If that’s what must happen for Sugita to get his due, then so be it!
Today, on SRW UX: The things Miu needed to hear before the end of Linebarrel, that she didn’t get a chance to.
They clearly tried to give it a lot in UX, but there’s just too little plot in the movie. It’s too little butter spread over too much bread. The attempt was nice though.
BX doesn’t even really try. Z3, HA. And V literally just throws the ELS in in the last act of the game, in a different universe entirely from the 00 guys, in like five stages, which might have been a neat crossover bit but it lead to CB not really doing much all game.
Click to see the mission!
And we’re back, having understood to crap out of the ELS and jettisoning Trailblazer’s plot from the spotlight. But there’s still Frontier nonsense to deal with, as the baddies are making a beeline for the Vajra homeworld. More importantly, Hazard is there, and the blood debt must be repaid in full.
Joe’s deploying as an event units and we’ve 19 slots open, so here’s how we’re going:
Aesap/Sakomizu
Liu Bei/Pretender
Kurou/Deceive
Kazuki/Maya
Setsuna/Marvel (Zwarth)
Shou/Tsubasa
Mazinkaiser/Moritsugu
Alto/Fei-Yen
Shinn/Lunamaria
Lu Bu/Seri
Arnie/Saya
Cao Cao/Domyoji
Sakura/Mike
Dancouga/Eida
Heroman/Miu
Mamoru/Shouko
Kouichi/Kiki
Sun Quan/Rennie
Kira/Kenji
Tactician: Romina (set her in if you’re on track for the other Tobikage secret)
Off we go.
: We’ve multiple Vajra closing in, with even more headed for this sector! Our radars are reading three thousand bogeys!
: Homeworld or not, there’s a frightening number of them inhabiting this area.
: Psh, that means nothing now that we’ve our new weapon ready to go…!
: Mr. President, requesting permission to expend Island 1’s energy stock to broadcast the jamming code.
: Are you certain this will work? I’m not sure if it’s worth endangering Island 1’s populace…
: Remember that we’re facing a foe that brought the mighty Galaxy Fleet to the brink of destruction. You must make a decision now, Mr. President.
: …
: Very well. Deploy the Fold Jamming device and begin the anti-Vajra operation! Engage hypnosis!
: The Vajra have stopped moving?!
: Troops, shift to Phase 2! Launch the Implant Munitions!
: Ooh, the Vajra are…!
: Fold Network connectivity at 93,5%!
: The Vajra are firing on each other…!
: The Fleet used their Fold Jamming device to block their intercommunications…
: And with the Implant Munitions lodged into them, they now have full control over the creatures…
: The Vajra have become living weapons in every sense of the word.
: Hmhmhm… We’ve nothing more to fear from them!
: Congratulations on your success, President Howard, Mr. Mishima.
: We’re the ones who should be thanking you.
: We would never have finished our control technology as fast as we did without your assistance.
: Well, my research on Aura Battler development has given me much know-how regarding control of Direbeasts and equivalent. Plus, we have our Odyssite.
: Reining the Vajra in was quite simple once we were capable of analyzing their Fold Wave communication protocols.
: Mr. President, all we’ve left to do is rally our troops and descend upon the Vajra homeworld!
: Yes, order all mobile units to return right away! We’re making landfall!
: I’ll hang back and take care of things up here, then.
: Give me a bit and I’ll have any Vajra we missed under our finger.
: Very well, Commandant Hazard. Please do.
: …
: That went swimmingly, if I do say so myself, Director.
: Hmph, those Frontier morons can go and handle their pest control themselves.
: What about Annex’s fleet? Have they made it here?
: Yes, sir. They’ve already concluded their warp and are standing by at a neighboring sector.
: Hmhmhm, good. Looks like everything’s in place for our final play.
: Yes – it all comes down to these next steps.
: Pay attention, Dog. You’re about to see the greatest fracas of my life!
: BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Blast!
: A-aargh…!
: Give up and I’ll put you down easy. You’re not winning this after being disconnected from the Implant Network.
: Kch…! Who do you think helped you analyze those communication protocols…?!
: And we’re very grateful for your help, Col. Grace Godunova. But our project doesn’t need any Weavers of the Wind.
: …?!
: The homeworld of the Vajra will be our new Frontier.
: Farewell, Col. Grace!
Blast!
: Hrk… Gaaaah!
: I-I cannot die yet! Not here…!
Jump!
: What…?!
Slash!
: Gwaaaargh! I-Impossible…!
Dead.
: Hahah… Don’t underestimate one of the Galaxy’s cyborgs…
: Rrgh…!
: (N-No… Just let me do one last thing before I go…!)
: The Vajra are fighting each other?! How’d that happen?!
: I suppose the Frontier’s finished analyzing their Fold Network.
: With that knowledge in hand, they must’ve found a way to exert some sort of external control over the Vajra and compel them to fight…
: They can do stuff like that?!
: They can, yeah… with Shot’s technology on their side.
: Shot Weapon…?!
: That man dedicated himself to researching Byston Well’s Direbeasts and perfecting Aura Battlers.
: I don’t doubt his technology to be capable of weaponizing the Vajra as well…
: And we already know the Army of Mankind now has units that draw upon Aura Power.
: Jin and Ayul’s…!
: Then, you think it’s Shot Weapon that’s helping them with all that?
: Yeah, I’m pretty sure it is.
: It makes sense now…
: The Army of Mankind used those Machine Island escapees as a trial run for this.
: You don’t think they’re going to turn the Vajra into kamikaze weapons like those guys, right?!
: That’s awful… The Vajra feel just as much as we do…
: But I’d expect them to need a massive amount of Fold Quartz to control that many Vajra.
: How did they ever manage this…?
: …
: Odyssite…!
: …?!
: The Odyssite has similar properties to the Fold Quartz, so if they used that…!
: I suppose that’s the reason behind the Frontier Government’s alliance with the Army of Mankind.
: They get their Odyssite from the Army of Mankind, and use it to control the Vajra…
: Following that, they conquer the homeworld and gain even more resources…
: Seems that’s the basic outline of their entire plan.
: But that doesn’t tell us why The Boom Army left the Earth Sphere to come here.
: I mean, I doubt the Frontier Fleet would ever work with those guys, even if Hazard did call them over.
: Hm, but I’m sure there’s a purpose there. What are you up to, Hazard Pasha…?
: Regardless, we’ve long-since established that the Vajra are sentient creatures, so this is nothing short of an invasion against another species.
: Not to mention that endangering all of the civilians at the Frontier Fleet is reckless to the extreme, and not something I’m willing to tolerate.
: Thus, we’re moving to descend unto the Vajra homeworld to stop the Frontier Government and the Army of Mankind’s rampage.
: And what’re we gonna do if we bump into those mind-controlled Vajra?
: Well, that’s what you have us for, no?
: Mine, Sheryl and Fei’s songs might just be able to hold the Vajra back…!
: You can count on me!
: Speaking of, we’ve installed a Super Pack in your YF-29 – it’ll help amplify the girls’ Fold Songs.
: A Super Pack?
: Right; it’s biggest feature is the Fold Wave Projector, which’ll really magnify the power of their music.
: Aha, so it’s kind of like that sonic weapon you made for Heroman back at Arkham.
: Well, certainly, my efforts back then have paid off dividends.
: The memories of my mortal struggles have sublimated this buffoon’s invention into a secret weapon on a galactic scale.
: OH, amazing! My genius truly knows no bounds!
: All you did was wail on that guitar, Doctor-robo!
: All in all, whether or not we can hold back the Vajra’ll depend on your skill, Alto.
: I know. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure their songs get through.
: Heehee, don’t disappoint us. Our show’s depending on you… cough, cough…
: Sheryl…!
: I-I’m okay. I need to get ready to sing… cough
: Cough, wheeze R-Rgh…!
Faint.
: Sheryl?!
: …
: Sheryl, stay with us! Sheryl!
: I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see it…
: Her V-Type Infection’s reaching its terminal stage…
: Huh…?!
: Oi, what the hell?! I thought she’d gotten better with those meds from Tatsumiya!
: …
: Sheryl hasn’t been taking those.
: What? Why?!
: Dr. Toumi did everything she could to make a medicine that would put as little strain as possible on her vocal chords…
: But, despite that, there are still side effects.
: Whenever she takes that medicine, her voice gets really hoarse…
: That’s nuts! This is her life we’re talking about!
: Then, what, would you have stopped her, Alto?!
: …
: We all know there’s no stopping someone who’s so determined to do something that she’d risk her own life for it!
: …
: And, Alto… it’s only because you’re here that she—
: Okay, that’s enough, Ranka…
: Thank God, you’re awake!
: Sheryl, I…
: Sorry, I didn’t mean to force you to look after me…
: … And much as it pains me to say it, I’ll need you to run today’s show by yourself.
: Sheryl…
: Hmhmhm, I don’t often do freebies like this, you know…
: …
: Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll sing enough for the two of us…!
: Ranka…
: Thanks. Now, don’t worry about me – I haven’t given up on living yet, and I won’t for as long as my heart’s beating.
: Ditto. I ain’t throwing in the towel ‘til the fat lady sings.
: Joe…!
: Bro, you should be resting!
: I know we’re also workaholics, but we’re absolutely not sending you out there in that condition!
: …
: I’m so close… Just a bit more and I’ll figure out the secret of that power…
: And what if you end up losing your life getting that answer?
: …
: You have realized it as well, have you not? That power is…
: So, what?
: Joe…!
: Sorry, Princess, but this ain’t just about Planet Ladorio anymore…
: And it ain’t about me being on my last legs, or how my odds to winning are zero…
: He… Ylbora is waiting for me. So, I have to go…
: Joe…
: You said you had to talk to me, Princess Romina?
: …
: It’s possible that Joe’s next battle will be his last.
: …?!
: Whatever the outcome may be, I intend to watch over him to the very end.
: I consider that to be my duty as the one who brought him into this war to begin with.
: …
: So this is just about you feeling responsible?
: … No, it’s not.
: …
: I… love him.
: …!
: Of course, I’m not about to confront you about that. This is hardly the time for it.
: Still, listening to Joe back there… it helped me come to a decision.
: …
: If we do succeed at ending all these conflicts and bringing peace to the world…
: Then, I’ll challenge you in earnest – not as a princess, but as another woman.
: Princess, you…
: …
: Heehee, you’ll challenge me, eh? That sounds pretty good.
: Of course, that’s assuming Joe feels that way for both of us, right?
: Hah, that is true…
: I suppose we should both pray for that to be the case.
: Thank you for being so frank with me, Princess Romina. I’m seeing things a lot clearer now.
: Rennie…
: I know what I must do… and, if anything, I’ll also make sure I’ve no regrets.
: But, first things first, the two of us need to stay alive.
: Absolutely…!
: Hrk…! A-Aargh… Haah, haah…
: You really are going to assault the UX again, aren’t you?
: …
: You may try to stop me, but I…
: Hmph, that is far beneath me.
: Go, I say. We’ll see for ourselves if you’ll emerge from this as a bundle of space dust or as the ninja of legend.
: …
He leaves.
: Ylbora went after them, hm?
: Yes, sire. Though, in his condition, I doubt victory’s a possibility – at best, this will end in a draw.
: Hmhmhm, that would be just fine.
: Hm? But if that happens…
: We still do not know what the truth behind the Ninja Legend is. Simply waiting for it to reveal itself to us is far too dangerous.
: …
: Then, the plan is for Joe Maya and Ylbora to beat each other into submission, and then we move in and claim the grand power in their units…?
: That’s it, yes.
: Now, on to other matters. Do we have the precise location for the Vajra homeworld?
: No, not yet…
: I’m certain we warped to the exact coordinates Hazard gave us, but that planet is also…
: It’s not in any of our star charts, as was the case with Earth, hm?
: Yes, sire…
: …
: (Planets that aren’t in our star charts, our missing Kylhasium, and the Ninja Legend…)
: (They all strike me as being related, but I cannot say how. This unease grows with each passing day…)
Mission 49 – The End of the Invasion
: All ships have successfully Folded to the Vajra homeworld’s sector!
: L-Look at all of them…!
: Fold Sound Stage is operational and standing by!
: Are you good to go, Ranka?
: Y-Yes! I’m ready!
: Okay, then deploy all mobile troops!
: Leave the fighting to us, Alto. You worry about making sure her song gets through to the buggers!
: Rrk…!
: Are you alright, Joe?!
: D-Don’t worry about me…! And keep your eyes open – he’s coming, I’m sure of it!
: I can feel it in my bones, and in the Tobikage…!
: Joe…
: (You’ll be okay… Just put your heart in your song and the Vajra’ll understand!)
: Kishaaaaaaa!
: Aaaaah!
: Huh?! The Vajra…!
: What’s going on?! Didn’t the Vajra see Ranka as a friend?!
Alarm!
: …! I’m reading Control Waves – powerful ones! They’re being broadcast from around the Vajra homeworld!
: I guess they expected us to try something like this.
: Blast that Army of Mankind! They are going to use the Vajra as shock troops?!
: Switch to mission plan D23!
: We’re breaking through the Vajra’s ranks and into their planet’s atmosphere!
: But we’d have to attack the controlled Vajra to do that…
: No time for grumbling! What’dya think we came here for, eh?!
: Lt. Kaido…!
: If you’re not willing to fight, then you wait in the ships!
: We can play the role of villains by ourselves!
: Heheh, you ain’t hogging this spotlight!
: Jumping into the fray and ripping through the enemy’s just the way we like it!
: The Army of Mankind’s at the planet’s surface, and there will be no freeing the Vajra until they’re stopped!
: I understand that it’s difficult, but our priority must be getting through here and making landfall!
Destroy everyone, don’t lose Joe or a ship. Big and beefy Vajra everywhere, but we’ve dealt with this before – spread out your guys to force the enemy to do the same and take them down with appropriate tactics. And don’t forget that the Vajra ships all have frontal MAPWs!
We’ve more stuff incoming from the north, so send a bit more troops to that side while you’re going through the Vajra – make sure Joe’s one of those. Mind you, with his reduced morale and no SP, you’ll want to be very careful that he doesn’t get mobbed by the buggers (just have Demonbane close by so his high HP draws their attention).
: Gch… You’re stuck with me all the way to the finish line, Tobikage…
: Or, better put, ‘other me’!
And once you’ve brought the enemy under 14 squads…
Tzeeeeeep.
: I feel something. It’s…!
: The Vajra’s pain…!
: They’re crying… They want to be free. We have to do something – fast!
: Waaaaaaah!
: Hrm…! Our starboard side’s been hit!
: Give me a check on all damaged sections…! The Elshank cannot be sunk now!
: Everyone’s fighting so hard to impart our hearts to the Vajra…
: And here I am, completely useless when I’m needed the most…
: Pii!
: Heheh, are you telling me to cheer up? Thanks…
Boom!
: Aaiieee!
: Th-There’s a crack in the wall—
SWOOOOOOOSH!
: Piiiiiii!
: Aaaaaaaaah!
: Hrm, they just keep coming! If this doesn’t stop, both we and the Vajra’ll…!
Tzeeeeeeep.
: It’s all right… I’ll take care of it, Kazuki…
: Th-That voice…!
: The Festum’s Worm Spheres?! They live in this part of space too?!
: No, that’s…!
: …
: The Mark Nicht…?!
: …
: It’s you, isn’t it, Kurusu…?
: We meet again…
: Why are you here…?!
: I wanted to deliver them from their pain. That’s why…
: That’s why I came back!
: Kurusu…!
: I… I understand, Kurusu! You don’t even have to say it – I can tell already…!
: I can see the flicker of your life!
: You’re alive! You are there now!
: Yes, I am, Kazuki! I am… right here!
: Folks, if he also wants to save the Vajra, then that makes us allies!
: Work with him to drive back the Vajra and find us a way through!
: Aye, aye!
And, bam, that’s the last Fafner secret unlocked. Misao’s squad bonus is Accuracy +5, HP +500 (Accuracy +30, HP +1500, 35% Double Image, Spec Debuff Immunity), and his spirits are Analyze, Focus, Sense, Zeal, Courage. It even has Assimilate L3 but, of course, the Festum aren’t a problem anymore.
Misao, as a pilot, is pretty good overall, compounded by the fact that, like Koyo, he knows Mind Read L3 for that flat +50% boost to his evasion/accuracy numbers… but the problem is the Mark Nicht. First and foremost, it doesn’t get the Crossing System which, as said with the Zero Fafner, is a relevant demerit. However, the primary issue is that, as the theory goes, the devs kind of forgot to give it actual “player unit” stats on its weapons.
You know how boss weapons have lower firepower than ours to accommodate their inflated stats and our lower HP counts? Well, that’s the issue: the Mark Nicht has appallingly low attack power – its best attack is only 200 points stronger than the frickin’ Mark Elf’s (4000 x 4200). You can guess how well it measures up to our mainline guys.
Or maybe that’s just to signify how Misao doesn’t actually make very good use of the Nicht. When Soushi takes it up in Exodus, the thing pretty much becomes Fafner Mark Granzon.
: So much pain is born as lives are lost… and I don’t want the Vajra to experience any more than they already have.
: That’s why I decided to be here!
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
Keep going, and when you’ve reduced the Vajra under 10 units…
: The Vajra’s numbers are dwindling. One more push and we may yet—
: What the hell…?!
: Here he is…!
: I’ve been waiting for you, Ylbora!
: Hahahah… Joe…
: I’m glad to see you’re still kicking!
: I say the same, Joe!
: Why, I dare say we may be birds of a feather…
: Yeah, maybe we are…
: And that’s exactly why we’ve both got something we’re not willing to give up on!
: …
: Come on, then, Joe. This will be…!
: Our final battle, Ylbora!
Take out Ylbora to progress with things. He’s over by the north-northwest flank, but still pretty far away, so you can stand to spend another turn trashing the Vajra while he moves closer. Also:
Secret Alert!
Tobikage Secret #1 – 8th step: set Romina as your tactician and have Joe shoot down Ylbora.
One more time. Joe should already have plenty of morale from all the dead mooks, but killing Ylbora with no SP can be annoying – either have someone cast Attune and/or use Hope to fill his stock up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCgDrb0NPPs
Let’s get some Nicht weapons we didn’t see out of the way because I doubt I’ll ever deploy it with my limited slots.
: I see. Your heart is…
: You may read my mind, Festum child, but that won’t help you stop my advance!
: I know. And just as you’ve chosen to be there, I, too, have a reason for being here!
: We stand here today not as a Princess of Planet Ladorio or as a warrior of The Boom Army…
: But only as people who’ve dedicated themselves to their causes! Thus, what awaits us…
: Is a clash between our wills! Come, Your Highness!
: Away! What exists between Joe and I is a fate that none other may infringe upon!
: And we’re supposed to care…?!
: Joe might even hate us for it, but he’s hurt, and we won’t think twice of doing this if it’ll save him!
: We’ll stop you, Ylbora, even if we gotta ante up our lives!
: Hah… Very well. Stay true to your will and face me!
: The Tobikage and the Zerokage, you and I…! It is no coincidence that we’re facing one another right now!
: True. We’ve always been butting heads with each other ever since we met!
: But if that was fate, then this is where it comes to a close!
: Yes, it is – and it’s also where the sealed legend will begin!
Ylbora drops a Damian’s Karate Manual (Melee and Skill +10, Accuracy +5)
: Kch… Hrrrrmm!
: Sir Ylbora!
: Haaaaaah!
Joe repositions.
: Toryaah!
: Oorgh…!
: Joe!
: Stay away!
: Joe…!
: Hah-Hahah… It looks like the next attack will be the last for us…
: Y-Yeah… and that’s just what I want…!
: But why?! Why are you two so obsessed with continuing this…?!
: …
: Everyone’s got their own reasons for fighting… some do it to protect another, some do it change as people…
: As for the two of us, our reason is just one and the same!
: This is no longer about pride or tenacity…
: We fight in order to unravel the answer that lies beyond this battle…!
: Joe… Ylbora!
: Raaaaaaargh!
: JOOOEE!!
Bzzzzzt!
: Aaaiieeee!
: Wh-What’s going on?! The Tobikage’s stuck…!
: This technique… It’s?!
: Hmhmhm, how do you like the taste of my Ultimate Plasma Binding?
: Charme…!
: It’s that trick she used before…!
: Hmph, hardly. The energy at my disposal is far different from then!
: Her Ultimate Plasma Binding uses the Odyssite as a catalyst! I trust you’ll appreciate its power!
: O-Odyssite…?!
: Gwaaaaaargh!
: BWAAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m afraid it’s time for you to exit stage left, Joe, Ylbora!
: Gch… Hazard, you sonuva…!
: Even the fangs of the fiercest of tigers mean nothing when they’re stuck in a cage.
: But don’t worry: we’ll take our sweet time exploring the mysteries of the grand power of the Ninja Legend after you’re gone!
: Hrm… That’s what they’re after?!
: All troops forward – seize them!
: Curse you, Charme! You…
: You won’t have this your way!
: Ylbora…!
: Rrrooaaarrgh!
: Kch… It can’t be! He broke my Ultimate Plasma Binding…?!
: Don’t tell me that power is…!
: No… this isn’t any mysterious ‘grand power’!
: It’s the power that embodies indignation towards evil!
: It’s my wrath – a force that wants nothing but to annihilate the lot of you!
: Y-You worm…!
: Joe, can you keep up?!
: Heheh, who do ya think you’re talking to?!
: Haaaaaaaah!
: That light… They’re also…
: (Director Hazard, that light is…)
: (Yes. It’s reacting to the Odyssite, just like Shot said it would.)
: (We were right. The source of their powers is…)
: Joe!
: Had you worried for a sec, didn’t I, Rennie? Sorry about that. But I ain’t taking any more punishment without a fight!
: Sir Ylbora…!
: Sir Ylbora… At last… At long last, you have returned to us!
: Hm. We’ll talk about that later!
: Our foes are Hazard… and The Boom Army!
: I got it, Ylbora!
Aay, Ylbora’s friendly again (no, this isn’t from the secret). His squad bonus is Mobility +30, Melee weapons +300, Armor +150 and Range +1; spirit commands are Focus, Sense, Drive, Zeal, Valor. By himself, he’s on par with Joe and Tobikage, but, obviously, can’t fuse with the Ladorian units. Still, he might get something else…
Famir Battleship (Hazard Pasha)
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3
All Attack L3
Command L4
Mech Features:
All-Canceller
Hazard’s voice actor: Takeshi Aono (other roles: Helluga in SRW GC/XO, Luozol in Masoukishin, Dr. Wily in Megaman, and many more)
Dog Tack’s voice actor: Takashi Taniguchi (other roles: Grave in Masoukishin, Nylen in the Tales of Vesperia movie, and some more)
Exactly what you’d expect from a big battleship boss: big stats where it matters, lots of range, a TON of defenses and a 3x8 frontal MAPW. Firepower is also appropriately high, especially with a 2L size, but that’s only an issue if he gets a clean hit in. Move in close enough to deal with his cronies but far enough to force him to close the distance – once he’s done that, mob him and destroy.
YOU CAN’T HIDE FROM ME ANYMORE, MOTHERFUCKER! I’M COMING FOR YOU!
: I do not take my crimes to be forgivable… nor do I seek trust or sympathy.
: All that matters to me now is being true to my beliefs! Ylbora Saro, warrior of Ladorio, challenges you!
: Aw, you came all the way here to watch us become the rulers of the universe? You shouldn’t have!
: Ye maggot wallowing in greed… Your selfishness has blinded you to your place in the universe. I would call you a fool, but that would be insulting to fools everywhere!
: Step up, Hazard! You’re about to feel the anger of all the people you’ve hurt!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSSYlYs48xM
Here’s Hazard’s best attack.
: You might have destroyed my trap, but I am still here!
: And I’ve taken a vow to secure Emperor Annex’ future, even if it costs me my life!
: Enemy or not, your loyalty is commendable, Benikage, warrior of The Boom Army!
: I, Romina Ladorio, shall also stake my own life and face you in battle!
: Hmph… I always knew this would happen, Ylbora. I could feel that, behind that aura of solitude, you never forsook your pride as a warrior!
: However, you’ll never amount to the ninja of legend! Your life will fade away and only dust will remain!
: I hid my beliefs deep within my heart, yet their embers continued to burn… all in preparation for this moment! The void beckons you, Benikage, and the Zerokage will usher you there!
: Hmph, you dare challenge the Benikage? I’d accept the ninja of legend, but not riffraff like you!
: Riffraff, eh? And what’s wrong with that?
: Even riffraff’s got some possibilities within them. All we gotta do is batch those together and we might just measure up to even the ninja of legend!
: We’ve been there fighting alongside Joe and the others since the start! Don’t take us seriously and you’ll get burned!
: Sucks to be you, Benikage! There ain’t no chains strong enough to tie us down!
: Each of us got the light of hope inside, and not even the deepest darkness’ll make us lose sight of it!
: You have eluded death for far too long! For the glory of His Majesty, Emperor Annex… and so the blue Earth may be his!
: I’ll personally send you screaming into the afterlife, Tobikage!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_nQkmcqKRk
I only remembered now that I still had to show off the DK for Misao’s best weapon, so here it is. FYI, this was with Valor and the Nicht’s 50% upgraded.
Charme drops a Secret Tome of Ninja Arts (Evasion and Ranged +10, Skill +5).
: Hrk… Curse you Earthlings!
: You force my hand…!
Beep.
(TV): Stop, Charme. Return at once!
: B-But…!
: There are plenty of other ways to crush them. Do you understand?
: Y-Yes, sire…!
: The enemy commander retreated…?
: Weird, considering this is about as close to “final battle” as you’re going to get. What’re they up to?
Dunno, don’t care. I’ve more important matters to see to…!
: Not content with what you did to the Festum, now you’re looking to use the Vajra as fuel for your ambitions?! Isn’t there anything you care about protecting other than yourself?!
: Ahaa, I thought you were familiar – you’re that boy who defended me back then, right?
: Then, you can die protecting my glory this time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbCTxwWyKcw
And here’s Hazard’s second strongest attack – didn’t connect, but it’s the same.
Now we can begin!
Hitsuto Boy - Love Survivor
LOVE SURVIVOR! LOVE SURVIVOR!
: Mwahahaha! This is goodbye to those days spent in the Martian boonies!
: A brilliant future awaits Hazard Pasha just around the corner, and you’re not stopping me!
: That’s fine – we’ll just guide you over to that future of yours…
: Though what’s waiting you won’t be Earth, Mars, or even that utopia you dream of!
: Damn straight; the only place you’re going… is Hell!
: You were meant to lead to people in the right direction, but, instead, you want nothing but to subjugate them to sate your greed…!
: Yours is a black, impure soul! And one who cannot appreciate the essence of life is not fit to tread upon that land!
: You care for none other than yourself. The arrogance… Pigs like you could never walk the path of a conqueror!
: A bunch of weird action figures are lecturing me on how the world works? Give me a break!
: But it’s a good thing you’re here! I look forward to nabbing that “Yùxǐ” of yours and figuring out how its powers work too!
: Every single being who calls this universe home is entitled to happiness!
: It is an evil man who would deprive them of that right purely for his personal gain! And, by the will of the heavens, we shall have you answer for all of it!
: Hazard Pasha… Here is where your evil ambitions come to an end!
: All you care about is yourself – the lives of others mean nothing to you. But now we’ll rid the universe of your presence!
: Hmhmhm, how quaint. Didn’t you kill a bunch of innocent lives yourselves? You’re doing it right now with the bugs. And it was all in line with your own rules, so who are you to say anything to me?
: We did, and we’ll carry the weight of all the possibilities we’ve erased forever…
: But we won’t lose any sleep over wiping out your possibilities and your greed, Hazard!
: Give it up, Hazard Pasha! How can you not see that your greed will kill our future?!
: Do you actually believe your ambitions are so important to justify all the people you’re sacrificing?! Are you that sick?!
: I’m sure a world where no one has to get hurt exists somewhere out there…
: But everything you do serves only to spread sorrow!
: Spare me the platitudes! It’s human nature to be greedy! If you ask me, selfless people are missing something essential to them!
: And you’ll have plenty of time to watch from the afterlife! You’ll get a bird’s eye view as I create a beautiful future – for me!
: The Vajra’s raw power is all mine! And I already had tons of influence to boot…!
: It’s just a little bit more until the world is mine for the taking! You’re the only obstacles left!
: We’ve been watching your arrogant ass parading around for a long while, but now it’s finally time for you to get what you deserve!
: Get over here, ya crook! I’m about to smash your bullcrap dreams of world domination into a billion pieces!
: Gehehehe, how about this, kid? Your machine’s the best there is when it comes to killing Festum.
: Come work for me, and I’ll give you an even better paradise than that island!
