Part 76: Mission 32 - Big "C" - Part 1
Welcome back, and our group’s a lot beefier after that bombastic last mission – and things aren’t about to slow down today. Arnie, Saya and Kurou are set as event units, so here’s how we’re going:
Lockon/Fei
Kouichi/Kiki
Dancouga/Deceive
Sun Quan/Eida
Kazuki/Allelujah
Heroman/Shouko
Liu Bei/Rennie
Shinn/Luna
Burn/Tsubasa
Setsuna/Luca
Shou/Marvel
Alto/Klan
Aesap/Miu
Cao Cao/Moritsugu
Michel/Kenji
Mamoru/Sakura
Maya/Tieria
Joe/Canon
Mazinkaiser/Amalgan
Tactician: Ruri (set Ruri if you’re still on track for the Demonbane secret.)
Off we go.
SRW UX - Prologue
: Major, we’re all set and ready to deploy.
: Jesus, girl… how many times have I said you can call me “dad” or “daddy” when we’re not working? : But I’m not your actual daughter, or a human to begin with…: See, that right there is a very poor way to look at things.: Your life might’ve been manmade, but you still have a will – you still have a soul.: And I think the realization of that fact ties directly with the beginning of life.: The “beginning of life”…
: Rrgh… Haah, haah…: It’s happening again, Major…?
: Hahah… Just desserts, and that jazz, right?: …: I’m so sorry. This is all because I can’t do my job properly…: Don’t beat yourself over it. I knew from the start what I was getting into, remember?: Besides, my living or not won’t change the future. : What’s important here is your own will, and what you’ll do with it.: But…: I have bet all my chips in the huge potential you have, after all…: Major…
: Now, Saya! FIRE!: …: I-I can’t do it…: Y-You…!: I can’t… I just can’t! : Kch…. Aaaaaah!
: …: Major… I…
: Now that the dust has settled, what was that Iron Kaiser anyway?
: From what I could gather, the Odyssite being used as a catalyst for the Gravity Generator sent a will across space-time, which called that mech over from a parallel universe.
: Another devil that came from a parallel universe…
: But if that’s the case, what about Kaido and Magami’s Kaiser?
: Well, both bots did look pretty much like polar opposites, so maybe...
: Our Kaiser also came from another universe?
: Dunno, don’t care.
: Ah…?: I mean, what difference does it make?: Where we came from, where we were born… that stuff’s just a buncha baloney. : We’re here right now. That’s all the reason we need to fight.
: We’re here right now…
: Hmph, I suppose even a broken clock is right twice a day…: Now, how about we cheer up some? The old man’s gonna come back to haunt us if we don’t.: Lt. Kaido…!
: Why would he need to turn into a ghost for that? We are Hell, remember?: Heheh, true, true. And if he went to Hell, that means he’s always gonna be with us.
: Lt…
: Always with us, huh…?
: (Alright, old man, then keep close and watch over us. I don’t mind…)
: (Garan, I’m done denying my fate. I’ll just live on and on… I’ll survive for the rest of my days!)
: (Lord Garan… I’ll seek out an answer for our fates alongside these people… and, in time, I’ll find it!)
: …
: Is something wrong, Fei?: … No, nothing. I was just thinking that I’d like to stay with our group forever.
: Well, that’s to be expected! We’re all friends, aren’t we?: … Yes, we are.: (That girl’s song called out to me when I came to this world…): (I’m sure it’s because of her that I am who I am right now.): (So, I’d like for us to sing together… other me…)*Door opens.*
: Looks like everyone’s here.
: Ms. Aila…
: Could I ask why you called for all of us…?: It’s about what’s in store for the Machine Island and its people.: As you are well aware, this land has died with the disappearance of the Gravity Generator…
: And, at that, Lady Aila has a proposal for you…: Would you be willing to let Hurricane’s squadron and I accompany your group?: You’re offering us the Psycogear Squad? That’s a very generous proposal, but are you certain…?
: Well, it just wouldn’t do to seal our Psycogears away and let them gather dust.
: If anything, we’d much rather carry on fighting together with people we trust.
