The Let's Play Archive

Super Robot Wars UX

by Brunom1

Part 14: Mission 7 (JUDA Route) - The Price of Justice


What matters isn’t what you should do. It’s what you want to do.


Over by Kouichi’s school, the boy’s calling out to the new classmate, Emi Kizaki (who inwardly stops short at his approach). He introduces himself as Hayase, also in her class, and mumbles that something’s been on his mind ever since she arrived.
Have they met before? He’s got this feeling that they have from the first moment he saw her. Emi isn’t having it: “Um, can’t you see that I’m ignoring you? I don’t have anything to say to a violent thug like you!”

And, with that, she leaves a stunned Kouichi behind. Him, violent? But he’s brought back to reality as Risako walks over and asks if he wants to have lunch with her and Yajima. They can get together and talk, just like in the good old days.
Kouichi isn’t listening, still coming to grips with being dubbed “violent” and slinks away. “Ko-Kouichi, wait! Don’t ignore me, please!” Risako cries out.


Back to JUDA, Ogawa’s just reported on a directive the Japanese government sent. They’re trying really hard to keep JUDA on a leash, though Moritsugu notes that the Machinas and Factors ARE unknown elements. While, on paper, they recognize JUDA as a defense organization, it’s to be expected that they’d be wary of them.
Regardless, Ishigami says that doesn’t change their priorities right now: find and recover all Machinas. Currently they’ve four under their control, leaving another seven left, including the Linebarrel. Speaking of, Ishigami’s thinking they should try and capture the thing about now. Wasn’t he the one who told us to let him go the last time? “Sure, but… he hasn’t done anything since. It’s so boring,” Ishigami sighs.

Richard isn’t surprised that Kouichi hasn’t done anything, considering how scared he must’ve been after that last battle. “Moritsugu, my boy, you went and shredded an innocent kid’s spirit! Wahahaha!” Ishigami enjoys it.
But never mind Kouichi for now, Ishigami has some better news to deliver: the Suns’ companions have apparently been found. Several eyewitnesses saw them not too far from here, and Ishigami thinks it’s pretty reliable. That’s a relief for Sun Quan, and Shangxiang suggests they take part in tonight’s operation – once it’s all wrapped up, they can go and find Lu Xun and Zhou Yu.
Sun Quan stops short at her suggestion, and while Ishigami appreciates her offer, he does warn that there might be combat involved.


“That’s no problem at all; consider it our way of repaying you for helping us find Lu Xun and Zhou Yu. Right, brother?” Sun Quan slowly nods, but doesn’t share in Shangxiang’s enthusiasm. In that case, Ishigami’ll assign them to work with Moritsugu’s team as an advance party.
Scarlet and Tsubasa are also more than willing to help, the former being eager to see how a veteran as renowned as Richard does battle. Oh, she gives him too much credit. But one question does remain for Richard: what will be our troubled young Ensign’s decision?



: A mission to capture the Linebarrel…?
: Right; Mr. Ishigami decided to change his approach. We’ll be executing tonight.
: The Factor will be wary of us, and there’s a decent chance things will end violently.
: And…? Are you here to tell me what to do?
: That’s all for you to choose. Do you want to come with us, or stay in here?
: What's important here is what you want to do, no…?
: …
: ("What I want to do"… Jin, I…)


Location: Shangri-La – Bridge

: Rrgh… aaargh! D-Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!
: Hiihihihii! Hihiihhii…! Destroy! Eliminate!

*TV off.*

: Hey, are you sure about letting that whack-job handle this?
: I am not letting him “handle” anything. He is simply a small test. (Katou)
: A test…?
: You saw how the previous battle with the Linebarrel went. That is no ordinary Machina.
: One unhinged soldier is a small price to pay if it’ll so much as allow us to gather more information on it.
: My, commander, are you so taken with the Linebarrel that you’ll give away a soldier and a Machina?
: It won’t be that simple, naturally. I have a bit of a secret weapon ready for this.
: A secret weapon… Do you mean them?
#1: …
#2: …
: Hm, indeed. A legendary warlord whose name is also engraved in the history of our world…
: I look forward to hearing good news, General Lu Bu…
: …





