This is Team Cooper
at Grid Point DP 590-550.
Send through the course data.
Roger that, forwarding the map.
The next waypoint is 470-540.
Be advised, I'm correcting the GPS z-coordinate by minus zero-two.
Go time.
Team Cooper,
you have deviated from your assigned route.
Return to grid point 590-550 immediately.
Are you sure about that?
Intel on the ground says that we're still on track.
Command Post you're breaking up. Resend transmission.
Hey, you okay?
Frank, Todd, you okay? Talk to me guys.
Kirkman is down!
From inside him, the tree…
Here, there is a single plate.
The message it carries is a warning to us in the present.
From an advanced ancient civilization
that grew too advanced
and was destroyed.
This is their message.
"Protect our heritage from the wicked."
Trusting in this message, one organization strives
to keep the advanced ancient civilization sealed away.
The special operatives of that organization are called…
"Spriggan."
NORTHERN MYSURU, INDIA
Sierra 1-9. I've reached point B-02.
Location confirmed.
Sierra 1-9, begin the operation.
Roger that.
There's no way that could look like more of a trap.
Do they really expect somebody to fall for that?
Huh?
Yoshino Somei?
Oh?
Huh?
What the hell are you doing here, Yoshino?
Well, obviously, I wanna see you.
And that? What might that be?
I found it just lying around.
Liar!
That's what set off the trap, isn't it?
You need to put it back where you found it.
I, a fragile maiden, braved danger to get my hands on this.
I can't just put it back.
A fragile maiden wouldn't be pulling stunts like this.
THE FOREST OF NO RETURN
What about you? What were you doing in there?
As if I'd tell a dirty tomb robbing liar like you.
Oh, you weren't after this item, were you?
Because you can't have it!
Don't be an idiot.
That's just a little spirit statue.
Yeah, not to mention they go for quite a price if you're pulling it right.
A statue of the hero king's beautiful consort.
I'm so glad I got in there and grabbed this baby before you did.
Some nerve you've got.
Hey, what were you really doing here anyway?
I'm pretty sure you didn't come to get the consort statue.
You're such a pain, stop following me!
Here's the thing, the place I'm headed to is called the Forest of No Return.
Legend claims it's haunted and once you go in, you don't come out.
If you wanna live, go home now.
Uh…
If the forest really is that bad,
must be something buried in there that you're not telling me about, right?
And ARCAM's got to be involved for a reason, huh?.
Hey, com on.
You won't send a fragile maiden away on her own.
Things will go way smoother with the two of us.
Fine, you can stay.
Yay! Thank you. I knew you'd come around.
Listen, Yu.
The forest is dangerous. Do not wonder too deep.
This isn't easy for me to say,
but we don't need to follow orders from headquarters on this mission.
I'll just tell them that the Soma wasn't there.
Are you really that worked up about a bunch of trees?
Two days ago,
we sent a platoon into the Forest of No Return and lost contact.
We had Agent Cooper leading the team, and now they're gone.
Cooper's gone?
This was the third team
that headquarters sent into the forest.
Not a single soldier has come back alive.
We haven't even been able to search for them.
After all that,
I can't believe they're sending you into that forest to hunt for Soma.
Orders are orders.
An elixir of immortality is dangerous. We can't let it fall into the wrong hands.
Lately, it seems like every organization
is going after the remains of advanced ancient civilizations.
That doesn't mean that we have to get involved in this crazy Soma business.
If those fools wanna scrounge around for some elixir of immortality,
then let them.
However, since we are now involved, whether I like it or not,
I guess we're really no better than them in the end.
That's weird.
Uh, how you doing there, Yoshino?
That's what I was just about to ask you.
I thought so.
Uh, what's going on there?
You're starting to freak me out just a little.
My sense of direction just went haywire.
Yours too, right?
Mm.
So that's how it is, huh?
Get down!
All the cue they're using is state-of-the-art.
Who are these people?
Let's do this.
So lame.
