Part 37: First in the line of fire, first into hostile lands; Tanks leading the way

This is the first bit of Chapter 8. It's short, but I will eventually roll all of the final clean-up things into this to make it Update 18 for archive purposes. I wanted to include this part right away because it follows directly after the previous events, and I also need to get the final group of Star Children voted in so I can complete the last parts of the game.

-(Half of) Update 18-

Things weren't great when we left off. That trend will be continuing in this update.



We believe that Enzea used the Sealing Matryoshkas to speed up the process. None of our attacks from the outside have had any effect, just like the others.

Also, to make matters worse... This Labyrinth is releasing immense amounts of Dusk Energy into this world. This is not a nightmare, nor is it an illusion. It is truly happening.

And just as you reported... The bodies of Rhiod and his team were found in the Labyrinth... As was Alec's corpse.

Thanks for retrieving him.


[Priest A]: High Priest, according to the report from the research lab... The Dusk Density all over the world is rapidly rising due to recent events. Concurrently, Ether Density continues to drop, and more Circle Seeds are emerging. Also, in regions near Dusk Circles with high Dusk Density... There are reports that inhabitants of those areas are turning into monsters.


If this continues, our Star Energy will be weakened enough that we cannot fight back.



Dammit... All the progress just gone...


[Priest B]: High Priest, we've gotten a new report from AngelMarker's Neo Ether plant...


What is it?


[Priest B]: About a month ago... Enzea took a new type of Neo Ether-producing machinery from the plant.


Where is it now?


[Priest B]: No one knows.


...I suspected as much.

Forget about it. We'll stop this at the source. We're going into that Labyrinth.

Unfortunately, that won't be possible.

What the hell do you mean!? Why not!?




[Priest B]: Because our attacks cannot pierce it, we are unable to get through the walls.


Then what do we do? I need to get in there...


-Wake's Dorm Room-

This is all going to shit... If I can just get to him then I can salvage everything...

*There's a beep*

Great, what is this thing doing now?

*Hologram Mark appears from the Vis-o-matic 5000*

Mark!? Where the hell have you been!? Why did--

If you are seeing this now...



Wait... Is this just a recording?

Wake. I need you to hear my confession. Chief Ruby and I have been... keeping a secret from you. This secret is in regards to... The Heaven's Door.

*Flashback to Enzea being incredibly ominous*





*Flashback ends*

Do you remember that legendary Disciple I told you I looked up to...? You probably already figured it out... but that Disciple was Ruby. Her achievements from her days as a Disciple earned her a place at AngelMarker. Even after losing her powers, she continued to investigate the Labyrinths. Six years ago... I was appointed to Ruby's research team and began investigating the Pandora Labyrinth. And what we discovered... was Heaven's Door.



It was an established theory that one could enter them, but there would be no escaping. But the Heaven's Door was an exception. With the research team taking measurements using the newest tools, it was discovered... that the area surrounding a Heaven's Door existed in the same world that we do.



But in order to prove that, someone had to actually go inside. I'm sure you can imagine the uproar... But Ruby overcame the team's opposition and went through the Heaven's Door herself. I, on the other hand... was a coward.



And yet, she was able to return to us. That was the moment when we discovered the Heaven's Door to the Pandora Labyrinth.

This was the discovery of the century! ...But AngelMarker kept it a secret. We were taken off of the investigation team and began working in research labs.



Since we have no idea when the Pandora Labyrinth will materialize... I thought that this truth shouldn't be kept a secret any longer. It's because beyond Heaven's Door... There may be a means of stopping the crisis facing the world. That's why I... I'm going to try and convince Ruby to take this information to the public. I don't know how AngelMarker is handling the Heaven's Door...



When I handed you this device, I probably said something kind of cheesy, like: "I entrust you with ensuring that this world sees peace." I want you to accomplish what I could not.

*sigh* You... you idiot... You just had to have faith in her...

I also have one more favor to ask of you. ...It's about Ruby. She seems to like... well... she seems to trust Enzea. I can't bring myself to trust him, though. He's always been fixated on acquiring the Sealing Matryoshkas you bring back. But, he hasn't told anyone what he wants them for. I can't shake the feeling that there's something sinister lurking under his smile. Please... help Ruby escape from Enzea's curse.

(I can't believe you'd ask that with a straight face.)

I'm counting on you, God's Gift.

You're too late for that, Mark...

Start thinking about how this all worked out for Enzea, because it ties into my Ruby rant at the end of the update.


-2nd-Year Classroom-



And... There's something else I need you all to do for me.

