Marine Resort Crisis Epilogue (Abridged)

New things come and go, just like people.
Helpy Shark: Hello, I'm new here and here to help you!
New jobs come and go too.
Helpy Shark: How can I help?
Reprobus: ...my job is in marine safety, carrying people, and helping them.
Reprobus always wanted a master to serve forever, someone or something that'd never change in an ever changing world, all while never getting what it meant for one person to hold up the world forever.
Helpy Shark: Insufficient data. Can I help you?
Reprobus: ...yeah, somehow. I'll figure something out I guess.
Reprobus is looking to the future now.
Reprobus: You said you're new here?
With new things, the world changes. Can a past savior change the world? Can something born in the future save things? Reprobus knows protecting the paradise resort means defeating the enemy shark from outside it. Protecting this world means not protecting of this world.
Reprobus: That's why the savior couldn't save you. Only I could.
What next, tho? He always wanted a forever job that wouldn't change, but he doesn't know what the point of that is.
Reprobus: ...maybe I'm not as smart as I thought I was. So help me share my load. We'll go together.
Where does this future go?

Narration Zone
Cait Sith: S-so what happened to everyone?
Solomon: Tell us Master!
MC: I'm getting to that! So anyways...
Present
Dagon used Teleport to bring the party back to AndvaResort!
Tvastar: Wow you guys, the reset button got pressed when you got out of the overworld shift and now Reprobus is all better now.
MC: Oh right, that's a thing when we leave enclosed spaces! / I noticed
(A) Tvastar: You feel better now? Good boy/girl/whatever! Oh wait, sorry for treating you like a little kid. I mean, I get flashbacks to my baby Vritra when someone's close to dying. I might have been the most worried about Reprobus here, haha.
(B) Tvastar: Nice! But weren't you worried?

Behemoth: bruh I forgot we were in an Enclosed Space even with us using our artifacts
Gullinbursti: Same, even though being a Transient we need them or the App to use our abilities. But we just forget under stress I guess.
Arslan: Dagon, I'm surprised YOU forgot about that.
Dagon: I didn't forget, I just had temporary judgment impairment. This Enclosed Area is a bit special, but it turns out we didn't need to worry about the reset button not working.
Reprobus is asleep. The party gathers.
Tvastar: He got KOed in battle and took some mental damage, but he'll be fine tomorrow after this nap!

Gullinbursti: By the way, whatever happened to the helpbot shark? Did it flip out again?
Hephaestus: N-no. I put it in sleep mode and hotfixed it. Then we just need to take it back to Kamata for a final tuneup and everything will be okay. M-mommy, this is awkward since I sorta caused all this, but will you take the help bot if everything is fixed up okay?
MC: Okay! / Can I make it a dorm assistant? / Well if you bug test everything...
---
(A) Hephaestus: :D
(B) Hephaestus: S-sure! Whatever you want!
(C) Hephaestus: I-I will! I'll send it over after I patch everything up!
---
Dagon: We should call Andvari and report what happened.
Arslan: We should also thank everyone who came to help defend the resort. And we can have a party...after Reprobus wakes up again!
Behemoth: Dude I am so in!

Narration Zone
Cait Sith: I'm glad it all worked out!
Solomon: Master, you're such a good storyteller! But waaah, we missed out on the partyyyy!
Cait Sith: Oh. Wanna go to the resort together?
MC: About that, you guys...
Solomon and Cait Sith: !!
AndvaResort
Solomon and Cait Sith: WHAT
The day after the shark attack incident is solved! The event party and Shinjuku here.
Andvari: Thanks again MC! Business is back, baby! Reopening party and sales for everything in the resort today!
Arslan: Cool! Wanna shop with me, Dagon?
Dagon: Okay. I wish we could all go, but I didn't expect Shinjuku's seaside school schedule would overlap with this.
MC: I'm glad we're still here! / Well we barely just made it / I wanna go to the party...

Andvari: Oh don't worry. The party and shop sales will be going on for a while! Just come by on your break time or after your school stuff is done!
Dagon: Be sure to finish all your school work, you troublemaker you.
Arslan: Nah, go crazy like all kids should! See you later, cubs!
Dagon: I'll take my leave now. Tell Ziz and your sea-loving assistant teacher I said hi.
MC: Triton? / Aww, how nice of school teachers to socialize / You know him because of the sea?
(C) Dagon: ...something like that. We were one person before the worlds divided. But then we divided into separate, different people, just like Tokyo is trying to logically become in the future.
MC: wait what
Dagon: Let me put it this way. Tokyo made us separate people. Since Triton isn't presently here, I've been assigned as your teacher in his place. The world divides, and old work gets atomized. Naturally, the value of our work will fall until it becomes something that can be replaced.
That's how Dagon sees Tokyo's System.
Dagon: You don't need to understand now. I just wanted to stop any Triton comparisons for now. Anyways, see you again when Triton isn't here.

Dagon and Arslan wander off. Then so does Andvari.
MC: Go have fun, Solomon and Cait Sith. We can play together later.
Cait Sith: Oh, so that's why you invited me over. To keep Solomon company while you do school work.
MC: oops, you noticed? / no I just wanted to see you / :))))
Cait Sith: Tee hee I see how it is. Wow Solomon, you have an awesome master.
Solomon: Waaaah, thank you Master!
Cait Sith: I'm glad you're asking me to help, but be sure to come join us later! Okay Solomon, let's check things out!
Solomon: Yay!

Later
Ziz: Attention, please! Free time is after midday break. There should be no sharks, but call me or Reprobus if you need help.
Reprobus: That's me. I'm from Toyosu. Be careful, and have fun.
MC: Reprobus! / I'm glad he's okay... / (no chill, fluff NOW)
---
(C) Reprobus: N-no wait, I'm in the middle of work! W-woof! At least let me finish talking first!
---
Reprobus: ...sorry to worry you, temp master. After we got out of the Enclosed Area and hit the reset button I got all better. And now I'm back at work. Don't you go too crazy out ther--
Ryouta: Look, Reprobus! I'm glad you're okay!
Kengo: Thanks for saving MC!
Shirou: Yes, thank you for keeping our guildmaster safe.
Moritaka: Want to join us for lunch?
Touji: We wanted to thank you, however much we could.
Reprobus: Uh, thanks but--
MC: Gullinbursti will come later, and the teachers said okay. But I guess you're still busy...?
Reprobus: ...I can come for a little bit.
Ryouta: Yay! BBQ for lunch, hurry before it's all gone!
And so everyone heads to the camping area.

AndvaResort campgrounds
Chernobog: BBQ is ready. We have plenty on the grill.
Behemoth: HOLY CRAP THIS IS AWESOME
Ryouta: I know, right!? Chernobog, did you get even better at the techniques Chouji taught you!?
Behemoth: This french seafood stew is awesome too! Have some, Reprobus!
Ryouta: Yeah! Actually, lemme fill up your plate for you with everything!
Reprobus: Ryouta can eat even MORE than Behemoth!?
Chouji and Chernobog smile. Ibaraki walks over.
Ibaraki: Can I have some to bring to Big Boss Shuten? He's at the medic station.
Chouji: Did something happen?
Ibaraki: Oh he ain't hurt or nothing. But on his way here...

Medic Station
Shennong: ...okay, you're good now. Take it easy, then we can go back to the hotel.
Shuten: Thanks, doc. Tsukiyomi stayed up all night saying he wanted to see his kouhai.
Shennong: Ah yes, that crazy one. You two are so alike that way.
Tsukiyomi: I thought I had it since I did it a bunch of times already, heh...
AI-gernon: How about you, Shuten? Didn't you just finish up a baseball match before this?
Algernon: ...did you come straight here and is that why you aren't in a swimsuit?
Shuten: Yep. It's enough to enjoy the seaside school mood for me.
Shennong: You suck at swimming, don't you?
Shuten: Pfffft, who me? The hick who lives in mountains all the time? Never, haha. Oh, someone's here? Who is it?
Shennong: ...should I not have asked?
Gullinbursti: Delivery! Water and medical supplies, done! Also some food from the camp zone!
Shennong: Thanks! Can't leave just yet, but I was thinking about lunch.
Shuten: A note from Ibaraki? He didn't need to worry about me and school.
AI-gernon: You got lunch for us too!? Thanks, let's eat together as fellow third years!
Algernon: That reminds me of Mountain Man. How's he getting on?

Elsewhere in AndvaResort
Zaoh: I CAN'T DO IT
Jinn: Sure you can! You did great! Now take a breath, and take another step forward.
Zaoh: why must every summer turn out this way
Triton: Like I've told you, repeatedly, that would be the consequences of your own actions of slacking on school work. Which brings you this mountain of work!
Zaoh: Oh! The magic words I think I've heard over and over again that makes me think I can do this! Hmm... (sniffs) I smell MOUNTAIN food! Someone related to mountains must be here! JOIN MY CLUB AAAAAA
Jinn: He's losing his marbles!
Triton: Don't let him get away!

Somewhere Else on the beach
Arslan: Go enjoy summer, cubs!
Arslan's lying in a chair watching Zaoh run like crazy. Hey, look who's here!
Dark Angel: Hello "Elias."
Arslan: Wow you figured out where I was?
Dark Angel: You use the same name every time you sneak off. That said, I knew you cared enough about the young to involve yourself in the shark attack incident.
Arslan: Haha, you know me so well!
Dark Angel: Maria and I knew you were working on behalf of the guild to solve things, so we couldn't drag you back until then. You manipulative clown.
Same feelings, even if their opinions on what to do differed. But now that that's done...
Arslan: ...uh, are all you angels here to throw me up?
Dark Angel: We can do that, all the way to Aoyama. GET HIM!
Arslan: Haha, come at me boys! (throws clothes at an angel and starts a fight)

MC: (walking by) welp, I see Daikanyama is here now.
Reprobus: That royal power!
Behemoth: bro why are you happy watching that?
Gullinbursti: What a fascinating and efficient method of teaching and self-training!
MC: o-okay? / a little too generous of a reading there / hang in there, angels...
Dagon: Arslan has so much energy considering yesterday was our big battle.
Dagon's here too now.
Dagon: Good job again, everyone. Reprobus is okay and the incident is solved.
Behemoth: I just followed your plan!
Dagon: But it's thanks to everyone, the planners and the doers.
Gullinbursti: Agreed! Winning together is fun!
MC: Yeah! Rough, but memorable.

Arslan: Adventures are totally about sharing the joys and sadness with the coming generations! I'm proud of how we all worked together to solve things!
Party: (stares)
Arslan: What?
Dark Angel: Lord Arslan, that would be the natural response to seeing a man stand up proudly inside a cage.
Behemoth: Dude, when did that happen!? And do you realize you're in the shark shocker cage?
Arslan: Oh I was wondering why it looked familiar. And then suddenly I was in it.
Gullinbursti: A-are you saying you literally walked into it?
MC: They sure got your number.
Dark Angel: Is that everything you wanted to tell them? Okay, time to go back to Daikanyama.
Arslan: Wait, don't parade me around like this! This is too much even for me!
Dark Angel: Oh, we'll be hiking you up so high people won't be able to see you. Good day to you all.
Arslan: HELP I STILL WANNA PLAY AT THE BEACH
The angels fly off.

