This is Cooper Squad.
We have arrived at Grid DP 590-550.
Requesting path data.
Copy that, uploading map.
Next waypoint is 470-540.
Adjusting GPS Z coordinates by minus 02.
Let's go.
Cooper Squad.
You're off course.
Return to Grid 590-550 immediately.
How's that possible?
We're currently on course.
I repeat… off…
CP, I can't hear you. Please repeat.
Hey, you okay?
Frank, Todd, are you okay?!
Kirkman's down!
Branches are coming out--
Captain!
Here exists a single Plate.
Beings of an ancient civilization,
whose great advances resulted in their downfall,
relayed a warning to the present generation
through this notice.
They wrote,
"Protect our legacy from evildoers."
An organization sincerely accepted this message
and actively seeks to keep ancient civilizations sealed.
And the special agents of that organization
are called "Spriggan."
NORTHERN MYSURU, INDIA
This is Sierra 19. I've arrived at point B 0-2.
Position confirmed.
Sierra 19, you're clear to go.
Copy that.
What an obvious trap.
Is there anyone who'd fall for that?
Y-Yoshino Somei?!
Ow…
Huh?
Why the hell are you here, Yoshino?
Isn't it obvious? To see you.
Then what the hell is that?
I found it by coincidence.
Liar!
That's what triggered this trap!
Hurry up and put it back where it was!
A fragile young maiden risked her life to get it.
Of course I can't give it back.
Fragile young maiden, my ass!
"THE FOREST OF NO RETURN"
What about you? What's your job today?
I wouldn't tell a tomb raider like you.
Wait, is this what you're after?
I'm not handing it over.
Of course not!
That's just a sacred object!
Stuff like this can fetch a surprisingly high price.
A statue of the Hero-King's beautiful queen.
I'm so glad I made my move before you guys did.
Good grief, you've got some nerve.
Hey, so what was your real objective?
It wasn't the queen's statue, right?
God, won't you shut up? Don't follow me.
Listen, I have to go somewhere called the Forest of No Return.
It's rumored to be a cursed forest that you can never leave.
Run home if you don't want to die.
If that forest is so dangerous,
it must mean that the treasures there are super rare.
I mean, ARCAM's involved, after all.
Come on, it's okay, right?
You'd send this fragile maiden home alone?
We'd have better luck together.
Okay, fine! Do what you want.
Yay! What a great decision, Yu.
Listen carefully, Yu.
Don't go too deep into the Forest of No Return.
I hesitate to say this, but you don't need to follow HQ's orders this time.
Just report that Soma wasn't there.
What's got you all worried?
Two days ago,
we lost contact with the squad we sent to the Forest of No Return.
It was the Class-A recon team, Cooper Squad.
Coop?
HQ has sent squads to that forest three times now.
But nobody has ever returned.
They can't even investigate it.
And yet, they're now ordering you to find Soma. I can't believe it.
We don't have a choice.
We can't have someone abuse something as dangerous as an elixir of immortality.
Lately, all sorts of groups have taken an interest in ancient relics.
That doesn't mean that we need to get involved with Soma too.
Just leave the fools to look for a drug of immortality that may or may not exist.
But, I suppose, now that we're involved,
we're also the fools.
-That's strange. -That's strange.
What…
W-What is it, Yoshino?
What about you?
I thought so.
W-What's gotten into you?
Don't try to scare me here.
I suddenly lost my sense of direction.
You too, right?
I should've known.
Get down!
State-of-the-art power assist?
Who the hell are they?
Bastards.
Gross.
You ain't so tough.
What's up with them?
Yoshino!
I hate barbarians.
They only know how to wave their weapons around.
Just as I thought.
They're Trident attackers.
The rumored weapons development team?
Yeah, unofficial ones.
America's Glovers Heavy Industries, Europe's Campbell Company,
Japan's Takasumi Zaibatsu.
The team was secretly established by these three companies.
Wow, those are top global companies.
I heard they started getting interested in the relics.
I guess they're like knock-offs of you guys.
Don't compare them to us, idiot.
Still, what was up with them?
It can't be…
What is it?
It's nothing. Let's go.
Hold on.
Wait for me.
A base camp?
It must be Trident's.
Let's go right in then.