: I don’t want or need anything of the sort! Our island’s all the paradise I need!
: Tatsumiya, where Soushi, Toumi, and all my friends are, is where I’m meant to be!
: To claim and control everything! It’s because I cling to that wish that I’ve clawed my way back from every fall!
: And, finally, success is so close, I can taste it!
: Now that’s a cliché goal if I’ve ever heard one. Men’s Pipe Dreams Monthly is chock full of those.
: I guess while some folks take a look at the environment they’ve to survive in and see adversity, others see it differently…
: But living just to satisfy your own desires is how you become a villain.
: I wouldn’t dream of preaching about living a righteous life, but…
: Whatever happens, there’re always people trying to live honestly… and pooh-poohing the power of those people is something you should never do!
: Enslaving the Vajra, turning them into weapons to help your agenda… Are you just that heartless?!
: What I did was make these brainless beasts useful!
: Give me a bit and I’ll have you dimwits under my leash as well!
: Not in a million years! Both us and the Vajra are more than capable of deciding what to do for ourselves!
: That’s what life is all about!
: My great intellect now has a massive force to match it… I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s bright! We’re entering the age of Hazard, King of Earth!
: Do you think an oversized doll like you could actually stop my plans?!
: … This isn’t about whether or not I can stop you. Intellect, power… neither of those things are meant to be used to turn people into tools.
: You may believe that from way up your high horse, but it only makes your plans sound even stupider!
: It’s always one dirty trick after another with you! Is that all you think about?!
: Blah, these bugs won’t stop buzzing around me!
: Still, I owe that mech a bit of gratitude! It was because of it that I found the clue I needed to pry open my road to glory!
: I don’t need gratitude from someone who shows such disregard for everyone and everything around him!
: All you do is to fulfill your delusions… and now I’ll tear them all to ribbons!
: The Army of Mankind, the Vajra… the universe is mine for the taking with all that power under my control! The future is called Hazard Pasha!
: Everything your greed touches gets hurt, and, worse, you don’t even care…
: We’ll wipe out every trace of the future you’re trying to create!
: It might be that your evil was fruit of living so far away from your home planet, but that’s not enough to make me sympathize with you…!
: In your greed, you twist the will of everyone around you and turn them into pawns! That’s unacceptable!
: Shut your trap, kid! What do you think you understand of me and my past, huh? You’re just a spoiled brat who’s been coasting through life under daddy-o’s wing!
: But that childish mentality of yours’ll still make for good kindling for my dream!
: Heheheh, look at you, boy. Controlling that robot and making it fight on your command…
: Why, it’s like looking in a mirror!
: You’re wrong! Heroman has a heart of his own and a life that only wants to protect people!
: And that also applies to that Vajra you’re enslaving! We’re taking him down together, Heroman!
: Hmmm!
: Hazard, I’m no saint myself, but even I could never let you off the hook after everything you’ve done!
: I’ve acquired all the power I could ever need! And once you and your machines are gone, I’ll just be a stone’s throw away from realizing my dream!
: Too bad for you, the only thing you’re a stone’s throw away from is total defeat!
: This is it, Hazard… the battle that started that day on Mars is coming to an end now!
: Our arrival on Mars brought disaster to that planet, causing hardship for so many people…
: We share in the responsibility of spreading your evil influence and spurring on your ambition, and I, Romina Ladorio, will personally bring it all to a close!
: That’s rich, but no sheltered little princess is going to stop me!
: When you play with fire, you get burned – it’s time for you to learn that!
: So many of my friends were hurt by you… I cannot even begin to tell how sad that made me.
: But I learned that you can’t fight out of anger and hate… So, rather, I’ll fight to stop you from spreading any more hate across the universe than you’ve already have!
: I’ve no idea what you’re babbling about, but if you’ll be a problem, then you’ll die along with them! See how you like getting blown to smithereens!
: The UX, The Boom Army… you just can’t go five minutes without switching sides, can you, Ylbora?
: That said, I still have plenty of use for you. You’ll be working for me now, little bat-man!
: Silence, fiend!
: I’d never submit to a man who so easily sacrifices others for his self-protection, who’s such a blind slave to his greed…! Swift and utter death is all you’ll get from me!
: I reckon it’s also time to put things to bed with you! We’ll see who comes out top here!
: I admit I didn’t expect you to escape that cage and come take a swing at me. Still, tigers and lions might bear down on me, they’ll wind up dead just the same!
: You don’t seem to get what a mess you’re in! You mess with a tiger, you get bitten – and I’m about to rip apart both your face and this annoying little relationship of ours!
And he drops another Hazard’s Favorite Athlete’s Foot Medicine… Wait a minute, no, this isn’t anywhere good enough.
I AM NOT DONE WITH YOU.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qG0reY5d8k
You have been a royal pain in the ass for the entire game, and you will answer for all of it!
This is about ten times more satisfying than bending Miwa over my knee in MX.
: I think this is good enough.
: Should we proceed as planned, then…?
: Yes. Have the ship to retreat for a bit!
: Roger that!
: Hazard’s—!
: The hell is he up to?!
: All enemy forces have been routed!
: That’s what you get, The Boom Army!
: Okay… All them pests are gone. What now, Ylbora?
: …
: Hah, that should be obvious.
Ylbora repositions.
: Heheh, I guess we gotta!
Joe goes after him.
: N-Now wait just a minute, Joe!
: You guys’re still gonna fight?!
: Nah, that ain’t what this is…
: Then, why…?!
: We’re just putting things to order…
: We ain’t gonna be able to either fight together or hate each other the way we are right now…
: Joe…
: I see that you have realized the power that dwells within the Tobikage and Zerokage… or, rather, within us, Joe!
: Yeah! Let’s do this, Ylbora!
: That light…!
: Is that the power mentioned in the Ninja Legend?!
: But it’s…
: Yes, it’s the same! That is the light we saw when we were brought to this world!
: What…?!
: …
: (Indeed, this world and Mirisha are…!)
: What…?!
: The Boom Army…!
: Hmhmhm… I have been waiting for this moment!
: Annex!
: That is most certainly the grand power of legend!
: And it’ll belong to me, Annex The Boom!
: Aaaah!
: Mwahahaha! You’ll rue the day you underestimated The Boom Army!
: This is the might of Emperor Annex! Prostrate yourselves before him!
: Rgh… Those sons of…!
: Go, Hazard. Seize the Tobikage and Zerokage!
: …
: Did you really think it’d be that easy?
: Excuse me…?
: The Vajra…?!
: Hmhmhm, get them!
The Vajra go after Annex and Charme’s ships!
: Gaaah!
: H-Hazard… have you lost your mind?!
: BWAAHAHAHAHA! Looks like I’m a cut above you as well, “Your Majesty”!
: Y-You’re…?!
: Yes, I am… the Ninja Legend, the Fold Quartz and The Boom Army’ll all be mine!
: It’ll be Hazard Pasha who rises to rule the entire universe!
: D-Damn you straight to hell!
: GWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!
: Kch… Ylbora!
: Hm, I know! We’ll crush them with our power…!
: Now, Dog!
: Yes, sir!
: Grrgh!
: Wh-What was that?!
: The Zerokage isn’t obeying…!
: Wh-What’re you doing, bro?!
: I-I’m not! This ain’t me!
: Stop, Tobikage! What happened to you?!
: …
: O-Oh, no…!
: Oh, yes! That’s my Implant Munitions for you!
: And I’ll be making some wonderful sacrificial pawns out of you, just like the Vajra!
: H-How can you—
: Uwaaaargh!
: T-Tobikage! Stop!
: …
: Gaaaaaaaaah!
: JOOOOE…!
: Y-Your Highness…!
: R-Rrgh… Haaaargh!
: Wh-Whaaat?!
: The Elshank…?!
: The Zerokage heeds me again…!
: Princess… What was that?!
: I-I don’t know what happened either…
: I was just desperate to save you both and that wish overcame me…!
: You did? … I have it! This is the truth behind the grand power of legend!
: Wh-What did you say?!
: Our powers are the same. The same in nature, yet diametrically opposed…!
: That is to say, they can only cancel each other out when they come into contact… However!
: All it needs is a will as the core. Do that, and that power’ll fall in line, magnifying into infinity!
: Magnifying Willpower…!
: Th-The infinite power of legend…?!
: S-Screw that Ninja Legend! Fire, Dog! FIIIREE!
: That attack won’t work on us anymore!
: I-It can’t be…!
: I reckon even you can see all the power we’ve got now!
: Wh-What’s going on…?!
: Joe, Ylbora and Romina… That is the grand power born of their three wills!
: Ooh… I am certain of it: that is the light of legend!
: …?!
: I’ve figured it out…!
: The power written about in the G-Records is… the Ninja Legend is…!
: Every single person hides possibilities capable of changing fate itself within!
: And as those possibilities are brought together, their strength turns to a boundless light!
: Do you know what it is, Hazard?! That is what people call…
: LIFE!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcGHognrJ7U
Captions are available for DIIIIEEEEE!
: GYAAAAAAAARGH!!
BLAAAAAAST!
: Uwaaaaaaaah!
: I-I’ve finally seen the truth…!
: Aah, I am a fool! This universe is…!
: Sire?!
: The problem wasn’t with our star charts, but with the fact that this isn’t the universe we knew!
: …?!
: The Ninja Legend had never happened!
: No… The Ninja Legend are events unfolding now!
: Gwaaaaaaaaargh!
b BOOOOOOM![/b]
: A-All hostiles confirmed destroyed…
: …
: Rgh…!
: Y-Ylbora…?!
: …
: Ylbora…!
: You heard the Vajra’s pain…?
: Hm. I kept hearing their voice as my consciousness was fading away. And, so, I thought…
: “I want to help them”…
: By the time I realized, I was back inside the Mark Nicht and my human form was restored.
: Your core had been destroyed, but it still managed to come back… amazing.
: …
: Can I ask to fight together with you?
: Kurusu…
: I want to pass on to the Vajra what I learned from you guys…
: What it means to live, and the joy of having been born…
: We hear you.
: …
: Kurusu, there’s something I’d always hoped to tell you in case we saw each other again.
: Thank you. It’s only thanks to you that I’m here right now.
: Soushi…
: I’m glad that you feel that way.
: And, once this battle is over, I hope we can all go and see that blue sky again.
: Yeah, that’s a promise. We’ll see Tatsumiya’s sky together…
: U-Urk… I’m…
: Careful, you are still quite wounded. Please, sir, get some more rest.
: Gameran…?! I see… This is the Elshank.
: What of The Boom Army…?
: Annex and all his servants are gone from the face of the universe…
: The legendary power we and Joe unleashed destroyed them…
: …!
: … I am glad to hear that. Their deaths mean the end of my struggle as well.
: Cmdr. Ylbora, what you were after was to uncover the truth behind the Ninja Legend, was it not?
: Because you believed it would enable you to defeat The Boom Army and save Princess Romina…
: …
: The Boom Army was far too mighty…
: If I was to have any hope of facing them, then I would need the power of the Ninja Legend on my side…
: Ylbora…
: …
: Regardless, no excuses will change the fact that I turned my sword upon Her Highness…
: Sir Ylbora…
: Hm. Indeed, your actions are not something that could ever be forgiven.
: …
: However, if even a shred of your pride as a warrior remains…
: Then, you should spend the remainder of your life atoning for your crimes – as part of the UX.
: …?!
: It’s way too early for you to curl up and die. You gotta live and keep on fighting.
: Let us hear you answer, Ylbora.
: …
: You have my sincerest gratitude for your benevolent words, Your Highness…
: I, Ylbora Saro, hereby swear once more to dedicate my life to your service…
: (What did I say? You still had a place to call home.)
: Cmdr. Ylbora, we owe you our gratitude as well…
: It was through your life-threatening assault that we, at long last, have uncovered the underlying truth of this world…
: The truth of this world…?
: …
: Planet Ladorio… is the Earth from the future.
: …?!
: C-Come again?!
: And that’s not the end of it – the same can be said for Mirisha…
: W-Wait just a minute! Do you mean…!
: That Earth, Mirisha and Planet Ladorio were all the same planet?!
: Yeah…
: And we’ve the sinking feeling that the Vajra homeworld—
Door opens!
: Alto! Everyone! Sheryl… Sheryl’s…!
: Ranka?!
: Calm down, Ranka. What happened?
: It’s Sheryl… she’s gone! We can’t find her anywhere on the ship…!
: What…?!
Chalk up another secret down – we get Ylbora and the Zerokage. You can set him back in the Elshank if you’d like, but he and his bot are certainly a good fit anywhere melee-oriented, especially if you’d rather deploy Joe by himself rather than have him plug into a Ladorian machine.
Of course, if you didn’t do his secret, the ending of the mission changes after Ylbora explains why he’d turned traitor:
: Ylbora…
: Y-Your Highness… I am truly sorry… What I’ve done is…
: Argh…!
: You’re in no condition to talk right now. You can tell us later…
: Joe…
: What is it…?
: Joe… I entrust Her Highness… to your care…
Dies.
: S-Sir Ylbora?! Stay with us!
: Sir Ylbora…!
: Kch… Uwaaaaaaah! Sir Ylboraaaaaaa!
: Tsk, “entrust her to my care”…
: He always had to have the last word…
: …
: (Your actions were not something that could ever be forgiven.)
: (However, you fought by lonesome in a bid to catch sight of our future… And I have taken that devotion onto myself.)
: (Come, Ylbora. Together, we shall be the Elshank’s wings as it soars above fate…)
And, from here, the rest is the same. Finally, here are a couple of convos we missed:
: Karen… your crimes run deep. Not only did you let yourself be tainted by love and betrayed The Boom Army…
: But you have also forsaken your loyalty for the Emperor! Only with your life can you find redemption!
: Lady Benikage, I have learned what it means to live freely.
: That’s why I chose to fight alongside Damian, just as you’ve pledged your life for the Emperor!
–
: You’re so loyal to your cause that you’d get in bed with the people you were supposed to beat… That much is as clear as day to me.
: In which case, I trust you understand that my will shall not be swayed!
: Hm, I guess so. We better have at it, then!
Alright, so UX has significantly changed Tobikage’s finale. I brought this up in my unhinged Tobikage related rant earlier, but to repeat - Tobikage didn’t actually have a finale. What happened was that after a few Tobikage/Zerokage clashes that started drawing out the ninja powers (the red/blue glowing the two bots do in their combo), and a few episodes away from the end, they did a lengthy assault on the main Zaboom fortress, a massive motherfucker of a ship. Benikage died, but Annex Zaboom managed to retreat, and in fact ended the show without dying. Yllbora and Joe were actually temporarily held by Hazard but escaped, and managed to finally work together to kill him with the help of the rest of the cast - but Hazard put explosives into the Zerokage which nearly killed Yllbora. When they took him to the Elshank, he was suddenly, fairly miraculously kept alive by Tobikage and Zerokage glowing gold - a la the end of the combo - and then disappearing into the TOTALLY MYSTERIOUS ROOM of the Elshank, which itself started glowing gold and shot off at warp speed into space. And then two clip shows happened. UX gave the show an Actual Ending by ensuring all the loose ends got tied up. (Impact did too, but IIRC had Annex just kind of randomly die early in Part 3 and well before most of his forces did.)
Also that “have everything kill Hazard” bit was brutal and horrifying, and goddamnit, I’m doing that on my next run. Fuck Hazard Passha.
But oh boy, here we go. Next up is the thrilling conclusion to Macross F’s second movie, something I’m sure everyone here has been waiting for. (There’s something I really want to comment on about it, but it’s actually related to BX rather than UX - more on that after next update)
If I ever get a chance to play UX, I’m going to find a way to kill Hazard with the Vulcans on a Gundam. It will be difficult, but it will also be humiliating: perfect for the sunnuva bitch.
Click to see the mission!
And we’re back, having brought karmic balance to the universe by ridding it of Hazard’s presence forever – Annex and Charme are gone, Ylbora and Misao have joined up. Everything’s good… but the Vajra still needs sorting out, which means another round of Frontier Plot. Bah.
Ozma and Alto are deploying as event units today, so here’s how we’re going:
Joe/Ylbora
Aesap/Sakomizu
Liubei/Kiriyama
Kurou/Deceive
Kazuki/Maya
Shou/Tsubasa
Sakura/Mike
Mazinkaiser/Vardant
Shinn/Luna
Mamoru/Shouko
Lu Bu/Seri
Arnie/Saya
Cao Cao/Domyoji
Dancouga/Eida
Heroman/Miu
Kouichi/Kiki
Sun Quan/Rennie
Kira/Kenji
Ishigami/Katou
Tactician: Ranka (If you’re on track for the Frontier secret, set her in.)
One last mission and we can say goodbye to this nonsense… Also, this is the cutoff point for the Demonbane secret kill tally. Kurou must have 200+ kills by the end.
Off we go.
: Our search for Madam Sheryl has yielded results…
: It appears she was dragged out into space when the Elshank sustained damage during the previous battle…
: Huh…?!
: Ha-Hahah… You’re joking, right? Sheryl getting dragged out into space…
: Hey, come on, tell me you’re not serious!
: Unfortunately, he is. Footage from inside the ship show that she was right around the area the attack hit…
: We ran scans with every conceivable sensor in and around the ship, but found no signs of life…
: What… Then, Sheryl—!
: No, she’s not dead.
: Alto…
: I know she’s not…
: “The self does not vanish so long as the heart remains,” right?
: Yeah, right on. That was the case with Soushi, with Al…
: And with so many of us, too. I’m sure Sheryl’ll be no different…
: Her earring’ll relay her heart to me.
: So, I’m not facing away from this. Come what may…
: I’ll keep on flying until this battle is brought to an end…!
: Heh, I guess I shouldn’t call you princess anymore…
: …
: (“So long as the heart remains…”)
: (My heart, my emotions, are…)
: And you are…?
: U-Um… I just wanted to say your kabuki was amazing.
: It was like watching an angel flying across the sky…!
: The sky…?
: Yes…
: We should get going, Sheryl… Come on now.
: O-Oh, right…
: …
: …
: I-I…
: ??
: I’ll be a singer someday!
: And I’ll do it as beautifully as you. My song’ll send ripples across the galaxy!
Location: Island 1 – Ruins
: H-Hmm…
: …?!
: Th-This… This is Island 1! But… how did I get here?
: Pi… Pii…
: Ai-kun…? You look so weak…
: That larva protected you… Using the Fold Barrier all Vajra have…
: Y-You’re…?!
: I’ve… finally found you… Sheryl…
: So, that’s the Vajra Queen’s nest…
: All in all, this is a magnificent land… Its atmosphere doesn’t leave anything to be desired compared to Earth’s. This planet, indeed, is…
: Hmhmm. It’s a grand new Frontier for us – one blessed with both large stores of Fold Quartz and livable land…
: (Fold Quartz, the other mineral with properties akin to the Odyssite…)
: (With this planet’s resources handy, I may just uncover the universal truth, that which transcends time and space…)
: Mishima, fellows of the Army of Mankind, you have my deepest gratitude for all your efforts.
: All that remains is sending our troops to assault their nest and bring the Vajra Queen under control!
: When it happens, the galaxy itself will belong to us…!
: Indeed, it will belong to us…!
: Th-That voice…!
Location: Battle Frontier – Bridge
: Wh-What…! You’re—
Machine-gun fire!
: Yaaargh!
Dead.
: Eliminating all obstacles…
Machine-gun fire!
: Gwaaaaargh!
Also dead.
: M-Mister President?!
Machine-gun fire!
: U-rrgh…!
Beep.
(TV): Mr. Mishima, what in God’s name is happening?!
Pods appear.
(middle-aged man): You have done well, Antares 1.
: The emergency autonomous program is already active.
: Y-You’re from the Galaxy Fleet!
: What are you doing here…?!
(young woman): Hmhmhm, you idiot. Did you honestly expect us to be your obedient helpers?
(young man): We very much appreciate you doing all the hard work for us. Both this ship and the Vajra’s Network are under our control now.
(old man): You were always nothing but puppets dancing to the Galaxy’s tunes.
: The Galaxy Fleet?! Those abominations are launching an insurrection?!
- :tfrxmas: *
: Y-You monsters…! I won’t let you… have the universe…
: Begone…
Bang!
: Kch… Damn it all! The Frontier Government’s been taken over by monsters!
: Prof. Shot, contact Commandant Hazard immediately!
: …
: I believe Hazard is already dead.
: What…?!
- :tfrxmas: *
: I appreciate you taking me along for such a long voyage, Madam Secretary General.
: Y-You’re…!
: Prof. Shot… Don’t tell me—
Gets Shot.
: …
Beep.
: It’s me. Everything’s taken care of.
(old man): Heheh… You are a force to be reckoned with, Shot Weapon.
: Everything I do, I do to arrive at the truth.
(middle-aged man): Whatever suits you. We’re very much relying on your technological prowess now that we’ve lost Col. Grace.
(young woman): Speaking of, what happened to her?
(young man): She’s escaped, by the looks of it. But she’s been disconnected from our network, so I doubt she’ll last long.
(middle-aged man): Forget her – what’s important right now is the Fold Quartz.
(young woman): At last, we’ve found our Treasure Island!
(young man): Soon… Very soon, everything’ll belong to us!
(old man): But first things first: we’ll have the Battle Frontier storm the Queen’s nest…!
SRW UX - Rebellion Against Fate
: Y-You’re feeling okay…?
: Bro, there’s really nothing wrong with your body?!
: Take a look if you don’t believe me. I’m feeling about a million times better than before.
: But you were in so much pain… How’s this possible?
: I believe it is the same phenomenon we observed with the Odyssea, Arnie and Saya.
: …?!
: Just as their souls beckoned one another, and a life took root within Saya…
: It could be that a new life has surged within Joe and Cmdr. Ylbora.
: A new life within us…
If Ylbora’s dead:
: I believe that… Cmdr. Ylbora’s soul has caused a new life to surge within Joe.
: …?!
: That man entrusted all that he was to Joe in his final moments.
: …
: He gave me a new life…
Common ground:
: And I’m certain that Princess Romina is the one responsible for it succeeding…
: I am…?!
: There is a certain passage in Mirisha’s G-Records.
: “As the lights of the moon and of the sun united, new life took root within the great ocean.”
: Th-That’s…!
: Lemme guess, there’s a similar story in Planet Ladorio, right?
: Y-Yes…
: “The righteous sun and the righteous moon heard the pulse of the crane, gathering beneath its wings and weaving a new power.”
: It’s an old tale passed among the Ladorio royal family.
: I am quite sure that tale refers to the crux of the Ninja Legend.
: Wh-What do you mean?!
: The sun and the moon would be the Tobikage and Zerokage; whilst the crane would be the Elshank.
: Joe and Cmdr. Ylbora’s souls aligned with Princess Romina’s heart, and, thus, gave birth to new life.
: The light unleashed at that time became the origin of the Ninja Legend, which was transmitted across the ages into the future Earth – Planet Ladorio.
: And Joe’s soul eventually lodged itself within the Tobikage, becoming the Elshank’s guardian…
: Oh… So, that’s why the Tobikage would always come running whenever we were in trouble.
: It… rather, our bro was protecting us all this time…
: Now that I think about it, that’s likely what happened with Karen, too.
: He felt my wish to save her…
: And Joe’s soul, within the Tobikage, decided to grant it…
: This sounds real crazy, though.
: I mean, my mind lasted all the way into the future in the Tobikage; then, he came back to the present and joined with my life again?
: On the contrary, I’d say that cycle is precisely what made the Tobikage what he is today. It’s all due to the many, many times he accumulated your life within himself.
: And I reckon that’s also the case with the Linebarrel.
: Then, my father…?!
: Yeah. Mr. Amagatsu placed his life within the Linebarrel by drawing lines between past and future and crossing countless possibilities together…
: Linebarrel, the form created by countless overlapping possibilities…
: Given enough time, machines who were endowed with souls become human…
: I believe it was from them that the divergent possibility of Mirisha came to be.
To clarify what was exposed between Kouichi and Kongming, Linebarrel wasn’t just home to Amagatsu’s brain – but also to his very soul. As shown by the bot and Tobikage, eventually, a machine will gain a soul and turn into a human.
The game doesn’t OUTRIGHT state this, but, considering the context of this conversation and UX’s world as a whole, signs point to the Mirishans being a divergence of the Human Machinas, in a universe where they actually succeeded in becoming human.
My pet theory was that the SD Gundams were ELS-human hybrids (a thing that Trailblazer showed to be possible in its ending) that literally became Gundam due to Setsuna’s influence in the ELS hivemind. However, that theory isn’t as solid due to, one, being based on a movie plot point that UX hasn’t acknowledged, two, not every Mirishan being a Gundam, and, three, going against the central point of this conversation which is MACHINES becoming human. The ELS aren’t machines, but metallic creatures (I get a much bigger giggle out of my theory, mind).
: …
: Our world and this one really were the same, then…?
: Well, they sure have a bunch of stuff in common.
: Then, from our point of view, we and this universe’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms are divergent possibilities of one another…?
: And I believe all those present here bear such possibilities within.
: Us, too?
: Aye. Our meeting with one another, how I sensed the presence of my lost Deus Machina, Aeon, coming from the Demonbane during our first encounter…
: None of it was mere coincidence. It was the result of various superimposed events which molded our fate.
: In that case, there’s got to be one divergent possibility where I became human and married my darling-robo!
: Alright, I’m going to look for that divergence and make it happen here!
: WHAT are you talking about, Elsaaaa?!
: That is a Route of perversion, and not the one you want! The fate you should strive for is one where the two of us evolve to become gods of the entire universe! (Reference to Flight of the Machine God Demonbane)
: Hmm, I really don’t see that happening, Doctor-robo…
: I’m sure Byston Well also has many different possibilities of its own…
: One being the Byston Well we knew, back in a previous universe…
: And now all these possibilities are being brought together…
: But, then, what does that make this universe we’re in right now?
: Indeed, were I to dub it something…
: I would say this is, quite literally, where all possibilities are gathered…
: All possibilities are gathered here…
Beep.
(TV): Jeffrey Wilder calling all UX personnel – we’ve located the Frontier Fleet.
: The Frontier?! Where?!
(TV): They have detached the Island 1 residential colony and are at the surface of the Vajra homeworld.
: They’re also giving out some major Fold Waves, which we presume they’re using to take control of the Vajra.
: Our fears were correct. They mean to carry out an armed incursion of the Vajra homeworld…
: Then, we should move over there ourselves!
: We’re also readying the Fold Sound stage for Ranka Lee to use.
: I’ll be singing from the Quarter again…?
: While we don’t know how effective it’ll be at countering the Frontier’s control waves, yours and Fei’s songs are our only hope with Sheryl gone.
: …
: Everything’ll be okay, Ranka… right? Come on – we’ll get through to them together!
: Yeah… I’ll sing for Sheryl as well!
: Ranka…
: Alto, wait a minute!
: What is it?
: Haah, haah…
: There’s just something that I had to say to you…
: Something you had to…?
: I… I’m ready to carry on singing to my very last breath!
: So, I made a song that captured what I feel for the man who has my heart…
: Your heart?
: …
: I… I love you, Alto!
: …?!
: Ranka… I—
: Don’t say it!
: …!
: I-I know it’s weird, but…
: The thought of hearing how you feel scares me so much more than singing right in the middle of a warzone.
: …
: Whatever that answer is, I don’t think I’d be in any condition to sing once I heard it… and I want to sing my very best today!
: I will make my song get through to the Vajra – not just for us, but for Sheryl too!
: S-So, please, Alto… promise me you’ll make it back!
: Ranka…
: Yeah, I promise…
Mission 50 – The Wings of Goodbye
(young man): Fusion rate with the Vajra Queen has just reached 75%.
(old man): Just a bit longer and we—
SRW UX - After-School Overflow
(middle-aged man): What? That’s…!
: All hands, battle stations!
(young woman): Oh my, it looks like we’ve pursuers. And such a tiny force, even – how precious.
(old man): We can just have the Vajra deal with them.
(middle-aged man): You will not interfere with us! Soon, the entire universe will belong to the Galaxy!
: The “Galaxy”?!
: But wasn’t most of their fleet wiped out in that Vajra attack?!
(young man): We have abandoned the concept of individuality. However many of us are left is irrelevant.
(old man): Just stay there and watch as we rise to become the rulers of the universe!
: I guess it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. They’re after the exact same thing as Hazard.
: Then, our task remains the same: to pave the way for both humanity and the Vajra’s future!
If Graham’s dead:
: Meaning what we gotta do’s the usual!
: Yeah. And that is to show them that we are Hell!
: We don’t know what they’re doing, but we know we can’t allow it to continue. Life is meant to be free, not to be someone’s property…!
: And that’s why I sing: to relay these feelings to everyone… and to the Vajra!
