The 7th episode of Deep of Muscle.
The following is a fan-translation of the Japanese content.
Credit and thanks to Gunnar Iron
Summary[]
The story of the resurrection of the old-fashioned toy chojin Mindpuzzleman, who was defeated by Cubeman at the Chojin Olympics: The Big Fight.
Story[]
Chapter 1[]
Part 1[]
The first match of the 21st Chojin Olympics B block 1st round. A confrontation that will remain in posterity as a mysterious match that competes for one or two in the history of chojin martial arts, Mindpuzzleman vs. Cube Man.
On one hand, the chojin incarnation of the "disentanglement puzzle", which is an old-fashioned children's play, and on the other hand, the chojin incarnation of the analog puzzle "Rubik's Cube", that was popular all over the world in the early 1980s at that time. The hobby confrontation of the century, when these two big heroes of children collided in the lucky zone set up between the outfield and the audience during the Giants vs. Hanshin match at the Koshien Stadium, which is watched by a large crowd of about 50,000 people.
This battle was held in the corner at the same time as the heated and good match between Giants’ Egawa and Hanshin’s Kobayashi ace. Mindpuzzleman, who took the lead, tried to arrange the colorful hexahedrons of Cube Man, but he couldn’t! While playing with Cubeman's face unnecessarily, the colors were becoming more and more different.
"But it's crap."
Yamanote private railways in the commentary also have a disappointing face...
Mindpuzzleman was impatient with this situation, where only one side was complete. However, Cubeman, with cold sweat, did not overlooked, and this time, he set up on Mindpuzzleman!
"Suplex!!"
"No, the waves are solidified!!"
The voices that flies slightly from the ringside raises expectations for what kind of attack will come out... And Cubeman began to remove all the circles of wisdom of Mindpuzzleman!
His arms were removed, his legs were cut off, his neck was torn off, and The End! Mindpuzzleman, whose whole body was mercilessly dismembered and collapsed on the ring without power...was totally defeated!
"Umm, I can't beat modern toys ..."
This quote, which he gave out at once, ended the battle of the century. Cubeman, who won the fight, was also breathless. “I'm tired of telling the traces of a fierce battle.”
Few people know that this battle, which seems to have decided the genre of the hobby world, was far from finished.
"Isn't the old-fashioned circle of wisdom comparable to modern toys? No, this isn't a permanent defeat, it's the beginning of a new circle of wisdom legend!"
From now on, I will send you a story of a resurrection that cannot be told without tears, filled with the tragic feeling of Mindpuzzlean! Please do not forget to prepare a handkerchief in one hand while reading it.
Part 2[]
This is the Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, about 15 minutes by Hanshin train from Umeda, Osaka. This is the waiting room for the Norwegian national team Mindpuzzleman, who has just finished a century-long battle with the Hungarian national champion, Cubeman.
Mindpuzzleman lost the match and was dismembered. However, it was reassembled by his best friend, the chojin of the France national team, Tileman, who was just visiting the match, and he managed to re built him back, and then returned to the waiting room from his country.
"Ah, I can't do it anymore. My time was over long time ago...Hey, Tileman?"
"Don't say that. It was regrettable even though you lost. Overall, I think it was a pretty good match. At least it was worth it to come here."
"Please, give me a breack! No matter how you look at it, I’m completely defeated. I want to die.”
"That's right. Why is there a straight in-high on the hanging cloth, if there isn't that..."
"Well, that's a great match!? Wait, Tileman, you are Giant fan? It wasn't my match what are you talking about, right? Did you come to support the Giants?"
Mindpuzzleman was a little confused by Tileman, who kept replying while reading a sports newspaper with a cafe au lait in his hand. However, Tileman was also afraid for some reason.
"Egawa is certainly a good pitcher, but he is too confident in his ball! I think he should listen to the catcher Yamakura's opinion a little more, but what do you think?"
"You're French! Why are you so familiar with Japanese baseball!? Do you even know about baseball in the first place?"
"Well, since I came to Japan, it's been broadcast on TV every day, so I was suddenly interested in it. Especially, this Giants team that is always on TV, so I remember the players. I'm done, ha ha ha! By the way, I personally like Matsumoto, the blue lightning bolt of the batter. I'm always afraid to see him stealing a base! "
"How much free time have you had since you came to Japan…"
While saying that, Mindpuzzleman stood up, shook his head from side to side, and turned around the joints of his connected arms and legs. It works properly. It looks like it's all right.
"Well... whatever the purpose, thanks to you for being here today, I was able to get back to my original body. I'm grateful."
