Click to see the mission!
We’re back, having officially wrapped up the Linebarrel’s plot and convinced Deus Ex Machina to take a chance on CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE. Today, Kazuki, Rina and Akira are deploying as event units, and the game continues its quest to drive me insane trying to fit as many relevant folks on my team as possible. We’ve 19 slots to go with, which means I had to further rearrange things:
Joe/Setsuna
Aesap/Sakomizu
Liu Bei/Pretender
Kurou/Deceive
Sakura/Maya
Canon/Marvel (Zwarth – she can also do the combo, and gets the Holy Warrior attack bonus)
Shou/Lu Bu
Mazinkaiser/Moritsugu
Alto/Fei-Yen
Ishigami/Katou
Arnie/Saya
Cao Cao/Domyoji
Shinn/Lunamaria
Dancouga/Eida
Heroman/Miu
Mamoru/Shouko
Kouichi/Kiki
Sun Quan/Rennie
Mike/Kenji
Tactician: Zhuge Liang
Also note that this mission is the cut-off point for both Setsuna and Graham’s kill count related to the 00 secrets. By the end of this, they must have, respectively, 150+ and 50+ kills.
Today’s mission is also your last chance to use the HAE Twin Dog and Senior Cross Dog combos if you’re going for the final Fafner secret (of course, if you didn’t use the Junior’s combo before Seri became the substitute core, then you’ve already lost that one…).
Off we go.
: Director Hazard, we’ve received word that the UX have returned to Earth and met up with ALVIS.
: Hmph, they’re likely going to try dealing with the Festum moving in on the island.
: Of course, knowing that crew, they’re probably going to try and ‘communicate’ with the blobs, or something equally stupid.
: Calling it stupid is putting it mildly. There’s only one way for mankind to secure its future.
: Right you are, madam Secretary General.
: Still, now that The Advancers have taken their side, a change of course is necessary.
: …
: The founding of the new utopia…
: Indeed, and I’ve already taken steps to secure a trump card to help with that.
: A trump card…?
Door opens.
: …
: Prof. Shot…!
: Hmhmhm, welcome back, Shot Weapon.
: Did your friendly chat with Novel Dylan help you find the answer you’d been after?
: It did, yes…
: I’m glad to hear that. However, I’m going to ask that you keep your curiosity on a leash for now.
: Dog, give him the file.
: Yes, sir. Here.
: Is this…?
: Dr. Minami’s experiment data.
: Unfortunately, he’s been arrested again, so I’d like you to carry on with his research.
: …
Flips through pages.
: What an insignificant research. What’s there to be gained by carrying this out now?
: I’ll have you know that there’s much to be gained.
: Remote control via brainwaves is merely the 1st step of the experiment. Its true purpose is…
Flips more pages.
: Th-This is a plan for…!
: Hmhmhm, you understand now, yes?
: While Minami was only a self-proclaimed genius, he did have some very interesting ideas.
: If we can successfully implement this plan, our new utopia will be all but a reality this time.
: What do you say, Prof. Shot? Will you accompany us as we head for a new world?
: …
: (A new world, hm…?)
: First things first, I’d like you to take a look at this.
Beep.
: Is that a carrier from the Army of Mankind…?
: The Bollearios, yes. Apparently, the Festum took it for themselves after kicking the Army of Mankind’s ass some.
: And the ship, now a nest for the Festum, is headed towards the island?
: Yes. Worse, the Bollearios has even deployed an optic camouflage and Welle Shield of its own.
: Aren’t those the same defense systems Tatsumiya uses…?!
: I guess they’ve learned enough from their battles with us to grow into a bona-fide invading force.
: …
: Our God has reached the limit of its patience. It’s determined to erase all the pain.
: In that case, you—…!
: I know!
: …
[url=LPix.org UX - Separation.mp3]SRW UX - Separation[/url]
: The light Liu Bei and his allies showed… the light of the GN Particles…
: And, also, Kouichi and Shou’s spirit when facing against a God…
: Kurusu…
: I know that humans are capable of changing…
: But, I…
Door opens.
: But you could you talk to your God if I’m with you, no?
: …? You’re…
: Mi-Miwa…?
: …
: I heard them, in that big ship. They’re all in pain, aren’t they?
: You… You understand our language?
Tzeeeeeep.
: Hm?! H-Hrk…!
: H-Hey, are you okay?!
: Sh-She…
: She is our final hope…
: Th-That voice…!
: Sou…shi…?
: Yeah…! I see Soushi’s aura inside him!
: Sh-She’s the only one… who can communicate with the Mir… in their own language…
: Soushi, stop! Your mind’s going to disappear!
: I’m sorry, Kazuki… It’s all up to you.
: Soushi…!
: They’re going to reach… what we sealed away… A-Aaargh!
: Please, stop! Why are you making yourself suffer?! Is your Mir ordering you to do this?!
: No, Misao. He’s talking to us because it’s what he chose to do.
: What he chose…?
: The place where everybody lives is something everybody protects. That’s why we’re in it.
: Because we have a desire to be here. Because that’s our place to come home to!
: The place… to come home to…
: Did you protect Soushi because the Mir told you to?!
: N-No…! I just didn’t want him to disappear…!