: So, hold me to the edge of the galaxy!
Destroy everything, don’t lose a ship or Alto (why did Ozma deploy as an event if he’s not even tied to a losing condition? Not that I’m complaining, since it’s a free deploy for his partner, but…).
Final battle with the Vajra, but this start is pretty much a repeat of the previous battle – only with rougher terrain for your land-bound units. Same strategy as before applies, and you won’t even have stuff coming from both ends of the map. As we saw, the Galaxy folk are holed up in the NW corner and all reinforcements’ll be coming from that end. Move as a united front and tear through the Vajra as you would – you’ve plenty of command auras to offset their evasiveness, even without Kongming’s boosts.
: Watch over me, Ranka, Sheryl!
: I’ll stop their plans as a pilot… no, as just another life that calls this galaxy home!
: I swear it on these proud wings of mine!
And when you kill a handful of the buggers…
: Target locked. Moving to engage and destroy the enemy.
: Brera?! What’re you doing here…?!
: If I had to guess, I’d say he’s also being controlled by their Implants.
: Even he…?!
: Is there no low those people won’t sink to…?!
: Brera…
: He’s gonna be fine, Ranka…!
: Holly…?!
: That guy’s your big brother, so you just gotta pry his eyes back open with your song!
: Right. The bonds between family aren’t broken that easily – no matter the distance between them!
: You may get separated and even lost your memories, but your heart’ll still find its way to him! Because… you’re brother and sister!
: Sing, Ranka! And put everything you feel into those lyrics!
: Alto, guys…
: …
: Okay! I’ll get all that I feel over to the Vajra and Brera!
: (You’ve grown so strong, Ranka. I guess my role in this is almost done…)
: (But the one thing I can still do for you is save that man…!)
[i]Secret Alert!
Macross Frontier Secret – 6th step – set Ranka as the tactician/cheerleader and have Alto down Brera.
Simple, especially considering Brera seems to prioritize Alto. He’s appropriately evasive and accurate, as enemy Valkyries are liable to be, but it’s nothing we can’t handle with some spirits.
To make the rest of the mission easier, make sure to wipe out all of the initial Vajra BEFORE taking Brera out.
And here he comes already.
: A common human dares stand up to us? Idiocy…
: You may be cyborgs, but I’ll find a way to carry out my duty!
: Hold on, Ranka! Brera’s real heart is somewhere in him and I’ll get your song over to it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32P9gdIOkhY
Oh, and here’s the swanky DK for Ylbora’s best non-combo attack.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
: You were helping us save Ranka not long ago, Brera. Was that all just a load of lies? Answer me!
: I am a soldier who carries out the Galaxy Fleet’s orders. My reasons are what they tell me.
: Oh, really…? Then it falls on me to wake you the hell up even if it takes some hurting to make it happen!
: That’s my purpose right now – not as a captain of the SMS, but as Ranka’s brother…!
Brera drops a Ranka’s Disk.
: Rgh… There’s a noise inside my head…! Stop singing, Ranka Lee…!
: (Brera…!)
: The control from those Implants might just be too strong for us to break…!
: No, I’m sure it’ll work! Ranka’s song will get through to him, I just know…!
: Open your eyes, Brera! Take back your heart from them!
: Hrm… Enough of your nonsense!
: Please, feel Ranka’s heart! She’s trying to bring you back!
: For how long are you gonna be a wimp like that, Brera?!
: I’m sure you didn’t survive until now just to be a pawn of the Galaxy Fleet, right?!
: I-I survived to…
Tzeeeeeep.
: (…?!)
: (What… What are… these emotions inside me…?!)
: (Please, Brera…! You… You’re my brother!)
: This song… these emotions are… Ran…ka…
(young man): Stop this exercise in futility!
(young woman): Nothing can resist our Implants’ control!
: S-Shut up… I…
SRW UX - After-School Overflow
: I won’t be your puppet anymore!
(middle-aged man): It can’t be…! You’ve overpowered the Implants’ control…?!
: It was all thanks to Ranka’s song…
: She set free the memories your Implants locked away!
: Brera… thank goodness…!
(middle-aged man): Hmph. Still, being betrayed by one cyborg’ll hardly be an issue.
(young woman): We’ve already completed our fusion, you see.
(old man): Behold the birth of the ruler of the universe…!
: Wh-What the hell is that…?!
: It’s a living weapon… the Battle Frontier’s and the Vajra Queen have fused together…!
(old man): You may as well surrender. We have wired ourselves to the Vajra Queen – no outside interference will work on her.
: They’re linked to her by wire?!
: Meaning they’re controlling the Queen directly!
(young woman): Better yet, it means your songs are powerless! And with the Vajra Queen under our control, it won’t be long before all other Vajra follow suit!
(middle-aged man): Bow down before the ruler of the universe!
: Aaaaaaah!
: G-Goddamn… that thing packs a mean punch…
: Kch… I’m not giving up! Ever!
: Alto…
: Sing, Sheryl…
: I’m sure that… your song will…
: But… why, Grace? I thought you were an agent of the Galaxy…
: Not by choice… What a bad joke, this is. Only now that I’m in this sorry state… was I finally freed from their Implants…
: And I’ve raised you… like my own daughter… Please, let me hear your song… one last time…
: Grace…!
: …
: (I’ll die if I sing now… but…)
: There’re people in need of my song! And, in that case, I’ll gladly lay down my soul for this…!
(Grace): …
: Here I go, Grace. I’ll sing for you as well.
: Even if I wind up dead… my song’ll live forever!
: …?!
: This song…!
: It’s Sheryl’s…! But where’s it coming from?!
: Over there! I’m sensing something at Island 1!
: Alto! Everyone…!
: I knew you were alive, Sheryl!
Alto flies over to her.
: Alto, take me to the stage…! To the Macross Quarter!
: …
: Yeah, alright…!
Over to the Quarter.
: Sheryl…!
: …
: Are you sure about this? If you keep singing, your body’ll…
: If I’m going to die, I’d rather do so up on stage. I’m sure you can relate to that.
: Besides, I…
: My song’ll send ripples across the galaxy!
: ?!
: Back then… that was you?
: Psh, took you long enough to notice.
: Come on, Ranka! Time to kick this show into high-gear!
: Okay!
: It’s… Sheryl and Ranka’s emotions are echoing through me!
: Their hearts are spreading across this planet… across the whole sky!
: Amaaaaaziiiiiing! It’s like the shout of their souls are resounding through our hearts!
: The color of this music, its scent… I’ve felt so much, and I want the air, the sea, the sky – the entire universe – to feel all of it!
: Have a listen to the show of the Weavers of the Wind, the trio who’ll send ripples across the galaxy!
(middle-aged man): Sing as much as you’d like, you’ll never wrest control of the Vajra Queen from us!
(young man): The Legend of Lynn Minmay was just a fabrication of the past civilization.
(young woman): Song could never save the galaxy!
: Then, we’ll just have to prove how wrong you are!
: Song is a force that links all our hearts together!
: (If the sky is your stage, then let me see you dance once again!)
: (Show me the true dance of Alto Saotome!)
Now we just have to beat the Queen Frontier, while keeping an eye on Brera as well.
Queen Frontier
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L8
Support Attack L3
Break Morale Limit
All Attack L3
Command L4
Mech Features:
Fold Barrier
30% HP and EN Regen
All-Canceller
Following our showdown with Hazard, we’ve yet another battleship boss, with all that that entails. Of note is the Macross Cannon MAPW, which blasts a 3x9 directional AoE (width is 4 from squares 5 to 8), but that’s only a problem if you let them get the morale to use it. A couple of Daunt casts should be more than enough to remedy it if all you’ve left to fight are the enemy reinforcements.
The galaxy honchos have plenty good stats and the Queen Frontier’s the bulkiest enemy we’ve had to face yet, but it’s nothing we haven’t dealt with before. Spread out your guys, approach from various angles if you can’t get their morale below 130 and let ‘em have it. As is true to all Macross Cannons, the Frontier can only shoot it from range 3 and beyond.
VF-27γ Lucifer F-SP (Brera Stern)
Pilot Skills:
Support Attack L2
Support Defense L1
Counter
Predict
All Attack L1
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate
Sense
Snipe
Confuse
Soul
Brera’s Squad Bonus: Mobility +5, Accuracy +5 (Mobility +30, Accuracy +30, 35% chance to Double Image, Movement +2)
Brera’s voice actor: Soichiro Hoshi
Brera’s not as massively overpowered as he was back in L, and he doesn’t get a combo with Alto, but he’s still VERY competent with stats, evasion and firepower on par with the YF-29. Loads of range and all his attacks are still ammo-based, so he can fit right in with a whole bunch of people.
Accelerate and Confuse already make him a priority pick, being able to fly, boost the squaddie’s movement range and packing good firepower means he ought to be one of the first units you turn to in order to supplement any gaps in your formation.
: This song’s lit a fire in me… What you see is the heart I’ve recovered due to Ranka!
: And I’ll go on soaring through this sky, hand-in-hand with those emotions!
(young woman): Humanity could be freed of anguish and loneliness if it were connected to the Fold Network.
: We represent the apex of our evolution!
: You’re wrong! What you’re doing is nothing but running away from that pain!
: Right. The pain that exists between people doesn’t just vanish even when their minds are connected.
: And that’s what makes them want to reach out to one another, and find a way to heal that pain!
: Despite all those hardships, we’ll never stop wanting to be here. And now you’ll see the power that wish, that will, gives us!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u8AWyzg7C4
And here’s Brera’s best attack.
(young woman): Hmhmhm, you believe you can stand up to us with a Quarter-class vessel?
: Energy buildup within the target! They’re getting ready to attack!
: Reactive Furnace, output is stable!
: Weapon systems are all green!
: Captain, let’s try and distract them! I’m sure a helmsman as skilled as Bobby can avoid any major hits!
: Aw, you’re making me flush, Cathy…!
: But you’ve got the right idea! I say we go and give ‘em a reminder of all the legends that came from ships called Macross!
: The freedom of the entire galaxy is riding on this battle. We couldn’t ask for a more deserving spot to ante up our lives! We’re going in, you lot!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SplWY1SULM
[i]And, since we’re at it, the Queen Frontier’s own Macross Cannon.
Now, everyone’s still got plenty to say but, for simplicity’s sake, let’s skip ahead to when you get the Frontier down to 15%…
(middle-aged man): You waste your time opposing the ruler of the universe!
(old man): And now you’ll die for your insolence!
Alarm!
: We’ve a powerful energy reading coming from the Vajra Queen!
: They’re connected to the Battle Galaxy’s Mega Macross Cannon and it looks like they’re getting ready to fire!
: Bobby, evasive maneuvers!
: OOoryaaaaaa!
The Quarter flies away.
(middle-aged man): That won’t help you! Disappear from the face of the galaxy!
: Sheryl! Ranka!
: We won’t be beaten by them!
: We’ll sing and our voices’ll cross space and time, to the edge of the galaxy and back…!
: Listen to our song!!
SRW UX - The Wings of Goodbye ~ the end of triangle
BLOOOOCK!
: Th-That’s… What happened?!
: Those Vajra just…!
: Shielded the Macross Quarter…?!
(young woman): Th-That’s impossible!
(young man): How are the Vajra opposing us?!
(middle-aged man): Hrm… again! Fire the Macross Cannon at full blast and destroy them along with the bugs!
Blaaaast!
Bloooock x2
(old man): Wh-Whaat?!
: The ELS and even the Festum…!
: What’s going on?!
: And those aren’t the only ones! More of them are showing up all across the sector! Additionally…
Any surviving Vajra retreat.
: The Vajra are all breaking free from the Implants…?
: They’re… all helping us?
: Everyone has only one thing in their minds: they wish to protect you.
: Not just the Vajra, but the ELS and we Festum as well…!
: All life in this universe is aligning with your will…!
If Misao’s dead:
: They’re all working to protect us!
: The Vajra, the ELS and even the Festum!
: All life in this universe is aligning with our will…!
: (Are you watching, Kurusu?)
: (Your choice is helping us protect this distant sky!)
Common ground:
: All life is one and the same…!
: We weren’t wrong in what we’d been trying to do after all!
: Damn straight…! Putting an end to conflict isn’t going to lead to our destruction!
: Our lives and reaching out and taking each other’s hands…!
: Our wishes are coming together…!
: There is absolutely no way something as beautiful as this could be the cause for destruction!
Everyone gets a full SP recharge and max morale!
(young woman): Th-That’s…?!
(middle-aged man): I cannot be… Is this the power of song?!
(old man): But it won’t matter! We’re still connected to the Vajra Queen, and while it stays that way…!
: I hear the Queen’s grief…!
: You fiends! How are you so uncaring to enslave the Vajra and their Queen?!
: Hold on just a bit, queenie!
: We’re coming to set you free!
: Troops, CHAAAAARGE!!
So, yeah, you technically need to kill the Queen Frontier twice, but you get all your SP back, so it’s no big problem.
And with that out of the way, now we can get to work.
May’n & Megumi Nakajima - The Wings of Goodbye ~ the end of triangle
: Stay on your toes! The enemy has full access to all of the Battle Frontier’s weapons!
: Their barrage’s like a rain of beams…!
(old man): The Protoculture itself feared these trans-dimensional creatures. And now that we’ve united ourselves with them, we’ve risen into a greater state of being!
: And you think that’s all it’ll take to get us quivering in our boots?! Holto:dants Zentran!
: Yeah! We’ll making it out of this alive!
: Skull Leader to all units! Our target’s as big as they come, so get into their blind-spot first!
: Once you’re there, blast them with every bullet you have! Troops, Formation Charging Love Heart!
(middle-aged man): Our Fold Network allows the minds of all lives to be linked with one another!
: What is that, if not the ultimate kind of dialogue?
: That stopped being dialogue the moment you built your network around a static hierarchy!
: What’s needed for dialogue to occur isn’t a Fold Network, but just for people to wish for it!
(young woman): Mankind’ll be free of its unending history of conflict once all our minds are weaved together.
: For the first time since the dawn of time, everlasting peace is in reach!
: You’ve a point in that it’d be one way to give everyone the world they’d been looking for…
: But what you’re offering wouldn’t be real peace!
: Take away the dream given to all life, and it’d be the same as us not existing at all!
: Whatever hardships await us, we’ll rise above them all! We just have to hold onto our hearts, and, sooner or later, we’ll overcome even fate itself!
(middle-aged man): Become terminals in our Network and we’ll optimize that savagery of yours! You’ll be able to enjoy living rationally!
: “Rationally”, eh? Way you’re putting it, it sounds more like we’d be living as your servants!
: And I’m in no way interested in fighting as your pawns like the Vajra!
: Besides, “living rationally” sounds so very dull. I doubt any of us are interested.
: Right on. What we want are thrills that set our hearts ablaze!
: So, that’s a big NO to your lame offer. We’d never be happy with that!
(old man): It’s by joining with our Network that humanity could truly come to coexist with other species!
: By opposing us, you’re standing against the evolution of our kind!
: Hah, what rock have you been hiding under? You’ve been hanging out in this world and don’t even know what we’ve accomplished already?
: We didn’t need anything like that to get through to other lifeforms back then, and we sure as hell don’t need it now!
(middle-aged man): You fools… You cannot grasp the magnificence of the world our Network’ll bring about…!
: Yeah, we absolutely cannot. And that’s because what you’re putting together are just a bunch of chains to wrap around people’s souls!
: Besides, it sounds as boring as watching paint dry…
: I mean, say your plan worked and everyone got along real good. Where am I gonna find folks to fight in that kinda world, eh?!
(old man): The souls of the people could know eternal peace through our Fold Network.
(young man): A world to rival the one you knew will be born onto this land!
: Yet even Byston Well was thrown into disarray through the actions of a few men. As was the Overworld!
: I see where we’re headed quite clearly so long as beliefs as foul as yours continue to exist!
(middle-aged man): We’ve the Vajra Queen completely under our control. It’s only a matter of time before the entire universe belongs to us!
: Wrong…! The Vajra’s own will is still alive, and we’ll get them out of your clutches!
: The Vajra’s lives have to be freed, Nanajin! You took your name after divinities, so I know you can make that happen!
(old man): Humanity could reach a new level under our rule!
(young woman): We’ll rule the galaxy and all of you’d enjoy boundless evolution! Why do you oppose us?!
: Who in their right mind would just let you impose your crap on us?! You’re not even stopping to ask us if that’s what we want!
: But, on top of all that… I’m not going to turn a blind eye to all that Vajra you’re hurting!
(young woman): Hmhmhm, come to us, little boy. We could even link your mind to that robot beside you.
: What a sad group you are. You believe doing that is the only way to bring hearts together…
: But, in reality, you never need anything of the sort! All it takes is for you to really want to convey how you feel to someone!
: Ooooooo!
(old man): The world we’re creating has no need for two beings capable of linking wills together. We must stave off any factors capable of dividing our society.
: And since I carry Odyssite within me, that means I have to go, hm?
: For all your flowery speeches, your self-serving agenda is very transparent…
: We’re done talking. The only thing you’ll be getting from us is a knife through your collective hearts!
: Heh, what’s up next, Godzilla? Y’all look like something straight out of a monster flick!
(middle-aged man): You would compare the gods of this universe to foul creatures? How uncouth.
: Does reality elude you? Your very shape harkens back to the vilest of evil gods – a wriggling mass of souls!
: But you’ve gone and named yourselves gods, so I hope you’re ready to butt heads with the blade that slays your kind!
: You’ve instilled in me every combat skill I have. And now it’s your turn to feel it for yourselves!
(young woman): Well, well, you’re looking pretty feisty after breaking free of our control.
(old man): There’s no point in a puppet whose strings have snapped. But we’ll have you leashed again soon enough!
: I’ll never lose my heart again – not as long as Ranka’s song echoes within me!
(young man): People from a parallel world, hm…? You do know that you could potentially get back to your original universe if you worked with us, yes?
: And beckon you to our homeland? I think not!
: Ye fiends draped in darkness! By the souls of heroes that we bear, we shall end you!
(old man): We, as new gods, could grand order and peace to all lands blighted by war…
: Every being that calls this universe home bears a will within…
: Those who would pervade and subvert that will could never stir the heavens! And ‘tis high time you realized that!
: Aye, it is humans, with their raging souls, that compel even the very heavens! All that awaits false gods such as you is oblivion!
(old man): Heart of Diva… we no longer have any need for your songs.
: The Vajra are firmly under our grasp.
: I never cared about being needed!
: I feel, and, so, I sing! And, through that, I bring people’s hearts together! That is what being the Heart of Diva means.
: But I guess a bunch of crazies who’ve lost their hearts would have a hard time understanding that!
(old man): There’ll be no more discrimination or strife once the world is under our grasp!
: And, then, humanity will evolve into an even greater state of being!
: You don’t even care about the pain you’re causing. The only thing that’d come from your rule would be oppression and atrocities!
: Meanwhile, Sheryl and Ranka opened themselves to the Vajra. I’d much rather believe in their songs!
And they drop a Sheryl’s Disk.
(old man): This cacophony of information… It cannot be!
(young woman): The UX’s thoughts are bolstering Code Q1 and Fairy 9’s minds?!
: That’s what song is about, dudes! It ain’t rocket science!
: Song is what links and joins everyone’s hearts as one! Now, let’s sing for the entire universe!
: We’ll bring our wishes together…!
: And the whole galaxy’ll resound with our music!
(middle-aged man): Blast you all! But we just have to eliminate Code Q1 and Fairy 9, and…!
: Absolutely not!
(young man): Hrgh… There’s interference in our mental-affinity field! We can’t control the Queen!
: Now, Alto!
: This stone transmits their thoughts and emotions to me… and, with it, I’ll fly hand-in-hand with their song!
: This… is my dance of wings!
: Haaaaaaaah!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpSgJCsnOMoc
This is actually an action command, which lets you set a 3x3 AoE as far as 8 squares away. It costs 80 EN and any enemy inside will be Stunned, unable to take any action, for a whole turn.
: What a beautiful dance…! Every movement showcases the light of his soul…
: He’s doing a kabuki routine with his Valkyrie…!
: Trust us, Vajra! We… We’re not enemies…!
(https://lpix.org/3213058/image153.png[/img)]
: The Vajra Queen’s not in pain anymore…!
: Haah, haah…
: The Vajra understood…
: Rrk!
: Alto, are you okay?!
: I am. And, more importantly…
: Look! There’s light coming from the ground!
: That’s… the light of this planet…?
: Nay, I am certain that is the very will of this planet.
: The will of this planet…
: Maybe that’s its way of greeting us?
: The planet’s blessing us!
: The blessing of life…
: (Indeed, this place is…!)
: Hah… Hahah… Magnificent!
: You are magnificent, UX! At long last, the pathway is open…!
: Shot Weapon?!
: This is the beginning of life! The underlying truth of the universe…!
: The truth of the universe?! What’s he talking about?!
: This is it. Now I shall reach… the origin of the new Yuga!
Shot blasts off towards Alto and the Vajra Queen!
: He’s going kamikaze?!
: Alto, RUN!
: …
: I-I can’t… My Valkyrie isn’t budging…!
: What?!
: A-Alto…
: …
: Ranka…
: I’m so sorry. I’m truly grateful for how you feel, but… I can’t answer those feelings in kind…
: …?!
: And Sheryl…
: I know this is a bit late, but…
: Aah…!
: I… love y—
BOOOOOM!
: ALTOOOOOOO!!
: …
: Am I dead…?
: Nope, you’re still alive. (Everyone’s faces except Alto’s are darkened, but blah.)
: ?!
: You guys have proven beyond any doubt that all life in the universe is one and the same.
: Y-You’re…!
: Soon… Very soon, you’ll reach it…
: The beginning of life is nigh…
: “Beginning of life”…?
: It’s that which is already with you and your friends.
: You can hear it, I’m sure… the voice of life…
: Alto…!
: Alto…!
: Th-That voice is…!
: …
: H-Hrm… Where am I?
: Ah, thank God. You’re awake!
: Alto!
: I-I’m… What happened?
: The Vajra Queen protected you.
: The Queen?!
: She strengthened her Fold Barrier to the Nth degree at the time of the explosion…
: She all but risked her life shielding you…
: A Vajra risked its life for me…
: Just as Ai-kun did to save me when I got spaced.
: Huh?! Then, he…?!
: Yeah. As it turns out, he was a Vajra larva.
: He used a lot of his energy, but I believe he’d also joined the other Vajra helping us…
: Really? Ai-Kun…
: And, Sheryl, what about you? Is your body holding out okay?
: You know what? As weird as it sounds, I’m not feeling anything wrong.
: You’re not…?
: I’d wager the same phenomenon we saw with Arnie and Joe happened to her.
: Then, Sheryl also…?
: Hmhmm. The light we saw back there likely came from all the Fold Quartz spread across this planet.
: And I believe what happened was a resonance between our… or, rather, between all the wills that were gathered there.
: …
: Grace told me before that the way to actually cure my V-Type Infection was to transplant Ranka’s organs into me, since she’s naturally immune to Fold Bacteria.
: My organs…?!
: But not anymore. The Vajra gave me the strength I needed to survive.
: The ELS, the Festum, and the Vajra… They, and we, have all been blessed with life.
: We all have a place in the universe…
: A place, huh…?
: Sheryl, Ranka and Fei’s songs showed them how we felt…
: Our songs…
: …
: Ranka, keep living life as your heart tells you to.
: Just as you did in Galia 4, when you were just a little girl singing… now and forever…
: Brera…
: Hm? Are you just going to walk away like that?
: …
: How can you just leave? You’ve finally been reunited with your sister…
: We haven’t been brother and sister for far too long…
: All the more reason for you to make up for it, no? There’s certainly no rush…
: But, I…
: However you look at it, there’s no denying your blood. She is your sister.
: You’re free now, aren’t you? Then, this is when you should stay by Ranka’s side and watch over her.
: That is, if you also consider yourself to be her brother…
: Ozma Lee…
: You’re not leaving again, are you?
: …
: Is it really alright for me to stay with you, Ranka…?
: Of course – I want you to stay, even…
: After all, you’re… you’re my dear brother too, Brera…
: Heh…
: Thank you… Ranka.
: But what about that guy, Shot? What was he trying to do?
: He mentioned the “truth of the universe” and the “beginning of life”…
: The beginning of life…
: I would say that his goal was the same as that man, Jin.
: Jin…?!
: The Ninja Legend, Fold Quartz, the Yùxǐ and the Dragon’s Chalcedony, Aura Power and the Odyssite…
: It could be that the light those give out are manifestations of life itself. And if so…
: I see you have found the answer at last, UX…!
: Th-That voice…!
Magic!
: …
: Where… am I…? What am I doing here…?
: I see nothing… I hear nothing…
: Why? I was supposed to have arrived at the truth, no?
: …
: Ah, I see… I picked the wrong option.
: This is not the beginning, but the end…
: The other side of a Yuga that’s detached from the Samsara’s rule…
: Wh-What in blazes…?! It’s the leader of the Black Lodge…!
: The hell are you doing here, Master Therion…?!
: Rejoice, lost children of the Samsara. The restless flow of karma has been wholly restored to normality thanks to your grand efforts!
: And, now, I will reveal to you the true purpose of the C Project!
: Its true purpose?!
: Come forth, O God who is the Gate and the Key! Come forth!
: (The hell…? I know this incantation…? But from where?!)
: These words… I am certain of it…! Everyone, stop him!
: You are too late, Al Azif…
: O God who is All-in-One, and One-in-All! Come forth…!
: My father… Yog-Sothoth!
It’s not shown in the game, but what Master Therion does here is straight-up use Cthulhu as a sacrifice for his ritual – he’s inside the circle of pillars, being melted into a gooey paste!
: Whaa…aaaat…?
: Hatred… Loathing… Wrath… This whole area’s overflowing with negative Aura Power…
: “Past, present, future, all are one in Yog-Sothoth”… He who is the Key and guardian of the Gate, who exists at all places, at all times.
: An entity who connects this World to the Dark Tapestry, where myriad Great Old Ones dwell. A genuine Outer God.
: How could a man summon anything like that…?
: Aye, he can…
: For Master Therion is a god-child, the offspring of Yog-Sothoth!
: Correct. I am an inhuman child, the cursed result of the union between humanity’s most powerful sorceress, Nero, and the Outer God Yog-Sothoth.
: A god-child…?!
: And if you wish to save the world, you would do well to follow me! Come to the end of the World, to the end of Time! It is there what we shall settle matters between us!
: I will be waiting, blade that slays gods, and lost children of the Samsara…!
Flash!
: H-He vanished…
Beep!
: G-Guys, we’ve got trouble! That gate just…
: It also appeared at Earth’s South Pole at the exact same time!
: S-Say what…?!
: My suspicions were correct. The Vajra homeworld is another such case…
: Another case of what? What do you mean?!
: It is a planet whose life shares the same origin as Earth’s.
: Humans, ELS, Festum, Vajra…
: And I have a feeling that the Skrugg as well. All these lives share one beginning…
: …?!
: B-But, then… that’d mean!
: Aye… There never were any parallel universes. The Frontier Fleet’s Earth, like Planet Ladorio and Mirisha, is a different future version of Earth…
: Wh-What…?!
: …
: All those possible universes lie spread across a spiderweb centered around this one…
: In the end, we were all born in the exact same universe…
: …
: There is only one beginning…
Now, let’s go over everything we learned on this mission because I expect a lot of “whuh?”. I gave this a good amount of thought, hit the wikis, and worked myself into a head-splitting migraine, and here’s my take on it:
As we learned from Shou’s Byston Well and whatnot, the universe undergoes cycles (the Samsara).
The universe, across each cycle, goes off in a different direction and there are endless divergent possibilities it can follow. In one universe, it led to Shou’s world, with his Byston Well; in another, it led to Mirisha; in another, it led to the world where the SDF-1 Macross fell; in another, Earth became the Vajra homeworld; in another, it led to Planet Ladorio, etc.
In regards to the Vajra, as proven by Yog-Sothoth’s presence – it working like Chrono Trigger’s Black Omen, in that it exists concurrently everywhere in time – the buggers’ homeworld is also another possible future of Earth, which was brought over to our world (either by the Queen Folding it here – as she’s wont to do in SRW – or by something else). The Macross Earth proper, where the SDF-1 fell, is yet another possible future, wherein the planet was home to humans.
Ultimately, these were never actually parallel universes – because that’d imply they exist side-by-side – but, rather, alternate possible futures, spread across different cycles, for a single universe. While every cycle may turn out differently, they all have the same starting point. That is why all life – even the alien ones – shares a common origin: this universe; in time, it diverges into one of an infinitude of possible paths, until it resets again.
All those alternate futures of Earth were self-contained within their respective cycles, but something went and brought many of them here, where it all starts – “gather at the beginning”.
