[ With much less bravado, Ajax's hand hovers over the chessboard, eyes darting this way and that as he weighs the options available to him. He could move the king? But to what end — just to be put in check the next round? The same could be said for putting a flimsy pawn sacrifice in the way, useless but for the brief respite it gives and oh, does Ajax hate involving (or relying on) the weak to finish the job. And with no other way to subdue the attacking piece coming for his king—

Ah. Yes. Yes. That is what'll he do.

Ajax moves his queen with a flourish to soundly take Zhongli's queen as his last act of defiance. It also leaves his own king wholly unprotected. ]

A true leader does not need to hide behind their subjects. If a pawn is a pawn and a knight is a knight, then the leader should be the strongest of them all — be it might, wit or something else.

[ That's not how chess works at all! But that is how Ajax is closing this particular match, it seems.

He crosses his arms defiantly and waits for Zhongli to make his next move. ]

Don't you agree, Mr. Zhongli?