: Then, why don’t you start fighting like we did?
: Stand up to your God, Kurusu!
: I…I—!
: Rrk… I-I can’t! The Mir is calling me…!
: Kurusu…!
: He disappeared…?
: Kurusu, you…
BOOOOM!
: Wh-What’s going on…?!
Beep.
(TV): Makabe, we’ve got a big problem! The…
: The Mark Nicht just came out from within the Mark Sein!
: What did you say?!
: …
: Mark Nicht… The Fafner Kazuki and his friends sealed away…
: Did the Mir give me a human form so that I could pilot it…?
: …?!
: The pain… it’s growing…!
: This is… hatred?
: Kurusu!
: Ka-Kazuki…!
Kazuki grabs him!
: S-Stay away…!
: Why are you choosing this?! Why don’t you stand up to a God that’s doing nothing but add to the pain?!
: Kch… Graaah!
: Kazuki’s undergoing rapid assimilation from contact with the Mark Nicht! At the rate it’s spreading, he…!
: Kazuki, stop! You’re going to disappear…!
: Stand down, Kazuki! Get away from him or you…!
: Mr. Asuka…!
: Take care of the island… of everyone!
: Kazuki…!
: N-No… the Mir…!
: Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!
: Th-The Mark Nicht…!
: Absorbed the Mark Sein…?!
: A-Aah… I… Kazuki…!
: I never wanted any of you to disappear…!
https://gfycat.com/BelatedHomelyIndusriverdolphin
: No… K-Kazuki…!
: KAZUKIIIIIII!
Location: Inside the Battleship Bollearios
Sweeesh!
: …
: I’m back, everyone…
: …
: …
: I feared this is what I’d find… Nothing is being born… everyone’s still dying…
: The current state of your Mir is not the possibility I sought.
: And, due to that state, no other individuals are diverging their possibilities.
: That’s why the Mir captured you. You could give us a new possibility, right?
: You gave one to Kazuki and his people, after all…
: I have already fulfilled my duty. Keeping me here will not create new possibilities.
: …
Tzeeeeep.
: Rgh… The pain won’t stop growing! I’d take your pain upon myself if I could, but I’m not strong enough…!
: Maybe Soushi Misashiro could have, but I can’t… I’m so sorry, everyone…
: Pain was Soushi Minashiro’s blessing. Life was Tsubaki Minashiro’s blessing.
: But what about you? What blessing will you bestow upon the world?
: Why are you even asking me that?!
: You are the first of your kind to have desired to exist in the absence of a Mir.
: Tell me, why are you there?
: …
: I just… I just wanted to see the sky…
: But all I found is sadness… I can’t bear this existence anymore…!
: …
: If it’ll get rid of the pain everyone is feeling… Then, I…
: I’ll erase Soushi Minashiro, Kazuki… and myself…
: A girl holding a baby?
: Yes. They’re asking lots of things about her: why she’s hurting, why she’s now sad…
: Anyone wanna explain what’s up? Because I’ve no idea.
: Miwa’s the first child born on the island after our Mir learned of life and death from Tsubaki Minashiro.
: We believe that Miwa can sense Tsubaki’s presence.
: Tsubaki’s presence…?!
: In essence, Miwa’s mind, like Kazuki’s, is in a constant state of Crossing.
: Only her mind is crossed with the island’s Mir.
: She’s crossed with the Mir…?!
: Is that even possible?!
: Solomon’s detecting an enormous flow of information being exchanged between her and the Mir.
: It’s an extremely complex sequence of data comprised of unknown transfinite numbers.
: “Unknown transfinite numbers…”?
: To put it simply, it’s what Misao talked about: the Festum’s language.
: And Miwa’s learned it intuitively, no different from how she’d learn her parents’ language.
: …
: I think Miwa’s been chosen as Tsubaki’s successor. That little girl has taken up all the joy and sorrow of life… and a brand new possibility…
: A possibility for coexistence with the Festum…?
: Exactly. She, alone, can communicate with the Festum.
: She is our final and greatest hope.
: …
: And, so, you’re going to take her into battle, aren’t you…?!
- :tfrxmas: *
: Wh-What’re you doing, Yumiko…?!
: Put the gun down, Yumiko…!
[url=LPix.org UX - Prologue.mp3]SRW UX - Prologue[/url]
: …
: Miwa’s just a little girl… You can’t bring her into this!
: But she’s the only one who can save the island right now!
: She’s my only daughter. I love her more than anything in the world!
: Please, don’t take her from me!
: Mommy…
: Yumiko, I understand how you feel. I really do.
: I know how much it hurts to see people you love being put in danger…
: …
: But remember the joy you felt the moment a new life took shape within you…
: …?!
: And I’m sure Miwa wants to pass those emotions to the Festum, in her own words, in her own song…
: The joy of life…
: Mommy, can I talk to them?
: The sky would be pretty again. That would make you happy, right?
: …?!
: Mi-Miwa… * sniff *
: Uwaaahaaaaaaa…!
: Sis…
: Daddy, why is mommy crying?
: Don’t worry, honey. She’s going to be okay.
: Daddy’ll keep you both safe – that’s a promise.
