Part 65: Mission 28 (Byston Well Route) - A King's Schemes - Part 1
And we are back at the Byston Well route, where Aesap, Amalgan and Lux got kidnapped right as we got Shouko, the Holy Warrior, back. We’ll see if we can’t remedy that, as Kiki, Hebi, Cao Cao and Shou all deploy as event units.
Here’s how the rest of our crew’s set up:
Lockon/Michio
Zhang Fei/Sun Shangxiang
Sun Quan/Kenji
Kazuki/Allelujah
Mazinkaiser/Saya
Liu Bei/Canon
Mamoru/Sakura
Guan Yu/Shouko
Kurou/Tsubasa
Setsuna/Tieria
Arnie/Marvel
Tactician: Zhuge Liang
Off we go.
SRW UX - Separation
: …
: So this is where you were, Canon.
: Do you have a minute?: Maya, Peries? And you’re…
: Um… pleased to meet you?: Shouko… Hazama…: We’ve told her everything – about you and her mom, too. She wanted to meet you after hearing that.: I was a bit surprised, to tell the truth. You’re living with my mom back at the island, then?: Yes, but it’s nothing more than a convenient arrangement for when I’m over there. : But Tatsumiya is yours and your families’ homes… I can leave that house at any time if you’d prefer it that way.: Canon…: …: Canon… what do you think of my mom?: I haven’t known Youko for long, but she’s taught me plenty.: She’s fond of making difficult requests, but… I don’t resent staying with her.: I see…: Hey, we’re just about to show Shouko around the ship, so why don’t you come along?: Me…?: It’d be a good opportunity for you two to start knowing each other – both as fellow teammates and as friends, no?: “Friends”…?: What do you say…?: …: Okay. I’ll join you.: Thank you, Canon…
: I worry about Aesap and the others as much as anyone, but it’s looking like our bigger problem at the moment is the risk of this base coming under attack again.
: Hmhmm, the enemy now has a good grasp of where we are…
: …: Listen, I’ve been thinking… would it’d be possible to meet with King Sakomizu face to face?
: Do you have something you want to say to him?: I just have the feeling that he doesn’t really understand the danger posed by Aura Machines when they’re at the Overworld…
: But the question is whether the man himself would be willing to listen…
: The point is that we’re dealing with a Holy Warrior that’s both a survivor from a WW2 kamikaze unit and the founder of a whole nation. I doubt we’re going to talk him down without a lot of persuasion.
: A warrior with iron-clad ideals… Someone with absolutely no doubt in his heart makes for quite the tough nut to crack. 
: Still, just because you want to bring your past ideals to fruition doesn’t make it okay to sacrifice the people living in the present. 
: … However, bringing ideals to fruition without sacrifices is a nigh impossibility.
: Cao Cao…!: Do not misconstrue my words, Liu Bei. I am not about to try and alter our army’s policies. : I simply find myself curious about this man, Sakomizu… I wish to verify his own ideals, that which he is willing to make sacrifices to see realized…: Then you’ll be coming along, Lord Cao Cao?: Aye. Sima Yi, you will join us.
: As you wish.
: Shou, if you’re heading for Sakomizu’s castle, then keep an eye out for him…: Shot Weapon, hm?
: And you’re sure that guy’s the same person who used to be in your original world, Shou?
: Absolutely – it’s the real Shot! The Lady Jacoba of this world told us about him!: And in that case, I wonder what he’s up to…
: Whatever the case, I’d like someone to keep in touch with the folks headed into the castle. Setsuna, Cham, can I ask you to handle it?
: Yes, ma’am. I’ll stay on alert close by.: You can count on me! I’m way more reliable than Shou, you know!
: The Bilbine’s already serviced too – we even finished giving it that new paintjob.: “Paintjob”? What?
: There a problem? Cham asked us to do it.: Well, of course I did! We’re flying around at night, so that color’ll make you – poof – disappear!: Poof… this isn’t a sneaking mission we’re about to do, if you remember. 
