Ultima: Exodus (Ultima: The Terror of Exodus) manga translation second version of translation, updated May 15, 2014 story and art by Seiji Tanaka NOTES (Proceed to the line of asterisks to skip directly to the manga translation itself.) Ah, where to start. This is a translation of the Ultima: Exodus manga - a Japanese comic adaptation (very loose adaptation) of the Ultima III story entitled Ultima: The Terror of Exodus, in which three humans and one robot (original creations of the artist/author) battle the machinations of the eponymous Exodus. Mondain and Minax come along for the ride. Anyhow, on to basic character introductions. The manga's four main heroes: Genji: Main lead; hotshot space pilot specializing in rescue missions from a galaxy far away from Sosaria. (The manga later says he's from the "Earth Zone", and he travels as a child to the "asteroid belt" - could it be safe to assume that he's stationed in the asteroids between Mars and Jupiter?) Of average height and unremarkable appearance; has short black hair. His usual outfit consists of a leather-ish jacket, shirt & pants, boots, and a long bandana tied around his forehead. (He's only shown in the black and white panels, so I can't tell colors, but I'd guess his jacket, bandana, and pants are white (or some light color) and his shirt is red.) (Note: His name is probably taken from the princely hero of the _The Tale of Genji_, the Japanese work considered to be the world's first novel. Naming a hero "Genji" in this circumstance would be the equivalent of naming a legendary sword "Excalibur.") Aida: Daughter of the head researcher of the Lycaeum. A mage, but her powers are more psychic/empathic than typically "magical" and are never used to fight (at least not directly). Aida has slightly-past-shoulder- length blonde hair; her normal outfit is a short white sleeveless dress with a lilac cape, a gold belt, hairband, and epaulets, and white boots. (Note: Her name could be "Ida" (that's how it's pronounced), but I've chosen to translate it as "Aida", simply because it's valid and looks better to me. Also, "ai da" in Japanese could be translated as "it's love", which is rather frivolous and probably a coincidence, but...) Lennon (yes, "Lennon"): A bardic type (what do you expect from a character with such a name?) who is always at Aida's side and concerned with her safety (but not in love with her). We never learn what exactly Lennon is in relation to Aida, but he has a vested interest in her protection and perhaps is some sort of personal guard, servant to the family, or student of her father, Lord Sattava. (Also, note: Lennon calls Aida "Aida-sama" in Japanese, "-sama" being an honorific suffix used like "-san" toward people who are significantly above one's social status or whom one greatly respects. I've translated this as "Lady Aida"; please note that this term is applied due to the above reasons and not because Aida is any sort of royalty (at least not to my knowledge).) Lennon has shoulder-length silver hair in the typical bardic/Prince Valiant-ish cut and wears a green sleeveless top, white pants, and leather boots. Bigelow: A robot (an ancient robot, apparently) that makes the trip with Genji into Sosaria. Bigelow takes a while to get fully operational, but he has a remarkably human, unrobotic personality - he acts in many ways as the sage of the group. He's a massive machine, and the group can climb on his shoulders if they need to get somewhere in a jiffy. Bigelow has a rather hulking torso with long legs, composed of oblong and rectangular but slightly rounded parts, with an oblong head with one laser eye. (I think he's blue, or brown maybe...) Miscellaneous info: The first eight pages of the manga are printed in color; the rest are in black and white. (Manga usually have a tiny color section (of either the start of the story or supplementary illustrations) preceding the main, black-and-white work.) The back cover has Runic writing on it; the very back has "The Book of Mystic Wisdom" in the center, with "Being a compendium of the processes and effects of combining human will and natural forces as discovered and recorded by the greatest sorceror since the beginning of time. [ankh]" Find my character descriptions lacking? Want to see pics of the cast or samples of the artist's artwork? Then stop by the Pic Page section of http://www.sceneryrecalled.com/trans/trans.htm . (Yes, that is my page. Why do you ask?) Would I recommend the manga? Um. The artwork, despite some gorgeous full- color panels at the front that really showcase the artist at his best (and make it obvious that compositions employing color, not black-and-white art, are his real strong point), is definitely not near the top of the scale as far as manga are concerned. The characters endeared themselves to me after a while, though I initially found both them and the plot uninspiring, and the story does have a few jewels of scenes, such as those dealing with Genji's gradual fascination with the abundant plant and animal life of Sosaria in contrast to his own dead world and the complications that arise from it. It _is_ unavoidably, though, a very strange take on the story of Utmina: Exodus, and it is extraordinarily gory. It is also as of this writing printed over a decade ago, making it a hassle to find. And speaking of which - The Ultima: The Terror of Exodus manga is published by JICC Publishing, under the Takarajima Comics imprint. Or _was_ published, rather - the manga was originally published in 1988, and my fifth-printing copy was published in 1989, so you just ain't gonna be able to order this new. A finder's service that tracks down out-of-print Japanese manga, artbooks, CDs, etc. would be your best bet (or a deputy bidding service for Yahoo Japan auctions, but that's a whole involved process too long to explain here). You'll need to supply the name of the author/artist (Seiji Tanaka) and publisher (JICC), original Japanese title (Urutima: Ekusodasu no Kyoufu), and the ISBN # - 4-88063-434-4. (The original price was 880 yen, if you're asked that.) Mandatory format notes: Descriptions of the action have been included so that those without the manga can follow along with the story. Line breaks within a character's dialogue indicates that the dialogue has gone on to a new voice (or thought) balloon. Lines within parentheses are spoken sotto voce; anything within brackets is my own commentary or description of the ongoing action. I've tried to translate this manga so that the text is both faithful as possible to the Japanese original and natural-sounding in English, but there are a few cases where it's just impossible to completely tend to both priorities due to the nature of the Japanese language, and the line thus comes out sounding a tad stilted. Please forgive these momentary blips for the sake of accuracy. Also, a word of warning - I am (of course) an Ultima fan but not an expert by any means. I believe it's all good here, but if I slip a bit, might I beg a bit of leeway from those more learned than I? ^_^ (In some cases, though, this matter is irrelevant, as the items and locales in the manga often bear little resemblance to their namesakes in the games...) Disclaimer: The Ultima: Exodus manga is property of JICC Publishing, Takarajima Comics, and Seiji Tanaka. The Ultima games and all related official works are property of, naturally, Richard Garriott and Origin; this document isn't affiliated with any of the above parties. Translation by R. Capowski at RACapowski@sceneryrecalled.com; overhauled on May 15, 2014. *************************************************************************** Title Page: ULTIMA Ultima: The Terror of Exodus ULTIMA EXODUS Seiji Tanaka Original Plan: L. British Prologue Page: any time, any place pg. 1 [It's a beautiful, clear day under a brilliant, sunny sky. Lovely maidens in flowing dresses carrying baskets of pink roses merrily make their way through a bustling marketplace. But, faraway...] SFX: ::throb throb:: [...we see a violent flare, a heartbeat of fire amidst darkness - but it is apparently far removed from the happy celebration.] Female Baker: Ahh...from Castle Britannia, aren't they...... Old Man: Speaking of which, it's already only a day away - the 200th anniversary of the kingdom of Britannia! pg. 2 [To said Castle Britannia. Three nobles are leaving a meeting with the aged Lord British in his throne room.] pg. 3 Noble: .........The king seems in ill humor, despite tomorrow's national celebration... Noble: It seems as if he's had a premonition-- Noble: But of what? What does His Lordship fear? [Again, we see the gathering fire, the heartbeat...] SFX: ::THROB THROB:: pg. 4 [Night in an ancient city. In a tower, a young girl with past-shoulder- length blonde hair wearing a long white sleeveless Roman-type dress with a lilac cape and golden belt and bracelets holds a sextant and gazes worriedly toward the night sky. A slightly older bardic-type with shoulder-length silver hair in the typical bardic/Prince Valiant-ish cut wearing a green sleeveless top, white pants, and leather boots kneels beside her.] Girl: _This_-- How strange...how can this _be?_ [We see her comments are addressed to a wiry, aged man with shoulder-length white hair on his balding head and an Indian bindi on his forehead wearing purple robes, who has just entered the (open-ceilinged) room (an observatory, apparently).] Old Man: You've sensed it, Aida? Girl/Aida: Master Sattava! The moons... Why are the moons moving in such a way... There's nothing like it in the Lycaeum's observation records! Sattava: The chief of mages has been reporting on the matter. Apparently, in the past several days, there has manifested upon this planet of Sosaria a power unprecedented in its history. Aida (shocked): That means... _!_ _Impossible!! A power strong enough to move the moons!?_ [The fire yet again flares...] SFX: ::THROB THROB:: pg. 5 [The threesome departs for another part of the building, where Sattava opens a moongate.] Sattava: Aida. By the will of the Lycaeum, you shall go to the royal city using this moongate - and you shall tell King British of this ill omen!...... Aida: Master! The moongates are portals controlled by the moons! _To use them now, when the moons are moving so aberrantly, would be dangerous!_ Sattava: The urgency of the circumstances necessitates it. We have no other option but to use them...... [Sattava, concentrating on addressing Aida, does not notice the odd light - or something - materializing in the space where the moongate should open behind him. But Aida and her companion do...] Aida: _!!_ Young Man: Master Sattava! The gate... [Sattava looks behind him in horror. The violent light grows into the murderous fires that have been gathering throughout the narrative...] SFX: ::THROB THROB:: [...exploding into a thrashing horde of dragon- and serpent-like monsters.] pgs. 6-7 [A horrifying panorama unfolds across Sosaria. Power electrifies and crackles between the two moons in a dark, violent sky. Explosions break out across the land, and floods sweep the plains.] pg. 8 [Britain's villagers react with predictable horror...] Villager: _The moons......_ Villager: _What is... Trammel and Felucca!?_ [The mountains break apart. The people flee in terror...] Villager: _The King! Where is Lord British?_ Villager: _How can this be?! On our day of celebration...!_ [...from a newly-materialized veritable river of monsters.] pg. 9 [We now shift to an expanse of (calm, non-exploding) space...] Voice: ...... Come. Come! [We see an indistinct figure, the silhouette of a nude woman, arm outstretched toward the viewer.] Voice: Genji...... Your power is needed! Funny-Lookin' Guy Appearing Abruptly in Frame in Extreme Close-up: _I KNEW IT!!_ _YOU _DID_ SAY SOMETHING, DIDN'T YOU!?_ pg. 10 SFX: ::BEEEEEEP BEEEEEEP:: [A red alarm sounds on a wall - said Extreme Close-up guy's wall. We see the fellow is apparently a space cadet/pilot, just awakened from the previous dream in his bunk.] Voice from Speaker: Rescue request from construction squad R12! Genji-21! Condition Yellow! Report to mining district 024 immediately! Guy/Genji (waking up, sleepily holding head): Tuh-- Speaker: Immediately! Genji: These things never happen at a good time. [Genji looks in the mirror; he (and we) see a glowing circular Chinese- dragon insignia on his forehead. (Genji does not appear to be surprised by it, though.)] Genji (thinking): And I thought for sure I'd see her face this time. [We see that Genji is on board a giant space destroyer.] SFX of ships in space: ::WHHHHRRRRR:: [Genji ties a bandana around his forehead, concealing the insignia, and walks down the hallway.] pg. 11 SFX of ships: ::WHHHHHRRRRR:: [The destroyer flies through a small asteroid field, heading for the largest-by-far one in the belt. Genji, rather startled, gets in his fighter ship. He receives a visual transmission on a small monitor in the ship's console.] Guy at Other End of Transmission: Get a grip, Genji! Got a date with your dream princess yet? Genji (smiling): Gimme a break! Thaaank you kindly for the directions... _I'm off!_ [Genji's ship does indeed blast off...] SFX: ::BAWHOOOOOOSHHH:: pg. 12 [Genji's ship flies through space.] GAOEOT: To tell you the truth, this isn't just another accident. We wouldn't've gone to the trouble of calling out a grade-A pilot like yourself just for show. Genji: Heh... Hey, I appreciate your generous estimation of my talents! GAOEOT: The party that sent out that Mayday was actually a team of archaeologists! Genji: _Scholars!?_ _In an asteroid mine?_ GAOEOT: You've heard the stories about the asteroid field being the remains of a planet, right? They're saying they're found...evidence there. Genji (wide-eyed): What...? _Uh!_ [Genji gets a sharp pain (possibly accompanied by a bright light - or those could be just action lines) in the center of his forehead, where his dragon mark is.] GAOEOT: ...What's wrong? Genji (rubbing head, perplexed): Forget it... it's nothing. pg. 13 [Genji arrives at the target asteroid, many pod-modules similar to his own speeding in and out of a crevasse in its surface.] Voice over Radio: B17 evacuation completed! Hurry, B18! Another Voice over Radio: Forget the machinery! It doesn't matter! Just rescue the personnel! Yet Voice over Radio: _It's collapsing!_ Voice #4: _What!?_ But isn't the old man still in the first cave!? Voice over Radio: B6 all clear! Genji (the pilot of B7, as indicated by the number on his helmet): I'll go get the old man in the cave! VoR: We'll leave it to you, Genji. VoR: There's no time! Hurry! VoR: Aaah!