The Dark Before Dawn

I told you, that's not going to work!

Blaze!

Hmph, don't worry. These attacks hurt about as much as firecrackers!

You blocked my shots in advance.

You know where they're coming from?

Of course I do, I've already figured you out.

Amiya, back off. I'm going to use 'that'!

Got it! I'll disrupt Mephisto's guards again, so make it quick!

Take this bit of my blood as a farewell gift, Reunion's 'Phantom Crossbowmen!'

Seethe, and blast apart their disguise!

...!

You're using your own blood as an incendiary?

Hah, do I look like some sort of caster to you? Only some egotistical newbie would go around committing arson like that.

Sorry, but this is just one of my fighting techniques. Show yourselves - you have nowhere to hide!

...

Faust, my camouflage is gone.

Command, retreat.

What are those...?! When did Reunion hide snipers over there?

Now?

Right now.

Multiple Reunion snipers have appeared, primarily in the 2nd floor of the east building and the 3rd floor of the south building!

Proceed with caution. They might have set up ambushes for us on the lower levels!

Was the strange phenomenon in the building also caused by them?

Clever, you used refraction to make themselves seem invisible.

However, you can't completely conceal your tracks, or make sudden movements without compromising the effect of your Arts.

Am I correct?

...You're quite smart.

It's all because of our great intel. Now that you know the gig's up, you should surrender.

If you want to continue fighting, I'll make you pay for the deaths of Ace and Scout. Hmph, I don't even care if you weren't involved, kid.

Faust, we still have ammunition.

Retreat. We've already lost our intel advantage. I will keep them occupied. The rest of you, move immediately.

Understood.

Why aren't you shooting her? Faust!

Attack, my guards! Hurry! There are four of them, just four... and only three of them pose any threat!

Fight! Tear apart those sinners now!

With Doctor's leadership, the three of us are more than enough to defeat all of you!

Not to mention, those Infected who you harmed, who you robbed of their free will to the point of not even being people anymore...

Even that scaled boy next to you might not side with you anymore. His thoughts are filled with sorrow and turmoil...

Mephisto, you are alone on this battlefield!

...

You can read my mind?

No, I just felt it.

So, you'd have no idea what I'm thinking.

...!

Amiya!

I'm fine, I can barely block his shots...! However, I won't be able to keep suppressing...

GRAAAAAAGHHH!! AAAARRRRGGHH!!

My control is slipping!

Mephisto, let's go.

Their reinforcements are wiping out our forces.

We've never even seen some of them before. There's been a change in the plan. Our moves have been read.

...Why haven't our forces come? We have over twenty squads and two major brigades, so why are none of them here still?

Where is Crownslayer? Or FrostNova?

This isn't like Chernobog. We couldn't shut down the enemy's communications, so they were able to call lots of reinforcements and put up a vigorous resistance.

Mephisto...

Where are they still not here yet?!

We won't know the reason unless we see it for ourselves. Let's get out of here first.

Blaze, I'm about to reach my limit. Can you finish this?

Sure thing. Just me and that Ch'en lady should suffice!

Quick!

Did I give you permission to leave?

You... Guards! Kill her! Kill her!!

Grrr... Grooooar!!!

Tsk... Over a dozen of them started moving at once. That's going to be a pain.

GROOAAAAAR!!!

They're coming at us, Ch'en!

Thank you, Rhodes Island operator. Now, nobody can get in my way.

Huh?

(Haah... it's still no good? I don't have a way to completely counteract their cloaking... Forget it, this should be good enough.)

(Chi Xiao, this time...)

'Crimson overflowing—'

...Gah!

...Can it be...?

Uaaagh... Argh...

Thank... you...

...

Did you unsheath your sword just then? Just one slash? And you managed to cut down a dozen of those things?

That sword...

Amiya, I think I should start choosing my words a lot more carefully around her.

Hmph.

You... What did you do...

Run!

You can't escape either.

Gah...!

Faust... Faust! You're injured! You're... no, no... Nooo!

...

It's over.

Not yet.

What?!

*cough* *cough*... He lured me in to shoot from point blank?

Didn't you manage to block it though?

They used the cover of the explosion to make their escape!

Woah, a chain of explosions?

Argh, the entire top level is collapsing! We're not going to be able to chase after them?

Half of that was your doing.

Can't do a thing about that.

Hurry, we need to go.

No, I need to stay here, until they come...

We've failed this step. You must leave.

I failed? I failed? Impossible!

Wasn't everything going according to plan...? Did I not call for our reinforcements a long time ago?

Were we betrayed? Was our information leaked? Who was it? Why does the L.G.D. know about our deployment and our strategies?

Just go!

If we weren't betrayed, then who could have done it?!

Talulah would never make a mistake... So she must have planned for this...

No, that's impossible... Why would she set us up like this?

...Faust, there's no way I can accept this... I refuse to believe it.

Jump! I'll hold on to you!

Fine...

Well... shoot, Madam. Looks like this building's going to need some serious renovating.

It's a shame that those two kids got away though.

Those mindless followers are still coming at us like cornered animals. Dealing with all of them is still going to be a serious thorn in the side.

At least we managed to take back the headquarters.

This is our victory, even if it's a short-lived one.

Amiya...

...

How did Rhodes Island manage to make it out of Chernobog?

Miss Blaze came to our aid in the knick of time.

There was also a loud-mouthed L.G.D. officer just outside the ruined city...

It would've been easier if you had just helped us in the first place instead of watching from the sidelines.

I was expecting you to say something like 'I didn't need Rhodes Island's help anyway,' or 'I'd rather die than work with them.'

But at least you don't seem to be that stubborn. Is there anything else you'd like to say? If not, I'd like to head back to Rhodes Island.

I never knew Rhodes Island had an aircraft like that.

Heh, we have a lot of things that might surprise you.

Just like you, we don't want to play our entire hand.

You're not counting us as one of your cards, are you?

...

Um, Madam Ch'en... there's an incoming transmission on a private line.

It's for you.

Hello?

Well done, Madam Ch'en.

Is Madam Swire also on this channel?

I am.

Please report your progress.

I bailed Rhodes Island out, and also finished arrangements for the various brigades. Coordinating and managing everything took me three full nights.

How about you, Madam Ch'en?

I've already taken back—

...

—with Rhodes Island's assistance, we've taken back the L.G.D. Headquarters. Their commander will spread word of their defeat through the ranks.

The Reunion forces left in Lungmen have been coralled into our ambush points using the routes we arranged for them.

Next, we just need to wait for their counterattack.

My mission is now complete.

I've also received reports from a few of your other colleagues. All missions in the last phase have been completed flawlessly. Well done, all of you.

We will now move onto the next phase.