: If I may intrude, I saw fit to have the fine mechanics of the Hadou Financial Group give the Bilbine a tune-up as well. You should see an increase in performance – nothing major, but it’s there.: That’s already a big help. Thanks.
: … Al, a word?
: Hm? What is it?: I’ve a request to make of you while Shou and his group at headed towards the enemy castle…
*Alarm!*
: What’s the problem?!
: We’ve detected an Aura Machine approaching the castle – it’s alone!
: Alone…? This is not a raid, then?: Take a look, sires.
: That’s… the Bilbine! Shou?!
: Ah, he’s the one you spoke of…: Yes, King Sakomizu. He is, without a doubt, another Holy Warrior. : Hmm… how interesting. Escort that Aura Machina into the castle!: Yes, your majesty…!
: So it wasn’t just you, Shou, but Lord Cao Cao and Sima Yi too…
: I see they didn’t hurt you, Aesap. That’s a relief. *Door opens.*
: While we did capture him as we would a foe, I once saw in him even a potential son-in-law. We have treated him as a proper guest.: It’s a pleasure to meet you, King Sakomizu. I am Shou Zama.: Indeed, you are. I have heard much of you from young Aesap Suzuki – for instance, that you are a Holy Warrior from another world.: That’s true…: And these two, they are warriors… rather, a warlord and his chief strategist from yet another world. : We are honored to make your acquaintance, King Sakomizu. I am called Sima Yi; and he is my liege, Lord Cao Cao. : …: And what do you visitors from different worlds have to say to the King?: Your Majesty, I’m here to tell you of the tragedies Aura Machines bring…: Tragedies, you say? : In the past, I was brought to another Byston Well, where I fought against various enemies as a Holy Warrior.: Including Shot Weapon, who’s been hiding out inside your castle!
: … Shou Zama. I didn’t expect to find you in this world. : Child, if you mean to tell me of the dangers inherent to Aura Machines, Shot has already told me all of it.: However, is it not true that all weapons are dangerous? It all depends on how you make use of them. : And what say you of the hardship you have imposed onto the people of this land in your quest to reach the Overworld? : I have always been well aware of the fact that the people do not approve of what I am doing.: Yet, as King… as a Holy Warrior who’s traversed two worlds, I have duty that must be carried out.: Indeed… at times one must suffer the people’s scorn in the name of what is righteous. ‘Tis a burden of all who wear the crown of king.: Though our worlds are different, I see in you a conqueror of the land. Indeed, I believe you are capable of understanding.: …: Shou Zama, Aesap Suzuki, if anything, I know all of us seek to return to the Overworld. : So I, as a fellow Holy Warrior, would like to ask for your help establishing this ceasefire with the rebels. : Amalgan has already agreed to surrender, and we’ve a letter with his blood seal endorsing it. We’d like the rebels to lay down their arms without any further issues. : And where is said Amalgan, exactly?: He is elsewhere, working tirelessly in preparation of the ceasefire. : Aesap Suzuki, I want you to take this document back to the rebel encampment. : If peace is successfully reached between our factions, not only will blood stop being spilled on this land, but Lux will no longer need to be in confinement. : Very well. I humbly accept this task if it’ll help peace return…: …: (Amalgan and King Sakomizu aren’t unreasonable men.): (If we do bring back peace with this, then Lux won’t have to suffer anymore either…): Shinjiro Sakomizu… he struck me as an exceptional man, but…: What say you about that letter with Amalgan’s blood seal, Shou?: … Maybe I have a harder time trusting people than Aesap does, but it’s very clear to me that there’s more to it than meets the eye. : Hah, you think so as well, then.: Fate never ceases to amaze, doesn’t it? Had you told me we’d traverse space and time and meet each other in a land like this, I would’ve called you insane.: Shot Weapon…!: No glaring, Shou Zama. What could I even do to you by my lonesome?: What the hell are you up to? Why’re you getting in bed with King Sakomizu and developing Aura Machines in this Byston Well?: Now that’s a weird thing to ask.: I’ve always been an engineer. Being financed by some state and developing technology is what I do.: Even if that tech only serves to make war?!: You are being far too hostile…: This isn’t our world. We had our reasons for being enemies before, but those are gone now, no?: I know they’re gone – that doesn’t mean I trust you, though…!: Well, if we’re going to start listing grievances, I’ve also had someone dear taken from me!: You mean Musy Poe…?!: But I’d like to think I didn’t bring the hatred I felt with me into this world. : If not, then what’d be the point in undergoing Ciela’s purification and arriving here?: I won’t make any apologies, but I hope you’ll understand that much…*He leaves.*
: Shot Weapon…: That man has the eyes of someone whose heart houses nothing but his personal ambitions. : He has no interest in supporting his King, nor loyalty to him. : I knew it. He pretends to be serving King Sakomizu but he’s only doing it to get what he wants…: And I believe Sakomizu is also aware of that.: He is…?: One who seeks to rule all must open his arms even to past enemies and those he knows are simply biding their time to strike. : Otherwise, he shall find his vision of a unified rule of the land to be but an impossible dream. Do you agree, Sima Yi?: Aye.
