UPDATE: An English translation is now available courtesy of Sky! Check it out here: https://skytranslates.tumblr.com/post/180675133040/x5-if-translation-first-time-typesetting-so
According to various sources, the 10-page story takes place in the third Zero Space stage with X facing off against an "awakened" Zero. What ensues is garishly detailed fight that ends with Zero literally being blown in two and X dying by Irregular Zero's hands.
Now just a torso, Zero returns to normal and laments the death of his best friend. Zero musters his reaming strength and repairs X with the remains of his own body. A foreboding, yet familiar voice then beckons to Zero – Sigma.
Sigma approaches and confronts... this fella:
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| X? Or "Xero"? |
Although it appears to be a literal combination of X and Zero, Sigma allegedly identifies this figure as "X". We're led to assume Zero successfully repaired X at the cost of his very own life. (what was left of it, at least) Iwamoto, my man, you've really outdone yourself here.
So right about now you're probably wondering where you can see more of this fascinating tale. At present, you can only find it in the 25th anniversary Memorial box set. I'd like to say let's hope for UDON to swing in and bring this one stateside but, alas, Iwamoto's work remains stuck in Japan.
Many thanks to CapKobun, GARUME, and LadyZure17 for details and images!
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ReplyDeleteDamn. Now that's fucking metal.
ReplyDeleteEven after all this time, Mega Man X characters with humanoid eyes is still just... wrong.
ReplyDeleteDamn... this is heavy stuff
ReplyDeleteI like the idea actually
Now imagine the posibilities with a what-if fan-made saga with Xero as protagonist, just like the Quint Revenge Saga. A new lore for play and explore.
ReplyDelete-Cadmus
Dang this sounds cool.
ReplyDeleteMe and my sister are actually just in the middle of playing x5 for the first time so pretty cool timing too.
Hmmm, that's actually kind of a cool ending though....
ReplyDeleteStrange, also a mostly X body with few Zero features like the wrist things and the helmet just doesn't look right.
ReplyDeleteIt's like it borders on edgy but doesn't quit go far enough like a clean cut businessman in a suit but in army soldier boots and helmet but otherwise just a normal business man.
Even that looks better than Zero's head plopped on X's body actually. I don't know maybe I'm use to seeing bulk and clutter for the former ... and hair I guess.
Please, make this a game Capcom.
ReplyDeleteSo there's going to be some fan art/sprites of Zero with X's body now. okay.
ReplyDeleteYou are the ephipany of not fun allowed.
DeleteThis really give the quote "I hid myself to repair myself" a whole new level (and more context lol)
ReplyDeleteOrdered my box and it was shipped to my home city. I am out traveling and will be back home to see this in January. SOOOOOOO looking forward to those pages after seeing this. A combination of X and Zero's parts???? METAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We can already custom recreate this by combining the parts of the D-Arts figures lol
ReplyDeleteWhat could it be called? ZeroX? RockZ? ZeX?
I like ZeX.
Its gotta be Xero
DeleteI think those are all just ship names. Not that I’m complaining
DeleteZero: "I'm gonna need both busters for this one..."
ReplyDeleteso they have 30 minutes to defeat Sigma?
ReplyDeleteDon't know about the rest of you, but this is how I would have loved X5 to end.
ReplyDeleteThis is also a perfect illustration of what I fantasized when I first heard about Megaman ZX all those years ago--a perfect fusion of X and Zero.
Iwamoto is such a god. TRANSLATE HIS WORKS, UDON YOU COWARDS.
I'd rather have a different company other than Udon translate the X mangas to be honest, because the reason they gave for not wanting to a few years back was pretty bogus just because they didn't like the artstyle basically.
DeleteThey said that? Wow, that's shallow. Iwamoto draws just fine, but I guess Udon doesn't like the way he draws X and Zero with handsome bishounen looks or something.
DeleteYeah, there was a interview with Udon on one of the Megaman sites several years back and pretty much the reason they gave for not wanting to translate the x mangas was because they thought they were "too retro". Which I think was such a cop out because Iwamoto's X mangas have amazing artwork and his style really fits the characters.
DeleteToo retro? You and I, and everyone else, know what retro looks like, and X does not fall under retro. Retro was Mega Man being drawn like Astro Boy in his manga days. Not everything has to be edgy or gritty to sell despite the fact X's manga has some pretty dark stuff going on.
DeleteI want to translate it.
ReplyDeleteI'd gladly read it if you did translate it.
DeleteI already translated here https://mangasrockmantraducidos.blogspot.com/
DeleteThat design looks weird as heck and no way would this be a perfect ending... well maybe if it didn't literally look like a discombobulated... hodgepodge of X and Zero. Although it does remind me of Custom Robo and Medabots I guess that's a plus.
ReplyDeleteAlso what is so far fetched about Zero self repairing? In a universe where robots cut through time and space, teleport. all type of crazy stuff... THAT is the thing that is hard to believe??? In my opinion if I sit and think about half the stuff that goes on in a practical and logical way in the franchise Zero hiding and repairing himself seems like one of the more plausible and realistic things to happen. If it's some storyline thing.... Well I mean that's even worse of a hill to die on out of all the storyline issues.
Looks like a better combination than model ZX.
ReplyDeleteBetter than Model ZX
ReplyDeleteI wish all of Iwamoto's X series manga would come here officially. It is very annoying that it still hasn't been picked up by Udon or anyone else, especially with the recent sales of both Mega Man X Legacy Collections.
ReplyDeleteMega Merge!
ReplyDeleteHonestly I wouldn't like this sort of ending. The battle ended way too quick, and we're talking about X and Zero here; the best maverick hunters and legends in that world. And I honestly don't see Zero killing X. Damaging him drastically yes, but killing him? Doesn't he have "limitless " potential? We have yet to see what that truly means honestly. Nonetheless, it is a nice read and very well done.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the look of that X body with a Zero helmet and right arm, but that idea for an epic climax to an ark for the X series is interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete