They're closing in!
It's too late!
Hurry, hurry!
This way, to the mountaintop!
Hey, Levius! Where are you going?!
Mother is still in the hospital!
Stop, don't go! It's already...
No!
Let us go!
Big sis!
Balthus, are you okay?
Let us go!
Help me!
Mother...
It can't be...
Mother...
Mother!
Levius!
Mother?!
Mother!
Levius!
Mother...
Levius...
M-Mother...
Mothe...
EPISODE 2
DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE BOY IS GETTING ON OKAY?
I've not seen him since he was a baby...
I'm 38 now, and I must've been 27 then...
Nine years, is it?
Or is it ten?
Whoa!
B-By any chance... Levius?
So you recognized me, even after ten years!
They said to look for a hairy chap with an eye-patch.
A hairy chap...
Ah, well.
Here.
Now this is a pretty fix we're in...
Does it seem like the boy is getting on okay?
With the way he is, there's nothing to do but to let him be.
A bit hasty, aren't we?
You've got to try harder. Make friends with the boy.
I've never been much for children.
How can I say this... He's cold. He even refused to shake my hand.
It must not work properly yet.
What do you mean?
His right arm. Good grief, haven't you noticed?
It seems he lost it in the war.
It must take some getting used to.
If only he would open up a little somehow.
Right!
What's gotten into you?
Never mind. It's nothing.
Levius, my boy.
Hi!
Hey! The weather's excellent today, how about you hang out with your uncle?
I don't want to.
I just want to be alone.
R-Right, I suppose so. You aren't in the mood for it.
Well, but actually, I wanted to give you back the photograph.
The one the shelter sent. It's yours, right?
War takes the things that matter most, root and branch.
But if there's one good thing to come of it, it's that I've met you.
Life isn't all bad, you know.
Here.
This morning, a notice arrived from the Greenbridge refugee shelter.
She's been transferred here. Your mother, I mean.
Mother?!
W-Well, once you've calmed down--
I want to go! Let's go now!
I understand, but--
Uncle, please! Take me there!
To Mother, to Mother...
There's no help for it, I suppose.
Well, let's go!
Yes!
I don't fancy hospitals all that much. Maybe it's the smell or the mood.
D-Do you want something to drink? I'll buy something nice and hot.
Mother was always so sickly. She was in the hospital for so long...
That's why, when the report came that day that the army would attack...
I had to protect her...
When the rescue workers found us,
covered in blood under the rubble,
it was Mother who was protecting me.
"There's no hope". That's what the doctor was saying, right?
She'll never talk again... Never smile again.
Levius...
It's my fault.
If I hadn't been so reckless,
Mother would be...
You know, Levius...
They say that time is the great leveler.
I think it was a great philosopher or someone who said it.
You'll have some good times, some bad, then after that, there'll be good again.
This cycle goes on, and they all cancel out...
H-Hey! Levius!
Levius! What are you playing at?!
What's wrong?
The girl...
Huh? What'd you say?
The girl was just here.
From back then...
Hey, Levius...
You...
I did some boxing myself in the old days.
The old flesh and blood kind, but I made a bit of a name for myself.
Now, I'm just your lowly longshoreman, but...
Here!
Just as the war was starting, I went and got sick.
Once a boxer loses an eye, it's all over.
Now, hit them just like I told you.
Don't use so much strength.
Right when you strike, just clench your fist.
Got it?
Feet at shoulders' width, knees bent.
Left fist just above your eyes.
Tuck your elbows in,
aim around your opponent's right eye,
and strike!
Like that.
Looking good. Now, give me three quick ones.
You've real potential.
Next, a right cross. It's a knockout move.
A knockout move...
Ah, sorry. Does it hurt...?
Got it? At the same time you punch, like this!
Step forward with your right foot and rotate your hips.
Then, remember to move your center of gravity,
and put your weight into your fist.
Like that!
Like this?
You've still got a way to go.
More! Put your hips into it! Use your wrists!
That's it! That's the ticket, good!
Levius, eat this too.
Erm, but...
No buts. You've got to build up strength.
Jab, jab, cross!
Harder! More, now! More!
Whoa...