-- SFX of rockets of nearby pod: ::FWOOSH:: [We see that many of the voices over the radio are coming from a large control center nearby.] Control Center Guy: But the asteroid's collapsing as we speak! Another Control Center Guy: What the... Gravity in the asteroid's core is abnormal! It's just like... Yet A--oh, forget it - CCG: ...Just like a black hole's starting to form inside... pg. 14 [Genji's capsule speeds through the tunnels.] SFX of ship: ::WHOOSHHHH:: ::VRRRRRMMMMM:: [The ship is almost overcome by exploding wreckage...] SFX: ::BA-WHOOOSHHH:: ::BANG:: ::BANG BANG BANG:: ::WHOOOSHHH:: [...but Genji manages to right his ship...] Genji: Man, this is bad. I need to use my reverse thrusters-- SFX: ::BANG BA-BANG BANG:: pg. 15 [Genji finds the lost archaeologist. He seizes control enough of his ship to be able to go outside to venture a rescue using a lifeline and reaches his hand out to the old man...] Genji: Foolish old man! Are you trying to get yourself killed!? Old Man: I can't just leave this recording cube here! This is the greatest discovery of this century! Genji (hand still outstretched): Shut up and get on board, quick! Your propulsion's not gonna get you outta here! [Genji manages to get the archaeologist in his capsule...] Genji: Go, _Shooting Star_! [...unfortunately, though, Genji does not heed his own advice to "get on board, quick" and issues the command to the _Shooting Star_ too soon - i.e., before he himself is on the capsule. The small but powerful ship closes its hatch...] SFX: ::KA-SHUMP:: Genji: _AHH!_ pg. 16 SFX: ::VROOOOOOOOOOOM:: [Genji loses his grip on the capsule from the force of the thrust; it blasts away, leaving him in the collapsing asteroid.] Genji: _GAH--_ [Genji begins to plunge into nothingness...] Genji: Am I done for? [But, as Genji passes through the tunnels...] Genji: Am I gonna die here? _!?_ _WHAT'S..._ [...he notices a huge carved image in the walls of the caverns - a warrior with a dragon's head?] pg. 17 [We see that the walls of the tunnels through which Genji is traveling have become intricately carved with statues and patterns.] SFX: ::BRRROOOOAAAARRRR:: Genji: _Uh--_ [Genji suddenly grasps his forehead - his dragon symbol has begun to shine/burn again, much more intensely than before. Genji grits his teeth in pain.] Genji: _AAAAHHH--_ SFX: ::RRRROOOOOAAARRRR:: [We and he see the end of the tunnel, which terminates not in a black hole, but in a giant Codex symbol.] pg. 18 [The Codex symbol crumbles and, simultaneously, lights up as Genji nears it.] Genji: _AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--__ SFX of light: ::FWOOSH:: [His dragon-crest shines fiercely...] SFX of crest illuminating: ::POP:: [...and Genji's face (rather grotesquely...) contorts in pain. He screams, and the symbol dissipates into transparency, revealing a sort of other plane beyond it.] SFX of light beyond: ::CRACKLE:: [Genji falls through, and the whole scene explodes in light.] pg. 19 [Outside, the asteroid begins to tear apart completely.] CCG: WHAA-- CCG: The abnormal gravity has reached its peak! [The asteroid completely implodes...] Pilot: _Holy_... Pilot: Genji... [...and completely disappears.] CCG: It's gone! CCG: Total mass is zero! CCG: An implosion!? _But what about him!?_ pg. 20 [Scene switch - to a clash of a daggers and an outside (rather grotesque) close-up of an orc's face. We see that the young man with Aida from the previous scene is battling the orc -] SFX of swords clashing: ::SCREE:: SFX of orc: ::ROARRRR:: [and with a deft but improbable single sweep of the dagger -] SFX: ::SLASH:: [slices the orc's head and hands clean off.] pg. 21 Aida (cowering, looking at the orc's severed head): An orc, isn't it? To think that it could be prowling about this close to Castle Britannia... SFX of orc's still-moving fingers: ::twitch twitch:: SFX of man putting his cloak back on: ::WHAP:: Still as-of-yet Not Officially-Named Young Man: There are moongates in Castle Britannia, too... So, possibly... Aida (turning away): _Stop it, Lennon!_ [Flashback to shortly after the moongate invasion they both witnessed...] SFX of magical power through portal: ::roar...:: ::ROOOAAAAARRRRRR:: [Sattava using his magical powers to hold the monsters at bay. Aida tries to rush forth to help him, but Lennon holds her back.] Aida: _Lord Sattava!_ Lennon: _You can't, Lady Aida!_ pg. 22 SFX of Sattava casting protection spell: ::POFF:: SFX of barely-contained energy exploding from gate: ::BANG!!:: Sattava: _You can't use the gate!_ _Head by land to the royal city..._ _I'll close this gate!_ Aida: Lord Sattava... Sattava: _I'm leaving Aida in your care, Lennon!_ _Hurry, Aida!_ [Lennon begins to pull her away. Aida is resistant.] Aida: Sattava! Fa... _FATHER!!_ pg. 23 [Lennon leading a crying Aida away from the city; the observatory tower Sattava was in explodes.] SFX: ::KABOOOOOOM:: [Sattava lies dying (at least before the tower blows up - or perhaps we're seeing his spirit?)...] Sattava (in thought): I leave this in your hands, Aida... my child - whom I could not call "daughter" for the sacred mark you bear... [We return to a distressed, silent Aida.] Sattava (in thought): Father... No - my master... Please watch over Aida as she fights on as the embodiment of the spirit of the Lycaeum...... Lennon (off-panel): _LADY AIDA!!_ pg. 24 [Aida (who, BTW, is wearing a slightly shorter dress than she was before - when did she change?) walks to the top of the hill to which Lennon has called her, where she sees a panorama of monsters, beasts, and demons battling Britannian soldiers.] Aida: That's the Serpent Knight Brigade! [That's what they call in it the manga.] Lennon: Did they move north to defend the royal city? [Looking out, the duo discovers...] pg. 25 SFX: ::ROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR:: [A full-page scene of soldiers streaming from Lord British's castle, battling an unending line of demons...] pg. 26 Aida (recognizing): That's... [Lightning begins to course across the sky above the castle.] Aida: A fierce and dreadful power is gathering. Waves of power from Lord British... Lennon: Then the king is safe... Aida (anxious): But he can't! To use such power would mean his life! [Suddenly...] SFX: ::SKRREEEE:: Aida: !? pg. 27 [...a large squad of monsters, led by a balron riding a ferocious beast, heads right for Aida & Lennon.] SFX of footsteps: ::THUD THUD THUD:: [One of the monsters seizes Aida as they storm by...] Aida: _EEEEEEEEEEEEK--!!_ Lennon: _LADY AIDA!!_ [But Lennon is trampled aside by the rampaging army.] Balron: A human? ...A girl mage, I see! She'll serve me well tonight. [On that more-than-unsavory note, the squad marches away. Lennon runs to catch them, but is blocked by several monsters.] Lennon: _OUT OF MY WAY--!!_ _LADY AIDA!!_ _Dammit--how stupid of me!..._ [Meanwhile, Lord British's army marches on...] SFX: ::TROMP TROMP TROMP TROMP:: pg. 28 [Within the castle walls...] Noble: What is happening...... Noble: The physiography of Britannia...no, of the entire _planet_ is changing!! [The nobles look down through the open-air arches at the soldiers marching off to battle.] Noble: Nary a whisper from them in over twenty years, and all of a sudden the demon race has regrouped. Voice: Yes. This is a reenactment of the events of twenty years ago. [The mob of nobles turn...] Nobles: _!?_ [...to see the owner of the voice -] Noble: Elder! [- a short, bobbitish old man dressed in sage's robes with a fleshy, pock- marked face and balding head.] Elder: I stand by my words. There was once one who wielded a power great enough to gather the demons and forge them into an army... Noble (aghast): You mean... Elder: I believe your lordships may be faintly aware of it as well, but... perhaps you find it dreadful to give it voice? pg. 29 Elder: The warlock Mondain...to speak his name? [The nobles, panicking, confer.] Noble: Impossible. He couldn't cause the aberrant behavior of the moons... To disturb the fabric of space-time is the domain of...... Elder: Yes. Mondain's pupil, the disruptor of space-time... Noble: The witch Minax!? pg. 30 Head Noble (at least the head of the mob right now): NONSENSE!! UTTER NONSENSE!! _Mondain and Minax have both been vanquished!!_ _Ancient history from Sosaria's Ages of Darkness long past!_ [This head noble (who was also present at the initial meeting with Lord British at the very start of the manga) - angrily accosts the old man, grabbing him by his collar.] Head Noble: Are you saying they've been _resurrected?_... Elder: Even if it is NOT them, we face a crisis as great as the one which they posed! The king. He is in the forbidden tower as we speak, casting the magic of Descent. There is your proof. [The nobles are shocked. Cut to the great Codex symbol-inscribed doors of the forbidden tower...] pg. 31 [Lord British stands within the room beyond the doors in the center of a giant Codex symbol. He chants a spell...] Lord British (words in Runic): THE BOOK MYSTIC _WISDOM..._ [No, there's no "of". A giant light emanates from the symbol and king, illuminating as far as the battlefield.] pg. 32 [The knights and soldiers frantically holding off the monsters, however, do not notice...] Soldier: DAMMIT-- Soldier: _What's going on!? They're marching in perfect formation..._ Captain: _We're getting torn to pieces! Retreat!_ If we don't reform the lines... _!?_ [The knight suddenly notices Lennon besieged by demons. The fatigued Lennon is having a bit of a tough time fighting the monsters off and braces for a big hit -] SFX of sword: ::SWOOSH--:: Lennon: UWAA-- [- which never comes -] SFX: ::THWACK:: Lennon: ? [as the soldiers slay the demons assaulting him. The captain grabs the fallen Lennon by his collar.] Captain (angrily): What're you _doing_ here, bard!? _Fool_... All banged up, aren't you? Pure recklessness... pg. 33 [Against his will, the soldiers drag Lennon away.] Lennon: Please, let me go! I...... _Lady Aida!_ Captain: _RETREAT!_ _FALL BACK TO THE INNER WALLS!!_ [The (human) armies retreat.] SFX of retreating army: ::STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP:: Balron: _ATTACK!!_ Lord British's castle hangs by a thread... [Meanwhile...] Aida: _STOP!_ _LET ME GO!_ Balron: Keep quiet! There's nothing holding me back from gobbling you up right now. [Suddenly, Aida notices a shining light near below her shoulder blade - the same sort of shining that Genji experiences through the mark on his forehead before getting sucked into the tunnel.] Aida: !! pg. 34 [Suddenly (I'm using that word a lot lately, aren't I?), all the soldiers on both sides look up as clouds gather above Lord British's castle and a giant rush of power is heard...] SFX: ::VOOM:: Captain: _What--!?_ Castle British... Balron: Geh? [Blinding lightning strikes...] SFX: ::CRACKLE:: Noble: UWAA-- Noble: That's-- Aida (thinking): The king... did he unleash his life force? pg. 35 [A giant bolt of lightning rushes forth from Lord British, rushing up into and throughout the sky. A great light yet again illuminates the battlefield; a patch of darkness settles on a small group of monsters - who scream as they are scattered and rent by a giant explosion...] SFX: ::BOOM:: Monsters: GEH-- GRAAAAH-- pg. 36 Soldier: Oh-- Soldier: The sky-- Soldier: _LOOOK!!_ SFX: ::CRAAAAACK:: [A giant exploding column of light, dust, and air extends from the ground to the gathered dark clouds above - and then...something...comes through the giant, gaping hole formed...] pg. 37 [A huge assembly of boulders and rocks, which fall and (graphically) crush a good part of the demon army.] SFX of rocks: ::SMASH CRASH SMASH THUD:: ::SMASH CRASH BANG:: Dying monster: GHIII-- Balron: _What is this!?_ pg. 38 [The cloud-dust-air column continues to billow...until it abruptly clears, and the breach in the clouds mends.] SFX: ::WHOOOOM:: Noble: Ohh! That's... Noble: Make no mistake - that's His Majesty's work! pg. 39 [On the ground, the dust clears...] SFX: ::clatter:: [...and out staggers a stunned Genji, holding his head.] SFX of Genji's helmet being thrown on the ground: ::THUD:: Genji: ......*ack*-- [The dragon mark on Genji's head shines.] Genji: This ain't no headache. My forehead's burning... [Genji takes off his machinery-backpack and begins to walk...] Genji: Gravity...I can breathe... Have I been rescued? This is... _!?_ [Out of the corner of his eye, Genji spots a pair of eyes advancing toward him...] pg. 40 [And then, to his amazement and horror...] SFX: ::ROOOOAAAAAARRRRRR:: [...sees a horde of monsters right in front of him.] Genji: _Uwa--_ [Genji reaches for his blaster...] Genji: _What's..._ pg. 41 [Genji fires, completely incinerating one attacking monster.] SFX of phaser: ::BLAM:: [The next, however...] Genji: _Wh--_ [...cleaves the weapon's barrel in half with its sword.] Genji: _What..._ [Genji fires for the last time his broken blaster, which destroys his attacker but blows up itself as well.] Genji: _What is this place!?_ SFX of blaster: ::POW:: pg. 42 [Desperate for a weapon, Genji dispenses with the shattered gun and lunges for a sword interred in a corpse on the battlefield.] Demon: The heaven-sent warrior who fell from the sky! Demon: The warrior British summoned here! Demon: King British's warrior...? Genji: The _hell's_ all this--!?! [Genji seizes the sword and slashes off the talons of a nearby monster reaching for him.] SFX of sword or maybe monster: ::SKREE--:: Genji: Get the hell away from me - _monsters!_ I'm... _I'm not anyone's "servant"!_ pg. 43 [The balron reaches for Genji, slashing his sword in two with his claws.] SFX of broken sword: ::CLANG:: SFX of balron's claws sinking into rock behind Genji: ::THUD:: [Genji is backed up against one of the boulders that fell from the sky earlier; he reaches for a trident (somehow) stuck in the rockface.] Genji: Ugh--_dammit!_ [Just then, Genji notices Aida, still tucked under the balron's arm. Aida, in turn, notices the dragon mark on his forehead.] Genji (weary): Heh heh... It's a relief to see a human face... Balron: Then I have no regrets! In finishing you off... [Suddenly, the demon army is startled...] Demons: GEH? pg. 44 Genji: Eh...? SFX: ::VOOOOOOOM:: [Genji suddenly realizes what the monsters are so aghast at - that the rock against which he is leaning is actually in the shape of a humanoid form - a _giant_ humanoid form - and appears to be shaking...] SFX of rock: ::SKREEEEEEEE--:: Genji: ...Huh!? [Genji flees as the rock shatters...] Genji: _WAAAAH--!!_ pg. 45 SFX of rock exploding: ::BOOM:: [...to reveal a giant armored robot - with Genji's dragon seal emblazoned on a circular part of its lower chest.] pg. 46 SFX of robot's foot: ::STOMP:: [The robot surveys the situation with its single electronic eye...] SFX of robot: ::VOOOOOOOOOMMMMM--:: Balron: ...... [The balron is so shocked he drops (an also stunned) Aida.] SFX of robot: ::--MMMM...:: Aida: ......Wha? Demon: ANOTHER OF BRITISH'S WARRIORS!! Demon: _GET 'EM!!_ pg. 47 [The demons rush for the robot, completely forgetting Genji, who is nearly trampled in the panic. Aida tries to shield herself with her arms...] SFX of robot powering up: ::SKREEEEEE--:: Aida: _NO--!