CENTRAL METALLION CONTINENT
KINGDOM OF A-IAN-MAIDE WALLED CITY OF RONCE
Bend the knee to us.
Swear fealty to our banner.
And not only will you be saving your life and the lives of your family.
You'll be helping to unify the Central Metallion Continent
and bring an end to a world in which humans are always at war
fighting each other over territory.
The tragedy that's befallen this town
is just a part of the pain we must go through
to create a new world.
A peaceful world.
SORCERER SHOGUN
And…
And what if I refuse to swear fealty to you?
I thought it was clear.
You lose everything.
Family, fortune, territory.
In the same way that Meta-llicana Castle was wiped
from the face of the earth two years ago.
Not even Dark Schneider, the legendary Wizard of Flames
was able to stop us.
The…
…Wizard of Flames?
Come to your senses.
Ninety percent of the great cities of Meta-llicana
have already pledged themselves to us.
I invite you to do the same.
Join us.
Help us to create a new world without war.
Join us in serving our master,
the High King, Lord Kall-Su.
How despicable.
Oh, this wretched seal.
Once I'm released from it and have emerged from the earth,
I will crush them all
like the insects they are.
You must hurry, Kall-Su.
Release the last seal as quickly as you can.
You must awaken me, Anthrasax, the God of Destruction
before others do!
BASTARD‼ -HEAVY METAL, DARK FANTASY-
HELL'S REQUIEM
OUTSKIRTS OF THE KINGDOM OF A-IAN-MAIDE DANIS
It grows cold.
REBELLION
I feel his magic in these cold winds
even though he's far away in the Kingdom of Judas.
We have searched high and low,
and still we have found no clue.
Time grows short.
Soon will come that "Day of Reawakening" mentioned
in the ancient texts.
We must find the last seal that vanished along with Meta-llicana Castle.
And it will be found.
I, Yngwie von Mattström, the Sorcerer Shogun,
do swear it on my honor!
Lord Yngwie!
A detachment of armed rebels got past our sentries
and is attacking our food stores.
It's not rebels.
It's merely some starving locals.
Well, then deal with them.
Put them all in the ground if you must.
But, my lord,
they're being led by samurai from A-Ian-Maide, survivors--
By what?
Samurai?
Hurry up!
Let's grab as much of the townspeople's food as we can
before that sorcerer can send reinforcements.
Goddamn orcs!
You think we're gonna stand here and let you trample us
like you did to the rest of these humans!
Think again!
Dio!
How is that?
Great.
But don't damage the storehouse, Vai.
Like I would do that.
Hmm.
These humans are good!
Really good!
-Not only is the swordsmanship topnotch… -Hold it right there!
…they can even cast spells like a wizard!
Where have they been keeping these guys?
I can't believe we were able to conquer this kingdom
if they've got fighters like this!
Now's our chance.
Let's go and get your food back!
Yes, he's right!
Now while we have these brave samurai here to hold off the enemy,
let us show these barbarians
that we're done letting them steal our harvest from us!
To the storehouse!
Look at it!
All the food we've paid in tribute.
It's all here!
Heaven be blessed!
Now our children won't go hungry this winter.
Everyone, grab as much as you can!
The days of our children starving are over!
Oh, really?
So your children are starving, are they?
How very unfortunate.
However,
that is no excuse for breaking the High King's laws.
You've committed a grave crime here.
And as I serve the High King…
…it is one of my duties
to see that such crimes are punished.
That scream?
The storehouse.
But how did he… Impossible.
-Quick! Follow me! -Right.
Samurai, huh?
Wasn't enough to starve them to death?
Sorcerer Shogun!
I'm going to carve you into little pieces for that!
You're dead, you bastard!
Vai! Wait!
Let go of me! Let go!
So you're here alone?
Sorcerer Shogun.
Isn't that a bit rash?
Where are your underlings?
Or do you really mean to take us on all by yourself?
Even I'm not as sure of myself as that.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always understood
that it was against the samurai code to fight with many against one.
Yes, you're quite right.
We call it the way of the samurai.
Well, it's a foolish custom.
But one that is very pure and noble in spirit.
In fact, I'd rather admire you for it.
Why do you waste your talents roaming the world as masterless samurai
when you could be knights in service to the High King?
A samurai…
cannot serve two masters at once!
Is that part of your samurai way?
Yes, it is.
And I'll tell you another part of it.
The way of the samurai requires us to avenge our master's death,
even at the cost of our own lives.
It's called "loyalty"!
Sorcerer Shogun!
My loyalty demands that one of us die here today.
You may declare your name.
