The game continued with stones alternating onto the board, each placement resonating deeply.

White maintained its advantage, steadily advancing from the four corner territories toward the center, yet Black's tenacity was astonishing. Though the situation appeared precarious, Black consistently displayed a game posture capable of turning the tide even when facing certain defeat!

This meant that despite being in absolute desperation, Black persistently narrowed the gap, clinging fiercely to any chance of reversal beneath what felt like ten thousand arrows piercing through the heart!

Watching each move from both sides, the surrounding spectators found their emotions strangely muted, as if all distracting thoughts had suddenly vanished. They no longer focused solely on the outcome of this game.

They simply appreciated, marveling at each move far beyond their own reach.

It was like mortals standing atop a mountain peak, witnessing the twilight of the gods.

Beyond feeling their own insignificance and powerlessness, all that remained was an eerie calm—a resigned acceptance of the inevitable.

"Senior Brother Sato..."

Even the girl standing behind the young man was stunned, gazing blankly at a game she could only appreciate without being able to offer any commentary.

Every move from both players far surpassed her understanding. Even if she had her own insights into the game, she would eventually realize her interpretations were wrong. So how could she possibly comment?

Who would ultimately win this game?

No one could provide an answer.

No matter how great White's advantage or how severe Black's disadvantage, not a single person dared claim with certainty that White or Black would emerge victorious before the final move.

"The Black stones in the upper right corner have been forced into a dead shape."

The young man stared intently at the board. Even though the situation was unfavorable, he remained calm.

In fact, one could say that in this desperate situation, he was calmer than ever before—unprecedentedly calm, almost defying human instinct!

"But on the left side, I can still fight for sente. There are still moves to be made..."

Before the young man's eyes, Yu Shao's past games flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

His expression grew increasingly solemn.

"No mistake about it."

"He is definitely that person!"

Previously, the young man couldn't be entirely certain about this speculation, but having played to this point, he could now confirm it completely!

"If it were anyone else, it might be manageable, but if it's him, renowned for his aggressive killing style..."

The young man's right fist clenched unconsciously. Just thinking about what he needed to do next, even he himself felt it was nearly impossible!

Yet, there wasn't a trace of fear in the young man's eyes—only a sharp, resolute determination to march knowingly into the tiger's den!

"Of course I know how difficult the path of fiercely attacking White's territory on the left side will be!"

"But playing normally will absolutely not lead to a comeback victory."

"The slightest misstep means complete annihilation, with no room for even a single slack move. After seizing sente, I must use the sharpest claws to clamp down fiercely on White's throat!"

"Yu Shao is the fierce tiger."

"And the white stones are the white tiger."

"Not a moment of relaxation is permitted."

"The advantage of a lone wolf lies in having no retreat, hence no reservations. If I cannot crush my opponent, death is the only outcome."

"Therefore, the lone wolf can pounce and bite without regard for life, fearless of foolish shapes, unafraid of fractured formations, unconcerned about cutting points—adopting the posture of a fierce tiger, using the fastest speed and sharpest claws to sever the white tiger's throat!"

"Don't give the white tiger any chance to react! Don't allow White any breathing room!"

"Strike with thunderous momentum!"

Finally, the young man reached into the go bowl, picked up a stone, and swiftly placed it on the board!

"This game will end with your death or mine!"

Yu Shao glanced at the board, then immediately picked up a stone and placed it accordingly.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

Stones continued to land on the board, spreading out like a spider's web.

"Black has sacrificed the integrity of its large dragon group to seize one of the few remaining sente opportunities. This is the final desperate struggle!"

Everyone unconsciously held their breath.

"In this situation, Black can be said to be surrounded on all sides. Merely surviving under White's encircling assault from every direction seems miraculous, yet somehow Black has found a counterattacking escape route."

"But can it be done? Could Black truly stage a comeback?"

"I don't know... If it were anyone else, I'd say impossible. But both of them are players who can create miracles. All I can say is, I don't know..."

Watching the game unfold, the room fell silent, yet no one's heart remained calm.

Soon, Yu Shao picked up another white stone and placed it firmly against Black's stone.

