Well...Jin's story was much darker than the one Estelle thought. For one, he mentioned in full detail everything he could remember. Thinking that he killed his brother and sister in a fire during his childhood. He claims it was all his own will that caused it, something he still does not regret. Even as he said that, the air became very tense. Knowing these things, the three agreed not to say anything to Jin but still...
It wasn't over yet of course. Jin explained that the years after that became extremely blurry. His adoption into a noble house, rapidly rising in the ranks of the academy and as a soldier, the many questionable things he did under the order of the Imperator.
Towards the end of his story though, a few things made Yuri, Estelle, and Sodia feel even more uneasy. Jin did fight his own lieutenant, and he wasn't sure what happened to her. All he remembered about that fight was that at the end, his hands were drenched in something red. Talking about his reunion with his brother was probably one of the more surprising ones, and probably the reason why he wanted to tell this story.
His brother, the one he called Ragna is the Black Beast that was the threat to this world at the moment. It was confusing, but Jin did try his best to explain what he remembered. His brother's blood mixing with that of some other person that Jin failed to kill. Somehow, falling into the Cauldron triggered something else as well and the Black Beast was created. How they managed to get into this world however, was something that Jin didn't know and couldn't explain.
"So that's your true story then." Said Yuri. "To be honest, it's disturbing...but I actually expected worse." He sighed, standing up and stretching his limbs.
"A sad tale of a young man who lost everything and is now trying to atone for what he did." Estelle sighed, noticing that Jin and Sodia were giving her an odd look. "What? Was it something I said?"
"What are you, a writer?" asked Jin. "I don't seek atonement, I'd rather just forget about everything rather than living in the past. Isn't that right, Captain?"
"Y...yes, of course." Sodia replied, turning her head towards Yuri. This was a bit of a lesson for herself as well, with Jin helping out a bit.
"Hold on." Said Estelle, "You doubt that I'm a writer?"
"You are?" asked Jin.
"Of course. I have a book actually, Tales of Vesperia. It's actually a story about what me and our friends did a few months ago actually." She smiled.
"Is it any good?" asked Jin, looking at Yuri.
"Huh? I don't know...I've never actually read it." He responded, noticing the shocked look on Estelle's face. "What? I experienced the whole thing already. It's not like I need to read the whole thing again."
"You people are weird." Said Jin, shaking his head. To think that they actually didn't care too much about his past...it was something he wasn't quite used to. Of course, Sodia and Estelle knew bits and pieces of his personality already, and they weren't afraid of him. What, have they dealt with someone as messed up as him before?
"We agreed not to hold anything against you. Now, if you do any of those things in this world...or something like that, well that could be a problem." Said Sodia, before turning her gaze back towards Jin. "I can lend you the book she was talking about if you want. I don't really know if you like reading though."
"Sure, why not?" Jin answered, before standing up. "Oh, by the way...someone's been listening in." He frowned, drawing Yukianesa and freezing a small spot on the wall.
"Argh! My glasses are stuck!" cried out a voice from the other side of the wall. "Rita, a little help please?"
"I'm trying to get some sleep!" the mage replied.
Yuri and Estelle stopped their light argument and then walked over to where Jin stood. "That's a bit mean, freezing his glasses to the wall." Said Yuri.
"I could have done worse. Besides, I don't like being spied on." Jin answered. "But I do appreciate you three listening to what I had to say. At least know you know who exactly your newest friend is, and the nature of the enemy we must defeat." He said darkly.
"Again, try not to worry about that. Since Duke already has a plan, we just need to stick with it until this whole ordeal is over." Said Yuri.
"Just as long as it doesn't involve the sacrifice of human lives like last time." Estelle replied.
"No, no. I don't think he'd go that far this time." Yuri answered. "Also-"
The door burst open, Karol and Judith entering the room.
"Yuri! Big trouble. Heliord...under attack by a group of monsters. Big, giant beast...moving up. Most of the civilians are being evacuated-" Karol cried out before Yuri interrupted.
"Calm down Karol." Said Yuri. "Start from the beginning...or, maybe Judith should explain first."
The Krityan nodded, with the whole group listening in now. "The continent of Tolbyccia is the one in most trouble right now. Duke's plan isn't going to come fast enough before the giant Beast attacks Heliord. And right now, it seems the monsters are being driven north as well. Flynn has ordered the evacuation of the residents to Dahngrest, but he and his small group of knights are trying to keep the city from falling." She said.
"Then the Commandant needs our help!" Sodia cried out.
"Ugh, you're all so noisy." Rita said, stepping into the room. She managed to free Carl's glasses from the ice earlier, with both of them and Nirvana entering the little meeting. "So I guess this means the current plan is a failure. What's our strategy now?"
Jin was quick to respond. "Time is not on our side and there's no way any of us can take on the Black Beast and the best thing we can hope for is to lure it away and wait through the whole ordeal." He said, closing his eyes. "You four..." he pointed his fingers at Carl, Rita, Yuri, and Estelle, "...stay here and wait for Hakumen and Duke. Tell them what's happening right now. Sodia and I will help the Commandant."
