Part 11: Rescue Zelenin

Prayer



Back again on the Red Sprite means we're back to talk with everyone.

What do you think they were trying to find out...?



Will it work...? We'll just have to try it and see.



But then, modern medicine relies heavily on animal experimentation.
So I can't call it totally evil... We've just switched places.
You know, humans were always the ones doing it... and now the shoe is on the other foot.



Tch... this is so frustrating...!



Well, it took long enough but we finally have enough things to make stuff in the lab! Maybe there'll be something legitimately worthwhile in this batch.



I wonder... do demons see us the way I see a new forma...?
...Brrr! I'll have to whip up some stronger equipment if we want a chance at beatin' these guys...



Are they researching the "human" academically, or... is it something else they're after?
...The demons might have a more complex scheme than we had first imagined.



We'll move onto the deck and out into Bootes again shortly, but first we have some new things to look over and maybe buy.



The Alabaster is a nice upgrade to our gun. It's not the most powerful one available nor does it technically have the best skills (that's the ??? one above it), but it can hit things twice and Wind is a good element to have easy access to.

As an added bonus, all it needs is a single Night Tail (Lilim) and Brute Fishbone (Azumi) and both can be theoretically acquired during, or even before finishing, the Signal Beacon mission at the very beginning.



In terms of armor, the Gold Vest is technically the best thing we can get right now. It's 2 points of defense over the Dark Vest and grants two resistances for only one weakness which is not exactly a common trade-off right now. Ice is a bad thing to be weak to though.

Not like it's hard to make, at least; 3 Haunt Balls (Preta) and 1 Fairy Pouch (Goblin) takes no time at all, though it does require going into the Palace to make so it's not a first entry thing.



Personally, I vastly prefer the Dark Vest in basically every single way mind. It's weakness to Elec isn't as big a deal, it grants immunity to Curse so Hitonari cannot be instantly killed* and it only requires 1 Wilder Fur (Jueyuang) and 1 Beast Hoof (Katakirauwa)? Sure it's 2 whole points of defense below the Gold Vest but it's kind of better period.



Available accessories are still thoroughly "eh". Rather than being a flat increase to HP or MP, though, they increase a single stat by 2! And this is how you can tell that Strength, not Agility, is what affects Gun damage by the way. Note that the Brawn Ring increases both Sword and Gun Attack.

Still not particularly inclined to bother with any of these things, though!



Items are mostly just new recovery stuff. Me Patra Stone is full party version of Patra Stone which would've been nicer earlier but whatever. Dis-Charm and Dis-Strain cure Charm and Strain respectively. What's Strain? MP Poison, basically. Very low worry, honestly.

Oh and we can start to get actual attack items now too. These actually use your MC's Magic stat which is a rarity and makes stocking up on them for Magic type Demonica a probably good idea. Mabufu Stones require Fairy Ice from Jack Frost, naturally; Maragi Stones require being on the higher Palace floors, so you can get them from that small area outside Mitra's room if you want.



Lastly! Remember what I said before about SJ constantly showering you with money? Yeah, it's from the Forma. They sell for a surprisingly decent amount considering how absurdly common they are and how many you will inevitably get.

I wouldn't sell most of these though. Not as a "just in case" thing, but because you can get ones that sell for at minimum 10x their value. And are guaranteed. And repeatable. Forever.



Anyway, getting ahead of myself there. We'll deal with that later. For now, we gotta speak to Blair.

You've already returned from their lair alive once...
With your skill, I'm sure you can pull it off a second time.

Nothing left on the ship, so it's out to Bootes we return!

A Frivolous Nation



First, those of us participating in the feint operation will move toward Mitra's palace.
The rest of you, stay here on standby.
Once we get to our waypoint, I'll give the signal to begin, and we'll lure the demons out.



Oh yeah, Tadano...
You got a Luxury Bell from Mitra, right?
Give it here. It'll be perfect to call the demons.



Heheheh... I already see the look on their faces.
Alright, let's move out! Hitonari, stay put until our signal!

> The strike force disappeared into the field...



Locked and loaded, man!
(B) Hitonari, as soon as we begin our part of the operation, you get moving!
Hurry into Mitra's palace while the demons have their hands full with us!
(A) On my mark, men.



Raaaaaaahhhhhh!
Let's do this! C'mon!



Here they come! Dumbasses...
Alright, Tadano, it's your show now! Good luck!

