Iron Pride and Determination

So, can you tell us exactly what happened up to now? Um, Mordred, was it?

You can call me Mordy. Mrr... Where to start? I know, I'll start from when Loire and I parted ways.

I believe he's still out there, somewhere in this world.

I see...

But I wonder where he is?

We don't have a single lead...

I hope he's still in this era.

Mrrr? D'you know where Loire is?

No, not specifically. I'm sorry.

Mrrr... I see...

Is there anywhere that might help lead us to Loire?

Mrrr... Yes.

Huh?

Loire's homeland, Erythule. You might find something there...

His homeland? I thought the sea creature sunk it to the bottom of the ocean? You think it still exists?

Mrr... I dunno. But I'm fed up with being stuck on this stupid island! If you're here, does that mean you've got a ship?

Wanna do me a favor? How's about you take me to Erythule on your ship? I can tell you the way.

What do you think, Aldo?

......

Okay. We'll take you with us. We can hardly abandon you on this island. Lead the way, Mordy.

Mrr! Really?! I knew you guys were all right! Thank you!

I'd better get myself ready! Once you're all set to go, come talk to me in front of the ship. Erythule's to the north of Omegapolis! We don't have a moment to lose!

Got it!

So this is...

Oh, how heartbreaking...

This is Loire's homeland? Why, it is but a wasteland now.

...... Loire...

Data analysis shows 0% bio signatures in the surrounding area. There's no one but us here.

Looks like Loire isn't here after all.

But we should still take a look around. We might find something useful.

Found anything?

Nope. Zilch.

Loire...

Ultra powerful energy signature detected nearby! Be careful, everyone!

A wormhole? What's that doing here?

Why did it suddenly appear?

What on earth is going on?

Analyzing wormhole data...

Analysis complete. It appears to connect to a world 100 years prior to our current era.

Does that mean it connects to this town's past?

I-Is this light...

Yes. It connects to the past, to the time before you were sent here.

Mrr... Really? So if I go through this light, I can return to that moment?

Yes. But it probably leads to the moment Aspid attacked.

Oh... So even if we go back in time, unless we do something about Aspid, we'll never be able to save the town?

Basically. It didn't feel like we'd be able to do anything to help Loire. And judging from Loire's records, the device they forged to repel Aspid ended up failing. I wonder if there's a way to improve it?

......

Ah!

Did you think of something?

When Helmer got off the ship, he said something to me. Mrr... He said...

"The Thunder Lance was complete, but the output wasn't enough. "I heard there are eight Tesla Cores in the world. If only we had all of them..."

I'm pretty sure that's what he said!

Eight? Do you know how many Loire managed to collect?

Mrr... If I remember it right, I think he had three! I remember seeing him put three shiny things into the cool machine.

So there are five to go.

We just need to find the other five.

As if it's that easy! Even Loire only managed to find three!

Just trust us! We'll find them all. In the meantime, will you keep an eye on the wormhole for us? Make sure it doesn't close.

Mrr... How exactly do I do that?

This wormhole likely appeared as a reaction to something within you, Mordy. As long as you stay here, it should remain stable. But if you leave and the wormhole closes, we won't know when the next one will appear.

I don't really follow... But I've just gotta stay here, right? Mrr. I'm on it. Be careful.

We'll be as quick as we can!

But how're we gonna find these Tesla Cores when we don't have a single lead?

Oh, good point...

We can't possibly search this vast world without any clues. We need more information first.

You know, I think Loire left little records about places when he was traveling. He said there were a few times he got close to finding one of these things, but had to give up.

So you've just gotta look around the places he mentions in his logs!

So Loire's records could contain clues about the locations of the Tesla Cores?

Okay then. We'll use the records to find the remaining Tesla Cores!

Good luck! Mrr...

Did you find a Tesla Core? Mrr... Looks like you haven't found them all yet. Loire left hints in different places across this world. Find them, and you'll find the Tesla Cores! Good luck!

Did you find a Tesla Core? Mrr... Wow, well done! You found five! Now we'll be able to repel Aspid! Let's set off at once!

Okay! Let's go to the past Erythule through the wormhole!

What do you make of this place, Riica?

According to my observations, I make this Erythule of 100 years in the past.

I actually made it back...

Aspid appears to be approaching already. Hurry, Aldo.

If we're not quick, we'll be too late!

I know! To Loire, quickly!

It's in your hands now, Helmer, Mordy.

What's the rush, Aspid? I will be your opponent today.

Oh... I've run out of energy. What a cruel twist of fate...

Loire!

M-Mordy? Why would you come back?

Mrr... Well...

Now's not the time for that! We brought you your missing Tesla Cores! Now you'll be able to take on Aspid!

What? How did you... And who are they?

There's no time to explain! Hurry up and use them in your device thingy!

But...

What? Is there some kinda problem?

I need Helmer's abilities to synchronize the new Tesla Cores to the device. I don't know how to activate the device myself.

You called?

Helmer? You're here, too?

I couldn't leave you here alone.

No? I see...

Now, let me take those Tesla Cores...

Here you go.

...... Done and done!

Now, fire at will, Loire!

Will do! Aspid, you fiend... Take this!

Did he do it?

It is not over yet!

No way! It didn't work?

Aspid...

To receive an attack so powerful... It won't come back here again.

Thank you all. You have helped save our kingdom. I'm hesitant to say that Aspid's threat has gone completely... but our country no longer needs to live in fear.

