This stone will warp us to another floor.
Ow...
Misaki-chan! Come over here, quickly!
Wha... Huh?!
Hurry!
I was so scared!
C-Calm down, Misaki-chan.
CURRENT LOCATION: UNEXPLORED TERRITORY RETURN SCROLL CANNOT BE USED
It looks like we can't use a Return Scroll here.
So we have no choice but to move forward.
I don't know what enemies might be in here,
but it doesn't matter.
As their partymate... As their Rearguard...
All I need to do is protect my party.
THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD
THE MECHANICAL ARIADNE
Um, may I say something?
What's up, Suzuna?
I can sense that something happened nearby.
With your Shrine Maiden powers?
Yes, I think this skill has something to do with it.
SPIRIT DETECTION LV. 1 DETECTS UNSEEN SPIRITUAL BODIES
Spirit Detection... That makes sense.
It's vague, but I sense something.
I think someone fought something and died here.
"Something," huh?
I think that might be a golem.
A golem?
You mean that thing's going to start moving?
I don't know... I feel like you're overthinking things.
But if we don't see anything else they could've fought,
that statue is obviously suspicious.
Well, that's true.
It does have an unpleasant aura about it.
I doubt blade attacks would affect it.
But with Arihito's support, we should be able to damage it.
Use attacks that deal multiple hits.
Okay! I'll attack whenever I have the opportunity, too!
Just be careful. Don't push it.
MORALE DISCHARGE {on the pink and orange heads}
Atobe-kun, it looks like Theresia-san and I can both use Morale Discharge.
We'll figure out what the effects are later.
Right. Elitia-san will be able to use hers soon, too.
Don't count on my Morale Discharge.
I can only use it while Berserk is active.
Okay. We'll be counting on your Morale Discharge
after we get the curse off your sword.
Thanks.
Anything else we should talk about?
Okay, then. Let's go.
I knew it. It does move.
GIANT EAGLE-HEADED WARRIOR DROPS: ???
Giant Eagle-Headed Warrior...
It's level 6 and Named!
It's insanely strong!
It's a higher level than the Juggernaut?
This isn't gonna be easy.
Everyone, get your fighting spirits up!
Right!
Double Attack!
DOUBLE ATTACK
Igarashi-san! It's about to counter!
Mirage Step!
MIRAGE STEP
Elitia, now!
I'll carve you apart!
Blade Rondo!
BLADE RONDO
Please hit!
It guarded its head? Does that mean...
WIND BURST
Eli-san!
There!
I knew it.
Everyone, its head is its weak point!
So we just need to focus our attacks there!
Hang on! It's about to do something!
It just changed...
I'm going in!
Sonic Raid!
SONIC RAID
It's fast!
Defense Support!
No! That attack hits all opponents!
No... It can't be!
Atobe-kun!
Kyouka, Theresia, take care of Arihito.
I'll handle that thing.
I'll back you up!
Onii-chan...
GIANT EAGLE-HEADED WARRIOR NEEDLE FEATHERS: SECONDARY ATTACK WHEN WIND BURST IS ACTIVE HITS ALL PARTY MEMBERS MASSIVE DAMAGE TO ARIHITO
This can't be...
Stay with us, Atobe-kun!
Ow...
We're not supposed to be fighting this thing at our level!
Onii-chan is gonna...
I'll be fine.
Don't talk! I'll heal you right now!
No, I can't be healed... until that thing is defeated.
Besides... I still have an ace up my sleeve.
Huh?
Igarashi-san, use your Morale Discharge.
Theresia, too.
Yay, yay, yay! This concludes part A!
THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD
One, two! One, two! Part B starts now!
Morale Discharge: Soul Mirage!
MORALE DISCHARGE ACTIVATED SOUL MIRAGE, TRIPLE STEAL
SOUL MIRAGE
Is that... me?
It creates duplicates with physical bodies?!
Thunderbolt!
Incredible! Maybe now...
It's gonna use that attack again!
Not Arihito-san!
We won't let you!
No! It's too dangerous!
Don't worry, Atobe-kun.
Everyone, use the Mirage Warriors as shields!
Oh, right! Then you can...
I get it! Your Defense Support works on the Mirage Warriors, too!
Yeah.
Arihito-san!
Looks like it can't use that attack twice in a row.
Okay.
Rear Stance!
SPIRIT WARRIORS' ADDITIONAL ATTACKS
All right! Now!
I've got this!
Bloom! Blossom Blade!
BLOSSOM BLADE
It can still move?!
Finish it off!
Okay!
Misaki-chan?!
We... actually won?
I don't feel very alive, though.
I'll give you first aid now!
There's no wound?
Yeah, I'm actually fine now.
But how?
It was Theresia.
