Chapter 8: Hellfire

I'm sorry... Leader...

Aaaaaaaah!

Leader! Saya!

The supportive tunnels are highly unstable. This dream will collapse any second. We have to go, now.

What is that thing?

Lord, I haven't seen a nightmare that big before. Is it like a king of nightmares or something?

We can't afford to engage it right now. Charlotte, do you have a way for us to escape?

Yes, but I need some time.

It's coming right for us!

Dammit, Victoria, buy us some time.

Ah! Guh...

Charlotte, hurry up! I can only keep this up for another minute.

That'll be enough.

Target, Muscipula...

Alright!

Hurry! Nina, take Leader and Eileen with you first. Victoria, bring Saya with you.

Hey, Saya, where are you going?

Arrrrrrgh!

The cube's barrier! It's been destroyed.

I-it's "him?" But this time...

Come back first, Nina. A new dream is forming around Saya. That's probably why this dream is collapsing.

But Saya! She-

Go first. I'll bring Saya back...

Leader, you're awake! You were unconscious for almost two hours...

How are you feeling? Does anywhere hurt?

They... didn't come back.

You're awake.

It's been 103 minutes since we've left the dream.

Nina and Eileen are still unconscious. Victoria is missing in action. As for Saya... She's become the new Nightmare Lord.

W-What happened...

Ughhaahh!

Hurry! Anna! Stop Victoria's bleeding!

Jeez, none of you take good care of yourselves! I, I...

Anna, bring Victoria in for some rest. She needs a careful checkup on her wounds.

Got it... Leader, get some rest too!

I have some bad news, everyone.

Mr. Berial!

This came in just now.

It seems like Saya has become the Nightmare Lord. It's a tricky situation.

This incident is on a scale far larger than the previous incidents. The other Radiant organizations are sure to respond as well.

The news is that SEED has sent out an elite team. Judging by SEED's typical playbook...

SEED Enforcers, mission confirmed.

Nightmare Lord classification: National threat.

Operation objective: Termination.

Just like Charlotte's calculations, the dream collapsed. This should be the new dream created by Saya as the Nightmare Lord.

But just what is this place? A burning... temple?

There's so many of those gigantic nightmares! Lord, it's like a sea of nightmares.

Leader, Nina, look over there.

Woah! That's a lot of dead Nightmares!

Riddled with bullets... Signs of cannon fire... stab wounds...

Judging from the remains, this must have been the doing of the elite forces of SEED: The Enforcers.

However, some of the Nightmares have been cut cleanly in two by a sword. That means...

That's right. Even though she's the Nightmare Lord, she's still fighting the Nightmares. I've never seen something like this before.

Saya, just what has happened...

We have to find Saya before this situation spirals out of control.

Even though the Nightmares in this incident are strong, but we don't need to move out, right?

Never underestimate the enemy. Especially when the Nightmare Lord this time is "him."

Interesting. I've never been this pumped during a mission!

Who's there?

Muscipula... here to take care of the incident.

Victoria. I almost opened fire.

So you're the elite team of SEED.

...

Are you here for Saya?

To be honest, Saya must have become a Nightmare Lord because of a special Lens. Muscipula will take responsibility for this.

We are on the same side here. Please stand down.

Saya? A Nightmare Lord? What a joke... You clearly have no idea what's going on.

Leave, and let us take care of it.

We can't leave! Our friend, Saya! She's in danger!

Nina?

...

I'm sorry, Muscipula. I understand how you must feel.

But the moment that Nightmares enter reality...

Beyond killing the Nightmare Lord...

There is nothing else to be done.

Please respect our responsibilities, and the innocent lives of those that would be affected by Nightmares...

How could we!

But...

Enough talk. Enforcers, expel them by force!

I, Saya, of the Murasaki family.

I call out your title: The Demon King.

From this moment forward, you are my lord, and your wish is my command.

May you bestow me with the power of the Radiants.

I, Saya Murasaki, I hereby swear my fealty to you, and bring unto your people glory and prosperity!

Oh, that's strong! Hey! You people! Why won't you listen!

You are no match for us. We've only been using a third of our power. Resistance is futile.

Please leave.

...

No! You'll kill Saya! She's innocent!

Innocent? Tell me who isn't innocent?

!

This isn't a game! People will die!

Vanessa...

Tens of thousands of people die every incident. Are they innocent? Aren't their families innocent?

My apologies. I understand how you feel... But even if we weren't here, she would still die sooner or later...

People that become Nightmare Lords don't need to die!

!

Wake her up?

What a joke. Do you take us for fools? That could never...

It's true! Leader has saved many people already. They were once Nightmare Lords, but now they are all fine!

...

Leader of Muscipula. So what you're saying is, the Nightmare Lord doesn't need to die?

I've had enough! Time to bring out the big guns...

Wait! Vanessa!

!

We always thought that killing the Nightmare Lords was the only way. But...

We can help you find Saya. I want to see this "waking up" that you speak of.

There is no way out of being a Nightmare Lord than death.

Why else would we be here...

Vanessa, you don't need to feel guilty over that anymore...

Lucy, Vanessa, I'm sorry...

...

I'll take responsibility for everything. If anything happens to me, report it all truthfully.

Alright, Betty. Since you've decided on it, even if the sky falls on us, I'll be by your side!

Yeah, Betty. We got your back.

You guys!

Alright...

Alright, Muscipula. Due to the special circumstances, we can work out a temporary truce.

That's great! SEED isn't so stubborn after all...

However!

If you can't solve this in time, we will have to terminate the Nightmare Lord in the name of the Enforcers.

That's great!

I just need to remind you of one thing.

The Nightmare Lord of this incident...

Is not Murasaki Saya.

? !

This extremely dangerous Nightmare incident...

which has caused the Bloomsea business tower to go up in flames...

This National threat level Nightmare Lord...