This is Charlie 2. Nothing to report.
Let's go for a drink after this.
Sounds great.
Chase it with fried lizard B.R.A.I. liver or something.
DIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINE
LAST HOPE
DIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINE
DIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINEDIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINE
DIMENSIONAL GOD MACHINE
We promised that someday, sometime in the distant future,
even if we forgot each other's names, these lights would never go out
Just holding on to this planet that rotates as if it's breathing,
just controlling this body is taking everything I've got
On the far edge of despair, the rock bottom of hope
are a sword and shield of clear thought
Whose story is this? How did this world begin?
Answer with the life that's brought you this far
Choose with that heart, shout with that voice
And don't you let go of what you love the most
At last, at last, I have found you
I have, I have, I have heard you
The Enemy Above
What're you doing?
Accessing many dimensions puts a tremendous load on the device itself...
Assuming mass production is possible, how can I make the limiter—
You're violating the Family Contract!
I thought snacking on mahua was an exception.
Article 22: Don't bring work home!
Right, that.
Can't you leave it back at the base?!
That noisy soldier who just joined gets easily upset.
"Don't put it anywhere near me," he says. I wonder why...
Leon. Duty calls.
They took one hell of a beating.
Were they hit by a missile or something?
Doug-san, were you at an "adult establishment" again last night?
Excessive alcohol consumption can deteriorate bodily functions, you know.
Well, these establishments have more stimulants than just alcohol.
Stimulants?
Doug!
So what do you think?
If it had exploded in the sky, the fragments would have scattered across a wider area.
It looks more like it was torn apart than struck by a missile.
The perp returns to the scene of the crime?
It's not too late to turn yourself in.
I don't think that machine's arm could've done it.
Yeah, I know. Just playing along.
Assuming a B.R.A.I. did it, we should speed up our component analysis of the cut section.
But how did a transport plane, from that height...?
What's up, lady? If I didn't know better, I'd say you knew a thing or two.
Not really.
Come on, don't be so cold!
Don't pay me any mind.
You're staying in Neo Xianglong for a while, aren't you?
We're still hiring.
Working conditions aside, the pay's not bad.
I'm not after the money.
You got rejected, Captain.
Hey, not all hope is lost!
You're so naive. Not that I care.
A crash from above?
You're saying it wasn't shot down?
Analyzing the transport plane's logs,
I noticed it was attacked at an altitude of 12,000 meters.
That's far beyond the effective range of anti-air cannons.
That's nice and all, Leon, but can you lay off the mahua for a bit?
He's been like that his whole life. Always crunching away during lessons...
So, what are you getting at?
The enemy is most likely
a huge flying-type B.R.A.I.
Huge?
So it's a bird?
There's a limit to how big a creature can be and still fly.
A flying B.R.A.I gigantic enough to destroy a transport plane
contradicts the laws of physics.
Doesn't it just mean that there's a Dark Drive thing inside?
If that's the case, it could be amplifying its lift force by spreading it across dimensions.
Their evolution is far beyond what we could have imagined.
Even the Absolute Defense System is vulnerable to attacks from above.
I've said it before, but you suck at allocating funds.
Countermeasures should be prepared—
That goes without saying.
But be prepared, just in case.
It's one after another...
There's no end to them.
It's only been a few years since B.R.A.I appeared on this planet.
Under the effect of the Evolution Field, they overcame every biological hurdle in their way.
It's as if they replicated the billions of years life has been around in an instant.
And only humanity has been left in the dust.
Even if that's the case, our existence will continue.
They should be the victims of natural selection.
At any rate, we cannot afford to give this up.
After giving that to him, Rising Phoenix grew before our very eyes.
They're calling this multidimensional amplifier that I developed a 'Dark Drive'.
Fusion with the organism is going according to plan. Excellent!
All that's left is to see it in battle, Mr. Gold.
Why don't we have a little sideshow first, Wang?
