Fumi Hanyuu 

Shogi Knight.
A title given only to ones who have devoted their own life to shogi.

Fumi Hanyuu was one of many determined Shogi Knights, willing to live, or die, in the name of Shogi.
The title of Ultimate Dragon King she had long aspired to earn was finally at grasp.
…Except, that dream had not come true.

“Here, of all places…”

Fumi’s face distorted in disturbance, with her body fallen onto the ground.
Unable to even barely stand straight, her face is without a trace of vigor.

“Kuuh…! I would rather die than to surrender to the likes of you!”
“If you so insist…!”

The man’s hand flew towards Fumi’s unguarded shoulder, knocking her unconscious.
This was her final moment.

“Why’d they end up like that? They’ve just lost in a shogi battle.”
“You seem unaware. Shogi is an activity that requires tremendous energy, both physical and mental.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, they had completely exhausted their body and soul from focusing so much on one match.”
“The world of shogi is THAT harsh!?"
“You lot wouldn't understand. Well, I'd know as an enthusiast of shogi myself.”
“Well, I suppose we’ll leave this up to Yakumo here.”
“Mmm. Leave this to me!”
“Alright then, let’s get moving!”

— 10 days until the Ultimate Dragon King Championship.
Before the portrait of my grandfather, who had even been called the god of shogi, I am focusing my mind for the upcoming Ultimate Dragon King Championship.

“Grandfather… Please help me earn this title…”
“I see. So your grandfather also was a shogi knight.”
“...Huh?”
“You’re able to hear me?”
“W-what is this sound? Feels like I hear traces of some kind of voice…”
“Not hearing all of it, I see.”
“Indeed, a voice. Now that it’s clear I should be able to focus a bit more and—”
“So do you hear me?”
“—This is the voice of a child. Seems unlike a hallucination, now who might you be?”
“Don’t overthink it. I’m trying to connect to you like this, to save you.”
“Could this be… You’re trying to brainwash me!?”
“Brainwash?”
“You… you’re messing with my mind, trying to turn me into a woman of your likings, aren’t you? Trying to make me do this and that, once I’m made to do everything you tell me to! Shameless!”
“W-Wait up! Do not imagine such things! Who are you calling shameless here? We’re not thinking about things like that at all!”
“Eh… Is that so…?”
“Why do you sound slightly disappointed…?”
“Explain to me, now that we know it’s a misunderstanding.”
“So, you see—”

And so I was told about my future, from a voice from a girl who called herself Yakumo.
Frankly, the details of it were absurd.
For I was told that I would exhaust myself and soon pass away during the title match.
Nevertheless, it felt like the voice was telling the truth.

“I see…”
“Good thing you’re a fast learner.”

Exhaustion during a title match, huh…

“Then I would die with my long-aspired ambition as a shogi knight fulfilled. There is no better place to meet death than a battlefield.”
“Wha– Are you really sure!?”
“Yes, if that is what happens after I squeeze out my last breath. However, know that I’m not particularly going out just so I can lose.”
“Well if you say so…”
“Tomorrow’s the start of the championship. I’d better get some proper rest to prepare!”

If the future tells me that I would lose at the championship, then I shall alter that future itself altogether. 

The beginning day of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship has arrived.
I walked into the venue and waited for my turn to come.

“Wait, wait. What on earth is happening here?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’? I’m simply waiting for my turn in the championship.”
“I said, what on earth is happening here? Why has the championship become a tournament now?!”

Posted amidst the venue was a tournament bracket.
The second round is my first match, which means I still have some time.

“What are you babbling about? Obviously any title match is decided with a tournament.”
“Well, I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
“What? So you claim to know about ultimate shogi without the knowledge of a thing so basic.”
“Y, you’re lyi— Hm? Ultimate shogi?”
“Yes. Did I say anything strange?”
“Apparently it’s ultimate shogi, not shogi. Guess it could be in a tournament or even a round-robin format, then?”
“Unbelievable… I did doubt my ears for a bit, does that mean that this ‘Ultimate Dragon King’ should also be…”
“Ah, yes! I seek to claim the title of Ultimate Dragon King! And to continue defending it… that I may one day claim the title of Eternal Ultimate Dragon King!”
“Eternal Ultimate Dragon King…?”
“A title my grandfather once long held. However… —No, nevermind that.”
“Well, then. Ultimate or whatever…”

Giving no care to the somehow troubled Yakumo, the championship progressed and my turn came around.

“Alright, let's go!”
“W-Well. That was a spoiled start, but ultimate shogi should still be shogi, right? I should be able to offer advice.”
“Towards the championship, and towards victory!”

—First round of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship, 2nd match—
Fumi Hanyuu VS Rinzou Gobu

“Here we are! Meijin Hanyuu’s grandchild!”
“A goblin?”
“No, no, the name’s Rinzou Gobu.”
“My grandfather has nothing to do with this! I only stand by myself, as Fumi Hanyuu!”
“Sassy woman, just as they say. Looks like I need to teach you a lesson!”
“I’m not going to be taken down that easily!”

“LET THE SECOND MATCH OF THE FIRST ROUND BEGIN!”

With that command, my journey towards the Ultimate Dragon King title has begun.

“Here we go! Haaaah!”

Rinzou Gobu’s pieces were swept up and blown away as I struck the pawn in my hand down against the board.

“Not bad! Definitely worthy of being Meijin Hanyuu’s granddaughter.”
“That was only a glimpse of my skills!”
“Wait wait wait! What the hell was that!?”
“Quiet, I need to concentrate on this match!”
“No, I need you to explain why your pieces blew away the opponent’s pieces!”
“Because that is what ultimate shogi is!”

