01x02 - The Heart of a Fire Soldier

[bunniefuu]

Causes of death are many and varied.

Old age illness, su1c1de. But out of that long,

morbid list, there's one end that people

fear above all others.

Death by fire.

Huh? So this is meant to be my castle.

So what are the rookie fire soldier games?

It's a competition where all the fire

force rookies that join this year get to show off their abilities.

And it's coming up pretty soon. You're

going to represent company eight alongside our

other new recruit who we're expecting later today.

Hang on. There's a new recruit coming. Indeed there is.

Hey, Captain, will there be any fire

soldiers aside from us rookies at this contest?

Well, yeah. Some of us will come and cheer you all on.

There could be someone from another company who knows about that fire.

Oh. My devil hoped I'd never see you again,

you damn night. What are you doing here?

Thought I'd slay some hellspawn. Still with the big

talkin dumb pose. I'll shove that sword up.

Rise and shine sputter.

So

you really are something else, Marcie.

The way you control flames is amazing.

That's sweet of you to say, Iris,

but honestly, I'm just a second generation.

If I were a third gen like Shinra,

then I'd be able to make fire on my own without having to use

any starters.

Careful. It's hot. Spider.

We're finally going to settle the score for good.

Since you insist, I'll have to show

you the difference in our power.

Hang on. Who are you? The Realm knows me as Arthur Boyle.

The Night King.

Might you be the princesses of this castle?

Huh? Who, me? Oh, you must be

our new third generation fire soldier.

It's nice to have you on board.

Shinra. Do you know this guy? Uh huh.

Met him at the academy. I told

him that knights have Jack on Heroes.

So mid-way through training, he tacked King

onto that made up title of his. What a loser. Right.

Okay. He pretends he's the smooth, silent type,

but the truth is, he's just dumb.

He's literally too idiotic to come up with words.

And yet. And yet what? Girls still

think he's cool for some reason? Yes, that.. I've got way

more drive. But girls just don't care.

No one can resist a true knight.

Wait, knight King. Ladies love a king.

Well, for the record, I think that you're plenty cool. Shinra, Huh?

Let's see that awkward smile of yours, devil.

Say that again. What's going on? Lieutenant Hinawa.

We just met the new recruit, Arthur.

It turns out that he and Shinra went to the academy together.

Spotty, spotty, spotty at a spotty.

Fire soldiers don't play with fire. Right. Got it.

So you're Arthur Boyle. Sure am glad to work with you.

Come on, man. You heard her call him Lieutenant, right?

We all stand as equals before the round

table. He needn't bow..

Says the lowest ranked soldier in this crew. Tom.

Whatever.

The rookie games are coming up.

I want to see what you've got in advance.

That means seeing your powers in action.

Now go take them both on. Wait. Do you mean me? Do you see

anyone else on this rooftop who might go by your

name? No. You lead off Shinra.

Are we supposed to fight for real?

You don't have to hold back.

Are you certain that Machi can handle them?

Third generations are extra powerful, aren't they?

It won't be an issue for her.

Machi started out in the m*llitary. She

understands what it takes to destroy a man.

Okay. I'm ready to begin when you are.

Ha ha

ha

ha ha. Shinra.

I really thought.. I was dead.

Isn't she overdoing it a bit? Shinra

has the instincts to be a good soldier,

but he's got one glaring weakness.

Fact is, he needs to be shown

that his third gen powers can only get him so far.

He won't b*at me the way you did him. Excalibur.

It's still lit. Looks like a plasma cutter.

Excalibur is stalwart. You'll find it a lot

tougher to extinguish than Shinra's fire.

But what kind of noble knight would

I be if I injured an innocent princess?

It looks like Chivalry's dead after all.

A true knight ought to kneel when he speaks to a princess.

That's for your lack of respect toward the lieutenant.

I see. Now you're an ogre disguised as a princess.

How dare you call me a hideous

man eating gorilla? Cyclops didn't say that.

Now I'm doubting You can understand human speech. Oh, Gris.

It seems like he just keeps..

Throwing more.. Fuel on the fire.

That's a third gen pyrokinetic for you.

I'm not out of the running yet.

Huh. You know, when you're in combat,

you start to look a little brutish.

Not you, too, Shinra. If I can't just snuff your flames out.

Hey, what'd you do to my fire?

You got Excalibur, too. You should change the name to Butterbur.

Butterbur. So we have a devil and a knight.

Following the pattern Arthur and Shinra established.

I guess I'd call Machi a witch. Sputter.

Now come forth. Bow, bow, bow bow bow bow.

Bow.

The two of you like to continue.

Oh.

Whoa. Whoa. Think we're out of options?

If you're throwing in the towel, then that's that.

Well, it's pretty clear that you want to surrender, so I'll concede.

Huh?

Is he trying to eat faster than me?

Take the time to chew. Will you

refill, please? More extra firm noodles. Thank you for the food.

Wow, That was some really tasty fare cap.

Arthur, watch your tone. No worries. I'm glad you liked it.

The grub at that place is top notch.

Captain Obi sure is laid back. Is there

anything that can piss him off? Huh?

