01x07 - w*r Commences

[bunniefuu]

[epic choral music playing]

[narrator] The True Demon King has died.

The enemy of the world

was defeated by somebody.

But even now, the powers left behind

writhe in multitude.

They cannot be subdued

by ordinary strength.

A hundred shura-like demons…

The world's largest city, Aureatia,

proceeds with the selection of a Hero,

while the leader

of the New Principality of Lithia,

Taren the Guarded,

seeks new order, and governs through fear.

[theme music playing]

ISHURA

Episode 7 w*r Commences

Aureatia Territory

Outskirts of Mage City

[tranquil music playing]

[Yuno] Excuse me, Captain.

Hm?

We're nearly

at the border with Lithia, aren't we?

Yeah.

[Captain] It's just over that hill.

I get that you've taken us here

to learn the terrain near Lithia,

but isn't it dangerous to get this close?

Yes, indeed.

The situation with Lithia is volatile.

But to the outside world…

[Yuno] You mean both countries

are still on friendly terms?

[Captain] I believe there's

a treaty that gives Lithia

a grace period to withdraw

its independence and rejoin Aureatia.

It was actually Lithia

that requested these patrols.

[gasps]

[Captain] Lithia asserts

that Aureatia must make efforts

to maintain public order

and stop the frequent outlaw attacks.

They say that since we don't recognize

Lithia's independence,

it only makes sense

that Aureatia takes responsibility.

But who are those outlaws?

In actual fact, it's Aureatia

who puts them up to it. Indeed.

Then these patrols are all

just a performance on Aureatia's part?

But Lithia knows this too.

[Captain] These patrol requests

are nothing more than mere harassment,

designed to expend resources and energy,

and gradually wear own our morale.

[soft gasp]

They can also use any mistake we make

as an excuse to start a w*r.

Not an effective strategy,

but still no risk for them.

Taren the Guarded

knows how to play the game. Indeed.

Can w*r really not be avoided?

[Captain] No,

I don't think it can.

Still, Lithia has no reason to attack yet.

I doubt a full-scale battle

will take place for some time.

[Soujirou] That won't do.

Huh?

I came all the way here because

I heard I could fight someone worthwhile.

What will I do without any battle?

[Yuno] I doubt Lithia

is taking your situation into account.

I guess you're right.

I should go meet this Taren myself

and get her to kick this w*r off.

You're pretty fired up, aren't you?

I'm sorry about him, Captain.

[Yuno] He's a visitor.

He doesn't know our world.

We have…

Aureatia has continued

to work hard towards peace.

[Captain] Taren the Guarded used to be

the Twenty-Third General of Aureatia,

you see.

We were even considering

designating Lithia as

a special autonomous region, and revoking

the title of self-proclaimed Demon King.

However…

They use wyverns.

Indeed…

wyverns.

It mustn't be allowed.

They are clearly a dangerous force,

beyond the control of the minian races.

Which means Taren

has no intention of stopping the w*r.

[Captain] Indeed.

In this era without the threat

of the True Demon King,

she is attempting to establish

a new order in place of the kingdom

that has continued

since the dawn of the minian races.

She is a shura possessed by w*r.

[breathes shakily]

Oy.

Huh?

What is it?

Enemies.

[horses whinnying]

[horses neighing]

[Captain groans]

Who are they?

[tense music playing]

[shocked gasp]

[breathes shakily]

[Yuno] This feeling…

Prepare to fight!

[Captain] You two over there, stop!

We belong to the army of Aureatia.

We are patrolling here upon the request

of the New Principality of Lithia.

Tell us your names

and present your travel permits.

[Shalk] Quite the performance there,

Captain.

[both gasp]

You want to know who we are?

You came to hunt outlaws,

but are you surprised to really find some?

[Yuno] T-This isn't good. We should run.

Right now!

Vice Captain, take three men

from the rear and return to the fort.

Report to headquarters.

[clanks]

Yo.

Who are you then?

You're not bad.

I see.

Someone who can keep up with my spear.

[action music playing]

[Shalk] Dear me.

Were you going full speed

with that sword just now?

You looked stationary to me.

You talk a lot

for a bunch of bones.

[Soujirou] My eyes can't keep up.

I'll have to predict his moves.

[weapons clanking]

Right upper arm.

- [clanks]

- [loud thud]

[swooshes]

The clavicle.

The groin.

[fierce grunt]

[suspenseful music playing]

The gaps in his ribcage…

- [swooshes]

- [clanks]

[Shalk] You've got some spirit.

