GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE story · Event stories
ARK RANGER II
14 scenes, 1,588 lines
1. Heroes Needed: A
103 lines
Hehehe...
Foolish Ark Rangers. You should know better than anyone that further resistance is futile.
But since you insist, I suppose I could play this little game with you until the end. If nothing else, it'll be entertaining.
So go on, struggle as much as you like.
Watching you suffer has become my favorite pastime.
Haha... hahaha!
The time is near.
Soon the Ark shall be in my hands, and all will bow before Darkflower, the Shadow Empress.
It makes me giddy just thinking about it.
Mwahaha... *cough, cough*
Cut, cut, cut!
You were doing so well, and then you just started coughing.
Agh, sorry. I'm not used to doing such a high-pitched laugh...
No worries, no worries. You're doing great.
Wanna go again? Let's get one more take of just the final laugh.
Whoa, there. I love the enthusiasm, but let's wait for the cameras to start rolling, yeah? Haha.
Oh, sorry...
You're good, you're good.
All right. Ready... action!
Mwahahaha!
Cut! Nice!
Oh, that was good?
It sure was. Nice work. We're gonna take a breather and then start with the next scene.
All right, everyone! Moving on to the next scene! Let's get ready!
It's gonna take a while to set up the shot, so feel free to head to the break room if you want, Moran.
Sure. See you in a bit.
*Swing*
Phew...
Hey there, Darkflower.
You done?
Yeah. I never knew laughing could be so hard.
You're doing good, though.
Agreed. Here, come have a seat.
Oh, thanks.
I've been meaning to ask you, how did you manage to land this role?
The competition must've been insane.
You didn't threaten your way in, did you?
As a member of Underworld Queen, you probably could've just walked in, cracked your knuckles, and...
If it's not something you can talk about, you don't have to tell us.
That being said, I do think it'd be better if we cleared the air.
It's always good to know about the people you work with.
So are you saying she should tell us, or she shouldn't?
Give the girl a break. If you keep grilling her like that, you're gonna get a beating.
If that does happen, you'll be the first to get one.
Whoa, scary.
Mustang? That's a surprise. He doesn't usually stuff like that.
She probably threatened him with a beating.
I didn't, and stop talking about beatings unless you really want one.
Do you all remember when those crystals started popping up around the Ark a little while back?
I got tangled up with the person behind the whole thing and ended up taking a lot of the blame.
I cleared my name, but there are still a bunch of people who don't believe me.
So in order to improve my image, I got cast as the villain in the Ark Rangers movie.
I see. Then it's damage control.
Hm... I guess you could say that.
It's a little weird, though, isn't it? People in those situations usually do volunteer work or something.
Huh...?
At any rate, that's how I ended up here.
... But I don't really know if I'm doing a good job. What do you all think?
Your acting isn't bad.
Really? I tried to imagine myself as Rosanna while doing it. Maybe I've got more talent than I thought.
Darkflower is the kind of villain who isn't particularly bright, but she doesn't realize it.
She's also petty, which is where you see her humanity. It makes her a good character.
It's a challenging role, but when you play it, it's like you're her. You've got talent.
That's... a compliment, right?
For sure. Huge compliment.
...
You know, I figured it'd be rude to show up without knowing about the show, so I watched the entire Ark Rangers series beforehand.
It's really good. I get why people like it so much.
Now that I'm in it, I'll do my best not to mess it up.
Sounds good. Can't wait to see what you do with the role.
I'm looking forward to working with you.
Me too.
By the way, Ark Ranger Black is a lion, Red is a bull, and Blue is a hawk, right?
Why not go with dinosaurs instead of run-of-the-mill animals? They're way stronger.
... What?
Run-of-the-mill... animals...?
Who says dinosaurs are stronger?
... Where did you read that?
Listen, Moran. Nothing beats the bull. One hit with those horns sends anything flying, dinosaur or otherwise.
And the hawk can attack from the air without getting attacked. No animal on the ground stands a chance against something it can't hit.
What are you talking about? Dinosaurs use lightning too. You think being in the air makes you safe?
Again, where in the world are you getting this information?
Argh, this is so frustrating.
You're telling me.
If you're gonna mediate, don't pick a side!
Ark Rangers! Darkflower! We're ready to start shooting!
Tch... You got off lucky this time.
We'll settle this later.
Hmph. I'm looking forward to it.
Or... how about we just drop it?
2. Heroes Needed: B
53 linesUp on the surface.
As much as I'd like to hurry to them, we can't just ignore this.
Ingrid is the one who reached out, right?
Yes, and if it's coming straight from Ingrid, it's likely not something trivial.
Hmm... I wonder what it is.
She said they suddenly lost contact with one of the surface recon teams, right?
And then the team sent to find them went missing, too.
Then the next one, and the one after that.
Right. She said it wasn't just that one area, either.
Meaning the same thing is happening all over the place.
Yeah.
She said there were some recent developments, though.
... Apparently, they're now able to search the place where the first team went missing.
Wait, so at first they couldn't search the place, but now they suddenly can?
Yeah. It's certainly suspicious.
What's going on...?
According to Ingrid, they found deceased Nikkes and inoperative Raptures in the area.
But there were no signs of a struggle, and neither the Nikkes nor the Raptures showed any external injuries.
... That makes no sense. Were they attacked by ghosts or something?
There's no such thing as ghosts, Anis. Probably.
Something about this isn't normal. We should go check it out.
One of the affected areas happens to be on the way to Eden. Let's go check it out.
Why us, though? There are plenty of others who could handle this.
Matis and Absolute, for example.
Absolute hasn't returned from the north yet. It seems their mission is taking longer than expected.
Meanwhile, Matis is on defense duty.
There have been a lot of incidents in the Ark lately, and the public is shaken.
Matis needs to show the people that they're protecting the Ark.
There are other squads, though.
Considering the severity and risk of this assignment, they must've decided we're the only ones for the job.
Plus, we're already on the surface.
Come to think of it, there aren't really that many squads that specialize in combat.
That's true. Up until now, there was no need for it.
Raptures kept away from the Ark, and humanity had no intention of leaving it.
Focusing on internal stability was the main priority.
Now, though...
With a full-scale war on the horizon, it's essential to have squads specifically for combat.
A squad with a bit of showmanship wouldn't hurt, either, to help boost morale inside the Ark.
Well then, I guess we'll have to fight with a little more flair from now on.
If we get any flashier than we already are, we're gonna blind whoever sees us.
... Are we considered part of the Ark's military forces?
Honestly, it's a bit ambiguous.
It may be odd for me to be the one to say this, but we hold significant influence over both the Ark and the surface.
Realistically, it would be difficult for us to exert any greater influence than we already do.
All of the Big Three are working to develop next-generation combat squads,
but have yet to find much success.
Creating a squad that excels at combat while also serving as a public symbol is no easy endeavor.
...
In other words, what we need is heroes.
3. A Familiar Scent: A
112 linesWe've arrived at the coordinates Ingrid sent.
... There's the crater mentioned in her report,
along with the Nikkes and Raptures.
I look out over the wasteland.
There's a shallow crater about thirty meters in diameter.
And about twenty meters away from that,
there are the bodies of Nikkes and Raptures strewn about, along with some deer.
They're all motionless.
Something doesn't feel right about this...
Well, let's go check it out.
I'll go. You stay here, Commander, just in case.
I'll go. I'm the healthiest one here.
If anything happens, I'd be in the least danger of anyone here. I am, after all, Neo-Neon!
... That's actually a good point. Go ahead.
Sure thing.