_ [The robot's armor opens:] SFX: ::FWAP:: [...revealing a ridiculous multitude of missiles packed all over every inch of its body. (Have you ever seen the Godzilla parody episode of The Powerpuff Girls? The robot here looks like the fully-armed Powerpuff giant robot in that program.)] pg. 48 [The robot fires is quadrillion missiles...] SFX of quadrillion missiles: ::KAPOW KAPOW KAPOW KAPOW KAPOW:: ::BOOOOOOM:: [...then, shells spent, discards its armor...] SFX of armor falling off: ::CRACK:: [to reveal its true form - a rather hulking torso with long legs, composed of oblong and rectangular but slightly rounded parts, with an oblong head with one laser eye and the aforementioned dragon seal remaining on its lower torso/"stomach". Genji takes the opportunity to make a break for it...] SFX: ::dash:: [...and runs through the crowd to reach Aida...] pg. 49 SFX: ::fwapfwapfwapswooshswooshswoosh:: Genji (grabbing Aida): Get down! [Genji grabs Aida and throws both her and himself into a nearby ditch. The two brace as the missiles soar over them decimating the demons and creating massive explosions.] SFX: ::BOOM BOOM BOOM:: pg. 50 [Meanwhile, the knights and soldiers return to the castle.] Noble: What happened, knight captain!? Noble: The orcs... Captain: Yes... I think the attack from the sky hit them rather hard... Until the smoke down there clears-- _WAAA--_ [An intense flash of light from the battlefield blinds everyone on the parapets...] Soldiers: _OH--_ [The residents of the castle watch the giant explosion down below.] SFX: ::KA-BOOOOOM:: pg. 51 [The explosion grows...] SFX: ::KABLAM:: ::RUMMMMBBBBLE:: Head Noble: That's... Soldier (pointing out to battlefield): UWAA-- Look at that-- Captain: _What is it!?_ pg. 52 Soldiers: _OOOHHHHHHH..._ [The soldiers watch in terror as a giant figure advances toward them from the smoke...the robot.] SFX of robot footsteps: ::STOMP:: ::STOMP STOMP:: Soldier: _What!?_ _What is that?_ Soldier: Is that one of the monsters too? _Wait! Behind it..._ [...emerge Genji and Aida.] pg. 53 Soldier: _That's--_ Soldier: She's definitely from the Lycaeum... Lennon (suddenly appearing, whapping soldiers out of way): _Lady Aida! You're safe..._ Aida (to Genji): _Please, sheathe your sword!_ Genji (under his breath): (Morons - jumping the damn gun...) SFX of soldiers sheathing their sword: ::clatter:: [The soldiers stay put as Lennon walks out to the trio...] pg. 54 Lennon (extending his arm toward Genji): You are unharmed? ......Who is this man... [Genji glares at Lennon. Aida notices.] Genji (thinking): (Heh. Don't like your tone, buddy.) Aida: The answer to Lord British's prayers... The one who arrived heaven-sent from another world...... [Aida puts one hand on Lennon, another on Genji, and looks at the robot...] Aida: And here we have another friend... albeit in an unfamiliar form... He, too, is one of the summoned dragon warriors... pg. 55 [Meanwhile, the balron flies through a canyonland inhabited by many other demons.] Balron: ...... Lord of our alliance... King of the Dark World, master of the gloom... [The balron alights on a small, high, steep mesa to address...] SFX of balron's wings: ::FLAP:: pg. 56 [...well, that's hard to describe. It's the manga's incarnation of Exodus Castle, but it's outright bizarre. The base is formed of what looks like a cross between a giant Easter Island head and a grinning robot face with its fists resting atop two squarish vents. A cone of ancient-looking buildings rests atop the face, with a giant four-pronged structure crowning the mountain.] Voice: _I saw it all, balron! What business have you now?_ Balron: I have absolutely no excuse, my Lord. pg. 57 Balron: _We..._ _We almost had the castle in our grasp..._ If only those warriors had not appeared... I beg you - if we were given another... CHANCE-- _OHH--_ SFX: ::CRACK...:: [The balron screams as its skull cracks open and its eyeballs pop out of its head. (And we've only just begun with this - this artist seems exceptionally fond of this method of offing characters. It's times like this that I'm so glad the manga is in black and white.) The mesa upon which the balron was seated explodes into dust for good measure.] SFX: ::KABLAM:: Exodus: Out of my sight!... Worthless waste of _skin!_ [Meanwhile, Mondain and Minax look on. Mondain looks like a human version of Peg-Leg Pete from the old Disney cartoons - a hulking, stout, hairy man with beard and moustache shrouded in a hooded robe. Minax has elf ears and dark-colored shoulder-length hair and wears a cape with golden valkyrie-esque armor.] Mondain: ......Hmm... I had wanted to finish this before Lord British made a move, but... Minax: Too late. The orcs are useless now that the dragon warriors have shown themselves, no? pg. 58 [Outside, an ominous rumbling can be heard from Exodus Castle.] SFX of lava: ::ROAR:: SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE: [The demon-creatures in the environs look around...] Demon: Geh? [...and giant floes of lava and bolts of energy annihilate the demons.] SFX: ::BANG:: Demon: _GYAHH--!!_ SFX: ::GAAAAAAAAAH--:: ::rumble rumble rumble rumble:: [Within the castle, Mondain and Minax look worriedly behind them...] Minax: I...I beg you, forgive us! Mondain: Dispensing with British's "dragon warriors" should surely pose no problem to us. pg. 59 [We see that the two are addressing another four-pronged structure inside the large four-pronged structure atop Exodus Castle (in which M & M are presumably standing - whew, dependent-clause Hades there). This smaller structure is more...organic than the larger one, though, and within it sits a large container that's sort of like an Ark of the Evil Covenant. This whole schlmiel sits atop another hideously grinning carved face...anyhow.] Mondain (presumably): Before they take possession of the seals... they will without fail be exterminated...... [A visibly nervous Mondain & Minax bow...] Mondain: _Be at rest..._ _LORD EXODUS!_ [Note: The phrase Mondain uses here, "oshizumari" ("be at peace"/"be still"), is, curiously, a Japanese benediction meant to quell restless spirits. Back in Castle British...] Voice: Exodus? pg. 60 [We see that the voice belongs to an exhausted Lord British, collapsed and resting on his throne. His nobles are gathered around him; Genji, Aida, Lennon, and the robot are before him.] British: But this land bears a great burden - the task of sealing away the god of destruction...Exodus...after he was defeated by the deities in an ages-old battle... [We see an illustration of British's story - a giant being that looks like a Medusa head-ball scared by a giant star-shape. The giant scared- looking Medusa-ball thing is picked up by something that looks like a giant Incan Statue of Liberty and is then pitched away into the cosmos by the statue's hand, with something looking like a Chinese dragon-tapeworm encircling it. Ah, the tales of old.] British: It is said that Exodus, divested of his magic power, was then sealed within this holy planet of Sosaria...... The spirit of the planet suppresses him within the bowels of this earth...... [The king narrows his eyes, weakening.] British: This disturbance...an ill omen, it is. A sign of Mondain... of Minax...of Exodus's awakening! We cannot allow him to revive!... pg. 61 [British outstretches his arms, addressing the four heroes against a dramatic backdrop of an evil force ripping through the cosmos. The pose echoes the opening of the NES version.] British: Far more than the fate of one lone planet is at stake... The whole of space-time will be overrun...transformed into a Hell... Warriors from another world - I implore you! Take possession of the four seals that lie somewhere within this world and seal Exodus away... pg. 62 [Outside. The four heroes sit on the castle walls, looking down at a procession of shrouded mourners marching through the city streets.] SFX of mourning bells tolling: ::BONG... BONG... BONG...:: Genji (looking at mourners): H...he didn't die, did he? Lennon: He's merely entered into a long sleep... In so doing, our great sorceror king Lord British regains his spiritual energy and has thereby made himself nearly immortal. Aida: But when will he revive this time? I don't know. He seems exhausted. With the demon army on the march and our king now all but lost... Genji: "Exhausted"? ...Because he called us...!? pg. 63 Robot: To estimate, the amount of energy expended in the surge was ......approximately 7 x 10^8 ergs. Lennon (echoing everyone's sentiments): WAH-- Genji: What?! You can speak?! SFX of robot moving forward: ::VOOM...:: [Everyone - every human, rather - is taken aback. (Note: The robot's dialogue is written left-to-right horizontally, instead of right-to-left vertically, as is the customary way to write Japanese text. This usually denotes that the speaker is actually talking in a foreign language; since everyone can understand the robot, though, I can only infer that the robot's voice is some digitally-produced electronic affair. This would normally be reproduced by have Bigelow speak in all-caps, but I refrained from doing so on the assumption that it would aggravate the heck out of everyone.)] Robot: Indeed......5994.........Bigelow...... Aida (sweatdropping, nervous): Bigelow... So that's your name, huh? Genji (pointing at Bigelow): _You--_... _What the hell are you!?_ If you can talk, then I got plenty of stuff I wanna hear outta you! What were you doing on that planet? And those ruins...... pg. 64 Aida (getting up): Stop! He hasn't fully come to his senses yet! Genji: ? Aida: His surface..."computations," are they called? They're all that's functioning right now. A strange soul, isn't he? To conceive that he could be stuck inside that machine... Genji: Naturally!! He's just a _robot!_... Aida: No... He only _appears_ to be. He _is_ human! He has a human's heart... Genji (surprised): It has a brain? In that cyborg body? Aida (thinking, visualizing Bigelow): This warrior... has been waiting for a long, long time...waiting for this day to come... pg. 65 Aida (determined): ...The same as us. We are all warriors gathered together from across time and space to defeat Exodus. Genji: A mission? First _I've_ heard of it. But... [grinning] ...guess this ain't no different from a rescue! [Out in the wilderness - Genji, Aida, and Lennon are riding yak-type beasts. (Bigelow is walking.)] Genji (confused): So we're going? To search for the four seals... pg. 66 [Meanwhile, back at Exodus Castle...] Mondain: ...But they are still imperfect warriors. Minax: Shall we throw the second wave of the demon army against them? Mondain: No. Despite matters, the orcs are still no match for them. [Mondain and Minax gaze out the "windows" of the castle at the two moons.] Mondain: The moons...... they are entering conjunction. The time for Exodus's full and complete resurrection is at hand. Minax: I shall go. Mondain: I leave the matter in your hands. [Minax bows slightly.] Mondain: It would indeed be unbearable to be resurrected after all this time only to incur Exodus's displeasure and be extinguished. pg. 67 [Night at a library tower in a town. Aida anxiously hovers over an old man researching...] Old Man: Hmmm. The four seals, you say?... They were supposedly entrusted to four shrines strewn across the globe long ago. The records have been either scattered to the four winds or are now indecipherable... However...there is a lone reference... Aida (jumping to attention): _And that is?!_ Old Man: That would be the city cut off from the flow of time...the temple of Dawn. Aida: The illusionary city - the one they say appears only once a year? Old Man: The very same. Supposedly, the original of legend... But we can't afford to wait for its yearly reappearance... pg. 68 Old Man: Now, if you could travel across space-time using a moongate - the line between Yew and Devil Guard, for example......if the gate were large enough, you might be able to get there. Aida: So we go first to Yew, then? Old Man: All the moongates are malfunctioning due to the disturbance, but... well, it's all a moot point, anyway, since you'd have to go through the network of moongates first. [Aida walks under a moonlit sky back to the party's room at the inn, to which the scene shifts. Bigelow, too big to fit in the room, sits patiently Indian-style outside. Two kids (and some nearby adults) stand stunned after one of them playfully whacks Bigelow's legs with stick and hears a metallic clang. Meanwhile, in the room...] Genji: NO WAY!! ARE YOU _NUTS!?_ [Lennon is presenting a frantic Genji with a suit of bardic-type clothes.] Lennon: But for warriors, tradition dictates that-- Genji: I don't care! It's embarrassing! (You like 'em, _you_ put 'em on!) Keep your armor! My space jacket's sturdy enough for me! pg. 69 Aida (walking in): It's all right, Lennon. There's no reason why clothes should make the warrior. Genji (happily pointing at Aida): Hey, see? Lennon: But, Lady Aida! It's tradition! Aida: What's more important is that we have an early start tomorrow! We'd better get some sleep real soon... Lennon: Did you get any information? Aida: For the time being, we're heading for Yew. Genji: "For the time being"?......That's kinda vague, isn't it? I got myself all ready for nothing!...... [Early morning; the group heads out across the land on mammoth-type beasts (except for Bigelow, who's walking again).] pg. 70 [Suddenly, behind the party--] Bigelow: _Danger!!_ Visual verification - objects approaching... Multiple readings... A group of unidentified objects... Possibly... [Lennon and Genji start to draw their swords...] SFX of sudden motion: ::BAM:: Genji: _Monsters!_... [But Aida holds out her hand...] Aida: Wait!! SFX from far away: ::stomp stomp stomp...:: [A cloud of dust runs across the horizon toward the party. Aida closes her eyes.] SFX: ::STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP:: Genji (looking nervously toward the cloud): ......Hey. You sure that's nothing to worry about out there? Lennon: Lady Aida...... Aida: No! They're not enemies. pg. 71 SFX: ::_STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP_:: [The cloud clears to reveal...a herd of frightened and eclectic animals - rhinos, elephants, gnus, polar bears...(yes, polar bears).] SFX: ::_STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP_:: Genji: Is that...a herd of wild animals!? Aida: Yes! We can't just slaughter them!! Genji: What're you saying!? We'll be trampled to death! Aida: It's all right! Leave this to me. Genji (frantically turning to Bigelow): _YOU! DO something!!