Rook, you didn’t!
Yes, I did!
Orpheus bequeathed another Armlet unto me!
Orpheus did?!
I’ve made my mind. I will sacrifice myself for Orpheus’ ideal.
I will solve the Puzzle of God and become a Phi-Brain!
His premonitions are absolute.
No one can escape the fate that he has foreseen!
Don’t give me that!
I won’t let Orpheus decide my future!
I’ll change my fate as many times as it takes!
Rook, every time it comes down to it...
I WILL save you!
Sure enough, you’re incredible, Kaito!
At last, I will become “eternal” within you!
ROOK!
So, You Shouldn’t Hesitate
Where am I?
I possess the intellect of the gods.
I am the Phi-Brain, Orpheus.
I will surpass the gods.
How dare he show that crap to me!
Rook, I swear I won’t let your death be in vain!
Th-then what happened to Rook...?
He died. That is the answer Kaito Daimon reached.
Save the bullshit!
There’s no freakin’ way he’d pull a stunt like that!
You are free to doubt my words.
However, it does not change the fact that Rook has fallen...
exactly as I foresaw.
Cast aside petty sentiment and aim for greater heights!
Defeat Kaito Daimon and become Phi-Brains.
Whatcha think?
Of all people, I don’t want to believe that could happen to Rook...
Freecell, how do you plan on playin’ your hand?
I’m gonna finish things with Kaito!
That’s my role in all of this.
I don’t believe it! Are you going to...?
This is where the Puzzle of God’s two challengers will be determined.
I’ll get to see you soon, my Lovushka.
Kaito, there is something we would like to ask you.
It’s about Rook.
That’s none of your business.
Gammon... Freecell...
Guys, you should stop... Don’t solve puzzles!
I’ll handle all of the puzzle solving.
Go straight home from here!
You’re far too kind, Kaito.
From the looks of it, Orpheus was tellin’ the truth after all.
“Don’t solve puzzles,” huh?
Flush that bullshit down the toilet!
You’re ticking me off!
Rook can’t rest in peace with ya actin’ like this.
You’re the one who needs to beat it!
Found it!
Is it the one I can just barely make out?
Right, that’s the one.
I won’t forgive Enigma or Orpheus if they pull any dirty tricks!
But... the way they wanted to go somewhere remote,
I’m afraid that’s just what they might do.
You don’t need to worry.
Huh?
Haven’t they solved every puzzle so far, no matter how hard it was?
I’m sure they’ll be fine this time, too!
Let’s believe in them and wait.
I know you’re right.
I know, but I have a bad feeling about this.
Cut loose, Gammon!
Master Rook, fight!
Wh-where’d that come from?
I’m cheering for them! Moral support!
While I’m at it, hang in there, Raetsel!
Kaito! Freecell! Don’t lose!
Gammon, good luck!
Guys, good luck!
Welcome, Phi-Brain children!
Now we just have to wait for Raetsel.
That isn’t necessary!
You’re watching this somewhere, aren’t you?! Orpheus!
There’s no need for these roundabout games!
Go ahead and make me your vessel already!
Enigma, I know what you’re after!
I’ll take it all on,
so let’s bring this stupid farce to an end!
Sorry, but I can’t take you up on that offer.
Kaito Daimon, you lost your best friend because
you still aren’t worthy to be his vessel!
What?!
If you had truly become the ideal vessel,
something as simple as saving Rook’s life would have come easy to you!
For now, you must solve this puzzle!
We can talk afterwards.
Sweet! I found them!
What a relief! Kaito and the others seem to be all right.
Pino-Pino, good job!
Spying is such a nasty hobby.
I’m willing to update you on the situation without the need for such trickery.
We’re about to determine which two puzzlers will get to challenge the Puzzle of God.
You seem to be scampering about, but it’s a waste of time.
Orpheus already knows what you have in mind.
That’s an...
Armlet of Orpheus!
After all the time you’ve spent with Jin,
don’t you realize what that is capable of?!
But of course. I’m going to use this Armlet to become a Phi-Brain.
I am the one who will save Jin.
Raetsel!
Well, that is all of them.
If you would be so kind as to enter your lifts.
Kaito!
I’m not about to give an inch in this upcomin’ battle!
I don’t care if that means sendin’ ya to the grave!
Are you capable of that?
Do you have the determination to solve the Puzzle of God no matter what?!
I...
I don’t want anyone to die.
It’s that plain and simple!
Wait, dammit! Hey!
Shit!
The puzzle you are about to solve takes the form of a competitive battle royal.
Move the blocks on the field that block your path as you race for the goal.
Hit the icons that appear on the surface of the blocks
to make them move in that direction.
You cannot move the blocks immediately after they have just moved.
There are two 1-man escape pods at the goal in the center of the puzzle.
The path to the Puzzle of God will open to the winners.
However, I expect the losers to endure a harsh punishment.
Cubik, is it coming along?
Yeah. I’ve just about got it.
Destroy: Orpheus System. Entering final phase.
Ouch!
Oh, sorry!
Iwarin, you’re kewl!
Can’t we use this to save Freecell and the others?
Yeah. If the Order’s ancient manuscript was right,
we just need to strike the second Orpheus tries to overtake his target...
Warning... This mission has a 0.001% chance of success.
It’s 0.001%.
