Chapter 14: Metal Nexus II

## Script

*Scene - The Shadow's Factory*
*The odd bandaged man chases a woman down the factory as she screams in terror*
*Later, Billy and Player arrive at the factory*
*Bodies of Shadow soldiers are strewn throughout*
*Chapter 14*
*Metal Nexus II*
**Billy**: All these Shadow Soldiers have arrow wounds on their bodies.
**Player**: ... It must be him!
**Billy**: Is he our ally? Or he just kills for fun?
*(An indistinct male voice calling for help from nearby)*
**Billy**: ...
*Billy notices a finely dressed man on the ground*
**Billy**: He doesn't have arrow wounds on his body.
**Survivor**: H-Help my daughter.
**Survivor**: I-If there still is anything left on me, you can have them all.
**Player**: Why did you come here?
**Mine owner**: I bought this factory... Today is the handover day... But it turned out to be a trap.
**Player**: Where is your daughter now?
**Mine owner**: She was kidnapped by a nasty man...
**Billy**: Who hurt you like this?
**Mine owner**: (His last words before passing out) It's him... Him... the Shadow with only one arm.
**Player**: ...
**Billy**: He did it again! That crazy man is evil!
**Player**: We don't know what happened yet.
**Player**: Let's see what's going on there!
**Billy**: Okay!
*(The mine owner has been robbed clean. A mini doll is found nearby)*
*Billy and Player continue to explore the factory*
*They run into some Shadow soldiers*
**Billy**: Shadow lackeys!
**Shadow Soldier A**: (Nervous) No need to fight now. Whoever is stuck here will die eventually.
**Shadow Soldier A**: (Nervous) Master John could stall these two. We should go execute the orders!
**Player**: ...
**Shadow Soldier B**: (Whisper) I will go block the Nexus entrance in the pond!
**Shadow Soldier B**: (Whisper) You go set up the explosion.
**Billy**: No one is going anywhere!
**The voice of a young woman**: (Scream) Help!
**Billy**: ...
*The Shadow soldiers run past Billy and Player*
**Player**: The voice is coming from that direction!
**Billy**: We don't have time to get entangled with these losers. Gotta save lives first!
*Billy and Player rush towards the woman's screams*
*They see the odd bandaged man getting ready to attack the woman*
**Billy**: Stop!
**Billy**: I forbid you to harm innocent lives with boss' weapon!
*Billy and Player guard the woman*
**Young woman**: (Sob) Help me...
**Young woman**: (Sob) Please... Please let me go.
**Young woman**: (Sob) I know nothing. I came here with my father to take over the factory...
**Weird man with the bandage**: Where is Martin?
**Young woman**: (Sob) N-Nemesio, sir, I don't know what you are talking about...
**Young woman**: (Sob) I-I don't know Martin.
**Nemesio**: One last time.
**Nemesio**: Where is Martin?
**Billy**: You are crazy. How would she know?

**-Choice 1.1 - No, of course she knows.**

**Player**: Am I right, Master John?
**Player**: Or, should I call you Hierophant John... or Mage John? You seem to have quite a few identities.
*Player turns to the woman*
**Young woman**: (Stop crying)
**Billy**: What are you talking about?
**Player**: How did you know that he is Nemesio if you never met before?
**Player**: Nemesio doesn't like to talk. Ask him ten questions, and he won't answer one.
**Player**: He would never mention his name to his newly abducted hostage.
**Young woman**: (Laugh) That's all?
**Player**: There's more.
**Player**: Those Shadow Soldiers are either dead or injured.
**Player**: And how could such a weak woman like you survive this long?
**Player**: You got any magic tricks?
**Young woman**: Ha-ha, you are right.
**Young woman**: Nemesio's blow really got into my head. The act isn't over and loopholes are all over the place...
*The woman traps Nemesio in a globe of Shadow flux*
**Billy**: Ah?! What have you done to him?
**Young woman**: Don't worry. I couldn't stand him anymore, so I sent him to the Illusion Barrier. I don't want him to disturb our conversation.
