Toggle Background Color
This chapter cleared the 50k character limit per post, so it's split into two parts. This is part two.
Gamlin, this is amazing.
Oh, Chiba? Thank you for your hard work, Officer Exedor. The entrance is this way.
Oh, this really is a Protoculture ruin.
Mylene, are you alright? Let’s leave.
…
[A heavy door opens]
This is… amazing.
It’s a mural that tells the story of their history. Protoculture letters…
Can you decipher it…?
Ex Chata Teraata Etto Protoculture… “Among many life forms in the galaxy, we are the first race with culture. Therefore, we call ourselves Protoculture…”
Protoculture… Hahaha, amazing! Admiral, hurry it up!
“Our race spreads across the universe. But soon enough, conflict arose and the flames or war spread across the entire galaxy. We created the giant combat weapon, the Zentradi. The fighting continued, involving other races, and the weaponry escalated. We have created a new and even more powerful combat soldier, Evil.”
(Evil here is pronounced eh-vil, not like the moral concept of evil)
How stupid can they be? Are these really our species’ ancestors?
…
Captain, there’s a Defold reaction in the sky!
What!?
Many enemy mechs have left their ship. They’re coming!!
It contains the identification code PD. It’s a Protodeviln!
Oh no…
Hmph, it seems Gigil and Sivil aren’t here. In that case, let’s first destroy those ruins. Shatter that beauty!!
What? Are they going to destroy the ruins? Oh no. Combat units, launch!
Don’t let them get close to those ruins!
Choose 12 units to protect those ruins. Basara is off on his own and both Gamlin and Mylene are in the ruins. Try to avoid fighting Gavil for now, since Protodeviln takes reduced damage from non-singers.
We’ve also got more units!
[ZMT-S34S Rig Contio]
It’s fine I guess. Not as good as the Nus, Nightingale, or V2AB, but if you invest money in it it’ll be usable. With investment, it might be the third best mobile suit for Oldtypes. Speaking of Oldtypes, I personally don’t think Cronicle is usable since he lacks Focus.
[ZMT-S33S Gottrlatan]
The better of the two Zanscare mobile suits you get. It has a freakishly long range and a powerful MAP attack. But it also requires investment to bring it up to par with those better mobile suits listed before. Katejina has the Cyber Newtype skill along with both Soul and Love so she is usable if you want to use her.
Alongside those two, Shin Dragon from all the way back in the Jupiter Route joins us for the rest of the game. You can put Ryoma or Kei’s team in it, and I chose it as Ryoma’s new ride. See that chapter for a rundown on this powerhouse. Sadly, it comes completely un-upgraded and lacks the Shin Getter’s Open Gett. I slapped an S-Adapter on it, but it’ll get lots of love before the next chapter.
Also Milia has now joined THE BOYS for the rest of the game with her VF-17S Nightmare. See Space Route Chapter 6 for her Valkyrie. In short, by this point it’s kinda outdated since the Diamond Force have their own Excaliburs , but she can also use those secret Valkyries gotten all the way back in the Space route.
The strategy is simple: rush and cover the ruins as soon as possible. It’ll take their troops 3 turns to get a unit onto it, so make sure to use Accel on everyone who can. The ruins give decent bonuses to defense and evasion, but don’t restore HP/EN every turn, so watch out. The Varauta grunts still are a pain in the ass to hit. There’s a whole lot of them and they can all support attack and defend each other. Combo and MAP attacks are your friends. Also Battle 7 is lacking Exedor and Chiba as sub-pilots, so I hope you weren’t counting on Guard to tank enemy hits.
The next event happens once five enemies are downed.
Come on, hurry it up. The enemy is targeting those ruins.
The Varauta Army…
“...Eventually, the Protodeviln will lead us down the path of destruction.”
Where did the Protodeviln come from?
Maybe there’s a clue behind this door. …Touch it with a symbol of peace and the door will open. Hmm… Let’s try touching it with things for now.
…Well it won’t open for me. Hmm.
After five more enemy kills…
A symbol of peace… What could it be?
