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Hringhorni – Rec Area
Xenia: I’m back.
Masaki: Oh, Xenia. Wow, you sure got back quick.
Xenia: Yep. Just a two-day, one-night work rush. Oh, I brought some souvenirs.
Masaki: I don’t know why you still call stuff from Langran “souvenirs”…
Mio: Hm, let’s see. What? Langran manjū? Where’d this come from?
Xenia: Interesting, isn’t it? Apparently it was created to piggyback off of the Japan boom, but it proved popular with some people, so it’s still around today.
Masaki: …I think it’s pretty cheap.
Mio: I wonder if we could sell this at the Antiras Shop?
Xenia: Well, probably not, since food is an entirely different area of trade. Still, it’s something to keep in mind.
Masaki: Anyway, how’d your research go?
Xenia: Ah, right, right. I’ll have a presentation ready to go in thirty minutes, so gather everyone up for a meeting.
Masaki: Got it.
Hringhorni – Briefing Room
Xenia: Actually, I found something very interesting.
Masaki: Let’s skip the preamble and just get to the point.
Xenia: Geez, you’re impatient. Fine, here’s the short version
Xenia: I’ve discovered a location where the Volkruss Cult is plotting something.
Masaki: The Volkruss Cult!?
Simone: …That’s all well and good, but “plotting something” is a bit vague.
Xenia: To be more specific, you remember the Reisouki Jiwen, right? I’ve found that several have gathered together in the same place.
Guido: Oh…that’s certainly interesting, but how did you find that out?
Xenia: From the Jiwen we got when Gaen surrendered.
Xenia: When we were investigating it, we found that it used anti-annihilation energy as a supplementary power system.
Masaki: Hm? Anti-annihilation energy? Wait…I feel like I’ve heard that term before.
Xenia: Very sharp, Masaki. Yes, the Duraxyll also uses anti-annihilation energy.
Masaki: Right, I remember now. You can find it by searching for Newton’s something-or-other…
Xenia: Neutrino. And the only place with scintillators that can detect Neutrinos is Langran.
Xenia: Hence why I went to Langran to carry out the investigation.
Wagner: Hmm, I see. And wherever we find a large number of Jiwen, we can expect to find the Volkruss Cult.
Xenia: That’s right. The amount of anti-annihilation energy used by the Jiwen is so small that tracing a single machine would be impossible.
Masaki: So where is this place?
Xenia: On the outskirts of the City of Hiduka. About two hours from here.
Masaki: Alright, let’s go and check it out.
*The Hringhorni flies from Soum to Hiduka*
Bradroy: …Are you sure this is the place?
Holly: Yes, the coordinates match.
Mio: There’s nothing here.
Demeksa: …I can sense a strong magical power. It must be some sort of warding.
Wendy: And as usual, it’s underground.
Masaki: In that case, we should launch a subterranean probe.
Sharian: Understood. Holly, set the probe to search for EM Waves, elasticity, conductivity, spirit waves and any other type of system.
Holly: Roger. Deploying probe.
Demeksa: If there’s warding, we’ll need a probe that can go a greater depth.
Holly: Oh, of course. Deploying second probe.
Holly: You’re as dependable as ever, Demeksa.
Demeksa: Oh, no, ahaha.
Mio: Hm? What? Demeksa, when did you and Holly become such good friends?
Demeksa: Uh, well, a lot has happened.
Holly: Y-Yes. A lot has happened.
Mio: Oh? Are you two going steady now!?
Sharian: Holly, any readings from the probes?
Holly: Oh, right!
Holly: Ah! We’ve discovered a huge cavern underground!
Masaki: Thought so…it must be a Volkruss Temple. Can you find an entrance?
Holly: Yes. There are several tunnels that connect to the surface.
Masaki: Alright, let’s head in!
Chapter 30: The god of Balance and the god of Destruction
Temple of Rasphitot
*Cybuster, Zamzeed, Valsione R and Nors Rei appear*
Masaki: This is…not what I expected. It’s not a temple dedicated to Volkruss…
Lune: Yeah…the ornamentation is slightly different. So it must be dedicated to…
Mio: Rasphi…tot.
Masaki: Yeah, I think so too. Let’s move fast and destroy it…
*Several evil spirits and Masouki appear*
????: That would be quite bothersome if you did so.
Masaki: …Are you with the Volkruss Cult?
Greps: Pleased to meet you. I am Greps Bovard. I am a bishop within the cult.