: You know, you’ve been very out of sorts lately, Yajima.
: …
: You haven’t been speaking with Kouichi, either… Did something happen?
: …
: Hrm… And now neither of you are telling me anything. Just a few years ago, the three of us used to be inseparable…
: That’s…
: Hey, you remember that time in grade school when we talked about our dreams for the future?
: Our dreams…?
: Right. Kouichi said that he wanted to get as strong as you. “I wanna get strong, and then I’ll protect the weak and those in trouble,” he said.
: And when you heard that, you said it sounded like he wanted to become a Champion of Justice… but you liked it, because it was a very “Kouichi” thing to do.
: …
: But, now, he’s far from a Champion of Justice. He’s so violent now…
: I wish we could all go back to being good friends like we were before…
: Risako!!
: ?! Yajima…?
: I gotta go home… My folks’ll get really mad if I come in late…
: Ah? O-Okay…
: …
: Hey, listen, let’s go and have lunch tomorrow – all three of us!
: I promise there’ll be no questions, no lectures or anything, alright…?
: Alright… See you tomorrow, Risako.

*Off he goes.*

: (Yajima…)



: …
: Sorry to keep you.
: Fashionably late, aren’t we? Why’d you call me over here for?
: Let’s settle this, Kouichi…
: Settle…? I thought I told you before that there’s no way you’re winning this.
: Then I want you to prove it to me. Prove that you don’t need me anymore.
: …
: Fine, if that’s what you want… Then I’m gonna bash you into the dirt ‘til you realize that I’m in a whole different league!


Mission 7 (JUDA Route) – The Price of Justice



*Punch!*

: Gwaagh!
: Haah, haah…
: (Damn it… what’s going on?! Why do I feel awful with every punch I land on him?!)
: Hrgh…! Wh-What’s wrong, Kouichi? Giving up already…?
: Stop this already! Can’t you see that you’re not pulling this off?! It’s impossible for you!
: …
: I realized something the other day, after you said what you did. I realized there’s something rotten inside me…
: “Rotten”…?!
: Yeah… I… I took care of you… just ‘cause I wanted to catch the eye of the girl I like… to catch Risako’s eye…
: ?! Y-You were…?!
: …
: Why are you telling me this now…? I-I’ve always thought of you as—
: A Champion of Justice, huh? Well, relax, Kouichi… I’m nothing of the sort.
: I’m just scum… a lowlife…
: Yajima…
: Sorry, Kouichi – for everything. It’s all my fault…
: …
: Yajima… Do you think the three of us could go back to being—



: Gaaaaaaah!!



: A-Another Machina…?!
: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!
: Kch…?! Why’s any of this happening?! Damn it… What should I do?!
: Urgh…! Ko-Kouichi…
: ?! Y-Yajima… you’re!



: Kouich… What matters isn’t what you should do…
: But what you… want to do! Rrgh…!
: Yajima, hang in there!



: That’s…!
: Talk about showing up at the worst possible moment… Or, maybe, that Machina…
: Hm, it’s all but surely coming after the Linebarrel...
: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!



: I knew it. The Katou Organization!
: I suppose that’s that. I wanted to do this the smart way, but it’s not happening anymore.
: We’ll engage and destroy the Katou forces first. Is that fine with you, Sun Quan, Shangxiang?
: Absolutely! The soul of every Sun is the soul of a tiger, and now they’ll all see what that means!
: …
: (Must I carry on fighting, even in a completely different world…?)
: Try and eliminate as many of the enemy Armas as can be before the rest of our forces arrive. Troops, forward.
: Aye, aye!


Destroy the Stray Machina, don’t lose anyone. The thing’s way at the other side of the map, though, so we’ll slowly make our way across the pond and do what Reiji Moritsugu said – tackle the Armas.

Right the next enemy phase…


: Ah…?! Look over there, master! (Lu Xun)
: I-It is…! (Zhou Yu)
: Lord Sun Quan and the princess! Thank the heavens they’re both well…!
: Y-yes, but… what is happening here? Why are they fighting…?
: Now that you mention it… they look like they’re facing those giants.
: Th-Then we cannot stay here! We must go and assist the young lord and the princess—… hrgh!
: M-Master, you are far too wounded! You cannot move just yet!
: K-Kch, I disgrace myself…! These wounds are pathetic compared to the pain felt by the Tiger, Sun Ce and so many who’ve left us…!
: Master…

SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend





SRW UX - Linebarrel





: Gh…gaaah!
: H-Hold on, Yajima! I’ll go call and ambulance!
: D-Don’t worry about me, Kouichi… More important than that… is for you to fight…!
: Wh-What?!
: You’re finally strong, right? … So use that power… for good…
: R-Remember… what you told me… that day…
: Th-That day…?
: B-Become a Champion… of… Justice…!
: ?! Y-You…!
: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!