[laughs]

This is bone-breaking work.

Was that a joke?

How about I break your bones for real?

[weapons clanking]

Aim your arrows!

[soldiers groan]

- [Captain] Not the skeleton.

- [soldiers gasp]

Aim for the mandrake!

Higuare! I'll stop the swordsman.

[Shalk] He's too much for you

to handle in a sword fight.

[Higuare] Is that so?

Very well then.

Steal a horse and get out of here.

Understood.

I shall steal a horse.

Here it comes! Fire!

[soldiers groaning]

[yelps]

[all groaning painfully]

- [tendrils creaking]

- [whimpering]

[breathes shakily]

[shocked gasp]

Captain! Are you all right?

[murmurs]

It's not life-threatening.

[inhales deeply]

[retches]

[gasping heavily]

- [soldiers vomit, scream]

- [whimpers, gasps]

[gurgling]

[labored breathing]

[suspenseful music playing]

P-Poison…

No way…

- [Soujirou] Yuno!

- [scared gasp]

Get out of here before you die!

B-But I…

[Higuare] Hello there.

I'll have you go now.

[tendrils creaking]

- [shaky breathing]

- [horse neighs]

[Yuno gasps frantically]

Help!

[Higuare] Okay, I will help you,

but I am required

to withdraw from this place.

[breathes shakily]

Please ride the horse to Lithia.

I cannot control a horse.

You must do it.

[breathes shakily]

But I…

[gasps]

[Higuare] I insist.

[Yuno] H-He let one person live

to have them ride a horse.

He chose me because I'm the weakest.

Why…

even beg for my life?

[whinnies]

[horse neighs]

- [weapons clanking]

- [hooves thudding]

[suspenseful music playing]

[wheezing chuckle]

[dramatic music playing]

Ishura Soldiers of Aureatia

Mage City

[soldier 1]

Should we have really let him in?

We had to.

He's an important figure in Aureatia.

[Hidow] What do you want, old man?

I'm busy.

Take up too much of my time

and I'll send you back to Aureatia.

I'm offering an official support dispatch.

I've also applied to the council

for emergency deployment.

There shouldn't be any issues

with the procedure.

I told you, I don't need support.

Don't you get it?

Please, listen to

Hang on.

Didn't you mess up

on a dragon-hunting expedition recently?

[Hidow] Not only that,

my transport squad was inconvenienced

due to the delayed report

from the advance route.

I wouldn't be surprised

if you get held accountable for that.

[groans]

Having you here does nothing

but confuse my chain of command.

Go back to Aureatia. But if you really

want to help, leave your soldiers with me.

[angry growl]

Listen to me.

You need an expert

who knows how to deal with those wyverns.

You know you're not dealing

with ordinary wyverns, don't you?

Come on.

Did you really think I haven't come up

with a plan for Taren's wyverns?

You're so pathetic I could cry.

[Harghent] Listen to me!

Taren is not the problem here.

The Star Runner is coming.

Star Runner?

Alus the Star Runner?

He's coming here?

Lithia stole the Cold Star

from the Great Labyrinth of Nagan.

Before the Star Runner could!

[Harghent] You think he'll just sit back

and let someone else take the treasure?

Mage City might be attacked

along with Lithia.

So what?

You can sh**t down the Star Runner

with that shabby gear of yours.

I'm all for that, old man.

[Hidow] So would you please calm down?

[groans]

- Huh?

- [expl*si*n]

[Hidow gasps]

[gasps]

[rumbling]

No way.

[ominous music playing]

[high-pitched buzzing]

[zapping]

[loud rumbling]

[high-pitched buzzing]

[frizzling]

[loud blast]

[explosions]

- [loud thud]

- [glass shattering]

- [Harghent groans]

- [Hidow pants]

[Hidow] She's using it now?

Has Taren lost the plot?

[Harghent] H-Has there been

a declaration of w*r?

Why are they bombarding us?

Mage City should still be

on friendly terms with Lithia.

Stop whining, old man.

[Hidow] Taren could have easily prepared

a just cause to start the w*r.

Which means this is part of her plan?

She no longer cares about just cause.

Aureatia

didn't realize Taren would stoop so low.

- [door slams open]

- [gasps]

[soldier 2]

Lord Hidow, I come with a report.

What is it? Is it about the attack?

N-No.

The patrol squad that left in the evening

never returned.

What?

According to the scout

that went to check on them,

they'd all been k*lled

by what looks like poison.

N-Nobody survived.

Nobody?

Not even Soujirou the Willow-Sword?

I-It seems like…

no survivors were found.