_ Lennon (to Genji): Will you stop!? Lady Aida said she'd take care of it! pg. 72 SFX: ::STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP:: [Aida holds out her hands before the herd, eyes glazed over, in a trance.] SFX: ::STOMP STOMP STOMP...stomp...:: [The herd stops short right before the party.] pg. 73 [Genji watches in amazement (and Lennon in smug satisfaction) as the herd gathers around Aida.] SFX of wild beasts chomping/vocalizing: ::GRRR:: ::SNAP!:: ::SNAP!:: SFX of birds above: ::flap flap flap flap:: SFX of elephant :::BRAAAAP:: Genji: (Whoa...) [Suddenly, a white speck hits Genji near his bandana.] SFX: ::FLAP:: Genji: _Uwa--_ [Genji looks up and sees a bird flying overhead.] pg. 74 [Meanwhile, the other birds gather more hospitably around and on the gentle Aida, Cinderella-like.] Genji: I'm lost. Is this a magic too? Lennon: It's no magic technique. SFX of birds around the men: ::FLAP FLAP FLAP FLAP FLAP FLAP:: ::cheep:: ::cheep:: ::cheep:: Lennon: Lady Aida is a natural Peacemaker. Aida (happily, with a bird perched on her finger): It's all right now. Let's go along with these little guys. pg. 75 Genji (getting off mammoth): What...? Aida: We're almost to Yew! This herd was incited to trample Yew to the ground. Someone was responsible......right? Even among animals, the area around Yew is thought of as a safe haven. It's a holy city... [The group (and herd) goes off. Meanwhile, a group of demons looks on unnoticed from the cliffs above...] Devil: Kehh--they failed, didn't they? But... ...this is a windfall of sorts, isn't it? They're the warriors the Devil Lord is searching for...... pg. 76 [Meanwhile, at the Taj Mahal-ish central chapel/mosque at the holy city of Yew...] Guard: Father! It's horrible! High Priest: What is? Guard: There's something closing in on the city! It looks like an army! We think it might be an attack by the demon hordes... [The high priest and guard ascend to the parapets and watch the stampede approach. The high priest leans closer for a better look...] Another Guard: Oh! Father! First Guard: It's over there! High Priest (surprised): Hm? SFX: ::STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP:: [The stampede continues to advance.] Guard (dunno which one): We still haven't been able to secure contact with the royal city... Should we fight back alone? [Instead, the priest laughs.] High Priest: Hm! Guard: !? [The priest turns away from the scene and carefreely addresses the guard.] High Priest: There's no need to worry. Open the gates. Prepare a warm welcome... Guard: Are you saying it's not the demon army? pg. 78 High Priest: On the contrary! They will be the sole lights in Sosaria's darkest hour! [Meanwhile, back in the Sole Light Stampede...] SFX: ::STOMP:: ::STOMP STOMP:: [Aida leads the pack and points the way while Genji gets unwarranted attention from the polar bear...] Aida: _Look!_ We're there! At the city of Yew! Devil (from wherever he is): They're entered Yew? pg. 79 [The devil sends his army forth...] Devil: Most convenient! Go forth! Bury that eyesore...that "holy city" of Yew! [Back to Yew...] Acolyte: Quelch the barrier! The animals are coming in. [Note: All the "acolytes" here are dressed in hooded robes and are in some way associated with Yew's order; I don't know if they're the equivalents of monks and nuns, priests, priests-in-training, or what. (The manga does _not_ refer to them as druids.) I'll just refer to them as "acolytes" for future reference.] Acolyte: Did he say to summon the brethren? Acolyte (nervously): Father seems to feel we should open the moongate... [Under an acolyte's robes, observing in the background, a familiar feminine pair of eyes, newly alert, peer out...] Minax (thinking): So you've come, have you, warriors of British... pg. 80 [Switch to the warriors of British indeed entering the city. Genji notices a pillar topped with a double-horse-head near the entrance.] Genji: Hey, what's that - that tower? Aida: That's a talisman! Genji: They go all the way around the city walls, I guess? [A wide shot reveals that the pillars do indeed extend all around the city, each with a statue of a different animal on top.] Aida: They form a barrier that keeps evil at bay! There're many powerful acolytes who're starting their priest training in Yew; they can do this sort of thing! Genji: So the animals must've been being used to try to crush the barrier, right? [The four heroes enter the central chapel.] Guard: Welcome to Yew! Our representative, the priest, awaits you. pg. 81 [To the high priest.] High Priest: Oh, ho - Aida, from the Lycaeum? Was that you, then? Aida (surprised): Father! You know me? High Priest: I had the honor of knowing your father, Lord Sattava, very well. Now! Right this way... [The high priest shows Aida to one of the inner rooms in the temple while Genji, Lennon, and Bigelow retreat to a balcony overlooking the courtyard (its foliage being partially devoured by the hungry animals relaxing there ^_^).] Genji: ...This city's sure got a lot of plants. They can fit enough animals in here. Lennon: Yew is also known as the City of Forest. pg. 82 [Genji sits down, grabbing his back in pain.] Genji: Owow... It's different from riding airbikes and mobiles, that's for sure. Lennon: First time on a yak? Genji: First time seeing anything other than a human, yak or otherwise. Lennon (surprised): ......... The world where you were must've been quite lonely, then, I suppose. Genji: Heh - *sniff sniff* I smell something. Didn't you shower? SFX of bushes behind Genji: ::RUSTLE RUSTLE:: [Suddenly, Genji gets glomped by a polar bear.] Genji: WAA-- _Get off!! What're you doin'?_ SFX of polar bear: ::sniff sniff:: Lennon: Ha ha! That one seems to have taken a liking to you. Polar Bear (trampling Genji, licking his face): *heart* Genji: (Hold on!...) (Heyyy!...) [Genji gets up and pushes the polar bear's face away uncertainly...] SFX of polar bear's tongue: ::SLURP:: Genji: Ack-- I...... ...... [Genji then hugs the polar bear's neck.] Genji (smiling, to Lennon): You think so, huh? pg. 83 [Meanwhile (a lot of "meanwhile"s here), back in the chapel's inner chamber...] High Priest: I understand. In fact, we've already begun preparations to open the moongate. Aida (delighted): Then the spatial disruptions aren't interfering with the gate here? Wooonnnderful! High Priest: No...... The moongate did exhibit abnormal behavior before, of course. [smirks] But, we have our methods. Using the combined power of the acolytes of Yew, we can stabilize the portal! _We shall send you to Devil Guard by any means necessary!_ Aida: Thank you. ...I am deeply indebted to you. pg. 84 [Back to the guys.] Lennon (blade of grass in mouth, to Genji): Haven't had enough yet? Genji (scratching polar bear under chin): Shuddap! I haven't even had a chance to get adjusted to this place yet! No constant smell of oil, no electrical lines running everywhere... [sadly, looking down at polar bear] And this fellow, here...alive... Lennon (at attention, getting up): Your buildings and clothes store the air you breathe and sustain your lives? I can't fathom that. To live in such an unimaginably dead world... [Genji looks wistfully up at the light filtering through the trees.] Genji: We hadn't given up on it. But _here_.....here, you've sure got a world filled with warmth. pg. 85 SFX: ::CREAK:: [To everyone's shock, Bigelow gets up from his reclining position, as if to add something to the conversation. He sticks his robotic fingers in the ground to get a fistful of soil...] SFX: ::GLOMPH:: [...then brings it up to his face, peering at it.] Lennon: ...? Genji: ...What're you doing? Bigelow (looking at soil): Within here exist lifeforms on the 10^6 order. Brimming with life... This very planet is a great globe of life... Genji: Hey... You... Lennon (quickly slapping his hand on Genji's shoulder): _Sh!_ [Bigelow looks down, thinking of the stars and his planet as seen from afar.] Bigelow: The home from which I, too, was once born. Deserving of protection...of supreme value... pg. 86 [Bigelow freezes. Everyone pauses.] Lennon: ...Looks like he's finished for now. He still isn't completely awake yet... [looking at Genji] He...... Genji. He came from a world that was even closer to death than your own... Genji (looking at Bigelow sympathetically): Mm... [Meanwhile, on a cliff overlooking Yew...] Devil: Ge-heh-heh! Prepare the salamanders! pg. 87 [A group of demons follow him, holding the chain leashes of the "salamanders", lizard-beasts that look like a cross between a rhinoceros and a triceratops...] SFX of salamanders: ::HISSSSSS:: Devil: Hurry and station the salamanders!... The salamanders will control the magma beneath our feet! _We'll incinerate Yew's barrier and its city walls!_ [In contrast - Aida, in the inner chambers, slips out of a cool bath.] SFX of shower ::WHOOOSHHH:: pg. 88 [Aida steps onto the tile floor; an attendant offers her a silk robe.] Aida: I'll change into my clothes over there...... Thanks! [As Aida wraps herself up, a circular dragon-mark over her left breast, similar to the one Genji has on his forehead (and Bigelow on his chest). (It's in the same place, BTW, that started to shine when Genji arrived during the assault on Castle British.) Aida does not seem to notice this - but a pair of eyes through the wall does. Aida, somehow sensing this, flinches, turning quickly toward the wall - only to find nothing there.] Aida: Ah--!? Attendant: Is something the matter, miss? [Aida, seeing nothing, is relieved...] Aida: No...nothing at all. Aida (thinking): Impossible. Demons can't enter the temple. [As Aida goes to change, we see the shrouded Minax slinking away outside the chamber...] Minax (thinking): Hmph. The holy emblem of the dragon, is it?... pg. 89 [Aida walks back to the group's darkened guest room, where the others are sleeping in bed. (Bigelow is sitting deactivated on the edge of his.) Aida stops at Genji's bed, reaching out to touch him.] Aida (thinking): A warrior who came from a faraway world... who has the same holy emblem as I do... Genji (waking up a bit): Uh... pg. 90 Genji: Ah... [We see Genji is having the same dream he did at the start of the story - the one about his "dream woman".] Genji (thinking): Been a long time since I had this...this dream... [The shadowed woman in Genji's dream nears...] Genji (thinking): Her face...... I can see it......her face...... Today......this time... Genji: _WAAAIIT!!_-- [Genji awakes, finds himself grabbing a surprised Aida.] pg. 91 [Genji comes to his senses, but is still a bit shocked, still holding onto Aida.] Genji: What? ...It was you? Aida: _Huh?_ _What?_ Genji (overjoyed): That's right! _It wasn't only the old man who called me!_ _YOU've been calling me for a LONG time, haven't you!?_ Aida: _What?_ What are you talking about? Genji: There's no reason to play dumb! SFX: ::VOOM:: [Bigelow's eye suddenly illuminates. Having apparently having been awakened, the robot begins to approach the pair.] Bigelow: That...marking. Is it of great importance? Genji (annoyed): *Tuh!* Of all times for you to get chatty-- [startled] ..._Huh?_ Bigelow: On Aida, too...you can't see through, then? To the marking on her chest... [Aida gets embarrassed. Genji whirls around to her.] Genji: (Huh?) [But the moment is interrupted by...] SFX: ::BOOM:: Genji (gritting teeth): !? pg. 92 SFX: ::BAM!!:: [In the mountains near Yew, we see a fiery eruption of lava.] Yew Guard on Parapets: What? Another YGOP: What's happening? YGOP: Look! A pillar of fire-- AYGOP: IMPOSSIBLE!! There's not supposed to be any volcano there!! YGOP: _LAVA!_ _There's LAVA coming!!_ [The "volcano" produces an even bigger explosion of fire and lava...] SFX: ::KA-BOOOOOM!!:: pg. 93 [The wall of flame races through the forest, threatening the city of Yew.] Devil (from overlooking cliff): GEH HEH HEH!! GO!! _GOOOO--!!_ SFX of flame: ::RRRROOOOOAAARRRRRRR:: pg. 94 [A guard (the same one who was with the high priest before) bursts into the four's bedroom.] SFX of door: ::BAM!:: Guard: AIDA!! _Please--come with us all to the Circle of Light!_ Aida (caught unaware): Oh...yes. [Everyone flies out of the building.] Lennon: _What's going on!?_ Guard: _The attack's begun..._ _We're already activating the moongate!_ [The fire consumes the protection pillars outside the city.] pg. 95 [The blaze burns up the nearby trees.] SFX of burning tree: ::WHOOSH:: SFX: ::RRROOOAAARRRR:: Guard: _THE BARRIER'S BEEN DESTROYED!!_ _THE FOREST--IT'S ON FIRE..._ [The animals the heroes brought into Yew look about helplessly as the fire nears them.] SFX of animals: ::SHRIEK:: :SKREE--:: SFX of woods aflame: ::WHOOSH:: ::WHOOSH:: [Suddenly, Genji realizes something and stops dead in his tracks...] SFX of Genji stopping: ::FREEZE:: Lennon: GENJI, WHAT'S WRONG!? HURRY!! pg. 96 Genji (worried): The forest-- [Genji runs toward the blaze.] Lennon: _Hey..._ _Genji! WHERE'RE YOU GOING!?_ SFX of inferno:: ::RRRROOOOOOAAAARRRR::: [Lennon runs to catch up with Genji, passing the bodies of several animals in the process. He finally comes up on Genji's hunched-over form...] Lennon: Hey! What're you doing there? [Lennon's face softens and saddens as he realizes that Genji is cradling the dead body of the polar bear he had met before.] Lennon (grabbing Genji): _COME ON!!_ WE HAVE A MISSION!! pg. 97 [Lennon drags Genji to the outskirts of the Circle of Light, where Bigelow, Aida, the high priest, and a number of robed acolytes are waiting.] Lennon: I got him! High Priest: Now, quickly! Go to the middle of the gate... [Genji suddenly, angrily breaks Lennon's hand-grip.] Genji (pointing at others): _Wait._ _I'm not going yet._ [pointing to the burning forest] _I've got a score to settle with them!!_ Lennon: _Think about what you're saying!!_ [Lennon grabs hold of Genji's shoulder.] Lennon: It's not that I don't understand how you feel, but they're just-- Genji (surprised): "Just"?... [Genji pauses, then looks down in thought.] Genji: That's right... To you people, they're "just" animals... pg. 98 Genji (pointing): _WHAT A LAUGH - "A WORLD OVERFLOWING WITH LIFE"!!_ _IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY DIE, SINCE YOU HAVE SO MANY OF THEM, IS THAT IT?!?! YOU DON'T CARE?!?!_ _WEREN'T WE THE ONE WHO SAID THE TOWN WAS A "SAFE HAVEN"?! WEREN'T WE THE ONES WHO BROUGHT THEM HERE?!?!_ SFX: ::SLAP:: [Genji is suddenly struck; when he looks up, he realizes that an on-the- verge-of-tears Aida has slapped him.] Genji: ...I... pg. 99 Genji (head down): I know. I lost my head. Sorry... Bigelow: If you look at it from a strategic perspective, our priorities are clear. Genji (suspiciously): ......Life isn't something you can _barter._ Bigelow: Of course not. But we are not omnipotent in the face of such sorrow. For the sake of having further opportunities...... Aida: Stopping Exodus, the god of destruction, is our only goal. If we do not... Genji: ... [Aida looks determined; Genji, determined but still troubled and unsure.] pg. 100 [Meanwhile, the demon army tears through the city proper.] Demon: The humans? Demon: There's not a single one... Devil: I _smell_ them... [pointing to the Circle of Light] That lighted clearing! That's where the filthy humans have gathered. GO!! [The demons do so.] pg. 101 [Meanwhile, inside the Circle of Light, the party is guided onto a small pad before two lines of deathly-still acolytes, the high priest between the lines at their head.] Aida: What's going on wrong? Why is everyone-- [Suddenly, Aida's hands strike a barrier. The four are enclosed in a small bubble within the larger barrier around the Circle of Light.] Aida: _!?_ What?... _We're sealed within a field!!_ pg. 102 [The high priest smiles reassuringly.] High Priest: We shall transport you away inside this bubble. The moongate in no condition to use, you see. [Genji is a bit surprised and puzzled at this; Aida and Lennon are aghast.] High Priest (standing before followers): The portal is unsteady. In order to stabilize it, it is necessary for all of us to concentrate. We shall remain here. Aida (frantic): _YOU FOOL!! THE DEMON ARMY IS ALMOST HERE!!_ [Indeed, outside the little bubble-barrier of light surrounding the Circle of Light, the demons are swooping down...] pg. 103 Acolyte (pointing at sky): THEY'RE COMING!! [The demons attack, but are repelled - barely - by the bubble-barrier. The acolytes begin to pray.] SFX of demons against barrier: ::SKREEE---:: ::GYAA--:: High Priest: Concentrate! Don't let your wills be broken! We must maintain the barrier long enough to send these four away! pg. 104 [The demons continue to bash at the barrier, threatening to break through, their shrieks echoing throughout the circle.] SFX: ::_SKREEEEE--_:: [The grim and nervous but determined acolytes continue to pray.] Aida (reaching out): _NO!!