So, there's not much to do in Bootes right now. There's nothing new or different around the outside area, so we'll just skip to the palace.

Palace of Pleasure



So, this isn't just random flavour text or anything.



Macabre isn't here anymore, and he's not the only one that's missing. In fact, for the next long while random encounters inside the Palace are disabled entirely!



So we'll just skip all the way up to the 3rd floor. The invisible man from before isn't around any more either, so we can continue on up in peace.



To the immediate left of the door, on the way in, we can find a Muscle Drink for free. This restores HP by what I would hope is a probably okay amount but it also inflicts a random ailment so I've never used it.



There's nothing else over there, so we'll continue further on in. We didn't see an elevator on the 2nd floor, but there's one here. When we get it working, it'll make a nice shortcut to skip parts of the palace. For now, we can't do anything with it, so forward we go.



It doesn't take long to come to a door next to some damage tiles. We're thorough, so I'll remember the door and continue on further past the dama--



It just leads to a dead-end that doesn't even have a fixed Forma spawn. Door it is then.



The vast majority of the 3rd floor here is a giant linear corridor without much variation. Things like the pit at the start are the exception here, it seems. Following a long stretch of nothing past the door, we can grab a Bead Chain which is still a 100% HP heal to the whole party; everyone fielded in combat or everyone period out of combat.



Immediately after that, we have the stairs up. Absolutely no point at all in waiting around here so up we go!



There's an immediate Terminal and we can see stuff to our left, huh? Looks like we've made it to the weird not-jail cells we were in before.



Also there's a dead crew member next to the Terminal. That's something I guess? This dead guy we don't need to remember is here though.

Silence



Continue along the corridor, making sidesteps because why not, until we come to the door here.





Thank you for coming back for me... I really need to get out of here.
Can you open the door from the outside?

The Fear of God



> Something enveloped you!



Ah, this again.

Who's there!? What's happening!? Hitonari!?
Oh...! It's that invisible demon!



You will noooooooot be forgiven! You will noooooooot be forgiven!

You will faaaaaaace a horrible deeeeeath!

Noooooow! Experiment tiiiiiiime!

Hyahahaaaaa...!

Palace of Pleasure



We could wait around here, but we'd be unable to do much of anything. It's also really boring. There's no invisible timer here that makes a thing happen once enough time has passed.



Instead, in each corner of the room there is a dead body. We'll examine them all.



Our conclusion is that humans need something called "oxygen."

But when you think about it... he's been reborn into a form that can no longer lie.

We did a good thing! Look what a good thing we demons did!



Our conclusion is that humans need something called "blood."

But when you think about it... he's been reborn into a form that can no longer grow impatient.

We did a good thing! Look what a good thing we demons did!



Our conclusion is that humans need something called a "brain."

But when you think about it... he's been reborn into a form that can no longer feel anxiety.

We did a good thing! Look what a good thing we demons did!



Our conclusion is that humans have weak stomachs.

But when you think about it... he's been reborn into a form that can never complain again.

We did a good thing! Look what a good thing we demons did!

Only thing of note placement-wise is that by being in the corners, that last one prevents us from leaving the room at all. We don't have the Unlock required to open the normal door and we have to examine the body in the bottom-right corner. It's not a toggleable option, so we have no choice.

Anyway, let's return to the center of the room now.

Silence



Today's theme is... "Can humans live like us?"

What will happen when we strip them of their weird clothes!?

Master Mitra is very eager to find out!

Now, human: presenting our lab!



Hey Norris! We found Norris! It looks like the quest is going well!

I just... wanna have fun... Forget... everything...

> The missing crewman, Norris, is standing in front of you.

Noooooooooow! Let the experiment... beeeeeegin!

> Norris was stripped of his Demonica!

In the Master's Name



> Norris is letting out a silent scream.

So at this point we can just sit back and watch whatever happens here. Or we can not be dicks and actually try to save Norris. A difficult decision for sure.

Let's not be a dickhead, yeah?

Don't get in our way!

> You were thrown back!



Unfortunately, the not-dick route is immediately punished with flat damage. Fortunately, it's not that much and doesn't matter too much!

You will not disrupt our great experiment!

Now, devilish gentlemen... If we leave him be, this human will soon stop moving! But, but, but!



What will happen!? What will happen!?

> Crewman Norris was doused with something!