Reprobus: ...he was supposed to be a cool king.
Dagon: What if Arslan had chosen to make his goodbyes a farce?
Reprobus seemed shocked at how quirky his near savior figure was.
Reprobus: Oh! He was trying to cheer us up so we wouldn't be sad when we say goodbye?
Behemoth: Oh yeah, the job's done and we'll be splitting up soon... Kinda sad, but it was fun!
Gullinbursti: Yes, it was a unique time. I found a new potential in myself through it! I think I'll keep up the summer delivery job and maybe try a regular delivery job after!
Dagon: I should try something new too after that sea facility I made. I hope we can spend more time together.
MC: I had fun too / Best summer ever! / What'd you think, Reprobus?
(AB) Everyone reflects on their summer. Reprobus thinks a lot on what everyone said.
(C) Reprobus thinks back on this summer and thinks a lot on what everyone said.

Reprobus: This place was like my other jobs, and it'd have gone the same if I hadn't met you. But I did, and my world's changed. I experienced stuff I only knew in theory, made friends and rivals. I learned to share my worries and desires. I'm pretty sure there'll be as many saviors of the world as there are worlds and stars. I didn't find my forever Master this time either, but I feel there's things only I can do that a savior can't. Something to be proud of.
The journey goes on, but he's fine with that.
Reprobus: I thought trying to navigate your future was like navigating a dark ocean with only your own light. But other people can light the way too, so I want to light the way for someone else, however faint I may be.
MC: Good luck / I believe in you / (quietly hold out your hand)

Reprobus: ...MC (steps towards MC)
Reprobus: I have something important to say. I had a Master brave enough to immediately stop me during the service battle. I also heard you used your quick thinking to stop the boss shark when I was taken out
MC: what / I sense where this is going
Reprobus: Royal Charisma! / Unstoppable courage! Clarity under duress! Generosity to save your enemies! YOU are my true--(gets yanked by Dagon)--WHAT
Dagon: Hmmmm, you must be tired Reprobus. Still not feeling well from yesterday? You still have a report to do, so how about we work on that in my ship?
Reprobus: No! MC really is my Mast--
Dagon: Now now, settle down. I can handle your Monstrous Strength with my tentacles. I'm sure MY MC can help you look for your master after you finish your report!
Behemoth and Gullinbursti: YOUR WHAT
Gullinbursti: I will not stand for more rivals appearing in the MC Bowl! Oh wait, MC! Get on my back right now!
Behemoth: Hey wait, I was gonna invite MC to spend the last day of summer with me on a dinner date!
MC: (pick someone) / (open arms for everyone) / (bail with Solomon)
The four way battle over MC heats up as the sun sets on AndvaResort. An unforgettable summer to stay even should the waves wash away the signs of what happened, to be remembered by somebody or by the depths of Tokyo.
The End

Live A Hero The Star Ocean Cruise Train Episode 5 (Abridged)

Raizi: Bored now. Perdy, take this VP and make them stop.
Esperdica: Okay.
Yellow: P-p-pleasewatchyooorfeeet anderrorror
Raizi: Left kick incoming!
Esperdica: Jumping!
Esperdica evades and gets behind the droids!
Raizi: Do it!
Esperdica: Robots CAN smell. Smell this! Super Coffee Roaster, go!
Lots of coffee smoke! The droids slow down!
Raizi: MC, your turn!
MC: Got it! / Digram! / Yoshiori!
(B) Digram: Acknowledged.
(C) Yoshiori: I got this!

Yoshiori: Digram, take the left one!
Digram: Understood.
Yoshiori and Digram charge!
Digram: All passengers, please get behind me for your safety. Deploying super move! Removal "Out of Whiteline"!
Yoshiori: No mercy! Defense "Operation Regain"!
Yoshiori and Digram fire!
Red: U-u-unab-b-ble to control at-t-t-tack--
Boom. The droids are down.
Raizi: ...okay they stopped. Perdy, are they okay like this?
Esperdica: Yes, they ran out of power like those other ones did. It was a violent method of stopping them, but that was our only option...
MC: Good work people! Hero mode, off.

Yoshiori: Geez, we still don't know what's going on. Guys, let's tie the droids up and stick them away somewhere.
Esperdica: Right, we should contact the other workers.
Digram: I can do that. But first, may I investigate them?
Yoshiori: Oh right, you're the only one here who might know anything about mechs...
Raizi: You can figure stuff out even with them off like that?
Digram: Only one way to find out. (scans)
Esperdica: How about a coffee break again? Have a seat.
Raizi: Cool, thanks. Gotta build up my focus guage again.
Yoshiori: Not like we can do anything else, so okay.

Yoshiori: ...so Raizi, Esperdica. You guys vibe pretty well together. I know how hard that is from boot camp.
Esperdica: Thank you. We pair up a lot in our agency. Also I've known Raizi long enough that I can read his mind.
Raizi: U-uh, you joke but you don't make it sound like one.
Esperdica: Am I? Well I need to have a discerning eye like you do too.
Esperdica pulls out coffee beans and a grinder out of hammerspace and starts making coffee.
MC: Raizi, you're so observant and your concentration is amazing!
Raizi: Thanks. Part of the gambler job, I guess. Anything to increase your odds.
Yoshiori: What do you even do though?
Raizi: (fiddles with dice) Nothing special. Just watch and think. Hmm, remember the dice game I was playing in Procy's bar? We were guessing what we'd roll. Wanna guess how I won all those times?
MC: Observer Powers? / Body reading? / dunno
(A) Raizi: That'd be cheating and parallel worlds aren't THAT close. Also I don't like games I can't lose.
(B) Raizi: Wow you could be a great gambler, MC. Wanna play? Oh wait, not now. But think about how I kept winning that game.

Raizi: Remember the wolf guy I played against? He kept sliding aside when rolling, which cuts down on what the final result becomes. I just had to keep track of what was face up when he grabbed the dice first.
Yoshiori: Oh. I KNEW it wasn't just dumb luck.
Raizi: It doesn't work all the time, but that wolf guy was too easy to read.
Yoshiori sighs. Esperdica brings coffee.
Esperdica: So how is Gambling 101 with Raizi? It could help a lot with your life even if you can't use it all right away. I learned how to read people's coffee preferences that way. Speaking of, here you go.
Esperdica: (grabs mug) And one for you, Digram. Enjoy.
Raizi: Thanks Perdy.

Esperdica smiles, then turns to Digram.
Raizi: Smells good. Relaxing.
Yoshiori: Mine too. How'd he get so good at making coffee? I can't get a read on him.
Raizi: He's just like that, please understand. He's even more like what with people he likes. Anyways, how about some small talk? Any questions for me, MC?
MC: Why are you a gambler? / Tell me about your sordid past / What's your relationship with Esperdica?
(A) Raizi: I mean, I can tell you but it's not THAT interesting. But if you still wanna know...
(B) Raizi: You mean the ghost thing? Couldn't you have picked something lighter...? Well I do owe you for everything Yoshiori said, so okay.
(C) Raizi: Wow I didn't think you'd care so much. I'll have to get into my backstory first.

Raizi: Sooo I've always had Observer powers since I was young. I could see things people couldn't and sense things that weren't supposed to be there, so everyone treated me like a creep. I was a slum kid by the time I started remembering things, but don't ask how I got there. And then this one guy took me in.
Flashback!
Scary Man: ...you alive kid?
Raizi: ...who?
Scary Man: Oh you are. Eat this, you're gonna cramp my day if you bite the dust in front of my home.
Scary Man offers crappy bread. Still the best thing ever for Raizi as he proceeds to choke on it, prompting Scary Man to sigh and give him water too.
Scary Man: Ugh, slow down. You have a home? ...or family?
Raizi shakes his head.
Scary Man: Oh. Shit. Okay, come along or get lost.
Raizi: R-really? W-wait!

Raizi (narrating): That guy basically adopted me, giving me food and board and taught me how to gamble. He's also the one who named me Raizi, so I wanted to grow up quick and pay him back.
Scary Man: A live-in job at an Observer research lab?
Raizi: They're looking into Observer abilities. That's what my powers are, right? I can pay you back if I go.
Scary Man: Raizi, remember you aren't a kid no more so--
Raizi: Take no shit, right? I can take care of myself.
Scary Man: ...alright, if you're sure.
Raizi: I swear to pay you back.

Present
Raizi: In hindsight, he suspected something was off. Offer was too good to be true for a slum kid, and lots of people hated Observers around there. And he was right. The lab WAS researching Observers, but they were assholes.
He seems upset now.
Raizi: They weren't like real scientists if you know what I mean. They just wanted to use us to prove their beliefs about the afterlife, souls, and what happens to souls of people vored by Monsters. They chained us up and showed us snuff videos, wanting us to see parallel worlds from that.
MC: oof...
Raizi is grabbing his arms hard and looks up when MC says something.
Raizi: ...they wanted us to see the afterlife as their first goal. I saw something the others didn't, which is a thing that happens for some reason. The lab jerks thought that was good and said I had the eyes of truth or some junk, even though it didn't prove anything. I didn't even know what I was looking at, and I still don't. But...I don't want to see any of it anymore.
Yoshiori: Well damn. How'd you get out? (puts down coffee)
Raizi: I snuck out an exhaust port with just the clothes on my back. I got back near my old slum home, but the lab jerks were already there.

Flashback!
Scary Man: Kid's gone, sucks to be you. Now get out, because no one ever comes back here.
Present
Raizi: I knew that meant he was covering for me and to get out myself. He taught me the gambling basics, so he probably knew I was there. (sighs)
Raizi: ...then I started bumming around towns and forgot how to get back. But life is hard for a bum and I eventually crapped out after using up all my food and savings.
Esperdica: Hmm, this sounds familiar. (sneaks up from behind Raizi)
Yoshiori: Where'd you come from!?
Raizi: Could you not? Man Perdy, you have gotten better at the presence concealment thing.
MC: Hi Esperdica and Digram.

Esperdica: Excuse me. I figured you'd want refills right about now, and Digram's done with his checks and wanted to take a break.
Digram: Thank you Esperdica, and excuse me for interrupting. I will give my results after my break.
Esperdica: Um, you can relax okay?
Digram: Understood. Break mode activate. This coffee is lovely, please continue. (sits down and smells coffee)
Esperdica: Please enjoy. Now why don't I pick up on this personal history flashback? (sips coffee and looks aside at Raizi)
Raizi: Sure, that'd be better for everyone.
Esperdica: ...oh I see. Okay, you were at Raizi's homeless bum part? (clears throat)
Esperdica: So, one winter day I was coming home from work when on the way I found Raizi buried in the snow...
Raizi: !!

Title Card: Fight Against the Sheer Cold

Raizi: Ohmygod Perdy shut up
MC: did he die
Esperdica: It was rather alarming, but his first words to me was "food pls"
Yoshiori: That's it? Well, I mean except for the out cold in the snow bit.
Raizi: Okay yeah I was that hungry and Perdy helped me. It was a crazy time but he helped me.
Esperdica: Indeed, he helped me too. (smiles at Raizi shrugging)
Digram: ? Requesting clarification. Was Raizi not the assisted party here?
Esperdica: Oh, right. I was feeling lost at that point in life. Stay in a stable insurance job or jump ship and risk opening up the cafe of my dreams? I mean service work is hard, but I just wasn't brave enough to weigh the pros and cons yet. And no one was supportive of me trying to go into cafe business. Couldn't decide, and then I met Raizi. (lowers eyes) He inhaled my food, looked awkward, then stared at me before struggling to say...
Raizi: ...I saw him working in a cafe.
MC: Oh / His power, huh? / Why was it a struggle?
(C) Raizi: I barely got away from the lab jerks by then and it'd be weird to bring it up since Perdy hadn't yet. Also I was a little afraid to say anything about it at all.