Don't die, everyone.


-Hallway-

.....

Oh... Luce... I...



What?

Could he have gotten a cold? Alec almost never gets sick. That's strange.

Luce... Alec isn't... he's...

...What is it?



Solid choices all around...

Luce, he's gone... Didn't Chlotz... Are you just angry at me? Is that it?

Huh? Oh... I'm sorry. Um... I don't think I am. Why should I be angry at you?

It's nothing... forget it...

I should go visit him after school.



*Luce leaves, then Chloe appears shortly after*



Yeah... Unfortunately, I don't have time to worry about her right now... What's happening with the Labyrinth situation?

While Chief Ruby is being detained, it seems I'll be taking command. Let's all keep our eyes on reality and do our best.


-Church of Aterra-

Ruby, is there any way you will speak to us?

.....



But we don't want to do that to you.

*Wake arrives*

Ah, God's Gift. You're here.

What's he doing here? He's got nothing to do with it.



Go fuck yourself Ruby. I came here on my own, not because the Church asked for me. Tell Mattero the truth. Now.

What are you talking about...?

Mark told me about the secret you're hiding you stupid pile of shit.

...! Mark came back?

No, he didn't 'come back'. He left a recorded message to me, because even in his love-struck blindness he still had the foresight to know that you couldn't be trusted not to fuck everything up.

Six years ago, you and Mark found Heaven's Door. The entrance to the Pandora Labyrinth. One that you could use to enter it and leave it.



Yeah, because he finally realized that what he was doing was wrong. He thought this would be a way to end all this garbage.

And...? Where is he now?

We found Mark this morning. He was hidden in a cell beneath AngelMarker Industries.



No, that can't be...

We found Mark's final words on his Vis-o-matic 5000. We can only guess... But it seems that Enzea knew that Mark was trying to release that information.

It was me... When Mark asked me about doing it, I reported him to Enzea... But I can't believe... that Enzea would kill him...

Ruby, Enzea is not a man to be trusted. He is the master of the Pandora Labyrinth.

If we can open the Heaven's Door, God's Gift and his team will be able to go there. Mark's data led us to confirm the location of the Heaven's Door in the Labyrinth. However, we only found a wall there. We can't find it at any other location either.



You are the only one left that we can rely on, and you actually found Heaven's Door.

Ruby, tell us where the door is and how to get to it. You sold Mark out and now he's dead. If that's still not enough to get you to open your fat mouth then I WILL torture it out of you. The Church might not want to do it, but I don't share their reservations.

I've met a lot of assholes on this island. I've seen a lot of shitty behaviour from people that I honestly don't think deserve the help that Star God has been sending. I've seen stuff that makes me think Enzea has a point about this world.

But I've also seen a lot of people that are worth saving. People like Fuuko, Narika, Chloe, Ellie, Torri, Serina... I guess, and even Chlotz. Those are only a few of the ones I have gotten to know. Not to mention that I've got someone special that's willing to follow me into hell if it means staying by my side.

So I will do whatever it takes to put a stop to this. Now. Take the easy way out and just tell us.



However, once it's been opened, it will stay at that location.

Where is the entrance now?

I'll be able to find it if I get access to some of the readings. Also... the Neo Ether production device is inside the Labyrinth.

Most likely... Enzea is going to try to create a Perpetual Star Engine using the Dusk Spawner there.

I'll rant about Ruby at the end of the update. I don't want to break this up with a big-ass text wall.


-Heaven's Door-




[Bombardier]: Ready... Fire!





We've got our way in.


-Laboratory-

We can now enter the Pandora Labyrinth. Everyone, Chief Ruby isn't here, but let's do our best until the very end.



The Pandora Labyrinth is unlike all the other Dusk Circles. It's producing an incomparable amount of Dusk Energy. According to Chief Ruby, a certain Dusk Spawner is in the depths of that maze... one that can supposedly create an infinite amount of Dusk Energy.

The Labyrinth is constantly releasing a high concentration of Dusk Energy... It must be true.

This all leads to what the Perpetual Star Engine is.



But what does Enzea get out of that? All it'll lead to is the destruction of the world!

We won't know unless we ask him in person.

I don't care what Enzea thinks he's going to get out of it. All he will be getting is my sword straight through his gut. Get the kids ready, we're going to Pandora.



There isn't a lot going on at the Academy by this point, but Chlotz is around for one more small chat. You can probably assume what it will be about.


-2nd-Year Classroom-



I mean, who would believe that would happen to Alec...