Hey, it's dangerous!
Good grief.
Looks empty.
Maybe for a few days. There are still supplies left.
Ew.
In-fighting?
I don't see gunshot wounds or even a single scratch.
Considering the ones who attacked us, I'm not sure what's going on,
but this seems involved.
Is this the king and queen?
Yeah, it's part of an epic poem called the Book of Forest.
A long time ago, a great, exiled king and his queen lived in this forest.
But they were found by evil demons,
and the queen was taken while the king was away.
The king grieved and blamed the forest spirits for not warning him.
May this entire forest be cursed!
Hey, go take a look.
That's just the wind. It's nothing.
What if something happens to me?
Go take a look already.
Why do I have to do it?
Honestly.
This place really is creepy.
Yoshino!
Hey! What's going on here?!
How should I know?!
I have a few questions for you.
What are you guys fighting against?
M-Monster!
Who are you calling a monster?!
N-No, a monster is coming!
A monster?
What the hell is this?!
No way!
Yoshino, get back!
Take this!
What's happening?! This is so much more than just some cursed spirit!
I guess they're the ones who possessed the Trident guys.
If guns and explosions don't work,
that only leaves my Psychic Blow against them.
Psychic Blow?
Armored Muscle Suits let you expand your psychic waves to shoot from your fists.
Hey, just tell me already!
What exactly is in this forest?!
I think I deserve an explanation!
I can't die and leave things this way!
Soma? The immortality thing?
It's the drink of the Indian gods.
It's written as "god" and "wine" in Japanese.
It's called nectar in Greek mythology.
Though I don't know what they'd use it for.
I smell money!
In any case, Trident is here to look for Soma as well.
Same with you, right?
Show yourself already. I know you're not too shy.
As expected of the Spriggan, Yu Ominae.
I guess it's true what they say.
Obviously.
Who are you?
I'm the captain of Trident's task force, Iwao Akatsuki.
Really? You're the Returning Man?
I've heard of you. You've survived every mission, no matter how dangerous.
Same for you.
Actually, my whole squad died except for me. I'm in a bit of a bind.
How about teaming up until we get out of this forest?
-No way. -No.
What?
I can't leave without Soma.
You just watched your men die while you were following us.
I won't team up with you.
Are you saying you wanna fight me here?
That's fine by me.
What's the matter?
Are we doing this, Yu Ominae?
That's not natural strength.
That's like my suit, maybe stronger!
What are you mumbling about?!
Fighting in a place like this, these guys are idiots.
I see.
I figured it out.
What did you figure out?
What the hell, Yoshino?!
Stop crying! I thought you'd be fine with that something suit on!
Haven't you noticed?
Come on now.
What's with these guys? Why do we keep getting attacked by corpses?
They're called ghouls.
Restless spirits inhabiting corpses.
That makes sense. No human would have such creepy energy coming from them.
They're tough.
Use this!
Your peashooter won't do shit.
What about you?
This is all I need!
Come on, this is never going to end!
Damn it.
Most of them are from ARCAM and Trident!
Coop.
Coop…
Those bastards sent in all these people just for the stupid Soma?!
Yoshino!
You alright, little girl?
I'll live.
Thanks.
No need to thank me.
They were originally my men.
It wasn't right that they were forced to fight even after death.
I just sent them off.
Still, you're pretty impressive, Mister.
You took them all out fast.
Obviously.
He's wearing an Armored Muscle Suit too.
Unlike mine, his is more mechanized.
It's focused more on power than speed.
You've got everything figured out.
Like you said, this is an Orichalcum suit made by Trident's development team.
They got feedback from combat data
gathered from ARCAM and Machiner's Platoon to make it.
You're the ones who shared Orichalcum with the U.S. army.
Thanks to that, tons of my friends were killed for the Ark.
We've both lost friends.
What's the matter?
We can settle our fight now if you want.
Cut it out, you two!
Think of our situation here.
I'll play nice if you help me escape.
Yeah, there's no way I'm going to become a zombie in these crazy woods.
I'd love to have your help, Mister.
You said you didn't want to before!
What are you talking about?! We need every help we can get!
It's decided then, but stop calling me "Mister."
I'm still 32.
-What? That's old. -No, it's not.
