Deep Blue

Everyone stared in confusion.

"Deep Blue? As in Deep Blue, the supercomputer built by IBM that famously defeated then reigning World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov?" Mimoko asked.

Irja began clapping.

"You really are smart... when chess is involved. Yes, that very supercomputer serves as the basis for our whole organization. One you'll soon be a part of when you lose."

8 chessboards suddenly materialized out of nowhere all lined up in a row. They were split into groups of 4, each with boards numbered 1 to 4, with one group presumably being for the men, and the other for the women.

"Your opponents this round will be us."

"Uh, you ain't even a registered team," Iori scowled.

"Yes, we are. We're team Deep Blue," a woman named, Noora Gallen-Kallela, scoffed as she flicked her pink and yellow shoulder-length hair.

"That ain't a country."

"Yes it is. I mean, all of Finland's now Deep Blue's base anyway," a girl in a hoodie named, Pirkko Esko, growled.

"Finland?" What's that?" Iori asked.

Thanks to the effects of the DESPERs and whatever other mysterious power Deep Blue wielded, the existence of Finland had mostly been forgotten about by the world, yet it very much still existed. Shrouded by a fog crackling with electricity, the land of Finland looked similar to how it used to before all this, but none dared to venture into to due to the electromagnetic fog dizzying their senses. All Deep Blue members were immune to the effects of the fog though.

Since Finland was Olavi's homeland, he had naturally decided to use it as the base for Deep Blue after seizing control of it shortly after Kana's death. While Finnish was still known and practiced in other parts of the world, not one Fin or anyone else present within Finland's borders when Olavi shrouded it in fog had set foot outside of it, at least not in great quantity. With the exception of Irja and Olavi, this was the first time the other 8 Fins had been able to set foot outside of the nation, a privilege they earned at the cost of others' lives.

"I've heard about Finland. Many forget about it thanks to the fog that shrouds it, but the WWCF is very much aware of it's existence," Daria frowned.

"Damn well should be considering we're registered to play here!" a girl with short purple hair named, Ilmi Hollo, scowled.

"So then you're saying you'll serve as our opponents this round?" Ryonosuke asked.

"You gots it. So take your pick, but do it quick. One minute's it before we's gotta start playing," Flavio snickered as he slapped his suspenders.

"So I get the chance to play you," Okisato snarled, gritting his teeth like a rabid dog as he stared down Olavi.

"Not me. I'm sitting this match out as a reserve member," Olavi chuckled.

"Are you saying you're playing on two different teams?"

"Not at all. The "me" playing for Babylonia is merely my double, 0lavi. But I took the liberty of changing it's name to match my own."

Okisato began to seethe with more fury, before being calmed down by an unlikely source.

"Chill, Oki-kun. Big bosses never come out and fight like this. Besides, that suspender slick head's one of your targets too, right? Focus on taking him down instead, but don't lose yourself. You're too cool to let rage fuck up your brain," Iori smiled as she patted Okisato on the shoulder.

Okisato let out a heavy sigh. "I guess telling you my past was beneficial. Alright, I'll settle things with you, Flavio."

Flavio smirked and headed over to the 1st board with Okisato.

"Oi, oi, oi, Oiva wanted that cute guy. Now who will Oiva take?" an effeminate young man named Oiva Huuskonen pouted.

"How about the other young guy?" an emo boy named, Juha-Pekka Joensuu sighed.

"SPLENDID! Kissies for you," Oiva giggled as he grabbed Zago's hand and strutted over to board 3 with him.

"Rope, soap, rope? I sell it my friend, as long as you have enough euros," a large man named Roope Morottaja snickered as he did a little bow.

"Then how about I take the entire shop?" the masked man asked.

"Mmmm, not rich enough."

"Then you'll spot me the rest when I beat you," the masked man clapped back as he sat down at board 4.

"I don't give credit, but I do give rope, rope to hang yourself with," Roope sneered as he sat down across from the masked man.

"Seems I get you then, lad," Ryonosuke nodded as he headed over to board 2 with Juha-Pekka.

"Only by default," Juha-Pekka groaned.

With the men's matchups set, it was onto the women's matchups.

"Hmm, my first bout out. I'll claim the scalp of Azenira," Noora declared.

"Um, scalp n' hair's off limits," Azenira scowled.

"You won't have a choice when you lose, for you see, this dimension is-"

"Noora! No blabbering!" Irja scowled.

"But we've made our reveal and-"

"They could survive, the possibility is there as all they need to do to escape is win the match. It mattes not how many lose or draw, they win, they go free without repercussion."

"And if we draw?" Daria asked.

Irja narrowed her glare. "The same as if you win, you go free."

"Well that sounds really good for us, but luckily we plan on sweeping you creeps anyway," Iori snickered.

