1. Wethermon, the Tombguard.Copy !req
2. He's a unique monster
and I think we should team-upCopy !req
3. to take him out, just us three.Copy !req
4. [RAKURO, KEI]
Wha?Copy !req
5. [RAKURO, KEI]
No freakin' way!Copy !req
6. Bingo,
Wethermon the TombguardCopy !req
7. is probably
a "special condition" type.Copy !req
8. Off the top of my head,
let's see.Copy !req
9. "Pick up or break
a specific in-game object."Copy !req
10. What else is there.Copy !req
11. Oh, "last a certain
length of time."Copy !req
12. Every once in a while, you see
"persuade enemy in battle,"Copy !req
13. but that's rare.Copy !req
14. Any idea what the condition is?Copy !req
15. Sort of, but I'm not sure yet.Copy !req
16. "Last
a certain length of time."Copy !req
17. It's our best bet.Copy !req
18. Wethermon should transitionCopy !req
19. through different phases
of combat,Copy !req
20. and maybe conditions, too.Copy !req
21. Before we can know for sure,
we need to surviveCopy !req
22. phase one's
ten-minute duration.Copy !req
23. I'm doing this for you.Copy !req
24. I won't let your
only memories be sad ones.Copy !req
25. I'm asking for your help.Copy !req
26. My love,
give him the rest he deserves.Copy !req
27. What's this?Copy !req
28. A Rebirth Tearjewel?Copy !req
29. It's a resurrection item.Copy !req
30. If you use it within
ten seconds of their death,Copy !req
31. you can resurrect an ally,
and not just revive them,Copy !req
32. you bring 'em back
with full HP, which kicks ass.Copy !req
33. What, that's a thing, here?Copy !req
34. No way! God-tier!Copy !req
35. I went on
a little shopping spree.Copy !req
36. I scrounged up all 12
that were available, too.Copy !req
37. You guys
better make these count.Copy !req
38. I may have spent a pretty
four million apieceCopy !req
39. for these bad boys.Copy !req
40. [RAKURO, KEI]
Four freakin' million?Copy !req
41. Yeah yeah, we'll get
four Tearjewels each.Copy !req
42. And then these, which respawn
you at half your max HP.Copy !req
43. They're called
Divine Lifesalves,Copy !req
44. and we each get five of'em.Copy !req
45. This is the most extra "lives"
we can have.Copy !req
46. That makes 27 items,
and three of us,Copy !req
47. which is all we'll need
to take him down.Copy !req
48. Damn right.Copy !req
49. Sunraku, you're first.Copy !req
50. You're gonna keep
Wethermon at bay.Copy !req
51. If you bite the dust, Katzo
or I will revive youCopy !req
52. and tag in
until you're ready again.Copy !req
53. If you or I get ROFL-stomped,
I assume bird-boy hereCopy !req
54. is gonna do the same, right?Copy !req
55. Yep.Copy !req
56. In order to make it
through the whole fight,Copy !req
57. we're gonna
have to alternate tankingCopy !req
58. and keep up the revives,
or else we're done.Copy !req
59. I call this one...Copy !req
60. Towa's Zombie Tactics!Copy !req
61. Wind... Slash!Copy !req
62. - Katzo!
