Heavenly Demon Holmes: London’s Subjugation

The leader of the Murim Alliance and the Heretical League Leader are pieces used for combat.

-Wilhelm Steinitz-

To state the result of the duel first, my Merry Men pawn finished by smashing apart Her Majesty’s the Queen’s Pawn’s limbs with staff techniques.

“How…! How could the Queen’s Pawn of Gibraltar Temple be beaten by someone from the Merry Men…!”

Her Majesty was dry-washing her face with a look of disbelief.

The Merry Men, known for only their unremarkable Kung-Fu, defeated a first-rate warrior of a prestigious orthodox clan.

She could never have imagined that it would unilaterally fell the Queen’s Pawn of the Gibraltar Temple, over which she herself presides.

“If Your Majesty’s pawn had remained on the second rank even one more turn, the result would have been different.”

“Ugh…!” Her Majesty glared as if to object, then finally lowered her head in resignation.

She also knew that summoning the Queen’s Pawn into the martial world too quickly had been the cause of this duel’s defeat.

“One turn…! If only I had summoned him one turn later…!”

The pawns in Sword Debate Chess, especially the Queen’s Pawn and Alliance Leader or Heretical League Leader’s Pawn share the following trait.

Those four first-rate warrior pieces just mentioned often start a World War from positions that easily contest the Dragon Vein in the center of the Sword Debate Chess board, giving them more opportunities for higher rank bonuses than other pawns.

But along with that advantage came a penalty: if their time beside their master is excessively short, they cannot be taught powerful techniques.

A pawn on the d-file enters the harsh martial world having only learned the techniques a first-rate warrior can demonstrate.

And the Merry Men’s Kung-Fu are known as the best in the world at ravaging those of lower rank.

No matter how prestigious one’s clan, without learning advanced techniques it’s difficult to overcome the half a unit rank difference by skill alone.

For the Queen’s Pawn, especially those assigned to the Gibraltar Temple, defeating a higher-ranked enemy by the power of deep Kung-Fu requires spending at least two turns beside the Sword Queen receiving instruction.

In such a case, the summoning into the martial world happens no earlier than after the third turn.

On the other hand, what about the Merry Men?

Merry Men warriors meet the wall earlier, but until then, they grow faster than those trained in demonic arts.

The Queen’s Pawn, who hasn’t learned advanced techniques that come after reaching the Peak Realm and thus hasn’t hit a power spike.

They cannot match a Merry Men that demonstrates unparalleled strength in the opening Dragon Vein skirmish.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♞龍♙♟♙脈♘♘♙♙♙♙♙♙♖♗♕♔♗♖

“Little Heavenly Demon, declare the final blow.”

Once the sword debate’s outcome was decided, the judges demanded I declare the method to end the Queen’s Pawn’s life.

The flower of Sword Debate Chess, commonly referred to as Fatality1.

Under rule 3 of the Sword Debate Chess office, if a Sword Debate Chess player defeats an opponent’s piece by an overwhelming margin, they may deliver a Fatality that allows no counterattack, resulting in instant death.

This rule is emblematic of Sword Debate Chess itself, and Sword Debate Chess knights famed across the European Murim would showcase their individuality by taking lives in various styles of Fatality.

When Black captures, they generally celebrated their first sword debate victory by the most brutal method imaginable in front of the white pieces.

This act was ominously nicknamed the execution ceremony, and it affected the game far more than mere showmanship.

If the execution ceremony leaves a deep impression upon the judges, it could lower the morale of all white pieces and subtract from their final rank bonuses.

Conversely, if the execution gave the opponent an opening or the performance failed to please the judges, morale boosts could instead be added.

For this reason, the execution ceremony following a first sword debate victory, especially when performed openly on the high ground of the Dragon Vein, was regarded as the crucial branching point in the early-to-mid game between the opening and middlegame.

A proper performance could shatter an overinvested opponent’s mind and secure material gains, so it was worth spending time even if it burned some incense.

“Hm, a first public execution. How should I handle it…”

In truth, having already planned my next move, I deliberately smiled thinly while enjoying Her Majesty’s contorted expression.

Winning the first sword debate in Sword Debate Chess, especially an overwhelming win from unfavorable conditions, and leveraging that to snowball further gains is precisely the core of the new-era chess Wilhelm Steinitz emphasized.

Wilhelm Steinitz’s positional Sword Debate Chess spirit of rolling a small advantage into a snowball to seize the entire game is the genius idea I deeply sympathize with.

Crucially, even in classical chess Steinitz won sequentially against strong opponents in ways no one had tried before.

The new road to victory exists beyond common sense.

So that Her Majesty will never forget today’s match and to firmly imprint her defeat.

I will seize victory in a way no one would imagine.

“I have decided.”

“Declare it.”

“I, as the Merry Men of the black side, will…”

-Gulp

I could see Her Majesty glaring at me with wide eyes.

Tiny veins had already burst and the whites of her eyes were bloodshot—her blood pressure must have risen with anger.

Was she worrying about how I would humiliate her?

Ah—this must be what ‘Destroy the Teacher, Destroy the Ancestors’ felt like.

I understand somewhat the mind Judas had when he betrayed Christ.

Even knowing ruin awaited at the end,

it must have been hard to resist the sweet temptation that felt like one’s teeth would rot away.

