Dislyte story · Main Story
Chapter 5: Probing
Perhaps we can try just being human, neither belonging to Shadows nor the Union.
6 scenes, 202 lines
1. Shady Business
53 linesIf we hurry...
Then we won't have to take the blame.
As the Shadow Decree frantically pursued the Hunter's Guild convoy...
Sachiko and I rested up in Graywater for a day.
The weakened Sachiko recovered almost entirely, a testament to the vitality of Espers.
Following President Triki's instructions, we arrived in the Mystic Mountains.
Mystic Mine: Inside the Mine
President Triki wants us to get some data for him from a Shadow Decree lab.
We'll give him the data, and he'll tell us where to find Yamato.
Whoa, we're sneaking into the bad guys' lab?
Like secret agents!
It's not quite what you think, I'm afraid.
Anyway, we're not professional thieves.
If he really only wanted to steal the data...
I'm sure Triki would have much better options than us.
Then... What are we gonna do here?
Let's go and find out.
Mystic Mine: Shadow Decree Lab
So weird! Mystic Mine clearly belongs to Mr. Triki...
And there really is a Shadow Decree lab here!
This part of the mine must have been abandoned, and then the Shadow Decree set up a stronghold here.
Why's there nobody here at all?
There was an earthquake warning, so work at Mystic Mine has been shut down for a while.
I guess the Shadow Decree's lab workers evacuated too.
It looks like I guessed right. We need to hurry.
Oh? Why the rush? There's nobody here, right?
If we hurry...
Then we won't have to take the blame.
Blame?
Mystic Mine: Inside the Mine
Following instructions, I copied the data.
Then made a mad dash for the mine's exit with Sachiko in tow.
But several figures blocked our path, each with a differently-shaped silhouette.
So there you are!
You've led us on quite the wild goose chase these last few days.
You guys again...
Sachiko stepped in front of me, shielding me as I backed away slowly.
Looks like... we can't shake you off.
Guess we're taking the blame after all.
What?
*BOOM*
Behind us, an inferno of fire and smoke erupted.
The Shadow Decree's lab was completely engulfed in a sea of flames.
Whoa, what was that?!
Triki must have wanted to get rid of the Shadow Decree's lab.
Mystic Mine is Triki's property...
And he probably didn't like having the Shadow Decree as a neighbor, but feared their wrath...
So he let us take the blame.
Hey!
We just wanted to kill you...
But you went and blew up our lab!!!
You've gone too far!!!
... I don't know what to say to that...
2. Wolf & Rat
44 linesMystic Mine: Inside the Mine
*RUMBLE*
This is bad!
As the dust settled from the battle, an unsettling sound emanated from the mine.
The pillars supporting the mineshaft began to shake violently.
Everyone leapt to stabilize the pillar nearest to them, barely preventing the shaft from collapsing.
Somehow, I was able to withstand the tremendous pressure from the debris and tilted pillars.
Once again, I was thankful for my newfound half-monster body.
I can hold this for a while! Go out and get some help!
I don't think I can...
Following Sachiko's gaze, I saw a towering werewolf, his entire body quivering as blood dripped from his mouth.
He'd been wounded in the battle, but he was still managing to hold up the central pillar.
He won't hold out for much longer.
If I leave, you'll all be buried here before long.
One survivor is better than none! There's no other way!
But there is!
Hey, big guy!
I'll swap places with you, but you have to promise to bring back help!
That way, we can all make it out of here!
...
Aahahaha! Are all you Union folks so naive?
Freddy wouldn't risk his life for his own friends, much less to rescue his enemies!
Do we really need to talk about who's a friend and who's an enemy at a time like this?
Promise me, right now! Promise you'll come back with help!
Sachiko's eyes were staunch and stern as she stared Freddy down.
...
Hurry up and promise!
Who do you think we are?
We are the Shadow Decree. We're sewer rats.
I'm no rat...
I'm Freddy.
I'll bring back help.
Hmph.
*BOOM*
Sachiko braced herself against Freddy's pillar.
The weakened Freddy stumbled toward the exit of the mineshaft.
Whew! Well, we should be able to hold out at least an hour, as long as we don't have another earthquake!
The words had barely left Sachiko's mouth when I felt a sudden trembling in the ground beneath my feet.
(Er... I guess that earthquake warning was for real...)
The earth began to jerk violently from side to side.
The stones above the cross-beams poured into the cramped mineshaft like a long pent-up flood.
Amidst the torrent of rubble, the werewolf came leaping in...
And shielded Sachiko and I beneath himself.
And then everything collapsed.
