

  "But, of course she is!" Vi excimed. "In the media, she is known as the 'Ladh Princess', the youion of the chess world!"

  "A princess?" Kai raised an eyebrow. Well, she does look kinda pretty…

  It was a bit irksome that Kai had to raise her head a little in order to look at Fiona’s face. Even though Kai was detly tall firl her age, Fiona was even taller.

  The so-called “princess” was definitely pretty. There was o be a pyboy like Luke in order to realize that.

  However, at the same time, there was something a bit intimidating about this galnt figure. She retty and elegant, but also tall and majestic. It was a bination Kai has only ever sin movies, not in real life.

  Still, I dunno about calling her a “princess”. Kai was stu that one point for some reason. She’s more than just a pretty face, that’s for sure.

  A closer iion of the girl’s features revealed that her arms were a bit muscur. Not in a way that stood out too much, but definitely a lot more than you’d expect from some “princess”.

  Anyway, this girl wasn’t the sheltered type, that’s for sure. This put Vi’s info into question.

  "Is she really a chess pyer?" Kai asked. "I mean, with a build like this..."

  "A good observation, cap!" Vi nodded as if he has been waiting for this. "Chess is simply the topic that makes the headlines most frequently when it es to the La Princess. Frankly, I suspect there is some marketing propaganda behind it. Perhaps, the media devils are trying to tempt irls into partaking at chess."

  "I’m afraid that isn’t too far off from the truth," Fiona curred. "They are most definitely usio promote chess among the younger audience."

  "Sounds like a pain in the-” Kai stopped herself i sed. “… a pain in the neck." She resorted to the more kiddie-friendly version. Somehow, it felt inappropriate to utter any vulgarity in front of this elegant girl.

  "It get a bit bothersome at times, but I do not mind,” Fiona said. “If this sort of marketing attract more young pyers to the chess world, then I shall gdly py my part in it.”

  “Yeah, I bet chess needs all the advertisement it get.”

  “Indeed. It is a very old game, after all. It struggles to maintain its relevaoday when we have so many petitive games on the market. In fact, Cssmancers is one example of such a petitor." She cast a meaningful gaze at Yuel, ohat he immediately avoided.

  Is she here to roast me about leaving chess for Cssmancers? Yuel made a face. This is my life, I do whatever I want. He wao shove that statement right in the princess’s face, but he didn't have the ce to do so.

  "Anyway," Vi tinued. "As Kai masterfully deduced, there is a lot more to Fiona La than just chess. She is an active partit in many different sports, aiming to quer them all!"

  "I see that you are well-informed."

  "Oh, please. Your words are too kind." Vit bowed. "I'm but a peasant whose parents happen to work in the journalism industry. As such, I do my best to follow on the news of many sports, which is how I happeo learn about your impressive career"

  "Yo, so she’s a multi-sport pro!?" Lars jumped. "That's rad, dude! So, which sports?"

  "Unfortunately," Vi said. "My test information oopic is a couple of years old. Therefore, I'm unsure whether my answer will be accurate for the present state of our universe. My archives happen to be inplete at the moment, so to speak."

  "Then I shall answer," Fiona took the reins of the versation. "Currently, I'm most active in chess, rag, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and piano. Though, I have also dabbled in other fields as well, such as judo and feng.”

  “ow!” Luke whistled. Everybody else was equally taken aback by that long list, save for Vi and Yuel who were already expeg as much.

  The neers always liked to mention how Fiona was into many different sports. They did so to advertise her as a prodigy who could do virtually anything she set her hand to.

  Therefore, as impressive as that list was, Yuel and Vi more or less saw it ing. It’s the part that truly caught them off guard.

  “In addition,” Fiona tinued. “Over the past year, I've been dabbling in Cssmancers as well."

  "Excuse me, you what?" Vi paused with a dumb smile on his face. The rest of the team froze as well.

  Looks like my bad feeling wasn't unbased. Yuel shuddered. She actually went ahead a foot in the world of video gaming. And, she had to pick Cssmancers of all things...

  "In fact," Fiona tinued. "I came here today to greet all of you, as the captain of the Valkyries. It is the representing team of St. Mary’s Junih."

  Her gaze addressed ead every oppo in order until it finally id on Yuel. "I hope we will have a good match if we run into each other at the regionals."

