Part 23: REVENGE!
Harmonde is right outside of Decrepit Path path, and there is nothing else of interest in the area.
Wha...?!Music: I'll Never Lose Because I Don't Want to Lose
Help... Somebody...help...
Hey...isn't that-
Greg...?
Father, are you all right? What happened here?! A golem is destroying the town... It's being operated by a man with the left arm of a golem... -! It's him! So he's the one doin' all this?! Greg... I'm sorry I doubted you all this time. Please, forgive...me...Joseph falls to the ground, and Greg runs to his side.
Father! Dammit!!Greg runs ahead into Harmonde.
Greg! C'mon, after him!At this point we are immediately thrust into a battle without warning.
We're up against three Veruni Soldiers. Greg is no longer in the party, so we have to beat them without our mage.
They have the attack Execute, which deals about 400 damage, and can sometimes cause instant death. Their regular physical attack also deals about 400 damage. They also have an ability we've never seen before: Ring Out.
Ring Out locks every character in the target HEX into a spatial rift. (unless all of your characters are in one HEX, in which case one person will be left behind.) After a few turns, they'll reappar in a random HEX.
In the end, I stole a Mega Berry from each one and took them down without much trouble.
The game gives us control here so we can walk ten steps into a cutscene.
Music: Kartikeya ASGX_7135 (: Appearance)
Greg! Wait, Rebecca. This is Greg's fight. It's not our place to interfere. Dean...
Forgotten me, have you? Just how many others like me have you created, huh?
The hell are you talking about? If you don't start making sense, I'll dispose of you right now! I'm Greg Russelberg. You killed my wife and son. Never heard of you. You can't expect me to remember the names of every worthless soul I crush, after all?! Bwah hah hah hah hah! You may have forgotten, but I sure haven't. Not...one...instant...!!Cutscene: Greg and Kartikeya
Music: A Distant Elegy
Mary: Greg!
Ted: Dad!
Kartikeya: Mmm... Contraction rate on the artificial muscle's a little off... Must be a problem with the nerve connections. Guess I'll have to give those engineers a little talking-to...
Greg: Stop...stop it...
Kartikeya: Look, I'm just here on business. There's no way this arm gets a proper test run if - you don't put up some kind of fight!
Kartikeya tosses Greg aside.
Kartikeya: But of course-
Kartikeya turns his gaze to Ted and Mary.
Kartikeya: -there's still plenty of fun to be hand, so I'm hardly complaining. ...Hmm?
Greg: No... Ted...take your mother...and run away...!
Kartikeya: And what do you think you're doing?
Ted: Protecting my mom. I promised my dad... I gave him my word!
Kartikeya: Marvelous! Who'd have imagined such a noble spirit in the body of a random, worthless animal?
Kartikeya: Here's your final lesson. Feel that power, boy? That's what you do with power - you use it to crush that which is powerless.
Ted: That...that's not what...power's for! Mom always told me...you can't threaten people or hurt people just because you're stronger than they are! And dad always said - you're supposed to use your strength to protect people, not to harm them!
The camera cuts to the graveyard, and a gunshot is heard.
Kartikeya: ...This is the trouble with parents today. Can't even teach a boy how to be afraid!
Kartikeya: I believe it's yours, for not properly educating him, you idiots!
Greg stands up, and Kartikeya turns to face him.
Kartikeya: Well...? Are you ready to enterain me? Otherwise, I'm afraid-
Kartikeya aims his ARM at Greg.
Kartikeya: -there's no need to let you live!
Just before he fires, Mary runs between Greg and Kartikeya.
Kartikeya: Beautiful! Just beautiful! I couldn't have written a better ending if I'd tried! Bwah hah hah hah hah! Bwaaah hah hah hah hah hah hah!
Greg: ...kill...
Kartikeya: C'mon, speak up! I can barely hear you!
Greg: ...I'll kill you... I swear on my life, I'm going to kill you!!
Kartikeya: You? Will kill me! Bwah hah hah hah! Finally, a chance for some fun here! I knew you wouldn't disappoint me!
Greg: I'll kill you...you bastard...!
Kartikeya: I just killed your whole family, and now you think you're going to kill me for revenge? Bwah hah hah hah hah! Well, then, what should I do? Here, this might help you.
Kartikeya tosses his ARM to the ground.
Kartikeya: Take the ARM that killed them. Pick it up - maybe it'll kill me too...
Greg runs for the ARM and picks it up.
Kartikeya: It's got speed, too, and perfect timing... enough to stop a bullet.
Greg goes totally nuts and fires his ARM nonstop.
Kartikeya advances toward Greg, blocking each bullet with his golem arm, and Greg stops firing.
