level_main_10-09_beg

This way, through the smoke! Follow the light of the fire!

Devil...!

What's this? An egg mixer?

Did you think you could hurt a Sarkaz mercenary with a toy like this?

S-Stay back!

Calm down. Over here, behind me.

This one's on our side... for now.

Your side? Better not be too sure of yourself on that one.

W... it would be wise if you made an effort to be easier to work with. That is, if you hope to get any information out of me.

That's a pretty roundabout threat there...

Say... you wouldn't happen to be Kal'tsit's illegitimate daughter, would you?

What are you—

Nah, you two look nothing alike. Plus, how could that icy old hag have any kids?

Screw it. No way I could ever get buddy buddy with a lady like you.

Suits me just fine.

Don't you worry, I won't be here long. I know how much my head's worth in merc circles, and I'm not in a generous mood.

Alright, there.

Bombs... you buried more bombs. Did you blow up the other paths?

Where are your men? Aren't they still fighting the Sarkaz in the plant?

Do you really want to know?

Explaining the whole deal would be a huge pain. Let's skip right to the good part.

They're all dead.

Dead?

Did you think it would be easy to scoop you out of there? I lost most of the Londinium recruits I picked up the past few months in that nasty old factory.

So this had better be worth it. Can we go now?

Let me do a head count...

Alright, everyone in the southern plant escaped.

I was hired to snag you, not an entire congregation. Tell Kal'tsit I'm charging double for this mess.

Bring your hooded monster and let's—what are you standing around for?

W, was it you who blew up this path?

Duh. Not about to give our pursuers any chances.

But Feist and his team just left.

They went to rescue people.

Hail them, Closure.

Oh, come on... getting lost like this, at your age?

What's the situation, Blake?

They're down.

Good. Keep moving.

Horn, to your left!

Dublinn... I'll have your head!

Not Dublinn here. Not that you'll get the chance to wallow in your disappointment.

Another? How many Sarkaz bodies have we seen?

All Dublinn?

Looks like it.

Horn, I don't know how to put this, but...

Dublinn saved us a lot of effort.

There's no shame in admitting it. How long have you been with me here in Sudean? We need to use every means at our disposal if we want to survive.

Come on, left door here.

Ready?

Clear.

Good. Now the right side.

Watch the corners, Robben. I don't want any surprises.

Roger.

Go!

*Cough* G-Go away, devil! We're not talking!

Found them.

Y-You're...

Friends.

I never thought... we heard sounds of fighting, saw the flicker of Arts... I thought it was some new devil torture method.

Sorry we couldn't get here earlier.

Can you stand, soldier?

Soldier... haven't heard that in a long time.

You an officer? You've got nerve to come here—

What are you doing? We're here to save you!

Save me? Why? So I can get tricked again? So I can die in your next plot with the foreigners?

In your dreams, 'sir'! We'd rather die here!

Very well.

Robben, your crossbow.

Horn? What are you—

Ammo is precious and not to be wasted.

But these are compatriots, loyal soldiers of Victoria.

If their last wish is to die here, then we'll grant it.

You'll really kill me?

Yes.

You'll die as you wish in this dark room, forgotten by Londinium.

You'll turn to bleached bones in this old abandoned factory, until the dust and dirt bury you.

Or, you could do something different with this crossbow.

You could take it, come with us, and fight your way out.

Perhaps you'll still get your wish and die trying.

But you'll have a chance to see the night sky, breathe the air full with the smell of rust and oil—

And think about your loved ones, breathing that same air.

I swear on my life that they'll remember what you gave.

Yes... they... they could still be alive...

I...

Have you made your choice? Time's flying.

I'll go with you. Give me a weapon.

What about the others? Are you coming too?

Good. Blake, you have seven... nine new men.

Tell me your names before we move out, soldiers.

Closure, have you made contact with the Self-Salvation Corps team?

Hold on... I just got this drone restarted... it's different from the other one...

This isn't good.

Heidi, lead the other civilians out of here. The 3rd regiment will be waiting—

W?

Hey, all the mines I left behind got blown up! Do you know what that means? Means a lotta guys are chasing us right now.

Using up my men wasn't enough for you, huh? You gotta use up my bombs too?

Five minutes.;We can't wait any longer.

Alright, five minutes it is.

Closure, get in touch with Feist and tell him that he and Rockrock need to be back within 5 minutes.

Doctor, we'll have to join the battle.

Bill, be honest with me... have you put on weight? You're heavier than I thought...

Hehe... how about this?

Hey, that's better.

What did you do? Some magic trick?

Ha, just a change of posture... *cough*

A-Alright, just stay put, don't open your wounds.

When I saw you lying in that pool of blood, I thought...

Thought I was dead?

Ha... those devils don't got the skills... it's just... ouch...

Take a break, don't talk anymore.

Have you found an exit, Rockrock? The Sarkaz must have done something with these rooms... I feel like we're going around in circles.

I heard the sound of fighting a few minutes ago.

The exit should be around here...

Nrgh...

Never mind what I just said, Bill. Keep talking so you don't fall asleep.

Remember the reward you asked for? After that last win?

Er... a fruit can?

A FRUIT CAN? You said you wanted a mechanical metal crab to give to your niece in the City!

Yeah, I was hungry... lucky you've got a good memory.

Good memory? I didn't sleep at all the next few days, working on that thing between missions...

You'd better hang in there after all the effort I put in!

*Cough* Alright, boss... whatever you say.

Footsteps!

Oh no! Sarkaz—

Where did they go?

