It's over. Your strength is beyond my expectations. It was just enough to tide my anger...
Nightmare Knight
You too are a descendant. I shall not take your life, but you will get out of my way.
Old Knight
So you've got your heart set on dueling Margaret, huh?
Nightmare Knight
Wrong. I am merely continuing a fight that was cut short.
Old Knight
What do you want?
Old Knight
You're stubborn and... mad. What are you looking for anyway? What is it that you actually want?
Nightmare Knight
You do not understand...
Old Knight
Like hell I would. For that so-called tradition of yours, you gave up your whole life and everything ahead of you! It's all pointless!
Nightmare Knight
Did I need you to give my life meaning?
Old Knight
I just don't want to see you stay on this path of insanity forever. The 'Khaganquest' is a coming-of-age tradition followed by a handful of tribes. Doesn't that make you still a child?!
Nightmare Knight
Gah! I am done with you. Out of the way.
Old Knight
Over my dead body!
Nightmare Knight
—You will regret this, old man!
Nightmare Knight
—!
Old Knight
Maria, what are you doing?! You're hurt—
Maria
This is my first time to see you so worked up, Nightzmora...
Nightmare Knight
......
Maria
The shield of a knight is meant to protect people. That's what my sister told me.
Maria
You said my conviction was borrowed. I've got nothing to say about that.
Maria
But if I'm going to be scared to walk even well-lit roads, then there's really no point in the knighthood anymore!
Nightmare Knight
How dare you spout that nonsense about knights—
Maria
—Sorry, but I'm not a knight anymore. I just want to protect my sister—
Maria
I can't let a psycho like you get in her way!
Nightmare Knight
Arts...? It's... Hm?
A ray of light shines off the blood on Maria's face.
Fragile and insignificant. It's true. If he gave it his all, the Nightzmora could easily have strangled the pegasus to death.
He is confident of that.
Yet... why does the blood on her face... have this radiant, golden shine?
Nightmare Knight
Is it the light of the Arts turning it gold?
Nightmare Knight
A pegasus whose name is bound to go down in history... yet so frail... Is it a mere coincidence?
Maria
Master Vogelweide, go back without me... I'll hold him here.
Old Knight
Drop the act, kid. He'll kill you—!
Maria
Don't worry.
Maria
I'll stop him!
Nightmare Knight
......
Maria
Huh...? Why are you turning around...?
Nightmare Knight
...Pegasus.
Nightmare Knight
You cannot grow stronger on the conviction of others. Not unless you truly believe in it.
Nightmare Knight
And you do not.
Maria
......
Nightmare Knight
Dedication and sacrifice.
Nightmare Knight
These virtues border on self-destruction... and you possess them at birth. You taught me a lesson, pegasus, descendant.
Nightmare Knight
Perhaps...
Nightmare Knight
...No, never mind.
Nightmare Knight
Tell the Radiant Knight that my bout with her has not yet ended. I am merely putting it on hold.
The Radiant Knight, the Blood Knight... The Major has really heated up in the blink of an eye.
Gravel
If we go by points and nothing else, the finals should long have been in reach of the Radiant Knight.
Gravel
Doesn't that make you happy?
If only the K.G.C.C. would let Nearl take the crown.
Gravel
You're right...
Gravel
But even if the General Chamber is scheming something, I'm sure you and the Adeptus will help Nearl overcome.
Gravel
That said, is the K.G.C.C. really the problem...? They're definitely not ones to do any work themselves. Instead, they prefer to sow the seeds... and wait for them to sprout.
After the Infected incident, will the people accept that?
Gravel
Many will voice their gripes...
Gravel
Hehe... but that also happened when the Blood Knight first came along.
Gravel
But who still remembers any of that after the Blood Knight took his trophy and the money came raining down?
Gravel
They have short memories, Doctor. No matter who ends up winning, as long as they speak on the Infected's behalf, it'll all work out fine.
Gravel
Kazimierz loves its champions.
Nearl's greatest challenge has only just begun.
Gravel
You mean... the Blood Knight? No, you wouldn't say something so skin-deep...
Gravel
Whatever's the case, I believe you and Nearl will overcome.
How are Amiya and the medic operators doing?
Gravel
They're giving the Infected knights checkups and treatment, just as always.
Gravel
Rhodes Island is plenty efficient. I can see why the Grand Knight trusts you so much.
Gravel
That said... I'm here right with you, and you haven't shown even a little bit of care for me.
Gravel
That makes me kind of sad.
You're right. I should thank you for all your help.
Gravel
What are you thanking me for, specifically?
For being a diligent bodyguard.
Gravel
I'm just doing my job. I was given my orders, and I would go through fire and water to fulfill them.
For giving us all this invaluable intel while we have our hands tied.
Gravel
I've only told you what the Grand Knight permitted me to say.
Gravel
I'd love to accept your thanks, but it was her who truly helped Rhodes Island.
Uhh... for chatting with me and helping me kill time?
Gravel
Oh... so our conversations are just a way to pass the time to you?
Gravel
Hehe, but in that case, I'll keep talking to you all you want.
Gravel
So, how will you thank me, Doctor?
Pretend to take a walk outside so you can take a break and go shopping?
Gravel
Hehe... That sounds wonderful. I've always wanted to be a model, just once.
Gravel
I may wear all this armor all the time, but I'm still a girl. I got tired of this outfit a long time ago.
Gravel
That said... I didn't really have the right to think about something like this, in the past.
