Chapter 17: Evil Pieces
"You want to know about us?" Koneko tilted her head in question, "About what exactly?"
"Hmm, let's see... Didn't you say you're from the Gremory Household when I first summoned you? Tell me about that." Kisuke asked as he chewed his snacks.
"Will this be tonight's contract?" Koneko wanted to confirm.
"Yep. If it is some secret of the sort then I can ask for a different thing." Kisuke affirmed.
"No. It's not really a secret. Then I'll start with..."
Koneko's master is a High-class devil called Rias Gremory. Rias Gremory is the daughter and second child of the Gremory Family. She became the heir after her brother, Sirzechs, became the Satan Lucifer, losing his right as heir to the house.
Koneko is Rias' second devil servant with a position of the Rook.
Currently, they use the Occult Research Club as a front to gather do their activities. Rias' other servants, aside from Koneko, are Akeno Himejima, the Queen, Yuuto Kiba, the Knight, and a Bishop which was sealed at Sirzechs command.
"What are these positions like 'Rook'?" Yoruichi asked after she's done with her milk.
"Before I tell you about the positions, you should know about the Evil Pieces first..."
The Evil Pieces, also known as the Devil's Pieces, are a set of 15 chess pieces given to top-class Devils to increase their ranks by reincarnating other beings into Devils.
The Evil Pieces were created by Ajuka Beelzebub to help replenish the number of Devils after the Great War which had caused the death of countless Devils.
The creation of the Evil Pieces eventually lead to the creation of the Rating Game.
Evil Pieces are commonly given to Pure-blooded High-class Devils, so that they can gather servants of their own. Reincarnated Devils are also given the chance to receive Evil Pieces should they rise in rank and become a High-class or Ultimate-class Devil.
When a Devil receives the right to obtain the Evil Pieces they are required to go to the Satan's territory and touch a monument which functions as a replacement King Piece to register themselves as King.
The Evil Pieces are identical to normal chess pieces in terms of appearance but will glow in accordance to the magic color of its users when in use.
Based on the game of chess, there are a total of 15 pieces (1 Queen ♛, 2 Rooks ♜, 2 Bishops ♝, 2 Knights ♞, and 8 Pawns ♟) that are given to top-class Devils (King ♚) with a peerage. These pieces are used to reincarnate other beings into Devils and become servants of the top-class Devil.
The Evil Pieces can reincarnate those who died recently or anyone still living who chooses to be reincarnated.
The strengths, talents, and skills of the being to be reincarnated plays a large role in determining how many pieces will be used for reincarnation. Different Evil Pieces cannot be used together. Evil Pieces can also be exchanged between top-class Devils with a peerage.
Queens possess all the characteristics of Rooks, Knights, and Bishops, making them the most balanced piece as well as the most powerful. Within individual peerages, Queens typically act as their master's second-in-command, overseeing the rest of the peerage.
Rooks gain superhuman strength, leading to high offense and defense. However, they are not very quick and can get beaten easily by a high-speed opponent. The King can perform castling with a Rook piece.
Bishops gain enhanced magical abilities which they can use to conjure up a multitude of spells (offensive, healing, etc.). However, more powerful spells consume most of their magical power, which takes a long time to regain, forcing them to use their power carefully or risk becoming vulnerable to physical attacks.
Knights gain increased speed and mobility, enabling them to perform high-speed attacks and maneuvers. However, their main weakness is their low defense, making them vulnerable to powerful attacks if they are not careful. Another weakness among knights are their legs; if their legs are injured, their mobility is greatly reduced.
The traits of Pawns is the ability to promote into a Queen, Rook, Knight, or Bishop in enemy territory or with the permission of their King.
There are also special pieces known as the Mutation Pieces. If reviving a person requires more than one piece, then using one Mutation Piece would be sufficient in reincarnating that person instead of having to use several pieces. Mutation Pieces can be a Queen, Rook, Knight, Bishop, or Pawn. They are said to be very rare, and only 1 out of 10 Devils possess the Piece. Normal Evil Pieces can also change into Mutation Pieces.
Another feature installed in the Evil Pieces are the Unused Evil Pieces, which will undergo changes according to the master's growth, allowing the King to use fewer pieces when reincarnating other beings into Devils.
"That's one hell of a system, no pun intended," Yoruichi commented.
"Indeed, that Ajuka Beelzebub is one devilish genius, also no pun intended." Kisuke rubbed his chin in contemplation.
"Koneko-chan, you said that you are a Rook, right? Then your fighting style should be hand-to-hand combat?" Yoruichi curiously ask Koneko.
Koneko just nodded her head in confirmation.
"Then how about a spar with this guy here?" Yoruichi suddenly suggested.
"" Eh? ""
Kisuke and Koneko are both dumbfounded.
"What? Did I say something so shocking?" Yoruichi asked the two.
"Why would you even suggest that?"
"I want to see her fight. Don't you also want to see a devil in action?" Yoruichi explained her motives.
"But Kisuke-senpai might get hurt. He's just a human after all." Koneko can't still agree with her.
"It's alright. Even if he receives another thousand of those knees earlier, he would just laugh it off."
"But.."
"And didn't he introduced himself as a mage when he first summoned you? He can cast some body strengthening spells to bridge the gap between you two, albeit slightly." Yoruichi continued her persuasion.
"...Still.."
"Oh, I just remembered. I saw photos of you when you cosplayed for the shop. Some of them are even a bit risque." Yoruichi hammered the final nail in the coffin.
"Yosh, let's do this senpai." Koneko's aura suddenly flared up and she started cracking her knuckles.
"Wh-!! Yoruichi you traitor!!!" Kisuke who is just listening all this while was shocked at his cat's betrayal.