: Right, so we’ll keep riding formation with the Wingle like we did in the last battle.: That’s that done, Yuki. Looking forward to working with you again!: I say the same!
: But what about you, Ms. Aila? What are you going to do?: I’d like to learn more about the world beyond the island.
: The world?: Himiko sought to uncover the truth, so I believe I’ll inherit her dying wish and travel the land…
: Then you should look for Marina Ismail.
: Hmm, yes. Princess Marina could certainly be of assistance to her.: She’s a woman trying to see where our world is headed. I think there’s much you two could learn from one another.: You’ve my gratitude. I’ll be sure to pay her a visit.
: And with this talk wrapped up… I guess it’s about time to say goodbye to the Octagon, huh?: Not yet. There’s still one more thing…*Door opens.*
: …: Saya, Arnie…!
: Are you two feeling better…?
: Better isn’t the word I’d use…: But we understand that staying depressed won’t change what happened.: And, in that case, we should keep moving onwards. We owe it to the Major, too…
: Saya…: …
: That’s about the best we can do to honor those who’ve parted, hm...?: Yes. And also…: We thought we needed to pull ourselves together before we talked to you about something. 
: About what…?: It’s about me, and Maj. Richard. And…: About a scientist who used to work on this island: Novel Dylan…
*
* 
: Oh, my faithful acolytes, how long have you waited!: Indeed, how long. And all your perseverance has been for this very moment – for this day, when we shall raise our kingdom onto the Earth…!
#1: Our messiah, Master Therion! #2: Our messiah, Master Therion!
: This is what the Black Lodge is like…?!
: Take a good look. Willpower can well be said to be at the root of all sorcery. : Thus, the more Willpower you amass, the more it’s magnified.: That’s…: Yes. The light from the Accelerated Particle Engines catalyzing the Odyssite is born of the same process.: And that ties directly to your own life’s awakening, Ayul…: Life’s awakening…
: …: (Master Therion… the man responsible for throwing mine and Arnie’s fate off track…!): I declare, here and now, that I will destroy all those blasphemers who would turn their eyes from the Truth!: I declare that evil shall be used for evil’s sake! : By the way of our castle, the mobile fortress Illusory Heart Mother…!*
* #1: Master Theriooooooon! #2: Master Theriooooooon!
: The Grand Master has become quite good at inflaming the masses…: But this time brings a different climax than usual.: Novel Dylan… show me which realms your grasp has managed to reach. 
*
* 
: Hmph… a pathetic ceremony for just as pathetic people.
: Doctor, are you sure you shouldn’t be there-robo?: Nope! My work is my life – period! I don’t have time for their nonsense!: But, then, why are you with the Black Lodge, Doctor-robo?: That should be obvious! I’m here because it’ll help perfect my GLORIOUS, BEAUTIFUL RESEARCH! The Black Lodge’ll help me get to the truth! : ??? I don’t get it-robo.: Ah, but you will – and soon. : For you are Elsa, the android given an ego and a heart by my incredible intellect!: I foresee many great things for you! Action! Life-threatening danger! A professor with a mind-controlling flute! DRAMA!: But, as it all draws to a close, I know I’ll be beside myself with joy as my Pinocchio becomes a real boy… err, girl! Woohoo! : Oh, Doctor, you’re getting a bit too excited there-robo.: Still, I admit that I am a bit curious about things like “life” and “heart”-robo…: …
: I see… so you’re an artificial being like us…: I am…
: …: (Now that I think about it, there were plenty of times where she acted kind of weird…): (I guess Maj. Richard had her do that on purpose to keep our attention away from what she was…)
: (And this girl’s immunity to that spell at Innsmouth… it was due to the fact that she was not human either…)
: Well, I don’t see a problem there. We already got a bunch of folks from tons of different backgrounds.
: Right. We’ve even got robots and fairies around, so it’s a bit too late for us to start caring about stuff like that.
: Borrowing what Kaido said, you’re here and you’re you – that’s all that matters.: Everyone…
: On the other hand, I’m concerned about this scientist you mentioned, Novel Dylan.
: You knew her as a researcher for the Federation Army, Ensign Berge?: Right, she was the developer of the Riots and was working with Jin and I as a technical advisor. 
