02x12 - Embracing Your Ambitions in the Light: Part 2

[bunniefuu]

[FEMALE NARRATOR] A gaming
juggernaut that boasts over

thirty-million players
and counting,

the fully-immersive
VR MMO, Shangri-La Frontier,

is the definitive
triple-A experience.

Here, players can encounter

a class of unique monsters
called the Seven Colossi.

Lurking in the darkness
is one such monster.

Lycagon the Nightslayer.

[RAKURO] I'm not the same newb
I was last time we fought!

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

level ninety-nine gamer!

♪

[wind whooshing]

[growls]

[grunt]

♪

[laugh]

[RAKURO] Those paws still
pack a punch,

just like I remember!

[REI] Wait a minute!

He's actually deflecting
Lycagon's attacks

with only a light weapon?

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
I'm heading in!

[hollering]

Supreme Divineslash!

♪

[REI [PSYGER-0]] So tough!

[grunt]

[rumble]

My standard attacks
can't cut through.

[RAKURO] Top yourself off while

I keep the mutt distracted,
okay?

Once you're ready,
hit her with everything

you've got!

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Loud and clear!

[grunts]

♪

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
There it goes again!

[roaring]

♪

[Rei sighs]

[RAKURO] Thanks to that
beatdown you gave SF-Zoo,

I got a nice eyeful
of your little tag team strat.

Your creepy sidekick
can surf through shadows

before pouncing on enemies!

Too bad it can't do
anything more

complex than that, am I right?

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
More complex?

[RAKURO]
The clone's a one-trick pony!

All it does is the basic

"leap and swipe at you"
maneuver.

In other words,
nothing that involves

complicated mechanics,

like follow-ups
and tailing opponents.

Meaning.

Huh?

[thud]

[grunts]

[RAKURO]
Our key to putting her down

is clocking the shadows
from the rubble.

Do that,
and dodging's easy work!

And the big thing
to watch for.

Is the attack that
swallowed up Animalia.

[rumbling]

♪

Not even
the weather's on our side.

Bad day for a partly
cloudy forecast.

Makes it a huge pain to guess

where she might
spring out from next.

And with the clone
blending into the darkness,

it's hard to even
see the thing.

How annoying can
one monster be, anyway?

Huh?

We'll just have to time
our moves right.

Whittle her down
while the moon's visible.

Rei!

Keep an eye on the sky
for me, will you?

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Sure!
Roger that!

♪

[booming]

[REI]
Under that much pressure,

even Hizutome can't find
an opening to attack!

So I need to deal
as much damage as I can!

[hollering]

Apocalypse!

♪

[RAKURO] Look at you coming in
with the sweet critical!

♪

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Sunraku!

Let me take over,
I'll draw aggro!

[RAKURO] All right!

I might be forced
to bring out the big g*ns

with ol' Gilta Brill next time!

♪

[Rei sighs]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Four fights in is enough

to learn a thing or two!

All I have to do
is keep her attention!

[scoff]

[RAKURO] Can't teach
an old dog new tricks!

[rumbling]

[RAKURO] Hoo. Close call!

Good thing I only
need to dodge it once!

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Watch out!

That's not the clone!
It's her!

[RAKURO] Huh?

How?

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Sunraku!

♪

SHANA-OH
INCARNATE INVOKE

THE POWER OF A FLEET-FOOTED
FIGURE OF LEGEND TO GREATLY

INCREASE JUMPING ABILITY FOR
A SET PERIOD OF TIME.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Thank goodness.

Glad to see you in one piece.

[RAKURO] Me too.

Was almost a goner.

Still kicking,
thanks to the Inventoria.

♪

[growls]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
What was that?

Can her main body travel
through shadows as well?

[RAKURO] Actually,
if you really think about it,

that shouldn't come
as too much of a surprise.

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Ugh?

[RAKURO] The real kicker
here is that

she waited until now
to show off this move.

Had me convinced her true
form couldn't shadow surf.

She fought this whole
battle without

ever using that ability.

Almost like
she planned to dupe us.

[REI [PSYGER-0]] "Planned?"

[RAKURO] That's right.

Old girl's been playing us
this entire time.

Ever since she took her
first chomp at SF-Zoo.

No.

Even earlier than that!

Since day one!

This dog's been chewing
on every single word

out of our mouths!

♪

[REI [PSYGER-0]] She can
understand player speech?

[RAKURO] Can't think of any
other explanation

for her reactions.

This is nuts.

Forget the fact
she's a unique,

that's still one tricky AI
to give to a monster.

This game really effs with ya!