What are you into? Rhodes Island's got all kinds of people.
Gravel
What I'm into...?
Gravel
I've never thought about it before... What do normal Kazimierzian girls like? Food? Makeup? Oh... Let's not talk about knight stuff.
Gravel
Well... as for outfits... All this armor does dampen my spirits every now and then.
Gravel
Though a campaign knight like me doesn't really get much chance to wear regular clothes, either.
Anything you want.
Gravel
Doctor... do you know what you're saying? 'Anything you want' is pretty much the last thing you'd want to say when you're being interrogated.
Gravel
Most of us hand our decision-making power away, probably because we find obnoxious to have to make decisions... but sometimes... the one we give that power may have some unexpected ideas.
Gravel
Well, then, Doctor... Would you lean back, please?
Uh, sure.
Gravel
Close your eyes, okay? I wouldn't want anything to happen to them...
I see... The Adeptus Sprawiedliwi arranged for a lackey like you to follow Rhodes Island around. They planned to use Rhodes Island to investigate Area 0 right from the start.
Gravel
Don't make our relationship sound so exploitative.
That's right. If you gotta say it, we exploit each other.This is what you call a win-win situation.As long as we get along, am I right?
Platinum
So you are Rhodes Island's 'Doctor.' There's supposed to be a Cautus girl around too...
Platinum
I'm not into hurting kids. Bumping you off should do the trick, right?
Too bad. Amiya's Rhodes Island's true leader.
You really shouldn't underestimate Amiya though.
Gravel
Doctor, go on without me. I'll hold her here. Take Miss Amiya and leave this place. Look for someone from the Adeptus—
Platinum
I'm not here alone.
Platinum
The Armorless Union already has you surrounded... You're not walking out of here.
Gravel
It's okay, Doctor... As long as I'm here, I—
Gravel
—Doctor?
Platinum
Shielding your own bodyguard? What's the idea? You'll give your life for someone else?
Platinum
Aww, so cute... I've got a job to do though.
A mission from the Board of Directors?
Platinum
What...?
If my guess is correct, the Board didn't give you these orders.
Platinum
I don't know what you're talking about.
Is it Mieszko Industries?Is it Sun Shrubs Pharmaceuticals?Is it Cloud Pharmaceuticals?
Of course, Rhodes Island is a threat to them.
But does it matter if some foreign company knows the truth?I'm sure they have the power to silence Rhodes Island.
What they're really afraid of are the beasts sitting at the same table.They're afraid of their fellow men.
Platinum
So?
I'm guessing it won't be hard for you to kill me, huh?What's the rush? You on some kind of flexible work schedule?
Why don't you take a seat and catch a breather?
Platinum
Do you really understand what you're doing...?
Platinum
Even with this campaign knight in the way, I can—
No, you can't.
The spokesman personally oversaw our contract signing with our partners.Malkiewicz has been very helpful.Would you like to know, from a legal perspective, where Rhodes Island stands?
Right now, we're temporarily affiliated with the General Chamber of Commerce.If you lay a finger on us, you're doing the same to the K.G.C.C.Anyway, I think there's someone out there who's not about to let this chance pass by.
Platinum
......
Of course, you people have a way to get around the law.But under the veneer of civilization, there is a bloodbath that you can't get around.
Platinum
......!
Gravel
A call...?
Answer the phone, uh... Platinum, right?It's for you.Have a nice chat with civilization, ma'am.
Platinum
......
A Voice from the Phone
Centaurea...?
Platinum
......!
A Voice from the Phone
No need to be so shocked, Platinum.
A Voice from the Phone
I'm very glad you haven't killed Rhodes Island's leader yet.
A Voice from the Phone
Call it off. Your orders were mistaken. Those morons, jumping the gun. It is not up to them to give the Union orders without consulting the Board.
A Voice from the Phone
And stop the madness that Area 0 is pulling on its so-called useless Infected. Rhodes Island has opened our eyes. Their lives still have meaning... They can yet create value.
A Voice from the Phone
That's all.
Platinum
......
Platinum
You... You planned this?
Platinum
How did you do it?
You cozy up to some people, and you square up to others.
Wasn't that hard.Most people think it's difficult to even bring ideas to their bosses.
What's actually difficult is figuring out how to cozy up and who to square up to.
We'll be working with too many uncertain factors if we let the two Infected knights make a big splash after all the uprisings the Infected have instigated.
Spokesman McKee
And if the public catches wind of the way Area 0 takes care of its Infected right now...
Spokesman Malkiewicz
I suppose there are both upsides and downsides.
Spokesman McKee
We don't permit 'both upsides and downsides.' Whether it's good or bad, what we want is control over the matter.
Spokesman Malkiewicz
I have other ways to handle this...
Spokesman Malkiewicz
Just to be safe, I've already instructed the Armorless Union to take care of it.
Welcome to the Kazimierz Major! It's your old buddy, Greatmouth Mob!
Greatmouth Mob
Thanks to Nightmare Knight's mistake, we're treated to today's matchup, the Blood Knight versus Nightmare Knight!
Greatmouth Mob
With their terrifying auras, and might unmatched by any other, imagine the fight our mighty Blood Knight and the legendary Nightzmora have in store for us today!
Greatmouth Mob
The Blood Knight and Nightmare had a fiery first encounter the other day! And now! They face each other in a formal match!
Greatmouth Mob
There will be blood! There will be slaughter! Only the victor will get to bask in fame and glory. Let us welcome—our knights—for today's match—!
