Part 144: Weissmann's game has only just begun.
-Liber Ark-
Royal Guardsman Nederlander: That's a rough way of doing it, but we don't really have any other options. The society's actions are also cause for concern, so we need to finish repairs as soon as possible...
Royal Guardsman Bottoms: Amazingly, we ended up retrieving it by hauling it back with a howitzer! That was Major Vander's suggestion. But then, you don't get to be a tank commander without some serious smarts! Using a howitzer as a tractor, huh? That's a new one for sure.
If I know anything about soldiers, Mueller most likely picked up that trick after a legendary snafu. I'm picturing an entire Imperial tank squadron that somehow got flipped upside-down in the motor pool.
Clive: It should be perfectly tuned, but I just can't stop worrying about it. I came out here to check the outer hull. If we can just get the left side of the ship in shape, we'll be able to fly.
Looks like the society's just gonna bite back even harder now that we're exploring that Axis whatever. Gotta get some rest while we can.
Those society guys'll be bringin' everything they've got. It ain't gonna be easy. But hey, it'd be weird to get this far without a grand finale, right? If you want, I'll help you in any way I can. Let's find the Aureole and get back to the Goddess' good earth.
Apparently they fixed the problem in the flight controls with Professor Russell's help. Kyle was really impressed with that old coo-, er, with Liberl's number one engineer.
Mechanic Payton: Please, look over your equipment before you head to the central tower. Once you're in battle, it will be too late, no matter how hard you regret it!
Faye: Orbal voltage steady...We can start the test at any time.
If the engine passes, we'll have basic flight capability.
Of course, if we can recover the left outrigger, that would be best... ...but I want to proceed on the assumption we'll have to make do without. I'll have us ready to be airborne by the time you return from the Axis Pillar. Take care of yourselves, you hear? We've come too far for tragedy to strike now.
Heeee, I can't stay still. My heart's all fluttery!
quote:
[About the Device Towers 1/4]
The First Barrier had activated successfully, and we had succeeded in performing a Temporal Freeze upon the Aureole in another dimension. However, that was not the only barrier within the plan to seal the Aureole.
The plan's final defense line, the Second Barrier--The key to that lies within the four Device Towers.
quote:
[About the Device Towers 2/4]
This mechanism is built to activate should the First Barrier fall and time once again tick in the space of the Aureole. The Second Barrier's other name is the Gravity Barrier, and it can manifest gravity inside the other dimension.
Should the Aureole resume activity, by tying this other dimension down with linchpins of gravity, the goal was to prevent its return to reality.
quote:
[About the Device Towers 3/4]
If the Second Barrier activates, it signals that the Aureole is once again active. As a result, with its Gospels, anyone will be free to draw out its power.
The Gospels remaining on Liber Ark were sealed with the Aureole. However, should something that could serve in place of the Gospels be born in the world to come, the Aureole will be free to wield its power in reality again.
quote:
[About the Device Towers 4/4]
We succeeded in sealing the Aureole, but its power has not been destroyed. We will root ourselves to this land and watch over the Aureole. I pray that we will be successful in our vigil and that these records are never seen by any eyes.
However, while we are steadfast in our duty, we predict that such will not be our future. When the Aureole once again returns to reality, how will our descendents choose to respond? Believing that we will not make the same mistakes again, and the time will come when we are truly free of the Aureole, I leave these records for the future.
Heh. I expect a finale worthy of the rest of the tale!
And once everything is settled...we must have a victory feast at Grancel Castle. The besmirching I suffered at that last banquet...ah, revenge, you are sweeter than wine.
You, uh, carry grudges kind of longer than I thought...
Ship's Cook Casey: Sounds like the expedition into the city core's nearing the end. We'll get the Ladybird flying again somehow, I'm sure. Get back safe, you hear? I want us all together when we head back to the surface.
Royal Guardsman Day: We're about to recover and start repairs to the left outrigger. There's still a possibility the society might attack, so we can't let our guard down yet.
Royal Guardsman: Everyone's assembling on the bridge in preparation for the flight engine test.
It sounds like you're heading someplace scary...Everyone! Come back safe, okay? I'll take a souvenir photo of your victory when you do!
A...souvenir photo?
Sounds like we're on a vacation.
Heehee! It's a great idea, right? I want us aaaaall to remember why we came here!
Professor Russell pretty much hauled our bacon out of the fire.
Now if we can just stop Ouroboros dead in their tracks, it'll be a no-strings-attached happy ending. I'll make sure we get the front page of a special edition for this one. You guys just focus on giving us the biggest, most slam-bang action story of the century!
If that goes well, we'll be close to finished with the repair work.
I pray we will succeed in our mission and all return safely to land...together. Everyone...please be careful.
Liberl continues to impress. The standard of your engineers is quite high. And I understand that a number of your engineering staff have received training from Professor Russell. I'm a little envious, to be honest.
I've half a mind to throw a few over my shoulder and carry them back to Erebonia with me.
We will be ready to fly by the time you return. Good luck in the meantime.Sensor Operator Echo: We're about to begin testing the flight engine...Control system orbal voltage nominal...All backup systems are green. Preparations for test complete. But we still need to recover the outrigger, and you need to explore that central tower...There's still a lot of hard work ahead. I hope you have the best of luck...Let me pray for you now, at the end.