  "Y-Yeah..." Yuel wasn't sure how to respond to this suddeion of war. Fiona literally dropped a bomb oire team out of nowhere.

  The decration fazed most of them, yet some mao retain their reason. In fact, these few were eveed about the prospect.

  “Oh! So that’s what the mysterious Valkyries are all about!” Vi excimed. “We saw this unfamiliar name show up on this year’s roster, yet we couldn’t make heads or tails of it. To think that her than the La Princess is going to lead this team…!”

  Yeah, we couldn’t find out much about this team. Yuel recalled.

  The ittee in charge of the regionals posted an updated list of this year’s partits, a list that featured an unfamiliar team by the name of Valkyries. It was a braeam that formed in St. Mary’s Junih for Ladies.

  St. Mary’s was essentially a school for rich girls, that's about all Yuel gathered from a quick google search. Apparently, it was an old-fashioned school, so it was odd to see it join the esports se. Regardless, Yuel didn't think much of it at the time.

  But, now I knoas pulling the strings. Yuel thought. I’m not sure what’s her agenda, but I’m almost certain it’s her doing.

  The La Princess surely had enough influeo push for something like that. She ublic figure and hailed from a rich family. bihat with her dominant personality, and it wasn’t hard to imagine even a traditional school bowing to her majesty.

  In fact, it was a little surprising that Yuel, and especially Vi, hadn’t caught wind of any of this until now. The media should have jumped on the opportunity to advertise the La Princess some more in this text. For example, with a clickbait title like “The birth of the Esports Princess!?”

  However, as far as Yuel was aware, nothing was reported in the neers yet. Perhaps the journalists haven’t caught wind of the fact the La Princess was reted to the Valkyries? Or, were they waiting for the team’s debut befoing ham?

  Either way, the fact remaihat Fiona Lah was definitely here, right in front of them. And, she was deg war.

  "Truth to be told," Fiona addressed Yuel. "I expected to eventually face you as a member of StormBlitz. I was rather surprised to learn that you transferred to aeam."

  "Is that so..." Were you stalking me or something?

  "I do not wish to offend anybody by saying this, but acc to my research, Stratus is a team with a reputation that precedes it, and not in a good way. From what I gathered, it appears to be the least aplished team in ion, which is quite worrisome."

  “Nah, dude. That’s old news,” Lars casually rebuked the princess without minding his manners or anything. “Maybe it was a meh team in the past. But this year, it’s full of pros! So, we gonna make it the stro in the region, believe it!”

  “That’s right.” Kai reinforced. “This club used to have carefree pyers who didn’t take the petition seriously, but not anymore. This year, we’re seriously aiming to take the regionals.”

  “Indeed, indeed!” Viuned in. “We shall quer all our oppos, and pce Stratus on the pedestal it deserves! In fact, we’ve already started our crusade by besting Taurus a few weeks ago.”

  “Yes, I heard you got a win.” Fiona nodded. “Apparently, this was Starus’ first official victory in years.”

  "Indeed, we made history that day!" Vi made noise.

  "Yeah, we're the best!" Luke added.

  "That’s right, my dudes!” Lars added hype. “We gonna take on everybody and win the regionals, yo!"

  The rest of the team responded with strong nods to these loud assertions. Even in the face of a royal princess, none of them showed any signs of hesitation.

  "I'm gd to see you are aiming high this year." Fiona nodded. "The higher you aim, the higher you'll eventually reach, such is my belief. Ihis is quite reassuring. Seeing as you're all so fident, it sounds like we might have a ce to do battle this year, after all." She seemed to direct these words specifically at Yuel, for some reason.

  Look at her go. Yuel scoffed. She's already 100% fident she'll wiire thing with her greenhorn team. As far as she’s ed, we're just a small obstacle that she’d like to meet along her road to the top, nothing more.

  This boundless fidence was the very definition of the La Princess. She wasn't arrogant or desding, not on purpose anyway. She was simply fident in herself and her skill.

  Therefore, her words weren’t ay promise, at least not for her. Fiona genuinely believed she will reach the top of the petition with her greenhorn team.

  "Sure," Yuel said. "If you really bring your braeam that far, the's have a good game."