: Shou… Shou!: Cham…! : Keep your voice down. How did things look around the castle?: I looked around, and you guys were right…!
: Aesap’s gone to the ceasefire negotiations with the Hojo detachment.
: What the hell, man. We’ve been fighting so dang much for this country and they ditch us like that? Why does only Aesap get to be there for the important stuff? I swear…*Door opens.*
: Hmhmhm… Ah, jealousy and resentment. Often do those help warriors display a mighty Aura Power…: Queen Codour…!: Overworlders, know that I rate you both higher than Aesap.: Thank you so much, my lady! You honor us!: But, Your Majesty, I must warn you about that man, Shou Zama. We must be wary of him.: Well, you can rest easy. I’m not about to let him set foot outside this castle now that he’s seen fit to deliver himself to us.: You’d do well to remember… I never have and never will trust Holy Warriors.: And I mean any Holy Warriors…: A ceasefire… I sure didn’t figure they’d be sending you as their envoy.: It just kind of happened. But I hope we can carry out this accord.: A letter of surrender from Amalgan, eh? It seems legitimate, but…
: King Sakomizu has declared, in his generosity, that he will not charge any of you with the crime of insurrection should you accept to lay down your arms.
: He asked Sir Aesap to be his ambassador of peace precisely to show his good will.: …: (That’s weird… I don’t see anyone from the UX around. Are they trying to keep their distance from the meeting grounds?): The ceasefire agreement says that Amalgan and the other POWs are also to be released.: You say you want to put this war behind us, so let’s see some proof. Set them free first.: Hmph, if you insist. I haven’t signaled our flagship to release them yet, so wait just a moment…: (This is for the best… it’ll put a stop to the war and keep Lux’s heart in one piece…)
Location: Fugaku – Bridge
: There’s Sir Kasumi’s signal flare! We’ve confirmed the location of the rebels’ headquarters!: My lord, Abuta Blas is within the Fugaku’s firing range.
: “Firing range”?! Father, what is the meaning of this?!: … Bring them in.: This way, you two!
: Hrgh… Sakomizu…!
: Ooow, you’re hurting me! Let me go!
: Amalgan, Erebos!: I could not chance bringing Cao Cao and his peers here, so I had them confined to the castle…: But I’ll allow you two to bear witness to what is about to happen. : Sakomizu… what’re you up to?!: Falsifying my blood seal… How can you resort to such a treacherous plan?! : The seal was fake?!: You know why I do this. My one truest wish is to return Japan to how it is meant to be!: And, thus, I will make the Aura Road open…!: So you are planning on invading the Overworld?! So much so that you lied to Aesap to get him on your side…?!: Do you honestly think the Wings of Rean would accept such a man as their owner, father?!: Even if you take the Wings of Rean shoes from me and wear them yourself, you—!: Hmhmhm… None of you understand a thing, I see.: It’s not the Wings of Rean shoes alone that hold the power to open the Aura Road. : What…?!: Ready all gun turrets! Concentrate fire on the rebel headquarters!: Sakomizu, you vermin! Has the once honorable Holy Warrior really fallen so?!: Yes, excellent… hate me, curse my very birth! The Minus Aura Energy born of those negative emotions are the mightiest force of all!: The Fugaku will absorb that energy and, with it, the Aura Road will open!: You… You’re going to massacre the rebels for that?!: How… How can you do this?! What kind of monster are you?!: F-Father, don’t!: We are ready, my lord. Give your command and the road for the fulfillment of your dream shall open!: STOOOOP!
