825 Aetherfall Gambit

    Hayley’s POV:

    “Point is, it’s not me.” I shrugged like I didn’t care. “I don’t take students as lousy as you.”

    58

    +8 Pearis

    “Learn from you? You think you’re even worthy?” Monica snapped, her anger boiling over.

    No one was allowed to shift into wolf form during the tournament. If anyone even tried, they’d get warned right away. A staff member walked over and gave her a sharp look, and she reluctantly pulled back her fangs.

    She took a deep breath, then sneered, “My master is the president of the National Chess Association, Mr. Baxter Atkinson. You’ve probably never even met him, have you?”

    That made me pause. So her teacher was actually him?

    “Who?” I tilted my head and gave her a sly smile like I honestly didn’t know.

    Monica instantly puffed up with pride. “You don’t even know his name? With skills like yours, bI /bdoubt you’re worth anything on the board.”

    Her voice grew louder, and she finally found a chance to unload on me. “You actually dared to show up at his event? You really have no shame.”

    Monica kept piling it on, like she couldn’t stop. “Maybe back in Midnight Pack, you could win Alpha Benjamin’s attention with your looks. But this is an elite gathering. No one cares about a pretty face here. People like you don’t belong.”

    She paused, then raised her chin high. “But if you quit right now, I might be generous enough to let it slide, for Mr. White’s sake. Otherwise, when you get humiliated in front of everyone, Benjamin’s going down with you. The other Alphas willugh him right out of this room.”

    At first, I only half–listened. I fiddled with my ear, wondering if I should let her save faceter so Odessa wouldn’te barking at me again. Ending the game in a draw wouldn’t be hard.

    But then Monica dragged Benjamin into it.

    That was thest straw. My patience burned away in an instant.

    I narrowed my eyes at her and said coldly, “Did it ever cross your mind that maybe you’ll be the one humiliating Benjamin in the end?”

    “Me?” Monicaughed like I’d told the funniest joke in the world. She clutched her stomach, cackling. “Wow, I’ve got to admire your optimism. Even now, you refuse to admit you’re doomed.”

    b9:16 /bbSat/bb, /bbSep /bb13 /b

    Chapter 825 Aetherfall Gambit

    “You sure about that?” My fingers curled, my tone colder than ice. “What if you lose?”

    “How could I lose?” Monica scoffed, crossing her arms. “Fine. If I do, I’ll p myself in front of everyone here. But if I win, you’ll do the same for me.”

    “Quit stalling. Let’s keep going.” I arched a brow, pleased she’d walked straight into my trap.

    Monica, you’re about to learn what regret feels like.

    Monica’s POV:

    After sealing that bet with Hayley, I shut my eyes, took a breath, and forced myself to focus. If I wanted her crushed, I needed to get serious.

    I’d studied her game tapes before. I already had the perfect n, which was the Aetherfall Gambit.

    It was a master–level strategy, created by Baxter himself during a legendary match against a hidden chess master in Aetherfall.

    Originally, I’d nned to use it against Mr. Kirk. But if I wanted Hayley destroyed–if I wanted everyone to see how much stronger I was than this Omega–then I had to use my proudest technique, even if beating her should’ve been child’s y.

    I opened my eyes and calmly moved my first piece.

    Hayley followed right away, almost too quickly. It didn’t even look like she thought about it. Just random moves.

    I smirked, full of disdain. She really was simple–minded. Couldn’t even y the opening properly. If she couldn’t handle the first step, there was no way she’d survive the rest. Hopeless.

    At first, I thought unleashing the Aetherfall Gambit on her was a total waste. She didn’t deserve it.

    But once I dropped my key piece, it was already over.