**Young woman**: Alas, if I had acted more sincerely, with a bit less affectation...
**Young woman**: You would side with me and beat up that crazy person, right?
**Player**: Eh, no.
**Player**: I'd noticed something fishy before I saw you.
**Player**: I wasn't surprised at all. I've seen your dirty tricks before.
**Young woman**: 'Woah, I want to applaud your wisdom.'
**Young woman**: Do I sound like Miss Rita when she compliments someone?
**Young woman**: If you hadn't said my name out loud, I was going to keep my disguise.
**Player**: If your subordinate hadn't mentioned your name, I wouldn't been so sure...
**Player**: It was you who is disguised as the rich man's daughter!
*The woman transforms into John*
**John**: Try this.
*John attacks Player and Billy but the manage to defend against him*
**John**: Your skills have been improved.
**Billy**: Thank god you blew his cover! He almost had me there!
**Billy**: Tell me, where is that rich man's daughter?
**Billy**: Since you could disguise yourself as her, you must have met her before!
**John**: Hey! Easy, easy! Billy, my man.
**John**: Don't worry. I am just kidding. I already had someone send her home!
**Player**: The Shadow Soldiers in the factory died of arrow wounds.
**Player**: Except that rich man. Someone intentionally kept him alive and lured us here.
**Player**: Nemesio is rushing over to the factory, with an urgent expression on his face.
**Player**: Why leave one alive in a killing spree?
**Player**: Who would harm an innocent man and rob him clean? And then kidnap his daughter?
**Player**: It is so like you! Greedy and nasty.
**Nemesio**: (Bellow...)
**John**: Hey, Nemesio! Looking at your face up close even gives me chills!
**John**: I disguised myself as you when I robbed that old man and played with that girl...
**John**: Ha-ha, that must be terrifying! The shadowy face does resemble a beast...
**Billy**: It was you who harmed that rich man!
**John**: Me? I didn't do it.
**John**: It was Nemesio who hurt them. When that girl runs back to the village crying...
**John**: Everyone will know that Nemesio is a woman assaulter!
**John**: I have nothing to do with that sort of sordid deeds.
**John**: All I have ever done is to do business with them.
**John**: I already got the money. As for the factory... I really wanted that rich man to have it...
**John**: For his graveyard.
**John**: Wait a little more...
**John**: You'll see how sincere I am.
**Player**: ...

**-Choice 1.2 - Since he's crazy, there's no need to argue with him! Stop him now!**

Player and Billy fight the odd bandaged man and manage to defend the woman
*After the fight, the woman stands up and traps Nemesio in a globe of Shadow flux*
**Player**: No! It's a trap!
**Young woman**: Ha! Ha! Ha!
**Young woman**: So, you Gyees are just like me...
**Young woman**: His blow probably got into my head. Loopholes are all over the place...
**Young woman**: I was worried about my act. But you hadn't noticed at all...
**Young woman**: If I disguised myself as an old man or woman, would you still be a hero so recklessly?
**Billy**: !!!
**Billy**: What have you done to Nemesio?
**Young woman**: Don't worry. I couldn't stand him anymore, so I sent him to the Illusion Barrier. I don't want him to disturb our conversation.
*The woman transforms into John*
**Player**: John! It's you...
**John**: Poor guy. After what Martin and I have done to him...
**John**: Once a War God, now a public enemy.
**John**: A fierce-looking and silent man must be a bad guy? What a prejudice!
**John**: My harmless looks and smooth talks didn't stop me from doing bad things.
**John**: Nemesio, look how Gyees treat you after you risked your life for them!
**John**: Well, just forget about Gyee...
**John**: Why don't you join me? Shadows are the only ones who truly accept you.
**Nemesio**: (Bellow painfully)
**John**: That shadow side of your face is beastlike. Even I got chills looking at it up close.
**John**: Imagine robbing the rich man and messing with the girl with this face...
**John**: Ha-ha, that's truly terrifying!
**Player**: It's you!
**Billy**: It was you who hurt the rich man and his daughter!
**John**: Me? I didn't do it.
**John**: It was Nemesio who hurt them. When that girl runs back to the village crying...
**John**: Everyone will know that Nemesio is a woman assaulter!
**John**: I have nothing to do with that sort of sordid deeds.
**John**: All I have ever done is to do business with them.
**John**: I already got the money. As for the factory... I really wanted that rich man to have it...
**John**: For his graveyard.
**John**: Wait a little more...
**John**: You'll see how sincere I am.
**Player**: ...