Phew, that’s it for the show and tell. Now, getting Brera, as you might expect, is the Macross Frontier secret (and the sole reason it takes 3 runs to get all secrets, due to the Europe route carrying one of his flags, and nothing else).
If you couldn’t be arsed to go for him over a whole other bunch of great units, like sane people, the scenes change appropriately – starting at the end, once you’ve downed the Battle Frontier:
(middle-aged man): Blast you all! But we just have to eliminate Code Q1 and Fairy 9, and…!
: Absolutely not!
: Haaaah! RANKAAAAAA!
Kamikaze!
(young man): Hrgh… There’s interference in our mental-affinity field! We can’t control the Queen!
: (B-Brother…!)
: Now, Alto…! Don’t waste the opening Brera gave you!
And then the rest is the same. But, of course, when Brera would talk to Ranka in the epilogue, you get this:
: Sheryl, Ranka and Fei’s songs showed them how we felt…
: Our songs…
: There’s nowhere your songs cannot reach.
: Your brother finally recovered his self in the end, and I’m sure your notes will also find their way to his soul…
: Yes… Thank you, brother…
And that’s it. I appreciate the fact that not a whole lot of people care that Brera’s gone. Quickly now, here’s the one convo we missed:
(middle-aged man): There would be no pain or loneliness if people were linked to one another through Fold communication…
(young man): You, of all people, should understand that the Network we’re creating is the avenue that’d bring us our ultimate evolution.
: You’re right in that I wasn’t lonely when I was united with the Mir.
: That said, we chose to live by our own individual wills! It might be painful, but we learned that that’s what life is about!
So, this mission is where it’s finally time to bring it up - if you caught the thrust of the dialogue with Tobikage correctly, you might have noticed the “And he helped us with that secret!” followed shortly by "Tobikage’s power comes from all the versions of Joe that have become Tobikage over the years. In case you missed the implied speech - The reason secrets carry over in UX is LITERALLY that each run you do adds further and further to future ones, in the canon of the game itself.
I like that. It works out pretty well. But I do wish more SRWs would just have that happen normally.
We all want that ending, Dr. West. Too bad it is officially noncanon and the actual canon ending to that game is the one where TWO SWORD and Another Blood end up living.
The sad thing is that as far as I remember, the end of the movies is the only time Grace gets a chance to act of her own will, as she is killed off as a part of the final boss in the TV show. I think a few of the games and some side material explores her actual character in more depth though.
So, fun fact time! The Queen Frontier is kind of garbage in UX, it comes too late to be afraid of it. But it returns in BX under the control of the AGE villains to give the Macross shit a very slight amount of relevance in that game. And they throw it at you on a route split on like Stage 29. And its stats are essentially unchanged outside of lowered HP. BX is a very easy game overall, but goddamn, in that one regard it got really, really nasty.
The true issue with Tsubasa No Mae is that any given enemy you can actually affect with it… are going to be non-threats anyway. Bosses at this point always have All Canceller.
: Ok, what did you need?
Man, Hazard was a great villain. Just an asshole bureaucrat with delusions of grandeur, and yet he caused us so much trouble.
Master Therion is… Very much the opposite. For the offspring of one of the fundamental forces of the universe and the most powerful wizard in history, he’s really not interesting or engaging as a villain at all.
You know, they’re on a planet/alternate Earth with no real landmarks to its name. They really could have made Yog-Sothoth congruently manifest literally anywhere on Earth. Perhaps choosing for Yog-Sothoth to manifest in the South Pole was just a way for the writers to keep the eldritch thing as far away from humanity as possible, or…
H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness takes place in the South Pole. In the end of the book, the characters Danforth and Dyer are escaping Antartica via plane. Danforth, relieved from navigational duties by Dyer, looks back at the South Pole and sees something that turns him into a hysterical mess. In his maniacal ramblings brought about by this sighting, he ends up directly mentioning Yog-Sothoth
Hazard does end up getting quadruple billing here, since he gets to play the role of villain for multiple shows. No shortage of presentation, after all.
Master Therion ends up getting diluted by the fact that the fight with him happens immediately after the events of stage 43. But since UX and Demonbane end up being backended with their major plot twist, it’s invariably going to be locked to the penultimate stage.
It’s not just that imo, Pasha’s style is just way more fun for this kind of game. Therion mostly just shows up, gets beaten, and goes “hmm, maybe things will be different this time…” and leaves. Also, the cryptic nonsense and sudden appearing and vanishing is already done by Nyarlathotep, so he ends up sharing his gimmick with another character from his own series!
Hazard, meanwhile, every single time he appears, is doing so for the purpose of making shit difficult for you. He’s always got some crazy scheme going, and his response when called out on his evil is along the lines of “lol eat shit nerds.” Hazard is a total pain in the ass, but that’s good, because it’s way more satisfying when you finally defeat him.
Yeah, I feel ya. Hard to maintain your dynamic when your one of twenty main antagonists, especially when one of those happens to be Bastard Super Star Hazard Pasha.
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So Brunom1, now that you’re nearly at the end of this game, any idea on what you’re going to LP next?
Sorry to tell you, but I’m not even sure if I’m going to be doing another one. My free time’s been shrinking progressively, so I’ll need to see where things stand before I commit another 6 months-1 year towards something like this.
Click to see the mission!
And we’re back, having wrapped up the Frontier plot, Shot Weapon gunned Hester down (killsteal!) and blew himself up, and Master Therion decided to summon frickin’ Yog-Sothoth into this world. Also, everything is alternate universes!
Midorikawa needs to be put in his place, and Kurou, Arnie and Saya are deploying as event units. We’ve 20 slots available, so here’s how we’re going:
Joe/Ylbora
Aesap/Sakomizu
Liu Bei/Kiriyama
Kazuki/Maya
Setsuna/Brera
Shou/Tsubasa
Mazinkaiser/Vardant
Alto/Fei-Yen
Shinn/Luna
Mamoru/Shouko
Lu Bu/Seri
Cao Cao/Domyoji
Sakura/Kenji
Dancouga/Eida
Heroman/Miu
Mamoru/Shouko
Kouichi/Kiki
Sun Quan/Rennie
Kira/Athrun
Ishigami/Katou
Masaki/Allelujah
Tactician: Ruri (if you’re on track for the Demonbane secret)
Off we go.
: It’s been a long time since things got to this stage, huh?
: What’s next? Will Kurou and his gang go through Yog-Sothoth’s gate?
: There’s no point in wondering that.
: Kurou Daijuuji will come, as he always has.
: Hmhmhm, you’re just as unchanging yourself, with that wish to face him.
: …
: (Master…)
: Despite all the hundreds of thousands, hundreds of millions of times this rondo has been repeated, you never seem to tire of it…
: And I could say the same for you, yes, Etheldreda? You’ve always been tagging along with him.
: Nya… you talk too much.
: Ooh, how scary.
: As far as being unchanging goes, doesn’t that apply to you just as much?
: Ah, I figured you’d turn up, Novel Dylan.
: Now, like before, you’re here to take a stab at your “new possibilities”, hm?
: …
: Hm…?
: Oh, my dear Novel, this just won’t do. She just might be your biggest failure thus far.
: …?!
: She just pales in comparison to the previous “life”…
: That was Saya, wasn’t it?
: You’re getting ahead of yourself. We won’t know if Ayul is or isn’t a failure until the end, yes?
: Besides, I’m certain you, of all people, are aware that this time is different from the previous ones.
: Hmhmm, you mean all the aggregated possibilities? Still, that doesn’t make any difference to us.
: We will be victorious. It’s for that reason we came here today.
: Is that so? A man without a fate will be victorious?
: …!
: Cpt. Spencer…
: …
: I’m not like you, Master Therion.
: I may be surrounded by despair, but I’ll never let it break me. I’ll show you what human pride is about.
: Hah, a pride that pushes you to fight even as death looms over you? You amuse me…
: Then, I trust you won’t mind if I just sit back and watch.
: Will the end of the Yuga arrive, or will the possibilities of you humans prevail?
: I look forward to seeing which outcome awaits us…
: A space beyond space…?
: Aye, ‘tis that which lies through Yog-Sothoth’s gate…
: ‘Tis a dead space that links to all that was, is, and will be – including the Dark Tapestry, the lair of the Great Old Ones…
: And those “Great Old Ones” are?
: Evil gods spoken of in legends. It’s said they ruled the universe during ancient times.
: It’s also said that if they ever showed on up Earth, they could wipe out the entire planet in the blink of an eye.
: However, those are, ultimately, tales woven by man.
: In reality, what they are is the void.
: The void…?
: Aye. A boundless nothingness, wherein there is no life, death, light or darkness…
: Before life began, ‘twas the void that ruled the cosmos…
: A nothingness where there is no light or darkness…
: The Festum once told us that they were going to revert the universe to nothingness and ascend to a higher dimension…
: We didn’t understand the significance of life.
: So we tried to turn the world back to a state where all was united, where there was no life or death…
If Misao’s dead:
: I saw the nothingness inside the Festum before…
: Akira…
: The Festum didn’t understand the significance of life.
: So they tried to turn the world back to a state where all was united, where there was no life or death…
Common ground:
: This is what you meant when you said that the disorder between yin and yang – the state of the universe before light and darkness came to be – was the way towards the heavens, right, General Lu Bu?
: Then, the space beyond Yog-Sothoth’s gate was the Festum and Lu Bu’s endgame?
: Aye, but that is not all. I would wager the void is also what Master Therion is after…
: He wants to turn himself back to nothingness, then…?
: However, if the boundaries of the world beyond are weakened, the Great Old Ones shall be unleashed…
: That is to say, the void will encroach upon the cosmos once more.
: Looks like we don’t have time to waste, then.
: Aye, we could never allow our world to be turned to nothingness!
: We’re off, then! Set a course to Yog-Sothoth’s gate!
: …
: Would you do that… if it meant you would be unable to return to this universe?
: Huh…?!
: Wh-What’d you mean?!
: …
: This is a one-way trip… There’d be no coming back here.
: But… I see in your eyes that you’re still going, right, Ensign?
: Yeah. I don’t see any choice there.
: If nothing’s done, all the wishes people entrusted to us would be for nothing…
: …
: I suppose so. And, besides…
: Yeah… I’m sure we’ll find Jin and Ayul over there too…
: …
: I wonder… why did Novel Dylan create me?
: What meaning does our awakening to life hold?
: I couldn’t tell you; but there’s one thing that’s perfectly clear.
: That if the repeating cycle between existence and death is what life is about…
: Then we’ve only learned half of it. There’s still the other half left.
: The other half of life…
: Death is also part of life…?
: …
: Do… Do we really have to fight those two?
: …
: Yes. Because we still haven’t reached the Beginning…
: But…
: That girl, Saya, is another of my mom’s creations.
: So, wouldn’t that make her my older sister?
: Why must we, artificial beings, risk our lives fighting each other…?
: …
: There’s also something my mom said…
: She told me that it’s likely the universe is on the verge of reaching its end, so this will be our last chance…
: But I still can’t do anything right…
: Don’t worry. I promise I’ll help you seize your destiny.
: I’ll readily die if it’ll help you awaken to life…
: If that’s what it takes, then I want no part of it!
: Ayul…!
: …
: I don’t want to lose you…
: Rather, I want to stay with you! Now and forever…
: …
: Thank you, Ayul. Just hearing you say that has given my life meaning.
: Jin…
: But you cannot turn away from this.
: Even if all this is for naught, we still must stand tall and face the incoming despair…
: That is human dignity. The majesty of a proud life…
: …
: Come on, Ayul. Our Beginning awaits…
: Cmdr. Katou, do you have a moment?
: What do you need?
: I’ve something to ask you before our showdown with Master Therion.
: it’s about my grandfather, Kozo Hadou…
: …
: You’ve been alive and squaring off against the world since the Pacific War, so I presume you knew him.
: What can you tell me of how he lived, of what he was after…?
: In a word… he was a man who knew only hope.
: Hope…?
: Aeolia Schenberg, Amagatsu Kizaki, Kozo Hadou…
: All of them were men who foresaw the future of mankind and chose to defy the destruction that awaited us.
: So, my grandfather really did know the future…?
: Hm. But he kept hope alive within himself, and opposed the forces of despair that gripped the world.
: Of course, as a result of that, Arkham City became the one place on Earth that The Advancers could not reach.
: Did you meet my grandfather, Cmdr. Katou…? I presume so, since you know so much…
: I did not, actually.
: Or… perhaps I could say that I did. But in an unconventional way…
: …?
: But I digress. It’s quite clear to me that the Demonbane’s inherited Kozo Hadou’s will…
: The Demonbane’s…?
: If this is a universe where past and future repeat, where myriad possibilities become more and more intertwined with each cycle, then…
: Then, couldn’t it be said that the Demonbane’s taken in Kozo Hadou’s soul several times, like Joe and Tobikage?
: …!
: Furthermore, you and Kurou Daijuuji also possess an equally fierce will within yourselves…
: If Deus Ex Machina was a Human Machina who acquired a life of his own…
: Then, the Demonbane, having taken your souls onto itself, is yet another Deus Ex Machina.
: Personally, I believe a god to be simply a personification of human souls.
: …
: Hm, that may be so…
: (Forgive me, Kurou…)
: (‘Tis my mission to do battle with the evil gods. I could not simply bring you and our comrades into that eternal war…)
: …
: Come, Demonbane. Let us set off to our battle.
Steps.
: Planning on taking off by yourself, Al?
: Kurou…! What are you all doing here?!
: What else? Didn’t we all say we were gonna fight this together?
: You’re not getting a leg up on the competition, Al.
: …
: A war with inhuman creatures need only be fought by an equally inhuman being. Your assistance is unnecessary.
: I see. You’re that set on doing this, huh? But, then…
: You wanna explain to me why you’re crying?
: …?!
: Do… Do not be ridiculous… I would never cry…!
: Quit being so arrogant, you idiot!
: Do you believe I’m coming with because I’m some lost puppy that’s latched onto you or something?!
: I am not arrogant! Do you deem me to be so weak that I could not prevail against them by myself?
: I understand this makes me an unreliable grimoire, and I apologize, but…!
: No, you don’t understand. Who’d want to set off into battle over reasons as shallow as that?!
: No, the reason I’m coming with you is much more selfish…
: It’s just that… I don’t want to be separated from you.
: …!
: …
: Fool… Who in blazes who would let his heart be swayed by a book…?
: The guy standing right in front of you. That’s just the way it is.
: Kurou’s told you how he feels, Al. What about you?
: …
: O-Of course…
: Of course I care for him as well!
: Al…
: Throughout these thousands of years I have lived, I have never felt such powerful emotions!
: Not as my master or as my comrade in arms… I love the man, Kurou Daijuuji!
: Everyone here can relate to how you feel.
: …?!
: We all have people we wish to be safe, just as you and Kurou do.
: And it’s because we wish to protect them and this world, because we’ve emotions we don’t want to see gone…
: That we’re all here right now.
: We’re all resolved to see this through, so there’s only one thing we should be thinking about.
: …
: Aye, you are correct. In which case, let us fight together, Kurou. And you as well, my comrades!
: You shoulda just said so from the get-go and spared us all that drama!
: Let’s get to it, folks. It’s time to settle everything.
: Hell, yeah! Whatever world awaits us across that gate, we’ll go on fighting to the last second!
: We’ll keep going even if its eternity we’ll find over there!
Mission 51 – Strange Eons
: This is what’s inside Yog-Sothoth…?
: The whole space’s giving out a very bad vibe.
: More than that, I feel like I’m being stalked by something…
: We’ve been waiting, UX!
: …!
: …
: Here you are… Jin!
: Arnie, I…
: …
: (Those two are just like Joe and I…)
: Jin, I’ve already said all I had to say to you.
: Now I’ll just accept your resolve and face you with all I have!
: Heh, that is just what I hoped you’d do…
: I won’t be bested by you, my sister!
: I’ll not only seize my destiny… but I’ll save Jin’s life as well!
: Ayul, we are cut from the same cloth. Both were made to grasp and awaken to life…
SRW UX - The Will of Man Awakens
: But we cannot step aside either! The future of the very universe lies on our backs!
: My friends, victory must be ours! The fate of the universe depends on it!
Kill everything, don’t lose Kurou, Arnie or Saya.
It’s the penultimate mission, so there’s plenty of stuff to deal with. Straight ahead is Jin and his Riot Army. He and Ayul are the same as ever (unless you MAPW, the plot kicks in once one is dropped), but now the piddly Army of Mankind mooks have all left and you’re faced with nothing but Riots, all having plenty of HP and decent stopping power for mooks and regen EN, so they can be plenty liberal with their biggest weapons.
Also, the standard “green soldiers” that piloted the Riots have been replaced with upgraded “PURPLE soldiers”, which actually have pretty impressive stats for mooks (plus L3 on both Support Skills). Keep an eye out. That said, our guys are upgraded enough that major players should be able to two shot the Riot Cs.
And special note should be given to the brand new Riot Xs – the final form of the Riots. Like the Riot C, it covers both short and long range well and it has a good bunch of power on both of its primary weapons (4200 to 4100), so make sure not to eat a clean hit with someone who isn’t tanky. If anything, the strongest, point-blank attack has +20 accuracy modifier, so engaging at range 2 is best, since it’ll force them to use their vulcans.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
SRW UX - You Are Similar to Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9EAxG8EMMk
And here’s the Riot X’s strongest weapon. As is typical for the bots, it looks pretty nice.
SRW UX - FINAL MISSION ~ QUANTUM BURST 2
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: I’ve killed many men, and made just as many choices, to get to this point…!
: All so that I could lead her to the Beginning!
: Everyone may decide how their existence is shaped…
: That said, we’ve also made our own choices: to be here, fighting with our friends! We can’t be beaten now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xhRXnh3Xyo
I might not have room for Masaki in the final team, so let’s get his DK out of the way now.
Shiiiit, guess who forgot Jin’s MAPW had this AoE? There go Domyoji and Tsubasa (thankfully, I’d already Wing Crossed the SKL).
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: My other… Among so many possibilities, you and I started off as being the same.
: But our paths diverged, and now we’ve traversed too far to turn back…
: So, I’ll have to defeat you and keep moving onwards! Here I come… my sister!
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: Words will get us nowhere – the only thing left for us to exchange are attacks!
: It’ll be Ayul and I who’ll change this world’s future!
: If that’s the only sort of dialogue you’re open to, then fine!
: I, Setsuna F. Seiei, will wipe away that stubborn mentality of yours!
: Regardless of what your will is, we are going to fight!
: I don’t really understand these notions of yours… but I guess that boat’s sailed, so I’ll do this your way.
: Stay this course and you’ll only wind up hurting the people around you… and I really don’t want to see that!
: You would tread the path of the soul? I see the concept of clashing yin and yang is familiar to you!
: There are as many treads of fate as there are lives, but only one of them will be given the future…
: Now we’ll see which of us will reach the Beginning!
: When mighty nations vie for supremacy, the only possible end is for one to rise above the others… As far as we have come, that remains a constant of war!
: If you shall not make way, then show us how you would rise as a conqueror!
: If we both deem ourselves to be just, then it falls upon our wills to decide with whom the heavens side! To arms, Jin Spencer!
: Living is hard, isn’t it…? I’m sure all of us are pursuing the same thing, yet here we are fighting. (First part is, surprisingly, a reference to Yurin in Gundam AGE)
: As I’m sure you understand, it’s only through the clash of lives that we can mold our destiny!
: We do understand, which is why we’ve taken up arms again – so we can make the world of our dreams a reality!
: We’ll take up both your lives and the future onto ourselves!
: And then we’ll carve out our destiny!
: Victory will be mine. For my fallen comrades and subordinates…
: But, most of all, for Ayul!
: What a powerful Aura… it’s like his whole heart is poured in it. Is that how determined he is? That said, we’ve just as much cause to win this!
: Yeah, we absolutely cannot lose now! Get him, Shou!
Jin drops a Kazuki Curry.
If you went after Ayul and weren’t combined:
: A-Aargh…
: A-Ayul…!
: Now! We’re combining Saya!
: Roger!
Combine
: Lepton Vectrers, full blast! You’re done!
: AYUL!
But if you went after Jin:
: Gwaaargh!
: Captain!
: Now! We’re combining Saya!
: Roger!
Would combine if you hadn’t.
: Lepton Vectrers, full blast! You’re done!
: Waaaaargh!
: C-Captain…!
: Stay away…!
: …?!
: You have… to stay there…
: Jin… You!
: O-Open your eyes and watch…
: This is… the answer of my life!
: Jin… I knew it, you’re…!
: That man also has his gaze set upon the heavens… to that which lies beyond death!
: Haaaaaaaaah!
“Get back, Jin!”
: A…Aah…!
: A-Ayul…?!
: What… How did you?!
: I-I… I’ve finally found it! Existence and death are both part of life…!
: Jin, this…
: Is what life is…
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: AYUUUUL!!
: D-Damn it…
: Ayul…
: …
: Jin…?!
: This isn’t about fate or my mission anymore…
: I only want one thing… as just another man, another human!
: And that is one final battle with you, Arnie!
: I accept your challenge… Jin!
: COME ON!!
And now you get to do it again. I suppose I should’ve gone for Ayul since she also has a drop and you don’t get an extra paycheck by dropping Jin twice, but eh. This goes quicker if Arnie still has his move, because he can run back to our folks and draw Jin in on the next turn.
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: Could it be that you were a different Singularity…? However, my imagination no longer cares for such a possibility!
: Maybe not, but I’m not about to let my possibilities be severed. Here I come, Cmdr. Katou!
: Or, rather, Hisataka Katou…!
: His resolve is palpable, Kurou! Keep your wits about you, for he may well challenge us!
: Yeah, I’m on it. This guy’s also standing up to the despair around him, so all we can do is have at it and see who comes out on top!
: The only way we can keep hope alive is by taking him out!
: The mechanical god who molds fate… I’ll rise above them both and claim the future that lies ahead!
: If the Wings of Rean led us into this battle, then I won’t hesitate to face you!
: The Wings of Rean… wings of life which materialize in response to the will of man.
: But it’ll be our lives that lead all to the Beginning!
: Possibilities are born from various chains of events… You may have once tried to change the world, but events have now made you nothing but an animal for me to crush!
: Then put your money where your mouth is, and see what that gets you, pal!
: You’ll find we’re not so nice as to let folks talk to us like we’re washed-up nobodies!
: Whatever you’re feeling right now, I assure you we’ll match that and then some!
: Humans are animals. So, you better be paying attention, ‘cause you’re about to get an up close and personal look at the wild strength we all have!
: It’s a very fine line that separates those we must protect from those we must destroy…!
: And my heart’s compass has you marked as a target!
: One thing I learned from this is that everyone has something they’re determined to accomplish. That’s what pushes them to keep fighting!
: As for me, I’ll be a hero who strives to protect everyone! So, I won’t think twice about fighting you!
: The Singularity… I suppose you’re well aware of what makes humans human.
: Whether I am or not, it wouldn’t change what I have to do. And that’s just to ask myself: “What do I want to do?”
: And what I want, right now, is to keep everyone safe…! If you’ll be a problem for that, then I’ll put you down!
: We’re all humans here… We understand each other, but there’re also times when we’re just forced to stay our course. I guess now is one of those times, huh?
: And, in that case, bring it on! We’ll see which of us is more stubborn!
: You’ve the right idea. I’ll rise above you, the end of the universe, and I’ll arrive at the Beginning!
: Hell itself may bar my path, but the thunderclap of my life’ll quake its bowels!
: Heh, you’ll showcase the strength of your will to any who’d try and stop you? Well, I’m not about to gainsay that…
: That said, the second your toes touch Hell, your life’s off to enter King Enma’s book!
: Victory’ll be mine…!
: Even if I’ve to sacrifice my life and my pride, the light within us’ll remain in this world. And in that case!
: He’s also bearing someone’s emotions within as he flies… His very soul is laid bare!
: But, that’s also the case with us! I’ll take their emotions upon my wings and find my way back alive!
: I’ll take hold of the existence that lies at the tail end of all life!
: I’m done hesitating…! If this is what it takes for us to grasp the Beginning of Life, then I’ll part with every bit of my past!
–
You can only see this convo in phase one of the fight, when both bosses are alive, since Saya and Arnie auto-combine once you down either one, but I’m putting it here anyway:
: Had we met under different circumstances, I might have walked beside you… But that’s neither here nor there now…!
: It was fate who declared that we face each other like this…!
: Ayul’s the only one I’m to bring to life! As for you, I’ll bring an abrupt end to your future!
: Th-This isn’t over!
: Jin…
: What’s wrong, Arnie?! I-I… I’m right here!
: …
: Let’s go… Saya!
: Right!
: Do you see this, Ayul? Do you see the light of life that dwells within me?!
: Do you see my blood, my pride, my soul?!
: They’re all burning bright, side-by-side with your own!
: I see it, Jin! You’ve also taken hold of your fate…
: And now you’re headed to the Beginning of Life…!
: ARNIE!
: JIN!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od4RNBVXESk
Captions are available. One more time, for the road.
: Hah… Hahah…
: I have… no regrets…
: …
: I’m certain that this…
: This is our… Beginning…
: …
: Goodbye, Jin…
: He’s gone, hm…?
: …!
Demonbane OST – The Absolute of Darkness
: Master Therion…!
: You show yourself at last!
: Wholly incompatible beings, clashing their very souls against one another.
: Indeed, you were both two sides of the same coin – yin and yang, black and white. Very much like myself and Kurou Daijuuji.
: Two sides… maybe you’re right.
: However, Jin had his pride… he had a shining soul!
: The complete opposite of a demon like you!
: But we appreciate you stepping out to greet us. It saves us from having to find what hole you were in!
: So that my lady may be safe…
: And so the universe may be saved, we shall now end your sorry life!
: Hmhm… Of course, this wouldn’t be anywhere as enjoyable if you didn’t try. However, while I understand that you are somewhat worn out, I must insist that you provide me with an enjoyable battle.
: That is, unless you fancy being eradicated by this light.
: H-Hey, is that…?!
: The Shining Trapezohedron?!
: How did you…?!
: Did you think it was yours alone, Al Azif?
: He can use that crazy-powerful weapon too?!
: (Nay, two of those could never exist concurrently.)
: (…?! Two of those… the repeating Samsara…)
: (What is this? For some reason, I am filled with unspeakable dread…)
: Yog-Sothoth is kept in the physical world by a spell powered by the Liber Legis own energy.
: In other words, if you wish to save the universe, your only option is to destroy my Deus Machina!
: Gah, he’s called out even more stuff!
: Guess he’s really going all-in on this one!
: Rout the spawn of the gods and carve your way over to me! I trust you will not disappoint!
: Don’t worry, that was always the plan! Here’s where it ends, Master Therion!
: Finally… Finally! At long last, the stage is set!
: The demon who knows only despair, and the hero who knows only hope. The ultimate manifestations of human evil and human good.
: Now, fight! Fight and bring about their grand liberation!
Despite what Master Therion said, he’ll immediately make a beeline for Kurou, so you don’t need to worry about his mooks (though only the Dagons and Riot Xs are any sort of threat). He’s unlocked both his Hyperborea Zero-Drive and Shining Trapezohedron attacks since our last battle, so be very careful when engaging him – a clean hit from the Trapezohedron will oneshot most units and leave bulky Supers severely injured. Thankfully, like Kurou’s, both weapons can only be used point-blank.
He doesn’t have MAPWs, though, so you could have Kurou tank him while you grab the mooks for cash (do note that Arnie’s still injured from the event battle, so make sure to heal him up). FYI, the plot kicks in when you get him under 210k HP.
Secret Alert!
Demonbane secret – 11th step: set Ruri as your tactician and take out Master Therion with Kurou.
Same as always.
Oh, and do be warned of something: there’s a “bug” in this stage, in that if both Kurou and Therion attack with their Shining Trapezohedrons in the same battle, the game will crash. You can avoid this by skipping the animation or outright turning the battle animation off.
I say “bug” because many people, myself included, find this to be too perfect to not be an intended feature due to reasons we’ll see in a jiffy. What does your heart tell you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtlGXsOkVw4
Oh, and before I forget, here’s the Harute’s absolute best attack.
SRW UX - The Will of Man Awakens
: At long last, I will be freed from this unending horror and despair…
: Master Therion, you…
: However, a mere conclusion would never satisfy me!
: I shall carve the hate that I have forged over the eons – this eternity of horror – into your very souls!
: Such a crushing hatred… Nay, ‘tis as though he has become an avatar of hatred itself! He has forsaken his humanity!
: Then, there’s just one thing for us to do: take out the force of evil standing before us!
: We wield the unholy to defeat the unholy! We are Kurou Daijuuji and Al Azif – the sword that smites evil and the blade that slays gods!
