Go on Wattpad PLEASE I need to bleach my eyes
Ding vs Nepo, fan fiction lore
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Apr 14, 2023
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#3
Im getting holy water and kindly will donate it to everyone who sees this forum
cool
Editor's note:
This is written with a Japanese Anime influence, but Ding is Chinese.
Check out some Donghua - it's the Chinese equivalent to Japanese anime. Then rewrite this in that style, with the dialogue adjusted, accordingly.
I expect a revised version on my desk by Monday. 
I always thought of Dounghua as more of cartoons rather then like anime
- THE Nepo Arc -
The score is tied, Ding and Nepo have fought a long and grueling war of minds...
They both have played impeccable chess, it all comes down to Armageddon...
As they arrive for their final battle, an announcement.
"Former World Chess Champion - 'Magnus Carlsen', has sent an envelope to be delivered to the winner of the match."
Nepo and Ding looked at each other, both puzzled...
There was no time to pay any attention, they both regained their wit's and took their respective seats.
E4, E5, classic, neither player wanting to lose...
Magnus was finally out of the picture, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity...
It was classic theory, but then on move 32, Ding found a Brilliant move Nepo had missed and had capitalized flawlessly.
In the end, Ding managed to pull a miracle with the black pieces...
Nepo fought to the last move, "Checkmate" uttered Ding, followed by silence....
The greatest applause at this echelon of chess, then the handshake.
Just like that, the 21st World Chess champion was born !
The entire world was elated, yet everyone in the chess world waited with baited breath, what did Magnus sensei's letter say!?
As to not keep the people waiting, Ding, the new WCC did the honor of opening and reading the letter as a sort of changing of the guard...
The letter read, -
"Congratulations, to my successor!
I know you both have fought a hard battle, but do not become complacent...
You must both, no - you must all! Continue to sharpen your blade. There is a dark storm looming over the chess world, it will take our utter best and then some to refute our fate!
Or I fear it will be sealed... Stay vigilant, to all of my chess nakama... I have taught you all that you know, but not all that I know...
Signed, The Goat, - Magnus Carlsen Sensei"
Everyone was perplexed, but that same day Magnus had disappeared, surely he felt bitter sweet after losing the title he had held for all these years.
Did he regret his decision to not defend it?
Or was this a decree that he would be coming back for his title in two years time...
With no sign of the former champion, the chess world focused on the big news that just unfolded infront of them.
Ding look's among the crowd, searching for the face of his closest nakama, Rapport-kun...
They were to celebrate his victory at their favorite BBQ buffet, mostly because of the cheap sake.
But Rapport had disappeared.
Ding searched desperately for his lost nakama, but to no avail...
His greatest day, turned into his greatest loss...
That day was 8 years ago...
Ding has defended his title 3 times so far against tremendously talented super GMs.
All seeking to dethrone him, in order to become the next ultimate chess senpai.
The year is now 2031, Ding feels he has achieved everything there is to achieve. But still misses his nakama deeply.
Even tho his heart is burdened, his pieces are never blundered.
He channeled this great emotion into sharpening his skills, perfecting his craft. The year, is 2031....
The world chess championship candidates.... Front page news, "Chess report! Return of Rapport!".
Dings mind races, baited breathe...
For a moment, the unshakable chess Champion, usually stoic and unfazed freezes... How could this be!?
He clicks on the article, and sure as the sun will rise and set, the name is indeed registered to compete. He attempts to get in contact but to no avail...
Could this really be his estranged nakama? Where had he been? Why wouldn't he answer? Ding waits, what else could he do...
The WCC qualifiers begins... And in walks, none other than Rapport-kun ... Ding tries to get close, "Rapport-sama!!" He yells with desperation! Yet his aura was different, ominous, malicious....
A far cry from the nakama he once knew... Next to him, was none other than Niemann-me...
They had both disappeared in the same week, all those years ago...
Surely it was just a coincidence, Ding-san assured himself for all these years.
He tried to usher himself closer, but several arbiters placed themselves between Ding and Rapport. "What is the meaning of this!?" Ding asserted!