Esperdica: It was such a surprise, especially since I never brought up my cafe dream to him. But then he talked about the lab and his abilities, and he saw me in a parallel world as a barista hero with my own place.
Yoshiori: ...and that's when you believed him?
Esperdica: Yes. I'm also quite attentive towards people and I knew about Observers. Also...
Flashback!
Esperdica: Oh, so that's one possibility for me?
Raizi: Yeah, out of all the other Esperdicas I see. Not that the rest are mistakes. You decide how to play your hand. I just make your ideals even a little bit more likely, to borrow someone else's words. (smiles a little)
Raizi: Gamblers gotta be confident to win and never stop going for everything you want. That's what I was taught.
Esperdica: !?
Esperdica: ...that's wonderful.

Present
Esperdica: And that's what convinced me to go be a hero and barista with my own cafe. That was rather long winded of me, hehe. (sighs as his tail wags slightly)
Esperdica: I stuck my nose into Raizi's business until he got onto his feet, then worked things out with my old job before jumping tracks and apprenticing in coffee.
MC: what a dramatic meeting
Raizi: Uh, could you stop sounding like you're enjoying it all so much when talking about how I was then?
Esperdica: (smiles) I'm kidding. That enough for our backstory presentation?
Raizi: Y-yeah, good enough.
Yoshiori: Yeah, sort of. I guess. You two knew each other a long time, got it.
Raizi: Right, let's stop there before Esperdica goes full soap opera and makes me sound like a total loser.
Esperdica: Aww, I'm hurt you'd say that. But okay, that's enough then.

Esperdica: Ahem. Everyone's about done with coffee, so it's about time to get back to investigating I suppose?
MC: Thanks for telling us your backstories!
Digram: Yes, very insightful. Thank you very much.
Esperdica: Great. Next time will be your turn, Digram.
Digram: Acknowledged. Backstory presentation directive order to be fulfilled on my next break.
Esperdica: Um, it's just a friendly request instead of a formal order. But yes, thank you.
Digram: Very well then. Reinitializing work mode. Shall I proceed with my research results on the android soldiers?
MC: Yes please.

Digram: (nods) Detailed system check unavailable due to droid shutdown, but data logs have heavy volumes of error messages.
MC: ...they're bugging out?
Yoshiori: a what log
Digram: System record of actions taken. Literally everything they tried to do resulted in an error message. It is possible the soldiers have been hacked somehow.
Raizi: Huh. Who then?
Digram: No search results found. Details require reboot.
Esperdica: Hmm. So all we know is that the soldiers aren't doing this because they want to.
Yoshiori: And we still haven't disproven the existence of the zombie ghosts people started yelling about when the droids went buggy. They might still be here... (looks around)

Raizi: U-uh, could you stop? You're making me uncomfortable.
Yoshiori: But it's true. We have ta catch one to figure out if they're real or not.
Raizi: Them being real would SUCK though! The cause being "not zombie ghosts" is good enough for me and--AAH
Raizi's phone starts making noise!
Raizi: HELP
Yoshiori: GET OFF ME
Raizi: POLTERGEIST
Esperdica: Calm down you two, my phone is making noise too. This seems familiar...
MC: My phone isn't working either...wait, this is like before!

Digram: MC, Raizi, jamming signals detected. Same frequency as used by the droid soldi--
SLAM
Green: P-p-please becaref-f-ful ofthe d-d-d-doooor
Esperdica: Raizi, it's the soldiers and not some zombie ghost! Transform us!
Raizi: O-oh, good.
Yoshiori: Wait, there's more soldiers than before! MC, transform me too.
MC: That function still works! Execute!
The party suits up!
Green: P-p-pleeeease r-r-r-ruuuunnnn
Yoshiori: I don't SEE any hackers around or anything. Well we gotta stop these guys first anyways so...
Digram: Scanning is possible if performed before forced shutdown. However, projected success rate due to stalling combat and necessary blocking of attacks is at 5%.
Esperdica: That's dangerous. But first, we need to stop them before they hurt anyone since we have no healers. Raizi, your orders!
Raizi: R-right. Let's do this MC.
MC: Okay. Wave battle, ride on!
Raizi: AAAAAAAA
MC: WAIT WHAT
Yoshiori: R-Raizi, what's going on!?

Raizi: ZOMBIE GHOST LEAVE THIS PLACE
Raizi points over. There is definitely some humanoid shade over there.
Yoshiori: OH GOD ZOMBIE GHOST
Esperdica: What!? Wait, calm down you two!
MC: Wait, that's no zombie ghost!
The shadow seems to be solidifying.
Esperdica: That's a body! Wait, he's...!
Look, it's Tabit!
Tabit: Enemy confirmed. Order: protect friend! Wait! Digram! Mech life form! Why!? No mercy!
Yoshiori: It's him! Wait, he's coming to attack!
Esperdica: Well he's in no state to listen! Raizi, can you do it!?
Raizi: Y-yeah, I can work through it!
Digram: Him! MC, your orders! Prioritizing pacification. Simulation run projects eleven minute and twenty eight second delay.
MC: Right, get ready to fight! Let's go!
BATTLE START

Marine Resort Crisis Episode 6 Part 2 (Abridged)

Flashforward!
Dagon: I'm a fusion of two different Dagon memories that happened for Reasons, so I'm kind of like you that way. I was Father Dagon in both selves, and both past selves and worlds fell to ruin.
Dagon: I know Y'ha-nthlei better than anyone, the sunken city of my retainers the Deep Ones. It's a different city from R'lyeh where [REDACTED] sleeps, but they became fused together because reasons.
Dagon: I felt like such a sinner when I found out about that. Long story short, that overworld shift was created with my Old Ones self as the core. I never reached R'lyeh, so the dream I never accomplished manifested there. So why is it that it's still around without me being in there? Simple: part of me was there the whole time.

Present
Dagon: Honey (by which I mean Old Ones me), I'm home. Deep sea construction research is my job.
Dagon fusion!
MC: uh, where are we? The bottom of the sea? / oh god put on the breathing tool!
---
(C) Dagon: Heh. You're talking without it already.
---
Surprised party!
Dagon: Welcome to Y'ha-nthlei, where hybrids live. We can breathe normally here.
Only darkness above, not the ocean surface. Buildings made of things indescribable around, with pale shining lights. How mystical. How profane.
MC: Pretty / Kinda scary / have I been here before...?

Dagon: I would love to show you around, but we have things to do first.
The Boss Shark is up above surrounded by shark bots!
Behemoth: Huh. They're swimming like normal fish. Did Tokyo's faith stop affecting them?
Arslan: That'd be nice, but we can't tell yet. Also this place is weird. We can still swim around like we're underwater.
Gullinbursti: Dagon, what do you think? The sharks seem lost...
Dagon: I agree with you actually. They lost track of us, lost sight of where they were, so now they're on guard.
Gullinbursti: So what now? I thought we just had to bring them here.
MC: Is there just too many of them that they have majority? / (wait)

Dagon: Nobody else is here, so the majority is with the sharks.
Behemoth: bruh we finally make it and it's still not enough to fix things?
Dagon: Don't give up so fast, I did think of this possibility. Remember our other win condition for all this?
Thinking party.
Arslan: Oh. Start cutting down on the number of sharks?
Gullinbursti: Oh right, we'd then have Master use their plot sword to cut the shark off from Tokyo's faith and...
Factory reset! Except Tokyo still fears sharks.
Reprobus: (frowns)
MC: Wait! Can't we do something else? / (ask Reprobus's opinion)
(AB) Reprobus: ...I-I agree with MC.

Reprobus: I know this is late, but I've been thinking about it. Majority rules, but I thought we could come up with something better.
Dagon: (stares)
Reprobus: All those sharks originally just came from one single bot, right?
Dagon: Yes. The minion bots are more like mobile body parts.
Reprobus: How about this then? (secret plan explanation)
Dagon: Hmm, how unique. But also much harder.
Repobus: We're almost out of bombs, but we might make it with the harpoons.
Dagon: Then all that's left is whether we can talk the shark boss down.
Dagon looks at the sharks, then at MC.
Dagon: Hey guys, how about we go with that plan?

The party moves underneath the shark bot swarm.
MC: Ready? / Nervous / Finale time!
Behemoth: oof it being near the end is killing my nerves
Arslan: Relax, we're here too.
Gullinbursti: Trust us if things go wrong. Reprobus and I are good tanks at least!
Reprobus: Right.
Dagon: Everyone, the plan is for us to get to the shark boss.
The party nods in acknowledgement.
Dagon: Let's do this. MC, your orders.

Everyone not MC and Dagon move to surround the sharks.
MC: ...showtime!
Boss Shark: REEEE
The other party members throw in their bombs and retreat back down. The sharks quickly pursue, but Dagon pulls the party members back!
Dagon: Noble Phantasm go! Pillar, board wipe activate!
Tentacles reach out from Dagon's artifact to mow down sharks! The boss shark is acting strangely...
Dagon: I'm factory resetting the shark with my artifact. MC, go!
MC swims forward!
Arslan: Dagon, you're so pro!
Gullinbursti: Master, we'll hold the line for you!
MC: Thanks! We're almost there!
Boss Shark: REEEE
BATTLE START (more happens later)

Party: AAAAAA
The party disables shark bots with their harpoons! When Boss Shark attacks, the party hides in nearby buildings.
MC: They're thinning out! We can do this! (charges at boss)
Boss Shark is getting faster and blinks out for a second!
Boss Shark: REEEE (ambush!)
MC: OH NO
Party: MC!

Reprobus (narrating): I'm seeing something I never saw before. Probably some continuation of a dream? I met my Master, and then I finally died after so long. It was death by decapitation. I was sacrificing myself for him, thinking it was what a pro was supposed to do. And all that is what I'm thinking about now.
Reprobus (narrating): I did my best for my master, even if they were a temp one. The choice I made was the same as the one I saw in my dream. Does this make up for my old sins, for destroying a city without questioning my orders and obeying in ignorance?
Reprobus (narrating): I thought about it all the time after I was summoned, but now I have to worry about a lot more. Is everyone in the party...and MC okay? Did the boss shark ever manage to return to its original role? I worried about everyone else, and that became my own regret. But I'll be at peace soon, I guess.

Present
Reprobus chump blocked for MC!
MC: Reprobus! (turns around and reaches forward)
Gullinbursti and Dagon catch Reprobus! MC gets in front of Boss Shark's eyes!
MC: Plot sword activate!
MC cuts off the Boss Shark's orders, which causes it to stop moving!
MC: Assistant Shark, help me!
Boss Shark: Beep boop
MC hurries to Reprobus!
MC: Reprobus! Say something! / It's all my fault... / (hug him)

Behemoth: Dude no!
Behemoth shakes Reprobus! It wasn't very effective...
Boss Shark: Beep boop
Boss Shark starts moving a little.
Gullinbursti: What? Didn't it react to Master's command!?
Gullinbursti picks up his harpoon, but Arslan stops him.
Arslan: Wait, the shark bots have stopped! That means...
Boss Shark blinks with a soft light.
Helpy Shark: Factory reset engaged. Disabling satellite terminal units.
Shark bots stop moving and start breaking apart.

Arslan: ...is that what the help bot is supposed to look like?
Helpy Shark: Factory reset complete. Owner not identified in database. People in need of assistance found, delaying setup. Emergency Help Mode, activate.
Helpy Shark shrinks to human size and swims over.
Helpy Shark: Vital signs detected, dispensing first aid and searching for nearby medical offices.
MC: He's still okay! / The shark is helping? / We gotta get out now!
Gullinbursti: I will take Reprobus back to the resort!
Dagon: Stop! I can just teleport us out. Now gather around!
Poof!