: So, how about we all head on over to our ship?
: Okay!
[url=LPix.org UX - Rebellion Against Fate.mp3]SRW UX - Rebellion Against Fate[/url]
: So this is the Ægir Model, the Zero Fafner…
: And we’ll be using it to get through the enemy Mir’s barrier?
: Right. It’s more than strong enough to neutralize the thing in short order.
: While the plan’s to try and communicate with them, we’ll need to weaken the Festum’s forces a bit before we can give that a shot.
: You’re far stronger than me, Tamotsu. You never once turned your back on the Fafners.
: Ma’am…
: This machine took my daughter and son-in-law from this world, and I’d been avoiding it ever since…
: But you’re helping set it up now. Thank you for doing this for us, grandma.
: Your parents left the Zero Fafner behind for you. I’d like to think it’ll protect you both.
: Yeah…!
: Things have taken a turn for the worse at the Valkyrie’s Cave…?
: Hm. It looks like the system was damaged during the Mark Nicht’s escape…
: What’s going to happen to Seri, then?!
: Dr. Toumi’s attempting to restore the system, but it doesn’t look good…
: Oh, no…!
: Alright, then Prof. Denton and I’ll stay here to help with that.
: While this isn’t our area of expertise, we’ll do whatever we can to help Seri and the island.
: …
: You’re not going to have me arrested…?
: Any mother would’ve done the same in your position.
: I don’t know if Miwa would see it that way…
: No, she knows that you were just trying to protect her.
: …
: She spoke to me about Kazuki. That he’s not really gone, and that he’ll come back to us.
: Yeah, that’s what we believe as well.
: You should do the same, Yumiko. Believe in your daughter…
: …
: Princess Romina, could I also come aboard the Elshank?
: You…?
: I might not be of much use during this… but I at least want to be there to hold my daughter’s hand. It’s the least I can do as her mother.
: Yumiko…
: Very well. You may come with us.
: Thank you so much.
: Our mobile troops will ambush the Mir’s vessel as soon as the enemy initiates its attack.
: We’ll only have one chance to do this. Godspeed, and may you all return safely and victorious.
: Now begins the second Operation Azure!
Mission 47 – Heaven and Earth
[url=LPix.org UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens.mp3]SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens[/url]
: L-Look at all of them…
: And we’re detecting even more Festum headed our way!
: Our current hypothesis is that they’ve bolstered their ranks with a large number of Festum that had, to this point, been non-combatants…
: They’re bringing even their civilians into this war…
: But we can’t let them push us back…! Now it’s our turn to reach out to them!
: Wait just a bit, Kazuki…! We’re coming to save you!
: As the previous briefing mentioned, the Zero Fafner must head towards this spot in order to neutralize the Mir’s shield.
: All other units are to provide support! Our strength will pave the way not only for them, but for our dialogue with the Festum!
There’s your first order of business: get the Zero Fafner over to the tagged area. The unit moves just fine on water, which is good because there’s a TON of it on this stage. Try to get as many guys airborne or paired up with folks like Dr. West and Mike as can be, or those squads’ll have a much harder time than necessary.
As for the Festum, treat this as you did the first Operation Azure and you’ll do fine – same strategies apply, only the terrain is a lot worse and you now have those strong Eurus Types harassing you.
Clearing out all the Festum’ll also get Rina into position, and I’d say that’s the recommended approach, as you’ll want to have everyone maxed out on morale when you do that. Get all your guys up to the North/Northwest section of the map, kill everything except one enemy and take that one out with a ship so that everyone is ready to go after the plot hits.
The Zero Fafner not only looks very different from all its sibling mechs, it also functions very differently. First off, it’s a two-seater for the twins and it can’t dodge worth a damn. On the other hand, it’s surprisingly bulky, has a MAPW that blasts everything around it up to 5 squares away and packs a good punch (looking at it solo, it’s got the highest attack power of all non-Sein Fafners and is L sized).
Its durability does take a hit from the fact that Rina isn’t really tank-specced, so you’ll likely want to get her some Guard and Prevail just to be safe. But, from what I see, the biggest demerit of the Zero Fafner is the fact that it DOESN’T have the Crossing System, meaning you don’t have any of those boosts that Rina and Akira would normally get… which, in turn, weakens the unit in relation the other Fafners.
You can still set Rina and Akira back in their original units, though. If you’re deploying a bunch of Fafners, then that’s the better choice; if you’re only deploying, like, Kazuki, then the Zero Fafner will probably come out on top (though there are likely better squaddies).
Regardless, it’s squad bonus is: Armor +100, EN +50 (Armor +150, EN +100, HP +750).[/i]
[url=LPix.org UX - Azure.mp3]SRW UX - Azure[/url]
: This Fafner bears the wishes of all our family!
: And we’ve taken those wishes upon ourselves! The road for coexistence might’ve been destroyed before, but we will bring it back!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rPeRpLH1k0
[url=LPix.org UX - Tobikage Appears!.mp3]SRW UX - Tobikage Appears![/url]
[url=LPix.org UX - Azure.mp3]SRW UX - Azure[/url]
[url=LPix.org Warriors 9 - Theme of Lu Bu -DW Epic Mix.mp3]Dynasty Warriors 9 - Theme of Lu Bu -DW Epic Mix[/url]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6hiefUDLv8
And here’s the Zero Fafner’s best weapon.