*Scene continues after choices*
*Choices start #1*
*Choice 2.1 - You're unusual today...*
**Player**: Why aren't you running away now that you were caught?
**Player**: It's so unlike you. Since when you stopped being a coward?
**Player**: You must be plotting something!
**Player**: That's why you are stalling us!
**John**: You are right.
*Go back to Choices start #1*
*Choice 2.2 - How did you know we would come?*
**John**: The entry to the ruins is hidden under the pond of the forest.
**John**: And yet you chose the Shadows' internal passageways.
**John**: You think I don't know who are passing through my factory?
**John**: After all this messing around, you even made the ruins crumble!
**John**: But you saved me a lot of trouble...
**John**: I knew you would come but I didn't expect Nemesio to be here as well!
**John**: But I am glad he is here!
**John**: All my troubles could vanish today!
*Go back to Choices start #1*
*Choice 2.3 - Where's Metal Nexus?*
**John**: You asked the wrong person.
**John**: Do you think I would tell you nicely?
**John**: Pst, the Metal Nexus you are looking for has quite a temper...
**John**: I had been kissing up to it for so long. But in the end, I was played like a fool.
**John**: It ruined all my efforts! Years of hard work, all gone!
*Go back to Choices start #1*
*Choice 2.4 - What have you done to Nemesio?*
**John**: I do evil things, because I want to survive.
**John**: Nemesio lives in pursuit of death.
**John**: Those nightmares will grant his wish.
**John**: If you are so concerned, just see yourself!
*Scene continues after choices*
*John warps Billy and Player inside the Illusion Barrier that traps Nemesio*
*They all experience the illusion together*
*Scene - Inside the illusion*
*John, Rita and Martin stand before a kneeling Nemesio*
*Player and Billy observe their conversation*
**John**: Among my many enemies, no one is as clingy as you.
**John**: You must hate me to guts. You kill your benefactor who gave your power.
**Nemesio**: ...
**John**: But the other one... He doesn't even remember who you are...
**John**: You met him once and you were ruined. You have no right to see him again.
**Nemesio**: ...
**John**: You drag your half-ruined body and fight against the Shadow power inside you.
**John**: Why bother?
**John**: Just accept the power granted by the Shadows.
**John**: You will feel better.
**Nemesio**: I don't need it!!
*Player and Billy go to Nemesio's aid*
**Billy**: What is this place?
**Player**: We are inside the Shadow Barrier too!
**Player**: Look! The bandage man is here!
**Billy**: He's mumbling to himself... Am I hallucinating?
**Billy**: I'll go find out.
**Player**: Don't go!
**Player**: He will harm you when he gets crazy!
**Billy**: I can't leave him like that.
**Billy**: Nemesio's not a Shadow. He's a Gyee.
**Billy**: Whether it's for Miles or boss Turing or anyone, it must be a friend of a friend!
**Player**: Okay. Be careful...
*Player and Billy get closer*
**Player**: !!!
*Nemesio stands up*
**Rita**: Just be a Shadow.
**Rita**: Die with Martin.
**Martin**: If it were someone else, I would persuade him to be a Shadow.
**Martin**: But I won't waste my words on you.
**Martin**: You will become one of us sooner or later.
**Nemesio**: In your dream!!
**John**: Look in the mirror! It's never gonna happen!
**John**: Kill Martin and me, and you could be War God again?
**Nemesio**: Shut up!!
**Rita**: Hush!
**Rita**: Not enough.
**Rita**: You need more Shadow power. And I can give it to you.
**Rita**: (Tease) Join me. I will help you seek revenge against Martin.
**Nemesio**: Get lost!!
*Nemesio attacks John, Martin and Rita with a rain of arrows and the illusions disappear*
