This is the depths' second layer...
We did it, Reg!
We've survived our final lesson!
Is that so?
Sure is!
Leader, we pulled it off!
It hasn't really hit me yet...
Did we really get away from them?
That's right!
We don't have to worry about anyone pursuing us anymore!
Let's hurry on, Reg. It might be calling all of its buddies over here.
Yeah...
They must prepare themselves for what's to come.
In this place that transcends the ordinary, they themselves are outsiders,
the enemy,
the prey...
They're a threat.
These leaves sure are huge...
Yeah, and the smell of the greenery has gotten stronger.
Also, while it's nice that the leaves help hide us, they totally block the view of our surroundings.
Listen, Reg.
These trees might be big, but they're similar to amagiri.
"Amagiri"?
Right.
Here, look!
Amagiri sprouts always point toward the north of the Abyss...
Just like these do.
The branches similarly always point toward the center of the Abyss.
Oh...
So, they're helpful when it's hard to make out your surroundings.
There's an old saying that goes: "If you get lost, just follow the amagiri."
Whoa, you sound pretty smart right now, Riko...
Nothing like when we were back in Orth!
Wait... That's a compliment, right?
Let's see...
We're supposed to descend from around here, right?
We really need to head to Seeker Camp, the monitoring base down here.
Help me!
Somebody's voice? This isn't like that other time...
What's the matter?!
Shh! There's somebody here!
Help...
Over there!
Someone's crying for help!
Really?!
Help...
I heard it!
Help...
Down on the ground there... It's a cave raider!
I'll drive that thing away.
Help me... Help...
Reg, hold on! It could be a trap!
A trap?
That thing is a corpse-weeper...
They mimic the cries for help of prey they capture to lure others to their colonies.
Which means... That person is already...
Reg, get down!
Riko!
Another one?! How careless of me!
It's okay.
It's... It's still in range!
Calm down...
I can't miss this!
Our purpose in life lies in the depths
Despite our fears, our eyes shine brighter than fire
We need to reach deep below
The end of the uncharted labyrinth
In the gaping hole of the abyss
To follow the trail that leads towards the truth
If I'm to find all the answers
I can sacrifice everything
All I need to do is follow your voice
While it still echoes on and on
The compass needle never moves
It points right into the darkness
From which there's no escape
Be it a curse or not
The beating of our hearts is real
And the longing will never cease
Incinerator
Reg!
This is bad!
Ascending within the Abyss means...!
Riko!
Too far!
She's being fed to the chicks?!
No!
D-Don't do it!
No!
Riko!
What...?
What can I possibly do?!
Where...?
Where am I...?
Go!
Yet again.
But still, this feeling...
My body remembers.
In the past, I did something like this.
Riko!
Ah... The strain of the second layer is serious.
I need to lay her down quickly...
If that thing had hit Riko...
What in the...
What in the world...
Am I?
She doesn't seem to be injured.
Reg...
Riko!
I'm glad you're awake!
You wouldn't wake up, so I got really worried!
Ah, but... You should stay lying down for now...
Uh...
You were taking so long to wake up, so I thought you might be hurt...
And, uh...
And your clothes were all covered with vomit and stuff.
Oh, come on, Reg, you don't need to act so embarrassed.
You're a robot, after all.
Besides, you're the one who saved me, Reg, right?
Reg, did...
Reg, did you...
Reg, did you do this?
I kind of lost myself in the moment...
But to think I ended up doing this...
Amazing!
Hey, it must've come out of this spot on your hand here?
I wonder what we should name it...
Incinerator! Let's call this cannon thing that!
Uh, Riko...
I'm not in the mood for this...
I very nearly completely blew you away.
If I had, I...
Reg! It's alright!
Let's see, it was around...
This big or so.
What exactly was?
The size of the blast from your Incinerator the first time you saved me, Reg!
And that was from about 200 meters away!
It'll be fine!
Reg, you used to be able to control that power quite well!
Let's train it together!
This power of yours...
Is something you can master!
Riko...
Reg...?
Huh? What's going on?
Are you alright? Reg?
Reg!
What's the matter, Reg?!
Help...
Help me...
Gone... Gone...
It's gone...
It's gone!
Riko?
Reg, you're awake!
Hey, so are you alright?
You suddenly fell asleep and wouldn't wake up no matter what!
Did firing your Incinerator tire you out?
Ah, that right...?
I'm, uh... Fine.
I see! Good to hear!
Anyway, what were you yelling about?
Oh, that's right!
My cave-raiding notebook is gone!
That notebook you were always making memos in?
Yeah.
It's possible I dropped it when that corpse-weeper snatched me...
The clasp on my pouch also got busted.
If that's the case, then...
Well, there's nothing we can do about it.
You okay with that?!
Yeah...
But if I had to lose it, I would've liked to have gotten to the bottom of the netherworld first...
I mean, when it's found a long time from now, it'll only contain my writings up till this point,
so my legend won't spread far and wide, you know?
Hm?
Stuff like: "Amazing! Riko totally made it to the deepest depths!" Or...
"That Star Compass really was pointed to the netherworld's bottom!" and so on.