"But I was surprised. They left you in the lucky zone after the match. Nobody could assemble you. They thought you were dead, right?"
"I can't believe it. As it has always been, the Chojin Olympic Committee is too sloppy. It seems that the losing Chojin has no use or human rights. It's terrible."
"Well, that's absolutely undisputed. I've been wandering the border between life and death when I was struck by the damn The Fishers in the roller skating race the other day. I was able to repair myself and survive, ha ha ha. But there were many who died in the meantime, like Unagiman, Sazae King, Ika Devil, The Danshak... They were all good guys…"
Tileman sheds tears remembering their appearance. However, when he thinks of them after their deaths, he seems to have suddenly become hungry for some reason. His tearful mourning mood couldn't resist his hunger, so he decided to invite Midnpuzzleman an to a slightly earlier dinner.
"Hey Mindpuzzleman, I've come all the way to Kansai, so let's have a regrettable party today. There's a nice Kansai-style oden shop. I recommend squid, potatoes, and turban shells. Let's take them as a knob and drink them until morning! "
"Tileman, you're a really nice guy, but I think you're a terrible guy as the same time..."
There were no restrictions on the ones who have been dropped out of the tournament anymore. They quickly got ready and decided to head out to the city in the afternoon when the evening was approaching.
Part 3[]
"Two squids, sir. And two potatoes. Is there turban shell grilled? Ah, if there are two, too. Eel... oh, no? Isn't it? Please give me two, and hot sake."
The two sat down at a stall oden shop from midday when the day was still high. Next to Tileman, who placed orders with a familiar feeling, Mindpuzzleman muttered a little confused.
"No way... even after the qualifying for that petrol pool... with that tune, they licked..."
I didn't hear you well, did you say something?"
"No, no, nothing. But... even if my horrifying imagination is right, they are 100 times better than I am right now..."
Mindpuzzleman laughed with a self-deprecating nose, closed his eyes and slowly ruminated today's match. That moment, decapitated from his torso, flashes back in his head.
The moment when the last circle of wisdom comes off, Cubeman's triumphant smile…
Unforgettable humiliation...
The modern toys were certainly a strong enemy that could not be easly defeated. That new puzzle is not something that can be solved overnight unless you know the strategy. It can't be helped that he couldn't solved back then.
However, what was worse than anything else was the subsequent development. His rival came out and saw him as a puzzle the moment he was about to remove his circles of wisdom. It may seem surprising, but for Mindpuzzleman, it was a completely unexpected event.
Why was he selected as the Norwegian national team player for the Chojin Olympics in the first place? That's because all the opponents in Norway have challenged him as a fighter, not as a puzzle.
As a fighter, Mindpuzzleman is quite formidable, to be clear.
He has almost no substance to hit, and his joint technique is unlikely to work. What's more, the frame that forms his body is made of strong metal, and he doesn't know if it will be damaged if it is slightly distorted. However, it is extremely difficult to completely destroy it.
Then how can he be defeated? He just don’t know. Because no one knew it, he won the Norwegian national team without even losing once.
However, today was his first defeat, at the hands of Cubeman. He recognized Mindpuzzleman as a puzzle, as himself, and challenged him. As soon as this happens, he was in jeopardy.
Because he is an old-fashioned puzzle game, and even a child can easily solve it...
In that case, the result of the match was decided. Thus, he was defeated by a modern toy.
Some people said he was out of luck. If his first match was with Pentagon or Watchman, they would have recognized Mindpuzzleman as a fighter and probably stumbled upon them.
However, Mindpuzzleman doesn’t regret it. Because he was able to remember for the first time in a while that he was a puzzle, not a fighter. But the new anguish for that was now covering him.
Mindpuzzleman asked Tileman, who was squeezing the turban shell.
"Hey Tileman. Is the circle of wisdom an old-fashioned hobby?"
Tileman, who continues to immerse himself in the turban shell, remains silent. Regardless, Mindpuzzleman continues to cry out the doubts of his soul.
"Until yesterday I thought I was a fighter, but today I finally realized that I was a puzzle game before I was a fighter. But as a puzzle game, how about me? A body that breaks up in just a few seconds. I may be a first-class fighter, but I think i’m less than a third-class puzzle. No, before that, my role as a puzzle, isn't it over? In fact, no one needs anything about me? If so, what is the significance of my existence? What am I living for? What do you think of me as a puzzle? You think I’m actually out of date... "
"Oh, you're so messy and noisy! You’re too noisy that you'll break it up again!"
