-- RECAP --

Tager TG
Wait a minute. You're basing our chances of defeating Izanami off a “gut feeling”?!

Kokonoe KK
His gut feeling is more accurate than you think. With enough power, the Azure Grimiore has the capacity to defeat death itself… Which is what Izanami is.
 

Kokonoe KK
Because of that, we all need to be on the same page when it comes to the BlazBlue and Ragna the Bloodedge.
 

Tager TG
*Sigh* I know better than to question you by now. Please, continue.

Kokonoe KK
Alright. Buckle up, this is gonna be one hell of an explanation. I’m gonna start with the beginning; when Ragna’s criminal record started to become world-shattering.

[START CT VISUAL RECAP HERE]

Kokonoe KK
Ragna started making a name for himself beginning with his assault on the NOL branch in Akitsu. His goal was simple: destroy the cauldron.

Kokonoe KK
He succeeded, and earned the title “Grim Reaper” after mowing down more than 300 soldiers that stood in his way.

Kokonoe KK
Can’t blame people for being afraid of him either; shortly after he took care of Akitsu’s cauldron, the NOL put the largest bounty in history on him.

Kagura KG
The cauldrons are some of the most valuable facilities the Library has. It was bad enough that he destroyed one of ‘em, but he wiped out the entire squadron that was stationed there, too.

Kagura KG
Akitsu's climate management systems were all down thanks to the cauldron not functioning anymore. It was so bad they had to pull me away from my post to help with damage control. What a mess.

Makoto MK
I remember that! It was awful! Man, I REALLY started to regret my clothing choices when I got sent there, haha...

Kagura KG
HQ was up in arms due to Ragna being such a threat. We only ever had one other SS-class criminal prior to him.
 

Makoto MK
Wait, there was another one?
 

Kagura KG
Yeah, but it was a long time ago, and the paperwork on whoever it was went up in smoke. Honestly, I doubt they even existed. Probably some urban legend to scare little kids.

Kokonoe KK
Hm? Nah, it was just me.

Kagura KG
Right, it's Kokono... Wait, WHAT?! You’re pulling my leg right now, right?!

Kokonoe KK
Eh, it was so long ago, even I don’t remember what I did… But what I do know is that the Library doesn’t use physical paperwork anymore thanks to me, heh.

Makoto MK
U-Umm... You say “don’t worry”, but should I be concerned that you’ll kill me in my sleep or something?!

Kokonoe KK
Enough, we’re getting off topic. Besides, we’re all criminals right now, even if the previous head of the NOL happened to be some death god.

Kagura KG
...Point taken.

Kokonoe KK
I’m pretty sure whatever I did was nothing compared to Ragna’s record. Not only was he going around destroying cauldrons, but he also stole the Azure Grimoire.

 

Kagura KG
Both of those were priceless… Which reminds me, when HQ caught wind that the Grim Reaper was headed for Kagutsuchi, top brass was in complete panic.

Tager TG
I’m assuming they were expecting Ragna to go after the other cauldrons?

Kokonoe KK
Exactly. Heh... Bastards were probably losing their goddamn minds!

Hibiki HB
Every commanding officer was assigned to investigate the whereabouts of the Grim Reaper. It didn’t take long for Major Kisaragi to go AWOL after that.

Kagura KG
Ragna is Jin’s older brother, and at the time, Jin had an insatiable bloodlust towards him. My guess is he jumped on the opportunity to see him again, even if it meant defying orders.

Kagura KG
His secretary, Lieutenant Noel Vermillion's statement is as follows:

He was laughing hard… as if he was haunted… And, as he laughed, the major repeated the name of the Grim Reaper like a mantra. “Ragna, Ragna…”

Kagura KG
He abandoned his post, causing a lot of chaos within the NOL. Some soldiers were assigned to track him down…

Hibiki HB
According to reports, both Intelligence and Lieutenant Vermillion were searching for Major Kisaragi.

Makoto MK
Yeah, I was there, along with Cap-- I mean, Hazama.

 

Makoto MK
I kept warning Noellers to be careful around that snake. There was always something about him I just didn’t trust. Ugh, I hate when I’m right...

Kagura KG
It’s almost convenient, actually…  Everyone, for one reason or another, was chasing Ragna. You, Jin, Noel… Not to mention a number of vigilantes in the area that were after the reward money.

Kagura KG
And if I’m remembering correctly, Sector Seven began going after him too, right?

Kokonoe KK
That's right. I sent Tager to Kagutsuchi to try and get the Azure Grimoire from him.

Tager TG
While I had been successful in making contact with Ragna, I… Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I couldn’t defeat him, let alone obtain the Azure Grimoire.

Kokonoe KK
Eventually, Ragna traveled to the Kaka Village. There, he made his way through the sewer systems below Kagutsuchi, and headed for the local NOL branch.

