Bugs!
Down!
The only ore you'll find on this planet is harvested by the Stones you find.
After defeating Stones,
the metal you collect is immediately teleported to Madame Kurenai.
And the amount of metal you need to transfer
is the number written across that collar on your neck.
Oh I get it, you're newbies.
I suppose it's understandable that you wouldn't know the rules here yet.
Drop to your knees, peasants!
You're gonna be punished and satisfied.
Let go of her, you scum!
Do you know about a ship called the Edens Zero?
And get this,
according to the info he received, the ship has an Ether Drive.
Now then,
let's relax and have some fun here.
Huh?!
Shiki!
You try to oppose my authority, then other labor camp workers suffer.
Like I care about them.
Homura is my friend and that's that.
I'm not some hero who fights for anyone.
I always fight for my friends.
And I'll take down anyone who hurts them!
RESET
Shiki!
How dare you barge in here like this during my playtime?
Don't try to ruin my fun, you brat!
Ha! How foolish to attempt dodging it that way!
My paralytic whip will go wherever I want it to!
What the--?!
Well, I can go whichever way I want by controlling gravity!
Magimech Attack, Gravity Fist!
Get dropped into the sky!
Wow, he dropped him onto the ceiling.
Are you okay?
Homura!
You've saved me, Shiki.
I gotta say, I had no idea I wouldn't be able to utilize my Ether Gear
-if my hands were bound. -What the--?
Tie my hands up for a second?
-Give it a shot. -Hmm.
Whoa, it's true! I can't use my Ether Gear either!
-It was an unexpected weakness. -Rope is amazing!
-It can neutralize Ether Gear… -Also, Shiki.
-What? -There's something I want to ask this guy.
Okay. I'll bring him down.
I doubt this slimeball knows anything about Valkyrie, but maybe.
Valkyrie, you say?
I know that lady extremely well.
That Valkyrie was one good woman.
I really appreciate you letting me use your shower, Nino.
That was kind of you. You're a good guy.
Seriously now, don't mention it.
I shouldn't.
Don't fret.
There's no worry about being eavesdropped on here, we can talk freely.
In that case, could you please tell us
how it is that you know a secret underground way into the labor camp?
Well, to be honest, it'd be complicated if I tried to explain.
The people around here call me Kenzaiten Nino, the Fist of Heaven.
Kenzaiten?
I'm someone Madame Kurenai has been good to.
You mean, you're allied with Madame Kurenai?
Yeah. As such,
I know that Madame Kurenai is currently looking for a ship called the Edens Zero.
So, Madame Kurenai eavesdropped on every last region of Sun Jewel,
and located the individuals who mentioned Edens Zero.
What a bummer. I was gonna ask Witch or Sister for help,
but I can't get in touch with them. We can't connect to the Edens Zero.
Her tech can really pick up something as trivial as that?
This is quite remarkable.
Hold up. Why is Kurenai searching for Edens Zero?
I've no idea.
I just followed my orders
and made contact with the individual who had mentioned the Edens Zero.
In other words, you.
I was told to take that individual captive, but…
your Wibble Wobble Ruby Bobble cosplay was simply out of this world!
Just leave it to me. I'll wibble wobble your heart!
See, you know how people say anime will save the universe?!
Oh, do they?
So, Wibble Wobble, I decided I want to help you guys instead of capturing you.
I suppose Labilia truly did turn out to be useful.
Nino, are you positive it's okay to betray Madame Kurenai?
Oh, I'm not going to betray anybody.
She's terrifying!
That's why I'll tell Madame Kurenai I never found you.
This is as far as I can go to help you.
Right. Thank you.
The labor camp is dangerous.
Once you retrieve your friends from it, leave this planet
following the route I told you about.
Hmm!
However, we're not leaving until we find Valkyrie, of course.
-One last thing. -Huh?
You'd also look good cosplaying Angelic Angela.
"I'll be your angel."
Isn't she half-naked?
Anime will save the universe!
He is one strange man…
Saved us, though.
I think we should get a move on to rescue Master and Homura!
-Yeah! -Good idea!
So, this is the labor camp.
Hmm? A bird?
It looks like a machine.
Oh!
Hmm.
Does it want us to follow it?
I don't know, it could be a trap.
I would recommend caution.
Stay close!
Um… Hi?
