Sacred Stone Memories Chapter 11/Quest 16 - Storyline

Dark Winds

Seida	Incredible. Any other person would be dead from so much blood loss.
Kanon	How could he have been fighting in such a condition?!
Sol	What are you blabbering on about? If you won't make a move, then—! ...!
Kudanstein	What's the matter? Can't move?
Sol	Wha—?!
Kudanstein	Three minutes, huh? What a surprise. We thought you were making bold threats, but it turns out you were just pressed by your physical limits.
Sol	Heh, you still have no idea who you're up against. Fine, I'll kill you first! Ugh...! I-I can't...!
Seida	Your body cannot handle any more, no matter how hard you push yourself.
Sol	Nonsense! Urgh! Don't you dare underestimate me! I am the sun that was born in the sunken city without light! I cannot lose! My destiny is to win!
Kudanstein	Let me ask you this.
Sol	What?!
Kudanstein	You are holding your life together with nothing more than sheer force of will. What drives you to do so? What are you fighting against?
Sol	Heh, all of you have lived such easy lives... None of you will ever understand!
Kudanstein	What do you mean?
Sol	What I fight against...is this world that allows inequity to prevail! This whole world is my adversary!
Acht	Nngh... S-Sol!
Miuna	The whole world? What are you talking about?
Acht	J-just as Sol said... None of you could ever understand. Rejected by this world, we were not allowed to exist, let alone survive. I bet none of you have ever had to endure such an experience.
Bud	Not even to exist?
Acht	The absolute justice you preach is nothing more than naivete. The world we will design will give everybody an equal chance. At least we will not try to compartmentalize people the way you all have. Any and all people will live equally, as long as they have a strong will to survive. That is the fair world Sol plans to design for us.
Chloe	In other words, a world defined by the idea of survival of the fittest.
Othima	That may be the most natural way of life for all living creatures. However, that is a state that the existence of human society itself will resist.
Neun	What?!
Vettel	Today's society is built on the idea that anybody can pursue a life of happiness. This world maintains a delicate cycle under that idea. Your ideals are laudable, but if they were to be realized, they would be the downfall of society.
Neun	You trying to say today's society is perfect?! A society in which the likes of us aren't allowed to exist?!
Vettel	Of course we don't intend on abandoning you. There must be a way we can exist side-by-side and—!
Neun	Shut up!
Basheeny	Oh, no! Captain Othima's spell was broken!
Neun	Your kind is always the same! Spitting pretty words, but never really doing anything to change the reality! I've seen dozens of comrades slaughtered after falling for these honeyed words!
Vettel	No! I really mean to—!
Neun	We're tired of these lies! I will only believe Sol, and follow him as he fights on, for us!
Basheeny	Us...?
Kudanstein	!
Sol	...
Neun	He will never stop fighting for we who have fallen through the cracks of society! He never gives up! He's our light and our hope, the sun for all of us who were cast out of your world! I will not let you get in his way!
Later...
Acht	Nngh... Neun...is right! We cannot stop here! We are the only ones who can bring hope to those who are oppressed!
Yauras	Here they come! Kagura!
Kagura	Right!
Sol	Neun... Acht... J-just watch. I will lead you both...into our n-new era! Huzzaaaaahh!!! Plasma Burst!!!
Seida Kanon	...
Sol	Haaa... Haaa... Heh, too bad.
Seida	Are you okay?
Kanon	Somehow.
Sol	You...?!
Kudanstein	Pathetic. You're nowhere near as threatening as you were earlier. Looks like you're headed to the afterlife, not the future.
Sol	Urgh! Shut your mouth! You think I'm done?!
Kudanstein	Yeah, I do. I'm putting an end to this myself.
Seida	Captain Kudan, wait!
Kudanstein	What?
Seida	There's an ominous dark wind circling around him! You shouldn't get too close!
Kanon	Sol's body is glowing? What is he about to do?
Neun	You have all been nuisances for long enough! Die!
Vettel	...
Basheeny	Whoa! Everybody, get ready to defend yourselves!
Othima	Wrong, Basheeny. This is exactly when we should attack.
Basheeny	What?! D-do you have a plan?! Not only do physical attacks not harm him, but he can break himself out of your spells!
Othima	I might. As we've already seen, a simple attack is not enough to damage him. However, there is no way a person can bulk up the protection they have inside.
Basheeny	In...side?
Othima	Yep. I call it: The Lightning Rod Strategy!
Vettel	You plan to funnel magic directly into his internal organs?
Othima	You are a sharp one, Captain Vettel.
Vettel	How do you intend to accomplish this?
Othima	Right, so...that's the biggest problem. For this to work, someone is going to have to thrust a weapon of some sort into his flesh. While dodging his powerful swings, of course.
