The Surging Tide

We must deploy the Xiranite production line ASAP to resolve the Wuling urgency.

And we shall observe a brand new method for Xiranite production. This learning opportunity doesn't come often. Pay close attention, Bai Shuang!

Yes, ma'am!

Let's begin, Endmin.

Endmin! Tianshi Yan Ning and Bai Shuang are here!

We meet again. I'll offer assistance and troubleshooting to ensure the success of this operation.

H-hi, everyone!

The tides are so frequent it almost feels like a constant thing. Let's focus on constructing the Forge of the Sky first.

I think he got some new orders from Captain Mi. Another Blight Tide has emerged...

The alarms...?

This device is so effective! So ... why didn't we use it before?

Well, the Endmin's jet drone used to be ... malfunctioning as well.

Our Xiranite production was barely enough to cover the Tianshi Pillar. We were forced to abandon the others.

It's just like a creek flowing past the fields, irrigating the fertile earth.

Perhaps ... Endfield can truly help us to—

But things are different now... Injecting bits of Xiranite into these Xiranite facilities can bring them back up and running.

...Darkmask! Quick! There's plenty of you against her — Hngh...!

Captain Mi, what's happening...?

The sooner we get this done the better. I gotta head back to the Stockade after this...

So why are you headed to Wuling City on your own, Tangtang?

'Cos I'm worried about my sworn sister! Can't I do that? / 'Cos I'm worried about my sworn brother! Can't I do that?

Why do I get the feeling that you're always getting...

PUT ME DOWN!

This kitty punk's not bad for a combatant, so I'm considering recruiting her to fight the Aggeloi.

Hey! You just gonna stand there and watch her brutalize me?!

You got thrashed too?! Is that why she's having you work for free?

Tsk! Dirty cheats! HEY! I agree to help! Hello?!

Alright. We got everyone already. Let's set off.

At least she didn't hurt you... Where there's life, there's hope! Chin up!

But once this is over, you gotta let Darkmask off!

What? You avenged yourself...? But now you're working for the enemy ... AND THEY AGREED?

Heh! Darkmask, you have a heart of gold! Since you're gonna be part of the Stockade fam, I guess I'll help you out this time!

Oh dearie me... So many splatterlings! And right outside Wuling as well!

Stop mumbling and get to work. Otherwise I'll make you wipe the watchguard dorm windows afterwards.

Hey! Why don't we have a proper duel! Darkmask will be the judge.

Hah! I won more battles than I lost. Stop feeding Darkmask with your nonsense!

Don't have time for your games. We're trying to carry out a proper mission.

Oooh, you scared? If you refuse, you concede defeat! That means you owe me a DARE!

Hmph! Never! I'm no window wiper!

Oh, but you're pretty good at losing and wiping. How many times already? Seven? Eight? The Watchguard burdenbeasts know your face already.

And if you lose this fight, you'll carry food to my Stockade! Three hundred catties! NO! Make that FIVE HUNDRED! ON YOUR OWN!

Hmph... I can even carry the marker stone to your place if that's what you want.

Anyway, you've set yourself up to fail.

HEY! HEEEEY!

The bet is on already! Even if you didn't say nothing about my DARE if I lose!

You won't be running away. I'll think of something proper. Eventually.

Darkmask, what is Tianshi Zhuang ... I mean, what is the walking lightning rod asking you to do?

You're going where?! The monitoring center?! Tons of Tianshi almost got themselves killed at that place!

I can't win this duel if you get yourself killed! And I demand ONE THOUSAND CATTIES! Plus rice, oil, fins, and steaks!

Absolute pawnage! Chief's got the final laugh today! Mad woman! How many splatters did you squish today?

Five.

One, two, three... AIYO! It's a TIE!

Well, at least this road is safe to travel again.

Whatever.

I saw a burning comet smash into the city. You did that, right? What's that for...?

The opposite. We're headed to the monitoring center on official business. I can't spare anyone to keep their eyes on you. So go on, scamper back home.