Rinzou develops a great number of pawns, surrounding my pieces.

“A pawn is just a pawn, no matter the number! Your formation is useless to a strike from mine!”

I swing my piece through the air once more.
This time, a knight. This will bring a far more devastating blow than the pawn I played just a moment before!
And just as I thought, Rinzou’s pawns are starting to get swept away.

“Not even a fight. Absolutely ridiculous that you could face me with an experience like that!”
“Do you really think so? Better take a look at the board.”
“Huh!?”

The pawns I must have just blew away were placed back down in bulk, surrounding my king.

“Th-This can’t be, when did this happen!?”
“You let your guard down thinking it was just some pawns. This is the secret technique passed down in my family! The Army of Hundred Goblins!”
“Th-this number!”

The pawns dispatched by Rinzou were true to its name, with a hundred – no, more than a hundred of them surging towards me. At this rate my king would be harassed and violated by mere pawns.

“Not sure what’s happening but it looks like she’s in a pinch!”
“W-what are we going to do here?!”
“A-aaah, surrounded by such a large number of pawns…! I’m… I’m going to be violently assaulted!”
“...Huh?”
“I’d be able to take one down, but with another pawn taking its place again and again… Endless stream of pawns wreaking havoc…! And you’ll enjoy clashing that pawn at me at the end, after I’m used up like a tattered cloth…!”
“H-hey! Stop daydreaming about such stuff!!”
“Ah, shit!”
“There, there, my pawns are still increasing in number!”
“This is bad! Getting surrounded further will be the end of you!”
“R-right, I have to concentrate on this match now!”
“But what could you possibly do in this situation, huh?”
“I’m never going to lose…!”

I raise my piece up high.
And in my hand is my knight—!

“Charge forth like a storm, my knight! Sturm Breaker!”
“Why the sudden Katakana!?”
“What!? Th-the knight is rushing towards me like a tornado!?”

My knight brings a sudden gust of wind, swirling throughout the board and blowing away the pawns that had surrounded me.

“The crowded formation of your pawns has turned against you!”

And the gust finally scattered all of the pawns away without a trace, and the opponent’s king in the middle of the pawns with it!

“Rinzou Gobu’s king is confirmed to be unable to continue! Fumi Hanyuu wins!”
“My way of the shogi knight shall know no defeat!”

I declared with vigor as the venue filled up with the sound of applause. 

—Second round of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship, 1st match—
Fumi Hanyuu VS Naito Ōku

“…Knight Orc?”
“Wrong. My name’s Naito Ōku, the proficient shogi knight renowned with the nickname of ‘Ōku Press’ from this side of the scene.”
“No, no, no! I demand an explanation about what just happened! About how that can be considered shogi!”
“So you did lie about being a shogi enthusiast after all. You just witnessed it with your own eyes. That is what ultimate shogi is.”
“Ridiculous! What kind of shogi in any world has so many pawns swarm out of nowhere?!”
“That’s simply how it is. The rule is simple, one just captures the opponent’s king. Now nevermind that, here comes the new opponent.”

Standing in front of me is a mountainous man.
Standing before him gave me the illusion of being overwhelmed, by the sheer pressure alone.

“Geh heh heh, never thought a puny woman like you would even make it to round two.”
“You’ll find by yourself if I’m just an ordinary woman!”
“Oh please, I insist!”
“And now, let the first match of the second round of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship… COMMENCE!”

I position my knight to get the jump on the opponent.

“Charge towards like a storm, my knight! Sturm Breaker!”
“Using such a move for an opener!?”
“I saw that coming, and I’ll dodge it like this!”

Naito then whirled up his king, gracefully evading my strike.

“H-huh!?”
“Such a straightforward move heading towards me like that is easily dodged.”

With that said, Naito begins lining up a large number of pawns on his side.

“Hmph, I wondered what it was. You’re no better than using Rinzou Gobu’s tactics after all that boasting!”
“Or is that really so?”
“What?”

Instead of spreading his pawns out, Naito begins stacking them up, higher and higher.

“Th-this is...!?”
“Behold, my wall of flesh! Flesh Crush!”
“Th-this pressure...!”

A wall of pawns, towered in front of me like a massive barrier, cascades down like a tsunami.

“Guh!?”

My king was pressed down under the colossal mass created by the pawns.
I am unable to move and push it away, immobilized by the sheer weight of the flesh wall.

“Th-this is...”
“Come on, come on! Out of the way, or get crushed!”
“A myriad of pawns combined into a wall of flesh… Covered in sweat, trying to crush me down…”
“A-again!?”

The sweaty mass of flesh… crushing and violating my immobilized body as they like…
Aaah...! My king was being defiled...!

“Guh huh huh, how long will you keep up?”
“If I'm going to be violated like this... Ugh, just kill me alr—”
“Wait! It’s too soon to give up just yet!”
“Huh...?”
“You haven't forgotten why you came here, have you?”
“Ugh, r-right... My goal is to win the Extreme Dragon King Championship! I’m not going to be set back by an obstacle like this!”
“What?! You couldn’t even move just now—”
“...No. This is checkmate!”
“Wha-!?”

Startled, Naito looks at his king. My lance had already taken its position.
“N-No way!?”
“I’m taking your head!”

My lance spurts forward, slicing through Naito's king.

