Part 112: Time for a good, old-fashioned deathmatch.

-The Hidden True Form-











Kloe was a good choice.





This upgrade adds a blast radius, about the same size as the original Hurricane.





It's a hard break life.















































I hope Zane can break 1000 DEF before the end.









Now we're talking.













Unfortunately the top-tier elemental attacks are still overpriced junk.







Put on some anti-Faint defense before you take this teleporter.



-Silence-



That was definitely a climb.
Man's Voice: Heh. Figured you'd be dropping in.

-The Enforcers-





Zane. Knew you'd come. And hey, it's Fangboy. Been a while, kid.
It has.
I'm surprised, though, Walter. You never mentioned being part of the school Zane trained at.
Heh, yeah, well, I've pulled in a lot of styles aside from the Taito school. Gotta diversify if you want to beat people to death with their own arms, you know? No big surprise you never noticed.
Walter, you...
So how about you, Zane? Still clingin' to that dusty old Living Fist?
Yeah, well. You know. I'm a clumsy guy.
Afraid I could never hope to be half as good as our master was in Taito if I tried branching into other styles.
Tch. Dull as ever.
Ah, whatever. I was gettin' bored just sittin' up here. Time for a good, old-fashioned deathmatch.



*snap*





Steel Cougars!
Armored animals...How cruel.
You have fun playin' with those, kids.



I wanna see those moves you've been working on for six years!
I'll be more than glad to!

-Fateful Confrontation-













Meanwhile on the Glorious: 'Are we really sure the battle cats should have knives? What about their claws?' 'Well that's why they have to carry the knives in their mouths, duh!'







SPD arts will only get more important from here on out.













Ugh...Damn kids today...
Fine then. Just die.



HahaHAHAHA!















Heheheheh...Think you can catch me?

I have no idea what that move is supposed to do.



-The Enforcers-



That was about what I expected.



But you ain't lyin' about being clumsy! Your movements are so obvious. And it's because you're so stuck on sticking to just that ragged old Taito style.
Haha...
And what's so damned funny?
You really are a genius, but you lack understanding of a core principle. Master must be ashamed.
Oh? You lecturin' me in place of the old man, now?
I wouldn't presume to do anything so great as that.
However, after matching fists with you, I understood. As I am now, it would be very difficult for me to win.
But conversely, I wouldn't lose, either. Your bloody fists cannot defeat me.
...
Interesting. Never thought I'd hear something that gutsy come outta your mouth. I thought I'd just have a taste to kill some time, but we're past that now.

-Silence-



Assume your stance, Zane. It's about time I taught you just what the hell 'difference in ability' really means.
...
(What should we do? Should we help?!)
(I...I think this has to be Zane's fight.)



Video: Zane vs. Walter

-Challenger Invited-



You're stickin' with it pretty well, but after all that preachin' you did, I was hoping you would.
You're doing well, too...
DAMN it, Walter! How could you allow yourself to be dragged down into the darkness with abilities like yours?! If you'd walked the path Master showed us, you would have reached the pinnacle of righteousness!
You really gonna stand there and say that? You never actually figured out why the old man died, did you?
What?!
Heh heh. That one got your attention. Tell you what. If by some damn miracle you win, I'll fill you in on it. Your side of the bet is your life.



...
Very well. This life is worth wagering for that.





(No, Estelle. We can't stop this.)





-Silence-



A Chakram? Impossible!





What in the world are...
The battle to defend Zeiss has ended.
I left the receptionist's desk to Wong and came to see how you were getting on.
See how we were...uh...
So you climbed the shadow tower by yourself?

-Decision to Leave-



Heheh...Now THIS is like old times.
So what is it, then? See how things are going, maybe get some sweet, sweet revenge for the old man?
Not at all. The match was fairly done, after all. Why do you believe I would tread on Father's will?
...
Kilika...
I am simply here because I wished to say something to someone who disappeared six years ago.
Nothing more.
Something to say, huh? All right, then.
So.
Walter. Why did you never see me for who I am?
Gh...!
I don't know the details of what Father told you. I cannot imagine it had anything to do with...what we had, however.
Even more so with Zane.
?!
...
So it really didn't. I thought so.
Walter, you are a fool. Did you really think Father was the kind of man to hold such a thing against you?
It...It had nothin' to do with the old man. It was my problem to resolve.
Now, now wait a moment.
Walter! What did Master say to you?! What would it have to do with me?!
Ah, shaddup. I got no obligation to tell you.
Yes, it has nothing to do with Zane.
But it had everything to do with me. You disappearing without telling me was negligent. At best.
...
I have no lingering attachment to someone who could not see me as myself. You are welcome to begone to wherever you wish, or to slink back to the nest of Ouroboros.
However you choose, I will deal with you as a member of the Bracer Guild. Nothing more.
Ha...
AAHHH-HAHAHA!















I am half glad and half despairing.
I doubt we'll ever meet again.
Yeah. The rest is between me and the big guy right over there.
You can't even be a little sweet at a time like this, though? Cold as ice, right up to the very end.
As I recall, that's what you fell for.
Heh. Suppose I did.







If you want to know the reason me and the old man fought to the death...Make me lose. Use that Living Fist he left you and beat me.









Whoa, whoa, hang ON! Can an Enforcer jump from this height and, like, not DIE?!
Not all of them can, no.
But an expert like him...I wouldn't be surprised if he's fine.
He used the wall to slow his descent.
What incredible strength...
Hmph. Such a pest.



How did you know Walter would be here?
You thought I didn't know?
First Walter, then you...
Tell me, why ARE men sometimes so simple?
Uh...Well...
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
...I repent all of my sins and beg forgiveness. Please do not stare at me like that.
Haha...
With my personal business out of the way, I will return to Zeiss.
Good luck, everyone. Take care at the other towers.
Kilika...thanks.
Yeah, we will.

-Tetracyclic Tower-



Hah! Shouldn't actually surprise me. Kilika's always been quietly amazing.
I had always heard that Kilika Rouran of the Zeiss guildhouse was a tremendously capable woman. I hope I have the chance to meet her in person one day.
(Erm. Kilika and Julia together...)
(Those two could probably juggle mountains, working together.)
Anyway...
It's just like last time. The tower has returned to normal, but the machinery atop it no longer functions.
Yes...It's worrying.
We also still don't understand the nature of those...barriers that appear over the roofs.
Um, I guess the question is 'why are they covered up in the first place,' huh?
Personally, I think we can sweat that later.
Right now we need to get a move on to the next tower.
Yeah, good idea.
Julia, don't suppose we have any updates from the other towers?
One came in not long ago from the Sapphirl Tower.
This time it was a woman dressed in black, wielding a bell, of all things.
A bell? It's her...
Luciola the Bewitching Bell.
She was once an...acquaintance of yours, wasn't she, Schera?
Yes, she's an old friend.
This means it's my turn to tag along, I suppose.
Schera...if you don't want to...
C'mon, you. Don't make that face.
Luci is herself, and I'm me. We can settle our differences if we have time. Our first priority must be to complete the mission we've been given as bracers.