AndvaResort
Shark Bot: Beep booooop... (breaks)
Touji: What?
Moritaka: Does this mean MC and the others succeeded?
Beach
Kengo: Oof that was tough...but that was awesome!
Shirou: Okay, we're good over here. Now we just need to wait for them to come back.
Asterius's Labyrinth
Ziz: Everyone did a good job.
Ryouta: Yay! Case closed!
Labyrinth deactivates!
Ryouta: Hey Ziz, let's call Andvari and get a party ready!
Ziz: What a lovely idea! I should thank Dagon and Arslan as a teacher from Shinjuku.
Ryouta: I wanna talk to Reprobus. I never got a chance to talk to him since he worked the whole time. Time to text the Summoners! Hurry back, MC!
And so the waves carry on the people's voices as peace comes back to AndvaResort.
To be continued in the Epilogue!

Marine Resort Crisis Episode 6 Part 1 (Abridged)

Reprobus (narrating): I had a dream of the one savior of the world and era who died for everyone's sins. I figured if anyone could bear his burdens, it'd be me. I tried to catch up to him, but I never did. Eternity goes on forever, and I lost sight of the end. But I'm going to try again. I learned I'm not the only one who lives looking for a master. I'm not the only one sharing what I have. I'm not the only one who can't reach my goal. And I learned there isn't just the one savior out there. So this time? I'm gonna try walking with someone else.

Present
Behemoth: Come at me, shark dudes!
Behemoth's on deck waving at the sharks.
Sharks: REEEE
Behemoth: Oh god they're actually coming! It's kinda exciting being chased like this for once after having so many animals liking me!
MC: Well aren't you feeling okay. Focus! / I wanna see that actually
Reprobus: Try not to talk, you'll bite yourself.
Behemoth: WHOA
Big swerve as the party tries aggroing as many sharks as possible.
Dagon: Reprobus slow do--(BIG SWERVE)--oh geez not again!
Gullinbursti: I could never turn on a dime like this!
Arslan: Hang on, people!
Beep beep
Reprobus: Sorry about that. Heading for the boss now.
Arslan: Has our time come yet? Get ready everyone!
MC: Yeah! / Dagon? / gotta barf
---
(B) Dagon: Heh, I'm ready. I know everything about the sea.
Arslan: That is such a wild line to say while bracing yourself with tentacles.
(C) Gullinbursti: Oh no! Get on my back Master, you'll feel better!
---
Gullinbursti and MC jump off the boat to circle around it!
Behemoth: Eat harpoon and shark bombs!

Meanwhile, on the beach
Thunderbird: Most of the sharks have followed the boat out! We'll take care of the rest!
Kengo: Come at me, all of you!
Taishakuten: I'mma turn these sharks into Shibamata specialty souvenir foods!
Tetsuya: Seriously? Moneygrubber. Then again if these were real sharks that'd be good money.
Shirou: I still can't believe that's why those two are working together. Oh well. Evils, help me pick up the sharks?
Evils: EEEEE

Somewhere else on the beach
Heracles: Juugo, its mouth is open!
Juugo: Got it! Please watch me, Arslan!
Moritaka: Look at them go. Impressive...and frightening. What kind of people propose throwing your friends at enemies you can't reach?
Touji: And what kind of training leads people to wrench shark mouths open to shove bombs into?
Shiva: How dare you try biting off my loincloth! I have to sew it myself!
Juugo: Yeah, Mizuchi does that to my uniforms too...
Shiva: We are going after them, Juugo and Heracles!
Heracles: Witness the power Kudan Academy's handicraft club! (not a thing yet)
Moritaka: T-Touji, we should keep up!
Touji: Y-you want me to throw you at the sharks?
Moritaka: NO DON'T

Asterius's Labryinth
Shark: REEEE
Ryouta, Volos, and Asterios: OH GOD IT GOT IN
Volkh: Werewolf Smash!
bonk
Volkh: This is Setagaya's emergency shelter as approved by Lord Perun! Invaders must die!
Asterius: But this is my artifact.
Ziz: I know. Thank you, Asterius. And thank you for saving us Volkh, you sweet thing!
Volkh: Sweet!? How dare you not fear m--
Ziz: Whoopsies, I accidentally treated you like a Shinjuku student. Should I call you dear sweet count? No, that sounds like a friends thing.
Volkh: (gasp!)
Ziz: You like children? Me too! Am I being too buddy-buddy with you? What do you want me to call you?
Volkh: ...just Volkh.
Volos: ...I hope Reprobus is okay.
Volos is worried because Reprobus is one of many from Kitezh who grind themselves to dust working. Then he thinks about Veles.
Ziz: (looks out to sea) ...I hope everyone comes back okay.
Ryouta: It'll be fine! They have two teachers and Gullinbursti with them.

Back to the party!
The party is fending the sharks along while kiting them along. It's not going to plan so the party is tiring out.
Behemoth: Hungry...!
MC: Behemoth, you okay? / Same... / (Didn't something like this happen before?)
---
(A) Behemoth doesn't seem to hear.
---
Behemoth's hunger is starting to overtake him!
Behemoth: I wanna eat something even if I can't taste anything!
Behemoth stabs a shark with a harpoon and swallows it whole!
Arslan, Gullinbursti, and Dagon: WHAT
Behemoth: Wow that's actually kinda filling. I coulda done this the whole time! Come at me, shark bros!
Arslan: Nice, but whoa...

Behemoth starts fattening up on the sharks the party takes down!
Dagon: No stop, you'll throw off the ship's center of gravi--
Reprobus: We're slowing down for some reason!
Behemoth: OH NO (falls over)
MC: Behemoth! / Gullinbursti, after him! / (jump)
---
(B) Gullinbursti: Yes Mast--no wait, Reprobus!?
(C) Gullinbusrti: No don't! I can go save h--what?
---
Reprobus: Dagon, take over the driving! (jumps off)

Underwater
Behemoth: (Oh no I can't swim like this!)
Shark: REEEE
Behemoth: !?
Reprobus drags Behemoth up by the harness and throws a bomb at the shark!
Reprobus: You okay? Put this on.
Behemoth: Oof, thanks. Wow we can talk and breathe now!
Reprobus: It's a ninja diving tool MC was given. Anyways can you swim like that?
Behemoth: If by swim you mean sink, then yeah. Uhh...oh wait, new idea!

Later
MC: Dagon, stop the boat! / I hope they're okay... / (fight the sharks)
---
(A) Arslan: But then the sharks will catch up!
Dagon: It's okay, I'm running the boat in circles so we won't leave Behemoth behind.
(B) Arslan: I know, but we have to believe in Reprobus.
(C) Gullinbursti: Master, we both believe that Reprobus will save Behemoth.
---
Dagon: Right now, we're thinning out the sharks so Reprobus and Behemoth can come back saf--what!?
Something jumps out of the water! Dagon catches them with his tentacles!
Behemoth: Rocket jumping with shark energy! Thanks for the catch, dudes! ...and sorry.
Dagon: As long as you're okay. We'll need everyone for this operation, but you students are all so very naughty.
Reprobus: S-sorry... but saving people at sea is my job as a pro and--
Dagon: At ease, I am not rebuking you. I am open to crushing everything in our path.
Arslan: Yeah, we'll help if you mess up! We're almost there guys!

The party reaches the boss shark! It's big enough to be seen from the hotel by the way.
Gullinbursti: Doesn't this shark look like the one in that movie we all saw at the Summoners safehouse?
Dagon: Maybe it was influenced by current popular imagery of sharks in Tokyo.
MC: Holy crap it's huge! How are we supposed to bring it over?
Reprobus: Gullinbursti, come back to the ship with MC. We're closing in as much as we can while it doesn't see us.
MC and Gullinbursti clear off the nearby sharks and jump back to ship.
Reprobus: I'm gonna speed up a little. Try attacking when we get close. I'll drive us away after.
Arslan: Oh, is that how we're going to kite it?
The shark bots are catching up! Then...
Reprobus: WHAT

The shark boss shoots lightning at the ship!
Behemoth: OH NO! ...wait why didn't that do anything?
MC: Arslan's holy oil? / No way. Reprobus's artifact? (looks at Reprobus)
---
(A) Arslan: My oil can't block THAT much. So... (looks at Reprobus)
---
Dagon: Reprobus, are you okay!?
No answer. MC and Gullinbursti run to the cabin.
Gullinbursti: !!
Reprobus: Oof. Oh good you're all okay.
Reprobus is on his knees and burned all over!
Gullinbursti: But why!?
Dagon: I told MC this already, but this is Reprobus's power. (multitasks fighting back sharks)

Dagon: Reprobus's power guarantees the safety of anything he defines as carrying...which he does by taking all damage done to them to himself.
Behemoth: BRUH THAT'S MESSED UP
Dagon: Reprobus, turn off your artifact. It's too dangerous to tank anything else.
Reprobus: ...I can't. You said we need everyone for this to work. (weakly pushes himself up and tries to smile) I'm tanky, and this can't take me down. I'll keep everyone safe. As a pro, I've chosen to carry the weight of my friends. The king of a nation elsewhere I never saw. The intelligent scholar who made a paradise in Tokyo. The kind beast who taught me what friends are. The rival who endangered himself to show me his experiences. And my temporary master with many bonds and hidden powers beyond infinity. You all lit my path when I was lost. No one gets left behind.
Reprobus retakes the helm.
Reprobus: But I can't drive and defend us at the same time. You guys kite and defend the ship.
MC: ...okay. Stop your artifact before you get KOed, okay? / ...
---
(A) Everyone is surprised MC speaks up first.
Arslan: ...well we came this far! Let's do this!
(B) Everyone has a hard time agreeing. Arslan responds first.
Arslan: Okay then! I'm with you all the way!
---
Dagon: ...I shouldn't be pushing one of my school students, but I won't stop you.
Gullinbursti: Don't get hit. Master and I got this!
Behemoth: We're partying together after this, Reprobus! So many reccomendations to go to!
Arslan: Boss fight, go!
MC: Yeah! / I'm worried about that lightning / I'm not done with you either!
BATTLE START (more happens after)

Kiting the boss shark and mobs again! It's tough, but going to plan.
Boss Shark: REEEEE (starts glowing)
Behemoth: Oh god it's gonna do something, guys!
Behemoth can't think of any good ideas to block another thunder blast! Boss Shark glows brighter!
Behemoth: Okay fine! Invocation spiel! Class: Sacrifice! Concept: Transmutation!
Arslan: Oh my god Behemoth is sucking up the downed shark bots like he's Kirby!
Dagon: Arslan, to the front of the ship!
Weight balancing time!
Behemoth: Noble Phantasm activate! Thunder BEEEAAAM!
Boss Shark's own Thunder Beam was countered!
Party: WHAT
Behemoth: Hell yeah!
MC: Awesome! / DEUS EX MACHINA / w-wao

Boss Shark: REEEE
Behemoth: Hey wait, beam spam too OP AAAAAA
Boss Shark is charging Thunder Beam again!
Gullinbursti: Boar Smash!
Dagon: Chump blocker, throw!
MC and Gullinbursti beat down flying sharks, and Dagon throws the beaten sharks to block for the party!
Arslan: Haha, same brain!
Dagon: Indeed.
Gullinbursti: Block the undodgeable!
MC: Yeah! / damn that actually worked / N-nailed it!