[url=LPix.org UX - Obelisk.mp3]SRW UX - Obelisk[/url]
There goes the last of the first wave, and the Zero Fafner auto-moves to the spot.
: W-We made it!
: Rina, get the shields’ wavelengths sync’d up!
: Right back at you! Don’t screw up your end!
Power uuuup!
: …! Get back, you two!
: Wha—?!
: We’re surrounded…?!
: …
Crick, crack!
: Ugh-Waaaaaaaaah!
: Akira…!
: The Zero Fafner’s starting to break apart!
: The Festum are trying to assimilate them!
: Zero Fafner, come in! Akira, Rina!
: Hrrk…! Th-This is what… assimilation is like…?!
: My mind’s fading away… Dad, mom… Rina…!
: …
: This isn’t working… We can’t ease the burden on the substitute core unless we can find a way to parse the central coding.
: Isn’t there anything you can do?!
: The Mark Nicht’s activation has caused their language to overwrite a portion of her system’s data.
: And it’d take too long to isolate and restore the overwritten sections…
: Seri…
: …
Crick, crack!
: The assimilation’s started…!
: Damn it! Professor, access the SC Code!
: R-Roger!
: A-Aaah…! Why… Why can’t I save anyone…?!
: U-Uwaaaaaaaaah!
: Gyaaaaaaaah!
: Akira…! RINA!
: A long-range blast?! Who…?!
[url=LPix.org UX - Shangri-La.mp3]SRW UX - Shangri-La[/url]
: …
: Is that the Mark Vier?!
: But, that unit was…!
: I-I know that fighting style…!
: So do I… it’s Koyo!
: I don’t believe it! There’s no one aboard, but we’re detecting control data being transmitted from the unit’s core itself!
: It’s really Koyo…
: He came back to protect our island. He’s turned himself into the unit’s core…!
: …
: Thank you, Kasugai…
: Koyo, you’re something else…!
: …
: L-Let’s go… Rina!
: But you’re…!
: Everyone’s putting their lives on the line here! Just like our parents did…!
: If we don’t do this, someone else’ll have to pick up our slack!
: Akira…!
: Alright, we’ll do it together!
: Haaaaaaaah!
: The enemy Mir’s Welle Shield is gone!
: They’ve succeeded!
: Proceed to phase 2 of the operation! Move in and seize the Mir’s vessel!
: …!
Alarm!
: Got an energy reading above the Mir ship! It’s…!
: …
: Kurusu…!
: I’m here to erase everyone’s pain…
: You’re still hung up on that?! You…
: Don’t worry. I’ll disappear as well… as soon as I’ve erased the pain.
: “Disappear”…?!
: You idiot… that’s the solution you found?!
: What the hell did you spend all that time with us for if this is what you’re doing?!
: …
: We need to deal with him before we even think of getting any dialogue rolling!
: Troops, focus all your fire on the Mark Nicht!
Mark Nicht (Misao Kurusu)
Pilot Skills:
Mind Read L3
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3
All Attack L3
Mech Features:
Assimilation L2
All-Canceller
Misao’s voice actor: Ryohei Kimura (other roles: Psy in Heroman, Daryl in MSG Thunderbolt, Sorey in Tales of Zestiria, and a bunch more)
Here we go again: Purple Mark Nicht, comparatively, has worse specs than Idun’s version (the 230k HP count is way higher, of course) and Misao doesn’t even come close to matching Deus Ex Machina in terms of pilot stats or in raw firepower.
On the flip side, the Nicht still has its big 1-6 MAPW which can still assimilate and Mind Read L3 is a big boost to his hit % against anyone that isn’t a Fafner or Heroman, so still be careful with folks around him. His morale gains aren’t the best, mind, so just one Daunt/Exhaust cast should be more than enough to keep him below 130 (provided you killed all the Festum before triggering the plot) while you approach.
Oh, and unlike Idun’s Mark Nicht, Misao’s strongest attack is at melee range (1-2) and is his most accurate weapon, so be mindful of that. My advice is to clear out the other Festum, since you don’t wanna risk them getting lucky and assimilating someone that Misao’s nicked, and then move in on him – pop Confuse to give yourself more leeway.
The plot kicks in once Misao’s under 70% HP.
And here’s Koyo again, back on our team. His Synergetic Code’s been replaced with Mind Read L3, his stats have all been boosted and the Vier’s been equipped with the Crossing System, so that’s something to help him catch up a bit. As for the unit, it’s still the same as it was back in Act 1 – essentially a combo-less Acht, now that Kenji’s decided to ditch his Lance – so use him as you did there if you’re looking to hit that full +30 stat up from deploying 11 Fafners with the Crossing System equipped.
Spirit command list is: Focus, Alert, Ideals, Zeal, Love.
[url=LPix.org UX - Linebarrel.mp3]SRW UX - Linebarrel[/url]
[url=LPix.org UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend.mp3]SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend[/url]
Oh, Misao, you silly kid.