I tried talking to Luce about it but she's... she's not taking it well.

Yeah... I sort of learned that first hand.

I mean... I can understand why...

I honestly don't know what I could say to her.

You did what you had to.



Just stay away from Luce for a while. She needs some time...

I don't want to see her collapse from the truth.

I know...



Fun stuff. I wonder how the rando students are doing now that everything is kind of hosed?




[Elite Disciple]: Some say it's causing more frequent transformations into monsters... *sigh* What if I become a monster one day...? I worry so much about it that I can't even sleep at night. But I gotta suck it up... After all, I'm a Nemesis Hunter! I'm destined to fight the monsters with all my might!





[Elite Disciple]: Who could have imagined the day even Standard Disciples would see combat? Will there be real peace once this is all over? They've also upped the number of Disciples on the ground. I have to focus more on training. Who knows? I could be called up tomorrow. As a Nemesis Hunter... I'll fight back against the monsters to my last breath.





[F. Diciples]: I feel like I can breathe easier now that the Watch's duty is over. But no... now's not the time to think such things. It's because of that that the Standard class has to fight on the front lines. I never thought I'd be sent to the battlefield. Honestly, I'm scared...


Nice to see at least some of the Elites have some guts. The Standard don't seem to be faring as well though. Meanwhile...





[Male Disciple]: More male Disciples are hanging out at the girls' dorms lately. Even though they know they could get punished for breaking school rules. The fact is, the rules aren't doing much anymore to keep people in check. Apparently, enjoying a few last moments before battle trumps obeying the rules. Truth is, I'd kinda also like to... Uhhhh, wait, never mind! Forget it. I always follow the school rules, of course.


Others are trying to live it up while they still can.


And that's it. We have access to Pandora as well as two more Sub-Labyrinths. There are a few little things to wrap up before we tackle the final dungeon. Including...




Oh, right! I knew I forgot to mention something. Yeah, Rus and Clau are dead by the way. We flat-out murdered them back there when they got in our way. They died as they lived, creepy and laughable failures. Now their spirits are roaming around one of the Sub-Labyrinths, waiting to be put down again.

Unfortunately, that also means...





Oh, and yes, the twins are dead. These two quests were added as DLC. Rus and Clau make no more appearances in the story, they aren't mentioned again, Mattero doesn't exclude them when he says they found Rhiod and his teams bodies, and Enzea teleported away shortly after Wake beat them so he isn't responsible for some "You have failed me" moment.

The story forgets about them, and that small piece results in the suggestion that our heroes just slaughtered the two of them. Not that I'm complaining. I'm not exactly a fan of the 'protagonists never kill people' trope. I like the idea that those two cocky losers just got ended by Wake/Feene/Star Kids. Seeing smug antagonists get decimated is delicious.

Both of these quests are DLC rematches, so if you're playing the Vita or 3DS versions then you might not be able to access them anymore.

Both of them also have a weapon reward for Wake, but they are tougher fights than what we saw last update. Rus and Clau are still a joke, but they're jokes that have had their levels bumped to 65 (I think. Might be 60. I will correct when we head off to fight them).

Dark Alec on the other hand, he's been bumped to 70. His fight is the same nonsense as last update, except he is rocking much higher stats. That's going to be some fun.



~Available Classes~

Here is a complete list of all the classes that the thread has been voting on throughout the LP.

Archer

Gunslinger

Cleric

Thief

Ranger

Merchant

Grappler

Swordis

Ether Sniper

Hunter

Blacksmith

Gambler

Astromancer

Witch

Mercenary

Berserker

Bondsman

Magician

Magic Knight

Lancer

Minstrel

Warlock

Paladin

Diva

Gun Saint

Dungeon Master

Bulleteer

Trickster

Ninja

Dark Knight


-Ruby Rant-

Okay, I'm about to dump a lot of stuff here, so bear with me on this.


Way back when Ruby was first introduced, I mentioned that she had a character flaw that would have massive repercussions later on. This is what I was referring to.

Ruby's character flaw is that she's so busy admiring her shining brilliance that she can't see her shadow. Ruby "Men are easy to manipulate" Coiler falls victim to the exact same thing the hormone-ridden teenagers at the Academy (and Mark) have. That is, she was turned into a drooling idiot by infatuation and wrapped around someone's finger.

Ruby believes she is in control of everything, even when she's dancing in someone else's palm. Enzea is the one that recruited her, and he fought hard to do it. So Ruby likely has some belief that Enzea has a thing for her, or at the very least she has a lot of sway over him.

