Peter Morphy

As soon as the round began, Peter opened by moving his pawn to b4.

"The Polish opening? Lovely, I bet he's got a nasty trick planned," Okisato thought as he moved his pawn to d5.

After that, him and Peter began moving their pieces at the speed of light. C4, d captures c4, e3, bishop e6, knight a3, queen d5, knight captures c4, knight f6; the two just wouldn’t slow down.

They were going so fast, the nearby arbiter couldn’t even keep up. “Was it knight f3, knight c6, b5,knight b4, queen b3, a5, a3, knight c6, b captures c6, b5- Ugh, I can't keep up.”

A few seconds later, the game ended.

"Checkmate. I was disappointed. You are still far beneath me, though you at least provided some entertainment unlike the others," Peter glared.

"Oi, it hasn't even been a minute, how many moves-"

"21 total," Peter nodded as he handed the arbiter his move sheet.

"Oi, I thought this wasn't a blitz tournament," Okisato groaned.

"There are no rules that state you can't play it like it is one."

“How’d you even write everything down so fast?”

“I had a free hand, and free focus due to your sloppy performance.”

"So he went , rook b1, b captures c4,bishop captures c4, queen b8, check, bishop c8?"

"Yeah, I should have captured instead," Okisato groaned.

The arbiter continued to review the game. Okisato moving his bishop to c8 allowed Peter to capture his rook at a8 with no issue, prompting him to move his knight to e4. However, Peter simply moved his rook to b8, and at that point things were looking bad for Okisato. He had no choice but to move his knight to d6, but Peter countered by moving his knight to d4, forcing Okisato's queen to g4. It didn't stay there for long though as Peter moved his pawn h3, causing Okisato to blunder and move his queen which allowed Peter to capture it with his knight on his next turn. With mate in 4, Okisato had opted not resign in hopes of a blunder and captured the knight on e6 with his f-pawn, however, Peter didn't blunder and mated him with ease.

"Bishop captures e6, h5, rook c8, check, knight captures c8, queen captures c8, mate... Impressive as always, Morphy-sama," the arbiter nodded as Okisato and Peter headed out.

"Ugh, now I'm going to be bored. Why do I always lose so badly!? I don't get it!" Okisato groaned as he sat down in a skittles room.

"You managed to make me put my book down, but I'd argue that was more due to my overexpectations," Peter stated as he sat next to Okisato.

"What is that book?"

"Take a look for yourself."

Okisato's eyes widened as he stared at the text. "E4, d5... There's nothing but chess moves."

"Correct, since tournaments forbid odds rules, I implement my own by reading that book to divert some of my focus during a match. It contains a record of chess games from the past, however, I prefer to analyze all the other possible moves to see if victory truly was certain in different scenarios. And before you ask, the officials said the book was permitted to be read during matches."

"And you can still focus on the match?"

"Matches that don't require me to think are not worthy of my full concentration."

"You really are a monster. So is that book on sale?"

"It has been coined as "Morphy's bible" by Maestro Himitsu and will apparently be offered as a prize to exchange points for in the secret puzzle cafes.

"Perfect, I'll be heading back there anyway. How many points is it?"

"Mine was a first-print so I have no definitive answer."

"Just curious, but what's your record against the secret maestros?"

"Of the ones I've found, I've bested all of them. However, I have only found 4 of the 7 maestros throughout the world. Even though many frequent chess venues have puzzle cafes hidden within them, those within a given area are all directly managed by one specific maestro. For example, the one here along with the one at Triple ceder are both overseen by Maestro Himitsu."

"I don't think I've met the maestro personally, then again it's possible I did without knowing who they were."

"So you still have yet to best the maestro's disciples?"

"Well, more like I don't have enough points to challenge them. It's not easy for me to grind for points since the cafes are only open at midnight."

"Nothing time can't solve."

"Guess you're right. Now that I'm in a chess club, we'll be going to tournaments more frequently. Best of all, the cafes open early on tournament days."

"How far away are you exactly from challenging the maestro?"

"I've beaten Himitsudono, Himitsukun, and Himitsutan, but I don't have enough points to play Himitsusama in Okinawa. Though since I found her secret puzzle cafe, I can challenge her from any secret cafe once I get the points. Same for Himitsuchan whom I lost to, though I'll be able to probably rematch her in person in a week. As for Himitsusan and Himitsuue, I've yet to find their cafes, though I did meet Himitsuue but I believe she’s only challengeable after beating the other 6 SPCMs.

"So that is your progress. Seems you are still far from my level. Though you are correct in regards to Himitsuue. "

"Say, can I ask a question, why were you hanging out with those Desperado folks at the restaurant?"

"They seem to consider me a comrade even though I refuse to touch their weapons."

"The DESPERs?"

"Yes, those. I do think the tech could be useful for gaming purposes, but the manner of targeting players and forcing them into submission with it, does not sit well with me."

"So why buddy up with them?"

"To play the Ultima-master."

"Do you know who that is?"

"I do, and have played a series of matches with it."

"And?"

"I've seen better from research laboratories. Though I did have to place my book down. As for the Desperado league, joining it was the only way Gunnerson would so much as permit me to approach the Ultima-master. Joining the league though worked out quite well for me. Aside from the negative association by proxy, I'm not forced to do their bidding, don't have to wield one of their DESPER weapons, can move as I please, and challenge the Ultima-master as much as I want."

"So you don't have a DESPER laying around somewhere?"

"No, I was offered one, but refused. I have no need of a hindrance like that."

"'Hindrance'?"

"Yes, once you register with one, it will not be destroyed unless you're incapable of using it ever again. Besides, if the Ultima-master is beaten by someone not from the Desperado league, it will shut down. After that, nobody knows what might befall the remaining Desperados with active DESPERs."

"So there are some drawbacks to it. Thanks."

"I was merely offering a consolation prize in hopes of improving your mood, and desire to improve your game."

"Guess it worked. Want to have an unofficial match?"

"I will not put my book down this time."

"Fine with me. Though, I think I might have found someone that will at least force you to put your book down."

"Mimoko Inoue, yes? Gunerson won't shut up about her."

"So Desperado's truly targeting her?"

"Yes, this is Gunnerson's last-ditch gambit, or so he believes."

"You don't view her as a threat?"

"I have no loyalty to the Ultima-master, nor has she proved herself before me."

"Fair points. Guess I'll be white this time, that fine?"

"Yes, now begin the game," Peter nodded.

The full game:

White: Peter Morphy (2880) Black: Okisato Tanabe (2434)

1. b4 d5

2. c4 dxc4

3. e3 Be6

4. Na3 Qd5

5. Nxc4 Nf6

6. Nf3 Nc6

7. b5 Nb4

8. Qb3 a5

9. a3 Nc6

10. bxc6 b5

11. Rb1 bxc4

12. Bxc4 Qf5

13. Qb8+ Bc8

14. Qxa8 Ne4

15. Rb8 Nd6

16. Nd4 Qg4

17. h3 Qe6

18. Nxe6 fxe6

19. Bxe6 h5

20. Rxc8+ Nxc8

21. Qxc8#