Allow me to thank you, too. Smiles have returned to our people's faces, all because of you. The ship carrying the Queen and her daughter has already set sail, but we will send out a search party.

But Mordy, how in the world did you get here? When the ship set sail, you were on it! I saw it with my own two eyes!

Mrrr? Um...

Ah, that's where we come in. We're from your future which is when we met Mordy... So the Mordy here and the one aboard that ship are two separate entities.

Mrrr! Exactly!

You're from...the future? That's ludicrous...

Ha ha ha! That certainly explains how you had all those Tesla Cores.

You believe them? You believe that they actually came from the future?

Come now. All that matters is that these people, wherever they're from, saved us. It doesn't really matter what their story is! Ha ha ha!

......

Well, if you say so...

I do apologize. It was wrong of me to doubt those who saved our kingdom.

Don't worry about it. But would you mind keeping all this to yourselves?

Of course. I'm sure you have more than enough reason to want that. Besides, no one would believe us... This will be Helmer's and my little secret.

Are you all right with that, Helmer?

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Oh, wait! Why don't you take this?

Huh?

What is this?

It's a modified part of the Tesla Core used to defeat Aspid. It stores as much energy output as the original Tesla Core.

That's incredible! Are you sure we can take it?

Of course. You brought us the thing it's derived from, after all. I improved it for easier use. I hope it comes in helpful.

Thank you.

I guess we should get going.

I wish you well.

Take care, everyone.

You too. And Mordy, take care of yourself!

Loire, I...

I know. It's not me who has to keep his promise to you. I'm sure you'll meet your Loire again.

Mrrr! Thank you! I know I will!

Okay, let's get going.

Take care.

What the...?

The town looks splendiferous!

We did make it back, right, Riica?

Analyzing data...scanning area...

Analysis complete. This is the same Erythule we were in before.

So this is what its future looked like if Aspid had never destroyed it?

It all worked out well in the end.

Mrr?

Is that...Helmer?!

Helmer? You mean the scientist from before? How could he be here in this time?

I dunno! But I'm following him!

Helmer!

Hm? Who might you be?

Huh? It's me! Mordy!

Mordy? I feel like I've heard that name before. Have we met?

What is this, some kind of joke? You are Helmer, aren't you?

Helmer?! How do you know that name?

Huh?

Oh, pardon me.

My name is Hassel. I conduct all kinds of research in this country. Helmer is the name of my ancestor.

So you're Helmer's descendant!

But they look exactly the same! I'd never be able to tell them apart.

Pardon my rudeness, but who are you? You don't look like you're from around here. Are you travelers?

Yes. I'm Aldo. And this is Amy, Cyrus, Feinne, and Riica.

And I'm Mordy!

Mordy? Why do I recognize that name?

Ah! I've remembered! That's the name of our former king's...

Yes! I was his...

Pet!

Pet?! No, not pet! Buddy!

Oh, please excuse me. But what a strange coincidence, to share a name with his...buddy.

Mrrr...

So do you still have a king?

No, not for about a century... Our last king, King Loire, left no successor to the throne.

There hasn't?

Can you tell us more about that?

Sure.

One day, about 100 years ago, Aspid the sea menace attacked our kingdom. A mek named Loire sat on the throne at the time. King Loire used a device called the Thunder Lance to protect the town from Aspid, repelling the beast. But when Aspid attacked, Loire sent his wife and daughter with his buddy, Mordy, far away to sea. After Aspid was defeated, a search party was formed, and even the king himself joined in... But they never found the ship carrying his wife and daughter... And his buddy, Mordy, had also disappeared.

......

However, King Loire was convinced that his buddy was still alive. Everyone else gave up after searches failed to find anything, but not the king. He decided to travel. My ancestor, Helmer, was against this idea, but there was no stopping the king. King Loire left the town to Helmer and went off on his journey... With the king missing, Helmer maintained the peace in our town. Perhaps the reason why no one new was coronated was because they were waiting for King Loire to return. But it was thanks to Helmer's will that even without a king, peace and order thrived in this town.

That's about all I know.

I see. Thank you for telling us.

Don't mention it. I rather enjoyed talking about my ancestor.

Loire... You did all that just to look for us...

Hassel, can I ask you something? Has anyone other than us visited your town recently?

Let me think...

Actually, yes. A mek came to town recently.

Really?

I said hello to him, but he looked startled and ran off. I wonder who he was? He seemed somewhat familiar...

Aldo!

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Could you tell us where you saw him?

Of course. It was to the east of town.

Thank you!

Let's go!

Hassel said he saw the mek somewhere around here.

Loire...

Mrrr?

What is it?

There's something here!

No way!

It's Loire's recording device! So he did come back after all!

But why would he leave this contraption here? Where is the fellow himself?

Let's play it and see!

......

......

......

Mordy...

I want to be alone.

Let's go, Aldo.

Are you doing okay now, Mordy?

Yeah, I am. Sorry if I worried you.

I'm glad you're okay.

Do not push yourself, little one.

If there's anything on your mind, just tell us.

Thank you...

What will you do now?

Mrrr... I've thought about it...

Huh?

And I've decided to join you guys!

What?!

Really?

I'd love for you to come with us, but our travels can get pretty dangerous. Are you okay with that?

Yup! There's nothing more exciting than a bit of danger! That's what Loire used to say. I want to travel with you guys and explore the world, for Loire's sake. I know that'd make him happy! I'm not taking no for an answer here!

His resolve is as hard as iron, Aldo.

It is, isn't it? Okay then. Welcome aboard, Mordy!

Mrrrr!