Chapter 13 Episode 9: Opening Fire in the Storm 3 (Abridged)

The guild that has Tokyo Babel Tower as their Portal is the Taito Ward Oshiage Game Masters, the guild that manages the game happening in Tokyo. They normally act in two man cells with the Entertainers, but Alice who manages the Shinjuku and Shibuya areas is working with someone from some other guild. Their main job is to remove obstructions to the game, but they get the special privilege of hiding their actual affiliations and claim to be part of some other guild, which they use for infiltration. Alice isn't the only Game Master of course, so other members watch over other areas. There's Leanan Sidhe and Santa Kumara who are in charge of Taito's Akihabara and Asakusa areas. Leanan is a Creator and secretly investigating them since not even the Game Masters can figure out what their deal is.
The Creators guildmaster is Turing, a computer genius and authority on AI. The Creators are a fortress in the information war that even the Game Masters have trouble with, and the Game Masters need to know everything to manage the game. They sent in Leanan Sidhe, who found out that Turing is secretly connected with the Invaders. Sanat Kumara was then sent in to investigate further.

Sanat Kumara has the power to share memories by connecting to another person's mind. He's smart and honest, and Leanan trusts him deeply. He also has his own wish that works with his managerial supervising, so people thought he'd be best against the Invaders. But then he started doing things the Game Masters couldn't understand...
Flashback!
Police: We need help in Akihabara with a riot!
Sanat Kumara: Jedi mind trick!
Police: WHAT
poof!
Police: ...what happened? A riot? What riot?
Sanat Kumara has been hiding some of his actions and won't explain himself to Leanan Sidhe. And then, Sanat Kumara finally took direct action by kidnapping Akiha Gongen and disappearing. With him was Daikoku, also known as Onamuji no Mikoto, or Okuninushi.

Present
Alice: So was all that exposition right?
Leanan Sidhe: ...yes, mostly.
Jambavan: The tea we ordered is here! Here you go Alice, Leanan Sidhe.
Leanan: Thank you...
This is the community workspace that the Creators go to often. Alice called Leanan here to go over their information together.
Alice: I'm glad you aren't an enemy. But Sanat Kumara... (sips tea) ...you say he seems to have changed?
Leanan: ...he isn't Sanat Kumara. He'd never attack someone without provocation. He'd never be taken in by fame or temptation, so I was glad to pair up with him. I can't believe he'd go kidnap someone...it's like someone's pretending to be him.
Alice: ...it's likely the Invaders did something to him then. And they're using him as part of their forces? Sanat doesn't seem like the type to be done in so easily though.
Alice knows how strong Sanat is, and that it shouldn't be possible for anyone to unilaterally change his mind given his power.

Alice: ...Sanat Kumara should at least be capable of dragging an opponent down with him, so why? Oh whatever, we should think about other things.
Jamabavan: Like Daikoku, or...?
Alice: Sanat Kumara of course. Daikoku is working as an individual with the Invaders, and at the moment he's never gone past that line. Sanat however is a veteran Game Master, and if he's backing one group, we need to find out why. You're helping, Leanan Sidhe. Understood?
Leanan nods.
Alice: Okay, time to go...wherever it is we're going. I guess we have to start with eyewitness testimony for Sanat Kumara. He went to Umamichi in Asakusa, right? Know anything from around there?
Leanan: Umamich Academy is the Asakusa Taoshis' Portal. They're really old school, and Sanat Kumara is their main gang boss. He likes that school, but there's always something happening with all the punks and scrappers there. His eyes were always shining, but after he disappeared, some problem happening in Katsushika Shibamata came back.
Alice: What?

Leanan Sidhe: Shibamata has this one Transient who's really strong in a fight. He's, uh...Taishakuten? Sanat Kumara threw hands with him one time and really enjoyed it.
Alice: Hmm...let's go investigate Asakusa since it's close by.
Jamabavan: You think he'll show up for old friends if it's someone he has a connection to?
Alice: Yes...if he was the old Sanat Kumara.
Leanan: (frown)
Alice: Even if he doesn't, we might find clues of what he did and--
Thunderclap!
Jambavan: EEK
Alice: ...hmm. The storm's already reached parts of Minato and Chiyoda to the south of here. (looks at weather report)
Alice: We'd best get on a move on since I doubt the East and West will sit around.
Jambavan: Alice, you remember that I'm really part of the Ueno guild? I'm really only helping you part time so I'd like to go ba--OW
Alice: Move your butt if you don't want me pulling on it.
Jambavan: Okay...I hope everyone is okay.
Leanan: Sanat Kumara...

Meanwhile, at some safehouse Daikoku set up under a fake name and made to keep people away
Daikoku: ...Sanat Kumara? Where are you going? I'd rather you stay here as my bodyguard. Also this is my last safehouse...curse Hougen and his underlings being cleverer than I thought and pinning down my other safehouses. And the Warmongers figured out who I really am...
Sanat Kumara: Just have that crow tengu you brought here guard you.
Daikoku: ...
Sanat: Or you could get Takeminakata to do that. It's unnecessary for me to stay and guard you, and I have other things to do. I want to see how everyone in Asakusa is doing.
Daikoku: Ooh, did you have a change of heart?
Sanat: ...the Asakusa Taoshis have just allied with the Aoyama Missionaries. (pulls out phone)

Sanat Kumara: The remaining members of the Missionaries have evacuated to the school in Taito, but far as I know the Transients in Asakusa are still fighting.
Daikoku: ...and you think you can show yourself to your old friends? After helping the Invaders to bring this chaos to Tokyo?
Sanat: ...I haven't changed in my feelings towards my kouhais.
Daikoku: Haha, I hope they feel the same towards you...oh excuse me. Okay fine, there's always someone else. It's you and I switched to the Invaders with our own things going on. But I'll never join the Rule Makers. I have nothing after this, so I'm throwing everything into this operation to make it work. Safe travels then.
Sanat: ... (leaves)

Daikoku: Now then.
Akiha Gongen: (frowns)
Daikoku: Have you calmed down? Do you know who I am?
Akiha: ...Onamuji no Mikoto. Or Okuninushi. You were the World Representative of my world once. Why are you claiming to be Daikoku?
Daikoku: Precisely for the reasons you just said! I USED to be a World Representative, but now "Okuninushi" means nothing in the hierarchy of things! So I'm using Daikoku's name and Shadow and powers...though it's pulled half off now. You are someone who could be my Divided Spirit, so do you know why I brought you here? Tokyo's order is falling and the Hierarchy System is turning over.
Akiha: ...what?

Daikoku: Yes, you'd be done in if you stayed in Akihabara. You're welcome for that.
Akiha: I-I'm sorry milord, I have to go back and--
Daikoku: ...no. You and Takeminakata must serve me.
Akiha: Takeminakata is here in Tokyo???
Daikoku: Yes! You swore loyalty once before, didn't you? Well now's the time to show that loyalty!
Akiha: (frown)
Daikoku: Hahahahaha!
How wretched and pitiful to pull rank with a bluff on a ranking that doesn't exist anymore. All he's doing is taking advantage of guilt and compassion.
Daikoku: I've given up what's left of my pride. You'll get yours, Amaterasu!
Daikoku (narrating): And I'll do anything to make it happen! If this Invaders plot works, my position will flip around. This is my last wish, and I've given up everything else about myself because I have nothing else to do!

Elsewhere
Shinya: !!
Perun: Hmph. So you've run away using your minions as a shield, Shinya Tennouji. Well they're mine now!
Temujin: (barfs blood) ...well that was embarrassing. I'll settle things with Shinya next time. I must!
Temujin thinks about how he became ruler of the steppes after winning against Jamukha. His name became legend, and he became World Representative. Now he can't stop being a conqueror, or else there'd be no point to his cutting down Jamukha.
Temujin: ...yes, I chose to cut down even my sworn friend, so all I can do is continue walking on alone as a conqueror.
Perun: Hahaha! Yes, pillage and burn!
Temujin: The time for invasion has come!
Shinya: ...Kalki! Taromaiti!
The city burns as Shinya runs off alone and wounded.

Akihabara
Ulaanbaatar punches out some mobs.
Ulaanbaatar: Meeeeh, this smells just like Xanadu when shit was going down.
There was a time in Xanadu when all the crises were happening, so the son of some divine king came down on a rope of light and incarnated on the earth. He became a hero and fought since he was young and punched out like all the disasters. That hero's name is still revered. Once he was done, he declared he was retiring and said "mkay, I'mma lie down now and not do anything."
Flashback!
Akiha Gongen: Senpai! You have to go to practice and classes!
Ulaanbaatar: Nah. Let's kick back together and have fun Akiha!
Akiha: I can't, even if you are the one advising me!
Ulaanbaatar has zero motivation and makes zero effort to hide that fact.
Ulaanbataar: Pffft, my Tokyo life motto is "no zeal and no drive." I mean come on, I had to work nonstop back in my world once, so I should at least get to not bust my ass here and take a load off. I'm in my own trashy isekai LN, but in reverse!
Akiha: >:(
Ulaanbaatar: Aww, don't be like that.
Akiha: Go to practice! We have to save the town if something bad happens!
Ulaanbaatar: Fiiiine, one more minut--ow, stop pulling!
Present
The fire station alarm is ringing.
Ulaanbaatar: Meh. Where'd Akiha go? He's not the type to run if there's trouble, so...oh fine nobody else is here to do it. Time to show my old chops.
End of Episode

Live A Hero Christmas Melt Countdown Episode 3 (Abridged)

Organizer A: Oh no, how could this happen?
This is the event organizing agency, and the party is brought to a meeting room where the organizers are agonizing over the situation.
Organizer A: I've never seen a fortune be wrong before, much less be this wrong. And the event starts tomorrow! (turns toward party and bows)
Organizer A: Thank you again for taking care of the Monsters in town. I don't know what'll happen, but we'll probably have to put things on hold. Sorry about that, since you came all this way to work.
MC: No, things happen...can't anything be done?
Crowne: ...hmmmm. The Monsters show up now, and the Crystal Tower breaks its 100% accuracy record.
Gomeisa: Umm. Two things related?
Crowne: Can't say for sure since I can't prove it either way. But if the crystal is what I think it is, the tower isn't really making predictions. If spirits are real, then okay then. But if the tower can influence the weather? It's possible the Monsters have something to do with it. If that's true, we got some super space tech going on here.
MC: Hmm...

Crowne: ...if there's a Monster up there, we can destroy it. Can't say I can fix things until I can look at it all, assuming I'm even right. I say we should check it out. We can at least see if we can find out why the fortune was wrong.
Gomeisa: Oh, right. Maybe can't fix weather, but want to help if brings back festival!
MC: (turns to the committee) Can we go to the tower?
Organizer A: GASP!
The tower is holy grounds to the planet's people. Also no one actually knows what it's like in there. there's lots of resistance to the idea of letting offworlders inside.
Crowne: Between the weather, the wrong prediction, and the Monsters? Something is clearly up with the place, and it's really likely Monsters are related to it all.
MC: Our job is destroying Monsters. If there's any there, we'll take care of them.
Crowne: Yeah, this is part of securing the festival. Can't we get permission to go in and investigate?
Committee discussion intensifies.
Organizer A: ...okay. If Monsters are doing something, we can't stop them ourselves. Please go. And if you find any Monsters...please save the tower from them.

