Beginning of Madness

**Beginning of Madness**(狂宴の始まり) is the ninth episode of the Infinite Dendrogram anime.

## Plot

In Gideon, Marie Adler receives tickets to the **Clash of the Superiors** from a scalper, who tells her how lucky she is, as these are the last tickets he has left. After checking the tickets with **Truth Discernment** and **Identification,** Marie walks off and while ruminating on her good luck, sees a young girl being accosted and led into a dark alleyway. In the alley, the thugs are salivating on how much money they can make off the girl, when Marie appears, asking what they are up to. After naming herself a Journalist passing by, Marie defeats the thugs in short order, much to the girl's admiration. Just before the girl introduces herself, they are interrupted by a pair of knights who have been searching for the girl and who dub Marie as a "suspicious woman". While Marie is befuddled by the claim, the girl drags Marie with her as she runs away. Reasoning that getting captured would be bad news, Marie princess carries the girl and leaps onto a nearby rooftop and runs off as the knights look on.

On a park bench later on, Marie treats the girl to some cotton candy. Watching her delighted enjoyment of the treat, Marie seems to come to a realization of the girl's identity. The girl, remembering that she had never introduced herself, tells Marie that she is Elizabeth S. Altar, the kingdom's second princess. When Marie asks why she is outside without any attendants, Elizabeth reveals that she snuck out, since she wasn't allowed to go outside despite coming all the way here. Declaring her intent to go sightseeing, Elizabeth shyly asks Marie to show her around the city, which Marie gladly agrees to. Though Elizabeth is overjoyed, she is also displeased by Marie's formal language, declaring it too 'distant'. Playing along, Marie offers to call her "Ellie", which delights her, and declares it her new nickname. Back in the present, Marie stares in anger at Mr. Franklin holding onto an unconscious Elizabeth, calling out her nickname in distress.

Laughing, Franklin continues his declaration reminding the audience that they cannot touch him, as killing a royal is an automatic sentence to the gaol when he is interrupted by an attack coming from an audience member. While Marie is shocked, wondering if the Master is insane, Franklin is even more displeased, going on a rant insulting his intelligence. Calming down quickly, Franklin snaps his fingers and the Master is enveloped by a blue liquid from his feet, which quickly dissolves him. The crowd starts fleeing in terror as Franklin names the monster an **Oxygen Slime**. A Master attempts to destroy the monster with fire magic, only for it to explode, destroying her and shaking the stadium barriers. Franklin, mockingly asks if she was listening to him, repeating that the monster was an *Oxygen* Slime and that morons who put flames next to oxygen lose their lab priviliges and that the monster will just regenerates when it explodes, while it does just that. Getting back on point after the interruptions, Franklin pulls out a device from his lab coat. Pressing a button, another Oxygen Slime appears and Franklin notes that he has set devices up throughout the city which will release random monsters every time he presses the button. As Ray Starling looks on in anger, Franklin adds that the monsters will appear regardless in an hour and that he has set devices up throughout the city. Explaining that the only method to stop the devices is to destroy the switch or give him the death penalty, Franklin challenges the kingdom's Masters to stop him, telling them that the game has begun. Ray is infuriated by Franklin's demands, while Shu Starling wonders why Franklin is announcing this and telling them the method to stop him. Rook Holmes opines that the goal is to make it seem as if the tragedy was preventable, only for them to fail in the end. He is interrupted by outburst from outside. As Shu leads them outside, Ray notices that Marie has disappeared. Out at the lobby, Masters are attacking the barrier, causing it to weaken. Their joy is cut short by an explosion from the city, as Franklin's voice rings out, mocking their efforts. The voice is revealed to be coming from a small, one eyed monster which projects a hologram of Franklin, who smugly explains that every attack on the barrier will release a monster on the city and that if the barrier is destroyed, all the monsters will be released well before the hour is up. As the Masters destroy the monster in frustration, Rook sums up the situation, saying that the Masters will lose at his rate. A puzzled Babylon asks what Franklin's end goal is, wondering if he is merely wants to gloat. Rook responds that this will have a huge effect on the tians, as Nemesis says that this will lead to the kingdom's defeat long before the war.

