Last Scenario - Part 24
- Last time on Last Scenario, we traveled to the Kingdom town of Lawshire, and ran into an old friend of Ethan's. Thanks to her, we can travel to the seal. Yay! :D
- ...not 'inspection team'. 'Ninjas'.
Hilbert: Here, we have a formal order from Colonel Alison.
George: Hmmm... All right, get in the back. I'll warn you, it won't be a comfortable ride.
- And here we are, right in the seal building!
Hilbert: Oh, we're here for inspections. We were sent directly by Colonel Alison.
Miller: I wasn't told about any inspections. I can't just let you in.
Miller: I'm here under direct command of Sir Helio. His orders supercede the Colonel's.
Matilda: Look, we're not here to play around. Haven't you heard? Terrorists are trying to destroy this place. We've heard from reliable sources that they have already hidden bombs inside here.
Miller: What!? That's ridiculous. No one could just sneak in there unnoticed.
Matilda: Are you 100% sure of that? Do you want to bear the responsibility if anything happens? You think you can safely hide behind your orders? You'll still be taking the blame if we're right, you know.
Miller: Fine, fine. I don't want to be responsible if anything bad happens.
- Oh, don't worry. You will be.
Miller: You can go inside, but I'm coming with you. And don't think I won't report this.
- Yeah: a guy we need to dispose of. Sorry, dude.
Hilbert: Sorry for this.
Randolph: I'll get to work right away.
There is the sound of an explosion
- Huh. What a polite and condescending way to say 'Stop foiling my plans.'
Ethan: Flynn?
Flynn: Ethan. I want you to know that this is nothing personal. Whatever path you choose in life is your own business. But my loyalties lie here. If this is the path you chose, that makes us enemies. I won't spare any effort to carry out my orders to stop you.
Ethan: I know it's pointless trying to talk to you. Besides, we don't have the time. I was Number One long before you. There's no way you can stop me.
Flynn: I will not lose to you. I trained the past three years for this.
- Flynn is like Helio in that you can steal something she is visibly wearing. Aside from that, they could hardly be more different.
- She has high strength and is nearly as fast as Hilbert. She's almost like a tougher version of Felgorn.
- Multi-hit attacks, etc... it's a nightmare, to be honest.
- It's a battle of healing fast and hitting faster. Not the most difficult fight in the game, but definitely tricky.
Flynn: You're not even as strong as you used to be, and still... I still can't win?
Hilbert: This is our chance! Let's go!
Flynn: Now we'll have to carry out the plan sooner than expected.
A rumbling noise is heard as the screen shakes
- Oh, hey, it's that pointless expanse of desert. Wonder why they're showing us that?
- ...okay, lightning? This is a little overly dramatic, guys.
Hilbert: What? What happened?
Moritz: There was an electric storm just now. Damn thing broke some of our machinery.
Hilbert: An electric storm... that must mean that the shield was destroyed. Sorry for that, Captain. I hope the damage wasn't too bad.
Moritz: Eh, nothing we can't fix. But really, I had no idea you were doing such dangerous things.
Ethan: The most dangerous part has yet to come.
Matilda: After the trouble we went through to take down the shield, you'd better not be having second thoughts.
Hilbert: Of course not. I'm anxious to see what that underground city is like.
- Because of course we're doing it for the sightseeing.
Matilda: And this Ortas we've heard about, it seems like he's the mastermind behind it all. He set up all countries against each other. I hope we get to meet him so I can drive my fist into his face.
- I love Matilda. I really do.
Matilda: Oh, and Lorenza, maybe you'll finally get to meet your grandfather again.
Hilbert: About that... I've been thinking about it for a while. It's hard for me to say this, but... I don't think Lorenza should come with us.
Lorenza: What? But...
Hilbert: It's too dangerous. They're still after you. It's better if you stay here where it's safe.
- Must we have one of these conversations?
Thorve: Yes, I agree. We'll run a great risk if we take you along with us.
- We all know she's going to end up coming.
Matilda: What are you talking about? Can't you see how badly she wants to go with us? You think that after everything we've been through, you can't even protect her.
- I think the question is whether we can protect any enemies we encounter from her...
Hilbert: Matilda...
Lorenza: Please, let me come. It's very important to me.
Hilbert: All right. I still don't think it's a good idea, but we can't just leave you behind at this point.
Lorenza: Thank you. I'll do what I can to take care of myself.
Ethan: Now that the shield is gone, they'll probably ask the Kingdom for help. But even if they do, it will take time. We have to get inside Entalar before any troops arrive.
Hilbert: There's nothing in our way anymore. I say we go to Entalar right away.
- Here goes, uh... something?
- Oh hey. Maybe she's planning to help us again! n_n
Hilbert: Zawu? You were waiting for us? What was-
Zawu: Say nothing.
Hilbert: Zawu...?
Zawu: Our last meeting has only made things worse. I am torn inside. Between the past and the future. Between how things are and how I want them to be.
