Zaniah: We have to save Benke! (whips at the tentacles)
Isaribi: Wait, don't run off on your own! Oh dammit, MC we gotta go too!
Sadayoshi: Right, they don't seem combat capable so we must save them.
MC: Right, battle stations!
Giansar: UGH, fine Zaniah, you owe us.
Yuhang: It's Monster BBQ time!
The party steps forward! The tentacles whip down at them!
Girl Still Being Labeled Number One: Z-Zanini! ...oh no!
Sadayoshi: Colonel Punch! Are you okay, Miss Number One? Get behind us!
When Does She Stop Being Number One Again: I-I'm fine. But Zanini and Benke...!
Giansar: (swings knife) Then step back already. You're dead weight if you can't fight.
Sadayoshi: Giansar, that's kind of a rude way of--
Girl Referencing Half of Zaniah's Ult in JP: ...no, he's right. Please save them! (retreats)
Giansar: ...good, she's not a completely dumb bitch. Alright I can help out a little here.
Giansar seems to be in a good mood. Sadayoshi notices and is shocked.
Sadayoshi: Are you being honest for once? I know it's strange of me to ask but still.
Sadayoshi senses something in Giansar that's like himself in wanting to be set free.
Giansar: !?
Giansar: Shut up, chuck.
Sadayoshi: ...if you're fighting, fair enough.
Giansar: Who care--wait, that tentacle. MC!
MC: What?
Giansar: That one has my engine!
MC looks over. Yep, that tentacle has Giansar's ship engine.
Isaribi: Oh. So we kill this thing, we get Zaniah and what's-his-face AND the engine back! Hey, Zaniah!
Zaniah is getting pushed back by the tentacles!
Zaniah: I heard! Still killing this thing! Now give me my family back!
MC: Zaniah, don't push ahead too far!
Zaniah: I KNOW! But...!
MC: It's okay, we're in this together. We'll save him.
Zaniah: MC...
Yuhang: Okay WOOO sidestep! You know what, marinating time!
Yuhang is swinging hard, but tentacles keep blocking his way!
Yuhang: Dang, this one's tough. Oh, Isaribi! How about you stab it in its center so I can cut it to bits?
Isaribi: Okay! MC, tell me when!
MC: ...now!
MC VP Charges Isaribi!
Isaribi: Aww yesss. Big Catch "Isaribi Style Big Hauling"!
Isaribi chucks his harpoon, which also deploys a net to pin down the Monster! Also it marks the central part for Yuhang.
Isaribi: That dick's pinned! Your turn!
MC: Right! VP Charge, Yuhang!
click
Yuhang: Awesome! Table Setting "Shengyan Jican"!
Yuhang's giant butcher knife gets even bigger, which he swings down!
Tentacle: (burbles in LOVELLLLY)
big thunk
Engine drop!
MC: We got the engine! One problem solved...
Giansar: It LOOKS fine. I'll check on it more later and grab it.
Sadayoshi: Right, we still need to save Number 2!
The rest of the Monster makes some noise and jets off!
Sadayoshi: It's getting away! It's too fast in the water to pursue!
Giansar: Sadayoshi, keep back unless you wanna get dragged in too. The thing's too strong out in the open water if we can't pin it down somehow.
Sadayoshi: I know, but still...!
Zaniah: GET BACK HERE
The Monster disappears from view...
MC: We'll lose it at this rate! / It still has Zaniah's family...
Zaniah: Benke...!
Plot Device Too Unimportant to Get Her Proper Name Displayed: Zanini! Where's Benke? He can't swim, so--
NPC runs to Zaniah! She also stops talking all of a sudden, but then...
Unknowing Bearer of Bad News: Zanini, you're okay! Let's go! There's no reason to go after that Monster!
Shocked party!
Zaniah: What do you MEAN, no reason!? Benke's still in danger!
Unfortunate Girl Who Totally Has No Name: w-who? I ran after you all by myself!
Zaniah: !!
Zaniah drops her whip...
Unfortunate Girl Who Totally Has No Brother: Z-Zanini...?
...
Zaniah: ...MC, is that Monster still nearby? (angrily looks out at sea)
MC: I sense it. It looks like it's still in the water.
Zaniah picks her whip back up and turns to the party.
Zaniah: ...everyone, I need you all to listen. The Monster just took one of my family, someone who came even when it was dangerous out of worry for me. And they mean everything in the world to me. Please...help me get him back...
MC: Zaniah...
Heavy mood. Giansar is reminded of own past.
Flashback!
Agency Prez A: Welcome, hero interns!
Big round of applause for like ten or so interns! One intern steps forward.
Giansar: Thank you sir, we're happy to be here.
Agency Prez A: Aww, no need to be so formal Mr. Valedictorian! We hope you learn all you can here.
Giansar: Yes, thank you.
Giansar (narrating): And then some news crew cameraman took pictures. That day, I thought I was taking steps to get a license and be a hero like all the ones I looked up to.