-That's old. -It's not.
-You're old! -I'll kill you.
Seriously?
This is the last one.
What are you, eight?
You don't have to eat it.
I never said I wouldn't! I'll eat it!
You can't have it now!
-Just hand it over, jerk! -What did you say?!
Shut the hell up and eat it! Stop acting like children!
Hey, Akatsuki. Tell me something.
What?
What are arms dealers like Trident going to do with Soma?
Make an immortal army?
Why are you asking that?
To be honest, I don't know either.
But if that's the case, I'm out.
Life without death isn't any fun.
Honestly, ever since I stepped foot in this forest, I haven't stopped having fun.
Life or death, the rush of being on the edge.
I'm a mercenary because I want this thrill.
Are you stupid?
What did you say?
Didn't you hear me, idiot?
I'm older than you. You show some respect!
-I call it like I see it! -You're the idiot!
Hey! Where are you going, Yoshino?
I'm looking for someplace better.
I'll go crazy if I stay here any longer.
You're a bit slow, aren't you?
There are more monsters the deeper you go.
I'm not like you blockheads.
I can faintly sense where their presence is weaker.
Shall we go?
We don't have a choice.
You're right. I don't sense anything here.
Actually, it feels cleansed here.
Told you so.
A Buddhist mummy?
The ones who starve themselves to death as a final trial?
But why is one here?
Yoshino.
I know.
I'll do it.
What is she doing?
A summoning ritual.
It's a secret technique only Yoshino can do.
Who knows how many times she's used this move to outwit opponents.
Who?
Who has summoned me?
Hey, it's saying something.
Um, so we kind of wandered in these forests by accident and can't get out.
Could you please share everything you know about the forest?
You must be more thieves who have come to steal the Soma.
It's no use, once you enter this forest, you cannot escape.
You shall become another soul of the forest.
Hey, it's not working.
We're not interested in the Soma.
We just want to know how to get out.
Please!
Give up.
This forest is the great king's curse. Nobody can escape it.
Hey, monk.
Why is the Soma in this forest with the totally unrelated king's curse?
How are you here without being possessed?
I did not come here for the Soma.
I entered this forest to seal away the Soma.
This is a story of when I was still in training.
I found a page of ancient text in the temple.
It was a secret text that detailed the method of making Soma.
Those in power who learned of Soma's existence fought rabidly with each other.
Unable to stand idly by, we decided to hide the secret text
in the Forest of No Return after many discussions.
However, people continued to enter the forest.
They never ceased to chase immortality,
and died with grudges, never being able to leave again.
The trapped grudges would beckon more grudges,
until the forest transformed into a creature with its own will.
So you're saying we're in the belly of that giant beast?
All living beings have a limit.
Living within it with all one's might
will transform life into a soul for the first time,
allowing people to learn to appreciate life.
However, that is an unattainable dream.
You and I have no other path than to die here, forgotten.
No way I'm having such a boring death.
Mr. Monk, thanks for the life lesson.
My power might be futile in this forest like you said.
But if I'm gonna die anyway,
I'll choose a death I can be proud of.
I don't want to do anything I'll regret!
So tell us, Mr. Monk.
How can we escape this forest?
I'm begging you!
It would mean living through hell.
Bring it on!
Very well.
I suppose it was my mistake that brought this evil onto this forest.
Or perhaps, you will be able to…
Okay, let's go, you guys.
Don't come back all of a sudden!
Go where?
He didn't tell us anything yet.
Don't underestimate my summoning.
Obviously,
we're going to the exit.
There's a large tree in the middle of the forest.
It's the beacon of the king's rage, drawing all the evil from this forest.
The monk called it the Cursed Spirit Tree.
We should be able to escape the forest by releasing the tree's spirit.
So we'll get to the Cursed Spirit Tree if we go where evil is thickest.
My summoning can draw out everything they're feeling.
They can't hide anything from me.
You'd better not use that on me.
We're definitely getting closer to it.
There they are.
Hold on!
Where's the girl?
That little…
She couldn't have!
Sorry, Yu. The Cursed Spirit Tree isn't the only thing I got from him.
Found it!
It doesn't look like much,
but people will want the formula to immortality.
This was so worth the trouble!
