02x11 - Embracing Your Ambitions in the Light: Part 1

[bunniefuu]

EMBRACE THE LAMPLIGHT
OF AMBITION, PART 1

[wind blowing]

[both whimpering]

[wind gusting]

[MALE VOICE]
Unique monster,

Lycagon the Nightslayer,
encountered.

[RAKURO] She really had me
fooled for a while there.

Or maybe I just played myself.

Pulling out the newb card

to justify
the skill gap between us.

[breathes sharply]

Total copium.

[stomps]

[RAKURO] Like looking into
the face of death itself,

jaws and claws.

My lowbie-ness had absolutely
nothing to do with it.

[rock clatters]

[thuds]

-All right, SF-Zoo!
-[all gasp]

We'll use anti-dragon tactics!

Go!
No way we're turning tail!

[ALL]
Roger that!

[MALE ZOO TANK]
Move out!

[stomps]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
What do we do?

Help them with the fight?

[ANIMALIA] Oh, please,
don't even think about it.

We'll wrap this up
before you can even say,

"Sit, girl!"

[RAKURO]
Fine, fine.

If anyone can train this pup,

it's the weirdo who sniffed out
her spawn location.

Let's see
if there's more to your group

than just being
pathological zoo-nerds.

[growls]

[thuds]

[snarls]

[growls]

[exhales]

[thuds]

[clangs]

[growls]

Come on,
they hyped us up for this?

To watch them
stand there like statues.

Hiding behind shields?

[MALE ZOO TANK 1]
Enhance Durability!

-[MALE ZOO TANK 2] Sir!
-[FEMALE ZOO TANK 1] Sir!

[MALE ZOO TANK 1] Yeah,
that's what I'm talkin' about!

Try chewing through this!

[all screaming]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
They've boosted their mobility

to account for their shields.

[RAKURO]
That's one, three,

five tanks and ten debuffers
including Animalia.

Pretty amateur party comp
if you ask me.

Like, come on, where's the DPS?

[growls]

[growls]

[whimpering]

[shudders]

[growls]

[growls]

[MALE ZOO TANK 1]
Bite on this!

You know you want to!

[roars]

[clangs]

[stomps]

[groans]

All right, I'm tapped out.

Even with max defense,
it nearly KO'd me!

[growls]

Cover the main tank!
Before it punishes!

[growls]

[FEMALE ZOO TANK 1]
Did anyone else clock that?

We don't have a prayer
without this armor,

she's too fast!

[MALE ZOO TANK 2]
Lock in and stay put!

Watch for the insta-k*ll
and follow strat!

[RAKURO]
Nice.

I think I'm seeing
the vision here.

Our tin-can turtle buddies
might be on to something.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Clever.

Provoking her
to strike a barrier of tanks.

[stomps]

-[thuds]
-Maneuvering in a way

to keep Lycagon contained
to one place.

[MALE ZOO TANK 3]
That all ya got?

[growls]

[thwacks]

Huh?!

[thuds]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Making her an easy target

for the debuffers' casts.

Let's leash this pupper
for good!

[ALL]
Atlas Bind!

[thuds]

Nice shot!
Good work, guys!

[roars]

[all chuckle]

[roars]

[growls]

[snaps]

Seriously?
She just bit through it!

Focus up!
Squad two!

Turn up the heat!

[ALL]
Roger!

[ALL]
Atlas Bind!

[crackling]

[roars]

[growls]

Perfect!
We've got her now!

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 1]
It's not holding!

[growls]

Don't let up, we can do this!

[grunts]

[growls]

[RAKURO]
Hey, now!

The zoo-nerds ain't too shabby.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
This is their basic strategy.

Apparently,
they use it to bind dragons.

[footsteps approaches]

By enlisting top tier tanks
in SLF to draw aggro,

they trap their target in place
using debuffs.

And the finishing blow?

[growls]

Pretty gnarly, isn't it?

This baby is all I need
to tame you

with one spicy curse.

The Underworld Keystaff.

Here we go.

Come forth, Hands of Tartarus!

Take hold from darkness!

[thuds]

[growls]

-[RAKURO] Oh.
-[REI [PSYGER-0]] She did it!

[ANIMALIA] Good luck
getting out of this curse.

It chains any bad fluffy

or scaly boy down
for an entire minute.

In other words?

You're as good as ours, baby!

The legendary doggo...

is completely sealed!

Yay!

[ALL]
Yay!

-[MALE ZOO TANK 1] Yay!
-[MALE ZOO TANK 2] Yay!

I've so gotta
take a pic of this!

-[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 2] Yass!
-[MALE ZOO MAGE 1] Me, too!

Focus, you guys!
The clock's ticking, remember?

We're not finished here.

Our main objective is
to unlock the unique scenario!

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 2]
Roger!

[ANIMALIA] But I need
those pics afterwards!