A sideshow? That's not part of our agreement.
Are you dissatisfied?
I'm not your subordinate.
There is a woman I want to kill.
That is all.
Stand down, Fau.
Wang, there is no need to rush. Your woman is not going anywhere.
On the contrary. She'll come to you if provoked.
She's that kind of woman, isn't she?
Come here, beauty!
Whew, I'm tired...
Assuming that it attacks from the sky...
Ta-da!
You're wearing your uniform here?
Squaddie Chloe Lau reporting! I'll be assisting Pandora from here on out!
We're here to celebrate your sister's enrollment today.
Captain Glen Ding reporting! Ordered to transfer to Pandora, effective today.
I look forward to working with you!
You're secondary here, boy.
I'm no "boy"! And that's "Captain" to you!
Hey, hey, Leon! How do I look?
Against a flying-type B.R.A.I, our current defensive systems—
Zoning out is forbidden!
Family Contract, Article 28: Say someone looks good in their new clothes!
Yuuuuum!
Like, wow! This catfish is delish!
I invited Secretary Jay and the Princess, but...
How sweet of you.
I didn't expect you to show up.
There's a good club nearby, so this is handy.
Aren't you the life of the party?
Sky, bird, sky, bird... Coming from above...
Leon! Family Contract, Article 79: Forget about work while you're eating!
Scholars, man...
Listen here, you egghead.
I couldn't control the Hyperdrive back then because of its poor maintenance.
Next time I'll show you that I can master it!
Speaking of which, why did you transfer to Pandora, Glen-san?
To fight! To protect Neo Xianglong!
But you won't be a Captain after coming here, just some new recruit.
My rank is still Captain, you drifter!
The only place you're in command is on the playground, boy.
Who you calling "boy?!"
Keep your shirt on, playground bully.
Stop it, unless you want some sansho in your face!
I'd rather not. I'd fall out of favor with Emilia if I smelled like that.
Right?
Right...?
You got dumped.
That's what I like about her.
Use geomagnetism to throw the bird's sense of direction into disarray...
Or block its vision.
Tame the dragon dwelling within.
Harmony of mind, body, and skill. Among them, what you lack is...
Sorry. You surprised me.
N-No, my bad. I was lost in thought.
Where is this, by the way?
Day-to-day life really is out of your depth.
What?
I saw your battle the other day.
Your fighting style is truly like that of a demon.
It was the very best I could manage, though.
Will you keep relying on that mysterious power regardless?
I've seen it before. A man obsessed with power was devoured by it.
Power that surpasses reason is but madness.
Are you prepared to keep suppressing that madness?
Becoming obsessed with power to the point of losing yourself...
I experienced it firsthand.
Still, I'm not who I once was.
Because there's something I want to protect.
Something to protect?
Jeez, you wandered off on your own again?
My bad, Chloe.
Today was a ton of fun!
Oh, Queenie-san!
Glad you're doing well.
Wait up, lassie.
Did you find Leon?
Fancy meeting you here.
I got to eat some catfish just now. These are great!
As if she'll accept.
I'll take it.
Jesus.
What are you outsider fellas doin'?
Sounds fishy, yeah?
You reek of booze.
I told you to get some rest, boy.
I'm not a "boy!"
Playground bully.
I'm not a playground bully, I'm a Captain!
Hey! Where do you think you're going?!
Leave her.
Hey, get back here! Are you even listening to me?!
Dammit...!
As if these curs can protect Neo Xianglong...
These outsiders...!
Cut it out, you two!
Don't, Queenie-san!
I told you to leave her alone, didn't I?
Sorry for the trouble.
You aren't half bad, you know.
My master was even stronger.
Still...
You don't take down a B.R.A.I. with bare hands.
What're you after? It isn't money, so what else?
What I want
is to kill a man I once knew.
Sends a chill down my spine.
You're still after her?
This is where I show my skills.
I'll win her over, just you wait!
