Part 74: Chapter #15: Defending the Town

Status Update



Bastion

He's got Tidal Wave and Second Attack. That is all you need know.



Reyna

As fragile and useless as ever. I probably should have just given her a wind stone....



Barlow

Well, at least he has Turbulence.



Andrew

The second-best member of the team by default. He can't be hit, but having to dump so many points into DEX to unlock Somersault has left him with too little power to be really useful.



Milea

Why does no one in this whole fucking branch have a decent power stat? Anyway, you get Milea at a pretty high level, so it's hard to level her up. She'll get Blizzard Break next level, although its high AP cost means its not very useful....



Sadira

8 Power? Not even enough DEX to use Turbulence? Great.

Previously on Vanguard Bandits....



Thomson died after Bastion and friends beat him to death kinda, sorta accidentally....but he was given new life in the Empire Branch....



...And he got killed again, once again being slain as the result of a misunderstanding....but now, in the Ruin Branch, Thomson has been given one more chance to make it out of this game alive! Will he succeed? Find out today in...

Chapter #15: Defending the Town

Briefing



: Well, the Kingdom Army is managing to hold the Imperial troops at bay...But they're fairly well outnumbered. Unless they have reinforcements on the way, they're going to lose.
: We ARE the reinforcements, Andrew! Let's hurry!

Interview

: I've been having strange dreams, Bastion. Dreams of darkness and tremendous sorrow...
: I don't want to be inside the Empire any more, Bastion! I'm starting to get really scared!
: That Sharking ATAC really shook me up, buddy. Can you imagine trying to defeat an army of those things?
Why is everyone so edgy today?
: Bastion, this might sound rude, but I think Sadira is starting to rely on you too much.
: Is your friend Milea somewhat shy, Bastion? I've noticed that she rarely speaks to me.

Mission



: More Imperials?!
: We are from the Kingdom Army, sir! Are the townspeople alright?
: You hail from the Kingdom, do you?! Well met, friends! The townspeople are safe, but these Imperials are overpowering us with their superior numbers!
: Not anymore, sir! We're going to join the fight! Sadira, you're probably going to sit out this battle, aren't you?
: Actually, I was hoping to fight. I'm so angry at what's happening that I feel an incredible urge to hit something very had!
: Let's go!



Well, first things first, kill as many of the Imperials on the field as you can before the Kingdom troops get them.



Now, obviously, that's simply not much of a fight, so I'm waiting for the other show to drop...



Again? Again.
: (Vhy are DHEY here?! How coult dhey haff fount my troops ant I so quickly?! And why have dhey made it dheir duty to screw everything up?!) I haff run out uff patience!!
: It's the Sharking!
: Zakov?! You again?!



Once again, I'm not concerned about the enemies, after all, they're about the same as last time, and I beat them handily. The only thing I'm worried about is Thomson and company taking my hard-earned kills. It wouldn't bother me so much, but at some point I'm going to need someone on the team besides Bastion to be capable of doing damage or things could get...messy.



The world needs more conversations with Zakov!
: Your blood pressure must be going through the roof, Zakov! You have to learn how to relax! Would you like me to teach you some breathing exercises?
: Vhat are you TALKING about?! Your stupid vords only make me angrier!! I vill punish you for your mockery!
: NOW what are you angry about?!



: I wish we didn't have to be enemies, Zakov. Let's go!
: You talk much trash for a little girl! And you vill NOT defeat me again!
: Oh, yes, I vill!
: It seems as if you are in no position to mock me little vone!
: I won't forgive you for your crimes, Zakov! You will be PUNISHED!
: You are just a little girl who does not realize the foolishness of her actions! But I vill teach you!



But enough frivolity, it's time for Bastion to annihilate Zakov again!
: Haff I offended you somehow? If so, I apologize! Now go away and leaff me alone!
: We interfere with you because you're always committing evil acts, Zakov! Perhaps we would stop harassing you if you changed your ways!
: I vill never change! Vhat I do vill make me dhe most powerful man in dhe Empire!

Three seconds later...
: Not again! I vould haff gotten avay vith it, too, if not for dhese kids!! It vill be difficult to impress Madoc and Fokkner if I continue to lose...



The rout is on!

: The town is safe!



: Could there be a more joyous moment in the history of the Kingdom? We are now assured of winning the war!
: I wish that were true, Thomson, but I have saved the bad news for last. The Ultragunner is in possession of the Empire.
: That is bad news indeed, although the Empire cannot use it against us. Only His Highness has the gift.
: That's not quite the word I would use to describe my ability.
: What will you do now, Thomson?
I don't know, I guess appreciate the fact that for once he wasn't killed my his own army.
: We obviously cannot stay here, as the Empire will return to attack again. My only choice is to evacuate the town and escort the citizens to the relative safety of Araba Castle.
Oh, Thomson, you just aren't going to be satisfied until you die in all three branches!
: Evacuation is the right choice, but how are you going to handle such a large group of people?
: I'm not entirely certain, but we must find a way, and quickly.
: It will only prove successful if we assist you in escorting the citizens to safety. I believe we are all in agreement that helping you do that is the right thing to do.
: Of course we'll help you, Bastion!
: Thank you, Your Highness.
: I'm not doing this out of obligation to the Kingdom, Thomson. I'm doing it because I want to help.
: I shall begin the evacuation at once.



: We are, Your Highness.
A bit later...
: We need to stop for a few moments, Your Highness. One of the children in unaccounted for.
: It's probably just the overreaction of an overexcited parent.
Yeah, I mean, we were bound to lose a few kids on the way...
: I hope the reaction to the Imperial ATACs coming our way isn't quite as frantic.
: Oh, no!

Next Time: What's worse than one spawn of the Emperor?