A camouflaged monster soars through the sky of Gideon, and on its back, Elizabeth asks Franklin why he attacked the city. Grinning, Franklin proclaims it is an entertainment before the end of the war, which puzzles the princess. Theatrically recounting the death of the mightiest knight,  the greatest mage and the king, Franklin asks why the kingdom hasn't given up despite all the citizens who have already fled, before answering his own question, saying that the kingdom believes it lost because their rankers. Declaring his distaste for the Clash of the Superiors, dismissing it as a mere attempt to prop up the kingdom's spirits by showing off the power of their Superiors. Franklin admits that it would be a problem if the kingdom's Superiors participated in the next war so he has come to break the kingdom's spirits before that happens. Turning his face to the moon, Franklin expresses his belief that if their princess was kidnapped and their city destroyed while their Masters were helpless to stop it, the kingdom's tians will lose faith in the Masters and surrender. Smiling, Elizabeth wonders if things will go so easily, saying that she has found the kingdom's Masters quite dependable, a statement Franklin clearly finds unamusing.

Back at the stadium, Nemesis asks Shu how strong the kingdom's forces outside the stadium are and he replies that most battle focused Masters were watching the match, so the ones outside aren't very strong. When Ray wonders whether there are any strong Masters who didn't watch the match, Shu rebuts that Franklin would have countermeasures against such people, pointing outside to where a group of Masters stood at the ready. Believing them to be with Franklin, Shu notes that there would be serious consequences if they and the monsters ran amok. Realizing that Franklin had them in checkmate, Ray approaches the barrier in frustration, only to be shocked when his hands pass through. When Ray responds in the negative to another Master asking him if he has any barrier related skills, Shu asks him what his total level is. When Ray replies that it is 41, Shu laughs, remembering that this is an arena barrier. When Ray is still confused, Shu reminds him of the special property of arena barriers, allowing all people below Level 50 to pass through. The surrounding Masters quickly begin looking for other rookies, and begin preparations to cast buffs and autoheals. Rook asks Shu if he knows what this means, and he agrees that there is no way Franklin would leave such a loophole open for no reason. Turning to Ray, Shu tells him that he will definitely die against Franklin and his forces, and asks if he'll go anyway. Ray turns the question back on him, asking Shu if he thinks he would give up in a situations like this that leaves such a bad taste in his mouth. Crossing his arms, Shu replies that he figured Ray would say that. Telling him that he is out of Lifesaving Brooches, he hands Ray a Dragonscale Ward. Putting his hand on Ray's shoulder, he tells him to go wild, to stay alive and that he will definitely come to help him, with Ray agreeing that he's counting on him. Leading a motley party of rookie masters, Nemesis transforms into the **Black Blade**, declaring it time to fight back.

Outside the stadium, an armoured Master comments that they got a great deal from Franklin. A Master in priestly garbs agrees, saying that killing a bunch of rookies is a small price to pay for the benefits they'll get once they switch to Dryfe. A Master with a red mohawk admits that betraying the kingdom stings a little, while the priest asks him why he is smiling then. Seeing Ray and other rookies gathering, the betrayers ready themselves for battle, with the armoured Master telling the Master with the mohawk, **Mohawk Red**, to prepare an AOE spell. The betrayers are surprised when instead of charging, Ray puts his arm outside the barrier and uses a full power burst of Hellish Miasma. As the area is enshrouded, the armoured Master, **Ryzac** is shocked by the status of his party members being affected by the miasma's debuffs, wondering where a rookie got an item like that. Drinking an Elixir while the priest **Myanna** heals Red as he continues his magic, Ryzac tries to rally his party members when Marilyn attacks, plowing right through them. While Ryzac is shocked by the idea that a rookie can have such a powerful monster, Myanna tells Red to hurry with his magic. Finishing the high rank spell **Crimson Sphere**, the spell is canceled by Rook, which shocks the trio again. Watching as Audrey attacks his party, Ryzac hypes himself up by reminding himself of the difference in battle potential, trying to rally his troops again, only for them to fall to friendly fire, which he quickly realizes is the result of Babylon's Lilim Temptation. Calling for Myanna but receiving no response, he fights off his Charmed allies with his Embryo Durandal when he sees Red attack Ray with Crimson Sphere. Red's laughter is cut short as heralded by a shattering Dragonscale Ward, Ray jumps out and defeats him with **Vengeance is Mine.** Retreating in shock, Ryzac thinks to himself that losing would render his betrayal meaningless and is then attacked by a individual in armour. Blocking the attack and telling them not to underestimate him, he activates Durandal's ultimate skill and makes quick work of the figure by slicing them in half, only to be shocked once more when it is shown to be a Charmed Myanna. The armour enshrouding her uses the opening to give him a fatal attack as Rook walks over. He congratulates the armour, in actuality the slime Liz, telling her that even high ranking players can be killed when they show an opening. A despondent Ryzac laments betraying the kingdom, thinking he wouldn't have done it if he knew there were rookies like this as he receives the death penalty.