Later
The party has been given a map to the tower, which Crowne is looking at.
Crowne: ...well we sure talked big. What do we do if it turns out we can't handle things on our own?
MC: We'll cross that bridge when we come to it / We can still do things / Eh, it'll work out
---
(C) Crowne: Damn, you're optimistic.
---
Crowne: Yeah, you're right. We asked to go, and if anything can be done it's up to us.
Gomeisa: Whatever needed, I do my best! Bring back Christmas!
Crowne: Wow, you're still on that? Well whatever motivates you.
Gomeisa: Christmas important! Must be big happy day!
Crowne: ...yeah, it's come this far, so let's do what we can guys.
And so the party heads for the tower.

Flashback!
Some snowy Christmas ago in Orient City, Gomeisa's POV...
Procy: FUCK OFF
Wolf: Uppity little midget! We're taking that big baby with us next time!
Procy: You'll be taking a big fat L courtesy of my goddamn hammer next time if you show your ugly ass faces again!
The villains hobble off. Procy cancels out of his suit and sighs.
Procy: ...well damn, all bark no bite. They actually thought they could take me?
Procy approaches Gomeisa, who's been trying to hide himself.
Procy: ...okay they're gone. I don't think they'll be back anytime soon.
Procy smiles. This isn't enough to make Gomeisa stop shaking. He cries, remembering how terrified he was being shoved into a dark cage, mistreated, and brought to an unknown planet.
Procy: Uh, I said they're gone. Stop crying...ugh, this is why I hate kids... (thinks)
Procy: ...fiiine, I'll try using that thing the customers gave me. (goes inside his bar)

Procy eventually comes back out again, dressed as Santa!
Procy: M-Merry Christmas! I've got presents for good boys and girls and whatevers! ...uhh, what Christmas songs do I know? (hums)
Procy dances and sings, blushing furiously the whole time. Gomeisa doesn't actually know what Santa is yet, but seeing the performance makes him feel better.
Procy: DID YOU JUST LAUGH AT ME!? Dammit, I was thinking I was overdoing it! ...well at least it made the crying stop...what, presents? Wait, you actually CAN understand me? Uh, I was just saying things, I don't actually have anything... (scratches head)
Gomeisa looks up at the falling snow.
Procy: ...oh yeah, it usually snows this time of year. Well, how about I teach you about Earth culture? With how huge you are, it'd be faster if we did it together. Come help me.

Several hours later, Gomeisa and Procy make an igloo. Procy prompts Gomeisa to go inside, where he finds it to be surprisingly warm.
Procy: Nice huh? It's an igloo, you see them a lot in snowy countries in Earth...why are you looking so moved?
Gomeisa remembers a time when he first saw the God Tree on his home planet covered in ice. Flashback inside a flashback!
Dancer: Why do you look so worried, Gomeisa? ...oh, haha. God won't die from that. When winters get this bad, God makes those ice walls to protect itself.
Ice walls are things God makes to survive winter. Maybe God was as warm inside as he is now.
Present inside a flashback
Gomeisa: What are you smiling for, weirdo? Well then again, if you're smiling then it's cool.
This was the day Gomeisa found his smile again in a land far away from home. This was the day Gomeisa first found something nice about Earth, thanks to Procy. This was the day Christmas became a day of pleasant memories for Gomeisa.

Title Card: To the Holy Night's Holy Grounds

The party reaches the Crystal Tower and enters.
Crowne: Huh. I wasn't sure we could get in here, but it looks like we can go further in a bit.
Gomeisa: No Monsters here. So not Monster's fault...?
Crowne: Can't say yet. They might be further in. Also it's a lot cooler in here than I expected with the heat outside.
MC: Oh yeah, huh. Wonder why?
Gomeisa: Oh! Crystal must be protecting! Like igloo!
Crowne: Really? Well the walls being that thick look like they ought to be insulating.
Gomeisa: Like God's ice walls! Tower must be like God for city people.
Crowne: what
The walls and floors start shaking and cracking.
Crowne: Wait what? Earthquake?
Willies!
MC: I sense Monsters!

Vines crash into the room!
Gomeisa: WHAT
Crowne: Are those vines or tentacles!? Oh god there's more of them!
The vines are approaching!
MC: The vines are Monsters!
Gomeisa: WHAT
Crowne: So there ARE Monsters in here!
More incoming!
Crowne: Hmm...I doubt the vines are the main body, so I guess it's like the kaiju Monster that attacked Orient City with the core elsewhere.
MC: So it's this thing's fault?
Crowne: Maybe.
Gomeisa: This Monster stopping Christmas...?
Crowne: Whatever, we gotta fight! MC!
MC: Right! Execute!

Signal surprisingly good. Drone camera deployed, and Crowne is ready to roll.
Crowne: Time to get to the root! Wrench Smasher!
Crowne cuts the vines! The vines regenerate!
Crowne: Oh goddammit!
The vines snake towards Crowne!
MC: Look out!
Crowne: !? Hup!
The vines use Vine Whip!
Crowne: Hey wait, do these things have a mind!?
Gomeisa looks scared, but then balls his fists in determination.
Gomeisa: If we stop Monster...right, must save Christmas!
Crowne: Die already, you overgrown weed!
A vine circles around to Crowne's back.
Gomeisa: !! Crowne, look out!
Crowne: Wha--whoa!?

The vines gouged the spot where Crowne just was!
Gomeisa: Ouch. You okay?
Crowne: Y-yeah, thanks. Why'd you do that when you aren't even suited up!?
Gomeisa: Because don't want Crowne hurt.
Beep beep
MC: Huh?
Phone: New Path detected. Subject: Gomeisa. Connectivity: Very High
Gomeisa stands back up.
Gomeisa: Thanks to Boss and everyone...I got better. I can protect everyone better now...but it hurts to hurt others even with healing power.
The phone glows brighter!
Gomeisa: I want to protect home, like igloo! Where nobody need hurt in warm, safe place!
MC: You're gonna fight huh? Ready Gomeisa?
Gomeisa: Yes!
Phone: Connect?
MC: Execute!

Crowne: Hey wait, what was that light!?
Christmas Gomeisa, go!
Gomeisa: What?
MC: Yes! / A Santa suit? / It's kinda sexy...
Gomeisa: This same Santa suit Boss wore! Reminds me of day learned about igloos!
Crowne: Procy wore that? Really? That aside, someone got a totally new hero suit? Feels like I've seen this before. Is that your power MC?
The vines approach again!
Crowne: How much can these things grow!?
Gomeisa: I take care of it!
Gomeisa holds his arms up and creates an ice wall! The wall blocks the vines and freeze them!
Crowne: It stopped them? Actually it froze them!?
Gomeisa: Ice wall protect everybody!
Crowne: They're slowed! Wrench Smash!
The frozen vine shatters and doesn't regenerate.
Crowne: I don't know how that worked, but they stop when they hit that wall!
MC: Surprising / Gomeisa, push forward with your walls!
(A) Crowne: Gomeisa, move forward with your walls!

Gomeisa: Okay!
Gomeisa focuses and creates a path with his ice walls.
Crowne: Okay, let's get going!
Suddenly, somebody screaming is coming this way!
???: NOOOO
MC: WHAT
Sensettia: Why'd things turn out like this!?
Sensettia is being chased by vines and runs into the party.
Sensettia: Huh!? People!? H-hey, get away from here!
MC: Why are YOU there!? Come with us!
Gomeisa: Oh no, she can't come this way like this!
Gomeisa stops making walls. Sensettia slips in through the opening to group with the party.
Sensettia: Whew, I'm saved! ...well actually we're still in trouble I guess...huh, you guys heroes?
MC: Heroes and Operator.
Sensettia: You're an Operator!? Okay things should be good now. I'm Sensettia, contract with me please!
MC: WHAT / You're a hero too!?
(B) Sensettia: Uh...yeah!

Sensettia: Please, I got separated from a friend and this in an emergency! I'll fight on your side!
Crowne: Well, we can use the help actually.
Sensettia: Yes, that!
MC: Oh okay then.
Wireless contract sent! Accepted.
Sensettia: Okay! Transform me!
MC: Here we go, execute!
Sensettia transforms!
Sensettia: Nothing to fear now!
MC: Oh my god you're a musician!?
Gomeisa: Wow! Cool suit!
Sensettia: Oh right, I'll introduce myself later! Battle first!
Crowne: Agreed. Gomeisa, can you make a hole in the wall?
Gomeisa: Okay!
Crowne: First things first, we're cutting the vines up! Ready guys!?
Sensettia: Yeah! I'm gonna pull my weight now that I'm up! (readies keyboard weapon) Listen up, Monster!
BATTLE START

Chapter 13 Episode 8: Opening Fire in the Storm 2 (Abridged)

One of the big three guilds is the Invaders, based in Shinagawa. The seven World Representatives there can penetrate deep into others to change their dignity, their future, or even their faith. They can revolutionize a person's identity without it being recognized as an attack, and those affected can even start behaving like they worshipped or loved them from the beginning. All the World Representatives in that guild have changed the world just by existing.
One of the Representatives is Shinya Tennouji, World Representative of Olympus. He is unmistakably human, but he has also been selected to serve Zeus's role in his place. In Olympus Zeus was chosen to be connected by the bond of love to all things, and anyone who was important or had power was made to be connected to him as a lover, descendant, or blood relative. That in turn led Shinya to have the power to be loved by everyone just by existing. His original family was destroyed by this because of the fights that resulted.

Present
Perun: Shinya Tennouji. You were once one of us, and in other loops you were our enemy. We're paying you back now for what you've done to us!
Kalki: I object! I was born to destroy, but I came to know love here and shall fight for it.
Taromaiti: Don't forget about me. I was moved by how hard Shinya tried to protect Tokyo, and I won't let you Invaders destroy it!
Perun: Nuisances! Volkh, clear the way.
Volkh: Yes, Your Majesty! Fight me, minions!
Taromaiti: We're his friends, thank you!
Volkh: Behold the power of the Werewolf Prince!
POW

Volkh: Heh.
Kalki: I can't believe he's holding me back on his own!
Taromaiti: Keep him there! Flanking attack, go!
Volkh: Stop!
Taromaiti: ...what!?
Volkh raised an arm and froze the air to stop Taromaiti.
Taromaiti: I THOUGHT I recognized you! This is almost...actually it's exactly the same power as Horokeu Kamui's!
Shinya: You did it again, didn't you Perun?
Taromaiti: What?

Shinya: Perun has the power to grind and mix memories. Volkh Vseslav must be mixed with another Transient!
Perun: Correct! I added Complete Loyalty to Horokeu Kamui so he's now both Horokeu Kamui and Volkh Vseslav and neither of them! He's still strong enough to hold off two people at once, hahaha! Also what right do you have to speak with your nature of charming everyone and their grandmother? Is the friendships your friends have with you REAL?
Shinya: ...!
Perun: Can you truly declare you have not inflicted madness upon their selves?
Shinya: No...no! I never did that!
Perun: You can do that without lifting a finger, so you might as well act like kings as we do. You spout false words of friendship and bandy a shallow justice while turning your eyes away from your own karma and--
Shinya: YOU SHUT UP
Perun: Haha! (blocks arrow) Just like that! You use your sweet words to lower my guard and attack me!
The chestplate that is supposed to be Zeus's is shining.
Perun: Roppongi Academy has already fallen! My power shall crush your egos and make you part of my history! Indoeuro Thunder Crash!
Kalki and Taromaiti: Shinya, get away!
Shinya: Kalki! Taromaiti!

