#803 A Dream Collaboration

Collaboration.

You hear that a lot these days.

When two individuals, who usually do their own thing, come together, it’s called a collaboration.

We’re doing one, too.

A dream collaboration between Orkubo’s Castle and the Mermaid Kingdom’s Grand Sumo Tournament!!!

***

“Thank you for your help, Lord Saint!!!” says Arowana, who visited the farm after a long time.

Being the Mermaid King, he’s quite busy. Naturally, he doesn’t drop by as often as he did during his more carefree prince days. 

His visit today is strictly business.

The entire Mermaid Kingdom is gearing up for the sumo wrestling event.

Arowana apparently wants this event to not only be big in his own nation but to spread it worldwide.

Sure, he loves sumo, but there’s also an evident desire to actively engage with land dwellers that the vast seas have separated.

Sumo is but a means to that.

“Yes! Sumo! If mankind can sumo wrestle, understanding each other becomes a piece of cake! Sumo is the bridge to world peace! It should be the worldwide trend...!”

Or maybe he’s purely a sumo enthusiast at heart...?

This is how a collaboration with Orkubo’s Castle was established, as led by Prime Minister Zoth Syra.

“She’s been such a great help! This collaboration idea came up because she’s married to Sir Orkubo. Her presence is indispensable to our nation!”

But you could have just requested it yourself, Arowana.

Have you forgotten who your sister’s spouse is?

Well, if Zoth Syra’s influence has grown in the Mermaid Kingdom, all the better.

Thus, this season’s highlight at Orkubo’s Castle will be: Emergency Collab! Mermaid Kingdom’s Sumo Tournament!

What’s the exact plan?

A collaborative café?

Sell a Grand Sumo Parfait?

“Ahem... I didn’t come empty-handed. I’ve been participating in Orkubo’s Castle challenges every year! Using that experience, I’ve brainstormed how to merge the two events!!!”

Oh, impressive.

Indeed, Arowana has been a regular at Orkubo’s Castle since his prince days.

What collaboration will his wisdom propose? Let’s hear it!

“Firstly! The participants of Orkubo’s Castle will do sumo wrestling!”

“Mm-hm.”

“The winners will then sumo wrestle again!”

“Okay.”

“And then, the last one standing will be the champion of Orkubo’s Castle!!!”

That... just sounds like a regular sumo tournament. 

It’s no use. Arowana’s love for sumo has clouded his creativity. 

We need to think of something that captures the essence of both Orkubo’s Castle and the sumo tournament!!!

***

The day of the event at Orkubo’s Castle has arrived.

This year, Orkubo’s Castle enthusiasts are gathering again, fired up to showcase their skills.

Registration is done, and brave challengers are lined up at the start, ready to race to the castle tower.

I’m watching from the stands. 

Why, you ask?

Eh, I just didn’t feel like participating this year.

“I’ll finish the race this year for sure!”

“I’ll be the one to reach Orkubo’s Castle’s top!”

“Orkubo’s Castle is my life’s mission!!!”

The challengers are all bubbling with motivation.

Some have even been training all year just for this event.

To keep things fresh, Orkubo’s Castle gets an upgrade every year. 

This year’s theme is the sumo tournament collaboration.

Stay tuned for some exciting action!

Ready, set, bang!

“ORYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

And they’re off! Look at all the challengers rushing in!

They effortlessly breeze through the first challenge: the balance beam.

“Oh yeah! Seems like the challenges haven’t changed since last year! With experience, this’ll be a cakewalk!”

“Orkubo’s Castle never drastically changes its obstacles! So, the more you try, the better you get. They’re really considerate of the challengers!”

“As expected of Orkubo’s Castle! Next up is dodging the rolling rocks down the slope! I got eliminated last time, but I’m gonna make it through this year!”

The challengers continue charging forward.

Indeed, the second obstacle at Orkubo’s Castle is a trap with large boulders rolling down a hill, inspired by some adventure movie. 

The objective is to climb while dodging those boulders.

When Orkubo’s Castle sticks to its obstacles, it’s mostly “as a rule.”

Users would inevitably get bored if we repeated the same thing verbatim. So, we always incorporate some minor tweaks here and there to make them go, “Oooh!”

The theme this time around is a Sumo Tournament Collaboration.

From this, one can deduce that in the second challenge, there’s an obstacle involving... 

“GYAAAAA!”

“That’s not a boulder rolling downnnn!!!”

Instead of a boulder, it’s a sumo wrestler.

Precisely speaking, it’s a paper mache mimicking a sumo wrestler.

However, because it incorporates Zoth Syra’s homunculus techniques, it’s been crafted with uncanny realism, making it seem almost alive.

It’s aggressively barreling down the slope.

Many are so stunned by this sight that they forget to dodge and get bowled over by the charging wrestler.

This sumo charge is just as heavy and forceful as a rolling boulder!

Underestimate it, and you’ll be sent flying out of the ring!!!

“Gyeeeeeeeeh! A huge, chubby human is charginggggggg!”

“It’s coming! Helpppppppppppppppp!!!”

However, it seems the challengers’ panic stems from something else entirely.

Meanwhile, veteran participants of Orkubo’s Castle somehow dodge the wrestler and reach the finish line.

Impressive.

Normally, the third challenge involves Zoth Syra’s homunculus creatures blocking the path.

But now, with the specially crafted sumo homunculi already in play…

That’s right… 

Even here, sumo wrestlers are blocking the path.

“Waaaaaah! Here tooooooooooo?!”

“Too OP! What’s up with these gigantic homunculiiiii?!”

They’re definitely formidable.

After all, sumo wrestlers are often hailed as the strongest beings on Earth.

There’s no way an amateur can stand against the techniques delivered by such massive physiques, even if that opponent was a mere imitation created through homunculus technology!

The wave-like assault of a group of sumo wrestlers is essentially a looming wall of flesh!

Resisting this is nothing short of a Herculean task!

Also, is it just me, or does it feel more humid all of a sudden?

Nevertheless, the participants, having trained hard for this day, will face every adversity!!!

“We won’t loseeeeeee!!!”

“Beyond that wall of flesh is the castle towerrrrrr!!!”

“We will overcome any obstacleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

That’s Orkubo’s Castle enthusiasts for you.

Their determination to reach the castle tower despite the odds is remarkable.

But with so many sumo homunculi clustered together, the humidity does seem to have risen a tad.

After such a steamy battle, some manage to reach the tower. 

Kudos to our brave challengers.

This year’s Orkubo’s Castle, with its sumo twist courtesy of Zoth Syra, feels like a game from another dimension.

It’s a vivid reminder to both challengers and spectators of the might and terror of sumo wrestlers.

That’s why the upcoming event will be all the more thrilling.

Yes, after this main obstacle race of Orkubo’s Castle…

A special event for this year only will be held—The Sumo Wrestling Special Collab Event.

Merfolk, demons, and humans all participate in the trending event.

Who among them is the best at sumo wrestling?

We will find out the answer to it on the ring today!!!