[Rumbling]
Kyaa!
Mylene, are you alright?
[More rumbling]
Oh, the door is opening! What did you do?
Huh? I just touched it a little… What the…
[A flash]
Ohhhh! Deculture!
That shadow is…
It can’t be, it's the Protoculture!?
My role is to convey the spirit of these words, the final days of Protoculture, to future generations. I have been waiting for this moment, ye who govern peace. The symbol of peace is a mix of different races’ blood.
Of different races…?
…It means the Captain and the Mayor.
I see… In other words…
Mylene, you are the symbol of peace!
Ehhhhh!? Me…?
Let me tell you everything. An extra-dimensional energy entity appeared from a distortion in space-time and possessed the Evil soldiers. They became like demons. We called them the Protodeviln.
The next part happens when there’s five enemies left.
Now let’s crush the Protoculture’s ruin! Complete beauty of destruction!
Tch, you monster!
Protodeviln can not survive without Spiritia. However, by indiscriminately stealing Spiritia, creatures that possessed it became extinct. They too have walked the path of self-destruction.
Hmm. So they can’t produce Spiritia themselves.
The Protodeviln’s powers were weakened, and a mysterious power sealed them away into a long sleep.
Sealed away? Mysterious power…?
Anima Spirita.
What the hell is Anima Spiritia…
[Rumbling]
Captain, it’s that Protodeviln again!!
Kuh…
You’re here, Glavil! Lord Geppelnitch, even though it’s a last resort, we’re assuming our true form! Now is the time for decisive beauty! Let’s go, Glavil!
What’s he planning?
This is the ultimate beauty. My original form, GaviGla! Perfect beauty!
Any approaching Protodeviln must be annihilated. Any approaching Anima Spiritia must be welcomed. Wherever the Anima Spiritia is…
Beauty, beauty, beauty! Flashing beauty!!
Uwaaaaaaa!?
Dammit, the ruins…
Officer Exedor!?
Protodeviln!? Captain, Officer Exedor and the doctors managed to escape!
M-monster…
Kukuku. The attack was successful. Beautiful destruction!
Mylene, sing! We can’t rescue them unless we keep them away!
B-but… Basara…
Sing! Mylene of the Sound Force!
Ye…Yes!
Uwaaaaaa!? Shocking beauty!
Mylene…
Okay, hurry up and rescue them!
[Another flash]
What is it this time?
Ugh… This is…
That’s… Basara!? Basara, you’ve returned!!
You’re here, Gigil, Sivil! Rejoice! For I, Gavil, will envelop you in the beauty of annihilation!
Gavil… KOOOOOOOOO!!
Ooouuuuu!!
Dammit, why!!?
What the… Are they fighting each other…?
Basara, what are you doing!?
Saving Sivil! She showed me the galaxy!
Huh?
Gamlin, what is he talking about…
I’ll protect Sivil!!
Gigil, you have yet to fully awaken. Can you even defeat GaviGla!?
Ugh. For Sivil’s sake, I don’t care what happens to me! I AM GIGIL! LISTEN TO MY SONG!
Fire Bomber - Power to the Dream
Eh!? What the heck!?
Impossible… He’s singing Basara’s song!?
Gigil, you bastard!
You started singing my song before me? Very impressive!
Ba… Sa… Ra…
Sivil, are you alright? I’ll take you in now.
Guuhhhhh. Damn you Gigil! Scatter! Scatter into pure beauty!
Gigil!? GIGIL!!
It’s your turn next, bastard!!
Enter GavGla. It’s tough and has major HP regen. It also has a MAP attack. There’s no need to protect the ruins anymore, so clean up the enemies surrounding you while you let GavGla get closer. It will attack, then move, so you can anticipate its MAP attack with defensive spirits and lure it closer.
The fused monster goes down soon enough to the power of song and these giant mechs I found. Basara knows Soul for just this occasion. He does retreat at 20% HP (8000).
Guh. Damn you!
Gavil, the drops of time are running out. Return. Leave the rest to Valgo.