3. Cast Off Shadows
58 linesMystic Mine: Inside the Collapsed Mine
I repeat: keep your hands off my face!
Sorry, I couldn't help it. Let's hang in there.
Hey, big guy! You're hurt, so stay still!
Didn't I tell you? My name's Freddy!
After the collapse, we were trapped inside the mine. Sachiko was healing the werewolf.
Crooked pillars propped up a tiny space within the rubble around us.
Everyone was crowded inside.
Having been shielded by the werewolf, Sachiko and I weren't injured, while nearly all of the Shadow Decree members had suffered wounds.
I tapped on the surrounding rocks, sensing the Divine Waves that echoed behind them.
I was looking for a weak point that might connect to another open space.
Found anything?
Wait... Seems like...
Right here.
That mysterious voice sounded once again in my mind.
I sensed it as I felt my way along the rock wall.
Here...
(Can I trust you?)
Come... Come here.
The voice was getting clearer.
I took in a deep breath and stopped in front of one section of the wall of stone.
... I found it!
Sachiko began to heal the other Shadow members.
Let's get one thing straight: I'm not healing you just so you can come and fight us again!
We're gonna work together to clear a path out of here!
How amusing that the Shadow Decree and Esper Union are actually working together.
There's no Shadow or Union here. Just some people trying to survive!
People? We're Espers. How could you say we're human?
What do you mean?
Sorry if you think you're not human, but I am!
You want healing or not?!
Fine, of course. Human or not, I don't want to be buried here.
Pardon the trouble, little one.
Sachiko used Divine Power to heal Anesidora.
One by one, the other Shadow members stepped up to be healed as well.
Many thanks, Sachiko!
You seem... different from before.
Maybe it's because I've been acting like a human, so I don't seem like a Shadow member anymore.
But it feels nice, right?
...
After healing the Shadow Decree members, we began preparing to attempt our escape.
Everyone gathered their power silently.
We've only got one chance, so I hope you'll give it your all.
This place won't survive many more disturbances.
So we need to make sure that we penetrate the stone in a single blow to open a path to another mineshaft.
Wait!
Sachiko pulled out an amulet and began muttering a prayer.
Sachiko?
My mom gave me this amulet.
If you can hear me from afar, Mom, Dad, bless us with good luck!
May we meet success in a single strike!
Hmph. I'm strong, and strength is the only thing I believe in.
Hey! I prayed for us all to have good luck! You don't want it, big guy?
However you like, little one.
Alright, we're ready!
Sachiko and the Shadow members began to gather their power.
Together! Let's get the heck out of here!
*BOOM*
4. Assets
17 linesMystic Mine: Inside the Collapsed Mine
Something's not right...
Having broken free, we arrived in another room, which had also been reduced to rubble.
Come... Come here...
The voice was getting clearer and clearer.
I followed the voice, advancing towards the direction it was coming from.
But Anesidora stopped me.
I'm the only one who can control "assets" in the Shadow Decree.
Huh?
I can only send a few simple commands, but no one else can do even that much.
Do you know how I do it?
I can do it because I see them as my own kind!
My heart thumped at Anesidora's words.
(Her own kind?! ...)
Over there. I can feel the aura of my kind there!
Amidst the darkness, some crystals began to glimmer.
Miramon!
5. Humanity
16 linesI was getting closer.
Mystic Mine: Inside the Collapsed Mine
Guided by that mysterious voice, I led the group through several mining chambers.
But as we got closer to the source of the voice, there were more and more Miramon.
I began to detect a draft of air flowing through the rubble.
The voice was right. We were getting closer to the outside world.
Even the Shadow Decree would have trouble fighting many Miramon at the same time without preparation.
The Miramon are increasing in number. Are you sure we're going the right way?
It's hard to explain, but yes, I'm sure.
Anesidora grinned playfully at me.
Looks like you've got your own little secrets too.
And you still call yourself "human"?
What do you mean? Of course Captain is a human!
Being human isn't a matter of debate... it's a matter of nature.
Enough!
Let's get the heck out of here first!
6. Escape Trouble
14 linesMystic Mine: Inside the Collapsed Mine
Come. Come here...
You can do it...
... Give it to me...
Give it to me...
(What am I supposed to give you?)
The mysterious voice didn't answer, but only continued beckoning me.
I kept moving closer to the voice as it became clearer and clearer.
Defeating wave after wave of Miramon, we passed through many walls of rock.
After spending what felt like forever in darkness, we finally reached the outside world.
And on the other side of that light, the source of the mysterious voice...
What awaited me?
That's...
... a Miracle.