_ [But the four, in shock, are sent away before they are able to see anything further.] pg. 105 SFX of teleport: ::FLASH:: [The readers, however, are treated to the entire sad spectacle. Immediately after the four finally fly safely away, the demons break through.] SFX of demons slicing through barrier: ::SCRATCH:: ::SNAP:: ::CRACKLE:: Acolyte: AAAAHH! [Given only a brief moment for their terror to register, the acolytes are set upon by the demons, who slash through chests and crush heads in a stomach-churningly graphic massacre. We see Aida, her head buried in horror and sorrow in her hands. (I don't blame you, Aida-san.)] pg. 106 [The "camera" pans back from Aida, and we see our four heroes encased in a bubble of light, speeding through a seeming tunnel of sub-space toward a light ahead. (Apparently, Aida didn't actually see anything of the Yew massacre, but is reacting to her envisioning of their certain fate.)] SFX of bubble: ::VOOOOMMMM:: Aida: I didn't know... Genji: ? [Aida looks up, her eyes overflowing with tears.] Aida: _HONESTLY!!_ _I DIDN'T KNOW!!_ _I never thought that the people of Yew were going to sacrifice their lives for us!!_ pg. 107 [Genji turns away in sorrow.] Genji: I know you didn't. I said too much back there. I'm sorry... Lennon: Lady Aida. We have no time to give to grief. Genji (determined): That's right. The time we have now...was bought with a great many lives! [Return to Yew, a gruesome scene of the demons feasting on the flesh of the fallen that you will thank me for _not_ describing in detail. A lone cowled figure arises from the carnage...] SFX of figure: ::lurch:: SFX of monster seeing: ::SKREE--:: Devil (noticing): A HUMAN!! SFX of monsters rushing in: ::WHOOSH:: ::WHOOSH:: ::WHOOSH:: pg. 108 [The devil and monsters charge, but the human easily repels them with a burst of magic.] SFX of magic: ::SLASH:: [The figure lowers the hood on its mantle to reveal...] Devil: *gasp* You're... LADY MINAX!! Minax: Seems that your manners are a bit lacking, hmmm, devil? Devil (shoving fellow monster aside): I was not aware it was _you_, mistress-- SFX of Minax taking off her cloak: ::WHAP:: Minax: --until I showed myself. Victory was sweet, was it not, devil? Bah, but being so thoroughly unoccupied is no fun, and I know their next move. Come with me. Devil: ? But we can't use the moongate, and-- Minax: I can manipulate space and time! Have you forgotten? pg. 109 Minax: Devil Guard shall be their burial ground. [To Devil Guard. The four teleport into a stone circle small than the one at Yew.] SFX of teleport: ::VOOM:: ::SKREEEE--:: pg. 110 [The four step out and look at the city before them.] Genji: This is... [The group walks cautiously through Devil Guard, which seems to be strangely deserted.] Genji: Seems like this place met with an attack by the demon army a long time ago.. [Correction - the town is not completely deserted. A monster peeks at the party from a nearby rooftop.] SFX ::lurk:: Aida: There are still three moongates here! Let's give them a try. Genji (glimpsing behind): !? pg. 111 [Genji draws his dagger-sword and just narrowly slices through the hand of a demon behind the group lunging for Lennon and Aida.] SFX: ::THWACK:: Genji (to Aida): We'll have to run! Where's the nearest gate? Aida: This way! Quickly! [The group runs, but appears to be hedged in by demons on all sides.] Demons: UWAAAAA [But Bigelow emits a beam or sound or sensor-thing from the dragon-emblem on his chest that makes the monsters simultaneously explode, or something. (Hey, this artist likes monster carnage so much that it's sometimes hard to determine what's causing it.)] SFX: ::SPLAT:: pg. 112 Bigelow: Shall I lead the way? Lennon (ducking monster attack): No good! Their numbers are too great, and Lady Aida is here-- there are other gates! Genji (harried): Which way... SFX of Bigelow's computers calculating: ::beep beep:: Bigelow: The monsters are invading from the city's outskirts... [Everybody starts to run.] Genji: Then the only spot in the clear is the direct center of the town... There a moongate there? Lennon [? I think]: I'm sure of it! Aida: There is! In any case, let's run! [The group does run, smashing a few monsters along the way. (Bigelow unceremoniously scoops Aida up with one arm, whisking her along.)] Aida: Eeek! SFX of monster's face being broken: ::SMASH:: [They finally reach the clearing with the moongate...] Lennon: _OVER THERE!!_ pg. 113 [The group steps into the circle and waits, but...] Aida: ...This gate isn't working! Genji: Can we do something to get it working from the outside? Voice from above: THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY! [The group watches as Minax descends from above.] Lennon: YOU'RE... Minax: THE RENDER OF SPACE-TIME - MINAX! [Minax lets loose two giant pillars of fire from her hands, blasting the moongate into a dome of fire.] SFX: ::FWHRRROAAAARRRR:: pg. 114 Unidentified Lifeform Caught in Blaze (monster, perhaps?): _GACK--!!_ ULCIB: _BWA--_ [The dome of fire expands to engulf the whole of Devil Guard. The moongate crumbles above Aida.] SFX of fire dome: ::RRRRROOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRR:: pg. 115 [We see the party adrift in the far reaches of space (or something like that looks like the far reaches of space), Minax standing tall in the center of it all.] Minax: _Warriors..._ You've put up a fairly good fight, but... this is as far as you go. _I shall scatter you..._ _throughout the far reaches of space-time!_ [Distressed looks all around.] pg. 116 [Minax whips out one blast that sends Bigelow and Lennon flying...] SFX: ::FWHOOOSSSHHH:: [...and yet another that blasts Genji far away.] SFX: ::FWHROOOAARRR:: Genji: _UWAAAH--_ [Minax turns to Aida...] SFX: ::RRRRROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR:: pg. 117 Aida: _GENJI!_ _LENNON! BIGELOW!_ Minax: You've no time to worry about your companions! For you, too... [Minax blasts Aida to the far reaches of wherever they are. Aida screams at first, being hurtled far away...] Aida: KYAAAAAAA AAAAAHH... [...then retreats into the deep recesses of her mind.] Aida (thinking): Not yet!... Not yet... We can't give up... We've received the support of so many... pg. 118 Aida (thinking): Once more--_once more_... No matter how many times it takes! If I don't gather everyone together... _Genji!_ [Aida continues to fall through space, a bit more self-directed now. She sees the image of a young boy, about five years old, who turns around...] Boy: Hey-- [We see that the boy - a child Genji - is wandering about the halls of a futuristic complex, clutching a backpack.] Child Genji (distracted by something): ...? pg. 119 [Genji stops walking; we see he is in a sort of spaceport. An adult a few steps in front of the boy - presumably Genji's father - turns to look at him.] Genji's Presumable Father: What's wrong? Come along, now! Child Genji: It was like someone was callin' me! [Genji turns back and hurries to his father.] Genji: Huh. Guess I was jes' imagining it. Genji's Father: C'mon. Let's go. The ship'll be taking off. [Genji's father shepherds his son to an open-air area where several NASA- type space shuttles are waiting, ready for launch.] Genji's Father: From now on, we're going to be space-dwellers......... It'll be different from the overdeveloped Earth zone! The asteroid belt is full of adventure... [Suddenly, Genji's father notices child Genji's forehead...] Genji's Father: ... Hold on, boy. That thing on your forehead - where'd you get that? [We see that the dragon seal has newly appeared on Genji's forehead.] Child Genji: Is somethin' there? [We scale back to the scene to see Aida watching from above.] pg. 120 [Aida sails off again through subspace/space-time/whatever, this time of her own volition, in search of...] Aida (thinking): That just has to be Genji... If I trace this world-line... I'm sure to make contact with him... [Aida sees Genji grow from a little boy...] Aida (thinking): Genji... [...to an older child...] Aida (thinking): Answer me... [...to a pilot near the age he currently is, tying his trademark bandana around his forehead and dragon insignia.] Aida (thinking): Genji! We need your help!! pg. 121 [Aida continues her astral journey...] Aida: _GENJI!!_ [We now return to the present Genji, who is careening a bit less controlledly through space...] SFX: ::BANG:: ::FWHOOOOSHHHH:: Genji: _MINAX!_ _WAIT FOR ME! I'LL BE BACK! COUNT ON IT!_ pg. 122 [Suddenly, something surprises Genji from behind...] SFX: ::glomp:: Genji: _!?_ Aida (gleefully): Gotcha!! [We see that a merry Aida has latched onto Genji's arm, hovering behind him.] Genji (scared & startled): Wha? But--you just--?! [Aida and Genji reunited, we now go to Lennon and Bigelow, hurtling uncontrollably through space-time...] Lennon: _Lady Aida!_ _LADY AIDA!_ Dammit! Where is this place!? pg. 123 Bigelow: We're being flung farther into the multiple space-times from the crux of that which is disturbing the moongates. That "Minax" individual certainly is a destroyer of space-time! Lennon (frantic): This is no time for a lecture! _Can't you do something, Bigelow!?_ Bigelow: Very well. Let us do something. Lennon: Eh? You can? Bigelow: Our last hope is Aida. Lennon: What're you saying? Lady Aida is unquestionably a woman of unparalleled abilities, but... Bigelow: You yourself spin the old legends, and yet you do not believe? We are the warriors whose way has been prepared beforehand. A power lies dormant within each of us. My sensors indicate that the tension between Aida and Genji has increased in the course of our many trials. And the power to traverse this space-time disruption must lie with Aida! pg. 124 [Back to Aida and Genji -] Genji (confused): Me? You're saying you _saw_ me? Aida: Yes! I've been watching you - ever since your childhood! [We see Genji's "dream girl" - who does indeed look like Aida in shadow...] Genji: ...Then the dream I've had over and over since my childhood - it was you after all? [sweatdropping] Wow...to think that you hold that kind of power...... Aida (smiling): Even I myself didn't know until now! [Aida points to Genji's forehead...] Aida: --Right here, on you... [...and then to above her left breast.] Aida: And here on me... ...lies the proof of a vow to fight to preserve this cosmos. For the sake of this battle... pg. 125 Aida: I _know_ now! We have to break through our shells - _transcend our existing selves!_ When we realized what our destinies were - each of us, Genji; you and me - _we gained access to an unfathomable power!_ [Genji looks surprised/shocked at this, then is whapped out of it by a glancing shot of psychic (presumably psychic) energy.] SFX: ::crackle:: Genji: Ugh! Aida [distracted]: They're calling... Genji: Huh? My forehead...! [Aida takes Genji's hand.] Aida: Let's go! Genji: Where to? [Aida leads Genji off.] Aida: Lennon and Bigelow are calling! pg. 126 [Meanwhile, we see Bigelow emitting some sort of circular pulse echo-ray type-thingy (to use the technical term ^_^) from the dragon sensor on his chest. Lennon is doubled over in pain...] SFX: ::_EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE_:: Lennon: What're you _doing,_ Bigelow!? Lennon (thinking): Agh...my body... SFX: ::tremble:: Bigelow: I am amplifying our bodies' internal vibrations and relaying them through a super-spatial communications wave... It's a communications beacon, in short. Aida will definitely sense this... What's wrong, Lennon? [Lennon is now collapsed to his knees...] Lennon: It's hot...my...hand-- [Lennon looks at his right palm - to see that a dragon mark like those Genji, Aida, and Bigelow have has developed there.] pg. 127 Bigelow (looking on): ...Albeit a little late in showing, it looks like the holy mark has appeared on you, too... Lennon: On me? [in happy disbelief] I...always thought I would play only a supporting role...... Is it true......? [Suddenly, Bigelow senses a true disturbance...] Bigelow: Hm-- [Suddenly, Lennon and Bigelow are pulled through space-time again.] SFX: ::FWHOOOOSHHH:: Lennon: U_WAAAHH--_ Bigelow: We're being pulled along... Is it the dimensional flow? [To a more self-controlled Aida and Genji...] Aida: It's odd... The space around us is warping into a vortex! pg. 128 Voice: Well, well...so ye have gathered together once again, warriors! Then I shall escort you to Minax! Genji (thinking): What...? Genji (pointing): Hey! Over there! [Through the haze, Aida and Genji spot...] Lennon (grinning): _Lady Aida!_ Aida (happily): Lennon! Bigelow! [Suddenly, the four warriors are pulled someplace else...] SF: ::FLASH:: Aida: !! pg. 129 [We see Minax floating in a space void.] Minax: Heh heh heh...such a swift end for our so-called "warriors"... [Suddenly, a portal opens behind Minax.] SFX: ::FWOOSH:: Minax: _!?_ pg. 130 Minax: _YOU!!_ Genji: _MINAX!!_ _I'M BACK!!_ [Genji (who obviously has seen too many Schwarzenegger movies back in the Earth zone) and his crew have come through the portal, the humans clutching the robot. Bigelow fires a beam at Minax...] SFX: ::VOOOOM:: Minax: _Impudent_ thing! [...but Minax easily blocks the attack.] SFX: ::BZZ:: Bigelow: She deflected the beam... Use your sword! Genji: AAAA-- pg. 131 [Genji flies out from the party, lunging at Minax with his dagger/sword.] Minax: _I'll blow you away once more!_ Bigelow: Aida, attune your power to his. Aida: _Yes!_ [Aida does so, and Genji is (further) enveloped in a energy blast. (Note: Bigelow actually doesn't specify a target when he speaks to Aida; I assume from events that he means Genji, but I could be mistaken.) In the meantime, Minax has launched another attack at Genji, indeed attempting to "blow him away" yet again.] SFX of attack: ::FWOOSH:: SFX of impact: ::WHAM:: pg. 132 [Genji penetrates Minax's energy shield.] Minax (jolted): What!? Why won't you disappear?! Bigelow: I've locked us onto Minax! We're linked together! Don't worry! Go! Genji! [But Genji can barely hold his ground (so to speak) against Minax's energy waves...] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: Genji (getting pelted by waves): _ARGH!_ ...Easy for _you_ to say. These waves of pressure... Minax (continuing to fire at Genji): AHHHH-- pg. 133 Genji: HUH?! [Genji, Minax, and the group pass through "scenery" - or at least images of scenery - that looks like prehistoric times, complete with unconvincing T-rex...] Minax: I can't tear them away! Damn - I need more power... Bigelow: The time shifts are resurging. Lennon: Is she pulling away? [Minax continues to try to pull away, but Genji, connected by energy to the others (and Minax) follows in pursuit.] SFX of power fields: ::RRRROOOOAARRRR:: pg. 134 [Minax lurches in pain...] Minax: ......ugh... [The group flies through a futuristic scene, medieval times, and what looks like the Battle of Britain...] Minax (clutching face in pain): Grah-- [Minax (though I'm not entirely sure) appears to be aging - in any case, she looks considerably worse for the wear...] Minax: HAAAAAA-- _WHAT'S THIS?! I'M LOSING MY POWER..._ pg. 135 [Minax can do nothing but stand still and clutch her face in pain.] Minax: AAAaa... Aida: Minax looks strange!... Genji: The pressure's gone... Voice: NOW! WARRIOR! STRIKE THE JEWEL ON MINAX'S FOREHEAD! Genji: !? [Note: Minax wears a sort of circlet on her head with a skull decoration in the middle of it. (So does Mondain, actually.) They don't appear to be jewels, but I guess they could be, and I guess they're what keep Mondain and Minax resurrected...] Bigelow (to Lennon): Accelerate Genji! Lennon (hesitant): Um...... [Lennon is intimidated (perhaps because he's new to playing around with psychic energy this way?), but he concentrates, and a startled but still determined Genji does accelerate toward Minax.] SFX: ::WHAM:: Genji: UWA!! pg. 136 Genji: _MINAX!!