: Could this researcher for the Federation and the scientist who delved into the Machine Island’s taboo share the same name…?
: But all that stuff that happened here on the island was around two hundred years ago, right? It can’t be the same person.: On the contrary – it is, without a doubt, the same Novel Dylan.
: What makes you so sure?: …: Do you remember what the Major said about an accident with an Accelerated Particle Engine running amok mid-test?
: Yes, the Odyssite-magnified will couldn’t be controlled, and the Engine was lost across space-time…: Exactly. The one leading that experiment then was Novel Dylan… And the pilot of the unit equipped with the Accelerated Particle Engine…: Was Maj. Richard.
: Wh-Whaat?!
: B-But didn’t that happen two hundred years ago?!
: He transposed space and time due to that accident. I’d wager centuries do not mean much in that situation.: Ah…
: Then Major Richard had travelled from the past to the present as he crossed space-time?: Hmm… I’d say no – it wasn’t the present.
: What do you mean?: I am merely hypothesizing, Saya, but do tell me. Could it be that the accident with the Accelerated Particle Engine… actually wound transporting Maj. Richard to our future?: Huh…?!
: O-Our future?!: The answer lies with the Orphes’ Lepton Vectrer. It is an engine that applies the same principles as the Riot’s Proton Generator, however…: The technology found in it is far more advanced than the supposedly cutting-edge Riot. 
: Then, the Orphes…
: Is a mech that came from the future…?: And the one who built the Orphes in said future was also Novel Dylan, was it not?: …: Master Kongming’s correct.: The accident with the Accelerated Particle Engine flung the Major into the far future, and he met Prof. Novel Dylan there. 
: H-Hey, hold on! Then that lady can just live for hundreds of years?!
: Or maybe she can time travel at will?: I don’t know enough about her to talk about her life-span… but I don’t think it’s very likely she can time travel at will. : After all, it was a complete coincidence that the Major and I ended up travelling to this era…: Hmm…: Another “coincidence”…: In any case, it was in the future that she gave the Major the Orphes and Lyras and left me in his care.
: Whuh…?! Then you were also born in the future?: Yes. I was made as a control key to keep both Lepton Vectrers from running out of control…: But, in the end… I couldn’t do anything of the sort…: Ms. Saya…: What did I come to this era for if I couldn’t even do my part…? : And as I failed, the Major was still risking his life to try and to change the future…!
: “Ch-Change the future”… You mean—?!: I understand now. The “Hell” that Maj. Richard said he saw…
: Must have been the world post the death of mankind, as Hisataka Katou warned us about…: N-No way… then that guy was telling the truth when he said humanity was gonna go extinct in 32 years?!: …
: “If you knew that all this is pointless, what would you do? Could you still bring yourselves to fight…?”
: Kurou…: (Ennea… did you know what our future is…?)*Beep, boop.*
: We’ve a transmission coming in from NIA agent Axel Hughes.
: From Hughes?!
: Someone you know?: Yeah, he helped Isabelle and I a ton back when I was working as a journalist.: That wasn’t all he did, mind.: The video footage he uncovered was also essential in clearing your name with the Federation Parliament.
: So, he’s like a major supporter of ours?
: Very well. Put him through.*Beep.*
: Hello, everyone. It’s been a while.: It has, yeah. But why’d you call us as suddenly as this? Did something happen at the Union?: As a matter of fact, it has. The Black Lodge is on the move and things are looking bad.: The Black Lodge?!: As I’m sure you’re aware, Ms. Hadou, there’s a part of Arkham City where the populace is forbidden from entering, yes?
: That would be Sector 13. A past spell left the area hopelessly tainted and it had to be sealed off. : And, by the looks of things, the Black Lodge went and built a gigantic fortress beneath said Sector.: Wh-What?!: Much as I regret to say it, the Union Army’s weapons are very outmatched against the Anticross and their sorcery. : And, so, I make this call at the behest of the President. We’d like to ask that the UX intercept and repel the Black Lodge’s offensive.: Understood. We’ll confer on this matter and get back to you shortly.: I eagerly await a positive reply.*Boop.*
: And there we have it… Ensign Berge, Saya, what are your thoughts on this?: Ours…?