[url=LPix.org UX - Deus Machina.mp3]SRW UX - Deus Machina[/url]
: Are you really okay with this, Kurusu?! Your ‘God’ is going to take away our sky! How can you just accept something so wrong?!
: I don’t care anymore… It won’t be long before I disappear… I’ll disappear together with this sky…
: I can’t believe how easily you give up…! That’s a godawful way to end things and everyone, including you, deserves better!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B8E8SfOQSQ
[url=LPix.org UX - Azure.mp3]SRW UX - Azure[/url]
: I know how you feel… You want me gone, don’t you…?
: That might’ve been the case before… but not anymore!
: We put our faith in the path Tsubaki, Seri and so many have built for us – the path our parents hoped to find!
: What we want is to live alongside all of you!
: Because you, like us, are here right now! You exist!
Rina attacking: “That Fafner is…!” > Akira: “The Mark Nicht! We can’t hold anything back, Rina!”
[url=LPix.org UX - Dunbine Flies.mp3]SRW UX - Dunbine Flies[/url]
: So much pain was forced onto us and you still…
: You got it all wrong! We’re no different from you in that regard!
: Pain is something everyone carries within themselves. But, despite that, we all carry on living, keeping our eyes locked on the future!
Shouko attacking: “I’m making you stop with this attack, Kurusu!”
Maya attacking: “The Salvator Model…! I’m not letting you take away our peace! / Give back our blue sky! You thought it was pretty, didn’t you?!”
[url=LPix.org Warriors 9 - Theme of Lu Bu -DW Epic Mix.mp3]Dynasty Warriors 9 - Theme of Lu Bu -DW Epic Mix[/url]
: Look deep within your heart and ask yourself: what are the ideals I pursue? Do not avert your eyes from that sizzling flame!
: Muster your courage and embrace the wish rising from within you! I’m certain you hear it calling out to you!
: ‘Tis the cry of your soul, demanding that you oppose the fate imposed upon you! That cry is the radiance of life given form!
: Enough… All I want is for the pain to go away.
: I don’t have that light of yours inside me…
: Nonsense! Festum, humans – that distinction matters not! There is a fate you desire, so you ought to go and claim it for yourself!
: All that are alive, all who possess the brilliance of a will, are capable of carving out their own destiny!
[url=LPix.org UX - Dunbine Flies.mp3]SRW UX - Dunbine Flies[/url]
: Why are you so fixated with staying the same?!
: If anything, that stubbornness of yours only goes to show that you ARE someone, don’t you think?!
: No, I’m just one of the Mir’s fingers! That’s why I assimilated Kazuki…!
: Baah, for how long is this kid going to keep sulking like that?! Shou, let’s give him a slap or two and pry his eyes open!
: Not beating around the bush today, are we, Cham…? Still, that might just be our only option!
[url=LPix.org UX - The Eternal Soldiers.mp3]SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers[/url]
: We should have gone straight to Hell. It would have been better for everyone…
: Hah! Then you can relax, kid, 'cause you’re already in Hell!
: Life is wasted on those who can’t even speak their own mind!
: So, we’ll just give you what you want and send you spiraling into the abyss!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_fLVKwB4Yg
And here’s Misao’s best attack.
Misao vs. SKL: “Hell must be a lot of pain, right…? In that case, I’ll bring you all with me to nothingness…!”
: R-Rrgh…
: …! Do I hear the Festum’s voice?
Swoooosh!
[url=LPix.org UX - Prologue.mp3]SRW UX - Prologue[/url]
: This… This is hatred…! The pain that comes with living…!
: It’s the sorrow of life… of all the hearts that could not so much as be born!
: Mir, stop! Don’t make me bear something like that!
: Mommy… he’s crying.
: Crying…?
: Uwaaaaaaaaaah!
: Oooorgh!
: Pull yourself together, Kurusu! This isn’t how you could ever make the pain go away!
: …?!
: Open your ears to the Festum’s voice!
: That pain is proof that you’re alive!
: Proof that we’re…
: Gch… Aaaaaaaaaah!
: …
: Seri, I…
: It’s alright, Tsubaki. I’m not afraid one bit.
: Do you know why? It’s because I’m right here next to you. I can feel your voice, your life…
: Seri…!
: …
: I’m pinging a flow of information between Seri and the island’s Mir! Professor, can you parse the protocols?!
: I’ve managed to get access up to level 2, but any more than that is…!
: Her assimilation’s speeding up!
: Seri…!
: …
: A-Akane…!
: Your attempts at contacting their Mir have allowed me to free myself.
: Synchronize me with your Mir. I’ll preserve the core’s life.
: Huh…?!
: Akane…!
: This is my final possibility… No, this is what the former core told me…
: Told you what?
: …
Fades into the tube.
: That this island is where I ought to come home to.
[url=LPix.org - Azure.mp3]Angela – Azure[/url]
: Sob…No, no, no…!
: Think back to everything Kazuki told you!
: I’m sure his words still echo in your ears…!
: I haven’t forgotten them!
: B-But… Kazuki’s…
: His life’s broken, scattered to the four winds… (All these are lyrics for Azure, with a twist.)
: I’m here, Kurusu…
: ?!
: …
: Wh-What… This pulse… His light should’ve been dissolved, but…!