Xenia: Is that…a new model of the Jiwen?
Greps: Ah, you must be Xenia…I’ve heard you know a lot about machines…are you curious?
Xenia: Eh? W-Well, I guess…
Reisouki Bowin
Greps: Then I’ll tell you. This is the Reisouki Bowin.
Greps: It was created thirty years ago, but it’s power is equal to that of a modern Masouki.
Greps: Zetz was involved in the development of this machine, and if the pilot’s soul is weak enough, it will be devoured.
Xenia: *gasp!* Zetz was involved!? That’s never a good thing…
Greps: The person who created this machine is irrelevant compared to it’s magnificence.
Greps: What’s particularly astonishing is it’s durability. Even a Masoukishin can’t compare.
Xenia: Durability…
Xenia: Ah! From some sort of magical protection!
Greps: Correct. You truly are the renowned Xenia Grania Vilseia.
Xenia: Aw, it was nothing…
Masaki: Xenia! Now’s not the time to be chatting with this guy!
Xenia: Aah, right. When the subject of machines is brought up, I lose track of…
Masaki: You guys are trying to revive Rasphitot, aren’t you!?
Greps: …There’s no point in hiding our intentions. You are correct.
Masaki: I thought so…and I won’t let you get away with it!!
*Prep Screen, Battle Starts*
{If Tytti and Yang Long were deployed}
Yang Long: Rasphitot…that malice-filled prana…we cannot let it be released into the world again.
Tytti: Yes…I don’t think we can invoke Possession like we did before.
Yang Long: Hmm…wait, Tytti. Even if we can’t perform Possession, I believe there is something we can do.
Tytti: Hm? What’s that?
Yang Long: Remember the sense of unity we felt back then? If we can recreate that feeling…
Tytti: You’re thinking of…a combination attack?
Yang Long: Exactly. Of course, it cannot compare to Possession, but it would be within our ability to use.
Tytti: Yes…it seems worth a try.
Yang Long: Very good. We’ll call it the Taikyoku Onmyō Haja-Hō.
Tytti: Understood. We should try it as soon as we can.
{Xenia VS Digo}
Xenia: You’re not cut out for fighting! Just stay home like an obedient little child!
Digo: Same to you!
{Gaen VS Wulf}
Wulf: How far you’ve fallen, Gaen.
Gaen: It may seem that way to you, but I’m satisfied with where I am. You’re the one who’s fallen, Wulf.
{Xenia VS Greps}
Xenia: Wow…is this machine really thirty years old? The data I’m getting from this thing is incredible.
Greps: *chuckle* I’d expect no less. The technology of the Volkruss Cult is far above that of the Academy.
Xenia: Hey, that’s not true. The Academy seals up any technology that it can’t control, that’s all!
Greps: Oh, so you believe that you can control the Descent of the Spirits?1
Xenia: Eh? Th…that’s…
Xenia: Wait just a minute, how do you know so much about the Academy!? Do you have a spy planted there!?
Greps: Didn’t I already tell you? Zetz has given us much information.
Xenia: …That old crackpot’s gonna be a thorn in our side for a long time to come.
{Tytti VS Greps}
Tytti: Trying to unleash Rasphitot…we won’t allow it!
Greps: And will you invoke Possession once again to stop it?
Greps: Ha…I didn’t think you could
Tytti: Tch…there are methods other than Possession! We’ll defeat you and destroy this temple!
Greps: Do you think you can do that? I have confidence in my ability as a pilot.
{Mio VS Greps}
Mio: If Satilus is a mid-boss, I guess you’re more of a mini-boss?
Greps: I may be lower in rank, but I’m the superior pilot. Don’t underestimate the power of this Bowin!
{Yang Long VS Greps}
Yang Long: Greps, was it? Are you an underling of Satilus?
Greps: I am of lower rank, but I am a comrade of Lord Satilus.
*Turn 6 Enemy Phase or all initial enemies are defeated, a Duraxyll II and three Masouki appear*
Margaret: We’ve found the Antiras Squad! Get ready!!
Masaki: Aren’t those guys…from the Southern Army!? Why are they…
{Simone VS Margaret}
Simone: Margaret…you followed us all the way out here?
Margaret: That’s right! I’ll pursue you to the depths of hell to avenge Colonel Rasetz!
Simone: …Enough. When Rasetz died, he had no regrets. So why can’t you…
Margaret: Shut up! You don’t…you don’t know anything about Colonel Rasetz!!
