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Tsk, tsk, tsk, li'l Lava, think about it. What kind of movie are we making here?

Huge monsters, stripped of the constraints of modern society, reveling in their savagery——It's that call of the wild that city folk today are missing!

By the way, the actors you picked suck. They're all so stiff.

We should've gone with these ones... Here, check this file, what's her name? Blaze? And this one, Emperor?

Hey! This FEater is a movie star! What's with you just picking a bunch of Lungmenite nobodies? Some kind of avant-garde realism?

Hold on, now that I look at these, there's some classified records in here...?

You can't ever let my sis——you can't ever let that doctor know! Or we're done for!

Why are you so afraid of her? All right, all right. Let's just change up the ending a bit...

We're running out of time, and you're still obsessed with cultivating humans? Cultivating humans who can stop us?

...Wait. Nian, what are you doing?

Your breath is quickening, your consciousness is shaking... What do you see?

...Strange, did they actually make it...?

Huh? You're asking me?

How should I know? I went to Yan a long, long time ago and spread a fun little rumor along the way.

What, a few humans know your weakness and you can't fight anymore? Who put that thought in your head?

Huh? A two-step firecracker? You got killed by a firecracker?

Hahahahaha! Hey! I wish I could have been there. I'd have memorialized your defeat with the most perfect strokes——

I'm glad you finally got to eat crow.

...Lungmen.

I love this city. It has such chaotic struggles in it that just leap off the page. The perfect hunting ground.

Ahh, but it's not your turn.

I'm so tired of this cycle of sleeping and waking.

It's time to quench the fires of this world.

——ANCIENT FORGE 2——

——COMING SOON——

Wait wait wait!!!

What is it this time?

Who's that? Why do they want to eat people? Why the hell is there a sequel?

You don't think giant monsters that eat people and fight weak humans will sell?

W- well, maybe...

All you need is words like 'fire', 'slaughter', 'cycle', and a little bitterness, a little darker lighting, a little more camera shake, a little more blood, and you've got a picture!

It's called spectacle. We're creating the most profitable entertainment product in all of Terra right here!

Nope, that wasn't the deal. We agreed we're making a New Year's movie.

And that's your sister, isn't it?! I can't believe you're making a spectacle of your own little sister!

She deserves it. She put ice cream in my hot pot and dumped all my chili sauce.

I really don't get what you two got going on.

Glass houses. What's the deal with you and your sister? Do you like, like her or do you hate her or what?

Agh!!! We're not talking about this! I'm going back to fix all my lines!

And hurry up and put those files back before Amiya finds out! Where did you get them anyway?

I snuck a peek a while back and recorded them. My powers come in handy like that.

Really listen to me this time, or else you'll end up.... I don't even want to think about how you'll end up.

Seriously! Make sure you put them back!

All right. Take your time. I can't wait to see your new script, director!

Sigh.

What's the big deal? Everybody's so worked up about it.

'Don't allow standard operators to view classified records.'

I guess my impression could use some work. But copying a classified record is kind of going a bit too far.

So it's a secret, huh? That explains why the content is so juicy.

Well, whatever. Life is short. Why get caught up in all that?

Li'l Lava put so much into writing out her idea of Lungmen. What do you think? Isn't it cooler to turn the whole city into a metal monster and go all CLANG——BAM——POW! Hmm?

You better work it out with your director. But if you do turn a city into a giant robot, you be sure to let me enjoy it!

It's a little creative license. Otherwise I'd be out doing that right now.

Li'l Lava's a gentle soul, I get it. But you gotta go big or go home, you know? Even if the going gets tough.

Well, now that I'm on board, maybe we'll shake up the Columbian studios?

Ummm.... Hmmm.... How do I say this....?

There's way too much exposition in the script? And it's full of B-movie garbage?

Hey, the director is fine with it. Not to mention you're the only one who knows which parts are real and which parts are fake.

Huh? Which ones are fake?

A story naturally changes form over time, as it gets passed down.

The scarier and more unrealistic a story is, the more people are interested. Pretty much the same as a movie.

Story, huh...

A script is pretty much a 'story' anyway, so I think li'l Lava can figure it out.

That's how your people are. Mysterious and elusive. Those other ones were too.

Who?

Before Dr. Kal'tsit let it slip, I never knew she was here. I should have asked for an autograph... Ugh....

Ahh.... You mean the ones on the beach? With the band?

I thought your race didn't care for each other.

This is slander! Who said that?! I'll sue!

Dr. Kal'tsit.

The one and only, huh...? Never mind.

Li'l Lava and I love their music! Our top ten album lists are a little different though.

But I've known what they are ever since I first saw them, first heard their melodies. Not bad, living free and easy. Better than the ones under the sea——

Yeah, but how did you know she was at Rhodes Island?

Huh?

I can tell the surveillance system was pretty brutally hacked.

Ha, ha, ha, me? I'm not gonna tinker with that stuff just because I'm curious about new technology! Definitely not! Not this Nian!

Hey! That was hard to fix! There's better ways for you to pull records!

If you were a good girl who worked hard, you could've gotten some Yan food in the cafeteria.

I am working hard! I'll lend you 'Lungmen Doomwatch' for a little historical research, and the real issue with it is...

...Is what?

Doesn't the title kinda suck? What's a 'Doomwatch?'

I noticed the operators have been registering their equipment with more Laterano-ey names lately. Turns out that's your fault?

How about 'Ancient Forge'!

Do you think you could get these guys to come work with us on our movie? That's all I really care about.

No way, the actors you guys picked are too much.

Put a little more effort into it! It's a Rhodes Island New Year's movie!

Throw those guys in there and there's no room for effort! Get real!

Pfft. Fine! As a true cinephile, I will express my motivations to the audience through the medium of film! I'm sure I'll get through!

Oh, do you think I should add 'based on true events'? Is that too scary? Would it freak out li'l Lava?

Don't worry about it. Lava's not a kid anymore. We can all see how much she's grown.

...A kid? You're about the same age, aren't you? Sarkaz don't show their age so well, but you can't fool me.

Ahem! She's the backbone of Rhodes Island! An operator anyone can rely on!

Yeah, right.

It's just like she always dreamed. She's doing some badass stuff, becoming a badass warrior.

How about that?

So what's to worry about? Where's the harm in a little more knowledge?

I'm not here to play mystic like some people. Just come out and say whatever you gotta say.

Besides, they'll find out sooner or later. I've got a plan.

...Ugh.

They'll find out sooner or later... hey! You've got a point there!