“Dash along the gale and leave light behind! Solid Gale Sprinter!”
“W-What the hell-!?”
“Naito Ōku’s king is confirmed to be unable to continue! Fumi Hanyuu wins!”
“U-unbelievable! When did you...!?”
“Seems like you failed to see anything. Boasting about your wall of flesh in pride, you failed to notice that your feet were without defense. That was your downfall.”
“D-Damn it...!”
“Did… did we somehow win...?”
“I would've lost if I had just gotten crushed by that. You saved me.”
“You could have just not gotten crushed in the first place…”
“I couldn't resist the temptation. Let it slide now.”
“What kind of player is this woman…?”
“Don't get so prideful just because you beat me. Your next opponent shall be our King...”
“Your king...?”

—Third round of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship, 1st match—
Fumi Hanyuu VS Kinji Ōku

“So you’ve come, Kinji Ōku, Also known as… the King of Ōku!”
“Is he formidable?”
“Yes, one moment of carelessness should surely be the end of you this time.”
“So it would be an easy fight if not for that strange quirk of yours.”
“Nonsense! I don’t have any strange quirks!”
“Anyways, do not let your guard down in any situation.”
“Well, well, so you’re the one who bested Naito.”

Yet another mountainous man, no, a man even larger than Naito.
A man that will be facing me this time.
Kuu…! What kind of tricks would he be hiding up his sleeve?

“Hey!”
“Huh? Ah. Yes, I’m well!”
“And now, let the first match of the third round of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship… COMMENCE!”

And so the start of the match is marked.
The memory from the previous match crosses my mind as I instantly try to position my rook. It’s unclear if my early move would have an effect on this man named Kinji.
I put a halt on my steps at the last moment.

“I see, not a naive foe. Then I shall make the first move!”

Kinji’s rooks take their position.
His pawns started to move in a peculiar way as I tried to anticipate his move.

“Pawns again!”
“Oh no, these aren’t normal pawns!”
“What are you— …no, that’s impossible!”
“Yes, promoted pawns!”

The promoted pawns start to coagulate onto the rook on Kinji’s hand.
They then become a single pillar, thick and hard, like a metal club.

“S, Such… Such girth…! Such hardness…!”
“Wh— The tone! There are more proper ways to say things!”
“I’d be broken for good if I got  penetrated by something like that!”
“And why do you sound so excited about it?!”
“Take this, from the bloodline of Ōku! Steel Pillar Strike!”

The falling pillar of promoted pawns lands a direct hit on my king.

“Oooh! W—What a blow…!”
“This is NOT the time to take pleasure from this!”

I—I’m not taking any pleasure from this!
I’m simply taking the full force of the pillar to see it for myself and come up with a plan!

“You can’t be serious…”
“What’s the holdup, eh?”

Kinji repeatedly strikes his pillar down upon my king while saying that.
Excruciating pain constantly overwhelms the king.

Ah, such raw power…!
Getting squashed with such a pillar would surely break me…!

“Wait, why are you taking damage? We thought it was your king being crushed?”
“Yeah, we were wondering about that since a while back!”

The king is nothing, nobody, but myself.
Yes, an attack dealt on my king is an attack dealt upon me myself!
The king and I are, in other words, one and the same!

“NOT understandable!”
“You seem to have fallen silent for a while. Has my pillar already struck you down?”
“Not..”
“Not enough power left to even speak a proper word?”
“NOT ENOUGH, I SAID!”
“...Huh?”
“Did you truly think that would’ve finished me? Not yet, I can still take more!”
“Hmm… If you insist!”
“Ahi……ghhh!”
“How does it feel? To be immobilized and crushed by my Steel Pillar Strike?”
“Not— Not nearly enough power! Are you possibly going easy on me!?”
“So you still stand?”
“More! I demand you to step it up!”
“Shit!”

Kinji’s thick, hard pillar is being fiercely thrusted down upon me again and again.
Strong blunt pain punctures my body each and every time it hits me.
Through the arm, through the chest, through the stomach, reverberating…
What a… what a gratifying sensation…
I can feel my clothes being ripped and torn in the process.
I feel my body being violated more and more!

“What… what is this strange image flowing inside my head!?”
“Are those… ultimate shogi pieces forming a micro biki—”
“You can’t say anything more than that! We can’t show something like this for so many reasons!”
“Nice body, though—”
“Not the moment for that either!”

“Phew… I know you’re reaching your limits. Admit your defeat now and things will get a lot less painful.”

Breathing heavily, Kinji has stopped swinging his pillar, perhaps thinking that I’m at my limit.
As if assuming that I must be satisfied by now.
—Except… I’m not done yet.

“Tepid. Aren’t you the one reaching the limits?”
“What did you say?”
“MORE! I’m telling you to strike down again! I’m not going to fall down with just that!”
“This woman…!”
“Come on!”

Oh, what am I hesitating for?
My body and mind are yet to be satisfied!

“We shall aim for greater heights!”
“I… I yield.”
“What?”
“My pillar… It’s going to break if I were to go further.”
“H—Huh…?”
“Don’t you get it? I’m saying that I forfeit here.”

Kinji then put his pillar away and turned away from me.
Then he leaves the place, without saying a word.

“Fumi Hanyuu wins by resignation!”
“Ohh…! You’ve won!”
“The mental strength of Fumi got the better of that man!”
“Great! Onto the semifinals now!”
“Why…”
“What is it? You seem unfazed!”
“Why did you stop!!!!!”

My scream apparently echoed throughout the whole venue.

—Ultimate Dragon King Championship Semifinals, 1st match—
Fumi Hanyuu VS Haku Sakamoto

The long awaited semifinals.
Just one more victory and I will reach the finals.
I don’t exactly think the next fight will go easy…
Considering the opponent I am matched against.

