[GUY A] ANOTHER MURDER? HE'S LIKE SOME SORT OF SERIAL KILLER!
[GUY B] WHY DOES HE EVEN DO IT?
IT'S NOT LIKE WE REALLY DIE ANYWAY.
[GIRL A] I KNOW! THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO CRAZY!
SO HOW MANY PEOPLE HAS HE KILLED?
NO IDEA HOW MANY HE'S UP TO, BUT DURING CHRISTMAS?
YEAH, TELL ME ABOUT IT, MAN.
WE WERE HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME SELLING THINGS.
SO THEN, WHY HAVEN'T THE ROYAL GUARDS DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
HMMM, I DUNNO.
[SHIROE, VOICEOVER] THE ROYAL GUARDS
ARE THIS WORLD'S PEACEKEEPING FORCE,
DATING BACK TO WHEN WE WERE PLAYING ELDER TALES AS A GAME.
IF SOMEONE TRIES TO FIGHT OR PK IN A NON PLAYER‐VERSUS‐PLAYER
ZONE, THEY APPEAR IMMEDIATELY AND STOP THE FIGHTING.
EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE OF THE LAND INSIDE THE
MOVEABLE ARMOR SUITS, OUTSIDE MAGIC GIVES THEM THEIR POWER.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE ROYAL GUARD WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE
TO SUBDUE AN ADVENTURER OF ANY CLASS,
NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL THAT ADVENTURER IS,
NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL THEIR ITEMS.
THIS IS HOW THEY MAINTAIN ORDER.
[HARUHARU] WELL, IT'S THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE.
[YOSHISUKE] AND WE'RE STUCK OUT HERE!
[COOL JET] YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.
[TOSHI] NOTHING UNUSUAL SO FAR. LET'S CHECK THE NEXT BLOCK.
[HARUHARU] IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMETHING
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
[YOSHISUKE] YEAH, IT'S NOT EVEN A QUEST.
[COOL JET] AW MAN! IT IS REALLY COLD OUT HERE.
[YOSHISUKE] HEY! [COOL JET] IT'S HIM!
[HARUHARU] WHEN DID HE GET THERE?!
[TOSHI] STATUS! WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS AND QUICK!
[NERURESU] HUNNNHHH!
HE'S COMING PRETTY FAST!
HE'S ON US!
(LAUGHING)
[MICHITAKA] WIPED THEM ALL OUT?
THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEY WERE ALL EXPERIENCED PLAYERS.
HE SLICED HIS WAY THROUGH THEM LIKE IT WAS NOTHING.
[SOJIRO] THIS GUY'S FORCED THE RE‐SPAWN
OF AT LEAST TEN ADVENTURERS.
[MARIELLE] WE LEARNED HIS NAME IS ENBART NERURESU.
HE'S NOT IN A GUILD. IT SAYS HE'S A SAMURAI,
AND HE'S A LEVEL 94.
THAT'S ALL THE INFORMATION WE COULD DIG UP ON HIM.
[WOODSTOCK] OKAY THEN, WE CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND,
NOT IF WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE GUY.
HMM... SO THEN THIS KNUCKLEHEAD IS RUNNING AROUND
KILLING ADVENTURERS FOR KICKS,
BIG DEAL, WE DON'T DIE.
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE NOT WORRIED,
BUT WE CAN'T JUST LET HIM KEEP DOING THIS.
IT'S TRUE. OUR VERY WAY OF LIFE IS IN DANGER,
THE PEACE WE HAVE ENJOYED IS CRUMBLING AWAY.
AND SO, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONSIDER
AN EVACUATION OF THE CITY.
[MICHITAKA] YOU WANT US TO ABANDON AKIHABARA?!
[EINS] WE NEED TO TAKE EMERGENCY MEASURES!
FOR INSTANCE, WE COULD MOVE TO SHIBUYA.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MUCH!
AND BESIDES, WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING A DECISION LIKE THAT
FOR EVERYONE ELSE LIVING IN THE CITY.
HMMM....
[MARIELLE] MAYBE NOT,
BUT SHOULDN'T WE START GATHERING UP ALL THE LOWER LEVEL KIDS
AND GETTING THEM OUT OF HERE?
NOW THAT MIGHT BE AN IDEA WORTH LOOKING AT.
THIS IS CRAZY,
I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS EVEN HAPPENING...
[MICHITAKA] WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO SHUT THIS GUY DOWN FOR GOOD.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
BY THE WAY, WHAT'S THE VILLAIN IN GLASSES UP TO, RIGHT NOW?