: You two are Maj. Richard’s heirs, no?: Th-That’s…: And he was a key figure in bringing the Ultimate Cross together. We’d like to give his daughter and successor’s wishes their due. : …SRW UX - Rebellion Against Fate
: Alright. Then I say the UX should head for Arkham City!: Ensign Berge…!: Ms. Saya… I’d always wondered just what was the Hell that Maj. Richard had seen… : But now I finally understand what it was and what it meant to him.: That man saw a future filled with despair and decided to take a stand against fate to change it…: But he…: I know. He’s no longer with us… but that’s why we have to keep fighting.: As the people who’ve taken up his will onto ourselves…!: Ensign…: Anyone here disagree with their opinion?
: Nope, we’re all on the same page as Arnie!
: Right on. We’ve all been given the power to bite back on evil, so let’s see it done together!
: And even should the future already be set in stone… we shall not yield before the tides of fate!
: Rather, we’ll find a way a to change it! Right, Mr. Asuka?
: Absolutely. Let’s set off, Arnie!: Thank you so much, everyone!: Call the Elshank and Ptolemaios and have them take formation alongside the Quarter!: We’ll be Folding all the way to Arkham City!
Location: Arkham City – Abandoned Building
: Almost time for the C Project’s grand finale.
: …
: Is something the matter, Augustus?: … Do you not find the Grand Master’s actions to be strange?
: Oh, are you doubting the Grand Master? That alone is essentially high treason, no?: Consider past events, if you would. He ordered a retreat right as Kurou Daijuuji was moments away from defeat…: And he proclaimed that we did not need either Al Azif or the Tyrant to execute the C Project.: Hmm…: Moreover, he’s even allowed outsiders to take part in today’s operations – as though he does not trust us to see it done…!: You mean the group that came with that Novel chick?: And, with this, I now have a question to ask of you all. : Do you believe the Grand Master is truly suited to be the conductor of the C Project?
: …: …
: …: Augustus… what are you planning?
: To see that the C Project is properly executed, naturally. : But first… we must carry out our assigned roles…: My grimoire, The Golden Bough!*Magic!*
: De Vermis Mysteriis – time to party!*Tentacle Magic!*
: Ｃｔｈａａｔ Ａｑｕａｄïｎｇｅｎ！*Rumbling Magic!*
: Celaeno Fragments! *Angry Magic!*
: Book of Eibon!*Gentlemanly Magic!*
: Cultes des Goules – we go to battle!*Sword Magic!*
: The Anticross have started? Then we should do the same, Etheldreda. 
: Yes, Master.: Awaken, Big C!
: Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn! Chhhhh'R’llllyeeeeh! Ia! Ia! God! ( In his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming! Cross over, R’lyeh! Hail! Hail, God!): Cthulhu! Cthulhu…! CTHULHUUUUUU!*Big Magic!*
Mission 32 – Big “C”
: De-Fold complete. No issues across our vessels.
: Wh-What the hell is that?!
: How could something that size be hidden beneath Sector 13…?!
: Much as I hate to admit it, that is pretty impressive!: My Lady…
: N-Nothing good can come out of such insanity…!
: Heads up! We’ve got stuff coming out of that big UFO-thing!
: It’s those Deus Machina!
: Those guys we fought at the Hadou Manor are there too!
: And now we gotta take on all four of those monsters at once…?!
: We’re getting out there, troops!
: Heheh… Here you are! I’m gonna pay you back in spades for before!: Hm…? I do not see the Demonbane.: (Kurou, I believe in you. I’m sure you can pull yourself back together again!): …: Ms. Saya, I know there must be a hundred things going on inside your head right now but…: I understand. You’ve steeled yourself to face what’s ahead, and I’ll do the same.: I’ll fight in a way worthy of Richard Krueger’s daughter! : I confess I did not expect the Black Lodge to mount an attack of this scale…: But we still cannot give in to them! Ever!: By my name as a Hadou, I’ll strive to protect this city – this world – to the bitter end! All troops, engage!
