Grahan was sipping Spirytus.
A calm smile rested on his treacherous face.
He slowly stood up from his throne.
Step by step, he walked deeper into the spacecraft.
His ability had once again helped Haidoro.
A blade suddenly shot toward his back.
Without even turning around, Grahan caught it effortlessly.
[Grahan]: I absorbed Osh's ability to see fifteen seconds into the future. I always keep it active, dear Prince.
Grahan said as he turned around.
Green hair.
A small boy with a calm face.
Yash.
Yash (thinking): I need to analyse his abilities as quickly as possible. Only then can I eliminate him.
[Yash]: Is that all?
Grahan: Of course not. I have a special offer for you.
[Yash]: What is it?
[Grahan]: A game.
[Yash]: A game?
Grahan's smile widened.
[Grahan]: The game itself happens to be my ability. If you win, I lose my life. If you lose, you lose both your abilities and your life. Would you agree to it? Sounds fair enough, doesn't it?
Grahan said with malicious eyes.
Yash (thinking): He's trying to make sure I agree. He must be using his decision-clouding technique so I choose blindly.
Yash(thinking):I should simply disagree...No. That's exactly the trap. I'm certain his decision-clouding is already active. If that's the case, why would I suddenly choose to disagree?
Yash gulped.
Yash (thinking): I see... The game has already begun. His game is prediction-based. The one who predicts the opponent's actions more accurately wins. He predicted that I would disagree and manipulated my thinking to make that outcome more likely.
[Grahan]: Why are you thinking so much, Prince? Isn't this an easy choice for a prodigy?
He asked with a sadistic smile.
Yash (thinking): If I agree, I'll have to predict his future actions as well. That's when the real game begins.
Yash(thinking): If I disagree, he earns his first victory. Since I refused to become a player, I'd merely be treated as a Non-Playable Character. Once my role is over, I die... and he usurps my abilities.
[Yash]: I agree.
Grahan's smirk widened even further.
[Grahan]: Seems like you saw through my move. Not bad.
Grahan appreciated.
[Grahan]: I suppose I've finally found a worthy opponent. The rules are simple. We predict each other's next move and choose an outcome that goes against the opponent's desired result. A successful prediction earns two points. A failed one costs one point.
Grahan continued.
[Grahan]: The game ends when either player reaches ten or more points... or falls to minus five or below. The player with the higher score wins.
Grahan's excitement slowly settled.
[Grahan]: Simple, isn't it? You may use any of your abilities. Anything is permitted, as long as it doesn't violate the game's mechanism.
Grahan walked toward the table and took a seat.
From there, he could still watch Haidoro's battle.
Yash walked over as well and sat opposite him.
He deliberately chose a seat where he could keep watching the battle, reminding himself that every passing second mattered.
[Grahan]: Even Haidoro became a player in my game. He claimed he wouldn't need my help. He lost. So I won. However, defeating Griho was more important than claiming Haidoro's abilities. Instead, I shared one of my own abilities with him.
Grahan clapped his hands.
[Grahan]: That's the very reason he managed to defeat Griho.
Grahan spoke with a satisfied smile.
The ability he had lent allowed Haidoro to gradually prepare a perfect counter after fighting the same opponent for a certain period of time.
That very ability enabled Haidoro to create a beam capable of piercing through Griho's natural armour.
Since Haidoro had already shattered a large portion of Griho's armour during the Dimensional Wrap, creating a penetrating attack afterward wasn't particularly difficult.
The entire battle...
...had already been architected by Grahan.
Haidoro would occupy the remaining team.
Meanwhile, Grahan intended to steal Yash's greatest ability.
His intelligence.
Something Grahan coveted more than anything else.
[Grahan]: Let us begin the game already.
Grahan said cheerfully, tapping the table.
[Grahan]: Since I was the first to make a gamble, it's your turn now. I'll be the one making the prediction.
Grahan said with a smile.
[Yash]: In that case...
Yash narrowed his eyes.
[Yash]: Tell me... Will I punch you?
Yash asked calmly.
According to the rules, each player must choose the outcome they desire before the prediction is made.
The opponent must then predict that desired outcome.
Yash had already decided on his preferred answer.
Now Grahan had to predict it.
Grahan scratched his head dramatically.
[Grahan]: You got me there. I wasn't expecting that question.I thought you'd ask something much more puzzling.
Grahan smiled.
[Grahan]: You don't want to punch me... right?
He asked with a smirk.
Yash (thinking): My reasoning was correct. He's using his foresight even during the game. It's fully active. He predicted my answer accurately.
Yash(thinking): That means we've both earned our points. However... He couldn't use it the very first time. Something about that still feels off.
[Yash]: Your answer is correct. Congratulations.
Yash replied with a straight face.
[Grahan]: I won.
Grahan said with childish excitement.
[Grahan]: Now it's my turn. Are you ready, Prince?
He asked while staring directly into Yash's eyes.
[Grahan]: I want this game to be thrilling. I hope...you won't disappoint me.
Grahan said, wearing a smile filled with quiet malice.
To be continued...