1. We live in a worldCopy !req
2. so saturated with games,
that it's hard to keep up.Copy !req
3. In fact, most are released
with little fanfareCopy !req
4. and fade into obscurity.Copy !req
5. But there's one that's capture
the imagination of the masses.Copy !req
6. A fully immersive VRMMOCopy !req
7. that boasts over
30 million players world-wide.Copy !req
8. The definitive
triple-A experience,Copy !req
9. Shangri-La Frontier!Copy !req
10. One such player,
Rakuro Hizutome,Copy !req
11. has set aside
his trash-game obsessionCopy !req
12. to try his hand
at a God-tier title!Copy !req
13. With a bug-free game
on his horizon,Copy !req
14. who knows what exciting
new adventures await!Copy !req
15. Now then, shall we start
with strategy,Copy !req
16. or dive right in?Copy !req
17. There is a slight problemCopy !req
18. we should get out
of the way first.Copy !req
19. At the beginning of the battle.Copy !req
20. Wethermon triggers a skill
that drops everyone's max levelCopy !req
21. in the area to 50.Copy !req
22. Everyone, except for him,
of course,Copy !req
23. which complicates things,
to say the least.Copy !req
24. We're stuck at 50?Copy !req
25. I get it. That's why our levels
won't be a problem?Copy !req
26. Yeah, except he's level 200.Copy !req
27. Two hundred?Copy !req
28. We're
talkin' a 150 level gap,Copy !req
29. minimum. That's why I need
players with real skills,Copy !req
30. not frills.Copy !req
31. And that's where you,Copy !req
32. my low-level friends,
come into play.Copy !req
33. You won't
need to hit the level capCopy !req
34. for a chance at glory.
It's perfect!Copy !req
35. I should say.Copy !req
36. If you don't wanna get
categorically wrecked,Copy !req
37. you'll wanna hit 50.Copy !req
38. Grind it out!Copy !req
39. Don't have too much fun
without me!Copy !req
40. Grind it out to 50, huh?Copy !req
41. She said there was
a hidden area in the Iron RuinsCopy !req
42. perfect for power-leveling.Copy !req
43. But with less than two-weeks
to tango,Copy !req
44. how long will it take
to hit that cap?Copy !req
45. It's time to eff around
and find outCopy !req
46. Man, it's like a whole
different game in here!Copy !req
47. We sure don't have floating
black panels in Rabituza!Copy !req
48. Dude, it's criminal
how much fun you can haveCopy !req
49. buggin' out moving platforms
like these!Copy !req
50. I think
the "trash game" filterCopy !req
51. burned itself
onto your retinas.Copy !req
52. Does Thirdrema sell eyedrops?Copy !req
53. No way! I thought this room's
vibe was hella familiar,Copy !req
54. but damn!
It's the final boss stageCopy !req
55. from Brave Galaxy Fighter!Copy !req
56. Cool, never heard of it.Copy !req
57. It's a world-wide phenomenon,Copy !req
58. the pinnacle of sci-fighters,
everyone's played...Copy !req
59. Ooh, it's you.Copy !req
60. Joke's on you for thinkin'Copy !req
61. I'd know about some
God-tier sci-fighter.Copy !req
62. Speaking of "God-tier,"
what're you up to, currently?Copy !req
63. Level-wise?
Just hit 25.Copy !req
64. Aww, girl!
I can't even rememberCopy !req
65. what it was like to be
in my 20s,Copy !req
66. you're like a freakin' baby!Copy !req
67. Don't mind me,
I'm 31 levels young.Copy !req
68. That's only a six-level
difference, you fricken' turd!Copy !req
69. Don't feel bad!
Sunraku's clearly worriedCopy !req
70. about how frail
and helpless you are!Copy !req
71. So wise, like a furry Gandhi.Copy !req
72. I'm not frail and helpless!Copy !req
73. You got it all wrong,
bunny boy!Copy !req
74. Sunraku, look!Copy !req
75. I hate to be a bother,
but we're all about to die!Copy !req
76. Sneaking in enemies
with the floating panels?Copy !req
77. Real dick move!Copy !req
78. You can go ahead and sit
this one out, Sunraku!Copy !req
79. - Huh?
