01x01 - Cyberpunk City Shinjuku

[bunniefuu]

[MACHINA]

In an era not so long ago,

two forces bitterly fought

for dominance

over their homeland of Alnaeth.

[MACHINA] On one side were

mortals with limited lives.

[g*nshots firing]

[MACHINA] On the other were

the death-defying immortals.

[stabs]

[MACHINA] The Immortal w*r

was unfoundedly gruesome

and split Alnaeth in twain.

[crashes]

[crackling]

[explodes]

[MACHINA]

In the end,

the fate of the world

ultimately rested upon

a battle between two men.

[MACHINA] The mortals

put forth the Hero Gram

and his Holy Sword Ixasorde

of the Goddess Meldia.

[MACHINA]

His opponent, the Demon Lord

Veltol Velvet Velsvalt.

♪

[swords clash]

[swords clash]

[swords clashing]

♪

[MACHINA] In the year

fifteen ninety-nine

of the Continental Era.

[MACHINA] On the twelfth day

of the month of the dragon.

[MACHINA]

The long drawn-out story

ended with a flash of light.

[burst]

[Gram panting]

[VELTOL]

Well done, Hero.

[VELTOL]

Celebrate.

[VELTOL] A mere mortal

has defeated the Demon Lord.

I commend your strength.

You fought valiantly indeed.

[VELTOL] Greater still,

I commend your courage.

You were strong as well.

A worthy foe.

Why did I lose to you?

[VELTOL] My power,

my strategy, my military,

I was far superior to you frail

and fleeting mortals

in every respect imaginable.

[VELTOL]

So why?

[VELTOL]

Tell me.

[GRAM]

We have life.

Go on.

Mortals die.

Tis our fate.

That which you feel

makes us frail and fleeting

is truly our greatest strength.

[GRAM]

We fight off death.

[GRAM] We would do

everything in our power

for one more moment.

[GRAM] Our weakness

drives us to be strong

and our promise of doom

drives us to stay.

For it is here

we discover life's glimmers.

[VELTOL]

Life's glimmers?

[VELTOL]

Spare me your humor.

[VELTOL] As if such nonsense

could bring about my defeat.

[GRAM]

Yet, such nonsense did.

[GRAM] My arm and my blade

were but vehicles for the light

which all mortals

carry within them.

Take heed,

Hero.

[VELTOL]

For wherever there is light,

there must also be darkness.

And as long

as darkness remains,

I shall appear

before your light

time and time again.

You can't erase

the Invincible King.

So be it.

I will face your darkness

wherever it rears its head.

Fare thee well

my eternal sworn enemy,

Hero Gram.

[groans]

Fare thee well

my most despised foe,

Demon Lord Veltol.

[exhales]

Goodbye.

[footsteps receding]

[MACHINA]

And yet the world lived on.

[MACHINA]

Lord Veltol.

Machina?

[MACHINA]

Yes, one of the Six Dark Peers.

[MACHINA]

Duchess of the Dazzling Blaze.

[MACHINA] Tis I.

It has been five hundred years.

Raise your head.

[MACHINA]

My lord.

I'm sorry

I lack the appropriate attire.

Twas not by my choice.

[VELTOL] You saw to

the completion of the Methenoel

and raced to attend my rebirth.

I am far from concerned with

your selection of wardrobe.

Now then, where are we?

[MACHINA] The cathedral

of Nelldor's dungeon,

below the former

Shinjuku Station.

No matter.

Now, fret not!

For your Demon Lord

has been born again!

And in this iteration

Alnaeth shall be his!

I have something to report

regarding Alnaeth.

Tell me.

The world that

we had set out to rule,

it has already perished.

[VELTOL]

Huh?

[MACHINA]

Roughly eighty years ago,

Alnaeth endured

a catastrophe with Earth,

a world from another dimension.

[MACHINA]

As a result,

the two celestial bodies

were fused together

becoming one.

This event

and the seismic shift

that accompanied it

are known as The Fantasion.

[MACHINA]

During the first three years,

ninety percent

of the population

was wiped out.

All national government

entities ceased to function.

In response,

cities began to operate

as independent city-states.

Twice now those city-states

have been embroiled in wars.

The wounds of combat

have just begun to heal.

Presently,

we are in an era of peace.

[MACHINA]

The industrial civilization

of Earth possessed technology,

while civilization on Alnaeth

possessed magitech.