*The Stray Machina closes in!*

: Ah! The Machina’s…!
: Damn it, that’s where…!



: Yajima…!
: No biggie… Same ol’… song and dance…right?



: YAJIMAAAAAAAAAA!!
: N-No…!
: Why…!
: …
: Y-You’re wrong… Yajima… What I always wanted… was just…!


What matters isn’t what you should do. It’s what you want to do.


: Yajima, I…
: I wanna kill that son of a bitch!





: ?! The Linebarrel…!
: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!
: You…! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you if it’s the last thing I do!
: Hmhmhm… Yes, ‘tis the burning cry of your soul that I hear!
: Th-That voice…!



: Hmhmhm… Ahahahaha!
: Lu Bu and Diaochan…?! How are they here…?!
: But he died at the Battle of Guandu…! And why is he with the Katou Organization?!
: We are the Shura, they who devour the souls of man!
: And while the fires of battle rage, the Shura know not death!
: Kch… How is this possible?!



: ?! Those are…!
: More miniature MSs… Are they also from Mirisha?!
: Aye… And that one, he was a man renowned in our world as a warrior without equal…
: It is the Flying General… the Violent Hurricane… It’s Lu Bu!
: Lu-Lu Bu?! As in, the mightiest warlord in Romance of the Three Kingdoms?!
: And he is also the villain who killed our father and brother…!
: Killed…?!
: Quan…!
: So what?! The only killer I care about is that guy…!
: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!
: You… You’re gonna pay!



: He’s fully awakened as a Factor…! Capturing him has just become a lot harder.
: What do we do?
: We’ll start by getting rid of the Stray Machina and the Katou units. Once they’re done, we’ll focus on bringing in the Linebarrel!
: Roger!
: You two ready, Lt. Yuki, Ensign Berge?
: Y-Yes, sir… I’m good to go!
: …
: (What do I want to do…? Jin, I…)
: (I want to go and figure out what is truly the right thing to do…!)


Well, this just got a whole lot more complicated. Our objective is still just to beat the Stray Machina, as doing so will progress with the plot.
But where’s the fun/money/kills in that? We’ll deal with these new arrivals first, and then back around to wrap that up. Kouichi and the Machina will be focusing solely on each other, so we don’t need to worry about them.


Diaochan Qubeley
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L3
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L1
Mech Features:
Sword
10% HP and EN Regen
Diaochan’s voice actress: Ayumi Tsunematsu (other roles: Maiya in Fate/Zero, Marina in 00 Gundam, Lukagge in Gargantia, and some more)

Diaochan’s fine, if a little specialized. She’s very much built as a long range debuff/support unit, and it shows as pretty much everything’s stacked towards her “Funnels”: they pack a decent punch and will apply Morale, Evasion AND Accuracy down.
Her stats are decent enough, nothing great, and SS size, Prevail plus decent mobility can make her dodgy, but nothing a few Strikes can’t solve. Her main purpose is to set up the Shura one-two punch: she weakens the target and then Lu Bu does his thing. And, oh, boy, where do I start with Lu Bu…?


Lu Bu Tallgeese
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L5
Support Attack L1
Break Morale Limit
Counter
Predict
All Attack
Mech Features:
Sword
20% HP and EN Regen
All-Canceller
Lu Bu’s voice actor: Atsushi Miyauchi (other roles: Niji Vinsmoke in One Piece, Odin in SMT IV: Final, Geil in Gundam 0083 and a few more)

This guy… he’s one of the strongest enemies in the entire game. Stats-wise, he’s on par with Master Therion (meaning everything important is sky high), but he has special tricks unique to him. For one, everything, sans his weakest attack, will go right through your barriers and will hit like a jet-propelled truck; second, he’s dodgy as fuck, of course, but that Prevail L5 means he’ll take waaaay more punishment than you might expect. Killing him in one round at this point in the game, on a fresh playthrough, takes effort (and he regens about 8k HP a turn).
All-Canceller means you can’t debuff him in any way, and once Predict/Prevail gets rolling, anyone bigger than him (read: non-SD Gundams) will pretty much need Strike to get good numbers unless they’re packing Ignore Size Difference. Break Morale limit will also double your pain. Oh, and avoid attacks he can parry because his Skill stat is quite high.