Neon starts walking. After a while, she reaches the spot where the Nikkes and Raptures are lying.
She crouches down and begins checking something.
Then she suddenly stops moving.
Wh-what's she doing? Why's she just standing there?
Neon, report. What do you see...?
Everyone! Get away from here!
...?
Neon collapses to the ground with a thud,
then goes still.
Neon!
Seven Dwarves Zero! Activate!
Rapi activates Seven Dwarves Zero, grabs me and Anis, and pulls us back.
The wind slams against my face.
Carried with it is a faint, mysterious scent that tickles my nostrils.
This scent...
I've smelled it before...
But from where?
...
Oh, I remember now.
It's from...
...der! Commander!
He's not waking up! Commander! Commander!
My body feels like it's shaking.
My head hurts. I'm dizzy. Stop.
I slowly open my eyes.
Rapi is shaking me desperately.
There's a pain in my chest.
Commander! Commander!
... She's not shaking me.
She's performing CPR.
*Gasp*
My lungs frantically pull in air.
As my mind clears, a sharp pain explodes in my chest.
*Cough, cough* Ahem...!
Commander!
Oh, I'm so glad...! I-I thought you were really dead...!
Wh-what... happened...?
I sit up.
I feel something dry and rough on my chin and hands.
I look down at my hands.
... There's dried blood on them.
Is this... my blood?
Yes...
You coughed up blood and lost consciousness.
Your heart had stopped, so I first tried using a defibrillator, then performed CPR.
I did it so that no one else came into contact with your blood. You don't need to worry about Anis or Neon.
...
I look at Rapi and Anis. Their expressions shift from fear to relief.
Where is Neon?
I'm... over here...
Neon weakly raises her hand as she leans against a rock.
It's okay. I'm just glad you're safe.
...
There are fallen Nikkes and Raptures lying scattered around the crater.
Wild animals too.
Neon collapsed the moment she approached, and I started coughing up blood the moment I breathed in that scent.
I "died" and came back. If not for the special gene in my blood, I'd just be dead.
... Rapi.
Not just "likely." When I approached, all kinds of warning alerts popped up.
I'm certain it's a chemical weapon.
Luckily, the chemical concentration was already fairly low.
I only blacked out for a moment thanks to how healthy I am,
but if Rapi or Anis had been exposed, it would've been much worse for them.
Just look at what a tiny bit of exposure did to you, Master.
... I'm sorry. I should have noticed sooner.
Raptures have never used chemical weapons before. The thought simply didn't occur to me.
It's okay. Everyone's safe. Don't blame yourself.
Okay, so this crater was probably caused by something falling from the sky, right?
Let's say it's a bomb. It lands, explodes, and releases chemicals into the surrounding area.
Time passes, and eventually the concentration thins out so that someone's able to come investigate.
... And up until now, it's been too diluted for anyone to figure out actually what happened.
...
When I was exposed to the chemical, it had a scent that I recognized.
A scent...?
Yeah.
... It had the exact same scent as what Harran used to use.
Let's report this to the Ark for now. It's not something we can deal with on our own.
I look where Neon is pointing.
Far away, up in the sky,
a massive cylindrical object is hurling towards the surface.
After a few moments, it disappears behind a mountain range.
A small flash briefly lights up the sky behind the mountains.
... Looks like that's what we're dealing with here.
Yeah, that pretty much confirms what we were thinking.
But why did it go over there...?
4. A Familiar Scent: B
69 linesFollowing the battle with Sixo, Enikk has been dedicating all available resources to repairing the damaged Ark.
Her attention has largely been directed to maximizing efficiency due to the dramatically reduced energy output from the Ark's power source.
As a result, surface surveillance has been relatively neglected.
Enikk detects the anomaly immediately after the explosion.
The object fell from a high altitude, detonating upon impact and generating a shockwave.
Enikk initiates regional scans after detecting the shockwave, then deploys a large number of drones to investigate the disturbance.
The explosion occurred approximately eight kilometers from the Ark.
The drones Enikk sent quickly arrive at the location.
However, the footage they transmit reveals nothing of particular note.
There are no anomalies other than a shallow, newly formed crater.
Just as Enikk is about to log it as the result of a misfired missile from a Tyrant-class Rapture,
she receives a transmission from the Counters.
Chemical weapons.
Upon hearing the term, Enikk immediately withdraws all resources allocated to repairing the Ark and begins calculating.
All relevant variables are factored into the analysis: wind direction, velocity, the concentration and mass of the chemical agent... all of it.
She concludes that trace amounts could potentially enter the Ark through a surface elevator.
Enikk immediately seals off the elevator and the entire area within a two-kilometer radius.
She uses concrete walls extending to the Ark's ceiling to create an airtight seal.
She also establishes a monitoring system to observe all activity within the sealed area.
As a precaution, she deploys the Blaze Out Squad to the area's outer perimeter. Then she watches.
Twenty minutes later, the 2,048 humans and 138 Nikkes who were sealed inside lose their lives.
The humans die after coughing up blood, whereas the Nikkes die with no outward symptoms.
Enikk utilizes all available means to investigate the affected area.
She identifies the composition of the chemical agent.
The substance reacts with humans' blood, causing it to boil, and with Nikkes' cores, causing them to shut down.
It cannot be detected through conventional visual means.
Its only distinguishing trait is a unique scent.
After cordoning off an additional two-kilometer area centered around the site,
Enikk sends in the Blaze Out Squad.
They are tasked with sterilizing the biohazardous zone using ultrahigh-temperature flames,
in accordance with their duty as part of the Ark Biological Hazard Control Center. Then, four hours after the Blaze Out Squad is deployed,
the region is erased from the Ark's map data.
... That's everything that's happened so far.
I see... Thanks.
I rechecked the locations of the craters after hearing your report.
There have been a total of five impact points so far,
and I've confirmed they are getting closer to the Ark with each strike.
The enemy's margin of error is clearly shrinking.
The next one will likely be directly targeted at the Ark.
... And as things stand, the Ark has no way to stop it.
Enikk is working with Missilis to develop a neutralizing agent, but the enemy's not going to wait for us to finish before attacking.
Is interception an option?
... At the moment, it wouldn't be easy.
What about that thing I used before, that giant particle gun thingamajig?
The Ark's power output is too low right now. We can't use it.
Oh...
The missile's going to be descending from an extremely high altitude.
Given that the Ark has no way to secure air superiority, intercepting it would prove to be tricky.
I can go up with Seven Dwarves Zero and try to shoot it down.
Don't be ridiculous.
Sorry, I wasn't being serious.
As I was saying, intercepting it may be tricky, but not impossible with Matis.
Deploying the Admire is also a possibility, albeit not an efficient one. Still, we're not without options.
I've got something else in mind, as well. I'd like you all to head to the surface and...
*Rumble, rumble*
The ground suddenly begins to tremble.
Master! Raptures!
What is that...?
I look in the direction Neon is pointing.
Swarms of Raptures are moving forward, kicking up clouds of dust.
They're heading for the Ark!
What?!
Instructor! The enemy must've locked onto the Ark!
They'll be launching the next missile any minute!
Argh...! Are they trying to use Raptures to stop us from intercepting it?!
I'm deploying forces from the Ark! Rendezvous with them as soon as possible!
Roger that!
If something like that detonates above the Ark,
the entire Ark is done for!
5. A Familiar Discomfort: A
42 lines
...
...
They're marching straight toward the Ark. Bold move for a bunch of Raptures.
The Ark's location must've been compromised a long time ago.
This is exactly why you don't go around just handing out your address.
Exactly. People these days have zero sense of caution.