[MACHINA]

The amalgamation of these two

vastly differing systems

resulted in rapid advancement.

[MACHINA]

It is now twenty ninety-nine

of the Fused Era.

[shudders]

[MACHINA]

Welcome.

[MACHINA] The new world

awaits you, my lord.

♪

[VELTOL]

What is this madness?

I cannot believe

mortal civilization

has made such progress.

Be careful!

[gasps]

[MALE OGRE]

Watch where you're walking!

Pardon me.

I was too lost in thought.

It was no trouble, sir.

[MACHINA]

I am here to aid you.

That cur.

Doesn't he realize

he just violated

one of the Six Dark Peers?

[MACHINA]

Lord Veltol?

This world needs to learn fear.

I will burn respect

for our ranks

into their very souls.

[shudders]

-[MACHINA] Um, excuse me?

-Behold, fools!

The secret art

of chantless magic

known only by me,

Demon Lord Veltol!

Meet Ell Stunna!

[beaming]

[MALE PASSERBY 1]

Get a load of that.

[MALE PASSERBY 2]

Is that weather magic?

[MALE PASSERBY 2]

Guess some moron just

had to be

the center of attention.

[siren wailing]

How discordant.

[MACHINA]

It is forbidden to use

grand magic inside the city.

What?

-[MACHINA] We need to flee.

-Why?

I would never stoop to flight.

Please, my lord, quickly!

[gasps]

[siren wailing]

UDON

[MACHINA]

After your departure,

we agreed to

a ceasefire with the mortals.

[MACHINA]

Things were fairly cut and dry

but that simplicity was

squashed eighty years ago.

[MACHINA]

The Fantasion caused

the citizens

of the Immortal Kingdom

to scatter

and relocate to larger cities.

[MACHINA]

Not long after the devastation,

the major industries

launched a series of campaigns.

Of what sort?

Immortal hunts.

[device beeps]

[MACHINA] We immortals were

stripped of our personhood,

made out to be beasts,

and targeted for elimination.

ANTI-IMMORTAL SENTIMENT GROWS.

[MACHINA] Due to the rapid

advancements in magineering,

Anti-Immortal Weaponry

became easy to develop

and mass-produce.

[MACHINA]

It nearly wiped us out.

What became

of the Six Dark Peers?

[device beeps]

Most have vanished.

Sihlwald the Black Dragon.

May the Mournful Firmament.

Ralsheen the Blue Storm.

Zenol is long gone now.

He acted as a decoy

so I could run.

Such was his duty.

The Karmic Sword sacrificed

himself for you, my lord.

Ralsheen and I needed

to survive,

for only the two of us knew

how to activate the Methenoel.

Loyal to the end.

Tis no surprise.

[VELTOL]

Zenol served me well.

[sighs]

And what about Marcus

of the Bloody Arts?

[gasps]

Well, uh.

You must be parched.

Would you care for a drink,

Lord Veltol?

Not at the moment.

Even if it hasn't bothered you.

The polluted air in this city

is utterly unfit for lungs

as precious as yours!

[MACHINA]

Continue relaxing here

and I will procure a beverage

to soothe your throat.

I won't be gone

more than a minute or so.

[footsteps receding]

Hi, all!

Hm?

Yoohoo!

Ooo!

Uh.

Don't you think

two would fill you up?

I'm a hungry guy.

[MALE UDON SHOP WORKER]

You'll eat all my inventory!

[MALE UDON SHOP WORKER]

I'll have to close early.

[indistinct chatter]

[FEMALE PASSERBY 1]

Huh? What is this?

[MALE PASSERBY 3] Someone

must've hacked the public ads.

[laughs]

[VELTOL]

You there.

Huh?

[MALE INSTRUCTOR 1]

Take this!

[MALE INSTRUCTOR 1]

How do you like that?

[TAKAHASHI] Huh?

You mean me?

Yes.

[MALE STUDENT 1]

Yes!

Goody.

[VELTOL]

Explain.

-What did you do just now?

-[TAKAHASHI] What?

I've got no clue

what you're talking about.

I'm busy minding

my own beeswax.

First, I witnessed

the aether around you waver,

then I saw

those projections change.

[TAKAHASHI]

Huh?

There's no shot in hell

you caught me from

fluctuations that teensy.

That'd be crazy.

Who are you, dude?

[Veltol chuckles softly]

-The Demon Lord.