- I'm way ahead of you!Copy !req
63. Take this!Copy !req
64. I'm tagging in
until you're ready!Copy !req
65. What's your strat?
Got any pointers?Copy !req
66. Dodge like the wind,
he's unbeatable!Copy !req
67. Oh, sure, easy enough!Copy !req
68. Wow,
two minutes and five seconds!Copy !req
69. That's a record
for a first encounter.Copy !req
70. - Very impressive!Copy !req
71. So... how'd it feel
to finally fight him?Copy !req
72. Well, unless
you got a real good plan.Copy !req
73. I'd say... it feels like
I'm a gnat on an elephant.Copy !req
74. No way I could take him.Copy !req
75. Wethermon, the Tombguard.Copy !req
76. He definitely belongs in the
pantheon of the "Seven Colossi"Copy !req
77. with Lycagon.Copy !req
78. Wind Slash!Copy !req
79. I spent a lot of money,
and this is the onlyCopy !req
80. "real good plan" we got.Copy !req
81. Just do your part, dude.Copy !req
82. Four million
for a single respawn?Copy !req
83. I can't afford
to not do my part.Copy !req
84. I basically dodged and blocked
for two minutes,Copy !req
85. and my durability's
already less than half?Copy !req
86. Gonna need something
a lot sturdier.Copy !req
87. Good thing I beefed up
my ultra-super-stabbyCopy !req
88. Marsh Daggers.Copy !req
89. Let's go!Copy !req
90. Resurrection and durability,
turns out this fight is justCopy !req
91. a big battle of attrition!Copy !req
92. Katzo, I'm taggin' in!Copy !req
93. Okay,
I'll tag back in if you die!Copy !req
94. Got it!Copy !req
95. Yeah, I figured
that wouldn't work.Copy !req
96. Thunderclap!Copy !req
97. Oh, hell no!Copy !req
98. Skate Foot!Copy !req
99. Too close!Copy !req
100. Thunderclap's
a five-second barrageCopy !req
101. of insta-kill lightning!Copy !req
102. Five damn seconds?Copy !req
103. Okay,
I'm gettin' the hang of this!Copy !req
104. Even up close,
if I use Skate FootCopy !req
105. and hit max speed,
I can stay ahead of it!Copy !req
106. Nimbus Fist.Copy !req
107. What the...Copy !req
108. Does he want a high five?Copy !req
109. - I'm in!Copy !req
110. Wind Slash!Copy !req
111. Put me in!Copy !req
112. Thunderclap!Copy !req
113. Oh, man, this blows!Copy !req
114. I can't dodge that!Copy !req
115. I'd be lucky to last
30 seconds, bro!Copy !req
116. Maybe...Copy !req
117. 30 seconds is still
pretty good, though!Copy !req
118. And we're only
about halfway downCopy !req
119. on resurrection items.Copy !req
120. You're killin' it!Copy !req
121. Can I ask, what's the deal
with those scales, anyway?Copy !req
122. Watching your figure?Copy !req
123. I'm preparing
a little something.Copy !req
124. Might be about time to use 'em.Copy !req
125. Huh?Copy !req
126. He just stopped?Copy !req
127. Ten minutes.Copy !req
128. Finally there, huh?Copy !req
129. We actually did it, boys.Copy !req
130. Phase Two begins.Copy !req
131. Eh...Copy !req
132. Export.Copy !req
133. Summon Call.Copy !req
134. Tactical Mount.Copy !req
135. Kirin!Copy !req
136. - Katzo!
