03x28 - Dark Territory

[bunniefuu]

Gabriel.

Gabriel.

Unlike humans, insects don't have brains.

Then where do they think?

In an insect's case, all of the nerves
throughout its body act as the brain.

That's why, even if they lose their head,
they can still live for a while.

If it's still alive even
after it loses its head,

then where is the mantis' soul?

Gabe!

Gabe!

Alicia!

Gabe, let's play!

Okay!

I wonder where Alicia's soul is?

Unlike insects, humans can't live
if they lose their head.

So the human soul must be in the head.

It must be somewhere in the brain.

Deep beneath Alicia's skin, skull,
and brain matter...

her soul is hidden.

Dark Territory Obsidia Palace

Yo!

Is that you, bro?

Are you Vassago?

Yeah. That's right.

Looks like we were
able to log in as planned.

Those are artificial Fluctlights?

You're telling me
they're all humans with souls?

Dark Territory

Hurry! We flatland goblins will be the
first to reach His Majesty, the Emperor!

Chief of the Flatland Goblins Kubiri

We're not getting b*at
by a bunch of flatland slug eaters!

Chief of the Mountain Goblins Hagashi

No one's getting the honor of
the first k*ll but us mountain goblins!

Chief of the Giants Sigurosig

Chief of the Ogres Furgr

Tenth Champion of the
Pugilists Guild Iskahn

Whatever you do,
don't fall behind the other tribes!

Let's go!

Head of the Assassins Guild Fu Za

I am the head of the commerce guild.
My name is Rengil Gila Scobo.

Head of the Commerce
Guild Rengil Gila Scobo

Chief of the Orcs Lilpilin

I'm chief of the orcs, Lilpilin!

I'm the chancellor of the dark mages guild,
Dee Eye Ell.

My 3,000 mages, as well my heart and body,
all belong to you, Your Majesty.

Chancellor of the Dark
Mages Guild Dee Eye Ell

I am the commander of the dark
knights brigade, Vixur ul Shasta.

Before I offer you my sword,
I have a question for you, Emperor.

Now that you've returned to your throne,
what is it that you seek?

Blood and terror. Flames and destruction.
Death and screams.

The western lands are full of the power of
the gods who expelled me from the heavens.

The great gate that protects it is
about to crumble, even as we speak.

I have returned to make my authority known
far and wide across the land.

The moment the great gate falls, the Human
Empire will belong to the people of darkness!

I desire only one thing.

The Priestess of Light, who appeared at the
same time in that land, and nothing else!

I hereby grant you permission
to k*ll and seize any other human!

Soldiers of the dark empire!
The time you have long awaited is nigh!

I'll k*ll them! I'll k*ll every
last one of those White Iums!

Battle! Battle!

Battle! Battle!

I'm surprised you had that kind of talent,
Bro.

You should've become an actor instead.

I just did what was necessary.

You really should learn how to deliver
that kind of speech yourself.

Since you're a level
higher than those guys.

Forget giving orders or speeches,

I'd rather lead the charge into battle.

Since we've dived into
this mind-blowing VR world.

This wine and this bottle
seem like the real thing to me.

But in exchange,
if you get cut, it'll hurt and bleed.

Since a pain absorber won't work here.

That's what makes it great.

Is that you, Captain?

Yeah.

We've just returned to the Main Control
Room after watching you and Vassago dive.

I see. It's already the
night of first day here.

I already knew about it,
but time acceleration still feels odd.

For now,
everything's proceeding as planned.

We'll be done preparing
the units in a day or two,

and commence our as*ault on the
Human Empire two days from now.

Wonderful!

Don't forget, all right?

Main Control Room 2 hours and 54 minutes
after the att*ck on the Ocean Turtle

Once you've taken ALICE into custody,
transport her there,

and execute the command from the menu
to eject her into the Main Control Room.

Then ALICE's Lightcube will be ours.

Oh, one more thing. I want you to
drill this into that idiot Vassago's head.

Huh?

Since you can't do anything
that requires administrator privileges,

it won't be possible to reset your account,
either.

In other words, if you and Vassago die over there,
you can never use those superuser accounts again.