“I find your presence quite unexpected in this particular situation.”
“And I find your attitude unchanged since, Haku.”
“It would be gracious to save me from the familiarity of the one who made their way by riding coattails.”
“This topic again. I didn’t become a shogi knight all thanks to my grandfather.”
“My, does being told the truth bring irritation within you? My condolences.”
“No, I’m not angry. That’s what you and a lot of other shogi knights also have in mind. It’s why I also show them firsthand… If I’m worthy as a renowned shogi knight by myself or not.”
“Hmph. I simply cannot summon the effort to endure such pride. Now then, shall we start the match?”

“L—Let the first match of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship semifinals… COMMENCE!”

Haku, going first, holds her bishop.

“A bishop all of a sudden?!”
“With thine horn, my bishop, thou shall pierce the heavens! Drill Horn Smash!”

Haku’s bishop starts spinning, trotting high up in the sky.
It then suddenly dove down towards my king with the momentum preserved.

“This is bad, I must evacuate my king immediatel—”
“You will not run away from my attack!”

The wind from the bishop’s rotation lifts my king of the ground and stops from moving, and—

“Pierce it!”

Haku’s bishop dashes against my king with the intent to pierce it.

“I won’t let it! Charge forth like a storm, my knight! Sturm Breaker!”

I pull out my knight and charge it against Haku’s bishop.

The two pieces generate a violent firework, but—

“What the!?”

My knight was found blown and broken into pieces by Haku’s bishop.

“Look what we have in the aftermath! My compassion for the knight, such is the fate for crossing my bishop.”
“Kuu…! I may have lost my knight, but my king’s left unscathed!”
“Shall we practice your skills of protecting your king once more, then? If you believe that it would be still valid, that is.”

Haku readies her bishop once again.
Could I possibly be able to block that move once more?
The situation is worsening by the moment, what to do…

“Kuu... before I lose and make a fool of myself, with my life I shall…!”
“Giving up too soon! You, are you doing that on purpose!?”

Impossible! I’m always genuine, even now!

“Then you will do good, and observe the board again with a cold mind!”

The board…?

“…Hm?”

I find a crack in Haku’s bishop, albeit miniscule.
Maybe, just maybe, this may be my chance of winning…!

“With thine horn, my bishop, thou shall pierce the heavens! Drill Horn Smash!”

I reach my hand towards my remaining knight.

“Another knight? Let it be gone in vain!”
“I can’t lose here just now! In the name of my grandfather! Charge forth like a storm, my knight! Sturm Breaker!”

This time, my knight and Haku’s bishop clashed towards each other.
The bishop’s rotation is chipping my knight away, but it’s still holding well enough.

“I will not fall down!”
“Impossible!?”

Her surprised response isn’t surprising to me.
My knight was being chipped away, but so was her bishop, with its crack growing wider with time.

“This, this cannot be!? My bishop, to nothing but a pair of knights!”
“A knight strikes twice!”

And the deed was finally done.
Just in the nick of time before the knight was completely gone… her bishop… finally broke—!

“My, my bishop—!”
“Now you have no defense! With your final breath, my knight!”
“No, I can’t—”

Haku hastily tried to protect her king with other pieces, but wasn't fast enough after the shock of her bishop being defeated.

My knight, barely even recognizable from the damage, flicks Haku’s king away.

“Kyaaaa!?”
“Haku!?”

The attacked king hit Haku directly, resulting in Haku being flown back right away.

“Does being hit by an ultimate shogi piece really make a person fly away like that?!”
“Haku Sakamoto’s king is confirmed to be unable to continue! Fumi Hanyuu wins!”
“Haku! Are you alright?”
“H—Hands off from me!”

Haku slowly stands up as she parries my hand away. Her face was giving a sharp glare towards me when her head was back up.

“To a shadow of one’s grandparents…!”

“Haku…”

“Consider this day never forgotten. For one day I will…!”

Haku leaves the venue promptly after saying her words.

I could do nothing other than watch her back as she walked away. 

“So the final match is tomorrow…”

From what I was told from the person sent from the staff, setting the venue up again is going to take several days due to this year’s championship having frequent clashes between shogi pieces.

“Of course it’d take days! The pieces were all flown away in every direction by a clashing fight!”
“Why not just use something like steel to make the board and the pieces?”
“S-Steel!? Imagine if someone hits me with that thing! My body will…!”
“Don’t you suddenly start with your quirk?”
“Fufu, the players *are* getting physically stronger by the year. The battle on the board gets hotter as the real battle gets more fierce. Fu, fufufu…”
“...I’m not even going to say anything at this point…”

I visited a dojo to train my mind for the final round that is to come.

“That’s one impressive dojo.”
“This is the one started by my grandfather, to teach shogi knights. It used to be full of pupils back then… But now there’s nobody but me. It’s only natural, with the one to teach no longer living.”
“What a story…”
“There’s no need to feel down, however. With the title of Ultimate Dragon King in my hand I can bring this place back to its former glory.”

Me training shogi knights as a guiding hand, just like how my grandfather used to.
That is my wish.

“Do you have any information about the next opponent?”
“Of course. One with quite a reputation, in a manner of speaking.”
“Reputation?”
“Mao Akutsu. A shogi knight that is known to use any method in order to win.”
“And by any method?”
“As in methods outside the board. Words say that he even injures his opponent before the match.”
“And you’re set against THAT kind of person?”
“But his presence sure is unexpected. Thought he retired to leave everything to his pupils.”
“He has a pupil under him?”
“Yes, Naito and Rinzou being one of them. Their wonderful… ahem, cruel way of fighting that involves violating the opponent shogi knight comes from Akutsu himself.”
“So you’re saying that he’s the root of the cause here.”
“Yeah, I should be alert at all times. A mistake can even make players like myself end up in his hands.”