In less than 10 seconds, he fell apart after Tileman yelled at him.
"Uh... I can't do it anymore. It's not worth living. Uh...I want to die..."
While reassembling the lamenting Mindpuzzleman, Tileman spoke to him as follows.
"You've been crying out that it's not worth living, but who decides what it's worth living?"
"That... that is ..."
"Is it okay? The value of living is not a mon that you decide yourself, a mon that someone else absolutely decides, or a mon that you decide by majority vote. But in this wide world there is someone who wants you to "live", even if you are alone, shouldn't you continue to live under the weight of that person's life? "
"But I think there is no such old-fashioned guy in the world anymore..."
"Absolutely! Then, let's go to prove it now. Come here!"
That said, Tileman paid the bill for the two and left the stall, and brought Mindpuzzleman again to the Hanshin Koshien Stadium, which was crowded with customers returning from watching the game.
"What the hell are you doing in a place like this ...?"
"Huhhhhh. From now on, this will be my new stage. Be prepared!"
With that said, Tileman enthusiastically began to make some strange signboards. When it comes to drunken idiots, Mindpuzzleman also had a hawk at first...
──To be continued
Chapter 2[]
Part 1[]
Eventually, a large signboard made by Tileman was completed.
"If you solve it, you'll be awesome! Giant Mindpuzzle Challenge! 10 yen each time!"
Isn't it written so big on the signboard?
The infield entrance gate of Hanshin Koshien Stadium and the ticket gate of the nearest station, Hanshin Koshien Station, are only about 200 to 300 meters apart. A white tent and a signboard suddenly set up near the middle point. Tileman raises his voice.
"Well, everyone with parents and children returning from the stadium! Please come and see, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandfathers, ladies and gentlemen!" It's a huge talking mindpuzzle that is rare in the world! "
"Well... Do you feel like doing business with me!? The police flew away as soon as I did it with this kind of toco..."
"Look, this mysterious mindpuzzle talks! If you remove the arms, legs, and neck that make up him, he may say I” want to die” or “It's not worth living." He starts to worry by spitting out sad and desperate words to the world! It's up to you what you think when you see him! Please give it! Now, if you want to play with this Chie No Wa, you are lined up here. It's only 10 yen each time! "
"Tileman... you..."
Although it was a guerrilla street vendor with an explosion of odor, the Kansai people had a good taste. In addition to the unusualness, the conscientious price of 10 yen at a time attracted interest, and a large line began to form at once.
"Hey, did you come from Norway? I'm doing my best. But this is a little too easy. It would be better if it was a little more difficult, this is not interesting."
"You're the one who fought in the lucky zone a while ago! If you think about the costume, you're a real chojin. I'm scared."
"Oh my brother, don't you have the money to go back to your country? But if you do 10 yen at a time, it will take about 10 years to go back to Norway, so you should think about another business!"
"Yes, there is a maido. There is a maido."
When new challengers appeared one after another, there was almost a 100% chance that Mindpuzzleman would be cleared and dismembered. Every time, Tileman reassembles him, but in the meantime, the successful person enjoys a conversation with Mindpuzzleman.
However, what surprised Mindpuzzleman in such repetition was the warmth of the people who solved him. The weak-headed people who just take a simple taunt and go home are actually a very minority, and most people give a cheering message such as "Don't lose!" Or "Do your best!"
"Oh, can I still be in the world?"
Moreover, the moment you solve even such a simple circle of wisdom, everyone smiles uniformly. Seeing the smiles of those people, he remembered his youth, when he still remembered his pride as a circle of wisdom.
"That's right. No matter what, a puzzle is a happy moment when it's solved."
Of course, it would be a lot of joy to solve difficult puzzles, but it would be a problem if it was too difficult. Because nothing is more frustrating than an unsolvable puzzle...
Even if a math problem proofer who doesn't even know if there is an answer, such as the Riemann hypothesis or Poincare conjecture, is promised a prize of $ 1 million, the general public will not be able to handle it.
While remembering such an important thing, a boy appeared in front of him.
"Yes, 10 yen! By the way, how many minutes should I solve this?"
The boy named Masaru handed Tileman 10 yen and asked with clear eyes.
"That's right. It's easy, but the parts are heavy, well, maybe 5 minutes."
"Okay, I'll do my best!"
However, Masaru-kun was unfortunately unable to unravel the giant mindpuzzle even after 5 minutes. It is the first dropout after receiving a challenge of about 20 people. And the one that was most surprised about this situation was Mindpuzzleman himself, what to hide.