Samurai Master Joshua Belaira.
Ah, you're a master, are you?
Good. Then I won't have to go easy on you.
Sorcerer Shogun.
Your days of pillaging are over.
How absurd.
You're the only ones who are pillaging around here.
Fighting to take back what was stolen from our people.
That is also part of loyalty!
These supplies belong to the High King's army now!
L-Look!
The Sorcerer Shogun's armor has been damaged!
Bravo, Joshua.
See that?
That's the true power of a samurai.
Well done, samurai.
You were able to dodge my sword well enough to avoid a fatal blow.
That's impossible.
Not for the Sorcerer Shogun.
Known as Yngwie von Mattström.
Hmm?
I've seen you somewhere before, haven't I?
Of course. I know you--
Shut up.
You are Zion's--
Silence!
Never mind him, Sorcerer.
I'm your opponent.
I'm aware of that.
Then get ready.
Wait, Joshua.
A battle between fighters
with your abilities can only end in you both killing each other.
Stay out of this.
Huh? Wait, are you…
You're Kai Harn?
Even if you defeat him before dying, he's only one Sorcerer Shogun
and the samurai of A-Ian-Maide will need their samurai master
for the battles to come.
I suggest you let me take care of this one.
But, Kai…
Well, well, well.
So the rumors are true then.
I'd heard the samurai of A-Ian-Maide had a woman among their leaders.
And not just any woman.
No, far from it.
To think they would serve alongside one of the Three Sorcerer Generals,
their former enemy.
It's incredible.
Not when you consider who made it happen.
And who was that?
Who could have made these samurai accept a mortal foe
as a comrade-in-arms?
There's no need for you to know, you're going to die anyway.
Am I?
Are you sure of that?
You're not gonna…
Yeah. I'll let her handle it.
Don't dare underestimate her, she'll pull it off.
Mm…
The cold wind stirred up by Kall-Su's magic killed our crops,
our livestock disappeared,
the children went hungry,
and the adults were sent away on forced labor.
Every town, village, and hamlet has changed a lot over the last two years.
Filthy orcs and goblins walk the streets in broad daylight,
doing whatever they want,
brutalizing innocent people.
Is this the ideal world that you and Kall-Su talk about?
Is this the world you expected the Three Sorcerer Generals to fight for?
Well, is it?
Because something is terribly wrong with it.
Doesn't Kall-Su see that?
With transformation comes pain.
Beyond that pain is where utopia lies.
This isn't pain, it's slaughter.
What's utopian about that?
You're insane.
You and Kall-Su.
Your slinging insults at me I can forgive.
However…
I can never forgive one who insults the High King!
Yajo-Teioken!
So fast.
Did… did you see that?
Did you see that strike?
I didn't see anything.
Except a flash.
Kai! Get away!
You managed to deflect one of my supersonic strikes.
This time, however, you will not be so lucky!
-Yajo-- -Talas!
Ah! What have you done?
She got him!
With the petrification spell!
Brilliant move.
This is High Ancient Magic!
Don't you know that the Three Sorcerer Generals
have even more powerful magic than the samurai?
Put your weapon away.
Open your eyes, will you?
When will you finally realize that the master you serve is evil?
Save your breath, traitor!
I'll never forgive you for insulting Kall-Su.
It's clear you lived too long with the enemy.
He's ruined you.
First, he defiled your body.
Then he stole your heart.
Huh…
Wait…
So does that mean he defiled your body?
No. It can't be.
Is it true, Kai?
Did he?
No one defiled my body or stole my heart.
That's a dirty lie!
Hmph.
What?
He's broken free from her spell!
This fight is over!
Ugh. What's this?
Huh?
This barrier…
Hold on.
This kind of advanced-level defense spell can be cast only by a cleric.
This is far more advanced
than a mid-level wizard spell samurai were capable of.
That must mean one of them is a High Priest.
But which one?
Who is it?
It's Yoko.
Yo… Yoko.
Eh, Yoko?
Yoko.
No way.
Yoko is here?
But that's not… that's not possible.
Why did you have to butt in?
I had it under control.
Kai, don't be a sore loser.
The enemy's main army is approaching.
Time to retreat.
We need to pull out of here before anyone else gets hurt.
Yoko.
Tia Noto Yoko.
Daughter of the Great Priest of Meta-llicana.
But it's always been thought she died when Meta-llicana Castle disappeared.
Can it really be her?
How was it possible she survived that explosion?
But never mind that.
How is it possible that she…
That anyone…
could be so…
beautiful.
The enemy forces are almost here.
Retreat!