: …
: I hate…
: I hate you, Kurou Daijuuji…!
: What…?!
: I cannot stand that unflinching defiance. Through all the unending Samsara, that candor of yours never ceases to make my blood boil!
: Hate… You have taken my Master from me yet again…
: In all of creation, only you can bear my Master’s hate. You, not me…!
: Every fiber of his will has been stained by hatred… Is this what became of the despair etched into him across the Samsara?!
: Our struggle shall know no end unless we destroy him. It shall continue endlessly, from future, to past, to future once again.
: Meaning we just gotta throw everything we have at ‘im until we break that cycle!
: Then, stand back. I’ll use the Shining Trapezohedron to erase his very existence!
: Kurou?!
Master Therion moves south.
: Indeed, no other weapon could bring our feud to a conclusion.
: When these two Shining Trapezohedrons collide, one of us will be expelled from this universe.
Kurou goes after.
: Yeah, I hear ya. It’s like my whole body knows that this is what’s gotta happen!
: (“What must happen”… Indeed, I also have the same feeling…)
: (Yet, my dread only grows. What in blazes is it…?)
: Here we go, Al!
: “This is the land born of the gods’ original sin, carved into a howling spiral.”
: “This is the end of the saint’s journey—”
: “—where he arrived beaten, weathered and worn!”
: “Here and now, we shall fulfill the Covenant.”
: (What is it? There is something – something dire – that I am not realizing. And if I do not, I feel as though we may lose everything…)
: (Remember, Al Azif! There is no hope of salvation except for now, at this very moment!)
: “With the deep darkness of hate within our hearts—"
: “With the desperate cry of life within our hearts—”
: “Upon the flowers of mourning we swear—”
: “Upon the flowers of blessings we swear—”
: “—We are the Weavers of Worlds!”
Tzeep.
: It is time…
: Th-That’s it…!
: KUROU, STOP! This is… all part of the evil gods’ plan!
: What…?!
: Rrk…! What… What is this torrent of thoughts?!
: So much evil is gushing forth… It’s going to flood this universe…!
: That’s all coming from the Trapezohedrons?! Don’t tell me this is what he wanted…?!
: Oh, no, this is what I wanted…!
: Ms. Nya…?!
: Nay! She is…!
: All was as I, Nyarlathotep, willed it.
: ?!
: I have waited. How have I waited for the two Shining Trapezohedrons born amid the repeating Samsara to clash!
: Their powers are the same, yet diametrically opposed…
: While that clash may create life, the opposite is also true!
: And from that stream of negative energies, the Court of Azathoth will be freed!
: “The Court of Azathoth”?!
: Hear me, all of Creation… Return to thy true form!
: Gch… Uwaaaaaaaaaah!
So, to clarify: the Shining Trapezohedron? That’s actually where the Court of Azathoth’s been locked up – with all the bad stuff that’s in there. Nyarly can’t even touch it, and the only thing that can break the Trapezohedron is another one, so she found a second in a past cycle and worked to get two people strong enough to wield the things. Trapezohedrons collide, and all the trapped Outer Gods and Great Old Ones are freed to tear through the universe again.
By the by, now you know why Tiberius flipped out once he saw the thing. He’s still in there and you can bet he’s not having a good time.
Location: Arkham City
: …
: …re… ning?
: Hm? Huh?
: Mr. Daijuuji, are you listening?!
: Y-Yeah… Sorry, I got a bit woozy there for a sec.
: Well, you have worked a lot lately. Have you been getting enough sleep?
: Kurou’s a very busy man, you know. He can’t just tone it down.
: Hmhmm. Just the other day, I saw on the news that he’d cleared another major case!
: Yeah, he’s pretty much THE detective in Arkham City. You hear people talking about him pretty much every day.
: But you’re doing pretty well on that front too, huh, Joey?
: Yeah: “Joseph Carter Jones, the hero of Center City!” You make us so proud!
: Heey, enough with the wisecracks. I told you, I just got lucky!
: …
: Um… Since when do you three get along so well?
: Did you hit your head or something? We’ve always been best friends – ever since we were kids.
: Huh? O-Oh, yeah… I guess you have…
: Hey, now. What will the fans think if they see the “greatest detective in the world” looking so stumped?
: Richard! What’re you doing here?!
: Saya and I are taking part in a play over on Broadway, so we figured we’d stop by and see you guys.
: On Broadway…?
: Hmhmm, dad and I had to work very hard, but now it’s finally happening.
: Better yet, it’s one of my favorite plays: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”…?
: It centers a love quartet between Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena. The play starts with Hermia eloping with Lysander, after opposing her arranged marriage to Demetrius. As they flee into the forest, Demetrius and Helena follow.
: The King of Faeries, Oberon, overhears the yelling and, figuring he’d help, tells his servant, Puck, to sprinkle magic flower drops onto Demetrius’ eyes, which’d make him fall in love with the first person he saw – which would be Helena. Only Puck mistakes the men, and it’s Lysander who winds up in love with her, abandoning Hermia.
: And then?
: Long story short, both Demetrius and Lysander are at each other’s throats over Helena, who thinks they’re both mocking her. In time, Oberon undoes the spell on Lysander, leaving him to resume his love with Hermia, while Demetrius stays with Helena.
: In the end, both couples are married to one another, and the play closes with a very famous soliloquy from Puck.
: “You have but slumbered here while these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream.” (Translation: “You were asleep when you saw these visions, and this silly and pathetic story was no more real than a dream.”)
: …
: “No more yielding but a dream…”
: Saya and Richard are making it big as actors, huh? Guess I gotta redouble my efforts!
: Come on, now. You’re already living the dream, Mr. Super Ace.
: Yeah, I heard they’re even making a biopic about you, Maj. Spencer!
: We have to go see it when it comes out, Joey!
: Absolutely!
: Hahah, thanks guys.
: Still, the only reason I made it as far as I did was you, Ayul.
: Jin…
: You’ve had my back every step of the way. I’m only standing here today because you were there for me.
: So, thank you, Ayul…
: No, thank you, Jin… I hope we’ll stay together forever…
: …
: Everyone looks so happy.
: Y-Yeah…
: (Just like she said, everyone’s doing well…)
: (But… for some reason, something seems wrong to me… Something’s missing…)
: (Something very dear to me…)
Steps.
: You’re looking a bit bothered, Kurou.
: Ms. Nya…
: Hmhm… This place is my gift to you: eternity. An eternity that will last until even death dies, and beyond.
: You can do whatever you want in here – indulge in anything, destroy anything…
: I…see… This is…my…
: Ms… Nya…
: Yes, that’s it – just enjoy it. We’ll experience an eternity of pleasure together…
: …
: Come here, my spouse.
: I’ll love you now and forev—
Stab!
: Gaah…!
: Sorry about that… “Ms. Nya.”
: Kurou… What are…?
: Personally, I don’t have any beef with you, but…
: I can hear their voices… her voice. She’s calling me…
: Her… voice…?
Demonbane OST - Those Who Challenge the Divine Will
: …en… rou…!
: Impossible… that voice is!
: Had you asked me before, I might just have decided to indulge on this dream.
: But we’ve already found the answer – the answer that lied at the end of the repeating Samsara…!
: Th-The answer at… the end of the Samsara?!
: You can hear her too, can’t you?
: That’s the voice of that big softie of a grimoire! The voice of the woman I love from the bottom of my heart…!
: Open your eyes… Kurou! My beloved!
: Wh-What is happening?!
: Kurou’s consciousness should’ve been completely sealed away! Your voices could never…
: You still don’t understand, do you? What do you think we carry within us?!
: …?! It can’t be…!
Everyone gets a full refill!
Flash!
: The void…
: It’s been remade?!
: And that’s… that’s Earth?!
: Yeah… It’s the planet we’ve kept safe…
: And it’s the planet that’s kept us safe, too!
: The wishes – the prayers – of all those who call Earth home!
: They’ve all brought us back to this world!
: This can’t be! It can’t! IT CAN’T!
: I was so close! Just a bit more and the Court of Azathoth would’ve been freed!
: Too bad for you, Nyarlathotep!
: I reckon the people of that planet aren’t keen on an ending where justice doesn’t prevail!
: Hah, how amusing. Then, please, try and prevail!
: See if your “will of man” can overpower the despair the Samsara etched into me!
: Can you carry on, Kurou?
: Hell, yeah, I can! They ain’t seen nothing yet!
: Get ready, ‘cause we’re coming for you, Master Therion, Nyarlathotep!
Alright, home stretch – don’t forget to take Therion out with Kurou if you’re still up for the secret.
: I hear your roar, o furious beast… You mean to prove your existence against the Samsara, but it is nothing more than paltry barking.
: Heh, looks like he’s still not convinced after what he saw!
: The will of man could even remake space… If that doesn’t get you to rethink things, then I don’t know what to say!
: But I guess that’s telling of just how hopeless he’s gotten after all those cycles.
: In that case, listen closely! Our god-defying roar’ll light up every corner of your soul!
–
: This child’s also taken in Willpower even as he lay adrift in the currents of karma?!
: And that has caused a hero to be born?!
: Yeah! A hero exists because he has the support of so many people!
: That’s how we managed to get as far as we did! Everyone’s hopes and dreams helped us get here!
: Hmmm!
: Then, come, White Giant. My despair’ll paint your purity black!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOm5e06orOQ
: Well, isn’t this nice… I never figured I’d be fighting a legit god-child in a place like this…!
: Your youthful ignorance may embolden you, but it also makes you forget your place and that’ll be your death. Behold my power and bow down before me.
: What, you think we got through all that just to get intimidated now? And if this place links to all that was, is and will be, then here’s what up…
: We’re gonna beat you right here and prove our justice to the future beyond any shadow of doubt!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPKoKBQifew
And here are both of Therion’s best attacks.
Now to wrap this up.
: The power of song was only ever meant to be an opening act to my grand finale! What happened?!
: Your program irked the crowd a whole lot more than you thought it would – that’s the long and short of it!
: That’s why it got eclipsed by their “opening act”!
: Ahahahahaha! Then, I ask that you carry on with the presentation!
: Let me hear more of these galactic hymns that drown out even my despair!
: It’s you…! The major unknown! The dissonance from a parallel universe brought about by the aggregated possibilities!
: I guess I wasn’t part of your plan, huh?
: But if I’m here now, it’s because of all my friends’ love. Your scheme’s already fallen through!
: Hahahaha! Ahahahahaha! I confess I did not expect this one at all.
: Still, as powerful as you may be, it won’t be enough to overpower my despair!
: “Despair”? You’re selling me short, I think! I bet I could get some sparkles of hope shining inside even you if I sang hard enough!
: A machine capable of leaping through space and time… However, even that won’t enable you to oppose me.
: Your fate is already sealed – endless grief is all that awaits!
: The Major’s wish and the Ensign’s will have helped us overcome fate several times before!
: But that’s not all; we’ve also taken up and lived on with the lives of all that we’ve fought thus far!
: And it’s with the power those give us that we’ll erase every trace of you from the universe!
: All those encounters were preordained by god’s unseen hand…
: Such is the fundamental law of this universe. Struggle as you might, as hard as you can, the fate that’s set in stone will not be swayed…!
: Humans are capable of changing…!
: Anyone, no matter how frail, can bring about an innovation so long as their will stays strong! The world is nowhere as complicated as you make it out to be!
: Oh, beckoned Otherworlders! Your reason for being here is to have your souls elevated as you die by my hand!
: I need not your help… My soul has long since become elevated!
: It doesn’t fall to any man to give reason or meaning to another’s life or death!
: Rather, ‘tis by giving of ourselves to an ideal that our lives leave a mark in the hearts of our fellow men!
: We unleash the light within by living to the fullest… such is the light of life!
: And our light shall rend these pitch-black clouds of darkness! Away with you, fiend of despair!
: You come and go from a different world, ever at the mercy of the Wheel of Fortune…
: Indeed, fate also dictates that your life will end here.
: This isn’t about where the Wings of Rean take me! I’m here because I, Aesap Suzuki, chose to be!
: Hmhmhm… You have a rather curious power for a human. Did you develop it as you traveled amid the churning flow of karma?
: You’ve a very bad habit of looking at people like they’re just pieces in a board.
: But that’s also coming to an end today! Your evil defiles life and urges the world closer to its end… and now I’ll cut it down!
: The outcome of destiny is already decided. The Samsara has repeated countless times before, and it’ll do so countless more… That is what should have been, yet…
: The outcome has changed at long last… but why did it change like this?!
: Flowers may yield seeds, but the ones that bloom from those won’t be the same as the original ones…
: Whatever plans you have in mind as you raise them, it’s just not possible to control how they’ll grow…
: But that’s just what life is like!
: Your problem is that you chose the wrong way to push the world in the direction you wanted!
: Because what it all boils down to is that it’s not destiny that shapes our future!
: I reckon you’re pretty sick of all that despair, right, creep?!
: Well, you’re more than welcome to lie down and get some rest… in our Hell!
: The Devil born of chaos and strife…
: Let death decide which of us is deserving of making the voyage towards the Underworld!
: You’ve been amid the endless flow of causality for so long that you became the stuff of legends?
: Ahahahaha! Amazing, simply amazing! There’s just no telling what surprises this world will bring!
: Then keep watching, ‘cause there’s another one coming your way!
: I’m bashing you into the dirt and bringing a close to what started way back in Arkham City, Master Therion!
: Will you be torn apart by me, or would you rather wallow in despair as you bear witness to the end of the world…?
: Those are the alternatives I present to you.
: I choose the alternative I decided for myself!
: And that’s to destroy you and stay here with all my friends!
: I take it you tampered with my memories, Crawling Chaos! However, that was all for naught!
: No, this isn’t even close to being over! Fate is still in the palm of my hand!
: Take them, demon of despair! The greatest force of hatred the world has ever seen! Set the Court of Azathoth free!
: We’re going, Etheldreda.
: Yes, Master…
: I’m never letting despair get the better of me!
: I’ve Al here with me! And Demonbane, and all my friends!
: And we all have the power we need to defend what’s dear to us!
Master Therion drops a Lacus’ Disk.
: I won’t accept this! I have worked for an eternity and more just for this moment! You will not take it from me!
: The Liber Legis is readying its Shining Trapezohedron!
: Come, Kurou Daijuuji! Let us dance eternally together!
: No way in hell!
: What…?!
SRW UX - Sublimation of a Destroyer
: The Demonbane…!
: It’s absorbing the energy of my Trapezohedron…
: No, it’s absorbing my Trapezohedron itself?
: That’s impossible! A mere human could never…!
: I can do it because I’m human!
: …?!
: Up until now, we, mankind, had been consumed by Evil…
: So many were pillaged and violated, without reason or meaning. They were slain without any hope for a future!
: They are the grief of mothers whose children’s futures were stolen…
: They are the rage of fathers who could not protect their futures…!
: They are the powerless hate of all the worlds polluted by Evil…
: However… They aren’t blind resentment!
: They are righteous anger and hatred!
: They are the cry of life, the raw howling of those who drowned in blood and tears, yet never stopped struggling towards hope!
: They are the loving prayers of parents – that their children will have a future free of rage and hate!
: I don’t know this…
: I don’t know this! I don’t know this ending!
: ‘Course, I bet what you had in mind was something that fit perfectly with your plans, right?
: But you can try as hard as you’d like to push things your way, we’re always going to rise above it and keep going!
: There are an infinite number of events that can occur in this world. No one could ever predict them all.
: A god you may be, but I see your imagination is lacking!
: Stand beside me, Al. There’s nothing I can’t do if I’m with you!
: We are bound by ties of love now and forever! I am with you, my beloved!
: A pentagram…!
: That’s the crest of the Elder Gods! The Elder Sign!
: H-How…?! This is the Klein Bottle I created! They should be powerless to interfere!
: …! C-Can it be…?!
: You really shouldn’t underestimate humans, O “Almighty” One!
: You are finished, Nyarlathotep…!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2-an-2CDxw
Captions are available.
: Can it be… that you were the same as me?
: If so… I, myself, have been trapped in an enormous Wheel of Fortune…
: AAAAAAaaaaaaaahh…!
: I won’t… I won’t let you… destroy my Master!
: Enough. You have done well, Etheldreda.
: This, too, is the ending I sought. This is release from that unending curse.
: MASTER…!!
BOOOOM!
: …
: I see… I am also to head towards the other side of their Yuga…
: Yet, it’s the light of these stars that grip my mind.
: I had never noticed just how beautiful the world is…
: I will sail the heavens alone, ever amid this light…
: No, you won’t be alone.
: Etheldreda… You’ve come too.
: Yes, my Master… I could never leave you by yourself…
: Hm… I suppose it is a little too cold to be alone. Will you stay by my side, Etheldreda?
: Yes… Let us watch over this world forever…
: Without destroying anything, without harming anyone… Let us just spend eternity smiling with longing at the lives struggling to live…
: That, alone…
: Yes, Etheldreda… That, alone, is the salvation that has been granted to us…
: Yes, Master…
But if you did the secret, before Etheldreda’s final line…!
: You can’t just up and go to the other side, Master Therion…
: Kurou Daijuuji, Al Azif…?!
: The Samsara’s chains that bound you are no more. There is no reason for you to spend an eternity in solitude.
: You mean to forgive us? I’m shocked at how childishly innocent you are.
: The thought of accepting or forgiving what you did never crossed our minds.
: Still, maybe you deserve a shot at finding a new path through life?
: A new path…?
: Etheldreda, what are your thoughts on this?
: Master…?
: I owe you a debt of gratitude for staying with me since time immemorial.
: I see no harm in deferring to your judgment at least once.
: …
: If possible, then… I’d like to find a different future with my Master…
: A future without any destruction, where we may simply live in this world as a couple…
: Pnakotic Manuscripts…
: Heh, we have finally arrived at the terminus of the long Samsara…
: It could be interesting to live that way for once…
: Thank you, Master…
: It’s over…
: Yes, somehow…
: (And, with it, so is the battle with the Black Lodge that started with my grandfather…)
Door opens.
: Are you pleased to bring peace to Kozo Hadou’s soul, girl?
: M-Master Therion?!
: You’re still alive, freak?!
: Put that lance away. Ill-tempered men are a disgrace.
: We have not come here to do battle with you again.
: Explain…
: They’ve made a choice of their own… and it was to walk alongside us.
: All in the interest of saving this universe…
: Huh…?!
: N-Now hold on just a minute! We took out that evil god, right?! Doesn’t that mean the universe is already safe from the void?!
: Not yet. If you truly wish to save this universe, then you must rise once more…
: And face the end of the Yuga…
: The end of the Yuga…?
Tzeeeeep.
: Oh, warriors who’ve seized fate itself… All possibilities are now united…
: Th-That voice was…!
Gather at the beginning…
And that is that! Every single secret unit has been recruited, with Master Therion being the final one… Where were you when SRW allowed us to save the literal spawn of Yog-Sothoth before ever giving Cima a chance? Ouch.
I forgot to take a picture but here’s what he has:
Pilot Skills:
Sorcerer L9
Grimoire L9
Prevail L9
Support Attack L2
Break Morale Limit
Counter
Predict
Guard
All Attack L1
Command L4
Spirit Commands – Therion:
Sense
Mercy
Fury/Direct Hit
Drive
Soul
Spirit Commands – Etheldreda:
Accelerate
Focus
Trust
Iron Wall
Love
Squad bonus: Melee AND Ranged Weapons’ attack power +100 (Melee and Ranged Weapons +300, 35% chance to trigger Double Image, Spec Debuff Immunity)
And Master Therion, as you might expect, is an absolute powerhouse for reasons that have been exposed since mission 4. While Kurou’s new Final Shining Trapezohedron is the second strongest attack in the game in terms of raw power, losing only to the 4 SD Gundam combo, Therion actually has better burst damage due to knowing Soul – only Liu Bei and Cao Cao can hit harder by virtue of stacking Soul and the Soul of the Three Sovereigns buff, and only with the combo.
I’m going to FUB him and laugh like a real sonuvagun!
The final scene, of course, changes a bit if you didn’t save him:
: It’s over…
: Yes, somehow…
: (And, with it, so is the battle with the Black Lodge that started with my grandfather…)
: Now we just have to go straight back to Earth!
: Hmm, I don’t think it’s gonna be that simple.
: What do you mean? We’ve returned to our world, no?
: Not exactly. As they mentioned, through the gate of Yog-Sothoth lies a space linked to all that was, is and will be. In other words…
: We’ve no idea if that Earth over there is the one we knew…
: Then, that Earth could be Planet Ladorio or Mirisha…?
: There’s even a chance it’s the Earth from the Frontier’s world…
: Not just. We aren’t even certain which point in time this is – that could well be a prehistoric Earth.
: Whuh?! O-Oh, no…
: We were all prepared for this to happen, but it doesn’t make it any easier…
: Are we to wander through time eternally, never making it back…?
Tzeeeeep.
: No. A possibility yet remains…
: Th-That voice was…!
Gather at the beginning…
Finally, I screwed up and forgot to deploy Dr. West to take a stab at Therion… the shame!
: You were never meant to exist in this world! Fate should’ve been set that way!
: Bwahahahaha! Fate?! Fate?!
: Fate is nothing but a small bump in the road – a bump that I overcome with my blood, sweat, tears, and mind of 99.9999% undiluted GENIUS!
: Hah…hahahahaha! I cannot believe a man who once held such fear and awe for my strength would come to snub my despair!
: We’re going in, Eeeelsaaaaa! Press those pedals at the exact same time! (I don’t need to tell you what this is a reference to, right?)
: Invincible Robo, full throttle-robo!
: OH, NO! That’s too soon, ELSAAAAAAA!!
You know, from the way Katou was talking, it almost makes you think he realized that Kozo Hadou was really just a time traveling Daijuuji Kurou.
I wouldn’t be so down on Kurou for loving you despite your being a book, Al. It’s pretty clear that book/human children can exist. As… weird of a subject as that is.
The Riot Xs really don’t do it for me, though. I like them a lot more than the terrible Cs, but they just don’t feel like “best Riots out there” material. The finisher looks awkward for a robot this late into the game, and that purple is a really unflattering color on the 3DS.
tfw that Those Who Challenge The Divine Will kicks in.
I really, really love the manner in which they finally make Master Therion playable. It’s especially nice if you know the full extent of his history (he was NOT always this way, to say the least, but that’s what literally endless fucking by Nyarlathotep causes). It’s a nice bit of fanservice added to by Master Therion being… well, really, really fucking absurd.
And he is. Oh god he is. Liber Legis can 2HKO the final boss, something only the Four Gods combo can manage outside of him, and even if you’re not doing that he’s “just” a basically immortal overpowered OHKOing-mooks madman who slaps things down with the Shining Trapezohedron he should not still have and does not give a shit about anything any enemy can do to him, with two pilots because why not.
Final Shining Trapezohedron is “only” Demonbane being allowed to poke at 10000 power on an attack, by comparison. And when that’s the secondary non-secret prize to something, you know the other thing has to be fucking absurd.
…and yes, We Got Master Therion But Still Not Fucking Cima is just a thing and it’s happened. (I think we will get her the next time 0083 gets plot, twelve thousand years from now, but who even fucking knows.)
I’m pretty sure he did realize it, yes. Katou has the most powerful imagination, you see.
Click to see the finale!
Here we are at last – the finale. Last time we trashed Nyarly’s plans of freeing the Court of Azathoth and beat Master Therion into submission. The spawn of Yog-Sothoth is our buddy now. All is not roses, though, as that ‘gather at the beginning’ voice started chirping again, so we gotta do something about that.
Arnie and Saya are deploying as event units, and we’ve 21 slots available, so here’s how we’re going:
Joe/Ylbora
Aesap/Sakomizu
Liu Bei/Kiriyama
Kurou/Deceive
Kazuki/Maya
Setsuna/Brera
Shou/Tsubasa
Mazinkaiser/Moritsugu
Alto/Fei-Yen
Shinn/Luna
Lu Bu/Seri
Cao Cao/Domyoji
Sakura/Kenji
Dancouga/Eida
Heroman/Miu
Mamoru/Shouko
Kouichi/Kiki
Sun Quan/Rennie
Kira/Allelujah
Ishigami/Katou
Therion/Athrun
Tactician: Zhuge Liang (Fei-Yen, Ranka, Arnie and Ishigami are also good picks – we’re going up against a lot of debuffs. The first’ll protect you against everything, the latter three’ll cover one, but provide other buffs).
Off we go.[/i]
There was only one Beginning. From it, various wills took root, giving birth to just as many lives.
Amid the recurring beginning and end, possibilities turned into fate, life turned tangible, wholly flooding the universe.
And now…
: Humanity has gone extinct, and it won’t be long before the universe reaches its end as well…
: Once again, fate could not be overturned…
: But you knew that’d happen from the start, no?
: I assume that’s the reason why I’m here.
: Hm, you assume correctly…
: But by embracing this fate, you…
: This is the answer you picked from an infinitude of possibilities, right?
: In that case, I’ll just carry on my assigned role.
: Besides, there’s something kind of thrilling in setting yourself up as foundation for the upcoming new universe.
: Richard…
: Do you… regret any of this?
: I don’t – same as you.
: …
: Very well. Let’s begin, then.
: Lepton Vectrers, synchro-overdrive!
Power uuuup!
: By linking the Odyssite-catalyzed Accelerated Particle Engines together, you’ve managed to use the magnified Willpower to create a similar phenomenon to Yog-Sothoth’s gate…
: You’re quite something, alright.
: You do understand that if this fails, you’ll vanish into nothingness forever, yes?
: And even if the warp succeeds, there is no guarantee you’ll retain your current memories…
: Naah, I just need to follow the voice and I’m sure I’ll arrive at the future… so to speak.
(Saya): …
: How much of the truth do you want me to tell the girl once she’s up and about?
: There’s no reason to tell her anything. The possibilities who’ve conquered fate will guide her, I’m certain.
: Alright, then. See you around, Prof. Novel!
: Here’s hoping we’ll meet again in the “past future”!
: …
: Richard, Jin, Ayul…
: And all the countless possibilities that fell without ever reaching this stage…
: I will now give of myself to your spirits.
: So that all life that dwells in this universe may earn a beginning…!
This scene only plays out if you got EVERY secret character. If not, you go straight to the title card.
: Looks like everyone’s here.
: …
: …
: Hm… The Grand Master of the Black Lodge, the King of Hojo, Lu Bu and Diaochan, the Black Knight, Cmdr. Ylbora…
: Plus the Festum boy, Brera and even Will…
: A lot of the people here once fought each other as enemies.
: That’s not the end of it, though. There’re also guys like Mamoru and I, who just barely managed to escape certain death.
: In other words, the men and women gathered here are…
: Yes… They are all people who, by rights, shouldn’t be here.
: Shouldn’t be here, huh…?
: And, yet, we still are.
: As the Samsara churned around us, we each confronted our fates…
: And we prevailed…
: Only those who embrace the voice of their souls are capable of seizing proof of the lives led.
: That’s right… What we all sought was our very beings.
: Hah, it could very well be said that I have existed for this very moment.
: Then, we stand at the conclusion of the Samsara…?
: For all possibilities to come together as one, emerging free from the rule of the Samsara…
: That has always been the ultimate desire of every single life of this universe.
: The ultimate desire…
: How many times has this cycle been repeated? How long has passed before we reached this point…?
: And, now, we’re carrying the thoughts and prayers of everyone and everything.
: Then, the rest is clear. We won’t disappoint them, even if I’ve to turn my body to ash…!
: I’ll stake my pride and my very self on this!
: For the sake of our friends… and of the entire universe!
: And so we may weave a beginning for all!
: To arms! We shall now give birth to a new legend!
Mission 52 – The Beginning of Life
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: You have arrived, Ultimate Cross…
: I appreciate you answering my call.
: You’re Novel Dylan…
: The developer of Accelerated Particle Engines…
: And the one who unlocked the Machine’s Island taboo research…
: It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. And…
: It’s been a very long time, hasn’t it, Ensign Agnès Berge…?
: …
: Prof. Novel, you…
: You’re the spider, eh?
: “Spider”…?
: The one who can be seen, yet is not, who can be heard, yet is not…
: It’s you who sits at the center of the spiderweb, weaving the threads of the Samsara, hm? What are you after?
: Hmhmhm… If you wish to know, you’ll first have to win this melee.
: Melee…?!
: Explain yourself! What reason is there for us to fight?!
: We all heard your voice the moment we went across space and time…
: Meaning that you were the one who called us to this world, right?!
: Again, if you wish to know, then you’ll fight me.
: Prof. Novel!
: …
: There’s… no other choice, is there?
: Correct… This is the final ceremony leading to the Beginning.
: Whether or not a new Yuga’ll come to be is all up to you.
: A new Yuga…?