Later
Mentor B: Okay time to call it a day! Get your reports of the day in with as much details as possible, it might determine if you get a license so--
Giansar (narrating): And this was the day my life went to shit.
Mentor B: Oh no, an alarm!?
Operator/Mentor B makes some calls!
Mentor B: I see. I'll be there soon.
Giansar: Did Monsters show up?
Giansar (narrating): Okay so we were still interns, but heroes are supposed to fight Monsters and I wanted to help.
Mentor B: ...yeah, big one. You all stay here, B Rank and higher heroes are going in to engage. They need me to go operate too.
Concerned interns.
Mentor B: Watch the stream and help us get VP! If the blast zone reaches here, be ready to leave!
Giansar: O-oka--
Giansar (narrating): And then he got into the elevator.
Giansar: ...guys, let's go back to our rooms and do what we can.
Later
Giansar: Damn, things are getting bad. Can't we do anything?
Monsters are stomping the city into the ground and are threatening to go elsewhere!
Giansar: Oh no!
People getting vored on stream!
Giansar (narrating): Being powerless like this sucks! So many people getting caught in the rampage, and the heroes trying to fight off the Monsters. Maybe I should get out there and help out.
Giansar: ...I'm going out there.
Intern C: B-but we're supposed to stay here! It's even in our contracts that we can't go on our own!
Giansar: Then sit on your ass as people are getting vored!
Awkward silence.
Giansar: ...sorry for yelling. I'm still going. Anyone wanna come with?
Apparently not.
Giansar: ...right. The rest of you be ready to evacuate.
And then Giansar runs out the door.
Outside
Monster: REEEEE
Giansar: holy shit huge
Gainsar (narrating): Yeah the shit has REALLY hit the fan. Lots of screaming and yelling, panicking and exploding, Monsters reeeeing.
Citizen A: Hey you, stop standing there! My family just got vored, dammit!
Giansar: I'm a hero, so I have to fight.
Citizen A: What? What are you standing there for!? Save my family!
Giansar: Okay. Since you remember them, you must be an Observer. Can you transform me? I can't get anyone on the line.
Giansar (narrating): Mentor B must be busy. I've kept calling but he won't pick up, soooo
Poof! Hero Giansar!
Giansar (narrating): I used to have a handgun Parallel Weapon back then. And then I held it up to blap blap a freak.
Giansar: I'll save them! (BANG)
Some other hero trying to save people falls by the Monster.
Giansar: um, what
A camera drone turns towards Giansar!
Somebody: OH MY GOD HE SHOT A HERO
Giansar: w-what
Giansar (narrating): Wait, I aimed at the giant ass Monster, how could I possibly hit someone else?
Rando A: omg teamkiller?
Rando B: no way...but then he did just shoot him right?
Conviction by public opinion!
Giansar: N-no wait, I didn't do it!
Mentor B: (runs up) WHAT JUST--wait why aren't you back at the agency!?
Giansar: I-I wanted to help out!
Rando Hero C: Quick! Someone arrest that villain!
Mentor B: Wait, he's not like th--
Rando Hero C: Shut up you. YOU, hands up, hero suit off!
Giansar (narrating): I don't really remember what happened there, but...
Giansar: NO WAIT I DIDN'T DO IT I SWEAR
Giansar (narrating): I only figured out what happened way afterwards. Some rando civvie had a gun and tried to shoot the Monster. Shocker, it didn't work, but then he got vored and his bullet hit the hero and nobody remembered the civvie existed. And then when the camera turned over, there I was with my gun out.
Later
Giansar: That charge is bullshit! I'll go kill that one Monster and fix everyone's memories!
Mentor B: ...yeah, but you ignored orders to jump into an active battle zone. You transformed without our supervision or go ahead, so we can't sign off on your actions. Also, the hero license board is sideeying you, so you'll have to pay for your crimes.
Giansar: W-wait, they're calling me a villain now...? T-then I can't be...
Giansar (narrating): I couldn't bring myself to say it since I didn't want to accept it. I lost my hero abilities then.
Giansar: ...why? How come cowards get licenses and I got punished? How fucking DARE they call me a criminal?
License Board Proctor or something: Insubordination and unauthorized use of powers. There's an argument this might not have happened if you didn't do any of that so...you've failed the examination. If you do not requalify for the next exam, you will be given a notice and...
Giansar: ...why?
Giansar (narrating): No one would listen to a villain like me.
Giansar: ...heroes are posers. It's society that's wrong! I can do my job perfectly, but then...
Giansar (narrating): I decided I'd never let this go.
Giansar: You know what? A hero on paper and doesn't have the skills to be one but has a license is useless. So I'm gonna be better than them and become the greatest hero/villain/whatever ever!
Giansar (narrating): The heroes I admired? The heroes I loved and wanted to be like? I'm going to...
Title Card: There Are Things I Can't Forget
Present
Giansar: (frowns)
Zaniah: ...please, help me. I'll fight too!
Giansar: (memory triggered!)
Yuhang: ...hey Zaniah, remember how you said you were a Monster attack refugee the other day?