Roppongi
Baron: Y-you would turn against us? AGH
Servant Mobs: For Perun, the true king!
Roppongi Academy buildings are being destroyed and exposing the students to the rain! The place is falling to the Invaders!
Ifrit: Hey you! Eat shit! Fire Punch! (pow!) HA! Seriously though, what now? I hope Nobuharu's okay...huh?
Takeminakata: ...
Ifrit: Haven't I seen you somewhere? Oh right, you're one of the Tycoons leaders with a name. The sumo guy, Takem--ow, what the hell man!?
Takeminakata: (stares in traditional Japanese)
Ifrit: Are they controlling you!? Say something dammi--OW! Nobu...haru...
Takeminakata: (frowns)

Some Tycoons safehouse
Melusine: Master Licht, the scout has returned.
Licht: Oh! Bring him in.
Melusine: I have concerns he may be affect by the enemies...
Licht: Nah, he's fine. Bring him in.
Touji: I'm back. How are you, Licht?
This is the Tycoons' last safehouse Licht kept somewhere. Touji keeps watch as he goes in.
Licht: I'm glad to see you doing well, Touji.
Touji: The rain has some spiritual attack enchanted in. I'd be affected if I didn't have barrier magic. (shows some seal on his hand)

Licht: This must be an Invaders plot. Everyone touched by the rain shows mental abnormalities and enemy soldiers are forcing people outside. We just lost contact with our remaining forces at Roppongi Academy...the Tycoons as a group are done. We don't know if there's a traitor, and since nobody actually died or whatever, I can't collect on their powers. The other leaders must have been backstabbed or something, though I don't think they've been done in that easy...
Touji: (frown)
Licht: Thank you again to you and the Summoners for helping us. Your ability to stop the enemy mind hack means we have some room to maneuver.
Touji: Yeah about that. I saw a traitor contact enemy forces.
Licht: Takeminakata!?
Touji: Yes, I saw him slap down Ifrit. I don't know if he's mind controlled though...
Licht: No. If it's Takeminakata, I know that possibility is out.
Touji: ...you're sure?

Licht: Yes. First of all, the mental attack rain seems to be someone else's power. Anyone hit by the rain hasn't actively helped the Invaders even if they were put into a trance. Also we know the latter is being caused by Perun and his millstone artifact's power to change history. It brainwashes people to think they were always his servants. I can't get into it now, but it can't work on Takeminakata for being Unrecorded. It's also why I thought he'd be our ace against the Invaders.
Touji: So he's choosing to help them out purely by his own will?
Licht: ...does anyone really have their own will? Actually never mind the philosophy question, I can at least answer you with my guesses. So unlike most of us, Takeminakata isn't the type to turn coat over self interest. That means he must have been ordered to do so by someone he knew before coming to Tokyo.
Touji: what

Licht: Previous vows cannot be broken. Hierarchy things... anyways, sorry but I need you to look into someone else Touji. Takamagahara's former World Represntative. He used to be Onamuji no Mikoto, and later he became Okuninushi. That's who Takeminakata served before, and I'm highly certain he's helping the Invaders out.
Touji: Wait I don't understand what's happening anymore. What do our enemies want?
Licht: Do they even see us as enemies...? I bet even this rain is just some end goal setup. You remember Rule 1 of this game? Majority trumps everything. The Berserkers and Wisemen proved it in an experiment back when we were still fighting against each other
Licht: ...you know, I've always thought we had the order of things backwards in this attack.
Touji: what
Licht: We thought the East was moving faster than the South, and that the Missionaries were attacked first before the Tycoons. Tactically speaking it should be the case, but the Invaders are going at everything backwards. I don't like making guesses on top of other guesses, but the Invaders might be trying to pull a revolution on the game's Law of Hierarchy and pulling everyone in Tokyo into participating!
End of Episode

Valentine Snow Fight Episode 8 (Abridged)

[So I somehow blanked out on this section ever existing and was reminded of it, so here we are.]

Tiger Man: Ayyy, that was a good battle back there! So reminder, the winners of the Valentine Snow Fight? The WARMONGERS!
Players: YAAAAY
Tiger Man: A celebration for the winners and a commendation for the ones that participated! Gracias for the battle, amigos! Snow fight's done, but we still got chocolates and snow to enjoy!
Later
Tezcatlipoca: Great war, BRRRROTHER! Honestly I expected nothing, but things turned out way better than I ever thought!
MC: I had fun too! / Eh, not bad / pay me my money
Andvari: You'll get your dues, you made this a success! Kinda sucks the blizzard and stuff ruined our recordings, but we already blew up halfway through day one and people are calling like hell!
Tezcatlipoca: We're setting up the next snow fight. Things are going to be great for once!
Andvari: Hey MC, come again if you have time. We'll always need a cameraman!
Tezcatlipoca: Let's fight again whenever, BRRRROTHER!

Andvari: Oh wait I almost forgot. Your bonus! ...stop looking at me like that, there's no strings attached. This is actually meant for the winning team's bonus but Yoritomo declined his share.
Tezcatlipoca: Ha! He said "it wasn't just our victory."
Andvari: He didn't even blink, so I dunno what that was about. Whatever, yours. It's an invite ticket for the springs. Okay time to make some money!
Ryouta: Hi MC, we're finally here!
Shirou: I'm glad you're alright...oh, you didn't know?
Touji: The blizzard shut us out...
Ryouta: But now it just stopped so we're here. Time to eat all the sweets!
MC: I'm glad you're all okay. Stuff happened, I'll tell you while we eat.

Later
Ryouta: Huh, so that's why things cut out the second day. Also Girimekhala sounds amazing. I wonder if we can be friends?
Touji: I saw the first day videos. Very tactically informative, we should use them for counterguild strategies.
Shirou: We should join as a group next time. It'd help our cooperation.
Ryouta: Ohh! Next time let's ask Kengo and Moritaka to come with us! Mmm, hot springs and tons of sweets...
Touji: Wait we didn't come here to play, Yakush--
Shirou: Eh, it's okay sometimes. We should also invite the rest of the guild like Agyou. Having us all together makes things more fun.
MC: Yessss
Touji: ...okay I'm convinced.
Ryouta: Wow MC, you sounded like Jacob just now. Okay, let's all come as Team Summoners next time!
Shirou: Okay, I'll go talk to the managers for details.
Ryouta: Gonna eat all the sweets! Oh, I should go say hi to Chouji.
Touji: I'm going to the hot springs. Which reminds me...what did Master Hougen mean by getting along with both guilds in the springs?

Later
Tanetomo: Oh my. Took you long enough to come talk to me, MC. You didn't take my chocolate, but...well, let's say His Excellency foresaw it. Still, shouldn't you have come to me immediately after the game to adore me? Did you expect me to be a beautiful courtier just to wait???
MC: Congrats, you're the cutest! / OH NO / (pet)
(A) Tanetomo: You're still kind of late, but fine, I'll accept this.
(B) Tanetomo: (murder vibes) ...oh, is that your reaction after all my hints? You best remember this.
(C) Tanetomo: Don't you think this is a little too brazen of y--oh wait, I did the same thing to Yasuyori once. Never mind.

Yasuyori: Oh, MC! Advisor! Here you two are.
Shennong: Hey Problem Kid. You did it again. After I told you not to. Again. Do you know what could've happened to you if you got hit by a giant snowball unarmed?
Yasuyori: D-Doctor, they weren't hurt this time...
Tanetomo: Yes, simple nagging won't do anything to them. They just pretend to not hear it, just like SOMEONE who's a little slow around here.
Yasuyori: wait what
MC: You know me so well / I'm sorry... / I thought it'd work out somehow...

Shennong: ... (sigh) No shots or nagging today. But only if you promise to come see if you feel anything off about yourself at all. Got it? ...oh, with the snow fight over, I guess now's a good time for a physical break, huh?
Tanetomo: Yes, I think so too. Maybe a bit of relaxing would be fine.
Yasuyori: I shall try all the sweets since I usually don't see this many!
Tanetomo: Is this some backlash reaction to how our school is? Are you going to be even worse at the cafe...?
Yasuyori: No! It's our job to partake if our superiors treat us!
Shennong: Welp, Big Boy makes sense! Feels like a waste on me though since I always eat grass.
Tanetomo: ...so we may have been named the winners, but I'm slightly against calling it my win. But don't think that was our full power. If we face off, it'll be a real war. Okay, time to excuse us! Tell Tennouji Shinya I'm going to break his budding pride and show I'M truly the cutest in the battlefield here.

Later
Arslan: Cub, there you are!
Maria: Hello MC. I'm glad you're unhurt.
Zabaniya: Yes, just like Girimekhala. I am pleased nothing serious came of it all.
MC: Hi guys! Kinda sucks how it ended, but you all looked great!
Arslan: Haha, yeah we lost. It sucks, but it was really fun!
Zabaniya: Indeed. I did I best and that was how we did. But the journey has been more worth it than the destination of our efforts.
Azazel: Winning can be down to luck, but I'm satisfied with seeing all the sweaty bod--never mind me.
Maria: We usually don't get chances to get coop and competitive experience.
Arslan: Let's go apply for the next one!

Maria: wait next what now
Arslan: Snow fight! You didn't think we'd only do the one, did you?
Maria: B-but everyone's plans...wait, what about your own work?
Azazel: It should be fine, let us pretend it isn't there. Mmm, seeing someone throw themselves at a party is also lovely...
Zabaniya: O-okay?
Maria: No it is not! Excuse us, MC, I need to talk with them!
Girimekhala: Hey, camera man! I'm...kinda embarrassed I cried like that. I wasn't expecting to.
MC: That's just how hard you tried / I think I get it / (hug)
(C) Girimekhala: W-what? Uhh...I don't know what to do about this!

Gorozaemon: Haha, you sure move fast!
Girimekhala: Student Prez!?
MC: what / WHERE'D YOU COME FROM / Hey, long time no see Gorozaemon!
---
(C) Gorozaemon: Aww, you remember me? Good to see you having fun.
---
Gorozaemon: Ayy, I just came to meddle with check on our outbound transfer student. I went to Daikanyama to slack off see you when they told me you were up here at the Snow Fest. Sounded cool, so I rode my wanyudo ride and burned some roads!
Girimekhala: Oh. Thank you Prez. But sorry, it's already over. Maybe I should've invited you earlier.
Gorozaemon: It's cool! Even if you did, I wouldn't know if I'd come until the day of. ANYWAYS, I came to ask you something. Did you find your own road with the Missionaries? You used to be one of the Taoshis, so did you find anything to be proud of?
MC: what (Huh. He was a Taoshi?)

Girimekhala: Yeah! ...if only, right?
Girimekhala is hesitant in answering after meeting Airavata and confronting his role. He's hesitant because he's looking to the future after facing his present, but he still looks determined.
Girimekhala: I can't say for sure, but I do think I saw something like it for a second. And I did find something thanks to MC and the Missionaries. I'll tell you when I come back, so look forward to it!
Gorozaemon: Good answer! You've grown in the little time you've been away! Mediating with the guild and school was worth it, even if I left the paperwork to Li Chou. Enjoy the rest of the exchange period!
Girimekhala: Okay, thanks!
Gorozaemon: Cool, I'm off to enjoy the resort!

Shinya: Hello MC, I'm glad you're alright.
Jacob: Yes. I could've kept you safe and stopped the snowball if I had been faster. I must raise my love (and fists) to a whole new level.
Shinya: Y-you want to stop that giant snowball with one hand!? ...maybe I should train with Taromaiti and Kalki.
Girimekhala: NO! You wouldn't be able to do what Jacob did with just a little training!
Jacob: Nothing is impossible if you believe in love! Oh, I know! You should go fight with 100 angels and--
MC: Love can't do THAT much! / You can't just casually drop that! / (pretend to hear nothing)
Shinya: A-actually I think I'll work at it my own pace.
Girimekhala: Same. Gotta do things with what's possible for me...
Jacob: Indeed, love is different for all. I shall spare no effort so everyone can find their own expressions of love!