"Eh! There is no one who can't break the simple circle of wisdom like me..."
"Sorry. But you'll definitely solve it next time! I'll come here again tomorrow, so my brothers will definitely come again tomorrow! Because it's a promise!"
"Ah... oh yeah. Okay, I'll come again..."
The total sales on that day were 520 yen. In the end, only Masaru-kun couldn't solve it. All the rest were completely separated and returned with satisfaction.
Mindpuzzleman reaffirmed that his puzzle difficulty was fairly low, but at the same time he couldn't help but think of the boy who couldn't solve him...
"Hey... Tileman. Masaru-kun, will you come again tomorrow?"
"Oh, don't come. Don't come."
"Then... I have to go, it's bad."
"Oh, that's bad. If you don't go, you're bad as a person... that's it."
Although it was intended to be a day-only show, they decided to open a stall the next day as well.
Part 2[]
The next day, it was sunny. On days when there are no baseball games, the area around Koshien Stadium is quiet.
Tileman and Mindpuzzleman came to the same place, but unlike yesterday, no one came. No, he didn't want to make money from the beginning, so he doesn't care about that...
It took about 30 minutes to set up a tent and a signboard and wait, and finally they two faces were colored.
The promised boy came with a happy face.
"Ah, I'm happy! I will try it today! Actually, I've been thinking a lot since yesterday, and I've been enthusiastic about solving it today. That's why I'm happy! Yes 10 yen!"
"Ha ha ha, that's tough. There's a mess. The time limit is 5 minutes today. Good luck!"
"Yes!"
However, 5 minutes have passed, and like yesterday, Masaru couldn't solve today.
"Hey! Are you doing it tomorrow?"
"Oh, oh. We have to save money to go back to our country. That's why we've been in business here for a while."
"Then tomorrow I will come! I'll definitely solve it tomorrow!"
"Ha ha ha. Good luck tomorrow!"
“………”
“………”
"Hey Tileman. How long do you think we'll be here?"
"Well, until I get bored."
The next day and the next day, the two continued to open stalls, and Masaru came to Koshien. And unfortunately, he returns without being able to solve it.
The next day and the next day as well... And then a week passed.
"Hey, Mindpuzzleman. Are you aware of it?"
"Oh, of course. Masaru-kun, you're evolving little by little without being able to solve it every day."
"That's right. If you have two choices that you can't solve, you can just say that you can't solve it, but if you do, it's definitely evolving."
"At that pace, it's... 3 days. It'll be solved in 3 days. It's a big deal."
"How do you compare to that? What has changed?"
"No, I didn't change anything. I often noticed that I didn't even try to change. That's the only thing that changed. I'm lonely..."
The silent time continued for a while, and then Tileman asked.
"Mindpuzzleman. Are you going to let Masaru solve it as it is?"
"No, I can't give up easily when I come here. To be honest, I really want to see how far that child will grow. To do that, I have to change little by little."
"But can't it be difficult? By the old-fashioned disentanglement puzzle?"
"Oh, look. That kid has changed that much. I'll evolve little by little with the times. I'll show you a new circle of wisdom."
The next day, the frame shape of Mindpuzzleman had changed slightly. Masaru-kun... No, it's a subtle change that isn't noticed by the general public, not just him, but Tileman could immediately notice the difference.
"Mindpuzzleman, did you finally get serious..."
Masaru-kun also had a slightly regrettable face, wondering if he was feeling something.
"It's funny. I thought I could definitely solve it today. Hey Mindpuzzleman, haven't you been a little cheating lately?"
"Ah? There's no shit or shit in a serious match between men. I'm serious, you're serious, what's the problem?"
Masaru replied with a happy smile to the words.
"Hmm, no!"
"That's right, then solve it! Let's show it beyond me!"
After that, similar minor changes were repeated every day.
Masaru-kun has definitely evolved, and Mindpuzzleman has also gradually increased in difficulty as a puzzle. One month, two months, the synergistic effect will continue... and suddenly, one day…
The white tent in front of Koshien Stadium was once again able to form a large line.
"Is this a circle of wisdom?"
In the past, Mindpuzzleman's body was easy for anyone to remove, but now it has been transformed into a super-difficult puzzle that no one can remove. It became popular with people, and heroes from all over the country who were proud of their brains were gathering here in front of Koshien to solve the difficult puzzle.
The appearance has not changed so much. However, as a result of making improvements such as the fine structure of the key hook part and the size and thickness of the frame itself in units of millimeters or less, Mindpuzzleman became a tremendous puzzle, and he became big without knowing it. He was evolving!
