This body can't even feel the chill of the water.
Guess it's to be expected...
...when your body's no longer of this world.
But we were not wrong in our choice.
My heart feels the pain. And as long as we feel this pain...
We will fight.
Right, Mother?
Mother.
- Mother! - Mother!
It's the comet. If only it hadn't...
Mother!
I see. So this is a "hand."
This is what they use to destroy their enemies.
I remember.
I recall it now...
...this urge to kill.
There are no pretenses in the Dark.
No need for masks here.
The face of aggression... The raw demand of life...
All of it is truth. All of it absolute.
You, too, have the Dark within you.
Why do you try so hard to hide it?
That shining on your face... Isn't that what they call "tears"?
I remember these "tears."
But that was long ago, in my infancy.
Tears weren't the only thing I cast aside.
Come, won't you?
Savor the fear. Expose your inner self...
Throw it all away. You can see it now... your true form.
Welcome to the world of the Dark...
...and accept from me the kiss of death.
Sis, look! They're all running from that light.
The light's trying to focus itself at a single point.
And that'll be where our enemy is!
Yes. Vengeance for Mother lies there as well.
We're the only ones heading toward the light.
Hey, Sis, look there!
Is he escaping too?
He has little choice.
Born between the Light and the Dark...
...he cannot live among the humans.
He would provoke only scorn. That and their anger.
He's trying to find the meaning of his life in this world...
...find it through battle.
Sis, he's lived his life hating the Dark.
What comes afterward?
Loneliness, perhaps.
- Let us on! - Don't leave us!
We can't take you on. We're already overloaded.
Just wait for the next ship.
- What'd he say? I couldn't hear. - Please! Help us!
- What next ship? I don't see any... - Look! There it is!
Make way! Outta the way!
Get back! Back, I say!
- To the boat, quickly. - Good man.
- Mother, hurry up! - Coming.
What's this thing? The head's gone.
What'd you find?
This'll be cool!
I was able to secure an entire ship for your use.
Now we may leave at our leisure in perfect safety.
The children do so hate the crowds. Thank you.
Mother, he's being mean!
What do you think you're doing? Throw that filthy thing away immediately!
Okay.
It's a gross doll anyway.
Too weird.
What is it?
- How'd she do that? - What's going on?
A Dark one... She's a Darkstalker!
He's a quiet man.
However, his hatred for his own blood knows no bounds.
He binds that anger deep inside himself.
So deep that no one else in the world...
...can understand him.
And his battle will continue as long as he lives.
His isolated battle.
But, Sis, isolated means he's all alone, right?
But Donovan isn't alone. He's got Anita with him.
And Anita's got Donovan, too!
It's too much for anyone, being alone.
How beautiful.
It's been years since I've seen a view like this.
Yeah, but that light is causing it.
Frankly, I'd rather just not look at it.
You're right. I'm sorry, Hsien-Ko.
Hey, look at that.
Despite the Dark and the tainted light...
...the flowers never forgot how to bloom.
I hope our memories work just as well.
I can't remember how long we've been chasing after the source of that light.
Seems like forever. Two centuries, maybe.
And before we knew it...
Sis, I get the weird feeling that comet is looking at us.
Hsien-Ko, hush!
Okay.
Master At Arms, the Sorcerer from the Shao Tribe has arrived.
Thank you for coming.
How did you find the road beyond the city?
The road that brought us here was quiet, empty, deserted.
The citizens were, I believe, devoured by the Dark.
I could feel no signs of life.
I see.
- Those other two? - Sorcerer-disciples of the Shao Tribe.
Mei-Ling and Hsien-Ko, My Lord.
'Scuse me. I heard the emperor's in residence here.
Hsien-Ko! You mustn't speak so lightly of the emperor!
We've been admitted into the palace. That's honor enough.
Don't worry.
His Majesty left the palace a while ago.
The only ones left are stubborn old soldiers like me.
Master, wasn't Mother summoned here to protect the emperor?
We were just a decoy.
The problems began with the arrival of this comet.
The comet carries some sort of evil energy.
Every star in its path has disappeared from the sky.
The cosmic balance has been upset.
Naturally, we feel repercussions on Earth.
The atmosphere grows foul. The soul has no peace.
The light loses its holy power, and the Dark infests the land.
The comet's light has had an unwelcome effect upon the Dark Ones.
They become more violent, and threaten to engulf the land in their evil power.
Recently, the Dark Ones have even begun to move against the emperor.
Move here.
Our plan is to gather the Dark Ones here...
...and exterminate them all in one stroke.
Mother's here, so there's nothing to worry about.
It'd be better if the emperor had just stayed put.
What's wrong, Sis?
I never heard they had powers like this.
Our expectations for your powers are quite high.
Is it true they surpass that of the Darkness?
It is true.
One spell in particular should help.
With it we may be able to eliminate the Darkness completely.
Very well. If you can manage to end the Dark power...