Lu Bu’s range starts dipping off when he goes into his best weapons, but his second best is still 1-3, which is enough coverage to reach most units’ big attacks. If you can’t hit from beyond that, come packing some measure of protective spirits or Lu Bu WILL make you pay for it. And the best part is that he’s not even using all his tricks.
Do not pursue Lu Bu. Wanting to do that on a fresh game, at this point of the story, is asking for trouble.

Secret Alert!
SD Gundam Secret – 2nd Step: Pursue Lu Bu (and shoot him down with Sun Quan)

Well, shit. At the very least you don’t have to worry about his HP falling under a certain threshold, so there’s that. Do note, however, that downing Diaochan will trigger the plot, so focus entirely on Lu Bu.

SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness





SRW UX - Linebarrel

Kouichi’s first convo is for when he actually moves, the second is when the Stray Machina attacks him:


: Yajima… You said you were you were scum, a lowlife… then why’d you have to go and die for me?! That’s something a Champion of Justice would do!
: Damn it… YAJIMAAAAAA!!

--

: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!
: I’ll kill you, whatever it takes! You murdered Yajima… and I’ll make you pay!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74znXYukpwY
“Wait just a bit, Yajima… I’ll avenge you!!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYfp4JGvOnQ
And since we didn’t see this move before, here it is.

SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend







SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers


: How’s your handling of the Wingle, Lt. Yuki?
: I’m managing it somewhat, thanks to your data…
: But do you really think I’m suited to work as a pilot?
: We’ll need your strength when the time comes for that Op. Meaning you’ve to learn how to handle yourself in battle ASAP.
: Yes, ma’am. I’ll do my best, ma’am!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxMf-wgBjYM
Here’s her best trick, since I could.

SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit

: I reckon you already know it, Ensign Berge, but there’s no going back from this, alright?
: Hm… I knew I wouldn’t be returning to the army when I made my decision.
: All I want now is to stay here… and figure out whether you and your beliefs are actually in the right!
: Okay, then. Watch our backs, Ensign!









When Lu Bu first moves:

: COME! Can anybody provide me with a decent challenge?! Is there one here who can rouse my soul?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EocIGzZ0-e0

And when Diaochan first moves:

: Be it one man or a hundred, I won’t suffer any impeding Fengxian's hunt! (Diaochan addresses Lu Bu by his courtesy name.)





Dynasty Warriors 6 - Theme of Lu Bu -DW Prime Mix-
Lu Bu always has priority over your weakling themes!

: Hmhmhm… Draw your blade, and show me what you can do!
: Hah… it’s like I’m staring back at who I used to be…
: But it’s a fool he who gets drunk on his own power, and now you’ll learn that the hard way…!








Lu Bu attacking Machinas: “I hear its cry, oh, giant! You and your kind have souls as well…?!”

: You killed my father and my brother Sun Ce…! And now I’ll have my revenge, Lu Bu!
: Woman or man, none shall receive mercy from me! You, another of Jiangdong’s tigers! Show me your soul, and then I shall crush it!








Shangxian attacking Lu Bu: “Father, brother… I’ll strike down your killer myself!”

And when you get Lu Bu under about 60%...

: Hahahah… Yes, excellent! Skirmishes like this are precisely what brought me back to the battlefield!
: This thrill! This scorching excitement, it grips me! It ignites—MY SOOOOUUUUL!!



: Hrgh… what a crushing spirit!
: This accursed Shura…!
: Rise, dwellers of this world! Face the hammerblow of my soul and find the death that awaits you!

I seriously hope you still have someone available with Invincible, Alert or whatever, else there’s a nigh certain change Lu Bu will straight-up oneshot someone after that.

: I know mercs aren’t supposed to care about “right” or “wrong”… but, dang, you’re a real bad egg!
: I care not for your barking. Let the voice of your soul reach my ears!













: Why are you doing any of this…?! What’re you after?!
: What I thirst for is battle itself! I’ve no goals to fulfill when I step onto a battlefield, for I have already gained what I desired!
: Are you kidding me?! What’s the point in any of that, then?!