: I know… I know what that is…
: Those are wishes who long to be born… it’s the light of life…!
: The soul changes its shape…
: And heads back to where his heart is meant to come home to…! (Also Azure lyrics)
: Kurusu, I…
: I am here!
: Ka-Kazuki…!
: We never lost faith in you, Kazuki…!
: B-But, how… You were supposed to have disappeared…
: The self does not vanish so long as the heart remains…
: We all remembered that Kazuki was here. And, so, he came back!
: He was here… the place he’s to come home to…
: You should understand by now, Kurusu!
: Life may be filled with pain, but we’ll always choose to carry on with it…
: Because for as much pain there is, there’s just as much joy over being born!
: Kch… I…I!
: You are there, Kurusu! You exist! And we’ll help you see that!
Secret Alert!
Fafner secret #4 – 3rd step: take out Misao with Kazuki.
And don’t forget about this, if you took care of all the other requirements.
: …
: You’ve split yourself from the Mir’s will and became a vessel for everyone’s wishes…
: If only I could be as strong as you…!
: Why are you shutting out what everyone’s trying to tell you?!
: I’ve had enough of pain and suffering… Don’t get in my way! I have to do this!
: If you’re in pain, that’s because something inside you hurts and is crying out for help!
: Reach out to that something, Kurusu! Save yourself!
Misao vs. Shinn: “This isn’t about any destiny! I’m like a finger, and nothing more!”
Also, vs. any SEED characters: “I feel something just like that huge flame inside you…!”
: Kouichi… you’re a truly amazing guy. I saw every minute of your struggle against God.
: But I can’t do it. I’m not capable of opposing my God…
: If you say you’re so limited that you can’t do that…
: Then you have to go and surpass that limit, Kurusu!
Misao vs. Kouichi or Kira: “You might’ve chosen this, but I’m not like you!”
Also, vs. Kouichi and Shouko: “I thought we could be friends, but…!”
: How long until you stop being such a wimp?! You’re a guy, so put on a stronger face than that!
: I’m not like you humans… A finger can’t be anything but…
: Even a finger can go and work together with other things to make stuff happen!
: Stop looking at your feet and take a look at what’s around you, moron!
: If you want everyone to be safe, then don’t give up! Keep going, no matter how faint the light of possibility looks!
Mamoru attacking: “This data… it’s even stronger than it was before?! Still, I…!”
Sakura attacking: “If you really don’t want to be fighting us, then tell that to your Mir!”; “The Mark Nicht…! We gotta do something about it before it captures someone!”
Kenji attacking: “We beat it before… and we’ll do it again!”; “You don’t wanna fight us, right?! Then do something about it!”
: I’m a bit jealous of the freedom with which you can live your life…
: As for me, I just couldn’t do the same…
: Why are you talking in the past tense, hm?
: If you don’t like the place you’re at right now, then just jump out of it!
: Fight against your God and go on living your life!
: That blazing spirit’ll more than fill up the emptiness you feel inside!
: Joey… maybe I would be stronger if I could be together with everyone else, like you can…
: But you can’t just go and disappear! You still have a place to come home to!
: Stay and live out your life with us until the end! As for your friends, we’ll save them together!
: Setsuna… I wish I could’ve touched that light you showed me.
: You have to carry on with your existence, Misao Kurusu! The light of the GN Particles embodies all emotions of life!
: It’s the will to live through the day that’ll lead you to that light… and to the future!
Misao attacking Setsuna or Alto: “I’m not the Mir! I can’t communicate with it!”
: I can’t do this… just accept it and leave me alone!
: No, that’s not true! I’m sure you know just how important it is to explain how you feel with your own words!
: So, try talking to me first! Say as much as you’d like – I’ll hear it all!
: What makes you think there’s only one role you could play?!
: The kid who wanted to save his friend, who thought the sky was pretty, that was all the same Misao Kurusu, wasn’t it?!
: I’m not like you! I can’t be that way!
: But you still have to try! You’ve a will of your own, don’t you?!
: Being forced to change doesn’t always make for a good outcome.
: So, we want you to decide for yourself what kind of a person Misao Kurusu is!
: You give me too much credit…! My destiny’s been set ever since I was born!
: I had once resigned myself, just as you’re doing right now…
: You understand, then?! A choice can’t just be undone once it’s been made!
: And I’ve already been forced to make a choice!
: But I could choose anew, and I know you can do the same! That is, if you still have something you wish to save!
: Change isn’t something you need permission to do, and it doesn’t mean letting go of who you are, either!
: Don’t walk away from your own existence, Misao Kurusu!
: But it hurts… It hurts too much! I can’t take it!
: You’ve got something you wanna protect, don’t you?! Something so dear to you that it eclipses even the pain?! Then, turn your thoughts to it!
: We can always make our decisions, and you have to make one now! And if you say you still want to disappear…
: We’ll take matters into our hands and wipe you out ourselves!
Canon attacking: “Mark Nicht…! I’ll erase every trace of you this time!”
Michio attacking: “I’m sure you can make a choice, Misao Kurusu!”
: Misao Kurusu, what is welling up within your heart?
: You witnessed so many different fates diverging, you understand the power of the possibilities within us. What is your heart telling you right now?!