And finally, a person who solved the puzzle that no one could solve appeared!
Jackie! Clang, clang…clang ...
For the first time in a while, the sound of a huge metal collapsing echoes in front of Koshien Station.
"Mindpuzzleman! Finally, I'm finally winning!"
The moment when Masaru finally breaks the circle of wisdom has arrived.
"Oh, I lost. I've evolved so much. Now you're the puzzle king who is second to none!"
"Mindpuzzleman is the best puzzle to beat any modern toy!"
"Thank you Masaru! Thank you very much!"
Applause sparsely rises from around Mindpuzzleman and Masaru who hug each other and rejoice.
Tileman, who was watching it, said with tears.
"Ah, I wonder if I'll replace it with a reinforced tile that won't break from tomorrow..."
Chapter 3[]
Part 1[]
The next day, was the last day of tent business in front of Koshien.
Having finally regained his confidence in his puzzle, Mindpuzzleman decided to leave the memorable Koshien area. The locals and puzzle enthusiasts heard about this and came to see them to say goodbye for the last time.
They came to say their last goodbyes: "Oh, brother, you've saved up enough money to go back to Norway? We are going to miss you..."
"You can come back here whenever you feel like it! I'll give you another ten yen!
People in Kansai are warm. On the shinkansen to Tokyo, Mindpuzzleman continued to talk about his heated heart to Tileman sitting next to him.
I can't believe how far I've come,"he said,"I was such a rubbish puzzle not so long ago. It's interesting to see how you interact with people, isn't it, Tileman?
"Oh, the worst thing you can do when you're in trouble is to go into your Shell, because you'll never be what you imagined yourself to be.
"It's different. Before I met him, I too had set my own limits. I thought that no matter how hard I tried, there was nothing I could do.
"But you managed.
"It didn't have to be a big thing, it just had to be something small. It didn't matter what I did. That's what Masaru taught me. He taught me that. When I saw him growing up, even if it was just a little bit every day, I thought, “Maybe I can do this little bit at a time!” I thought I could do it too.”
Tileman is still reading the sports pages, as if he is not listening to the conversation. But he continued to pretend that he didn't care, and said with a touch of embarrassment: "Yes, I know.
"You're right. There are no absolutes in this world. You never know. There are tiles that can be broken by a bump, and there are tiles that can be used to make spaceships. If you pretend to know what you're talking about and put limits on yourself, you'll stop growing right there. That's what I thought when I saw you a few months ago, but before I knew it, you'd gone way beyond my imagination. I feel like you're teaching me something. I thank you again, thank you.
If you look closely, you can see that Tileman’s entire body has been replaced with new tiles. He was also one of those who were charmed by Masaru and Mindpuzzleman's interaction.
"Tileman, next time the Olympics start again, I'll see you in the final!
"Of course. "Of course, but before that tournament, which will probably be held in four years' time, you have an opponent to beat first, don't you?
At these words, Mindpuzzleman's eyes brightened.
"Oh, yes, yes!”
The words that had come out of his mouth at that moment of humiliation replayed in his mind. "Hmmm, modern toys are no match for me..."
Then he shook his head and firmly denied the words.
"For the honour of all the Wisdom rings of the world, I must first and foremost take back my words. To do this, I need to talk to him again..."
"Yes, Masaru has assured me. You're a new man, you can do it.
"I'm the best puzzle in the world now, if I don't give up on my outdated junk, I'll never be as good as the fashionable new models. I've got to get a rematch with him and show the whole world what I'm made of.
Part 2[]
Shortly afterwards, Mindpuzzleman made a formal request to Cubman for a rematch, which he gladly accepted. At last, the promise of a rematch was made. Six months later, the fight was to take place in a special ring at the Koshien Stadium, the place of memories.
"This time we got permission to set up the ring in the middle of the big field, not in that awkward lucky zone. But we had to wait more than half a year until the off-season for professional baseball. Hahahaha!"
As Mindpuzzleman spoke, Tileman, who had been assigned as his second, narrowed his eyes.
“Koshien," he said. “It's all so nostalgic now.“
"There's just one thing that bothers me: Cubeman has instructed to not allow spectators in the arena. What do you think, Tileman?
"Well, I don't think there's much danger in a match between you and Cubman, but maybe he's hiding a secret weapon. We'll be on our toes.
"Yeah, we can't afford to play badly at Koshien, our home."
Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
The day of the match, many local people came to Koshien Stadium to see the new, stronger Mindpuzzleman.
"Mindpuzzleman!”