Neun	What are you all prattling on about?! It doesn't matter what your plan is! I will rend you all into bloody, dripping shreds and glory in it!
Othima	Whoa, that was...visceral. That guy is super scary! I didn't know I could still get goosebumps like this as a Phantom!
Basheeny	Th-there is no time to be scared! How are we going to put this plan into action?!
Othima	The plan? The key agent for this mission is already on the move.
Vettel	The key agent?
Othima	Yes. He took action before I even explained the details to him. I envy you for having such an excellent retainer.
Vettel	Who...? Oh!
Neun	I am going to tear into your body and shred your flesh to strips! Let me see your blood!
???	Huzzzaahhh!!!
Neun	What the—?!
Victor	!
Neun	Urgh! Why, you little...!
Victor	I did it! Captain Vettel! Look, I stabbed him! You shouldn't have underestimated the Scarlet Flame Guard, you gorilla!
Neun	Tch! You little brat!
Basheeny Vettel	Huzzzaahhh!!!
Neun	Urgh?! Why, you—! Huh?
Othima	I shouldn't have expected any less from the famed Scarlet Flame Guard. You did well too, Basheeny. You've made your teacher proud. I can leave the future in your hands with confidence.
Neun	Y-you...?
Othima	I can understand what you and your friends are going through, but the beliefs you hold dear will never be compatible with this world. I'm sorry. You've caused too much trouble among the living. You will be able to riot to your heart's content in the world of the dead.
Sol	Neun! Get out of there!
Othima	Absolute Zero!!!
Neun	Grraaagh!
Acht	Neun!
Neun	Nng! Ugff! You...bastards...always making us into...outcasts. Are we not...e-even allowed to...pursue...the sky we dreamed of? S-Sol, please... K-kill these bastards... Set...L-Lost Blue...free. Grrraaaaaahh!!!
Sol	...!
Acht	No...
Victor	We did it! B-but...
Basheeny	This...doesn't feel...right.
Othima	If you think of all the casualties he caused and victims he left behind, his actions were irredeemable, and yet... He was acting on his own ideas of justice. That's no small thing. We shouldn't just let it fade away. Do you understand?
Basheeny	Yes, sir.
Sol	Unforgivable...
Kanon	Huh?
Sol	Those who hurt one of our own must be annihilated. That is our code! I am going to kill you all! I will slaughter every single one of you, no matter what!
Seida	The dark wind within Sol is surging even stronger than before!
Acht	No! Sol, you can't!
???	Love can be a strength, but in the same vein, it can also become a weakness. The person I yearn for taught me that.
Acht	What?
Spica	Allowing love to be your priority will interfere with your concentration. I was once told that it is better to discard affection if it becomes blind love. Lord Zahar, I now know that you were expressing your concern for me with those words.
Acht	Grk!
Sol	Acht!
Acht	Nn...ngh! T-take it back! You dare...s-say my affection...for S-Sol is my...weakness?! I-if you intend...to ridicule my feelings—!
Spica	No, please understand. I am envious.
Acht	En...vious?
Spica	Yes, I am. I envy you for being able to blindly devote yourself to the one you care for. I can never again meet the person I wish to devote myself to.
Acht	Wha—?!
Spica	Those left alive must accept the death of those who are gone, but there is no feat more agonizing. There are times I wish I had followed him to the other side, but I cannot muster the courage to make that choice.
Acht	You...
Spica	To be honest, I don't know what the right thing to do is anymore. I am so lost. The honesty of your devotion will surely reach his heart, unlike mine. That precious soul of yours will surely accompany his to the end.
Acht	Agh!
Sol	Acht!
Acht	The...s-sky we chased after...f-for so long... I-it's fading...but... My soul...will n-never stop...following you. P-please keep me b-by your side.
Sol	Of course I will.
Spica	...
Acht	Nng! I...am s-so glad to...have been...w-with you.
Sol	Acht!!!
Spica	I am glad to have been allowed to bear witness to your passion.
Miuna	Spica...
Sol	...
Kudanstein	You're the only one left.
Othima	...
Yauras	Even you cannot defeat us all.
Kagura	...
Othima	We will stop you before you do something that can't be undone. That's the least I can do as someone who shares the same hometown.
Kagura	What do you mean "before"?! He's already caused so much damage! You'll atone for everything you've done!
Kanon	You've brought terror into the lives of the people of Babel, and caused substantial harm. As the Lord Commander, the keeper of the peace, I cannot forgive you!
Kudanstein	What do have you to say for yourself?
Sol	...
Kudanstein	Hmph. You don't even have the strength to talk back, do you?
Seida	No...
Kanon	Huh?
Sol	Vier... Füry...
Kudanstein	What is he...?
Sol	Sieba... Zehn... Neun... Acht...