Ah, I wonder what he will come up with for the next match…
I can’t wait to see how much I’ll be humiliated by him…!

“Don’t you think about filling my head with unsafe imagery at any opportunity! Do you not intend to win?”
“Of course! I’ve pledged to end my own life after a loss!”
“Not really convincing…”

I unsheathe my sword, a family heirloom, from my waist.
With this equipped on my waist I can always stab my stomach, no matter the time and occasion.

“Looks like a sword tended well.”
“Thanks. As my grandfather passed this to me I was taught repeatedly that ‘Death is better than a life in disgrace’.”
“I’m not even trying to interject now.”
“Is that the cause of your grandfather’s death?”
“Yes, his last battle was also against Akutsu…”
“I see…”

“It’s why I wish to put an end to this heinous clan led by Akutsu and restore the rightful spirit of ultimate shogi! To achieve it I need the title of Eternal Ultimate Dragon King and change the world myself!”

I can’t lose here just yet!
I will grasp onto the title with my own hands, and live up to your footsteps, grandfather. 

The day of the long awaited grand finals.
The words I was told right after reaching the venue by the man from the organizers surprised me.

“A, Akutsu is not my opponent today!?”
“I’m afraid so. It has been decided at the last minute that another competitor will be fighting in his place.”
“What do you mean?! Do you think something like that would be allowed in—”
“Thing is, it apparently IS allowed.”
“Y-You’re… Akutsu!?”

Mao Akutsu. The culprit behind the corruption of ultimate shogi.

“What are you even thinking?!”
“I’m not sure I follow. I believe that I’ve rightfully set my substitute competitor.”
“A substitute for the grand finals? Have some shame!”
“It’s still been officially accepted. Am I correct?”

Akutsu then vertically flicks his head after speaking to the man from the organizers.

“Yes, the substitute brought by Mr. Akutsu showed their skill by defeating every shogi knight who was in the venue.”
“W-What!?”

Everything started from Akutsu inquiring about setting his substitute all of a sudden.
The organizers obviously reclined initially, but there came an addendum: they’d accept it only if the substitute was able to defeat all shogi knights in the venue, including the organizers as well.
The organizers had the venue be comprised of brilliant shogi knights, which is expected since they were the ones who would maintain the whole championship.
However, this substitute actually managed to stand up to the challenge…

“And so we had no choice except to accept the terms…”
“No way…”
“I believe I’m coming through now. My substitute is officially recognized.”
“Kuu…”
“Well then. I’m looking forward to the match. I wonder who’ll be sitting on the throne? You or my shogi knight?”

And Akutsu left the place laughing, right after saying so.

“What kind of shogi knight would it be…”

I went into the match with the sense of anxiety deepening inside my chest.

—Third round of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship, 1st match—
Fumi Hanyuu VS Kuronohime

“Kuronohime…?”
“A name is no more than a label, after all. Isn’t that so, granddaughter of Meijin Hanyuu?”
“...”
“You may come in now.”

With Akutsu’s signal, one shogi knight entered the venue.
The woman was clad in black mourning clothes, as if to attend a funeral right after, with a Hannya mask put on her face.

“You are…”

Not much info can be inferred, aside from that it’s a woman, from their body’s build.
I wonder what kind of ultimate shogi would begin from her fingertips.

“And now, let the grand finals of the Ultimate Dragon King Championship… COMMENCE!”

With the signal I grab my rooks to send my quickest attack.
While not being very powerful, moving the rooks is a good move to test the opponent’s skills.

“Then I’ll grab the upper hand! Dash along the gale and leave light behind! Solid Gale Sprinter!”

However, my opponent's power was far beyond my expectations.

“...”
“Impossible, my rooks!”

My own rooks were deflected away by the opponents pawns, even though I was the attacking side.

“W-What’s going on? The opponent’s pawn hasn’t even moved a bit!”
“What?”
“Wait, look at the opponent’s pieces!”
“That’s…!?”
“All of the pieces have already been promoted!?”

The pawns on Kuronohime’s side weren’t ordinary pawns.
In their place were promoted pawns.
It wasn’t just about the pawns. All of her pieces were in their promoted state.

“Impossible, promoted from the start?”
“...”

Kuronohime only shook her promoted pawns as if brushing off dust, still without saying a word.

“Gwaa!?”

With just one motion my pawns are all starting to get blown away.

“What’s your plan? At this pace…!”
“Then I’ll simply do this!”

I grab my knights.

“Charge forth like a storm, my knight! Sturm Breaker!”

My knights charge forth, along with the sudden gust.
My opponent however isn’t going to sit back and watch.
And in her hands—was a knight as well.

“...”
“No, No way, could it be!?”

She displays her promoted knights with a familiar stance.
It’s natural that it’s familiar. That’s my—

“Finality Breaker—......!”

With that the opponent’s knight clashed against my knight, enveloped in gust like my knights as well.

“Kuu..!”
“...”

The whole venue is engulfed in the tempest as the two pieces enveloped in gust clashes.
With the sweeping wind it is almost impossible to stay on one’s feet.
And after the tempest settles—

“Huh, m—my knights are…!?”

Standing still was the opponent’s promoted knight.
My knight is nowhere to be found. No, it has probably been wiped out.

“W-What immense power…!”

