Escape 1 - Hope Under the Ground

(Yaaawn) ...Nnn.

Ooghhh (yawn)... Okay! I guess I'd better get up now!

Hm hm hm hmmm♪

There we go!

Celtic warriors. Celtic warriors! Get ready! It's time to go to work!

Understood! You rock, Medb! (The traditional Connacht affirmation)

All right... Time for another great day of ruling♪

I can't really HELP you since we're on different teams, but I'm sure you won't mind if I pry a bit!

Have any of you found a route out of here yet?

I'm afraid not...

So there really is nothing we can do? And here I was hoping someone would help me out Genji-style, since I carry on the Taira clan and all.

What's that? You don't believe I have anything to do with the Taira clan? Never mind that now.

I can't speak for Ushiwakamaru, but I have little animosity for the Taira people myself.

How can THAT be what you are worried about right now when we're faced with far stranger things at the moment? Are you trying to ignore the reality of our situation?

Whatever I was expecting when they let us out of our cells for an "absolutely compulsory special reformation program," this wasn't it...

Uh...? Weird.

Okay, everybody! Now that the sun's shining nice and bright, it's time to get back to our fun training to help you all become proud, liberated warriors, yes!

Come on now, step lively! Make sure you keep pace with the tempo, yes! Uno, dos, tres! Uno, dos, tres!

(So THAT'S where that other strange divinity signal was coming from!)

Um... What are those things in front of all the other prisoners? And why are they climbing up and down them on her command?

Those look like corner posts from a boxing or wrestling ring... I can even see a ring like that over there.

Hola! You chicas must be the newcomers, huh? Medb's told me all about you, yes!

I don't know what you're all in here for, but don't you worry, no, no, no!

By the time you've finished my grueling training, you'll all be luchadores y luchadoras excepcionales, yes!

That's the great thing about this prison. We make sure to rehabilitate all our prisoners so that they're ready to return to society when their sentences end!

...That said, I don't know if it's 'cause I'm too tough on these youngsters, or if kids these days just don't have the cojones they used to...

...but so far, I haven't found a single person who could earn their graduation mask!

You know, there is something I have been wondering for a while now... Do goddesses perhaps have an inordinate amount of free time on their hands?

Don't be silly! Prisoners are evil, and I am a goddess of good! This is the best kind of work I could ask for, yes!

I remember exactly what Medb told me right before she gave me full authority to conduct this rehab program as I see fit:

"So, basically, Connacht will get more warriors out of this, right? 'Kay, knock yourself out."

How could I possibly turn down a job that would let me legally spread the glory of lucha far and wide?

Besides, geographically speaking, this place has been feeling very homey for me lately, yes!

(...Well this sucks. We may be from different mythologies, but Quetzalcoatl is still a goddess of Venus, so she gets her Authority from the same place I do.)

(Now I'm REALLY glad I didn't drop an An Gal Ta meteor on this prison now.)

(She'd have just caught it and tossed it right back at me.)

(Ugh, what do I do now... She may look like an airhead, but she IS technically a goddess of wisdom.)

Hm? What's that little thing you've all got there?

(Crap!)

... (←Doing her best doll impression)

Oh well, that's okay! It must be some kind of little doll that's all the rage now since you all have one, yes!

I just love girly things like that!

But I have to say, if you're going to carry around a doll like that, you might as well make it a cute one, yes? That thing looks just as repulsive and evil as Tezcatlipoca!

(Grr...! I'll remember that, you damn meathead of a goddess!)

Whew...

Okay then! I think it's time for sparring sessions, yes!

You need to learn how to whip up the crowd from the top rope, how to achieve beautiful tope angles, and above all, how to take a fall without hurting yourself!

Once I've pounded each and every one of those things into you, you'll all be upstanding lucha warriors, yes!

Looks like there isn't a single decent guard in this entire prison.

They should be like the guardians of the underworld, whose only role is solemnly watch over their charges. How contemptible...

Oh, oh! A big scuffle in an ostentatious ring like this, eh? Sounds like fun! I've always been a big fan of sumo and stuff!

I'll make my entrance from the Eastern Rising Sun Corner! Nobunaga, the Tope of the Warring States!

Make sure to use my new single "Atsumori on the Rocks" for my entry song!

Olé! You did very well for your first time! The future of lucha is looking as bright as the sun now, yes!

