Members of the Praetorian Guard of the NOL
are all heroic men and women who've sworn allegiance to the Imperator.
The convergence of their noble souls, which they've willingly offered,
is finally complete.
We will now set this matter into motion.
Having said that,
hardly any time has passed since Your Majesty's awakening.
For the time being, please conduct your Imperial inspection from there.
The Imperator and the Izayoi...
You've got to be losing your mind at all the things you can't see,
Takamagahara!
Terumi has his sights set on Noel Vermillion.
She's always around when I don't want her to be, and just now she disappears!
Noel, this way.
Where are we going?
First, I need to get in contact with Sector Seven.
How?
Just follow me.
I can sense him nearby.
If I were him, what would I do?
He would definitely choose the shortest path!
Why can't you hear
the heartbeat of this world?
Can, and audible...
Can it believe the future
We nurture an inexperienced smile
as we are thrown around
Does not give up
I'd like to know the truth
The night god toys with our suffering
like a branding iron
I won't hold back, won't doubt
If you are innocent after purification,
then let your soul strike out at the demons
Salvation won't lie in fighting
What power is this
You can see it
With eyes of steel we keep our emotions in check
Until our life ends,
commence your awakening
Your hands so clean, your blue shiny lights
May they reach the sky
Rebel 9: The Power of Order
It was thin earlier and now it's thick here?
The concentration of seithr is unstable...
I'm impressed you were able to track down this location, Litchi Faye-Ling.
Who are you?!
The name's Hazama. From the NOL Intelligence Department.
Halt!
Oh, scary!
I'm not your enemy, just so you know.
In fact,
I am a bringer of hope.
What do you mean?
Take a look behind you.
B-Body... Melting...
It can't be...
Oh, it is something that cannot be.
This is the man that you hold dear.
Roy!
Oh, Roy! Roy!
Litchi...
The fate of one who has plunged into the depths of the Azure.
One who has fallen short of becoming the Black Beast.
One messed up guy, ain't he?
Shut up!
Now, what if I were to know a way to take this ruined mess
and restore him to his former ol' self?
The NOL's guardhouse.
There aren't any Praetorian Guards here, either?
Not only that, but everyone from the Kagutsuchi Branch Office is also missing.
But why?
I double checked with HQ,
but there weren't any large-scale evacuation scheduled.
A whole host of Praetorian Guards has suddenly disappeared.
Noel, I think I'll tell it to you straight after all.
What?
Knowing you, if I told you the truth,
I felt like you'd go running off even if I tried to stop you.
So I kept my mouth shut.
What is it?
First, you have to promise me.
Once you've heard what I'm about to say, you absolutely have to follow my orders.
If you do, I'll tell you everything.
All right.
When I left you earlier, I did a lot of digging around.
The Kagutsuchi Branch Office was completely deserted.
I found an odd altar at the top level.
It was directly connected to the Cauldron right below it
and I sensed a really unpleasant aura emanating from it that wasn't seithr.
A whole host of Praetorian Guards, gone...
It's likely to be the work of Captain Hazama.
What do you mean?
The altar...
That unpleasant aura...
They're probably related in some way.
All right. I think this should work.
Comms are down, but this should reach her.
This is Gnu. Please come in.
You're telling me that she's dreaming?
How?
Her memory should've been completely erased.
It's impossible.
Does this mean that the soul itself has some form of memory retention?
The emergency channel?
Please...
Now what, Gnu?
Transmissions have been shit all week, so get to the point.
I've found the lost child. Requesting for her to be evacuated.
What?!
All right. I'll get someone to come pick you up.
Rendezvous in 30 minutes.
Do you read me, Tager?
I've been contacted by our collaborator.
She's seeking safe refuge for Noel Vermillion.
What?
Head to the location I'm about to give you.
Dr. Kokonoe is someone who's hard to read,
but at the very least, she's more trustworthy than Captain Hazama or the current NOL.
She also said that you can't ever be allowed to come into contact with Captain Hazama.
You said that you looked into Mr. Hazama's background, but that you couldn't find anything, right?
Yeah. There is absolutely no record of a "Captain Hazama" anywhere.
I don't even know who he is...
Yuuki Terumi...
How do you know that name?!
Oh, um...
I don't really get all of it, but...
I just like, saw it somewhere...
And Mr. Ragna also called him that.
The Grim Reaper himself?!
Oh, honestly! There's just too much stuff that doesn't make any sense!
