Part 79: Chapter #20: Ultimate Weapon

Chapter #20: Ultimate Weapon
_{Alternate Title: Bastion Fights the Pink Robots}

Briefing



: He's here, buddy. No doubt about it. Faulkner would sooner die than let us take the capital from him....

Interview

: I can't believe we made it this far, Bastion! Perhaps we should become as egotistical as Sadira!
: Sadira told me the shores of the Empire are teeming with jumbo shrimp! I must be dreaming!
: Buddy, it's been an honor and a privilege to fight beside you. I love you in an entirely platonic way.
: I'm sorry I didn't get rid of Sadira sooner, Bastion, but I promise I will after you conquer the capital!
: I won't forgive Faulkner for how he has destroyed the dignity of the Empire! Go get him, Bastion!
On principle, I probably should reject this sentiment. Still, knowing what's coming....

Mission





Oh, that ATAC cannot be good news.
: Madoc! For you to disobey my orders and unleash the Sharking is entirely unforgivable! And what is THAT ATAC?!
: I'm so very glad you asked, Sadira. This is my sixty-ninth ATAC design. Hence, I call it...ATAC sixty-nine.
I don't think I like where this is heading...
: It is my masterpiece. It is your destruction!



: I'll beg you if I have to!
: No.
: You will simply have to be utterly humiliated along with the rest of us, Prince Duyere.
: There is nothing humiliating about Number 69, Faulkner! You and Duyere should be proud! There are men across the Continent who would kill for the opportunity to try 69 for themselves! Now cease your complaints!
: Dhis ATAC is vonderful! Never haff I been so owervhelmed by your genius, Madoc! I vill gladly sing dhe praises of 69 to anyone who vill listen!
: You always were the most sensible man in the Imperial Army, Zakov.
: All of dhese fools vill succumb to dhe power of 69!
: I can already envision a new term being coined in the aftermath of our victory today. When a foe is defeated in battle, the victor will cry out, 'And how did it feel to be 69ed?!'



: I believe we would have already met them by now, Bastion.
: What about me, Milea? I'm normal!
: Your definition of the word must differ wildly from mine, Sadira.
: Huh?
: Never mind.
: Attack!
Alright, let's see what we're dealing with here...



And apparently the ATAC is actually known as the no. 86. Well, it's not like anything else about this mission makes sense anyway.



Seeing as Bastion has been killing every in one or two hits ever since he got Tidal Wave, it's rather ominous that how little damage this is doing.



Oh, and they have unique attacks that are stupidly powerful and accurate. 94% to hit Andrew? That is also a bad sign. Only one ATAC can help us now, the most powerful ATAC in this game...

: Bastion!
: Puck?! Is that another one of your ATACs?
: Nope! This is called the Zulwarn! I found it while I was wandering around these ruins!



: Of course, Puck! Just promise me that you'll be careful!
: I promise!
: The Zulwarn Armor?! Impossible! How was it revived?



And I manage to kill one of the 69s...or 86s...or whatever. They're tough, but not so tough that I wonder whether I could win without Puck's help. Of course, since he's controlled by the computer, it's a largely academic question.



And Reyna goes down, not a ton I could have done about that.



The Zulwarn is as stupidly powerful as ever.



Not a ton of strategy in this fight. It's mainly just watching the Zulwarn kill the enemy.



: I didn't have a choice! My Sarbelas was broken! You don't think I LIKE this ATAC, do you?!
: You are the shame of the Imperial Family, Duyere. I mean, look at you.
: I'm shameful?! You're the one who's joined with the Kingdom!
: But at least I'm not riding inside a ATAC that looks so...poofy.
: I hate you, Madoc!

But lo, Duyere was not the first to fall. Nay, that fell to Zakov, who, in his dying breath, articulating a final insight that would be remembered for all time...



And then, and only then, was it the time for the Imperial Prince to meet his end.



It then fell to Faulkner to try and stop the madness...



: Because you're dumb.
: Aargh!!



: Heh, heh!
: What the hell are you laughing about, boy?! Am I a clown? Do I amuse you?
: It's just...that ATAC...heh, heh, heh!
: Damn it! Someone as handsome and stylish as I am deserves an ATAC to match, not this...this...THING! Couldn't Madoc at least have asked it I thought the design was cool?!
In some sort of karmic balance, Faulkner gets killed by the Zulwarn.
: I swallowed my pride to enter the battle within this absurd ATAC, and yet I was defeated?! I am completely humiliated. I will never show my face in public again. I am now an outcast! Goodbye, cruel world!



Seems like that should be the end of the game, but I guess we still have to deal with Madoc.



: Are they merely a reflection of your growing insanity?
: It is a pity that my genius cannot be understood by ordinary people such as yourself, Sadira. Of course, your lower-than-average intelligence does not help, either.
: What?!

Puck, only you can save us now!



: ... ... ...
: Answer me!!
: It's a secret.
: What?!
And, well, that was that.
: My glorious technology was beaten?! My magnificent ATAC destroyed?! I refuse to believe it! I will never accept this defeat! This is a bad dream--!



: It's over...at long last.