The arbiters all spoke in unison, like some sort of synchronized evil entity...
"Our Greatest sympathies, Ding-heika... But we cannot allow you to interfere with the contestants... Surely you've heard of the new regulations, Your Majesty?"
They spoke with such disdain and contempt, the disrespect enraged Ding-san!
"The matches haven't even started, surely there is no such rules in place!" Ding protested!
"Your Majesty- *The head arbiter said sarcastically* haven't you heard? The WCC rules have been... Revised... Implemented only just before this tournament... We DO represent FIDE... Surely you believe us? I mean, WE WERE - the ones who made the changes..."
FIDE, an outdated organization that had plagued the chess world, even since the distant years of the Carlsen and Kasparov dynasties...
Yet it had only grown in power, uncontested, they monopolized all of chess...
Basically becoming the modern day chess Yakuza, even the WCC knew better then to speak out of line against them!
"I.... I understand... Of course..." Ding uttered, biting his cheek until it bled....
He didn't want to risk disappearing conspicuously, or even worse for a chess player, being disqualified!
Ding went to return to the sidelines, as he did, the piercing gaze of Hans met his own... A devilish smirk across his face...
"Oh yeah, and one more thing... Why is Niemann-me playing! He was banned in 2023, the very year and week I became WCC!" Ding exclaimed furiously
"His ban has been lifted. He deeply regrets his past decisions. We cannot punish someone so young and passionate about the game to be exiled forever. Can we? What life would that be for a young man so driven and passionate about the game? Worse than death is that fate to a chess player. You must sympathize with that. Show some... Compassion... Your Majesty..." The arbiters snickered
*How many palms did he grease to weasel his way back into a tournament of this prestige!?* Ding thought to himself
Returning to the observers section, Ding fell silent, observing closely as he watched in utter dismay!
Hans and Rapport both played at a caliber of chess not seen since the legend Carlsen-sensei was at his pinnacle...
Game after game, meticulously and methodically, they deconstructed the best players in the world as if they were school children...
Until the day of the, 'final match for qualifiers' took place.
Hans vs Rapport...
Something was off, Hans played terribly... As if he were losing, on purpose?
Over just as quickly as it began,
The winner, without a single loss nor draw... Rapport!
Ding felt sick, Hans looked at Ding... Their eyes hadn't met since the tournament started.... Again, a smirk so unsightly Ding felt it was that of the devil himself...
As the stadium cleared, "Rapport-sama!!! Please answer me!!!" Yelled Ding....
Rapport finally looked for the briefest instant, his eyes were empty, hazed as that of a corpse. Ding saw what looked to be a tear fall...
The arbiters quickly ushered him away...
Unable to go against FIDE, and the powers that be. Ding reflected on what to do as he returned to his hotel room... There was something very, very wrong... He contemplated endlessly...
At this point in his career, he could calculate nearly a billion games at once, within each of these games millions of lines all happening simultaneously...
An almost omniscience, he possessed, yet...
On this night, as he sat alone, his mind fell silent... Blank... Dark...
He didn't cry, Rapport had shed one tear, yet for Dings heart, it was a million too many...
Anger engulfed him.... What had happened to his once closest nakama!?
Ding looked over his trophies, pondered all he had achieved. And decided, he would not defend his title.
He could not play Rapport-kun in such a fierce battle... Then, there was a knock at the door....
Ding didn't intend to answer... He couldn't move.... I mean, how could he!? It was as if he was frozen in time!
Until an unmistakable voice outside exclaimed - "Ding, you must speak with me, it is of the utmost importance to the entirety of the chess world!" Ding snapped back to reality like stretched elastic now released!
Opening the door nearly instantaneously, there stood, Carlsen sensei...
Ding froze, of course he knew the voice! How could he ever forget it!? But when he saw him standing there after he disappeared for all of these years he felt like he had finally lost the last of his sanity!
Carlsen-sensei had chosen not to defend his title, all of those years ago.