I doubt those Raptures are the main threat.
Yeah. The chemical weapon's the real issue.
If we can't stop it from dropping down, the Ark's finished.
...
Even if we do intercept it, any leakage could still be dangerous.
Ugh, those cowards!
Yeah. It makes you wonder, though...
If they knew where we were, there's no reason they couldn't have done this before.
It's not like the Ark moves around or anything.
I can't think of any explanation other than they've just been holding back.
Hmph! I'll show them who's been going easy on who.
... The Queen.
This isn't good. They're not going to stop at one missile.
They're going to continue sieging the Ark. They're declaring war.
So what? All we have to do is crush them all, and that's the end of it.
They can send as big a swarm as they want. It changes nothing.
Agreed! A hero never yields, no matter the odds!
Matis shall defeat any evil forces that assault the Ark!
*Rumble, rumble*
The Rapture swarm is closing in. The vibrations intensify.
Five minutes until they're in range.
We also need to intercept the chemical weapon, so don't burn all your energy in the battle.
How do you expect us to win unless we go all out? If I end up losing because I have to hold back, I'll be so upset. It'll keep me up at night.
Counters will be joining us, so pace yourselves. Got it?
Understood! I'll wipe them all out!
... You did hear the part about pacing yourself, right?
Of course! I'll wipe them all out!
Please, just listen for once in your life. Okay?
You never listen to others! Reflect on yourself as a hero!
Exactly. I'm glad at least you're on my side, Drake.
Of course, that doesn't mean I won't wipe them all out.
... Do whatever you want. Ugh.
6. A Familiar Discomfort: B
84 linesMatis!
Hey there, Birdie!
Move faster next time, Moron! I missed you!
Long time no see, Cutey.
What's the situation?
The Raptures are continuing to advance, and we don't know when the missile's coming.
Any reinforcements from the Ark?
They're on their way, but it's taking them time to gear up.
So how long do we have to hold our position?
Until Ingrid contacts us, I guess?
Target descending! Prepare to intercept!
Heh. Straight to the final phase, I see.
Everyone looks up at the sky.
The missile pierces through the clouds.
All right. Commence interception in ten seconds!
Here we go! Matis Buster!
Get ready!
We'll cover you!
Roger that!
Agh, I should've charged up before coming!
I charged my firepower gauge up before we got here!
Matis moves into position to intercept the incoming missile.
We surround Matis and engage the Raptures coming from all directions.
Moments later...
Electric power, full charge!
Overdrive!
Matis Buster!
*Booooom!*
A blinding flash erupts.
Matis's attack strikes the descending missile with perfect precision.
A giant explosion colors the sky.
Hahaha! Behold the heroic power of Matis!
Of course, 33.4% of it is villain power!
... It'll never stop being impressive.
... That much firepower from one squad just shouldn't be possible.
We're not really ones to talk anymore, are we?
Oh yeah! We're at about the same level now, huh?
You bet.
Ingrid, what of the target?
Still confirming. It appears to have been shot down, but...
...
It's... repairing itself?
... What?
The target has repaired itself and is continuing its descent!
How is that even possible?!
Oh...! Nanomachines!
Does that mean... it's a Heretic?!
!!
Stop it!
Counters! Assist in intercepting!
*Rumble*
The descending missile begins to change shape.
Its flat surface writhes,
and immediately a spike thrusts downward.
It changed into... a drill?
It's going to break its way in!
We have to stop it! Now!
Fiiiirepoooower!
Give it everything you've got!
All attacks converge on the descending weapon,
but it rapidly accelerates,
and detonates just as it slams into the ground.
Agh... No...!
As the smoke clears,
a gaping black hole lies before us.
A hole leading to somewhere unmistakable.
The Ark... has been breached...!
The Raptures are going in!
... What?
Raptures begin pouring into the gaping hole.
Argh!
Stop them!
Not again! Not again!
Ingrid! Raptures are entering the Ark!
I know! We'll handle the ones that got in!
You block as many as you can from entering!
Roger that!
Elsewhere, while on a break...
Ark Ranger Black is reviewing a combat manual.
She lifts her head and looks up.
It's a sensation she's felt before.
A familiar yet deeply unpleasant tremor.
7. Fakes
207 linesAnother hole has been torn open in the Dome of Eternity.
Enikk is able to respond quickly thanks to her prior experience.
She calculates where the Raptures will land and seals off the area within a four-kilometer radius.
As she does, she imposes a media blackout.
She deploys optical camouflage developed by Eden and conceals both the breach in the Dome and the sealed area.
Civilians know there's a disturbance within the sealed area,
but have no way of knowing what's causing it.
Enikk deploys all nearby Nikkes and unmanned units.
The Raptures that entered the Ark are immediately funneled into a confined zone.
Ultimate attack! Ark Black Meteor!
*Boom!*
Ark Ranger Black crushes a Rapture's core with her kick.
The Rapture collapses in silence.
Two more approach, shaking the ground with their steps.
Ark Blaster! Activate!
Mechanical clicks ring through the air,
as the device on Ark Ranger Black's right arm changes shape.
Crying Black! Fire!
She thrusts her arm forward and a barrage of gunfire erupts.
*Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!*
Both Raptures detonate in small explosions and tumble to the ground.
... Victory.
Wait, since when can you take down Raptures like that?
Are those live rounds you're using?
My body and weapon systems are all combat-grade.
I've honed myself, both to be the perfect clown...
and to step out beyond the screen...
...
Hyaaaah!
*Boom!*
Moran sends a Rapture reeling with a roundhouse kick,
and Ark Ranger Black fires at its core.
The Rapture collapses, and for a brief moment, the surroundings fall silent.
Ugh! Why didn't I bring my weapon?!
... I'm amazed you can fight Raptures without one.
Well, I've got experience.
Besides, you're really impressive yourself, flying around like that with a combat-grade body and actual weapons.
You could do it too. I'll teach you a few tricks if you're interested.
Sounds good, but let's deal with these guys first.
Yeah. Let's do this.
Moran and Ark Ranger Black charge forward.
Ark Rangers Red and Blue stand dumbstruck for a moment, then follow after them.
The situation quickly begins to settle.
Having learned from the previous attacks on the Ark, Enikk has the situation under complete control.
Not a single Rapture escapes the containment zone, and the deployed Nikkes are delivering results.
Moran and Ark Ranger Black take down every Rapture in sight,
while Ark Rangers Red and Blue focus on rescuing trapped civilians.
After that continues for some time,
Ark Ranger Black notices the surroundings have grown quiet.
... I think that's all of them.
Any casualties?
None from what we saw.
Phew... Everyone did great. What a mess, and right in the middle of filming.
Ark Ranger Black looks down at her hands.
... Hope.
Suddenly she hears something.
The sound of someone running at full speed. She lifts her head.
She sees Hope running.
Behind him, a Rapture gives chase.
Ark Ranger Black shuts her eyes tight and shakes her head hard.
She must be seeing things.
She opens her eyes again.
Hope is still running, and the Rapture is still chasing him.
Rapture!
Let's go!
Hey! Snap out of it!
Ark Ranger Black starts running and everyone follows behind her.
A frightened boy comes into her view, together with a Rapture standing in front of him.
It's like the nightmare from before is happening all over again.
She remembers back to that time, back to when she pompously believed she could do anything.
But... this time will be different!
Ark Ranger Black once again steps in front of the boy.
... I'm here, kid.
Ark Ranger... Black...
*Rat-a-tat-tat-tat*
The Rapture fires a barrage of bullets.
Ark Ranger Black hunches down and blocks every shot with her body.