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 2]
Got it!

[MALE ZOO TANK 2]
Say no more!

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
The scenario is more or less

triggered
with Lycagon captured.

[RAKURO] Uh.
As much as I hate to say it,

they might be in
for some disappointment.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Uh?

[RAKURO] Remember the line
Pencilgon fed to Animalia?

The secrets is to land
land 100 or more crits

on Lycagon the Nightslayer,

and you'll unlock
a unique scenario

in which you'll
be invited to Rabituza

by a cute li'l bun-bun.

[RAKURO]
Something tells me

there's way more to it
than that.

I'm willing to bet

your current level

and the weapon
you're equipped with

also plays a role here.

Plus, you gotta
have a "Vorpal Soul,"

whatever that actually means.

Hard to imagine
ol' Don Vysache

giving his stamp of approval
to a mass beatdown like this.

Wanna hear
my take on everything?

[TOWA]
No more debt for me!

[RAKURO] Animalia got
scammed by sus info

that's lacking,
but technically not a lie.

So low.

NOT NICE

Meh!

Guess I'm not one to talk,

since I may have omitted
a few details myself.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Uh...

[RAKURO] [chuckles]
Not important!

Who woulda thought
these freaks had it in 'em

to take down a unique!

Far as I can tell,

they've got our lovely
little pup on the ropes.

At least...

that's what I would say

if it didn't look like
she had some bite left in her.

[growling]

[wind whooshing]
Tell me I'm wrong.

You've got another trick up
your furry sleeve, don't you?

[wind gusting]

[growling]

[wind whooshing]

[chuckles excitedly]

Easy.

Promise I'm not gonna hurt you,

I just wanna see

what kinda floof
you're packin'!

[growls]

[indistinct chatter]

Uh...

Hmm.

[breathes shakily]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Do you see something?

[RAKURO]
All this time, I had it wrong.

They don't call her
the "Nightslayer"

because she attacks at night.

Up there,

in the sky,

doesn't look like stars to me.

Huh?

[gasps]

Something's up there.

No,

more like,

something's watching me.

[whimpering]

[RAKURO]
The slayer is the darkness.

Night itself.

Lycagon the Nightslayer
is literally...

living darkness!

[gasps]

[rumbling]

[all screaming]

[rumbling]

[both groaning]

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 1]
What's happening?

-I can't see a thing!
-[MALE ZOO TANK 2] An attack?

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 3]
By who?

Lycagon's captured!

No way she broke free
from the curse!

[growls]

[growls]

Hold on,

is that.

Another one?

There've been two
this entire time?

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Sunraku, look!

[RAKURO]
Does it have a twin?

Or,

a shadow clone?

[groans]

Leader!

No.
Lycagon.

I love them.

Animals are nothing
like humans.

They're precious
and noble creatures.

We'll save you!

Back in formation!

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 1]
Leader!

[ANIMALIA] You see, offline,
I'm super allergic to animals.

So, here in SLF,

where the creatures are
rendered so realistically,

that even the fleas
in their fur look alive,

I felt more connected here
than IRL.

Shangri-La was paradise to me!

I chased down
the cutest animals,

and showed them more love
than anyone else in this game.

[female zoo tank 1 gasps]

[gasps]

[ANIMALIA]
That's why I understand,

this slayer of the night.

She's not like the rest.

Don't...eat me!

[roars]

[snaps]

[growls]

[FEMALE ZOO TANK 1]
Leader!

[growls]

[gasps]
She's gone?

[MALE ZOO TANK 2] Probably
planning her next move!

-Don't fall for it!
-Don't fall for what?

We're sitting ducks out here!

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 3]
Quit freaking out and focus!

[screams]

[thuds]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
There it is!

[RAKURO]
That speed is insane!

[gasps]

Where's it going?

[RAKURO]
It's not just moving.

It's phasing through
the shadows.

[FEMALE ZOO MAGE 2] [gasps]
Look out!

[screams]

[whimpering]

[RAKURO] Talk about
being one with the night.

Unseen attacks by a clone
that's shrouded in darkness.

[chuckles]

What'd it do to me?

What'd it hit me with?

You're the stuff
of waking nightmares,

Lycagon the Nightslayer.

[wind gusting]

[smashes]

[electricity crackling]

[growls]

[growling]

[whimpering]

[Lycagon growls]

Please, someone!
Help me...

[REI [PSYGER-0]] It obliterated
their ranks in an instant.

What should we do, Sunraku?

[RAKURO]
Thanks to SF-Zoo's sacrifice,

I have an actual encounter
with the mad dog under my belt.

Even getting a sneak peek
of her abilities

is a real gamechanger.

Pup's gotta be riding on a high
and itching for more,

which gives me
a once-in-a-blue-moon chance

for some payback.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Very well.

We'll fight it, then?