Be quiet, girl.
Can't you see I'm currently meditating?
Isn't this how you're supposed to meditate?
-Can't do it. -I cannot do it.
Hmm?!
Steal!
Who in the heck is this guy?!
Mysterious actions detected.
What?! You took my B-Cube from me?
But when did you--?
I did that by using my Ether Gear.
I call it Steal Hand.
With my Ether Gear, I'm able to move objects 10 centimeters.
The Steal Hand's capabilities
allow me to snatch away other people's personal belongings.
He's bragging.
What a show-off.
That's one hundred percent a crime!
Exactly, and as a result,
I was taken prisoner and then brought here into the labor camp.
Hmm?
-Steal! -Huh?
Hmm?
[gasps
Pretty nice move, right?
What the hell?! Don't be stealing my underwear!
-Is this criminal a pervert? -Yeah, I would say so.
Give me back my panties, you pervert!
These are no mere panties, they're a trophy.
Shut up! Go die!
So you're looking for Lady Valkyrie, right?
I was watching you three through Flappy.
I believe I have some idea of why you came here.
Question, you stated we must be looking for Valkyrie.
Do you know her?
Of course. My name is Paul.
I'm Lady Valkyrie's pupil, you see.
-Her pupil? -And before you ask,
-no, I've never met Homura. -Wait, you know about Homura?
Well, I heard about her from Lady Valkyrie.
I must admit,
I didn't think Homura would come all this way to this planet to find her.
I'm not really convinced that I should be handing you this,
but on the other hand, maybe I should do so.
Sorry, what do you mean?
The truth is recorded here. On this.
The reason why Lady Valkyrie disappeared from Homura's life.
The reason why she came to this planet.
And the reason she has not returned.
Wait a sec!
You're saying something happened to Valkyrie?
-Hmm, I see. -Hey, uh…!
-What?! -That man is talking to the bird.
Well, it's a machine.
What in the world's going on here?
I don't get it.
It sounds like Lady Valkyrie doesn't wanna see Homura.
I do not understand what's happening.
Hmm.
So, Valkyrie, huh?
You mean that tan android woman, right?
Everyone here knows who she is.
Where's Valkyrie? Tell me you know where my teacher is!
Don't worry, I know.
Please, you have to tell me where to find her!
Not a chance, you idiot.
Hey! You want some more of this, then?
That collar isn't simply a counter for mining ore.
As long as it's around your neck, it marks you as a prisoner.
What?
Wardens are allowed to do whatever we please to prisoners.
Denying 'em meals, throwing 'em into solitary,
punishing them however we see fit.
Or sending them into the nests of ferocious Stones.
What's this?
What the…?
I also enjoy the privilege of partial access
to the Crimson Eye system.
Bye-bye now, and good riddance.
Wait! Tell me about Valkyrie!
I just sent you peasants
into the nest of a Stone named Black Rock, the lord of these mines.
Nobody's ever been able to defeat that Stone,
and yet, so many prisoners have tried to.
You'll both probably get killed almost immediately.
But even if you manage to defeat Black Rock,
then Madame Kurenai will get a heap of metal.
Either way, no matter what happens, me and Madame Kurenai win.
Ah, the world is such an unfair place.
Man, that really hurts. For Pete's sake.
How in the hell is that scrawny little brat
strong enough to throw me into the ceiling?
It ticks me off!
Maybe I should've killed him and his hot little friend with my own hands!
Need I remind you, Benzaiten Garrot,
that you shouldn't be so rough with the prisoners?
After all, these inmates belong to Madame Kurenai, not you.
Fuzaiten Baku.
How long have you been there?
Oh, come on now, Garrot.
That's a pretty strange thing to ask.
You know how fast I am. I just got here.
What do you want, then?
To tell you Madame Kurenai's summoning us.
So, why not just call me to say that?
Well, I suppose, it's because I wanted to come see you, buddy.
You should know I'm really irritated right now.
Ah, what a coincidence.
It turns out Madame Kurenai is presently rather irritated as well.
Dang it!
How did we end up in caves again?
The warden said he knew where Valkyrie is!
We gotta go back!
Please, don't tell me it's bugs again!
What the frigging hell is that?!
Not a bug! It is not a bug!
Now get it together, Shiki!
Look at it closely, it's not a big bug, it's a big cat!
