???
- Hey. Darklord.
Not often I hear from you.
Veritas of the Dark
- So you came. Flamelord.
You must know why I called you out here.
Veritas of the Flame
- You want to see the sword?
I've got you covered, friend.
Veritas of the Dark
- It is almost time. Soon...the stars will fall.
Veritas of the Dark
- Everything should be prepared and ready, if we are to achieve our goals at last.
Veritas of the Flame
- The people of this world live in peace, all soft and ignorant.
This might turn out to be one of the easiest things we've done.
Veritas of the Dark
- Do not be foolish.
There are still many factors we cannot control for.
Veritas of the Flame
- Yeah. I guess I know what you mean.
Veritas of the Flame
- Don't worry, Darklord. No matter how many centuries might've passed, my skills at the forge haven't dulled a bit.
Veritas of the Dark
- We already have our spy in place in Zoldaad, I presume?
Veritas of the Flame
- Yeah. He's one repulsive specimen, but pretty much perfect as a pawn.
Veritas of the Flame
- So...our next step should be a surprise attack on Grandshelt. They've got one of the strongest armies around.
Veritas of the Flame
- Once we launch our attack, we'll start the monsters in every land running amok. We'll have this thing wrapped up before they know what hit them.
Veritas of the Dark
- Grandshelt...
Veritas of the Flame
- The stars will fall just when they've got their main air fleets out patrolling.
I guess we'll have to stay on guard.
Veritas of the Dark
- Seven-hundred years... It is too long a time.
Now we will finally bring it all to an end...no.
Veritas of the Dark
- Now we will finally begin...seizing our long-awaited dream.
Veritas of the Flame
- I'll see you again when I'm done with that sword of yours.
Veritas of the Flame
- So there was still some decent ore to be found in this land, huh?
Veritas of the Flame
- This ought to be enough to take care of that sword.
Veritas of the Flame
- But why do we always need to use those communication spells to talk about battle plans?
I never get what Darklord is thinking, but don't any of the rest of them care either?
Veritas of the Flame
- I'd rather meet face to face and look 'em in the eyes. I don't want…that…to ever happen again.
What kind of warrior has a problem with hammering things out man to man?
Veritas of the Flame
- All right. The last thing I need is...
Veritas of the Flame
- Hm?
This presence...
Veritas of the Flame
- Ah. That's right... I forgot that he was stationed somewhere around here.
Veritas of the Flame
- So he must've noticed it was me. That would explain this murderous feeling.
Typical.
Veritas of the Flame
- If he wants a fight, I'll be able to give him one!
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- So, Earthlord...
Satisfied?
[Unknown ID: 200012]
- ...It seems I can only depend on my brethren to provide me with any challenge.
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- So that's your excuse for attacking me outta the blue?
It's been how many hundreds of years since we even met? But you really don't change.
[Unknown ID: 200012]
- And what about you? Hard to believe that you've fallen so far. An old smithy, is that all you are now?
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- Hey, hey, hey. No need to be insulting.
[Unknown ID: 200012]
- Just lamenting things that are dead and gone.
There are no warriors in this damn peace-ridden world that can satisfy me in a fight.
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- Don't dismiss them all so easy.
There's potential among the humans.
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- Like, you know...you might enjoy watching them struggle in hopeless desperation once they realize what it is we plan to do.
[Unknown ID: 200012]
- ...I guess that might not be too bad.
- [Unknown ID: 200012]
- Darklord left his sword to you at a time like this?
- [Unknown ID: 200011]
- Yeah. His sword needs my tender loving care to draw forth his fullest power, after all.
[Unknown ID: 200012]
- That may be. But does that mean that you have to crawl around in the dirt gathering ore?
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- There are things you won't notice if you're always way up on your high horse.
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- If you're gonna call yourself Earthlord, maybe you ought to at least keep an eye on what's going on under your feet.
[Unknown ID: 200012]
- I chose the armor that was best suited to my fighting style. That is all.
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- Hah. You don't change.
Come on then. Show me the way through here.
[Unknown ID: 200011]
- There're some good veins of ore here.
It'd be good to have someone around who knows the land.
[Unknown ID: 200012]
- I guess I have little choice.
You owe me, though.
Veritas of the Earth
- If you're a warrior, why bother with smithing?
Veritas of the Earth
- You could just leave such work to the dwarves.
Veritas of the Flame
- Have you ever considered what metals went into the making of that sword you swing around?
Veritas of the Flame
- Have you ever thought whether the metals used in your sword are right for cutting down the enemy before you?
Veritas of the Flame
- When you understand such things, then for the first time, you understand the proper way to use your blade. That's what I think.