"We ain't creeps, we're just like this because fucking Olavi fucked us up," Ilmi glared.

"Quite bold to slander me in my presence, but I suppose freedom does that to a girl. Very well, you're the 0.01% that despises the utopia I gifted you," Olavi sneered.

Ilmi flipped off Olavi before turning to face Iori, challenging her proper. Iori giddily accepted and the tow headed over to board 4. Azenira and Noora quickly followed to board 3, leaving just two boards open.

"Mimoko, are you feeling good enough to play?" Daria asked.

"I came here resolved to play," Mimoko responded.

"To play normal opponents, but what about these folks?"

"They said they're competing anyway. I just need to think of it as a normal match."

"Even with the possibility of something nefarious befalling us should we lose?"

Mimoko smiled and nodded her head.

"Oh, SO sweet! Mommy Irja will be the one to school you then," Irja cooed as she clamped he hand down on Mimoko's head.

"Let go."

"You're so precious. I was thinking you'd need a new mommy, but you managed to save her just in time, unlike your brother who you tossed to the burner."

Mimoko's emotions took a turn for the worse as her eyes widened with fury and began to tear up.

"Guess that settle it. Mimoko, take a break. We'll handle this," Tenju sighed as she sat down at board 2.

"Huh? but-"

"She's right, Mimoko. You need to rest. Don't worry, we'll all be fine," Daria smiled as she grabbed Irja's wrist and dragged her over to board 1.

"Ah, Virpi wanted to play the maestro. Oh well. Virpi will settle for... for... your name?" a woman with long green hair with blue highlights named, Virpi Latvala, asked as she leaned over on the board, her face mere inches away from Tenju's.

"Tenju. Tenju Kuroshiro, also know as SPCM Himitsuue."

"Ten-jew? You're ten jews in one?"

"Um, what are you-"

"Relax, she's just a weirdo, not a racist like Olavi and the brass," Pirkko growled as she walked over to a chair that spawned off to the side.

"A shame the conduits draw like gacha lotteries. I'd have loved for more like-minded loyalists to have been granted full evolved passage, but there's no reversing this once drawn," Olavi scowled.

Mimoko nervously nodded, calming down a bit, as she stood off to the side and watched. And with the ringing of a bell similar to that of the one used to signify the start of the rounds in the tournament, round 9 began in the Deep Blue dimension.

Tenju opened her game against Noora by moving he knight to f3, eliciting a surprised reaction from Noora.

"Réti, Réti, or is it "ready, ready"?"

"We call it Zukertort," Tenju replied.

"Zoo-ker-tort? Do horses live in zoos where you're from?" Noora asked as she moved her pawn to e5.

"Zoos? I have no idea what you're on about," Tenju groaned as she captured the pawn at e5 with her knight.

"But Noora is curious. Curious about your words," Noora stated as she moved her queen to h4.

"Well at least you're making this easy," Tenju thought as she moved her pawn to d4.

Noora quickly went on the attack, bringing her knight out to c6, but Tenju played attack and defense perfectly simply by moving her knight back to f3. This meant Noora's queen had to leave, unless of course she wanted it to be captured. She didn't, and moved it to e7.

Now with free reign, Tenju decided to develop some pieces, starting by moving her knight to c3. Noora moved her knight to f6, making things semi-symmetrical, but by no means were things equal. Tenju had a massive advantage, and she sure as well wasn't going to lose it as evidenced by her play pf pawn to e4.

Noora was starting to get annoyed with Tenju's development, and attempted to counter it by moving her pawn to d5, but all that did was allow Tenju to march her pawn forward to e5, threatening the nearby knight at f6. However, Noora ignored the threat and instead moved her bishop to g4.

"Not the brightest, though that much was evident with how much you mishear words," Tenju thought as she moved her bishop to e2.

Noora scowled and captured the knight at f3 with her bishop, fully expecting Tenju to capture said bishop with her g-pawn. But Tenju was smarter than that and instead captured the knight at f6 with her e-pawn, which led to something unexpected, but also not, happening.

"Ugh, Noora can resign, right?" Noora groaned.

Olavi scowled, but begrudgingly confirmed it was allowed.

"Good, because Noora hates slogs, especially when she's losing. Noora officially resigns."

And with that, the women's side now led Finland 1-0 with just under 5 minutes having passed since play began. It looked like things just might not go the way Olavi had hoped, but it was still early.

The full game:

White: SPCM Himitsuue (Tenju Kuroshiro) (2222) Black: Virpi Latvala (1861)

1. Nf3 e5

2. Nxe5 Qh4

3. d4 Nc6

4. Nf3 Qe7

5. Nc3 Nf6

6. e4 d5

7. e5 Bg4

8. Be2 Bxf3

9. exf6 (White won due to Black's resignation)