Kuronohime then prepares her promoted knight.
The form is as if she’s telling me to come at her again.

“Just what I wished for! Next time for sure!”

A used promoted knight for the opponent.
A new knight for myself.
Although it is promoted, I should have a winning plan against a worn out piece.

“This’ll fit against you!”
“...”
“Turn everything back to zero, my knight! Sturm Breaker Type Zero!”
“Finality Breaker…”

The pieces clash once more.
And both knights shatter into pieces.

“No way, even with this move it’s only equal!?”
“...!”

At that moment a shard of the promoted knight lands directly onto Kuronohime’s mask. And the face behind the mask now split in two was——

“Y-You are… Haku!?”

Her pupils appeared as if they lost their light, emanating a completely different atmosphere from what she knew of her.

“Ho ho ho, surprised?”
“What on earth have you done to her?!”
“Hm? Giving her a slight ‘transformation’ was all.”
“A transformation!?”
“The fight isn’t over yet.”

Kuronohime, no, Haku says such and readies her promoted knight.

“You’re trying to use Finality Breaker again!”

No knights are left for me to play.
Then I’ll have to use this instead!

“Nothing will surpass my ultimate force! If you’ve lost your mind then I shall wake you back up!”

I hold my gold and silver general, one in each hand.

“Gold and silver shall become one and reach the ultimate! Knock the dark away! Sturm Breaker Type Ultimate!”
“I’ve already surpassed that ultimate of yours.”
“That’s… a promoted knight! How!?”

In Kuronohime’s hand was yet another promoted knight.
Yes, a third promoted knight that should not exist.

“Kneel before me… Eternal F Breaker Typhoon.”

Two promoted knights weave overlapping typhoons, increasing its’ fierceness.
It is a sight truly worthy of being called the wind of the divine.

“Kyaaaaa!?”

Just getting swayed away by the wind is almost enough to sway my consciousness away as well.

“Hey! Hold yourself together!”
“C-Can’t be… There should be only two knights…”
“Since when did you think that this was my knight? This is your knight.”
“My… Huh!? Was the first knight then…!?”

That knight that I thought was wiped out.

It had been apparently taken by the opponent’s promoted knight, I see.

“How do you like the power of a shogi knight corrupted into the darkness? Don’t you want to be corrupted as well?”
“Akutsu…!”
“You would make for a great dark shogi knight, I reckon.”

Me? A dark shogi knight?
That means me getting brainwashed just like Haku.
Mmm…Wait, does that mean he wants to toy and mess around with my body!?
That’s it! That must be it! I’m then getting brainwashed, my body would be forced to move against my own will—
Kuu…! What despicable…—

“And a tempting offer!”
“H-Hey, this is the part where you should be mad about it!”

I’m getting brainwashed, can’t you see?
Aren’t you curious about what Haku would’ve gone through?
Also think about it! If I were to be the loser for the battle back then, then I would’ve been the one to go through that changeover!

“Why are you jealous about it?!”

Haku’s eyes. Look at them.
From the look it should be apparent!
She must have lost her mind, unwillingly brainwashed. Personality destruction… No, personality excretion?

“No! Stop!!! Don’t expose such outrageous imagery to my head!”
“This is not suitable for children!”
“Nope, too late…”
“Y-You! What did you make Haku go through unwillingly?”
“Unwillingly? I’m afraid you’re missing the point. This is precisely what she wished for.”
“...What?”
“I told her that I would grant her the power to win; she simply accepted it.”
“...H-Huh…?”
“She had corrupted herself by her own volition. Now, if you seek power, you too could—”
“This isn’t it…”
“Isn’t what, if I may ask?”
“This isn’t the corruption that I wished for!”
“!?”
“You simply have no idea! It’s about repurposing an unwilling woman! That’s the great part!”
“J—Just what are you talking about right now—”
“SILENCE!”
“Y-Yes!”
“I wasn’t looking for that kind of power! Forcefully modifying one’s mind when that person only wants to fight fairly! Leaving the mind functional but the body corrupted by darkness, letting one struggle from the disconnection between the body and the mind! Using a corrupted shogi knight that can be puppetteered as you like, all while granting that kind of suffering! That’s the great part, you do not know anything at all about corruption!”
“Eek…!”
“This is not the form I wanted to be!”

I put my rook onto my hand—

“I had sealed this move away, for I would not use it until I’d get the name of Ultimate Dragon King, no, for I would not be worthy of using it until that moment. But I shall use it here and now nonetheless!”

—And promote my rook!

“My piece under the name of the king of dragons! Release thy power!”
“That can’t be, is that Meijin Hanyuu’s…!?”
“ Conversion to the True Dragon God!”

The venue is engulfed in bright flash as the promoted rook releases its power.
The dragon that released its power then devours the whole board at a tremendous pace.

“What is this light!?”
“T-This isn’t good, the power is so immense that it’s starting to affect us here as well! We can’t manage to keep the connection between her any longer!”
“W-What are we going to do!?”
“We can’t do anything now. Fumi, you must win and change the futur—”

The voice that was reverberating inside my head fades away.

Following that, all of the pieces on Haku’s side of the board were wiped out, consumed by the flash.

“So this is the power of the dragon king…”
“No, I’m not done yet!”

The rook that has been promoted to the dragon king, hasn’t even touched the board yet.
The true power of it is what should be shown from now.
I drop my promoted rook onto the board. 

“The board… has been split in two…?”

What was left in front of me was the ultimate shogi board cleanly split in two halves, with all of the pieces flown away.

“S, Such immense power!”