“I warn you, Little Heavenly Demon. Remember rule 17 of the official Sword Debate Chess rulebook.”

Before I had finished speaking, Her Majesty had already dropped her voice and growled a threat.

If this conversation were truly between a black-side Peak Realm martial artist and a white-side Unrestrained Realm master, I would have had to pray my head not be taken.

But right now, the duel with Her Majesty is a fake World War.

Moreover, isn’t this a wagered match with a hefty pot?

Is there a way for Her Majesty to avoid the shame of losing to a mere debutant?

There is no such thing.

No matter what!

Never!!

I will not play a hospitality Sword Debate Chess match.

“I know rule 17 well. If a direct disciple2 dies, the Sword Queen, the Martial Alliance leader, or the Heretical League Leader receives a permanent Vendetta bonus, correct?”

“Yes. You know it well.”

Her Majesty folded her arms triumphantly and continued.

“Listen well, Little Heavenly Demon. If you publicly execute ‘my’ direct disciple, the morale-lowering effect will let you proceed favorably in future sword debates.”

“Indeed.”

“However, as I just said, the Sword Queen of Gibraltar Temple empowered by the Vendetta bonus will come for retribution. So consider and decide carefully.”

Her Majesty’s needless verbosity was getting long, so I decided to cut her off at a proper point.

“Judge.”

“Hm? Why are you suddenly calling the judges?!”

“I accept.What ruling does LIttle Heavenly Demon require?”

“Her Majesty’s needless advice on rules I already know has burned my incense more than necessary.”

“What…?!”

The judges paid no mind to Her Majesty’s fluster and began airing their opinions.

“I don’t think intentionality is proven, but it’s a reasonable objection.”

“Lo-Louise also thinks it’s not good to waste others’ time…”

Both Sir Maxwell and Miss Louise were siding with me.

Sir Newton seemed to be deliberately holding back his words.

“We declare the ruling decision. We will cut a portion of Her Majesty’s incense to balance things. The cut length is five inches.”

“Guh….”

Before Her Majesty could object, the palace maids measured five inches and cut the incense.

Thus, Her Majesty’s remaining time was further reduced.

She must be getting anxious.

Shall I now play the prepared move to amplify Her Majesty’s unease?

“I have decided on the Fatality.”

“Declare the method.”

“I forgo the Fatality.”

“…?!”

This time not only Her Majesty Victoria, but the judges, maids, and attendants—everyone gathered in the audience chamber—gaped in stunned disbelief.

“What do you mean? To forgo the Fatality.”

In the end Sir Newton couldn’t hold back and asked me.

“You spared a white-side warrior after the black side had taken the Dragon Vein. What are you thinking?”

“My choice to subdue the Queen’s Pawn only with staff techniques, without using a blade, was entirely for this moment.”

“What…?”

I drew a deep breath and declared.

“I will activate the Merry Men’s second trait.”

“Rulebook! Bring the rulebook!!”

Mentioning an old rule even the judges didn’t know instantly unsettled the chamber’s atmosphere.

A page-turner attendant, having seen the incense smolder die down, ran into the corridor and returned in less than thirty seconds with a thick leather-bound volume whose cover had darkened with age.

“Here it is… the Merry Men’s second trait is ‘kidnap.’ If you win overwhelmingly in a duel against an opponent’s piece in mountainous terrain, you can activate it to take them to the Heretic League’s headquarters and demand ransom… In this case, you remove your own Merry Men piece. Huh, I never expected such a trait…”

Even Sir Newton, who had lived for a full 270 years, found in the thick Sword Debate Chess rulebook a Merry Men trait he hadn’t known.

“I will kidnap the white-side the Queen’s Pawn to c7 and end my turn.”

“What nonsense is this…!!”

♜♞♝♛♚♝♜♟♟♙♟♟♟♟7♟♞龍♙脈♘♘♙♙♙♙♙♙♖♗c♕♔♗♖

The white Queen’s Pawn, forcibly moved to c7, was laid on the floor to express shattered limbs.

The one tasked with watching the hostage was the first-rate martial artist on d7—the black-side Queen’s Pawn.

Following the special kidnapping move, I shifted my pawn one square sideways with Poltergeist.

I hadn’t destroyed its Elixir Field; I had only broken limbs.

The white Queen’s Pawn was very much alive.

That meant the Vendetta rank bonus would not be applied to the Sword Queen.

“Little Heavenly Demon, demand the ransom according to the rules.”

“I will demand something other than ransom.”

“…The rules allow that. I permit it.”

Her Majesty the Queen stared blankly at me with an expression that still couldn’t accept it.

I met her gaze and announced the move that would finish this match.

“If you value your disciple’s life, the white-side Sword Queen should personally come to the Heretical League.”

“…?!”

“If she fairly fights life-or-death with the black-side Sword Queen and wins, I will return your disciple.”

“This is a hostage drama?! Cowardly!!”

Sir Newton, riffling through the rulebook, added an aside.

“Ah, here it is. It seems that if a life-or-death match where a hostage is held by one of the Merry men is ignored, a two-stage morale drop is applied.”

A two-stage morale drop is a negative penalty that lowers each piece’s rank by 1 unit.

If I can bring down the Sword Queen, I can force a Sword Debate Checkmate on the spot..

1. TL/N: Mortal Combat? ️

2. TL/N: pawn ️