THE FOUNDER OF THE ROUND TABLE SHOULD BE HERE, SHOULDN'T HE?
UH, WELL IT'S... KINDA LIKE THIS.
I'VE HEARD HE'S BEEN BUSY TRYING TO RAISE MONEY.
PLUS, WE ALL KNOW DECEMBER IS A HECTIC MONTH WITH THE HOLIDAYS!
AND WE HAVE BIG PLANS FOR TOMORROW'S EVENT!
WHY ZANTLEAF?
WELL, MY MAN.
THERE'S A REQUEST FOR ANYONE OUT THERE
UNDER LEVEL FIFTY TO FINISH HUNTING DOWN THE GOBLINS.
IT'S A GOOD WAY TO KEEP LEVELING YOURSELF UP.
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE AN EXCUSE TO GET US OUT OF THE CITY
WHILE THEY HUNT DOWN THE KILLER.
[NYANTA] WELL, YES, THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE
A NICE SIDE EFFECT, MYAH.
OH COME ON! I WANNA PIECE OF THE ACTION TOO! WE CAN FIGHT!
TOYA!
SO, YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE TO SLAY THE SERIAL KILLER?
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT, CHIEF!
JUST ONE MISTAKE CAN GET YOU KILLED.
SURE, I KNOW THAT CAN HAPPEN.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO COME BACK TO LIFE?
NO, I GUESS, I DIDN'T MEAN IT THAT WAY.
YEAH, LITTLE MAN.
WHAT I MEANT...
[NYANTA] IF YOU'RE A FIGHTER ON THE FRONT LINE,
YOU SHOULDN'T BE SO EAGER TO DIE, MYAH.
I... OH. I GET IT.
I'D ONLY END UP BREAKING THE FORMATION, WOULDN'T I?
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
[NYANTA] YES, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON.
RESURRECTION IS QUITE A GIFT.
IT'S A SPECIAL TREATMENT GIVEN TO US
JUST BECAUSE WE PLAYED A VIDEO GAME.
IF WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED
AND GET ACCUSTOMED TO BEING ABLE TO CHEAT DEATH.
WE MIGHT END UP LOSING SOMETHING
MORE PRECIOUS TO US IN THE PROCESS,
Y'KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?
[MINORI, THINKING] MISS AKATSUKI NEVER MADE IT
BACK TO THE HOUSE TODAY.
[DISTANT VOICE] IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!
WHY DON'T WE GO OUT TO EAT? MY TREAT, GUYS.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] WHERE ARE YOU...
WHERE ARE YOU...?
[DISTANT VOICE] THIS WHOLE SERIAL KILLER THING IS CRAZY!
[DISTANT VOICE] I KNOW. (DISTANT GIGGLING)
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] TOO MUCH INTERFERENCE.
I JUST WISH I COULD GET FOCUSED.
WOULD MY LORD BE ANGRY
IF HE KNEW I WAS UP TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
[SHIROE] KEEP HER SAFE, AKATSUKI.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] WHAT DOES HE WANT ME TO PROTECT HER FROM?
I KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND ARE WEAKER THAN WE ARE...
BUT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT OF HER AS BEING PRETTY STRONG.
I MEAN, MORE THAN MOST.
DO I HAVE ANY NEED TO PROTECT HER?
AM I EVEN THAT MUCH STRONGER THAN SHE IS?
DO I HAVE RIGHT TO ASK THAT?
I MUST GET STRONGER.
[SOJIRO] OUR ENEMY IS EXTREMELY TOUGH, EVERYONE.
NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU'VE BEEN IN A RAID BEFORE,
WE CAN'T LET HIM CATCH US OFF‐GUARD.
YOU MUST CONSIDER THIS ADVERSARY
TO BE STRONGER THAN ANYONE YOU'VE EVER FACED.
DON'T GO ANYWHERE ALONE, AND STAY IN CONTACT.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY. YOU'RE UP NAZNA...
DON'T PLAY THE HERO OUT THERE.
BE SURE TO USE FORMATION ALPHA IF YOU FIND YOURSELF
IN A FIGHT WITH THE SUBJECT, OKAY GUYS?
NOW THERE'S ONE OTHER THING,
EACH TEAM WILL HAVE TWO HEALERS FOR RECUPERATION.
REMEMBER ITS CONNAISSANCE...
BUY TIME, KEEP US POSTED, AND DON'T GET YOURSELF KILLED.
GOT IT?