Parts of her body shatter and splinter, but she does not fall.
Black!
...!
The boy looks up at her.
Ark Ranger Black unleashes an Ark Black Meteor right onto the Rapture's weak spot.
Its core shatters with a sharp crack, and the Rapture falls silent.
The boy watches wide-eyed as the battered hero walks toward him.
When Ark Ranger Black reaches him, she kneels down on one knee.
... You're not Hope, are you?
... No, I'm not.
I'm Luke. Hope was my twin brother.
... I see.
I wanted to meet you so I could ask you something.
Why didn't you save Hope, like you just saved me?
What'd you say...? What kind of a question is that?!
If you're this strong, why didn't you save Hope?
Hey, kid! Do you have any idea...!
Red.
But Black...!
Hope really liked the Ark Rangers.
I never really understood what he found so fun about a fake TV show.
But he believed the Ark Rangers were real.
He always said that if he was ever in danger, they would come and save him.
I knew you were all fakes, though.
If you were real heroes, you would've saved Hope.
Then who do you think just saved you?!
Red!
Hey, kid! Take a good look! Look at the shape she's in!
She practically died saving you, so what's your problem?!
Why didn't you save Hope...?
I bet he was waiting for you, for the Ark Rangers.
Right? So why didn't you save him?
If you're not strong, then don't call yourself a hero.
Ark Ranger Black takes out something from her pocket:
Hope's trading card, the plastic case now cracked.
I don't need it!
Luke swings at the card and sends it tumbling across the ground.
It's stupid! Everything about the Ark Rangers is so stupid!
What do you even do?! You just wear ridiculous outfits and shout out stupid attack names!
You're not even real heroes! You should be embarrassed!
You couldn't even save Hope! How can you call yourselves heroes?!
You're just a bunch of fakes!
Luke walks away.
What? No. Why should we escort someone home who hates us?
Come on. He's just a kid.
The answer's still no.
I don't want to either.
... All right. Sorry.
It's okay. I know all too well what it feels like to be treated unfairly.
Moran starts moving.
She picks up the trading card lying on the ground and tucks it into her clothes.
Then she runs after Luke.
Red and Blue help Black up, propping her up on either side.
... You okay?
Yeah, are you all right?
All right. That wraps that up.
... They'll be back, though.
For sure. This was all about making a breach. They didn't even detonate any chemical weapons.
Next time, I'm sure they'll try to finish things off.
Meaning they're going to try to wipe out the entire Ark.
Wipe us all out...?
Well, we could be wrong. I think it's too early to jump to conclusions.
Exactly. They might've been so scared by our show of strength that they don't come near us again.
I somehow doubt that.
The earlier missile strikes were part of a calibration process to more precisely target the Ark.
Once the enemy determined they could reliably hit the Ark, they sent down a weapon to create a breach.
Then they pushed Raptures through that breach, but...
There weren't that many Raptures, and not many high-tier ones either.
That's true. If their goal was to seize the Ark by breaching it, they would've launched a larger offensive.
Sending Raptures in was likely a distraction to conceal their true intent.
Yeah. If they've got chemical weapons, why make a hole and then send Raptures through? It doesn't make sense.
Their real objective must've been to make a hole and then detonate one or more of those chemical weapons above it.
That makes sense. With a hole that big, whatever chemicals they're using would go right in.
Which means before long, there will be more Raptures...
And a chemical attack.
Exactly. And we're stuck just waiting here for it.
The Ark really can't catch a break, can it?
No kidding... This is super scary. I'm worried.
No problème, mes amis! We have une new opération waiting for us!
Gah! You scared me!
Mustang, did you manage to get things sorted out over there?
Oui! The Ark Rangers are heading à la surface.
... What?
For the détails, read le document d'opération!
Just hold on a second. Why are the Ark Rangers...
Au revoir!
*Beep*
Sounds like Mustang left. Thank goodness. That man is far too loud.
Instructor.
Counters, proceed immediately to the coordinates I'm about to transmit.
Hold your position there until you receive further instructions.
A detailed briefing will be delivered by the operation leader.
Move out at once. Time is of the essence. Over and out.
*Beep*
...
...
...
What is going on...?
... Unbelievable. I can't believe an operation like that was actually approved.
It can only signifier one thing: everyone understands la gravité de la situation in the Ark.
Here in the Ark, bad news is abondant.
With the Third Surface Reclamation War à l'horizon, we have to maintenir our momentum.
Un concert organisé by Tetra is not enough to dispel the fear that grips la population at this moment.
That may be true,
but turning a Rapture invasion into a TV show is far too risky.
If this fails, we'll lose more than we could gain if it doesn't.
Do not worry! This will be un succès! We will not fail...
because the Ark has les héros!
8. Operation Crimson Sky: A
110 linesFoolish Ark dwellers,
did you enjoy my little gift?
That was only the beginning.
Soon I will launch another large-scale assault on the Ark.
And this time none of you will survive.
Now spend what little time you have left trembling in fear,
for that is my greatest pleasure.
You won't be able to stop it this time, you detestable Ark Rangers.
Haha... haha...
Mwahahaha!
ARK RANGERS - THE MOVIE -
CRIMSON SKY
*Cough, cough* Ugh, this laugh is seriously killing me.
Nice! That was perfect!
Really? Hehe.
...
...
Hey, what's with you guys? Are you nervous?
Nervous doesn't begin to describe it.
Something about this doesn't feel right.
Right? I feel the same way.
Will this operation really be... okay...?
Of course!
... Of course not.
Twenty minutes earlier...
Une énorme bomb will be dropped onto the Ark.
En plus there will be many, many Raptures.
Matis and the Counters les combattent en surface, but l'ennemi outnumbers them.
That is why we need your aide, Ark Rangers.
... What?
... Huh?
Les héros of the Ark, the Ark Rangers, will save the Ark from the Rapture assault!
And this entire processus will be transformé into a TV show, broadcast in real time across the Ark.
The title will be... Ark Rangers The Movie: Crimson Sky!
The Rapture assault will be attribué to the villain Darkflower, interprété by Moran.
The Ark Rangers will stand against her and claim une victoire glorieuse!
You will save the Ark and bring la paix of mind to all its habitants!
We will transformerons real fear into imagined entertainment!
That is Operation Crimson Sky!
What... are you talking about? Our squad isn't designed for combat.
We're just Nikkes making a TV show.
Oh, are you préoccupe about la power? No need to worry!
*Clap, clap*
As soon as Mustang claps his hands, the maintenance deck lights up,
revealing the imposing figure of Ark Leon, Ark Ranger Black's Ark Machine.
All aboard the Ark Machine!
There's no way that thing actually moves...
... Like I said before, it really does move.
...
Are we really allowed to ride that, though?
Oui.
Certainement, mes héros.
Did you just call us... heroes...? Us?
You already have the esprits de héros.
All of les récentes attaques on the Ark with the Raptures and les crystals,
you've been there for all of it.
And in every circonstances, you did all you could to help le peuple.
Non?
What else would you call that, other than les héros?
Mon rôle est to grant power to those deserving, who possèdent such qualités héroïques.
I know just how dangereux it is when une personne who is unworthy wields great power.
That is not you, non. You are more than qualifiés to wield such power.
...
...
B-but... let's say it really does move. There's no way it can actually fight, right?
*Clap, clap*
Mustang claps again, and someone walks in.
H-hello...
... Trony?
The hero of Ark...
Wh-what? Don't be ridiculous...
Trony, Missilis's top mechanic, will customize the Ark Machine for use in real combat.
