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Hringhorni – Briefing Room

Tytti: Looks like Shu’s information was accurate. There’s three entrances to the underground.

Masaki: Guess he can give a straight answer when he wants.

Tytti: We don’t know what we’ll find, so I would like to investigate all three entrances at once, but I’m concerned that we don’t have enough people.

Lune: Uh, are you saying that eleven people isn’t enough?

Tytti: I would feel more comfortable if we could have five people at each entrance.

Mio: I understand everything now!¹

Mio: …Heehee, I’ve always wanted to say that.

Masaki: Mio! You’re back?

Mio: Yep, I just got back. Genny’s with me too.

Gennady: I am.

Tytti: How did the negotiations go? Everything settled?

Mio: Absolutely! It went off without a hitch!

Gennady: Mio’s negotiation skills are quite impressive.

Mio: I can be very eloquent when money’s involved.

Masaki: Not sure if that’s something to be proud of…but you did come through for us. Thanks.

Mio: You’re welcome. So, we’re talking about an investigation of that Volkruss Temple?

Masaki: Yeah. With you two here we’ve got thirteen people, so we can send four people each to the first two entrances, and the remaining five to the third.

Tytti: We should have a Masoukishin herald leading each team. Now as to who’s going where…

Kaffis Basin Ruins – Underground

Mio: Ten other heralds to choose from, and I get stuck with two of the blandest.

Tian: Whaddaya mean bland!? Gennady maybe, but there’s no way I’m bland.

Mio: Well your head stands out, if nothing else.

Tian: Oh, you mean the halo shining around it.

Mio: Something’s shiny all right.

Becky: Huh? There’s a branching path up here. Looks like a person could pass through.

Gennady: We should probably investigate that too. We’ll split into two teams.

Mio: Alright, let’s get to it.

Kaffis Basin Ruins – Further Underground

Mio: Hey Tian, there’s something that’s bugging me…

Tian: Are you still dissatisfied with being teamed with me?

Mio: How should I put this…

Mio: I know Genny doesn’t mind, but do you ever feel that you’re stuck in a supporting role?

Tian: What are you talking about?

Tian: In the story that is my life, I’m always the leading man. Even someone like Masaki is in a supporting role.

Tian: And that is because this is a story I write myself. That’s how I see it.

Mio: …Wow, I’m actually impressed. You sounded really monk-like there.

Tian: That’s because I am one.

Goku: …In fact, you sounded more masterly than our master.

Hakkai: Teach us how to ascend to Tenjiku.

Mio: Hey! Traitors!

Tian: Look, I can see light ahead.

Mio: Oh yeah. Seems like the tunnel opens up into a larger area.

Tian: Let’s investigate, shall we?

Mio: Yeah, but be on your guard.

Kaffis Basin Ruins – ???

Mio: The walls are glowing…reminds me of luminous moss.

Tian: Shh! Someone’s here!

Mio: Where?

????: Hello? Is anyone there?

Tian: Th-That voice…Tytti!?

Tytti: Huh? Tian?

Mio: Tytti? When did you…

Tytti: I was about to ask you that. I was checking out a side passage, and it lead me here.

Mio: That’s what we were doing, too.

Tytti: I did a brief search, but there doesn’t appear to be anything noteworthy here.

Tian: I’d like to take you at your word, Tytti, but are you sure about that?

Tytti: Huh?

Tian: You have a better knowledge of magic than I do, Tytti, so you must be able to feel this sigil too, right?

Tytti: Is that so? Perhaps I wasn’t thorough enough. You say there’s something over there, Tian?

Tian: Well, maybe. Could you come over here and check just to be sure?

Tytti: Of course, pardon me for a moment. Hmm…

Tian: (Heh! Now’s my…’opportunity’.)

Tytti: …You’re right. There may be something here…

Mio: Whoa, hey, Tian! Back off! You’re practically leering over her shoulder!

Tian: Eh?

Tytti: Oh, I’m sorry. Give me just a little longer…

Tian: Hiyaaa!!

Tytti: Aaah!?

Mio: Huh!? H-Hey!? What on Earth…!?

Tian: I don’t know who you are…but you failed.

