03x14 - Heroes

[bunniefuu]

[OPERATOR A] We've broken through the designated point!

Target within f*ring range!

[OPERATOR A] Large scale flash shelling will now commence!

All witches, withdraw from the line of fire!

I repeat, withdraw from the line of fire!

[SMARTVERY] Here it comes!

[OPERATOR A] Targeting Buckingham Palace!

Commencing shelling!

[KAMIJO gasps]

Man, that is quite the bombardment,

but I'm concerned about the area around it.

The palace is surrounded by a large park,

so I don't think stray sh*ts should be a major problem.

I'm more concerned about whether an att*ck

that strong will even be enough to bring down Carissa.

I'm a level-zero esper charging into battle

with only my fist to depend on.

Pretty reckless if you ask me.

[VILIAN] But why?

Why would you willingly immerse yourself

in such extreme danger when you have

absolutely no obligation to risk your life

for the British state?

'Cause I'm not doing this for the British state.

Think about the people who're caught in the middle

of this coup.

They aren't just nameless, faceless characters

created to be targets in some arcade sh**ting game.

Or I'd've gone back to Academy City by now.

But those are people.

They're all running for their lives in terror.

Desperately clinging to whatever's important to them

and trying not to lose it.

What kind of monster would abandon them right now?

I'm used to William,

but you're an entirely different sort of mercenary

than he is, aren't you?

[KAMIJO] That's wreckage from Curtana Original's

pandimensional fragmentation!

[ITSUWA] Everyone, hold on tight!

[KAMIJO yells]

[KAMIJO coughs]

Damn it!

Where's Index?

Kanzaki! Itsuwa!

Where the hell are you guys?

That's enough! Stop this!

My. I have to admit, this is an unexpected twist.

The mindless little sister is the first to arrive.

You know, if you want to k*ll me, you'll have to notch

the bolt and draw back the string first.

There's no point in having a w*apon

if you're too afraid to use it.

Here, let me demonstrate for you!

Stop, Carissa!

Well done!

Now that's what I call an award-winning fine play!

Already battling the final boss.

And of course, however many knights

there are lying in wait.

If you're looking around for an ambush,

you won't find one.

Just me.

I used them earlier for a little live broadcast.

So you k*lled them?

But they were your allies!

They fought alongside you! And you--

[CARISSA] That's enough!

Why do you think they're compensated

with status and riches?

It's because of their willingness to do

whatever it takes to protect their country.

Being expended for the good of their kingdom

is a knight's lifelong dream.

And now as a result, their firm solidarity

has been reborn.

If the coup d'etat is unsuccessful,

both they and the country will perish in terror!

They're called Griffon Skies-- mobile att*ck fortresses.

Unmanned magical items.

But as such, they are second to none in coordinated att*cks,

even among the nation's other fortresses.

--[KAMIJO grunts] --[VILIAN gasps]

[CARISSA] They're too powerful against human targets,

so their auto-discriminators must have been thrown off.

Ordinarily, an att*ck like that would have

sliced you in half.

Princess Carissa, you don't want to do this.

Just die.

I'm alive?

It took longer than I would have liked,

but I've finally managed to repay my debt to you.

Kanzaki!

[KANZAKI] It's not just me.

Index.

Would you mind assessing that magic for me?

Reanalyze the spell related to Curtana.

You mean how to control or contain it, right?

I'll give it my best try.

[CARISSA] Aren't you the lazy soldier who couldn't even

make it to the main battle?

And now you want to be the central figure in the fight?

I didn't mean to imply that I was going

to settle everything by myself.

Sorry about that.

I am joined by allies now who all have my back!

You're saying you were holding back against me?!

Then die!

[CARISSA, KANZAKI grunting]

[KAMIJO] That speed!

All I have to do is distract Carissa a little

and Kanzaki will win.

Well, aren't you a brave one to jump in like this.

Nice try.