It was the boy, Masaru, who called out in a loud voice in the waiting room before the game.
"Oh, Masaru! It's been a long time. You've grown a bit taller, haven't you?"
"Can you solve it?
"No, I can't do this in five minutes. I'm sure the Cube Man won't be able to get therings of Wisdom apart so easily this time. It's just...
"Just?"
Masaru suddenly looked worried.
"The Rings of Wisdom man. You know how to solve the Rubik's Cube, don't you?
"Yes, of course I have. Of course I've got it all figured out. I've got six sides!
"That's right. I think everyone knows how to solve the Rubik's Cube now, because it's become so popular, but I just saw Cubeman, and he looks exactly the same as he did before. And that's what scares me... Be careful, Mindpuzzleman.
"What the hell are you talking about?
Then Tileman came back from his reconnaissance mission.
"No, Masaru's premonition is not foolproof!
"Tillman!”
"I went to say hello to him earlier, and his eyes were full of confidence. He's not the kind of guy who comes here to get beat up. He looked like he was ready to win... no, he looked like he was ready to kill. And there was no audience in the arena for this match. It's a good thing that there are no spectators in the arena, because it means that no one will be harmed. There's something about this.
After a few moments of silence, MIndpuzzleman said firmly.
"But there is no point in dwelling on it. I will solve the puzzle during the match. No matter what tricks are in store for me, I will win. Don't lose faith in that image. Remember that trust is the only key to victory.
And with that, Mindpuzzleman left for the ring in the middle of the field.
"Mindpuzzleman... you have gotten stronger!
Tileman murmured and walked to the ringside area as his second.
──To be continued
Chapter 4[]
Part 1[]
As Mindpuzzleman, and then Tileman a little later, appeared on the field, a huge cheer filled the entire Koshien stadium. In the past, this stadium was packed with spectators who had come to watch the Giants vs Hanshin, but today it was a little different.
"Mindpuzzleman! Mindpuzzleman!”
The locals all chanted. The locals had all come to cheer on the ex-puzzler who had grown up in front of Koshien.
"Don't lose!”
"Norway!”
"I'll give you another tenner if you win!
Mindpuzzleman sashayed into the ring. He bowed to all four sides and took his place in the blue corner.
Immediately afterwards, Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 6 echoes through the Koshien Stadium with a loud sound that seems to stop the crowd's calls. This was the signal for Cubeman to enter.
"In the red corner, the Hungarian Cubman makes his entrance!
The winner of the last round, Cubeman, approaches the centre of the ring to the sound of the lively music. Slowly, he takes his place in the red corner of the ring. There was no second in sight.
A hush falls as both men enter the ring, and the ring announcer, the girls presenting the bouquets, and the other officials scurry away. This was the beginning of hell...
The only people left in the ring were Cubman, Mindpuzzleman, and his second, Tileman.
"Kaaaaan!"
At the bell, the two fighters teamed up in the middle of the ring. It was the same story as the last fight.
"Now, Mindpuzzleman, let's see what you can do. Let's see how strong you've gotten since then, shall we?
It was Cubeman who made the first move. He wasn`t sure what to do.
But this time, he couldn't get it off at all. He was sure he'll agree. It's a great way to get your hands on some of the best puzzles in the world.
Cubeman was in ahurry, but Mindpuzzleman was relaxed. After five minutes, he shouted with great enthusiasm,
"Yes!”
"'Yes, you're out! Then it's time for me to attack!
As soon as he said this, he turned on the offensive, and this time Mindpuzzleman began to fiddle with the Rubik's cube on Cubeman's head.
"You couldn't even get one side right last time, have you been training?
"Of course I have! Of course! Now I can arrange the six sides perfectly, not just one. Now you're finished. Prepare yourself!
But the cubeman, hearing this, grinned and murmured with satisfaction.
"It's no fun if you don't. The biggest reason for my defeat last time was that I was up against a bunch of idiots who couldn't solve my puzzle properly. I was worried that this would be the case again, but I'm relieved. If you're feeling sorry for yourself, get off your ass!
"I'll solve it as you wish. I'm going to do what you want! I'll start with this orange one, that's it!
But just as the orange is coming together, at the ringside, Tileman stops him with a loud shout!
"No, Mindpuzzleman, stop that attack now!
But it was too late, and the orange colour was just coming together.
"'Yes! Activate: Rubik's Fire!
"Gaaaaaah!"
This is the first time he has ever seen this kind of thing. Mindpuzzleman not sure what to make of it.