- Ah!Copy !req
80. No matter how low level
we may be,Copy !req
81. SLF gives us a fighting chance!Copy !req
82. Should we help
instead of standing idly by?Copy !req
83. Eh. No?Copy !req
84. Repel Counter!Copy !req
85. He's way too easy.Copy !req
86. You're meant for practicing,
aren'tcha li'l guy?Copy !req
87. Here comes, Crush Uppercut!Copy !req
88. Hey, one punch, man!Copy !req
89. You're actually quite
powerful, aren't you?Copy !req
90. What's with the red aura?Copy !req
91. Some kinda buff?Copy !req
92. Mm-hmm.Copy !req
93. It gives me a bonus
to strength and vitality.Copy !req
94. This spell's called
Spirit Fist, Red!Copy !req
95. I'm a Monk,
or a "spirit fist user."Copy !req
96. I can't equip weapons,
but that's okay.Copy !req
97. I get to buff myself
and beat shit up!Copy !req
98. What's your build?Copy !req
99. I'm runnin' HP
and vitality, all the way!Copy !req
100. I guess you could call me
a "light fighter."Copy !req
101. Here to tank and spank!Copy !req
102. That is pretty tanky
for a Monk.Copy !req
103. You expecting to take
lotsa damage, or what?Copy !req
104. "Kill 'em
before they kill you."Copy !req
105. Makes sense for
a fighting game freak like you.Copy !req
106. If you're wondering, I'm—Copy !req
107. Oh, I've already
got you pegged, dude.Copy !req
108. You pumped your points
into strength and agility,Copy !req
109. you're a glass cannon
all damn day!Copy !req
110. "Yer a glass cannon
all damn day." Wrong!Copy !req
111. I went all-in on luck
and agility,Copy !req
112. so your boy's a luck fighter!Copy !req
113. Sounds like
a glass cannon to me, bro.Copy !req
114. A cannon exploding
with Vorpal soul!Copy !req
115. Oh, yeah, right.
What the hell is that?Copy !req
116. Vorpal soul is Vorpal soul,Copy !req
117. is Vorpal soul, is Vorpal soul!Copy !req
118. According to el map-o,Copy !req
119. the hidden area
we're looking forCopy !req
120. is somewhere
on the floor up ahead.Copy !req
121. "Walk along the left side
of the metal plating"Copy !req
122. "with a giant hole in it."