Jacob: In other news, I suppose I really don't want to leave with a loss. I must go discuss things.
MC: So you're the most upset with what happened? What are you going to do? I mean, this can only end badly but still...
Jacob: A no holds barred survival game! It'll be okay, no one will be hurt if we all use snow guns. I should go talk to the Warmongers and--
Yoritomo: What on earth are you going on about?
MC: oh no / Big Brother Get! / (grab on)
---
(BC) Yoritomo: OH NO YOU'RE HERE!? L-let go, I thought I'd finally settle my ulcers!
---
Jacob: Yoritomo: I believe we are friends now that we have traded blows three times.
Yoritomo: ...think what you like. Politician's promise.
Jacob: Oh, how about we further our understand by throwing hands some more?
Yoritomo: ...interesting. Such a casual taunt you make, just like someone else I know.
Jacob: It is the best I know how to do. But I dare say, if we're both unsatisfied with how things went, why not go again?

Yoritomo: ...hmm. What do you think, everyone?
Tanetomo: Inusaka Keno Tanetomo reporting, Sir. I shall gently dispatch the riffraff.
Yasuyori: I will do my best too! We don't have battlefields like this much!
Shennong: ...you are all hotheads. Just don't get hurt, okay?
Arslan: Good idea, Jacob!
Zabaniya: Thank you for another learning opportunity.
Maria: Wait what, really!? ...well I guess it's okay for today.
Azazel: Mmm, such uninhibited desire.
Shinya: This sounds like it'll be fun! I'll have so much to talk about when I go home!
Girimekhala: I'm in!
MC: WHAT / Everyone's going down! / (turn on app)
Tezcatlipoca: Awesome!
Andvari: Send in the drones, get those bangers rolling and kick ass people!
Later
Players: YEAAAHHHH
Tiger Man: And suddenly we're having an anything goes snow fight! Shoot them all! Let's go, game start!
The End

Live A Hero Christmas Melt Countdown Episode 2 (Abridged)

MC: Ugh. Slept badly...
The next day, it's oddly hot upon waking up. Like sauna level hot.
MC: GODDAMN HOT
MC jumps out of bed and looks out the window. Look at all that sunlight! Where's the snow? There are heat hazes, it's so hot.
MC: WHAT
Beep beep. Knock knock.
Crowne: MC, did you see outside!?

Title Card: Christmas Irregularity

Hot.
Gomeisa: W-why?
Crowne: Suddenly tropical Christmas. What happened??
Guide: Oh no, how can the fortune be wrong!? And not just wrong, but super wrong! What happened to the snow!?
Chaos!
Gomeisa: Townspeople worried...
Crowne: Yeah, freak weather changes do that.
Gomeisa looks around worriedly, then notices a child.
Girl: Mommy, what's gonna happen with Christmas? And Santa?
Mom: Do you SEE this weather we're having? Come on, we have to get home.
Girl: But... (cries)
Gomeisa: Oh no...
Gomeisa looks up and sees a snowflake decoration.
Gomeisa: Christmas...
Crowne: ...they said the weather fortune uses crystals, but I'm PRETTY sure I know what the crystals are. Which means...something at the tower is causing this? (thinks)
MC: Figure something out Crowne? / Oh no, how could this happen?
Crowne: ...no wait, it's all just guesswork. We should first ask what's gonna happen with our gig and if there's anything we can do. Managers' HQ is by the big tree, right?

Suddenly!
Townie: AAAAAA
The screams are getting closer!
MC: WHAT
Monsters: SCREEE
Gomeisa: !? Monsters here!
Crowne: Goddammit, why now!?
Townie: HELP
Gomeisa: Man attacked! Must help!
Crowne: MC!
MC: Let's go! Execute!
Gomeisa and Crowne are suited up!
Crowne: Gomeisa, you heal and protect the civvies and I'll play decoy! Got it?
Gomeisa: O-okay!
BATTLE START (more happens after)

The party is walking to Manager HQ and checking for other Monsters on the way.
Crowne: ...ugh, hot.
MC: And it's not even summer. / Can't stand heat / I guess it's better than it being too cold...
Gomeisa: ...
Gomeisa listens to the city people's talks.
Townie A: The festival is tomorrow, what do we do?
Townie B: We'll have to cancel it. Plus we have Monsters now...
Child C: Nooo!
Townie D: ...I know how you feel, but what can we do after what just happened? I guess we still have our lives? Spirits protect us...

Gomeisa: ...people really looking forward festival.
Crowne: Yeah, look at all the work they put into getting ready.
Gomeisa: ...Christmas stop, huh...?
Crowne: It'll still be a thing, but...the festival's probably kaput with the heat. And Monsters just turned up. We got rid of them, but people will worry about more coming. How can anyone celebrate like this?
Gomeisa: Oh no...
MC: You were really excited, huh?
Gomeisa: So sad...want see songs and dance. But festival stop even more sad.
Crowne: You're really into Christmas, aren't you? Especially for an alien. Something up with that?
Gomeisa: Christmas...important memory me. Boss maybe not remember, but...means lot me.
Gomeisa: Can...Hero me do something?
Digivice noises.
Phone: New Path detected. Subject: Gomeisa. Connectivity: Weak.
MC: Huh?

Meanwhile at the Crystal Tower
Sensettia: ...wow, pretty place. Nowhere else is as tall from a look outside, and it's so sparkly in here. Do the people of this planet know what it's like in here?
Viscunam: Who cares about "pretty"!? The technology here is what's really important! This is clearly an artificial building. When I analyze and appropriate this tower, my legend will truly begin! Hehehehe...
Sensettia: You've got no sense of beauty, you know that? But yeah, we finally got all the way into here, so we might as we get something.
Viscunam: Hmph. The beauty in my research and the beauty in scenery are unrelated. Girlie! Get to work if you want your cut.
Sensettia: Yeah yeah, I know. You just can't wait to make your next trash heap, huh?
Viscunam: T-trash!? Your brain just isn't refined enough to appreciate my inventions!
Sensettia: Yeah sure, whatever. You do your research, and I get my pay to do live concerts on other planets. It's not so bad to remind myself this is just a job to fund my music tour. I can join you on your...great research whatsit.
Viscunam: Hmph. That's why you joined me to begin with. You can take most of the royalties since I don't want it. SCIENCE! My next invention will change history, and I'll figure something out in here! Maybe! Heheheh, it was worth coming here!

Sensettia: ...wow you really don't care about money for someone who looks so greedy. Anyways, you gonna tell me what's in this tower yet? The residents don't even come here, so why did we?
Viscunam: Oh! Are you finally interested in my research Girlie!?
Sensettia: No, not THAT mu--
Viscunam: I've learned Somewhere about the technology used in this tower! There is evidence this crystal is obvious a product of SCIENCE that this planet's people don't know of, and completing my research means we need to get to the tower core and investigate Something there--
Suddenly, shaking!
Sensettia: Ahh! Earthquake!?
Viscunam: Huh? That's not what earthquakes feel like!
Sensettia: Then what just happened!?
The walls and floors crack as vine things start coming in!
Sensettia: WHAT
Viscunam: Girlie, get down!
The vines wall off Viscunam and Sensettia from each other!
Sensettia: HEY! What am I supposed to do now!? Viscunam!
Viscunam can't hear her.
End of Episode

Live A Hero Christmas Melt Countdown Episode 1 (Abridged)

Procy: S'up. Weird seeing you two together.
Crowne: Hey, long time no see. And yeah, it's always about work when I come here.
Procy's bar, Hero's Guild Earth Camp. MC and Crowne are here together.
MC: Hi Procy / Wow feels like forever ago / FLUFF
---
(B) Procy: Huh, yeah it has, hasn't it?
(C) Procy: No touching!
---
Procy: Hey Crowne, when WAS the last time you were here?
Crowne: Well I AM a Parallel Flight hero, but I've been busy with my day job that I haven't done hero work much lately. I can finally take some time off, so I figured I should come by.
Procy: Yeah, lots of spacecraft work near the end of the year with people going home. Wanna drink? I'll give it to you cheap.
Crowne: Haha, thanks but I'll have to pass. I'm here for work now and Huckle is gonna bug me if I do drink.
MC: So you do want to drink... / Your secret's safe with me~ / I want a drink too
(A) Crowne: It's a bar, I can't help it. It's fine, that's not why I came here today.
(BC) Crowne: You're supposed to be keeping it together.

Crowne: Sooo why'd you ask us here?
Procy: I wanted to talk to you about a job.
MC: What?
Procy: There's this job being passed around my agency...
Door opens.
Gomeisa: Oh! MC, Crowne! Hello!
Gomeisa is carrying some small boxes under his arms.
MC: Hi Gomeisa / Long time no see! / Hug!
(A) Gomeisa: Hi! Feel free relax!
(B) Gomeisa: Yes, been long time!
(C) Gomeisa: Oh no, arms full! Can't hug back!

Procy: Hey Gomeisa. What's that?
Gomeisa: Christmas decorations!
Crowne: Oh is it that time of year already?
Gomeisa: Yes!
Procy: He's weirdly into this and asked to decorate. C'mon, make it quick, it's business time.
Gomeisa: Oh, right! Excuse!
Gomeisa walks further into the bar where there's an undecorated tree.
Gomeisa: Hmm hmm hmm~ (starts decorating)
MC: Well he's having fun. Christmas, huh?
Procy: Speaking of, this job's related to Christmas.
Crowne: Huh. Is it a holiday party security detail?
Procy: Close enough. But it ain't on Earth. It's a colony planet's Christmas party.
MC: An Earth holiday on some other planet? Really?

Procy: Well they're having their version of winter this time of year and have their own festivities around this time, and Christmas got mixed in with it.
Crowne: Oh. Cultural exchange? That's how Christmas in Orient City was done too, before.
Procy: Yeah, it's meant to remind of connections with connected planets or something? But there's been a lot of villain activity in that star system lately, so they're asking hero agencies for help in case they attack during the party and the request came to me and Gomeisa.
Crowne: Huh. Sooo why do you wanna talk to us about a job you guys got?
Procy: ...I can't take it. I'm already booked at another Christmas event, but I can't go and say no to this one.
MC: Don't you have to? Why can't you?
Procy looks at Gomeisa.
Gomeisa: And pretty star top!
Procy: He's been really excited for this job once he heard about it. It's some sort of music festival kinda thing, so he wants to go come high tide or hell. (scratches head in embarrassment)
Procy: Well, it's good money. I don't have to go myself, but I can send someone else for a finder's fee...also I want him to get some experiences outside my shop and to take his feelings into consideration.
Crowne: D'awww.
Procy: Shaddup. ANYWAYS, I want you guys to go with him. Every other agency's already booked for Christmas, and I can't ask anyone else. (clasps hands) Pleeeease?

Later
MC: And that's what happened.
Huckle: Huh. Well I looked at the details and it seems okay. You can go, but I'm worried about the number of people available for dispatch. *(puts tablet down and sighs)*
Huckle: Ryekie, Akashi, and I are going to be on a business trip.
Akashi: We're gonna see the agencies we're usually in touch with, right?
Huckle: Yes, I wanted them to see you, and it's a good time to get known.
Ryekie: You're used to hero work now, so now's the time for you to try out the business side of things! Market yourself and maybe you'll get more work!
Akashi: I'm getting nervous now...
Ryekie: Just be yourself! Sure there'll be VIPs, but we'll be there to help!
Akashi: oh
Huckle: Ryekie, stop making it worse!