Is that all you've got?
What the hell?
Yoshino!
I can't stand these barbarians.
All they're good for is waving guns around like idiots.
Just as I thought.
These guys are the Trident attackers.
Doesn't Trident just do weapon development?
That's what they say.
Glovers Heavy in America, the Campbell Company over in Europe,
and in Japan, Zaibatsu.
All three of them secretly help fund Trident's military ops.
Get out. All those are corporate giants.
I'd heard a rumor they'd also taken an interest in the relics.
Oh, so they're just a rip off of you guys then, huh?
Nah-uh. Don't lump us in with them.
I wonder what happened to these guys.
No way…
What's wrong? What is it, Yu?
Nothing. Let's move.
Mm? You can't just…
Hey, wait up.
Is that a base camp?
That's got to be Trident's hideout.
Okay, I guess it's time to get in there.
Wait, it's too dangerous.
Here goes nothing.
Looks like it's desserted.
Yeah, but they were here until a few days ago.
Their supplies are still here.
Friendly fire?
No. There isn't a scratch on him. Let alone a bullet wound.
I don't know what those guys were or what's going on here,
but it all seems linked to this guy.
Is that a king and and that's his consort?
Yeah, there's a passage in The Book of the Forest.
One of India's ancient epics.
The story goes, this king and his consorts
were driven from their lands to this forest.
But they were caught by malevolent demon.
While the king wasn't looking, the demon kidnapped his consort.
The king was distraught
and turned on the spirits of the forest for not warning him.
A curse. A curse upon everything in this forest!
You hear that? Go and see what that sound is.
It's just the wind, there's nothing there.
What if there is and something bad happens to me?
I said, go look, so go.
Why me?
Hopeless.
This place is seriously creepy.
Yoshino!
Tell me what is going on here.
I have no idea.
We just have a few questions for you.
What exactly are the things you're fighting?
Monsters!
Hey, we're not monsters!
N… No. Monsters… monsters are coming!
What monsters?
What is that thing?
Get out of here, Yoshino!
This is for you.
What the hell was that thing? This is way beyond an angry ghost.
So this must be what possessed the Trident soldiers before.
Guns and explosives don't damage it.
So to counter it, I have to use a Psychic Blow.
A Psychic what now?
One of the features of the Armored Muscle Suit.
It amplifies my psychic waves and channels them into my strikes.
Stop! Just tell me the truth!
Tell me what's hiding in this forest.
Will it kill you to share even a scrap of information?
I can't just die here not knowing anything.
What? You're saying Soma, elixir of life?
It was drunk by the gods of India.
Soma, the wine of the gods.
It appears as something called nectar in Greek myths.
No clue what these guys want with it though.
Jackpot!
Anyhow, Trident soldiers are in this forest and they're hunting for Soma, too.
Hello there, you're one of them, aren't you?
Show yourself already. You're too old to be shy, surely.
I'd expect nothing less from a Spriggan like you, Yu Ominae.
You really live up to all the stories.
Damn right, I do.
So who are you?
I'm Akatsuki. The leader of Trident's task force.
Ah. I take it that means you're the Returning Man? I've heard of you.
That no matter how bad it gets, you always come back alive.
I hear you do the same.
And now, I am once again my team's sole survivor.
Ah, dead end.
How about we get out of here together as a team?
-No way. -Nah, I don't think so.
What?
We're not about to just leave without finding the Soma.
You left your allies to die back there just so you could tail us.
You think we'd trust you?
Okay, you want to do this here, then?
Right here's as good a place as any.
What's the matter?
Has someone lost the itch to fight?
No one moves like that.
His suit's just like mine. No, better.
What are you sniveling about?
Really? Starting a fight in the middle of all this?
How dumb can they get?
All right.
So that's how it is.
Oh, yeah. That is how it is.
Yoshino, what the hell?
Oh, stop your whining! It's not like I can hurt you in that what's-it-suit.
Take a look around you, please.
Wait. Huh?