That's the only reason he had the opportunity to play in what would later be called the greatest upset in chess history, when he won his first WCC against Nepo!
Ding looked at Carlsen-sensei, and before he could ask anything, Carlsen-san said 'Surely you've figured it out... You are my successor...."
In that moment, everything made sense... Carlsen-sensei not defending his title, The ominous warning in the letter, the strange disappearance and reemergence of Rapport and Hans, the increasingly corrupt FIDE, it all made sense. This is the storm Carlsen-sensei had warned the chess world of!
As if he had calculated every second of the next 8 years, was he psychic!? Surely the work of an omniscient being!?
Confounded, Ding exclaimed... "I think I'm starting to understand, sensei... But why did you leave you're chess nakama without directly telling us this was coming!"
Ding-san's - fist clenched, filled with rage.
"They... THEY TOOK RAPPORT-SAN, HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!!"
Finally, the tears Ding had held in for so long surfaced.
Then, Carlsen-Sensei spoke - "I am sorry, Ding-san, You have been through a lot... I'm sorry I left you with this burden for all of these years... I was gathering knowledge on theory and all aspects of the game. Calculating every possible line in the entirety of chess... And I have finally solved chess... The holy grail of the game... Beginning to end... I also uncovered the corruption between Niemann, FIDE and all other conspirators! The corruption runs deep, deeper than I- even could have predicted. All I could do was prepare, and hope I would have at least a couple allies left upon my return... As it now stands, the only ones left are you, Nakamura and Gothamchess..."
Ding realized just how dire the situation had become... "Just you, Nakamura, and me remain?" Ding said, making sure he heard correctly...
"That is our unfortunate reality..." Said Carlsen-sensei.
"Your nakama is being controlled by the same entity that is controlling FIDE and all the others. For now, that's all I can say in that regard.
I must train you quickly, on how to solve chess! Beginning to end, without flaw, without fail! You won't be playing your nakama, but a chess entity unlike anything the world has ever seen, working through Rapport-san without any weaknesses, without blunder, without error..." Carlsen-sensei admitted.
"I'm sorry, I can't, I won't play Rapport-sama.... I will forfeit the match... I can't battle my closest nakama... Even if he isn't there mentally, the soul of a chess player will always remain." Said ding, defeated down to his very spirit...
"WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!" Insisted Carlsen-sensei
"That's exactly what Niemann wants!
If you don't play your nakama and win, then you know EXACTLY- who it will be that does! Surely you remember, it's how you became champion in the first place!!
I HAD - to leave the game, to SAVE - the game! I had given my LIFE, MY SOUL to chess!
And I left chess in YOUR hands for safekeeping! I knew it would be safe until my return.
If you don't play Rapport-san then it was all in vain! Right now, you are the reigning chess champion.
I can't simply tag in to defend you're title I relinquished, things aren't so simple!
I would have to wait until the next WCC, and by then it will be FAR TOO LATE!"
Carlsen articulated himself like he articulated a sharp line of chess theory.
Ding paused. He knew Carlsen-sensei was right... They sat in silence for an entire minute...
Dings tears had stopped... Steam began eminating from where they had flown down his cheeks and chin...
He knew, win or lose, this was a war he could not walk away from...
The two locked eyes,
"So where do we begin, sensei?" Ding asserted, knowing there was no alternative choice.
Carlsen smiled, "I am glad, that it was you who succeeded me, Ding-san" Carlsen-sensei said with pride.
Then his eyes gestured towards the board in the middle of the room that was already set.
Ding looked at it, then back at Magnus-sensei who smiled and said "Oh, and from here on out. No more honorifics, please, just call me Magnus."
Ding nodded, smiling.
"E4! Magnus demanded - "
Chapter 2 - Ding vs Rapport, King Takes King! Nakamura, An Unlikely Ally!?-
Magnus has been teaching Ding for 3 days now, how to solve chess and play the perfect game.
Explaining every line, down to the slightest details and contingencies.
Even for the depth of Dings talent and ability, even as 3 time reigning world champion.