"Why didn't anyone see this simple possibility before? Wa... it was a trap! That look on Cubeman's face was a forbidden puzzle that must not be solved..."
Part 2[]
Mindpuzzleman squirms and suffers in the orange fires!
If he had been an ordinary humanoid metahuman, he would have been in danger. But fortunately, Mindpuzzleman was made almost entirely of a metal frame. Thanks to his body's low flammable organic content and good fire resistance, the fire was quickly contained and he managed to survive.
However, he sustained severe damage to his eyes, waist belt and limbs, all of which are highly flammable. This alone put him at a considerable disadvantage.
"Too bad I didn't get him! Lucky bastard!
But Cubeman regained his composure and said to Chie's ringman with a grim expression on his face: "But this is still only one side. I've prepared a total of five levels of attack for each new surface! I wonder how much more of this you can take?
"Nonsense! Don't underestimate the power of the Rings of Wisdom! I can withstand all your tricks without resorting to such fighting techniques!
"Interesting! Now let's see if you can solve the next puzzle! Two sides. Can a simpleton like you really solve two sides at such an advanced level?
Mindpuzzleman is once again attached to Cubeman. It's a great way to get to know your fellow players.
"'Stop! Mindpuzzleman, stop it!"
Tileman's cries of "Stop!” In addition to the orange tiles, the blue tiles next to the orange ones are now all in place.
"How about that? You've cleared two sides!
But at the same time, Cubeman's happy voice rang out.
"'Here it comes, here it comes! Activation level 2, Rubik Leviathan!
At the same time, the earth cracked open and a huge amount of seawater spewed into the ring! The tsunami and vortex swallowed him up, leaving him unable to breathe and taking damage all over his body.
Only the area around Cubeman was covered with a magical barrier, but a 10-meter radius around the ring is wreaking havoc. His second man, Tileman, was doing his best to protect himself.
"'Damn it! That's what they mean when they tell you not to bring people into the arena!
As the floodwaters subside, Mindpuzzleman was down in the ring, with his spirit exhausted. But he was still struggling to get back up.
"You can't think you can kill me with this little trick, do you?"
But despite his words, his damage was serious. The frame of Mindpuzzleman is made of steel. If left unchecked, the frame would rust and become brittle. If the frame were to break during a match, it would be the end of his life. This meant that Chie-no-wa-man could not spend too much time fighting.
But Cubeman looks down at him ruthlessly and advises: "Well, you're all talk.”
"I've only got three more attacks left. But I've got three more steps left in my attack. It's not a good idea to retire at this point, is it?
"Shut up, we've got three steps left... I'll put them together for you, just give me your head..."
In the middle of the match, the three yellow cards are collected without saying a word. But Tileman can't understand what he's doing, so he gives him some advice in a loud voice.
"'Hey, stop! What the hell are you doing? Think about what you're doing, MIndpuzzleman!
"What's...?
"Why are you trying to align them? Look, if you don't line them up, that chickenshit won't be able to do anything, he says he's got five levels of attack, but if you don't line them up, he won't be able to do anything! So why don't you just not line them up
But Mindpuzzleman looked annoyed, and said to his second, Tileman, in a firm tone: "You know what?
"You don't know what you're talking about, Tileman. You don't know what you're talking about! I'm not challenging Cubeman as a fighter, but as a puzzle. The last time I fought him, I lost as a puzzle. In order to avenge that humiliation, I must beat him as a puzzle. I don't care what difficulties lie ahead of me. If I don't solve the puzzle he has prepared, my victory means nothing. And he knows that, so he's going to challenge me. I'm going to take him up on it. I'm serious, he's serious. What's the harm in that? No, there's no problem at all!
Cubeman puts his words on top of MIndpuzzleman’s high speech.
"Yes, Tileman! This is our destiny as puzzle chojin! To a non-puzzle chojin like you, this may seem like a fool's errand, but I ask you to watch over it quietly. But in return, when Mindpuzzleman solves the puzzle and survives the attack, no matter how energetic I am, I will lose this match completely! That's the only thing I can promise you with the pride of a puzzle superhero!"
Tileman didn't know what was going on, but he felt he had to accept it. And then his expression turned grim again, and he said to Mindpuzzleman: "All right, Mindpuzzleman.
"I'll say no more. I'm not going to say anything else. You can do whatever you like and fight for your life! But I will give you one last instruction as your second!"
After a pause, Tylman held up his thumb and said: "You must win!”
Mindpuzzleman grinned, shouted and lunged at the puzzle in front of him!
"'Of course! Come on, Cubeman!”