What's with these guys? Seriously, what is this, night of the living dead?
They're ghouls, Yoshino.
Corpses possessed by angry ghosts.
Oh, got it. Yeah, that would make sense
'cause no humans got an aura this creepy!
Please, just don't give up.
Use this!
That peashooter won't do any good.
Wait. You need some kind of gun.
This suit is the only thing I… need.
Are you serious? It's freaking endless.
Damn.
Most of these guys are ARCAM and Trident!
Coop…
Cooper…
You sent all these people in here just to look for that damn Soma?
Yoshino!
You okay, Miss?
Yeah, surprisingly.
Thank you.
No need to thank me.
These creatures were my men.
It was too much to see them continuing to fight as corpses.
I was just putting them to rest.
Yeah well, you're really something all right
taking this many of them out that fast.
-Of course, he did. -Hm?
Because he's wearing an Armored Muscle Suit as well.
From what I could tell, it's mechanical. Not like mine.
And it favors power over speed.
Can't get anything past you, huh?
Yeah, that's exactly right.
This happens to be a prototype Orichalcum suit developed by Trident's engineers.
They fed it tremendous quantities of data.
Combat datat from ARCAM, the Machiner's Platoon and such.
So you're why the US army has Orichalcum gear now?
What?
My friends died because of you. They were killed at Noah's Ark.
I think we've both sustained losses. Wouldn't you say?
What now?
If it bothers you, we can settle this right here.
That's it. You two knock it off already.
Think about the situation we're in right now.
Listen, if you help me get out of here, then I'll come quietly.
Do you hear that? I do not feel like being zombified here
so pops will be joining us.
I appreciate it, Pops, and welcome.
What? But you said no…
Yu, we need all the help we can get right now,
so shut it and let's go.
That's that, then. Enough with Pops though.
I'm only 32.
-Uh, that's old, you know. -No, it's not.
-Yes, it is. -No, it's not.
-Is too! -I'll kick your ass.
Oh, good grief.
This is my last one.
You like this stuff?
Fine. You can just go hungry, then.
Did I say I didn't want it?
-I'm gonna eat it. -Not anymore.
I don't like your attitude.
-Oh, screw that. Give it back. -I'm not doing anything to some bratty…
Oh! Will you two just shut up and eat! You're not children!
Uh…
Akatsuki… I just wanna know one thing.
Just one?
What does an arms dealer like Trident want with Soma? What are they planning?
Like building an immortal army or something?
And if we are, what then?
Truthfully, I don't know what they're doing either.
But if that is what this is about, then I don't like it.
If you can never die, then life will lose all its excitement.
Honestly, since coming to this forest,
I've been having the time of my life.
Life and death, balance right on the edge of a knife here.
That's why I became a mercenary, so I could always chase this kind of high.
Well, that's stupid.
Huh? What did you say?
Was I too quiet? I said that's stupid.
I will not accept that tone from you, you brat.
Oh, and what's wrong with calling stupid
-stupid? -You're stupid!
Hey! Yoshino, where are you going?
To find somewhere a little less horrible.
'Cause being in this place is freaking me out.
Not the sharpest, are you?
It only gets worse deeper into the forest.
Yeah? Well, I don't see the forest like you two knuckleheads do.
I can feel it. Actually, it's kind of faint
but the aura is thinner over here.
Shall we?
No choice I guess.
You're right. I can't feel the aura here.
And also, the air feels like it's cleaner.
Um, yeah, what did I tell you?
A mummified Buddhist?
Those ascetics who mummify themselves to achieve enlightenment?
What's it doing way out here in this place?
Yoshino.
Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna do it.
Don't get your panties in a bunch.
Huh?
What's she doing?
She's a medium.
It's a unique ability that comes from our connection with the spirit world.
And she's used that ability to outsmart organizations all over the world.
Who are you?
Who are you who called upon me?
Well, that's not weird.
Uh, well… we got into some trouble and ended up lost in this forest.
Now, we can't get out.