Dammit!
Where the hell is she?!
Argh! I'm sick of this crap already!
I ain't the kind of guy who protects people!
Okay, so I just have to go bash Terumi's skull in, right?
Makoto.
What's up?
You mentioned earlier that there was a reason you didn't tell me everything.
This man named Hazama supposedly doesn't exist.
Yet, he currently holds unbelievable power.
There is something wrong with the NOL right now.
It's unthinkable that this man, who shouldn't exist, is able to issue an Imperial Command to Tsubaki.
What? So, you mean Tsubaki's...
In all likelihood, she's being used by Captain Hazama.
Tsubaki is most probably tracking down Major Kisaragi,
who is in turn pursuing the Grim Reaper.
The Grim Reaper will head for the Kagutsuchi Branch Office where the Cauldron is located.
Everyone will gather in a single place.
But, right now, the Kagutsuchi Branch Office is...
Tsubaki's in danger!
You can't! You promised, remember?!
Tsubaki will likely be okay.
If she hasn't be harmed so far,
it probably means that she's of some use to Captain Hazama.
What are you saying? And you call yourself her friend?!
I am her friend!
Both your and Tsubaki are my dearest and closest friends!
That's why...
It was fortunate that Tsubaki let you go.
The worst thing would be for you to be caught by Captain Hazama.
But even so...
Don't worry about Tsubaki.
Once I've delivered you to safety, I'll absolutely go help her.
Yukianesa...
It still won't activate.
Brother Jin...
Tsubaki...
What are you doing here?
That uniform...
Yes.
And I have a specific reason why I appeared here dressed in this manner.
I trust you can figure out why.
Major Jin Kisaragi,
you are currently charged with multible instances of insubordination, and desertion.
Lower your weapon at once and surrender yourself.
I refuse.
Why?! If you would just come quietly, then—
There is someone I must see.
I must meet this person face to face and ascertain something.
Ascertain what?!
That is none of your business.
You leave me no choice.
In that case...
You'll use force?
Yes.
You think you are capable of stopping me?
I know I am no match for you.
Which is why...
A relic of the old war passed down in the Yayoi family since ancient times.
She even brought that to this fight...
Why?! Why do you not draw your Nox Nyctores?!
If Yukianesa will not activate, my offensive options are limited.
Brother Jin!
Freeze!
It's no use!
The odds aren't looking in my favor...
Tager here. I've arrived at the rendezvous point.
Do you copy, Kokonoe?
Damn comms. There they go again.
An direct consequence of the Sealed Armagus Izayoi.
Looks like you arrived early for your lovely date,
Mr. Red "I'm from Sector Seven" Devil.
So you're the infamous Yuuki Terumi.
Oh, please. I'm only mild-mannered Hazama of the Intelligence Department right now.
But enough about me.
Since your date hasn't arrived, why don't the two of us have some fun in the meantime?
Maybe I will ask you to keep me company, then.
Although...
...you may not enjoy it at all!
That armagus steals the light from its surroundings.
Even that of its wielder.
I am aware of it.
Then why?!
Why would you still use it?!
To serve the will of the Imperator!
What is the Imperator to you?
The Imperator is the light! Absolute justice!
Condemning evil and bringing peace and order to this world, the Imperator is the people's hope!
Then I ask you: what of the people of Ikaruga, whose country was destroyed
all because they would not support the Imperator and the NOL?
Were they guilty of any crime?
That's...
The one who brought an end to the Ikaruga Civil War was none other than yourself, Brother Jin!
I can hardly believe the Hero of Ikaruga would utter such words!
Even within the NOL, there were many who opposed the war.
But those have been purged in the name of the Imperator and at the hands of their own people.
By the Zero Squadron, whose ranks you have now joined.
The NOL. The Imperator.
Their hands carry the hammer of justice, but they are covered in blood.
This justice you speak of
is nothing but a dream!
Even so...
Even so, I...
You are loyal, I'll give you that.
But the greater the thing you adhere to is,
the more you lose sight of what is around you.
Stop trying to cast any more doubts on my beliefs!
Brother... Jin...
Tsubaki, do not be blinded by the mighty power that is the Imperator!
Power is necessary.
Absolute power represents order!
Order...
The world is constantly strivin' for parity.
Should things tilt one way, a power to correct that tilt will also appear.
And that's...
...the Power of Order...
Brother Jin?
I see.