[KANZAKI grunts] What do you think you're doing?

Just keep going!

You guys.

Damned if you aren't incurring an inordinate cost!

[KANZAKI yells]

[KANZAKI yells]

Hate to say it, but it looks like we're gonna need

your right hand after all.

[KAMIJO] I can't promise anything, but I'll give it

a try!

There's a delay between when Curtana cuts through

an object and when the wreckage appears.

You can't let it throw you off.

Even if you can cancel out the actual slice

with your right hand,

there's a real possibility it won't have any effect

against the wreckage that follows.

[KAMIJO] So we get close to her after she slashes,

but before the wreckage material appears.

[CARISSA grunts]

[TATEMIYA, ITSUWA yell]

[VILIAN gasps]

[CARISSA] At least learn to use some decent magic!

Or is this the best the Princess of Virtue can manage?

I can't imagine anything more humiliating.

Save it.

I refuse to grovel to you or anyone else ever again!

I've made a decision for the sake of those

who are risking their lives to save me.

I'm taking a stand as our nation's princess!

Sod off!

[KAMIJO grunts]

[CARISSA] What the--?

A blast from Coven Compass?

Is this a coordinated att*ck?

That's quite a cheeky trick!

This is the pinnacle of relying on others...

Dear Sister!

[CARISSA] That trajectory won't work.

[INDEX] B-A-O.

C-D.

No way.

She survived that hit?

And with just a few scratches?

Actually, I was hoping to drum up

a greater sense of danger to bait my mother

and only use this once she came a bit closer.

Calling the destroyer, Wimbledon, on patrol at Dover.

Prepare to launch a bunker cluster cruise m*ssile.

Your target: Buckingham Palace!

[KAMIJO] A bunker cluster?

[CARISSA] You ever seen one of those?

They can destroy everything within a three-kilometer radius.

[KANZAKI] We won't let that happen.

We'll place a defensive barrier in the air to intercept it.

Ha! You're assuming you'll be able to race

against a Mach Five cruise m*ssile?

[KANZAKI yells]

[CARISSA] So vulnerable, just as I anticipated!

Kanzaki!

[RIMEÉA] My goodness.

The sorcerers of this nation should have known better.

Underestimating the head of state as she's

wielding Curtana Original is quite an unfortunate mistake.

[VOICE A] Pardon me, miss, but you were correct.

It's a tomb, all right.

Fit for the king of an entire civilization.

I'll send you the material.

[RIMEÉA] Indeed.

Turns out there's a rational explanation

as to why she hasn't k*lled any of them.

I understand now why you're rushing through life,

my sister, and I know very well what you're after.

Hello? Do you read me?

Listen up. This is First Princess Riméa.

As you know, Second Princess Carissa has spun wildly

out of control.

But her actions have been entirely for the sake

of Great Britain.

[RIMEÉA] We have been under pressure from the forces

of France, the Roman Orthodoxy, and the Russian Church.

They have all used the EU as their pawns

and violated our national dignity.

Amidst such humiliation,

Carissa made the decision to wield Curtana Original herself

in hopes that we would overcome these external pressures.

However, she also simultaneously resolved

to lock away such a doomsday w*apon forevermore,

so that it would never be misused again.

Once the fighting was over,

she planned to take the destroyed Curtana Original

and shards of Curtana Second to a hole in the ground

destined to be her grave and spend the rest of her life

there waiting to die.

Second Princess to Destroyer Wimbledon.

Prepare to fire.

Launch another cluster.

[RIMEÉA] To protect those who might otherwise fight

alongside her,

she is acting as a tyrant to justify a solo battle.

She is using the w*apon to wipe out all enemies

of our nation-- both foreign and domestic.

If there are any listening who would take pity

on my sister-- some knight, perhaps,

who would like to save this young woman--

Would you now please take up your sword once again?

No matter what, I can't give up.

[laughing]

Is that a fact?