Huckle: Anyways, can anyone else go?
Mokdai: Hmm. I'm interested, but it's on Christmas Day, right? I have a video to edit...
Sui: I'm booked for a fashion show on the moon with Master. This music festival thing sounds fun though. I wonder what it's like?
Akashi: Christmas stuff I guess?
Mokdai: It's a huge event, so think of all the food! I wish I could go...
Sui: I bet their stage outfits must be nice. It sounds interesting...what about you and the others, Exio? Melide might like this.
Exio: Sorry, Yoshiori and I have to pass. Can't let ourselves be seen in public much. I'd like Monomasa and Melide to go if possible though.

Huckle: Well if we can't send anyone, we can just turn Procy down...
Crowne: Hey wait, there's still me and MC. I can go. It's been a while since I did hero stuff anyways, and I wanna help.
Huckle: Aren't you busy with space mechanic work?
Crowne: We're on Christmas break now, and I need to use my leave. I don't have plans though, so spending my break on this sounds good. How about you, MC?
MC: Well not like I have plans / I'd love to go with you, Crowne! / Christmas with Gomeisa!
Crowne: Cool, let's go take that job then.
Huckle: Thanks. We owe Procy a lot, so I want us to do whatever we can for him when he asks. Take care on the trip!
And that's how MC, Crowne, and Gomeisa went on a trip to this other planet on Christmas Eve.

Title Card: A White Christmas on Another Planet

Later on Planet Whatever It Is
Worker A: Lower that sign! Slowly!
Worker B: Is that thing slanted? ...oh, now it's good. Move that star to the left!
Christmas decorations in space! Stars, snows, candles! Giant stage! Everything's coming together.
Crowne: Wow. Even on Earth, Christmas events usually aren't this big.
Guide: This is the biggest tourist spot of the year and the whole city becomes part of the event area.
The guide from the client organization board is pointing out and explaining things to the party.
Guide: We got four other stages too, each with stalls and restaurants around them. And they're big enough areas that we have shuttle buses going to each one.
MC: Seems like a lot to guard... / I wanna see everything!

Crowne: ...where's Gomeisa? Wasn't he just with us?
Gomeisa: Oh! There you are!
Gomeisa has several cups of sweets in his arms.
Crowne: Oh, were you shopping around?
Gomeisa: Hehe. Saw nice caramel almond store. Big tree, merry music! Wow! (starts eating caramel almonds)
MC: Well he's enjoying himself.
Gomeisa: Christmas! Still work, but need fun! Sing! Dance! Eat candy together! Because Christmas!
Crowne: It's supposed to be more dignified, but I guess all that other stuff is what Christmas is to you, huh?
Gomeisa: Christmas birthday for...someone, yes? Wow, so many people say happy birthday!
MC: I guess?

Gomeisa: Love Christmas mood! Decorate tree, celebrate together...just like home planet festival.
Crowne: Well there's all sizes of trees. But yeah, this festival is hopping. Wouldn't some snowfall make it perfect?
Guide: We got a fortune saying it'd snow tomorrow, so we'll have what Earth calls a white Christmas?
MC: Fortune? What?
Guide: What? Oh! On this planet we get weather reports through a weather fortune and not a weather forecast from spirits in the Crystal Tower. The crystals tell us, and they're always right.
Crowne: And suddenly we're in a fantasy zone. What's this crystal thing?
Guide: Uhh...oh, here's a crystal! (picks up a shining, transparent rock the size of his palm)

Gomeisa: Pretty...look like Ether Crystal.
Crowne: Hmm...well whatever. How's it work?
Guide: We ask the crystals which link to the Crystal Tower and bring back a fortune.
The guide points to some big building off in the distance in some wasteland.
Guide: That's the Crystal Tower. It rules our planet's weather and is like a protector god. In the past there wasn't anywhere safe to live because we had terrible heat waves. Stories say we gathered up crystals to make the tower and wish for peace. Then boom! It started raining, and plants grew where crystals were. And then we started praying to the tower. It's never been wrong, and lots of people believe in it. Earth scientists were surprised their weather forecast machines weren't as accurate.
MC: Huh. How's it work...?
Crowne: Hmm...
Guide: (puts crystal away) Okay, let me show you to your hotel. Thanks for being our security tomorrow.
That night
MC looks out the window. It's starting to snow.
MC: Nice. I wonder what the event's like?
Something occurs to MC.
MC: Don't fortunes turn out wrong sometimes too, though?
Whatever. Bedtime!
End of Episode

Chapter 13 Episode 7: Opening Fire in the Storm 1 (Abridged)

Everyone thinks they know themselves best. They think they know everything there is to know in a closed off world. Do you remember how you spent your days in the past? Do you remember what kind of person you were?
There are many labels, and people have the sense they were given one before they had a dream about who they wanted to be. They had labels because they were slightly better than average at something, they didn't need to be perfect at it. They got labels whether or not they wanted it, and many people thought that was everything to their world.
One day, people hear things are coming to an end. People are thrown out of their ruts and think as they look back: what was I thinking? It doesn't take long for a memory to become part of the past. But what if those days never end? What future lies down that path?

Present
Weather Report: A giant storm is approaching fast! Incoming from the south and spreading to the east and west! Please head to your nearest shelter!
Masanori: Viva la revolución!
Somewhere in Tokyo
Randos: Oh my god this rain is weird!
Kabukicho
Policeman: Don't get wet! Head to shelter and--whomst
Camoflaugers appear!
Randos: OH NO THE ROOF COLLAPSED
Invaders mobs are pulling organized sabotage of roofs across Tokyo! Randos scream in fear upon being hit by the rain, but the tone changes over time. It's like their minds are being absorbed into something and feeling relief at finally finding home in terms of oddly specific comparisons.

Weird Elsewhere
It's warm and nostalgic, with a sense of homesickness. It feels like anything you've lost is here. It feels like home, like you can stop here and have a happily ever after.
???: Shirou! Shirou!
Who's calling?
Shirou: ...uungh?
So close. If he let go, he'd be together with that sense of nostalgia...
Kengo: WAKE THE FUCK UP SHIROU (slap)
Shirou: ...??? What? K-Kengo?
Kengo: Don't give me that! Where the hell are we, and is MC okay!?
Shirou: Oh! MC! Right, we got hit by some weird rain and...
Shirou looks around. There looks to be an abyss that goes on forever sucking things in like a black hole. The void, it CaLlS. And Shirou can't explain why it feels so tempting.
Kengo: seriously what the hell man. Figure anything out yet, nerdlin--OOF
Shirou: Oh good, that feels familiar. I remember now.
Kengo: OH MY GOD Shirou, you can't just hit people with the corner of your book!
Shirou: Shut up, you hit ME first! Anyways...how are we underwater but not drowning? Feels like if I let my guard down, my mind will melt into the water...but we have to get out of here. Any ideas Kengo? ...Kengo?
Kengo: Who's there!?

Isaac: ...wow, you could pick me out? Your Wild Animal Instinct skill must be amazing.
Shirou: ...a boy?
Kengo: Spill your guts before I make you spill them for real!
Isaac: Oh wow, you're treating me as an equal? Awesome, thanks.
Shirou: ...will you tell us what you know about this place? No wait actually, are you the reason we're here?
Kengo: !!
Isaac: Not really. You guys came to me.
Shirou: what
Isaac: Your minds came into contact with my existence. Everything you've lost is down here, which is why it feels so familiar to you. It's the Promised Land of Consciousness and Knowledge. A mind hive, I guess?
Shirou: Who are you...?
Isaac: Me? Well...they used to call me Isaac. I'm the Invaders guildmaster.

Hikarigaoka
Mobs: Halt! AttenTION!
Yoritomo: Hear me, soldiers. This rain is abnormal, a Mental Corruption attack by the Invaders. Touch it, and you will be taken elsewhere. But we still have Marduk and Teda, and as sun gods they can push back against the rain. We can't just defend the whole time though, so we need to send scouts. Nezha, you lead.
Nezha: Ooh, ooh! Is it time for me to do something?
Yoritomo: Yes, you can use your power to shield yourself and the group from rain and head to enemy territory.
Nezha: Okay, vroom vroom!
Yoritomo: Begin the operation. Fortune find you in battle.
Mobs: SIR YES SIR
Yoritomo: ...hmm. This reminds me of that one disastrous time.
There was this one loop where everything changed forever. Everyone thought they were innocent up until then, and they believed there'd be an end to the fighting. They thought someone would win the trophy.
Yoritomo: ...but Tokyo's game was set up to be endless since then. I was promised a political stalemate by the time I was summoned here.
The 23 other worlds have been gathered into the three big guilds and set up so that no majority will form. No complete ending will be reached, and the last majority is made to be forever prolonged...

Aoyama Cemetery
Israfil: Ye lost lambs wandering a wasteland for eternity. How saaaad. Which is why Tokyo's history must end. So many sins piling up as people can go nowhere. Oh, how I cannot stand to see such suffering. But therein lies the Lord's mercy. Hahaha, oh how SAAAD!
Jacob: Is that your goal? Allow me to respond. (punch!)
Jacob: I say to you: NO! Our guildmaster Maria says the greatest love is letting people choose their own paths and walking them. If the world has an ending, everyone should get there their own way, and I will punch out even God if he stands in the way of that.
Israfil: Oh, how NOBLE! But Jacob, do you understand what it is you've said!?

Elsewhere
Randos: Oh no, people with guns that way!
Camoflaugers approach!
???: Stop. Shinya wishes not for Tokyo's people to come to harm. If you persist...
Kalki: Then face me! Vishnu's Tenth Avatar! (stab!)
Kalki: ...stop standing there, citizens! Run!
Taromaiti: I'll never let anyone harm my paradise! Azi Dahaka Smash!
Randos: Oh my god, is that Phantom Thief Asterism, that mystery trio that protects the weak?
Temujin: HA! Shinya, the weak adore you. Fine scam you're pulling!
Shinya: ...Cupid, shoot his arrow down!
Temujin: You always were like that ever since I first met you that loop, weren't you? You were chosen to be Zeus's stand-in and given great power, so now the people can't help but love you. But how long do you plan to pretend to be their ally? You are WASTING your power. Do you know what you want to do? You could just act like a World Representative already!

Shinya: ...I didn't want this power. Or this role.
Temujin: Heh, yes. What you're doing is spiting the power that destroyed your family.
Shinya: ...Temujin--
Temujin: Everyone fights over you, and you could just play the proud king. But you keep playing at a humble life...and you lost your home. Former Invaders and ally, all you are doing trying to help people is struggling to retrieve what you lost. You know it is all in vain since it will never come back.
Shinya: YOU SHUT UP
Temujin: Hahah--(barfs blood)--urgh!
Shinya: Cupid, shoot his heart now!
Temujin: !!
???: HA!
Shinya: ...!
Perun: Haha, you slipped up because you keep playing around Temujin.
Temujin: ...Perun.
Perun: The Warmongers are moving, so playtime with the ignorant is over. Let us clean up like so much wheat to grind.
Kalki and Taromaiti step in!
Kalki and Taromaiti: Shinya!
Perun: Oh, a 3v3 is it? We've got no time for this. The revolution that will end it all is at hand!
End of Episode

Live A Hero Virtual Fest Royale Episode 9 (Abridged)

Giant Monster: SCREEEE
The Monster is flailing about in pain and part of its body dissipates into noise!
Cerastium: It's working!
Shaft: But how is it still alive after all those attacks?
Toshu: All Monsters are tough.
MC: Hmm...Giansar, any ideas?
Giansar: Ugh, it's STILL hanging on? Whenever we're close to Protect Breaking the core's defenses the small monsters fuse with the big one to heal it. It's probably gonna keep flipping out like that.
Toshu: For how long? We can't hold up forever.
Giansar: Eh, three hours?
MC: WHAT

Cerastium: But we're so close to winning... (hands shake)
reXer: ...Giansar, you know where the core is?
Giansar: That, I can pick out. Got anything strong enough to hit it though?
reXer: Tell Shaft where it is. MC, figure out where to put Toshu and Cerastium on support. I'll handle it, somehow.
Cerastium: Do you have a plan?
reXer: (turns around and readies his weapon) It should work...I'm sure of it. I can't do it like Dad, but...will you guys trust me?
MC: ...okay! Everyone, support reXer!
The party agrees and head out to face the Monsters.
Giant Monster: SCREEE
The smaller Monsters rush in!
Toshu: Me first then. I'll cut as many as I can.
Cerastium: Everyone get behind me once Toshu is done. I promise to protect you all.
Shaft: I'll carry reXer to the end. I'll signal to you.
reXer: ...MC! Let's do this!
MC: Right, VP Charge! Let's go, guys!

