Levius, settle down! Tighten up those strikes!
Think you could hit me with that?!
Southpaw?
What's he switching for?
Levius!
Step back!
It's no use. Try to watch quietly.
You're far too calm about this!
You're wide open!
One! Two!
He was telegraphing on purpose...
Was he waiting for an opening?
That's one way to do it, right?
But the broken gear is a problem.
Eight! Nine! Ten!
Your winner! Levius Cromwell!
EPISODE 1 ALL OF THE IMPACT ENDS UP HERE
One-two-one-six.
One-one-five-three-seven.
One-two-one-six.
Last one!
Hey, Levius... There's something we gotta talk about.
What is it, Uncle?
Sorry, maintenance time.
Let's talk later.
I'll start the steam.
Okay.
Try moving your fingers.
Faster.
Okay.
Again. The valves around your elbow are damaged.
Fighting with just one arm really is putting too much strain on it.
This should make it a little better.
Just clench your fist.
Yeah, that feels much better.
You should get that one replaced as well.
No one fights with just one prosthetic arm these days.
Well, you can do whatever you like.
But if you lose, my stock goes down.
Yeah, I got it.
Thanks, Bill.
Still as strange as ever...
Morning, Gran.
Welcome back, Levius.
It's cloudy again today.
Oh yeah?
That's right. It was cloudy the past two days, too.
Even though they say the war ended...
When you go outside, that awful smell of the steam hangs in the air,
and it feels like the sun will never come out again...
It's not like that.
It'll be sunny tomorrow, for sure.
Well, I certainly hope so.
It'll be okay, Gran.
Well, I'm going to go see Mother.
Well, take care.
I mean, it's like Mum's losing her mind.
Must be her age, or something.
She's always complaining, or rambling on about something.
Just before, she was blabbering on about regrets or something.
Something in the past.
Levius.
Hey, Levius.
You're not listening.
Sorry.
I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit often.
Mr. Cromwell...
Mr. Cromwell!
We're very sorry, but the price of the medication has gone up again...
Oh, I see.
Hey, Levius. About your last fight...
You retried your spin hook, right?
I told you not to use that, didn't I?
You can win if you just fight normally.
Levius!
That blow leaves the side of your head totally open.
Try getting hit there. It'll end your career, if not your life!
Until we perfect it, the risk is just too great.
You understand that much, don't you?
When you straighten your arm then bend it with all your power,
all of the impact ends up here, straining your elbow!
Right?
It's true about the strain on the steam tubes and artificial muscles.
That's the reason it's always the same valves breaking.
If we could switch to Edmond's parts it'd be different,
but this gym's too broke.
You're going too far!
But it is the truth.
Anyway, I forbid you from using it in a fight!
Got it?!
That's no good, Uncle.
If I can't use it in a real fight...
Don't use real fights to practice!
I shouldn't have to tell you how dangerous that could be!
I can only learn it by actually doing it.
Yeah? Well...
Why not just let him do what he wants?
Levius is still just a rookie.
Wouldn't it do him good to have at least one finishing blow?
Don't you get involved, Natalia!
You'll just make all of this worse!
Huh? Shut up, you hairy pig!
Just when the prodigy Ms. Natalia offers to grace you with her advice.
A prodigy at what?
At metal boxing, of course, you quibbling four-eyes!
Levius has just been lucky, that's all.
And they call him G3's rising star.
Whatever. That won't last forever,
so why not stand out while he can?
With his "killer move".
Enough! Like it wasn't enough that you barged in here!
I'll throw you out!
You wanna try? You think a washed-up ex-boxer like you can do it?
W-Why you...!
Natalia's right, y'know.
That is what I need.
That's right! Glad to hear it!
Just listen to your senior, and you could be fighting slightly better.
Of course, you'd still be no match for me.
For cryin'...
So, what are you going to do?
No matter what I do,
it won't make any difference.
Make the armor coverin' the sides of his head stronger.