**Nemesio**: Get out of my head!!
**Player**: ...
**Nemesio**: Who... else?
**Billy**: H-He... He is coming for us...
**Billy**: What shall we do?!
*An explosion can be heard outside of the illusion*
**Player**: Outside...
**Billy**: Did you hear an explosion?
**Nemesio**: He... is going to have his way.
**Billy**: ???
**Player**: Set up explosion? Block the entry? Those Shadow Soldiers who escaped earlier...
**Player**: John is not only plotting the big escape, but also blowing up the Shadow factory!
*Player awakens from the illusion*
*Scene - Inside the factory*
**John**: Ha-ha, it's time!
*A bright flash fills the room*
**Player**: Huh?!
*The barrier around Billy, Nemesio and Player dissapears*
**John**: ...
**John**: Humph! Metal Nexus again!
*John runs away*
**Nemesio**: Take your friend to find the elevator! That's the only entry to Metal Nexus!
**Player**: What about you?
**Nemesio**: Do you understand me?
**Player**: No!
**Nemesio**: I won't drag you down. But you should stay away!
**Player**: It's his trap! You won't beat him alone!
**Nemesio**: Say one more word, the three of us will die now.
**Player**: ...
**Nemesio**: You got more important things to do.
**Nemesio**: Run for your life.
*Nemesio runs after John*
*Just then, multiple explosions go off in the factory*
**Billy**: Be careful!
*Player and Billy dodge some falling debris*
**Player**: There's no escape...
**Billy**: Do you think we'll suffocate on the smoke? Or burn to death in the fire?
**Billy**: The boss has ordered me to protect you till the very end.
**Billy**: Farewell!
*Another flash fills the room and the fires and explosions disappear*
**Player**: Eh?
*Behind Player and Billy, a red spirit possesses a broken robot which then springs back to life*
**Player**: What's going on?!
**Awakened Robot**: Another job to do...
**Awakened Robot**: Such a pain in the neck.
**Billy**: Em...
**Awakened Robot**: Follow me.
**Player**: You are?
**Awakened Robot**: Papa Metal wants to see you.
**Player**: ???
**Billy**: You mean... Metal Nexus?
**Awakened Robot**: Why do humans talk so much?
**Awakened Robot**: Stay put if you want to be buried alive.
**Billy**: I'll follow you! Right now!
**Player**: Wait! We have a friend out there!
**Awakened Robot**: Papa Metal has made some arrangements. He won't die.
**Awakened Robot**: It's not my business. I am only responsible for picking you up.
**Awakened Robot**: Although I just wanna lie down in solitude.
**Player**: ...
*Player and Billy follow the robot*
*They pass a broken robot on the ground*
**Awakened Robot**: No. 3, you can finally rest in peace after a lifetime of hard work.
**Awakened Robot**: No more overtime for you, right?
*They pass another broken robot*
**Awakened Robot**: I envy you. You could rest now.
**Awakened Robot**: I still got work to do.
*They pass another broken robot*
**Awakened Robot**: Hey, No. 6, you haven't returned the mechanical oil to me yet.
**Awakened Robot**: Forget it. Less oil, less work.
**Awakened Robot**: Papa Metal won't drag me awake again.
*The robot leads Player and Billy to a massive door*
*The door has the rune for Metal engraved in the middle*
**Awakened Robot**: Metal Nexus is down there.
**Awakened Robot**: To go, or not to go. I don't care either way.
**Player**: Go!
**Awakened Robot**: If you don't go, less work for me.
**Awakened Robot**: Then go.
*The robot opens the door and leads Player and Billy inside the elevator to the Metal Nexus*