  "Is that doubt I’m sensing? I assure you, there is o worry about my team," Fiona asserted. "I personally oversee everybody's training, and I have employed the help of multiple professional coaches. On top of that, I have scheduled a couple of scrimmages against pro pyers So, my team will not be g iher expertise or experience, I assure you."

  "rofessional coaches!?" Luke excimed. "And, matches against pros, too? Damn, it sounds like you guys got some srs bsns VIP stuff going on there, haha. How you even afford all that stuff?"

  "Money is a nonissue for the La family.”

  "Dang, talk about being pay-to-win in real life, haha."

  "Personally, I believe that much should be the standard for all teams," Fiona said evenly. "If you are seriously pnning to pete, then you must seek advice from the best coaches in the field, as well as test your mettle against the pinnacle of the petition. Do you not agree?"

  "Y-Yeah, of course! She’s totally right, guys." Luke found himself noddiedly, more intehan he ever intended. Fiona's impeccable fidence made him submit like an obedient dog.

  "Well then," Fiona bowed courteously. "You have an important match ahead of you today, so I shouldn’t take any more of your precious time."

  Despite saying that, she directed her unwavering gaze at her main target once again. "Lastly, Yuel Fermond. If you are truly serious about this sport, serious enough to drop chess for it, then naturally I'm expeg great results from you today."

  "Sure, I'll do my best to live up to yh expectations," Yuel responded half-holy and half-sarcastically. Who does she think she is, ing out of nowhere and saying she expects things from me? From the sound of it, I've got far more experieh Cssmahan her. I’m the senior here.

  However, such logic didn't matter to Fiona La. Though the media niamed her "princess", she was more like a dominating queen who po quer any field she touched. Therefore, in her mind, the top of the regional petitive se was already at her fiips, despite the fact she has picked up Cssmancers only retly.

  But, I 't deny I’m curious to see how far she get Yuel admitted. She does have an impressive background in many different sports, and I know first-hand how overwhelming she be in chess.

  trary to what some may have believed, Fiona wasn't just the media's pet. She wasn't some average "pretty girl who pys chess". No, she was the real deal.

  During elementary school, she domihe regional petition. And, even now in middle school, she remains at the top even when peting with boys.

  Truly, the La Princess was a relentless queror. She had the ability to pybody under her heel.

  In this region, the only one who ever put a stop to the queen’s reign of terror was Yuel, who defeated her in chess ba fifth grade. Though, the actual story wasn’t nearly as pretty as that.

  It was a nerve-wrag match, ohat seemed hopeless at first. In fact, lud ce probably pyed a big role in that oute.

  Yuel just happeo find the right approach for dealing with this theory monster, who instantly dished out the correct respoo any stroa move. Somehow, Yuel’s unventional moves mao rattle Fiona a little, just enough to make her slip up.

  Any other day, under calmer circumstahe ice queen probably wouldn't have paid ao the schemes Yuel employed. Most of them were risky moves, so Fiona probably would have bested him with ease if she just stuck to her usual pystyle.

  However, such details apparently didn't matter to Fiona. As far as she was ed, that o stained her otherwise perfect reputation in the region. Thus, she couldn't let it go. Even noart of her sought revenge.

  "I hope you'll offer me a satisfyich," Fiona said. "I trust that this time, you won't have the excuse of not taking the sport seriously."

  "Of course not," Yuel asserted. "It’s not an exaggeration to say that my life revolved around Cssmancers for the past two years. So, it's the best sport I pete in, I assure you."

  "That is good to hear. In that case, you must make absolutely sure that you reach the top of the petition a a ce to py the Valkyries. Also, you are not allowed to pass the bme onto your team after you lose to me.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Yuel reassured. "With this team, we'll reach the top. And, if we run into you along the way, then we'll defeat you."

  "Very well." Fiona nodded in satisfa. "But first, I believe you will have to find a way to deal with Cato’s team."

  "Cato?" Yuel cocked his head.

  "Oh, are you not acquainted?" Fiona was taken aback. "From the way he talked about you, I could swear you two knew each other."

  "Is that a pyer from the Leopards?"

  "Yes, but it appears I was mistaken about your retionship. Pay it no mind."

  "So, you’re saying someone from the Leopards knows me personally? Now you made me curious. How are we supposed to be reted?"

  "You peted in chess at the regionals, almost two years ago now. But, it appears you do not even remember the match that eliminated you from the tour."

