What's the weakness of his weapon?
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
He stopped.
Well, of course. Obviously he can use both arms.
This won't be easy.
He shoots 9 times from each arm.
I can't get close.
Let it bloom or let it wither
The setting sun ignites the horizon
And the gears turn
When the horn blows, the flames dance
The story waits for no-one
Off they go, the gears are churning
A red past chases after you
The jester's smile
What's behind the mask?
You can't erase the scars
No matter how they burn
Let it bloom or let it wither
The setting sun ignites the horizon
Alone in the depths of the night
Let out a cry that can cut through fate
That's the cue to begin
The curtain is rising, it's time to dance
Everybody sheds tears at the end
So hold them in now and keep going
Until the day the curtain falls
The gears will keep turning
#23 The demon's return
Your rotation axis is losing balance already.
Your molybdenum steel alloy is like paper compared to my cross carbon.
I'm not done yet!
See? Undone in a second.
Damn it.
Too slow.
It was much too easy to beat you. I couldn't even answer your question.
But since we're here, I'll tell you.
Why I've sided with Lord Faceless.
It's simple.
Earth is the most magnificent planet in this universe.
And I couldn't bear the irrationality of how humans live on it.
This is a beautiful planet.
But on it lives a certain species.
One that contributes nothing and devours everything.
Humans.
I realize now.
The earth can remain beautiful only if humans disappear from it.
You see? Humans must first be immobilized.
Once that happens, they will finally be of some use.
As food for the automata who will clean the earth up.
But the automata say that shirogane blood is nasty.
So you're good for nothing at all.
My, my.
You fool.
What's wrong, puppeteer?
Les Mains Vertes FoncÃ©es shoots blasts of pressurized air.
No ammo to run out of.
Thanks for telling me.
But I'm a professional assassin.
This is my job, I can't run away from it.
My only chance is when he changes arms.
But his moves aren't impossibly fast.
The automata's golden rule? What's that?
Ashihana, you said you couldn't win against the automata.
But the golden rule is your answer.
The key to winning.
I don't get it.
Originally,
automata were made as clowns to bring fear and suffering upon humans.
That means humans are their audience.
The audience must be able to see them.
You mean, they can't move at a speed we can't see.
Exactly, not as long as humans are the audience.
But if people hold weapons or ride tanks, they cease to be an audience.
I see.
That's why shiroganes fight with marionettes.
Because marionettes aren't weapons.
Right. That means as long as you fight using marionettes,
the automata can only move at a human-like speed.
That's why you can win against the automata.
I sure don't feel like I can.
But I'll give it a try!
Your marionette moves likes it's dancing.
Not bad.
6, 7, 8, 9.
Now!
Not so fast, puppeteer.
This is where I wanted you!
Up in mid-air!
You think so?
He moved?
You did well human, but not well enough.
Damn it!
Pathetic. Here, have it back.
There you go.
According to Tom, Harry is pretty big.
How do you plan to carry it?
Fou's given orders.
Ashihana and George will transport it.
Blood! Fresh blood for everyone!
How could you!
I can't hear you, you bug.
Let's stomp them all.
-Stop! -As if I would...
It's just a human!
A human? Wrong.
He's no human...
No human could be as strong as that.
What the heck are you?
I'm a demon.
Are you all okay? I'm glad you're still alive.
I'm Narumi.
Yes, I know.
Excuse us, but we don't have any time, Miss Helen.
Do you know where Harry is?
We can't let the automata get their hands on it.
Down that hall.
Narumi, I'll stay here.
I'll keep the automata away. You get Harry.
They're still not giving up?
They should just hand Harry over, don't you think?
Right, Blom Blom Low?
Take it easy, Drill September.
Gotta hand it to them.
They're only humans, but they've used their brains.
They're pretty smart.
Modifying the machine to emit waves that nullify the ZONAPHA bug.
Since we live on fluids made with the ZONAPHA bug,
we can't get close to it.
A true master researcher of ZONAPHA.
Doctor, the magnetic field is growing smaller.
I know.
But Lord Faceless is going to be mad at us.
We need to hurry and take it home.
That's why I'm sitting here waiting.
The limit situation Jaspers wrote about in this book is closing in on them.
It's a situation they can't do anything about.
Nobody's coming to help. It's the end for them.
The battery is going to die.
Don't give up.
Remember when this institute was on the verge of destruction?
The man who fought by himself to save the children.
We must be like him.
What is your name, puppeteer?