"I'll lead Ba'ul then. But you do have a plan once we get there right?" Judith asked.
"Depends on what you mean by plan. I don't know the area but if this is just an evacuation or rescue mission, it shouldn't be too different to what I'm used to." Jin replied. "Come on, time's being wasted. And we should probably bring that applehead, Witcher with us as well."
"Hold it!" Rita called out. "Jin, take this." She said, placing a sphere like object into his hands. "Give this to Flynn if you find him. It should act as a replacement blastia, armagus, whatever it is you called it."
"Very well then." Jin answered, taking the sphere and following the Krityan out.
"You can't forget about me. Once we get there, I need to go straight to Dahngrest." Karol said, following Jin and Sodia as well.
"Shouldn't I be..." Yuri started, before giving out a quick sigh. They should be able to handle things the way they are. "Just get Flynn back in one piece." He called out, Jin managing to shrug just a little bit in response. Obviously, he didn't really think highly of the Commandant. Sodia did, but not him.
Heliord
"Sword Rain!" Flynn shouted, driving back a few of the reptilian beasts with his sword, before blocking the ensuing counter-charge with his shield. "There's no end to them! Are the civilians safe?!" Flynn called out.
"Everyone should be out of the city in fifteen a few minutes." One of the knights answered. "But the rest of the knights are at their limits. Let us withdraw! We can't get wiped out here!"
"Please begin retreating yourselves. Close the gate to the city as well." He ordered, keeping a few more of the monsters at bay.
"Commandant!" the knight shouted.
"Make sure everyone is alright. You can't leave a single person behind other than myself. That is the oath I made as Commandant." Flynn replied.
"But Flynn, you must be at your limit too! You can't...!"
"Fifteen Minutes!" Flynn answered, forcing himself right into the group of monsters. With more of them coming, he had to keep them distracted. "I'll be here for fifteen minutes, then I'll retreat as well!" he continued, the entire mass of bodies increasing in number and ferocity.
"Commandant, wait!" the knight cried out, watching Flynn disappear. "Argh, that idiot! Physical Attack Division, follow me!" he shouted, making a strategic retreat with the other knights. The unending swarm was something that they themselves didn't expect in Heliord.
Up on Ba'ul, Jin, Sodia, Judith, Karl, and Witcher could see what was happening below.
"Land right outside the city and keep an eye on anything odd-looking." Ordered Jin, Judith nodding in response as she told Ba'ul to fly low. "Sodia, Witcher, we need to find the Commandant first." He said.
"Got it." Both replied. Sodia was actually, at a loss for words. She was the Captain of this brigade, but Jin was definitely showing that he had more experience in this. Once they reached the ground, the three got off the Fierta and headed straight to the city. Meeting a few breathless knights on the way, they paused briefly. "Where's the Commandant?" Sodia asked.
"He's in the middle of the city, taking on the horde of monsters by himself." The knight said. "We told him to retreat with us, but he ordered us to make our retreat first."
"What?! You shouldn't have let him done that!" Sodia cried out.
"Leave him to me." Jin muttered, drawing Yukianesa and entering the city. "I'll bring him back."
"Jin, wait!" Sodia ordered, before being interrupted by a loud crashing in the trees around them. Monsters here as well?! "Argh! Get out of the way!" she shouted, drawing her sword with the rest of the knights.
"Ha! Go away!" Flynn shouted, ramming his sword through the one of the creature's mouths. It was only recently that almost every single monster in the region had gone berserk. Being able to catch the Imperial Knights off-guard was only the beginning. They were also heading north, almost as if they were running away from something too. "I've made it this far...just five more minutes..." Flynn gasped, looking around at the monsters that formed a circle around him.
Lightning streaked across the sky...signalling the appearance of a storm. Accurately enough, it started raining.
Flynn can continue on like this, most of these monsters are quite weak...just the fact that they were an unending swarm was the main problem.
Just as he was becoming a bit more comfortable, a looming shadow swooped over him, knocking Flynn back into the walls of a building.
"Guh!" Flynn cried out, his shield arm being broken in the attack. "A Giganto Monster, here?!" he asked incredulously, looking up at the giant Griffin flying above. That kind of Giganto rarely appeared in this region so why was it here? "Guess I was too careless." Flynn whispered, keeping his sword up.
"Where did that idiot go?" Jin frowned, cutting down the monsters in front of them. Vicious-looking as they were, Jin's own cruelty was probably far worse. "Trash, move aside." He continued, freezing a small group that blocked his path...only for him to be met by an even larger group of monsters. "I said move aside! Arctic Dagger!" he shouted, the stream of icy wind cutting a path right through the monsters. Just up ahead, he could see a particularly large group gathered around someone. Someone fighting with his life. "Found you, Jin whispered." As he ran straight ahead.
"I won't be able to last much longer." Flynn whispered. His five minutes that he gave himself would be up by now. But he won't be able to retreat properly with a broken arm. And with the Giganto monster preparing another attack, there wasn't much left that he can do.
A wave of freezing air interrupted his thoughts, Flynn turning his head, surprised to see Jin approach. "Jin!" he called out.