...I will personally recommend you as the future royal sorcerers.
But you must defeat the Dark!
Master At Arms.
Sorcery is but a small feat done by mere mortals.
None of us have the power to end the Darkness completely.
Additionally, the spells used to combat the Dark...
...are dangerous to the wielder as well.
They are a terrible drain on one's life force...
...and therefore are strictly forbidden.
She risks her life in casting this spell.
Do we have any other choice?
The enemy is surrounding the palace. There's no time left!
Our hope was to have saved the spell as our last resort.
To throw a life away as a mere diversionary tactic...
...must not be permitted!
Elder, your concern is appreciated.
However, I knew the risks when I accepted this duty.
Mother!
But, that means you came knowing you were going to die!
Forgive me! If only I still had the power to...
I'm sorry! Forgive me!
- Mother! - Stay back! You mustn't interfere!
- But Mother is... - Mother!
With this final spell, you will know all I have to teach.
Your mother dies giving her life to our craft.
But I would rather you two forget your training...
...and lead a simple life.
- Mother. - Mother!
T-This is Mother's...
Mother!
The curséd "Igyo Tenshin."
In casting it, one dooms one's soul...
...to an eternity inside the wretched Darkness.
A cruel end to a noble deed.
Mother. You told us that sorcery could protect human happiness.
Forgive us. We cannot obey your last wish.
We will use sorcery...
...and save you from your own sacrifice.
Sacrifice, fate, duty.
Mother gave her life for those simple words.
The last spell Mother showed us, the "Igyo Tenshin"...
It uses the same tainted power, the power of the Darkness.
We've been using that power for a long time...
...searching for our enemy.
And we'll do it!
We'll use the Darkness and free our mother's soul!
We'll never let the Dark defeat us!
Well?
You found it.
That's the Demon World.
We haven't existed four millennia for nothing, I guess.
You're right. We'll pay a visit to the upstart.
Our common Demon World interests do unite us, after all.
Perhaps I can forget my boredom for a while.
Displeasing light.
Lord Demitri.
The five suns are scorching the land in their path...
...on their way to this castle.
Someone is taking great pains in their effort to destroy me.
Bringing the hated light to a Darkstalker?
It must be a taunt.
I will not be driven from my castle!
I will not run or hide!
How admirable. I, too, hate to hide.
L-Lady Morrigan Aenslaed!
Clan Aenslaed, my ancestral enemy.
I will admit, you have some skills in battle.
Well then, My Lady, what does the Clan Aenslaed wish with me?
There are certain things surrounding you that interested me.
I thought I'd ask you about some of them.
My Lord.
"Ancient human civilizations kept records..."
"...of those robots you encountered."
"Huitzil." That would seem to be the name given them by ancient man.
It was an age when feuding groups fought each other for supremacy.
A bright and bloody age.
But many of the records of those groups would suddenly disappear.
When a civilization reaches the apex of its growth, the Huitzil appear...
...triggered, as though they were time bombs.
"One such civilization was on the verge of greatness..."
"...when it was snuffed out."
"The Huitzil! The Huitzil destroyed their civilization."
A harbinger of civilization's end?
That was the duty bestowed on those robots?
Congratulations.
You are now considered the most civilized man of this age.
I've no wish to become involved in the petty affairs of human world history.
I am the greatest power yet seen in the Demon World!
Careful not to underestimate the Demon World.
Your name may also disappear from the Demon World's history books.
I say to you who could not defeat me...
...and you can pass it on to the fools who threw me down to the human world...
...the return of Demitri Maximoff has been but delayed.
But when I return, the terror shall last for an exquisitely long time.
So shall it be done, O Future Demon World King.
Good luck.
Lord Demitri, again you delay your attack on the Demon World.
This business with the robots concerns the Greatest King of the Human World.
It has nothing to do with you, My Lord.
It is because there is one who would oppose me.
Only through his destruction...
...shall he be taught the folly of his ways.
Hate the Dark!
Despise the Dark!
The body and soul of a Dark One is stained with filth.
And so we must live!
If we no longer exist, how can this world know of their need for us?
That's it for this town.
The shows are completely deserted.
What am I gonna do?
I guess this is no time for musicals when we're on the verge of war.
And this headline burns me up...
"Are The Darkstalkers Involved?"
It doesn't smell of Darkstalkers at all.
It's probably some war-loving human stirring up trouble.
And the jerk is turning my show into a bomb.
Someday I'll have to repay him for his trouble!
I may get my chance sooner than I thought.
Exterminate! Exterminate everything!
My show's been ruined 'cause of you!
You're gonna pay for that!
That was way too easy!
Guess it wouldn't be much fun if you went down too easy!
Now it's my turn!
Exterminate everything! Exterminate everything!
"Exterminate"? Like I'm just gonna sit here and...
Exterminate! Exterminate everyth...
I can't be defeated like this. It's just way too pathetic!
