Part 147: Loewe is really serious about stopping you this time.

-Axis Pillar-









-Liber Ark-



Renne is waiting on the next level.







Lady Tita and the blue knight versus the masked puppeteer and her firey red calamity. I approve.



The Jormungandr armor is even beefier than the Aura Guard. It does drop Tita's SPD, AGI, and MOV, but that's what boots are for.



Schera...are you feeling all right?
Yes, I'm just...lost in thought a bit. I'm all right. I've got my feelings in order. Or...Hah, I think I do, at least.
All right, but don't feel the need to push yourself too hard on our account.
Yes, I know...*sigh* Men. The kindness only comes out when we vulnerable waifs are having a hard time of it. Most girls would rather you were like this all the time, you know.
I really am fine, don't worry. I've put myself in order, and I can help any time you need. Just say the word and I'll be there, all right?

poms















-Axis Pillar-













Hahahaha! We did it!



-The Fate of the Fairies-













-Axis Pillar-



























For the sake of my master!





-The Enforcers-



The Angel of Slaughter...
Renne.
I thought it would be you next.



But I always believed. I knew the two of you would get this far!
Renne...
Do you still intend to fight us?
Heehee, I wonder. I did say I would, but then I couldn't kill you at the castle.
And really, I think it'll aaaall depend on you, Estelle.
It'll...what now?
Hee! It's easy, silly!
Just take back what you said about me before.
Huh?!
At the top of that tower, you said me being in the society is wrong. Take that back and I'll fly away, just like that!
How about it? Easy choice, right?
...
Renne...
Renne, that deal won't solve anything. Even if she says she takes the words back, if she doesn't mean it, there isn't any point.
Joshua...it's okay.
I think I've got this. Can you leave it to me?
Estelle...of course.
It's yours.
Thanks.



Heehee! Gonna say it, right?
Come on, come on! Say it! Say, 'Renne, you being in the society is A-OK!'
Renne...you...
...need to stop bullying people into giving you what you want.
Huh?
The world doesn't revolve just around you. And it won't always change just because you demand it.
Even if you possess incredible power, Renne...Even if your big Pater-Mater will save you every time you misjudge...
Even with all that...you can't just change a person's heart on demand.
...
I'll admit, maybe I'm just being a selfish doofus for not wanting you in the society. I'm not sure myself! That's why I won't try to force you out.
But I want you to realize something. That, like Joshua, you can do whatever you want with your life. You aren't trapped...You have us. Always.
...That's right.
...
I see. I give you all the chances in the world and you slap them all away.
You're a stupid idiot, Estelle.





Maybe we could've avoided this fight, but...I couldn't.
There's no need to apologize.
You told her what I wanted to say anyway.
No, Estelle! You're right! Totally right!
I don't want to leave Renne the way she is any more than you do!
I shall give it my all!
Guys...





I hate this. I HATE YOU. I'll rip you, cut you, tear you. MAKE YOU SCREAM.
Pater-Mater. FULL. OUTPUT. Slaughter them all! Hold nothing back! Kill them, KILL them, KILL THEM!!!

-Fateful Confrontation-



See though she's really nice when she's not destroying everyone









Renne can still fling deathblows all over the place.









Pater-Mater has twice Renne's HP and takes about half as much damage, but you need to take it out first. It can revive Renne at full strength if she drops.































Debuffs don't work here. At all.





I'll just go ahead and keep Max Guard up forever.





















-Silence-



How? How, how, how?! How could Pater-Mater lose to someone like Estelle?!
So the Gordias design isn't as complete as I thought.
The burden on the leg section was too much. It's immobilized at this point.
Can't be...Can't be!

-In My Heart-



STAND UP! PLEASE! There are enemies to kill! Kill them! STAND UP! DO IT! PLEASE!



Pater-Mater...





Oh, Renne...



You won, Estelle. You got what you wanted. Doesn't matter anymore. Go unlock the gate and...go...
I do need to do that, but that can wait a bit. Because right now, you're more important.
OH, SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME! WHY?! WHY WON'T YOU GO AWAY?!
Hmm-hmmmm! It should be obvious.
Because I really care about you, Renne.
Huh...?!
That's why...Okay, step one is something I think needs doing. I'm sorry. This'll be light.
Huh--



...Ow. You...hit me.

-Where The Bonds Are-

I'm sorry, but you've had that coming. I kinda get the impression you've needed to feel other people's pain for a while now.
That's part of growing up, you know? Understanding the pain OTHER people feel.
You're...just like them...You know you'll hurt me...But you still do it...You...You're the same as those people...The ones who hurt little Renne so much...Hate...I Hate...
Is that what you really think? Do you really think there's no difference between me and them?
I...I don't know...
How about if I do this?



Wha...?
I won't lecture any more. Renne, you answer how your heart tells you. If it's hate...then all right. But listen to yourself. Please.
...I'm...I'm confused. My head is fuzzy. But I...
I don't...dislike being hugged...Maybe.
Well, then!
...
Home...
Huh?
Pater-Mater! Deactivate your leg actuators! Engage booster mode!







My head is all fuzzy...I need...I need to think. Alone, for a bit. Estelle, you can go on up to the roof. Loewe's waiting for you there.
Loewe? Knew it.
I see. Thank you for telling us.
Joshua...be careful, okay? Loewe is really serious about stopping you this time.
Yes, I know.
But don't worry. I'm always prepared, remember? Just like he taught us.
Okay...
Well, um. I'm...going, then.



Renne, wait!
Bye-bye, Estelle, Tita. I need to go for a bit, but...
But if you die, I'll never forgive you!







...
Did that...turn out okay?
I think she'll be all right.
You kind of piled a lot on her plate, Estelle. She hasn't felt things like that in a long time. A very long time. She needs time to think it through. She'll find an answer someday.
Mmm...
Heehee...I hope we see her again!
Yeah...I hope so.
I hope she doesn't do a whole lot of violence in the meantime.
Renne...
All righty. Time to get my game face back on. Let's open the lock and get going.
Yes. We should.
Oh, right.
She said Loewe's waiting for us just ahead, didn't she?
She did.
Enforcer No. II. Leonhardt the Bladelord. One of the deadliest fighters the society has. Maybe THE deadliest.
We need to be absolutely, completely certain we're prepared before we proceed.
Right.