That's enough.
Again!
Queenie...
Magnificent... Wonderful.
It's about time we put an end to this,
Queenie.
Something's coming at us head-on!
This is Bravo 5. A flying object is approaching us from west-northwest at an insane velocity.
I-It disappeared!
Lost eyes on target!
No way...!
Air defense systems are still under construction. We'll be helpless if we let it inside.
He's here.
Launch gate, standby. Launch gate, standby.
Is that... a falcon?
The 3rd OX Plaza has been destroyed!
OX Plaza?
Quantum reaction detected. It's coming from the B.R.A.I.
It really was a Dark Drive.
What's the situation?!
To counter attacks from above...
Incoming!
You're mine!
Shit! It's doing some crazy stunts mid-flight!
You don't pay nearly enough for this!
So you'll do it for twice as much, I take it?
More like five times!
Whatever, just hurry and roast that birdie!
It won't be that easy. Among birds, a falcon's swoop is already unmatched.
Being turned into a B.R.A.I. further improved its mobility.
I'll sortie!
There's no point. Your MOEV is no match for that speed.
You blasted chicken!
It's as if it's just playing around.
The New Jiangkou Tower has been destroyed.
These are all facilities of low importance. Why...?
It could clearly raze the entire city if it felt like it.
I see.
Every target it attacks is the property of my family.
You're saying the B.R.A.I chooses its targets intelligently?
No way...
It seems like it's been tamed quite well.
That bird...
Rising Phoenix.
We are one in body and soul.
This is the very power I sought for.
Up until now, B.R.A.I were simply lured by the energy of the quantum reactor.
But this one is clearly different.
Someone must be controlling it.
Controlling?!
There were no reports of any creatures like that before.
Just how is this...?!
I would wager it's remotely conducted via other dimensions.
That's how I would've done it.
Something like that exists?
At any rate, looks like they bear a grudge against me.
I sense an annoying pest.
Leon, dodge!
Oh, Christ... Still alive in there, Mr. Scholar?
What about you?
That's my prey. Stay out of this!
The martial artist?
Queenie-san!
Wang! Stop hiding and show yourself!
Queenie-san! Switch your canopy to smoke mode!
Trying to blind it?
A bird of prey's retinas have eight times as many photoreceptors as a human's.
Well done!
I missed?
Then I guess I'll go hack it off!
Queenie-san!
It's been a long time.
Hao Wang! You've shown yourself at last.
I've been longing to meet you, Queenie You.
I'll kill you!
Queenie-san...
I'll do whatever it takes to kill you!
Are you all talk? Get serious if you don't want to die.
Why did you kill our master?! Our comrades?!
That's it. Show me more of that!
Show me your madness.
Show me the beast raging inside you!
Is that...
the man controlling the B.R.A.I.?
Don't you realize we're two sides of the same coin?
This madness is what makes humans strong.
Where did you lose your way?
Weren't we comrades? Training, following our master's teachings together?!
All I seek is strength.
Unfortunately for me, humankind refuses to evolve any further.
That leaves me no other choice!
I threw away my humanity.
Master lacked the resolve to do it.
I feel that I was ultimately betrayed.
Bastard!
Queenie! Do you not desire greater strength?
Weak!
How shockingly weak.
You've become a rather dull woman.
To think you were the only one I left alive...
What'd you say...?
I'm disappointed in you.
Queenie-san!
A single name, deep in my heart
Aside from my bag, it's all I've brought
If I call it out, it'll become a bird
and its name will be carried towards you
When I remember what I wanted to tell you
will disappear if left unsaid, I grow afraid
I'm trying my best, giving it my all,
but why am I always so inept?
Even when it rains, even if I hate it,
you are at the front of my mind
When our hands met,
their connection
became the very center of my world
"Aah, I wonder if this what I was living for,"
That's how much it meant to me
Wherever I go, I can always return
So see you later
The Wings of Grief and Revenge