- Time to shine!Copy !req
137. Let's go!Copy !req
138. This sure as hell beats
resurrection duty!Copy !req
139. Like the intel said.Copy !req
140. When you fight Wethermon
for ten minutes,Copy !req
141. he summons Kirin
the robot horse.Copy !req
142. Pony up, Sea-biscuit!Copy !req
143. Okay...
it is a horse, technically.Copy !req
144. Just a helluva lot bigger
than I expected, ya know?Copy !req
145. It's less "horse," and more
"murder-dump-truckCopy !req
146. of death
and destruction with legs!"Copy !req
147. Phase Two, he summons Kirin,Copy !req
148. and you have to stop them
from merging.Copy !req
149. And just like Phase One.Copy !req
150. You've gotta stay alive
for another ten minutes.Copy !req
151. Hey, Katzo,
you focus on Kirin!Copy !req
152. If you let him run the rodeo,
he'll start firing missilesCopy !req
153. and lasers like crazy!Copy !req
154. And if he manages to merge
with Wethermon,Copy !req
155. we'll be as good as clowns!Copy !req
156. We can't stop them
from trampling usCopy !req
157. and it'll be instant death
when they do.Copy !req
158. The only way to prevent
that from happeningCopy !req
159. is to stay on his backCopy !req
160. and trigger
his "buck-off animation."Copy !req
161. That's a lot easier
said than done, damn it!Copy !req
162. Did you spring
for a magic lasso, too?Copy !req
163. Come on, you played a ton
of the mounted fighting game,Copy !req
164. Cavalry Crisis, didn't you?Copy !req
165. So show me what
you're made of, cowboy!Copy !req
166. Cavalry Crisis?
The hell is that?Copy !req
167. I've never even heard
of that pile-a-trash!Copy !req
168. Hey, focus up, dude,
you're kinda busy, here!Copy !req
169. Uh, ya think?Copy !req
170. Cav isn't a trash game,
I'd even say it's God-tier!Copy !req
171. But, I mean, that was
just a fighting game, so...Copy !req
172. Okay, what do I do?Copy !req
173. SLF's known for its
meticulous world-building.Copy !req
174. And if you pay attention,
you might see a clue.Copy !req
175. Like Kirin,
he's a machine, right?Copy !req
176. I bet he gets tune-ups.Copy !req
177. That's it,
there's a maintenance ladder!Copy !req
178. Did I call it, or what?Copy !req
179. Yes!Copy !req
180. Metal horses need bridles, too!Copy !req
181. Eat this,
"Whip Puppet: Snake!"Copy !req
182. Don't take the "Archeologist"
sub-job, they said!Copy !req
183. Even I didn't think it would
pay off like this, though!Copy !req
184. Never thought
you'd be brokenCopy !req
185. by the third-highest
Cavalry Crisis player, did ya?Copy !req
186. Prepare to be amazed,
you giant bucking turd-bag!Copy !req
187. Hey!Copy !req
188. They're both
holding their ground,Copy !req
189. guess I picked the right people
for the job.Copy !req
190. But at this rate, we'll run
out of resurrection itemsCopy !req
191. long before we cross
the finish line.Copy !req
192. No time like the present.Copy !req
193. Wethermon,
meet "The Reward Scales!"Copy !req
194. In SLF, "unique items"Copy !req
195. are some of the rarest
in the game,Copy !req
196. and Golden Scales,
an NPC-run trading company,Copy !req
197. is the proud owner
of a specifically rareCopy !req
198. "unique item."Copy !req
199. Their golden beauty,Copy !req
200. otherwise known
as "The Reward Scales."Copy !req
201. A player sacrifices items
to the "offering dish"Copy !req
202. on the left side,
and depending on the valueCopy !req
203. of the item,
they'll receive assorted perksCopy !req
204. from "the blessing dish"