[ALL] ROGER!
ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
[SOJIRO] (SIGH) WELL, YOU KNOW.
I THINK YOU'VE SAID EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY ALREADY.
WELL, THERE IS ONE THING...
THIS BASTARD PKED A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY!
TAKE HIM OUT.
OHH... THIS IS GREAT!
THIS IS SO AWESOME!
YEAH!
(CHATTER)
COME ON, NAZNA!
DON'T YOU THINK I SHOULD BE OKAY TO GO OUT ON PATROL BY NOW?
I WANT THE FIRST SHOT AT REVENGE ON THIS GUY!
EAH, WELL, YOU JUST TOOK ANOTHER TRIP TO THE CATHEDRAL;
YOU'RE STILL GONNA NEED A COUPLE DAYS.
IT'S JUST TOUGH SEEING MASTER SOJIRO AND EVERYONE
DEFENDING ME LIKE THIS.
IT'S NOTHING YOU SHOULD TAKE PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW?
IF ANYONE IN OUR GUILD GETS PKED,
SOJI WILL MAKE SURE HE PAYS.
(SLURPING) 'CAUSE THAT'S THE WAY HE IS.
YEAH, I KNOW HE IS.
MASTER SOJIRO DOES WHAT HE CAN TO KEEP US FROM GETTING HURT.
(SIPS)
BUT STILL, I CAN DREAM OF TAKING MY REVENGE, CAN'T I?
[NAZNA] (GIGGLE) NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE!
WHOEVER HEARD OF PORK MISO SOUP ON CHRISTMAS EVE?
[KYOKO] YEAH! AND THIS ONE HAS SALMON IN IT!
[NAZNA, THINKING] MASTER SOJIRO IS KIND TO US, IT'S TRUE.
BUT I GET THE FEELING,
IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE HAS SOME HEART OF GOLD,
IT'S JUST HIS NATURE...
HE LOOKS CALM, BUT I KNOW HE'S LOST HIS PATIENCE.
THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT HE'LL DO NEXT.
WHAT'S THE OLD SAYING, "NEVER MISTAKE KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS?"
(PING) [SOJIRO] UH? OH!
[NAZNA, THINKING] IF ONLY KAZUHIKO AND SHIROE WERE HERE.
THEY'RE THE ONLY TWO THAT CAN MAKE SOJIRO
CHANGE HIS MIND WHEN HE'S THIS DETERMINED.
[NAOTSUGU] I KNOW, I'M REALLY SORRY!
YEAH, THAT MIGHT BE A BETTER DAY, LET'S SHOOT FOR NEW YEARS.
REALLY?
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAVEN'T FOUND THE SERIAL KILLER YET?
I TAKE IT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ROUNDS.
YEAH, UH, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT US.
[SOJIRO, VOICEOVER] AND WELL! AKATSUKI'S BEEN WORKING HARD.
(HEAVY BREATHING) YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
OF COURSE, AND YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, SHIROE!
SOJI!
HMPH... WE FINALLY SPOTTED HIM.
(CRYING OUT)
[NAZNA] I TOLD THE INVESTIGATION TEAM TO GET OUT OF THERE.
LET'S FIND HIM, SURROUND HIM, AND KILL HIM!
[KINJO] I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN SOME TIME, PRINCESS RAYNESHIA.
[RAYNESHIA, THINKING] THIS IS LORD KINJO OF THE KUNIE TRIBE,
I WONDER WHAT BRINGS HIM HERE WITHOUT EVEN CALLING ON ME.
[KINJO] IT APPEARS I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY.
FIRST BECAUSE I GAVE YOU NO PRIOR NOTICE OF THIS VISIT.
HOWEVER THE SECOND INVOLVES A MATTER OF SOME GRAVITY
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND.
YOU'RE FORGIVEN FOR THE FIRST, WHAT'S THE SECOND?
I TAKE IT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE MOVABLE ARMOR?
ADVENTURERS KNOW THEM DIFFERENTLY,
THEY TEND TO REFER TO THEM COLLECTIVELY AS THE ROYAL GUARD.
YES, NATURALLY, I'M AWARE OF THEIR ROLE
IN KEEPING THE PEACE. WHAT'S HAPPENING?
A SET OF MOVABLE ARMOR
HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM THE PALATIAL GUARDROOM.
WHAT?
[KINJO] A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GUARD HAS TAKEN IT.
I ALSO BELIEVE HE HAPPENS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE KUNIE TRIBE.