_ Minax: GeH-- [Genji advances upon the aging/pained Minax, splitting the skull-jewel.] SFX: ::SLASH:: [Minax shrieks...] Minax: GYAAAAAHHHHHHH.... pg. 137 [...and, in another of the artist's beloved scenes of gruesome death, Minax's skin is ripped off her bones, and her skeleton crumbles into dust.] pg. 138 [Aida floats up to Genji; the group...regroups somewhat.] Aida: Genji... Genji: That was... [turning around quickly] ! That's right! The voice from before! Didn't you hear it!? [Speak of the devil...] Voice: The power that reconstituted Minax's body is anchored to the area of space-time where Sosaria exists... Aida: (?) Voice: Severed from her own area of space-time, that power left her, and her body disintegrated... [Note: the Japanese line reading here is a little ambiguous to me. Either the "Voice" is saying that Minax got separated from the space-time area where her power source is entrenched, thus her body disintegrated when she got too far away and separated/cut off from it, or that the space-time area where the speaker is is far separate/cut off from where Minax's power source is, thus she disintegrated when she and the party presumably approached the speaker's "residence". Same dif, I guess.] Genji: What? _WHAT IS THIS!?_ _Who are you!?_ [A bright light shines from one part of the void...] Genji: Uh! Voice: I will guide you... pg. 139 [The four warriors speed in a beam of light toward a dawning horizon.] Voice: Come, Dragon Warriors... [The four continue traveling toward the light.] Lennon (in fearful recognition): That's... Aida: Do you recognize it, Lennon? Lennon: I've seen it just once before... [We see the party's target - a Grecian-looking city on a cliff, centered around a temple.] Lennon: It's Dawn! pg. 140 [The four land at the end of the cliff. (Um, in the foreground, there's a stone - presumably a marker - that spells the town's name "Done", but we'll just go by our comfortably English canon, mmm-kay?)] Genji: "Dawn"? Aida (looking at Lennon): The illusionary city that appears only once a year - right? Lennon: Yes... The rest of the time, it's hidden within a portal. Voice: This way, to the center temple......... pg. 141 [The party enters a big temple that looks like an intact Acropolis. They see something within...] Aida (shocked): ...! Genji (also shocked): That's... Giant Thing on the Wall: I bid you fair welcome, warriors. [The warriors are before...a singularly grotesque lifeform on the wall. It's like a spiderweb of thick strings of blobs of flesh, with a fat, fleshy human head attached to the middle. (Dammit, don't _look_ at me, it's every worse when you're looking at the actual picture in the manga! Man, it must be tough living in this artist's head sometimes...)] pg. 142 Blobby Thing: I am Nagaraja. The "Indicator." [The group is still justifiably speechless over the very existence of this...guy. (On another note: thank you to Blu3vib3, who caught the reference here that I missed: this character is named after the Hindu title meaning "King of Snakes.")] Nagaraja: Everything on earth is transitory... Here, beyond the reach of space-time, it is possible to preserve memories for all eternity... For a long...long time, I have been making preparations against the powers of darkness... In order to assist the warriors who battle will against it, I have waited... I will send you off... to the place where the four seals wait... pg. 143 [Nagaraja lifts a finger (yes, he has fingers...somewhere).] Nagaraja: But before that... SFX: ::FLASH:: [Nagaraja zaps the party and sends them on a journey through...space-time? time? memory? illusion?] SFX of barrier engulfing the party: ::POFF:: [The party sees a group of figures materializing in the light ahead...] Aida: Th...at's... pg. 144 SFX of meaningless background noise: ::RRRROOOOOAAAARRRRR:: [The figures turn out to be...a group a four powerful-looking warriors bedecked in elaborate armor. Each of the warriors bears a resemblance to one of our heroes...] Aida (astonished): That's me? Genji (astonished): ...It's me. Lennon (astonished): I'm...I'm here, too. Bigelow (as--well, we can't really read from his robot face if he's astonished): --I see. Then that's...... [Note: A giant barbarian-type warrior is Bigelow's corresponding figure; the barbarian wears a helmet with a jewel in the center reminiscent of Bigelow's robotic eye.] pg. 145 [The warriors watch as their Super Saiyan selves start to depart. Aida's counterpart looks over her shoulder.] Nagaraja (unseen, just a reverberating voice): They are yourselves in the far future! Your battlefield lies beyond... Aida: Huh...? [As she departs, Future Aida lets loose a blast of light at the (current) party that knocks them all back.] Aida: UWAA-- Lennon (holding on to Aida's arm): _We're being blown away...hold on!_ Aida: _Everyone! OVER THERE--!_ pg. 146 SFX that doesn't really make sense: ::ROAR:: [Aida - and the reader - sees something that is quite hideous - and hard to describe. (Ooh, lucky me that I get to try, huh?) It's a giant triangular mass of heads, teeth, and eyeballs - several snake-like attachments ending in monster heads protruding from both sides of a giant toothed maw - inside of which are a succession of a couple dozen more toothed maws, culminating in a lizard-like monster with a giant eyeball in its mouth. Lovely.] Genji: That...is... That's...what our enemy...looks like? pg. 147 [We see the four future warriors hurtling toward the...thing.] SFX: ::RRRROOOOOAAAARRRR:: Lennon [touching Genji on the shoulder]: Don't get too entranced. We'll meet again...on our own battlefield. [The four speed away again.] Genji: Good. I'll be looking forward to it. pg. 148 SFX: ::FLASH:: [Before they realize it, the warriors re-arrive at the temple at Dawn.] Nagaraja: Did you see it?...... Now, the dragon marks that knowest thou have been assembled. You are qualified enough to possess the seals. Genji (looking at Lennon): ...You? [Lennon smiles and flips Genji the dragon mark on his palm.] SFX: ::grin:: Aida (smiling): Naturally! ...We _were_ all together back there, after all! pg. 149 [Nagaraja lifts a hand and starts to send the party away in a flash of light.] SFX: ::FLASH:: Nagaraja: Go, warriors of destiny! Go forth and combat the powers of darkness! [The warriors disappear. As the light used to transport them fades, Nagaraja is left in the deep dark...] SFX of warriors fading away in light, I guess: ::SKKRRREEEEEEEEEEEeeeeee....:: Nagaraja: The next time will be... hundreds of years?...thousands? Until then... pg. 150 [Back to Exodus Castle and more inexplicable roaring.] SFX: ::RRROOOOOAAAARRRRR:: [Mondain is gazing into a crystal ball in Exodus's keep, presumably watching some of the events unfolding.] Voice: Mi...nax. [An electrical jolt envelops the ark.] SFX: ::CRACKLE:: Voice: Mo... n... pg. 151 [More rumbling heard... (Note: We see that Exodus's ark is bound by chains with the Codex symbol attached to them.)] SFX of chains: ::rattle:: SFX in general: ::SHOOM...:: Voice: Mon--...dain. Mondain (shocked): You're conscious... Exodus's will has begun to manifest! Exodus: The warriors are...headed...to the land of the...se...als... You...too will go there. SFX of chains: ::creak:: ::creeeak:: Mondain: Ye... Ye-- [A giant bolt of energy emanates from Exodus's four-pronged stand or whatever it is.] Exodus: STOP THEM WITHOUT FAIL! SFX: ::BAM:: ::CRAAAACCKK:: [The bolt lands on Mondain...] pg. 152 [Back to our heroes, who are now all perched on a craggy, rocky mountaintop. Lennon spots and reads a half-crumbled stone slab with some odd writing on it.] Lennon: Ambrosia......I'm sure of it. Genji: The city with the seals... Aida: The very one of legend...... [The sound of ocean waves is heard.] SFX of ocean: ::splash... splash... splash... splash...:: Genji: ...Here? pg. 153 [The group surveys their position - atop the longest mountain in a small, deserted group of mountain-islands alone in the ocean.] Lennon: ...Down _there_, rather. No rest for the weary in Ambrosia... [The group continues to stare down the steep cliff upon which they are perched, rather motionless and dumbfounded. ... ... Some time later...] Genji (with trepidation): Let's at least try to climb down, anyway. Bigelow: Wait. Everyone take hold of me. pg. 154 [Before you know it, the three humans have climbed onto Bigelow's arms and shoulders, and the robot is rocketing down a deep shaft consisting of many floors of Grecian-type columns, classical statues, and a multitude of arch- entryways. (Where exactly did they find this?)] Genji: An underground shrine...it's like a dungeon! Lennon: It probably was originally aboveground. It's been buried for a long time, I suppose... Genji: It's so deep... Where should we enter from? [Suddenly, Genji psychically feels...something.] SFX of psychic energy: ::SKREE:: Genji: _!?_ [to Aida] Did you feel that? Aida: Mm! pg. 155 [Genji and Aida both look toward a certain entrance. They see a light (physical or psychic) within.] Genji (pointing to entrance): Over there! Go, Bigelow! Bigelow: Mm. [Bigelow does so; everyone touches down.] Genji: They're on this floor! I'm sure of it! pg. 156 [The team races through another great entrance (that faintly resembles the entrance to the fortress city of Petra). As they enter, they see a light...] SFX: ::FLASH:: [...and a beam of light cuts over their heads.] SFX: ::VOOM!:: Aida: AAH! Genji: _What?!_ _Even here, the evil's_-- Lennon: _No! Look!_ [The bright light bounces harmlessly from pillar to pillar along the room.] Lennon: It's a guide beam! Aida: We'll follow that light! pg. 157 [Outside, a group of winged demons flocks toward the islands.] Demons: KYAA! KYAA! [Suddenly, a light appears from the clouds...] Voice from Light: _Begone!!_ The underground shrine shall not be breached by the likes of you! [The light shoots down in the form of a giant thunderbolt - the same one that we saw in Exodus's lair...] SFX of bolt: ::BLAM:: Demons: ::SKREEEEEEEEE:: [...frying the demons and entering - well, more like blasting through the shrine.] SFX: ::KA-BOOM:: pg. 158 [Meanwhile, our group is making its way further into the depths of the shrine, when Aida senses something and holds the group back...] Aida: _!_ _Stop!_ [Suddenly, the great light/lightning pillar smashes through the ceiling into the floor, blasting a gaping crater and blowing apart most of the room's pillars, blinding the party.] SFX: ::_BOOM_:: pg. 159 [A figure materializes in the light...] Voice: Geh heh... "Warriors"... Beyond this point... [The light dissipates...] Mondain: _YOU SHALL NOT PASS!_ pg. 160 Aida: _MONDAIN!!_ [Mondain grins.] Aida: I had anticipated this when I saw Minax, but... were you resurrected to profit from Exodus's revival?! [But before Aida can get an answer, Genji places his arm in front of her.] pg. 161 [Genji has taken his sword and moved in front of the others, slowly advancing toward Mondain.] Genji: Out of the way, old man. We don't have time to fool around with you... Mondain (grinning): I see. Well, then...let's wrap this up quickly. Bigelow: _Genji!_ _Get down!_ [Mondain lets loose a huge magical blast.] SFX: ::FWROAR:: pg. 162 [The blast hits Genji square in the stomach, knocking him back; the peripheral overrun nearly misses the rest of the group and demolishes the remaining pillars, turning the surroundings to rubble.] SFX: ::ROARRR:: ::CRACKLE:: ::KABOOM BAM:: ::BANG BAM BOOM:: Bigelow: Lennon! Lend me your energy! Aida: _Genji!_ Genji's... [Bigelow, taking hold of both Aida and Lennon, envelops them in a barrier.] Bigelow: You too, Aida! The barrier's the only thing keeping us alive! SFX: ::RUMBLE:: pg. 163 [The ceiling and pillars completely collapse, burying the three in rubble.] SFX: ::CRASH BAM BANG BANG BOOM!:: [After a while, though, we see a statue rise up from the wreckage...] SFX: ::rustle:: [...which, it is revealed, Bigelow has lifted up with his arm.] SFX of sudden lifting: ::BAM:: Lennon: _Lady Aida, are you hurt?_ Aida: I'm all right! Never mind me, though; what about Genji? Bigelow: Don't worry. He is a Dragon Warrior as well. pg. 164 [The three rise to their feet and pick their way through the rubble.] Aida: It's not over yet...right!? Lennon: Of course not! Let's finish this! Bigelow: Even Mondain should be fairly exhausted by that recent act of violence. He'll probably need time to recharge. Lennon: This is our chance to win this! Bigelow: Mm. Aida: The guide beam seems to have disappeared, but... _let's look for the floor with the seals!_ _Genji's sure to be there as well!_ [Speaking of Genji, he has himself rather exhaustedly just set foot on (what's left of) solid ground, the floor in front of him having almost completely given way...] SFX of floor: ::CRACK:: Genji: Whoa... pretty close call. [determined] I thought it was this way, but the guide beam's directions... pg. 165 [Suddenly, a light starts to shine from the floor...] SFX: ::CRACKLE:: Genji: _WAA--_ [Mondain, repowered and recharging, arises from the rubble.] SFX: ::BAM:: [Genji raises his sword to strike...] Genji: _Damn--_ SFX of magic: ::FOW:: [...but Mondain's blast slices its blade in half.] SFX: ::SKREEEE:: pg. 166 Mondain (looking crazed): _PESKY LITTLE BRAT!!_ I'LL _BATHE_ IN YOUR BLOOD!! Genji: _My_ blood, you say... So the other three are still alive!? Mondain (looking even more crazed): _Fool! They've fallen to the deepest depths of this dungeon!_ Genji (looking extremely crazed): _THEY WOULDN'T BITE THE DUST THAT EASILY! DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE DRAGON WARRIORS!_ _IT'S WORTH STABBING AT YOU IF THOSE THREE ARE SAFE!!_ pg. 167 SFX: ::bzz bzz bzz...:: ::bzz:: ::bzzzzzz--:: ::SLAM!:: [Bigelow has used his eye laser to cut a hole in the wall.] Bigelow: I won't be of much help in here, hampered by all the magnetic fields and electromagnetic waves... but I'm positive I can determine our position through my internal gyros. Lennon: ? [Aida and Lennon are a tad perplexed...] Lennon (tentatively): In other words... Aida (flustered but accommodating/understanding): At any rate, you know where we're going, you mean? Bigelow (sweatdropping - if robots can sweatdrop): ...Well, basically speaking. [Bigelow uses his super robo-vision to analyze the surrounding tunnels and passageways...] Bigelow: This way... It'd be nice if there were a passage leading directly up, but... pg. 168 [The group goes through the passage - which eventually leads to a chasm filled with bubbling lava, a massive but narrow-in-the-center bridge composed of a giant carving of a gryphon on one side and an outstretched woman on the other crossing the gap.] SFX of lava: ::bubble:: pg. 169 [Back to the Mondain vs. Genji match. A giant explosion from one of Mondain's spells; Genji dodges just in time, but in defending himself and deflecting the fallout, what is left of the blade on Genji's sword is shattered.] SFX: ::CLANK:: Mondain (still crazed): Fwahah... that sword's no longer of any use! Genji (yep, still crazed himself): Getting a little mellow yourself, aren't ya? Can't whip up the fireworks you did before, can ya? Running low? pg. 170 Mondain (angered): _NONE OF YOUR BACKTALK!!