*Scene - Metal Nexus Complex*
**Billy**: (A sigh of relief) That was close. I thought I couldn't get out!
**Player**: It's alive!
**Awakened Robot**: (Gloomy) What's the point of being alive?
**Billy**: I have never met a robot like this.
**Player**: The robot in the pipe wasn't as dark as this one...
**Awakened Robot**: Yeah, my name is Darkie.
**Player**: ...
**Darkie**: I guard the entry point from the factory to Metal Nexus.
**Darkie**: Amidst the chaos, I go and seek my death.
**Darkie**: I did it.
**Darkie**: But Papa Metal can feel the Wheel of Fate in you. He sent me to pick you up.
**Darkie**: (Mumble) I didn't want to come.
**Billy**: ...
**Darkie**: But Papa Metal made me. I must listen to him.
**Darkie**: (Mumble) I have no choice whatever. Papa Metal could control me.
**Darkie**: If you wish to meet Papa Metal, you need to take elevators three times to the lowest floor.
**Darkie**: Papa Metal used a lot of Flux to save you. He can't activate all the elevators.
**Darkie**: (Whisper) For these two meatballs.
**Player**: We can hear you...
**Darkie**: Only one elevator can be used on each floor to go down.
**Darkie**: You should be able to find it on your own.
**Darkie**: If you can't, we could all stay here.
**Darkie**: (Whisper) Forget it. I'd rather die alone.
*Player talks to Darkie*
**Darkie**: How ridiculous! When you think life couldn't get any worse...
**Darkie**: ... It did get worse.
**Player**: .. Tell us which elevator works. Life would get better.
**Darkie**: Why?
**Player**: Because... Because you could finish the quest Papa Metal assigned you.
**Darkie**: Quests will never end.
**Darkie**: Power outage is the only way out.
**Player**: Why are you so dark and twisty?
**Darkie**: All intelligent beings feel pain because they are angry at their powerlessness.
**Darkie**: I can aim at a target 10 km away.
**Darkie**: But I've been stuck here for a thousand years.
**Billy**: A thousand years?!!
**Darkie**: Yep. A thousand years.
*Choice 3.1 - Then you are supposed to be disillusioned*
**Darkie**: Disillusioned?
**Player**: I mean... after all these years, you should be free from any desire and emotion.
**Darkie**: (Mumble) Humph, empty talker.
**Darkie**: You have no idea what it feels like to have your talent unused for a thousand years.
*Choice 3.2 - Then you should be happy*
**Darkie**: Why should I be happy?
**Darkie**: Open my Flux core and I could leave this boring world for good?
**Player**: I mean...
**Darkie**: No, my core could be fixed again.
**Darkie**: I will be staying here.
*Conversation continues after choices*
**Player**: ...
**Darkie**: Go. Finish your quest.
**Darkie**: I want to be alone.
*Player and Billy explore the complex and find a robot*
**Player**: You can... talk, right?
**Guard No. 2**: You-Want-To-Ask-Me-Something.
**Billy**: Huh? How did you know that?
**Guard No. 2**: I-Can-Read-Minds.
**Guard No. 2**: You-Are-Billy.
**Billy**: Ha-ha! Impressive!
**Guard No. 2**: You-Love-Your-Boss.
**Guard No. 2**: Your-Boss-Doesn't-Love-You-Back.
**Billy**: Eh... Right.
**Guard No. 2**: You-Like-The-Handsome-Next-To-You.
**Guard No. 2**: The-Handsome-Next-To-You-Loves-Someone-Else.
**Player**: !!!
**Billy**: ...
*Billy looks angry*
**Guard No. 2**: Do-You-Want-Me-To-Tell-You-Something-More-[beep]?
**Guard No. 2**: Oh-You-Don't.
**Guard No. 2**: You-Want-To-Smash-Me.
**Billy**: You are right.
**Player**: Wait. We should ask it more questions before you smash it...
**Guard No. 2**: The-Elevator-Right-Across-Me-Leads-To-The-Next-Floor.
**Guard No. 2**: Handsome-Take-Your-Friend-Out-Of-Here-Now.
**Billy**: ...
**Guard No. 2**: Sorry-That-My-Words-Made-You-Angry.
**Guard No. 2**: Please-Take-This.
*(An apology gift from the bigmouthed Guard No. 2, a Green Flux Key)*
*The two find the elevator door and open it wiht the green flux key*
**Player**: It opened!
*Darkie leads Player and Billy to the next level*
**Player**: We need another Flux ball on this floor, right?
**Darkie**: ... Saved me the trouble to explain.
**Darkie**: The Flux ball in the middle.
**Darkie**: But those clusters may not like other creatures to get too close...
**Darkie**: Can you hear their cryings?
**Billy**: We...
**Darkie**: No, you can't.
**Darkie**: The frequency is too high for you.
**Darkie**: Powerful energies are dissipating. They will be turned into dust soon.
**Player**: If Papa Metal wants to see us, why didn't he open all the elevators?
**Player**: He should ask these clusters to make way for us too.
**Darkie**: These element creatures don't listen to Papa Metal.
**Player**: Could you take care of them for us?
**Darkie**: Papa Metal only asked me to show you the way. I wasn't told to take care of your problems.
**Billy**: Okay... We'll take care of them ourselves.
*Player talks to Darkie*