Reprobus: Whoa, great job guys. I see our destination now!
The way forward is visible.
Arslan: For a place that's supposed to be impossible to get to, things are going okay. This cool, Dagon?
Dagon: It's fine. Once we dive in, things will be fine in this world. Reprobus, get on deck after you stop the ship. MC, Gullinbursti, get over here too.
The party groups up.
Dagon: And now my time has come. All shall return to the paternal sea in this abyss.
Dagon wraps the party in his tentacles. More tentacles manifest to drag the shark bots along.
Dagon: Welcome to Y'ha-nthlei!
End of Episode half

Live A Hero The Star Ocean Cruise Train Episode 4 (Abridged)

Yoshiori is staring at MC as the party investigates.
Yoshiori: (stares)
Flashback MC: Thanks Yoshiori!
Yoshiori: (stares)
Flashback MC: You were so cool!
Yoshiori: (blushes)
Digram: Query: is something wrong, Yoshiori?
Yoshiori: wait what no. everything's cool
MC: You okay?
Yoshiori: I said I'm fine! Just...thinking about old stuff. I thought I forgot about all that.

At least ten years ago, socialite party.
Butler: Master Yoshiori, your father is calling.
Yoshiori: 'kay I'll be there.
Butler: Understood. Shall I accompany you?
Yoshiori: Ugh no, I'm not a kid anymore.
Butler: Beg pardon. Please come when it's time to greet everyone. (bows and leaves)
Yoshiori: I said I'm not a kid anymore! God!
Yoshiori pulls at his collar, then goes to the party filled with businessmen and politicians.
Yoshiori: Guess I better greet the guest of honor. Hope Father greeted him no problem.

Plot twist!
Terrorist: Eat shit old man! AAAAAA
Window crash! Nameless mob charges at politician conveniently standing next to Yoshiori with a knife!
Yoshiori: WAIT WHAT
Chaos and panic! A bodyguard jumps in ahead of Nameless Mob and shoots out the knife! Then more guards dogpile Nameless Mob!
Bodyguard: Are you okay, Sir?
Yoshiori: Y-yeah, thanks. Whoa...
That dude is so brave and strong.
Yoshiori: He's so cool! I wanna be like a bodyguard too!

Yoshiori wanted to be a badass, strong enough to protect the people he loves! His parents were opposed, but he got past that and joined the army! And in the army, he started training to get beefy for his dream job
Later
Sergeant I Guess: Yoshiori Underwood. I've heard about how much you've been excelling.
Yoshiori: Thank you sir!
Sergeant or Something: Everyone's been thinking you bought your way in, but this meeting is to get on record that you made actual achievements. You've officially made it into the special forces!
Yoshiori: Yes sir, thank you sir!
And that's how Yoshiori became a super badass soldier.

Later
Yoshiori trained so hard as a special forces soldier he started bleeding! And he kicked ass in all sorts of battles, sometimes with tactical maneuvers and sometimes with kicking down the door with guns blazing.
Yoshiori: (frowns)
Super Soldier: Operation complete, all enemies subjugated. Good job Yoshiori.
Yoshiori: R-right. Now to do all the after battle reports and junk.
Super Soldier: ...why do you seem so down after doing so good?
Yoshiori: Nothing... Hey, are the things we're doing--
Is Yoshiori getting closer to being an awesome badass like this? Suddenly something warps in behind Super Soldier!
Yoshiori: Look out!
Monster: REEEE

Super Soldier: (pushed aside) Yoshiori!?
Yoshiori is off balance and the Monster attacks!
Yoshiori: Like hell I'll be done in here!
Yoshiori regains his footing, opens fire with an SMG, and throws a grenade!
Yoshiori: Dude, you okay!? We gotta get outta here while all that firepower's stunned the Monster!
Lots of smoke up as Yoshiori runs towards Super Soldier.
Monster: REEEE
Yoshiori: OH NO
Yoshiori is caught!

Super Soldier: Hang on, I'll get back up! Radio, we need reinforcements! Monster attack!
Yoshiori: Let go, you fu--
Yoshiori got thrown into the Monster's mouth!
Super Soldier: I need a hero! ...Yoshiori? Who is that? Whatever, HELP ME!
Inside the Monster
Yoshiori: why was I fighting here again? Oh yeah, I wanted to be a badass who could protect the people I love... this sucks. What was it I wanted to do again...?
Yoshiori is falling apart...
Yoshiori: What was my dream...? Oh whatever... I'm disappearing anyways.

Title Card: Where Did He Go?

Present
Back to investigating for sus people!
Esperdica: ...nothing new seems to be happening. We should go talk to that one soldier man then, if we ever find him.
Digram: Esperdica, this car is bigger than the others. Can you describe what you saw so we can save time?
Esperdica: Okay, thank you.
MC: Yeah I saw some soldier looking guy too.
Digram is filled in.
Digram: Understood. Work terminal needed for passenger database lookup. One moment while I go cross reference for the described man.
Yoshiori: Cool, thanks.
Digram walks off.

Raizi: ...so can I change the subject in the meantime to look into something else? (turns to Yoshiori and MC, hand on chin)
Raizi: I got questions if you don't mind. How do you guys know Exio?
Yoshiori: ...uh, what does that matter?
Esperdica: Raizi, rude.
Raizi: Oh, sorry. I just needed to know. (looks at Yoshiori and MC again)
Raizi: So I told you Exio tried to recruit me before, right? I sensed ulterior motives and wanted to know about that.
Yoshiori: ...you calling Exio sus?
Raizi: ...kinda. Call it intuition.
Yoshiori: What kind of asshole questions people on just that?
Such silence. Well, aside from the mall/elevator muzak.
MC: Yoshiori, calm down / No fighting! / Why do you think that, Raizi?

Raizi: ...sorry, I worded that badly. It's too much to expect answers without explaining my own side of things, huh? So Yoshiori, you've known Exio for a long time?
Yoshiori: (stares)
Raizi: I can observe parallel worlds and see alternate versions of you guys. You believe that, right?
Yoshiori: ...don't all Observers do that?
Esperdica: Raizi, are you sure you want to reveal that?
Raizi: It's cool. You brought them here, and my gut says they're waiting to make a bet. I don't want to look away at things I've seen.
Esperdica: Oh...

Raizi: ...so Observers can see the possibilities of parallel worlds, but each Observer sees them differently. Sometimes it's an image thing, but for me, I can see these other parallel worlds themselves. I say that, but it's mostly a special world. Sometimes their thinking patterns and dreams are totally different. And sometimes I see part of those worlds overlap here or something.
Raizi seems proud. Yoshiori and MC look at each other.
Raizi: When I met Exio, I could see that he uses his Observer powers differently. If I'm right...I think Exio can mess with other people's minds. I don't know how though. Hypnotism or whatever? But I turned him down in case he tried doing it to me.
Yoshiori looks surprised then awkward. Raizi might be right.
MC: what

Raizi: This is all conjecture still. He just publically introduced himself as a massage therapist.
Yoshiori: ...so why are we talking about him? He's not here, he can't be behind this zombie ghost claptrap.
Raizi: I talked about all this because I wanted to check a connection with that other world I saw. I'm betting you guys aren't up to anything, so I want you guys to tell me how you're connected to Exio. When I met him, I saw that he was alone in a world gone mad. I want to know whether you guys are connected to that world.
Yoshiori: wait what
Raizi: (stares)
Yoshiori: He doesn't care about a crazy world or whatever you're talking about.
Raizi: What do you mean?
Yoshiori: You said he was alone there? I've done enough dirty work that it's weird I've gone legit, and people usually don't bother involving themselves with that sort. But Exio did everything he could to help me with nothing in it for himself. So if Exio is in a world all by himself, then he wasn't there by choice.
MC: I think it's okay to believe in him / Yoshiori... / (stares)

Yoshiori: A Monster vored me, but a hero saved me at the last second. I still got damaged by it, and nobody in the army or my family remembers me now. It SUCKS to not have a home or future, but then Exio found me and hired me as a bodyguard. (crosses arms as if he wasn't already)
Yoshiori: Exio gave me a home, even with me being almost a ghost that no one can see. He picked up Melide and Monomasa too, other people with no homes... I think he just couldn't leave us alone.
Raizi: Oh...
Yoshiori: I don't give a shit about what you saw. I don't have anything against you, but I WILL fight you if you go up against Exio. (glares)

Raizi: ...okay, I trust you guys. At the very least, I don't think you guys are willingly involved in all that.
Yoshiori: Ugh, can you talk about something more concrete already?
Raizi: Being roundabout is the only way I know how to talk. But you guys should be a little concerned at least.
Yoshiori: Yeah, 'cuz I'm Exio's bodyguard.
Yoshiori seems done with this. Not as mad as earlier though.
Yoshiori: I guess my dream came true a little bit.
Nobody hears.
Esperdica: I'm sorry Yoshiori, Raizi didn't mean anything bad by that.
Yoshiori: I know, god...don't make me say that since that's not like me.
MC: tee hee, oh you
Yoshiori: SHUT UP

Digram's back!
Digram: Thank you for waiting. No matches found in the search results.
Esperdica: Oh...we'll just have to keep talking to people.
Digram: Wait, no matches were found among the passengers, but there's still someone on board who fit the description. I will--
Hey, something's up with the guards nearby.
Yellow: A928, can you reach C615? He went radio silent.
Green: No. I'm worried about D877 since he had an emergency shutdown. Boss is investigating, and we're ordered to continue the mission.
Yellow: Maybe we should check his direct unit address. It should work if he's still in the same train car.
Green: Yeah, maybe something happened to him.

Raizi: ...guys, something's up with the guards. Are they androids? Maybe they know something about that soldier guy.
Digram: Scanning... Raizi, your appraisal is correct. They are machine life forms.
Esperdica: Let's go talk to them then.
MC: Excuse me, can we talk?
Yellow: H-h-h-helloooERRORERRORERROR
Green: b-b-b-beepboopAndroid.exehasencounteredanerrorororo
Yellow and Green have suited up!
Yoshiori: (pulls MC behind him) GET DOWN
Yoshiori rolls away with MC! The droid mobs shot at where MC was!
MC: WHAT / Yoshiori, are you okay!?

Yoshiori: It's that other soldier guy all over again! You guys okay!?
Raizi: Yeah I'm good. This is what you meant about the soldier guards flipping out? Yeah we gotta check this out. Looks like this ISN'T a zombie ghost thing.
Digram: Esperdica, Raizi, emergency alert. We must respond quickly.
Raizi: Well we better even the odds first. Ready?
Esperdica: Yes. We probably won't be able to talk them down, so we need to subdue them with force.
Raizi contracts Esperdica and Digram, then transforms them!
Digram: TransSaver mode on. I will remove all railroad obstacles and preserve safety.
Esperdica: Raizi, operate us while keeping an eye on things! Prioritize evacuating the passengers!
Raizi: Right, we got a game to win!
The three get ready to fight!

MC: Yoshiori, we gotta fight too!
Yoshiori: Ri--wait, some jackass didn't get away!
Yoshiori runs over to someone who got knocked over by running crowds!
Some Lady Apparently: ow my leg what
The droids jitter and point their guns at Some Kid!
Yoshiori: GET DOWN DAMMIT
MC: Get down!
Some Lady Apparently: UHHHH okay! (does so)
Yoshiori: Okay I got this MC! Step back and transform me!
MC turns to their phone. It has a new message!
Phone: New Path detected. Subject: Yoshiori. Connectivity: Very High

MC: (gasp!) Wait, gotta focus now!
Click!
Yoshiori: WHAT
Ta-da! Bodyguard Yoshiori!
Yoshiori: ...well alrighty then, let's test this baby out!
Yoshiori shoots at the droids! Their shots collide with his and blow up, which leaves Some Lady okay!
Yoshiori: Whew, barely made it. Anyways, haven't I seen this outfit somewhere before? Oh right, it looks a lot like that one bodyguard from back then when I was a kid. (gasp!) Oh yeah, this is what I wanted to be when I joined the army! Awesome!
MC runs over.
MC: You got a variant! / Your suit looks so cool!
(B) Yoshiori: O-oh, that's good then...