So, Bill. You're working as a medical technician for the army, right?
I am. So?
What if I asked you to be a metal boxing engineer?
Well, this is out of the blue. I suppose this is why you asked me over?
Yeah.
I've got a chap I want to debut.
So, could you? Or couldn't you?
You want him to debut that badly?
Well, truth be told, I think it's too dangerous to let him.
But the thing is...
He's got more talent than I've ever had.
He's the real deal.
-Bring out the G3! -Who needs a G5 opener anyway?
Don't keep us waiting!
Listen. Don't be nervous. We're none the worse off even if we lose.
Excessive nervousness accelerates the use of Agartha water,
so be careful.
I will.
Even if it's "just G5", pro boxing isn't child's play.
The moment it goes bad, I'm throwing in the towel.
I understand.
So that's him. Back-to-back wins.
Damn! Wish I could see it live!
The tickets sold out instantly.
He's making a hell of a splash.
Blimey, how dusty it is!
-A factory? -Yeah.
It closed several years back, and they've let it sit since.
We'll have some fixing up to do, but it's a bargain and I've no complaints.
It comes with this, too.
A steam generator.
But I've no need for a gym...
Don't think much of it.
At any rate, to start in G3,
you need to join a gym registered to the Association.
In that case, you're to be the gym owner, then.
Well, not that it suits me.
So then, who am I up against first in G3?
Natalia Garnet.
She's the same age as you,
but her career in metal boxing is a bit longer.
Until you set the new record, she had been the fastest ever promoted.
She must be amazing.
Well, they do say she's a prodigy...
But she's a bit of an odd fish, really.
Levius? Who's that?
He's the newcomer everyone's on about.
"Rising Star in Metal Boxing, G4 Tickets Sell Out In a Flash"?
He's in this one too.
"Fastest G3 Promotion in History"?
He's broken my record! And he's my age!
I'd heard they were making a fuss over him,
but he's just a rookie who's risen on lucky wins, right?
Right. I'll do him a favor and show him that G3's no picnic.
Just wait, Levius!
Take your best shot!
Is that it? Then I'll just have to...!
Right, come on!
Eh?
Huh? Hm?
It can't be...
I lost?
First round, 27 seconds...
But I'm the absolute fastest...
Alright, alright, alright, alright...
Alright! Quiet down!
Hi! I train here now, so thanks in advance.
It's fine. I've quit my gym and got a blanket.
I'll sleep here and make my own meals.
H-Hold on. What are you...?
You there, you don't think you beat me with skill alone, do you?
That was a lucky punch.
Besides, you've got some secret at this gym, right?
I'll definitely find it out. So!
H-Hey, Levius, what is this kid--
By the way, when is morning practice?
Eight? Nine?
F-Five, actually.
So early!
Ah, whatever. I'm wiped, so I'm off to bed now.
Well... Long-distance runs are for no-talent twits...
Ah, damn!
You look at that every morning?
Yeah.
W-Wait...!
What's his game? The blighter!
Damn.
Natalia! Your head gear!
Don't need it! Levius isn't wearing his either.
Blimey... Don't come to me when you get hurt!
Ouch! You...!
Natalia! Sober up!
I am!
I just woke up. My face isn't even washed.
You slept in yourself!
I sleep on the floor. My body's sore!
How do you like me now?!
Yeah.
That combination was incredible.
Wasn't it? Right, I've more when you're ready. Come on.
Hey! Natalia.
Tsk, what?
Just that you were saying,
you haven't got a place to live since quitting your gym.
Well, I grew up in an orphanage anyway, with no parents or family, so...
No help for it, then.
I'll lend you a room.
It'll be better than sleeping here.
Really? Brilliant! What a marvelous hairy pig you are!
Enough with the "pig"!
It's too early for this...
What, another knockout?
This bloke hasn't lost a G3 match!
We've been winning one after the other.
A single digit rank isn't too far now.
What is it?
Letter from the Association.
The next match?
So it seems.
Malcolm Eden?
I'm sure he used to be from a high rank in G2...
This bloke. He's using his matches for practice.
What a naive rookie.
What is it?
Ever since Malcolm was demoted to G3...
Everyone he's fought...
He's killed them all...