Of course, les élites de Tetra et Elysion will be joining as well.
The Ark Machine isn't built pour le combat? Non, non! That is a thing of the past now.
Wh-when I first heard the plan, it sounded completely ridiculous...
B-but if we're doing this, I wanted to be the one to do it.
I couldn't resist being part of the Ark Rangers' biggest performance yet...
... Thank you, Trony.
N-no, thank you. Being able to modify a real-life Ark Machine, one that's not just a model, is such an honor!
No need to thank me. The honor is mine, getting help from the hero of the Ark.
Oh, b-but the honor really is all mine...
That's kind of you, but really the honor is...
N-no, I must insist...
Yes, but I too insist...
... While we let them sort that out, I want to ask something.
There's no way people won't see through this whole thing. Do you really think it's going to work?
Oh? That is what you think?
Me and Tetra,
as well as le Central Government,
are working together to transformer le faux into something real, et vice versa.
Do you really think we are so incapables?
...
What sort of scheme is this, Mustang?
Scheme? Non, this is nothing like that.
Why us? There are plenty of other Nikkes you could use.
But those who can become symbols are rare, n'est-ce pas?
The Ark needs héros.
More héros than we have now.
...
...
Of course, Ark Lander and Ark Falcon will be modifiés as well.
Red, Blue.
The Ark Rangers are héros who inspirent le courage in people.
Don't forget that.
9. Operation Crimson Sky: B
90 linesThese are the coordinates Ingrid sent.
... But there's nothing here.
Wait, maybe she sent us here as a prank.
No, she's not the type to play jokes on people. She's pretty dull.
... Look at what?
Here. The ground.
Anis rubs the ground with her foot.
Ew, what're you doing? Did you just spit on the ground, and now you want us to watch you rub it in the dirt?
What? No! Where'd you even get that idea?!
I've heard of a game where you draw pictures in the dirt.
While I am curious to try it one day, this doesn't seem like the right time for it.
... Okay, I get it. I shouldn't have responded to Neon in the first place, and that's on me.
Just look here.
Gross. I'd really rather not look at anything involving spit.
It doesn't really look like a picture of anything. Are you sure you're done drawing?
... Commander.
... Sure, I'll take a look if they won't.
I examine the ground Anis rubbed.
There's something beneath the soil.
It looks like... a metal plate.
A metal plate?
Looks like a teppanyaki grill... Wait, are you gonna grill us some food? Here? That'd be bold.
I guess I'll take some Nutrium.
... There appears to be some kind of facility beneath us.
Yeah.
Probably a barbecue restaurant, hehe.
Heheh. Okay, that was actually kind of funny.
You two having fun?
The reason Ingrid sent us here is probably because of whatever's down there.
*Rumble, rumble*
The ground trembles, and a loud noise reverberates.
What was that...?
I think the ground's moving.
Maybe the barbecue owner got annoyed by all the noise and is coming out to scold us.
Ooh, I bet they'll be mad about Anis spitting too.
I didn't spit! Can we drop the barbecue stuff already?
We should get out of here.
The ground is opening up.
Enough with the barbecue jokes!
Hey there, Captain! ♥
Hi!
Hello.
... Huh?
The members of Matis look out at the incoming surge of Raptures on the horizon.
Ugh, there's so many of them...
Yeah. It's been a while since we've seen a swarm that size.
You scared?
Haha! No way! Why, are you scared, villain?
A little bit, yeah.
Just a little scared, though, like when you get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Oh, okay. I get it. You know there's nothing to be afraid of, but it's still a little scary.
You get me, hero. I think you and I could make a great team.
Haha. As they say, allies are simply those who share your same fears!
Can you two focus for a second?
As you can see, there are a lot of Raptures.
It's nothing we can't handle, but we'll still need to give it everything we've got.
And we don't know when that Heretic missile will come down from above.
Look at this!
Wh-what is that?!
It's an electric dinosaur!
Whoa! Impressive! It looks super realistic!
Ugh...! Agghhh...! Grrrrr...!
You know what sounds good for lunch? Omurice.
Okay. Look, we've got to intercept that Heretic missile no matter what.
If that thing goes off, the Ark is finished.
We're going to have to conserve our energy while also fighting at full strength. Got it?
What does that even mean? It's like saying we need to eat the main dish and all the sides, too.
Is that supposed to be an analogy?
Are we getting any support from the Ark?
They said they'll be sending some up.
With this many Raptures, though, it's hard to say how much it'll actually help.
What happens if we lose?
Then it's all over. We don't get another chance.
Exactly. If that many Raptures make it into the Ark,
or if the chemical weapon detonates above the Ark,
or if we make even one small misstep, the Ark is done for.
Hmph. This is our last chance, huh? I like our odds.
The Matis Squad charges toward the enemy lines.
10. The Power of Courage: A
132 linesAll joint actuator tests are complete. Hydraulic systems are nominal.
Frame check, clear.
Response sync variance is within 0.02 seconds. Good.
Ark energy is stable.
Ark Leon's engines are ready for ignition.
Whoa... It's incredible...!
Err, ahem!
Engine ignition complete. All systems confirmed to be getting power.
Gyro sensor calibration complete. Balance is good.
Ark Leon, all systems go.
Ready for deployment at any time.
Très bien. Activate the catapult.
Roger. Initiating deployment sequence for the Ark Machine elevator.
Safety locks disengaged. Route confirmed.
No obstructions detected. Estimated time to surface is three hundred seconds.
Ready for... hehe... ready for deployment at any time.
Black Ark Ranger.
Are you ready?
Of course.
D'accord!
Go, Ark Leon!
Ark Leon! Ark Ranger Black! Deploying!
*Rumble*
The elevator carrying the black colossus rises.
Watching the scene, Trony is overcome with a sense of euphoria.
Wow... Wow...! Wow!
You may want to save your tears for later, non?
It would be a shame to have none left to shed at the moment de la victoire.
R-right.
...
Th-thank you so much...
T-to think that someone like me, from Missilis, would get to work on an Ark Machine... a real Ark Machine! It still feels like a dream.
A-and to even get to do the launch sequence!
Agh! I should've updated my will...!
Haha, fulfilling one's dream is très important.
Er... there is something I've been wondering, though.
Allez, do tell.
H-how did you get Enikk to approve the construction of an Ark Machine?
N-not that I want to build one myself, of course. I'm just curious...
No autorisation was granted.
... Huh?
I made it en secret.
Y-you built something like that without Enikk's approval?! Th-that's bad, isn't it...?
Haha! If she'd known in advance, it wouldn't be une surprise!
Absolument non! To hide an ally's contributions to such une héroïque pursuit would be unthinkable!
Ah... Ahhh...
...
...
Let's see... Looks like the camera drone went up just fine.
You guys want to see Ark Leon in action?
Oh... yeah.
Sure... okay.
...
You want to go up there with her too, don't you?
... No. I'm not strong like her.
I didn't work as hard as she did, and...
... I don't have her courage.
...
You know...
I'm not trying to brag, but I used to be a very successful animation director.
Yeah, I know.
Do you know why I decided to direct the Ark Rangers movie?
The reason's really simple.
Because I just love the Ark Rangers that much.
I went to Mustang and practically begged him for the job.
I never thought I'd get the gig because I had no experience with superhero shows, but here we are.
Yeah... Mustang's a sucker when it comes to a person's passion.
Now, why do you think I like the Ark Rangers?
*Tap*
The director lightly taps his chest with his fist.
Because it gives you courage.
The kind of courage that makes you feel like you can do anything.
That's why I like it so much.
...