Kartikeya: Hah. Out of ammo? Or maybe just out of motivation, hmm?
Kartikeya opens his hand and drops a bunch of bullets.
Well, there's no way he blocked that one.
Oh.
Kartikeya spits the bullet at Greg, who is now cowering with fear.
Kartikeya: That last shot hurt, you know. You could at least show some remorse for that one!
Kartikeya punches Greg with his golem arm, knocking him to the ground.
Kartikeya: Bwah hah hah hah hah hah! This is great! This is more fun than I've had in ages! It's amazing what killing your family's done for you! Wonderful! I can't wait to toy with you again sometime! Give you a little more time to develop - I'm sure you'll be a riot!
Greg: I swear, I'm going to kill you, you bastard...
Kartikeya: Torturing these worthless creatures is a real kick. Somehow, it just never gets old. I've gotta tell you though, you've really got me wondering... What'll it be like when someone finally kills me? Come to think of it, that might be even more fun...
Kartikeya sticks his abnormally long tongue out and leaves. The screen fades out, and we see something familiar.
Joseph: Greg... What's happened here? ...! No...it can't be... My daughter...? My grandson...? You, and that ARM-
Greg: No! No, Father, it wasn't me!
Joseph: I have no idea what happened here... But if it wasn't you, then what are you doing with that ARM? Where did it come from? That's your weapon!
Greg: It's not! I didn't shoot them! I-I was trying to save-
Joseph: If someone else killed them, then go on, show me some evidence! Show me! Were the shells from that ARM? Did your finger pull the trigger?
Greg: ...It...it wasn't me, I swear! His arm, it was a golem's arm-
Joseph: Greg, I want to believe you're innocent! Just show me something real! Show me something I can believe! Show me some proof!
Greg: I have no proof... I can't... But I swear...I'm going to kill him.
Greg stands up and leaves.
Joseph: I'm too old and weak for these kinds of stories. I wish I could believe you... What really happened here, Mary, Ted...? Please...tell me what happened here... What did Greg do to you...? But...it's too late to undo anything, now...
-or the sweet revenge I'm gonna take on you! You want to fight? Are you just looking for trouble? Because I still haven't got a clue as to what you're talking about... But hey, if it's a fight you want, I'm more than happy to oblige! Bwah hah hah hah hah! You bastard! You're gonna die!!Music: Kartikeya ASGX_7135 (: Battle)
Yeah, we can't win this.
A weakling like that, and he still wants to fight me. Guess I'll take my fun as it comes, though. Bwah hah hah hah hah! Dammit...! I've got to get my revenge... Revenge? Are you kidding? Bwah hah hah hah hah!Music: Kartikeya ASGX_7135 (: Appearance)
And you want revenge against me? Don't make me laugh!Kartikeya aims for Greg, who is lying on the ground.
-! Time's up. Or should I say, life's up? Scared, are you? I'll bet you are! Bwah hah hah hah hah!
... Dean, no! Get outta here! Bwaaaah hah hah hah hah hah! Ohhhh, now I remember! This same thing happened before, didn't it? You humans are just the greatest!
Kartikeya punches Dean, who drops like a sack of potatoes.
Dean! Bwah hah hah! I just love trampling on peons like you! Enjoy it while you still can...'cause I'm gonna have the last laugh... Oh yeah? In this situation? Have you lost your mind? You can do anything as long as you don't give up... And I'm not ready to give up! Bwah hah hah hah haaaah! That's such a cute little phrase! I'll be sure to write it on your grave! This is so amusing! Bwah hah hah!
Otherwise you'll have to take your little quest for revenge with you to the grave! Bwah hah hah hah! You...son of a... I won't let you...get away... Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Not until I get bored of this and put a bullet in your skull, anyway. The name's Kartikeya. Write it down or something. Until we meet again, then! Bwah hah hah hah hah... Bwaaaaaah hah hah hah hah!Kartikeya leaves, and the screen fades out.
Music: A Rusted Scar
I never thought there really could be someone with a golem arm like that... I couldn't believe your words, even though your loss was no less than mine...
Oh come on, we just saw this! This is the third time, too!
Joseph: The killer had a golem's arm...? I'm too old for these kinds of stories. I wish I could believe you... What really happened here, Mary, Ted...? Please...tell me what happened here... What did Greg do to you...? But...it's too late to undo anything, now...