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqAUK2qHv4o
I needed a guinea pig to showcase his best attack. And you see that? Were that a crit, Tsubasa would’ve been oneshotted (do note, I’d already given the Wingle 2 pips of upgrades on HP and Armor).

: You still seek battle even in a different world, Lu Bu?!
: How did a man like you ever come to be?!
: Hmph… I see you remain ever so compassionate, young cub. So were your father and brother. Will you also mirror their pitiable deaths?
: Wh-What?! You fiend…!
: Hahahah… Do you hate me?! Then take sword in hand! Stir my soul with the fire of your rage!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwmzdqsGNUM
And here’s Sun Quan’s best trick.

: Hrgh…! Hah, hahahah… Good, this is the precisely what I sought!
: My soul has been scarred by your might! I shall eagerly await the moment when we may cross blades again!



: Fengxian…?!



: How could it be that even Lu Bu and his men were brought to this world…?
: Do the heavens seek to test us here as well…?

Whew… that’s that problem taken care of. Now we just double back and wreck the Stray Machina – it’s no challenge whatsoever, as even its D-S.O.I.L. is very weak.

SRW UX - Linebarrel

: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!
: You’re not doing anything to the Linebarrel! Not before you deal with me!





: Destroy the Linebarrel! Eliminate the Factor!
: The Linebarrel can wait… First order of business is taking out this Stray Machina.






Bam. Done.

: Gch, gchch…!
: The Machina’s stopped moving…?!
: Yamashita, now! Your Bullet Arm!
: O-OK!
: S-STOP! I… I need to—!

SRW UX - Linebarrel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqMAugEEKHs
Posting this, if only so you can hear the Stray Machina flipping out as it explodes.


: ?! Aah—…!
: D-Destroy the Linebarrel…! Elimi…nate… the…



: …
: …What did you do? That guy killed Yajima…!
: I wanted to at least, at least get revenge for him… and now YOU TOOK THAT AWAY FROM ME!!
: YOU’RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT!!



: This reaction… the Vardant’s afraid?!
: The Hind’s also acting weird, Moritsugu!
: Wh-What… What’s going on?!
: You… You’re just as bad as that killer…! I’ll destroy every single one of you…!!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I5PIdu1gb8





*Everyone’s HP gets cut in half!*

: Urgh…! Wh-What the hell?!
: I never thought it had a weapon like that…! There's no way we'd survive a clean hit from it!
: What do we do, then…?!
: We can’t afford to weigh our options now! All troops, engage and immobilize the Linebarrel – do whatever it takes!
: Haah, haah… The next one… won’t miss!


Throw whatever you’ve left and get rid of Kouichi ASAP. He has that Executor MAPW available, mind you, but it can only strike in a straight line, so keep your guys spread out and you’ll be fine.
One thing to note, however, is that Kouichi’s D-S.O.I.L. rate is now running at 101%, meaning he’ll regen 50% of all damage you do to him.


SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit

: You’re getting in my way too?! Then I’ll… I’ll crush you, them, and anyone else messing with me!
: You need to cool your head right the hell now! All you’re doing is wrecking the whole city!









SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness

: You’re going at it too hard! Keep that up, and it’ll end badly for you too!
: I don’t give a damn about what happens to me! I just want you all dead!









SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend

: Don’t let anger and hatred guide your hand! That way leads only to more sorrow!
: Shut your big mouth…! You’ve no idea what I’m feeling!









SRW UX - Linebarrel

: How… How could you do this to me?! You’re all gonna pay…!
: Oh, give me a break! We didn’t do anything wrong!









: Your name’s Moritsugu, right…? Why are you always getting in my way?!
: From where I’m standing, it’s you who’s really getting in the way of our work.
: Hrm… GO TO HELL!!
: (His swordsmanship is incredibly different from before. Even having awakened as a Factor, that’s too much…)
: (It’s like he’s a completely different person…!)







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfThdy_muBI
And here’s Shangxiang’s best attack. She’ll show him how a true CHAMPION OF JUSTICE does things!

: Gaaaaaaaaaah! D-Damn it… GODDAMN IT!!

*The Linebarrel dashes after the Hind-Kind.*

: Uwah! H-He’s…!
: Yamashita…!
: He’s completely lost it! We need to stop him now or…!
: HAAAAAAAAAAAH!!
: Hrm… You’re mine!

















: Oorgh…!

*Power dooooown.*

: Haah, haah…
: Moritsugu…
: I-I’m sorry, Yajima… I know I suck…
: But, I…! Still, I…!