But there's so many.
Y-You're one of the Dark Ones, aren't you...
The weak should keep themselves a safe distance from trouble.
"Weak"? Gee, thanks a lot.
Don't you have anything nicer to say to a lady?
Now the humans have seen me.
Now they're gonna blame me for the whole attack.
Just 'cause I'm a Darkstalker. Talk about unfair.
I never wanted them to hate me. Not the humans.
Existence with humans is impossible.
That is why we are called "Darkstalkers."
A Darkstalker cannot live but through strength.
Where am I?
Thank you, Doctor.
Of course. Take care.
You're awake!
You're certainly built tougher than any human would be.
You can get in trouble for helping a Darkstalker.
The people of this town won't mind.
Anyone who's seen your show...
...knows there's nothing to fear.
The local children brought this for you.
They've brought flowers for you every day.
So pretty! Will they come today?
I'd like to thank them for the flowers.
Unfortunately, most of the people in the town have evacuated on the trains.
They depart today, if I'm not mistaken.
Everyone is afraid of the attack of the "Big Bad Dark Ones."
What's wrong with people these days?
They didn't act like Darkstalkers.
They were attacking the town itself.
They kept saying "Exterminate!"
"Exterminate"? What an awful thing to hear.
You should leave, too, before you're caught up in it.
I'm a physician, young lady.
The healthy ones will be able to flee...
...but the weak will be left behind to die.
A doctor's duty is to look after the weak.
I wish I could stop the attack on this town.
I wish there were more Darkstalkers like you.
I think I'm pretty weird, myself.
- What's the holdup? - We can't wait all day, you know.
- What's wrong? - Why aren't we moving?
Something's comin' down the track...
...headin' straight for us.
What is that?
- What the heck is that? - Is that ammo?
Citizens! As of this moment...
...this railroad is under our jurisdiction!
We hereby commandeer it to combat...
...the coming Darkstalker threat to this town.
We gotta use this train to get out of town!
You are going to approve the evacuation!
We've come here to protect you! There's no reason to evacuate.
This train is a mobile cannon. Your safety is assured.
Still, you must surrender the use of the railroad...
...the better to protect you.
So that's how they're putting it? Figures.
They can say what they like, but they don't know how bad that attack was!
All that ammo just makes this town a target!
Doctor, the cat lady's not there anymore! Did she get better?
No, she should still be in bed.
She's not well enough to be out!
The least I can do is pull a few passenger cars.
They should let some of the people out of town!
What's that?
It was only minor collateral damage, but we're short of doctors.
- We're counting on you! - This is appalling! What happened here?
We've captured a Darkstalker spy in town.
These are casualties of that operation.
A Darkstalker spy?
Well? Has it given us troop counts and positions?
No, sir, not yet.
The civilians have suffered casualties...
...and a drop in morale because of this thing!
- Make it talk! - What are you talking about?
You're the ones who fired on the town!
Silence!
The spy will only answer our questions!
- Continue the interrogation! - Yes, sir.
Damn! So much for a fair trial.
Doctor?
That's why I love humans.
Every so often you find one who tries to understand you.
Exterminate all human life-forms.
Exterminate all Darkstalker life-forms.
Annihilate all civilizations infesting the Earth.
Such is our appointed duty.
We are the guardians of the Earth.
Retreat! Retreat!
- You're alive! - Doctor!
You can't stay here! It's too dangerous!
I can't leave you here to die!
They haven't made it to the fields. Let's try that way.
This way. No, not that way!
Thanks, Doc.
You're the reason I love humans!
Good, they're following!
That's it! Come and get me!
- You've drawn the pack after you. - You again!
So what's the next phase of the plan?
I haven't thought that far ahead.
Perhaps you plan to thin the herd with that ammo you're pulling behind you.
Something like that.
You're not planning to throw your life away.
Not if I can help it.
Then make sure you're not caught by the time you reach the tunnel.
"The tunnel"?
You can outrun explosions?
Yeah. I'm not ready to die yet!
Let's go!
We could call this a success.
You saved me. Thank you.
Who'd have thought a Darkstalker would fight for human lives?
There are some willing to understand the Dark.
And I think that maybe...
...someday all humans will understand the Darkstalkers, too.
Is that so?
It’ll happen!
We live in the same world, don't we? We should be able to live together.
There're plenty of ships for the evacuation.
Safe journey, both of you.
See ya later, Anita?
Even if they save the soul of their mother, it will simply mean...
...that two souls will suffer the eternal darkness in her stead.
Still, their belief that they'll somehow manage to do it...
...is source of their strength.
They're not strong. Not even a little bit.
They're just nice. Nice, and that's all.
Their strength is a lie.
They're just going to their deaths.
Anita.
You cast away emotion to protect yourself...
...but once you showed anger.
And now you show your sadness?
Anita, I will force you...
...to remember what it is...
...to feel happiness.