He struggles at times lost in the dark forest, lucky for him, Magnus was walking him, not racing him through it.
The game is 69 moves in, Magnus says it's time to play B5!
What looks to blunder a juicer comes with tactics of checkmate, and other nasty discoveries.
So the enemy isn't able to punish it immediately, giving white the tempo it desperately requires to gain the edge.
Magnus receives a phone call, Ding hardly noticed, he was to focused on the position.
Trying to gather and retain every minute detail, this was going to be the most important game of all time.
And it would be him vs his naka-.... It would be Ding vs the former shell of his closest freind.
In this moment he thought of Shakespeer's work - "Et tu, Brute?" Ding thought to himself.
Magnus suddenly interrupts his thought process -
"Ding, hold out your hand." Ding complies without hesitation.
"This is my, "Lucky King", I entrust this to you, and with it, the future of the entire chess world!
Ding paused for a moment as he held it, it seemed... So ordinary...
Was it a super natural keepsake from a chessgod? Or simply a chess players version of a rabbits foot?
Magnus looked Ding dead in the eye, and for the first time seemed deadly serious, guard this with your life. Now, hurry and leave through the back!
Ding replies confused, "But- we're only halfway through solving the game! I don't understand!
Just then, the door is swiftly kicked off it's hinges.Magnus whispers urgently, "Hurry! Outside, there is an unlikely ally waiting for you.""But, how will I know it's him!? Please, we can go together!" Ding pleads."You'll know by his shirt, don't worry, he's pretty decent." Magnus remarks."B- but Sensei!!!" Ding replied.
*Magnus smiles*
"I thought I told you, no more honorifics! Now go, I'll buy you some time!"
Ding leaps out the open window. Ducking for a moment to gain his composure."WHERE IS HE, MAGNUS!" A voice cracks, like nails on a chalk board."Whoever do you mean?" Magnus says with an air of arrogance.
Ding peaks, to see if there's anything he can do, what he see's is 50 grandmasters standing before Magnus. Quickly ducking his head back down."The top ranked player! Tell me now Magnus!"
Ding had seen that it was the voice of Niemann-me, Rapport-san was nowhere in sight."The highest ranked player!? You must be so new to the game you wouldn't recognized him if he stood before you now!" Magnus scoffed"This is no game Magnus, I've always hated how you looked down on the rest of us super GMs. Like you believe you're a God! You know, I admired you, but you coming out of hiding after all these years, I realize, your myth is much scarier then you! YOU, ARE, NO, GOD!" - *Hans proclaims, Reinforced by the laughter of 49 other super GM's*
"If you want to leave here, you must beat all 50 of us at once.
But if you lose a single one, you will blunder much more then the game." Hans said in certain finality.
"Is that all? Well if your going to make it so easy on me, tell me, am I playing with - or without a blindfold?"
Ding realized Magnus was purposefully antagonizing them to keep them occupied.
Then, he heard Magnus's last words, engraved into his soul forever.
"You're right about one thing, I am no God...I AM MAGNUS, THE MAGICIAN!!!"
Dings eyes watered, chest clenched, mind raced, knees wobbled, but he moved forward.He felt like an exposed king, being head hunted.He knew Magnus-sensei... NO! Magnus-san, was the goat... But even Ding could tell that Magnus was bluffing...Chess and poker savant, but this was no time for admiration.
HE COULDN'T look back, Magnus's sacrifice mustn't be blundered...
He stumbled into a dark alley, where he saw a man waiting in a bright shirt.Surely this was the man Magnus spoke of! At this point all he could do is hope.He got closer and realized it was a pineapple shirt....
Wait, could it really be?Super GM Nakamura!?!?!?He wasn't as elegant or charming as Carlsen, but his skill rivals Magnus some even say his defense surpasses that of Magnus.As Ding got close he realized Nakamura was reciting something to himself while seemingly looking at the stars... "Takes, takes and takes, takes takes and takes-"
"Nakamura-Senpai!" Ding quickly exclaimed!