Everyone who was watching the match, and even Mao Akutsu as well, were on their knees, all blown away.

“Well now, would it be safe for me to assume that the match is to be cancelled soon after?”
“Haku!? You’ve finally regained consciousness!”
“Your light has banished away the darkness inside me… To get involved in such power, I…”
“I’m just glad that you’re back. That kind of twisted method of corruption shouldn’t be forgiven.”
“Yes? Y-Yes, it shan't be. The circumstances are bothersome, however… How should one continue the match from such a state?”

The board is not there anymore.
Our clothes are torn and shredded from the impact.

“No, the match hasn’t finished yet.”
“Eh?”

I take a sword that was sitting as furniture in the venue, and toss it to Haku.

“Have you ever used a sword before?”
“Yes, I have once!”

Haku drew her sword and assumed her stance; my intentions must have gotten through her. I take my stance as well, drawing my sword.

“Let us put the end to our battle for the Ultimate Dragon King title championship!”
“Yes!”

Sparks were sent flying as the blade struck the other.
—A few days have passed since that battle.
The battle is now frequently featured in the headlines, acknowledged as a legend.
The aftermath of the battle has been immeasurable, and my grandfather’s dojo is now crowded with many pupils. Just taking care of all of these people by myself would already require me to reach my limits.

“And it’s all thanks to them.”

I’m unable to hear voices of Yakumo and her company anymore, but I’m sure that they would be out there, trying to save someone from meeting an unfortunate fate.
Just as I was saved from a horrible fate.

“Meijin, it’s already time!”
“Please, stop with that title. I’m still not used to the title yet.”

I finish my break and enter the dojo where my pupils gather.

“Now, time to continue the training!”

Countless students started to gather under me after I got the Ultimate Dragon King title.
Although the number still pales in comparison to what my grandfather had accomplished.

“Now, which title should I go for next?”

The title of Ultimate Dragon King is but the first step.
I must get stronger, get better.
To soar the sky, like a dragon. 

Fumi’s story is full of references to Shogi and NSFW tropes. Translator's notes have been organized into three categories, and are ordered by story appearance.

Character Names

Fumi Hanyuu

Her name is a reference to two real-life shogi players:

• Yoshiharu Habu (羽生 is read as Habu here, whereas in the character’s name it is read as Hanyuu): The first person to ever be eligible for 7 different “eternal” titles, as of February 2026.

• Hifumi Katou: Debuted as a professional shogi player in 1954, at the age of 14 years and 7 months, this was the youngest professional shogi scene debut until 2016. Is also known for the oldest retired age, and his long presence within the scene. (retired at the age of 77, after running in the pro shogi scene for 63 years)

• Rinzou Gobu

This name (Gobu Rinzou, following the japanese custom of family name coming first) is constructed to contain "goburin", or the japanese transliteration of 'goblin'.

• Naito Ōku

This name, similar to the above, is constructed to contain "ōku", or the japanese transliteration of “orc”---making his name a pun for “Knight Orc.”

• Kinji Ōku

This name is also constructed to contain "ōku", or the japanese transliteration of 'orc'.

• Haku Sakamoto

Not sure about the references here. "Sakamoto" is already a commonly found first name; "Haku" (八九; lit. 89) is probably to oppose Fumi (二三; lit. 23).

• Mao Akutsu

Original name is 阿久津馬王.
While there is a real life shogi player with the family name 阿久津, this name also could be a wordplay involving both words 悪(aku; evil) and 魔王(maou; lit. demon king).

• Kuronohime

Original name is 黒乃姫. Literally means “black princess.”
The name is derived from a NSFW trope. See the extended explanation under the “NSFW Terms” header.

Shogi Terms/Other

• Shogi Knight

Translated from "棋士", in consideration to the story's premise.

• Ultimate Dragon King

Translated from "極竜王". "竜王" is an existing shogi title in real life.

“Well, I suppose we’ll leave this up to Yakumo here.”

Original text is 「なら、今回は八雲にお任せアルな」; "~アルな" is a stereotypical postfix used by characters with Chinese background in Japanese otaku subculture media (e.g. Lee Mei-Mei). Quirks in speeches such as this will be ignored in this story translation.

• Ultimate Shogi

Translated from 極将棋.

• Eternal Ultimate Dragon King

"Eternal"(永世) titles are given to players who claimed a shogi title for a certain number of seasons, or defended that title for a certain number of consecutive seasons. (requirements differ for each title)
In this case, Eternal Ultimate Dragon King(永世極竜王) would be the "Eternal" title for someone who claimed/defended the title of Ultimate Dragon King(極竜王) long enough.
On the other hand, the title of 竜王(lit. dragon king) as well as 永世竜王(lit. eternal dragon king) are existing real-life shogi titles.

• Meijin

Meijin(名人): one of the most prestigious titles in go and shogi. Traditionally used to be a hereditary title, but now is given from a title match.
Alternatively, 名人 as a common noun refers to a renowned person with excelling mastery regarding a particular skill.

• Pawn (piece)

Translated from 歩, which is a type of shogi piece equivalent to a pawn in chess.

• Knight (piece)

Translated from 桂馬, which is a type of shogi piece that is closest to a knight in chess.

• King (piece)

Translated from 王将, which plays a role in shogi that is identical to a king's role in chess.

• “Why the sudden Katakana!?”

Yakumo says this through telepathy.
"Sturm Breaker" is translated from "シュツルム・ブレイカー" which is unusual, because there are basically no non-sino-japanese loan words in the context of shogi.

• Lance (piece)

Translated from 香車, a type of shogi piece that moves like a rook but only in the forwards direction.