Wreck everything, don’t lose a ship, Saya or Arnie. This one’s a bit more dangerous because we’ve got all 4 Anticross bosses bearing down on us and they’re all big, beefy bruisers – Titus and Claudius won’t hang back for long, either, so you’ll need to contend with them as you build morale.
Tiberius still has his many debuffs, so be especially wary of leaving anyone who can’t dodge in his range, as you don’t want them to be sitting ducks for all the Destroyer Robos and Anticross. Your guys are at about the point where they might be starting to learn Confuse (かく乱), so it might be good for you to pop it when you’re in the thick and morale isn’t quite there yet.
Approach carefully and as a group, because letting someone get mobbedfu is a recipe for death here, and take out the Anticross one by one – they all got decent levels of Prevail and you don’t want them all running it.
Titus (Ogre)
Pilot Skills:
Sorcerer L5
Grimoire L5
Prevail L5
Support Attack L2
All Attack L2
Infight L2
Titus’ voice actor: Joji Nakata (other roles: Wesker in Resident Evil, Ishigami in Linebarrel, Ahlforz in SRW V, Balgias in BX, and many, many more).
Jack Smith, only he’s a tank now and has Infight and does a lot more damage. His weapons all have S ranks on land, so approach with flying units or make sure your guy can dodge. Best attack is range 1-3, so see if you can’t attack from beyond that if you’re looking to save on SP.
That aside, we’ve dealt with his kind before and he doesn’t have any unique tricks worth noting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syP5Debzl8c
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit
: Major… I’m not sure I’ll ever be as strong as you were, but still…: Saya and I’ll take up your dying wish and carry it on!
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens
: The heroes of salvation, Ultimate Cross…: Perhaps you’ll be the ones capable of sating my thirst for combat…? (Where’s Lu Bu when we need him?)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPxPgsCQvYw
SRW UX - My Fate
: Oohoohoo, this world’s going to be so messed up when Big C awakens. Isn’t that wonderful?
SRW UX - Shangri-La
: Ｒａａａａｒｇｈ！ Ｉ ｗｏｎ‘ｔ ａｌｌｏｗ ｙｏｕ ｔｏ ｓｔｏｐ Ｂｉｇ Ｃ‘ｓ ａｗａｋｅｎｉｎｇ！
SRW UX - Roulette
: Alright, folks, which of you wants to be fed your own liver? Just line up and I’ll be right there with your order!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib6eOGs0FMA
SRW UX - Obelisk
: Hahahahah! Look at you zipping around like you own the damn place, not even paying Lord Byakhee its due!: But gimme a sec and I’ll have your wings and your body broken so bad you won’t ever fly again!
: Like hell you will! I’m going to keep on flying – not just for me, but for them…!
And as you start thinning out the mooks…
: Look! There’s someone on top of that fortress!
: Th-That’s…!: Hmhmhm…
: Master Therion…!: Hear me, Ultimate Cross!: It’s all due to your blind stupidity that this most joyous of days has arrived.
: Come again…?!: And, as such, I would like to offer a small token of my appreciation.: I have selected you to be the sacrifices for our dream, the C Project. Glory will be yours.: Go to hell!: Ensign…?!: How many lives have you taken, how many fates have you torn apart…!: You’ve done so much evil and that’s still not enough for you?!: Hah… I know not who you are, but if you take issue with what I do, feel free to step forward.: I’ll make you our first sacrifice. : Shut your mouth, you monster!
: R-Rrgh!
: Ensign Arnie!: Kch… I-It’s!
SRW UX - The Proud Challengers
: Target located. Moving to engage!: J-Jin…!
: Copy that! Neutrino Generators, synchro-overdrive initiated!: “S-Synchro-overdrive”…?!*Power uuup!*
: Synchronization coefficient 97, 98… Pressure set, safety lock released!: Haaaaaaaaaah!
: Th-This can’t…! How are they using technology from our future...?!: No units but the Orphes and Lyras should be capable of synchro-overdrive…!: Eat this, Arnie!
: Gwaaaaaaargh!