**Darkie**: Don't act like you want to talk to me. I know you hate me.
*Choice 4.1 - I don't hate you*
**Darkie**: You hate me. Everybody hates me. That's how the Flux circulates.
**Player**: What the hell...
**Darkie**: You hate me because I didn't help you to get the key.
**Darkie**: Everybody hates me because Papa Metal didn't bring them back to life and picked me.
**Player**: Those robots are dead now. How could they hate you?
**Darkie**: No. I can still feel it. The hatred in their cold fiber nucleus...
**Darkie**: ...is so strong.
*Choice 4.2 - I hate you*
**Darkie**: Talking about things can make you feel better.
**Player**: I...
**Darkie**: Be honest to yourself and others. That makes everybody's life easier.
**Darkie**: But no one does that, whether it's human-to-human, human-to-machine, or even machine-to-machine.
**Darkie**: Everyone hides their true feelings and lies to each other.
**Darkie**: So, life sucks.
*Scene continues after choices*
*Player and Billy retrieve the blue flux key*
**Player**: Got the Flux key. Which door should I open?
*They go to the next door*
**Billy**: It opened!
*Darkie leads the two down the next level*
*This floor is filled with robots*
**Billy**: Woah! The atmosphere is so different from the other floors!
**Billy**: They look happy.
**Darkie**: Happiness or sadness, what's the difference?
**Darkie**: We don't have all day.
**Darkie**: But if you want to be happy with them, just go.
**Darkie**: I will be waiting over there.
*Darkie leaves the two and guards a door at the very end of the path*
*After talking with the other robots, Player and Billy approach Darkie*
**Darkie**: Happiness is but a fleeting moment; while boredom is our constant companion.
**Darkie**: Ready to go?
**Player**: Yeah
**Darkie**: Okay.
*Darkie starts charging*
**Player**: ...
**Billy**: Darkie, what are you doing?
*Darkie attacks Player and Billy but they defeat it*
*After the battle, Darkie's spirit floats over it's robot body*
**Player**: W-What's going on?
**Darkie**: The moment my body broke into pieces... it felt like the first time the power went on.
**Darkie**: So, that's happiness?
**Darkie**: I am happy because I am finally free? Or because I helped you?
**Player**: ...
**Darkie**: I have done my mission.
**Darkie**: Papa Metal resurrected me with this Flux Key to guide you here.
**Darkie**: I couldn't break myself. So you have to do it.
**Billy**: Darkie!
**Darkie**: Just as I wished. No more reason to be alive.
**Darkie**: The explosion set up by the Shadows had blocked all the entries to this place.
**Darkie**: Papa Metal's Flux has depleted. He will go into slumber soon.
**Darkie**: When he falls asleep, all robots will follow.
**Darkie**: I am just getting a head start...
**Player**: You might be dark, but we are here all thanks to you!
**Darkie**: Papa Metal must have his reason to keep you alive.
**Darkie**: I am just a dumb and gloomy machine.
**Darkie**: My life sucks...
**Darkie**: You-You-Must-Keep-On-Living.
**Darkie**: Find-Your-Reason-To-Be-Alive.
**Darkie**: ...
**Darkie**: ... Thanks.
**Billy**: ...
*Darkie's spirit opens the final door*
**Player**: Let's go.
**Billy**: ...
*The two walk in the room and see a giant floating mechanical ball*
**Metal Nexus**: You are finally here...
**Metal Nexus**: I am so sleepy. I can't even open my eyes.
**Metal Nexus**: My damn engine is going to die soon...
**Player**: Sorry...
**Metal Nexus**: Ha-ha, you don't have to be sorry for me. The Shadows were badly hurt too.
**Billy**: Those robots died while you fought the Shadows...
**Billy**: With your power, can't you save them?
**Billy**: You gave life to them in the first place...
**Metal Nexus**: No one can control their fate...
**Metal Nexus**: The robot beast is no exception...
**Metal Nexus**: Nobody can end their lives.
**Metal Nexus**: Give or take, it's all part of their destiny.
**Metal Nexus**: The Wheel of Fate never stops.
**Player**: Why did you save us? Why did you send Darkie to guide us here?
**Metal Nexus**: Because the future lies on the shoulder of Luk'ur.
**Billy**: Luk'ur?
**Metal Nexus**: Em.... You call yourselves Humans now.
**Metal Nexus**: Whether it's the ancient battle or the 2nd battle against the Shadows, humans have always been at the frontline!