Yoshiori: Damn MC, you really pulled this out of your hat. Exio told me most Observers can't transform me since I'm half retgone, so it's insane that you can. Then again, whatever helps me fight! And a pistol is way better inside here than my usual guns!
Yoshiori twirls his gun and gets ready to fight.
Some Lady Apparently: Whoa... you saved me?
MC: You okay? They're about to fight, so we should step away. (extends hand)
Some Lady Apparently: T-thank you for saving me...
MC: Not me. This badass bodyguard did.
Yoshiori: !!
Some Lady Apparently: Oh okay. Who though? I don't see anyone like that. But could you tell him I said thank you?

Yoshiori (narrating): You know, I never noticed that bodyguard until he moved to act back then. But I'm okay with being that way too. No one can touch or see me, but my dream can still come true huh?
MC: Sure! He might hear you anyways.
Yoshiori: (blushes)
MC leads the lady away and looks at Yoshiori. He looks awkward.
Yoshiori: Heh, I almost got erased from the world, and look at me now. Can't go looking bad now, even if most people can't see me! (cocks gun)
Raizi: You two good?
Esperdica: All passengers have been safely evacuated. Oh wait, Yoshiori! Your suit! So this is that rumored variant transformation...
Yoshiori: Kickass, huh? Can't flaunt it now though.
Droid: beepbooperrrrorrrrr
Digram: Alert: high energy detected. MC, Raizi, your orders.
Raizi: Right, we better get to it. MC, I'll work with your directing.
MC: Got it. Knock out mode time!
Esperdica: Time to work my aroma magic again.
Yoshiori: New suit trial time!
BATTLE START

Marine Resort Crisis Episode 5 Part 2 (Abridged)

MC: Huh, a storm's coming. (looks outside)
Ominous. Whatever, strategy meeting time!
Behemoth: Bruh did you really just tell us to go to a sunken city?
MC: What about somewhere else? / Eh, Dagon can figure it out / Are we using Teleport?
(A) Dagon: Maybe, but we don't have that much time to look for one. My Old Ones self can use Teleport, but I can't now for Reasons.
(B) Dagon: We're going to be working together here. My Old Ones self can use Teleport, but I can't now for Reasons.
(C) Dagon: Sharp, but no we shouldn't.

Dagon: Time flows differently inside and outside an overworld shift. Going by myself or taking everyone to somewhere in Tokyo is fine, but I don't know what'll happen if I try using it on everyone.
Arslan: Sooo, we gotta ride over there?
Dagon: Yes. I can still guide everyone to the sunken city if we get far enough into the water though.
Hephaestus: S-some of the new sharkbot spawn are cannon fodder, so it'll be easier if you go beat them up.
Arslan: Oh okay. Let's recap things now.
Dagon sets up a whiteboard for notetaking.

Arslan: Okay, Operation Help Bot Rescue is a go. So, we're going out to sea to find another world's sunken city. We're gonna take Dagon's boat with Reprobus driving.
Reprobus: I got this.
Dagon: I'm excited to see if the sharks can catch my ship, haha.
Arslan: Behemoth will draw the sharks and I'll buff his defense with holy oil. It'll be fine! Dagon will beat back any sharks coming up to the ship and I'll beat down any flying sharks.
Behemoth: Thanks guys! But I'm pretty good with a harpoon too!
Arslan: MC, you take Gullinbursti and go play Shark Musou out there. Run back if they start swarming you.
Gullinbursti: Okay! We will bring the resort victory!
MC: Good luck everybody! / oof fighting on the water... / Counting on you Gullinbursti
(A) Party morale is high!
(B) Gullinbursti: I'll protect you, MC! If it gets bad I'll take you to safety. Don't worry, and rely on me!
(C) Gullinbursti: I feel stronger with you believing in me! I'm gonna kill it as a ride and guard!

The party's phones beep.
Hephaestus: I-I just sent everyone a shark radar that'll keep an eye on the battle situation in real time. The radar upgrade should have the boss shark's info up.
Behemoth: Whoa, the Kamata bros are awesome!
Dagon: Thank you, I've been wanting an update before we head out.
Everyone opens up the shark radar app.
MC: OMG there's even more of them! / Is the big one the boss? / Are they getting closer
Hephaestus: W-what!? They weren't like that five minutes ago!
Tvastar: Huh. How about that.
Talos: Everyone, please look to the sea!
Reaction shot as everyone looks!

So there are WATER PILLARS out at sea now.
MC: omg tornados!? Are we really in Sharknado now
Talos: Shark repellant machine things at sea offline! Maybe that tornado destroyed them.
Arslan: Guys, the radar app says the sharks are coming in!
Three water tornados!
Sharkbot: REEEE
Two tornados shoot out flying sharkbots before dying out.
Behemoth: They're coming back again!
Arslan: WHAT
Hey there's a giant shark in the last tornado.
Hephaestus: W-what!? This is too fast! Did it just decide to skip to blowing the things up? I-it's in its perfect adaptation form now!
Dagon: And suddenly the time spent upgrading the radar has gone down the drain now that the boss has shown up.

The cast is shocked and appalled! Except for that one person heading out the door.
MC: Wait Reprobus where are you going
Reprobus: It's time to do something. We were getting ready to fight, but they got the jump on us.
Suddenly he seems more emotional.
Reprobus: I have to do my job and head them off.
Andvari: Whoa whoa whoa, I'm the boss here and you can't just run off doing your own thing! Okay yeah they broke the things at sea, but we still got the ones on land.
Reprobus: Maybe, but...
Andvari: If you're gonna insist on doing your job, then I gotta pull rank as your employer. That meeting was on the clock, so don't just give up on it so fast! Don't forget the buddy system! So get out there and solve this so I can go back to making all the money!
MC: Tell us how you really feel Andvari / You're actually nice? / Yeah let's do that
Reprobus: Okay. You're still my boss now, if not my forever boss.
Andvari: Right, up until I pay you.
Reprobus: As a pro, I will make this work and come back successfully.
MC: Let's go! / Thanks Andvari / but the resort
(A) Reprobus: Right. Together.
(B) Andvari: HEY! ...come back safe too. I still have to pay you or things won't be right.
(C) Shirou: We're still here, MC.

Shirou: Evacuating the visitors and protecting the resort will be handled by us in the Summoners, Ziz, and the workers in the different areas. The sharks are all coming by sea, and the resort is a closed off area now, so our artifacts should help. That okay, Andvari?
Andvari: Sounds good! I'll call up the area staff.
Kengo: Hell yeah, shark punching time!
Touji: Kengo, your arms, my swords, and Moritaka's sword don't have enough reach for the flying sharks. How are we--
Hephaestus: I-I still have a lot of anti-shark bombs!
Moritaka: Oh okay, thank you Hephaestus!
Ryouta: I'm on evac duty! And healing duty if you need it.
Ziz: I'll do my best.
Shirou: Help me, Evils. Everyone, head out!
MC: Good luck Kengo and Shirou / Keep an eye on everyone, Touji and Moritaka / Stay safe, Ryouta and Ziz
(A) Shirou: We'll be okay. Focus on your end.
Kengo: Knock 'em dead quick! We still haven't started our seaside school for real yet!
(B) Touji: Of course. We will do our best to come back together.
Moritaka: Fortune in battle to you!
(C) Ziz: Ooh, shouldn't you worry about yourself more, you troublemaker you?
Ryouta: Haha, same to you. Careful out there!

Everyone not in the event party grab anti-shark bombs and leave.
Gullinbursti: MC, we should head to the docks now!
Dagon: Nah, Reprobus is quick and can handle that. Bring the boat here while we start fighting sharks. May as well help the defense line until then.
Arslan: Oh yeah that sounds way doable for us.
Reprobus: Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can.
Behemoth: Let's go, guys!
The party heads outside. Sharks are attacking!
Shark: REEEE
MC: Let's go! / welp it's come to this / holy crap there's so many!
BATTLE START (more happens after)

Shark: REEEE (falls apart from harpoon attack)
MC: OH NO THERE'S STILL SO MANY
Behemoth: Dude they're flooding out the radar!
Gullinbursti: This is just like that Musou game Tsatthogua brought over to play with us once! Or wait, was it more like some run and gun field survival game?
Behemoth: Oh yeah I know that one! But we aren't getting any loot boxes from this!
Dagon: Well Behemoth's Animal Friendship is working as expected. The more sharks here, the less there will be elsewhere.
Arslan: Good thing that idea worked out!
The party is beating back the sharks! None have crossed the formation line.

Arslan: Hey wait, the sharks are pulling back.
MC: Huh, why is that? (And where is Reprobus?)
Dagon: Oh no. Get back inside!
The sharks start spinning up a tornado!
Gullinbursti: WHAT
MC: Oh no we can't escape the sharknado!
Incoming sharknado rapidly approaching!
Typhon: Typhon World Flipper!
Shiva: Hindu BEEEAAAAM!
Typhon's attack dispels the tornado! Shiva's attack blows the sharks away!
MC: Typhon! And Shiva!? Why?
Typhon: Where else do y'all expect me to show up? I came to help, MC!
Shiva: Hmph! You expect to solve this incident without me? Or, us rather? As if I'd allow you to be shark food before I exorcise you and your filthy being myself!
Typhon: We got the other schools here helpin' out too!

Elsewhere
Shirou: I thought you Suidocho students were done with your seaside school work!
Thunderbird: We are, but the shark incident isn't. Time for a hero to arrive!
Taishakuten: Helping out where we were helped is just how we teach manners at Shibamata! Right, Tetsuya?
Tetsuya: Stop asking me. Ugh, the things Gyoubu makes me do.
Kengo: Piss off with you then! Who needs your help anyway?
Tetsuya: Eat shit Kengo. Go back and play in Ikebukuro with the other Berserkers.
Shirou: Well thanks for helping everyone! So this is what's happening with us...
Somewhere Else
Ryouta: Why are the Setagaya people here?
Volkh: By order of our director. "Support MC and...Reprobus" he said.
Asterius: My labyrinth can shield us.
Volos: I can help with evacuating people! You're doing that too, right Volkh? I heard it was your idea to come help.
Volkh: Anticipating a master's intentions is just what a servant does! That's all it is!
Ziz: Well okay, thank you for helping. I should thank Perun later too.

Some Other Place
Heracles: HERCULES THROW
Juugo: JUDO SMASH
Moritaka: D-did I just see someone just do a human cannonball
Touji: You did, indeed. Heracles just flung Juugo at a shark, who slammed it into the ground.
Juugo: Sorry I didn't introduce myself before cutting in.
Heracles: We came to help!
Original Area
Typhon: Yeah we were all worried. So we came to help when we heard you were going to solve the shark attack incident, MC!
Arslan: Wow, you really do know like everyone in the city.
Tvastar: Hey we're here too! Vritra, do your Ouroboros thing!