Mission 28 (Byston Well Route) – A King’s Schemes
: Sir Kasumi, what’s going on? Why do we need to leave the area?!: “Return to the vessel once you’ve fired the signal flare.” Those were the king’s orders!: But why would he do that…?: Heh, you’ll know soon enough.
: Is that the Fugaku?: …?! And its cannons are pointing right towards…!: King Sakomizu, were you always looking to destroy Abuta Blas?!: The main cannon and all turrets are ready to fire!: You… you tricked me?! Was everything you said a lie, King Sakomizu?!: Fire!: NOO!
: Aah…! Abuta Blas… our friends...!: Bwahahaha! Look how it burns! That spot will mark their communal grave!: How could you…!: Wait… something is wrong!: Th-That’s…!
*Crack.*
SRW UX - The Legend of Mirisha: Wh-What in blazes?!: The Fugaku’s bombarding a wide open plain?! : The rebels’ base… Abuta Blas has vanished?!: W-What just happened?!
: It worked like a charm, I see.: Wh-What’s going on?!: What they attacked was no more than an illusion of Abuta Blas. : An illusion…?!: Oh! It was a fake created by Al’s Mirror of Nitocris spell?!: Wh-Whaaat?!
: Granted, it was quite the task to craft an illusion of such a scale.: Hmhmhm… I dare say this is quite the landmark stratagem, one uniting magic and tactics.: I believe I’ll call it the “Mystical Empty Fort Strategy”. : Rrgh… What are you fools doing?! Take aim at their battleship—
: Argh! Wh-Who?!
: Lockon Stratos, target sniped down!: Lady Codour! That attack just crippled our main cannon! It cannot perform artillery strikes anymore…!: I-Impossible…!: Master Kongming’s as brilliant as always! Even his choice of location for Lockon’s perch was flawless!
: As Sun Tzu once said, “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war.” The victors and the defeated are already set in stone by the time a battle commences.: Y-You blasted rebel scum!: Hmhmhm… You are, indeed, worthy of my respect, Overworlders! That was quite the show of skill from your leaders!: (Father, what are you planning…?): Hojo Army, do you believe we won’t make you answer for this betrayal?!: Silence, Overworlder! We’ve no further use for you!: DIE!
: Hrk… Wh-What?!
SRW UX - Envoy from Jupiter
: …: The 00 Raiser… Setsuna?!: Target located. Quick, Aesap, back to the Ptolemy!: O-Okay!
: You’re not hurt, right, Aesap?: I’m so sorry. You guys got in serious danger because of me…: But how did you know what King Sakomizu was up to?: Shou snuck Cham into the castle, where she found Amalgan and heard the truth from him.
: About how they’d forcibly taken his blood to falsify that seal.: Sorry to keep you in the dark, Aesap, but we couldn’t risk tipping off the Hojo samurai you came in with. : And in my ignorance I played right along with King Sakomizu’s plan…
: How about you save the mulling for later? Don’t lose sight of what you need to do right now. : … You’re right!: Hah, hahahah… your plans have fallen apart, Sakomizu.: Yeah! That’s it for your dream!: The flames of my dream aren’t so easily quenched. Rather, they will now burn ever brighter!
: Here comes the enemy swarm, and they’re looking pretty ticked off!: Then we’re deploying as well!
: That illusion was nothing but a temporary measure… but it’s managed to unsettle the enemy! We cannot allow this opportunity to pass us by, my friends!
Kill everything, don’t lose Aesap or any ship. This part’s pretty much a repeat of the previous battle, only with Rouri and Kanamoto already there from the start. The main issue is that, even more so than before, we’ve a lot of water and the enemy’s pretty aggressive.