Kokonoe KK
Little did he know, Jin was already there, waiting for him.

Kokonoe KK
Jin’s little episode was in full force, and he started attacking Ragna relentlessly.

Kagura KG
And he got his ass kicked.

Kokonoe KK
No shit. With his mind consumed by the Nox Nyctores: Yukianesa, there's no way he could have beaten Ragna and his BlazBlue.

Kokonoe KK
Poor bastard probably thought he was in control the whole time too...

Hibiki HB
I’ll admit, even I was surprised to hear that THE Jin Kisaragi was so thoroughly defeated.

Kokonoe KK
Oh, it’s not over yet. Ragna’s victory was short lived.

Kokonoe KK
Like clockwork, a new opponent was waiting for Ragna in the branch’s basement.

Tager TG
The Susano’o Unit.

Kokonoe KK
Exactly. Hakumen, of the Six Heroes.

Kagura KG
Man, now THERE’s someone I wouldn’t wanna encounter in a dark alley. Him and the Mad Dog are on my shit list of “nope”.

Hibiki HB
What on earth is-- Nevermind, I don’t want to know what that might be or who might be on it, sir...

Kagura KG
Oh don’t worry, you’re on there too. Right at the top.

Hibiki HB
Please take me off of it.

Kagura KG
You’ll be off that list the day you stop glaring at me like that.

Kokonoe KK
Ahem. Believe it or not, Hakumen was there, and he was very close to killing Ragna. But, little ol’ me just so happened to intervene.

Kokonoe KK
I tried using restraints on Hakumen, but that son of a bitch broke free! Ungrateful bastard, I shoulda just left him there in the Boundary!

 

Kokonoe KK
I dunno if it was dumb luck, or some divine intervention, but Ragna was able to escape Hakumen’s grasp.
 

Hibiki HB
Afterwards, he destroyed the caudron and left the facility, correct?

Kokonoe KK
Wrong. Plot twist: Ragna’s goal wasn’t to destroy the cauldron, but rather, the thing sleeping inside it.

Tager TG
If I remember correctly, this is when the Murakumo Unit appeared.

Kokonoe KK
The 13th Prime Field Device, to be exact. Ranga was hoping to destroy her before the smelting process was complete.

Kokonoe KK
But sadly, he was just a little too late.

 

Kagura KG
When the cauldron in Akitsu was taken out, a certain "something" was quietly whisked away by the NOL. Hibiki, what was the official report?

Hibiki HB
Sir. There was a "doll-like object" transported from there per HQ's orders. Curiously, the documents also described it as “incomplete”.

 

Makoto MK
Guess it didn’t matter that Ragna destroyed that cauldron after all, since it didn’t stop the smelting… So, what happened next? He had to fight that Murakumo thing or whatever, right?

Kokonoe KK
Yeah, and he wasn’t alone, either. Noel Vermillion was already there by the time the Murakumo Unit woke up.

 

Kokonoe KK
You can probably guess what happened from there: Noel was in danger, Ragna and the Murakumo Unit fought to the death, blah blah...

Kokonoe KK
But it wasn’t enough.

Kokonoe KK
Ragna was defeated, and fell into the cauldron with the Murakumo Unit.

Kagura KG
If I remember correctly, Ragna is the Black Beast's vessel, and the 13th Prime Field Device is... The Black Beast’s heart, right? Which means that while Ragna was after the Prime Field Device, it was after Ragna in return.

Kokonoe KK
Huh, you’re actually catching on. Both of them wanted to kill each other, but for different reasons. The Murakumo Unit’s objective was simple: to merge with Ragna and be reborn as the Black Beast.

Kokonoe KK
But Noel was able to dash any hopes that the Murakumo Unit had of accomplishing that goal



Kokonoe KK
At the last possible moment, she grabbed Ragna before the Murakumo Unit could drag him into the cauldron.

Makoto MK
Holy- Talk about a clutch! Who knows what would’ve happened if she didn’t do that!

Kagura KG
“And thus the Murakumo Unit fell into the cauldron, never to be heard from again, and the world was saved.”

Hibiki HB
That would indeed be a “happy ending”, if such a thing exists… But alas, things are never that simple.

 

Kagura KG
Yep, I think everyone knows what happened next.

 

Makoto MK
Hazama showed up out of nowhere and asked Noel to “Observe him”...? I’m still kinda lost on what that means, but afterwards, he started calling himself “Yuuki Terumi” and acting like some kind of cliché anime villain!

Kokonoe KK
That’s not quite right. As it turns out, Hazama and Terumi are two separate people. Hard to believe, I know. Pretty sure a lot of people just thought the guy was a total nutjob.

Kokonoe KK
Terumi was scheming with Hazama, even while he was sealed in the Boundary, waiting for the opportunity to return.
 