Hikaru stopped for a second, gaze still set at the sky."The ceiling was no longer big enough, so I moved my calculations to the stars.""Utter insanity..." Ding thought to himself.Seldom does genius come from sane men. Ding retorted himself."Hikaru-sense-" Ding didn't even get the chance before being interrupted with -"Don't start with that sensei nonsense, call me shirt guy, hikaru, or whatever else, ANYTHING - ELSE, I literally don't care.""Okay..." Ding replied."Magnus said the same thing, actually. Well, kind of..." Ding stopped...Hikaru smirked, rolling his eyes half heartedly.
"That sounds like my wannabe rival! Always trying to copy my motion! Speaking of Magnus, where is he? I called him because I figured out the rest of the position he showed me."Ding paused...
"The... Other half!?" Asked Ding"Yeah, a position starting from move 69, like I said, he's always copying me with the meme culture, but it's fine. He gets all the glory, but it was low key me that paved the way. I literally don't care actually. He knows the truth.""He-, a group of 50 super GMs ambushed us in a hotel! He told me to hurry out the back and to find, well, you I think..."Hikaru, *who's head had been moving erratically looking at the sky suddenly stopped. The muttering did as well.**He lowered his gaze to meet Dings.*"What!?!? MAGNUS, MAGNUS CARLSEN, MAGNUS MAGNUs- was caught?!?!?" Hikaru stuttered in disbelief..."They said that he had to beat them all at once! Or else he'd blunder more then the game! I didn't want to leave, but he told me-" Ding pleaded apologetically
"Only 50?" Hikaru responded.
"If it was me, I would have waited for another 19 to show up..." He joked bleakly...
A few moment's of silence, until Ding remembered.
H- he, gave me this... He said it was his - "Lucky King". I think it was his version of a rabbit-
Hikaru stopped Ding immediately from saying anything else...
"Let me see it!" He said, uncompromisingly*Ding brandished the king piece Carlsen had given him.*Hikarus eyes went wide, then they glistened, then they went dark.
"That king..." Hikaru said
"Me and him once played dozens of matches in a hotel, off the books.
we were pretty even for most the night, we played until morning. And by then, we were in an Armageddon, He said we should each wager our king piece. I agreed, he squeezed me in the endgame, and ever since that game I perfected my defensive chess. He squeezed me in a drawn position, and won. He told me the day I was up in out matches he would give it back..." Hikaru admitted sheepishly...
"What's the score??" Ding asked curiously, also in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Well, as you can see... I never did get my king back... The fact that I'm only able to get it now.... Well, I guess that's king takes king..."
*Hikaru turned away, jostling his pineapple shirt towards his face.*
"Next time we see him, remind me to tell him that was an illegal move!" Hikaru said with the fakest smile Ding had ever seen someone try to muster...
"King takes king, huh?.... I hope this isn't a sign of things to come between me and Rapport...." Ding couldn't help to think to himself.
"Lets go, you worldchampion level baka!" *Hikaru motioned ding to follow him*
Ding tucked the - "Lucky King", back in his pocket.
"Coming Pineapple shirt guy!!!"
(To be continued....)
IronSteam1 wrote:
Editor's note:
This is written with a Japanese Anime influence, but Ding is Chinese.
Check out some Donghua - it's the Chinese equivalent to Japanese anime. Then rewrite this in that style, with the dialogue adjusted, accordingly.
I expect a revised version on my desk by Monday.
I just posted the revision Plus chapter 2 
B1ZMARK wrote:
Go on Wattpad PLEASE I need to bleach my eyes
"Thank you for you're support!" -Might Guy
What became of Magnus?! Can Nakamura REALLY, teach Ding how to play the other half of the perfect game?!? Will Ding even make it to the Championship !? If so, will he be able to battle his closest nakama all the way to the bitter end!?! Next time, on "Ding! Road To Rapport!" 
