Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 143

Chapter 143: A Unexpected Duel II

The Endgame

16. Nxe6 Qd6

Jake’s knight captured the pawn, threatening the King’s position. The King’s queen moved to counter the attack.

17. Nf4 Be7

Jake’s knight retreated to a strong defensive position. The King developed his bishop, aiming at the weakened center.

18. c4 g5

Jake’s pawn moved to control more space. The King pushed his pawn, trying to open lines for his pieces.

19. cxd5 exd5

Jake captured with the pawn, opening up the center. The King recaptured, but Jake’s position remained strong.

20. Nxd5 Nxd5

Jake’s knight captured the pawn, challenging the King’s defense. The King’s knight recaptured, but it was a critical mistake.

21. Qxd5 Rf8

Jake’s Queen mecha captured the knight, placing immense pressure. The King’s rook moved to defend, but the position was collapsing.

22. Qxc6+ Kf7

Jake’s Queen mecha captured another pawn, attacking the King directly. The King moved to escape, but it was too late.

23. Qe6+ Ke8

Queen mecha delivered a decisive check. The King was forced to move into a precarious position.

24. Qxe7#

With a final, coordinated strike, Jake and Ramis delivered checkmate. The King’s King mecha fell, defeated.

Game End

As the game concluded with Jake’s victory, the King Mecha began to reassemble itself as if it had never been destroyed. To Jake and Ramis, it felt as though time was reversing, and soon they found themselves back at the very point where they had started the game.

The king’s eyes flickered momentarily before he waved his hand, causing the statues that had occupied the chess pieces’ positions to return to their previous spots, and the chessboard to disappear.

The king looked at Jake and Ramis and said, “You have won and proven yourselves worthy to inherit a part of the Nine Heaven King’s legacy, specifically the Mecha Emperor’s legacy.”

He said this and then moved back to his throne. As he approached it, he pushed it aside, revealing a hidden chamber beneath.

He motioned for Jake and Ramis to follow.

Jake and Ramis followed the King Mecha into the chamber, where they found a room filled with gleaming artifacts encased in glass. The artifacts radiated such power that just looking at them made Jake and Ramis’s eyes hurt.

“If you hadn’t defeated me, I would have given you one of these for your effort in reaching the last chamber. But since you have defeated me, you may each choose any three,” the King Mecha said, stepping aside to let Jake and Ramis make their selections.

Jake And Ramis nodded and moved to inspect the goods eagerly.

Jake activated his Akashic Eyes, which began to glow with a soft blue light, allowing him to inspect the artifacts and reveal their hidden details. Ramis, using his TRUE Void Eyes, saw the deeper essence of the artifacts, perceiving their true nature and power.

As they moved through the chamber, Jake and Ramis discovered a variety of powerful mecha-related artifacts

Among all the choices Jake felt conflicted about these:

1.Aegis Core Module

Description: A glowing core capable of generating an impenetrable energy shield. Power: Provides the user with an energy shield that can deflect even the most powerful attacks upto three ranks above user realm.

2. Celestial Blade

Description: A sleek, radiant sword that glows with a divine light.

Power: Capable of cutting through any material, it channels celestial energy to deliver devastating attacks.

3. Eclipse Engine

Description: A dark, swirling engine that seems to consume light.

Power: Provides the mecha with the ability to cloak itself in shadows, rendering it invisible and undetectable.

Hidden Attribute: Can harness the power of black holes for devastating attacks.

4.Quantum Resonator

Description: A sleek device that hums with quantum energy.

Power: Allows the mecha to shift between parallel universes, effectively dodging attacks by existing in multiple realities.

Hidden Attribute: Can resonate with other quantum devices, amplifying their effects.

” you are still making your choices?” As Jake was pondering which he could leave, Ramis asked him.

Jake looked at him and saw he has alrady chosen three artifacts.

Spectral Cloak

Description: A cloak that shimmers with an ethereal glow.

Power: Allows the mecha to phase in and out of the physical plane, becoming intangible at will.

Void Blade

Description: A sword that seems to absorb light, leaving a trail of darkness.

Power: Cuts through the fabric of reality, dealing immense damage and bypassing all defenses.