I understand now.
It's thanks to you.
What are you talking about?
Tsubaki, the order you speak of is the order found in mankind's world.
It's but a small thing.
True order on the other hand...
I never had any doubts to begin with.
I was merely refusing to accept my fate.
Brother Jin...
I will show you, Tsubaki.
The order of the world. The power of balance.
I am Jin!
The blade that brings balance to the world!
Yukianesa, activate!
This is Brother Jin's Nox Nyctores...
Yukianesa!
I feel as though I have woken from a long slumber.
I never knew how powerful it really was...
Listen to me, Tsubaki.
The Imperator is yet another force warping the natural way of the world.
Same as the Black Beast.
Those words are perjury!
The light will be taken away from you.
Dismiss the armagus, Tsubaki.
There will be no coming back otherwise.
I care not!
However...
Charging ars magus! Disengage Restraint System!
She's willing to die, sword in hand. Foolishness.
Prepare yourself!
Do not presume, Tsubaki.
Is that all your life is worth to you?
In your current state, you are not even worth killing.
Brother Jin...
Noel...
I have nothing now...
Nothing!
This power...
I can feel it.
The purpose of my existence.
Thus far, I have been under Yukianesa's control.
But now, things will not be going your way anymore!
And at the same time,
I now realize who my true enemy is:
those who destroy the balance of this world.
Brother.
You goin' in?
You're not gonna stop me, are you, Master?
Yer not one to stop just cuz someone told ya not to go.
You really have known me for a long time.
But Ragna, if yer goin', ya better remember what I'm about to tell ya.
Huh?
Don't die.
Okay?
I'm about to go kick some ass. You're gonna jinx me!
Even if ya can't win, just don't die.
Got that?
Never give in to despair.
Find a way to escape the jaws of death.
What's this? This ain't like you, Master.
Man, this is what getting old does to you.
If ya end up dyin' in this fight,
you'll only have been a man obsessed with revenge.
But if ya do defeat him...
You're saying I'll be a hero or something?
Hah! What a bunch of crap!
I'm just here to kick his ass and smash the Cauldron.
That's it!
You do not intend to go to his aid, Master Jubei?
In some sense, maybe it's us old-timers who are ghosts.
The ones who shape the new era must be the ones who live in the now.
Valkenhayn.
Milady.
I'll be making a short stop before I return.
You return and prepare for tea.
Very well, milady.
I shall have the very best financiers and tea waiting for you.
I think it's about time I hit the road too.
Give my best to Ragna.
I will not.
You can give it to him yourself.
Oy vey, they've all got something wrong with them.
It should be around here.
Who are we meeting—
Hey!
Hush!
This is the aftermath of a battle.
I smell something burnt...
Captain Hazama!
Oh? I thought I smelled a wet dog. Turns out it was just a Beastkin.
Captain Hazama...
And you even brought your doll friend along!
How lovely.
Doll?
Noel, stay back.
But too bad for you gals.
You arrived just as the show ended.
What's wrong, Tager?! Come in!
Run...
This is awful!
I won't let you lay a finger on Noel!
I guess that means you're up next,
little mousy!
I...
For whom am I...
For what am I to live?
Brother Jin... Noel...
I'm sorry.
I can no longer—
Whence comest this doubt, Tsubaki Yayoi?
Thou exist for mine sake.
That is thine sole purpose.
It can't be... Impossible!
Tsubaki Yayoi, come join me by mine side.
Your Majesty!
I shall be the light to illuminate thee.
Dammit!
Why is nobody here?!
Is this a trap?
A sudden chill...
We finally meet again, Brother.
Jin! You...
Now, shall we fight to our hearts' content?
Just show me blaze your mind
Only you destroy our world
Just show me blaze your brave
Make alter our memories
Go for it!
I believed
that even if the world were an empty illusion
I would look for a faint warmth
waiting for me somewhere
Don't look away now
It's time to come now
Look hard at me
I will free you from your grief
Don't be afraid of sorrow
I'll promise you
Endless reincarnation
I'm powerless
My memories course through my head like fog
Why do I fight?
I fight to protect you until the very end
You must obey the destiny
We're fated to be
We resign the destiny
guided by the voices
Lie down there, Tager.
You're planning on modifying me, aren't you?
I would never.
Episode 10, "The God-Killer's Cocoon".
Rebel 10: The God-Killer's Cocoon
Look me in the eye, Kokonoe!