"'Come on! Come on, you old-fashioned piece of shit!
Three sides, a new yellow colour.
"Activation level three: Rubik's Thunderbolt!"
On the fourth side, a new white color appears.
"Rubik's Snow Blizzard!
But Chie's Ring Man never gave up, and continued to play with Cubeman's head.
──To be continued
Chapter 5[]
Part 1[]
"'Mindpuzzleman... I never knew puzzles could be so deep and painful.”
In the audience Masaru, clutching a small ring of wisdom in his hand, watches the battle with bated breath.
"But I'm not going to look away, because I believe more than anyone else that MIndpuzzleman can win this fight!
"Oh, yes. Masaru, I'm sure that Mindpuzzleman has come all the way from Norway to Koshien to teach us that! Then we must not lose! Let's show them the humanity and guts of the Kansai people!
Mindpuzzleman, battered and bruised, looked at the last two mixed green and red masks and gradually built them up. As soon as the next five faces are in place, the last six will automatically be in place. At that moment, however, the last and most devastating attack will be unleashed.
Will his body be able to withstand the impact? He wasn’t so sure. The frame could be broken at any moment by a quadruple barrage of fire, seawater, lightning and cold air.
Mindpuzzleman's hand was about to stop. From the outfield light stand in the blue corner... no, not only that. From the Alps, from the yellow seats in the infield, from the green seats behind the back net, and from the third tier, the left outfield seats!
"Mindpuzzleman! Mindpuzzleman! Mindpuzzleman! Mindpuzzleman!"
Mindpuzzleman heard a tremendous call from every seat in the stadium.
"What's the matter, Mindpuzzleman? All you had to do was turn the block halfway round and the hexahedron would be complete. Now let's see if we can do it or not!
A surge of courage and power surges through Mindpuzzleman!
"That's what I want! Cubeman, your puzzle is now all clear!
A click. The slightest sound is the signal for the forbidden detonator to go off.
"It's been 10 years since I've had one of these! I'm not sure what to make of this. Rubik's Apocalypse Explosion!
Kah! He wasn’t sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it. In the middle of the Koshien Stadium, a huge hole with a radius of 50 meters opened up, and black flames filled the sky.
Part 2[]
Eventually, from the depths of the ground, a huge body over two metres in height rose up in a heap.
"Oh dear. If it hadn't been for the reinforced tiles, my life would have been in danger..."
It was Tileman. He get up and look around as the smoke clears.
The ring is gone, and at its core, Cubeman stands alone, protected by a barrier. Cubeman speaks to him.
"Tileman. Unfortunately, it seems that Mindpuzzleman has disappeared without a trace. It's a pity, but it's his fate...
"What are you talking about? Mindpuzzleman is still alive. You've lost.
"Huh? What are you...what are you talking about? Why don't you look at this situation with some common sense? Where is he?
But a murmur began to spread again from the stands, and then a clear call filled the stadium once more.
"Mindpuzzleman! Mindpuzzleman! Mindpuzzleman! Mindpuzzleman! "
Cubeman was upset.
"What are you talking about? Are they crazy?
"'No, they're not crazy. No, it's not crazy, because Mindpuzzleman has promised me, his second, and the whole Koshien audience, that he will win. He was going to win. And we all still believe in his victory. He's serious, we're serious. What's the harm in that?"
At that moment, a glittering object fell from the sky at great speed!
"There's no problem! Let's go, Cubeman! I'm not sure if this is me or not.”
"No way... a modern toy like me can’t be defeated by this piece of iron!"
At that moment, in the middle of the Koshien Stadium, there was a thump! He wasn’t sure what to do.
"I'm not sure if this is the right place..."
When Cubeman woke up at the bottom of the hole, the sun had gone down and the spectators were almost gone.
"So it seems I've lost the battle.
Tileman chuckles as he talks to the awakened Cubeman.
"'Oh, you've messed up a bit, you know. I'm sure Hanshin Horticulture, who always takes care of our lawn, will be very upset about this. We're banned. We won't even be able to watch the Giants vs Hanshin anymore.
"No, that's not the point, what about Mindpuzzleman? What the hell happened to him?
"Shut up, man. I'm not so fragile to be crushed by you!
"I've been swearing at you for the whole match, saying that you're crazy, that you're unbelievable, but I finally understand. I've been swearing all through this game, but now I understand: I lost because I kept saying those things.
"Of course, we're puzzles, we can't solve them if we don't give up. What do you say, Tileman?"
Tileman finally said quietly: "Shut up. You're both fucking puzzles.”
──The End