It's alright, okay, it doesn't look like a big old insect.
That giant thing is a Stone, too?
Would you look at the size of that thing?
You think it would be enough to bring the number on this collar down to zero?
-You want to fight it? -We can totally take it on!
Yeah.
Let's do it!
Magimech Attack…
Gravity Fist!
Warrior Maid Single-Sword Attack, Snake Strike!
That was close…
What type of material is that thing made of?
This noise sounds like…
-Bugs! -They're not bugs, they're not insects!
-They're birds! You hear me, Shiki?! -Huh?
Aw!
Not good.
There are too many of them to defeat by myself.
Sorry to keep you waiting!
Man, I've been dying to say that line for a while now!
Rebecca!
Hmm.
Homura! Shiki! Are you two okay?
Yeah. Hi, Pino. Hey, Happy.
Master?
-He appears to have been knocked out. -Yes.
Who's that guy?
His name is Paul and his bird told us we could find the two of you down here.
We need to get out of here, right now!
What are you talking about? I just had the greatest entrance of my life!
And now you want to up and leave this cool moment?
There's no way you'll be able to survive fighting that monster.
Monster? What do you mean? Those are tiny bugs.
What is that thing?!
We only saw the bugs when we made our entrance.
That Stone is known as Black Rock, it's the lord of these mines.
Nobody has ever been able to take that creature down.
And yet, so many have tried to.
-Nonetheless, we have to try. -Hmm?
We'll never be free from our servitude to Madame Kurenai
if we don't remove these collars.
But if we can defeat that behemoth, we'll harvest enough medal to be released.
Don't you know that metal will just be sent straight to Madame Kurenai?
So what? That doesn't matter to me.
Trust me, you wouldn't be saying that if you learned the truth.
My Teacher taught me, always follow true on your convictions!
Oh…
Homura!
Your sword!
It must have broken apart during my last attack.
Can you make yourself a new one?
I can but it will take time.
Analyzation done!
Its scales are composed of black crystals.
Those gems are an extremely hard mineral.
Does it have a weakness?
There appears to be a fragile section upon its back.
If you concentrate a large amount of Ether there,
maybe you could pierce it.
We've got to hit its back?
How are we gonna get that close?
If Master would wake up, he could use Gravity.
-Rebecca! -Huh?
Come over here and step on my sword.
This may be broken but I'll throw you on to its back with Ether power.
What?!
I need you to trust me.
Oh…
Hey, do me a favor. Can you catch me?
Oh, I'll catch you, alright!
Like a princess!
No, I won't reach!
Shiki!
You'll make it!
Wha…?
Wha--! There it is!
Happy! Ether Bullet, Full Burst!
Magimech Attack…
Gravity Center!
MAGIMECH ATTACK GRAVITY CENTER
Homura, now!
Warrior Maid Single-Sword Attack!
Snake bite!
WARRIOR MAID SINGLE-SWORD ATTACK SNAKE BITE
Oh…
-Whoa! -Amazing, we did it!
The Black Rock's crystals are disappearing!
Yup!
Correct. The precious minerals are being transferred to Madame Kurenai.
-It's down to zero! -Yours too, Shiki.
Huh?!
It went back to 100,000?!
What's going on here?
Stupid Madame, that's not fair!
Kurenai has no intention of releasing you.
Prisoners who are sent to the labor camps
are then forced to live out their entire lives here.
All so Madame Kurenai can live a lavish lifestyle at their expense.
No way!
Then what are we supposed to do?
Steal!
Our collars!
I could've taken these oppressive collars off at any time
with my Ether Gear and release you.
-Oh, showing off again. -He sure is.
Hmm.
Homura.
I suspected you may come to Sun Jewel, so I've held this for you.
Hmm?
The object in your hands contains the record of Valkyrie's truth.
What in the world is that thing?
Someone who'd come in for the attendant interview.
I figured I'd keep him as a pet for a while since he's so cute.
How distasteful, I pity the poor guy.
You could make a fine pet for her as well, you know?
Never mind all this talk about my pets.
I'm extremely irritated at the moment.
A little birdie whispered in my ear
that Valkyrie's people are planning another uprising.
Now that I have a lead on a new potential source of income,
why don't we activate the Crimson Eye system
and incinerate the entire labor camp?
MY MOTHER, THE MACHINE