Episode 7: In the Name of Equality! (Part 2)
The journey through the Ruins of Hatred at EDSA begins at the MRT North Ave. station. However, when the unified force tries to access the MRT...
"What the heck? Even the MRT's not working?" Hero wonders.
"I feel that this is just the appetizer to what we'll be seeing along the way," Akari cuts in.
"Even a train is of no use," Shiho declares. "Why can't we all just give up and go home?"
"Shiho, please. If the rest of us will do the job, why won't you? You're one of my trusted friends," Hiroyuki retorts. "After realizing what we'll be doing, I promised to myself that I'll be less of a slacker and work even harder for our futures. Shiho, have you grown soft?"
Shiho sighs and then bows to Hiroyuki in apology. "Sorry, Hiro. I guess my making fun of you has lost its shine."
"All right then," Sandara speaks. "Now that we all have our eyes set on the goal, we must move forward. I sense that with every minute, the evil that will eventually plague this country grows stronger."
"I... agree... with your viewpoint... Sandara..." Kotone supports.
"So why are our butts still stationary?" John asks the unified force.
"Proceed with caution, everyone," Heart declaims. "The horrors will be right in front of your faces."
As the force leaves the station and trudges deeper into the heart of EDSA, everyone's worst fears are materialized.
Buildings trashed, various damaged things and debris scattered all around, the stench of corpses of people wasted away by the malice dominated the air.
This is what the Ruins of Hatred is all about. All caused by the spell of hatred that took thousands of lives.
Of course, the scenery brings heavy shocks to the force.
"No... this... can't be..." Kotone and Sandara simultaneously mutter. After they muttered, they faint.
"Ridiculous. This is ridiculous," Masashi says as he nurses Kotone and Sandara back to consciousness.
"I personally think that 'ridiculous' is an understatement," Aoi adds.
"More like 'gruesome', 'brutal', 'gory'," Ayaka adds further.
"Even Mr. Webster doesn't have a word which will describe all this," Rio adds even further.
"This is definitely not for the faint-hearted," Hero finalizes. "If we let our fears paralyze ourselves, then they'll eventually eat away at our own humanity. Let's move on, shall we?"
After Kotone and Sandara regain consciousness, they walk further through the ruins.
Once they approach the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) building, they see thousands of people, floating in mid-air and in flocks, walking towards it.
"Mr. Victorialuna wants to gather a large-enough army for his purpose. It's the reason behind this," Heart explains.
"And it's very obvious that his numero uno method is brainwashing," John adds. "To save all of those innocent people, you know who to eliminate."
And so, the unified force barges through the entrance of the DAP building, determined to eliminate the root of all national evil.
(The Cursed Commission on Higher Education, Area 1)
After the unified force formally enters the final dungeon, they walk briskly and climb steadily while slaying monsters in their way.
Eventually, they find a corner of Area 1 that is surprisingly empty. Not even a single monster is in sight.
But behind a pillar in that corner, a woman clad in a kenpo suit (the clothing that karatekas wear) eventually appears.
"How was it, Miss Aoi Matsubara?"
"This is not the proper greeting, Miss Yoshie Sakashita!"
Aoi signals the rest of the force to stay behind, then steps towards Yoshie.
"Save the formalities for later. You must know by now why I came to the Philippines and eventually to this nest of monsters."
"What?"
"When I learned of your abduction by Victorialuna, I sincerely knew that you'll eventually break out of it. So with that premise, I entered this building ahead of time and obliterated some monsters in the process, waiting for you to come."
"...Obviously, you became stronger. But I also did!"
"Well said. Now, extreme fighter. See if you have REALLY become stronger!"
"I'm on it!"
Aoi and Yoshie prepare their battle poses, and at this point, their duel begins.
(Duel: Aoi Matsubara vs. Yoshie Sakashita)
Attack:
My fists will do the talking!
My kicks will do the talking!
Feel the power of karate!
It's a monk-versus-monk fight.
Dodge this, plebeian!
Defend:
Charge all you want.
Attack me with your silly moves.
Let's see if your fighting style works.
I'll endure the damage that you'll inflict on me!
You're not kung-fu fighting. You're not as fast as lightning.
Deathblow:
Here it goes! Extremity Fist!
Here it goes! Asura Strike!
Your career ends here, Miss Matsubara.
The era of extreme fighting will be over.
I'll beat you like I did the last time we met in school!