: Hrm… What is the goddamn point of us fighting now?!
: But we have to. If we don’t, then…
: We’ll all just cease to be.
: …?!
: We ain’t got time to wait around. They’re already moving in!
: Hrm…! We have far too much depending on us!
: Mankind’s finally opened its path into the future… we can’t have it be lost to us now!
: Let’s go for it! That’s all we can do now!
: Tsk…!
: Come, then! Show me the fruits of the possibilities you assembled!
I’m not doing all tacticians, but I’ll select a handful to translate since this IS the finale:
: If Prof. Novel’s involved in everything, then we’ve no choice…
: Everyone forward! Now we’ll seize the truth and our future!
–
: We’ve no need to think twice about this!
: The meaning behind our being here… is to defeat her – that is all!
–
: Psyche yourselves up, fellas! You gotta take her out or that’ll be curtains for everything!
: Go, Ultimate Cross! GET! THE! FUTURE! (Lina does a lot of Engrish in her cheers.)
–
: All our past struggles were for this very moment, my companions!
: Bring down Novel Dylan and claim a future for our universe!
–
: All troops, imagine! Imagine the ideals each and every one of you hold within your hearts!
: It’s our duty to see those ideals made real! And if defeating Novel Dylan is needed for that, then so be it!
: Heed my call and follow me into battle! Attack!
–
: We’ve made it through a lot, folks, so how about one last push?
: She’s the only one who knows the whole truth. And we’ll claim not only that, but the future as well!
–
: Everyone forward! We’ll bring all the wishes entrusted to us together!
: And once she’s beaten, we’ll truly pry open the doors to our future!
–
: We can’t think twice about this right now. We have to do something about her!
: If we don’t… then that’ll really be the end of everything!
–
: We can ill afford to hesitate now, my friends!
: There is only one thing to be done – and that is to defeat her!
–
: All answers await us beyond her!
: Manifest our will to that woman! Troops, CHARGE!
–
: Recall all the battles we fought to arrive here, my friends!
: This is the very last one: a battle to claim the future of our universe! Strike down Novel Dylan!
Alright, starting off the finale is an even bigger mob of Riots than we had in the previous mission. You already know what to expect from them, but be extra diligent in conserving SP – especially with anyone who can cast Confuse, as you’ll need it later.
First and foremost, make sure you clear out all of the mooks before dealing with Novel. The plot kicks in once she’s dropped, and things’ll go more smoothly if you do that.
Avatāra (Novel Dylan)
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L8
Support Attack L3
Break Morale Limit
Counter
Guard
All Attack L3
Hit & Away
Command L4
Mech Features:
Sword
30% EN Regen
All-Canceller
Novel’s voice actress: Yukana (other roles: Four in Z Gundam, C.C. in Code Geass, Tessa in FMP, Yumiko and the Sphinx Festum in Fafner, and many more)
You’d think an engineer wouldn’t make for the best of pilots, but you’d think WRONG. Novel is a monster of a pilot, with stats on par with Master Therion. The Avatāra doesn’t hit as hard, but it’s made of sturdier stuff than the Liber Legis.
Additionally, she comes with a directional MAPW that blasts up to 8 squares ahead with a twin-pronged AoE (it spreads into a 3x3 area at the end). It has the Twin Sat Cannon blind-spot, though, so have people approach her from the front. Novel’s more ranged-focused, meaning she can’t use her strongest attack at range 2 or lower – try and engage her from that.
SP conservation is important for what’s coming ahead, so do whatever you can to only cast Valor. Spread command auras and see if you can dodge reliably without casting defensive measures.
SRW UX - The Beginning of Life
Oh, and this stage has an exclusive map BGM. I dunno if it has an official title, but here it is.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: Mother… Your hands might have created me, but it’s with my own life that I stand here today!
: I’ve taken up the Major’s will, and so I’ll fight!
: Good. That’s very good…!
: Now I’ll ascertain how bright the light of your lives shine - the lives that were refined through Jin and Ayul’s own!
: What you’ll do is come clean with us, Prof. Novel!
: You’ve swayed mine and Jin’s fate… the fate of so many people! And you’ll tell us why!
: Heh… Not once did I expect an outcome such as this to await me beyond my despair.
: Let us dance as a couple, Etheldreda – now and forevermore.
: Yes, Master. I am with you…
[i]Poweeeeeer!
POWER!
Leave me alone, Novel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kFgvTLnzxY
Speaking of, here’s her strongest attack.
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: We just have to beat you and we’ll figure out what’s what, huh…?
: Talk about a true-to-form “hidden mastermind”.
: Still, we don’t appreciate being manipulated. You ain’t getting off with just a stern talking-to, lady!
: We’re not the people we once were! There isn’t anyone who could stop us now!
: Hell, yeah! We don’t let go of the wheel once we’ve grabbed it – and we don’t step on the brakes, either!
: That’s how Team D rolls! Let’s go wild!
: Hmhmhm, I hear your inner yell. And as those come together, they’ll grow into a roar that’ll pry open the new Yuga!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iUvRUtmb0g
And here’s the second strongest.
Novel vs. Dancouga: “Oh, ones who weave the seeds of life into the future… Showcase your light to me!”
: That will to risk your very self in the defense of others is how you carved out your destiny…
: And it’s that power that’ll be key to unlocking the new Yuga!
: And unlocking that “Yuga” is what you’re after…?
: Well, you’re gonna spill the beans on that and everything else, Novel!
Novel vs. Tobikage units: “The Ninja Legend – that which creates the future. Its power also stems from life, from the will of man!”
: Hmhmhm… I see you are yet another who knows of the heavens, who seeks what lies beyond!
: Oh, heroes who transcended space and time to stand upon this land!
: Muster your mighty will – that which compels the very heavens – and repel my own!
: If she’s the one who beckoned us into this world…
: Then, ‘tis also fate that we face her here and now!
: In which case, our blades shall rend the spiderweb you wove around the world, Novel Dylan!
Novel vs. Liu Bei, Cao Cao or Sun Quan: “Justice, Ideals, Courage… Now is when the Souls of the Three Sovereigns will truly shine!”
Novel vs. secret characters: “Oh, beings who should not be here… Show me what possibilities you possess!”; “You have struggled and gained your life, your possibilities! Now display the light you carry within!”
: Hmhm, there’s no need to hesitate – just come and face me. What matters isn’t what you should do, but what you want to do, yes?
: You like to talk, but not about the actually important stuff, huh? This is why grown-ups get on my nerves…!
: But, fine, I’ll beat the whole truth outta you!
Novel vs. Kouichi: “Let me see once more the strength of spirit with which you’d surpass your humanity!”
: At last, the theater Nyarlathotep put together has been undone.
: If she is aware of that, then I take it that woman has also transcended the Samsara.
: That ain’t all that surprising, when you look at what she’s pulled with us!
: C’mere, Novel Dylan! You’re gonna come clear about everything you know!
Novel vs. Kurou: “The innocent blade you wield also stems from Willpower, from the light of life found in all humans!”
: Yours is a kind soul. And it was that kindness that fostered love and provided succor to voices capable of sending ripples across the galaxy…
: However, now you must fight…! Show me the contrails of the possibilities upon which you soar!
: Alright, you asked for it… You’ll get an eyeful of the dance I learned from them – my real dance!
Novel vs. Alto: “I see the possibilities you bear upon your wings… Souls also lie upon them!”
: Welcome, Fei-Yen HD. You are… Excuse me, the two of you are also possibilities which conquered fate.
: Your wills and the songs you’ve wove together…
: They, too, are keys with which to unlock the new Yuga!
: … You look at other people and only see pawns, hm? You must be a very lonely woman.
: You hurt so many people… Did you figure that was the only way?
: If you ask me, what you need right now is to look your weakness and your loneliness dead in the eye and reconsider your choices!
Novel vs. Fei: “I’m certain you realize that your song is Willpower incarnate!”
: The mighty Devil who slays both gods and demons. I have long awaited for power such as this to emerge!
: Now show me its full extent! That is, if you wish to have answers!
: We don’t really care about whatever’s going on inside your head!
: But since you went there, you’ll get your wish…
: We’ll give you courtside seats to our Hell!
Novel vs. SKL: “The emissary of Hell who’d challenge the very heavens… Let us see the full power of the Devil!”
: You have cleared away the darkness within and reclaimed your azure sky.
: However, you must prove the meaning of your very existence in order to exist beyond the Yuga!
: I don’t know what your “Yuga” is, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll always find my way over to the place I’m meant to come home to!
Novel vs. Fafners: “Observe… I am here now!”
: Come, child. The being beside you is also another fruit of myriad possibilities.
: The will of so many wished for a hero to exist, and so it was that one came to be!
: If fighting you is the only way to keep everyone safe…
: Then, fight you is what we’ll do! Not because someone wanted us to do so, but because it’s what we wanted to do!
: Hmmm!
Novel vs. Heroman: “Your pure will once birthed a miracle. Can you make it happen again, I wonder?”
: What the hell are you up to that you’d sacrifice people’s lives and twist their fates?!
: What I do may stoke the flames of your raging emotions, but there can’t be a beginning without an end.
: The world must first reach its terminus for a new one to be born!
: You may take that to be the right thing to do, but what we see is nothing but pure arrogance!
: We might not know where we came from or where we’re headed… but that uncertainty’s always been abated by the warmth we find the world over…
: And we’ll use force as many times as it takes to keep that safe! We do it for ourselves and for the world at large!
Novel vs. SEED units: “That seed is the seed of life… it’s a manifestation of your Willpower!”
: If the Wings of Rean have led me here, then I know there’s more to this battle than what we see.
: Plus, my own Aura Power’s telling me that there’s something up ahead!
: That’s correct; you have been led, and that guidance has accelerated your fate. In which case, you must pass through me and go seize your answers!
Novel vs. Shou or Aesap: “Your Aura Power is the light of life… it’s the light of possibility!”
: Destruction is rebirth, rebirth is destruction… An Innovator who’s well aware of that fact should be capable of carving out a new fate for mankind!
: It’s for that purpose that you and your comrades have carried on your work, isn’t it?
: It is. We’ve taken upon ourselves to stand against anyone who’s throw the world off balance, no matter who that is!
: Which is why I’m coming for you! For our future!
Novel vs. Celestial Being: “Show me the possibilities that’ll bring about the future Aeolia envisioned!”
: Your heart pried open the Aura Road and fate itself!
: Now manifest all the possibilities born of that Aura Power, the strength of humans’ will to live!
: If the call of our Auras is what caused us to be here against you, then I won’t think twice about tearing down your plans, Novel Dylan!
: Hrgh…!
: Prof. Novel…!
: Hah-Hahahah… I’d expect no less from the possibilities I’d envisioned for so long…
: I-I’m sure that… you’re now capable of reaching the underlying truth of this universe…
: …
: I had feeling this was the case… You planned on being brought down by us from the get-go, didn’t you?
: What’s going on?! Weren’t you the one who established that underlying truth to begin with?!
: Not at all… I’ve just been a part of this many, many times now.
: You’ve been…?
: The universal Samsara isn’t endless. It won’t be long before this Yuga reaches its end. That’s why I…
: Wait just a moment! Didn’t some of us come from future versions of this world?! What happens to us if the universe is going to end here?!
: Yeah, something isn’t right with your story! If there’s no future at all after this, then we shouldn’t even exist, right?!
: You have it the wrong way… There isn’t a single person here who came from the future.
: Come again…?!
: There is no undoing the past. A fate that has already come to pass can never be overturned… To put it simply…
: Each of you has come from a past universe, one whose Yuga had come to an end.
: Th-Then, that means…
: …
: That we are recurring entities…
: We, like Kurou and Master Therion, have existed through multiple Samsaras…
: …
: Indeed, for tens of thousands, perhaps millions of times. And while you never realized it, as you went through the repeating Samsara, your wills were slowly but surely magnified. From the possibilities presented, you gave shape to fate…
: All those “coincidences” you felt were not coincidences at all. Rather, they were all reflexes of the fate you won for yourselves.
: Wh-What the hell…
: Then, the events Judah indicated…
: Those weren’t possibilities that could bring about our future, but facts that had already occurred previously…
: All were the lingering memories of our souls, accumulated through the cycles…
: …
: I suppose it is a case of Pre-established Harmony. Our desired outcomes were fruit of a fate that had been selected many times over…
: Then, those voices we heard from the Yùxǐ…
: Yes… Those were the voices of our own amassed fates…
: Of all the different possibilities from what we got this time…
: Maybe one fate said we’d all die, another that we’d be beaten…
: And over all those cycles, we chose different possibilities out of the ones available again and again.
: As new divergences appeared, we chose anew, progressively shaping the fate we desired…
: Like we were sharpening a piece of iron into a sword…
: And, in time, that sword…
: Correct… and that’s what I’d been searching for: a blade that may slay the gods themselves…
: A blade that slays the gods…!
: Having conquered fate amid the Samsara, you stepped through the gate of Yog-Sothoth…
: And were brought into the future universe…
: The future universe…
: It was the future back then, and it’s now our present…
: Then, what had been guiding us all along…
: It wasn’t me, no. The voice you heard was the manifestation of all those lost possibilities…
: The manifestation of those possibilities?
: Hm. It’s the lives of all that have existed in this universe…
: Countless wills, countless possibilities… The souls of all the men and women you’d succeeded over the recurring Samsara…!
: They were the ones who led you to this point!
: …?!
: Then, the light of the Odyssite…!
: The light of the Aura Power, the Wings of Rean…
: The Fold Quartz, and the great power from the Ninja Legend…
: And even Mirisha’s Dragon’s Chalcedony!
: No wonder they all shared so many similar traits. It’s because all of them…!
: …
: All of them are manifestations of life… They’re the energy of the soul given form!
: Prof. Novel?!
: I suppose… this is it for me…
: H-Hey, hold on! We still have more to ask you!
: N-Never forget…
: The emotions, the prayers, the wishes of life… Everything that’s within you…
: Prof. Novel!
: N-No…
: Novel Dylan said she’d been looking for “a blade that may slay the gods themselves”. If that’s the case…
: What lies beyond this point must be…
: There was only one Beginning…
: …?!
:aaaaa: :aaaaa:
: From it, various wills took root, giving birth to just as many lives…
: And, at long last, the time has come to cull those possibilities.
Tzeeeeeeep!
: Now, come. Return to the end…
: Wh-Who is that…?!
: She’s beautiful…
: She’s like a proper goddess…
: …
: I know who that is… ‘Tis the embodiment of the end of the Yuga!
: I.e…. She’s Kali Yuga!
: Kali Yuga…?
: A Mahayuga is a time unit for the entire life-cycle of a given universe, comprised of four Yugas…
: And it’s prophesized that at the end of that cycle, a being will appear – one that’s both a devil and a god… that’s Kali Yuga.
: A devil and a god…?!
: …
: I-I’m scared… There’s no Aura inside her!
: No, not exactly…
: It’s not that there’s no Aura… it’s that she’s the world around us! We’re trapped inside her!
: Wh-What did you say?!
: This space itself is…
: A place where the end and the beginning intertwine – a place of life, and of death…
: “Behold, for that light is nigh…”
: Nyarlathotep once spoke of the final chapter of the G-Records, “Apocalypse”… This is the terminus of the world, as inscribed within!
: A space – or, rather, a void – which emulates our world…!
: …
: Not much time remains…
: Let this Yuga come to a close…
Flash! Tzeeeeeeep!
: Wh-What’re those things?!
: For as much awe as I feel, just as much crushing dread grips me…!
: If she’s a goddess… do you think those are her angels?
: This universe has given birth to far too many possibilities…
: The voyage of life must come to an end, and all returned to the eternal nothingness… to a time before time.
: Crap, she’s really…!
: She wants to reset the entire universe to the void before life ever began…!
: Gaah, enough with all this fancy talk!
: Lt. Kaido…!
: The gist of it is that the chick’s trying to wipe us out, right?!
: Yeah… meaning there’s only one answer for that!
: If God gets in our way, he’ll get cut down!
: If the Devil does the same, then he’ll be shot!
: Yeah, they’re right… Everything we fought for’ll go up in smoke if we bit it here!
: We cannot allow this to be the end! We owe it to the many lives who turned to light and gave us their strength!
: We’ll choose our fate and face it head on!
: All those souls given form have led us here!
: And I’m sure standing up to her is what Prof. Novel had in mind…!
: All our struggles were to sharpen us into a blade capable of striking down the void itself!
: Arnie…!
: Let’s take it to her, people! Whatever foe lies ahead…!
: We, humans, will never be beaten!
So, let’s take stock on what we’ve learned: as it turns out, Shou wasn’t the only one who came from the previous universe. All those “alternate futures” weren’t actually futures, but actually futures from the PREVIOUS iteration of the UX universe. Nyarly’s Klein Bottle cycle itself was a cog in a far bigger machine – the UX world’s own cycle, the Mahayuga, and Nyarly’s shenanigans were a cycle within that one. Throughout every past Yuga, our folks’ willpowers grew stronger, continuously bolstered by all the souls of those who died, allowing us to create more and more new divergent possibilities and shifting events in different ways.
Bit by bit, with every passing cycle, we molded our ideal fate, and it’s the influence of that self-made fate that’s been pushing us along – as it turns out, WE were the spider at the center of the spiderweb.
All those accumulated possibilities and souls, manifesting themselves through our magic thingamajigs, brought our people here, when the Yuga is meant to close. Novel sought to further empower our wills through various challenges, all in the interest of finally making us powerful enough to stand up to Kali Yuga, the personification of the universal reset.
And that’s what we’re going to do, but there are a few things to be wary of. First and foremost, Kali’s summoned new Rvarna (Sanskrit for “the sounds”) which come in seven flavors: white, black, red, blue, yellow, green and purple. Here’s where the debuffs come in, because every one of them is packing one, with varying degrees of annoyance. In the order above, they have: SP Down, EN Down, Attack Down, Movement Down, Mobility Down, Range Down, EN Absorb.
Prioritize whatever you’re running low of the most, and the red ones because getting your attack halved pretty much means a unit is all but useless against Kali Yuga.
Mind you, trying to drop them all so you don’t get debuffed won’t fly because:[/i]
*More stuff spawns in!
: Rgh… They just keep coming!
: We’re not winning this unless we take out Kali Yuga!
: Troops, focus all your fire on her!
[i]Yeah, the Rvarna and stuff will just spawn endlessly whenever the enemy squad numbers dips below 7, so take out the debuffers that matter and go for Kali.
Kali Yuga
Pilot Skills:
Double Movement
Prevail L9
Support Attack l3
Break Morale Limit
Counter
Guard
All Attack L3
Command L4
Mech Features:
30% EN Regen
All-Canceller
Kali Yuga’s voice actress: Naoko Matsui (other roles: Inez in Nadesico, Roux in Gundam ZZ, Sonoko in Detective Conan, Yui Kamishiro in Jushin Liger and many more)
Remember when I said Tobikage was the best pilot in the game? Turns out I lied. Kali Yuga has positively ridiculous stats all across the board, with the largest total among all bosses.
She’s the hardiest enemy in the game, sporting not only 400k HP but also THE biggest armor stat, 2500, which goes up to 4800 as her Prevail dips. Therion, last mission, had 1900. For that matter, at 3L size, she’s also the tallest unit around (1999 meters tall, compared to the Battle Frontier’s 1186m) which results in a MASSIVE damage penalty for anyone that isn’t ignoring the size difference. When Guard and Prevail L9 get going, you better come packing either a FUB’d unit or have SP for Valor, or you’ll be hard pressed to even break 3-4k damage.
But, of course, Kali isn’t just a tank and hits like a jet-propelled train getting shot out of a sniper rifle: her range is massive, with her strongest attack going up to 3-9, her second at 1-4, and her weakest at 2-8. But her most dangerous trick is her MAPW, which follows the same pattern as Deus Ex Machina’s: a 4x4 AoE that she can set anywhere as far as 8 squares away.
BUT, that is not all as, following after her minions, Kali Yuga comes packing nasty debuffs in every single one of her weapons: her weakest attack applies Accuracy and Mobility Down, her MAPW is Morale AND Attack Down (!), her second strongest gives Halved Stats, and her strongest attack applies Range and Movement Down. Now, you might be expecting that 3L size to ruin her accuracy since she doesn’t know Ignore Size Difference, right? Wrong, because not only she has S ranks on all her terrains, both her MAPW and her strongest attack have innate Ignore Size and Barrier Pierce effects.
So, here’s the most important thing in this fight, and the reason why you saved all that SP and cleared every prior enemy: keep Confuse up at all times and/or Daunt her whenever her morale goes over 130 because you do NOT want her to get that MAPW off. If you plan around that, you should be able to drop her in a turn even in a fresh game. If you don’t, and let Kali get a turn above 130 morale, she will make you answer for it.
But the Rvarnas aren’t too resilient themselves.
And a Soul’d MAPW from Kira’ll drop the Riot Xs surrounding Kali, clearing the way for us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K6WPdcvNQk
Here’s Kali Yuga’s second strongest attack – we’re looking to drop her below 70% for the plot to kick in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0lpu4_u3cI
And here’s Kali’s absolute strongest attack, which is one of those rare cases of the final boss actually having a DK. Ishigami graciously offered to demonstrate it to us – he’ll be fine.
It doesn’t take a lot of hits to clear off 120k+ HP after Therion doing nearly half of that (boost him enough and he can two-shot Kali).
: Why do you not return?
: The deviations from the Samsara’s rule prevent the start of the new Yuga…
: Gaaaah!
: Hrrrmmm! I-Indeed… she is well deserving of the title of goddess!
: Maybe, but we ain’t getting dropped by her!
: Do you still not see the truth? That unrelenting will of yours…
: All the endlessly diverging possibilities you bring are twisting the quintessential truth of the universe…
: Wh-What did you say…?!
: The cosmos is governed by the Mahayuga. Time and again the Samsara repeats itself. Eventually, a universe reaches its end, and that also marks a new beginning…
: However, your wills have caused far too many possibilities to be born…
: And it has come to the point that they are impeding the start of the next Yuga…
: Then, you mean that…!
: Our imaginations have turned to oppress the universe itself?!
: Yes, and that is precisely why this universe must be brought to a close.
: As all is returned to the primordial nothingness, the next Yuga shall begin…
: Th-That’s…!
: Then, our lives are…!
: …
: No way.
: Ensign…?!
: It took me a while, but I’ve finally understood what Prof. Novel was trying to do…
: Our possibilities are oppressing the universe, yes…
: Which is why she tried to bring all those possibilities together as one!
: Bring them all as one…?!
: Nothing comes from the void…
: Rather, it’s the fact that everything exists – that all possibilities are here – that makes this the true Beginning of Life!
: Isn’t that right, Jin?!
: Yeah, you got it… The Beginning of Life is right there with you…
: Th-That voice…!
Flash! And tzeeeeeep!
: Open yourself and feel our souls…! We’re all within you…
: My sister… My life is one with you…
: Ayul… how?!
: There was only one beginning…
: Tsubaki…?!
: Joy and sorrow are both aspects of the same life…
: And if the repeating cycle of existence and death is the cycle of life, then…
: …
: Death is also part of life…!
: …?!
: All of life is here… it’s all within you.
: Prof. Novel!
: You’ve figured it out, didn’t you, Saya?
: Major…
: You know what you folks have to do… You know what the answer of your lives is, right?
: …
: Yes!
SRW UX - The Will of Man Awakens
: Th-That light is…!
: It’s the Beginning of Life… and the ultimate destination of our possibilities!
: That’s…!
: We’ve all been through the same…
: We’ve come to comprehend existence and death, and at the end of our journey, we’ve learned what life is…
: Right, Jin?
: Right on. And as those two fold into one another, they join as one.
: All of Creation possesses two sides to itself. ‘Tis when one knows all that the heavens shall be within reach!
: Listen. Can you hear all their voices…?
: Yeah, we hear ‘em!
: The emotions born of life weave endless divergences…
: And when those, ultimately, join together…
: They bring forth a new fate – a new future!
: Th-They are… Why?!
: Those lives were supposed to have returned to nothingness! How are they…?!
: Because they never returned to nothingness!
: Every single one of us have always been right here!
: The souls of those who perished remain within and empower the living!
: Their light is the voice that led us to this very moment!
: It’s a prayer, coming in from the rift between life and death to help us!
: It’s a light that taught us what it means to exist!
: Indeed, there is no god in this world.
: What you see here is the light of the will – the light of life!
: Hear our call, all life who dwells in this universe!
: And gather at the beginning…!
Everyone gets a full restore!
: What… That cannot be!
: I feel so much power coursing through me…!
: We are not beaten… We can keep on flying!
: … Huh, would you look at that? This power has always been everywhere, but it took us realizing that fact for it to start flowing…
: M-Mortals are… creating a new Yuga?!
: They are creating a beginning out of the end…?!
: All our souls have joined as one! And, together, we’ll earn…!
: A new tale for all life…!
Angela - Dead or Alive
Under normal circumstances, this is when I’d cue a random JAM Project song since UX doesn’t have one… but considering the Angela duo have been a constant presence since day one, it wouldn’t feel right to have anyone else here!
: Despair and hope mixed together, and thus a finely tuned system was undone.
: However, that did nothing to stop the end of the Yuga.
: In which case, the solution is simple: we simply need to overthrow the end of the Yuga as well!
: Indeed, and what we’ve accomplished shows that there is nothing our group cannot do.
: I can appreciate one last bit of entertainment before long-lasting tranquility. And I very much like the idea of us cutting these puppet strings ourselves.
: Yes, Master.
: Go for it, boy! And, just this ONCE, I’ll provide some rocking background music for you!
: Feel my melody and let my fleeting, heartrending emotions empower you!
: Let my love empower you, too-robo!
: Forward, Kurou! We have united man, god and machine, and our strength is now on par with the divine! Strike her down!
: Aye, aye! Universal cycles, whatever, I sure as hell ain’t taking someone wrecking us like it’s nothing!
: Now, we - Kurou Daijuuji and Al Azif - will overcome karma itself and tear down the chains of fate!
Kurou attacking: “You really shouldn’t underestimate humans, ya fake goddess!”; “We still got plenty of life in us! And I ain’t putting up with you turning up your nose on that!”
West attacking: “Watch as I wield my artistry, my brilliant intellect to gobsmacking effect! DOCTAAAA WEEEST is the biggest, greatest final boss!” > Elsa: “You’re not taking this seriously, Doctor!”
Therion attacking: “So that we may finally know release from the real unending curse…!”; Etheldreda: “We’ll leave nothing left of you!” > Therion “And then we’ll bring an end to this foolish cycle!”
Kali attacking Kurou: “Oh, man who’s transcended the Ouroboros… your battle has already met its end.”
: Life prayed that it could save its future, and the Earth answered to that will.
: Yet all that accomplished was fostering possibilities leading towards the destruction of all…
: I see you don’t understand jack!
: You act like the will of Earth granting Heroman to mankind was for nothing, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth!
: When Joey and Heroman are together, there isn’t anything they can’t pull off!
: Because the bonds that exist between them are stronger than anyone and anything!
: Joey, Heroman! Please, save our future!
: Do you hear them, Heroman? They’re all calling out to us!
: Our fate comes down to this single moment, and we need to face it with everything we’ve got!
: Oooooo!
Heroman attacking: Joey: “I know we’ll save this world! And the reason is because we’re heroes!” > Heroman: “Hmmmm!”
Will attacking: “I’m not fighting for me… this is for Lina!”
Kali attacking: “I cannot listen to Earth’s will alone.”
: The strength and the will to face any being… Such is the devil who would beckon ruin.
: Hah, “devil”, eh?
: That’s actually not an inaccurate assessment…!
: But, of course, they never cared to be any sort of Champions of Justice!
: You can say that again. The words ‘just cause’ mean nothing to us!
: We fight because we want to! We crush because we want to!
: We are Hell!
: And it’s time for ya to drop her into the afterlife, Mazinkaiser!
SKL attacking: Kaido: “Fighting a god’s right up our alley!”; “I trust you’re gonna give us the fight of our lives, ya hear!”; Magami: “Be it God or the Devil, we’ll kill whoever stands in our way!”; Magami: “I’ll live on and prove that I’m still my own person!”
Tsubasa: “Our long battle for the fate of the world’ll end here…!”
Kali attacking: “The hour has come for Heaven and Hell to return to nothingness.”
: Humans were surrounded by so much sorrow, yet they always kept their gaze set upon the future and succeeded in carving out their own destiny.
: However, there is a destiny that one cannot oppose. You are all prisoners of an unending cycle.
: Had you said that to us before, we might just have believed it… but not today!
: All we need is a glimmer of hope… If we can put our trust in that light, then we can find the strength to fight on!
: Our struggles right now are to carry on living, regardless of how difficult and painful it may be…!