Zaniah: Oh, you heard? ...well yeah, my family's adoptive. But still...
Yuhang: Same! I'm a war orphan too or something. You wanna repay them, I'm in! Well okay we have to save that one guy first, but yeah I'm in!
Zaniah: Yuhang...right.
Isaribi: (honks nose) aww, that's so sweet! I'm helping too! I can handle water Monsters!
Sadayoshi: I've received a new power from MC. I can fight in the water now, and I'm supposed to protect those who can't defend themselves...actually, I want to save them. And I still need to make up for getting on the wrong boat.
MC: It's cool Zaniah, we're all in. I can't let someone stay vored.
Zaniah: MC... you guys...
MC looks at Giansar and prompts him to say something.
Giansar: ...we oughta avoid that damn thing if we don't have to fight it. Us working together only took out the one tentacle, so who knows how strong the main body is. We got the engine back, the logical move is to blow this joint.
Giansar (narrating): I tried to do the right thing and got shat on for it. Even if I save a whole damn planet, it wouldn't exonerate me if no one can see it. Why bother with THIS fight?
MC: Giansar!
Giansar: (But..)
Giansar: Oh let me finish, dammit. Since we DO have to fight the thing, we ought to fight smart and go all in.
Giansar: (What the hell am I saying? We really don't have to fight something that strong, but...)
Giansar looks at Zaniah. Zaniah cares so much for her family that she'll throw her pride aside and ask heroes to help save them instantly. Seeing anyone try so hard for someone else reminds but get turned off the high road Giansar of who he used to be. And who Giansar used to be looked up to heroes who never gave up, so neither would he.
Giansar: ...I just want to see the dumb and reckless get to the end of where they're going, heroes, phantom thieves, whatever.
Zaniah: ...are you saying you'll help?
Giansar: ...I mean, seeing you all die without a plan sounds good and all, but this seems like a good time to flex how much better I am than you guys.
MC: Pffft, poser. / Counting on you then, Giansar.
Giansar snorts. It's not all scorn though.
Giansar: ...at least the guy being vored means he didn't drown.
Yuhang: We still don't have much time though.
Giansar: Yeah, but there's enough to think of something. MC, can you still sense the thing? Tell us if it's coming or going away.
MC nods.
Sadayoshi: Why did that Monster suddenly come here anyway?
Isaribi: Right. Monsters go where people are, and there ain't no one over here except us.
Giansar: ...it must've sensed something. Something bigger than my engine if the Monster was that big.
MC: So something super famous? Maybe that thing Zaniah found?
There's a blue light coming from Zaniah's bag!
Zaniah: W-wait, the Cerulean Sphere!?
Sadayoshi: It's after that?
Isaribi: Is that even a thing???
Zaniah: (frowns and looks at the Cerulean Sphere)
Zaniah: So it's this thing's fault? ...no wait, I need to think.
Zaniah thinks. And then she has an idea!
MC: what do, Zaniah
Zaniah: I've got something! Giansar, take the engine with you. Everyone, with me!
Later
Giansar: ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS
Giansar's fixed the ship and now the party is speeding out to sea!
Yuhang: Z-Zaniah I think we're going too fast!
Zaniah: Ohohoho! Not like there's any other ship to crash into!
Sadayoshi: I would have so many things to say about this if we weren't speeding to save someone!
Zaniah: Yeah sure whatever. MC, tell me if you sense that big boss Monster anywhere!
MC: O-okay!
Zaniah: Baiting a big catch is always a good idea in fishing, right?
Isaribi: But that makes us decoys here!
Yuhang: Also this plan to use the engine and Sphere is--AAAAAA
Zaniah: Hang tight if you don't want to be fishbait!
Zaniah's big idea: if the Monsters are drawn by the engine and Cerulean Sphere, then just use the damn things to bait them in.
Zaniah: Okay, begin Operation Wild Monster Catcher!
Giansar: A plan that only has one step doesn't get to be called an operation, you dumb bitch! And that's not even getting into the dumb as hell name!
Sadayoshi: Zaniah, are you sure it's fine to leave Number One behind? She seemed very against you going on this plan.
Zaniah: ...she'll be fine. We're going to fight, and she can't be there. Plus the island should be safe if the Monster comes for us. And my family's strong! I promised I'd be back safe and sound, and I'm going to make that happen!
EEEEVILLLL
MC: Boss Monster, 12 o'clock! Careful everyone!
A wild tentacle appears!
Isaribi: Oh my god this plan actually worked!?
Zaniah: Right, first we do something about this and then move onto the main body!
Wild tentacle flails around and comes this way!
Giansar: ...MC, turn on the autopilot. Speed up and cut through the tentacles!
Sadayoshi: Time to use my ball. MC, your orders!
Isaribi: Fishing from a boat. My time has come!
Yuhang: Cooking time! I'll get you this time, Monster!
Zaniah: How dare you steal my family away from me. ME, a phantom thief! Let's cut them all down and take my family back, MC!
BATTLE START
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