Oi! Lil' Feline!

KYA! You wanna backstab me?!

From the severity of the Blight ... it's like it was meant to destroy this place.

Erm ... is something trying to dismantle the monitoring center from the inside?

We call it the Tidalklast. It's an annoying Aggelos. That thing was the reason why the watchguards were forced to flee the monitoring center.

Ssss... Sounds like a big, bad, buggerloid. Maybe we should just skirt around it.

No. We can't leave it in peace if we want to restart the monitoring center. I'll go and terminate it.

...The Tianshi initiated their contingency plan and sealed the exit before withdrawing. The thing should be trapped for a while.

I know the architecture. I'll go take a look.

You take the front approach. We'll figure out how to get into the sealed sections.

HEY! WAIT —! Why are you doing this on your own again —?

This splatter sounds really angry. Darkmask, we best catch up to her!

I ... I just want that one thousand catties of food!

I didn't expect it to settle down here...

If you're scared, you can go home.

I'm scared? Pfft. Just a plus-sized splatter! Alright, it's on! We'll see who squishes this one first.

It's possible, but —

Nyaa?! Uh... That's a bit terrifying.

You're fast. Seems like you can handle all the devices easily, Endmin.

HEY!

Can't afford to wait for the rest of you. I'm heading over.

Hmph. Guess your thick skin and hard fur saved you...

Sssss—

Darkmask! Quick! We gotta help her!

You guys... Fine. I could use some help!

Distract it. Don't let it get too close to the core facilities of the monitoring center!

Uh...

HAH! Time to get in a real fight!

Hooo. Thanks for swinging by... Since we've squished this thing ... we should be able to restart the monitoring center.

Hope the instruments are undamaged. Ssss—

You're injured, Mi Fu. Try not to move too much.

Just a flesh wound. Ain't that bad, really.

......

I got some meds on me...

It'd be a joke if my headstone reads: "Killed by Tangtang's Medical Malpractice."

*Sigh*. I was reckless back then.

That Aggelos was a serious threat and wounded many of our guards... I lost my cool.

Cut your excuses, warmonger! You were just itching for a fight with a big, bad splatter!

...Hmph.

It's over, Tangtang. We're all safe.

I ... I wasn't being scared... You're hurt?!

I never did that! Wh-whose side are you on, Darkmask...?

Yeah! If anything happens to you, no Wulinger is gonna pay back your serious debt!

At least eighty percent of the facilities are back online.

Really appreciate your help. Boss will be pleased to hear about this...

Can I ask you for a favor? Don't tell her that I've been wounded in this mission.

Look at you! Slogging for those Wulingers all day! Almost got yourself killed! Zhuang should be worrying about you more.

Unlike you, she actually has plenty of other things to worry about.

Whatever! Since I finished what you've asked, I believe we're even!

......

The monitoring center is now assessing and monitoring Blight activities for Wuling again.

So, little kitty. Why so quiet? That thing got your nerves?

......

I just don't feel like talking.

City Viceroy and Stockade Chief aren't that different, you know...

Thanks, Darkmask.

I'll get my Fam sorted! Stay tuned!

Then it's a deal!

Wanna head back with me and talk to the boss?

Ahem. Mi Fu ... Tangtang is...

DARKMASK!

Tsk. I gave her a chance to slip away. Yet she's back for more.

Nice, Darkmask. You ended up choosing my side!

So, if something bad happens to the Stockade, will your Endfield Fam help us?

Something happened to Qingbo Stockade?

NO! Pffft. The Stockade is fine! It's about the Fam's future safety!

If I can get some of your ICY CREAMY Factory, everything will be super fine...

The Blight and splatters are getting worse every day. My Stockade won't hold out forever — And someone owes me a thousand catties of FOOD!

Looks like you need our ... AIC Factory solution.

......

Yeah. But I gotta convince everyone in the Stockade first. My Bro and ... many in the Fam don't like outsiders...

Heheh. Perlica, you were planning to help Tangtang all along, right?