Check.Copy !req
123. "Jump over the crack," got it.Copy !req
124. "Then hop onto the beat-up
looking floater."Copy !req
125. "Slip into the space
between B2F and B3F."Copy !req
126. "Now keep going straight."Copy !req
127. Good Lord, how the hell
did someone find this?Copy !req
128. You gotta be on the tail-end
of seven energy drinksCopy !req
129. to map a route
this complicated.Copy !req
130. If I'm not mistaken,
your favorite Pencil found it.Copy !req
131. Seems like a good enough
explanation to me!Copy !req
132. An ancient maze for all to see.Copy !req
133. "Dive into the hole,
and you're ready to grind."Copy !req
134. What?Copy !req
135. Huh?Copy !req
136. But it's too dark
to see the bottom!Copy !req
137. You don't think Pencilgon
masterminded an elaborate ruseCopy !req
138. to get us to off ourselves,
do you?Copy !req
139. We're past all that, right?Copy !req
140. I don't think so,
but if she did.Copy !req
141. She's gonna have to atone
for her sins.Copy !req
142. Atonement?Copy !req
143. My dad, er, the boss,
says atonement is importantCopy !req
144. for the health
of our Vorpal souls!Copy !req
145. Your boss-dad is right!Copy !req
146. But she knows we can rock
whatever's down there.Copy !req
147. What kind of sick monsterCopy !req
148. would wanna shatter
a glass cannonCopy !req
149. when he's in the grind
of his life?Copy !req
150. Huh?Copy !req
151. Don't worry,
I'll test the waters first.Copy !req
152. You're too kind!Copy !req
153. Whee!Copy !req
154. She's so brave and strong,
she's not helpless at all!Copy !req
155. Maybe one day I'll be as kind
and admirable as her!Copy !req
156. Huh?Copy !req
157. She's a "he", actually.Copy !req
158. Huh?Copy !req
159. The player, I mean.Copy !req
160. You know what, nevermind.Copy !req
161. The point is,
sometimes a personCopy !req
162. looks like a woman,
but has the soul of a man.Copy !req
163. Huh?Copy !req
164. Life is an enigma,Copy !req
165. brimming with
revelatory discoveries!Copy !req
166. Big world, little friend.Copy !req
167. Loser!Copy !req
168. Huh?
Did he say something?Copy !req
169. Hello! Get down here, loser!Copy !req
170. Meh, can't make it out.Copy !req
171. At least we know it's not
a murder-prank, which is nice.Copy !req
172. "Hello! Get down here, loser!"Copy !req
173. That's what he saidCopy !req
174. He called me a loser?Copy !req
175. We'll see what he says
after I whoop his ass!Copy !req
176. I am not prepared!Copy !req
177. Took you long enough!Copy !req
178. It looked scary,
but it ended upCopy !req
179. being pretty smooth, right?Copy !req
180. This has to be
the secret grinding areaCopy !req
181. Pencilgon mentioned!Copy !req
182. "In the Tearlight Lake,"Copy !req
183. "you can fish up
a monster called"Copy !req
184. "the "Lifestide Lake Serpent."Copy !req
185. This game and snakes, man.Copy !req
186. And you get a ton of XP
from it.Copy !req
187. Can we fish up anything
with these puny rods?Copy !req
188. Well, what have
we got to lose, am I right?Copy !req
189. Yeah-yuh!Copy !req
190. What'd ya say we have
a little friendly competition?Copy !req
191. Got a bite already, "loser!"Copy !req
192. That was fast!Copy !req
193. My father used to
take me fishing all the time.Copy !req
194. Might as well call me Fishmael.Copy !req
195. Think that's
your luck stat, dude.Copy !req
196. You got me there!Copy !req
197. A salmon?Copy !req
198. Not really much
of a serpent.Copy !req
199. Looks tasty, though!Copy !req
200. Hey! I got one, too!Copy !req
201. Lemme guess,
another salmon, right?Copy !req
202. It looks
pretty small, so probably.Copy !req
203. Wanna try a new spot?Copy !req
204. That's no salmon!Copy !req
205. A marvelous
lake-serpent, indeed!Copy !req
206. Katzo! I'm thinkin'
that's our white whale!Copy !req
207. Lifestide Lake Serpent,Copy !req
208. prepare your butt!Copy !req
209. The time has come!Copy !req
210. You wanna see how good
my new blades areCopy !req
211. at making sashimi?Copy !req
212. Wait. I thought you told us
you had to be level 50Copy !req
213. before you could equip
your fancy new moonblades?Copy !req
214. Katzo, you need
to get your ears checked.Copy !req
215. Who said I only got
one new set?Copy !req
216. Bee-hold!
The Empire Bee Twinblades!Copy !req
217. Wow!
How delightfully impressive!Copy !req
218. Dang, how the hell'd
you manageCopy !req
219. to snag another new weapon?Copy !req
220. My big sister,
Bee, crafted them!Copy !req
221. Bee?Copy !req
222. Would'ya look at that!Copy !req
223. I couldn'ta made 'em
without the matsCopy !req
224. you brought me
from the Empire Bee Queen.Copy !req
225. So, what'dya think? Eh?Copy !req
226. I didn't bust my butt
to watch you sleep!Copy !req
227. What? No way.Copy !req
228. It's done already?
Bee, uh, Bilac?Copy !req
229. I told ya my Big Sister Bee
was splendid, yeah?Copy !req
230. Just because Pops ain't hereCopy !req
231. don't mean I'm a pushover!Copy !req
232. I'm not some townie blacksmith,Copy !req
233. I'm the real fricken' deal!
I learned from him, y'know!Copy !req
234. Whoa, whoa, whoa,
no disrespect!Copy !req
235. I really appreciate you!Copy !req
236. I was actually kinda
freaking outCopy !req
237. that I couldn't use
my main weapons anymore.Copy !req
238. Man, please don't tell meCopy !req
239. I'm gonna have to manage
my affection levelsCopy !req
240. with rabbits other than
Emul and Vash.Copy !req
241. I'm in the Frontier,
not a dating sim!Copy !req
242. Oh, God.Copy !req
243. The thought of keeping track
of relationshipsCopy !req
244. with other rabbits is makin'
my butt puckerCopy !req
245. more than an all-you-can-eat
hot-wing scarf-a-thon!Copy !req
246. Huh? Sunraku looks like
he's seen a ghost!Copy !req
247. The trauma from
that awful trash-gameCopy !req
248. dating sim is haunting me!Copy !req
249. There were twelve girls,Copy !req
250. and I had to precariously
balance their affection levelsCopy !req
251. without missing a beat.Copy !req
252. One slip-up,
and their love-gageCopy !req
253. would plummet like
a White Star ocean-linerCopy !req
254. after a fight with an iceberg.Copy !req
255. Then the next thing you know,
I've got a crappy endingCopy !req
256. where they all move to ItalyCopy !req
257. to work in a pizzeria,
for free!Copy !req
258. - Huh?
