Part 18: The Infernal Truth or, The Infernal Level Design

Chapter 14x: The Infernal Truth or, The Infernal Level Design


One of the legendary weapons is said to be hidden within. Roy and company are hot on the trail of Bern's troops, who have already made their way into the temple...

Spoiler: They will not be leaving.



All you useless fucks from last time, out!



We believe it is inside this altar, but we can't get it open...


We haven't much time.


We don't have the manpower to break it open right now!

Once we clean up the enemy, we will have all the time we need to open the altar.

Spoiler #2: No.


There's so much... water.

The desert is an ocean with its life underground... Wait, I don't think that's how it went.


This is the reason plants and animals can live in our village...

So this is the source of the oasis. Still, how did you find such an ideal location?

Athos... Archsage Athos led us here...

You mean the Athos of the Eight Legends?

Yes... After the Scouring... Archsage Athos traveled all across Elibe... At the end of his journey, he discovered a village with both man and dragon... He told us it was only a matter of time until we were discovered...

So he brought everyone into the desert...

Yes... he hid his legendary weapon within this temple...

So... can we use this legendary weapon?

The Archsage said that we were to use his weapon to protect Arcadia... As long as you use it... to save Elibe and to protect us... then of course...

It will be invaluable. Thank you.

Some of the pathways in this temple will suddenly sink into the water... Please be careful...

Insert the usual "FE7 what now?" grumbling, Athos didn't hide shit, but we'll roll with it.



And son of a bitch, I can already tell this is going to be bad. Also I'm not sure what to think of the boss, I don't like beating up helpless oldtimers.


A lieutenant of Bern who led the attack on Arcadia.

However, a second glance...



...happily reveals that there aren't any of those around.



If that wasn't enough, this asshole has one too!



And this guy has Eclipse I guess but no one cares about Eclipse.



It's going to suck so hard. This berserker could have been dangerous...



...but since it's the first fight of the map, I'm willing to be a bit reckless.



All he manages to do is to make Shanna suck just a little bit more.



That sprite does not look like his portrait.



He shouldn't be able to one-shot anyone with that, even if he hits. And he only has five shots.



Oh, that was a brilliant idea.



Argh! Floor!



One more Bolting usage down.



Oh yeah, use anti-axe weapons on the pegasus knight, good idea.



Floor



Here, too?



You need to go.



Quarth stabs a pirate. Strength is good!



Roy can one-round this guy. With his iron sword.



Quarth eats a Bolting on the next round. It hurts like a motherfucker.



All the rest miss, though.



What is this shit?



And what is this shit?! Someone doesn't want to promote.



Dorothy, meanwhile,



...does want to promote. Just five more levels!



I'm not so sure about Fir, but she's still okay I guess. She gets this finishing off the Eclipse druid.



And Saul gets this uh... doing whatever it is you do when someone is "wounded" after gaining more HP. Not bad, Saul!



-1 Bolting!



-1 pirate!



And this could have been very, very bad, but Shanna, as usual, performs stunningly well under pressure and dodges the entire rest of the enemy force up there.





Well, all's well and so on. Also I could have waited another 40 heal staff uses to promote Saul, or I could not give a fuck and do it now. Guess which one I picked!



Promotion comes with a silly hat apparently?



Shanna steals Quarth's elixir. Doing it at 1 HP is optimal elixir usage!



Dear me, Maggie... This hurts, doesn't it?



I thought myrms were supposed to be dodgy!



...



Well. The boss is done. The other sage has three uses left.



And he can't reach Quarth from where he's standing, and he hasn't moved so far, so this should be safe.



The people who can actually move get started on the enemies that are within range.



Seriously, what even is this shit?







Not really helping...



I've run out of things to say. Can you tell I've run out of things to say? Because I have.

Two uses now.



DOT DOT DOT



Well that's marginally better I guess.



......



Quarth is out of elixirs, so Shanna plays bait. She's better at that, at least, if nothing else.



You motherfuckers.



Ogier stabs a druid.



Dorothy finishes a druid.



WE'RE DONE



not that anyone can actually reach the boss mind you



Revenge is a dish best served by me, at the end of a +crit weapon.



Stop! Promo time!







Fucking. Floor.



This is the last normal enemy.



The boss isn't what you'd call an ideal match for Schwarth, even after promotion.



Noah fares better.



But I let Dorothy spill the last of the watery old man blood,



...so she can get closer to promotion.



Then we airdrop Roy into the vacated chair.



Boom shakalaka. Now let's never do that ever again.


It won't open...

Only those of the village may open the altar... Please allow me...




There... This is the legendary weapon.

Sophia ended a sentence with a single period and not an ellipsis

Athos used this? Then it's...

Yes... It is the Infernal Truth. Forblaze...

She did it again!

The world is going to end.




Sophia brought me here. I came to protect the village.

Sophia...? Then it was you who drove off Bern's soldiers? Oh dear... Please forgive me. I am the elder of Arcadia.

The elder... Are you a dragon?

A dragon... I have been called that before. But that was a time long past.

......

Let me think... Yes, the only real dragon we have now is Fae right here.



This little girl is a dragon?

Yes, though she has not yet matured.

"She'll be ready to drink once we've stored her in the cellar for another 400 years."

Elder, do you know anything about the dragons fighting for Bern?

What?! Bern is allied with dragons?

Yes, we have seen them.

I do not know... Dragons are not supposed to exist in this world, except for in this village.



What is it, Igrene?

Sophia said that she could detect an evil force emanating from Bern's troops. It may be related to the dragons Roy says he has seen with Bern.

Perhaps... I am too old to detect such forces now myself.

Sophia can detect an evil force? What does that mean?

Sophia is half dragon and half human.

"And all useless."

That gives her the ability to detect the auras emitted by other dragons. She says, however, that she detects an unnaturally twisted force from Bern.

I think that it should be investigated further. Elder, if you will allow it, I would like to join Roy so that I might learn more.

I would prefer not to involve ourselves in outside matters... But this is certainly a special case. Will you take her, Roy?

Certainly.

I am Igrene, Guardian of Nabata. I am confident in my skills with the bow. I believe I can aid you in battle.

I'm... not quite so sure, but whatever, at least I can use you as a pack mule once Merlinus' storage fills up entirely with killer bows!

I appreciate it.



Don't be ridiculous. You may not. There is no telling what may happen if the world learns of your existence!

......



Yes, let's.



Oh yeah, and:



I predict the dark magic spell will be Againstblaze and the light magic one will be Kindaneutralonblaze.



That was a shitty ass level but on the plus side I think I may have absorbed Sophia's power to read the future. Next up, Fae joins the party! ...I'm pretty sure, at least.