_ SFX: ::FLASH:: [Mondain gears up for a giant blast that he hurls at Genji. Genji rolls out of the way, barely ahead of the charge. He hides behind the remnants of a pillar...] SFX: ::BAM!:: pg. 171 [...but the blast plows through the pillar and square into Genji's back.] SFX: ::BOOM!:: Genji: _WAA--!_ [The force of the blast flips Genji around, so the rest of it nails him once again in the chest.] SFX: ::KRSSSHHH--:: Mondain: _It is settled._ _Die, boy._ [Mondain blasts Genji yet again...] SFX: ::ROAR:: pg. 172 [...and the energy nearly (or possibly completely) rips Genji's right arm off.] SFX: ::SLASH:: [A second blast rips a large hole through Genji's chest, engulfing his whole body.] SFX: ::WHAM:: Genji: AAAAAAAAAAAAA-- pg. 173 [Genji, in the force of the blast, is stunned in shock and horror (just _stunned_?)...] Genji (thinking): I... My God... I'm... ...am I dying!? [Aida suddenly looks up in shocked recognition...] pg. 174 [Aida is stopped dead in her tracks on the bridge. Bigelow looks on as Lennon, concerned, stands before the entranced girl and grabs her shoulders to try to rouse her...] Lennon: _Lady Aida..._ _Lady Aida_-- [Aida, still dazed, gently tilts her head to "look" upward...] Aida: Above! Lennon (worried): Above? Aida (now fully aware): _Genji's directly above us!_ _He's dying..._ _Right now..._ _WE HAVE TO GO ABOVE RIGHT NOW!_ [Above, Genji lies dazed (and possibly minus an arm) before Mondain.] pg. 175 [Mondain, satisfied that Genji is done for, turns away...] Mondain: And now for the other three. Hm? [Behind Mondain, a power begins to well up, around, and in Genji. The spot on Genji's forehead where his dragon mark is begins to shine, and Genji himself begins to sit upright.] Genji (wobbly, without moving his lips): ...I won't die. Mondain: _Impossible!_ [Genji's body bolts full-force upright, the light-force shining from his body, the dragon mark breaking through his bandana, shredding it.] Genji (still not moving his lips - his pupils are all white, too): _Not here..._ _I can't die! Not yet!_ pg. 176 [Genji's body begins to float off the ground; the light from his dragon mark bursts forth, concentrated into a single, strong beam - which forms the image of an actual Chinese-type dragon.] pg. 177 [The projected dragon of light-energy lunges for a surprised Mondain. Meanwhile, Bigelow blasts an energy beam into the magma below him...] SFX: ::VOOOOOOOOM:: pg. 178 [The blast hits the magma...] SFX: ::BLOOSH:: Bigelow: It's reached the pool of magma. Hold on! [Aida and Lennon do so as the blast starts to backfire from the pool...] SFX: ::VOOSH:: Bigelow: Pray that the barrier holds! [A great blast of magma erupts from the pool...] SFX: ::BOOM:: pg. 179 [Above, Genji's light-dragon continues to chase a flying Mondain, it being right on the wizard's heels, about to "devour" him.] Dragon: RRRROAAAAARRR Mondain (angry): --Begone! _Why do you remain?!_ [The energy finally catches Mondain and blasts right through a wall...] SFX: ::BANG:: pg. 180 [...right into a room dominated on one side by a giant Codex symbol, which the energy heads right for.] SFX: ::FWWRRROOAAARR::: Mondain: _This...is the power of an awakened Dragon Warrior?_ Or is it because this is holy ground... Genji (still not moving lips, looking trance-ish/dazed): I wonder... In any case, I can't stop now... I'm connected to so many other lives... that's the reason I've come this far! pg. 181 [Genji's dragon has withdrawn, but he himself is still floating, wrapped in his aura. Suddenly...] SFX: ::RUMBLE:: Genji (thinking): _WHAT?_ Mondain: _GAH_-- _THAT'S_-- [The floor (which neither the floating Mondain or Genji are touching) seems to be crumbling, erupting in fire going straight up to the ceiling...] SFX: ::ROAR!:: ::FWOOSH:: ::BANG!:: pg. 182 SFX: ::BA-BANG BOOM!:: [...and the entire room - floor, pillars, ceiling, and all - begins to collapse. Only the giant seal remains, and both Genji and Mondain stare agape as...] pg. 183 Aida: _GENJI!_ [...Bigelow, Lennon, and Aida zoom out of the crumbling floor, ensconced in their barrier. The giant Codex seal begins to crack and crumble...] SFX: ::ROAR!:: ::BOOM:: [...and a giant sphere, also marked with the Codex seal, comes out, with four dragon heads, each with an orb clutched in its mouth, framing the sphere.] Aida: _Genji... Those wounds..._ Lennon (pointing in opposite direction): Lady Aida! Those are... pg. 184 [Everyone sees the four dragon-heads with the four orbs - the manga's version of the four seals. The dragons start spewing light and fire (oh, yeah, just what we needed in here - _more_ fire and destructive force).] SFX: ::VOOOOOOOOM:: ::FWOOOOOSHHHH:: pg. 185 [The orb seals fly out of the dragons' mouths. Aida, Lennon, and Bigelow seem to be knocked away and apart by the light (or are they "receiving" their orb-seals?).] Mondain: _Damn it_... _HAVE THE SEALS BEEN UNLEASHED?_ [Mondain flies away to escape...] Genji: _!!_ _Is he getting away?..._ [Genji flies up after Mondain in pursuit...] SFX: ::WHOOSH!:: pg. 186 [As Genji pursues Mondain, a third flash of light ascends - an orb-seal, which flies up into Genji's (left) hand.] SFX: ::WHAM:: Genji: _OH_-- [As soon as the orb makes contact, Genji's wounds (and right arm, which apparently was not sliced off but was hanging from his side pretty dead and tenuously) are healed and his body is returned to as good as new.] pg. 187 [Up above the peaceful island of Ambrosia (or above Ambrosia), demons circling lazily overhead - peaceful no longer, as Mondain and Genji blow the top off the mountain in their pursuit, flying ever higher.] SFX: ::BOOM:: Someone or something screaming: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH pg. 188 Mondain: _Demons!_ _Prepare the gate!_ [The demons circle head to tail, forming a portal in the circular space between them above Mondain.] SFX: ::FWOOSH:: Genji (angrily): _Trying to escape!?_ [Genji tightens his grip on the orb; with a flash, it transforms into a large scimitar-esque sword with a dragon seal on the hilt.] SFX: ::FLASH:: pg. 189 [Genji takes the sword, soars up to Mondain -] Mondain (noticing Genji): GWAH-- [- and -] SFX: ::SLASH!:: Mondain: _GYAAAAAaa--_ [- slashes off his left arm (payback for before, I suppose).] pg. 190 [Mondain still escapes through the gate, though. Genji strikes a manly-man pose above the smouldering island (I guess he's entitled to, though, after almost dying in such a decidedly unpleasant way and almost getting his arm blasted off). Meanwhile, above in the sky, Trammel and Felucca tremble and crackle with energy...] SFX: ::SKREEEEE:: pg. 191 [Elsewhere, a harsh wind blows through a barren landscape dominated by a many-stories high set of massive stone doors set in a mountain-face with giant sea-serpents carved on them. A line of refugees files past the scene.] SFX of wind: ::HOWWWWLLLLL:: Man (shaking fallen comrade): Hey - hang in there! Man in Turban (presumably the leader): Stop - let him go - he's dead. Another Man: _I can't stand it anymore! Wherever we run to, it's always the same..._ Sosaria is finished! Man in Turban: Will you shut up?! We're nearing the Demon's Doors! [Suddenly, a flock of something appears in the far sky...] MIT: _Incoming!_-- Man 3: Everybody run--! pg. 192 Demons: KYAAAAAAA-- [It's Mondain's demons; they carry off various members of the caravan as they fly by. The refugees try to duck and cover...] MIT: _Don't concern yourselves with the fallen!_ If we stop, we'll _all_ be killed! [But, suddenly...] SFX: ::FLASH:: MIT: _!?_ SFX: ::FWOOSH:: [A giant white light cannon-like blasts all the demons away. The shocked refugees look up -] MIT: _...That's--_ pg. 193 [Onto the scene, through the path so dramatically cleared for them, stride Genji, Aida, Lennon, and Bigelow - confident and determined as proper noble heroes should be.] pg. 194 Man 4: That's... MIT: Who are they...? Man 4 (pointing worriedly to (albeit empty) sky): _Hey!_ This isn't the time to stand and gawk! That group of demons is-- Voice from the Light: Go, quickly. Leave this place to us. [We see that the light is coming from the direction of the heroes, still walking away, toward the Demon's Doors, without looking back. The voice is Aida's, presumably relayed and amplified through thought transmission.] Aida (in thought transmission): Be patient - for just a little longer. We will reclaim Sosaria's peace. I promise. MIT: Ohh! [All the refugees stop to look as the heroes walk off to the Demon's Doors.] pg. 195 [Meanwhile...] Exodus: Awaken...... SFX: ::FLASH:: [From beyond the breach...] Exodus: Awaken, Mondain! SFX: ::FLARE:: ::bubble:: ::KA-BAM:: [...reaches a clawed hand. Mondain bursts through - somewhere below Exodus's four-pronged Ark-of-the-Devil-Covenant thing, but something is wrong...] pg. 196 SFX: ::HSSSSSSS:: [Mondain has a left arm again - but not _his_ arm. _This_ arm is slimy, clawed, with reptilian ridges, exposed muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, the patches of skin remaining bubbly and blechy. The entire left half of Mondain's body is like this now, actually. (The ultimate punishment - Mondain is subjected to one of the artist's chara designs.)] SFX of Mondain's arm hitting ground: ::SPLOOSH:: Mondain (looking at arm): My arm...is restored, but... but this arm is...? Exodus: Your body is not yet perfect, but there is no time to spare. Mondain: Exodus!? Exodus: British's servants are drawing close... Meet them! Give me time! pg. 197 [We see Trammel and Felucca trembling and crackling yet again...] Exodus: ...For _we_ need just a little more longer to transition into this realm. [Back to British's servants, who're passing by many slaughtered creatures, both normal and monster.] Aida (presumably): The Dark Conjunction has begun. If we don't hurry... [The four walk to directly before the Demon's Doors.] pg. 198 [Lennon seizes his orb-seal, which, as Genji's transformed into a sword, transforms into a horn - presumably the manga version of the Silver Horn (which is quite neatly depicted here - a futuristic-type horn, its design based upon that of a nautilus shell). Lennon sounds the horn...] SFX in English: ::WOOOOOOO:: [...and the Devil's Doors start to crumble under its sonic waves...] SFX of waves: ::HIHIHIHIHIHIHIIIII--:: SFX of doors: ::CRUMBLE:: pg. 199 SFX: ::RUMMMMBBBBLLLE:: ::BAM BANG KA-BOOM:: ::BOOM:: [The doors completely shatter/crumble - only to reveal a sea serpent like those carved on the doors, every bit as humongous as the doors which once held it back.] pg. 200 Lennon: The guardian beast of the castle threshold. Genji: The Crimson Serpent? Bigelow: Leave that to me. Aida (anxiously, quickly turning): What? No! Not by yourself! [Meanwhile, energy crackles even more between Trammel and Felucca, nearly aligned - so much energy, in fact, that it illuminates the night sky.] SFX: ::FLASH:: [But the Crimson Serpent is the group's more immediate problem...] SFX: ::RUMBLE:: Lennon: _The Conjunction has begun!_ _We don't have time to argue! Hurry!_ pg. 201 [The four rush forward, but the snake/serpent darts forth.] Serpent: GII? _GIYEEEEEEEEEEE--_ pg. 202 Bigelow: Climb on. [All three humans do so, and Bigelow blasts them up over the serpent's charge.] SFX: ::POW:: ::VOOOOOOOM:: [Suddenly, Bigelow takes all three and flings them to the other side of the chasm in which the serpent dwells...] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: Bigelow: _GO! I'll leave the rest to you!_ pg. 203 [...just before the serpent recoils, chomping its jaws and massive rows of thin, murderous dagger-like teeth down on the robot's waist.] SFX: ::CRUNCH:: [The three humans, meanwhile, land on the other side of the chasm.] SFX: ::BAM:: Aida (landing on her bottom): _Ouch!_ [Genji and Lennon land equally roughly, but all attention is shortly diverted by Bigelow's plight.] Aida: _Bigelow!_ Genji: _Don't look back!_ We can't think about anything but stopping Exodus now! [The three run until they stop and reach...] Genji: _OH_-- Lennon: That's... pg. 204 [...the threshhold of Exodus Castle. Lightning-like power is funneling down from the sky into its summit...] Aida: The summit... The place where that electric discharge is being gathered is the place from which Exodus... Lennon: Hey. We have another welcoming party. pg. 205 [A giant flock of demons riding other demons descends. Genji and Lennon fire up their orb/seal laser/light swords...] SFX: ::FOOM:: Aida: Is that?... Genji: Let's do it for Bigelow! _GO! Cut down EVERYTHING in our path!_ pg. 206 [Meanwhile, back to Bigelow, still crushed between the Crimson Serpent's teeth.] Bigelow: With such a discrepancy in our sizes, I have no options left to me. ...First time I've ever said that, I suppose. They've infiltrated the heart of Death Castle... The rest, it seems...is to be taken out of my hands... [The dragon seal on Bigelow's chest flashes. The serpent's mouth and head - along with the robot - blow apart.] SFX: ::FLASH:: SFX: ::CHE-BANG-BANG-BANG-BOOM!!:: pg. 207 [Meanwhile, the three humans race through the castle. One of the many monsters accosts Aida...] SFX: ::CHOMP:: Aida: _Kya--_ [...but Genji slashes it along with a few of the other creatures.] pg. 208 [Meanwhile, Trammel and Felucca's continuing conjunction continues to funnel ever stronger energy to Exodus's platform. A bubble of energy expands to the center of the platform, almost engulfing the entire space between the prongs, but...] SFX: ::CREAK CREAK CREAK:: ::KA-CREAK CREAK CREAK CREEEEE--:: ::BAM BAM BAM BAM:: ::GRAAAA:: ::RUMBLE:: pg. 209 Exodus: I cannot escape... I cannot absorb the energy... SFX: ::RUMBLE CRASH BANG CRASH CREAK:: Exodus: The seals inhibit him. They...the warriors...are approaching...have they activated all the seals? SFX coming from ?: ::OOHHHHHHHHH:: [The threesome continue through the castle, entering a gate that appears to lead to the castle's inner keep.] pg. 210 [As they make their way through the hall, the warriors see a shrouded, hulking-yet-hunched figure standing directly in their way - Mondain.] Genji (calmly): So you survived, Mondain? ...Get out of the way. Your power can't stop us anymore. pg. 211 Genji: _Look!_ [Genji ignites his orb-seal into his scimitar.] SFX: ::FLASH:: Genji: The seals... the control mechanisms have already begun to activate! And we've already breached the barrier protecting Death Castle - we've got as much power as it does! _The power to bring D.C. and everything in it to its knees!