Her Morale Discharge absorbs health proportionate to the damage she deals.
Oh, so it works on the whole party?
Thanks, Theresia.
I'm so relieved.
Theresia, what are those?
Jewels?
I guess that enemy dropped them.
The black one is a rune. You can use it to enhance gear.
And... what is this red one?
Isn't it from that?
It looks like it's missing an eyeball.
Let's see if it has anything else we can grab.
Theresia, will it open?
No, huh?
What is it, Misaki-chan?
I feel like this stone would be a perfect fit in that hole.
You're right. It's about the same size.
I guess it's worth a shot.
Be careful, Theresia.
It opened!
We don't know what might happen. Let's be careful.
What's this?
C-Could it be a coffin?
Something's coming out of it.
A girl? What's she doing here?
Are those antennae over her ears?
A... A doll?
No, she's alive. She's just asleep.
Th-Theresia! Don't get too close without...
There's a hole.
It looks a bit like a keyhole.
When Falma-san opened that chest,
I did see something that looked like a key.
If we look around this room, we might find a way out.
But I'm more concerned about this girl right now.
If we can wake her up,
she might be able to tell us what this room is and how we can get out.
Let's try the key.
Theresia?
We won't let you bear this responsibility alone.
Igarashi-san...
I don't sense any malice from her.
Yeah. Let's try it.
If she tries anything, I'll just knock her out with my dice again!
Let's do this, Arihito.
Here goes.
There's a child!
Save her! Hurry!
Arihito Atobe.
You have opened this reliquary and awakened me.
That is your name, is it not?
Yes.
Unfaltering Rearguard who came here from a distant world...
I am Ariadne, the Iron Wheel, the 117th Hidden God.
Hidden God?
I thank you for solving the riddle of this labyrinth and awakening me.
And...
I am sorry your efforts were in vain.
What do you mean?
I am meant to bestow my protection upon any who make it this far, but...
I have lost most of my authority.
Much time has passed since I was abandoned here,
and many of my parts have been lost.
Um... you just said you were abandoned.
What does that mean?
I was deemed a failure by my creator.
A failure?
Because my degree of perfection as a replica of a god was low,
my creator discarded me in this labyrinth and sealed me inside.
The one who made you just threw you away?
That's awful. I can't believe they just left you locked up in here for so long.
Ariadne, is it possible to take you out of here?
It is possible if one becomes my devotee and gathers the parts necessary to exit,
but I do not recommend it.
Why not?
Believing in a Hidden God makes one an enemy of all other gods.
Will we have to fight them? Is there an option not to?
That is impossible.
Devotees of a god assume the responsibility of the God's Gathering.
God's Gathering? I've never even heard of that.
And one may only worship one god.
I am a failure.
In my current state, with so many parts missing,
if I were to encounter another god, I could not defeat them.
I see. So it's definitely risky.
Still...
Everyone okay with this?
I'll go with whatever you decide.
Me, too. I want to save Ariadne-san.
Arihito-oniisan and Ariadne-san... You're the Ari-Ari duo!
As Seekers, if we can earn a Hidden God's protection,
I think it'll be a big help to us.
You all are...
We don't think you're a failure.
You're here talking to us, after all.
What do we have to do to be your devotees?
I will endow your licenses with the ability to contact me.
THE HIDDEN GOD YOU ARE DEVOTED TO
I will contact you when the time comes.
If you are ever in danger again,
I will assist you with my protection.
That's very reassuring.
It sure is.
I thank you for choosing me.
We only did what we wanted to do. No need for thanks.
I see.
You wish to return to the surface, yes?
I will create a passage to take you out of here right away.
Um...
Will we be able to come back here?
Once I regain my power, I will be able to create an entrance, as well.
Okay. We'll be back!
See you next time, Ariadne.
This is...
Looks like we made it back.
Thank goodness!
I wasn't sure what was gonna happen to us.
Yeah.
Atobe-kun...
Nice work. We all survived that thanks to you.
Igarashi-san...
Whoops...
Atobe-kun!
Are you okay?
Sorry... My strength just kind of left me...
You were on your toes that whole time.
If any Cotton Balls show up, we'll handle them.
You should get some rest.
No, I can't let you...
Theresia?
Wow, Theresia-san! How bold of you!
Th-Thanks... but what brought this on?
Maybe she's showing her appreciation for you in her own way.
Oh...
Thanks, everyone.
It's been 860 years since this place was built for me.
After all this time, it has at last been unlocked.
Arihito Atobe...
Arihito...
Please... You have to...
Is this your memory?
Run...
Atobe-kun...
I'm sorry... I couldn't be of any use.
Arihito... Run!
You think I can run away just because you told me to?!
If you are going to protect them from behind...
then I shall protect you from here.