noImAparrot wrote:
Im getting holy water and kindly will donate it to everyone who sees this forum
nakama pls 
mirroredragon wrote:
B1ZMARK wrote:
You have to call ding “da ge” 🙏
bro 💀
I posted revised version with chapter 2. Pls nakama, give chance
B1ZMARK wrote:
You have to call ding “da ge” 🙏
the whole of when was he a older brother
Evan has a hidden talent for writing. Lets keep in hidden ❤️ 🔥
This is the Nepo arc, they celebrate his victory. But then Rapport disappears. It's been 8 years. Ding has defended his title against Nepo amongst many other super GMs seeking to be the ultimate chess senpai. The year 2031, Ding feels he has achieved everything there is to achieve. But still misses his nakama deeply. But even tho his heart is burdened, his pieces never blundered. He channeled this great emotion into sharpening his skills. Perfecting his craft. The year, is 2031.... The world chess championship candidates.... Front page news, "Chess report! Return of Rapport". Dings mind races, baited breathe... For a moment, the unshakable chess Champion, usually stoic and unfazed freezes... How could this be? He clicks on the article, and sure as the sun will rise and set, the name is indeed registered to compete. He attempts to get in contact but to no avail... Could this really be his estranged nakama? Where had he been? Why wouldn't he answer? Ding waits, what else could he do... The WCC qualifiers begins... Ang in walks, none other than Rapport ... Ding tries to get close, "Rapport-san!!" He yells with desperation! Yet his aura was different, ominous, malicious.... Next to him, was none other than Niemann-san... They had both disappeared in the same week, all those years ago... Surely it's just a coincidence, Ding-san assured himself. He tried to usher himself closer, but several arbiters placed themselves between Ding and Rapport. "What is the meaning of this!?) Ding asked himself... "The matches haven't even started, surely there is no such rules in place!" "Your grace. *The head arbiter said sarcastically* haven't you heard? The WCC rulers have been... Adjusted... Coincidentally, implemented just before this tournament. We ARE, the representatives of FIDE... Surely you believe us? Of course... We were the ones who made the changes..." FIDE, an outdated organization that had plagued the chess world since the distant years of the Magnus, even the Kasparov dynasties... Yet it had only grown in power, uncontested, they monopolized all of chess... "I.... I understand... Of course..." Ding uttered, biting his cheek until it bled.... There was nothing even he could do to stand up to the FIDE criminals. He turned to return to the sidelines, as he did, the piercing gaze of Hans met his own... A devilish smirk... It was only a split second as the qualifiers made their way to their boards. Just then, Ding exclaimed but he was banned!!!! The arbiters retorted, "his van has been lifted. He has been rehabilitated and deeply regrets his past decisions. We cannot punish someone so young and passionate about the game to be exiled forever. What life would that be?" Ding fell silent.... Returning to the observers section. He watched in other dismay as Hans and Rapport played a caliber of chess not seen since the legend Carlsen senpai was at his pinnacle... Game after game, they shredded through their opponents... Ding was sick to his stomach... Finally the day of the final match for the qualifiers, it was Hans vs Rapport... Something was off, Hans played terribly almost as if.... He was losing, on purpose? Over just as quickly as it began. The winner, without a single loss nor draw... Rapport.... Ding fell Ill, Hans looked at Ding... Their eyes hadn't met since the tournament started.... Again, a smirk so unsightly Ding felt it was that of the devil himself... The stadium cleared, "Rapport-sama!!! Please answer me!!!" Yelled Ding.... Rapport finally looked for the briefest instant, his eyes were empty, hazed as that of a corpse. Ding saw what looked to be a tear fall... The arbiters quickly ushered him away.... Ding reflected on what to do... There was something very, very wrong... He contemplated endlessly... At this point in his career, he could calculate nearly a billions games at once, and within each of these games millions of lines all happening simultaneously.... But as he sat alone, his mind fell silent... Blank... Dark... He didn't cry, Rapport had shed one tear... Yet for Dings heart, it was a million too many... Anger engulfed him.... What had happened to his once closest nakama? Ding looked over his trophies, pondered all he had achieved. And decided, he would not defend his title. He could not play his nakama in such a fierce battle... Then, there was a knock