Indeed. It's been on my mind ever since our first meeting.

They've found a way to survive upon these lands. Alas, the enemy has arrived. If Nefarith makes her next move...

Agreed... Let's head back and talk to Tianshi Zhuang.

I'll head back first. Gotta report to the boss.

Thank you for helping out. We can now investigate the Blight Tide anomalies and trace Nefarith's activities.

Endmin, what do you think their next step is?

Mi Fu, Tangtang supported our last operation, didn't she?

This is the time we should be rowing the same boat.

Ten years later, the scars from the disaster still divide us from the Stockade residents. Trust was the first casualty.

Wow. I thought you wouldn't tell Tianshi Zhuang about that!

Why wouldn't I?

However, Endfield presents us with another opportunity.

Indeed we shall.

This is just the beginning.

Endfield will seek balance between Wuling City and Qingbo Stockade.

What we need is more allies, not adversaries.

...Tianshi Zhuang!

What about her? If both Wuling City and Qingbo Stockade are in trouble, then she's...

The primary objective of Yinglung Special Task Force remains in the North Wuling Exclusion Zone. Though understaffed, they did promise to offer any help they could afford to Wuling.

HAS is already doing its best to reinforce this city. However, the overall situation on Talos-II isn't looking too good...

This is starting to feel like what happened ten years ago...

A Blight monitoring center suddenly gets overwhelmed by the Blight without giving off any warning...

I'm not sure... They completely dropped off our radar after we entered Wuling City.

However, the intensifying Blight activities must be a direct consequence of the damaged Tianshi Pillar.

Mm. Bai Shuang and I will take care of this place.

You just head to the monitoring center!

'Nuff talking already! Let's go and deal with the problem! Now!

The monitoring center is working again. That'll put her mind to ease.

Thinking about my boss. Now I got a good reason to persuade her to take a break.

Hah. I wish. You sound even more desperate than I do.

Tsk. That lil' Feline made it sound like I lost the entire arm.

The Xiranite production project worked out, right? And the monitoring center is taken care of too...

You know the sitch inside the city. She won't give herself a break unless we achieve something positive.

In any case, I sincerely appreciate your help back there.

However, I can't help but feel something's wrong with Tangtang... Maybe it has to do with the Stockade.

Try asking what's on her mind, if you have the time.

There are things I can't help her with. Darkmask, on the other hand, might work wonders.

There was a time when I kept ticking off the boss to battle things out. I endured far worse than this.

...Sparring with me was probably her only way to blow off some steam ... and forget everything else.

Ah... Really miss those days. I wonder if I'm still able to catch her Lei Fa Arts (Thunder Arts).

Even the city folks are in danger...

The Stockade, that's what...! But seeing that Mad Woman getting the short end of the stick got me feeling better.

Yeah. If those blighted splatters pose a serious problem to the Wulingers, I don't think the Stockade —

She's still keeping you captive.

I gotta figure out how to free Darkmask from her evil hands!

The Blight Tide is worse than before. Qingbo Stockade will have to deal with it some day.

Unlike the city, we got no artsy pillars to keep out the Tide... And they're not sharing their fancy tech with us!

My brother refuses to ask Wuling for help. We gotta figure out our own solutions.

This is makin' my head hurt. How's your head, Darkmask?

So, I tried sneaking into the city to make sure everyone's treated properly. But I discovered something even more amazing...

You got an Endfield Fam, right...? I thought you're pretty good, Darkmask. But your Fam is solid, too.

Ma'am, it's working!

Did this just make Xiranite ... with the most basic raw materials...?!

Hmm... Xiranite is an Originium derivative. It's basically Protocol-Originium with additional properties imbued by the Forge itself... This process is truly effective...

Ah, sorry. I got a little carried away. Our next step is to verify the effectiveness of the newly produced Xiranite.

Endmin, remember the place where we found the Blight?

If this batch of Xiranite can reset the entire Xiranite flow control node...

Xiranite flow control node?

I'll explain it to you once we get there.