Tytti: …Why did you do that, Tian? What would make you attack me out of…

Tian: Oh please, you’re not fooling me. If you’re going to shapeshift into someone, make sure you get all their details right.

Mio: Wha? Did you say…shapeshift?

Tytti: Hmph…how did you know?

Tian: It’s the perfume. Tytti changes hers on a daily basis. Today she should be wearing Citrus Scent.

Tian: You, however, are wearing Green Note!

Mio: Why do you even know that!?

????: *chuckle* …Well done. Your perverted attention to detail saw through my disguise.

Tian: Oh shut up!

Mio: What the!? He shapeshifted?

Katekis: In deference to your questionable ability, I shall tell you my name. I am called Katekis.

Katekis: Katekis, the Silver Sorcerer.

Mio: Huh? Um…I think I’ve heard that name before. He’s supposed to be a powerful magician…

Katekis: Well, I didn’t know I was so famous.

Tian: Oh come off it, you liar!

Katekis: W-What!? You claim that I lie!?

Tian: I heard that Katekis is over sixty years old. You’re clearly not that old.

Katekis: Oh, that? I simply used a spell to restore my youth.

Tian: Well, even if what you say is true, someone who uses magic in such a disgraceful way doesn’t deserve the title of Silver Sorcerer!

Katekis: D-Disgraceful!? How dare you mock me!

Tian: Posing as a beautiful lady to execute an assassination…if that’s not disgraceful, I don’t know what is!

Katekis: You wretched…I’ll kill you!

Mio: Hup! Eyah!

Katekis: Uwarg!? Y-You…used a mysterious technique…

Mio: Aha, caught you off guard. But there’s nothing mysterious about that technique. It’s called Aikido, look it up!

Tian: Sei!

Katekis: Hurgh!?

Katekis: …Y-You two are more capable than I thought.

Tian: I’m not a champ of Muay Thai for nothing! Now I’ll finish…

Tian: Ngh!?

Wulf: You seem to be in trouble,

Tian: Th…this is…Shadow Binding…

Tian, Stabbed

Tian: Gwah!?

Katekis: You’re late, Wulf!

Wulf: Don’t complain. This is to your credit. I never would have had this opening otherwise.

Tian: *Gasp*…

Mio: Tian!

Tian: Stay back! You’re…no match for this guy, Mio…

Tian: Hngh!?

Wulf: Pathetic. Is this all you can muster?

Tian: Nn…argh…*pant*…

Wulf: This is the end. Suffer…and die.

Tian: Guaaa!?

Mio: Tian!?

????: Mio!? Is that you!?

Mio: Ah! That’s Genny’s voice! Over here, quick!

Wulf: Hmph, you’re too late. Sufficient blood has been spilled. Let’s go, Katekis.

Katekis: Right.

Mio: Huh!? Wait!!

Gennady: Mio, what happened!?

Gennady: Ngh!? Tian!?

Mio: Genny! You can use healing techniques, right!? I can’t do anything! Please!

Gennady: Right away!

Tian: W-Wait…

Mio: Tian! Don’t talk! Save your strength…

Tian: Idiot…listen to me. Didn’t you hear…what that guy…said?

Mio: Huh? What he said…

Blood Magic Circle

Tian: Sufficient blood…in other words, a blood sacrifice…something…something horrible…

Gennady: Hm…the beginnings of a Magic Circle are forming…

Tian: You…need to get back to your machine…before it’s too late…

Gennady: Right! I’ll carry you on my back while continuing the healing process. Mio, you go on ahead!

Mio:

Chapter 9: Assassin

Volkruss Temple – Underground Altar

Wulf: …It’s almost time.

*Earthquake*

Katekis: …Is it working?

Wulf: Yes…just a little longer.

*Zamzeed and La Wentar arrive*

Mio: You! You’ll pay for what you did to Tian!

Wulf: You mean killing him?

Mio: He’s not dead! Genny’s healing arts saved him!

Katekis: Then I suppose you will die first.

Becky: You…

Katekis: Do you think you can beat us with just two Masoki?

Becky: Too bad for you. Our friends will be here any moment.

