04x20 - What I Once Sought to Destroy

[bunniefuu]

Whenever Stanley's crew attacks...

Let's do 3,000 meters in one second!

...we go ahead and petrify friend and foe alike.

Meanwhile, one of us stays out of range of the petrification beam.

They'll revive the Kingdom of Science, and then victory is ours.

Our sole survivor has to stay the hell away.

The whole plan hinges on their success.

The head of our special squad will be...

Suika!

All that practice hiding means I get to be useful now!

That's definitely safer than being here on the front lines, but it's still dangerous.

No problem.

We'll send Francois, too.

I promise that no harm will befall her.

Are we going to set up a camp down by the river?

Yes.

We can rely on the others for regular food drops, but we cannot survive without consistent access to water.

In addition, it's all but certain that Stanley's team will be traveling upriver.

If we're vigilant, it's possible that we can discreetly spot them coming, so...

What's wrong, Suika?

See something?

I think I've already spotted them.

Clear!

Clear.

Move out!

I'll go ahead and handle Recon.

That way I can secure a path.

We've just gotta keep our eyes peeled for smoke, yeah?

Right, the fledgling science team is somewhere here in Araxa.

They're mining for minerals, which means they'll need a lot of smoke and fire.

Pick up the pace, hostages!

Kinro and Matsukaze are with them too.

Excellent scouting, Suika.

Nicely done.

This is bad.

We've got to hurry up and call the others so they know that Stanley is already here.

We can't.

Our comms equipment is a last resort.

If we use it now, we'll be discovered.

We are critical to this mission, so we mustn't take any risks.

We're using the scent to harness the power of the dreaded army and to scare everything else away!

Let's go.

We'll temporarily return to warn them.

Oh no!

Something venomous must have gotten her!

She may be bad, but she needs our help!

Keep this stuff handy, just in case.

It's your best friend if one of you ends up getting poisoned.

All these pads are soaked in that nitroglycerin we use to make dynamite.

Rub it on your skin and it'll expand your coronary arteries.

And that'll jolt your heart back into action.

She's right.

But our role is far too pivotal to compromise ourselves.

Senku, you realize Stanley will k*ll all of you without hesitation.

He'll do whatever's necessary to rescue his leader.

It isn't a matter of ethics.

He'll simply be fulfilling his job as a military man.

Yeah, I'm well aware.

You clearly believe the beautiful platitudes you spout to your followers.

Sadly, that is your biggest weakness.

The crack that will ultimately split your diamond.

I don't get it.

We're enemies, why help?

Everything's gonna be alright now.

Thank you.

FREEZE!

FREEZE!

What's freeze?

What are they saying?

I fear I don't know for certain, but I vaguely recall it having something to do with turning water to ice.

I don't know what they're yelling about, but I do know that everything will be ruined if I let them catch me!

After her!

We can't let the little runt go back and tell the rest of them that we're on the way!

We're in grave danger.

Suika lacks 21st century knowledge.

She has no way of knowing freeze means stop moving.

The only thing I have that even remotely resembles a weapon is this small paring knife.

I have no combat skills to speak of.

Even if I were to risk charging them with this kitchen tool, Suika and I would still be gunned down.

It's do or die!

We've got you now!

Use this.

Matsukaze.

And Ginro.

I've risked my life honing my response to ranged weapons.

I know precisely what to do.

FIRE!

I retrieved the weapon, but I cannot use it while my hands are bound.

Instead...

Master Ginro!

It's up to you!

He cut the rope!

I'll hold him down!

Stupid Matsukaze!

How am I supposed to fight against g*ns?

Unless... maybe at this range?

No, I can't do that!

They'll k*ll me if I react!

Why do I have to be the one to die a hero?

Damn it, Matsukaze!

I'm just gonna let them tie me up!

My master... he had a powerful spirit up to the very end.

You leave her alone!

I mean it!

No matter what, I won't let you hurt Suika!

That's right!

I was so scared I almost forgot I was one of the village guards!

So I've always been really strong!

Of course it's all thanks to my intense training!

It hurts!

Why would an expert marksman hesitate to sh**t?

Stanley could have easily shot him dead before he had a chance to fight back.

That certainly would have made things simpler to handle.

There's only one possible explanation.

He needs him as a hostage.

