A week had passed since Luke was reborn, and the hum of his new existence was no longer a jarring shock but a constant companion. Riis had been a surprisingly diligent teacher, explaining the fundamental rules of the devil world. He had already learned the basics of forming contracts with humans and had secured his first two clients, a deal with a struggling artist for fame and a contract with a musician for inspiration. It was mundane and strangely normal, a stark contrast to his new reality.
The awkwardness from that morning with Yuma and the public deal in the classroom had not faded. If anything, the rumors had only grown.
As Luke walked through the bustling hallway, he could hear the whispers.
"There he is, the Uncrowned King!"
"I heard he's the real deal! Sora Sitri can't even beat him."
"Is it true he's dating Yuma now?"
Ichirou, walking beside him, tried to cheer him up. "Cheer up, Luke! Look at it this way, you're practically a celebrity! Everyone's talking about you!"
"I'm tired, Ichirou," Luke said, rubbing his temples. "Just a week ago, I was invisible. Now I can't even get a quiet moment."
He saw Yuma a few feet ahead of them, also a subject of intense gossip. She looked just as exasperated, her shoulders slightly slumped from the constant chatter. She made her way to the student council room, and Luke followed, thankful for the momentary reprieve. They reached the door, and Yuma turned to him, a small, genuine smile on her face. "I'll be waiting for you outside," she said, before walking a few steps away.
Luke nodded and pushed the heavy, ornate doors open, stepping into an office that defied the school's humble design. It was like walking onto the executive floor of a powerful corporation. The walls were a dark, polished wood, and a large, sleek black desk dominated the room's center. The chairs were high-backed leather, and a floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the entire school, casting the room in a quiet, sophisticated light. This wasn't a student office; it was a throne room.
Riis was already seated behind the desk, her expression regal and commanding. A girl stood directly behind her, tall and elegant with long, straight black hair and sharp, intelligent eyes. Her features were beautiful and composed, giving off an aura of both grace and immense power. She had a voluptuous figure, a powerful, confident presence that made her stand out even in this room of extraordinary beings. She was the definition of quiet danger.
To his left stood a boy with short, perfectly styled blonde hair, a handsome face, and a well-built body that filled out his uniform. He looked like a second-year, his stance relaxed but his eyes constantly scanning the room with a focused, almost predatory intensity.
To his right sat a girl with a stunning cascade of short, silver hair and bright, golden eyes. She was small and petite, and her focus seemed to be entirely on the pocky stick she was lazily eating, her gaze drifting back and forth between Luke and the snack.
Lastly, a small, delicate-looking girl with short, light brown hair and shy violet eyes timidly looked at him before casting her gaze to the floor. She wrung her hands nervously and shifted her weight, as if she would rather be anywhere else.
Luke took a seat in front of the desk, the silence in the room heavy and expectant. The new game was about to begin.
Riis leaned back in her chair, a regal smile on her face. "Okay, Luke, as you're now part of my household, you need to know your family."
She gestured to the girl standing directly behind her. "The one behind me is Akane Himenohara. She's my best friend and a third year like me, and she's my Queen." Luke recognized the girl instantly. She was the vice president, and with Riis, one of the two most beautiful girls in the entire school.
Akane offered a graceful bow, a sly smile on her lips. "I look forward to our time together, Luke," she said, her voice a low, slightly seductive purr.
Riis then turned her attention to the blonde boy. "The boy to your left is Kai Suno. He's a second year and my Knight." Luke recognized him too. Kai was known as "Prince Charming" throughout the school; his kindness and good looks made him a magnet for the girls. I wonder if me being known will affect his popularity, Luke thought to himself, a hint of wry amusement in his eyes.
The silver-haired girl with the pocky stick was next. "The silver-haired girl is Kotori Toujo. She's a first year and my Rook." Luke's gaze lingered on her. Ah, the school mascot. Sheis cute, no wonder, he mused, as Kotori simply offered a brief nod before returning her attention to her snack.
Finally, Riis gestured to the timid girl. "And this is Asuna Arcsine. She's also a second year and my Bishop." Asuna looked up, offering him a shy, fleeting smile before looking back down.
Riis looked at her assembled peerage with a proud expression. "This is your new family," she announced.
The group offered a collective greeting. "Welcome, Luke," they all said in unison.
"You said they also reincarnated like me, and they have their own definitive pieces, right?" Luke asked, his gaze settling on the other servants.
Riis nodded. "That's correct. A piece for each of them."