(GASP)
[KINJO] A GIANT MAGIC CIRCLE UNDER THE CITY
CONSTANTLY SUPPLIES A GUARD'S MOVABLE ARMOR WITH POWER.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAGIC CIRCLE VARIES WITH EACH CITY.
GEOGRAPHY AND THE PLACEMENT OF BUILDING ALL ARE FACTORS.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME,
HE WON'T BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE CITY WITH IT.
YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND,
HE'S NEARLY INVINCIBLE WITHIN THE CITY.
AND THE AMOUNT OF MAGIC HE CAN DRAW
MAKES HIM FAR STRONGER THAN ANY ADVENTURER.
(GASP)
SO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING EXACTLY?
I AM SAYING THAT MY TRIBE...
MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE MURDERS.
IT SHAMES ME, BUT I CANNOT DENY THE POSSIBILITY.
[RAYNESHIA, THINKING] IN OTHER WORDS,
A PERSON OF THE LAND IS KILLING ADVENTURERS.
OUR NEGLIGENCE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN, YOUR MAJESTY.
YOU HAVE MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES.
(EXHALE)
WELL THEN,
CAN THE KUNIE TRIBE DEVISE A METHOD OF FIXING THIS?
FIND A WAY OF MAKING THIS RIGHT?
FOR THAT I APOLOGIZE AS WELL. I DON'T THINK WE CAN.
HOWEVER, WE CAN DEPRIVE THE ARMOR OF ITS POWER
BY SHUTTING OFF THE MAGIC TO THE CITY'S CIRCLE.
OF COURSE, THIS WOULD ALSO
NEUTRALIZE THE CITY'S OTHER MAGICAL DEFENSES.
THERE WOULD BE NOTHING STOPPING MONSTERS FROM COMING IN.
WELL, IF YOU WERE TO TRY THIS,
COULDN'T YOU JUST RESTORE THE CIRCLE
RIGHT AFTER HE'S ELIMINATED?
I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE, YOUR GRACE.
IT WOULD TAKE DECADES TO RESTORE.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] THIS IS ONE TIME, I WISH I DIDN'T EAVESDROP.
BUT I HEARD ALL OF THAT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER, WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
I NEED YOU TO PROTECT THE PRINCESS WHILE I'M GONE.
[RAYNESHIA] GREAT! THAT'S IT THEN!
THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS!
WHY IN THE WORLD DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN NOW?!
AND WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE ME OF ALL PEOPLE?
IT'S NOT LIKE I KNOW HOW TO SOLVE SOMETHING
THAT'S SO BIG AND OUT OF CONTROL!
WHY DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN WHILE I WAS WORKING HERE?!
I NEED SOMEONE ELSE TO SHOW ME A WAY OUT OF THIS!
PLEASE JUST SOMEBODY HELP ME.
WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
WHY DON'T YOU ASK THE ROUND TABLE FOR HELP?
[RAYNESHIA] SERIOUSLY, IF I TELL THEM WHAT'S GOING ON,
IT WON'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT CREATE A WAR
WITH ALL OF THE ADVENTURERS!
POSSIBLY, BUT KEEPING QUIET DOES NOTHING.
[RAYNESHIA] OKAY, FINE.
YOU REALLY THINK I SHOULD JUST TELL THEM?
[AKATSUKI] IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO TELL YOU EITHER WAY.
[RAYNESHIA] WHY ISN'T THAT IGNORANT FOUR‐EYED MONSTER
HERE WHEN I NEED HIM MOST?!
HE WAS ALWAYS STICKING HIS NOSE IN MY BUSINESS
WHEN I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO.
HE'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE, HE'S ON HIS WAY TO SEVENTH FALL.
[RAYNESHIA] YES, I KNOW HE IS... BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE.
UGH, WAS THAT OUTLOUD? UGH...
NNNGH
(EXHALE)
I DIDN'T MEAN THAT, OKAY?!
AHH!
[AKATSUKI] HUH?
[RAYNESHIA] UUHHH...
[AKATSUKI] HUH?
SO... I GUESS...
I'M SORRY. I WENT AHEAD AND LET MYSELF IN.
OKAY, YOU HEARD ALL THAT.
I DID.
OF COURSE YOU DID.
(PAPER CRINKLING)
UH...
YOU WANT ONE?
IT'S SWEET. I LIKE IT.
(MUFFLED) UH‐HUH. SWEETS ARE GOOD IN TIMES LIKE THIS.
YES, I SUPPOSE THAT'S BECAUSE THE WORLD ISN'T KIND OR SWEET.