Something wrong, Shinra? Uh, no. I'm doing swell, sir.

Well, good for you.

It isn't healthy to train right after a big meal,

so there's no choice but to knock out some office work.

Why is it unhealthy? He's even getting

along.. With that idiot.

This thing is pretty impressive. The Type seven fire fighting axe.

It's a durable melee w*apon that can

also fire a sacred spike from the head at range.

I have no need for a fire axe.

Excalibur is the only w*apon I wield.

Right. Your plasma cutter. By heating your

flame into plasma and emitting it from that bladeless hilt of yours,

you create a superheated, ultra dense sword.

Yeah. Fair point. You power kinetics might

not need tools like fire axes.

Every time I deploy, I've got to equip over kilos of gear.

Then there's the issue of maintaining it all.

It sure would be helpful if we could

hurry up and hire an engineer.

Might take some pressure off the lieutenant.

For the record, I don't actually mind this work.

Another infernal in Taito Ward area District. Sir.

This one was reported to be in a single family home.

Odds are we'll be putting them to rest in close quarters. Shinra

You'll be pretty limited in how you can

maneuver with your feet. Take the type seven.

All of you keep your weapons hidden inside your coats.

Don't let them be seen by civilians.

Things are a little quiet, considering.

First Mama. Now Papa. How come? Am I going to be next?

Apparently her mother turned infernal as well just two years ago.

And now she's lost her dad, too. Tough break.

Captain Obi. Should I know? Let's do

this as gently as we can.

I hear there's been a rash of

strange incidents at recent fire scenes.

So stay on your toes. Company eight, We're going in. Yes, sir.

Shinra Arthur Kamura seek.

I thought I told you to. To keep your weapons concealed.

Why should we, though? There's no rule

or regulation that says it's required.

None of our teachers mentioned it either.

Excalibur is more than a w*apon to me.

It's my pride. So why should I have to hide it?

As fire soldiers, we all have our duty.

We must fight the Infernals in order to put them to rest.

All infernals were once human. We can

say we're putting them to rest, but in truth, we k*ll them.

Among the ranks of the fire soldiers.

There are some who think of themselves

as crusaders and relish every moment of combat with the infernals.

Thing is, that means ignoring the torment of the bereaved.

The infernal you put to rest in battle

is probably someone's dad or wife.

Never let the next of kin see

your weapons if you can't follow that rule.

I don't want you in my company. Yes, sir.

He's right. If I'm not

there for those left behind. Then I'm no one's hero.

Mhm. Hey.

The flames transform. But why

could it have been the infernal inside?

Those flames are sneering at us. Infernals have no sense of self.

It's hard to believe one of them could do this

making entry now, right?

Inferno located. He's just sitting there.

Why do these things have to happen?

Captain, please let me be the one to put him to rest.

Wait. Let's think about this. He is an

infernal, but he hasn't att*cked anyone.

Don't be a dumb ass. The man's burning alive.

It's hard to imagine the kind of pain he's going through.

We need to put him out of his misery.

Time. . Put the inferno to rest. Arthur.

I will not allow you to suffer

any more pain than you already have, sister.

The prayer, please write. The flame is the soul's breath.

The black smoke is the soul's release.

Ashes Thou wert and art. May thy soul return..

To the great flame of fire.

LatAm. Lots of.

Was that painful? Yeah. It was we'll hang on to that pain

because the worst thing this job can do

to you is make you numb to it all.

Oh.

What was that? Everyone out before it caves in.

Aren't you coming, sir? Captain, look out.

Don't know who did this, but they..

Must not know me either. I train every day.

They need a lot more to crush me.

This damn prank of theirs has gone.. Way too far.

Seems to me.. This so-called special fire force is..

Only blowing smoke.

Time to see how well those clowns can take a joke.

Captain. Are you hurt? No, I'm all right.

That didn't just happen on its own.

You think we were att*cked by a third party?

I'm not sure yet. If so, then

they also trashed a fire scene that was

still full of memories for the bereaved.

And for that, they will pay. For now, let's just head back.

Flames took my parents. And next they're gonna come for me.

Papa. Mama. Mikako. Right.

Your father fought bravely to hold back the flames.

Fury And he won that fight. I think

both of your parents were protecting you from the flames.

They both gave their all to make sure that you would be okay.

Believe in them. In the love you felt.

Papa. Mama.

I mean. I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't do..

Anything. It's rare that we can offer the bereaved much comfort,

and sometimes it feels just as tough as charging into a.

Claims, but it's still important to try.

Go to sleep, Devil.

There's nothing to be seen,

at least not by the likes of you. Stop wasting your time.

Sometimes closing your eyes can help you to see.

What's that supposed to mean? If you

don't know, then go to sleep. Devil.

Wait, is he? Why? Just showing some compassion as a knight.

Wait. Shut up. I meant Knight King.

Hey. What now? Don't talk to me just because you can't sleep.

I won't k*ll you if you fall asleep first.

Even if you're a devil, just be grateful

I'm a noble knight and go to sleep.

Wait, King. I'm a noble knight. King.

It's almost like you're messing up on purpose.

I We need to bring spontaneous human

combustion to an end and quickly.