: And if you say that’ll lead the universe to its destruction, then we’ll just break through that destiny and keep going!
Shinn attacking: “God or whatever you are, I’m not letting you destroy mine and my friends’ future!”; “I won’t give up, no matter who’s against me…! That’s the only way to bring an end to conflict!”
Kira: “We just want a normal future for ourselves! Someone who’d take that away can’t be a god!”; “It’s not you who’ll create the future of this universe…!”
Athrun: “We’ll end you and bring light back to our world!”
Kali attacking Shinn or Kira: “Neither strength nor wishes will overthrow destiny – that is, the universal truth.”
: By connecting the individual dots of your wishes, humans erected the lines of their possibilities.
: However, the form drawn by those lines is simply that of the gateway to oblivion.
: What a loada crock! If you think you’re gonna get us shaking in our boots from what, you got another thing coming!
: That might be the opinion of Kali Yuga herself, but it’s not in your nature to just leave it at that, is it, Hayase?
: ‘Course not. There’s no way the form our lines drew is anything like that!
: Plus, even if that gateway to oblivion is legit, all we have to do is exorcize all that badness away.
: If we do, it’ll just be one big gateway to hope left.
: What it all amounts to is that we are the ones who steer our fate…
: Better yet, we’re the factors needed to save our future!
: If a man like me can help defend our future, then I won’t think twice!
: I’ll ante up every ounce of my strength – and all my life – to see that done!
: We might not even be capable of imagining how long you must’ve been watching over this universe…
: But that was then, and this is now…! We’ll build our future with our own lives!
: We won’t allow any of it to meet its end here!
: Rather, we’ll hold fast to our tomorrow and we’ll never let it go!
: That… is our sincerest plea!
: And now it falls on us to teach you what the true strength of mankind is like.
: Do you now see what we’re hoping for? Do you see the form our lives make as they come together?!
: That form’s the Linebarrel – the form that’ll create a shining future from all our endless possibilities!
Kouichi attacking: “Save the universe and protect all life… not a bad deal, I say!”
Moritsugu: “I’m no Champion of Justice. That said, we’ll be the ones who’ll save this world!”
Yamashita: “Here’s the final battle…! Let’s go, Hind!”; “Between you and the Human Machinas, we humans are being sold REALLY short nowadays…!”
Shizuna: “We live by our own will, so butt out! I ain’t taking anyone killing us for no good reason!”; Izuna: “You will not erase the lives we’ve led!”; Shizuna: “No phony goddess—” > Izuna: “Is going to have her way with our future!”
Soubi: “I’d spent decades of my life with Kaoru in that world. I’m not about to let you destroy it!”
Miu: “We’re taking you down, and then we’ll really be Champions of Justice!”
Domyoji: “Time to exorcize THE worst spirit haunting this world!”
Yajima: “The one and only peace is waiting for us just around the corner. And now we’ll win it for humanity!”
Yulianne: “It’s looking like this really is our last job…!”
Jack: “My blade carves out my fate…! None, not even you, may intrude upon it!”
Masaki: “We won’t shy away, no matter how strong an enemy emerges… because we’re all Champions of Justice…!”; “You fancy yourself a god? Don’t make me laugh…!”
Kiriyama: “It’s up to humans to safeguard peace on Earth! We won’t give that task up to anyone!”; “My life, and all the missteps I made, are my own! I won’t let you reset it all!”
Katou: “The future is not our enemy…! No, the future is hope!”; “Humanity will be saved…! That is what I— rather, that is what WE will do!”
Ishigami: “Look at how far I’ve made it. Now, how about we make a flower or two bloom here, eh?”; “Oh, brother… You’re telling me to go and save mankind, Judah?”
Kali attacking Kouichi: “You may even surpass your humanity, but you cannot surpass your limits as ‘Champion of Justice’.”
: As humans rouse their wills, the heavens themselves are stirred.
: However, the destruction in your fate will not and cannot be swayed.
: It may be that the universe is fated to die… But the will of man – our hearts shall prevail!
: Aye, they shall rise above even that fate!
: Ye being who beckons all to the primordial nothingness! Behold the blazing light of our souls!
: That which you hear is the roar of human life! And it demands a future!
: The hearts of those who fell amid the road travelled, the souls of those men and women whom we once challenged! All now shine bright, ever united with justice!
: And it’s flanked by that light that we set off to the beginning of a new world – one brimming with freedom!
Liu Bei: “The will of man… our hearts shall rise above even the power of a god!”
Guan Yu: “We shall end you… and your defeat shall be the founding stone for our homeworld of Mirisha!”
Zhang Fei: “What, a bad apple like you is a god? I don’t think so!”; “And here it is: the battle of the millennium!”
Cao Cao: “You would revert all to nothingness…? The heavens would never stand for such folly!”; “The spirits of the fallen rest upon my blade, and ‘tis through them that I end you!”
Sun Quan: “In the name of the Sun Family, the heirs to the soul of Hǔxiǎo…! I challenge you!”
Shangxiang: “I know we’ll live through this… and then we’ll get back to Mirisha together!”
Lu Bu: “You are an avatar of the heavens?! Hmhmhm… This thrill! It ignites— MY SOOOUUUL!”
Diaochan: “The Shura fear not even a god… Away with you, fiend!”
Kali vs. SD Gundams: “The heavens are coming undone. They will be stirred no longer.”
Kali vs. secret characters: “Ye beings who should not be here… your possibilities have reaped the life of this universe.”; “Your life, your being here… those are turning to threaten the cosmos.”
: The soul is meant to perish and be reincarnated… Such is the power grafted into all life.
: Accept your fate for what it is. You will all be born anew in time.
: Even if I did and were reborn in a later cycle, that person wouldn’t be me!
: And I’d much rather just stay where I am, together with Shou! Reincarnations never play out the same way between people; the differences are as big as a Mi Ferario to an E Ferario, even!
: The fate we struggle against is also the basis for our bonds… To wipe it all away is to wipe out those bonds as well!
: It’s not by erasing everything that you’ll bring about a world of peace and quiet for all souls as they’re reborn!
: Rather, it’s the light of our Aura that’ll lead all life into a better future! And that life will slay even the end of the Yuga!
Shou attacking: “I’ll defend both this world and Byston well!”; “Come what may, I’ll stay as I’ve always been and carry on fighting!”
Burn: “The will of Byston Well would never accept your actions…! Come!”; “Power and cunning matter not now! Our battle is purely to secure a victory for humankind!”
Kali vs Shou: “The Aura Power that has transcended the Samsara… However, not even that will enable you to prevail.”
: The songs born of life resounded with all that exists in the universe.
: And that song shall also meet its end at the upcoming terminus of the cosmos.
: Hmph, is that a fact? Problem is there’s more than just one song in any show!
: And the same goes for this world! As our wills are bolstered by their songs, they’ll turn into a bullet headed straight towards your “nothingness”!
: Remember what the NUNS’ Admiral once said, men! Whenever music flows at a major battle—
: —That’s the moment when defeat becomes impossible!
: To trust in our guts, to choose our future, and to stay true to our will! That’s what our mission is right now!
: Ranka, we’ll keep your stage safe.
: So, let us hear the song of your life – a song that can quake even the underlying truth of the universe!
: I’ll hold onto all that you feel! And we’ll make sure it travels across the whole Yuga and beyond!
: Miracles always occur wherever life exists. And so long as life endures, it’ll happen again!
: You better be watching this, Kali Yuga! This is the dance of Alto Saotome’s life, a dance bearing all the universe’s wishes!
Alto attacking: “I’d never let someone like you do away with our world, with our sky!”
Jeffrey: “Listen up, people! This is our ultimate battle, so stay frosty!” > Bobby: “Yes, sir!”
Kali vs Alto: “Submit your wings and your life… so that a new sky may be born.”
: The rampant possibilities need to be stymied now, or it will mean the disappearance of all… I’m certain you understand what that entails.
: The fates that end here will be reborn, ever under the rule of the Samsara…!
: Your efforts could never bring about a new Yuga…!
: …”A dying world, in the eye of the maelstrom,” is the vibe I’m getting from this. But, regardless, I’ve something to say to you. (First part is “The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku -DEAD END-“ lyrics.)
: The moment you start trying to put a leash on every possibility you find, is the moment you get yourself stuck in an infinite loop!
: Nothing good can come from something as misguided as that… so you leave me no choice! I, Fei-Yen HD, will go all-in to stop you!
Fei attacking: “You’re a threat to the entire universe and we’ll deal with you one way or another!”
Kali attacking: “Surely you can comprehend what the disappearance of all possibilities entail.”
In essence, that song is about what Miku feels when her vocaloid program’s uninstalled – thus, all the possibilities of that version of her are erased. So, Kali figures she’d sympathize with her extreme plan of resetting everything rather than risk the universal collapse under all the oversaturated possibilities.
: The grand power born of the unification of various wills…
: Ultimately, it is simply an agglomeration of possibilities serving as a beacon for destruction.
: But, on the flip side, those possibilities can also help us create something new!
: And every one of us believes that the power my bro, Ylbora and Romina found’ll help us save our future!
: Let’s get in there, folks! We can’t let her deny everything we fought for!
: Right. No one has a right to bind our lives!
: I finally see the truth… The strength to bring forth a new future – that’s the true power of the Ninja Legend!
: Set our Willpower alight, Joe! And lead us into the future past the horizon!
: This is it. We’re gonna drop you like a bad habit and pry open the doors to our future!
: Say your prayers, Kali Yuga!
Joe attacking: “We’re the ones who make our future, and we ain’t sharing that job with you!”; “We won’t know if things really are too far gone until we try!”
Mike: “We took out Hazard and Annex! You’re all that’s left!”; “There’s no point in a future if we don’t get to choose it for ourselves!”
Rennie: “Even if destruction is what our future holds, I know we’ll find a way through it!”
Romina: “I understand the mission given to you. However, our resolve will not be swayed!”; “This battle will mark one giant leap towards peace across the universe!”; Gameran: “This conflict will truly be over if we can best her! Elshank, forward!”
Damian: “I’ve always been ready to fight to the bitter end when I took up a machine!”
Ylbora: “You might be a god, but I will not yield even to one!”; “I’ll readily face even the mightiest of foes in the name of my homeland of Ladorio…!”
Kali attacking Joe: “The Ninja Legend… It may be enough to save a planet, but it cannot save the universe.”
: The emotions concealed within life turn to wings that rise beyond the confines of time and space…
: However, even those wings will quickly be consumed face the eternal nothingness.
: Hardly. The guidance of the Wings of Rean has changed the very heart of our world! Not even the quintessential truth of the universe is immune to it!
: The wishes of the dead linger on within those left behind…
: And if you would turn that to nothingness, then we’ll stand and fight for the life we now have!
: There is only one thing for us to see done! And it’s for that reason that my life did not end when it should have!
: Aesap, Lady Jacoba’s telling us to show her the shape of our lives!
: Kali Yuga, your powers might exist to help the universe, but we’ll never accept your brand of help!
: Power is meant to be used to give birth to a future – a future for those that are alive now!
Aesap attacking: “I’m not putting up with that ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude of yours!”; Erebos: “Aesap, Lady Jacoba’s telling us to destroy her!” > Aesap: “That’s fine, I was already set on doing that!”
Lux: “For the Overworld and Byston Well… No, for all worlds that could ever exist!”
Amalgan: “She must be struck down, not just for us, but for all those who would be born in the future!”
Sakomizu: “Oh, Wings of Rean! Grant us victory in this battle for the future of mankind!”; “So that the world who gave me life, and the world who nurtured it, may all be safe!”
Kali attacking Aesap: “Be at ease. Though your life may come to an end, you will continue to be Aesap Suzuki!”
: As you struggled to survive, you have left undeniable proof that you were here.
: And nothing will change that. You need not endure such pain any further.
: We’re not enduring any pain! Rather, we’ve accepted it!
: Absolutely! All the pain we’ve felt is now part of who we are!
: What you see in us is a will that’s managed to grasp so many possibilities - the warmth of a life that longs to go on…!
: You can’t stop us or the power surging within us… I’m sure we can win this…! No, we have to!
: Our loved ones and our future are counting on us! We have to keep ‘em all safe!
: We’re the ones who decide how our future will be, Kali Yuga! That’s how it’s been and how it’ll continue to be!
: So many people who had faith in us are gone, and we’ve taken all their souls onto ourselves…
: And we’ll fight to answer all their wishes!
: Because we know what awaits us past here is an azure sky prettier than any we’ve seen before…!
: We’ll earn ourselves not only a new future, but we’ll also bring peace to our home…!
: It’s for that reason that we are here!
Kazuki attacking: “Not even a god is going to take away the world we all fought to protect!”; “We’ll defeat you and make our way back to Tatsumiya!”
Shouko: “All we want is a future for ourselves!”; “If God has decided to wipe us out… then I’ll take a stand against God!”
Sakura: “Here’s the end of our battles…! Let’s do it!”; “You’re going down and, then, we’ll bring back that blue sky full of freedom!”
Kenji: “So what that you’re a god! Look at all the stuff we’ve done to get here and you’ll know nothing’s impossible to us!”; “Alright, one final job. Let’s make it a good one!”
Mamoru: “We fight for all our dreams!”; “We’re closing off this battle with a happy ending! That’s what we’re here for!”
Michio: “A god’s oughta just watch over us from way up in the clouds, you know!”; “Well, dang, aren’t you just the perfect mark to close off my career on…!”
Canon: “Final target IDed…! I’ll see you soon, mom…!”; “There’re people waiting for me to come back, and that’s exactly what I’ll do!”
Maya: “We will be victorious in the end!”; “Not even God may decide our future for us. I won’t allow it.”
Hiroto: “Even I’ve got plenty of stuff I wanna do, and you’re not wrecking that!”; “Like hell you’re stealing my youth and my friends’ lives!”
Akira: “Rina, this is the finale! Keep your head on a swivel!” > Rina: “Spare me the reminder!”
Seri: “I still have so much I want to tell Tsubaki!”; “You’re going down, and we’ll make our way back to that blue sky!”
Misao: “This isn’t the first time I’ve stood up to a god!”; “For the home of my Mir… for Earth!”
Kali attacking Kazuki: “Stay this course and you will cease to be there.”
: The light born of human life has reached out to all other lives, weaving all together.
: As that wheel continues to spin, creating more and more possibilities, it will, in time, beget the death of everything.
: That conviction that you know all that will happen is what makes you misinterpret where those possibilities are headed.
: We’re fighting for all lives out there!
: Even if the universe itself doesn’t agree with our being here, and we wind up being tagged as villains…!
: We’ll still go on fighting to make sure our wills can chart our future!
: That’s the purpose we’ve found for our lives!
: We’ll never give up, regardless of how much fate leans towards death or how pathetic our struggles become! Our battle is one of mere survival!
: All those lives that exist today… All those beings trying their best to survive will not be denied! The void will not have them!
: 00 Qan[T]… Setsuna F. Seiei! Moving to rend the chains of fate!
Setsuna: “Your ego would twist the entire world! You’re no different from Ribbons!”; “You’re just a system that’d erase our future, and now I’ll tear you down!”
Graham: “I’ll just tell you this… I will not die! I’m surviving this showdown!”; “Graham Aker, moving to carve out a future for us all!”
Kali attacking Setsuna: “You may have brought an end to your war with the other species, but life is still fated to be destroyed… Such is the fundamental truth of the universe.”
: Humans seek not only to transcend the gods, but the fundamental truth of the universe as well?
: Abandon this foolishness. The closer you come to transcending all, the closer you are to the inevitable destruction that lies ahead.
: Is that supposed to intimidate us?
: I’m afraid we’ve all had enough of your sermons.
: We’re all alive now, and that’s a fact! We’re not letting anyone take that from us!
: Right, we weren’t given life just so we could be destroyed now! On the contrary, the life we were given is meant to be lived to its fullest!
: We’re surviving all the way to the end, Kali Yuga. Meaning we’ll rise above whatever fate has in store and sail on towards our future!
: We, and the Dancouga, will prove that to you! Let’s go wild!
Dancouga attacking: Aoi: “Our biggest battle since Moon WILL! Let’s go wild”; Kurara: “It’s been an exciting ride, but this will be our last mission! Off we go!”; Sakuya: “We gotta fight a god? Big deal! Let’s go wiiild!”; Johnny: “The Dancouga’s no servant of god – it’s a force that transcends gods!”
Kali attacking: “Unfortunately, there is a limit to the possibilities found in humans.”
: Humans have progressively magnified the substance of life across the eons.
: However, it is impossible for that light to raise a new Yuga.
: Quite the opposite: the new Yuga has already begun.
: Of course, it’s no surprise that you haven’t noticed it yet. All this time you’ve had your eyes fixated on the end, and nowhere else.
: But now you’ll finally see the true Beginning of Life!
: Go, you two! Show her how bright our lives shine!
: Come on, Arnie! All their wishes are here with us!
: Behold, Kali Yuga! This is the undeniable mark of all life!
Odyssea attacking: Arnie: “While our lives shine, we’ll never stop rejecting you!”; Arnie: “It’s not God who keeps this universe going… It’s the will of all those that are alive!”; Arnie: Come on, Saya! Beyond this battle lies…” > Saya: “A new Beginning of Life!”; Jin: “You’re up against what’s pretty much a god embodying the will of the universe. Still…” > Arnie: “Yeah… Not even her can withstand the might of all our lives!”
If Saya was flying solo, she also had lines: “I’ll defend this world brimming with the light of life!”; “She may even be a god… but fear will never take us over!”
Special Hell Stringer lines: Arnie: “I can hear all their voices!” > Jin: “Go! Our lives are with you!” > Ayul: “All our light is with you!” > Arnie: “Behold! This…!” > Saya: “Is the undeniable…!” > Arnie: “MARK OF ALL LIFE!”
Special End of Reverse lines: Arnie: “I can hear all their voices!” > Saya: “All our hearts are now together!” > Jin: “Now! Fly!” > Ayul: “This light is…” > Arnie: “THE MARK OF ALL OUR LIVES!”
And the special DK lines for both those attacks: Saya “We will seize…!” > Arnie: “A new beginning…!”
: I-I cannot let myself be overwhelmed…
: If I’m undone, this universe will…!
: Now, Arnie!
: I’m on it!
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit
:black101: :black101:
: My sister… Make use of our lives!
: We’ll join the light within us all…!
: Existence and Death… As these two opposing forces come together as one—!
: —Our overlapping wills are magnified into infinity…!
: And, now, life will rise above nothingness itself!
: Haaaaaaaaaaah!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW7nrcpZncA
Captions are available for HYPE and TAMASHII NO SAKEBI DAAAAAAAAAA!
I feel like I should to add a Volume Warning here. It gets very loud for everyone involved.
: H-How…!
How can anything overcome nothingness…? That is not possible…!
: AAAAAAaaaaaahh!!
BOOOOOOM!
: …
: It’s over…?
: Yes… It’s over at last…
Another BGM that I don’t think has a name or been uploaded to Youtube or Nico.
: This marks the beginning of a new world…
: A world where all possibilities have united…
: It’s just a shame we won’t get to see that world…
: Still, I can live with that. We might have to spend eternity here, but at least we’ll have each other around…
: Heheh, I suppose it won’t be that bad, then…
: Yeah, you got it. If we’re all together, then…
: …
Al flies the Demonbane over to the Elshank and pops Kurou out.
: Al?!
: ‘Tis possible to return you to your original world.
: Come again…?!
: Aye, if I expend all of mine and Demonbane’s energies…
: All of… What’ll happen to you, then?!
: …
: You must live on… in the new world you earned for yourselves…
: Wh-What’re you talking about?!
: Thank you for everything, master to this fool of a book.
: And farewell, my one and only love…
: Al, don’t do this! Al… AAAAAL!
: …
: There is nothing to worry about. We’ll be the ones to bring you all back home…
: …?!
: Ayul…!
: Our souls…!
Koyo takes position by Al.
: And our hearts… I’ll bring them all together and put them to song!
Fei does the same.
Master Therion, Sakomizu, Misao, Lu Bu and Diaochan do the same.
: Y-You’re…!
: I… I traveled the stars for a very, very long time. There was no one there with me, and I didn’t even know where I was.
: And it was that girl’s voice that showed me the way.
: Her voice, her song, are now inside me. So, I… I’m sure I can show you the way too!
: I had a surprising amount of fun with this party at the end of the Samsara, oh lost children.
: Thank you so much. I’m so glad to I could spend this time with you.
: The cry of our souls…
: Shall beckon the heavens to guide you!
: Indeed, the voice of Poseidon will show you the way.
: And, please, remember that we were here…
: Guys…
If you didn’t save any secrets, after Fei talks of showing us the way, Koyo gets some extra bits:
: Thanks for everything. It’s because of you that we could talk again like this.
: And, please, remember that I was here…
: Koyo…!
: Kasugai…
: Kasugai, you…
Common ground:
: I… guess this is goodbye. I thought it’d happen eventually, but it still feels so sudden…
: I’m sad but… I’m also so happy. Happy for all the kindness you showed me, the strength you gave me… and, most of all, for all the songs we made!
: Fei…!
: Goodbye, everyone. I’ll never forget you, even if space and time keeps us apart. Thank you, and I hope we’ll see each other again!
: Of course we will!
: After all, our songs… our songs will cross space and time to link us together!
: Right, we’ll always be listening to each other! As far as we might be, our songs will find their way!
: Hell, yeah. Your voices brought the world together, so that ain’t nothing for ‘em!
: O-Ooohoohooo… The tears! They get the better of me! What an emotional Rock this is!
: P-Professor, you’re crying way too much-robo! If you’re going to do that…
: Then, I wish you had installed some tear dispensers in me-robo…
: Good luck out there, Arnie…
: I’ll always remember you, Jin…
: Be happy, Saya…
: Major…!
: Don’t cry, girl. You’ve long-since stopped being just a manmade life.
: You’re another human person now. So, go and live as wonderfully as I know you can.
: …
: Yes, dad…
: I’m sure we’ll see each other again, Kurou, everyone…
: Your voice…!
: It was you, wasn’t it? You were the one who saved me… (As I’ve been told, this is a SRW K reference in which Mamoru was very close to Gun x Sword’s Nero and gang.)
: Thanks, Ennea…
: Hayase, Katou… take care of Emi and your future.
: Father…!
: We promise. We’ll make sure the future you entrusted to us…
: And Emi’ll stay safe, Prof. Kizaki…!
: Kazuki…
: Mom…!
: Thank you. Your being born brought so much joy to Fumihiko and I…
: M-Mom…!
: Be well, my friends…
: Let’s get going, then…
: To that world of united possibilities…
And, so, time passed…
Location: New York City – Rubens Foundation HQ
(TV): Look, dear viewers! That’s the pride of the Earth Federation, the Celestial Being spaceship!
: In just a few hours, it will begin its long voyage towards the ELS homeworld!
: The ship, named after the group who once fought against the entire world in a bid to eradicate all war…
Bloop.
: It’s almost time…
: Hm. I’m certain they’ll bring a shining future to the ELS as well…
: I believe it won’t be long before mankind has sown the seeds of mutual understanding with all life in the universe.
: And it’s up to Setsuna and his friends to make the first step towards that…
: Marina, are you sure you don’t want to say goodbye to them…?
: Yes, it’s fine. It might take a long time, but I’m sure they’ll come back. And I know we’ll understand one another…
: Because we were always after the same thing…
Location: The Celestial Being – Command Center
: …
: Setsuna… are you thinking about Princess Marina?
: No, it’s about where we’re headed: outer space…
: …
: Hm… It’ll be a very long voyage.
: Pshaw, forget about whatever dangers are waiting for us. I’ll be ready to keep you safe, madam brigadier general!
: Not brigadier general - lieutenant general!
: Whaa?! You got another promotion?!
: Outer space is wholly unknown territory to us. But perhaps we can enlist the ELS’ aid on that front.
: How so? Are you considering fusing with the things and becoming some sorta hybrid lifeform?
: If need be, that’s certainly a possibility.
: M-Mr. Erde, whatever form you take, I…
: I’ll love you just the same!
: …?!
: What-did-you-saaaay?!
: Oh, honey… I’m so relieved she picked a good man.
: Hah…
: This is no laughing matter!
: Speaking of couples, how’re things with Allelujah and Soma? Still traveling?
: Last I heard, they were building an orphanage with Arnie and Saya…
: Is that so? If I remember right, Arnie was raised in one of those himself.
: I’m sure they’ll make a wonderful future for themselves and those children.
: Yes, they will…
: And Kira… please be careful during your trip.
: I will. Thanks, Lacus.
: Please take care of the PLANTs, Cagalli and the others for me. (Are you prepared for ELS-Hybrid Kira Yamato with a suped-up ELS Strike Freedom?)
: Let’s get this show on the road, then. The sea of stars awaits us!
: We set off as sailors towards a bright tomorrow! (And, hey, turns out Graham surviving won’t deprive him of also turning into an ELS-Hybrid and getting his Gundam. Sorry, Sugita.)
: To pave the road to a future for all life…!
: (Marina, I’m sure we’ll see each other again someday…)
: (And at that moment, we…)
Location: Tokyo – Concert Hall
: Thank you so much for coming here today, everyone!
: Now, up next is our brand new single!
: It’s called “Someday, Life Together!”
: MIUMIUUUU! EIDAAAAA! HOLLYYYY!
: They’re really bringing down the house, huh…
: Well, of course! It’s the miraculous New York soul singer Holly Jones…
: Plus Miu Kujo, Japan’s top idol, and world-class singer Eida Rossa!
: I heard tickets for their tour sold out within seconds.
: Hmhmm. And are you sure they’re OK with donating all that money to charity?
: You’re one to talk… Didn’t you girls donate all the earnings you made in this world to help Arnie and the others build their orphanage?
: Well, we are heading back to the future soon.
: Consider that just fair compensation for everything.
: The future, huh… I wonder what that world’s like.
Door opens.
Miu: That was great!
: Hear, hear. You three really lit a fire in the crowd.
: Aoi! I didn’t know you were here!
: How’s model life treatin’ ya? I reckon things must be real busy after getting back in the biz.
: That’s not all she’s been up to. According to this article on Men’s Hobbies Monthly…
: She’s recently doing some work as an essayist and has even taken up model building. (Reference to Haruna Ikezawa’s own side-job and hobby. Here she is with her Sazabi, which won 1st place in a Hobby Japan Magazine competition.)
: Th-The model’s building models…?
: FYI, I’m not doing it for the puns.
: I just figured, since we have all those possibilities in us, that I’d go and give those a whirl.
: Not to check whether or not you could, but just ‘cause you felt like it, eh?
: Right on.
: …
: Is something wrong, Miu?
: N-No… I was just wondering what would’ve happened to me if you guys weren’t here…
: If we weren’t…?
: I’m only here singing today because I met you guys and Hayase…
: Because you gave me the courage to keep on living…
: Isn’t that good enough, then?
: Forget about “what ifs”. Hold your head up high and we’ll make sure our song reaches even Fei’s ears.
: Holly…
: Fei-Yen… What is she doing right now, I wonder…
: Led by song, her will had fused with that of another girl’s…
: We’re not any closer to figuring out who was it that reached out to her… but I get the feeling she’s made it back to her own world and is singing to her heart’s content.
: Besides, the future has now become one.
: Yeah… I’m sure she’ll turn up again, somewhere…
Location: Arkham City – Downtown
: The Hadou Financial Group’s hired you as their personal investigator?!
: Oho, that’s quite the jump in your career.
: Hmhmhm, you may now address me as Kurou Daijuuji, Magic Detective!
: “Magic Detective”… that’s got a very cool ring to it!
: Maybe I should become a detective myself…
: Then you better get to practicing your disguises!
: How about you start by dressing up as a girl?
: Whuh?! W-Why would I have to do that?!
: Still, I think it could work. Put on some makeup and you’d look really cute, Joey. (Reference to the original series, where Joey and Psy had to dress up as girls.)
: M-Maybe, but…
: But I reckon you’d still have a long way to go before you could measure up to my flawless disguises! Mwahahahaha!
: “Flawless,” he says. Unless my memory fails me, the Hadou girl called you a “good-for-nothing Holmes wannabe” not too long ago, hm?
Hrm, that’s…!
: I appears that, despite everything, your skill as a detective hasn’t shown much progress…
: Hmm, and here I was thinking if I should ask you to look for my brother.
: “Look”? Then, he…?
: Yeah, the guy pretty much vanished the second we got back to this world…
: I wonder that he’s up to now…
: I’m sure Will’s doing fine.
: He is your guardian hero, after all, Lina!
: Right!
: Right on.
: Mr. Daijuuji! I’ve been looking for you all over!
: Wah?! Princess…!