Tap.

Fourth line, thirteenth row—hane!

"Although White holds the advantage... White still refuses to yield, responding to Black with the toughest attitude! Now both sides are riding a tiger and finding it hard to get off!"

Everyone could feel the heavy, oppressive atmosphere in the air. Though this was just an insignificant match in a go salon, everyone found themselves holding their breath!

White showed no compromise, firmly biting into Black's position with equal toughness, applying the strongest killing techniques against Black, seeking to decide victory or defeat through direct combat!

This was the final battle!

"Hane—such a stunning yet utterly expected response!"

Seeing this white stone, the young man's expression turned icy as he felt a sense of crisis like sitting on pins and needles!

The young man's gaze shifted to a specific point on the board.

"Should I play here?"

"Is this truly White's only path to survival?... Or is it like that first game against him in the Twin Stars Cup?"

"That cliff waiting to make me die without a burial place?"

"How long can I hold on?"

After a long moment, the young man finally placed his stone!

"Hane—such a stunning yet utterly expected response!"

Seeing this white stone, the young man's expression turned icy as he felt a sense of crisis like sitting on pins and needles!

Second line, seventh row—tiger's mouth!

The spectators' pupils contracted, many unconsciously leaning forward half an inch!

"White... White has..."

"Abandoned several white stones in the upper left corner, staking everything on the side!"

"But those white stones in the upper left were still putting pressure on Black's stones there!"

"Why? Why abandon them outright?"

"Gold in the corners, silver on the sides, grass in the center. Although White's territory in the upper left is indeed difficult to disrupt, at least some retreat path should be maintained. Does Black have confidence in recovering the gap on the side through upcoming exchanges?"

The room fell completely silent.

Everyone stared at the board in stunned silence.

"These stones in the upper left corner are indeed hard to reduce or invade, but there's no reason to simply abandon them without consideration..."

"There was a thread of vitality. Why? Why did he disregard it?"

Seeing the young man's move, Yu Shao quickly picked up a white stone from the bowl and swiftly placed it.

First line, fourteenth row—extension!

The next moment!

Black, second line, fourteenth row—press!

The young man lifted his gaze to look at Yu Shao across the board, his expression grave.

"I must decide life or death with White. If a strong attack isn't feasible, then I'll lure White into my scheme! When White intends to decide the outcome, that's when my Black stones' path to survival will appear!"

Soon, seeing Yu Shao place another stone, the young man raced against time to follow with his black stone.

Twelfth row, seventeenth line—contact play!

"I must use the Black stones in the upper right corner as bait, revealing weaknesses to lure White into taking the initiative to attack!"

"Only after White attacks will weaknesses appear!"

"Otherwise, I'm doomed."

The surroundings fell completely silent. Within the go salon, only the sound of stones landing continued to alternate!

Black, fifth line, twelfth row—jump!

"Twelfth row, fifth line..."

Everyone stared at the board in amazement. Though they didn't understand the intention, they didn't think the young man had made a mistake—rather, they felt their own level was too low to comprehend.

And indeed, that was the case.

Soon, after Yu Shao placed another stone, the young man resolutely picked up another stone and placed it as swiftly as flying!

The room erupted in murmurs.

"Atari? Offering stones? White must capture now!"

Only upon seeing this move did everyone finally understand the young man's previous play!

"I must use the Black stones in the upper right corner as bait, revealing weaknesses to lure White into taking the initiative to attack!"

"It seems White has no other choice but to take this black stone!"

Yu Shao scanned the board, frowning slightly, but still picked up a stone, placed it on the board, then removed the black stone that had entered the tiger's mouth and placed it in the go bowl.

The young man again picked up a stone and swiftly placed it.

Tap!

Seventh line, tenth row—push through!

Seeing the black stone placed, Yu Shao immediately followed with a white stone.

Everyone stared at the board in amazement. Though they didn't understand the intention, they didn't think the young man had made a mistake—rather, they felt their own level was too low to comprehend.

Gradually, due to Black's strong attacks, Black's influence seemed to show signs of fragmentation!