Now then, let's see how that footage is coming along...
The director awkwardly glances at his phone and leaves.
Ark Rangers Red and Blue quietly stare at the large screen on set.
*Thud!*
After a rapid ascent, the elevator comes to a stop.
Ark Ranger Black looks straight ahead.
She looks at the surface beyond the screen.
... So this is the surface.
*Clank*
Ark Leon takes a step forward.
... It's moving. It really can move.
She sees the area around her packed with Raptures.
There is a giant hole in the ground,
and Matis holding the line in front of it.
... Let's go, Ark Leon.
Ark Leon takes another step forward.
Its pace quickens,
and soon it begins to run.
As Matis continues to engage the Raptures, they look up and wonder if they're all seeing the same illusion.
A black colossus is fighting the Raptures.
...
...
...
Matis only snaps out of their disbelief when the colossus kicks a Rapture and sends it crashing down right in front of them.
What in the world is that?
Technically, we're robots too in a certain sense.
Did Missilis build that...? No, there's no way Missilis would do something so insane.
Then Elysion? No... They wouldn't build a bipedal combat unit. A tank, maybe, but not something like that.
Tetra... probably doesn't have the tech.
What is that thing...?
...!
Ark Ranger Black...? As in *the* Ark Ranger Black?
Those jerks who harass villains every chance they get? I don't like them!
I will be joining Operation Crimson Sky with Ark Leon.
It's an honor to fight alongside the heroes I've always admired.
I'll do my best not to get in your way.
Huh... I don't know how Tetra managed to build something like that, but thanks for coming.
...
If you're thinking of shouting or doing anything else that would startle me, please don't.
We're counting on you, Ark Ranger.
From one hero to another, let's give it everything we've got.
You bet.
... What happened to you? Did you get hit in the head or something?
I'd kindly ask that you refrain from any remarks unbecoming of a hero.
Oh, I see. So now you're trying to act cool in front of another hero?
Get lost! We don't need any more heroes here! What we need is more villains!
You definitely sustained a head injury at some point. We just don't know when...
Ark Leon and Matis begin their battle against the incoming wave of Raptures.
11. The Power of Courage: B
170 linesMoran grabs the boy by his collar.
Gotcha.
Agh!
I noticed there was someone hanging around the set for a while now.
Who are you? What are you doing here?
...
Wait, aren't you the kid I walked home before?
L-let go of me!
Not gonna happen. What are you doing back here, anyway? I thought you hated the Ark Rangers.
You planning on sabotaging our shoot?
I'm not, so let go!
Say please.
...
Say it.
P-please let go.
There you go.
Moran releases Luke's collar.
Again, why are you hanging around here? This is supposed to be a closed set.
...
...
Fine then. I'll call the cops.
I-I came to see for myself how fake the Ark Rangers are.
You're kidding, right? A kid like you doesn't go through all this trouble just for that.
Be honest. Why are you here?
...
Did you come to apologize?
... No.
Hmm...
There's a commotion in one corner of the set.
Tense cries and loud sighs echo through the set.
Looks like something happened.
You stay here, kid. Don't move a...
On second thought, come with me. You'll get in trouble if someone spots you wandering around alone.
If anyone asks, just say you're, uh... my little brother, okay?
...
It's Ark Leon...!
... Wait, how did you get in here?
...
Uh, I'll explain later. What happened?
Ark Ranger Red silently raises her hand and gestures forward.
...!
On the large screen monitoring the surface,
Ark Leon is shown being pushed back by the incoming Raptures.
Argh...!
Check Ark Leon's status!
Its output is dropping! It's taken too much damage!
Hm... It's time to fall back...
No! I can't!
Matis is fighting off a lot of the Raptures, but there are too many of them!
If I retreat now, the Raptures will make it into the Ark!
I'm going stop them, even if it kills me!
I won't let anyone die again!
*Boom!*
Ark Leon begins its counterattack.
...
...
...
Moran turns her head and looks at Luke.
Luke stands there, fists clenched, unable to take his eyes off the screen.
Moran approaches him quietly.
So? What do you think?
... It's just all fake anyway.
You think that's fake?
The way she shouts as she's fighting with everything she's got... Does that seem fake to you?
When she shielded you from that Rapture that attacked,
did all those bullet holes in her look fake?
She couldn't save Hope.
If she were a real hero, she would've saved him.
... Even real heroes can fail. You know that.
...
*Boom!*
Ark Leon falls after being struck by a Rapture attack.
It doesn't get back up.
Urgh!
Black!
No...!
*Huff... huff...*
...
Looks like... that's it for me... Guess I wasn't a real hero... after all...
Hope... I failed you again... I wish I could've rewarded your courage with something better...
...!
...
I don't know about you, but when I look at Ark Ranger Black,
I see someone trying to be a hero in real life, beyond any screen.
And you can help her.
If you give her the courage, kid, she can become a real hero.
I had something similar happen to me.
My subordinates once gave me a huge boost of courage,
and when they did, I felt a strength I didn't even know I had.
I was already the boss, but that was when I truly felt like one for the first time.
It felt like I could do anything.
...
Moran rummages through her coat and pulls out a trading card in a plastic case.
She quietly holds it out to Luke.
I wasn't there, so I don't know everything,
but your brother held onto this until the very end.
That's why Ark Ranger Black was able to become a real hero before, even if only for a moment.
She became a real hero and stood in front of your brother.
Luke takes the trading card.
... I said earlier that even real heroes can fail.
It's precisely because they're real that they can fail.
... I understand you're sad and upset.
But maybe it's time to forgive her.
Look at her. She's out there putting her life on the line.
...
What do you think a hero is?
... Someone who can do anything.
Yeah, exactly.
Then give her courage, so that she can do anything.
Turn that Ark Ranger...
... into a real hero.
*Thud*
Ark Leon drops to one knee.
Ark Leon's output is still dropping! Continuing to fight is too dangerous!
Oh non...
If this continues, Ark Ranger Black's safety cannot be guaranteed.
... Then we have no choice.
Black Ark Ranger, fall back...
Get up, Ark Ranger!
...!
Get up! Please! Get up!
I-I...! I...!
I knew this whole time! I knew you risked your life to save Hope!
I know how hurt you got! And I know how you did your best!
I just... I just couldn't stand that Hope is gone!
That's why I said those bad things! That's why I said you were a fake!
I'm sorry! I'm so sorry...!
I was sad that Hope died...!
And I was also sad that the Ark Rangers lost...!
The Ark Rangers I know never lose!
As long as you have courage, you're unstoppable!
So I'll give you my courage! You can have all of it!
Just don't lose again!
Never again...!
I don't want to see my hero lose ever again!
Hngaaahhh!
Thank you for your courage! I can feel it!
Your hero is never going to fall again...!
As long as I have courage!
I...
am unstoppable!
Ark Leon's output is increasing!
Its Ark energy levels have surpassed critical limits!
Wh-what is this...? It's incredible...!
Voilà... Behold the power of courage!
Ark Leon rushes forward.
It tears apart the Raptures blocking its path.
In the face of such overwhelming power,
everything nearby on the surface falls silent.
Ark Ranger...!
A hero never falls!
She's amazing...
Tch... She's stolen the spotlight.
Come on, we can't let her show us up. Right?
That's right! Let's go!
...
Mustang.
Please.
...
Okay. Opérateur, préparez Ark Lander and Ark Falcon.
Y-yes, sir! Ark Lander, Ark Falcon, prepare for deployment!
Ark Rangers Red and Blue take off running.
Luke watches them as they go.
Uh, um...!
They don't look back.