Kokonoe KK
I'm certain he brought Noel to the cauldron to make her acknowledge him. But that’s the part that still doesn’t make sense to me… How the hell did she Observe someone stuck in the Boundary?

[END CT VISUAL RECAP HERE]

Kokonoe KK
Grr… Nevermind, let me get back to the point.

Kagura KG
Wait wait wait, now I’m lost… How the hell was the Murakumo Unit’s destruction tied to Terumi’s revival? And you’re saying Terumi and Hazama are two different people?!

Kokonoe KK
*sigh* Right, guess I gotta explain that now. Why is this shit so convoluted…? Alright, pay attention, ‘cause I’m only gonna explain this once.

Kokonoe KK
Terumi's revival was Ragna’s worst nightmare.

 

Kagura KG
Terumi’s the guy that cut off Ragna’s right arm back in the day, right? I was under the impression that him and Hazama were the same person. Y’know, like, a secret identity or a split personality.

Tager TG
So how the hell does that work?

Kokonoe KK
Ugh, as I said, Hazama was plotting with Terumi to bring him back into the physical world. Either Hazama is letting Terumi borrow his body, or Hazama didn’t exist to begin with. Whatever the case, yeah, they’re two different people.

Hibiki HB
We should return to the topic at hand.

Kokonoe KK
Yeah, yeah, don’t get your panties in a bunch.

 

Kokonoe KK
Terumi is more messed up than you think. I’ve got a whole list of bullshit he’s done to torment Ragna. Let’s see…

Kokonoe KK
Burned down the church he was raised in, murdered the sister who took him and his siblings in, took said siblings away to god knows where... Oh, and drove his little brother insane to the point of cutting Ragna’s right arm off. Fun times.

Makoto MK
Murdering people and burning down churches? Holy shit, I was kidding about the whole “anime villain” thing!

Makoto MK
But wait a sec, the guy clearly has two arms though! Did he like...grow it back? Or did he get it replaced like something out of a cheap sci-fi movie?

Hibiki HB
I believe the Azure Grimoire is serving as his right arm. It has no one shape... Didn't you learn this at the academy?

Makoto MK
I dunno! Mai might’ve mentioned it like… once… or something…

Tager TG
We can leave the back and forth for later, you two. Sorry, Kokonoe… Continue.

[START CS VISUAL RECAP HERE]

Kokonoe KK
Now that Terumi was on the loose, you can bet your ass Ragna was after him like a famished man to a three-course meal.

Makoto MK
That's when Noel was captured by Haza... I mean Yuuki Terumi, and Ragna was chasing after both of them, right?

Kokonoe KK
I warned ‘em not to go after Terumi, but hey, what do I know? I’m only a lowly scientific genius after all.

Kagura KG
Was that because you knew Ragna didn't stand a chance? Or because Terumi had the BlazBlue, too?

Kokonoe KK
Yes and no. Hazama isn’t actually human, and technically he isn’t a vessel either. He’s actually a grimoire, the “Blue Grimoire” to be exact. Unlike the Azure Grimoire, which can take any shape, the Blue Grimoire is humanoid, ergo why Hazama looks the way that he does.

Kokonoe KK
Sure, in some respects, both of them count as the BlazBlue, but the Blue Grimoire was designed to be superior to the Azure Grimoire in every way. Ragna didn’t stand a chance.

Tager TG
From my understanding, the Azure Grimoire was created by Terumi first, and then he improved upon its design to make the Blue Grimoire.

Hibiki HB
“Superior in every way”...? Interesting. To think that this grimoire completely outclasses the feared Azure Grimoire like that.

Kokonoe KK
Not only that, but Terumi awakened Noel’s true identity. Unbeknownst to Noel, she isn’t human, but is actually another Murakumo Unit: the 12th Prime Field Device. Apparently, she’s also the strongest, known as the “Sword of the Godslayer: Kusanagi”.

Kokonoe KK
As her name implies, she was strong enough to destroy the Master Unit: Amaterasu… the god of our world. And you can bet your ass Terumi was crazy enough to attempt to kill a god.

Kagura KG
I never believed in gods until I saw that thing… Stuff like that really makes you re-evaluate your perception of the world. But why the hell would someone want to kill a god?

 

Kokonoe KK
Who knows... Even I don't know what he's really after. Terumi sent Kusanagi to the cauldron to destroy the Master Unit. Ragna attempted to stop him, but Terumi swatted him like a fly.

Kokonoe KK
However, just as Terumi was about to land the killing blow, Ragna was saved… by none other than Lambda-11.

 

Tager TG
I didn’t really question it at the time, but you were using her as your puppet, weren't you, Kokonoe?

Tager TG
Why go through all the trouble of reviving a Murakumo Unit when you know what they are and what they’re capable of?
 

Kokonoe KK
After salvaging her from the ruins of Ibukido, I discovered Lambda had part of the 13th Prime Field Device's soul within her. It sounds like something out of a fairy tale, but her soul must’ve been clinging onto Lambda for another chance to see Ragna.