Hidow.

Hidow the Clamp!

Do you have a plan here?

Soujirou isn't the only pawn

in the assassination plan.

I've already sent another.

Kuze the Passing Disaster.

Now that Lithia

has made a move, so will he.

That's the plan.

Ridiculous.

We're past the point

of assassination plots.

We must deploy the soldiers.

I can't send them out from this fort.

The wyvern army is surely on its way

to lay siege to this place.

[gasps]

[footsteps thudding]

[worried groan]

[suspenseful music playing]

In that case,

I will take responsibility,

and send out my squad.

That should be fine with you.

Hunting wyverns is my job.

[thwacks]

Cut the crap, old man!

[Hidow] As if we can deploy

a proper anti-air squad in this situation?

If they get inside the building,

it's over.

Holding the fort is our only option.

But we can't win like that.

We can.

I told you, there's another squad.

All we need to do is keep the attention

of the wyverns and the bombardment on us.

Then what about…

the Mage City soldiers down below.

[citizens clamoring]

[Harghent]

As they die protecting the citizens,

do you expect the Queen's

glorious Twenty-Nine Officials of Aureatia

to shrink back like turtles and watch?

I will face them.

I have never…

ran from a fight with the wyverns.

If I don't face them now,

I'll lose everything.

I won't let them devour a single citizen!

[Hidow hisses]

Listen!

Your spirit may be admirable,

but I won't let you send soldiers out.

That includes yours too.

I won't let them die

because you want to play hero.

[gasps]

[grumbles]

[Harghent] F-Fine.

- I don't need any soldiers.

- [grunts]

I'll face them alone.

[Harghent grunts]

[soldier 2 gasps]

[Hidow] Darn it.

In a way, the old man is right.

Lithia has ambushed us.

If Aureatia doesn't respond,

the citizens will lambast us.

But still,

this is a battle we might not win.

I will protect the citizens of Mage City,

and old man Harghent.

Connect me to emergency radzio line seven.

[soldier 2] Emergency line seven?

Who may you be calling?

Just hurry up and do your job.

Y-Yes, My Lord!

[groans]

[thuds]

[static crackling]

[sighs]

Are you awake?

[soft laughter]

Independent Action Squad

[Hidow] Vortical Stampede,

you're going in.

Annihilate any enemy

that poses a threat to the Sixth General.

sh**t down every Lithia wyvern you see.

Don't harm any enemy minian soldiers

until you get the go-ahead.

[soft chuckle]

Are you sure about this?

You've been reluctant

to release me until now.

The situation has changed.

[Hidow] Soujirou the Willow-Sword

was k*lled.

The assassination plot

is no longer guaranteed to succeed.

If Kuze fails his mission…

You must destroy Lithia.

[scoffs]

Okay.

That shouldn't be too hard.

If you win the w*r,

you'll grant my request, won't you?

Equal rights with the minian races

and official citizenship of Aureatia.

I'll get you approval

that nobody can refute.

Live as you please.

[Nihilo] And enrollment to a school.

If you succeed.

[rattles]

[Hidow sighs]

[soldier 2] Is this a good idea?

Should we really use that monster?

She is a weapon.

You heard the deal we made.

But it seems she wants

to be a minia again.

[mutters]

I heard she was a monster

who single-handedly destroyed

a regional Aureatian army.

We'll find out soon enough

if I made the right choice.

- [approaching footsteps]

- Hm?

[soft chuckle]

[soldier] Vortical Stampede.

You've received orders

from Lord Hidow to move out.

[Nihilo] Yes.

I just spoke to him.

Will you unlock the door now?

[both breathing anxiously]

[giggles]

Do you think I'll betray you?

You don't trust me

because I'm not a minia?

[grunts]

[rattling]

[grunts]

[air hissing]

[doors creaking]

[both gasp]

[Nihilo] We're heading into battle again…

Helneten.

Tarantula Helneten the Burial

That's just what we do, isn't it?

[nervous gulp]

Hey!

[soft chuckle]

What's the matter?

[soft gasp]

N-Nothing.

[Nihilo exhales, giggles]

[powering on]

[electrical buzzing]

[Nihilo moans]

[Nihilo groans]

It's been a while… since I had my body.

[Nihilo moaning]

[clatters]

[terrified exclaim]

[thumps]

[both screaming frantically]

[Nihilo laughing heartily]

[Nihilo] My body feels so light!

Free! I'm free!

[moans happily]

Freedom is good.

[closing theme music playing]

Next: Episode 8

The New Demon King w*r