Zawu: Hilbert, I can't solve this matter on my own anymore.
Hilbert: I don't understand what you're saying.
Zawu: Are you the hero you wanted to be, or are you the hero Ortas wanted you to be? That's the question. This is a test. Everything will be decided here and now.
Zawu: And I deny you passage.
- Zawu is even faster than Hilbert, which means preemptive healing is a must.
- Despite having higher strength than intelligence, her strongest attacks are her spells.
- But the most devastating combination she has is to cast berserk on a character, forcing them to attack physically and thus take damage from her counterattacks.
- Finally, after one messed-up try, I beat her.
Zawu: Even using the shield's last bit of power, I can't...
Zawu: You still don't understand, Hilbert. I was not just fighting you to win. Now, I...
The screen shakes
Hilbert: An earthquake!?
Zawu: Ugh... Is this an aftereffect of the shield going down?
Randolph: The ground, it's...
Randolph: Look out!
There is the sound of ground crumbling... or at least, I assume it is
- Meanwhile...
Tiamat: Haha... hahaha... So that's where you've been hiding. Finally, I've found you. I'm coming for you, Barasur!
- Meeeaaaanwhile...
Castor: This is going to be the greatest event in three hundred years. We can't be late for it.
- MEANWHILE.
Barasur: Please... please do something. Lorenza, Hilbert. Don't betray me like Castor did.
- NOW BACK TO THE FREAKING HEROES.
Hilbert: Oh, that's right... the earthquake. Did this whole place cave in?
Hilbert: Where is everyone else!? I've got to look for them!
- We proceed, with caution, into the caves...
Hilbert: Don't get any closer, or I'll...
Zawu: That's enough, Hilbert. We don't have time for this. Come with me.
Hilbert: Huh? What's going on? First you want to fight me, and now I have to follow you?
Zawu: I already told you. I fought you because I couldn't make up my mind myself. You won. That means you've truly grown beyond what I thought was possible.
Hilbert: So what? Now that you know you can't beat me, you're asking me for help?
Zawu: Yes. I want your help.
Hilbert: You've got to be kidding...
Zawu: We're in a natural cavern system, and an extensive one at that. They could be anywhere.
Zawu: He's the only one who can give us the answers we're looking for.
Hilbert: Who?
Zawu: The one who calls himself Phantom. He is being held in a prison below the city, on Ortas's orders. I know how we can get inside.
Zawu: If we find them on our way they can come along, but we have to move quickly. The Grandmaster doesn't know yet that I've betrayed him. That allows us to move freely at least for now. If we waste our time searching for your friends, we'll lose this opportunity. They can take care of themselves.
- Wait, this means...
- ...huh.
- She's similar to Hilbert, but has at least slightly higher stats in every area except Vitality and HP. In other words, I would totally switch Hilbert out for her later if the game allowed you to.
- This screenshot brought to you by the fact that Zawu is freakishly tall.
- VERY handy spellcard - it lets you steal and attack at the same time.
Hilbert: Don't think I trust you this easily after all you've put me through.
Zawu: It's fine if you feel that way. I'm not asking for your trust. I don't think I'm deserving of it. We just have a common goal for now. I am not doing this for you, or because I feel I owe you.
Hilbert: You keep mentioning Castor. Why do you care about him so much?
Hilbert: I know he's the leader of the Kingdom army, and that Ethan was once a special agent serving him.
Zawu: That's all he told you?
Hilbert: He said he didn't remember anything from before that time...
Zawu: I see... Did he really forget everything...?
Hilbert: What happened between them, Zawu? You've got to tell me!
Zawu: No. It's better this way. There's no need to bring it up again. I wish I didn't remember it myself. It would've made this choice much easier.
Hilbert: You're still not making much sense. If you're really on my side now, why don't you tell me the truth for once?
Zawu: I'm only acting in Ethan's best interests. You have to believe me when I say I care a lot about him.
Zawu: I am the one who brought the Havali and the Kingdom together. It was me who made him a general. He could've been like you, Hilbert. But I gave him the opportunity to go too far. It's only natural that he would turn away from Ethan and me. He doesn't want to have to rely on anyone. He would've never made it if it weren't for the two of us. That's precisely why he wanted to surpass us. He wanted to prove that he didn't have to depend on us any longer.
Zawu: Let's move on.
- Meanwhile...
Ethan: Where are we?
Randolph: Underground. It seems the earthquake caused a partial collapse of these tunnels. And it just so happened that we were standing right on top of them.
Ethan: Can't we get out?
Randolph: Not the same way we came in, unfortunately. It's quite a distance we fell. We're lucky to be unharmed. I certainly hope everyone else is fine too.
Ethan: We have to try to find the others. It's too dangerous here to be separated. Especially Lorenza...
Randolph: Yes, let's make that our top priority.
Next time on Last Scenario, our scattered party attempt to find their way through the maze of tunnels, not knowing where they lead. Tune in next time for *drumroll* ... Entalar!