[Rei sighs]

♪

[RAKURO] You really
are living up to the hype,

Lycagon the Nightslayer!

You're a little smarter
than a rabid dog,

I'll give ya that much!

[growls]

[RAKURO] Okay.

Gotta find a way to outwit
such a smart k*ller fuzzball.

[growls]

[grunt]

[RAKURO] Vorpal Secret.

Waning Mirror!

♪

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
That skill, what is it?

Just dropped a quick decoy.

It'll buy us a little time.

Guess it's a good thing
even the smartest AI

can't ignore mechanics.

[REI [PSYGER-0]] True.

[RAKURO] Quick!

Let's put our heads
together, Rei.

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Oh! Right!

[RAKURO]
Much as I hate to admit it.

Our options are pretty
limited in terms

of hard-hitting attacks.

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Sunraku,

if it's damage
you're looking for,

I can use my ultimate.

[RAKURO] Uh, ultimate?

[REI [PSYGER-0]] They call me
the "Attack Master"

because of this technique.

♪

Not to brag, but it set
the record for the most

firepower in all of SLF.

I just have to be
sure to land the hit.

It'll be effective,
even against Lycagon.

[RAKURO] Rei coming in clutch!

All right!

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Thing is,
the steps needed to activate it

are a pain.

I never managed
to get it right

in my previous fights
with her.

Not even once.

But today's different.

If we work together,

I really think
I can pull it off!

[Rakuro smirks]

[RAKURO] Now we're talkin'.

Ringside seats
to the Attack Master's

"Ultimate" finisher?

Come on, who would pass up
the opportunity to see that?

You can count me in, buddy!

We'll bet everything we've got
on your finishing move!

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Thanks!

[growls]

[RAKURO] Yo!

I'm comin' in hot!

♪

Fleet Float!

Airgetlam!

[rumbling]

♪

[grunts]

[panting]

[RAKURO] She took that like
a pat on the head!

♪

[grunt]

[RAKURO]
Hey, what's the matter?

Gonna have to do
a little better than that!

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Five hits.

I need to land five hits
with both of the skills,

Apocalypse and Catastrophe.

That triggers the ultimate.

[RAKURO] Apocalypse is the move
you pulled off earlier, right?

I did it, as Satanael.

It's the technique I possess

in the current form
you see now.

As for the other move.

Satanael Reversal!

Satan!

♪

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
It's a unique skill

I can only use in Satan form.

Catastrophe!

♪

[rumbling]

[growls]

[RAKURO]
That one knocked her back!

But both attacks have
a long charge-up time

and draw heavy aggro.

Not good!

Forgot someone?

I'm gettin' jealous!

Gotta keep her focus on me!

Which means I need
to crank it up a notch!

♪

[RAKURO] Four.
Just four more.

Man, these reqs
are a hard pill to swallow.

But winning's never
tasted sweeter!

All up to you, Rei!

Take lead
on the offense for me, 'kay?

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
On it!

Sunraku!
The moon!

Look out for the double!

[RAKURO] Roger that!

[rumble]

Need to get a handle
on her moves.

Otherwise, I'm never
seeing that ultimate.

Get it together!

Figure out something,
anything,

to clue in to where
the clone will show up!

Come on, what'll help me
see the unseen?

♪

Before she summons the clone,

I do pick up a faint sound.

That's a start!

♪

Just listen for it!

Lock in and concentrate
everything

I have into sussing out
that noise.

How the hell do I swing that

and entertain
this big ol' puppy?

[wind whooshing]

[gasp]

[thud]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Sunraku!

[groans]

[RAKURO] Damn it!

[groaning]

[RAKURO] I had to use
the Inventoria again!

c*ck mutt.

I'd bet anything
she smashed up

all that rubble on purpose

just to throw off
my concentration.

SUNRAKU

I can't afford to keep
on porting over here,

it's a huge drain on my mana.

At least with my brawl
with Wethermon,

I didn't feel naked.

I stumbled into this fight
completely unprepared.

Didn't do much
in the way of prep.

My potion stock
is nearly down to zero.

[gulping]

SUNRAKU

[sigh]

If I can't figure out
the trick behind

that invisible clone,

I'll be screwed
in no time flat!

Plus, it's player vs. weather!

I need a freakin' wind machine!

[sigh]

Hm?

[chuckles]

Wait, could this be it?

♪

[grunting]

[panting]

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Triggering
Satan mode should boost

my defensive stats,
but if this drags on,

I'll run out of recovery
items to use!

[RAKURO] Yo!
Sorry I'm late!

Waning Mirror!

[rumble]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Welcome back!

I knew you'd make it out
in, new equipment?