Yes… Lord Geppelnitch…
H-hey, this can’t be right…
Eh…? C-Captain! It’s the Varauta! This planet is completely surrounded by a large Varauta fleet!!
The hell!?
My name is Geppelnitch. My dear samples, live on this promised planet intoxicated with endless dreams. In exchange, we will absorb your Spiritia. This is our ultimate dream, the Spiritia Farm.
Wha… What the heck!?
Escape is impossible. Maybe we have no choice but to live quietly on this planet…
Enough with the jokes!
…All troops, come back. We’ll Fold our way out.
What? It goes without saying that this is too dangerous. The probability of success is extremely low. It’s insanely reckless.
(He’s referring to the fact that Folding in atmosphere at this time is unpredictable, as seen at the start of SDF Macross)
I’m fully aware of the risks. We’re going to Fold. Make the adjustments. Even the slightest deviation could result in death.
Captain, the Fold system has stopped working!!
There’s a distortion in the space-time continuum!
No way… What could it be?
I’ve picked up something that seems to be the source of the problem. It’s incoming!
Ooooo I can feel it. I can feel the breath of the Spiritia self-regenerating race.
A new Protodeviln… I guess it was useless after all.
My samples, you cannot defy my dream.
Looks like we have no choice but to take them down.
Seems so.
We must escape this planet at all costs. Hit the Protodeviln. Sound Force, stop him from moving! All units, support the Sound Force!
One more wave of enemies, this time led by the Protodeviln Valgo. Valgo retreats at 20% HP (7900), but by this point your singers must be getting low on Song EN, so hold off on buffing and focus on taking the Protodeviln down.
Valgo does go down or retreats eventually, but you still need to defeat the rest of the Varauta grunts.
I can’t believe you’ve inflicted this much damage. I can’t play with you any longer! If you want to die so badly, then go ahead and die!
[A Flash of light]
Kuh… This is…
Sivil!?
Valgo!
I see, Sivil, your Spiritia is recovering. You fool, I will erase you right now!
[The planet shakes]
What…?
[Planet Lux, Ocean]
Fire Bomber - My Soul For You
Ooooooohhhhhhhhh!!
Gigil!?
What!? Impossible, Gigil’s main body woke up from its slumber!?
I won’t allow it… I won’t forgive anyone who tries to kill Sivil! UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Uwooooooo! Bastard!!
This is very bad.
Captain, the Fold system has started working again!
Perfect, send all mechs back. We’re Folding immediately.
All units, return! Hurry!
UOOOOOOOOOO!!
AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!
Tch. Lord Geppelnitch, if this continues, even nothingness will disappear. We need to retreat now!
Gigil, stop it! You’re going to die! GIGIL!!
Sivil… My… Everything…
Gi… Gi…L…?
Basara, what are you doing! Fold now! Move within our field!! Hurry!
[More rumbling and flashes of light]
[Battle 7, Bridge]
Fold out complete…
This is…
P-Planet Lux is gone!
…I see.
Looks like we escaped in the nick of time.
[Varauta Fleet, Bridge]
What an unexpected loss. Gigil woke up and took Valgo with him. To think that he would take the whole planet as well.
All that Spiritia invested in Valgo… My dream is in disarray. Gigil… Are you going to paint over my dream just to disappear? It should have ended sooner. But dreams never end. Gigil’s rampage added an unexpected color to the dream. As long as there’s the Anima Spiritia, Spiritia itself is infinite. We must capture those samples at all costs.
Captain, this is bad! The Varauta fleet is…
Their formation is too thick. Apparently they’ve been waiting for us since the very start.
So this is a trap…
But the data on the Protodeviln from the ruins are valuable. If only I had time to analyze it.
They’re here!
My name is Geppelnitch. My samples, become a drop in my dreams.
I won’t let you. Intercept them! Sound Force, launch! Let the units who’ve finished resupplying first go out there!
Time to go. Hurry!
Basara, we’re counting on you again!
Yes, use your song to curb their power.
You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s not why I sing! Didn’t you hear Gigil’s song? Didn’t you feel his heart? My singing resonates with the Protodeviln. You guys just don’t understand their hearts.
