Chapter 13 - The Grim Reaper Lklein Manni: Airio...! Suncia Panthera: Tch...! I'll go check on them! Echo Knight: Please wait, Vice-Captain! Lord Umarit will punish us if anything happens to you ...! Suncia Panthera: And what about Airio and the villagers?! Are you telling me to abandon them?! Echo Knight: Nothing is worth risking your life, Lord Suncia! Please, come back! Suncia Panthera: But...! Echo Knight: We lost Lord Nuxma, if you're also swallowed by the darkness...how could we ever face your mother again! Suncia Panthera: ........... Suncia Panthera: ...! Fall back...! Keep a safe distance from the darkness! Echo Knight: Yes, sir! Lklein Manni: Wait, please! What about Airio?! Suncia Panthera: He’ll be lucky if he’s still alive. Lklein, you fall back too! Lklein Manni: But... Echo Knight: Hurry, Lklein! This way! Lklein Manni: ...........! [Outside the Village...] Eleu Coge: Are you alright, Balaeno? Balaeno: Super fine, obvi! Eleu Coge: Who on earth taught you to talk like that? Balaeno: Okie-dokie. Eleu Coge: I don't quite follow, but I'll make a note of it... I’m glad you're safe at least. Balaeno: Yippee. Eleu Coge: The imperial army's pulling back... So Ecolina Village has been abandoned. Eleu Coge: Charging in blindly would mean more casualties. It's a smart tactical move, but it leaves the villagers in a miserable situation. They're completely on their own. Balaeno: And to think they've been paying taxes for this exact scenario. Eleu Coge: ........... Eleu Coge: Balaeno. Balaeno: Wassup? Eleu Coge: Would you stop me? Tell me not to do something foolish. Eleu Coge: I have no obligation to save villagers in imperial territory. Not just that... I’m a former Federation soldier, so I’ll cause a huge commotion if I carried weapons into imperial territory, Balaeno: Don't do something stupid. Eleu Coge: Thank you. You're absolutely right. And yet... ah... Eleu Coge: The faces of my dead subordinates keep flashing before me. Balaeno, wait here. If I don't come back, head to the Federation Council and... Balaeno: Better if I back you up. You're long-range. I'm close-range. Eleu Coge: So you can fight. That twin-blade you carry around wasn't decoration, then. Makes sense since you were traveling with a Song Seeker. Balaeno: So the plan is saving the villagers? Eleu Coge: That's right. Wait for my signal then run. Balaeno: Coolio. Eleu Coge: Go. Balaeno: Hup...........! Eleu Coge: (Eleu's Arca Song) [Back to the village...] Ecolina Villager: ...! There’s nothing we can do...! It's gonna swallow everything...! Nelpha Maxi: ...! Fail! I'm counting on you to look after Thecto! Thecto Sis: Nel?! Fail Urus: Nel, where are you going?! Nelpha Maxi: I'll buy us some time! Run...! Ecolina Villager: Stop, Nel! You can easily outrun it, you have strong legs! Ecolina Villager: You're not even from this village, you don't need to share its fate! Nelpha Maxi: I've been a dead man walking for a long time. I got to have some semblance of peace at the end of it thanks to you all. I'm grateful for that. Thecto Sis: Nel! Don't go! Fail Urus: ...I've heard rumors before. About a missing imperial agent dubbed the "Grim Reaper." Fail Urus: Nel, I knew it, you're... the Empire’s legendary intelligence operative, Nelpha Maxi...! Nelpha Maxi: Fail, Thecto, it's been fun. Thecto Sis: Nel! Wait...! Fail Urus: ...! You can't go! Thecto...! Thecto Sis: But Nel is...! Nelpha Maxi: (Nelpha's Arca Song) [Gunshots.] Nelpha Maxi: Lord Nuxma. I'm coming to your side now. Balaeno: Get down! [Knife strike.] Nelpha Maxi: Who...!? Eleu Coge: Nelpha! Nelpha Maxi: Wh...........! Eleu Coge of the Federation... Eleu Coge: Well well, isn't this a surprise... I never thought I'd meet The Nelpha Maxi of the Empire again, alive that is. Nelpha Maxi: Because of you bastard, Lord Nuxma is...! Eleu Coge: And YOU wiped out my entire unit. I'd love nothing more than to put a bullet through your skull right now. Eleu Coge: But let's focus on what's in front of us for now. Nelpha Maxi: Tch...! Fine by me. Who'd have thought that I'd find something worth living for even at a time like this. Eleu Coge: Which is? Nelpha Maxi: Killing you with my own two hands. Eleu Coge: Took the words right out of my mouth. Balaeno: That's enough chit-chat. Focus. Nelpha Maxi: Right. Eleu Coge: Fair enough. Balaeno: (Balaeno's Arca Song) Eleu Coge: ...........! Balaeno, you're an Echo Master too? Balaeno: Picked it up. [Strike!] Eleu Coge: Gh...! Who taught you that song? Balaeno: I cannot answer that question. Nelpha Maxi: This kid is crazy?! To think the Federation has a talent of this caliber... Eleu Coge: Focus. We're clearing this darkness away right now. Balaeno: Nelpha, back me up. [Gunshots.] Nelpha Maxi: ...Don't go giving me orders, Federation scum. Go! Balaeno: Roger. To be continued...