_ [Note: From bitter experience, I have learned that there are a good number of folks in Japan who don't quite understand that initialisms and acronyms have to be in some degree of popular usage to communicate their intended meaning. Anyhow, back to the manga: Unheeding, Mondain charges forth like an animal.] Mondain: Grr... SFX: ::WHOOSH:: pg. 212 [Trammel and Felucca are completely aligned, shining with fearful force. Violent winds and dark skies sweep over Castle British.] Villager: _The moons!_ Villager 2: It's all over! It's the end of the world! pg. 213 [Little reptilian crawlies seep through the walls of Castle British.] SFX: ::chiii:: ::chitter chitter chitter chitter:: [A cane smashes them back.] SFX: ::BASH:: Cane-Wielding Old Bobbit-Man from before: All kinds of spirits and goblins are creeping out of the surrounding darkness... Head Noble: Because the Conjunction has begun... Old Man: Hell on earth is being unleashed upon this planet...... Were the warriors from another world too late...? Head Noble (pointing out the window): _Look! The mountains!_ [We see the noble pointing to the Serpent's Spine Mountains, which're rumbling...] SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Old Man: The Great Earth Serpent. pg. 214 SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Old Man: The guardian spirit of this planet is beginning to succumb to Exodus. [The mountains' rumbling culminates in an absolute explosion - the mountains absolutely shatter, and the giant light-form of the Great Earth Serpent emerges...] SFX: ::OOOHHHHHHHH:: pg. 215 [Meanwhile, Genji and Mondain continue to clash - Mondain blasts magic at Genji, but Genji easily deflects the blasts with his swords (he has two now, both orb-magical, apparently).] SFX: ::CRACKLE:: ::CHING!!:: Mondain: D-- _Dammit!_ [Lennon attacks Mondain from the side.] SFX: ::CLANG:: [Mondain holds Lennon's sword back with his demon-hand, but the blow still causes the wizard grief...] Mondain: UHHhh... Genji: _Mondain!_ pg. 216 [Genji uses Lennon's distraction to attack Mondain off-guard; he plunges his sword straight into the wizard's heart...] SFX: ::THUD:: ::splut:: Mondain: _FILTHY BRAT--!!_ SFX: ::FLASH:: [Mondain blasts Genji with his right hand, but Genji manages to deflect the blow. He then tries to slash Genji with his demon-hand, lengthening his claws Wolverine-style...] SFX: ::SNIKT:: [...but Lennon rushes forth to fend off _that_ blow.] SFX: ::CHING!:: [Groaning in apparent defeat, Mondain slumps to the ground.] Mondain: GAAAAHHHHhhh... pg. 217 [But, meanwhile, the Great Earth Serpent is breaking loose, and Exodus is receiving mucho heavenly electric energy. The lid of the ark clunks against the chains, but...] SFX: ::SHUDDER:: ::THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP:: ::RATTLE:: Exodus: _I cannot leave!_ _The bonds restrict my actions!_ A separate breach somewhere... Some sort of exit... SFX: ::OOOHHHHHHHH:: pg. 218 [Back in the hallway, the three heroes watch as Mondain, impaled and hunched over, seemingly leers at them from over his shoulder.] Genji: Give it up, Mondain!... [A pause, then...a sudden explosion somewhere - the same sort of gathering-fire and heartbeat we saw at the beginning of the manga.] SFX: ::THROB THROB:: pg. 219 [Genji, with a sword in hand, strides toward Mondain...] Genji: Poor thing. Roused from your sleep, called forth from hell, being worked _so_ hard... and after all that... [Genji takes his blade and prepares to slash...] Genji: ...to end up like _this!!_ _Allow ME to give you your rest!_ SFX: ::SLASH:: SFX: ::BANG:: [Mondain screams - but not because Genji's blade has struck.] SFX: ::AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA:: [Instead, Mondain's mouth, then head splits open (wouldn't this artist be happier drawing _Genocyber_ or something?), and a many-eyed, slimy, bloody - oh, you know what this artist's style is by now, right? - snake-like thing jumps out to meet Genji's blade...] SFX: ::CLANG:: ::THUNK:: Genji: GRAH! pg. 220 [...which heralds a cavalcade of gore, slime, and everything disgusting at this artist's disposal in a slew of snake-like creatures with nothing but eyes and teeth for heads.] SFX: ::CRACKKK:: ::SCREECH:: ::SQUEAL:: ::SPLAT:: ::KER-RACK CRACK CRACKKKK:: Lennon: AAAH!! Many-Headed...Thing: OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH pg. 221 SFX: ::CHOMP:: [Genji uses his blade to hold one of the heads at bay...] Genji: _Mondain?_ _You've still got this much power?..._ SFX of monsters near Aida: ::HISSSSSS:: ::HISSSSSS: Aida: _No, Genji!_ _It isn't Mondain!_ This is-- Exodus: _I'M FREE!_ _I'VE FOUND MY EXIT!!_ pg. 222 Aida: _EXODUS!_ Exodus is using Mondain's body as a channel... [Genji and Lennon struggle to hold the monstrosity back. Aida seizes her orb/seal and throws it at Exodus...] Aida: _SEAL!_ _Close the breach!_ SFX: ::FWOOSH:: [The orb sails through the multitude of heads...] pg. 223 [...and finds its mark in the middle of the gory mass, causing a giant explosion of light and howling.] SFX: ::GRAAHHH:: ::GYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH:: [Lennon manages to stab the morass witih his seal-sword...] Lennon (I think): AGHH-- SFX: ::THUD:: ::SMASH:: [...but is instantly blown away by the backlash.] Genji: _Lennon!_ SFX: ::ZAP:: pg. 224 Lennon: _UWOOAAA--_ Aida: _LENNON!_ [Exodus howls in pain.] Exodus: OOHHHHHH... [Genji drives his orb-sword in, dealing the final blow in a blinding flash of light.] SFX: ::SLAM:: ::FLASH:: pg. 225 [Outside, we see a metallic hand - that of Bigelow, who, having lost both his legs and an arm in the previous explosion (the sea-serpent one), is using it (his hand) to pull himself along.] SFX: ::WHRR WHRR:: [Hearing the sound of the (latest) explosion, he looks up...] SFX: ::BOOM!:: Bigelow: _!?_ _What's that? That tremor..._ [A pause, and then the Death Castle lights up with another, greater explosion.] SFX: ::FLASH:: pg. 226 SFX: ::FLASH:: [Still receiving energy from above, the Death Castle is completely lit up from inside. SFX of howling: ::AOOOHHHHHHHH:: [Meanwhile, along the Serpent's Spine, the Great Earth Serpent (which is actually somewhat like a Chinese dragon - the one that came out of Genji during the first Mondain fight, probably) breaks completely free.] SFX of mountains: ::CRACK!:: pg. 227 [Giant waves of light and debris exude from the castle (or the mountains near the castle). Along with the debris is carried the body of -] SFX: ::THUD:: Bigelow: _Lennon!_ [- who lands with a thud not too far from his robotic comrade. Bigelow pulls himself to where Lennon has landed and shelters the fallen bard with his remaining arm. Further explosions erupt outside...] SFX: ::BANG:: SFX of howling: ::OHHHHHH:: SFX: ::KA-BANG:: pg. 228 [Inside, though, all is quiet, with Aida and Genji looking at the smouldering heap in the middle of the room, four blades sticking up out of it (for Lennon's sword, Genji's two swords (did he have two seals?), and perhaps Aida's seal?). Aida, smiling, goes to an also-smiling Genji.] Genji: You all right? Aida: Yeah, but......it looks like Lennon was thrown outside. Genji (smiling calmly): Let's go find him. It's all over. The breach has been sealed, after all. pg. 229 [But then...] SFX: ::BOOM!:: [Aida and Genji frantically reach for each other...] Genji: _!?_ Aida: _AAAH!--_ SFX: ::CRACK!:: [...and the floor beneath them then rumbles and shatters beneath their feet in a fiery rage.] SFX: ::KA-BOOM:: ::BANG CRACK KA-BAM:: pg. 230 [Founts of lava and light spew forth from the top of the castle...] Exodus: _HAHAHA! I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE GREAT EARTH SERPENT!_ _THE GUARDIAN SPIRIT OF THIS PLANET!_ SFX: ::crack crack crack ka-rack:: [The chains binding Exodus's ark break, and the lid bursts open...] SFX: ::KA-BANG:: Exodus: _In consuming this energy..._ pg. 231 [Energy begins to spew and explode from the castle, destroying everything, miscellaneous eruptions breaking out...] Exodus: _I AM REVIVED!!_ SFX: ::SKREEEEEEESKREEESKREEEEESHRIEEEEEEEKK:: pg. 232 [Everything is going all to hell.] SFX: ::CRASH BANG BOOM BANG:: Bigelow (crouched over): _What is this...!?_ _Is the entire planet shaking!?_ [Inside...] Genji: _What the hell's going on?!_ Aida: This is... _It's Exodus!_ Genji: _What? ...Now!? Didn't we seal him away!?_ SFX: ::RRROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR:: Aida: _Mondain's body was like a subsidiary channel..._ We were careless! Exodus's _real_ body was elsewhere... Genji (panicked): Then... _Whatta we do!? We used the control mechanisms to seal Mondain away..._ _We've got nothing left!_ Aida (anxious): ...... pg. 233 [Suddenly, the ground and lava explodes directly in front of the two...] SFX: ::BANG!:: Aida: UWAAA!! [and a giant serpent/dragon head rears up out of the magma...] Aida: _THE EARTH SPIRIT!?_ _Exodus was using us?_ [Aida rushes toward the Great Earth Serpent.] Aida: _STOP, HOLY SPIRIT OF THE EARTH!!_ Genji (frenzied): _AIDA!_... _H-Hey! Watch ou--_ pg. 234 [The flames seem to totally engulf Aida...] Genji (stunned): ...A-- [...but Aida's form is still seen standing within the flames...] Genji: _AIDA!!_ [We see Aida traveling/flying down a sort of tunnel...] SFX: ::RRRROOOOOOAAAARRRRRR:: Aida (through thought): Great Earth Serpent! Stop! Stop lending your power to Exodus... [But there is a dark flash back from the end of the tunnel, and a howl...] SFX: GWOOOHHHHHHH... pg. 235 Aida (shielding her eyes): Agh... [But Aida hangs in there...] Aida: Serpent! _Spirit of the Earth!_ _Remember!_ _YOU ARE THE GREAT SPIRIT OF THIS PLANET!!_ _The very purpose of your power...is to suppress Exodus!_ _But instead, it's being used to fuel his resurrection!_ As the intermediary between the people and the earth... I will offer up my life. So, please, come to your senses! Where is your sense of purpose - your _will?_ _Where!?_ [Aida waits in anxious anticipation...] pg. 236 [...and sees a vision - of Genji, the dragon sigil on his forehead alight. Meanwhile, Exodus's floating ark is jolted...] SFX: ::RRRROOOOAAAARRRRR:: pg. 237 SFX: ::RUMBLE...:: [The whole of Death Castle is jolted. The Great Earth Serpent breaks free of Exodus's ark, encircling and seemingly attacking the thing within...] Earth Serpent: ::GRRAAAAAAAHHHH:: SFX: ::KABOOOOOM:: ::KA-BANG:: Exodus: Heh heh... So it's _you_, is it?! Sooo, you've tamed the earth spirit? SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Exodus: _But it's too late!_ _The orbs of the seals have burst open! My fetters have been undone!_ SFX: ::HISSSSSS:: pg. 238 [Waves of destruction and debris pass over Lennon and Bigelow, the scene positively apocalyptic around them.] SFX: ::RRRROOOOAAARRRR:: [Exodus's ark violently shakes, continuing to be propelled in the air...] Exodus: _SOON, TRAMMEL AND FELUCCA WILL OPEN THE DARK GATE - AND THE POWER IT WILL UNLEASH WILL FINISH THE JOB!_ Genji (watching destruction, screaming): Aida! _AIDAAA!_ [Suddenly, Genji spots something before him...] Genji: _!!_ pg. 239 [Her body collapsed on a portion of the broken floor before him, Genji takes Aida into his arms...] SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Genji: _AIDAAAA!!_ [Aida does not answer. Genji's face falls.] Genji (thinking): They're all... I'm the only one left... _!_ [Suddenly, Aida's eyes open slightly.] Genji (ecstatic): Aida! You're alive!? Hold on! I'll get you out of here! [But Aida tightly grasps Genji's arm, motioning for him to stop. Genji is shocked; Aida weakly but serenely smiles...] Aida: It's not finished yet. The rest of the fight is up to you. Genji (starting to cry): I.........I... Aida: It's all right...you'll... pg. 240 [But Aida collapses. Genji, stunned, tenderly reaches one hand up to cradle her head in disbelief...] Genji (distraught): Aida! I... didn't get a chance to tell you... [Genji kneels down, Aida's body still in his arms.] Genji: But I had so many things I had to say... Aida. ...... [Suddenly, the whole floor (again) flies violently up all around Genji...] SFX: ::CRACK BANG BOOM RUMBLE RUMBLE:: pg. 241 [The ruins of Death Castle smoulder and burn around Genji...] Genji: ...dus. Exodus. [Genji, crying, presses Aida's head to his own.] Genji: _EXODUS!_ [Genji looks up, then clenches his face in rage -] Genji: _I WON'T ALLOW THIS!!_ pg. 242 [Genji continues to hold Aida's body as a light begins to envelop and become one with them; the light and they themselves begin to shoot up to the heavens.] SFX: ::ROAR:: [Lennon and Bigelow watch from "outside"; then they, too, are enveloped in light and shoot up into the sky as well.] SFX: ::FLASH:: ::ROAR:: pg. 243 SFX: ::CRACK:: [Genji, in light, watches as Exodus's ark shatters.] SFX: ::BANG:: [The warriors' lights shoot up to the expanding blackness that was where the ark once was...] SFX: ::ROAR:: pgs. 244-245 [The light combines with the Great Earth Serpent, which rails against the newly-revived, gigantic, full-fledged form of Exodus seen in Nagaraja's flashback...] pg. 246 [Above, Trammel and Felucca, completely aligned and crackling with energy, focus their gathered power and act as a giant cannon, blasting a veritable crater into the surface of Sosaria...] SFX: ::KA-BOOOOM:: pg. 247 [In Britain, the villagers watch the darkened sky above in horror.] Villager: Ohh! Th--that's-- [The head noble and the old man watch from the castle windows...] Old Man: They're colliding! The black magic power and white magic power have clashed...... in mutual annihilation! [...as the blast from the moons annihilates their own castle.] pg. 248 [The blast erupts over the earth, flushing the oceans over the land, leaving nothing but a crater where Castle British once stood and devastation over the entire planet...] pg. 249 [Utterly no life is left in all of Sosaria. But, out of the deadened earth...] SFX: ::pop:: [...one small sprout abruptly pops up...and then, just as violently as it was obliterated, the scarred earth is recovered with green, the dead trees revived and releafed, the streams refilled. The sun shines over the whole planet, sparkling anew with abundant life. In a small glen in a dense wood, we see the collapsed form of Aida...] pg. 250 [...who suddenly, groggily arises, no longer dead herself.] Aida: ...ah... [Aida (dressed in an off-the-shoulder Greco-Roman short white toga/dress) gets up and looks around, marveling yet puzzled at the surrounding greenery. She notices the area below her shoulder where her dragon mark was - and finds that it has disappeared.] Aida: ...The mark...it's gone!... Voice: Aida! [Aida turns around - to find Genji, amazed and thrilled to see Aida (and also toga-clad). The two rush to each other and joyously embrace...] Genji: _Aida!_ [Aida tousles Genji's hair and discovers...] Aida: _Genji! Your mark has disappeared too!_ pg. 251 [The two walk out of the grove, marveling at the renewed earth.] Genji: Is it over? Aida (smiling): It seems so, doesn't it? Faraway Voice: Heeyyy! [Suddenly, Aida spots two (togaed) figures walking toward them - Lennon (cheerfully waving) and a confident-yet-intent massive man - the very one from Nagaraja's vision of the warriors' future selves...] Genji: Lennon! And...is that-- Bigelow? That's right - you _did_ look like that back there, _didn't_ you?! pg. 252 [The four friends happily rush to greet each other beneath a bright, sunny sky. The frame scales back to show a restored, renewed Sosaria.] In the sky, the light of peace... and upon the earth, its waves. ~~THE END~~