: Have you come to any conclusions on the “bloody mystery” I sent you before? (Reference to Flight of the Machine God Demonbane)
: U-Um, I…
: Bloody mystery?
: Yes, it’s—
BOOM!
: Whoa! Wh-What the hell…?!
Vrroooom!
: Make way-robo!
Criminal guitar solo!
: HAHAHAHA! This cash’ll make for some fine funding for my research!
: Excuse you?! I was robbing that bank before you even got there! That’s my cash you’re stealing!
: Hmph! I say prison life suits a buffoon like you far more than your silly research!
: Rrrgh, you SONUVA—!
: After him! Run down that ignoramus! We’ll hunt him wherever he goes!
: Roger that, Dr. Minami.
Vrroooom!
: Bah… Things have finally cooled down, and there they are, up to no good again.
: Unfortunately for them, this city…
: Is home to the strongest heroes of all!
: Let’s get to work, Kurou, Al!
: Aye, aye!
: From the hate-scorched sky, with righteous anger in our hearts…!
: Etc, etc.! Thou art the innocent blade, Demonbane!
: Heromaaaan… GOOO!
Thunder!
Location: The skies above Arkham City
#1: I suppose our intervention is not necessary anymore.
#2: At that moment, the heart of that Al was filled with a wish to live on…
#2: But, as it turns out, none of them needed God’s help to begin with.
#1: Hah, mayhaps you are correct…
: Let us return, then. We may entrust them with our child, I say.
: Look after him when he arrives, Human Kurou Daijuuji.
Teleport away!
Location: New York – Alleyway
: After them! Don’t let them get away!
: Tsk, they don’t give up, do they?!
: We need to loose them, Sakuya! The people have to know of their corruption!
: Damn it, gun them down! Do whatever it takes to catch them!
: Yes, sir!
-
*
: …
Bang!
: Gaah…!
: Yaargh…!
Dropped.
: …?!
: There’s our chance, Isabelle! We gotta get out of here!
: Who… Who was that just now…?
: Did you forget the world we’re in? There’re Champions of Justice fighting crime in the shadows, ya know.
: Champions of Justice…
Runs off.
: Psh, those two are nothing but trouble.
: Hey, don’t complain. We were hired for this, remember?
: Damian, we need to take care of the other pursuers…
Ninja run!
: They have already been dealt with.
: Oh? That quick?
: “Quick, Precise, and Reliable” is our motto, after all.
: Very well done, everyone. I can see why the Federation Government chose to enroll the Katou Organization as a troop of secret agents!
: My men and I will handle the rest of this, if you would.
: You know, Hughy, you could always ditch the NIA and come work with me.
: Why, I still get all tingly remembering the passion with which you approached me during that “reform of the Federation Army” mess.
: …?!
: Speaking of, you also asked me out for coffee, no?
: …
: Mr. Hughes, did you…
: N-No… I-I was just doing my job, trying to acquire intel…
: Oh, what a cruel, cruel man! He’s toyed with my heart!
: You’re one to talk. No one here is going to fall for your wailing.
: Besides, if we’re throwing stones, back at the Akoro village, Damian—
: Soooubiii! They don’t need to hear that!
: ???
: Did something happen at Akoro?
: U-Um, well…
: O-Oh, right! I was planning on taking you to some authentic Japanese hot springs, Karen!
: Really?! Thank you so much, Damian! I’m so happy!
: Hahahahaha…
: That’s enough nonsense. We’ve to move on to our next mission.
: By the looks of things, we’re being sent to capture the Lostbarrel. Its signal was detected around Eastern Europe.
: The Skull Force has already been dispatched over there. We should meet up with them ASAP!
Craaaash!
: Give it up, Sawatari! There’s no way out for you today!
: You better take my Wingle Mk. II seriously or you’ll be in for a world of hurt!
: Hrm, I can’t go one day without you hounding my ass, can I?! But whatever, I’ll run off as far as the depths of Hell if I gotta!
#1: Hah, “the depths of Hell”…?
#2: Ya really shouldn’t use that word around us!
: Y-You…!
Swooosh!
: Cargo bay, open! Beginning descent!
: Good luck, emissaries of Hell!
: Gaaaaah! We ain’t no emissaries!
: We are Hell!
BOOOOM!
Location: JUDA – President’s Office
: Incoming message from Lt. Yuki! The Skull Force is engaging the Lostbarrel!
: Okey-dokey! Have the Shangri-La set off to help them as soon as its ready to go!
: Then again, I doubt the duo of Hell would need help.
: Still, this is the perfect opportunity to give Yamashita’s new Hind Tank a trial-run, right?
: You said it. I wanna have some good news to pass on to Moritsugu once he’s back from Nagasaki.
: He’s been very busy lately, what with working as CEO for both New JUDA Corp. and Kiriyama Heavy Industries…
: You’re not going to take up your old job again, Kiriyama?
: No, I’m more than satisfied just helping Reiji like this.
: But why is Moritsugu working as JUDA’s prez when you’re right here, Mr. Ishigami?!
: As I said way back when, I quit the job to lead the 1st Unit again.
: And, to be honest, I never liked the idea of holding a management post. It’s a weight off my back to put that stuff behind me.
: Hmph, glad to see you’re sticking to your old habits…
: The UX might’ve been dismissed, but it’s clear the world still needs Champions of Justice.
: Right, and we’ll have to keep up the good work as part of the Katou Organization!
: The Katou Organization…
: What’s up, Emi? Still not used to being part of that group?
: N-No, that’s not…
: Oh, right… I’m sorry, Kizaki…
: Huh? Why are you apologizing?
: Because you had just as many bombshells dropped on top of you… but I was always focused on myself.
: We never really sat down and talked of how you were feeling about Amagatsu, the Advancers… or about Katou.
: Ah…
: I mean, Katou’s the only family you have left and I—
: No, he’s not!
: Huh…?
: …
: Maybe he’s family, but… that doesn’t mean I don’t have someone else who’s been there for me…
: Someone who I want to be there for, even…
: Kizaki…
: I-I—
Door opens.
: Well, well, everyone’s here.
: …?!
: M-Moritsugu?!
: Hm? Is something the matter?
: No, no… never mind them.
: You got here early, Reiji. Cmdr. Katou isn’t with you?
: No, he made a detour to visit the graveyard.
: The graveyard…?
: Um… B-Boss, are those bags you’re holding…!
: …
: Heh, you’ve noticed them, eh? Yes, these are…
: D-Don’t tell me…!
: Nagasaki’s own Castella cakes, yes.
: I knew it!
: (How does he manage to make souvenir shopping sound like such a big deal…?)
Location: Fukui Prefecture – Graveyard
: My ancestors are buried here…?
: Yes. I looked up the origins of Sakomizu’s family and it led me to this grave.
: I’m sure King Sakomizu would be happy to be buried in a place as pretty as this.
: Hm, it really looks gorgeous. But beneath us is only…
: …
: It might be a while before society really does come together…
: But we still need to face onwards and keep going.
: Correct. While the past may have left several negative legacies, we cannot face away from one another.
: Each and every one of us must ponder what we can do to build a bridge to the future…
: A bridge to the future, huh…
: I, for one, am thinking of being a storyteller. (Reference to the Dunbine anime, where Cham’s the narrator.)
: A storyteller?
: Right, I want the entire world to know about Byston Well, about the battles Shou and our friends went through…
: And, above all, I want to tell them about the new tale of life.
: Hahah, but the Overworlders aren’t really familiar with the Ferario. Don’t you think they’ll just freak out and run when you fly over to them, Cham?
: Hmph, excuse you! No one would ever run from a Ferario as cute as me!
: And on this subject, do you guys know where Burn went?
: From what I’ve heard, he got on a ship and set off to sea. Said he was going to find his own path to follow.
: He’s off sailing by himself? You don’t think he’s off crying somewhere in the middle of the ocean, right?
: Hah, I seriously doubt that. I’m sure he’ll be doing just fine, wherever he might end up.
: Do you think we’ll see him again?
: I get the feeling we’ll run into each other, yeah.
: It might be tomorrow, or it might be in a future universe – who knows? (Reference to New Story of Aura Battler Dunbine, where they’re both reincarnated.)
: And will you be staying in the Overworld, Lord Shou, Lady Marvel?
: Yeah. It might’ve been in a previous universe, but the Overworld is still our home.
: It’ll be good to finally rest and enjoy a regular life up here.
: Especially with the love of my life…
: Shou…
: …
: Aesap, what are you…
Swoooosh.
: Look! The cherry blossoms are dancing in the wind…
: It looks so pretty…
: …
: “If one should ask you concerning the heart of a true Japanese, point to the wild cherry blossom glowing in the sun.”
: What’s that from?
: During the War in the Pacific, the Japanese soldiers would liken themselves to the beautiful cherry blossoms.
: How they, like the petals, were fated to fall at the height of their bloom.
: Yet they would all be reborn as the blooming blossoms in the trees of following Spring …
: …
: My father is smiling…
: Huh…?
: Oh, cherry blossoms…
: King Sakomizu…?!
Sweeeesh!
: U-Urk…!
: Huh?! Lux and the others are gone…!
: The Aura Road opened…
: They’ve all returned to Byston Well…
: …
: (I suppose we, mankind, still need to learn…)
: (What is truly foolish, what is truly precious, and…)
: (What it truly means to defend those you love…)
Location: Frontier Fleet – Griffith Park, Overlook
: Then, we’re going to use the Accelerated Particle Engines to get back to our future world?
: Right. From what we’ve found, it looks like we can create a similar phenomenon to Yog-Sothoth’s gate by pushing the Odyssea’s two Lepton Vectrers into synchro-overdrive.
: Hey, now, are you sure that’s a good idea?
: We can go in just fine, but how will we know we’re not getting warped over to a different future…?
: Hmm, I’d like to think Prof. Rachel took that into account…
: Ah, I doubt there’s anything to worry about. The possibilities of all future universes have been unified, after all.
: Hm, I suppose so…
: What’s the Frontier Fleet going to do, though?
: Is it really going to just travel the galaxy again?
: No; as Cathy told us, it looks like the Fleet’ll be looking to settle in the Vajra Homeworld once we’re back in our universe and a new government has been put together.
: The Vajra Homeworld…?!
: The place’ll likely still be chock-full of Vajra in our universe, but we should be capable of reaching an understanding with each other again.
: They’ve all decided to coexist with the Vajra, huh…?
: I’m sure it can be done. Ranka and Sheryl’ll relay what we feel over to them…
: Yeah, they will…
: Speaking of, I trust that choice is already 100% made, yes?
: What…?
: Sheryl and Ranka, I mean.
: …?!
: Oh, yeah. We couldn’t hear you back there, so I’d very much like to hear your thoughts now.
: And, by the way, if you say something like “they are both my wings”, so help me God, I will end you.
: A-Ah… No, I… well…
: You are both my wings!
: Huuh?!
: Bro, I know it’s not an easy choice, but that’s just mean.
: Damn it, it’s just that… I can’t choose one or the other!
: …
: Then, you really do love Princess Romina?
: … I do.
: And do you love me…?
: I do too.
: Hmhmm… Fine, then I’m coming with you on that trip to Planet Ladorio.
: Are you sure? We’re talking about going into a future universe, so we’re probably not coming back here.
: That’s fine. I go where you go.
: Unless… are you saying I’d be getting in the way?
: …
: Alright, we’ll go together, Rennie.
: Yeah!
: And, of course, I’m sticking with my bro all the way!
Door opens.
: We’ll be arriving at Tatsumiya soon, everyone.
: Joe, are you really accompanying us into the future world?
: Absolutely, yeah. That’s the future we won for ourselves; whatever it’s like, I wanna see the place with my own eyes.
: And, Princess Romina? Our battle’ll begin properly once we arrive!
: …!
: Heheh… Yes, it will.
: Hm? What’re you two on about…?
: Joe, once we’ve arrived at Planet Ladorio, what say you to one final duel?
: We’ll decide once and for all which warrior is truly suited to guard Her Highness.
: Yeah, you got it.
: But, this time, we’ll do it as comrades who fought for the same cause!
: Hah. Comrades… Indeed.
Location: Tatsumiya – Hilltop
: The breeze is quite nice today, isn’t it, Master…?
: Aye… And, soon, it will be time to bid this island farewell…
: Cough, wheeze…!
: M-Master…!
: I-I am fine. Perhaps the thought of returning to our homeland at last has excited me a tad too much…
: Zhou Yu…
: Young Lord… What are your plans for when we have returned to Jiangdong?
: …
: I… plan to establish a nation.
: You’ll make a nation in Jiangdong…?
: Aye. Our father and brother paved our way into that land, and I mean to build a nation of kindness upon it, where all our families might live happily…
: Quan…
: You have become a fine man, Young Lord. Hearing you speak so brings much peace to my heart.
: And I am certain Lords Sun Jian and Sun Ce feel the same…
: Yeah, I’m sure they’re happy too!
: And I swear to help you with every ounce of my ability, sire!
: I thank you, Shangxiang, Lu Xun…
(Zhou Yu): …
: Master…?
: You mean to stay in this era…?
: Aye, I have learned quite a lot during our stay in this world. (Sima Yi, why are you looking so hostile…?! Apparently, he becomes a villain in the later mangas, so this is foreshadowing that.)
: If possible, I would like to compile the events that transpired and my knowledge in a text for the future generations.
: A text, is it? And I have the sinking feeling…
: That that text is the one which, in the future Mirisha, shall be dubbed G-Records.
: Wh-What?!
: As the legend goes, the author of the G-Records was named “Sima”.
: All things considered, I am rather certain that would be you, Sima Yi.
: …
: W-Wait a moment! If the legend inscribed in the G-Records refers to our battles, then…
: Yup. The Three Sovereigns of legend were you, Sun Quan and Cao Cao all along.
: W-We were…?!
: Just as the power shown by Joe and his allies gave birth to the Ninja Legend in the future Earth of Planet Ladorio…
: So did your actions become the stuff of legends in your far future.
: Then, the Souls of the Three Sovereigns which dwelled within the Yùxǐ…
: Those were likely an amalgamation of our own souls, accumulated over the myriad Samsaras…
: Of course, we can only speculate.
: Moreover, so long as we remain human, our possibilities will continue to diverge endlessly.
: Who can say what new tales will emerge from our unified future…?
: I get it. Does that mean one of them possibilities is a world where Kongming likes saying “Hawawa”? (Reference to Koihime Musou, a porn game where Kongming’s a little girl who says that a bunch.)
: Quiet, you. The idea that such a world exists is positively ludicrous.
: Y-Yo… it was just a joke, what’re you getting so bent outta shape for…?
: However, if Liu Bei and the others are the Three Sovereigns of legend… what does that make Lu Bu?
: Hm, he also wielded a Holy Armor as we did.
: That’s a bit of an enigma, yeah.
: The G-Records even tells a legend of the goddess Nüwa, the one responsible for creating the world…
: I’ve a feeling she’s representative of Kali Yuga, but there are no parts referring to Lu Bu even tangentially.
: It could be that it took him until this Samsara to take hold of his destiny, or perhaps…
: He was purposefully omitted from the story.
: Omitted? What for?
: Oh, none but the author could answer that question.
: Right, Sima Yi?
: …
: Sima Yi… what you choose to reveal or conceal from the future world is your own decision. However…
: You would do well to harbor more than just foolish ambition.
: …!
: What’d you mean?!
: Katou once sought to take the reins of history via the Advancers, remaking the world to match his own ideals…
: Whereas the Human Machinas sought to control the world itself, acting as gods of mankind.
: Should you allow your superlative ability to cloud your judgment so, Sima Yi…
: …
: What would happen…?
: Then the future Mirisha would be our battlefield, whereupon we would take up arms and crush your aspirations.
: …
: I shall take those words to heart, my lord.
Location: ALVIS – Fafners’ Burg
: Umm… And once the safety lock is released, the synchronization coefficient will have to be…
: Relax, Saya’s offered to do all the fine-tuning.
: Aah, I was hoping you’d say that. These Lepton Vectrers get more complicated by the minute…
: It goes to show just how much of a genius Prof. Novel was.
: Hmmm… I’d say she wasn’t quite a genius in that sense of the word.
: How so?
: I can’t say for sure how she managed to cross from one Samsara into the next while retaining her memories…
: But, if anything, we can be sure that, through every cycle, she added more and more to these Accelerated Particle Engines. Simply put, these embody work accrued throughout all the Samsaras she’d repeated.
: To be faced with failure millions of times over, but still carrying on fighting by yourself.
: That’s the kind of persistence I could never measure up to.
: Are you retiring again, grandma?
: Yes, the years have already caught up to me. You kids should also take some time to rest.
: As for you, Tamotsu, isn’t it about time you started working on the Goubine sequel?
: …?!
: Huh…?! Then, Anko Otsubu, the author, is…!
: The penname of one Tamotsu Koudate, yes.
: …
: My dad’s Goubine’s author…
: He didn’t mean to lie to you or anything of the sort. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that there isn’t much entertainment to be found in an island isolated from the rest of the world…
: You always had a habit of reading manga as a kid, and you would cry so much that you wanted new stories. So, Tamotsu practiced and practiced, eventually creating a story of his own: Goubine.
: As for Anko Otsubu, he became the one and only native manga artist in Tatsumiya – an artist born just for the sake of bringing you joy.
: Dad…
: I’m sorry that I never said anything…
: No, no, I’m grateful to you.
: It’s thanks to you that I managed to grow stronger, and why I’m still here today.
: Mamoru…
: Could you… Could you draw some new Goubine stories for me?
: Yeah, you got it!
If Mamoru wasn’t saved:
: As for you, Tamotsu, isn’t it about time you started working on the Goubine sequel?
: …?!
: Huh…?! Then, Anko Otsubu, the author, is…!
: The penname of one Tamotsu Koudate, yes.
: I can’t believe it… Mamoru’s dad is Goubine’s author?
: …
: You should start drawing again. Do it for the memory of your son…
: Ma’am…
: Well, I’d love to read a new Goubine!
: Me, too. I’m sure Mamoru would be happy too!
: Thank you both…
: (Mamoru… I know they’ll remember you whenever they’re reading Goubine.)
: (The memory that you were here will stay with them forever…)
Door opens.
: Welcome…
: Oh, Mr. Asuka?!
: Huh… So, this is the café you guys’ve been running.
: And they’ve even got some “Kazuki” dishes by the looks of it.
: Then, I guess I’ll go with a Kazuki Curry and some coffee.
: Wh-What’re you all doing here…?
: We’re seeing off the folks returning to the future.
: Ah, right… that’s tomorrow. I bet they’re all happy.
: What about you, Sakura? Is your body doing better?
: It is, thanks for asking. I’m good enough to send Kenji flying again!
: Come on, they’ve got the juniors here. They don’t need to hear about that…
: And from what I’ve heard, Hiroto and Seri are transferring over to a high school in Japan?
: Yes, sir! I’m looking to become a science teacher…
: And I’m not stopping until I’m a top singer just like Eida!
: Still haven’t given up on that dream, eh…?
: Hahah, but I don’t see a problem there. Everyone’s free to choose what dreams and possibilities to pursue.
: Right on! I dunno if I can make it or not, but I’m still going to give it my best shot!
: What about you and Soushi, Kazuki? Are you planning on staying here for good?
: Yes. This is our home…
: But, most of all, this is where everyone is…
: (Kazuki…)
: …
: (Get in there, Shouko.)
: (C-Canon…?!)
: (Nothing’ll ever change if you don’t decide to make it so.)
: (Nothing’ll change…)
: …
: Um, Kazuki? I know this is your day off, but would you mind teaching me how to cook?
: …?!
: You want me to teach you?
: W-Well… I’m not the greatest cook around, so I figured…
If Shouko’s gone, Canon’s the one who cuts in after Maya:
: …
: Um, Kazuki? I know this is your day off, but would you mind teaching me how to cook?
: …?!
: You want me to teach you?
: Y-Yeah… I spent pretty much my whole life in the army, so I never learned how to cook any household foods.
: And… my mom also said I should try and learn a bit of that, so…
Common ground:
: I-I could go for some cooking lessons, too!
: Y-You, too, Toumi…?
: I’m not that great of a cook either… I’m terrible, actually!
: (That’s not the kind of thing you brag about…)
: …
: Yeah, alright. We can do this.
: R-Really…?!
: You wanna come with, Soushi?
: Huh…?
: What…?
: You never learned to cook, so I might as well take the chance to show you.
: Thanks, but that’s not necessary. I saw much while my mind was crossed with yours, and I’m pretty sure I could even put some Kazuki Curry together.
: W-Wow, talk about convenient…
: Still, I’m always interested in social interaction.
: While I don’t need to be taught… yes, I would very much like to take part in this event.
: …
: Oi… Time hasn’t made him any less dense.
: Heheh. I’m a bit relieved to see that, though.
: Ooh, look! The sky’s so pretty!
: Yes, it is…
: That’s the blue sky daddy and his friends protected…
: …
: He’s smiling…
: “He”?
: Yes. He says he’s happy he was born…
: That he’s really happy to see a sky as blue as this!
: Miwa…
: (Kurusu… wherever you are, you’re still watching over this sky, aren’t you…?)
: Come back and visit us sometime, mister…
: (The boundless pain that fills our world… does all of it have a place to come home to?)
: (For now, I choose to believe that supreme tranquility awaits us where we’ll return…)
: (And that that is why we are here…)
Cue the credits – special props to Miyuki Kishimoto, chief scenario writer and pretty much the man in charge for everything plot-related.
: They’re all gone, back to the distant future world…
: They all heard that voice and gathered in the world of the past…
: But, this time, it’ll be your voice guiding them. I’m sure of it…
: M-Mine…?
: Hmhmm. You’re the one who’s understood the Beginning of Life.
: Your voice’ll act as a beacon for them as they set off towards the future…
: My voice…
: Like your name says, Saya… you’ve become the life of all our friends.
: …
: Thanks, Arnie…
: We should be heading back as well.
: Next month’ll be here in a heartbeat, and so will the unveiling of our orphanage. We’ve a lot to do to get it all ready.
: And as I’ve been told, Princess Marina has offered to play the organ at the opening ceremony.
: The princess? That’d be wonderful.
: Speaking of, Saya, you’ve been practicing your acting for a while now, haven’t you?
: Well, of course. Orphanages need teachers and what better way to make the classics interesting than with some real acting?
: I could show you how far my practice has brought me, if you’d like.
: Hah, yeah, absolutely. I’ve been looking forward to it.
: Okay, then… how about a scene from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”?
: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream…”?
: …
: Is there a problem?
: No… it’s weird. I could swear I heard that name somewhere before.
: Where was it…?
: …
: Okay, maybe some other time.
: Huh? Why?
: Because…
: The last thing I want is for “this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream.”
Here’s the 100%’d save file, for anyone looking to start a game with all secrets unlocked. The save you’re looking for is the one in slot #1.
One final bit to expose my take on the finale, for those curious: as we saw Kali Yuga was, as the game itself dubbed her, a system. As far as she was concerned, the world is only “correct” when it’s aligned with fate and follows the Mahayuga nice and easy.
I’ve heard the UX’s dealings compared to a nonstop run of Super Meat Boy: you start, you get a little far, you die, you start over and get farther, then you die again, etc. The same process applies to the UX folk over the past cycles, in that they whenever they got farther, they were moving away from what fate had in store. Every new possibility we opened up was a wee bit we pushed against fate - by themselves they weren’t all that significant, but add enough of those and you start to have a problem. Our possibilities were clashing with the underlying truth of the universe (that is, the Mahayuga cycle), in that we were starting to push it away and running things as we wanted.
As the game takes place, things have gotten to the point that we’ve bent fate over our knee so much that we’re outright keeping the universal cycle from working as intended. A metaphor used in the JP is of a computer that’s got so much stuff running in the background (the divergent possibilities), that it simply can’t do anything. Leave that alone, and it’s only a matter of time before stuff breaks down. That’s where Kali Yuga comes in, to format that PC and start things fresh. That’d erase all the satured possibilities and the Mahayuga’ll be free to being anew.
Our folks didn’t care for that, of course, and neither did the lingering souls of all past cycles, which were slowly empowering and pushing us towards the events of the finale: we defeated Kali Yuga and overthrew the Mahayuga cycle, setting our unified possibilities as the new central pillar of the multiverse. From what I see, those “past futures” like Mirisha, Ladorio, the Frontier World, etc., now are actual parallel universes, since the possibilities of past cycles have been united now.
And that is that. I’m surprised I managed to get through the entire game in just under 9 months – only two over L and MX, despite having a much bigger text count and the fact that, unlike in those games, past a certain point I just decided to go “fuck it” and fully translate everything.
I came in with not a lot of expectations – the only things I was familiar with were the Odyssea, TAMASHII and the fact that Demonbane Is Broken – and almost didn’t do it due to Frontier and Trailblazer annoying me as they do… but I loved it every step of the way. Even Frontier didn’t irk me AS much (Trailblazer did, but, hey, you can’t have it all).
The scenarios, the weaving plotlines, the love the secrets got, the stellar BGM selection, all of it has propelled UX from an unknown to baaarely beating MX and joining W and Z1 as one of my top 3 favorites SRWs (no, I can’t pick an actual favorite). The less-than-amazing graphics due to BP’s inexperience with the 3DS engine don’t bring UX down nearly enough face everything else it does so well. I’m very happy I decided to check how Citra was doing after finishing L.
Now, as I’ve seen in the thread, I know there’s some expectation over what I’ll do next. But, unfortunately, I’ve no plans for another LP at the moment. As I’ve often noted, my free time has been steadily diminishing, and I made a concentrated effort to blast through this game over the past months – I expected to end it by december, so maybe I pushed too hard, even! As much as I want to redo W and give it an actually good translation, I’m not at a point where I can say with confidence that I’d be able to finish another LP, and I absolutely refuse to start one if there’s a risk I’ll abandon it. I’m not saying I’m never doing one again, but I also can’t in good consciousness say I will do another. Time will tell.
But if any aspiring translation LPers are out there and are looking to try their hand at this, feel free to hit me up. Over these 6 years, I’ve come to automatize a good lot of the non-translation aspects of SS LPing (God knows, pasting all these portraits and pictures by hand would be maddening), so maybe I can offer pointers or show you to websites with SRW scripts.
Regardless, I’ll be combing through this thread to look for typos (that somehow eluded the eagle-like sight the thread’s readers have) and cleaning it all up. Maybe I’ll post some translated save skits as well. Once that’s all done, it’s another LP off to the archives.
Finally, very special thanks to Hokuto and MajinZenki for their constant assistance and support, including hearing me rant whenever the game gave me a headache with its metaphysical concepts.
See you folks around.
Man, it’s nice to see the “if you got EVERY secret” bit at the start to tie everything together. It’s just unfortunate that BX made that the requirement for its secret final stage.
To further along Brunom’s talk about the past universes - this is why UX’s secrets work the way they do. When you unlock a secret in UX, you unlock a secret in all future runs… because NG+ in UX is LITERALLY a part of its cycle, a past world you went through and probably unlocked new possibilities from. That’s also why all those various characters show up in a row if you didn’t save them - as hints, for future runs.
SAAAAAAAAAAAKEBIIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~!
tfw Kuzaku Daijuuji incoming
Oh boy, things are about to take a quite hilarious turn. It’s nice to see the epilogue for SKL and 00 A Wakening, later Linebarrel manga stuff, and various other sequels get at least hinted at. Makes the world feel like all sorts of stuff could still happen. Though the reference to Tales of Neo Byston Well make me wonder… without Shot, and in a universe where the hatred between Shou and Burn was finally put to rest, what would have happened with Shion and The Black Knight?
Classic.
The fun part about the Sima Yi thing is that it references one of the many, many later events in BB Senshi Sangokuden that got kicked out of the adaptation that was SD Gundam Sangokuden BBW.
…Brunom. You know where to find me.
Nero doesn’t save Mamoru in K (At least, I don’t think so. I never got the Mamoru secret, so I actually don’t know how he survives); however, Mamoru interacts with the GxS cast for much of the time, such as eagerly awaiting Nero and his gang’s lectures and giving his helmet to Wendy.
I was disappointed that they didn’t bring this up when Alto was crossdressing, but I suppose this is a good enough consolation prize.
Over all, I loved it. Some rough edges here and there. Z1 integrates the OG cast better, and W gets the absolute most mileage out of its cast (and also has the Ardygun family). But I’d give UX an edge for having a far more interesting cast and story than the others. Bonus points for the absolute minimization on recycled content. Hot take: it’s also the last SRW so far that wasn’t, at best, mediocre
I’d love for OG to do the W and UX plots at the same time, since they complement each other so well, but I’m 95% sure that won’t happen.
Thanks for all the time and ball-busting effort over these grueling months. You’ve earned a nice, long break from LPs.