"I came to pick you up. And Captain Sodia would be very disappointed if I don't bring you back alive." The new Lieutenant said, tossing the sphere like object to Flynn.
"This is..." Flynn whispered, understanding what it was supposed to be used for. "A blastia core?!"
"Replacement whatever it was, that mage said." Jin replied, standing in front of Flynn and watching the Giganto swoop down to attack. "Also, take this." He said, giving Flynn a vial of some Gel.
"Thanks." Flynn answered, using the Gel almost immediately. His shield arm was still a little bit weak, but this should be enough. "Alright, let's see if this works." He said, placing Rita's creation into the empty blastia slot in his gauntlet.
"Absolute...Zero!" Jin shouted, firing an arrow of ice at the Giganto monster and subsequently impaling it with a continues stream of icicles. All as a cause of that one attack.
The Monster fell, crashing into another group and shattering into small pieces.
"The path to the exit is blocked by those monsters again. Think we can still break through?" Flynn asked, his sword blazing with renewed strength.
"I've been through worse." Said Jin, closing his eyes. "I'll suggest our strongest attacks in tandem if we want to get through as quickly as possible." he suggested.
"Alright then." Flynn nodded, a burst of energy coming out of his replacement blastia. A surge of power as he entered into Overlimit.
Jin nodded, "Armagus Overload!" he shouted, crushing his own barrier to allow the full force of his attacks. "Arctic Dungeon!" he continued, raising Yukianesa up into the air before sticking the blade into the ground, the entire area becoming completely covered in frost before freezing every single monster in their general area.
"Now we end this." Flynn responded, flames covering his sword, "Oh blade of thy burning heart, incinerate all before you!" he continued, slashing at the frozen monsters with his blazing sword before jumping back a fair distance, "Divine Rising Phoenix!" shouted Flynn, the burning effigy of winged creature travelling right through the swarm of monsters and instantly burning a path through the exit.
Most of the weaker ones had been rid of...but the attack wasn't quite finished yet.
"Yukianesa...I see, adding something else then?" Jin whispered, staring down at his sword. "Very well then. Go Yukianesa!" he shouted, a circular glyph suddenly glowing on the ground underneath him and spreading out all around.
"That's..." Flynn said quietly, jumping back even further to avoid the expanding circle.
"Brilliant Cataclysm!" Jin called out, the ground around him erupting into a dazzling, and certainly damaging torrent of light. An intensely powerful attack that finished off the monsters that were weakened by Flynn's Mystic Arte.
"Alexei's move." Flynn said nervously, before watching the light dissipate.
"Come on. Don't fiddle around, we're done here and it's time to retreat." Jin said, looking over at Flynn as they ran towards the exit.
Sodia, Witcher, and a few more of the knights were holding out quite well. It would seem that by the end of Flynn and Jin's sudden outburst of power, many of the monsters decided to take on separate routes instead of through the city.
"Commandant Flynn! Lieutenant Jin!" Sodia called out, spotting the two approach rapidly. "Thank goodness you're alright!"
"Back on that ship, now." Jin ordered, running past Sodia.
They didn't have time to ask why, but they followed his lead instinctively as they were lead back to Ba'ul and the Fierta.
"You took a while." Judith said, watching the group of people get on the ship. "Karol has already gone on ahead to Dahngrest with some of the knights running away. So, where now?" she asked Jin.
"You said the Black Beast was heading North, correct?" Jin asked, "Fly this thing up. Yukianesa can sense that it's close...extremely close."
The Krityan nodded, telling Ba'ul to fly. Once they were at a high enough altitude, Jin ran over to the other side of the ship and looked down. There, right at the edge of the beach was a dark mass...it's many heads attacking any of the monsters that are coming too close.
"Ugh....brother...." Jin whispered, clutching his head. Yukianesa was literally forcing memories into his head, not that it was needed though. He knew what was happening, and it's not a good thing.
"Lead it away from this place. Fire something at it." Jin said, staring back at Judith.
"Ba'ul?" she asked.
The Entelexeia carrying the ship seemed to understand, opening its mouth before shooting out a powerful beam of light that seemed to damage part of the Black Beast's body. The Beast roared its many heads in response, before looking up at them.
"Lead it away now." Jin said. "Not fast enough to make it lose interest, but slow enough so that it will continue chasing us." He frowned. "And make sure not to lead it through any major population centers like a port."
"Capua Torim and Capua Nor to the east of here is out of the question then." Said Judith, Ba'ul immediately flying off slowly enough...with the Black Beast following them in a deadly chase.
"That's the Beast...it's huge." Sodia said, amazed at its size and ferocity. Considering how large it was, the creature can move rapidly, single-minded in its purpose to devour life.
"Let's just hope that the others have a plan. This is a day too early from what Hakumen and his 'friend' intended." Frowned Jin. He continued to look down at the Black Beast, keeping a tight grip on Yukianesa. In the worst-case scenario, all of them would have to fight in on foot. If that happened, they were as good as dead.
(Small tribute to Guilty Gear: Drama CD Side Red if you look closely enough...)