We'd be grateful if you tell us everything you can about this place.
Hm.
So, more philistines have come hunting for Soma.
It is futile. Once you enter this forest, there can be no escape.
Now you are here and you shall become another ghost in the wood.
Hey, I don't think this is working.
We don't care about finding Soma.
We just want to get the hell out of here, okay?
Please!
Abandon hope.
The hero-king's curse is on this forest
and none escape it.
Hey, baldy.
You know Soma and the king's curse have nothing connecting them.
What is Soma doing here?
How come you haven't been possessed like the others?
I did not enter this forest seeking Soma.
I came here with the intention to seal it away.
Uh…
This was long ago while I still lived.
One day I unearthed an ancient tablet at the temple.
Inscribed on it was a set of secret instructions
for how to brew Soma.
The rulers who learnt of Soma's existence tore each other apart.
And we watched this happen.
After much debate, it was decided that the instructions
would be hidden in the Forest of No Return.
Even so, humans continued to enter the forest.
They continue to lust after immortality.
They died here unable to escape, leaving behind their angry ghost.
Locked away, their hatred begot yet more hate.
Little by little, the forest morphed into a single, sentient being.
So you're telling me, we've been right in this thing's clutches the entire time?
It is known that all living things are limited.
Yet, they put all they have into living.
It is only when a life has been fully lived
that humans can know how precious a thing it is to be alive.
But we're here, we shall never feel alive again.
The only path left to us, is to rot here in this forest.
There's no way I'm about to die like that.
Thank you, sir, for your wise advice.
Maybe that's the case. And maybe my strength is meaningless in here.
But I get it, I know I'll die someday.
So I wanted it to be on my own terms, okay?
I do not wanna die regretting choices I made.
So please tell me…
how do we leave this forest?
Please!
It will be a living hell.
All right, let's do it then.
Very well.
Originally, it was my mistake that brought the ghost to this forest.
Or it may be that you…
Hm?
Okay, you guys ready to get out of here?
Why the hell did you do that? He was still talking.
And go where exactly?
We didn't end up getting any answers.
Are you doubting my ability as a medium?
Where do you think?
This way out of the forest.
At the heart of the forest, there is an enormous tree.
It acts as a vessel for the king's anger
and binds together all the ghosts in the forest.
The Cursed Spirit Tree. That's what the monk called it.
If we set the trapped souls free, we should be able to escape the forest.
So basically, if we go to where the aura is strongest,
we'll reach this Cursed Spirit Tree?
As a medium, I see everything in my target's heart
no matter how hard they try to hide it.
You better not use it on me.
There's now doubt we're getting close to that tree.
They're here.
Hey, wait!
Where the hell the girl go?
That little thief…
There's no way.
So sorry, Yu. But the Cursed Spirit Tree wasn't all I found out.
Oh, hello!
It's not much to look at, I admit.
But to have the recipe for the elixir of immortality…
I'm gonna be so rich.
Now I wait. They'll destroy the tree and then…
No sign of her. I guess she got herself attacked by ghosts.
Sounds like karma to me.
You feel that?
Yeah, I don't need that little thief to see these guys.
You know, if this forest is sentient,
there's now way they'd just sit back and let us through.
Get ready!
All right, that opening is our chance. Charge!
Ominae, run.
I'm gonna buy you some time.
Are you insane? On your own, you'll get torn to pieces.
Shut up and get out of here!
Do you wanna die here for nothing?
If you don't go and destroy that tree, I'll find you and curse you myself.
Don't you die.
I'm not gonna die, moron!
Yu!
What the hell did you sneak off for?
You better apologize!
This is way worse than anything before.
Yeah, this is the Cursed Spirit Tree.
Hey now, do you think that could be the hero king?
Run!
What am I supposed to do?
Yoshino!
Yu!
Yoshino!
Don't tell me Yoshino stole the Soma recipe tablet.
-Yoshino! -Huh?
-Throw that over here! -Huh?