Instead, they quietly give a thumbs up.
12. Beyond the Screen: A
94 linesAnnihilio is coming.
Annihilio?
That's the codename we've given the Heretic missile.
You named it...?
Maxwell looks up at the sky.
A tiny black dot comes into view.
That's not good. The Ark Ranger and us are holding off the Raptures, so they're not a problem,
but I don't know if we'll be able to intercept that at the same time.
A true hero can overcome anything with sheer willpower!
A true villain can overcome anything with sheer willpower!
Could you two at least try to differentiate your personas?
Anyway, I guess we'll have to make it work somehow.
No need to worry.
We'll handle Annihilio.
We...? As in, Elysion?
*Rumble*
A thunderous noise rips through the air.
Maxwell looks up at the source of the sound and gulps.
Whoa! This plane is huge! And it can actually fly!
It's a plane. Of course it can fly.
Did you take your shoes off? You're supposed to take your shoes off before boarding.
Huh? We are?
Huh? We are?
You of all people should know that's not true.
I just went with the flow and boarded. What're we doing exactly?
You could say this is the long-awaited fruit of our labor ♥
You remember how we searched everywhere for that legendary aircraft that supposedly crashed?
Well, we finally found it and repaired it. Pretty impressive, right?
The Wings of Victory has been fully restored! ♥
As we repaired it, we made a lot of upgrades too.
All the outdated weaponry has been replaced with modern systems, and everything from the engine to the exterior shell has been reinforced.
We even installed a gravity control system to make navigation far more precise.
A gravity control system? Sounds like what Endless had.
Yeah, now that you mention it, I remember hearing Elysion was testing something like that.
Aw, and here I thought Ingrid was ditching being tactical and going full sci-fi. I was totally off base!
With all that rebuilding, though, is there anything of the original even left?
Oh, I know what you're talking about. The Plane of Thesises, right?
It's the Ship of Theseus...
We wanted to preserve the original as much as possible, of course,
but it was so old, and while parts of it may have been functional, it's better to have something... better, y'know?
Don't call Zoomie old!
Oh, sorry.
Anyone who says one more bad word about Zoomie is getting kicked off immediately!
Everyone repeat after me: "Zoomie is the best aircraft around!"
Zoomie is the best aircraft around!
Zoomie is the best aircraft around! ♥
Counters! Want to get ejected? Say it!
Zoomie is...!
Hold on, why is it called "Zoomie"?
Because planes go zoom through the air.
...
Enough chatter. Need I remind you that you're in the middle of an operation?
Now, how does it feel to be aboard the Wings of Victory, Elysion Edition? It's equipped with every bit of technology Elysion has.
Didn't you just say enough chatter?
... Ahem.
As of this moment, your mission is to stop the Heretic missile, Annihilio.
The Wings of Victory versus a Heretic... Heh, what a wonderfully tactical showdown.
... What part of that is tactical?
Go forth, Wings of Victory!
Show them who rules the skies!
Yes, ma'am!
Zoomie! Full speed ahead!
*Whoosh!*
The Wings of Victory rapidly approaches the descending Annihilio.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! We're not just going to ram it, are we?!
Of course not. We'll dive at the same speed that Annihilio is descending.
All you need to do is take it out before it hits the ground.
... Where are we gonna fight?
On the deck, of course.
This is tactical warfare personified.
If by "tactical" you mean completely reckless, I guess I agree.
It's pretty exciting, though.
It certainly is. Is your blood pumping too, Commander?
...
Sora walks up to me.
Captain.
Remember what we talked about before?
I said that if the Wings of Victory ever took flight,
you would be its captain ♥
Yeah, I remember.
So, how does it feel?
It feels like I'm soaring.
Hehe. And that's exactly what you're doing ♥
Aw, aren't you two cute? It's annoying.
All units, prepare for battle! We're about to be in range!
Ahem.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Wings of Victory will be engaging the Heretic Annihilio shortly.
We kindly ask for your assistance in securing victory.
Phew...! All right, let's do this!
Firepower! Firepower!
... Let's go!
To the world beyond the radiant horizon!
Let's rock!
Heads up, you piece of junk Heretic!
13. Beyond the Screen: B
229 linesAnnihilio has been intercepted! It's falling!
Hahaha! Fall! Crash and burn! Don't you dare show your face in the skies ever again!
What?!
Not on my watch! We're descending too!
We're practically in freefall now. The hull won't hold!
It has to! This is Zoomie's debut fight!
Annihilio is accelerating!
We've gotta jump!
All right, let's go! We'll figure it out!
Stop.
Leave it to les héros.
It's coming down! Prepare to intercept!
My body's overheating!
We need to cool down!
Argh...! We've been pushing ourselves too hard...!
Maxwell looks up at the sky. Annihilio is quickly approaching.
This is gonna be cutting it close...!
...!
Ark Leon rushes forward and takes position at where the missile's headed.
I'll stop it! You handle the rest!
Are you insane?! You're gonna stop that thing barehanded...?
Agh...
... All right! We're counting on you!
Leave it to me!
Emergency cooling! Hurry!
Got it!
Hoo! Hoo!
She's overdoing it again!
She always does!
Red! Blue!
We're here!
Let's do this, heroes!
Ark Lander and Ark Falcon have joined Ark Leon!
Excellente.
Um... B-by the way...
I, uh, might be jumping to conclusions,
but are the three Ark Machines actually going to...
Oui. You are correct in your thinking.
Oh...!
When the three Ark Machines all connectent,
the true power of the Ark Machines is unleashed.
Wow... Oooh wow...
Ark Rangers,
combine!
Hnnngh!
Th-that's insane! They're combining!
Whoa!
What is that thing? Tetra made that...?!
... Amazing.
Argh! They're stealing the spotlight!
Yeah, but it's fine. A win's a win.
Zoomie's debut fight has been a resounding success ★
How is that even possible? It's insane...
...
...
... Before you say anything, we're not going to be getting a Matis Machine or anything.
What? Why not?!
If you don't give me a robot right now, I'm going on strike!
Ah... I can die happy now...
...
Quoi?!
It's heading for the Ark Buster!
Something comes rushing out from the plumes of smoke.
On its back, it carries a sphere formed by dozens of Seven Dwarves I units,
and charges straight at the Ark Buster.
What...?!
That must be its true form...!
Defend!
Kekeke!
Annihilio lets out a disturbing laugh unlike anything in this world.
Light emits from its vast array of gun barrels.
*Bam, bam, bam!*
A barrage of bullets pounds the Ark Buster.
Its armor shatters as it staggers backward.
Gah!
Agh! It's targeting the power core!
The cockpit's about to give out!
*Bam, bam, bam!*
The relentless barrage continues. Annihilio closes in further on the Ark Buster.
We can't take much more...!
Deafening blasts of noise ring in the cockpit.
The entrance to the cockpit starts to break apart.
*Bam, bam, bam!*
Kekeke!
Part of the cockpit entrance falls off while light and smoke begin to seep inside.
Ark Ranger Black looks back at Red and Blue standing behind her.
!!
!!
Kekeke!
Annihilio's fusillade continues unabated, accompanied by its grotesque laughter.
The Ark Buster's cockpit begins to collapse.
*Bam, bam, bam!*
Kekeke!!
The cockpit finally gives way.
Just then,
Annihilio sees the three heroes leap out from the shattered cockpit.
Ultimate attack! Ark Black Meteor!
Finishing move! Ark Red Crash!
Secret technique! Ark Blue Typhoon!!
...!
In that instant, Annihilio's body flashes brilliantly.