There's a blood trail. They can't have gone far.

We should hurry.

Er...

Come on, Captain, I'll take the other side.

Sigh... look at me, can't even walk without two people helping me.

Don't say that. We're family, and we look out for each other.

Captain, they're catching up!

Hold them off, Johnny! Gabby, you've got the grenades, right? Give us some cover!

Roger!

Rockrock, has Rock-17 found a way out? We're counting on it!

Right-turn here!

Alright, to the right!

Wait... who's talking? Rock-17? Y-You can talk?

What's that, some dumb engineering joke?

Took me ages to hack this drone's system... I didn't change anything, ok? The system was too simple.

...Closure?

Yes, it's me. I didn't have a chance to install voice data onto your drone, so I have to synthesize it... not cute enough?

Well... it actually sounds rather like you.

Where do we go from here?

Left-turn... wait, no, there are Sarkaz there. I mean enemy Sarkaz! Go back—

There are even more enemies to the rear.

Well then... let me think...

Right, let's go upwards!

Huh?

Don't you have that flying gear? Er, I mean grappling hook! There's a vent above you that should allow a man to pass through...

Should?

We have wounded here. Gotta be sure.

Well... I'll need Rockrock to take control of the drone for a moment...

Alright.

What do we do?

Rockrock... do you really trust her?

Do you have a better plan?

Captain, they're coming! I can see their leader!

Quick, open the vent!

Gotcha! Rockrock, aim!

Rock-17—

Is it open?

Almost.

Again!

Rock...

It missed! H-How did that sword...

Finally found a way out? Isn't it a little late?

I'll hold him off! Quick—

Blind courage isn't worth much in battle.

Johnny!

Rockrock, the vent!

I... I can't...

I've got two grenades left. Even the Sarkaz can't—

What the... the grenade got cut in half?!

Captain, this is no ordinary Sarkaz—

Gabby!

I'm just an ordinary mercenary.

Did you really think you could beat Manfred or Theresis?

Pretty naive.

Sarkaz... did you think all I had was grenades?

Grenades? Smoke bombs is more like it.

Bombs that can hurt a Sarkaz don't look like that.

Feist, Rockrock, you hear me? I've recalibrated... but you only have one chance. Hold on tight!

Rockrock—

It worked! We can go up now!

You first!

No, you're with BIll, you go first—

Alright.

You're not getting through, Sarkaz!

I'll protect my family... you won't hurt them again!

Rock-17!

Self-destruct drone?

Pathetic...

Captain... go...

Tell me, Feline... was it really worth it? Losing that many to save one?

Every one of them called out for their captain with their last breaths.

Will you take responsibility for their sacrifice?

...I would rather none of them died.

Hold on, Rockrock!

Huh?

The grappling hook again? Smart, but not smart enough.

You need better tricks to survive in battle.

We'll meet again, children... you don't know it, but there's no way you'll leave this inferno.

Are they here, Closure?

Four minutes, fifty seconds.

Countdown?

We...

Amiya!

They're here!

Feist? Just the three of you? The other two...

They won't be back.

We need to get out of here, now!

There's a really dangerous Sarkaz after us, and there are a lot of them... it's an ambush!

None of us would have made it, if not for Closure...

They knew we'd go there, and they know you're here. They're just waiting... it's a trap! We have to go, before it's too late!

It's too late.

Damn it, this is my last mine, and the biggest one.

Another last one?;How many last ones is that?

Stop bothering me, {@nickname}. Yes, I have one bomb left. Guess who it's for?

Are you nervous?;Got your hands full?

You didn't notice the explosion sounded kinda weird? I guess there's really nothing under that tin head of yours.

The guy didn't fall into my trap at all. He avoided it and disabled the Originium circuits.

Need me to say it even clearer? No, it didn't take me too much effort to set up the mines...

But the dragon lady was the last one to put all my mines out of commission.

Talulah can't be here, can she? There's no way...

Hey, what's with the face, bunny? You've got her all locked up in...

Damn it, {@nickname}... damn you and damn that Kal'tsit!

Congratulations, {@nickname}, you're now second on my list of people to bomb.

This is not good news.;......;Thanks.

W, there's a lot of intel that we haven't shared. We need to get out of here...

Get out? Easy for you to say.

Be glad it's not Talulah here. I don't smell the arrogant stench of Draco fire. But...

Surround the place!

Theta, Iota, block the path on the other side!

They got so many men in so little time?

Oh no! Doctor, Lady Heidi and the others are still inside!

Sorry, Amiya...

Save that for when we get out.

Very well.

Doctor, let me... W? Why are you grabbing me like that?

Save your strength, bunny. Look at the gang you've got here. Artificer, wounded, garbage... who can fight?

Y-You're right, but we'll do our best...

W-We won't be a burden.

Save your strength for running. You'll wanna be fast.

Sigh... I didn't want to say this. It's really not my style.

But I need Heidi alive. There's something I need to ask the old woman.

W...

Go. Take your people, and pick up your trash.

W!

Huh?

Good luck. We'll be waiting.

You're still here? Need me to blow you up?

Finally. Some peace.

She talks like we're actually friends.

As for you...

Wanna keep blasting? At this rate, there won't be much left to bomb.

What's this? A rock? Some kind of lame joke?

Congratulations, you've pissed me off.

I was hoping to be a little frugal today.

Why don't you come out? I promise I'll leave something of you that's recognizable.

Well, that was close. Only two bombs away from hitting me.

You've grown again, W.

Wait, what—

You?!