I think the ghosts are after the tablet.
No way! Not when I finally found it.
Do you want to die, you moron?
Fine!
All right!
If you want it that bad,
you can have it!
With the Armored Muscle Suit's technology
and the full-force of my spirit,
Super Psychic Blow!
Yu!
I release you from your thousand year curse.
Now you can go and be free!
What's this?
That horrible feeling is gone.
Yeah, cut off from the ghost, it's returned to its natural state.
The king has his consort back. The curse has been broken.
More importantly, why'd you smash the Soma recipe tablet?
You could've just thrown it really far away!
That's a benefit of hindsight.
But either way, it's better if artifacts like that don't exist.
Huh?
Are you okay? What's going on?
That Psychic Blow must've wiped me out.
I just need rest.
Well, can't be helped, I guess.
Huh?
Dammit!
It's been a long day.
Why don't you take a little nap. All right, Yu?
Unbelievable. Well, that's what being careless gets you.
Who knows what price it could've gone if it was still in one piece.
Oh, well. Even like this, it'll be a really nice payday.
Eh?
That's enough for today.
How did you…
You really thought that'd work?
I was just pretending.
And you thought you could just con me like that?
Dirty lying men like you are the absolute worst.
You're one to talk about lying.
Right, hand it over.
No need for that, kid.
Everyone's worked so hard today.
I'll take the Soma tablet off your hands now.
After all I went through, not a chance.
Nothing personal, it's the job.
So the Returning Man thing isn't just for show, huh?
Sorry, but if you want it, you'll have to come take it.
Too much blood spilled for it. And I'm not letting it cost any more.
Surprising.
For one who lives in our world, you're a little too naive.
It's possible ARCAM may not operate with quite the same ideals as you do.
What?
Think how many lives they sacrificed just looking for this Soma.
Can anyone really say
for certain that they won't one day suddenly use the relics they've collected
to take over the world.
Are you sure that ARCAM practices what they preach?
We are not the same as you.
It is possible.
But if that day comes and ARCAM can't be trusted anymore,
I'll crush them with my bare hands.
Are you serious?
I am, deadly serious.
Never mind.
I have to admit I'm a little worse for wear now.
A fight's just not worth it.
Uh…
However, I will be ready to fight next time.
And then, we'll settle this business.
Don't die on me before then.
He is a weirdo.
I'm actually the one who's worse for wear.
He knew that. He knew how drained I am.
Oh.
Hey, Yoshino.
Yeah, Yu?
Isn't it amazing being alive?
That's the lamest thing I've ever heard.
Okay, time to go home. Up you go.
Carry me then.
What? Why should I?
Where will you be spending the summer?
-At our house in Nice, like I always do. -Uh-huh?
We're stopping in Palermo on the way to the Mediterranean.
-Hey, Yoshino! -Huh?
Sup?
Good luck!
Just what do you think you're doing, Ding Dong?
I'm acting like a frail, sickly high schooler, knock it off.
They don't know I'm not out sick when I hunt relics.
Why do you always got to be like that?
Especially since I came to give you some good news.
For example, every Soma ingredient.
Tell me.
What are you doing?
Wait a second.
You said that we're all better off without it
and then you gave the tablet to ARCAM?
Of course, I did. Because that's my job.
Okay now, how do I get…
Hey, hurry up already.
Can you shut up? Ah, here we go.
Apparently this plant, Ambrosia, is the main ingredient of Soma.
And the what's Ambrosia?
It was a unique plant that used to grow in the Himalayan Mountains
back in ancient times. Pretty neat.
Unfortunately, rapid climate change in the following years
-made it go completely extinct. -Huh?
In other words, it's impossible to produce in the modern era.
So no matter how much you research that photo you took of the tablet,
it won't do any good.
Did you know that all along?
You keep on making that face, and we'll end up with another angry ghost.
Later!
Wait!
Stop!
And after all that hardwork…
Well, Yu Ominae…
today, I curse you.
DELETED