Vritra bites his own tail and walls up the resort!
Tvastar: Cool! Vritra's divine protection against wood, rock, weapons, wet things, and dry things will safeguard us!
Honk honk
Tvastar: Oh hey, your ship is here! We got this place, MC!
MC: Thanks guys!
Dagon makes a bridge with his tentacles for the party to board the ship.
Kotarou: Hey MC, I made it! Take this with you!
MC: Oh, your ninja breathing tool? Hey, isn't that...?
Masanori: We're here because some school is sending help. Enough said, yes?
Yoshito: ...also thank you for looking after my Moritaka.
Kotarou: Andvari told us what's up. At least we got lots of people. And with the tools you don't need to worry about drowning. I'm going back to the diving area before Tadatomo gets mad, so bye! (runs off and blows up nearby sharks)

Reprobus: Temporary Master MC, I've been watching everyone while I was driving over. People had their own thoughts and came even though they weren't hired for this work. It's not a burden they were given and they aren't pros in this... I'm jealous of how brave they all are. (revs engine)
MC: You're brave too / It's hard making your own decisions / You already made your choice
(A) Reprobus: Oh. I guess I'll try believing I have the courage to choose too then if you say so.
(B) Reprobus: Yeah. You think so too?
(C) Reprobus: Really? ...huh, I guess I just didn't notice then.

His feelings seem mixed.
Dagon: Reprobus, we're all here because of your idea.
Flashback!
Reprobus: Can't we spare the sharkbot?
Present
Behemoth: Dagon's right! I'm here because I wanna make your wish come true!
Gullinbursti: I never agreed at first, but I changed my mind but I heard what you really wanted and thought.
Flashback!
Reprobus: It would suck to never fulfill your original role.

Present
Reprobus: (stares)
Reprobus: I just think destruction is sad....
Arslan: Listen up, I used to be called a savior. It turns out a savior is someone covered in oil or is someone who saves the world. BUT, it doesn't mean they save every single person. I couldn't. I could only save whoever I could see. Anyone can only save one thing, like that savior you want does. The world is just all that you can see, and the amazing thing to do is to see more of it. Helping the people others would abandon is what will change the world. So be proud, and figure out what you want and what you'll choose.
Reprobus has a flashback to that town he smashed. An eternal regret, but now he can see himself differently.
Reprobus: ...sorry, I don't get it all just yet. But I do want to say...thanks guys. You joined in on this operation for my wish, so I'll do all I can for you guys.
Reprobus's artifact glows.
Reprobus: Noble Phantasm activate. I will keep everyone safe as we go for the boss!
Narration Zone
Solomon: Oh my god did you all die??? Next time on Marine Resort Crisis! "The Final Battle! Down! In the Foreign Sea!" See you next time!
End of Episode

Marine Resort Crisis Episode 5 Part 1 (Abridged)

Arslan (narrating): You guys my life's been so cool! I beat 100 people by myself and got into an enemies to lovers arc with an enemy nation royal! I fought monsters and became a war hero! It all happened, hehe. What, you don't believe me? Well allow me to tell you about it!
Arslan (narrating): So I was born a prince, but I was raised as a merchant kid because reasons. But I got lots of training and education and became a sword prodigy who saved a bigwig attacked by animals. Merchant knowledge helped a lot in adventuring, like earning money, getting information, and working as a waiter. But also, I got into some big trouble because I was so strong, or because I was young and dumb. Like, oops! A little scuffle turned into a big duel! Oops, I tried to stop some violence and I cut off someone's head! Oops, a bunch of love rivals ganged up on me and it turned into a bloodbath! And then I picked up a shamshir fighting a demon, and that turned out to be King Solomon's sword! Then I became a king.
Arslan (narrating): Classic end to an adventure I guess but classic adventures are like full of tragedy, just like in monster movies. Heroes save the world and get glory, then die alone in misery and exile. I bailed out before that happened to me, and I stopped being in a heroic fantasy story. People call my life a fantasy, and no one knows what comes after "happily ever after."
Arslan (narrating): After I came to Tokyo I sealed my sword away and took up oil wrestling. I wondered if there really is a path with no bloodshed here. Was there a way for me to not have killed so many in my past?

Present
Morning of Day 4 of the shark security team's work
Andvari: Okay so the resort got damaged, but Kamata is paying for it and more importantly, no one got hurt! Good luck everybody, I'll pay good!
MC: Money! / Okay we'll be good for a while / man, it's all going into rent and overhead
(A) Ryouta: Yay! Let's use our money for a party when we're done!
Behemoth: Dude, I am so in! I wanna try the hotel's buffet!
Ziz: Oh that's nice you two! Don't go overboard though.
(B) Moritaka: Indeed! I have to pay so much for dojo expenses.
Kengo: Yeah, dojos use a lot of money. I'mma use my money for hiking food and stuff!
(C) Shirou: Right. Maybe we shouldn't think too much about it since our landlord is the one paying us here.
Touji: Pub sec jobs ending also end with low budgets. I'll put my wages all for the guild since I'm not using it for anything else anyway.

Everyone's at the camp area.
Andvari: Damn, I can't believe there's so many sharks out there. We got the things keeping them away, but you really oughta take out the boss soon. Maybe after the radar's done upgrading, but for now we're prepping on standby.
Dagon: Let's not be hasty. We still have our emergency supplies if need be.
Reprobus: (stares)
Gullinbursti: Are you still worried about last night's broken dishes?
Reprobus: No, thinking about something else.
Gullinbursti: Wha--
Andvari: Dammit you two could at least care about that some more!
MC: wow they're just continuing with the conversation / cut their paychecks! / I'm sorry about my servants
Gullinbursti: O-oh, I'm sorry FriendMaster and Owner! I do feel bad, I mispoke...
Andvari: Ugh, whatever. Anyway, what were you thinking of, Reprobus?
Reprobus: ...I was wondering if we can solve this incident with the shark peacefully.

Surprised party and friends!
Andvari: What!? We have to take it down if the boss comes here!
Reprobus: I know.
Andvari: Then what the hell are you talking about all of a sudd--
Arslan: Now now, let him speak. Maybe he'll think of a better idea for the resort?
Reprobus: ...I'm unsure. Do we really not have a spare option here? Hephaestus said he made the shark to help people. So why did it turn out the way it did? Can we fix it?
Reprobus always acted to fulfill his given duty before now.
Reprobus: It'd be sad to go out without doing its original job.
Andvari: >:C
He seems serious about this.
MC: I thought the same thing / maybe not... / Let's talk to Hephaestus
---
(A) Behemoth: I agree with Reprobus! I wanna help him!
Arslan: Beating the shark would be the fastest way to keep the resort safe, but hmm...
(B) Gullinbursti: I agree with MC. We have to focus on the guests's safety.
Arslan: Beating the shark would be the fastest way to keep the resort safe, but hmm...
(C) Dagon: I agree, MC. Let's ask him.
---
Dagon: We really should consult a specialist when possible. How about we talk with the Crafters?
Andvari: Yeah that'd be faster. Let's go!

Later
Hephaestus: I-I never thought you'd ask if we could find a way to fix the shark!
Andvari: Uh, you thought of one then?
Tvastar: I mean, that's the usual way of solving this sorta problem. We just kinda pivoted to breaking the thing since it might not have been a realistic solution.
Hephaestus: N-now that this got into the news, we have to focus on solving things quick. I-I'd rather we not shut it down, but we might have to here.
Talos: Allow me to thank you as another of Creator's creations for looking at an option you discarded beforehand.
Tvastar: Yeah, we caused this so we couldn't really ask that of you guys. We just love our mech babies!
Hephaestus: T-thanks, even if nothing's happened yet, hehe...
The Crafters start thinking on things.

Hephaestus: W-we figured out how to cut down on the spawned sharkbots thanks to the ones you caught.
Tvastar: And the shark repellent machine things gave us time to think of something! But we only have a little bit of time before it won't work and you'll have to kill the boss, okay?
Andvari: ...okay fine. You guys know what's up, so do whatever to keep the place safe.
MC: Just a little more! Strategy meeting time!
All present nod.
MC: So, why IS the help bot a shark bot? You said it used dark matter?
Hephaestus: F-faith. Different worlds believe sharks to be guardian deities. I put an AI into the shark's dark matter brain.
MC: what / oh right, artifacts are made of it
(C) Tvastar: That's right!

Hephaestus: D-dark matter holds light and memories, like how Transient bodies are composed.
Tvastar: You can dig it out of the ground near the light pillars.
Hephaestus: I-I gave it a personality so it could think and protect its owner.
Tvastar: Yeah, the shark bot isn't supposed to attack people.
Dagon: So maybe it turned out that way because of what people in Tokyo believe. Majority faith establishes power, and here in Tokyo sharks are the stars of horror movies.
Hephaestus and Tvastar: !!
Dagon: Get enough people, and maybe it'd turn the helper bot into a killer bot.
Flashback!
Kid A: Big shark!
kid B: Oh my god!
Girl C: OH NO
Girl D: It must be an experiment thingy. Reminds me of a movie I saw.
Wolf E: Oh god is it gonna attack!?
Guy F: Like in Sharknado!

Present
Hephaestus: O-oh...I messed up.
Tvastar: Oh right, that was when the shark bot flipped out!
MC: That happened? / Oh this again / Oh!
Dagon: Okay class, who here has figured out how to spare the helper shark bot?
MC: Tell us, professor! / Plot sword activate? / (Shirou help)
(A) Dagon: Ooh, this is the best feeling in the world. But my suggestion is that we cut it off from Tokyo's faith.
(B) Dagon: You know your artifact so well. But it might not stick if people in Tokyo still believe, so I think we need to move the shark bot somewhere else.
(C) Shirou: We have to move it away from Tokyo's built-in beliefs, right? I don't know how we're supposed to do that though.
Dagon: Correct. I wish I could be MC's tactical advisor.

Dagon: Tokyo's faith is nailed down by the 23 pillars of light, but we do have places in Tokyo that are Not Tokyo. Some of you may already know, but Tokyo Bay has a bunch of ocean based overworld shifts with the faith and belief of other worlds. We should move the shark into one of them that doesn't think of sharks as horror movie monsters.
Gullinbursti: Oh!
Kengo: You aren't telling us to throw shark bots in one at a time are you?
Ryouta: Uhh, use the shark repellant machine things to herd them in?

Behemoth: (raises hand) Uh, maybe I can do something? Like you saw how the flying shark bots all aggroed me.
Ziz: You were made to be loved by all animals, so you want to be bait?
Behemoth: Yeah. You read my mind.
Ziz: Now that you've said it, I can't talk you out of it?
Touji: You want to lure in ALL the sharks?
Moritaka: That's too dangerous!
Arslan: It's cool, I can protect him with holy oil. We can do it if we all guard him.
MC: Got it! / Gullinbursti, you move him / We got two pro movers
(A) Gullinbursti: Master, I will be your feet and bring you victory!
(B) Gullinbursti: Yes Master! I feel like I can do anything when you rely on me, MC!
(C) Gullinbursti: Yeah, me and Reprobus can take you anywhere!

Reprobus: When we move, I can use my artifact to keep you all safe.
Arslan: Ahh, youth. Jumping headlong into danger and facing it. I'll do everything I can to help!
Everyone coming together like this is so familiar to Arslan.
Arslan: (My old adventures were almost always about punching out my enemies. This time, we're gonna be trying to save an outcast.)
Arslan: Oh well, best to have a big dramatic finale for an adventure, right? By the way Dagon, which shift are we going for? We might get whoever's in it involved too depending on where we go.
Dagon: You're right. I already have a place in mind.
Surprised cast!
MC: Where?
Dagon: It's a shift I happened to find in the depths below Tokyo Bay. We're going to the sunken city of Y'ha-nthlei from Old Ones.
End of Episode part

Live A Hero The Star Ocean Cruise Train Episode 3 (Abridged)

The party is moving onto the next train car.
Esperdica: Next up, the train car with the casino, gym, a pool, and other entertainment facilities.
Yoshiori: how goddamn big is this space train ship
Esperdica: Big enough to accompany diverse cultural amusements. Maybe you can check it out after we're all done.
Yoshiori: Eh, maybe. You interested in anything? (crosses arms as though he's not doing that already)
MC: I like to move it! / I wanna sit down and relax / Any multiplayer games?
(A) Esperdica: I'm sure you'll find something.
(B) Yoshiori: Doing nothing when there's a ton you can do is a flex. But then again we've also been hella busy lately.
(C) Esperdica: You can look for something you'll like then.