Even worse, I treated you like a criminal, despite the pain you were undoubtedly suffering as well... How can I ever apologize? It's okay. I should've tried harder to explain myself, too. ... As one of those at fault, it may not be my place to say this, but...isn't it about time you freed yourself from your pain? ...Huh? Forget about that revenge of yours. Look who you're up against - there's no way you can hope to get the best of him. Think about your own life. You're still young - you can still start over. But...! How can you say that after what he did to Mary and Ted?! How can you not hate him for that?! Of course I hate him! But...no matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, Mary and Ted won't return to us... ... I can't tell you to just forget about them. I know it'll take time for you to get over the loss... But please...keep in mind that there are other ways to move forward. Thanks... I appreciate the sentiment. But still, I- Listen, I won't stop you from doing as you please. But I think I'm going to stay here. There's too much sadness for me in Gounon... I've arranged for Mary's and Ted's grave to be tended, though of course, I'll still visit it from time to time. I see. So will I... But I don't think it'd be right to do so until I've taken care of their killer... ...I see. I'll be going, then. You take care of yourself. I will. Stop by again if you're ever passing through. Even if by marriage, you're still my son, after all. Father... I'll be back again, I promise. So long.
Sorry to keep you waitin'. Greg... Dean? What is it? ... Never mind. Let's go.Music: The Street Corner at Sunset
Well, we're in a new city, so let's see the sights! Or what's left of them, at least.
This town's in shambles, too... I tell you, why won't the Veruni just give us humans a little peace...?
You cannot climb the street lamps here. I am disappointed.
Stout Woman: One after another, with that weird golem arm and the gun he was brandishing... He never stopped laughing, not for a second! Up here on the cliffsides, Harmonde's like a remote, landlocked island. There's no place to run...and no better place for a killer to ply his trade!
I'm going to take this opportunity to say that Kartikeya is one of my favorite characters in this game. I just have a thing for insane, murderous characters, I guess.
There it is. We've covered all of the Cardinal Sins, and thus, we've seen every Memory Bird this game has to show us.
Charity Coordinator: But not only are we lacking in crucial supplies, we're also short of funds to buy food and build temporary housing... So...if possible, I'd like to ask for your support in our efforts. Would you be able to volunteer and help us rebuild our town?
Yes
Charity Coordinator: Thank you for all of your help with our charity project. Would you be willing to donate funds or supplies?
Donate Items
Charity Coordinator: For now, what we need most is a reliable source of Heal Berries... 20 of them, to be exact. Oh, you've brought them for us! Thank you so much! Can we have them right away? We'll need to get them out to the neediest victims as soon as possible.
Yes
Charity Coordinator: Thank you so much for helping provide our relief supplies! Here, let me give you a token of our thanks. The townsfolk all chipped in a little something.
Obtained Blank Medium!
Charity Coordinator: Actually, now that I think about it, there's another place facing a serious shortage of vital supplies. For now, what we need most is a reliable source of Tents... 5 of them, to be exact. Hmm, it looks like you don't have the supplies we need right now. If you can find some for us later, though, we'd really appreciate it.
I have never used a single Tent since I started this game, yet I only have three. Getting two more will be simple enough, but I won't worry about it for now.
You can also donate gella in increments of 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000. They're asking for 100,000 at the moment, but since I only have 150,000 right now, I'll wait until I have a bit more to spare.
That's Anastasia from Wild Arms 2, by the way.
Red-Cheeked Parrot: I see you've collected 12 medals. In appreciation, allow me to give you these two sets of shining objects which help adventurers on their quests.
Obtained Blank Medium x2!
Obtained Duplicator x2!
Red-Cheeked Parrot: I'll have another reward for you once you've collected 18 medals.
Oh hey, it's Clive. I wonder what he has to say.
Amateur Rocketeer: When that man with the golem arm attacked the town, I was in my room conducting experiments on ARMs and explosives. Those shots he fired touched off the chemicals I stored in my laboratory. One after the other, they burst into flame, right before my eyes! All my materials, items I spent years collecting... My confidence in my research... My family's trust... The home I took out a 36-year mortgage for... All of it, gone! In a puff of smoke!
This game is really inconsistent with its cameos. Some of them are in-character, and others share no similarity aside from their character design.
Seafood-Starved Fisherman: My ship's been destroyed, so I can't catch any fish... I can't eat any seafood... Just thinking about it, I feel like I want to end it all right here and now!
I've ignored a couple of these before, but I feel like I should mention that this game shares some NPCs with Wild Arms 4. I don't know if they're supposed to be cameos, or if the developers just re-used models. I believe this particular NPC is named Raymond.
Little Sorceress with an Umbrella: I teleported to my destination without any trouble, but the stuff I was hired to deliver is gone... Urrgh... I knew I was no good at this...
Lilka is here, but we still can't do anything meaningful with her.
We can kick this sign into the water by sliding.
The only thing on the other side is a chest with a Gella Card, though.
Well, we're done in Harmonde, so we'll go visit Lady Diana next time.
The Art of Wild Arms
Now we've seen every cameo, and every profile page in the art book.