: Are you asking me to continue to suffer?! Our possibilities vanished from within us by that hellfire! What could we ever do?!
: Life and possibilities walk hand in hand! One’ll never vanish while the other remains!
: And I’m sure there’s a life inside you capable of carving out a new fate for yourself!
Kazuki gets a catch-all line for all enemies, and one for Misao:
: All their emotions brought me back to this land!
: So, now, it falls on me to show him two things: how hard it is when something dear’s taken away… and what it’s like to be determined to protect that something!
: That’s what I’m here for!
–
: Don’t come any closer, Kazuki! The Mir won’t stop fighting! If you keep with this, you’ll just disappear again!
: Your Mir’s the only one here looking for a fight! That means you can put an end to this, Kurusu!
: You’re asking too much of me! I can’t make that sort of decision!
: Believe in your own strength! There’s no way Soushi would take a chance on someone powerless!
: You saw how pretty the sky was, so I know you understand how fleeting and precious life is!
Misao drops a Kazuki Curry (+10 to Melee, +5 to Defense and Accuracy).
Kazuki attacking: “Stop your Mir, Kurusu!”; “Stand up to your God, Kurusu”; “Mark Nicht… The machine Soushi and I sealed away…!”
Misao attacking: “Stop your friends, Kazuki!”; “Just surrender, Kazuki!”
: Grgh…!
: N-No…! Why do I have to suffer like this…?!
: Don’t do it!
: …?!
: Don’t do it, mister…
: Come and talk with me! Let’s talk about lots of things!
: …
: I-I… I’m not like you…
: Why are you giving up?! Are you just going to erase everything you don’t like?!
: The Mir was supposed to have been reborn, but it didn’t! The fire of mankind changed everything!
: Then, go and change again!
: Soushi bet everything on you! He sent you to meet with us!
: All so that you and the other Festum could change again!
: I’ve already been forced to make a choice!
: I’ve hurt you people… It’s too late for me to be able to change!
: No, it’s not! You can change as many times as you’d like!
: …?!
: People can always choose their fates…
: And that also applies to you!
: An endlessly evolving human will has also taken root within you!
: I-I’m… the same as you…?
: I… I also hurt Soushi before.
: Huh…?!
: So many times I pained him… But he always believed in me.
: …
: You are me…
: And I am you…
: Kazuki…
: You’re always free to choose – as many times as you have to…
: Don’t just give up because you’re hurting. Never stop choosing to be there!
: …
: I-I…
: Mir… I don’t want to fight anymore…!
: Kurusu…
: You finally talked to your God, mister. I can tell…
: …
ALARM!
: Huh?! We’ve a hit on radar! Several heat signatures are moving in!
: What…?!
[url=LPix.org UX - Mark Sein.mp3]SRW UX - Mark Sein[/url]
: Those are from the Machine Island gangs…!
: What’re those guys doing here…?!
: H-Heeeeelp! My controls ain’t working!
: What?!
: W-We cannot stop them! Our machines are moving by themselves!
: Doctor, I’m detecting remote control brainwaves around those robots!
: Whaaat?! Someone else is controlling them?!
: Waaaaaah! Make it stoooooop!
One of the bots rushes the Elshank down!
: Aaaaiieeeee!
: Gch… The hell are they doing?!
: They’re… they’re being used as suicide bombers!
Beep!
(TV): Do you like my little gift, UX?
: Hazard! You piece of crap!
: These are all Alcatraz prisoners who tagged along during my escape, see.
: Unfortunately, they’re just a complete waste of space. The absolute dregs of society, who’d never amount to anything beneficial to anyone. They do serve for this, though.
: You’re sick! What you’re doing is—
: Please, please, let’s not stand on formality. Consider this to be a small blessing from us, as we start our trek towards the new world.
: No need to thank me – seeing your pretty faces is all the reward I need. BWAAHAHAHAHAHA!
Bloop!
: Hazard! Get back on the line! HAZARD!
: Did he say something about a “new world”?!
: He-Help meeeeeee!
: Lord Garaaaaaaaan!
Another two bots go after the Elshank!
: A-Aaaaah…!
: Th-That imbecile… even they are still human!
: They’re people like us…!
: Magami…
: We’re all humans! We’re all here, damn it!
And the last three!
: I-I’m going to be sick…!
: This… How can any person do something like this?!
: That’s…!
: This reading is… That’s a nuclear missile!
: A nuke?! They’re doing that again…?!
: I’m scared! Mommyyy!
: …?!
: S-She…
: SHE CAN’T DISAPPEAR!
https://gfycat.com/relievedpoisedamericanblackvulture
: Kazuki, I…
: I know. I also think it’s pretty…
: Thank you…
: Let’s all be born… together…
[url=LPix.org - Separation (Piano Version).mp3]Angela - Separation (Piano Version)[/url]
: Th-That’s…
: He… stopped the fire of mankind…
: Kurusu…
: Look! The sky’s…!
: The red aurora’s gone…
: …
: (Our blue sky is back, Seri…)
: Hmhmm, yes…
: I’m happy that I was born too.
