"Enough of this dragging nonsense! I'm not playing by your damn rules!" Kaido roared, shattering the ground beneath him with a stomp.
He swung his kanabo, now sheathed in Conqueror's Haki, leaping towards Imu on the throne like a demon god.
"Thunder Bagua!"
However, the moment before his kanabo could strike its target, Kaido's massive body suddenly froze in mid-air.
The black and white squares on the chessboard spread like living things, engulfing him in the blink of an eye.
Imu said indifferently, "Initiating an attack counts as entering the game."
Setsuna sighed. He hated rule-based Devil Fruit abilities the most.
"The rules are simple," Imu's voice echoed through the space. "Each side has one King, one Queen, two Rooks, two Bishops, two Knights, and eight Pawns. Only by defeating all fifteen pieces except the 'King' can you reach Imu's true self."
Imu waved a hand. A pentagram appeared on the chessboard.
The demonic prisoners taken from Impel Down's Level 6 manifested one by one, forcibly fixed within the chess squares.
Queen: [Red the Aloof] Patrick Redfield, holding a crimson long umbrella, his gaze icy and detached.
Two Rooks: [Demon Heir] Douglas Bullet, resembling a moving war fortress, and [World Destroyer] Byrnndi World, his body covered in Armament Haki.
Two Bishops: Shiryu of the Rain held the Famous Blade Raiu, shrouded in bloody killing intent, and Gecko Moria was no longer bloated, his slender form nimbly wielding a giant pair of scissors.
Two Knights: [Corrupt King] Avalo Pizarro puffed on a cigar, a cannon resting on his shoulder, and [Heavy Drinker] Vasco Shot swayed drunkenly, jug in hand.
Eight Pawns: The other eight, though not as famous as the first seven, were all vicious criminals from Level 6 of Impel Down, each radiating fierce killing intent.
Imu's gaze fell upon Setsuna. "Now, it is your turn to arrange your pieces."
Setsuna smiled slightly and stepped forward without hesitation. "In that case, I will naturally take the position of the 'King'."
He looked around at those behind him, assigning them one by one:
Queen: Whitebeard.
Two Rooks: Kaido and Big Mom.
Two Bishops: Garp and Dragon.
Two Knights: Shanks and Mihawk.
Eight Pawns: The three Admirals… Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, Sengoku and Zephyr, Rayleigh and Gaban, and Loki.
Each name, when spoken, caused a phantom image of the corresponding powerhouse to appear on the chessboard, finally settling into their respective squares.
"An impressive lineup," Imu commented lightly. "A pity. In Imu's game, victory and defeat are already predetermined."
She elegantly raised a hand. "Pawns, advance."
With Imu's command, the eight pawns on her side advanced one square, instantly transforming from stationary pieces into solid entities.
The eight vicious criminals charged forward with malicious laughter, heading straight for Setsuna's pawn line.
Setsuna calmly ordered, "Pawns, engage."
Akainu took the lead, his magma fist instantly reducing the oncoming enemy to charcoal.
Aokiji froze everything for miles, turning his opponent into an ice sculpture before shattering it with a kick.
Kizaru turned into light, his Ama no Murakumo sword piercing an enemy's heart in an instant.
Sengoku transformed into a golden Buddha, shockwaves sweeping across the battlefield.
Zephyr's [Black Arm] fists struck with devastating force, pounding an enemy into the ground.
Rayleigh's sword gleamed like a rainbow, Gaban's twin axes cleaved the heavens; Loki's giant war-axe swept across all directions.
Although these demonic prisoners had been greatly enhanced by Imu, the gap between them and these powerhouses standing at the world's peak remained a chasm.
In just over ten seconds, the battle was over.
Yet, Imu remained seated high upon the Empty Throne, her expression unchanging.
"Knights, advance."
Following her command, Pizarro and Vasco entered the battlefield.
Pizarro activated his Devil Fruit power, merging with the earth and extending a giant hand to crush Shanks.
Shanks' figure vanished, reappearing with a sword flash already at Pizarro's neck.
Clang—
Pizarro blocked hastily, but Shanks' Haki erupted like a tidal wave, instantly shattering his defense.
Imu's [Domi Reversi] had granted Pizarro greater power but stripped him of his reason. He pursued Shanks like a headless fly, openings everywhere.
In less than thirty seconds, Pizarro's head flew high, blood spraying across the chessboard.
Vasco swayed drunkenly, suddenly smashing his jug against the ground.
"Drunken Fist: God of Wine's Chaotic Dance!"
His figure instantly split into dozens of afterimages attacking Mihawk from all directions.
Each afterimage carried the aura of alcohol and killing intent, it's hard to tell the difference between reality and illusion.
Yet, Mihawk's gaze never wavered.
The black blade Yoru traced a perfect arc. All the afterimages froze at that moment, then were all severed.
Vasco's true body staggered back, a bone-deep wound splitting his chest. He, too, lasted less than thirty seconds.
Imu remained unmoved, merely raising a hand lightly. "Bishops, advance."
Shiryu and Moria stepped onto the battlefield.
Setsuna narrowed his eyes slightly. "You're deliberately sending them to their deaths?"
These pieces clearly didn't possess the immortality of the God's Knights.
Imu chuckled. "To march before the King is the fate of all pieces. The failures will become the 'King's' power."
Her gaze pierced through the shadows, staring directly at Setsuna. "Joy Boy realized this back then. But he couldn't bear to let his subordinates die."
Imu's voice carried mockery. "And the result? His strength originally surpassed Imu's, yet he fell because of his soft heart."
She leaned forward slightly. "Now, what decision will you make?"
Garp clenched his fists. "Setsuna boy, if my death can let you..."
Setsuna shook his head, interrupting. "No need. I am different from Joy Boy. The stronger Imu becomes, the more advantageous it is for me."
Power gained through such means was clearly only a temporary boost and might even hinder his subsequent breakthroughs.
Imu sneered inwardly, 'As expected, another weakling bound by sentiment.'
Shiryu was shattered into pieces under Garp's iron fists, the residual waves of Armament Haki destroying half the chessboard.
Moria was swept into the high sky by the hurricane summoned by Dragon, countless wind blades tearing him to shreds.
Byrnndi World was reduced to pulp under Big Mom's Ikoku.
Bullet was blasted to nothingness by Kaido's kanabo.
Only Redfield, having received a power boost, truly gave Whitebeard a hard fight.
In fact, if he hadn't been imprisoned for so long, his strength stagnating, the outcome of this battle might have been uncertain.
Three hours later, when Whitebeard's Murakumogiri finally pierced through Redfield's chest, this old rival regained his senses in his final moments.
"Thank you..." Blood trickled from Redfield's mouth, but his eyes held relief.
On the opposite side of the board, only Imu remained alone.
"A pity. The God's Knights Imu carefully nurtured could not sacrifice themselves when they were truly needed." Imu's tone was full of disappointment. "With only these scraps, Imu cannot display Imu's full power."
"However, it should be enough to deal with you." Imu slowly stood up, shadows surging like a tide around her.
"Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Fallen Angel!"
Her body began to twist and expand. Jet-black wings stretched from her back. Crimson pupils hung high like blood moons.
Her aura skyrocketed violently. All of Mary Geoise trembled under this pressure.
"Now, let Imu see… if you can defeat the true 'God'!"
"Of course it's another Hito Hito no Mi model," Setsuna couldn't help but shake his head. Your Hito Hito no Mi models are one more abnormal than the last, making Chopper's 'Human' model seem really silly.