......! ...Urgh... Urggh... Urgaaaaahhhh!

The Fear of God



Oh no, Norris! You got some green on you!

...No, no, no! This isn't it! This isn't it! This isn't what Master Mitra wants at all!

...Grrrrr... Urgh... Urghrrr!? Urgh... Raaaaaaaaaaaarrrr!

> Norris attacked you!

Foul Norris

An Honor Befitting That Name



So, Norris is... well, he's really, really easy. His damage output isn't particularly threatening, he can't do much else other than "hit you" and his one point of interest is that he has no weaknesses.

Other than being weak in general.



Attack-wise, he has a decentish variation of physical stuff I guess? Rampage is probably the most dangerous purely because it's kinda random.



Stun Claw is fairly interesting, and is the only thing he has that does something other than damage. It does deal fairly okay damage and has a 35% chance to Paralyse.



Giant Slice is light damage on everyone. It also happens to be the weakest Physical skill in the game. 2nd place isn't much stronger, but everything else is leagues ahead. Good job, Norris.



That's about it. Norris doesn't last long, has relatively little health (around 650) and doesn't even give you any Macca when you're done. Poor EXP as well.

End

Silence



...Hm? Hmmmmmmm? This... What is this?

A rare forma probably. It dropped from a miniboss (pffffft) after all!

This is an unexpected result! I must give it to Master Mitra! Something unexpected has come out of this!



> The demon left...

Hey what no! That's mine! Get back here!

> You checked the Demonica certification number.



I'm pretty sure we knew that without checking the Demonica number. Call it a hunch.

Palace of Pleasure



Not much we can do in here, so we'll head on over to the adjacent room. There's nowhere else to go after all.





> You told Zelenin what you saw.

No... another comrade...
...There's nothing you could have done. If you hadn't fought back, he'd have killed you.
Besides, it sounds like he had already become a demon... You did what you had to for his sake.
A moment of silence for him...
......
All right, we can't wallow in self-pity forever. We need to find a way out of here.
The demons are fickle. If we take too long, we'll be the next test subjects.



We've already been everywhere in both rooms. There aren't any new hidden doors to find, but when looking to make sure we'll find something new in the bottom-right corner.

Silence



Zelenin had a new cellmate and she never told us!

Hello...



...Who are you!?
Hitonari, did you come here with anyone!?
No? Then who is this....!?
The demons are gone. I've no need for this ruse anymore. Excuse me.

Law Theme



I am the angel Mastema. I am a herald of the kingdom of light.



Completely real talk here, Mastema is awesome.

However, my powers are limited in this land ruled by evil.
...Is this another experiment? You're in league with the demons, aren't you?
All your forms are the same from a human's perspective.
I leave it to you as to whether or not to believe me.
But whatever you think of me, I swear that I am an enemy to the demons.
If you have come to fight the demons, I would like to help.
......I'd like to believe you.
Perhaps you could tell us a few things?
What's going on here? What should we do?
Once bitten, twice shy, is it?



What you should do is escape this place...
And what I should do is assist you in this.
Let us find an escape route together. I could prove useful.

Silence



We just have to walk around the room to this corner. That's it. Moving on!

Please stay back.
......? What are you doing...?

Law Theme

> Mastema put his hand on the floor.



...In His name, I cast out evil!

> Mastema stuck his hand through the floor...!



I love all the pomp and circumstance around this undercut by the immediate mental image of Mastema just digging like a dog.

But that must be painful...!
I am given hands that I might wipe away evil. I must use them here.
The demons' barrier is weak in places. This is one such spot...
Hmm... Urgh... Ha! There!



I may have dirtied my hands a bit, but it worked.
You should be able to escape. Now, let us be swift!
O-Oh... all right. Such power...
...Let's go, Hitonari...

We could sit around here and do nothing. Let's jump into the hole instead to actually get to do things.

Palace of Pleasure



> You don't see Mastema...

Still don't have any random encounters, and...



We have a small area in which we just drop into a hole to keep hitting the next floor down.



The 2nd floor's all of one step, yet again, before we hit the hole.

Law Theme



On the first floor, we run back into Mastema. And we're dropped very close to the Heal Spot.

...Ah yes, and I have a parting gift. It's something I have no use for.



The man who wore that suit had it.
It belonged to your comrade, and now it is yours.
He worked very hard to find this. Please take it...