So he refrained from firing until Ginro said an as*ault necessitated it.

Neither Ginro nor Matsukaze show any signs of injury or mistreatment.

They were merely restrained.

As prisoners of w*r, it seems they're being treated with a modicum of respect.

These people... they're not ruthless murderers.

They're soldiers, which means...

We are both civilians!

Please don't sh**t!

We're non-combatants!

Listen, that's Suika, a civilian doctor.

She has unflinchingly upheld her duty, even saving one of yours from death by a venomous spider bite.

She and I have been living apart from Senku and the others to protect her from potential warfare.

I implore you to thoroughly inspect her belongings if you cannot take me at my word.

In a weird way, everything she said is true.

We are unaffiliated with the Combat Unit.

We harbor no hostile intent and will follow your orders.

Will you k*ll us regardless?

We won't.

You can relax.

That is, assuming you're telling the truth.

Got me a walking melon.

We're in real big trouble, and it's all my fault.

And to make it even worse, now we have no way of warning everyone that Stanley's already here.

That isn't necessarily true, Suika.

You may have performed a distinguished service.

Hey, what are you grumbling about, Leonard?

Francois over there was hiding a little secret.

Their comms device sent out a radio signal before we caught them.

Correct.

You're more than welcome to analyze the content of my Morse Code message if you're concerned.

It was simply an update.

For safety, I was informing the U.S. base that we had split into two teams.

What's going on?

They're not in trouble, are they?

They made contact with Stanley's crew.

Why would Francois send that weird message knowing it would give away their position?

You've got it backwards.

Francois sent it to tell us their position, not Stanley.

Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

It's super basic.

You check the direction the signal came from and how long ago they left.

Yep.

And just like that, we found them first.

We've got them.

We know the enemy's exact location.

Our final battle against Stanley is about to begin.

We possess information that could turn the tide in our favor.

We know where they are, but they still don't know where we are.

Wait a sec!

Back it up!

Do you hear yourselves?

There's something we should really ip-nay in the ud-bay.

Sweet little Suika and Francois have been caught, and we know where the enemy is.

Can that genius brain of yours think of a certain badass who won't hesitate to act on that?

Hurry and tie her down!

And she's gone.

Kohaku's doomed!

I hate being right!

It's risky, but it may be our best option.

Am I wrong?

You're not.

Our victory condition is deceptively simple.

We just trigger our friend Medusa before the enemy arrives and mows us down.

A little guerrilla warfare is just the ticket.

Slow them down and buy us time to make the first move.

They're so strong I'm starting to get really scared for our friends.

Our footprints are shallow and kinda hard to see, but that won't stop them!

I know they'll find a way to follow them back to our fortress!

There.

The enemy's position and approach router is clear as day.

They had no chance of hiding from these eyes.

Tracking them was a cinch.

Still, the soldier at the front is looking out for wires and traps.

Behind him, their leader is watching ahead and above.

Their comm soldier is guarding their flanks.

The rear guard has their backs covered.

The whole team is moving in unison.

There aren't any blind spots whatsoever.

And not a single opening.

We're facing professional combatants from the 21st century.

Tsukasa!

Hyoga!

You left in such a frenzy, I assumed your mental faculties had also departed.

But to your credit, you made the proper choice of assessing the enemy's capabilities instead of charging in haphazardly.

Their whole team is highly trained and prepared for all manner of attack.

We wouldn't stand a chance fighting them head on.

But they're not the only ones who have come prepared.

Isn't that...

The manual record player that our own Chrome crafted as a handy trap for the coming battle.

It doesn't have enough resonance to sound like a real g*nsh*t.

How's that possible?

We recorded the real thing!

That doesn't necessarily mean it'll be convincing.

It's like the sound effects in movies.

For ocean waves, they often swished sand around in a basket instead of recording the water.

So you think smacking a plastic bottle will sound legit enough for ya?

I bet that'll work!

We'll make a recording of hitting the plastic bottle.

And then seal the deal by playing it at a slower speed.

That's goated!

Our sonar man Ukyo missed his calling as a sound director for ealray!

The last step is to layer the sound a few times.

I can't die here! I have so much life left to live!

Stop sh**ting at us!

We're on your side!

The soldier in front is coming our way.

