Vol 3 Chapter 4 (1/2)

K -Lost Small World- Gora 39680K 2022-07-22

Mission 3, Part 4

Fus.h.i.+mi closed his eyes to bring back his memories, a.s.sociating finger movements to the Rubik’s Cubes spinning in his mind. He might have forgotten how to work the keyboard, but the rule of solving a Rubik’s Cube was deeply rooted in him.

“If the world bores you, why not construct it yourself? Reconstruct the order, principle, and framework of the world with your own hands.”

What I can use is but the rules established and pa.s.sed down by predecessors, Fus.h.i.+mi thought.

But the Blue King boasted that he’s going to create them himself. He didn’t think it’s boasting at all, and said it nonchalantly like it’s a matter of course.

“Amazing…” To be fascinated this wholeheartedly, as long as Fus.h.i.+mi could remember, had only happened twice in his life.

When he was little, that man played an actual Rubik’s Cube for him to see. In little Fus.h.i.+mi’s eyes, the cube spun round and round in those big hands, then magically the six faces were completed. Feeling compet.i.tive, he studied the rules of Rubik’s Cube and practiced. But by the time he can complete a cube at the same speed, that man already lost interest in this toy.

That man, Fus.h.i.+mi Niki, was truly a genius.

His wife Kisa, a successful career woman, exerted herself to reach her goal. But Niki was simply born with talents. Fus.h.i.+mi family lineage was gifted, yet he stood out even among the relatives. However, he never did one single thing that benefits the human society.

The only hobby he’s enthusiastic in was meddling with his young son, and then rolling on the floor laughing after he made his child really angry. It’s a sick amus.e.m.e.nt from any angle.

Taking a deep breath, Fus.h.i.+mi opened his eyes.

Combo attack of “lightning” attribute came from the green faces the opponent just completed. On the verge of death, Fus.h.i.+mi’s avatar’s life gauge flashed in red. NIKI’s avatar jumped up with arms in the air like cheering “hooray!”

How obnoxious. Fus.h.i.+mi felt irritated somehow.

No ordinary person is capable of imitating that insane genius. Ghost or whatever, if it’s the real him on the other side, he can’t be so ordinarily strong.

Don’t you dare underestimate Fus.h.i.+mi Niki!

At this instant, Fus.h.i.+mi’s ten fingers tapped on the keyboard with high speed. Spinning all five cubes at once, it took him less than a second to complete the white face of all 5 cubes. Five combo “recover” restored his HP back to 90%. His HP gauge returned to normal, and so was NIKI avatar’s expression, since they’re even now.

Once he got the feelings back, his fingers can continue controlling the cubes, even if his brain hadn’t recall all the keyboard commands. What’s left to do was to spin the cubes in his mind, and move his fingers accordingly.

Rather than attacking by completing one by one, a 6x5 combo attack would be more efficient. Not sticking to the white faces he finished, he scrambled them, and aimed to complete all six faces at once. His opponent seemed to noticed this, and changed the tactics as well. Both of them completed all six faces of five cubes at about the same time. Light waves of six colors collided and nullified each other with dazzling graphic effects.

While he clicked his tongue, he felt a bit amused, and burst out laughing. “Heh. Not many players can enter play-off match against me. Oh well, since you’re pretending to be that man, this is the minimal requirement.”

Since their 3x3 tiles match ended in a draw, they entered the advanced stage. Only those top-ranking jcube players had seen this: Rubik’s Cubes of 4x4 tiles dropped from above.

The difficulty of 4x4 and 3x3 weren’t in the same league. But that didn’t slow Fus.h.i.+mi down. Firstly he greeted his opponent with a five combo attack of “earthquake” attribute by completing yellow faces of all 5 cubes. NIKI no longer spun his cubes quick-witted like before, but tardy like a small fry. NIKI’s avatar began wiping sweat in a troubled expression, and then waving his arms in a crying face as his HP gauge flashed in red after Fus.h.i.+mi’s next attack.

“What’s with that face!? You never showed that expression in front of me!! If you are doing that now, you should have knelt and apologized before you die!!” Fus.h.i.+mi stared wide eyed at the screen and shouted in anger, with emotions that even himself didn’t quite understand raging inside of him.

4 rows x 4 columns, of all 6 faces, on all 5 cubes were completed at the same time. Graphic effects of six colors roamed throughout the screen, shaking so hard that he can almost feel the blast wave on his face. The opponent’s cards shattered as the HP went down to zero. With the light waves still storming in the background, the “winner” message appeared on Fus.h.i.+mi’s side, while “loser” appeared on the opposite side.

The battle stage faded out. Their avatars were sent back to an open s.p.a.ce in a forest, where other players’ avatars were hanging around leisurely.

Already calmed down, Fus.h.i.+mi looked coldly at the hologram screen. His avatar was jumping victoriously, while NIKI’s sat in depression. Although feeling it didn’t matter anymore, he started typing on the keyboard again. Comic style speech bubble appeared above his avatar, showing the words he typed one by one.

【Now then, care to explain? Oogai Aya.】

NIKI’s avatar stood up, changing back to normal expression.

【You noticed? Unendearing as usual. You are cuter when you were frightened by the ghost and hid in bed shaking.】

Cheeky words appeared in the speech bubble above NIKI.