Wulf: Any minute, you say? I wonder if it will be in time…

*Another Earthquake*

Mio: !? What…

Wulf: It is time.

Katekis: We can fall back now, right?

Wulf: Yes, we no longer need to be here.

Katekis: Heheh, goodbye then. You’re about to be consumed.

Wulf: Don’t waste time talking!

Katekis: Ulp…u-understood. Bye!

*Katekis and Wulf retreat*

Mio: Ah!? Hey, you two!

Becky: Could this…be another revival of Volkruss?

Mio: Yeah, it must be…we have to stop it before…

*Magic Circle appears*

Mio: I-It’s here!?

Becky: If it’s just the two of us…I don’t think we stand a chance against Volkruss.

????: Stay back! This guy is…

*Dinforce appears*

Mio: Tian!?

Becky: What are you doing, Tian! You shouldn’t be moving!

Tian: You two…feel it right? This presence…rgh…

Mio: Presence…it’s Volkruss, right? We’ll take care of it, Tian, so just stand down!

Tian: No…no, this…isnt’ Volkruss…

Tian: Hm? What? Who’s there…

Mio: Huh? Hello, Tian? What’s with the non-sequitur?

Tian: I see…you’re…hmm, yes…your kind exists alongside us…

Becky: Hey! Who are you talking to!? Are you hallucinating because of blood loss…!?

Tian: …Don’t worry. You guys will understand someday. This is the will of Dinforce…

Becky: The will…of Dinforce?

Tian: Yes…have a look. This is…

Tian: Possession!

Dinforce, Possession!

Mio: Possession…for real!?

Becky: The thing Masaki once pulled off…that Possession!? But I though only a Masoukishin…

Tian: The Spirit that dwells in my Masouki…Dinheim…I understand…what you desire.

Becky: Din…heim? The Lightning Spirit…the patron Spirit of Dinforce…

Mio: H…Hey! Tian, what are you gonna do!?

Tian: This thing is…an abomination that cannot be allowed to manifest! It may be inevitable someday, but…today…today is not that day!

*Dinforce charges forward and rams against the barrier forming within the Magic Circle*

Becky: Stop, Tian! If you do that, your body won’t…

Tian: I know what will happen! I don’t know if I can suppress it, even with my full strength combined with Dinheim,…

Tian: But, I’m going to do it regardless!

Mio: Don’t!! You’ll die!

Tian: Everyone will die someday…and I can think of no time and place more fitting for me!

Becky: That’s…that’s just selfish!

Tian: I’m sorry…but Dinheim and I…our lives and our wills…we will gladly give them up for you!

Mio: I-I won’t let you! Move! C’mon, move!

Becky: Tch…this pressure…La Wentar can’t move at all!

Tian: Looks like you two are still below my level! Hahaha!

Tian: …*Cough*! Ugh…I-I think my wound opened up even further…

Becky: Tian, come to your senses! You can’t do this alone…

Mio: That’s right! We’re your friends! That’s what we’re here for!

Tian: I’m doing this because we’re friends. Plus, I’ve lived a lot longer than you, Mio.

Tian: It’s the role of the elders to die first…

Mio: Just shut up!

Becky: What about me! I’m older than you!

Tian: Becky…I’m grateful…for all the good times we had.

Tian: Nuooo!?

Becky: Tian!?

Tian’s Final Moments

Tian: Looks like…time’s about up. Let’s go! Dinheim!

Mio: Tian!!

Tian: Don’t worry…our thoughts and memories…mine and Dinheim’s…will always be with you.

Becky: Tian!!

Tian: Oops, I almost forgot. This thing’s not Volkruss, but the god of Harmony Ras…

Tian: …Ough!?

Tian: Heh, I thought I was ready…but it turns out dying…is surprisingly terrifying…

*Dinforce explodes, taking Tian with it and dispelling the Magic Circle*

Mio: A…a…ah…

Becky: …Tian…you…

*Katekis and Wulf return*

Katekis: Curses! What is the meaning of this!? How could a single Masouki stop the release of Rasphitot…

Wulf: Silence! You’re not to say that name aloud!

Katekis: Urk…a-anyway! Can we break the seal again?

