Chapter 19:

The true terror of Red Reaper

En Passant Grandmaster Volume 3

Iori and the others all blinked in shock as Okisato vanished before them.

"Ah- That guy is NOT the Desperado you're supposed to find, though I guess we'll modify the game so that if you beat him, we'll let you leave," Scharlachrot nervously smiled.

"Wait really? Sweet! Then we all bout to speedrun this shit. That graveyard kaiser chose to fight Oki-kun first. His ass bout to get fucked!" Iori grinned.

"If only it were that simple," Scharlachrot mumbled under her breath as she and the other Fairies dispersed.

"So do we just wait around?" Yuusuke grumbled.

"Nah, we shouldn't rely on that snake. We should try n' save Inoue," Rodeo mumbled.

"Ah, I don't think that woman mentioned anything about Inoue-senpai being freed even if we beat that monster. Good catch, Gorou-san," Yuzuha smiled.

"And as luck would have it, I know exactly where Mimoko is being held," Numakawa smirked as he adjusted his glasses.

"I'll watch Oki-kun's moment of glory, so have fun searching for Mimo-chan," Iori waved.

"Vice-president's orders; you come with us," Yuusuke glared.

Honk! Honk!

"Lol, you got aggroed!" Iori snickered as she took off running as Yuusuke found himself face-to-face with Plum Stupid.

"I thought you'd be loiterin'. Who's stupid now?" Plum scoffed as the arbiter squad surrounded him and Yuusuke.

...

In the skies above London, the showdown between Okisato and Red Reaper began with Red Reaper opening the game by moving his pawn to e4, and Okisato opting to move his pawn to b5.

"Well you should have said you were suicidal. Now you're going to die," Red Reaper sneered as he captured the pawn at b5 with his bishop.

"Suicidal? Not in the slightest. I'm just testing out how far I can go with disrespecting you. So ready to lose to an O'Neil Gambit?" Okisato smirked as he moved his pawn to e5.

"I've heard you play odd, but no matter. I've felled many that resorted to desperate attempts to live," Red Reaper scoffed as he moved his knight to c3.

"Then clearly, you know nothing about me," Okisato glared as he moved his knight to f6.

The two went silent and played on. Red Reaper moved his pawn to d4 while Okisato moved his pawn to a6, prompting Red Reaper to slide his bishop to a4 on his next turn. He quickly captured the pawn at d4 with his e-pawn, but Red Reaper simply captured said pawn with his queen. Okisato then moved his knight to c6, prompting Red Reaper to capture it with his bishop, ultimately resulting in Okisato capturing said bishop with his d-pawn. However, Red Reaper wasn't done trading pieces yet.

"Check, Herr Oni-tiger. And now, the advantage is mine," Red Reaper sneered as he captured the queen at d8 with his queen, forcing Okisato to capture said queen with his king.

Now on a high, Red Reaper moved his g-knight to e2 as Okisato moved his bishop to e6. He then moved his knight to d4, prompting Okisato to move his king to d7. This only further elevated Red Reaper's confidence as he moved his bishop to f4. Okisato decided to go on the attack and moved his bishop to b4, but Red Reaper ignored it entirely and moved his pawn to f3. Okisato did decide to capture the knight at c3 with his bishop, but Red Reaper simply captured said bishop with his b-pawn. Still in the mood for trading, Okisato advanced his pawn to c5, prompting Red Reaper to capture the bishop at e6 with his knight, which was then promptly captured by Okisato's f-pawn.

"Let me show you why I'm the Übermensch. Check!" Red Reaper declared as he castled on the queen's side.

"Well that sure was flashy, but also advantageous for me," Okisato thought as he moved his king to c6.

Red Reaper followed up by moving his rook to d3 while Okisato moved his knight to d7. He then moved his pawn to h4 while Okisato moved his knight to b6, still unaware that he was beginning to lose his edge. After moving his h-rook to d1, the game was essentially even despite him still being up a pawn. However, he didn't seem to realize it. Okisato had begun to catch on though and moved his h-rook to b8. Now a bit confused as to what to do next, Red Reaper moved his pawn to g3 and after Okisato moved his knight to c4, things were suddenly beginning to shift in Okisato's favor.

Red Reaper didn't seem to realize, but did know his advantage had slipped a bit, yet he remained confident and moved his rook to d7. Okisato followed up by moving his pawn to e5 while Red Reaper moved his bishop to g5. Next he moved his rook to b2 as Red Reaper slid his bishop to d8. However, that did little to stop Okisato from capturing the pawn at a2 with his rook, ending the one pawn advantage Red Reaper had held over him up until now.

It was after that move that Red Reaper began to get a bit more frustrated. He moved his king to b1, but after Okisato moved his rook to b2, he was forced to move his king back to c1. Okisato quickly retreated his rook to b7, prompting Red Reaper to move his rook to e7. Okisato didn't care though and moved his a-rook to b8, setting up a massive attack and forcing Red Reaper to move his rook to e6 in an attempt to delay it. But after Okisato simply moved his knight to d6, Red Reaper became flustered and moved his bishop to g5. This allowed Okisato to move his pawn to h6, but rather than move again, Red Reaper let out a frustrated roar and captured the pawn at h6 with his bishop. However, Okisato didn't capture the bishop immediately.

First, he moved his rook to b1, forcing Red Reaper's king to d2, allowing him to capture the rook at d1 with his rook on his next turn. And after Red Reaper captured said rook with his king, a malicious grin formed on Okisato's face as he captured the bishop at h6 with his g-pawn. It was clear as day, he was now winning.