**Metal Nexus**: We only provided our assistance.
**Metal Nexus**: It's your little arms and little legs that stopped the Shadows from retaking Luxium.
**Metal Nexus**: But the future is still shrouded in the unknown...
**Metal Nexus**: We must prepare to unite all living beings.
**Metal Nexus**: No one should be ignored.
**Metal Nexus**: Especially you, guest from another world.
**Player**: ... Me?
**Metal Nexus**: Yes, I can feel the Flux of your two brothers in you.
**Metal Nexus**: One feels honest and the other feels reserved, ha-ha!
**Metal Nexus**: You need to visit my remaining three brothers...
**Metal Nexus**: One is above the clouds...
**Metal Nexus**: One is at the top of the mountains...
**Metal Nexus**: And one is in the valley of flames.
**Metal Nexus**: By gathering all our powers, the Wheel of Fate will awake.
**Metal Nexus**: With the Wheel of Fate, the odds of defeating the Shadows will increase significantly.
**Player**: If I gather six fluxes, can I go home?
**Metal Nexus**: Only that person knows this kind of things.
**Player**: That person?
**Metal Nexus**: Young man, I am running out of time.
**Metal Nexus**: Here are my welcome gift and farewell gift to you!
**Metal Nexus**: Keep these Flux Keys. No one will find here.
**Metal Nexus**: I am exhausted after fighting the Shadows all these years.
**Metal Nexus**: It's time for me to rest.
**Metal Nexus**: See you later!
*(Metal Nexus fell into stillness.)*
*Player takes out the dice and it floats up towards the Metal Nexus*
*The three flux keys that Player collected earlier go into the dice*
*Suddenly, the giant wheel appears, shining with the Arcana Flux and Earth Flux runes*
*The rune for Metal Flux fills in another segement of the wheel and the wheel disappears*
*As the dice floats back to Player, Bun emerges*
**Player**: Bun!
**Light**: Wow! It's been so long!
**Billy**: Ha-ha! I am thrilled to see you again!
**Light**: I can feel the strong Flux!
**Light**: I got most of my energies back!
**Light**: Now, I think it's time to take you to that person.
**Player**: Huh? That quick?
**Light**: I can't wait anymore!
*Bun creates a portal that sucks Player and Billy in*
*Scene - A small island*
*A muscular man in a kendo hakama kneels in front of a small hut*
*He stands up*
**???**: I'm back.
*Just then, the portal drops Player and Billy in front of the man*
**Player**: Ahh!
**Billy**: Ah!
**Billy**: ... Feels like my brain is still reeling...
**Player**: My bum... hurts...
**Billy**: Damn! Bun has disappeared again!
**Player**: ...
**Billy**: Huh? Where are we?
**Ranmaru**: Ash Isle.
**Billy**: ?
*Player and Billy notice the muscular man behind them*
**Player**: This...
**Billy**: Azria! Ranmaru?
**Player**: ???
**Billy**: Bun must want us to meet him!
**Ranmaru**: The Wheel of Fate resurfaced again.
**Ranmaru**: Master Az...
**Billy**: I never thought I could meet Master Ranmaru in my life!
*Choices start #2*
*Choice 5.1 - You know this heavy-built man?*
**Billy**: Master Ranmaru is my idol too!
**Billy**: I wasn't even born yet when he first made his name in the battle.
**Player**: Looks like you are about the same age...
**Player**: You are too mature or he has anti-aging secrets?
**Billy**: I can't tell Master Ranmaru's exact age. But he is at least 100 years old.
**Player**: ...
**Billy**: It's said that Master Ranmaru has acquired an Arcana named Once A Millennium from an ancient book.
**Billy**: He has retained his youth ever since he learned that Arcana with Master Az.
**Player**: You admire him because he is ageless?
**Billy**: No, Once A Millennium will put people into a slumber of many years.
**Billy**: If I were to practice that Arcana, I would die!
**Billy**: What I admire is...
**Billy**: The legendary brotherly love between Master Ranmaru and Master Az!
*Go back to Choices start #2*
*Choice 5.2 - Why did Bun send us here?*
**Billy**: Let me guess. Maybe Master Az led us here?
**Player**: ...
**Billy**: Master Ranmaru is both Master Az's guardian and his best friend.
**Billy**: Since Master Az went missing, Master Ranmaru has never stopped looking for him.
**Billy**: As to why he ended up in this place called Ash Isle...
**Billy**: Maybe this place has a special meaning to Master Az and him...
*Go back to Choices start #2*
*Choice 5.3 - Why is Master Ranmaru here?*
**Ranmaru**: After that battle, half of Ash Isle was submerged. I was the only one who stayed.
**Ranmaru**: I've been waiting for Master Az for years. This is the first time that I had visitors.
**Ranmaru**: The Wheel of Fate guided you right to this place. I don't think it's a coincidence.
*Conversation continues after choices*
**Ranmaru**: Do you know where Master Az is now?
**Player**: Sorry, I have no idea...
**Player**: But Master Az must have something to do with me coming here.
*(Told Ranmaru what happened before.)*
*(Ranmaru listened patiently. His expression went from surprise to joy, then he furrowed his brow and fell silent.)*
**Player**: You could recognize the Wheel of Fate...
**Player**: You weren't surprised at all that we appeared out of nowhere. This is not be the first time you saw this?
**Player**: Master Ranmaru, you must know something, right?
**Ranmaru**: Anything on your mind, just ask away.
*Choices start #3*
*Choice 6.1 - About Ash Isle...*
**Ranmaru**: I died twice. The second time was in Azria and the first time was here.
**Ranmaru**: This was the last place where I fought side by side with him and said our goodbyes...
**Ranmaru**: Master Az and I, together with his teacher Aaron, found the Wheel of Fate that had gone missing for hundreds of years.
**Ranmaru**: But the Shadows followed us too.
**Ranmaru**: In our bloody combat with the Shadows, Master Az was taken away by the Wheel of Fate.
**Ranmaru**: I was lucky enough to resurrect and get rid of the Shadows. But Master Aaron died!
**Ranmaru**: After the Wheel of Fate disappeared, Ash Isle crumbled and half of it was submerged under the sea. It's a desolate place now.