I wanted to be like you…



: What’s wrong, Kouichi… Why that look on your face?
: Yajima?! You’re alive…!
: What are you crying for, huh? Didn’t I tell you it was no biggie?
: But, Yajima… I…!
: It’s fine. What you’ll do from here on out is way more important than what is already in the past.
: And I know, without a shadow of doubt, that you…
: Y-Yajima, wait…!




But that was just a dream, as Kouichi wakes up at JUDA’s infirmary and jumps straight out of bed. Ogawa comes in right then and explains that he’s a guest at a certain company’s HQ.
She introduces herself as the president’s secretary but Kouichi sniffs that he doesn’t really care for who she is: “Ooh, the dossier was right. You DO have a pretty big mouth… if nothing else,” Ogawa quips. Turns out Kouichi’s naked – whoops.



Cut back to the Shangri-La, Masaki (with the brown clothes) reports that not only the Linebarrel wasn’t destroyed, their own Machina was also taken. Katou isn’t too broken up over this, as it allowed them to get much useful information – it was a good trade. Crazy-looking Riku is sure things would’ve gone a whole lot better had he been in charge of the operation.
He asks that Katou let him also deploy the next time, eager to show the commander what his imagination is capable of. Masaki glares.


Also at JUDA’s infirmary are Zhou Yu and Lu Xun, the former being very apologetic for his wounds worrying Shangxiang so. She pooh-poohs at that, saying he should be happy that they’re finally together again – now Zhou Yu only has to focus on getting better and they’ll all head back to Mirisha together!
There’s still the fact, Lu Xun points out, that they’ve no idea what brought them to this world in the first place. Was Sun Quan’s hypothesis correct, and the clashing energies at the Battle of Red Cliffs were the cause?
Zhou Yu isn’t so sure: Lu Bu was already dead by the time of that battle, and here were both him and Diaochan. That points towards there being another cause, beyond what happened at the Red Cliffs. “Or, perhaps, it was by the will of the heavens that we were transported to this world,” he ponders.


Over by Ishigami’s office, Sun Quan says that his original plan was to leave JUDA as soon as Zhou Yu’s recovered from the wounds he suffered at the Battle of Red Cliffs… but that changed with Lu Bu revealing himself. Sun Quan refuses to go anywhere until that man is defeated.
Moritsugu asks if it’s to take revenge for his family, but, no, Sun Quan says he’s well aware that fighting with a heart filled with hatred and thirst for revenge leads only leads to one’s self-destruction. That being said, he doesn’t want the people of this world to suffer at Lu Bu’s hands like he did.
“Then you’ll hear no complains for me, Sun Quan. What matters is what you want to do,” Ishigami nods. Quan and his men are more than welcome to keep fighting with us. And, with that done, there’s another matter to be settled… Kouichi.

: …
: So… you were the one behind everything…?
: I confess I had to resort to some rather violent tactics to confirm whether or not you were a Factor. My apologies for that.
: That said, I’m not to blame for everything that’s happened. A big part of that responsibility belongs to you too…
: Wh-What…?!
: That thought never crossed your mind, hm? You never even tried to understand the nature of the power you gained… but if you had, maybe you wouldn’t have gotten your best friend killed.
: Y-YOU SON OF A…!
: Still don’t get it, do you? Your friend was killed precisely because of that rash nature of yours.
: …?!
: …
: Kch… Damn it! I always wanted to be stronger but… but I never wanted anything like this! Why did I become the Linebarrel’s Factor anyway…?!
: Well, there are two major conditions for one to become a Factor.
: The first is to be injected by a Machina’s particular nanomachines. And the second…
: Is for that person to be killed by said Machina.
: Killed… by the Machina?!
: That’s right. You were killed by the Linebarrel. Simply put…
: You died that day, three years ago.


Here’re the convos we missed today:

: How does any of this excite you? Why do you follow a man like that?!
: One is because my soul demands it; the other is because my woman’s heart compels me. Can you not grasp that?

--

: Hah… A man with the soul of a demon? Step forward, so that I may feast upon it!
: OUT OF MY WAY!!

--

: For how long are you going to continue with this insanity?!
: How long? For as long as we draw breath!

--

: You should not have come here, young tigress. Leave at once!
: It’s you who needs to get lost! I’m going to end my father and brother’s killer!