I just have to wait for the two of them to destroy the tree.
Sounds like she's getting attacked by the spirits.
Serves her right.
You felt that?
Yeah, I don't need to be that thief girl to feel this.
I guess if this forest has a will, it's not gonna just invite us through.
Here it comes!
Watch out!
Okay, there's our opening! Let's go!
Go on ahead, Ominae.
I'll hold them off here.
You won't stand a chance against them alone, idiot!
Shut up! Just go already!
You wanna die here?!
You'd better destroy that Cursed Spirit Tree, or I'll come back to haunt you!
Don't die.
I won't die, idiot!
Yu!
You freaking ditched us!
I hope you're sorry!
What is this?
This is on another level…
Yeah, this is the Cursed Spirit Tree.
Wait, is that the Hero-King?
Run, Yoshino!
Damn it!
What am I supposed to do here?!
Yoshino!
Yu!
Don't!
You're kidding me!
She had Soma's secret formula?
Yoshino!
Give that to me!
The spirits want the secret text!
No way! I went through a lot to get it!
Do you want to die, you idiot?!
Damn it!
All right!
If you want it so bad,
you can have it!
With the power of this Armored Muscle Suit
and my full-forced super Psychic Blow…
Yu!
I'll free you…
from your thousand-year curse!
What the hell?
That bad feeling disappeared.
Yeah, they returned to nature after the source of the curse was severed.
The king got the queen back, so the curse was lifted.
Hey, why did you destroy the Soma formula?
You could've just thrown it far!
Sorry about that.
But it's better that it's gone.
Huh?
What's the matter?
I used all my energy on my Psychic Blow.
I need to rest.
Okay, fine.
Y-You little…
Good job today.
You've earned a nap, Yu.
Honestly, what a waste.
Just imagine how much I could've gotten if it were whole.
But I'm still looking at eight figures once it's restored.
Thanks.
H-How?
You think that'd work?
I was acting.
Don't tell me you used me!
You're a pig for tricking me!
You're one to talk.
Okay, hand it over then.
No need to do that, little girl.
Thanks for doing the heavy lifting.
I'll take care of the Soma formula.
I thought you didn't want it.
I've got my orders.
They don't call you the Returning Man for nothing.
Sorry, but you're not getting this formula.
This thing has caused enough harm already!
I'm surprised.
You're a little too naive to be in this line of work.
Besides, you don't know if ARCAM follows your same ideals.
What?
Look at the sacrifices they've made to get Soma.
Who can say that they're not gonna suddenly decide to take over the world
with the relics they gathered?
Can you really say that ARCAM is the good guy?
Don't group us in with you.
It's possible.
But if that happens, I'll be the one to crush ARCAM with my own hands.
Are you serious?
Yeah, dead serious.
Forget it.
I'm too tired to take you on right now.
It's just not worth it.
But it won't go like this the next time.
I'll be sure to settle our score.
Don't die before then.
What a weird guy.
I was worse off than him.
He knew how exhausted I was.
Hey, Yoshino.
What?
It's nice to be alive.
That's such a lame thing to say.
Come on, let's go home. Get up already.
I need you to carry me.
Why me?!
Where did you go over summer break?
To our vacation home in Nice as usual.
I went on a cruise around the Mediterranean--
Hey, Yoshino!
Yo.
Good luck!
What are you doing here, dummy?
Don't blow my cover, I'm supposed to be frail!
It's how I can skip out of school.
You don't need to be so harsh.
I came to tell you some good news.
Like the ingredients for Soma.
Tell me please.
What's with you?
After all you said about being better off without it, you just handed it to ARCAM?
Obviously. It's my mission.
How do I do this again?
Hurry up.
Shut up. Okay, here it is.
Soma is made with this plant called Ambrosia.
Ambrosia?
It's an ancient alpine plant that existed thousands of years ago near the Himalayas.
Thanks to sudden climate change, it's now extinct.
In other words, it can't be reproduced.
So there's no point in studying the photos you took of the formula.
You knew?!
Lighten up, or you'll die with a grudge!
See ya!
H-Hey!
Damn it!
After everything I went through…
Just you wait.
I swear I'm gonna haunt you.
DELETED
Subtitle translation by: Zensho Yamamoto