Veritas of the Earth
- Sounds like the kind of nonsense the mages prattle about to me.
Veritas of the Flame
- Do you think Darklord would've left his sword in my hands if he didn't agree?
Veritas of the Earth
- Darklord, huh?
It's true he doesn't put his trust in many.
Veritas of the Earth
- Now that I think about it, I guess Darklord always did give his sword to you before any big battle.
Veritas of the Earth
- Even during that war...
And now when the stars are about to fall on this land...
Veritas of the Earth
- The old days...were better than now.
There were warriors back then who were worth the fight...
Veritas of the Flame
- So we'll get our revenge, and bring those days back. Everything's gonna be just as good as it ever was.
Veritas of the Earth
- ...Yeah. That's what we're going to do.
Veritas of the Earth
- (Watching him again like this...
It really does bring back memories from those days.)
Veritas of the Earth
- Taking your sweet time at the forge again, huh?
The final battle is drawing near, but you don't seem too worried.
Veritas of the Flame
- It wouldn't do to have a rusty sword splinter in the middle of a critical battle.
Veritas of the Earth
- I think you've gone a bit beyond that.
Look at this, you've even gone and made new weapons!
If you've got time to waste on sharpening dull swords, why not work on sharpening your rusty skills?
Veritas of the Flame
- Sharpening my swords is sharpening my skills.
They're the same thing for me.
Veritas of the Flame
- You entrust your life to your sword.
Knowing how it was born, how it moves...
I use that knowledge to my advantage.
Veritas of the Earth
- ...I don't get it.
The greatest joy for any true warrior is the moment of battle.
Veritas of the Flame
- It's fine for you to not get it.
Everyone choses their own path to walk.
Veritas of the Earth
- (No matter how many centuries pass, that man does not change.)
Veritas of the Flame
- Besides...it's important to me. Being trusted with a friend's blade like this.
Veritas of the Flame
- Leaving your sword in another's hands is like leaving your life in his hands.
Veritas of the Flame
- Nothing else proves your faith in another like giving them your weapons.
Veritas of the Earth
- And that's why you take care of everbody's weapons? Darklord and the rest of them?
Veritas of the Flame
- These weapons tie us all together. All these weapons forged in the same fire.
Veritas of the Flame
- So what do you say?
Want me to check out your sword as well?
Veritas of the Earth
- Not now.
I'll use what time we have to work on perfecting my own moves.
Veritas of the Earth
- The final battle...
It's got to be at least a little fun.
Veritas of the Flame
- Cripes, but the monsters in this place have gotten weak.
Veritas of the Earth
- You're right.
They're no challenge at all.
Veritas of the Flame
- Then again, any monsters who are worth the challenge, we normally just make fight on our side.
Veritas of the Flame
- Hah! The world's a funny thing sometimes.
Veritas of the Earth
- So...how was Darklord when you saw him?
Veritas of the Flame
- Oh, you know.
He never really changes.
Veritas of the Flame
- Which is why he's the one leading this whole plan...
But you know that already.
Veritas of the Earth
- I do.
I guess I shouldn't have asked.
Veritas of the Flame
- There's always been something between the two of you, huh?
Veritas of the Flame
- Like that time when you went rushing into that enemy army like that...
Veritas of the Earth
- Let's not talk about that.
Veritas of the Earth
- You've gotten what you came here for, haven't you?
I think the tour is through.
Veritas of the Flame
- And that pride of yours hasn't changed a bit either.
Veritas of the Flame
- I guess that pride as a warrior is the one thing that's kept him going all these centuries...
Veritas of the Flame
- All right.
I'll just use the furnace for the rest.
Veritas of the Flame
- We've spent a century making these plans. They're flawless.
We're really gonna do it this time...
Veritas of the Flame
- But...we've changed after all this time, too.
Veritas of the Flame
- Darklord is the only one whose feelings haven't really changed.
Veritas of the Flame
- He never wavers from what he sets out to do.
Maybe I should try to learn that, too?
Veritas of the Flame
- No...I should just stop thinking about things that don't matter, that's all.
Veritas of the Flame
- I'll sharpen this blade of mine, and wait for what must come.
Veritas of the Earth
- Why'd you have to come and bring reinforcements!?
I'm more than enough for opponents like these!
Veritas of the Dark
- You were nearly surrounded.
Veritas of the Earth
- And so what if I was surrounded? I'd just cut my way through them all!
Veritas of the Earth
- If you're not capable of even that much, then see how it's done!
Veritas of the Earth
- That Flamelord...
Why'd he have to remind me of such nasty memories?
Veritas of the Earth
- I hated him. He was always spouting on about those noble ideals of his....
But he was strong.