So the best way to approach this, I say, is to have your guys hang by the nearby shore and let the Hojo troops come to you. Deal with them in waves and, by the time the midbosses close in, you’ll be good on morale to take them out.
The Fugaku’s back but, once again, you don’t want to down it – just don’t forget that it has a directional MAPW and weave through its shots.
SRW UX - My Fate: We don’t need the Overworlders’ powers! All we need are our Aura Machines and the whole land will be under our sway!: And how do you figure any of you are fit to rule when you need to resort to surprise attacks?!
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens
: Rrrgh! And we were so close to wiping out the rebels! Retreating…! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nMbu-fjbzI
Finally, I’ve gotten Kasumi/Murassa’s strongest attack on tape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6TZnjNAb4s
Go away, Kotto.
And when turn three rolls over, as the second wave of enemies starts coming in, the plot triggers.
: We’ve indulged your games, rebels, but it’s gone long enough.*The Fugaku flies back to its starting position.*
: Did you know that we are not alone aboard the Fugaku? Lux and Amalgan are here as well! Shoot down this ship and you end their lives as well!: Stepmother…!
: You’re taking your own daughter hostage?! Are you insane?!: Hmhmhm, one must always have backup plans in battle…: Set forward, troops! Destroy the rebels!: We need to do something or Lux and the rebels’ll…!*Beep!*
: We’ll take care of both hostages!: …?!
SRW UX - Dunbine Flies: The Wing Calibur?!
: And are those Cao Cao and Sima Yi I see standing atop it?!
: Pretty impressive that they’re not being flung straight off at the speed they’re going.: What are they doing here?! Express orders were given to hold them at the castle!: Hah… You make me laugh, woman! Did you truly believe I wouldn’t perceive what the lot of you were planning?: All the Aura Machines at Hypp Kurene castle have been destroyed by my lord and Shou! : Wh-What did you say?!: Go, Lord Cao Cao!
: Aye!*Shou drops Cao Cao onto the Fugaku!*
: Lord Cao Cao!: Hmph, well done, Cao Cao. “An unscrupulous hero in chaotic times,” indeed!: Sakomizu… are the ideals you preach such paltry things?: What…?: You have the resolve to make sacrifices when necessary, and that is to be commended. However, a man who would resort to petty schemes could never stand above others as conqueror!: Dai…GURENZAN!
: Uurgh…!: I am taking your captives, Sakomizu!
: Yeah! They rescued them!*Everyone flies further north, towards our group. Shou flies to the Ptolemaios.*
: The rest is in your hands, Shou!: Yeah, we’ll handle it!*Lux tags in with Aesap.*
: Aesap!: Erebos, thank god you’re safe! You too, Lux, Amalgan!: I’m sorry that you had to get mixed in with my father’s agenda, Aesap…: We’ll discuss it later! The Hojo forces are finally attacking in earnest!
: It’s… Sakomizu’s Aura Battler!
: Cao Cao, Overworlders! Pit your blades against mine and see for yourself if my ideals are or not strong enough to rule!: That’s quite the speech coming from a fallen Holy Warrior!: I once called you a friend… the least I can do is end your sorry life myself!: Don’t take it all on yourself, old man!: We’re always here to watch your back, you know!: Then we’re going, Kiki, Hebi!
We’ll see their combo attack in a jiffy, when I get the DK.
: Hmph, is that all?! We may not have crossed swords in a while, but I trust you haven’t forgotten the strength a Holy Warrior possesses!: Tsk… If anything, your spirit remains impressive, Sakomizu!: Father, you are now nothing but a fool under the grip of evil! : You have turned your back on the Wings of Rean and lost the last shreds of your spirit as a Holy Warrior… You are no different from a Garow Ran!: Silence, Lux! I am a Holy Warrior!
: F-Father…!: No words will help you stop that man… ‘Tis only through battle that we may end this!: He’s right… This isn’t just a Hojo problem anymore!: He must be stopped, and we’re the ones who have to do it!