So the next time you log in,
it will be as grunts.

Right, I understand.

What's the JSDF doing?

Nothing at the moment.

It doesn't seem like they
realized you dove in yet.

Good. All right, I'm signing off.

Let's hope the next communication
will be after we've captured ALICE.

Roger. I'm counting on you.

That bastard Critter.

Listen, Bro, would it be okay if I
swing by downtown to... No, I guess not.

Just hold back for a while.

Once the operation's over,
I'll let you have a whole night.

Roger that.
So no m*rder and women for now, huh?

In that case,
I'm just going to hit the sack.

What are you doing?

I shall be keeping you company tonight,
sir.

On whose order?

No.

This is my duty.

I see.

Pardon me.

Who ordered you to do this?

This is also my own choice.

Then who's your commanding officer?

I don't have one.

Why did you try to k*ll me?

Were you offered money?
Were you promised status?

It's for the greater good!

If w*r breaks out now,

it will set history back one hundred...
no, two hundred years!

We cannot revert to an era of oppression
for the powerless!

This is... just like what
happened that day!

Right now, I'm looking at Alicia's soul.

And I'm also seeing
what Alicia's soul is seeing.

This soul... I want to see more
of the vision that this soul is showing me!

I love you.

My lord.

Magnificent. What a magnificent experience!

The Lightcube housing this woman's Fluctlight is
connected to my own Fluctlight through the STL.

Did a fragment of the quantum data
reverse course through its circuits?

No, who cares about that?

Ever since Alicia,
I've experimented with so many people,

but just now, I was finally able
to experience that phenomenon again.

Even a woman like this yielded that much.

Meaning that the perfected version, ALICE,
will surely...

ALICE, your soul... will be so sweet!

November 2, 380 HE

Your Majesty,
preparations for battle are complete.

Just give the order,
and we can launch the as*ault anytime.

The life of the Eastern Gate,

which has divided the Human Empire and the
land of darkness since the time of creation,

is now about to expire.

The five tribes of the forces of darkness are all
excited about a major incursion into the Human Empire.

But the order of the Integrity Knights
protecting the Human Empire are all formidable.

If we try to push through with superior
numbers, we'll be worn down eventually,

but by the time that last unit falls, I can't
imagine how much damage we'll have suffered.

And that will lead to a power imbalance
among the five tribes.

The Council of Ten will be powerless,

and our equal treaty among the five tribes
will have no meaning.

If that happens, it will be the Age of Iron and Blood
all over again. We must avoid that at all costs.

We must make peace.

Integrity Knight Commander Bercouli.

That man, if no one else,
will surely agree to our request for peace.

Therefore, I must k*ll Emperor Vecta,
who seeks w*r.

By the way, there was an intruder
in my sleeping quarters last night.

Who had a dagger hidden in their hair.

I don't intend to condemn the person
who sent that assassin.

There's nothing wrong with using your power
to gain even greater power.

Should you want to take my head, feel
free to att*ck me from behind any time.

Of course, that's only if you understand that
you'll pay the appropriate price for such a gamble.

For example, such as this...

Li... pia...

We must make peace.

Although thinking this way is hardly admirable
for a resident of the land of darkness.

You may be right.

But I admire you for it.

That's why I fell in love with you.

You were just injected
with a poison so potent,

it can k*ll even a colossal land dragon
with a life of over 30,000 in an hour.

With your stamina and total life, I'd
say it'll be another two or three minutes.

Lipia.

I won't let you stop me!

Nothing.

There's nothing here.

Does this man... not know life?

A man who knows nothing of the
radiance of life, of the soul, or of love.

That's why he seeks other's souls.

This man cannot be k*lled
with a murderous sword.

Because this man's soul is alive,
and yet dead at the same time.

I'm sorry, Lipia.

The troops who lost their general are to be
immediately taken over by the next in command.

We will begin our as*ault as planned,
one hour from now.

All hail His Majesty, the Emperor!

November 2, 380 HE The Eastern Gate

So that's... the Eastern Gate.

Stop, Amayori.

"Destroyed... at the last... stage?"

We're out of time!

Next time: "The Night Before Battle."