on the right side.Copy !req
205. Give me the best
you've got, Scales.Copy !req
206. It took every ounce
of persuasion I had,Copy !req
207. but I finally convinced
the Golden ScalesCopy !req
208. to let me borrow you.Copy !req
209. Those Tearjewels
aren't the only thingsCopy !req
210. I dipped into savings for.Copy !req
211. I'm betting
all my treasure, here.Copy !req
212. High-end items I bought,
traded for, looted.Copy !req
213. I'm talkin'
30 million mahni's worth.Copy !req
214. I was saving it... all for you!Copy !req
215. The centrifugal force
is gonna throw me off!Copy !req
216. Damn, man,Copy !req
217. I don't have
the stats for this!Copy !req
218. If I don't manage
my stamina just right,Copy !req
219. and I fail to dodge even
one of his attacks, I'm dead!Copy !req
220. I'm dead!Copy !req
221. "The scales
maintain equilibrium."Copy !req
222. "Show value in numbers.Copy !req
223. Bestow me
with an army's might."Copy !req
224. Although your blessing
is temporary,Copy !req
225. I can award stat points
to others.Copy !req
226. 100,000 mahni
is one point,Copy !req
227. so my entire fortuneCopy !req
228. nets us 300 points, bros!Copy !req
229. To start the show,
you each get 50 points.Copy !req
230. Take them, you thieves!Copy !req
231. Huh?Copy !req
232. Holy crap!Copy !req
233. My stamina's full now?
No.Copy !req
234. My stats just got buffed!Copy !req
235. This is Pencilgon's handywork.Copy !req
236. Now I know why she was
so focused on that menu.Copy !req
237. She boosted
my stamina and luck!Copy !req
238. Doesn't matter where I hit you,Copy !req
239. your hard-ass
doesn't take any damage!Copy !req
240. But, sir...Copy !req
241. Infight!Copy !req
242. You're not
as special as you think.Copy !req
243. It's not my first time
fighting someone like that.Copy !req
244. There's a combat skill
that calculates my damageCopy !req
245. without the strength stat.Copy !req
246. But instead, uses luck!Copy !req
247. And its name is...Copy !req
248. Wind...Copy !req
249. Hand of...Copy !req
250. Fortune!Copy !req
251. Slash!Copy !req
252. A swordsman without a swordCopy !req
253. is like curry rice
without the curry!Copy !req
254. Suck on that,
you basic blob-o-rice!Copy !req
255. Get yourself
some pickled plumsCopy !req
256. and try again later!Copy !req
257. Skill.Copy !req
258. Skate Foot!Copy !req
259. Hell, yeah...Copy !req
260. got your sword, robo-douche!Copy !req
261. How you like them apples,
sweet, aren't they?Copy !req
262. And damn,
this thing's freakin' heavy!Copy !req
263. Doubt I can stick this chunker
in my inventory.Copy !req
264. But now, he can't use
his hyper-speed slash,Copy !req
265. or lightning strikes,
which is kind of a big deal.Copy !req
266. He's still rockin'
the Nimbus Fist,Copy !req
267. so there's that.Copy !req
268. But I know I can dodge it
by staying behind his back.Copy !req
269. And knowing is half the battle,
so they say.Copy !req
270. Look at you!Copy !req
271. Uh?Copy !req
272. While I appreciate
you raising my stats and all,Copy !req
273. I don't exactly see,
how that's supposed to help me!Copy !req
274. - Don't let go!Copy !req
275. There's only four minutes left
in Phase Two!Copy !req
276. So buckle up
and keep on riding that thing!Copy !req
277. He's gonna keep thrashing
as long as you're on him!Copy !req
278. Yeah, I know that, but...Copy !req
279. wait, buckle up?Copy !req
280. Oh, boy.Copy !req
281. Speaking of which,Copy !req
282. your "boy" just had
a great idea!Copy !req
283. Fire away.Copy !req
284. Tidal Rush.Copy !req
285. Oh, that was close!Copy !req
286. I dodged in the nick of time!Copy !req
287. Almost got pow'd in the kisser!Copy !req
288. That's gotta be an insta-kill,
like everything else!Copy !req
289. Of course, the devs gave him
a special move-setCopy !req
290. for when his sword gets stolen.Copy !req
291. Our formation's outta whack!Copy !req
292. Pencilgon!Copy !req
293. I was so focused on dodging,Copy !req
294. I ran the wrong way!Copy !req
295. He aggro'd on her!Copy !req
296. Tidal...Copy !req
297. Eyes on the prize, Wethermon!Copy !req
298. Hard to guard that tomb
without your sword!Copy !req
299. Really, he can grab me
from that angle, too?Copy !req
300. Tidal Rush.Copy !req
301. Sunraku!Copy !req
302. Nimbus Fist.Copy !req
303. The only way