"Damn you! How'd you recover from that opening blunder!?" Red Reaper fumed as he moved his pawn to f4.

"Just did. It's what I do," Okisato smugly shrugged as he captured the pawn at f4 with his e-pawn.

Red Reaper promptly captured said pawn with his g-pawn, but quickly found himself in a new predicament after Okisato moved his rook to e8. Not wanting to lose his rook, he noticed the undefended pawn on h6 and promptly captured it with his rook. However, Okisato simply captured the pawn at e4 with his rook, prompting Red Reaper to move his rook to f6. However, none of that mattered as Okisato simply marched his pawn to a5. Red Reaper retorted by marching his own pawn to h5, but Okisato didn't let up and moved his pawn to a4. Thinking he could win the race, Red Reaper moved his rook to f8, but that move would ultimately seal his fate as Okisato moved his pawn to a3.

"You can't escape me!" Red Reaper shouted as he slammed his rook down on a8.

"Yeah I can. I still got a knight," Okisato snickered as he moved his knight to c4.

"And I have a horse in the race too!" Red Reaper retorted as he moved his pawn to h6.

"Yeah that pawn's not going anywhere," Okisato scoffed as he slid his rook to e7.

"Just try it!" Red Reaper taunted as he moved his rook to h8.

"Think I will. Psych! Now you're screwed!" Okisato laughed as he moved his king to b7.

Red Reaper became consumed with immense rage and let out a frustrated roar as he slammed his rook down on c8.

"Sorry, not in the mood for rooks," Okisato taunted as he moved his pawn to a2.

"Then eat your words!" Red Reaper shouted as he slammed his rook down on a8.

"Well NOW I'm gonna take it. Otherwise I'd blunder the game," Okisato snickered as he captured the rook on a8 with his king.

Red Reaper immediately began slamming his fist in frustration and cursing in German as he moved his pawn to f5.

"Now how about a bit more disrespect. I don't need a queen to finish you off. A rook is all that's needed. Arguably more fitting since it is like a cannon. Checkmate," Okisato snickered as he moved his pawn to a1 and promoted it to a rook, winning the game.

Red Reaper and his Fokker immediately burst into flames and began spiraling towards the ground before crashing into the dock and exploding in a mighty fire ball. Okisato then found himself back on solid ground right before the fire ball. He noticed fragments of Red Reapers clothes and bones strewn about and nodded before turning and heading away.

"YO! You wrecked his shit!" Oki-kun!" Iori swooned as she came running up to him.

"Guess just like most Desperados, he was all hype. I heard he was one of the most difficult ones to beat too, yet I handled him with ease. Well whatever. Let's go save Inoue-senpai," Okisato nodded.

Rattle! Rattle!

A chill went down both Okisato's and Iori's spines as they noticed the bone fragments all began moving and reforming. Even the tattered clothes began to repair themselves and to Okisato's horror, Red Reaper stood revived upon the smoldering remains of his Fokker.

"Impossible! The DESPERs can't bring the dead back to life!" Okisato shouted.

"Oh, there's a way. You just need a good life insurance policy," Red Reaper sneered as he leaped down and pulled out his DESPER.

A puff of smoke had emitted from it, signifying it was busted, however, Red Reaper was clearly still alive and functioning.

"Another one down. This is the only true inconvenience that occurs whenever I "die". Well no matter, I have the authority to summon the Ultima-master and get a new one on the spot."

Okisato and Iori stared in horror as Red Reaper slammed his palm into the ground. The earth began to rumble as a menacing red light and malevolent metallic structure began to rise behind him. The statue was large and round, looking to be about 7 meters tall. A figurehead of a bald woman clad in what appeared to be bellbottom jeans and sneakers sat prominently in the sphere's center as a single glowing red eye on it's forehead lit up.

For the first time he could remember, a look of genuine fear and bewilderment overtook Okisato's face as he stared at the structure. "It couldn't be... THIS is the Ultima-master!?"

Red Reaper didn't say a word as a new DESPER dispensed from the Ultima-master into his hands.

"WHAT THE FUCK! THAT'S CHEATING! YOU CAN'T JUST REVIVE AND GET A NEW DESPER!" Iori cried, genuine fear gripping her for the first time in a long time.

This was the true terror of Red Reaper.

In his younger years when he was still human, he was already considered an Übermensch due to his large frame and immense strength. This was said to be thanks to being the child of the famous Red Baron and Kaiser Wilhelm II's secret second daughter, making him bear the blood of both royalty and one of the greatest warriors of the early 20th century. From birth, he always had monstrous strength and a sharp mind, and was a one-man army and could easily dispatch a platoon bare handed while casually giving a speech.

When he got a hold of a DESPER, Red Reaper gained unimaginable power, shedding his flesh for undead invincibility and immortality. He subsequently conquered Germany in a single night, and ushered in a new 4th Reich, which would become known as the German Empire of Prussia. This ability to cheat death is what led to Caïssa shunning him, however, he was instead granted a power that worked just like it known as Assïac's curse. As such, he was immortal and invincible, allowing him to spend the rest of eternity doing what he loved most; hunting for Prussia's glory.

"Now, let's begin Round 2," Red Reaper glared as he turned to face Okisato and Iori, slowly jostling his new DESPER in his hand.

The full game:

White: Red Reaper (2780) Black: Okisato Tanabe (2600)

1. e4 b5

2. Bxb5 e5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. d4 a6

5. Ba4 exd4

6. Qxd4 Nc6

7. Bxc6 dxc6

8. Qxd8+ Kxd8

9. Nge2 Be6