Kokonoe KK
It’s something even I couldn’t explain. Lambda’s memories were wiped clean when I got her, so… was that even her? Or No. 13? Either way, I lost a very good sample.

Kagura KG
Hey, the way I see it, if Noel’s got a soul even though she’s not human, anything’s possible.

Kokonoe KK
Heh, for once, you might be right. In any case, Lambda died in Ragna’s stead, and Ragna did the unthinkable...

 

Kokonoe KK
That son of a bitch’s BlazBlue adopted the Idea Engine I gave to Lambda!

Kagura KG
The Idea Engine… Isn’t that in the same realm as the artificial causality weapons you created?

Kokonoe KK
Oh? So you remembered. Yeah, it’s basically a better version of those. Thanks to that, Lambda could use her full power as a Murakumo Unit.

Kokonoe KK
So, when Ragna's Azure Grimoire fused with the Idea Engine, what do you think happened?

Kagura KG
The Azure Grimoire became even stronger…?

Kokonoe KK
More like it became so powerful that it was able to make Terumi cry like a bitch!

Makoto MK
With that kind of power, it sounds like Ragna can take down just about anyone single handedly. What does he need our help with?

Kokonoe KK
...About that.
 

Kokonoe KK
After defeating Terumi, he used the Idea Engine again to free Noel from Kusanagi’s control, completely destroying his left arm in the process.

Makoto MK
Ugh... First his right arm, and now his left? You’d think he’s the chosen one, being more machine than man.

Kokonoe KK
Eh, I felt bad about him just throwing his limbs away left and right, so when the dust settled, I crafted him a new one from Lambda’s remains.

Kagura KG
Ech… Talk about giving the expression “your hand is your girlfriend” a new meaning...



Makoto MK
Kagura, just… shut up, will ya?

Hibiki HB
If you’re quite finished engaging in repulsive japery, Lord Kagura, I’d like to be through with this explanation before we cease to draw breath.

Kagura KG
Relax! I was only kidding! Yeesh...

Kokonoe KK
Alright, enough! As I was saying, while it’s true he saved Noel and defeated Terumi, he failed to kill him.

Kokonoe KK
Like a cockroach, Terumi returned alongside the previous Imperator.

Kokonoe KK
You might want to sit down for this next one, folks.

Kagura KG
Uh… why’s that?

Kokonoe KK
The Imperator was apparently Ragna and Jin’s little sister, Saya. The same one that Terumi kidnapped when he cut off Ragna’s arm all those years ago.

Tager TG
Wha-?! Are you certain of this, Kokonoe?!
 

Kagura KG
You’re kidding, right?! First Jinny and Ragna turn out to be bros, and now the Imperator -- who, should I remind you, IS APPARENTLY DEATH ITSELF -- is their sibling too?!

Makoto MK
Haha… Guess the “Grim Reaper” title kinda fits now… hahaha...

Kokonoe KK
Whether you believe it or not, it’s the truth. And that’s exactly why Ragna headed to Ikagura next.

[END CS VISUAL RECAP HERE]

 

[START CP VISUAL RECAP HERE]

Kokonoe KK
Now this part SHOULD be fresh in everyone’s minds. This was only a few days ago, after all.

Makoto MK
Yeah... Noel, Tager, and I all headed for Ikaruga on an Ars Magus vessel.

Kokonoe KK
At the same time, I was on my way to Ikaruga myself. Funny how things work out like that. I’d almost call it “fate”, if I didn’t think such a thing was bullshit.

 

Kagura KG
Oh, haha. “Fate”? More like divine intervention. As soon as I was getting everything ready for my rebellion against the NOL, here comes Kokonoe and her band of misfits. Even trashed my room, too...

Kokonoe KK
Maybe we were sent by a higher power to make you suffer for your sins.

Kagura KG
Very funny. Look, I know I left Makoto, Noel and Tager in jail all night, but really, I think I’M the one who got the short end of the stick. Seriously… My poor wallet! You ever hear of conserving electricity, woman?!

Kokonoe KK
I did everything that I deemed necessary in order to best prepare for our fight against the Imperator. I’d appreciate it if you stopped whining like a spoiled brat and let me finish what I was saying. Anyway, Ikaruga was slowly turning into a warzone; it was us against the Imperator...

Makoto MK
The Imperator... I figured she’d be scary, but holy shit...

Tager TG
We were severely outmatched.

Kagura KG
Yeah, yeah. She might’ve won the battle, but we’re not going to lose the war.

Makoto MK
...Yeah.

 

Kagura KG
Let’s back up a bit, before we got our asses kicked. Jinny showed up in Ikaruga too, yeah? I remember sending Hibiki after him.

Hibiki HB
That's correct. I headed towards Akitsu after hearing reports of Major Kisaragi being spotted there.