  "Two years ago..." Yuel searched ba his memory. She’s talking about the st regionals I pyed iary school. Holy, my memory is a little hazy on that one.

  Back then, Yuel was already getting deep into Cssmancers. The MOBA practically took over his life, so he didn’t have much time to spare for chess. He absorbed more and more knowledge about the new game he picked up, as there was an infinite amount of things to learn.

  So, I didn’t pay much attention to chess, even at the tour. That might sound disrespectful toward my oppos, but it’s the truth.

  Did he faeone named Cato? The name didn’t ring a bell, but there should still be a rec of the game on Yuel’s chess at. All official games were recorded nowadays, so it should be easy enough to find out.

  “Well then,” Fiona said. “I have already taken more of your time than I should have, so I shall wish you farewell here. Good luck.” Fiona bowed lightly ahe se.

  “Damn, son!” Luke jumped. “You old us you got friends who are royalty! Haha.”

  “It’s a stretch to call us ‘friends’,” Yuel said. “We’re acquainta best, and even then we’ve barely ever ied.”

  “How did you get to know that girl, anyway?” Lars was curious.

  “We pyed chess o the regionals,” Yuel expined. “And-”

  “And he won!” Vi excimed. “Using the Mystic Eyes of Weakness Perception, the one and only Chessmaster tore apart the La Princess! With his own two hands, he put a stop to her uable record!”

  “Yo, that’s cool!” Lars jumped iement, almost throwing Nia off his back.

  “It’s not such a big deal.” Yuel averted his eyes. “There was a fair amount of luvolved.”

  “The ever-humble Chessmaster.” Vi nodded. “I’ve actually gone over the match records, and I have to say it was a truly unique bout.”

  “Did you even uand any of it?”

  “Yes, I uood… absolutely nothing!” Vi decred proudly. “It was a truly mind-boggling battle, with many ued twists and turns! I struggled to make heads or tails of it! That’s how amazing it was.”

  “Yes, that’s kinda how the match went.” Yuel smiled wryly. “That’s why I ’t say I’m too proud of winning that match.”

  “Hey, a win is a win, dude,” Lars insisted. “You beat some awesome oppo, so you should be proud of it.”

  “Right...” Yuel relutly agreed. He wasn’t so sure that orth it if it meant being chased to the ends of the world. There’s no way she started Mancers just to get a revech against me, right? Nah, I’m sure I’m overthinking this.

  Regardless, the fact Fiona showed i in a rematch was going to be a pain in the neck. As long as they both tinue pying Cssmancers in this region, this surely won’t be the st time they cross paths.

  But holy, I’m a little curious. Yuel admitted. How far she get in this se?

  Fiona was an aplished petitor in any field she tried her hand in, so Cssmancers will probably be no exception. It'll be iing to see what sort of strategies she'll bring to the table, especially as a fellow chess pyer.

  Perhaps, aside from StormBlitz and the Leopards, the newly formed Valkyries was another major threat to sider this year.

  It’s unfortunate, but I 't holy enjoy having more petition when my future is riding on these regionals. Yuel gulped as he recalled the hasty promise he made with his mother. She allowed Yuel to trao Stratus uhe dition that he wins the regionals.

  But surely, she won’t be entirely unreasonable. If Stratus happens to lose to the Leopards or to StormBlitz, the two powerhouses of the region, then his mother will surely uand. Therefore, Yuel was fident he’d be able to iate the terms with her in case that happens.

  But, what will happen if Stratus loses to the Valkyries? It was a braeam, with members who were probably far less experiehan anybody from Stratus. So, losing to them would be a total disgrace.

  Mom would kill me. Yuel gulped. I’d really like to be happy about having more petition, but the huge risk makes it difficult to enjoy.

  There was also the Invincible Triangle from Taurus, which may or may not take the stage at the regionals. They were a worthy adversary as well, with a very real ce of stumping Stratus in a rematch.

  Truly, there were many strong oppos for Stratus to quer before they cim the championship. It won’t be a smooth sail, that’s for sure.

  But, we’ll win. Yuel ched his fists. No matter strong all these teams are, as long as I uheir weaknesses - we defeat them.

  With that determination, the team proceeded toward the waiting room. However, the entrance was blocked by yet another visitor, this time from StormBlitz…

  DarkestCymore