Perhaps. But that and us being killed are two completely different things.
Exactly… We need to get them to stop attacking us.
No matter what, I’ll make them understand my song. I’m confident. I could feel their hearts. This is important. Let’s go, Ray, Veffidas, Mylene!
Basara, don’t push yourself. No matter how well they feel your songs, it’s meaningless if you get killed.
Gamlin, back then you called me just Mylene.
Oh, my apologies. Back there, I just…
No, I mean you always put “-san” at the end, so I thought it was weird. It made me really happy.
What the hell are you guys flirting for! The enemy is coming!
Mylene, hurry!
You got Fire Bomber and 12 deployment slots.
Gep-something! Listen to my song!
Thankfully, there are no enemy reinforcements in thai last part, so go all out. The map ends when Geppelnitch falls, and he won’t retreat. Buff up with Basara like normal and go all out.
Geppelnitch is, of course, a Protodeviln, so he takes massive damage from singing. He doesn’t retreat either. A defense down debuff from Mazinger Z is always helpful too.
He will fall to your songs and beams.
Such resistance is unnecessary for the Spiritia Farm. I’ll erase it in the blink of an eye.
Gep-something!
Are you the sample who’s the Anima Spiritia? Have you come to capture me yourself?
Listen to my song! I’ll make your heart pound! FIRE!!
Oooo…Oooooooo!!
He’s…
Basara…?
Wow… I feel a burning to my very core…
Ah… Such a great song.
Ah… So this is Anima Spiritia. Fufufufufu… Spiritia Dreaming!!
Every remaining enemy escapes as Gepplenitch’s ship explodes.
Dammit… What just happened…
The enemy fleet surrounding us is retreating! Yay!
Yay!
Someone, we managed to survive…
[Battle 7, Hangar]
Phew…
Good job out there. Amazing work.
Yeah… That was some great singing
Mylene was amazing as well.
Thank you, Kei.
…Basara. The Protodeviln named Sivil said “You showed me the galaxy”. What does that mean?
Eh? Oh… Ya know. I was attacked by Sivil flying at incredible speed and we ended up at the edge of the galaxy. It was big. Huge even.
I don’t really get it… But did you find what you were looking for?
Yeah… I guess I did.
But… The entire planet was destroyed…
Yeah… What frightening people. It seems that there’s truth to the story that one of them can wipe out an entire Zentradi fleet.
I wish he was joking. How can we beat someone like that?
I guess… With Fire Bomber’s songs…
But how effective will it be? We can’t solely rely on it.
Maybe there’s something we can learn from the data on the Protoculture ruins…
[Battle 7, Operation Room]
Spiritia Farm, huh…
With that and the Varauta Army… Now I understand why the Protodeviln aren’t attacking us seriously even though they have that much power.
But that’s not a good thing. It looks like they’re planning on keeping us as pets.
We’re just livestock to them.
I can’t just accept that.
…Officer Exedor, how is the analysis of the mural in the Protoculture ruins?
Still working on it. If we can understand the mystery of Anima Spiritia, it’s possible we can seal the Protodeviln.
The enemy destroyed those ruins out of fear of just that.
Maybe it can happen. We just need to solve this mystery…
What are we going to do now? Planet Lux is gone. We should return to the Earth Sphere…
No… Thankfully, this time the Protodeviln fought amongst themselves so nothing too bad happened. But they’re gradually increasing in number. If the Earth Sphere is attacked, I don’t know if we can stop them.
So we have no choice but to use ourselves as a decoy to buy ourselves some time.
Unfortunately.
…I’m sure that I saw a soldier from the Special Investigation Team there. Supposedly, the cave where the Protodeviln were sealed was discovered on the fourth planet in the Varauta system… Maybe we should go on the offensive.
Isn’t that too reckless? The only reason why we’ve been able to withstand the enemy’s attacks until now was because they were trying to steal our Spiritia. If the Protodeviln starts to seriously try to kill us, I don’t think we can win…
He’s right… But if we just sit back and do nothing, things will spiral out of control.
…