Episode 5: The Enigmatic Undersea Ruins
Scene: In an undersea cavern.
Some time later. With Kyaru's magic, Yuuki and the others were able to move through the water quickly, arriving at the undersea ruins.
However, right away, the group found themselves surrounded by monsters and unable to advance.
Begin battle sequence.
Monster
Roaaaar!
Kyaru
These things, coming one after another...! Get out of my sight, you troublemakers!
Kyaru uses her union burst.
Monster
Roaaaar!
Kyaru
Whew... The little ones in front of us have been taken out for now, so let's keep moving.
Pecorine
Nice work, Kyaru! You're really doing your part, huh?
Pecorine
But are you all right? Your face looks pale as a sheet, you know?
Kyaru
Huh? It doesn't matter I'm all right or not, I've got to pull through somehow...
Kyaru
At this rate, my magic will be spent before long. I'm going to fight with all my strength until then, even if I die or pass out.
Kyaru
That's why I'm going to cull these incoming monsters as best I can -- finding Koro is the most important thing. ... These ruins really do feel like a maze.
End of battle sequence.
Kyaru
You lead the way for now, Suzume. I'll keep watch for any approaching monsters.
Suzume
Okay, leave the navigation to me. With my scouting magic, I can find both Kokkoro's location and the interior layout of these ruins.
Suzume
It's a lot like a maze in here, but if you understand the routes, then you won't get lost. I think I have an idea of the shortest path to where Kokkoro is.
Suzume
This scouting magic also reveals the locations of traps, so we'll be able to avoid them.
Suzume
But the rest of you will have to handle any monsters that appear. I'm completely occupied with this magic, so I'll be relying on you.
Kyaru
That includes me, I guess. Ooh... I've gotten used to having Pecorine take out entire hordes of monsters for us on her own...
Pecorine
S-Sorry. I guess I'm just a drag now...
Kyaru
That's right... You're doing nobody any good loitering around like that, so at least fall back so that you won't get hurt.
Pecorine
(Ooh. Kyaru's being even more prickly than usual... I feel like she doesn't have the patience to worry about me right now. I guess I really should try to stay out of the way, at least.)
Pecorine
(... Now that I think about it, Yuuki is usually the one staying one step behind everyone else.)
Pecorine
(Yuuki is always staying behind those of us who are fighting... Watching us with an anxious look on his face.)
Pecorine
(This powerlessness, this alienation... This must be what you're always feeling.)
Yuuki
1. "... What's wrong?"
Pecorine
Ah, sorry for staring... I guess I just felt a rush of sympathy for you just now.
Pecorine
It must be vexing, always having dear friends putting themselves in harm's way for your sake, without being able to do anything yourself.
Yuuki
1. "... It is."
Pecorine
Right. Heh... In a few ways, I feel like I've grown closer to you today.
Kyaru
Hey! Don't fall behind -- come here!
Pecorine
Ah, what happened... Kyaru?
Kyaru
Look at this. There's a giant gate at the end of this path. Beyond the gate, there's an empty chamber where it looks like Kokkoro is trapped.
Suzume
Yes. And I can sense Kokkoro's vitals, too, so she's still alive... Ahh, we need to save her quickly.
Kyaru
Yeah. But this door is being pretty stubborn. It seems like some kind of magic should be able to open it, but I don't know what that would be.
Suzume
It seems so. I've inspected it all over, but I haven't been able to figure out these magical circuits that operate the door... The circuits have been sealed by some mysterious method.
Kyaru
What do we do? Koro's still alive, but I don't know how much longer we have...
Kyaru
If we just had some way of breaking through this door, we wouldn't be stuck here.
Kyaru
Yuuki, if you strengthen me, I might just be able to destroy the door entirely. If I unleash my destructive magic, I could try to blast the door open by brute force.
Kyaru
If we have no other options, then that might be what we have to do. Can you all think of any other ways to open the door? Ideally, a smarter method than what I said.
Pecorine
U-Um... What do you think, Yuuki?
Yuuki
1. "Break through the door by force."
2. "Try thinking of some other way."
Option 1.
Kyaru
... Okay, I'll go full blast, then.
Kyaru
Then, Yuuki, power me up as much as possible. I'm gonna let loose with the most powerful and destructive magic I have!
Suzume
Yuuki, please focus on powering up Kyaru alone!
Suzume
Pecorine seems to be quite weak right now, and I'm not very skilled with offensive magic...
Suzume
So you only need to focus your strengthening abilities on Kyaru...
Suzume
Kyaru will focus all the power she has into a destructive spell to break through the door. That might be the most powerful tool we have.
Kyaru
Of course! It's not my usual role, but you don't have to ask me twice!
Kyaru
Yuuki, give me all your power! I'll be able to break through an obstacle like this without a problem!
Kyaru
All right, I feel it! I feel your energy growing, all throughout my body! I can do this...!
Kyaru
Ha ha ha! I'll blast away anything that stands in my way! Hi-yaaah!
Kyaru
All right, there's a gap! Let's go in!
Option 2.
Kyaru
Right, we should... We would be getting ahead of ourselves, expending all of my magic on just this door. Ordinarily, it would be best to find a way to open this door without expending much energy.
Pecorine
But how would we...
Pecorine
Hey, do you see that pond in that gap? Isn't there something resembling a lever, hidden inside?
Kyaru
Eh... You've got pretty good vision to be able to see that from this distance, huh, Pecorine?
Pecorine
Hee hee, my eyesight is pretty good!
Pecorine
In any case. There's a jewel of the same color as the door on that lever...
Pecorine
Doesn't it feel like, if we can pull that lever, the door will open?
Kyaru
Ahh, that's possible. I've seen contraptions like that here and there throughout these ruins. The way I see it, they'd be really inconvenient for the people living here, these strange puzzles.
Pecorine
Ruins like these probably weren't meant to be lived in, right? It would probably have been a tomb or a vault of some kind.
Pecorine
More importantly... How about I try pulling that lever? I haven't really been able to help so far, so I can at least contribute this much!
Kyaru
Yeah. That lever is underwater, after all... I'm not very confident in my swimming abilities, so I'll leave it to you.
Kyaru
But be careful, as there might be monsters in the water as well.
Pecorine
Yes! Okay, here I go... Three, two, one, dive!
Pecorine
(All right. This water is clearer than I'd thought it would be, so I can see pretty well. Um, the lever was... Over here, right?)
Pecorine
(Ah, I've found it! Should I just pull it?)
Pecorine
(Ghnnn! Ooh, without the Royal Armament, my arm strength is way down! The lever's so heavy, I can't move it!)
Pecorine
(But! Kokkoro is in serious trouble -- if there was ever a time to show some guts, it's now! This is for everyone in Gourmet Palace, everyone whom I've spent so many happy moments with!)
Pecorine
(Fight on, me! I'll keep pulling on this lever for as long as I can hold my breath!)
Kyaru
... Oh? Yes, the door is opening! Pulling that lever really was the answer!
Kyaru
Great job, Pecorine! Now come out of the water quickly, and we'll charge past the door!
End of branches.
Suzume
Right! Let's hurry -- Kokkoro's vital signs are getting weaker by the moment!