 

Hibiki HB
Suffice to say, I was rather surprised. Contrary to all that I’d heard about him prior to our encounter, he seemed to be composed and focused. A far cry from the Major Kisaragi that went AWOL in search of Ragna the Bloodedge.

Tager TG
Akitsu is where Ragna the Bloodedge destroyed a cauldron, right? What was Jin Kisaragi doing there?

Hibiki HB
I inquired about his cause, but he simply dodged the question. He refused to come back with me to Yabiko, and was interested in seeking out the city’s dead cauldron. I escorted him there.

Kokonoe KK
Beats me. Perhaps he had some morbid curiosity about the wreckage.

Hibiki HB
While investigating the cauldron, he was attacked by someone. I confess I wasn’t able to ascertain the enemy’s identity, as Jin had requested to go in alone.

Hibiki HB
What is even more odd, however, is moments after being attacked by this mysterious assailant, he suddenly requested to be taken to you, Lord Kagura... Rather vexing considering his earlier apprehensions.

Kokonoe KK
Hmm… Let me ask you something. Was Jin wounded after that battle?

Hibiki HB
He escaped with only minor injuries, but it seemed his opponent was quite formidable.

Kokonoe KK
Right, I think I can guess who it was.

 

Kokonoe KK
Why am I not surprised they’re working together…? That blind bastard was probably in cahoots with Terumi all along...

Kagura KG
“Blind bastard”?

Kokonoe KK
Relius Clover. Knowing him, he probably knew how to get the cauldron back online. Hell, if he did that, he could probably revive a Murakumo Unit if he wanted to...

Tager TG
That madman… His experiments on their own were bad enough. To think he was aiding Terumi with his ‘skills’...

Hibiki HB
As I was escorting Major Kisaragi to Yabiko, I received word that three rebels have been apprehended.

 

Tager TG
Don't tell me that's...

Kagura KG
Yup, you two and Noel.

Makoto MK
Ugh, don’t remind me! You just had us shoved into jail, no questions asked!

Kagura KG
I mean, it’s not the first time I’ve shoved you, Makoto.

Makoto MK
You wanna get knocked the hell out?!

Kagura KG
...A-Anyways, I didn't have a choice. You guys were suspected of being rebels against the state. Besides, I got you out of there pretty quick, didn't I?

Makoto MK
Hah... Coming from the guy with a massive hangover.

Hibiki HB
Lord Kagura...?

Makoto MK
Woah! How’d you change clothes so fast?! ...And how can I do that?

Kagura KG
Oh my god! Seriously, I’d never thought I’d say this, but will you guys get off my dick already?!
 

Kokonoe KK
Hey! Shut the hell up! I’m getting real goddamn tired of your bickering! *sigh* Now, if we’re all done being hormonal teenagers, let’s continue.

 

Kagura KG
Right, right… I explained my plans for the coup against the Imperator.

Tager TG
I’ll admit, even I was surprised when I heard that. Why would the commander of the Praetorian Guard rebel against the very person he was sworn to protect?

Makoto MK
Kagura had been secretly giving me missions at the time, so I had heard a couple things here and there...

 

Tager TG
But why wait so long? Your rebellion has been in effect since the Ikaruga Civil War. Weren't there more... opportune moments?

Kagura KG
You kidding? If we defected right then and there after the war ended, our heads would be on display as an example to everyone in the world! Timing is everything, man!

Kokonoe KK
He's right. We needed an ace up our sleeve to pick a fight with the Imperator. Said ace wasn't quite ready until recently.

Tager TG
Ace... You mean Celica A. Mercury.

Makoto MK
Celica's able to nullify all the seithr nearby her, right? Man, it must be a bitch to fight her if you rely on ars magus...

Kokonoe KK
You’re mostly right, Tager. She was one half of our ace, since she was the key to unlocking Kushinada's Lynchpin.

Kokonoe KK
Honestly, it should’ve been a piece of cake, but I guess no amount of preparation can protect against every possible rogue element.

Kagura KG
Tell me about it. First Azrael breaks out of his prison, and the less said about him the better.

Kagura KG
Then there’s Tsubaki… I don’t know what happened, but her blind loyalty to the Imperator made her our enemy. Was the Mind Eater controlling her, or was she just convincing herself she was doing the right thing…?

Kokonoe KK
We needed to get both of them out of the way, so I came up with a plan to kill two birds with one stone.

Tager TG
The tournament.

Kagura KG
That's right. Using Ragna as bait, we were gonna lure Azrael to the coliseum, and seal him in his dimensional prison.

Kagura KG
On top of that, during the chaos of the tournament and sealing Azrael away, we were gonna put Tsubaki into a sealed barrier and have Makoto, Jinny and Noel try and, uh... “talk” some sense into her.