MC charges VP to all party members!
Toshu: Let's begin! Summer Lion's Sword Dance!
Most of the small Monsters get blown away! Toshu didn't hit the core though, and the small Monsters start grouping up again.
Shaft: I see it! Let's go, you two! Summer Runner Charge!
Lines of light run across the ground from Shaft's Parallel Weapon and lead straight to the Giant Monster core.
Giant Monster: SCREE
Small Monsters gather together to form a wall!

Cerastium: You can bash with shields too, you know! And I will, for my justice! Strong Defense "Bouclier du Justice"!
Cerastium's shining shield blows the Monster wall away! The core is almost there!
Toshu: Fortune be with you, reXer!
Shaft: I promise to bring you back!
Cerastium: Believe in your justice! I will protect us all!
MC: Careful, reXer!
reXer: Everyone...! Sorry, and thanks!
reXer follows the path towards the core!
reXer: Take the cyber hero's special ult! Overtaker "Oversynchro Execution"! And get out of my territory!
BAM! reXer's weapon mode changes to axe form and charges with blue lightning, and it cuts through the small Monsters and the core all at once!
Giant Monster: LOVELLLLYYYYYYY
FLASH

When the light dies down...
Giant Monster: eeee.... (starts falling apart)
MC: D-did we win!?
Giansar: ...hmph, we're done here. It and the small ones will disappear soon.
reXer: W-we did it...yay, Dad! Everyone! (falls to the ground)
Cerastium: That was amazing, reXer!
Toshu: Indeed.
Shaft: You pulled an awesome turnaround! Friends are great!
reXer: Ow, don't hit me! ...heh, hahaha!
Shaft: It's finally over...but I feel like I'm forgetting something important.
Toshu: Wait, this isn't over is it?
Giansar: Nope. We destroyed the one in here, but there's still some in Raidark's server room where I am. Your bodies are fine, the pods are strong. You guys can take them out once you get back.
MC: Oh. Just a little more then, everyone!

Giansar activates some program.
Toshu: Wait, what's going on with me?
Shaft: Me too. My body's turning transparent?
Giansar: I'm logging all the heroes connected to the Orient City servers out.
Toshu: What are yo--
Giansar: Lemme finish, geez. I'm sending you guys the Monsters' location too.
Shaft: W-wait, this is so sudden!
Giansar: I also switched the relay cameras to stream the real world. Same for Raidark's cameras. Get some Operators and you guys should be done soon.
Toshu: ...oh, so we still have work to do.
Toshu sighs, and he and Shaft turn to face the party.
Toshu: Cerastium, MC, Shaft. It's been good fighting alongside you all.
Shaft: It's been a great experience teaming up with you all! But I wish I could've stayed a bit longer.
Toshu: Let's meet again somewhere. Take care of your health.
Shaft: Off to fight! Let's win this one!
MC: Good luck guys / Later, Toshu / I'm glad we were on the same team again, Shaft
Cerastium: See you, and good luck.
reXer: It's been good. Later.
And so Shaft and Toshu log out.

Raidark
Akashi: !? Are we back!?
Ryekie: Oh my god I'm back in my body!
Huckle: Did you all see that message? There are Monsters in the server room.
Mokdai: Let's go!
Melide: Hmm, MC isn't here. I'll operate then.
And so the subjugation begins.
Server Room
Monsters: reeee...
Wolf: Eat it, punks! This ain't nothing after being stuck in an NPC!
Trainee: DIE
Monsters: Eeep!

The World Neoaxis
The remaining party is on some hill watching the battle in Raidark through some window in the sky. The heroes are kicking ass in there.
Cerastium: ...wow, there's so many heroes in Orient City alone.
reXer: Things should be fine then.
Giansar: Hmph...
MC notices Giansar bug up for a second.
MC: Huh, Giansar?
Server Room
Ryekie: Is that all of them!?
Toshu: ...where's Giansar? He helped us, but he still has crimes to answer for!
Shaft: Giansar! ...huh. Didn't he say he logged in through here?
Toshu and Shaft happen to run into each other in front of some capsule.
Shaft: Toshu, this capsule is...
Toshu: The only one in the room. So he must be in there.
The two see the capsule is off. No one is inside.
Toshu: !?
Shaft: What!? Then...where did Giansar get in from?

The World Neoaxis
Giansar: You didn't expect me to STAY there after I said I was there, did you?
Cerastium: Then how are you still here?
Giansar: You don't need a capsule to access this place. But I do have to use a keyboard to move now.
reXer: Damn, that's gotta suck.
Giansar starts bugging out harder. So does his voice.
MC: Oh, so you already got out...
Giansar: Welp, the game should go back to normal soon. I'm getting out here.
reXer: So what WAS your big plan? Far as I can tell...you failed.
MC: ...did you change your mind a bit? You got to be a hero.
Giansar: ...hmph. Heroes still suck and that includes you guys.
For a second it looked like Giansar barely smiled.
Giansar: ...I had a little bit of fun. We probably won't see each other again. Bye. (logs out)

reXer: ...damn, this tournament turned into a mess. Think they'll suspend it?
Cerastium: It wouldn't be surprising...but still, I--
reXer: Same actually. I think meeting you guys and being here was worth it.
MC: reXer... / Cerastium... / I'm glad we teamed up.
reXer: You too? I guess we're all happy then.
reXer: I... (looks up)
reXer: At some point I started feeling comfortable fighting using Dad's body. I felt I had nothing, so doing this made me feel less bad. But meeting you all changed that. (smiles at MC and Cerastium)
reXer: I'm here because I had something of my own that could help people.
MC: ...I see.

reXer: I used to think all I needed was the cyber world...but now, I wanna try being a hero in the real world, as myself. I think I have my own kind of justice...you think I can do it?
Cerastium: (smiles) ...I think you've become a person of real justice here at least. You've saved so many people, fighting because you wanted to do so.
reXer: ...oh. Heh.
Beep beep
System Message: Tournament's on hold. Details to come later after you log out. Log out, by the way.
reXer: ...time to go, huh? Later. Thanks for teaming up with me.
MC: See you later, reXer. It's been great!
Cerastium: ...yes. I'm sure we'll see each other again. And I'm sure you'll become a hero.
reXer: ...yeah, I'll do my best. Next time I see you guys, I wanna be a real hero then.
reXer, logging out.
Cerastium: ...maybe it really WAS simple. Everyone has things important to them they'll never give up. That's their justice that brings them closer to others. And I...
MC: Did you find your justice?
Cerastium: ...ehehe, maybe? I do think I have an answer for Justice's question now though. We should go back too. Next time, we should have a relaxing chat with drinks.
MC: ...I'm glad we met. I'll have some nice tea for you.
MC, logging out.

Title Card: Everyone's Justice

One month later
There's a party/social event happening where as many heroes near Earth as possible have gathered.
MC: Ceras, over here! Wow, it didn't take that long for us to meet again actually.
Cerastium: MC! How have you been? This feels weird, but I still like it. And... (notices someone)
MC: He said he wanted to meet you.
Ryekie: Hey, haven't seen you since that battle!
Cerastium: (GASP)
Ryekie: Haha, sorry about that! I made MC look for you! I've been wondering about a follow up since our last conversation.
Cerastium: Oh my!

Ryekie: Heard you kicked ass during all that fighting. Did you find your justice?
Cerastium: ...yes, but only sort of. It's obvious that justice means different things to people...but it's an irreplaceable thing that supports and guides them. So of course your justice and mine would be different.
Ryekie: (waits kindly)
Cerastium: Justice isn't about always choosing the right thing. Sometimes we make mistakes, or we disagree on what is right. It's about reflection and growing. My justice is believing that I did the right thing, and I'm going to keep protecting the people I can.
MC: I see.
Cerastium: ...I haven't gotten to the point to where I'm sure this is my final answer, but if I ever become someone who can embody true justice, I'd like to spar with you again.
Ryekie: ...sure! I'm still working on myself, but I'm sure you can get stronger! You've found your way forward with your justice, so your hero of justice future is waiting for you! I want to see you then, fight with you, and fight alongside you when you get there!
Cerastium: !!
Ryekie: I look forward to seeing you again in the next Hero Fest.
Cerastium: ...me too!
Ryekie and Cerastium shake hands.

???: Oh, there you are.
reXer: ...hey, it's been a while MC. Cerastium.
Cerastium: !? reXer!?
MC: reXer! / Wow you different without the visor / Damn, you're cute
---
(C) reXer: W-what!? Well...not that that bothers me.
---
reXer: Man, I was worried you guys wouldn't be able to tell since I look different here.
Cerastium: ...I actually thought you were going to look MORE different, but you really do look like your father.
reXer: ...people said that a lot. I actually expected that again here, heh.
Ryekie: I know you, cyber hero reXer. I know you always kept your identity a secret, but I didn't think you'd be so young.
reXer: I think it was my dad you knew. Back then, he was reXer. Now, it's my name.
Ryekie: ...you're his heir, huh?
reXer: Well...I still haven't actually done any hero stuff yet. But I had a new dream after meeting you all.
MC: What's that?

reXer: Dad was awesome as a technician and a hero, and I inherited his name. And since I have, I wanna create a new reXer.
Cerastium: Quoi?
reXer: Yeah, you guys taught me that there are things I can do because of who I am, so I wanna be a real hero that's even better than Dad was.
MC: Cool! I'm cheering you on.
reXer: Yeah...so I've started making my way forward. (pulls out a card)
Ryekie: ...a hero temp license? Oh, you're going to take the test.
reXer: ...yeah. If I make it, I think I'll team up with you guys and fight again. Hope you guys look after me then.
MC: Good luck!
Cerastium: Best of luck. I think you'll be okay.
Fireworks go off outside. The tournament never finished this year, but the fireworks go off all the same to appreciate the heroes.
reXer: ...next time, I'll be a hero when I come here.
Phone: New Path detected. Subject: reXer. Connectivity: Very Strong
MC: ...hmm! Execute!
reXer: (transformed) WHAT
The End

Valentine Snow Fight Episode 7 (Abridged)

Yoritomo (narrating): I don't remember when I started being scared of my brother's smile. Maybe the first time I saw him by the Kise River when he was a boy? We knew of each other, but never met each other until then. He smiled inscrutably and said all he wanted was to be helpful to me. I just thought he was a giant burden at the time since he'd probably be a future political rival. There's only room for one head of the Genji, but he look so happy as he reached out to me. I just thought he didn't know what was coming.
Yoritomo (narrating): I sent him on suicide battles...and somehow he came back alive! Totally fine! He rode horses down cliffs and turned every situation around! He'd bring back enemy commander heads in his hands as samurai do looking all excited. I couldn't praise him, but samurai MUST reward or punish everything. I tried keeping him away, but he kept coming back smiling. With heads.
Yoritomo (narrating): How was I supposed to believe he actually died? He didn't come back for once? That doesn't mean anything. I sent an army of hundreds to surround him? Pffft, like that would work. They brought back his head? It must be fake! He's the one I feared most in the world! Great timing though. When you finally disappeared, I completed my political system. I divided the emperor and the shogunate, influence and real power, and set us up for an eternal future. I guess you had to go so I could finish this.
Yoritomo (narrating): I'm utterly scared. What if you died knowing all this? You did tell me you wanted to be helpful to me. And if you left to do that, I'm obligated to give you something, whatever you want.