Okay everyone, see you tomorrow! I'll make sure you get plenty of protein in your dinner☆

Everyone who's injured, raise your hand. Actually, never mind; I've already spotted those of you with injuries. No injury can hide from THIS nurse.

Even a fall of only ten centimeters can be lethal. Attempting to climb a corner post while you are injured is the height of folly.

If I have to, I'll knock you down with my own signature Avalanche move to prevent you from getting on top.

All right, that's enough! All of you, return to your cells!

Those of you who refuse, I shall take that to mean you have special feelings for me, and want me to do unspeakable things to you. And that would make you quite the masochist indeed!

So basically, the only ones keeping tabs on us here are those three oddballs, and Medb, the fickle warden.

And thanks to my genius-level observation skills, I have already deduced the timing and pattern to their patrols.

There are indeed holes in their defenses. The question is...how do we take advantage of them?

Unfortunately, my lightning is not capable of making a hole in either the bars or the walls.

Not only does this place sap our strength, but its walls are thoroughly protected by some kind of Magecraft.

I know that prisoner said the Prison Field was the only thing keeping us here, but I guess it was too much to hope that it would otherwise be easy to get out of our cell...

Hey, good timing! I just got a transmission from Master on the outside.

He says this is no time to be feeling sorry for yourselves, and wants to know if there's anything he can do to help.

Good point... Getting an outside perspective from Master is important. He might even be able to come up with a fresh new angle.

Would you ask him if he has any ideas on how to escape?

That's the critical question on pretty much everyone's mind, isn't it. What do you think, Master?

？！

That's very specific. Did you see that in a movie? I'm not sure what that would accomplish, but I knew you would come up with something, Master.

Let's see what the others have to say.

So basically, he wants us to break out of here physically? I don't know if that'll work.

Still, if that's Master's idea, I can't just dismiss it out of hand.

I might as well start by seeing what's behind this plumbing with my Nobbu Toe. Boom!

...Well I'll be. I should have known I could do it.

Now the theory for how I broke out of Honnoji while it went up in flames makes sense.

Uh, uh! I made a hole!

Then I hereby dub this tunnel "Tom, Dick, and Harry." I shall keep the dirt we dig out in my pockets until I can dispose of it.

If only these weren't brand-name trousers... Alas.

...My oh my. This must be due to Master's good karma.

I shall have to give him a great big hug when I get back.

Umu, I knew Master would come through!

That advice was as kind and modest as the moon dew on a bay laurel, while also being exactly what we needed!

I shall have to give him a reward for this. Fujimaru, think of something you would like to see disappear.

Cleaning up is my specialty. No matter what, or who, it may be, I shall wipe it away with a single strike.

Just what I would expect from an ally of the pharaohs. I can't believe that a single piece of advice was enough to turn things around!

...! I-I can't believe it... We actually made a hole!

I guess this means that in spite of all their protections against Magecraft, they've neglected more mundane, physical maintenance here?

That was incredible, Master!

It seems to have worked in different spots for each teamfor some, it was under their beds, for others, behind the plumbingbut everyone still managed to make a hole they can use to escape from their cells!

？！

This still won't be enough to get everyone out of the prison at once, but it should let them all sneak under the floor.

I guess the next step...is to start digging.

Indeed. It's possible that the Prison Field doesn't reach under the ground.

That would seem to be the most promising weak spot in the barrier, according to that Scorpion woman.

It might take some time, but right now, that looks like our only shot.

？！

I figured you'd say that, and in fact, I've already got a lead. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything.

Look, you and Medb have already met, and she thinks you're one of Connacht's citizens, right?

And we know she's so confident in her Prison Field that she hasn't bothered to shore up security anywhere else.

On top of that, we're dealing with a prison, and thanks to our investigations, we know it has a system in place that we can use.

Put all that together, and the answer is obvious.

You're going to use that system to bring the racers what they need. Namely...

...Well, now I've seen everything. Come on, get up.

You have a visitor.

It looks like the Prison Field splits the visiting room right down the middle.

There's no possible way for the prisoners to climb over it. However...

There's also nothing to stop us from passing them a tool or two when a guard isn't looking, is there?

This is how Master will be helping you all to break out of here from now on.

...Okay, it looks like everything's set.

I can point you toward where your vehicles are being kept, so don't worry about getting lost.

There's only one thing you all have to think about.

Making your way through this cold earth...

...to reclaim the freedom taken from you so you can pursue your promised glory on the outside!

Now get out there and dig for all you're worth! The prison break race section of the Ishtar Cup has officially begun!