I hear what you're saying,
but Levius hates heavy armor around his shoulders.
The parts won't be cheap, either.
Regulation checks will now begin.
Everyone but the contestants, please leave the area.
Inspect composition of main engine chamber and steam tubes.
This has been bugging me for a while, but what's with his armor?
It's so thick! Isn't that army-grade stuff?
Then Levius wins by disqualification. We're lucky.
Is that true?
The armor and engines are limited by the Association's rules.
They even check individual valves' serial numbers,
and the total steam capacity is measured rigorously.
Huh...
"Huh"? Aren't you a fighter too?
I mean, I've never fought while thinking about that.
It would just make my head hurt.
There's more to metal boxing than just brawling.
Wouldn't hurt you to learn.
Yeah, yeah. Some other time.
Fill with inspection steam.
Floyd Anderson, hyper steam capacity 7998.25cc.
Within competition limits.
Levius Cromwell, hyper steam capacity 7999.15cc.
Within competition limits.
Anyway, those valves you got were okay?
They were used, right?
Zack, how many years have you known me?
Huh?
Oh, I trust you.
You're the only A-class engineer in G3.
I did everything I could as an engineer.
The rest depends on the strength of Levius' will.
Under Article 17 of the competition regulations,
the Agartha water used in the fight is supplied by Hoyle & Renfield Company.
You look cocky, but metal boxing's no sport for softies.
Don't come to me if you end up dead.
Yeah, I got it.
Huh?!
I wonder who'll win?
Gotta be Levius.
You don't know that. His last fight was a close one.
Today's odds?
Anderson's is 1.66, Levius' is 2.20.
So they're favoring Anderson...
Hey, don't push!
When's it gonna start?
Hurry up!
Okay, he's a southpaw infighter.
Keep your distance, don't let him close in on you.
Yeah.
Circle left, split your jabs up and down.
Throw a right cross over the block.
Hit him hard. Show him your power.
Scare him and when he brings his guard up,
feint an uppercut and slam it right into his body!
And Levius...
Do not try that move.
I know.
Pay attention to how much Agartha water you have.
If you run out, you won't be able to move a finger.
And if you get hurt, you can always come crying to me.
You couldn't even get certified to be a cornerman.
A cornerman? I never intended to be one anyway.
You're just afraid you can't remember the competition rules, right?
As if. I mean, someone as dumb as you could get certified, right?
What'd you say?!
Got a problem?!
Research shows disputes within a team reduce the chances of winning by 23%.
Well, it's time for me to go.
Levius...
Watch yourself out there.
And now, the main event for the evening!
On the east side!
Grade 3, ranked 18th.
Floyd Anderson!
Anderson!
About time!
You better not lose!
Go kill him!
I bet everything I have on you!
Oh, shut up!
And on the west side!
Grade 3, ranked 21st.
Levius Cromwell!
Levius!
-Go get ‘em! -Knock that old geezer out!
You can do it!
Hey.
I'm gonna make you regret that snobby attitude of yours.
Levius, keep your distance! Distance!
What are you doing? Did you forget?
Circle left! Left!
He's...!
Whoa!
Why is he...!
Seems he never intended to listen to you from the start.
Levius! I told you not to try that move, didn't I?
Didn't I?
If you mess up, that left cross'll send you to the afterlife!
Am I clear?!
I repaired your shoulder armor, but it's temporary.
That'll do!
You got it? Just stick to the plan!
Sorry, Uncle.
H-Huh?! Levius?
Levius!
I guess it's too late to try and make him stop.
What's this all of a sudden, Mum?
That boy, he's looking for something...
Something in the fight itself.
That boy's past...
The memories of Greenbridge make him do it.
What are you going to do?
You little...!
This again?!
Your winner! Levius Cromwell!
What's this?
You could at least look a little happy about winning.
What is he...
Seems like he's not satisfied yet.
That boy, he's looking for something...
Levius Cromwell.