Yoshiori: Esperdica, you sure your friend won't have left the casino by the time we get there?
Esperdica: Yes, it's all a gambler like him cares about. It's what got him interested in boarding. He'll be there all day, so we'll see him there eventually.
MC: ...wait.
Plot twist!
???: AAAAAA
Yoshiori: Oh god what now!?
Esperdica: It came from the casino! Let's go!
Tabit comes running from the other direction holding a droid in his arms!
Yoshiori: Hey wait wasn't that another of the guard droids?
Esperdica: Are others going haywire too if he was carried like that? Maybe he's trying to stop them too.
Yoshiori: So that guy's a hero?
Esperdica: I don't know. Let's hurry! Through that door!

Yoshiori kicks open the door!
Esperdica: Is everyone okay!?
Raizi: OH GOD HELP (flings everything in reach)
MC: It's that guy from Procy's bar, Raizi!
Esperdica: Raizi, calm down!
Yoshiori: It's that one gambler! (bonk) Ow, stop knocking shit over!
Raizi causes a standing floor light to fall towards MC!
MC: OH NO
Yoshiori: Ugh FINE! Bodyguard Bl--OOF THAT'S HEAVY
MC: T-thanks Yoshiori / Y-you okay!?

Yoshiori: UGH (throws light aside) You okay? Stay behind me. Esperdica, your friend better not be this asshole!
Esperdica: O-oh, he is. Panicking as he is, but yes...
Raizi is rolling around with his eyes shut. Someone hears and runs in.
Digram: Query: strange noise detected, information on nature of source requested.
MC: Digram! / U-uh, is this our fault?
Digram: Verifying... insufficient data. MC, situation report requested.
Esperdica: Raizi, stop that this instant!
Raizi: (looks up) P-Perdy? W-what--no wait, there was a GHOST!
Yoshiori and Esperdica: !?

Title Card: It was Something like a Ghost

Train car #2. Guests are moved elsewhere, employees are cleaning up, and Esperdica is making coffee.
Esperdica: Your favorite blend. You calmed down now?
Raizi is wrapped up in a blanket.
Raizi: ...thanks. Sorry about earlier, guys.
Yoshiori: Ugh, getting hit by a lamp hurts like hell.
Raizi: Yeah, my bad. And sorry, conductor guy.
Digram: No worries. Stella Campanella is proceeding as scheduled. Please call me Digram.
Raizi: Oh, thanks Digram. I'm Raizi.

Yoshiori: ...you're that dude from Procy's bar. I'm Yoshiori.
Raizi: Oh yeah, you were with Exio. We didn't really talk to each other then, huh?
MC: I'm MC, nice to meet you.
Raizi: Cool. So why you guys with Perdy?
Esperdica: We came to ask you for Observer help. But drink coffee first, then tell us what happened next. Coffee for everyone! Digram, coffee?
Digram: Politely decline. I abstain from food and drink while on the job, but thank you. It smells good.
Esperdica: Yes, coffee aromas are relaxing. Well, on your break time then.
Raizi: Thanks...yep, that's the good taste only you can bring out. I feel better now.
MC: Coffee! / Ooh, warm and relaxing / Oof I don't like bitter
(C) Esperdica: No worries, I made you a cafe latte with milk and sugar.

Yoshiori: Now we can actually sit and taste the coffee for real. Ooh, nice.
Esperdica: I cooled yours down for you. If you like it, I'm happy.
Coffee break!
Digram: ...Raizi, situation report please.
Raizi: Oh right. Uh, I think I saw a ghost or something. I'd be screwed anyways if I was alone against a Monster or villain, but this just hits my weakness.
Esperdica gasps softly. Yoshiori sighs loudly.
Yoshiori: Aww man, really? That can't be.
Raizi: ...I'll tell you what I saw. So I was playing roulette and betting big when that lady and her kid came in. Apparently I was sitting next to the dad of that family. Then the kid started yelling about zombie ghosts. I whipped my head back so fast but nothing was there! I went to close the door, but then I saw someone past some frosted glass disappear. I don't remember what happened after that.

Raizi sighs and looks outside. Nothing seems wrong.
Raizi: Come to think of it, he didn't SEEM like a ghost somehow. He sorta fell apart and disappeared or something.
Yoshiori: Dude, creepy.
Raizi: Yeah. No bad vibes though, but zombie ghost talk made me panic around the time you guys came in.
Digram: (nods) Understood. Thank you, information is now being shared with other employees.
Yoshiori: Hold on, aren't we still missing something? No one got a good look at whatever.
Digram: Affirmative, but it is possible this incident may impact train service. Please relax, I will solve all service disruptions.
Esperdica: ...Digram, Yoshiori, Raizi being an Observer and gambler means he has high Observation and Insight skills, so he might not be wrong about what he saw. Whether what he saw was actually a ghost or not notwithstanding.
Raizi: ...thanks Perdy. I described things as best I could even I can't word it good.
MC: I get that. Kinda hard to describe all the sensations.

Raizi: (looks at MC) Oh, you an Observer too? ...you get pulled into stuff too if you got high Observation skills?
MC: Always...you too?
Raizi: I guess... everything's always kicking you down when you're an Observer. Just having some special power has people pushing the crap jobs onto you.
Digram: ...what? But we need Observers to even function as heroes. It's give and take for us.
Raizi: Maybe, but it's been a lot of crap for me. It's like getting stuck in a rigged game and it sucks!
Yoshiori: By the way, how do you know Procy and Exio?
MC: Hmm, Exio eh? / Oh yeah you asked Exio that too. / Aww, he didn't tell you?
(AB) Yoshiori: W-what? It just bothers me to not know.
(C) Yoshiori: SHUT UP I will throw hands, don't test me!

Esperdica: Oh I can answer that. Back then, I went to ask Procy-senpai in Independent Heroes about going about getting my own cafe. He has a bar, but he taught me a lot about owning a place.
Yoshiori: Oh, small galaxy.
Esperdica: Indeed. I was surprised to hear you talk about Procy. Anyways, I met Raizi about then. I saw his Observer nature and had him hired on. (winks)
Raizi: (sighs) Yeah that sounds nice, but it was a lot of questioning about my living conditions. And somehow Procy leveraged that to get me recommended as a hero agency Operator. After that, Exio and Melide contacted me asking me for help, though I didn't get details. I said no and never saw them again until the other day.
Yoshiori: Oh. When did this ever happen that I wasn't there?
MC: Raizi, do you mind if I ask why you don't like ghosts?

Esperdica: Oh. MC, could you save it for another time?
Raizi: No, it's cool. I did flip my lid and hurt Yoshiori because of it. And of course they'd want to know. Anyways...bad memories. I had to look at lots of creepy things that I physically react to it now.
His voice is shaking.
Yoshiori: ...I'm sorta like a ghost. Aren't you afraid of me?
Raizi: Wait what? You look totally fine.
Yoshiori holds his arm out.
Raizi: ...oh. You got eaten once?
Yoshiori: ...yeah. Normal people can't see or touch me. So aren't I like a ghost?
Raizi: ...I've seen people like you in the past. You aren't a ghost. Or at least, you're not like what I had to see, so I'm not afraid. You're totally part of this world, just Monster scarred.
Yoshiori: ...totally, huh? (stares at arm)

Raizi: Anyways, my memories involving ghosts are no bueno and my body reacts accordingly.
Digram: Raizi, I have looked up how ghosts might occur, but nothing fitting such criteria is on this train spaceship.
Raizi: Oh my god don't tell me that so bluntly! I don't WANT to think that this is ghost nonsense happening.
Esperdica: Aww Digram, are you worried for him? If we figured out what's really happening, we could declare it's not really a ghost that's around.
Raizi: (awkwardly puts down empty mug) ...r-right. I'll go with you guys since I can't really play with all this noise happening anyway. Why not use my gambler skills to figure things out?
Yoshiori: Whoa whoa whoa, we're investigating the android soldiers. The ghost thing is a side thing that we don't even know is relevent yet.

Raizi: ...something else is going on?
Esperdica: Yes, a soldier suddenly went on a rampage for some reason... (looks around at train workers)
Esperdica: We wanted to ask you for help in figuring out that problem. Or even get a hint towards doing so.
MC: what
Raizi: Oh, okay. MC, I dunno how good your eye is, but Observers are all different in how strong they are, what they can do, and what worlds they can see. Some have their own powers and do things besides transforming heroes. Haven't you seen something like that before, MC?
MC thinks of Melide and Exio.
MC: ...yeah.

Raizi: ...oh right you know Exio. So yeah, let's just say I know a secret move myself.
Yoshiori: (stares)
Raizi: So Perdy, you wanted me to look at the guard?
Esperdica: (nods) Yes, this doesn't seem like terrorism or violent crime. Something must have happened.
Digram: Concurred. But the unit in question is currently out of power. I have offered to investigate as another machine life form, but doing so requires repowering him.
Esperdica: ...oh, then we need to wait for him to come back online first.
Digram: Affirmative. You are all investigating that case.
Yoshiori: Not that we found out anything yet.
Digram: Hmm. Could this be Tronesion's...?
MC: Digram? Something wrong?

Digram: ...no. Requesting permission to join your party. On-train investigation should make joint activity possible. Additionally, I cannot allow you all as guests to be exposed to danger.
Raizi: Oh yeah that reminds me. That kid earlier seemed really afraid of the train guards. I just thought it was because they're big, tall scary security guards, but maybe there's something there?
Yoshiori: Yeah, they're droid soldiers too. They've been in war, and civvies tend to stay away from war veterans...oh wait right, what about that other guy we saw earlier? Did he flip out and rampage too?
Digram: No such report was found. You saw a soldier?
Esperdica: Yes, we passed a soldier carrying a man by the casino entrance. I assumed something had happened around here.
Raizi: Just yelling about zombies and ghosts. I didn't know anything about rampaging droids...so who was the mystery man then?
...
Yoshiori: How's all this connected?
Digram: Proposal: what if we investigate nearby? We can gather information and handle any irregularities we discover.
MC: Okay. Hopefully it's nothing! / Thanks for the idea, Digram.
(C) Digram: Oh I am just suggesting things based on priorities. But thank you.

Digram: I will go on ahead. Please watch your feet, everyone.
Digram bows to the party and walks to the entrance. Raizi and Esperdica follow. Then MC and Yoshiori.
MC: Hey Yoshiori! Thanks for earlier.
Yoshiori: W-what are you smiling for? Are you up to something? Well that lamp was probably too heavy for you, no need to thank me again. And I'm supposed to be guarding you.
MC: I guess, but still you helped me!
MC smiles.
Yoshiori: O-okay, cool. I just acted without thinking in the moment.
MC: Just like a bodyguard! You were so cool!
Yoshiori flashes back!
Why Is Yoshiori's Name Hidden Here: Bodyguards are so cool!
Present
Yoshiori: ...I wasn't doing it for you. It ain't no big thing, doing my job. You getting hurt is a problem for me too, so look out. Geez.
Digivice sounds
MC: wait what
Yoshiori: Whatever, let's go. You're on your own next time! And move your ass!
MC: W-wait! / Are you being shy?
Yoshiori stomps forward. MC runs after him.
End of Episode