"It seems... still not working."

Someone gazed at the board in dismay. Though Black showed signs of defeat, they felt a sense of reverence for the losing player.

Within the game, Yu Shao looked at the board but couldn't help frowning.

"Black's formation has numerous cutting points and thinness... Though many moves have been spent strengthening, if I were to attack strongly, with some effort, I should be able to break through."

"But thinking more deeply, rashly attacking in seems to harbor hidden risks."

"Is it an illusion, or..."

Hesitating for a moment, Yu Shao placed another stone.

The young man immediately responded.

Tap, tap, tap...

Soon, five or six more moves were exchanged. Looking at the current board position, the surrounding spectators couldn't help but frown slightly.

"White has been holding back, not delivering killing blows against Black, actually ignoring Black's thinness..."

Having watched this far, too many questions plagued them. They had almost grown accustomed to it—some questions had been answered, but many still troubled them even now.

Meanwhile, the young man's expression gradually grew more strained, with bean-sized sweat droplets slowly trickling down his face.

"Though my plan was well conceived, he's not following my expected moves at all."

"If White doesn't enter my scheme soon, I have no chance..."

The young man looked down at the board, examining it from above. After a moment, he seemed to finally reach a decision, once again reaching into the go bowl and slowly picking up a stone.

"It seems this is my only chance!"

The next moment, the stone landed on the board!

Eighth line, seventh row—suspension!

With this single stone placement, the entire room fell silent!

Time seemed to freeze for two or three seconds after this move!

Two seconds later, the crowd suddenly stirred!

"This..............."

"Suspension?"

"Black still wants to make a move toward the top? Isn't this tantamount to suicide?"

"On the left side, Black has already staked everything! If fighting breaks out in both areas and White eventually connects, Black won't have any chance to fight back!"

Now, even they couldn't help but suspect this move might be the young man's mistake, rather than questioning their own judgment!

The young man gritted his teeth, fine beads of sweat continuously dripping from his forehead!

He shifted his gaze from the board, looking up at Yu Shao across from him, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes!

"Come on, invade my center framework!"

"This is something you must do! If you don't invade, after Black connects above, White's upper right corner might be in danger!"

"So there's no reason to hesitate."

"But before that, you must capture my black stones. Then White can invade my center framework without any concerns!"

Faced with Black's almost provocative-like suspension move, Yu Shao fell silent for a moment.

After a pause, Yu Shao gently exhaled, finally picked up a stone, and placed it on the board once more!

Seventh line, second row—capture!

"Captured!"

Seeing this move, the young man first stared blankly, then his eyes suddenly lit up like sharp swords. He immediately picked up a stone from the bowl and swiftly placed it!

Seeing the young man's move, Yu Shao also picked up a stone from his bowl and followed closely behind.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

Once again, the two exchanged moves as swiftly as flying.

The surrounding crowd watched the game, observing the continuous stone placements. Suddenly, someone slightly started, their expression undergoing a subtle change.

Then one, two, three—more and more people discovered the paradoxical situation hidden within the board position.

"How can this be?"

Someone broke out in cold sweat, gazing at the board in confusion and amazement: "White's territory..."

"Has become thin!"

Now, looking back at each of White's previous moves, someone finally seemed to realize something, unable to help but swallow hard.

"I originally thought Black's sacrifice stones were meant to gain sente for strongly attacking White's side, but perhaps that wasn't the case. Black appeared to want to attack White strongly, but that path was too difficult, too difficult..."

He spoke with amazement: "Therefore, Black found another approach! Those attacking techniques were actually just camouflage! From beginning to end, Black intended to lure White into attacking, to draw White into the scheme!"

"For this purpose, Black didn't hesitate to sacrifice those crucial stones in the upper left corner!"

"As long as White attacks, the territory becomes thin! As long as White's territory becomes thin, weaknesses will appear!"

"Then Black's influence can play its role!"

Faced with Black's almost provocative-like suspension move, Yu Shao fell silent for a moment.

Tap!

The clear sound of stone placement echoed in everyone's ears!

On the board—

Thirteenth line, ninth row—cut!