She left while the leader took cover.

Have they spotted us?

Not yet.

They're just true professionals.

It bought us some time, but it won't take them long to realize that the g*nf*re is fake.

Don't think for a moment they're so naive as to think we don't pose a threat.

It's an ambush.

And they'll respond exactly as military theory dictates.

The targeted soldier fights from where they are, to draw attention.

While the rest make their way around to confront the enemy.

Then we should hurry while there's still a chance to rescue Suika and Francois.

It won't be easy.

Not with Stanley nearby.

If things get chaotic, they'll both die.

More importantly, it's imperative that we destroy their comm devices.

Our one golden opportunity is while chaos still reigns.

We won't have another chance like this.

I understand.

I know this well by now.

Communication is the key to modern warfare.

True.

It changes everything.

In fact, Victory is assured the very moment that we manage to take over their communication network.

I'm not following you.

Think about it objectively.

We put a blade to Dr. Xeno's throat and demand that Stanley and his men surrender if they want him to live.

Is there any good reason we shouldn't employ such a simple and effective strategy?

There are dozens of reasons.

And they're all being held as Stanley's hostages.

They're at the enemy's headquarters even now.

They're alive because we have a prime hostage.

Yeah.

In other words, if we harm Xeno in any way, they'll contact their forces in Corn City and give them the order.

They'll tell them to.

See?

Once we sever their line of communication, their mainland hostages become effectively useless.

Then all we have to do is cut off Xeno's fingers one by one.

Next, onto his limbs, one arm and leg at a time.

Eventually, his pal Stanley will crumble and surrender.

Please tell me you're aware that'll never happen!

Or have you already forgotten that they have Suika and three of our other friends as hostages?

The entire kingdom of science hangs in the balance.

If we can save all those lives at the mere cost of four others, we would be remiss if we fail to at least consider it.

There's absolutely zero chance we'd go along with that!

It doesn't actually matter if that's our ultimate plan or not.

Stanley will know it's an option.

Consider it from his perspective.

If their comm device is destroyed, they'll have no choice but to fix it as quickly as possible.

It would cost them a massive amount of time.

Fine.

If delaying them is our only goal, then you've got my approval.

Maya, is something wrong?

It's hard to explain.

Call it the gut instinct of a national champion martial artist.

I finally gotcha!

There's no chance of escape while we're surrounded on all sides by our enemy.

Even still, although our demise is essentially guaranteed.

Right.

It's far better to die fighting than to timidly await death.

Not so long ago, I would have never imagined the three of us fighting side by side.

I will destroy that device, even if I have to lay down my life to do it.

One last gift.

We're doing this so Senku and the others can win.

My back is warm.

In battle, you're dead if you ever turn your back on an opponent.

So I've never felt this sensation before.

My back is usually cold as ice.

But now, in our final battle, there's so much warmth.

Tsukasa!

Hurry.

It is Tsukasa.

Who's that?

He's the strongest primate high schooler.

He's a martial artist.

Japan's champion.

Then I don't have to hold back when I beat him to death.

Well now, you're quite impressive.

I've never fought against anyone who made me struggle to this degree.

He took out Maya!

The guy's a monster!

Too bad for you.

Against Xeno's science-made firearms, it doesn't matter one tiny bit how strong you may be.

But you have no idea how things were before.

The world I lived in was tainted by powerful forces who used weapons of science for unspeakable crimes.

It's why we need restraint.

Tsukasa!

Really, Kohaku?

You think standing there gawking at me will help anything?

Or have you forgotten that you have a job to do?

Right!

You don't have to tell me twice!

Very good.

I always knew you'd make a truly proper ally.

So that was your actual target.

Yeah.

Well played.

They finished the job.

I expected nothing less... of them.

Hyoga...

He's already gone.

As for Kohaku and me...

We won't last much longer.

If Senku and the others manage to create a working Medusa...

Perhaps there's a small chance...

Its power can even bring back the dead.

Midai was trapped in a coma.

And I in cold sleep.

Yet we were restored.

Perhaps it only matters how well one's cell tissue is preserved.

If that's the case...

I wonder...

When the switch happened...

When did I begin to entrust my entire future to Senku's science?

What I once sought to destroy...

Has become my glimmer of hope.

We're counting on you...

Senku...