Well, the second cluster is almost here.

So what will you do?

What an ignorant fool!

Our m*llitary will blow you apart!

[KNIGHT LEADER] Zero out!

It's you!

[KNIGHT LEADER] Once this coup d'état is over, you're welcome

to take my head for my actions.

But first, we have to ensure there's a future

where that can happen.

I'm requesting that the members of this royal family

start working together

so that we may properly confront France

and the Roman Orthodoxy.

Forgive me.

For leaving the fate of my country

and the fate of the princess in your hands.

It's fine.

Let's just work together and end this thing.

How interesting.

It seems my sister manipulated you

with her cunning performance.

[KNIGHT LEADER] If you're wondering what motivated me

to save you, then yes, that was a part of it.

That's unfortunate.

I suppose I'll just have to use all of

the bunker clusters, then.

[KNIGHT LEADER] My Thororm spell can't stand against Curtana.

It's not that strong, but it's more than capable

of zeroing out the att*ck of your remaining

bunker clusters.

You'd only be wasting them.

I've factored that in, of course.

The Wimbledon has twenty-four missiles,

the King Henry the Seventh has twenty-six,

and the Sherwood has fifteen.

If I hide one of those behind an illusion,

then your spell would become useless

since you wouldn't be able to identify a target.

Second Princess to all destroyers who are on standby.

This is an order to launch all of your cruise missiles!

Huh? An antenna?

[ACQUA] It might be difficult to issue an order to the m*llitary.

I see.

You would dare to interfere with my plans?

[KAMIJO] Acqua!

I'm sorry if I'm late; science isn't my forte.

I'm afraid destroying all the m*llitary antennae

in the area took a bit longer than I expected it to.

Who would have imagined that one day the time would come

where you and I would be forced to work together again?

It'll be fine as long as you don't slow me down.

Right. Come, then.

Let's put our skills to the test.

Show me what you've learned over the past ten years!

I'll cut off your head!

[KANZAKI] Don't think I'm gonna let you two have all the fun.

[KANZAKI] Single Flash!

[CARISSA grunts]

--[KANZAKI grunts] --[ACQUA grunts]

No way.

[CARISSA grunts]

[CARISSA yells]

[CARISSA] It looks like you've finally beaten me

at this game of hot potato.

Taking on three of you saint-level monsters

is too much trouble.

Your mistake is thinking "special people"

are the only ones who can accomplish anything.

The reason we can harness such strength

is because there are others here who support us.

Yes, perhaps.

But I wager you never imagined that strength

might also be your weakness.

[CARISSA grunts]

[KANZAKI grunting]

[laughing]

The greater your numbers are,

the more opportunities I'll be able to find to rip you apart!

Whether there's a thousand or ten thousand of you,

it won't stop me!

[CARISSA] Well, if it isn't my dear mother.

The cause of all the commotion.

[ELIZARD] If you're going to do whatever you please,

you should at least come up with a better plan than mine.

Too bad. Your idea is turning out rather terribly,

so I'm here to stop you.

Nonsense.

You only say that because you want the throne.

Oh, no, not at all. I'm simply appalled

at how small you're thinking.

Dearest daughter, if you truly wish to change this nation...

You old fool. What are you saying?

Try revolution.

Among all the state-level Royal Household magic,

there's still one little trick you haven't considered yet.

Now, Union Jack, I command you!

Take the tremendous power of the British Empire,

made up of the four cultures from which it is comprised.

Release and redistribute it equally among

all of the British people that they may rise up

and fight with us!

[CARISSA gasps]

The power infused in Curtana Original...

This is Queen Regnant Elizard,

and I have a message for the people of this country.

Many of you have come to harm since

this coup d'état first started without knowing why.

However, you now have the ability to fight back!

If only for tonight, you all have the opportunity

to become heroes.

As such, I implore you to choose

which side of history you wish to fight for.

Weigh everything within your own minds.