[RAKURO] Correction!

Non-Standard Specialized
Armor, "Adebane"!

The headpiece, anyway.

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Non-Standard.
Armor?

[RAKURO] Time for our
legendary comeback!

-Ready?
-[REI [PSYGER-0]] Uh, ready.

[RAKURO] So maybe I can't
equip the full sci-fi suit.

But a single item's

a totally different story,
isn't it?

Throw this helm in the mix.

And the Non-Standard
Ether Reactor to boot,

and I have all I need
to reawaken

the legacy of Wethermon!

Maiden flight, coming through!

♪

Non-Standard Tactical
Avian, Suzaku!

NON-STANDARD
TACTICAL AVIAN SUZAKU

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
So that's the secret weapon?

Wild.

♪

[RAKURO] Sweet!

The helm's booting up too!

Sheesh!

The reactor functions

as the Tactical Beasts'
power source.

Props to Bilac
for fixing it up!

And if not for the reactor
installed in the suit,

I would've never unlocked
the helmet's

full potential and features.

Phew!

And here I was worrying

it wouldn't activate
with just the headgear!

Shook myself up over nothin'!

Things're finally
turning around!

Looks like
we're in good shape.

As long the gear's on,

I can navigate and fly Suzaku,
no problem.

About time I got some
robo-action in SLF!

[SUZAKU] Standby.
Orders requested.

[RAKURO] Uh-oh.

[SUZAKU]
Explanation of weapons.

[RAKURO] Hang on, man.

Can the explanation
wait 'til later?

♪

Listen up.

I've got a super important
mission for you.

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
What in the world is that?

A robotic attack bird?

I've played SLF
for over a year now,

I've never seen
anything like it.

[growling]

[rumbling]

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Focus!
I could've attacked by now!

So far, I've landed one hit each

of Catastrophe
and Apocalypse.

I'm way behind!

I need to step it up, fast!

Hizutome's counting on me,
I can't let him down!

I'll do whatever it takes
to activate

the ultimate conditions,

and catch up to him
as his equal!

Catastrophe!

[scream]

♪

[RAKURO] So, buddy,
you up for a little bit

of flying or what?

[wind whooshing]

Hello?

You good?

[SUZAKU] Yes, sir.

[fire blazing]

[grunts]

[RAKURO] Kind of a weird pause,
wasn't it?

I know it's not
the most glamorous job.

But no one else can do it,
Suzaku.

Give it everything you got!

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Apocalypse!

♪

Two and counting!

♪

[growls]

[RAKURO] Decoy's down!

I'll draw aggro again.

-Fall back for now!
-[REI [PSYGER-0]] Copy!

I'll keep my distance
until the cooldown's over!

♪

[RAKURO] Disappointed?

I'm just as fun as that guy.

Try me!

♪

Firing up!

[blast]

[grunt]

♪

[RAKURO] All right!

Let's turn these tables around!

Use the vibrations!

And then, give it a Growing-up!

♪

[RAKURO] Looks like your head
takes damage more easily

than the rest of you,
doesn't it?

[grunts]

[REI [PSYGER-0]]
Hizutome really is amazing!

He's been learning
to read Lycagon's moves

little by little
from the very beginning.

Still.

♪

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Sunraku!
Brace for the clone attack!

[RAKURO]
The invisible double.

Blending into the darkness
when the moonlight fades,

it strikes without warning.

Wonder if there's something
I can do about that!

You're up, Suzaku!

Fly high!

Change up the forecast
and blow those clouds away!

[SUZAKU]
Booster power to maximum.

Entering circling trajectory.

♪

Orders.
Complete.

Continuing mission.

[REI [PSYGER-0]] Incredible!

It cleared the skies
just like that!

[growls]

[RAKURO] Found you!

That clone attack of yours
isn't so special

now that I can see it coming!

Sucks to be you, mutt!

You can just write off
your tag-team trick

from here on!

Airgetlam!

[rumbling]

[scoff]

♪

[RAKURO] Go for it!
[REI [PSYGER-0]] Right!

Honestly, I didn't think
we stood a chance.

That we could ever get
this far facing

Lycagon head-on.

But.

Hizutome, when I fight
alongside you, I feel..

unstoppable!

Apocalypse!

[growl]

[grunt]

[rumble]

[RAKURO] Rei!

♪

[Emul yelling]

[CEECRUE] Ye know 'im?

This be the selfsame fella?

Ye sure of it?

[AKANE]
Not one-hundred-percent sure.

It's like.

More of a hunch
based on what Emul said!

But I think
it's the same Sunraku!

Trust me!