{Masaki VS Margaret}
Masaki: Stay out of our way! These guys are trying to summon Rasphitot!
Margaret: So what!? I don’t care about that! All that matters is that I kill you!
Stage ends when all enemies are defeated
Hringhorni – Bridge
Sharian: Blast preparations complete.
Wagner: Understood. Is everything ready, Masaki?
Masaki: Yeah, go ahead.
Bradroy: Detonate explosives, please.
*BOOM*
Yang Long: Well, that’s another temple they won’t be able to use.
Rosalie: Even so, I wonder how many temples there are, both for Volkruss and Rasphitot.
Wendy: They’re all hidden underground, so it will be extremely difficult to find them all, even with the methods we have at our disposal.
Wendy: We won’t be able to search for them using footage from the surveillance airships…
Demeksa: What about magic detection?
Wendy: The range is too short, surveillance airships won’t be able to use them.
Mio: Welp, I guess we’ll have to hunt them down and destroy them one-by-one. That’ll be a pain.
Sharian: I’ve received a message from Princess Xenia. It seems that somethings happened with regards to Northern and Southern Shutedonias.
Sharian: Please gather in the briefing room
Mio: Aye-aye.
Hringhorni – Briefing Room
Xenia: The North has launched a major offensive on the South.
Yang Long: Didn’t they do just that not too long ago?
Xenia: This one was even bigger. Anyway, four important bases in the South have been taken.
Masaki: Wait a minute. Does that mean the battle’s over already?
Xenia: Yep. They struck like a bolt of lightning.
Guido: A blitzkrieg…
Masaki: Well, looks like the North took full advantage of our absence.
Wagner: So, has the conflict turned in their favor?
Xenia: It has. The South’s really in between a rock and a hard place.
Guido: The only person I can think of who could successfully pull off something like this would be Akreid.
Xenia: Yeah, while I don’t have any definite proof, there’s no doubt in my mind. He’s an incredible tactician.
Gino: Still, is this really to the North’s advantage? If the South is backed into a corner, Ongaredd’s sure to make a move.
Masaki: Hey, that reminds me! How did those guys from the Southern army find us earlier?
Yang Long: Yes, that is strange. Lady Xenia had a very difficult time finding that place. So how were they able to locate it so easily?
Xenia: The only reason I can think of is that there’s some connection between the South and the Volkruss Cult.
Guido: It’s not exactly hard evidence, but it’s enough to raise suspicion.
Masaki: …Yeah. Xenia, be careful if you decide to look into that.
Xenia: I will.
Meanwhile in Northern Shutedonias…
Akreid: Pardon the intrusion, Senator Jes’ha. Lieutenant Colonel Akreid Barom, reporting.
Rodney: Lieutenant Colonel? You’re already a Lieutenant Colonel?
Akreid: Thanks to you.
Rodney: Well, with the success of this operation, the next step is Colonel…or maybe even a two-rank promotion.
Akreid: I haven’t died, you know.
Rodney: No, with your abilities, you’re more suited to the position of a General.
Akreid: No, that’s more than I deserve.
Rodney: We’ve taken several important strongholds in the South. You can afford to be a little conceited.
Akreid: No, no, we owe that to the senator that green-lit the operation.
Rodney: Still, I didn’t expect you to execute it so brilliantly.
Akreid: Thank you for the compliment.
Rodney: …As a former soldier, I’m curious. How did you pull off such a precise operation?
Akreid: It isn’t that complicated. In the military, punctuality is essential. I just made sure to follow that principle.
Rodney: Even so, how can you read your opponent’s moves with such confidence?
Akreid: I just presented them with choices. When people are presented with a set of choices, they unconsciously choose one from the set.
Akreid: Even if there are other options beyond those choices.
Rodney: Psychological warfare? That’s rather a hit-or-miss method.
Akreid: I was rather nervous.
Rodney: Could’ve fooled me.
Akreid: My apologies, but it would be well if you didn’t overestimate my abilities.
Rodney: …You really were confident, weren’t you?
Akreid: I wouldn’t say that. Rather, the odds were in my favor.
Rodney: …Trying to always predict the future will eventually bring misfortune.
Akreid: I’ll keep that in mind.
The god of Balance and the god of Destruction End
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1This is the name of the process used to make a contract with a holy-rank Spirit during the creation of a Masoukishin.