UH... NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.
[AKATSUKI] SO HE'S AN NPC?
[RAYNESHIA] YES, HE IS.
I AM REALLY, VERY SORRY ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
OKAY THEN...
HUH?
THIS GUY THAT WE'RE AFTER,
YOU KNOW HIS WHEREABOUTS?
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS,
OR WHY HE DECIDED TO STEAL IT.
I HAVE A FEELING... HE'S DOWN IN THE SEWERS.
HUH?
IF HE'S GOING TO LOSE HIS POWERS OUTSIDE THE CITY,
THEN HE'S ONLY GOT A FEW PLACES TO HIDE
AND THAT'S THE MOST LIKELY.
HE CAN'T BRING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO HIMSELF,
AND HE NEEDS TO BE EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE AT THE SAME TIME.
[RAYNESHIA] SO THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CATCH HIM RIGHT AWAY
IF WE GO AFTER HIM?!
NO, THE ROYAL GUARD CAN USE TELEPORTATION MAGIC.
IF WE SURROUND HIM, HE CAN DISAPPEAR.
YES, OF COURSE...
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] HER SHOULDERS ARE SO SLIM.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW HARD IT IS.
TO BE SO DELICATE AND HAVE SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY
IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME.
[AKATSUKI] IT'S BAD, HUH?
[RAYNESHIA] YES IT REALLY IT.
[AKATSUKI] THEN I'LL GET HIM.
[RAYNESHIA] WHAT?
YOU DO YOUR BEST TO FIND A WAY.
AND I WILL AS WELL. I PROMISE YOU.
HUH?
[SHIROE] SWITCH TANKS GUYS! NAOTSUGU, RILE HIM UP!
THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS!
HEY, STUPID! I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOUR ASS!
[KAWARA/ISAMI] HAAHHHHH!
[NERURESU] HEHE
[KAWARA/ISAMI] WAAAUUUGHHH!
(GROANS)
(GRUNT)
(LAUGHTER)
(STRUGGLED EFFORT)
(GROWL)
(GASP)
UH! (GASP)
MASTER SOJIRO!
GET BACK, ISAMI!
C'MON, DON'T FADE ON ME!
WHAT IS THIS?! I DON'T GET IT!
WE LANDED A BUNCH OF HITS ON HIM AND HE DIDN'T LOSE ANY HP!
[KAWARA] SOMETHING'S WEIRD WITH HIS STATUS BAR, TOO!
[OLIVE] I KNOW, AND WE'VE BEEN OUT HERE FIGHTING
FOR A LONG TIME WITH NO SIGN OF THE ROYAL GUARD!
IF MASTER SOJIRO DIDN'T SHOW UP WE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT.
WE'VE GOTTA HELP HIM OUT!
YOU CAN'T... THE ALLEY IS TOO NARROW,
ALL YOU'D DO IS GET IN HIS WAY.
[NAZNA] JUST LET HIM HANDLE THIS.
(GRUNT, LAUGHTER)
[OLIVE] YEAH, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
(ROAR)
[NERURESU] HEHE.
IS HE REALLY A SAMURAI?
HE SEEMS DIFFERENT THAN MASTER SOJI.
[NAZNA] DIVINE EYE. [ALL]HUH?
[NAZNA] IT'S SOJI'S ORAL ART.
IT ALLOWS HIM TO SEE THE PATH
HIS OPPONENT IS GOING TO USE TO STRIKE.
BUT EVEN WITH IT, THINGS ARE STILL CLOSE.
HE NORMALLY DODGES ATTACKS LIKE THAT,
BUT NOW IT'S MAKING HIM BLOCK.
SOJIRO...
(YELLING)
[ISAMI] (GASP) MASTER! [KAWARA] MASTER!
[OLIVE] MASTER SOJI!
(GASP)
[NAZNA, THINKING] HE BROKE THROUGH MY BARRIER.
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP HIM
KEEP 20 PERCENT OF HIS HIT‐POINTS!
HE WON'T LAST VERY LONG IF THIS KEEPS UP!
HE MIGHT NEED TO FALL BACK,
BUT HE HAS TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT IT.
OTHERWISE THAT SON OF A BITCH'LL JUST TURN AROUND
AND START TEARING US TO SHREDS.
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE SOJI CAN HOLD HIM BACK ON HIS OWN.
HWUH, UH, AH!
(DISTANT CHATTERING AND BABBLING)
[GIRL] ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TIME. AND THERE'S SNOW!