And whatever justice, courage and nerve remains,

I ask you to heed it!

This is the opportunity for our nation's new champions

to emerge!

All of us?

We're champions?

She's asking us to fight? To be heroes?

[CITIZENS] Yeah!

Right! To Buckingham!

[CITIZENS chattering]

[TSUSHIMA] You have to get up, Itsuwa.

What the--? It's you... Curtana?

Look around.

[TSUSHIMA] This was the Queen's ace.

You can feel it, too, right?

This is the power that's been shared among

all the nation's people.

Come on. It's our turn.

It's going to take far more than that

to turn aside Curtana Original.

You're in a ninety-million to one tug-of-w*r match.

Should you lose your concentration for even a moment,

all the sword's power will be pared away.

[KAMIJO] This is awesome.

There are so many main players around that myself,

Index, Kanzaki and Acqua are just blending

into the background.

What's the deal with this country?

It's like everyone in it is a key figure.

She must have known this.

That's why she set herself aside for her nation.

Okay, then.

I'm going to save the princess.

I won't let her sacrifice herself!

[INDEX] C-T-T-O-C-U. S-A-A-R-T-S-T.

[CARISSA grunts]

[KAMIJO] Acqua!

[ACQUA yells]

[KAMIJO yells]

It's over. Right?

[CITIZENS cheering]

Well, that was quite the loud show we put on last night.

It may be presumptuous of me to say this, but...

It might have been too loud.

Was it?

I actually think our citizens will try to measure

last night's events to no avail.

And ultimately, I'm sure everyone

will interpret them in their own way.

That's a possibility, but what will we do

if they interpret last night's events as magic?

If that happens, we'll just have to admit it.

After all, it's not as if there is a law stating

that magic can't be out in the public eye, is there?

Incidentally, where did that rather remarkable young man

run off to?

[FIAMMA laughs]

This is incredible.

A more delightful sight than I had imagined.

Who's there?

What do you want?

If I told you that I was Fiamma of the Right,

would you recognize the name?

I'm grateful.

It was well worth it to harass France via the Roman Orthodoxy

in order to apply all that stress to Britain.

And thanks to that, I got my hands on what I was after.

What was so important to steal that you'd go

and start an actual w*r?

[FIAMMA] Perhaps no one has told you.

Or you just haven't realized it yet,

but you are no longer needed.

Goodbye, Princess.

[laughs]

Well, if it isn't the extraordinary right hand

I've been after!

Who's this jerk?

His name is Fiamma.

And he's the de facto leader of the Right Seat of God.

On second thought, I think we're done here.

I can't risk destroying the magical item

that I've worked so hard for.

Hold on. What do you mean?

It's incredible. Want to see?

[KAMIJO] Index?

[INDEX] Yes. I am the magical library.

I am affiliated with Necessarius,

th Parish of the English Puritan Church.

My formal name is Inde--

Index, no!

Oops, looks like she might be broken.

Bastard! Tell me what you did to her!

[FIAMMA] Who knows?

But if you want to find out,

you can ask the people responsible for creating her.

Excuse me.

I need to pop off to Russia for a bit.

To salvage the material needed to bring down an angel.

I'll leave you in charge of Librorum Prohibitorum

and that fantastic right hand of yours.

[STIYL] The stolen item was a safety device.

One that allows her to live a normal life,

even after memorizing the , grimoires.

[ELIZARD] We mucked this up.

But we'll look after her.

It's the least we can do.

Unless we can defeat Fiamma,

we'll never be able to guarantee her safety.

Russia, huh? Stiyl.

Sorry, but I have to leave Index in your care.

Fiamma needs to be stopped.

And I'm going to do it with this fist.

[KAMIJO] A moment of peace?

There's no such thing.

All that's left are empty casings,

sad cries, and the smell of gunpowder.

More darkness flies into motion.

Next time, "Spark Signal."

When science and magic cross paths, a story is born.