"So you put devil pieces in them to do it," Luke said, his voice a calm inquiry. "What piece am I?"
"A pawn," Riis replied simply.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Luke's face, but Riis continued before he could react. "But you're a special pawn. You're worth eight pawns."
Luke's composure wavered, replaced by a look of genuine confusion. "What do you mean by that? A pawn is only worth one point in chess."
"I put all eight pawns in you," Riis explained, her smile hinting at a deeper secret. "Your body refused the other pieces I had left. As of now, I'm only down to a rook and a knight because all eight pawns are in you."
Luke looked down at his hands, his mind racing. So, eight pawns, huh? he thought to himself. It wasn't what he expected, but the strategic possibilities were already forming in his mind. This might be something I can use to my advantage, because in chess, pawns are unpredictable if not dealt with accordingly.
He looked up at Riis, a calm smile on his face. "I see."
Riis, surprised by his reaction, raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem upset about it."
"No, not really," Luke said. "Because this gives me a chance to prove a point."
Luke then reminded Riis of their earlier conversation. "They should be arriving about now."
Just then, a blue magic circle with a different, more intricate pattern than Riis's appeared on the floor in the center of the office. The air filled with a cool, vibrant energy, and as the light faded, six figures appeared. Luke's eyes widened in disbelief. He saw two familiar faces, and he knew them very well.
Luke, unable to contain himself, stood up abruptly. "What are you two doing here?" he asked, his voice cracking with surprise.
As the light fully faded, he saw Kuze and Ichirou standing there, both looking just as bewildered as he felt. A girl the same age as Kotori stood with them, her face a mixture of awe and shock. Beside her was a tall, stern-looking girl with long black hair, a pair of glasses on her face, and sharp, serious eyes. She carried herself with an air of cold authority. A hulking boy with a towering, muscular body that looked far older than his years, stood a few inches taller than Luke, his features set in a strict, unreadable demeanor.
Finally, Luke's gaze fell on the last figure: the chess club president, Sora Sitri, who was obviously their master.
I understand Kuze being here, Luke thought to himself, a pang of frustration rising in his chest. But how desperate do you need to be to ask Ichirou? He's not an idiot since he's above me on the rankings.But come on, he was already unhinged as a human but you made him a devil?! Wow, that's unfortunate.
Sora looked at her peerage with a quiet, confident pride. "These are my servants," she began, her voice calm and authoritative. "The boy you know as Kuze is my Bishop. And this boy," she said, gesturing to Ichirou, who shifted nervously, "is Ichirou, my Pawn, and he has four of them in him."
Ichirou's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at Luke, then back at Sora.
Sora continued with her introductions. "This is Harumi Sakeguchi. She's my Queen." Luke's eyes fell on the girl with glasses. She had a similar body structure to Sora but slightly more pronounced curves, and her long black hair was a sharp contrast to Sora's shorter cut. "This is Kasumi Haruno," Sora said, gesturing to the girl with the pocky stick. "She's my other Bishop. And lastly, this is Ken Jumonji. He's my Rook." Yeah, that works well for him, Luke thought to himself, taking in Jumonji's hulking, imposing form.
Sora's gaze then locked onto Luke. "I hear you're the new servant of the Morningstar household, the Uncrowned King."
Luke just gave a weak smile. "You heard about that, huh?" he replied, the question more of a statement than an inquiry.
Sora nodded, her expression serious. "I wouldn't mind going against you now."
Luke simply gave a vague answer in return. "Maybe another time."
Sora and Riis then began to talk about their "affairs," a conversation full of veiled statements and knowing glances. The rest of the peerage stood in silence, listening. After what felt like an eternity, they finished their conversation, and Luke stood up, ready to leave.
Just as he was about to turn, Jumonji stepped forward, his hulking frame casting a shadow over Luke. "Forgive me, President," he rumbled, his voice a low, gravelly baritone. "I just feel like that Akuma boy isn't Morningstar material. He doesn't see the honour of serving under a high-class devil like Lady Riis, sister to the devil king, Saibot Lucifer."
Sora looked at Jumonji, her expression unreadable. "What do you think he needs to do?"
Luke cut in before Sora could finish. "He could test me himself," he said, the coldness in his black eyes as he looked directly at Jumonji chilling the air.
Jumonji's stern expression didn't change. "Very well. Tomorrow, we'll have a mock battle to see if you're worth those eight pawns you received."
Hearing the number, Ichirou's previous shock returned. "He has all eight?!" he exclaimed, looking at Luke. "And I have four?!"