Present
Airavata: Entertain me? Why?
Barong: My job is to entertain lonely guests watching from outside!
Airavata: Your role? Oh okay then. Shouldn't you be doing that for my pitiful other side Girimekhala then? He's why I'm here.
Barong: Oh, so you see him as pitiful.
Airavata: ...well yes. In Deva Loka his unrewarded life of this reality is a tragedy. He's going to slip when he's looked at by others, so he's never going to be helpful to anyone.
Barong: I see. You'd be right if it weren't for us.
Airavata: What? You plan on interfering?
Barong: Oh no we can't do that YET. I'm just here to make the show more exciting.
Airavata: what
Barong: Yeah, a role can keep its ending but changing the direction of things can turn a tragedy to a comedy. It's gonna be great, I promise!

Elsewhere
Girimekhala: OH NO (whump) Social anxiety is making me choke up and trip ag--(trips again) AAAA
Shinya: Oh no, Girimekhala!
Bugs: Get them! For the Advisor!
Tiger Man: ¡Ay dios mio! Girimekhala fell over and now the Warmongers are firing!
Girimekhala: Oh no, we're surrounded! We lost already!?
Shinya: It's okay, I can handle this.
Shinya walks up.
Shinya: Ahem, please shoot me first if you have to. I'm so sad you'd look at anyone else now that we're here. Please...look at me?

Bug A: A-AN ANGEL
Bug B: Forgive us, Advisor!
Bug C: S-Shinya, please go out with me after this game!
Shinya: ...sorry. Right now, I must not show mercy. (BANG)
Tiger Man: ¡Híjole!
Shinya: Let's go, Girimekhala.
Girimekhala: T-thanks. Sorry you had to cover my sorry ass...
Shinya: I saved you because it was you...please let me be. If you can get up again, I feel like I can face my power too.
Girimekhala: Oh...well thanks. I can't just give up yet then!
Shinya: I'll do my best too!
Girimekhala: YEAH!
Shinya: Cupid! No holding back for today! I didn't want to be a Charming Flower, but I'll act the part just for now!
Tiger Man: Wow, look at the Missionaries go!

Tanetomo: (stares in plotting murder)
Shennong: H-hold up, Advisor! Don't just go charging solo!
Yasuyori: H-he's right! We should focus on the flag!
Tanetomo: I am perfectly calm, thank you. Look!
Angel A: OH NO
Angel B: TOO FAST
Tiger Man: Wow, look at the Warmongers fighting back!
Tanetomo: Tee hee I feel great. Now you two go be decoys, I'm expecting more casualties than I predicted.
Shennong: Uh, okay but are you sure? What if you get taken out?
Yasuyori: Yes! Isn't His Excellency's order supposed to be perfect?
Tanetomo: That's exactly why I'm doing this. I can't be leaving the stage without finishing my dance, and I will fulfill my orders.

Shennong: ...okay then. Don't get hurt out there.
Yasuyori: ...understood. May fortune bless you.
Shinya: Girimekhala, I'll be okay. You find MC.
Girimekhala: Wait what? You sure?
Shinya: Yes. Figuring out where they are in itself will swing the game in our favor.
Girimekhala: Oh! Okay then, I'll call if I find them.
Shinya: I'm looking forward to everyone giving MC chocolate.
Tanetomo: Well well, Sir Shinya. I apologize for yesterday. It hasn't even been a day and you've done well in using your looks to ambush people.
Shinya: Thank you. I decided if doing something would help even a little bit I'd do my best at it.
Tanetomo: How wonderful. I think I hate you even more now. Dance!
Shinya: Go easy on...actually, come at me with everything you have!

Somewhere else
Jacob: Lord, forgive my weak self control.
Bug A: (punched) OOF
Bug B: My eyes can't keep up wi--(pow) AGH
Jacob: Aww, going up against so many opponents reminds me of when I first formed the guild by punching every angel into submission.
Tiger Man: Can no one stop this man's amor!?
Jacob: Okay I've warmed up. Now to deliver the chocolate!
Arslan: Oh good, you're alright. Not that I was worried.
Zabaniya: Girimekhala just found the flag. Please leave this place to us.
Jacob: Thank you, you two. I will be sure to give the chocolate of love! (runs off)
Arslan: Welp, I suppose it's time to follow fate to its end!
Shennong: Oh man, we're too late to help?
Yasuyori: Such is fortune's folly. There's only one thing left to do.
Shennong: Yep. Out of the way you two, we gotta get our advisor through.
Arslan: Ha! Good one!
Zabaniya: We shall do things, Missionary style!
Tiger Man: ¡Ayy! So many things happening now!

MC's Location, wherever that is
MC: So you're first Jacob. Figured. / (square up)
Jacob: You honor me. I came to take you away, MC.
Yoritomo: Perfect timing. Get out.
Jacob: (dodges) THERE! I won't fall for the same trick you keep using.
Yoritomo: You don't say? Allow me to spice things up.
Mob Squad deployed and firing!
Jacob: OH SHIT
MC: Hey, shooting me is against the rules here!
Yoritomo: Those are stray shots. These things just happen.
Jacob: Your insight is as sharp as ever. But I am enjoying this trail because I am not alone.
Girimekhala: I am here to help(?)!
Jacob: Yes, I am indeed counting on you to help!
Shinya: It's too bad we couldn't settle things, but we can't let the team win go!
Tanetomo: Inusaka Keno Tanetomo present, Your Excellency. I shall fulfill your orders and bring us victory.
Yoritomo: You do that. I suppose it's time for us to show off our own strength.
Tanetomo: Yes Sir! Shinya, I can't our team win slip by either!
Tiger Man: ¡Ay dios mio! The whole event cast is here to fight over MC!

Girimekhala: ...guys, mind leaving this to me?
Shinya: Are you planning to meat shield or something?
Girimekhala: No! I've been thinking about what I could do, so I got something I wanna try. If it works, I can take out some of them.
Jacob: ...okay then.
Shinya: Wait, aren't you going to ask him any questions!?
Jacob: I swore to stay by him until the end, so I must believe in him.
Shinya: ...oh, that makes sense. Okay I trust you too, Girimekhala.
Girimekhala: I got this! Hehe, I can finally say it!
Girimekhala: (Okay I dunno if this will actually work...but I wanna be able to say I tried everything I could.)
Girimekhala: Out of the way if you don't wanna trip with me, punks! GANESH IMPACT!
Tiger Man: ¡Híjole! Girimekhala turned himself into a giant rolling snowball!
Warmongers Mobs: NOOOO

Jacob: Thank you, Girimekhala! Now's the time to give of our love! Please accept this, MC!
Shinya: Me too! I hope even a bit of my feelings reach you.
Yoritomo: How dare you mock conventional warfare strategy. Advisor, we must keep up!
Tanetomo: Yes Sir! Oh, MC~? Please take my cute chocolates first.
Yoritomo: Clichés it is. Take your reward, MC!
MC: EXCUSE ME WHAT
Girimekhala: (Elephant bowling ball act done! Now I just gotta get up there with everyone else and...)
Girimekhala: Oh no, my social anxiety will act up if I go over there and everyone starts looking at me!
Somewhere Else
Amduscias: Oh I get what you wanted me to do over here now Senpai.
Amduscias's eyes start playing visualizations like Windows Media Player.
Amduscias: Quick sneak peek at some of my info! Look over here everybody! Mystic Eyes Noble Phantasm, Grimoire Charm Eyes: Gaze of Beautiful Greenery!
Battlefield
Wrestler: Why is there a spotlight and music playing!?
Angel: Manager's show? The miracle of Jacob's Ladder???
Girimekhala: Hey wait, everyone's looking away all of a sudden...MC, please take my chocolate too!
BATTLE START (more happens after)

Shinya Tennouji is a Tokyo native who became Olympus's Spare World Representative for Reasons. He has the power to forcefully create bonds with anyone and everyone, a power just as strong as the other Representatives. He can totally form a guild army and fight against the Representatives if he felt like it. But he doesn't, and he's looking for some other way as he joins different organizations.
Present
Tiger Man: It's the war zone of love!
MC: What am I supposed to do here!?
The four press in.
???: MC...!
Tiger Man: Hey wait, what's that?

Girimekhala: AAAAAAAA
Tiger Man: ¡Ay dios mio! Girimekhala is rolling towards everyone!
Girimekhala: (I can't stop! I can't even SEE!)
MC: Oh no!
???: What are you doing!?
MC: W-whoa, someone pulled me in and saved me? / Uh, I feel something warm beneath me
---
(C) Yoritomo: (frowns) Will you step away now? My stomach can only take so much!
---
Yoritomo: Get up already if you're back to your senses. I can't BELIEVE you'd try to stand in front of that without a weapon. You are a stupid little brother, but rather splendid as well. I'd never stand for you dying to something like this.
MC: Thanks Yoritomo! / I'll be more careful next time! / Can I get another hug?
(B) Yoritomo: You didn't even blink over that empty promise. Are you planning on being an agitator?
(C) Yoritomo: STAY BACK

Yoritomo: ...why are you smiling? You just put yourself in harm's way for nothing. Actually, stupid question, don't answer that. I wouldn't understand anyways. On another note, let's leave the reckless ideas to him.
Jacob: Girimekhala! I shall come help you! Jacob Punch! (punches Snowball Girimekhala)
Girimekhala: OOF! ...o-oh, I stopped now.
Shinya: Girimekhala, you're okay!
Yoritomo: ...you would give up on victory and risk yourself for your friends? This is rather anticlimactic and unfulfilling as Tezcatlipoca would say, but...we win. (holds chocolate out to MC)
MC: ...oh.
Tiger Man: (gasps in Spanish) Yoritomo just captured the flag. Game over, Team Warmongers WIN!
Mobs: AAAAAAAA

Yoritomo: ...may I ask you a question, Tennouji Shinya?
Shinya: Yes?
Yoritomo: You are quick enough that you could have shot my chocolate out of my hand. Why didn't you?
Shinya: ...that would go against the Missionaries' beliefs. Jacob pulled back to help Girimekhala. He would step away from his own role to bring love to another, even if he doesn't deliver it himself. I don't need to get in the way of that as another Missionary.
Yoritomo: Oh, such skill in invading the Missionaries.
Shinya: Well if you'd like one more explanation, what MC wanted most was to save Girimekhala earlier. So was MC happier with your chocolate, or...?
Yoritomo: I won the battle but lost the war? Who set up this plot? Heh, we are going to settle this one day, Tennouji Shinya.

Later
Girimekhala: ...oh, I lost.
Shinya: ...yeah, it's over.
Girimekhala: ...dammit! (cries)
Shinya: ...yeah, I'm upset too. Every time the Game ends, I keep wondering if there was some other way out.
Jacob: You two can let it out. Giving your best makes your tears a sign of wonder and love as well.
MC: You guys...you guys did great all the way to the end!
Girimekhala: MC, I...! I dunno if I was any help, but I did everything I could! And I helped for once! It's a personal miracle... I had friends with me sharing in things good and bad, so I'm never gonna give up no matter how much I mess up and trip!
MC: Awesome! / I'm cheering for you! / I'm with you
Girimekhala: ...heh, somehow that hits different this time compared to before. Thanks MC, we're besties!
Jacob: Girimekhala, you were impressive with how you threw yourself literally to deliver your love.
Maria: Let us welcome you to the Missionaries all over again!