Helmsman Lux: Starboard flight engine...Circuits connecting fine. Running simulation at 50% output. We're stress-testing our circuits between 50% and 70% output. If we see a problem with the outrigger, we'll stop the test immediately.
Comm. Officer Leon: It seems like the Bobcat's repairs are going well. Apparently Professor Russell's advice didn't just repair their flight systems, but improved them! Even the bandits were admiring him!
I fear our job is just beginning, however. It will likely be nothing but one brutal fight after another in that central tower. Do not be afraid to retreat if you need to. Return here to rest, do not push yourselves too far.
So, meanwhile, those of us who can't lift engines are basically stuck sitting on our hands until it's done.
Hopefully we'll be ready to fly by the time you come back...
All we can do for now, though, is trust in Professor Russell, hmm?Our first scheduled match will be a royal rumble.
Three batches of Shining Poms and a little bit of shopping leaves me with this.
-Heartless Surprise Attack-
I can see a full-screen Earth Wall coming in handy.
I have a hunch that Riot Claw wasn't meant to resist that.
-Axis Pillar-
It reminds me of an orbment, in some ways...
And what the heck is that glowing liquid? I've never seen anything like THAT before...
I think it may be a liquid medium for concentrated orbal power...
I definitely wouldn't touch it barehanded.
The hell is that thing.
Hey, that's my spell. You don't get to use that.
Well, that takes care of that!
-The Fate of the Fairies-
Let's try that again.
-Axis Pillar-
Nighty night, pussycats.
The only way out is...uh, out.
This must be an exterior platform of some sort.
Huh?
Hmm! It looks like another computer, but it does rather feel like bait, no? Suspicious or not, we have to investigate it. No. We have something to take care of first.
Hm?-Silence-
Man's Voice: Heh heh, most impressive, Black Fang. I had thought my concealment perfect, but as always, you pick up the most subtle of signs.
-The Enforcers-
Bleublanc.
Welcome, Joshua, and Estelle Bright. And you have even brought my princess and my rival with you! Oh, but you have the gratitude of this humble Phantom Thief! ...'Welcome'? Oh, crap. Oh, so help me, your entrances are as graceless as ever. You intend to be our first obstacle, then.
Heh, quite. I am your first and LAST obstacle. Before you is the terminal which locks the gate leading further into the pillar. As long as it goes unmolested, you can proceed no further.Why does it lock from the outside?
And so, of course, you wait here right beside it for us to show up so you can get in our way. Real creative. ...Bleublanc. I still don't understand. Of all the Enforcers who have come, you are the one with the least stake in all this. What reason is there to continue to obey Weissmann and fight us? Ah, I must correct you. I am not 'obeying' the professor, per se. Perhaps I should explain for our other guests? Despite the title, Enforcers need not obey orders they do not wish to. Even orders from an Anguis or the Grandmaster. Ours is a society built on willing cooperation. Mmm...Though, sadly, as the good professor's puppet, your circumstances are a little different.
...
Joshua...
My reason for remaining is singular. There is something here of great beauty worth stealing. That, and only that, is why I remain. Something of great...beauty...worth stealing. And what, pray tell, would that be? Heh. That, my doves, would be your hope.
Our WHAT?! Hope shines ever more beautifully, the worse one's situation becomes. And so I have waited for you, for this moment, when you are so near the end, and so fair and desperate. Even if, in the end, your hope flares and then fades like a summer firework...
Just once, I must see it! Grasp it!
Show me what I have so longed to see--the shine of the gem of hope, as it shatters to pieces!
You want hope? FINE! Here's some hope to the face! Yes. Let us, in turn, show you. We will show you that the hope born of bonds shall never die! And that, with love, the torch of hope shall burn forever!-Fateful Confrontation-
This is where it gets ugly, Creepy Mask Dude.
Orbal Down can also Mute the whole screen, but Mute never matters.
Geo Catastrophe is just like Titanic Roar, except it's glowier and three times as expensive.
Despair, fools! You're all FAT now! Fatty fat fat! Nyaaah!
It does sink your MOV and SPD pretty drastically. I'll give him that.
-Axis Pillar-
To think you would actually be able to break my mask... *pant*...How...about that? You learn something?! It seems the only thing shattered here is your hubris. Now do you understand? How hope cannot be 'stolen' by men like you? And do you now see the immensity and enduring power of the flame of love? ...
Very well. I shall...leave you to it. Do remember, however: Weissmann's game has only just begun. Do not expect your luck to carry you any further than this.
Go. Overcome the walls of despair that will rise before you, and let your beauty shine forth all the greater. Well, then. Adieu.
It looks like it, yeah.
He IS honorable, in his own way. I don't think he'll try to stop us again.He totally got slammed in a cosmic toilet. Let him go stew on that for a while.
I guess so, yeah.
Ah...You may have been a foe, but bravo. That was an exit.
That's a relief. All that's left to do is fiddle with the terminal over there. I can't imagine Bleublanc lied. It SHOULD let us access the upper levels.
Come on, then!