Chrono Stabilizer

Description: A compact device emitting a faint temporal field.

Power: Grants the mecha time-manipulation abilities, allowing it to slow down or speed up time within a limited area.

Hidden Attribute: Can reverse minor damages and revert to previous states.

Looking at his choices, Jake nodded and said, “Great choices.”

Ramis laughed, replying, “I know, I chose them to overcome my weaknesses.” He paused, then swung the Void Blade, its unique form coming to life as two energy blades extended from a single rod attached to the hilt. “Now, I even have a good blade.”

The Void Blade shimmered with an eerie darkness, its energy blades humming with a low, resonant sound. The blade’s design was both sleek and menacing, a testament to its formidable power and the ingenuity of the Nine Heaven King.

Ramis smiled and said ” you should hurry too, we have other shrines to raid too”

Ramis smiled and said, “You should hurry too, we have other shrines to raid.”

Jake nodded, deciding to leave the Celestial Blade behind. Thanks to the feedback from Ramis’s selections, Jake also received the same artifacts. Confident in his choices, he prepared to move on.

The King Mecha, observing their decisions, placed his robotic palm on the central pillar. The pillar began to open, piece by piece, like building blocks shifting and rearranging themselves.

Soon, a book floated out from within the pillar. “This is the part of the legacy you two will inherit. Just touch it,” the King Mecha said, stepping aside.

Jake and Ramis looked at the book in awe. It appeared to be made of metal, with its surface shifting as runic patterns continuously moved and rearranged themselves. The pages, made of thin metal sheets, flowed like the cover, flipping and repeating the process in a mesmerizing display.

Jake and Ramis approached the book, feeling the energy emanating from it. They exchanged a glance, then simultaneously reached out and touched the floating book. The moment their hands made contact, a surge of power and knowledge flowed into them, filling their minds with the ancient secrets and techniques of the Nine Heaven King.

“You two are done here,” the Mecha King said, not giving them time to relax. He waved his hand, and both Jake and Ramis fell on their butts at the entrance of the shrine.

They stood up, dusting the sand from their pants, and looked back at the shrine.

“It’s still there,” Jake said.

“Yes, it is,” Ramis nodded.

“Which means this legacy can be inherited again and again,” Jake said, frowning.

“So what?” Ramis asked.

“It means the reason we didn’t encounter the infernals is that they’ve already inherited it and moved on,” Jake replied, his face growing serious.

Hearing him, Ramis felt a sinking feeling. “What should we do now?”

Jake looked at the Runic key he had received from the Mecha King just before they were kicked out. “Let’s move separately,” he said decisively.

Ramis raised an eyebrow. “Separately?”

“Yes,” Jake confirmed. “We can cover more ground that way. There are other shrines, and we need to get to them before the infernals do.”

Ramis nodded, understanding the urgency. “Alright. But we stay in contact.”

“Agreed,” Jake said. “We’ll use the communication links we set up. If you find anything, let me know immediately.”

With a final nod to each other, they set off in different directions.

Jake moved hastily to the next shrine, using his Pathfinder authority to locate the closest one. He rushed through the terrain, his thoughts focused on reaching it before the infernals could.

Soon, he arrived at the next shrine. Unlike the previous one, which was made of metal and other unknown metallic substances, this shrine seemed to be made entirely of blue ice. The structure glowed faintly, the light refracting through the ice and casting an ethereal glow on the surrounding area.

Jake marveled at the sight. The blue ice seemed to pulse with an inner energy, and intricate patterns were etched into the surface, similar to the runes he’d seen in the previous shrine. He cautiously approached the entrance, his breath visible in the cold air.

He placed his hand on the icy door, feeling a surge of energy as the runes responded to his touch. The door slowly opened, revealing a pathway lined with crystalline pillars. Each pillar radiated a chilling aura, making the air even colder as he ventured inside.

On other side

Ramis arrived at a shrine that appeared to be made entirely of molten lava. Even from a distance, he could sense the intense heat emanating from it, hot enough to melt an average mortal from ten meters away. As he moved closer, the temperature began to affect him, and he could feel sweat forming on his brow.