So even though Enzea does a lot of suspicious things, she never reports this to her actual boss, President Marker. He is able to pull any string he wants with her, and she doesn't realize it. In her mind, she's sexy and intelligent, and no man can escape her grasp. You can tell that she's just waiting for that moment when she joins Enzea in taking over the reigns of AngelMarker and running it alongside him.

Now, if it sounds like I'm being overly harsh on Ruby, I will admit that I am. After all, she was being used by someone. It's not like she had an active desire to see the world destroyed or remade in Enzea's image or whatever he's doing. She was in the dark about that stuff.

But being harsh is the only way to approach this kind of screw-up. Ruby isn't much of a sympathetic character due to the way she acts (hijacking the Dusk Circle operation, not giving Wake the Sealing Matryoshka, keeping him in the dark about everything).

There's also the fact that Ruby is a big part of why Enzea's plan goes off so well. Let's go over how Enzea's scheme pans out.

Enzea finds out from the Zero Files about Pandora and the 'limitless Dusk Energy' thing. He puts together a skilled team to help him figure out a way to get inside Pandora while also being able to, you know, get out of it (not to mention survive long enough in there to find what he's looking for).

This Team is the one Ruby and Mark were on. They find Heaven's Door, but Enzea swears them all to secrecy because this is only one part of what he needs. I think it's implied that Rhiod knows about it as well, but if he does then he keeps it under wraps in order to make a profit off of the weapons and tech for dealing with the Dusk Circles. So Enzea doesn't need to worry about his Father telling anyone.

Either way, Ruby stays quiet about it because she very obviously wants Enzea's dick, and Mark stays quiet about it because he very obviously wants in Ruby's pants. Enzea then moves them both to the research lab in Fort City so that he can keep them close in case they ever have a change of heart. He disposes of any members of the expedition that don't keep quiet.

So Enzea is now stringing along at least two talented researchers that can help him sort out the whole "surviving in the Dusk Circles" problem. He also gets a handy helper in Ruby. One that he can rely on to hand him over any useful tools or information she finds without drawing as much attention as the President's son would.

As for the Dusk Circle issue, the Neo-Ether idea is a non-starter unless highly pure Dark Crystals show up, so it seems he turns his attention towards experimental soldiers that can fight in the Circles (Rus, Clau, and possibly Torri are likely byproducts of this).

Once Wake shows up, Enzea has everything he needs to get the ball truly rolling. Ruby acts as the middle man so that Enzea can keep his distance, then he pops by whenever a Dusk Spawner gets sealed and Ruby happily turns it over to him while keeping it confidential. This happens with the Dark Crystals as well.

Ruby doesn't see anything weird about this at all. She believes Enzea is working towards peace, but he shows up and takes the Dusk Spawners as soon as they show up and won't tell her what he's doing with them or wants them for. He presumably does the same thing with the Crystals, which have been banned by the government, and Ruby is fine with Enzea not telling her anything about those either (she has no idea how or where Neo-Ether is made).

Finally, on top of all of that shit, when her long-time friend and coworker goes to her and tells her that he thinks the secret they are keeping is wrong and should be brought to public attention, what does she do? She rats him out to Enzea immediately. She also keeps this a secret from everyone else by pretending Mark having disappeared is not a big deal. Now, she didn't believe Mark would be killed, but she definitely knew there was a reason behind his absence (either getting fired or transferred).

And the worst part? Even after watching Enzea kill President Marker and make a big ominous announcement about the time of Star God being over, Ruby STILL doesn't divulge what she knows. She knows at this point that Enzea is evil, that can't really be denied anymore. Yet when Mattero asks her to come clean, she stays silent. It's only after she finds out that Mark is dead that she finally relents. Even with the world plunging into chaos, she was planning on staying loyal to Enzea.

Ruby sucks. It wouldn't be so bad if she had carried herself better. I could sympathize with her for messing up if she was a better person, or if she suffered the consequences of her actions, but she doesn't. Her comeuppance is the revelation that she's technically responsible for Mark's death. Mark died for finally listening to his conscious, but Ruby suffers comparatively little. She clearly feels bad, but at the same time she doesn't exactly appear heartbroken.

The only thing Ruby does that even remotely interferes with Enzea's plan is her brain-bustingly stupid decision to send God's Gift into a Dusk Circle without the Sealing Matryoshka. If Wake had died because of that then Enzea's plan would have been finished (of course, so would the world in general). I doubt Enzea would have been stoked to learn of that.