The chessboard appeared between them because Hell thought it would be funny.
The pieces were carved from obsidian and bone. The board itself screamed softly every time someone touched it.
Delta stared at it.
"…Why is the pawn bleeding."
Hades, lounging in his throne like eternal death was a hobby, smirked. "Immersion."
Rei sat nearby, calmly reading a book titled How To Avoid Armageddon During Board Games.
Narrator:
The game began.
Delta's head snapped up. "No it didn't."
Hades raised an eyebrow. "Did you hear that too?"
"Yes," Delta said. "And I don't like it."
Opening Moves
Hades moved his pawn forward.
The pawn screamed.
Delta sighed. "You're gonna traumatize the pieces."
"They're already dead."
"That didn't stop it from screaming."
Delta moved a knight.
The knight bowed politely.
"…Why is mine respectful."
Hades smiled. "You raised yours better."
Narrator:
Delta was already regretting agreeing to this match.
Delta looked directly at the void above the board.
"Hey. Voice. Don't."
Narrator:
He ignored it.
"Rude."
Cheating Accusations
Ten moves in, Hades leaned back. "Check."
Delta squinted. "…No it isn't."
Narrator:
It was.
Delta slammed the table. "I didn't agree to an unbiased narrator."
Rei turned a page. "That implies you usually have a biased one."
Delta opened his mouth.
Closed it.
"…Fair."
Hades's queen moved on its own.
Delta pointed. "HEY. That piece moved itself."
The queen shrugged. "Union rules."
Rei looked up. "Since when do chess pieces unionize."
The rook raised a sign:
NON-CONSENSUAL SACRIFICES END TODAY
Hades rubbed his temples. "I knew we shouldn't have used Hell-made pieces."
Reality Bends Slightly
Delta made a move.
The board cracked.
"…I barely touched it," Delta said.
Narrator:
Delta's power distorted the game.
Delta glared upward. "If you narrate my power one more time, I'll narrate you."
A pause.
Narrator:
…Continue.
Hades laughed. "This is the best game I've had in centuries."
Delta's bishop teleported behind Hades's king.
Rei frowned. "That's illegal."
Delta shrugged. "So is eternal damnation and yet here we are."
Checkmate(?)
Hades studied the board.
"…Checkmate."
Delta looked.
Looked again.
"…No."
Narrator:
Yes.
Delta slowly leaned back, staring into nothing.
"…I'm losing to punctuation."
Hades stood up victoriously. "Victory."
Delta snapped his fingers.
The board exploded.
Rei didn't look up from her book. "Was that necessary."
"No," Delta said. "But it was therapeutic."
The pieces reassembled themselves badly.
The pawn reappeared upside down.
"…I hate chess," Delta muttered.
Narrator:
He would play again.
Delta shouted, "I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT."
Rei closed her book. "Tomorrow?"
Delta exhaled deeply.
"…Tomorrow."
Hell recorded the match as:
Winner: Hades
Casualties: 14 chess pieces, 1 table, 2 dimensions
Banned: Narration during board games
Hell ignored the ban.