(End of duel)
Yoshie is down on her knees, breathing heavily. "You... have finally proven your strength."
Aoi responds, "This is not just all about strength. It is also about preserverance and purity of spirit. The three true essences of a fighter. Combining excellence in body, mind, and soul... leads one to true victory."
"Well said. For now, I'll leave you. And I'm telling you now -- please save the Philippines for everyone's sake. The next time we meet... we'll both be best friends and best enemies. Farewell."
After Yoshie says this, she finally leaves the building.
"That's... really something, Aoi," Hiroyuki declares.
"Ah, that's nothing," Aoi responds with a little blush.
"All right then. Shall we move on, everyone?" Akari says.
The force responds by naturally moving onwards.
(The Cursed Commission on Higher Education, Area 2)
They walk. They climb. They slay.
And then, they see yet another empty area.
Suddenly, Serio simply drops dead on the floor. That has alarmed Multi very much.
"Serio! Wake up! Answer me!"
"I am the real HMX-13," a voice very similar to Serio's has appeared out of nowhere.
After some seconds, a maid robot that looks so much like Serio greeted the sights of the entire force.
"What the? Two Serios?" Hiroyuki is puzzled.
"Will the real Serio please stand up?" Shiho reacts.
"Mission is to eliminate intruders as Renato Constantino is to true nationalism," the Serio clone declares.
Serika falls silent in horror, while Ayaka reacts, "Hey! Nobody makes better maid robots than Kurusugawa Electronics! You're just a poor copy!"
"Unkind robot critics are to roasted Peking duck as Iranian nuclear weapon opponents is to sarcophagus city," the clone replies while displaying its huge cache of weapons hidden beneath its body.
Hero angrily shouts, "Hey! What's with your crappy analogies?"
"Intruder elimination is to People's Court for Truth and Accountability as Gloria Resign is to Leandro Arangoncillo."
"I will handle this weapon of mass destruction," Multi says while she confronts the clone. "This will be Kurusugawa Electronics' finest hour!"
Serika whispers, "Good luck, Multi."
Ayaka echoes, "Better apply what you've learned so far, Multi. The data you've accumulated will be put to the test."
"Pure Warrior Multi HMX-12, commencing attack sequence! Uryaaaaa!"
And the robot duel begins.
(Duel: Multi vs. Serio (clone))
Attack:
Initiating attack sequence.
Target: Model HMX-12.
Preparing to fire.
A superior maid robot can attack.
Command: Attack.
Defend:
Initiating defense sequence.
Shield installed at 150 percent.
Command: Defend.
Hit me with your flimsy mop!
Hit me with your flimsy arm cannon!
Deathblow:
Initiating deathblow sequence.
Command: Deathblow.
Farewell, defective robot.
Releasing Blazing Sword.
Kurusugawa Electronics would be better off without you.
(End of duel)
"Real... Serio... is to... destruction... as... Dr. Wily's plans... is to... failure..." the clone faintingly says before it is destroyed in a glorious blaze.
And as expected, the real Serio wakes up as if from a dream. Multi, as well as the unified force, is delighted.
"Serio! You're awake!" Multi gaily says.
"I... thought... there was... a short circuit inside the system..." Serio haltingly speaks.
"Serio, there was a clone of you that Multi just fought. Probably that Victorialuna guy has illegally swiped maid robot data from Kurusugawa Electronics to build that," Ayaka explains.
"Explanation acknowledged. Important data rendered as critical in database," Serio responds.
"I'm glad the robot mess has been settled. Let's move on, shall we?" Sandara declares to the unified force.
And then, they proceed to the third area.
(The Cursed Commission on Higher Education, Area 3)
The unified force proceeds with their usual modus operandi. Until...
"Welcome to your doom, born loser!"
"GREETINGS, WAYWARD KOREAN!"
"How are you, number one persistent Maverick?"
The three consecutive voices belong to none other than Big Bunny, Meningococcemia Man, and King Bukbok, respectively.
"Damn those servants! They're revived!" Hero shouts with angst.
"Why... why did you come back to life?" Sandara speaks in a disappointed way.
"I thought I killed those threats to each Philippine region. How come!" Multi says while she's down on her knees. Her face is full of unspeakable horror.
"And now, you delicious people have more munchy terrorists along for the ride!" Big Bunny says with cannibalistic desire. "This will be more than just a banquet!"
"Indeed! Our master will be happier if we all perform an anal death on all of you! You are the real threats to genuine Philippine independence!" King Bukbok boastfully declares while directing the tip of his spear to the force.