to evade Nimbus Fist,Copy !req
304. is to get behind him!Copy !req
305. Seven, eight...Copy !req
306. Okay, Wethermon...Copy !req
307. back to square one.Copy !req
308. Wind Slash!Copy !req
309. This is it,
we die one more time.Copy !req
310. And our chances
of winning are slim to none!Copy !req
311. If that last attack
was anythingCopy !req
312. other than Nimbus Fist,
we'd all be screwed!Copy !req
313. I'm sorry, okay?Copy !req
314. He can keep the dang sword
for all I care!Copy !req
315. At least I know
these animations!Copy !req
316. Silver linings, right?Copy !req
317. You okay?Copy !req
318. M-Me? Better than ever!Copy !req
319. G-g-good luck
b-buckin' me off, now!Copy !req
320. Suck it,
I can do this all day!Copy !req
321. That was your great idea?Copy !req
322. - Of course.Copy !req
323. You want tighter?
I can do tighter!Copy !req
324. Fine, whatever.Copy !req
325. You like what you like,
I'm not your mother.Copy !req
326. Wait, what was that?Copy !req
327. Trust me, it's better for
all of us if you don't know!Copy !req
328. It'll only distract you!Copy !req
329. Good call!Copy !req
330. Thi-this shaking is...Copy !req
331. d-draining my HP!Copy !req
332. I'm b-built to tank
b-but not like this!Copy !req
333. I'm f-fading fast!Copy !req
334. Yeah, well, it doesn't matter.Copy !req
335. Say what?Copy !req
336. I'm not exactly gettingCopy !req
337. a "you beat me" vibe, here.Copy !req
338. Stay alert, guys,
it's not over.Copy !req
339. Even back when Ashura Kai
was a halfway decent clan,Copy !req
340. we only made it
this far one time,Copy !req
341. and that was pure luck!Copy !req
342. Oh, great.Copy !req
343. Phase Two is officially over.Copy !req
344. Now, the real challenge begins.Copy !req
345. Welcome to Phase Three.Copy !req
346. Last time I made it here,
his first move wiped us out.Copy !req
347. This is how it started.Copy !req
348. Fractures
in the Tombguard's armor.Copy !req
349. Followed by an ungodly screamCopy !req
350. that sent a shockwave
across the battlefield.Copy !req
351. When it hit, there was
no amount of buffs or armorCopy !req
352. in the world
that coulda saved us.Copy !req
353. Great,
this is where I'd usually askCopy !req
354. if we should just bail.Copy !req
355. But that look tells me
you've got a plan.Copy !req
356. Eh, we'll see about that.Copy !req
357. If this doesn't do the trick,
you better get readyCopy !req
358. to dodge like hell!Copy !req
359. In SLF, the keys to victory
lie in the story itself.Copy !req
360. I'd always assumed Wethermon
was some kinda cyborg,Copy !req
361. who'd modified his body
with techCopy !req
362. from the Age of Divinity.Copy !req
363. But then...Copy !req
364. His name is Wethermon
the Tombguard,Copy !req
365. and he's a "walking corpse"Copy !req
366. whose known as
"the defier of death itself?"Copy !req
367. Great.Copy !req
368. That's when I had an epiphany.Copy !req
369. He's not a cyborg,
Wethermon's undead!Copy !req
370. So I brought some holy water,Copy !req
371. and not just
any holy water, no.Copy !req
372. This is primo, blessed
by none other than Eristella,Copy !req
373. patron Saint of Love, herself!Copy !req
374. When you're dealing
with undead,Copy !req
375. it doesn't get
better than this!Copy !req
376. SLF Theater!Copy !req
377. Mini!Copy !req
378. The day starts earlyCopy !req
379. for a trash hunter.Copy !req
380. Well, I'm heading out
to the boonies,Copy !req
381. so gotta catch the first train.Copy !req
382. As the trash game hunterCopy !req
383. rides the maglev out west,Copy !req
384. he may seem to be distantly
gazing out the window,Copy !req
385. but he's laser focused.Copy !req
386. Word on the street?Copy !req
387. There's this shop
with an unopened copyCopy !req
388. of the limited-edition
Moody Music Adventure.Copy !req
389. You know how modern
VR games are generallyCopy !req
390. more on the quiet side?Copy !req
391. Like, they don't usually
have any background music?Copy !req
392. Well, there're actually
quite a few out thereCopy !req
393. that use the background music
as seen in the trailers.Copy !req
394. You see, the thing is, most
people find the BGM annoying,Copy !req
395. so they end up lowering it
or turning it off altogether.Copy !req
396. But someone had the crazy idea
to make a rhythm-basedCopy !req