(DISTANT VOICES OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER)
[GIRL] I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE A SNOW ANGEL
[NAZNA] LOOK OUT!
[AKATSUKI] UH?
(GRUNT)
(SLASHING)
UWAHH!
[SOJIRO] AKATSUKI...
[NAZNA] THIS CHANGES THINGS.
[AKATSUKI] ACCELERATOR FANG!
UWAHHH!
GOOD TO SEE YOU,
YOU CARE TO HELP?
STEALTH BLADE!
WAHHH!
YAH! AH!
[AKATSUKI] RAPID ASSAULT! (GRUNTS)
THAT GIRL! SHE'S INCREDIBLE!
MMM.
(GRUNT)
GUSTING STEP!
[NERURESU] RAAHHHHHHH!
EH!
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] THAT ATTACK WOULD HAVE KILLED ME
IF SOMEONE HADN'T CAST A BARRIER.
HE'S STRONG!
AND I'VE SEEN THAT SWORD BEFORE.
RUN FOR IT!
I DON'T THINK SO.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] NGH? WHAT?
WHY SHOULD I?
GETTING A WIN AND SOLVING THE PROBLEM AREN'T THE SAME.
[SOJIRO] MM‐HM.
[NERURESU] HAHHHHHHH!
ASSASSINATION!
(INHALE, LAUGH)
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] AT LEAST FOR NOW,
THAT'S THE STRONGEST ATTACK I HAVE.
[AKATSUKI] SOJIRO, YOU NEED TO GO!
[SOJIRO] YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
(SHARP INHALE)
NAZNA, GET BACK!
ROGER!
WE'LL REGROUP AT THE HALL! SEE YOU THERE!
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] HE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR HIS GUILD‐MATES?
EVEN WHILE HE WAS FIGHTING?
HE WAS KEEPING THE KILLER DISTRACTED,
JUST SO HIS FRIENDS COULD GET AWAY.
[BOTH] HAHHHHH!
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] HE KNOWS HE CAN'T WIN,
BUT HE'S DOING IT FOR HIS FRIENDS.
[SOJIRO] SEEING AS IT'S CHRISTMAS,
I THINK IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT I GIVE YOU A LITTLE GIFT.
AKATSUKI, I WANT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
EH...
NOW OF COURSE, SOME OF THESE TIPS
AREN'T GONNA BE THAT HELPFUL TO YOU.
SWORD OF VOWS!
(BATTLE GRUNTS AND SWORD CLASHING)
EHEHAHAHA! UWAH!
UWAH!
[SOJIRO] WATCH CAREFULLY, AND LISTEN TO ME!
YOU MUST MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE OF CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT.
AND NEVER FOR A MOMENT DISCOUNT TRAINING YOU'VE RECEIVED!
EHEAHAHAHA!
(GASP)
AKATSUKI, I KNOW IT'S NOT MUCH
AND I WISH I COULD FIND A BETTER WAY TO EXPLAIN IT.
BUT THAT'S ALL THERE REALLY IS TO THE ORAL ARTS!
[AKATSUKI] WE'RE NOT DONE!
[NERURESU] EHEH, HEHAHAHA...
[AKATSUKI] I DON'T, I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING!
BUT I, I FEEL LIKE I'M SO CLOSE!
(SCREAMING AND STRAINING)
[NAOTSUGU] THIS CAN'T BE REAL! IT CAN'T!
[SHIROE] AHHHHHHH! UWAAAA!
[NAOTSUGU] SHIROE!
[BOTH] WAHHHHHHHHHH!
(SHAKY BREATH)
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S
A TRADITIONAL ADVENTURER GREETING FOR TODAY.
MERRY CHRISTMAS. (LAUGHING)
[AKATSUKI] MY LORD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, RIGHT NOW?
(STRUGGLED BREATH)
I REALLY NEED TO SEE YOU...
MY LORD...
[AKATSUKI, VOICEOVER] A WALK THROUGH AN IMAGINARY CITY.
A PLACE WHERE SHE SEES A REFLECTION OF HER OWN REGRETS
AND THE SCARS IN HER HEART.
RUNNING IN A STATE OF CONFUSION,
SHE FINDS HERSELF ON A DISTANT SHORE.
WHILE SHE'S THERE, SHE FINDS A WARM AND FAMILIAR FACE.
REUNITED IN THE WORLD OF DEATH,
THEY FIND COMFORT IN ONE ANOTHER.
[SHIROE] STAND UP, ONE MORE TIME!