And you, civilians, you should come with us too.
You'll be safer!
And don't go empty-handed.
Carry as much of the food as you can!
Wait! Who's behind it?
Your leader. Just who are they?
You spoke before of the one
who made it happen--
You might want to be more careful.
That barrier is self-protecting,
and it doesn't take too kindly to being poked and thwarted by anyone,
even a Sorcerer Shogun.
So glad you could make it.
But as of right now,
these people and their food are our main concern.
So let's get out of here.
We'll meet again, don't you worry about that.
We'll finish this fight then.
Right.
So don't try running away.
This isn't over.
Tell your master we're gonna fight him to the end.
And if I'm the last one left standing,
I'm going to do whatever I need to stop you.
Tia Noto Yoko.
The only daughter of Geo Noto Soto,
one of the five knights who defeated
Dark Schneider in the Golem War.
You're really something, Yoko.
Oh, you're kind of sticking out down there.
Oh.
I'm starting to stick out too.
She's a lot different than I thought she'd be
after hearing Sean talk about her.
I thought she'd be more headstrong and impulsive.
We will stop Kall-Su from achieving his goal…
no matter what.
KINGDOM OF A-IAN-MAIDE MOUNTAIN RANGE
First, Kai hit him with Talas,
and just when he'd finally got out of that,
Yoko showed up and drew a barrier around him,
stop that Sorcerer Shogun cold.
It was hilarious.
If you could have seen the look on the guy's face!
You saw it, Schen.
Kai and Yoko were amazing.
-Right? -Mm.
Yes, indeed.
Remarkable women, both of them.
Yoko's powers in particular are quite extraordinary.
She can hold her own against Kai Harn's magic
and swordsmanship despite all of Kai's training
as one of the Three Sorcerer Generals.
Man…
those clerics and their defense spells are pretty incredible, aren't they?
Yeah.
Yes.
To say nothing of their healing spells,
just one of them is more effective than a hundred medics.
Huh?
I guess we can all agree, she's quite indispensable to us now.
Sure she is, she's really hot too.
Oh, grow up.
Hmm?
I've seen you somewhere before, haven't I?
Of course, I know you--
Shut up.
You are Zion's--
Marie, I will avenge you.
I swear it.
Hmm? What is it, Angus?
Something wrong?
Typical, he's always so quiet.
Mm. Ah.
Hey! Hey!
-Hey! -Huh?
Hey!
So, she sealed the Sorcerer Shogun in a barrier?
Yes.
It would seem that
she can now cast spells at the level of a High Priest.
The progress she made over the last two years is impressive.
She used her time here well.
Indeed.
Her powers have increased much more rapidly than I expected.
Her strength and purpose, her stubborn determination to fight
has brought about a spiritual upheaval within her.
And awaken the natural gifts that she has always possessed.
Her determination to fight…
But this is only the beginning.
For destiny has given Yoko a far more important mission,
as I suspect you already know.
Yes.
Kall-Su's army is strong.
And the tide of battle has turned against us.
Yet, we must still fight on regardless.
To avenge our fallen lord and master, King Harris.
We samurai must avenge our master's death,
even at the cost of our lives.
That's right.
To fulfill our oath of loyalty.
We must do it to restore the peace in the world
which is slipping away.
We must do it.
Whatever the cost, whatever the odds, it is our duty
to carry on the fight no matter how hopeless it may be.
It is our destiny.
And it was destiny as well
that brought that girl to us two years ago,
with the boy in her arms and covered in blood.
An intruder this late at night?
Very odd. This is a secret village.
Who would even know where to find it?
Good question.
Maybe it's a scout from the Dark Rebel Army.
Help me, please!
You're a samurai, right?
I beg you…
You've got to save him.
You've got to save Lucien!
Perhaps, this is destiny
intervening once more.
Father…
Princess Sheila…
Gara…
Everyone…
If you're still alive somewhere…
Me and Kai, we're… we're both safe now.
But, of course, you're alive.
Yoko's taking a shower.
These are the times when I'm glad I worked on my ninja skills.
Huh?
Someone's out there.
Vai again?
Come on. When will you grow up?
Okay, Vai, that does it!
Huh?
Hi there, Yoko!
It's you, Lucien.
You've got to stop this.
Being a Peeping Tom is not part of the samurai way, Vai.
Yeah, okay. Okay.
Yay! I knew I'd find you!
It's been two years.
No matter how many times I performed the ritual
for breaking the seal,
I could never release Dark Schneider's seal…
Well, all right then,
I'll be the one who protects you, Lucien.
No matter what.
I'll protect you.