Golden beams, crimson lightning, and a colorless shockwave slam into it.
Annihilio staggers.
The Ark Rangers rush forward,
toward its core.
As long as we have courage!
We...
are unstoppable!
*Boom!*
The Ark Rangers land on the ground.
They do not look behind them,
because they already know they've won.
The enemy falls.
*Booooom!*
A massive explosion engulfs the area.
...
...
...!
The Ark Rangers...
will always protect the Ark!
OPERATION CRIMSON SKY: COMPLETE
Ark Ranger Black turns around.
She sees the three members of Matis watching her from atop a building.
Oh, she's looking this way.
...
You should at least acknowledge her. She's staring right at us.
Tell her to stop. It's making me uncomfortable.
Are you not going to say hi, Laplace?
Ah, I see.
When...? You've never even really met.
Let's go. We're returning to the Ark.
I'm not used to you being this serious.
I don't like it.
Heading out already? That's a shame ★
We have to get to something urgent.
The Wings of Victory sure was incredible, wasn't it?
Yeah, it was amazing. So were the Ark Rangers.
Hehe ★
Now that our brilliant debut is over, we've got to start preparing for what comes next.
There's a huge battle waiting for us in the not-so-distant future, right?
Hm...
Hehe, you can't really say anything because it's classified, huh? Sorry for asking ♥
When the time comes, I hope you'll be our captain again, Captain.
Anyway, good luck with your mission ♥
Thanks. You all did great out there. See you next time.
Hehe! ♥
You two seem to get along well.
Yeah, you get this dumb smile on your face whenever you talk to that flight attendant.
Are we really heading straight to Eden without any rest?
We've been delayed too much already. We don't have time to rest.
Can you hear me?
Ingrid.
Instructor.
Boss.
Tactical Boss.
... I'd appreciate it if you all picked one name for me and stuck with it.
I have something to discuss regarding the Heretic Annihilio.
It appears it is not a single entity.
I checked the point of interception and confirmed it vanished without a trace when it exploded.
In other words, it was nothing more than a missile.
... A missile made of nanomachines.
Correct. It is highly unlikely they would produce only one of them, so it is reasonable to assume they have more.
There is little I can think of that would be more dangerous than having dozens of those plummeting toward the Ark at once.
Victory would be far from a guarantee.
Enikk traced the heat source and found it was launched near the Lift.
The situation there seems to be quiet for now, but we have no way of knowing when the next attack will commence.
...
Having said all that, don't worry too much.
We've reinforced the anti-air defense network,
and both the Wings of Victory Elysion Edition and the Ark Rangers are on constant standby.
We should be able to defend against any worst-case scenario.
Okay. We're counting on you.
... At this point,
we can't afford to delay the Third Surface Reclamation War.
... You've done well. We'll meet again.
Likewise. See you next time.
*Beep*
What a mess.
Oh, wait. Another transmission is coming in.
Hi there, Counters.
Ooh! It's Ark Ranger Black!
This operation wouldn't have succeeded without you.
I wanted to sincerely thank you for all your help.
You're the ones who did the heavy lifting.
You were amazing. I was really moved.
... That's kind of you to say. Thank you.
I hope someday we can fight together again on the Ark's behalf.
Same here.
Also, Anis.
Huh? Me?
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Huh...?
Good luck on your next mission. See you around.
*Beep*
...
Between the Heretic, the giant robots, and the Wings of Victory, this was quite the chaotic mission.
It does feel like a weight's been lifted, though, doesn't it?
Yeah, it does.
What do you mean?
Knowing there are this many Nikkes protecting the Ark is reassuring.
Yeah. The Ark is safe.
... For now, at least.
Agreed. This is the first time it's been targeted this directly.
It'll probably only get worse from here.
And we won't be able to hold out forever.
Which is why we need to hurry.
We need to move as quickly as possible...
and take down the Queen.
Agreed.
All right. Let's keep pushing forward.
Let's do it! Firepower, go go!
Yeah, let's go.
14. OFF-SCREEN HERO
93 linesYou despicable Ark Rangers!
Just you wait! So long as fear exists in this world,
Darkflower the Shadow Empress will return!
And when I do...!
*Booooooom!*
That's not going to happen, Darkflower.
As long as the Ark Rangers are here...
The Ark will be filled with courage!
The screen fades to black, and the credits begin to roll.
Trony sheds tears.
That was... incredible.
... Yeah, it's a phenomenal movie.
Ark Rangers The Movie: Crimson Sky premieres to great success.
Footage of the battle against the Heretic Annihilio is interwoven into the film, generating massive buzz.
Darkflower the Shadow Empress proves to be hugely popular as the new villain in the series, generating further positive word-of-mouth.
As a result, the film shatters every previous Ark Rangers movie record and becomes a box office smash.
It is also critically acclaimed, solidifying its place as the defining masterpiece in the Ark Rangers series.
Why did I get involved in the Ark Rangers franchise?
Because I love them, plain and simple.
The director, having struck gold with his first superhero outing, receives tons of different offers,
but he rejects all of them, saying, "For me, it's Ark Rangers for life." He immediately moves on to planning the next season of the show.
Oh... You want to become an Ark Ranger?
Yeah. How do I do that?
...
It's... not easy.
Watching the Ark Rangers taught me something.
As long as you have courage, you can do anything.
I'm going to become an Ark Ranger, no matter what.
I know it'll be hard, but I'll never give up.
That's why I need you to tell me how to become one.
Please!
Um... Uh...
Mustang is reprimanded by Enikk for developing the Ark Machines in secret,
but his contribution to the Ark's defense is so significant that he is let off with merely a warning.
After a brief moment of despair, Luke chooses a career developing weapons and robotics.
One day, he aims to create an Ark Machine that surpasses the Ark Buster.
And the Ark Rangers...
I finished the manual.
FF formation.
Attack-focused, forward advancing formation. Optimal for breaking through enemy defenses and concentrated fire.
AE formation.
Effective against aerial foes. Emphasizes gunners and observers while maintaining defense.
Way to go.
Haha, that stuff's all easy.
Here, your next manual.
This one's huge...
Blue already finished it. She's three steps ahead of you.
Hehe, what can I say? I'm naturally gifted.
You're just good with theory. The battlefield is where I shine.
Well, I wouldn't say you do *that* well in battle.
If you compare our overall stats, I clearly outperform you.
...
Just you wait.
Oh, I'm not going anywhere.
... Hehe.
The Ark Rangers undergo all kinds of training,
so that when the Ark one day faces another crisis,
they can be heroes who inspire courage in everyone.
It's time to eat.
Wanna bet on who gets there first?
What are you, a kid?
Are you scared you might lose?
...
Three, two, one.
With a dash, Ark Rangers Red and Blue take off.
Ark Ranger Black follows behind at a slower pace.
Ark Ranger Black stops.
She turns back,
and speaks to someone unseen.
The world depicted on TV is fake.
So why do you think people watch it?
...
Because the emotions it makes you feel are real.
Joy, anger, love, happiness. Those are all real.
And they give you the strength to keep living.
What does it matter if it's real or fake?
If it brings comfort to you, that's enough.
I am Ark Ranger Black,
a hero who inspires courage in others from the TV screen.
I would speak to those in need of such courage.
Are you keeping your eyes closed out of fear?
Or your head bowed in despair?
Open your eyes, and lift your head.
Face what you must do.
Don't run away, but stand and fight.
You can do it. Only you can.
Awaken the hero within you.
Now, I speak to all who are afraid and despair,
to all of you who lack courage.
The time has come...
for you to become a hero.
OFF-SCREEN HERO: END