"You're taking forever. Like hell I'm bothering with your rules!" Kaido roared, stomping hard enough to shatter the ground.
Swinging his Conqueror's Haki-coated club, he leaped toward Imu on the throne like a demon god.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Yet the instant before his club struck its target, Kaido's enormous body suddenly froze in midair.
The black and white squares on the chessboard spread like living things, swallowing him in the blink of an eye.
Imu said calmly, "Attacking of your own accord also counts as entering the game."
Setsuna sighed. These rule-based Devil Fruit abilities were what annoyed him most.
"The rules are simple." Imu's voice echoed through the space. "Each side has a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops,
"two knights, and eight pawns. Only by defeating all fifteen pieces other than the 'king' can you reach my true body."
Imu waved her hand, and a pentagram appeared on the chessboard.
The demonic prisoners taken from Impel Down's sixth level appeared one after another, forcibly fixed in the squares.
Queen: "Red the Aloof" Redfield, holding a long scarlet umbrella, his gaze as indifferent as ice.
Rooks: "Demon Heir" Douglas Bullet, like a moving fortress of war, and "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World, his entire body coated in Armament Haki.
Bishops: Shiryu of the Rain held the famous sword Raiu, bloody killing intent swirling around him; Gecko Moria was no longer bloated, his slender figure wielding scissors nimbly.
Knights: "Corrupt King" Avalo Pizarro clenched a cigar between his teeth, a cannon on his shoulder; "Heavy Drinker" Vasco Shot drunkenly swung his wine jug.
Pawns: though the remaining eight were less famous than the first seven, they were all vicious criminals from Impel Down's sixth level, each brimming with killing intent.
Imu's gaze settled on Setsuna. "Now it is your turn to