-I guess "crazy" was spot on.

[VELTOL]

You manipulated that image.

While I understand

what you did,

I am not privy

to the principles

behind this new magic,

and I would like to be.

It seems you are

quite the expert.

Aw, no sweat!

Just a little bit

of rudimentary hacking is all!

It's called

aether hacking in the biz.

Real basic stuff for a pro!

Hacking, you say?

Yeah!

[TAKAHASHI]

I don't look the toughest

but I risk my life

on the weekly

chasing that big boy,

cybercrime paycheck!

I'm an aether hacker!

As for my latest offense,

most of Shinjuku's

current holodisplays

are made by IHMI

and the logic barrier

of their program

has a couple fatal cracks

and a big, fat hole.

Your girl poked

and prodded around a bit

until she could

penetrate their barrier

with some totes

raunchy porn ads.

I don't want you to the get

the wrong idea about me

and assume I did it

out of intellectual curiosity

or boredom or some

pervy voyeur sorta crap.

I'm a firm believer

that the net should be

a place for true freedom,

but the suits at IHMI

are hell bent on regulating

the soul of cyberspace

into oblivion.

I popped some porn

on their precious holodisplays

as my little bit

of activism for the day.

I'm always

rebelling against the man,

and I pretty much

embody the word punk.

So, my genius

super-hacker skills

come in pretty freakin' handy.

-Silence.

-'scuse me?

I'm trying to locate

a gentleman named Marcus.

Is his name

one you are familiar with?

[TAKAHASHI] That evil-looking

tower is your best bet.

[TAKAHASHI]

Their CEO is named Marcus.

[TAKAHASHI] He's kind of

a big cheese around here.

ISHIMARU HEAVY MAGIC INDUSTRIES

Welcome to IHMI.

Please state your business.

I am here to see Marcus.

Inform him

Lord Veltol walks again.

We've been waiting.

Hello, sir.

I'm Director Marcus'

private secretary.

My name is Kinohara.

-May I help you?

-No.

[VELTOL] I was merely admiring

that mysterious creature.

This is the mascot

of Ishimaru Magic

Heavy Industries,

Ishimary.

We're planning to rally

a cultural movement around him

in the near future.

[VELTOL]

Tis a unique creature, indeed.

[MARCUS]

It's been a long time,

Lord Veltol.

You forget you are

to stand in my presence.

[MARCUS] What brings you

to my office today, old friend?

[VELTOL] I was expecting

greater fanfare

upon my arrival.

[MARCUS] Of course.

My bad.

Never mind.

Come with me

and rebuild

the Immortal Kingdom.

With your aid,

I shall dominate once more.

[laughing]

[Marcus sighs]

[MARCUS]

No.

What was that?

You heard me, yes?

I refuse to lend my aid.

Sorry, King.

I mean, just Veltol.

You dare make

light of my title?

You insolent fool!

[KINOHARA]

Dragon Blade,

Chidori.

[sword slides]

That's armament forging magic.

[MARCUS]

It's all right, Kinohara.

[MARCUS]

Stand down.

[KINOHARA]

As you wish.

[MARCUS]

Your new form is so weak.

[MARCUS]

In the old days,

a wound like that

would have sealed

the moment you were cut,

without shedding

a single drop of blood.

You truly believe

you can take over this world?

I didn't know

you were so funny!

[MARCUS]

Oblivion has stolen the faith

that gave you power

as well as the fear

you were so proud to represent.

I refuse to bow my head

to such a weakling.

Now scurry along

and begone from my sight.

[MARCUS]

Though perhaps,

if you wanted

to prostrate yourself

on the ground and beg

then I may reconsider

your humble offer.

You won't win.

There are centuries of evidence

to prove it.

Let's put them to the test.

-Verna--

-Meet Spell Breaker.

[grunt]

[coughs]

Close, but two steps behind.

My spell.

But how?

[laughing]

Poor fool!

You must be wondering

how someone

who can cast magic

without chanting,

could be rendered powerless

by a complete magical moron!

That's what is running through

your royal head, isn't it?

[MARCUS]

Come on, Demon Lord Veltol!

Well?

[MARCUS]

Want to know why I'll win?

Here's your answer.

Just what am I looking at?

Today, we come

to bring you innovation.

What we've made

will alter

the very art of magineering.

[MARCUS]

The magigadget, Familia!

To activate magic,

there are five long steps.