Wulf: Not possible. This seal’s so strong that it’ll take another century until we can try again. We’ll have to resort to other options.

Katekis: Are you serious!? Curses! What a lost opportunity! We need to kill them here and now so that it doesn’t happen again!

Wulf: Yes…I agree.

Becky: You two…came back at the worst possible moment. I’m in a really bad mood right now…and I think I’ll take it all out on you.

Mio: You…demons! I’ll never forgive you!!

*Conditions Shown, Battle Starts*

*Turn 2 Player Phase, Jaohm appears*

Gennady: Tian…

Gennady: Blast, if only I had arrived sooner…

*Turn 3 Player Phase, Valsione R, Gaddess, Zyne and Solgady appear*

Lune: *Gasp*!?

Lune: …We were sent footage of the situation, so we shouldn’t be surprised, but…Tian is really…

Simone: I can’t believe…that Tian…

Tytti: Moreover, he forced Possession even though he wasn’t piloting a Masoukishin…

Ahmad: Stay focused, everyone. Tian gave up his life to protect us.

Ahmad: We can’t let his sacrifice go to waste.

Lune: He literally just died, y’know…

Ahmad: All the more reason that we should finish this. Quickly and completely.

Tytti: …Alright, let’s go!

Simone: Understood!

Lune: …Got it!

Ahmad: Tian…I fully understand your spirit. I too shall do what I must!

{Mio VS Katekis}

Mio: Tian’s dead because of YOU!!

Katekis: Oho, this is interesting. I though Masoukishin Heralds weren’t supposed to let their personal feelings control them?

Mio: Huh?

Mio: Uh…

Katekis: Wahaha! We have a greenhorn here!

Mio: …Yeah, I am a greenhorn.

Mio: That’s why! For Tian’s sake! I will defeat you!

{Becky VS Katekis}

Becky: You freaks…I’ll never forgive you for this!!

Katekis: Hmm, let’s see if can back that talk up.

{Mio VS Wulf}

Mio: I won’t forgive you! EVER!!

Wulf: …Do all surface dwellers have such strong emotions?

{Becky VS Wulf}

Becky: I’ll offer your head to Tian’s grave!

Wulf: Hmph, don’t overstep your own limits.

*Bring Katekis‘ HP to 50% or lower *

Katekis: Grr, we failed again!? I swear next time, things will be different!

*He and Wulf retreat*

*Bring Wulf’s HP to 50% or lower*

Wulf: We’ll have to alter our plans regardless…I’ve done all I can do here.

*He and Katekis retreat*

*Clear the map*

Hringhorni – Bridge

Bradroy: Has the search turned up anything?

Collette: …Unfortunately, no.

Wendy: The only thing we could recover…was a part of one of Dinforce’s legs…

Masaki: …..

Wagner: I’m afraid…

Mio: Wait! We can’t just stop! We have to look again!!

Becky: Mio…I know how you feel, believe me…but you saw what happened…

Mio: A-All I saw was a giant flash of light! He’s somewhere…he’s somewhere down there! Waiting for us!!

Goku: Master! Calm down!

Hakkai: Keep cool, keep cool.

Gojou: Master…

Mio: But…but…

Masaki: …We’ve tried everything. But…we can’t find any traces.

Wendy: To be precise, there were traces of an Elemental Spirit where the Magic Circle was located…

Xenia: Traces of a spirit…you must mean…

Wendy: …The Spirit of Lightning, Dinheim…there can be no doubt.

Ahmad: …May you rest in peace, Tianprasat, my comrade.

Tytti: …In any case, we need to decide on our next course of action.

Gennady: That’s right…Tian sacrificed himself for us…we can’t let that go to waste…

Wagner: Mio, I have something I want you to do. Please go to the Solatis Temple for an examination.

Mio: Granny Ibun’s place?

Wagner: Yes, I feel that she will be able to help you.

Mio: …Alright. I’ll go.

Hringhorni – Breifing Room

Xenia: Hey, Becky. You’re certain that Katekis said Rasphitot?

Becky: You can check the battle recording…I’m trying not to think about it.