: Mi-Miwa…
: Mommy, the sky… it looks so pretty…
: …
: Hrk… It’s too bright…!
: …?!
: It’s… bright? The light…
: I’m glad everyone’s safe…
: Kurusu…?
: I wanted to at least erase what was keeping you from seeing the sky. Sorry that I didn’t run it by you first.
: But I’m glad you can see the sky again…
: …
(new portrait!): His consciousness is gone now…
: You’re…!
: You might eventually find the place where he’ll be reborn.
: He’d be sad if you couldn’t see the sky then. That was his final thought.
: Aah… Is it really you…?
: All this time he’d protected my being.
: He struggled against the Mir even as he obeyed it, leading us not to the assimilation of one or the other, but to a harmonious coexistence.
: I can see… I can see you!
: Soushi…!
: Thank you, Kazuki.
: Thank you for the protecting the island… the place I’d come home to…
: Welcome back…
: Welcome back, Soushi!
(To clarify what happened, since the SRW format doesn’t quite make it 100% clear: Misao was keeping Soushi from getting assimilated by the Mir by keeping his soul/mind stored inside him. After Misao tanks the nuke, he rejoins with their Mir and becomes their new core (like Tsubaki) as the Mir is reborn.
As you see in the webm, Misao reverts back to his Festum form to go after the nuke, leaving both a crystalized body and the Mark Nicht behind. Whether that’s Misao’s body which transformed into Soushi, or if it was always Soushi’s body made to look like Misao due to Festum shenanigans is unclear, but the point is that Soushi got a new body to use.)
: …
: This really is goodbye, Seri…
: Tsubaki…!
: Thank you for staying with me until the end.
: And thank you, too, Akane. This is all because of you.
: Let us return to our peaceful homeland…
Flash!
: I-It’s…!
: The core… has finished its growth phase…
: Akane’s prayer helped ours be granted…
: Sob… Thank you…
: Thank you so much, Akane…
: Welle Shield output and Biosphere functions are showing no signs of reduction. There’s no fallout from the bomb either.
: The Mir’s become the air…
: The island and the Festum protected us…
: …
: What is it, Akira?
: During the battle, I… I saw the nothingness in the Festum…
: …
: It was just like when our parents disappeared…
: I thought they’d be in there, somewhere… but they weren’t anywhere…
: Well, duh, you idiot! Why do you figure we started fighting in the first place?!
: What were you thinking, heading into the Festum’s domain…
: What if something happened to us?! Grandma would be left all alone! It’d just be her, inside a house that none of her family’d go back to…
: …
: I’m sorry…
: Sniffles … You idiot…!
: What do you think’ll happen to the remaining Festum now?
: I’m sure what we felt got through to them, so hopefully…
: All that’s certain is that this planet’s just become their homeland…
: Their homeland…?
: Either way, for the time being, our long war with the Festum has come to an end…
: …
: And, with it, humanity gets a bit closer to destruction…
: Kujo…!
: I-I know I shouldn’t be saying that when everyone’s fighting as hard as they are…
: But I can’t stop thinking about it…
: What if it’s true, and when all conflict is gone and we’ve peace…
: …
: There’re still many things we don’t understand: like that voice we heard across space and time, or about the previous universe…
: But, if you ask me, we have to keep moving onwards.
: Ensign…
: We can’t be afraid of restoring peace, much less giving up on it…
: We owe this to all those who lost their lives along the way…
: …
: Yeah. We’ve got too much riding on us to stop here…
Door opens.
: And would you be fine with letting us help you through those battles?
: Soushi…!
: Is your body doing better already?
: Not so much that I can cross my mind with others with the Siegfried System as I did before…
: But I believe I could still make myself useful as a tactical officer.
: Just as a tactical officer, huh…?
: Then, the Fafners will continue to operate with the UX…?
: Yes. We’ve talked to my dad and the others and they’ve agreed to it. (His eyes aren’t red anymore!)
: Moreover, the will inside the Mark Vier’s core hasn’t disappeared yet…
: Kasugai is still…?!
: I suppose he knows that there are other threats to mankind prowling about…
: Threats to mankind, eh…
: …
: Th-This is an ELS…?!
: It looks more like a planetoid than one of them!
(TV): Worse, the ELS are fusing with everything around them and progressively growing larger.
: The big ELS there has a diameter of 3000km, which is on par with the moon.
: And this is the ELS swarm that’s headed straight for Earth?!
(TV): Not just heading – they’re gaining speed.
: We’ve revised our numbers and they’re now projected to reach Earth’s final line of defense in seven days, give or take…
: S-Seven days…?!
: That’s insane… it’s way too fast!
: And the Human Machina and Festum have just stopped menacing mankind…!
: Wh-Why…! Why is God presenting so many trials for humanity?!
: …
: (The ELS are finally approaching Earth…)
: (Setsuna…!)
And Soushi’s back as a tactician, having unlocked his final bonus: he makes everyone immune to evasion decay.
And the FUB vote is still ongoing for another couple of days. Current standings show Lu Bu crushing the competition (15), with Shinn (10), Kouichi (7), Cao Cao and SKL (6), Tobikage and Ishigami (3) trailing behind. If you haven’t voted yet, here’s your chance to help sway things in their favor.