Initiate, construct, expand,

incant, and proclaim.

Then magic can flourish.

But with Familia,

constructing, expanding,

and, yes, incanting

are things of the past.

[MARCUS]

When implanted with a Familia,

you need only select

which type of magic

you would like to use

and proclaim it to activate.

[MARCUS]

By implanting this device,

people of all races

and ages can use magic

without the slog

of incantation,

construction, or expansion.

Make your reality

all that you dream

and more with Familia.

[MARCUS]

Just so you know,

I designed the Familia

so that it can't meld

with the bodies

of higher incorporeal beings

like yourself.

[MARCUS]

So, no.

[MARCUS]

I can't give you a free trial.

I knew that

one of your fanatics

was bound to

resurrect you someday

and it would be tragic

to lose my upper hand.

No, no, no.

What I've built is mine..

- [VELTOL] Vernal!

- like Spell Breaker.

[grunts]

[MARCUS] Your magic processing

speed is impressive.

[MARCUS] However, the Familia's

is even more so

and I've made it commonplace

on every being.

Without access

to my technology,

you are far too slow

for this world, old man.

[VELTOL]

Why, Marcus?

[MARCUS] I'm so terribly sorry

to break your heart.

[MARCUS]

But did you seriously believe

I had sworn loyalty to you

even for a second?

[MARCUS] I haven't liked you

since I met you.

[MARCUS]

You're an arrogant tyrant

who never tried and always won!

[MARCUS] This hate has festered

within me for ages!

[MARCUS]

Put yourself in my shoes!

[MARCUS]

Imagine serving as a vassal

to the very picture

of entitlement

and having to bite your tongue

and grin all the while!

Pardon my volume,

I lost my composure.

Are you saying I was blind

to you this the entire time?

Excellent, so you understand.

Now, back to the shadows.

Blood Sword should do it.

[grunts]

[thuds]

[breathes heavily]

[MARCUS]

So long, Your Majesty.

[glass shatters]

Blood into b*mb.

[snaps fingers]

[MARCUS] Now that the former

Demon Lord's fantasy

has been crushed,

I shall take up the mantle

as true Demon Lord.

[KINOHARA]

Director.

[MARCUS]

What is it?

About Ishimary's

merchandising plan,

I have some thoughts.

Please submit your ideas

at the next planning meeting.

[panting]

I should be healed now.

[VELTOL]

I am slow.

[chuckling]

Damn.

[MALE OGRE 1]

Watch your mouth, freak!

[MALE OGRE 1]

You rammed into me, remember?

You ingrate!

Huh?

Where are you, my lord?

Please, Lord Veltol!

[gasps]

[FEMALE PASSERBY 2]

Yikes! Was he in a fight?

[MALE PASSERBY 4] Well,

he definitely didn't win!

[laughing]

[VELTOL]

Why did I lose?

[VELTOL] Don't tell me it was

more stupid glimmers.

Try to stay with me!

Lord Veltol!

[MACHINA]

Take deep breaths!

[VELTOL]

That can't be why.

[MACHINA] You will be okay!

I will make sure of it!

[VELTOL]

It

can't.

[breathes shakily]

I'm sorry, my lord.

[VELTOL]

For what fault, Machina?

[MACHINA] I failed to tell you

of Marcus' betrayal.

[MACHINA] If I had informed you

when you asked,

you wouldn't be bloodied

and bruised right now.

You're wrong.

If you had told the truth

I would've gone to confirm it.

The scars I gained today

were inevitable.

[rain pattering]

♪

[MACHINA] This is where

I currently reside.

Oh?

Though it's lacking in charm

it is fairly sizable.

You've done a splendid job

securing a castle for this era.

[MACHINA]

It's this way.

[VELTOL]

All right, then.

[door unlocks]

[door creaks open]

[VELTOL] This is awfully

small for a foyer.

[door shuts]

No.

[switch clicks]

This room is the whole thing.

[chuckles softly]

You jest too much.

I don't get paid very well.

You've been living in poverty

all this time?

[MACHINA]

Yes.

[footsteps approach]

[gasps]

[VELTOL]

Your loyalty knows no bounds.

Look at this place.

Tis a true sacrifice.

[VELTOL]

You have served me well.

[gasps]

[crying]

I do not deserve it.

Your kind praise.

Thank you, King.

[Machina crying]

[MACHINA] "The Demon Lord

and His Vassals."