: I'm going to call off the search for the traitor...I'm going to speak with Father right away about forging an alliance with the Kingdom...And I'm going to forget this embarrassing chapter of my life ever happened.
: What has father been doing lately, anyway? I haven't seen him since I ran away!
: He's been...sleeping.
: Huh?
: He keeps claiming he's too tired to do anything. I think he might be nearing the end of his days. I'm sure he'll listen to whatever I have to say.
: I suppose that I'll just have to wake Father up, won't I?
Jesus Christ, Sadira, the man is dying, don't you have any mercy?
: We're leaving, Duyere!
: Alright.
: I had a lot of fun adventuring with you, Bastion!
: That's because you caused all sorts of trouble and had us to protect you from the consequences.
: Be sure to come and visit me soon! Take care! Goodbye!



Our long nightmare is finally over.



Word.
: I don't think I'm going to miss her very much, either.
: Well, only one question remains. What are we going to do with the old man?
: I suggest you start by referring to me with my given name! 'Old man,' indeed! Now, then. I have a question to ask of the little boy with the spectacles.
: What do you wanna know?
: You were able to revive the Zulwarn ATAC, when, according to the myths and legends regarding it...many gallons of human blood are required to fuel its components. Is it true?
: I just made some adjustments to the amount of blood it needed, and then I pricked my finger. It was easy.
: Disgusting!
: Nasty!
: You fed the Zulwarn with your own blood?!
: Puck, are you sure that was a wise thing to do?
: What do you mean, Bastion? I did it because I wanted to help you!
: The Zulwarn's hunger has been awakened, little boy, and it will use you to satisfy its desires.
: Have you not heard the tales, Puck, that the Zulwarn has been imbued with malevolent spirits?
: Bastion, you're silly! The Zulwarn is just a really weird ATAC, that's all!
: An ATAC fueled by blood is not weird, Puck. It's evil.
Hey! It's also the most eco-friendly ATAC in the game. After all, it runs entirely on renewable sources of energy...also, evil ghosts.
: And on that note...I'm out of here. Got business to, uh, take care of. Take care!
: And, uh, Marquis Dionne is expecting my return, so I should leave before it gets dark...
Why is everyone so concerned over the Shadow ATAC of Unspeakable Evil that is entirely fueled by the blood of the innocent?



: What's the matter with everyone?
: I don't get it, either. Don't they want to stay for the celebration feast?
: I would love to stay as well, but, uh, I must return to Avalon. Er, I mean, we both do. Isn't that right, Milea?
: We do? Oh, I mean, we do!
: Take care, now.
: Hold on, you guys. You're about to learn something very interesting.
: Mmmmm, yes! Are you going to tell them your dark secret? They deserve to know of your lineage...grandson!
My God, wait...I don't care about that at all!
: What?!
: Puck, why didn't you tell us?!
: I just thought it would be a little more dramatic this way. My dad used to tell me how you paid more attention to your ATAC designs than to him, Grandpa. I guess that's why he ran away from you. And that's why I always wanted to be a better engineer than you. But now I find out that you didn't even have the skills to activate the Ultragunner. How disappointing!
: You dirty little turd. I'll show you disappointing!
: (Puck has never spoken like this to anyone before! I'm convinced that the Zulwarn is affecting him.)
: (Why is Puck acting this way?! How long has he been harboring these secrets, and this anger?)
I don't know, I'm pretty sure building an ATAC with dolphins for trim and high heels was a cry for help, though.
: I thought that becoming the best engineer on the Continent would feel more satisfying somehow.
: Arrogant midget bastard!
: It's alright, though. I just need to set a new goal for myself, and I already have one in mind. I think you know what I'm talking about, don't you, Bastion?
: Uh...
: You don't have to be afraid of the Zulwarn, Bastion! I mean, look at Barlow here. He's not afraid at all! I showed him the Zulwarn, and he thought it was neat! He even gave it a few drops of his blood! Didn't you, Barlow?
: I sure did.
: Barlow?!
: It was really fun, Bastion. You and Milea should try it, too! Puck even says that I can try it again whenever I want!
: Thank you for the offer, Barlow, but I'll be keeping my bodily fluids to myself. (Barlow's acting strangely, as well!)
: Bastion, we should leave.
: Yes. Quickly.
: Bastion, I'm sure that you're gonna be the best King ever. I just hope I can give you advice once in a while. You know, since you and me are friends and all. Alright?
: Huh?!
: I said, would that be alright?
: Oh...uh...Of course, Puck.
: Great! I'm glad, Bastion! Well, I'm gonna go mess around with the Zulwarn. It's quite a fascinating ATAC, you know. Maybe I can use some of its designs to improve the TICTAC...like that amazing blood-fuel system! Let's go, Bastion! We have the entire world ahead of us!
: (I feel stranger with every word Puck says to me. My thoughts are becoming clouded. My body...feels...weak...I...must...resist...the tide of...darkness that is...rising...)

The End!

Bonus Content
_{Videos I was able to find on Youtube. Thanks to those people who bravely made my life a bit easier without knowing it!}

Alternate Opening
This is unlocked by beating the Ruin Branch

Attacks

Well, that about wraps it up for this Let's Play. Thanks for putting up with me.