It's Ashihana. Why do you ask?
You were quite skilled as a puppeteer.
I thought I'd ask you your name before I killed you.
Well, thanks.
Guess it's over for me.
With this huge sword stuck in me...
Wait a second, that's it.
But old man, I'm just a regular person.
How could I ever beat the automata?
Regular, you are not.
You drank George's blood at the battle in the Sahara.
There is Aqua Vitae flowing in shirogane blood.
Even a few drops can spread throughout the body.
It doesn't make you a shirogane, but it'll make you tougher.
What's more..
For automata, Aqua Vitae is...
That's it.
So long as my name's Eiryo Ashihana, I've got to give this a shot.
It's not my usual style, but...
You fool, you'll die anyway.
Why go through all that pain?
Well...
I don't like being pinned like a bug specimen.
Goes against my style.
Besides, I've already been paid.
20 billion yen in advance.
About three more steps, I think.
What's that?
Anyway, farewell Ashihana.
Why do you laugh?
You're so square.
Way too square.
I'd rather be killed by someone a bit more clever.
What did you say?
By the way...
you've never been liked by a woman, have you?
What do you mean by that?
Easy.
To have a woman want to see you again.
I'm an automaton. Such matters mean nothing to me.
I can tell.
I bet you've never even made a woman smile.
Being able to make a woman smile is the first step to making them like you.
Come with me.
Help me find a way for me to smile.
For this, I have given you a will of your own.
What? Aren't you going to kill me?
There is a lady that I must make smile.
But how do I do it?
Human smiles can be explained by the superiority theory, incongruity theory
and relief theory.
No no, Mr. Pantalone.
If you want to make a woman smile,
forget those theories.
Tell me! How can I make her smile?
I'll tell you.
But I'm almost at the end of my life.
I can't speak up anymore...
Will you come closer?
Say it.
A little closer.
Just a bit more now.
Good.
Here goes.
This is how you make women smile.
What's this?
Don't you get it?
A hug is worth a million words.
You gotta show it with your body or women won't smile for you.
Aqua Vitae is poisonous for automata.
Sorry there.
But it's all your fault.
For telling me to move out of your way.
Impossible... I can't move my body!
Oh, it's the blood!
There's Aqua Vitae in that human's blood.
But he hasn't seen the last of me yet!
Really? Still going at it?
I'm all out of ideas now.
Too bad. Guess this is it for me.
Die, Ashihana!
I will never forgive you if you hurt another human.
What was that?
He missed on purpose?
Your pride and your body are in tatters.
Give up already. I'll take your pain away.
Give up?
I thought machine humans never cracked jokes.
Smoking?
You're a shirogane-O. That's much too irrational.
I got bored.
Of living rationally and of being bored of my own life.
What are you saying?
You remind me of myself in the past.
I used to believe I was chosen by God.
So what?
But you're not me entirely.
I was asked to play the piano.
I don't understand you.
I was applauded as they asked me.
To play the piano again.
Have you gone mad? Well then.
I'll kill you and the rest of the humans inside.
They asked me.
Me, they asked me!
What? My Wunderkugel is being overpowered.
Impossible. You can't have that much power left.
You've never been asked that.
Why is he picking up speed?
He's going to surpass my speed!
But they asked me! Those children asked me!
Will you play the piano again?
You can't hear it.
It doesn't exist in the earth you wish for.
The most beautiful music ever.
I'm not so fond of these after all.
You shouldn't smoke if you don't really want to.
Oh? What's wrong with me?
I'm suddenly feeling so sleepy.
No, I don't want to yet...
I want to stay awake...
Now, what next?
What shall I play for them?
For those children...
I've never seen you look so regretful.
Never in all this time.
Dr. Banhart!
Who are you?
Puppet...
We win.
You'll never get Harry.
Just two plain humans against us? Don't make me laugh.
You'll see if I'm a plain human or not.
Hurry up or the others will drink up all the blood!
The party is over.
And you weren't invited.
Avoiding the crowds, I walk in the dark
And wait with bated breath in the wings
My expression is calm while I scream inside
On the verge of being torn apart
I dance and beckon you to join me
As a shadow swings across the stage
I tell myself this is the last time
But I can't seem to cut myself free
Too scared to stop for a moment
My impatience hides the cries of somebody left behind
Nobody notices the shadow standing in the sudden rain
Somewhere far away, a memory of you is saying goodbye
I stand here watching, no longer able to reach you