- You off your rocker?Copy !req
259. What the hell
are you talkin' about?Copy !req
260. "Sunraku Picklefish's" heartCopy !req
261. was crushed by a pizza stone.Copy !req
262. But enough about the
tribulations of adolescence.Copy !req
263. Look at these
sick ass twin blades!Copy !req
264. You're pretty good,
you know that?Copy !req
265. Damn straight.Copy !req
266. Very impressive indeed!Copy !req
267. Glad I went back
for the Queen's matsCopy !req
268. after I beat the quad beetle.
I'd be screwed if I hadn't!Copy !req
269. They'll do the job,
and then some.Copy !req
270. The one in your right-hand
has a, uh, "unique" attribute.Copy !req
271. Ya don't say?Copy !req
272. This thing's
kickin' our ass, bro!Copy !req
273. We're under-leveled!Copy !req
274. Skills don't matter
when our stats are too lowCopy !req
275. to make a dent!Copy !req
276. Certain weapons,
skills, spells,Copy !req
277. and even some monster attacksCopy !req
278. Have the "corrode" attribute,Copy !req
279. which destroys part
of the avatar's bodyCopy !req
280. by eating it away.Copy !req
281. You do enough damage
to the part you wanna take outCopy !req
282. and boom,
corrosion takes effect,Copy !req
283. causing a chain-reactionCopy !req
284. which makes
new weak points spreadCopy !req
285. from the point of impact.Copy !req
286. But what your weapon can do
is wicked special!Copy !req
287. This ain't
your garden variety "corrode!"Copy !req
288. It infects the wound and slowly
corrodes it from the inside.Copy !req
289. Like a poison.Copy !req
290. The corrosive effect
builds up over timeCopy !req
291. like a normal poison,Copy !req
292. working its way
through the body.Copy !req
293. And if you're able to apply
this effect repeatedlyCopy !req
294. It can overwhelm
the enemy's debuff defenses,Copy !req
295. until you can see it
start to crack!Copy !req
296. The scales are gone, Katzo!Copy !req
297. Got it! Time to bring out
the big guns!Copy !req
298. Spirit Fist, Black!Copy !req
299. Looky there!Copy !req
300. Pond scum's got a proper
weak spot!Copy !req
301. Uh. Don't worry,
I'll help, tallyho!Copy !req
302. Emul!Copy !req
303. Katzo!Copy !req
304. My build's a monk tank
that spanks, remember?Copy !req
305. A little tail-whip
won't take me out!Copy !req
306. My hero!
Many thanks, dearest friend!Copy !req
307. Nice try, Repel Counter!Copy !req
308. Killer stun!
Now let's kick his ass!Copy !req
309. - Hell, yeah!
- Righty-o!Copy !req
310. Ready for that
serpent sashimi?Copy !req
311. - Hell, yeah!