Hibiki HB
And the timing couldn’t be any more perfect, considering we had just received intel on Ragna's whereabouts around the same time.

Kagura KG
Yeah. It was right around when Noel happened to run into Ragna while looking for Tsubaki.

Makoto MK
Didn't you beat the crap out of Ragna once you found him? That's what I heard…

Kagura KG
Oh yeah, I did. To be fair, it was for his own good. The guy was acting like a wild animal, so I had to put him on a leash.

Kokonoe KK
His instability probably had something to do with the Imperator’s phenomena intervention.
 

Kokonoe KK
I had to throw him into my anti-intervention chamber so he could cool the hell off.

Kagura KG
Regardless, Ragna was the final piece of our puzzle. All we needed now was to wait for Azrael and Tsubaki to fall into our trap.

Tager TG
Tsubaki was there to take Ragna the Bloodedge into her custody, correct? But how did you know Azrael was going to show up?

Kokonoe KK
Someone like Azrael wouldn’t have been able to resist the chance to battle the Grim Reaper himself. He was probably grateful the old farts from Sector Seven let him go.
 

Kagura KG
Yeah. The rest was easy. While Ragna and I were fighting Azrael, Kokonoe and Tager were preparing the trap.
 

Kokonoe KK
Once we were in position, Kagura held him in place so we could seal him in a dimensional prison.

Makoto MK
Um... Dimensional prison? What kind of place is that, anyway?

Kokonoe KK
Don’t know, don’t care. All that matters is that he’s out of our way.
 

Kagura KG
With Azrael sealed away, phase one was complete. All we needed to do now was shut down the tournament and hand over the Grim Reaper. That's how we led Tsubaki into our barrier.

 

Makoto MK
Noel, Major Kisaragi, and I fought Tsubaki with everything we had.

Makoto MK
I won’t lie, I got really scared at the end that Tsubaki had killed Major Kisaragi. I mean, her sword impaled him and everything!

Kokonoe KK
Tsubaki's Izayoi is also known as the Immortal Breaker. It can trick the victim’s brain into believing it’s dead, killing them even if they weren’t wounded.

Kokonoe KK
But Jin Kisaragi has the Power of Order. To save you a long-winded explanation, let’s just say his cognition was too strong to be affected by that.

Kagura KG
Which is why it didn’t matter if Tsubaki's sword pierced Jin or not.

Makoto MK
Wait, then it must’ve been the other way around! Tsubaki thought she killed him, which was a strong enough shock to break her free of the Imperator’s control!

 

Kokonoe KK
With her “Sword of Justice” on our side, it became a waiting game. Find a crack in the Imperator's defenses, and strike.

Tager TG
That’s when Kagura suddenly started going on about his revolution.

Hibiki HB
Don’t misunderstand; I had spent months planning everything, so Lord Kagura could “suddenly” initiate a coup d'état. I do hope at least some of you realize this.

Kagura KG
Hey, it was a once in a lifetime chance, right? You only live once.

Kokonoe KK
He’s got a point. Everything was going according to plan. Azrael was eliminated, Tsubaki Yayoi was brought to our side, Celica's ability rendered Terumi's teleportation useless, and the Imperator wasn't intervening.

Kokonoe KK
And the only reason she wouldn't intervene is because the ceremony to summon the Master Unit was underway. It was our only chance to initiate this beast of a plan.

 

Kagura KG
Unfortunately, time wasn't on our side.

Kagura KG
The plan was to seal the current Imperator away, so that we could seat the rightful heir to the throne in power. That heir is His Highness Homura, son of the late Imperator Tenjo Amanohokosaka, who had been killed in the Ikaruga Civil War.

Kagura KG
After that… Man, everything just happened so fast. First, Ragna's team took Celica to Kushinada's Lynchpin so she could activate it, and while that was happening, Kokonoe and I made preparations to trap the Imperator.

Kagura KG
Thankfully Tenjo’s apprentice, Bang Shishigami, was there. He allowed us to use his Nox Nyctores, Phoenix: Rettenjo, which also had the ability to activate the Lynchpin. We didn’t even need Celica at all after that.

Kagura KG
We would activate the Lynchpin before the Imperator summoned the Master Unit, and ambush her... Or, at least that was the plan.

Tager TG
Litchi Faye-Ling, along with Relius and Carl Clover, stood in our way. Even that Murakumo Unit who we thought had died back in Kagutsuchi... Our enemies had planted them there, expecting our attack.

Makoto MK
Yeah. We probably would’ve been screwed if Tsubaki and I hadn’t shown up to hold them off.

Kokonoe KK
Our enemies wanted to kill time... That much was obvious. All they had to do was summon the Master Unit.

Kagura KG
The worst part of it all? We were winning… That is, until she arrived...

Hibiki HB
The Imperator. I had never seen her in person until that point. I don’t know what it was, but something about her chilled me to my very core...