: Arnie!: Haah, haah… Ayul, how’re the Engines?!: Inner pressure is stable! No signs of anti-particles running out of control!: O-Okay…! Then let’s carry on with the… Urgh!: Cpt. Spencer?!: D-Don’t worry about me! Think just of what you have to do!: C-Captain…: Hrm… Jin, what are you doing?! You’re with the Army of Mankind! Why are you helping the Black Lodge?!: Because I’ve given myself to fate, is why!: Wh-What…?!: I’ve a mission – a destiny – to fulfill… and I’ll even deal with the devil himself to make that happen!: Hmhmhm, splendid.: As the light of your soul grows brighter, the shadows turn deeper and darker…: So, please, let your pained blood and desperate tears pour in a beautiful cascade – it’s through them that Big C’ll descend on this world.: Hrrr…! Kurou, are you still not going to take action even after hearing him?!: Al…: Our nemesis stands before our very eyes! Our companions have taken to arms and are risking their lives!: And, yet, here you are…!: …: Al, I…!: Jin… That’s too much, even for you!: This is the Black Lodge we’re talking about – they care absolutely nothing for how precious life is! And if you’ll help those people… then I will make you answer for it!
: Ensign…!: Ms. Saya, please back me up!: He’s sold his soul to the devil… and we need to put him down!: Copy that, Ensign.*Saya tags in with Arnie.*
: We’re getting in formation too, Ayul!: Aye, aye!*Ditto.*
: Watch Arnie’s back, troops – that was a pretty big hit he took there!: Keep a close eye on the Orphes and pound the Black Lodge back underground!
: Mission accepted!: Come on… Jin!: Bring it on, Arnie…!I seriously hope you didn’t trigger this event on the enemy turn, because Arnie’ll likely be within spitting distance of not only Jin and Ayul (who’ll always prioritize him), but also Tiberius and Caligula – odds of him surviving that when he only has 700-ish HP aren’t good at all.
Oh, and the plot kicks in when either Jin or Ayul are downed, but you can just weaken both and kill them together with a powerful squad.
: Ｈｒｍｍｍ， ａ ｄｅｖｉｌ ｗｉｔｈ ａ ｓｋｕｌｌ？！ Ｔｈｅｒｅ‘ｓ ｏｎｌｙ ｒｏｏｍ ｆｏｒ ｏｎｅ ｓｋｕｌｌ ｉｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｂａｔｔｌｅｆｉｅｌｄ！: Hah... our unit’s design was never really a concern for us…
: But if you care that much, then we’ll just bash your own skull open! Then there’ll be only one left and you can be happy!
: How are you pulling off a synchro-overdrive, Jin…?! Just what is that machine?!: Did you think you had exclusivity over that trick?: I… No, we’ve surpassed you two in all regards…!--
: How is your unit capable of synchro-overdrive?! That technology shouldn’t exist in this era…!: All power has an origin. And the moment you come into contact with the origin of yours is when your defeat is sealed…!
: You noisy little bug! We’ll see how zippy you’re feeling after I’ve clipped your wings and nailed you to a building!: What a foul-mouthed boy! He needs to be taught a lesson!
: An Aura Battler’s a living machine, and I’m not about to let you torture it!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L07kWFHr4_o
And here’s the combo attack with the Bilbine and Zwarth (doesn’t even need to have Burn – you can set Marvel in and she’s good too).
: Oowww… alright, now you pissed me off! I’m gonna get you for this… and real soon!
: I dunno what you Black Lodge folks are up to, with all your gods and whatnot…
: But we clearly can’t just look the other way and let you keep doing your thing.
: Why don’t you pack up your bags and go home before you get hurt?: Ｙｏｕ ｇｏｔ ａ ｂｉｇ ｍｏｕｔｈ．．．！Ｍｙ Ｃｔｈａａｔ Ａｑｕａｄïｎｇｅｎ‘ｓ ｐｏｗｅｒ‘ｌｌ ｔｅａｒ ｙｏｕｒ ｓｏｕｌｓ ｔｏ ｐｉｅｃｅｓ！
: Bring it on, big guy! The only thing that’ll be in pieces by the end of this is your pride!
: Ｇａａａｈ！Ｉ ｗｏｎ‘ｔ ｆｏｒｇｅｔ ｔｈｉｉｉｉｉｓ！