Seida	No... The dark wind within Sol is getting stronger!
Kagura	Huh?!
Sol	This is an unexpected turn of events. I don't think our dreams are going to come true on this day. But I can fulfill one last promise to you. These bastards who took your lives... I will slaughter every single one of them!
Yauras	Here he comes!
Kudanstein	Agh!
Kanon	Hrgh...!
Kagura	Ugh!
Sol	I will end it all here. Beg for forgiveness from those friends of mine who you have condemned to the afterlife.
Yauras	He's...so fast! I-I can't see him!
Seida	Th-there's not even time for me to try to sense his presence!
Othima	This is a bit of a pickle. We need to think of something, quick!
Sol	There is nothing you can do! The next strike will be the end of you!
Othima	Seriously?! Can't you give me a little time to think?
Sol	Haha...hahahaha... I forgot to mention how I hate being alone. I'll have you all follow me to hell!
Kanon	Y-you have to be kidding me!
Seida	He's... He's going to use all of his remaining power in this one moment!
Kagura	You mean...self-destruct?!
Yauras	Kudan, can you still fight?
Kudanstein	What?
Yauras	If that man intends to self-destruct, then we have to take him out with one swift blow. You and Kanon, the two with the most remarkable offensive capabilities, are the only ones we can trust with this task.
Seida	I agree that this is the most pragmatic option. Do you think you're up for it, Kanon?
Kanon	Of course! I can't just stand around and do nothing!
Othima	I guess that would be the only option. Can you do it, Captain Kudan?
Kudanstein	...
Kagura	Kudan!
Sol	All right, then! Let's go out with a bang!
Seida	Oh no! His energy is rising at an incredible rate!
Yauras	I'll draw his attention! Seida, can you pinpoint the source of his dark wind?!
Seida	Yes... We'll have to aim for the core of his energy! Let's go, Kanon!
Kanon	Got it!
Othima	Wow, they make a great team! Well, I guess this leaves me with only one job left to do. Hey, Kagura?
Kagura	I know what you're thinking! Kudan, we're counting on you!
Kudanstein	...
Victor	Captain Vettel! What can we do?
Vettel	Their teamwork is flawless. If we were to try anything, we'd just be getting in their way.
Miuna	Tch! So we can only stand by and watch?!
Spica	...
Chloe	Kanon, you've got this!
Sol	Hmph! No matter what you may be plotting, it is too late!
Yauras	...
Sol	Isn't that right, Captain Yauras?
Chloe	He figured out our plan?!
Sol	You just don't learn, do you?
Yauras	...
Sol	What?! Where did she go?!
Yauras	It would be wise to remember that there is not a single captain of the Holy Guard that does not know how to learn from their past experiences! Immortal Rose!!!
Sol	Agh! Nngh! Y-you...
Yauras	Seida!
Seida	I see it! The source of his dark wind... The core of it is in his solar plexus!
Sol	You're all dead!
Seida	H-his energy... It's surging through him!
Chloe	Everybody, get down!
Sol	Burn! All of you!
Bud	Whoa!
Sol	What? Why did nothing happen?
???	H-hurry!
Sol	What?!
Kagura	I-I can't hold it...for long!
Sol	Redhead! Tch! Dang you for using your phoenix to suppress the blast! Again!
???	Heartbreaking Arrow!!!
Sol	Nngh?!
Seida	Got him! That one definitely pierced his core!
Sol	Urgh! Y-you lot think this...will kill me?!
???	Not yet, of course. Seida, thanks for getting the lightning rod where it needs to be!
Sol	What are you—?!
Othima	I'm sorry to inform you, but we'll be draining off some more of your power... Ill Atmosphere!!!
Sol	Gh... Argh!
Seida	The turbulent wind within him stopped! It's frozen!
Yauras	Kanon!
Sol	...?!
Kanon	Thank you, everybody. I will not let this chance go to waste!
Sol	N-no!
Kanon	Eternal Glow!!!
Sol	Agh!
Basheeny	We got him!
Seida	Wait! No, not yet!
Kanon	Huh?
Sol	Ug...ugff...! I-I am... I am...the light. The sun...of Lost Blue... I... I cannot go down...like this!
Seida	H-how?! His dark wind is billowing again?! Kanon! Hit him again!
Kanon	...?!
Sol	I'll s-say it again. I am the sun...that will lead...this world into a...n-new era. It doesn't matter how many of you there may be!
???	I have no intention of parroting this lot's holier-than-thou ideals, let alone joining their little mob...
Sol	Wha—?!
Kudanstein	However, there is one thing I must say on their behalf.
Sol	Wh-wha...?
Kudanstein	Don't you dare look down on us! Don't you dare look down on the justice of our continent!!!
Sol	Aghh!!!