Let us part ways here. Be safe.
U-Um...!



I... er... I wanted to show my gratitude.
But there isn't much we can do...
Our situation is shared. It is natural that we help each other.
...Good and evil are still at war in the spirit world.
So long as you recognize that demons are the enemy, I will ever be your ally.



Palace of Pleasure



Alright, back to business as usual. Gotta move over the damage tiles to get anywhere, but we have cheap healing right there so it works out.

Anyway, for no reason at all I'm taking a random Melchom and fusing it with an Apsaras to make a Shiisaa. Adding Angel to give it Media and Hama, but mainly after the War Cry since it reduces enemy attack by 2 stages and has no downsides.



Once we get back into the entrance hall...

Crisis



You'll become one of Master Mitra's puppets... Your fate is sealed!
It is unfortunate that you will become a puppet no longer able to dance, but...
I am duty-bound to put you to death!

Spirit Macabre

An Honor Befitting That Name



Okay, so Macabre is harder than Norris. For whatever that matters. He's also just a regular, normal Macabre (spoilers I guess), with boss fight immunities. So his normal weakness to Expel is an immunity here. Boring.



Since this game doesn't have Makakaja/Makanda, Taru-affecting spells increase/decrease all types of damage. It doesn't help with ID stuff like Hama/Mudo of course.



Being a normal Macabre with More HP (~775), his moveset isn't even as varied as Norris' was. I know, it's amazing. He'll normally do either a basic hit, cast Mudo or use Blight.

Blight is the only interesting one, being a Moderate Phys skill that hits everyone and has a 60% chance to inflict Poison.



Oh and, you might think you could skip this by going up to 2F and warping out. You'll trigger it in the room where the stairs heading up are instead.

End

Palace of Pleasure



Still no random encounters inside the Palace, and nothing else to do here. We could walk back to the Red Sprite but there's a terminal right here so...

Malevolence and Benevolence



Welcome to the Red Sprite. You have my admiration for enduring your unfortunate imprisonment.
Thank you, Arthur.
I'm sure it'll be a pleasure working under you.
I will require a detailed debriefing from you at some point...
But perhaps not now. I have no wish to overtax you in your weakened state.
Still, one question must be answered: are there others of your crew who need rescuing?



They did pull others from the ship besides me, but one by one, they were taken away...
In the end, there was no one left to respond to my calls.
......
When the Elve failed during entry, the deck's hatch suddenly opened an the demons poured in.



Before I realized it... I found myself here...
......
Thank you, Firest Lieutenant Zelenin. That will be all for now. You need to rest.
We will treat you as one of our own crew.
Once you have recovered, you will join the others in our mission.
Only too happy to help, Arthur.
Returning to Earth is important, but we can't lose sight of our original goal...
The Schwarzwelt's erosion of the Earth could be intensifying as we speak.



Well, I'd sure appreciate it if you could tell us how to get outta this hellhole.
......I'll do what I can.
We have yet to confirm the whereabouts of your ship, the Elve.
The search for the Elve will be put on hold pending the retrieval of any information regarding it.



A medical capsule will be waiting for you there.
...Excuse me, everyone.
Strike team, prepare to receive new orders.



This is most likely the energy synchronized with, and emitted by, the demon Mitra.





Just come out and say it... Mitra itself is the Rosetta, so we need to go get him, right?
Bring back the enemy general's head, huh? Now we're sounding like soldiers!
But look, Arthur, how long can we go on like this?
You said before there are a few other sectors like this...
We just gonna keep doing this over and over until we make it back to Earth?



This information will point the way toward our escape route.
I assure you all that your efforts will not be in vain.
But until we have concrete data, on the layout of the Schwartzwelt, your mission will not end.
Yeah, yeah... I get it already. The mission, the mission... you don't have to keep telling me.



You will be assisted by a new system developed by the lab.
Please put it to use in your missions from this point on.



I am distributing the update now. Please accept it.



Enemy Search is a fun little thing that I really like in theory.



Basically, now along with Forma there will be random demons visible on the map. Sort of like FOEs in Etrian Odyssey but you only fight them if you want to, and they're never in fixed locations. They can spawn in the same spots as random Forma, and it's completely random what you encounter and when. It draws from a pool based on the Sector, what Enemy Search function you have and nothing else.

With this puppy installed, there's no way that demon'll catch you again!



I look forward to the successful completion of your mission.