King Maximum
Species: Animated Orichalcum Chess Piece
Role: Antagonist in Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
King Maximum—or just Maximum—is one of Vearn's creations, brought to life as a living chess piece carved from Orichalcum. He shares this origin with the Hadlar Royal Guards, as they're all pieces from the same supernatural chess set. Vearn gave Maximum command over the remaining ten pieces, which he controls completely; they're basically extensions of his will. His position as guardian of Vearn's palace reflects just how much trust the Dark Lord placed in him.
What makes Maximum stand out is less his individual power and more his role as enforcer—he's the one keeping Vearn's chess army in line and protecting the inner sanctum. Fans often note his design captures that creepy uncanny quality of an inanimate object given life and purpose. In both the manga and anime, he functions as a significant obstacle for Dai and his group, representing the kind of inhuman threat they're up against in their journey.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