We know that it’s dangerous, Iwashimizu!
Our chances certainly aren’t great!
But all we can do is put our faith in that tiny possibility!
Roger! Roger! Roger!
Right? Don’t you want to see Rae-Rae?
I, Ana, am very worried about Rae-Rae.
Well then, let puzzle time... start!
How dare he mess with us! Screw his “punishment”!
It doesn’t matter what type of roundabout method he uses...
In the end, I’ll be the one who makes Orpheus pay!
There are two ways to deduce where the others are since I can’t see them.
One is based off where the blocks are located.
The other is...
that sound.
But if I take advantage of the noise, I could confuse the others.
If it’s a contest of wits, I ain’t gonna lose!
Jin, your long, painful journey still isn’t over yet.
As long as I have my memories of being with you,
I’m not afraid of anything!
Just wait! I’ll save you before too much longer.
Kaito and Raetsel, where in the world are you?
The next block I need to move is...
I wonder why. I have a bad feeling about this.
But it’s the only way that will lead me to victory!
That’s it!
Crap!
Looks like I’ve won.
Not on my watch!
Who was that?!
Raetsel. By the time I figured it out, it was too late.
That sucks! We’re down to only one pod.
For the reals?!
It can’t be!
Thanks for sharing!
Hey!
Gammon! Freecell! Are you okay?
Yeah! I’m fine!
Gammon! What happened?!
Hey, say something!
Shuddup! I can hear ya!
I screwed up...
Well, we’re almost there!
We have to push them harder and harder!
They must become actual Phi-Brains.
It’s necessary for our happy future!
Gammon! Freecell!
Leave this to me!
I swear I’ll find a way for all three of us to get out of here alive!
A half-baked wuss like you needs to shut the hell up!
What did you say?
Stay outta my way... I’m gonna solve this puzzle...
And I, the Great Gammon Sakanoue, will kick Orpheus’ butt!
I’ve made my mind, Kaito!
I feel the same! It’s time we finished things between us!
This isn’t the time or place for that!
Your whining is getting old!
Puzzle time isn’t over yet!
Why don’t you get it?!
This puzzle is DIFFERENT!
It’s cruel, without a shred of hesitation.
Even if that’s the case, someone still has to solve this puzzle.
This is the last puzzle that Orpheus included in his Trial of Puzzles.
It’s the last trial...?
Right. He’s testing us.
Do we have the resolve to solve a puzzle, even if it means sacrificing others?
I don’t care about his test!
I’m getting out of here alive!
And so are you and Gammon!
Sure enough, Kaito, you’re far too kind.
If that’s how you feel, do as you like!
Let’s settle the score once and for all!
I’m trapped!
There is no way I can turn the tables now.
This is as far as I go...
Kaito, thanks to you, I’ve grown to like puzzles again.
Once you solve a puzzle, you just need to start on the next one.
Your time started movin' long ago.
Freecell.
It wasn’t just me.
Rook and Pinochle, Doubt and Mizerka...
You’ve saved so many puzzlers.
I’m confident that your kindness will become your trump card.
That’s won’t work...
Same with that.
That’s out!
So is that!
None of these hold the answer I’m lookin’ for.
These don’t count as solvin’ the puzzle!
Where?! Where is the answer?
Where is the solution that will save all three of us?!
Ya just barely beat me...
Gammon, you go on head!
Huh? What was that?
You should go first since you’re injured!
I’ll catch up later with Freecell.
“Catch up,” my ass! You’re already at a loss.
Shuddup! Shut your trap and do what I--
Gammon!
Gammon, are you okay?!
Yeah, amazingly enough...
Hang tight! I’ll get you out right now!
Don’t worry ’bout me.
You’ll never find the type of answer you’re lookin’ for here.
Only one of us gets to survive.
That’s the way this puzzle works.
Don’t be stupid!
You have no right to give up!
I’m not gonna let anyone die!
You don’t know when to give up...
It’s about time you manned up!
Aren’t you gonna solve all the puzzles?!
Solve the puzzle, Kaito.
You’re the only one who can rewrite that future of ruin...
Gammon...
Kaito!
Don’t you remember how you told me to solve puzzles?
So you shouldn’t hesitate!
Solve it! Solve the Puzzle of God!
Guys...
That was excellent.
Let’s bring this to a close with a bang.
Damn it...
Gammon! Freecell!
Go, Kaito!
Get going, Kaito!
Don’t hesitate!
Go!
Gammon...
Kaito... Freecell...
Wait!
Th-thank you.
Mr. Pinochle, what’s this?
Oh, it’s a puzzle that Freecell made.
It’s one of his favorites, so I thought I’d take it to him.
Is that right? It’s a nice puzzle, isn’t it?
The future is converging.
Despite how you struggle, it can no longer be altered.
All of the pieces have come together.
At long last, the time has come!
Down with Orpheus! We need to set up a plan, huh?
You can leave that to me, Ana!
I’ll go “Boo!”
And when they bring out the fluffy-fluffy, I should go “kaboom,” right?
What’s that supposed to mean?
He has a 100% chance of success.
You understood that?!
Next time, “The Two of Us!”
The Two of Us!
Lend me a hand, Robot!
All of the girls are holding a party!
Girl’s party! Girl’s party!
Why are you doing that?!
Girl’s party!
Fin Art: Akeru Otsuki