Up in Gideon's skies, Franklin is slightly surprised by how easily the betrayers lost as he looks at a handheld terminal. When Elizabeth asks what it is, he surprisingly gives her a spare, revealing it to be a map of Gideon, with the kingdom forces in blue and imperium forces in red. While ruminating on the kingdom's superior forces, especially the powerful Masters not locked in the stadium, Franklin is interrupted by a panicked transmission begging to be saved from the sixth in the kingdom's duel ranking the Masked Rider. The transmission is cut off by an explosion large enough to be seen by the flying pair. Sighing, Franklin orders **Club** to move to the location. When Elizabeth who that is, Franklin replies that they are special forces. As Elizabeth looks down at the map, she can see the kingdom's Masters disappearing near the club, a feat she can hear from above as explosions. Elizabeth then remarks that while she can see a diamond and a heart, she doesn't see a spade. Franklin replies that the spade won't show up on that map, as it is for Plan D and as such won't come onto today's stage. He breaks off the conversation to turn the monster another direction, which prompts Mary to realize that he is avoiding the kingdom's Masters with the map. Telling her that he is a weakling, Franklin brags that only a Superior could break through his monster army, turning his attention back to his map only for it to show an Altarian Master *right behind him*. Eyes widening, Franklin's neck is slit, and he receives many more fatal attacks along with his monster, causing it to de-camoflauge. Screaming, Elizabeth falls from the monster as it drops from the sky, only to be saved by a blur while a bloody Franklin recalls the existence of a Master who defeated a Superior without being one: the Superior Killer as he and his monster crash.

As Ray riding on Silver gallops through the city, followed by Rook on Audrey, the latter asks why they are heading west. Remembering Hugo Lesseps's warning, he tells Rook there is something there, will thinking that Hugo is surely the one blocking that gate.

As Marie races across the rooftops, Elizabeth wakes up on her back. Though a little dazed, she happily greets Marie, who tells her they'll talk later. Elizabeth hands Marie the map, and explains it to her. Deeming it useful, she adjusts her course to avoid Dryfe forces while asking Elizabeth what the playing card symbols mean. Upon hearing that Franklin is the diamond, Marie confirms his survival, stunned that he is still alive, after eating damage more than ten times his HP. She decides to take Elizabeth to the stadium, where *he* is, sure that even Franklin cannot win against him. Before they can arrive, Elizabeth disappears, switched with another bird to Marie's surprise. Franklin, speaking through the map, tells her that he is taking the princess back. When Marie remarks that they should have been outside the range of Castling, he replies that he used it via the monsters in town. Congratulating her on her attack, Franklin remarks that he would have died without monsters to use as HP tanks. When Marie tells him that is the least she wanted to do to him, he mockingly remarks on how scary she is, before telling Club to elimanate her. Feeling danger, Marie dodges before a huge explosion envelops the area. As Marie lands on another rooftop, Franklin tells her that the club, revealed to be a conductor along with a trio of mechanical monsters, were here for exceptions like her. Recognizing them as the musicians from earlier, Marie, landing in front of them, says he thought they were what they seemed to be, but that they must be enemies if they are standing before her. Speaking through music, the conductor assents, and when Marie asks for his name, introduces himself as the club on the board, Veldorbell the **King of Orchestras**. Introducing herself as the **Death Shadow**, Marie pulls out her Embryo coldly telling him to die. Veldorbell replies that she shouldn't be in a rush, and should listen to her requiem.

Elsewhere, a group of Masters look askance at a sign before noticing a Magingear with Cocytus on the shoulder. Recognizing it as an enemy, they charge, only to be frozen almost to a man with La Porte de l'Enfer. Seeing two shocked remnants, Hugo remarks that they must be less than 100. One of them begins freezing halfway and Cyco says that they have a low number, with Hugo opining that they must have a support job, likely Bishop, blowing them away with his Magingear. Cyco calls Hugo's attention to a a Master wreathed in flames standing before them. Challenging them to freeze his flames, he charges forward. Hugo states that he won't pass, as he freezes while still on fire. Standing tall, Cyco says that La Porte de l'Enfer ignores temperature while Hugo thinks that while Gideon's Masters are stronger than him, with ample experience in interpersonal combat, that is why they can't beat him.

## Characters

* Marie Adler
* Elizabeth S. Altar
* Mr Franklin
* Ray Starling
* Nemesis
* Shu Starling
* Rook Holmes
* Babylon
* Ryzac
* Myanna
* Mohawk Red
* Kasumi
* Fujinon
* Io
* Marilyn
* Audrey
* Liz
* Veldorbell
* Cocytus
* Hugo Lesseps
* Bishmar