• Rook (piece)

Translated from 飛車 which is a type of shogi piece that moves exactly like a rook in chess.

• “Yes, promoted pawns!”

The original text is "そう、成り上がってるのさ！"
All shogi pieces except the king and the "gold generals" (金将) upon reaching the opposite side of the board, and a specific type of piece, may only be promoted into one specific type of promoted piece.
(As opposed to chess where only the pawns may promote, and the pawns can be promoted into a knight, a bishop, a rook, or a queen.)
The differences are that the piece may be promoted upon entering the three farthest rows.
(As opposed to chess where only the farthest row grants the opportunity to promote.)
The promotion is also optional unless the piece is left with no valid moves without promoting.
(e.g. a pawn reaching the furthest row)

• Promoted pawns

Translated from と金, which is a promoted pawn in shogi that moves the same way as a gold general (金将). Also known as a tokin.

• Bishop (piece)

Translated from 角行, which is a type of shogi piece that is identical to a bishop in chess.

• “A knight strikes twice!”

The original text is 　「桂馬は、二度指す！」
"二度指す" is a reference to the Kaiji series (奴隷は二度刺す, a slave stabs twice), where the original context is the protagonist playing a card game with three types of cards (a slave, citizens, and an emperor).
One side gets 4 citizens and a slave in their hands, and the other side gets the same but instead of a slave they get an emperor.
The emperor wins against a citizen; the slave loses against a citizen but wins against the emperor. Each round players submit one card each, and the player who has submitted the stronger card wins.
In the original context the protagonist sets up a double bluff upon submitting the slave card, saying the aforementioned line.

• Gold and silver general

The original text is 金(lit. gold) and 銀(lit. silver) respectively, where 金, or alternatively 金将, is a piece that moves one space orthogonally or one space diagonally forward; similarly 銀, or alternatively 金将 is a piece that one space forward, or one space in any diagonal direction.

• Yes, a third promoted knight that should not exist.

Each player starts with two knights. A third knight, whether promoted or not, shouldn't be possible in normal shogi, unless one captures the opponent's knight and places it back later as one's own knight.
Yes, shogi does that. You can place pieces you've captured in your turn instead of moving a piece.

• The wind of the divine

神風(read: kamikaze. yes, that kamikaze.) or literally wind of the gods, originally referred to the typhoons that had protected Japan from the Mongolians' invasions.

• King of dragons

A promoted rook is called 龍王, or literally dragon king.

• “Conversion to the True Dragon God!”

The original text is 龍神真具南無.
There are three parts to this.
龍神 is literally dragon god.
真具 is an adjectival verb which denotes the state/quality of being complete, sufficient, or in great detail.
南無 is a transliteration of the sanskrit buddhism term "namo", which is about converting and relying upon buddha, the teachings of buddha, and the community of fellow buddhists.

• “Have you ever used a sword before?”
  “Yes, I have once!”

Reference to the final battle of Turn A Gundam.

• “Now, time to continue the training!”

The original text for “training” is 稽古(keiko) which means supervised practice where the student learning something that has already existed, directly from the teacher/master.
The difference between this term and "practice" or "training" in English is that unlike keiko, these words don't strictly imply direct supervision.

NSFW Terms

This story contains extensive use of tropes from pornographic doujinshi material. Below are some explanations for the terms used without getting into excessive detail. It is still deemed as not safe for work despite “clinical” wording.

• Shogi player/female knight

The main character is a female shogi player, or 女棋士 in Japanese; this is a homonym to 女騎士, a female knight, type of character that is often sexually humiliated in aforementioned tropes.
The antagonists’ names are deliberately constructed to contain words such as ゴブリン(lit. Goblin) or オーク(lit. Orc) which are often depicted as ones who humiliate the female character in said tropes.

• “Kuu, just kill me already!”

From “くっ、殺せ!” or “くっころ,” which generally translates to “damn it, just kill me!”
A trope in and out of NSFW context that has entered the general “anime” realm’s lexicon. This is most often used by female knights/warriors and princesses when captured by the enemy, who loudly exclaim it as a way to say, “I would rather die honorably than be taken as prisoner/receive my enemy’s mercy!”
It’s been used so often that modern usage is generally treated as parody.

• “Teach you a lesson!”

Translated from "わからせて"; in this sort of application this is about sexually dominating the female character and forcing them into submission.

• Brainwashing/“mindbreak”

Brainwashing involves the dramatic change of a character’s thinking/personality to be at the whim of the character brainwashing them, due to what can be many factors. This is not inherently sexual, but can be used as such.

“Mindbreak” fetishism is a specific phenomena that happens after excessive and (most often) abusive sexual activity that causes the character’s mind to “break,” in which they lose their sense of logic, inhibitions, and oftentimes the ability to register pain. The character then becomes a shell of their former self and has their personality molded into what the perpetrator wants of them.

Though the two often go hand-in hand, they are their own distinct genres.

• Kuronohime (extended)

A play on the brainwashing/mindbreak trope.
It involves characters (in this case, female knights and princesses) having their mind broken and corrupted to what literally translates to "blackness/darkness" for things such as...being “brainless” and having less inhibitions. Color is often used as a descriptor for good/bad in Japanese. This character is unveiled as a classic case of either trope and acts unlike herself.

• Personality destruction

See “brainwashing/mindbreak.”

• Personality excretion

The original text is "人格破壊……いや、排泄……？"
A fetish that revolves around making a female character literally poop out her personality, rendering the body as a husk that can be violated.
This is exactly what the original says, in verbatim, word to word.