at the door.... Ding didn't respond... He couldn't move.... How could he.... It was if he was frozen in time.... Until an unmistakable voice exclaimed- "Ding, you must speak with me!" Ding snapped back to reality... Opening the door nearly instantaneously. There stood, Carlsen senpai... Ding froze, he knew the voice, how could he forget it... Carlsen-sama had chosen not to defend his title. And on the day of the last game Ding became world champion, it was tied. Ian and Ding were in a fierce battle, it was Armageddon. Before it started, an announcement was made. Carlsen-sama had sent a letter to be read at the conclusion of the game. When Ding won, everyone clapped, but even more, the urgently wanted the world to see was written... "Congratulations, to my successor. Do not become complacent... You must both, no- you must all! Continue to sharpen your blade. There is a dark storm looming over the chess world, it will take our best to refute our fate... Or I fear it will be sealed... Stay vigilant, to all of my chess nakama... I have taught you all that you know, but not all that I know..." Ding and the entire chess world wanted to ask Carlsen what he meant by such an ominous provocation. But he had disappeared, from over the board, online chess and altogether. He was like a gust of wind... Ding looked at Carlsen-san, and before he could ask anything Carlsen-san said 'Surely you've figured it out... You are my successor...." In that moment, everything made sense... The ominous warning from the undisputed chess goat, the strange disappearance and reemergence of Rapport and Hans, FIDE, it all made sense. This is the storm Carlsen-san had warmed the chess world of.... "Senpai", Ding exclaimed... "Ithink I understand... But why did you leave you're chess nakama without telling us this was coming!" His fist clenched. Filled with anger. "They... THEY TOOK RAPPORT-SAN, HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN!!" Finally, the tears Ding had held in for so long surfaced. Then, Carlsen-San said "I am sorry, Ding-sama... You have been through a lot... I'm sorry I left you with this burden for all of these years... I was gathering knowledge on theory and all aspects of the game. Calculating every possible line in the entirety of chess... And I have finally solved chess... The holy grail of the game... Beginning to end... I also exposed the corruption between Niemann, FIDE and all other conspirators but the corruption had run to deep ... All I could do was prepare, and hope I would have at least a couple allies left upon my return... As it now stands, the only ones left are you, Nakamura and Gothamchess...." Ding realized just how dire the situation had become... "Just you, Nakamura and me remain?" Ding said, making sure he heard correctly... "That is our unfortunate reality..." Said Carlsen-san. "Your nakama is being controlled by the same AI that is controlling FIDE and all others corrupted... I have an ally working on disrupting this device but it may not be in time.... So I must train you quickly, on how to solve chess entirely. You won't be playing your nakama, but a chess AI unlike anything the world has ever seen working through him without any weaknesses." "I'm sorry, I can't, I won't play my Nakama.... I will forfeit the match... I can't battle my closest nakama... Even if he isn't there mentally, the soul of a chess player will always remain." Said ding, defeated down to his very spirit. "We don't have time for this! That's exactly what Niemann wants! If you don't play your nakama and win then you know who it will be that does! Surely you remember, it's how you became champion in the first place! I HAD to leave the game, to SAVE the game! I had given my LIFE, MY SOUL for chess! And I left chess in YOUR hands for safekeeping! I knew it would be safe until my return. If you don't play your nakama then it was all in vain! Right now, you are the reigning chess champion. I can't simply tag in to defend you're title I relinquished, things aren't so simple! " Carlsen articulated the situation just as precisely as he did a line of chess theory. Ding paused... He knew Carlsen senpai was right.... They sat in silence for an entire minute... Dings tears had stopped... Steam began eminating from his body... He knew, win or lose, this was a war he could not walk away from... He locked eyes with King Magnus, he felt the infinite wisdom behind these eyes... "Where do we begin, senpai?" Ding asserted, knowing what must be done. Carlsen smiled, "I am glad it was you, that succeeded me..." Carlsen said with pride... Then his eyes gestured towards the board in the middle of the room. Already set... Ding looked and said... "I'm ready, senpai...." "To be continued"