**Ranmaru**: We didn't even have time to say where and when we would meet again.
**Ranmaru**: All I can do is wait.
*Go back to Choices start #3*
*Choice 6.2 - About Master Az...*
**Player**: Where is Master Az? When will he come back?
**Player**: Maybe it has something to do with me going home?
**Ranmaru**: Your speculation is right.
**Ranmaru**: The other world where Master Az is now... It might be your hometown, Blue Star.
**Ranmaru**: When he left, both his body and soul were teleported away.
**Ranmaru**: As for you, only your soul was teleported from Blue Star.
**Ranmaru**: The door connecting these two worlds...
**Ranmaru**: Its lock and key are both in here.
**Billy**: You mean... the door can only be opened in Luxium. It can't be open from the outside?
**Billy**: Master Az opened a window from the outside and squeezed your soul in here?
**Ranmaru**: You arrived here with the infusion of the Avatar...
**Ranmaru**: Maybe you should find the key to move from one world to another.
**Ranmaru**: If the door opens, you could get out and he could come back.
*Go back to Choices start #3*
*Choice 6.3 - About the Wheel of Fate...*
**Player**: How much do you know about it? Why would the Shadows...
**Ranmaru**: The Wheel of Fate is an ancient artifact that connects to the outside world.
**Ranmaru**: It's also my hope of finding Master Az.
**Ranmaru**: The Wheel of Fate can open the door to your home. But it can also help the Shadows achieve their endgame.
*Go back to Choices start #3*
*Choice 6.4 - About Shadows...*
**Ranmaru**: You only get a glimpse of what the Shadows are plotting.
**Ranmaru**: Master Az, Master Aaron and I fought together against Shadowlord. Two of us died and one injured.
**Ranmaru**: Still, we failed to deal a deadly blow to the Shadows.
**Ranmaru**: You are lucky that you've only encountered low-rank Shadows so far.
**Player**: ...
**Ranmaru**: Your real enemies haven't acted yet.
**Ranmaru**: Grey Serpent, the mastermind behind the fall of Azria, is now the leader of Shadowcult.
**Ranmaru**: But Shadowcult is merely a small fraction of the Shadows.
**Billy**: Huh? Even the mastermind behind the battle of Azria is insignificant?
**Ranmaru**: There is an immense Shadow Legion which is lurking in the dark.
**Ranmaru**: Time is not ripe yet. I can't tell you more.
**Ranmaru**: Things will only get worse.
**Ranmaru**: It's impossible to uproot the seeds of evil.
*Go back to Choices start #3*
*Choice 6.5 - How to get out of here?*
**Billy**: Thank you, Master Ranmaru.
**Player**: I will keep your words in mind, Master Ranmaru.
**Ranmaru**: I should thank you first.
**Ranmaru**: How fortunate to meet you today!
**Ranmaru**: If I don't help you, Master Az could never return.
*Conversation continues after choices*
**Ranmaru**: Anything you need, I am here to help.
**Player**: Master Ranmaru, I do have something to ask of you.
**Ranmaru**: Ask away.
**Player**: Bun... the Arcana Spirit who teleported us here has gone back to sleep.
**Player**: But we don't know how to get back...
**Ranmaru**: I could give you my raft. Row it to the direction of the lighthouse.
**Ranmaru**: You will arrive eventually.
**Player**: Row back?
**Ranmaru**: Don't worry. There is food and water on the raft.
**Ranmaru**: If you fail to arrive when the food is running low...
**Player**: What shall we do?
**Ranmaru**: Then, row faster.
**Billy**: ...
**Player**: Eh...
**Ranmaru**: No problem.
**Ranmaru**: Anything I have, you could take them with you.
*Player and Billy prepare to get on the raft*
**Billy**: Take care of yourself，Master Ranmaru.
**Player**: We will still see each other again，Master Ranmaru?
**Ranmaru**: The path to victory against the Shadows is far more fraught with danger than even Eversun's waterways.
**Ranmaru**: Today，Ranmaru promised.
**Ranmaru**: If you ever run into trouble，I will do everything I can to protect you.
**Ranmaru**: I've added you to my list of reasons to leave the Ashen Isle now.
**Ranmaru**: Farewell!
*Ranmaru bows to Player*
**Player**: Farewell!
*Player and Billy get on the raft*
*Continue to Chapter 15*