Riis looked at Luke, her expression calm. "Are you fine with this?"
Luke simply nodded.
The chess club was a quiet place, usually filled with the hushed clack of pieces. But today, it was different. A crowd of students had gathered, the whispers growing louder as Luke sat across from Sora Sitri. This wasn't a casual game; it was the match everyone had been waiting for, the rumored battle between the "Uncrowned King" and the current champion.
Sora was a master of strategy, her moves a perfect blend of calculated offense and impenetrable defense. She moved her pieces with a swift, fluid grace, each move deliberate and purposeful. But as the game progressed, her confident expression began to falter.
Luke didn't move his pieces with the same speed. He would stare at the board for minutes at a time, his brain processing the variables at an inhuman rate. He was not calculating; he was simply knowing. Every possible move, every potential outcome, every single path to victory or defeat was laid bare before his mind's eye. His intellect, refined over years of quiet observation and analysis, was his ultimate weapon.
After twenty minutes of intense silence, Sora's expression turned from frustration to shock. Every move she made was met with an immediate counter. Her queen, her most powerful piece, was trapped in a net of his pawns, knights, and bishops. He hadn't captured a single piece. He had simply rendered her helpless. Sora's eyes widened in realization. She couldn't win. She couldn't even force a stalemate. His mind had predicted every one of her moves and left her with no options.
Sora gracefully pushed her king over. "I lose," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and respect.
A buzz of conversation erupted throughout the room. The "Uncrowned King" had defeated the champion, not by brute force, but by sheer, overwhelming intellect. By the time the final bell rang, a new rumor had spread through the school: Luke Akuma was the undisputed Chess King.
The school day ended, but Luke knew his conversations were far from over. He, Kuze, and Ichirou found a quiet corner in the park on their walk home, a place far from the gossip of their classmates. Luke's expression was serious, his calm facade gone.
"Don't lie to me," Luke said, his voice low and direct. "Why are you two devils? And what's your deal with Sora Sitri?"
Ichirou shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. "It's a long story, man."
"I have all night," Luke replied.
Kuze, ever the more composed of the two, sighed. "It's about our families. We both needed something our human parents couldn't provide. Ichirou's parents were facing bankruptcy from a bad investment, and mine were being pressured by a local gang. We were desperate. Sora appeared and offered us a way out, in exchange we become her servants."
"She said she would protect our families and give us the power to protect them ourselves," Ichirou added, his voice quiet. "She's been good to her word. We're indebted to her, literally and figuratively."
"So you gave up your lives to become devils?" Luke asked, the question hanging in the air.
"We didn't see it that way," Kuze said. "We saw it as a necessary exchange. We got to keep our families and our lives. And now we have the power to face any problem. We just... never expected to see you."
Luke found himself walking alone with Yuma on their way home, a rare moment of peace away from the school rumors. The setting sun cast a golden hue over the city, but the beauty of the moment was lost on them.
"Lamina Mortis isn't like the other fallen angels I've met," Yuma said, her voice a low murmur. "He's not just a religious fanatic. He's an anarchist. He doesn't want to destroy the world for God; he wants to create a world of chaos and power where only the strongest can survive. That's why he targeted you—he sensed your potential. He saw you as a rival for that new world he wants to create."
"So, he's a bigger threat than I thought," Luke mused, his mind already calculating the variables. "He doesn't care about the war; he just wants to burn it all down."
Yuma nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. He's not after peace; he's after power. And he'll use anyone and anything to get it. You are a key part of his plan, whether you know it or not."
That evening, Riis took Luke to a private, empty field far from the city.
"Your body is a new vessel now," Riis said. "We need to teach it to control the power it has absorbed."
Riis began with the basics, teaching him how to harness his demonic energy. She had him focus on creating a small ball of crimson energy in his palm, a task that proved more difficult than he had anticipated. The power felt wild and untamed, a raw force that thrummed under his skin.
"Your human discipline is a great advantage," she explained. "You have control over your body that most devils lack."
Later, she explained his unique ability as a pawn. "You have the ability of promotion, but unlike regular pawns, you can promote to any piece you wish, not just a queen. With the power of eight pawns in you, your promotions will be more powerful than a normal pawn's. But you can only use it three times."
Luke then went off on his own to practice his martial arts. He moved through his forms, each punch and kick infused with a new, subtle power. He was faster, stronger, and more durable than he had ever been. He trained long into the night, pushing his body to its new limits, a quiet determination on his face. He knew his "human capabilities" would be his greatest weapon.