- We actually defeated it!Copy !req
312. Nice job, guys!Copy !req
313. Holy crap,
I'm already levelin' up!Copy !req
314. This XP's no joke,
naw mean?Copy !req
315. Man, that was one tough
water-snake!Copy !req
316. I leveled up four times,
my dude!Copy !req
317. Hey, check it out,
I learned some new skills, too!Copy !req
318. If they're compatible,
I might be able to link 'emCopy !req
319. at the Skill Garden!Copy !req
320. Huh? You can't link skills!Copy !req
321. Look at you,
mixin' up your games again!Copy !req
322. Huh?Copy !req
323. Huh?Copy !req
324. Huh?Copy !req
325. No, dumb-dumb!Copy !req
326. SLF is all about using
the skills you learn,Copy !req
327. so you can combine them
into combo skills,Copy !req
328. which is like, a core element
of the gameplay, man!Copy !req
329. Combine them?Copy !req
330. Remember
the tutorial in Firstia?Copy !req
331. The starting town? Hello?Copy !req
332. Firstia?
I mighta skipped it.Copy !req
333. Huh?Copy !req
334. When two skills
with proficiency levelsCopy !req
335. love each other very much,
they can be linkedCopy !req
336. at a facility called
"The Skill Garden."Copy !req
337. Voila! This is how new,
more powerfulCopy !req
338. "combo skills" are born!Copy !req
339. Those are proficiency levels?Copy !req
340. Mind blown.Copy !req
341. I was wondering why some skills
changed their name,Copy !req
342. like Repel Counter
to Flash Counter,Copy !req
343. while others could be
leveled up for some mysterious,Copy !req
344. impossible-to-figure-out
reason.Copy !req
345. So the latter skills
with levelsCopy !req
346. can be linked into combos?Copy !req
347. In short, a "Skill Garden"
is where you go to find outCopy !req
348. how close a skill is
to leveling or evolving,Copy !req
349. and also find out
the conditionsCopy !req
350. for learning new skills.Copy !req
351. This is important stuff, bro!Copy !req
352. Plus, they sell grimoires there
and stuff like—Copy !req
353. Sunraku! Are you okay?Copy !req
354. Say you don't know about
sub-jobs or guilds,Copy !req
355. and I might throw up a little.Copy !req
356. How much did I freakin' missCopy !req
357. by skipping
one stupid little town?Copy !req
358. Fine! It's whatever!Copy !req
359. Wallowing in my own regretCopy !req
360. will just drag me
to a darker place!Copy !req
361. Rise and grind, people!
Let's go!Copy !req
362. Nothing like
the simple task of fishingCopy !req
363. to clear one's mind!Copy !req
364. Emul, Katzo, get over here!Copy !req
365. We got us some more eels
to wrangle!Copy !req
366. Hi-ho, righty-o!Copy !req
367. Bottle up those emotions.Copy !req
368. That's healthy.Copy !req
369. You already hit 40 and 42?Copy !req
370. Holy crap!Copy !req
371. How did you level up so fast
in such a short time?Copy !req
372. Pump the brakes a little,
you'll make me look bad.Copy !req
373. Wouldn't want that!Copy !req
374. We might have done it faster ifCopy !req
375. this friggin' genius
hadn't skipped the tutorial.Copy !req
376. Not another...Copy !req
377. All right, fine.Copy !req
378. Your secret's safe with me.Copy !req
379. But for real, we couldn't
have done it without Emul!Copy !req
380. This little power-house
stole the show,Copy !req
381. who knew she was packin'!Copy !req
382. I truly outdid myself!Copy !req
383. You can't tell by lookin',Copy !req
384. but she's rockin' level 56!Copy !req
385. Huh?Copy !req
386. And I gotta say,
this tent is pretty handy!Copy !req
387. Mm-hmm.Copy !req
388. Not too swanky,
but it's practical!Copy !req
389. And you can save in it!Copy !req
390. Yeah, but they cost
a freakin' fortune,Copy !req
391. and then you can only use it
a handful of times,Copy !req
392. which really blows.Copy !req
393. I usually save 'em for raids,Copy !req
394. but since
we're so pressed for time,Copy !req
395. I figured "what the hell?"Copy !req
396. Enough chatting!
Don't just sit there,Copy !req
397. are you ready to go?Copy !req
398. I'm sorry, "go?"Copy !req
399. Go where?Copy !req
400. We have to
meet her during the full moon.Copy !req
401. It's our only chance.Copy !req
402. Who is "her," exactly?Copy !req
403. To trigger the boss fight
with Wethermon the Tombguard,Copy !req
404. there's someone important
to talk to.Copy !req
405. Huh?Copy !req
406. She's a unique NPC,
the lady of "Bygone Days."Copy !req
407. Setsuna.Copy !req
408. SLF Theater!Copy !req
409. Mini!Copy !req
410. In the Prismatic Forest Grotto,Copy !req
411. there lives a legend,
kept alive by faint whispers,Copy !req
412. floating on the summer breeze.Copy !req
413. The mysterious monster-bird,Copy !req
414. the Rabbit-Eared Shoebill!Copy !req
415. But is this cryptid
more than a legend?Copy !req
416. Does it actually exist?Copy !req
417. One part rabbit, bird,
and a mystery.Copy !req
418. We've got all of SF-Zoo's
knowledge at our disposal,Copy !req
419. so we're gonna find this
damn thing, or die trying!Copy !req
420. Hey, Captain!Copy !req
421. You're gonna
wanna see this!Copy !req
422. Can it be,Copy !req
423. the footprint of
the Rabbit-Eared Shoebill?Copy !req