Veritas of the Earth
- Not that it matters now.
Veritas of the Earth
- I've got nothing left now...
I don't even have an enemy worth fighting.
Veritas of the Earth
- What would a monster know!
Get out of here!
Veritas of the Earth
- Monsters are no more than dumb brutes...
Such battles bring me nothing.
Veritas of the Earth
- I've lost everything.
No, I didn't lose it all... It was stolen from me.
Veritas of the Earth
- This seed of hatred...
I will use it to get my revenge.
Veritas of the Earth
- That...may be all I have left now.
Veritas of the Earth
- Even my most bitter enemies...are no longer around for me to fight.
Veritas of the Dark
- (The sword should be finished soon, I suppose...)
Veritas of the Dark
- (When was it that I first asked the Flamelord for his aid?
When we were still in our homeland?)
Veritas of the Flame
- Darklord.
That sword of yours...has certainly seen better days, I'd say.
Veritas of the Flame
- Give it here a moment.
I'll have it in prime condition in no time.
Veritas of the Dark
- You expect me to hand over my sword to another?
I value this sword near my own life!
Veritas of the Flame
- If you consider us to be true allies, then yeah, I'd think so.
And besides, understanding your sword will help me understand you, too.
Veritas of the Dark
- And what will I gain from this?
Will this give us greater strength in battle?
Veritas of the Flame
- Throwing yourself recklessly into battle is no way to get stronger.
Veritas of the Dark
- Ah... I see. So that is how you view things...
Take it then. My sword.
Veritas of the Dark
- (The meeting place...should be up ahead here.)
Veritas of the Dark
- (The plan is set for the night the stars fall. Our home grows closer...)
Veritas of the Dark
- (I will shatter the earth crystal with this hand of mine, and at last have my revenge.)
Veritas of the Dark
- (This will be my final battle.)
Veritas of the Dark
- (Yes...I will make it my final battle. Now at last is the time to put an end to 700 years of rage and sorrow.)
Veritas of the Flame
- It's finished.
Veritas of the Dark
- Well done.
Did you hold yourself back a bit this time?
Veritas of the Flame
- I did. After all, a lot of these Grandshelt people you'll be fighting are knights.
Veritas of the Flame
- After seeing how they fight, I can guess the kind of battle that'll turn out to be.
Veritas of the Flame
- And so you know, I adjusted the angle on the blade to better cut through the mechanical armor these humans wear lately.
Veritas of the Dark
- You're taking this rather seriously.
Veritas of the Flame
- This'll be our last big bang, after all. I wouldn't want to hold back.
Veritas of the Dark
- Well, I trust you to do your job properly.
Veritas of the Flame
- And I trust you to do yours.
Veritas of the Flame
- Come on. Come with me as far as the forest's edge, at least.
Veritas of the Dark
- I will wait here until the time comes. You should get back into position.
Veritas of the Flame
- You sure you want me to go so soon?
Veritas of the Dark
- What is that supposed to mean?
Veritas of the Flame
- That freshly sharpened blade there is just begging to be wielded in battle. I can hear that loud and clear.
Veritas of the Dark
- Hmph...
Veritas of the Dark
- So when all is said and done, this is the price I must pay for having my sword cared for, is that it?
Veritas of the Flame
- Hey now.
I've got to be paid for my work, you know!
Veritas of the Flame
- Pretty good.
You've mastered it again in no time.
Veritas of the Dark
- It's a fine blade. Perfect for smashing those cursed crystals into pieces.
Veritas of the Flame
- That's what I like to hear. Now then, I'll be heading back.
Veritas of the Dark
- And now...it is time for the end to begin.
Veritas of the Dark
- The time...has come.
Now at last we will get what we have so long wanted.
Veritas of the Dark
- Foolish air fleet, flying the sky rather than knowing your place...
Veritas of the Dark
- Let yourselves be distracted by the monsters before you, and fall back to the earth.
Veritas of the Dark
- ...What foolishness.
Veritas of the Dark
- Does a lifetime spent accustomed to peace so quickly reduce man to such weakness?
Veritas of the Dark
- It's gone.
The memory of the warrior who was sealed here has disappeared without a trace.
Veritas of the Dark
- What a pointless struggle...
???
- Who goes there!?
Step away from the crystal!
Veritas of the Dark
- If ignorance is a sin,
then your sins are grievous indeed.
???
- What's that supposed to mean!?
Veritas of the Dark
- Seven long centuries of sin...
And now it is time you atoned.
???
- Atone...?
What is this madness?
???
- Lasswell! Watch out!
Veritas of the Dark
- ...And so it begins.
My hammer of vengeance shall crush this eternity of lies.