[sword clangs]

[RAKURO]
Dying to,

except
there's one major problem.

If we step up to the plate
and 2v1 her,

there's a pretty high chance

that Psyger-0 might trigger
the Bonus Unique Scenario, too.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Is something the matter?

[RAKURO]
Information is power.

And for the clan
Psyger-0 belongs to,

Schwarz Vulf.

You can't put a price tag
on Lycagon intel.

This could throw a major wrench

in the alliance's
shaky power balance.

Hmm.

Never underestimate
the game's top-tier players.

I mean even SF-Zoo's
wonky party comp

dragged the wolf to her belly.

If Schwarz Vulf gets
a scrap of info,

and devised a party
specifically to take it down,

there's no telling how close
they'd get to a clear.

I can totally see them

capitalizing on
the Bonus Unique Scenario.

Bragging about their win

before I even get a chance
to challenge her myself.

Gives me chills
thinking about it.

Plus, Psyger-0 already saw

Lycagon's shadow technique
up close.

Spilling any more deets
could be risky as hell, right?

Taking all that into account,
I'm pretty much trapped.

[chains jingling]

My only option is
to wipeout and reset,

even if I gotta sandbag
Psyger-0 to do it!

Standing toe to claw
with a unique monster

only to wipe on purpose?

Gross,

what kind of party member
even does that?

[growls softly]

A breach of gamer code,

scrub behavior,
call it whatever you want.

Fact is,

it's just lame as hell!

Damn it.

I've also gotta reach Fifticia
before tomorrow morning!

If I'm gonna die
and get through the area

from square one,
I can't flip-flop.

Suck it up
and go with the plan!

Stop debating yourself
and do it!

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Is everything all right?

[REI]
What's going on?

This doesn't seem
like him at all.

The Hizutome I know
is usually more...

[rain splattering]

I'll never forget.

The first time I saw him
after class,

it was pouring rain.

[rain splattering]

[footsteps approaching]

Out of nowhere,
this guy just runs past me.

His smile through the rain
caught my eye.

And then,

there he was.

Holding that game like
it was the most precious loot

he's ever laid eyes on.

[door slides open]

[footsteps receding]

I guess that's what
drew me to him.

I would've done anything
for one conversation.

Anything.

Even if it was
through a video game.

Actually, this feels
exactly like that day.

Only this time,
he's not rushing to grab

what it is he truly wants.

[chain jingling]

Almost like something

or someone
is chaining him down,

keeping him in place.

Isn't there anything
I can say to him?

Um.

May I share something?

[RAKURO]
Yeah?

Go on, sh**t.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
To be honest,

unlike the other members
of Schwartz Vulf,

I don't share the same passion
they do for Lycagon's k*ll.

I guess it's never been
much of a priority for me

while playing this game.

Hm?

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Eventually,
I intend to defeat her

like any other monster
for the achievement.

But sometimes
I find myself wondering,

"What's the big deal
if I lose that fight?"

So,

whenever I start
to feel that way...

[REI] I think of that
ray of sunshine in the rain.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
...I steel my resolve,

and think to myself,

"If I'm doing this...

I need to go all in with
everything I've got, right?"

[breathes shakily]

Now's our chance, Sunraku.

Win or lose,
let's enjoy this game,

this moment,
with all our heart!

[RAKURO]
Games become way better

when you stop treating them
like jokes!

When it all starts
feeling real,

there's nothin' like it.

Enjoy it with
all our hearts, huh?

[crackling]

[shatters]

[chains shatter]

[chains jingling]

Can't argue against that.

[chuckles]

Sorry to scare ya, Rei.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Uh?

[RAKURO] Did I seriously look
that bored to you or something?

[chuckles nervously]
[REI [PSYGER-0]] Bored?

No, not at all!

[RAKURO]
Give me a break.

Clans, monopolies.

I nearly tanked
my game-rep over that?

I don't got time
for whiny bullcrap!

The hell do I even
play games for?

[growls]

[thuds]

Ya hear that, doggo?

[growls]

Who gives a damn
about that other stuff?

I'm having the time
of my life right now!

[growls]

Nothing wrong
with thinking long-term.

But what's the point
if it chains you down

in the moment?

Hell of a pep talk, Rei.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Uh?

[RAKURO]
I'm wide awake now.

Let's win this
with all we've got!

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Uh?

YOU'VE RECEIVED A PARTY REQUEST
FROM SUNRAKU. ACCEPT?

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Oh.

Right!

[beeps]

[growls]

[swords clanking]

[stomps]

[RAKURO] Am I serving Vulf
info on a silver platter?

Who gives a crap!

All I want is to get
my sweet monster-k*ll,

and I want it now!

Better strap in, ya mangy mutt!

'Cause I'm not the same newb
I was last time we fought!

Time for you to get a taste
of a maxed-out,

level 99 gamer!

[expl*si*n]