But you dropped that not too long ago, too...
I at least wanted to add something about your Incinerator to my catalog of your features, Reg.
That's my only regret...
I'm quite sure she also wrote something in there about how my penis looks like a real one...
I hope it stays hidden in the netherworld's darkness for all eternity.
Let's make a new one!
Eek!
Oh!
I tried roasting it under some ouba leaves.
I kept the seasoning simple and only used rock salt and ground-up Eternal Fortunes.
This... Even looks tasty, doesn't it?!
Thanks for the food!
Yum! It's got a delicious taste that appeals to the instincts!
Riko! This is a bit peculiar but it's tasty!
On top of that, you did well to kill some game on your own.
Actually, Reg, this is meat from that corpse-weeper you killed.
Uh... Riko, that doesn't bother you?
Hm?
Corpse-weepers sometimes eat humans, right?
In fact, we just witnessed...
That's true.
So, Reg, that still concerns you despite being a robot, huh?
Y-Yeah...
It's probably 'cause we both look generally the same...
You know, we sometimes had meat at the orphanage too, right?
Yeah...
Well, most all of that stuff was hunted by Blue Whistles in the first layer.
Those kinds of primeval creatures also feed on cave raiders and ruffians to some degree or other.
Is that so...?
It's sad when they die...
But they become the flesh and blood of those creatures, and then once again become our strength.
That is how we – all us cave raiders – have grown strong.
I see...
Even that scene that revisited me in a nightmare is just part of daily life down here...
All of the resilience of those who live here was built up for the sake of life in the Abyss.
This really is delicious...
Lowest Area – Second Layer
Inverted Forest
It's the real thing...
Look!
The waterfalls are flowing upward!
Oh my...
Seems it won't shoot straight.
The wind here is blowing like crazy.
Guess we can't keep taking shortcuts like we have been.
What's the matter, Riko?
Uh, I feel like it somehow got colder...
I know it's windy, but...
Here in the Inverted Forest, I wonder if we don't get that much light reflected by the force field.
Seems pretty gloomy, right?
You okay? Want me to get out the cold-weather gear?
Uh, nah, we can't spread out our supplies here, so later's okay.
Riko, hold this for a little bit.
It's warm!
Try to make do with that until things settle down.
Reg, you're not cold?
I can feel the wind, but no, not really.
I figured as much!
Well, I'll be borrowing this for now, then.
Reg! Some kind of symbol appeared on your helmet!
Huh?
Wow...
I never noticed it before!
It never showed up while you were sleeping... Not even once!
What could it be?
Reg, maybe it's the writing system they use where you come from.
Huh?
A-Ah, it's disappearing!
What are those...?
Um... I think they're called inbyos...
Looks like they're saying, "This is our turf."
Think they're angry?
Here they come!
Riko, you alright?
Y-Yeah...
Seems we managed to make it out of their territory...
Hup!
You sure you're headed in the right direction?
Yep, we should be able to see the route to the Seeker Camper soon.
I told you, right? I know where we're going.
Master! Master!
Something's approaching.
It's two people.
One's a Red Whistle... And the other one...
Doesn't even seem to be a cave raider...
Shall I ready the gondola?
Master...?
I get the feeling the wind's calmed down.
That might be because we've left the central part of the Abyss.
Come to think of it, the creatures here are more peaceful, too.
So that's how it works?
The force field, you see, carries light and nutrients,
so there are more creatures the closer you get to the central shaft.
I also hear that when you get farther away from there the Curse becomes a bit more bearable.
So that's why the Seeker Camp is in such a strangely remote place, huh?
Well, you see...
The Inverted Forest is too high up to descend from directly,
so it was originally built as a stopover point for people taking the long way around.
It just so happened that the location proved convenient.
Like, long-range visibility is better where the force field is weak, right?
So they ended up constructing a large telescope there.
Riko...
Is that the telescope?
Wow!
So this is the Seeker Camp, huh?
It's really quite high up there...
Huh? Speaking of that...
What's wrong?
Um, well...
I heard the Seeker Camp always has a lookout on duty.
So when someone starts approaching, I was told they lower the gondola for them...
A Red Whistle... A robot...
They might be feeling wary...
Reg, are you able to stretch your arm up there?
Maybe with both arms, or...
Let's give it a try.
Seems I managed to re–
Reg, what's wrong?
Something has...
Grabbed...
My arms ...
Huh?!
So she's still alive... That brat.
The Unmovable Sovereign, Ozen the Immovable...
A White Whistle who possesses unrivaled physical strength.
That glint in her eyes...
For these children, will it prove to be a glint of hope?
Or is it instead an ominous omen?
We take the waves of light flowing through the skies
And weave them into bridges connecting our paths
Whether it's slippery slopes or precarious precipices
Our pasts and futures will show us the way
I take your left hand into my right hand
When we're together, we can go anywhere
I'll always be by your side
In the past, present, and future
You're the light who guides my heart
We awaken from dreams brimming with color
Wondering where we'll go tomorrow
As long as we're together
We'll illuminate the world
And shed light upon the flowers at the depths of abyss
Next Episode
Seeker Camp