Xenia: …I’m sorry. But this is important.

Masaki: What is ‘Rasphitot’?

Wendy: It’s the name of a deity in ancient mythology…similar to Volkruss.

Masaki: Volkruss!? Is it another demonic entity!?

Wendy: While Volkruss has been confirmed to exist in some form, Rasphitot never has.

Xenia: It’s always been thought to be a legend.

Wendy: And while Volkruss is a god of Destruction, Rasphitot is a god of Harmony…

Xenia: Yes, that’s right. So it might not be a threat to us.

Ahmad: Still, Tian gave his life to prevent it’s ressurection.

Wendy: Yes…he was even able to achieve Possession…

Gennady: …That’s something I don’t understand. Isn’t Possession only possible with a Masoukishin?

Wendy: In theory, only the Masoukishin can channel their patron Spirits to that level, but…the possibility of other instances does exist.

Ahmad: In this case, was it because the herald was on the verge of life and death?

Wendy: It’s more likely that the patron Spirit sensed immense danger.

Masaki: So it was the will of the Spirit…? I mean, I achieved Possession once, but I haven’t heard the voice of my patron Spirit since then.

Wendy: In this case, I think human emotions were the key…

Becky: …It’s pitiful. Unlike Tian, I couldn’t hear the voice of any spirits…

Ahmad: Don’t say that. The one who’s hurt the most by that is Mio…

Becky: Yeah, I know…

Xenia: We’ll continue to investigate Rasphitot, but don’t expect much. There’s just too many things we don’t know.

Wendy: I’ll look further into Possession. Dinforce wasn’t designed by me…

Wendy: I’ll give the material we recovered a complete analysis.

Becky: I’m gonna…pray for Tian’s soul.

Ahmad: I think we all should. Let’s offer a silent prayer.

Masaki: Yeah…okay…

Hringhorni – Mess Hall

Becky: …..

Ahmad: What’s wrong, Becky? Are you thinking about Tian?

Becky: …Yeah, that’s right. Just what was Tian experiencing at the end?

Ahmad: Tian said he could hear and understand Dinheim’s will.

Ahmad: That kind of thing was done only once by Masaki, not before or since.

Ahmad: As such, it is difficult to know exactly what that experience is like.

Becky: That’s not really answering my question.

Ahmad: Well, do you think a person can sense what goes through everyone else’s mind at any given moment?

Becky: If you put it that way, I’d say it does sound ridiculous.

Becky: Still, there’s no guarantee that what happened to Tian won’t happen to one of us someday.

Ahmad: Are you afraid of that?

Becky: Not really. I know that risk comes with the territory.

Becky: …Although, I’ve been wondering something ever since I became a Masouki herald. What exactly are the Spirits?

Ahmad: The spirits of this world appear to be quite different from the spirits that I knew on the surface.

Becky: Same here. If anything, they’re more like the spirits I heard about in folklore.

Ahmad: Tian was a buddhist, so perhaps their concept of spirits is different from ours?

Becky: I’m not the one ask. But Tian always said that Buddha dwells in everything…

Becky: …And while I can’t be 100% certain, I think I understand what he meant.

Ahmad: Interesting. I can see why you have such high compatibility with your own spirit.

Becky: Like yourself, Ahmad?

Ahmad: …Actually, my own compatibility is fairly low.

Becky: Oh, is that a fact?

Ahmad: I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but…I’ve often thought myself as unsuitable to be a Masouki Herald.

Becky: Yeesh…can’t believe I’m hearing that from you.

Ahmad: While I do not fear death on the battlefield, I have no real interest in learning more about the spirits.

Ahmad: If being a Masouki Herald required a deep knowledge of your patron spirit…I would be ineligible.

Becky: Is that because you lack faith in the spirits?

Ahmad: No, it’s more a matter of personal choice. Or if you’d rather, a lack of interest in that field.

Becky: Interest, huh…well, I can’t really agree with your way of thinking.

Becky: But we both agree on ideology behind the Antiras Squad’s formation, right?

Ahmad: Yes, of course.

Becky: Thought so. After all, we’re friends.

Ahmad: Heh…that’s right.

Assassin End

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