Kokonoe KK
And she used MAGIC of all things! There’s no counter for that! Only my moth- I mean, Nine of the Six Heroes could use magic.

Kagura KG
It sounds pathetic, but Hibiki and I couldn't do a thing against her magic. I don’t usually let my guard down, but we underestimated her.

Kokonoe KK
And while our group was pinned down, the ceremony to summon the Master Unit was underway. I’ll never forget that revelation she dropped on all of us that day either...

Kokonoe KK
The sacrifice to summon a god... was human souls.

 

Kokonoe KK
A lot of innocent lives were lost because of that ceremony... Their souls drawn towards the Azure.

 

Kagura KG
The Imperator called it a "return", but... It was far from it. It was mass genocide… Granting the world “death” as she promised.

Kokonoe KK
She really does plan to end the world. If it wasn’t for all our preparations, I think she would’ve done so by now...

Kokonoe KK
I couldn’t believe my eyes when she summoned the Master Unit down from the sky. The supposed “god” of this world... Pah, what a time to be a non-believer.

Hibiki HB
Yes. We saw that happen from the surface, as well. A massive cauldron was opened in the sky, and golden rays of light began spilling out of it.

Kagura KG
The very god that was supposed to Observe this world began descending upon it...

Kokonoe KK
And just when I thought things were going to utter shit, she brought THAT thing down from space.

Kagura KG
The monster that razed Ibukido in the blink of an eye... Nox Nyctores, Gigant: Take-Mikazuchi.

Tager TG
I've heard of it before. Take-Mikazuchi outclasses every other Nox Nyctores.

 

Kagura KG
I know it didn’t end up happening… but, man, would we have just… died instantly if Take-Mikazuchi destroyed…?

Kagura KG
We had a chance to bring everyone that the Imperator sacrificed back to life, but only if the Master Unit was still intact.
 

Kokonoe KK
Rachel deployed the Tsukuyomi Unit to absorb the initial attack, but that wasn't going to last us forever.

Kokonoe KK
That's why I decided to use all the shit I was planning to throw at the Imperator at Take-Mikazuchi instead.

Kokonoe KK
My plan was to render seithr useless. Take-Mikazuchi is a body of seithr and requires it to function. If we could suck out all the seithr in the area, it wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing.

Kokonoe KK
Relius’s cauldron was spewing seither out left and right, so I figured if we could stick the Lynchpin in it, it would act like one big plug.
 

Kokonoe KK
All the while, Ragna was keeping Take-Mikazuchi at bay.

Kokonoe KK
If the Lynchpin didn’t activate in time, I considered shoving Celica directly into Take-Mikazuchi. And if THAT failed, I was going to blast it with every single reactive warhead I had.
 

Kokonoe KK
Thankfully, it didn't come to that.

 

Kokonoe KK
Jin and Hakumen destroyed the foundation to the Tower of Ibukido... And with the Lynchpin in the tower, I was going to drop the whole damn thing on the cauldron.

 

Makoto MK
Although I almost broke down when I couldn't use ars magus, heh heh...

Kagura KG
If you were freaking out, Makoto, just imagine how our enemies must’ve felt. Without seithr, Take-Mikazuchi was easily taken down by Ragna. After all, he has the Azure Grimoire.

Kokonoe KK
Incidentally, I equipped Ragna's Idea Engine with a noise canceller, which is designed to allow only him to use seithr. This was my Hail Mary...

Makoto MK
But, if you destroyed Take-Mikazuchi, then that means the Master Unit was no longer in danger, right...?

Kokonoe KK
I hope so. True, we hindered the Imperator's plan, but this is far from the end. We haven’t defeated her after all...
 

Kokonoe KK
Almost as if to taunt us, mere moments afterwards, she awakened the Black Beast sleeping within Ragna. Ragna went berserk and gravely wounded Noel and Jin. Jin was so badly messed up he’s confined to a bed...

Kokonoe KK
Not only that, she transformed Take-Mikazuchi into a giant sphere, and just vanished into thin air.

Kokonoe KK
I’ll be blunt, we’re still in deep shit... That sphere in the air continues to transform humans into seithr, absorbing them...

Tager TG
...The situation is a lot worse than we thought, then.

[END CP VISUAL RECAP HERE]

Makoto MK
Hey, you said that Ragna was the vessel of the Black Beast, right? But from what you described, it almost sounds like he transformed into one...

Kokonoe KK
While he lacks a Black Beast’s heart, he’s still an incredible threat.

Makoto MK
The Black Beast almost brought the world to an end, and now you’re saying that Ragna is basically the same thing as it? Can we really trust that guy to save our asses?

Kokonoe KK
Whether he stays as Ragna the Bloodedge, or becomes the Black Beast, I honestly don’t know. What I do know is, he’s the only chance we got. It’s either him, or oblivion.