"WITH THE GIFT OF THE WICKED CALIBRATED PREEMPTIVE RESPONSE THAT MR. VICTORIALUNA GAVE US, WE ARE BEYOND INVINCIBLE! PREPARE TO MEET YOUR ETERNAL END!" Meningococcemia Man declaims while preparing his weapons for the upcoming combat.
"Hiroyuki, Akari, the rest of us... We have defeated them before," Hero, Sandara, and Multi profess to the rest of the force. "Now, with your help, we'll send them all to the hell that they deserve!"
"We all must believe in victory..." Hiroyuki and Akari respond, "...for the good of the entire nation."
"Well said, future husband and wife!" John and Heart react.
Battle 10, commence!
Allies: Anyone from Hiroyuki, Akari, Shiho, Masashi, Serika, Ayaka, Aoi, Kotone, Lemmy, Rio, Tomoko, Multi, Serio, Hero, Sandara
Enemies: Big Bunny (HP: 5,010), King Bukbok (HP: 29,120), and Meningococcemia Man (HP: 58,032)
The enemies' individual attacks are carried over from their first appearances, but now they can use an attack called "Huwad na Kalayaan" (Fake Freedom) if all of them are alive. This attack is non-elemental and hits all opponents.
Another special feature of this battle is the "Switch" option. This option lets an ally swap with another one without wasting a turn, much like Final Fantasy X. The judicious use of this option is the key to winning this battle, especially if the active allies are hit with Huwad na Kalayaan.
The allies give their all; slashing, casting, blasting, and transforming; until the three servants are no more.
Battle 10 won!
"Now that the unholy trinity is no more..." John congratulates the unified force, semi-tired from the previous battle.
"...there is only the matter of you-know-what," Heart adds.
"Yup. I may be called a slacker," Hiroyuki proclaims, "but I'll get serious when the time comes. The same goes for the rest. Right, everyone?"
Akari answers, "We must finish this war we're waging in order for the Filipinos to move forward to a brighter future."
The rest raise their weapons and shout in unison as a sign of unflinching acceptance.
(The Cursed Commission on Higher Education, Final Area)
This is where Melficio Victorialuna, the psycho Japanophobic head of the Commission on Higher Education, actually resides.
And this is where the unified force is heading to for the penultimate battle to come.
Finally, they come, and Mr. Victorialuna gives a rather lengthy speech.
"Can you smell it? The blood that was shed by those who refuse to obey my fledging Philippine empire. The blood that was shed by them, under the misguided banners of national unity and international solidarity, who marched to condemn my actions against your savage acts! The blood that will become the bases for a New Society.
"The old shall fade away, and the new shall take its place. This is my principle. The New Society shall be 100 Filipino, without any foreign intervention, in order to contain any threats of foreign occupation. Eliminating Japanese interests is just a prologue to that goal.
"Unfortunately, your reactions to my well-crafted plans have gotten me on my nerves. And in the end, I almost lost. But still, I have an ace in the hole.
"And that is...
"The Trapo Rune!"
The Trapo Rune is a rune that Mr. Victorialuna bears on his left hand. It embodies the souls of traditional politicians, businessmen, media people, leftists and left-leaning rightists, and all other bleeding hearts who only fought for their own interests in the guise of national freedom and solidarity.
And this rune is being raised into the sky. Seconds later, it glows in a dark purple color.
"Souls of the Filipino martyrs!
Souls of Bayan ng Katagalugan!
Return beyond the gates of time!"
Mr. Victorialuna chants that message, and the following happens in the next 120 seconds.
The sky now tinges dark purple, much like the Trapo Rune. It is then parted, and a weird assortment of runes (which are in the ancient Alibata lettering) rains down from the rift. The runes then occupy the whole of the DAP building, encasing it magically. Afterwards, the building starts to gradually move from the ground, and it then floats in mid-air, like a monolithic structure from the RPG's you know and love.
After that display, Mr. Victorialuna, still raising his left hand, blurts out the following:
"Do you swear that you will stop my beautiful plans for this country called the Philippines?"
The unified force replies, "WE SWEAR IT!"
"Hmph! Idealistic terrorist nobodies. If you all swear it, then prove it to me!"
He then raises his right hand, and in a flash, a giant hammer appears in his left hand; while a giant sickle appears in his right.
The final battle is about to begin.
(To be continued)