Elsewhere
Airavata: ...good show. I'm leaving now.
Barong: Thanks for watching! Happy with our production?
Airavata: Yes. The results were the same, but Girimekhala has found something all new. He is no longer another me anymore, so I can leave peaceably seeing that smile on his face.
Barong: Nice! Exit's that way.
Airavata: ...okay one last word before I go. You said your role was to entertain, and you believe it doesn't have to be you that is any help. I feel a different kind of pity...actually, fear towards your way of life than I do Girimekhala's. I hope the spotlight falls on you one day. (leaves)
Barong: Geez, tough crowd. (beep beep) Oh, hello? New Guy? Saw your playing! You barely pass. Get back to the hotel, we got a party to put on!
Game Field
Tiger Man: Finale time, amigos! Time to end things with a bang!
End of Episode

Live A Hero Virtual Fest Royale Episode 8 (Abridged)

Title Card: Digital World Crisis

Giant Monster in The World Neo-Axis! Smaller Monsters are spawning in and are getting drawn into the big one!
Toshu: Why are there Monsters here!?
Shaft: I-I don't know, but Monsters are supposed to appear wherever people are, so...
Cerastium: So not even a virtual gathering is safe!?
reXer: The big one is starting to move!
The Monster is very slowly coming this way! Towards the port city, specifically.
MC: Oh no! Aren't the NPCs...
Flashback
Giansar: I stuck Justice and a bunch of other heroes I took out offscreen into the NPCs.
Present
Giansar: Yeah. At least half of them have heroes in them.
reXer: But they can't fight like that!
Cerastium: OH NO
MC: We have to do something!

Giansar thinks as he stares at his windows.
Toshu: He's up to something! No funny movements.
Giansar: I'm just checking something, gawd.
Window: Error! Log out unavailable.
Beepbeepbeepbeep.
Giansar: Goddammit, I'm stuck too. The Monsters have already invaded over half of the system.
Toshu: You stop what you're doing and answer our questions. First, do you know what's going to happen?
Giansar: ...I'm guessing Monsters turned up inside the game's server room and somehow they were able to invade the consciousness conversion system. And in doing so they damaged the controls.
reXer: ...so, the Monsters have taken over the game?
Giansar: Far as I can tell, yeah.

Cerastium: I have a question too. What would happen if a Monster ate us here?
Giansar: It's only our minds in here, but if you get eaten here you'd probably never wake up.
Toshu: Oh...
Giansar: The heroes still around are taking action. Fighting still works, but...they're getting pushed back.
Party: >:(
Giansar: Stop looking at me like that, it's not my fault. They're just outnumbered, and they would be even if I hadn't been doing my thing.
reXer: Stop talking like you aren't affected by this, you're stuck here too!
Giansar: ...yeah, I didn't mean for that to happen. But yeah, we gotta destroy the Monsters in here and the ones outside the game before shit gets bad.
MC: ...why, what would happen?
Giansar: We all get eaten and the game breaks, and then none of us are coming back probably.
reXer: !! (sweats)
Toshu: We better get to work then.
MC: We have to do something!

Cerastium: Yeah!
Shaft: I don't know how the logout block works, but I do know we can fight against the Monsters!
Toshu: Our backs are up against the wall here.
reXer: (stares, then clenches fist in determination)
reXer: I'll fight too!
Cerastium: reXer! But...
reXer: Yeah, I'm not a hero and there's no guarantee this avatar works against Monsters. But I wanna help somehow! I don't want Monsters to eat Dad for a second time!
MC: Okay, let's do what we can together!
reXer: Yeah! I'm a cyber hero, so I better show what I can do here!

Giansar: ...I'm coming too.
Toshu: What are you plotting?
Giansar: ...nothing. I can be embarrassed about what I did too. But more importantly I don't want to go down like a useless chump against the Monsters. (stares at Giant Monster)
Giansar: Far as I can tell...that thing's the cause of all our system problems. It's probably acting like a giant security hole.
reXer: Oh! If it's the central processing system we might be able to fix the game program with it!
Giansar: Yeah, but that involves getting within that thing's reach. I can handle fixing things, but I need time with them not attacking me while I'm at it.
Toshu: How very convenient for you.
Giansar: Think whatever you want, but I'm not plotting anything. I'm not dying to retgone here, and I doubt you guys want to either. You don't have anyone else better for the job than me. Make your choice.
MC: ...let's give him a chance.

reXer: ...MC.
Shaft: ...Giansar, we just settled our fight with you earlier, so now...let's work together for the time being.
Toshu: We're all in the same boat, huh? Well if he's not lying, we can assign some of the work of solving this to him at least.
Giansar: This is why you heroes suck...whatever, you better not waste me if we're doing this. We're using each other to the fullest.
MC: Okay, gimme your hand! / Temporary teamwork / Whatever it takes to live
Cerastium: (stares)
Giansar: ...what?
Cerastium: ...I can't accept what you did to everyone or your philosophy.
Giansar: Makes sense.
Cerastium: But...

Flashback
The Disrespect of Not Even Giving This Bestie a Name: Maybe justice is complicated. Maybe there's more than one kind of justice.
Present
Cerastium: My justice isn't simply. I may deny your actions, but I can't just deny your thoughts. So, I'll work with you to survive this and figure out my justice.
Giansar: You naive girl.
Cerastium: I'm knocking you out if you try any funny business though.
Giansar: Oh, is that what you really think? Whatever.
Cerastium: My name is Cerastium. Let's work together.
Giansar: ...yeah.

Later
Giansar: Okay, I'm going to try hacking the program. You guys fight off the Monsters.
And so the party starts heading towards the big boss Monster.
Later again
Monsters: SCREEE
MC: Here they come, Ceras! / reXer, you're up! / Shaft, go!
(A) Cerastium: Shields can bash too you know!
(B) reXer: I can do this! I still have Dad's weapon! (bonk) Oh my god it worked!
(C) Shaft: Okay! Summer Rugby Charge!

The Monsters get blown away!
Toshu: Dammit, there's still more of them!
Giansar: ...there's like 150-200 of them here. And they'll keep spawning if they aren't taken care of! But the other heroes still around are fighting, so they aren't spawning in that fast.
It's snowing Monsters!
Cerastium: How awful. I wonder what's happening offline?
reXer: Hey Giansar, you getting anywhere with your analysis?
Giansar: ...yeah, I can work anywhere. But I can't close the security hole from here at the moment.
Toshu: You lied to us!?
Giansar: Let me finish, dammit. But anyways, I've confirmed the Monsters's infiltration route is centered on the big one. It's parasitized the core program so it's a core itself and pulling in more Monsters. We take it out, we can get control back which means logout will work again and we can get rid of the other Monsters.
Shaft: ...so, we HAVE to fight it.
Toshu: It's big, so it's going to be tough.
reXer: (frowns)
MC: You okay?

reXer: ...I'm going up against something I've only seen before, so I guess I am a little afraid. But... (glares)
reXer: I can't back now, and I probably never could have. But the cyber hero of justice reXer wouldn't run here. Dad would solve any cyber world problem since that was his justice, and I'm his heir!
Cerastium: (gasps)
Giansar: (snorts and looks at his windows again) Whatever. I'm doing my part, you do yours so we'll live through this.
reXer: !! Giansar...
Giansar: Move your feet, slowpoke.
MC: Yeah! We're all making it through this!
Giansar: (keeps typing on his cyber console)
Shaft: ...we should get going.
Toshu: Right.
And so the party continues again.

Giansar gets distracted for a second when he looks at the party.
Giansar: ...what the hell am I saying about "you guys do your part"? I'm really working with heroes now...? After all I did...?
Flashback!
Clerk: Sorry, you failed the license test.
Later on
Giansar: How the fuck did I fail and those chumps pass!? What don't I have that they do!?
Totally Not Vulpecula: Wow you got skills. Why didn't they recognize that? Why does the world let incompetent heroes do whatever they want?
Giansar: Yeah! It's the world that sucks! I'm awesome at what I do!
Totally Not Vulpecula: You should change the world. And by change I mean destroy.
Giansar: What? ...hmmmm.
Present
Giansar: >:C (distracted by the angry)
reXer: Giansar!
Giansar snaps out of it and looks at reXer looking hard at him.
reXer: ...we're counting on you.
Giansar: ...shit. (starts working again) ...only for now until we survive.
Giansar notices something in the logs.
Giansar: What?

Later
The party has reached the top of some hill and made it to the giant Monster raining more Monsters from the sky!
reXer: Here it comes!
Toshu: First strike!
Toshu dodges the Monster's attack and strikes back! Except...
Toshu: Whoa, that's tough!
Monster: REEEE
Toshu: Oh no! (pow) OOF
Shaft: Toshu! Dammit, it's too big for me to keep up with my support!
Toshu has been launched into midair!
MC: The smaller ones are coming! Get ready!

reXer: Gamer Power Swing!
reXer mows down the Monsters!
Cerastium: There's no end to them! (swings shield)
Shaft: We just need to take out the big one...!
Monster: SCREEEE
Shaft: Oh no the big one is attacking! Dodge everyone!
reXer: You say that like it's easy! (pow) AAAAAA
Shaft: OH NO, REXER
reXer got hit because he was slowed down by the small Monsters.
reXer: Urgh...is this...how strong Monsters are...?
MC: reXer, you okay!? You ate that head on, but Shaft caught you!
reXer: S-somehow...
The Monsters keep spawning in and regaining their balance!
Toshu: We're deeply disadvantaged...
Shaft: It feels like there's even more of them now.
Cerastium: We can't even get close enough to attack the big one!
Shaft: And the small ones keep attacking!
reXer: ...we can't give up. I can't let this world...or Dad...disappear!
Toshu: Keep fighting!
The pressure is getting to the party...
MC: Need! Some sort of! Turnaround!

Suddenly!
Giansar: Execute program!
Giansar's voice yells out from monitors in front of the party! The small Monsters bug up with noise and disappear! The large one starts bugging up too as it screams.
Cerastium: ...wait, what?
Toshu: What's happening?
Giansar: Heh, it worked.
MC: Giansar! What's happening?
Gainsar: I can't close the hole, but I did find a way to shrink it. Doing that caused all this to happen.
Shaft: Your analysis worked!
Giansar: Not entirely. Big guy's still the cause of all our problems, so we still have to kill it. It should be easier to take him down now.
reXer: What do you mean?
Giansar: I threw together a network link to hack its stats down.
reXer: Just now? In real time??

Giansar: ANYWAYS I brought its defenses to the lowest point, so you guys should be able to beat it if you go all together.
Cerastium: Um, Giansar!
Giansar: Don't forget I'm doing this so I survive! I need to live long enough to make sure my life meant something.
MC: What?
Giansar: ...I don't want you guys to win, but I will do anything to find the meaning of my life, whatever it is. And I'll show no mercy to anyone....I'll do my part, you guys do yours.
Shaft: Giansar...
Giansar: Hmph. I'm going to keep taking the big one's data apart. You guys destroy it when it's cut off from the system. Don't fall behind...
MC: ...right! Let's go, everybody!
reXer: ...yeah! I swear to save this world on my Dad's name and deeds!
Monster: REEEE
The buggy Monster turns towards the party. It readies to strike, but the party gets ready to fight back!
Cerastium: Here it comes!
Shaft: It's do or die time! Let's work together!
Toshu: Yes! We will win and return alive!
BATTLE START