Hibiki HB
“Either him or oblivion”, is it? Relying on someone else for survival is… not a pleasant feeling.

Kokonoe KK
I mentioned it earlier, but he's the only one who can defeat Izanami because he has the BlazBlue. Finding him is our top priority.

Kagura KG
That's not all. We also need to help evacuate the victims and deal with that black sphere. Not to mention track down Izanami and Relius. Heh, it's gonna be a long day, I can tell you...

Kokonoe KK
I'm afraid so. Well, that should be everything that’s happened up to this point. If there aren't any more questions, I'm going to discuss our plan moving forward.
 

Makoto MK
Yup, I got the jist of it.

Tager TG
Same here.

Hibiki HB
I think it’s safe to say that we all understand the severity of our situation, yes.

​

​

​

Kokonoe KK
First, that black sphere floating in the air... The thing Rachel calls the Embryo.

Kokonoe KK
I hate not knowing what it is, but we did discover something after extensive research.

Kokonoe KK
Based on the readings, it looks like there's a massive phenomena intervention occurring inside of it. And I don't mean a single intervention... I mean perpetually.

Tager TG
How is that possible? I thought you said that thing had no mass. Is there someone or something else in there?
 

Kokonoe KK
I never said that it lacked any sort of mass... I said that its mass was infinitely close to zero. Ugh, never mind, that's not the point. Stop interrupting me.

Kokonoe KK
From what I gathered, time is looping over and over again inside that Embryo. As to why? Hell if I know.
 

Kokonoe KK
Not even Takamagahara can alter objects outside of our current plane of existence, such as the Master Unit. The Imperator is no exception to this rule either.

Makoto MK
Umm... So what does that mean? That the Embryo is stuck in it’s own time loop or something?

Kokonoe KK
Something like that. Either that, or it’s a living creature that’s observing itself.

Kagura KG
Wha...?!

Tager TG
You mean to tell me that that thing is ALIVE?!

Kokonoe KK
I’m not positive, but considering it used to be Take-Mikazuchi, I’d say that’s an educated guess.

Kokonoe KK
Don't forget, Nox Nyctores are weapons with wills of their own. So it’s certainly possible that the Embryo has a will as well.

Kagura KG
So that thing can actually intervene on the Master Unit…?!
 

Kokonoe KK
Weren’t you listening to me at all?! Like I said before, no one, I repeat, NO ONE, can intervene on the events of the Master Unit. Besides, the Master Unit is currently under the protection of the Tsukuyomi Unit.

Kokonoe KK
Tsukuyomi is a sort of ultimate shield, so strong that even the Master Unit's own intervention probably couldn't penetrate it.

Hibiki HB
Nevertheless, if the Embryo is indeed alive, then we shouldn’t rest until it’s destroyed.

Kokonoe KK
Exactly. We need to take every possibility into consideration.

Kagura KG
Yeah. Hibiki, send a few of our people to monitor the sphere. But, and I can’t stress this enough, tell them to keep their distance! If any of them start to feel… well, weird, then have them retreat immediately. I can’t risk losing any more soldiers.

Hibiki HB
Understood, Lord Kagura.

Kokonoe KK
Sector Seven can lend a hand too, since they’ve been keeping a close eye on the fluctuations in seithr. But given that we're in the middle of a massive power shortage, I don't know how long they’d be able to keep it up.

Kagura KG
We’ll take all the help we can get. We’re all pretty screwed right now without the use of seithr...

Kokonoe KK
Don't thank me, I did jack shit. You can thank your new Imperator for that.

Makoto MK
Oh yeah, where's Homura right now? I haven't seen him in a while...

Hibiki HB
His Highness Homura is currently situated in the 4th Hierarchical City of Naobi. The Yayoi residence had taken him in during the chaos of Take-Mikazuchi’s assault.

Kagura KG
Thanks to His Highness Homura, the Hierarchical Cities are somewhat able to maintain their daily operations without anyone noticing. This gives us a window to take care of our own business.

Tager TG
We're still short-handed to say the least, and we still need to locate Ragna the Bloodedge. Do we have any leads?
 

Kokonoe KK
Wish I could say yes. I thought I had a reading on the Azure Grimoire for a second, but it disappeared immediately. Other than that? Nada.

Kokonoe KK
Considering the Embryo is inhaling all the seithr in the vicinity, that leaves us with a couple possibilities. He could be too weak to move, or, worst case scenario, has been dead for a while now.

Kagura KG
Whoa whoa, c'mon now... He’s our only chance at defeating Izanami! What the hell are we gonna do if he’s already pushing daisies?!

Kokonoe KK
Calm down, I didn’t say he was. I'll find him, even if he's lost in the Boundary. If I could salvage Hakumen, I can salvage Ragna too.

Kagura KG
Goddammit… There’s no sign of Izanami, Relius, or Terumi. What the hell are they plotting now…?