If you bring me the Sword of Bonds, I'll pay a fine price for it.
And if we can't find it?
30,000 dinah per excursion.
For a beginner-level labyrinth?
That's quite the offer.
And if we do find this "Sword of Bonds",
I don't want you claiming
it's in bad condition, or we got the wrong one, or something.
Let's make this more specific.
You're so suspicious.
First, a map and a list of monsters in the area.
You tell us all the places that have already been searched.
Give us details on the sword, too.
And guarantee us a minimum price regardless of condition.
And we need that all in writing.
So we're looking for a sword that amplifies a party's power
based on the bonds between them.
It's ironic, isn't it?
I think it's perfect for us.
That's right. We're trusting each other more and more!
That's good to hear.
Automatic lighting, a corridor built with everything at almost
obsessive-compulsive levels of regular spacing.
What kind of civilization was this?
Even the monsters are artificial.
There might be secret passages. Let's keep an eye out.
Yeah.
True.
New adventurers? I wonder if they can make it all the way here.
Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don't Believe in Humanity Will Save the World
"Labyrinth of Bonds"
Now we go straight ahead for a bit.
Roger.
Hold up.
What's that?
There're lamps at dead ends, just like our information said.
No, didn't the documents we got say the lamps were red?
True.
Wait!
Our mission is to explore.
We should be thorough.
And also...
You smell money?
That's part of it, but this is weird, isn't it?
Nick!
That was just supposed to be a wall!
Now, here's where you're going to run into problems.
Are we supposed to find it inside all these?
No.
It's that one.
Nick?
This way.
Wait.
Detect Magic.
There's no magic within a one-kilometer radius at a minimum.
I'm not sure if that means it's safe, or if somebody is blocking the search.
So we'll have to find out who "someone" is and report that, too.
I-Is that it?
Adventurers!
What?
You've overcome great trials to reach this corridor.
You are worthy of possessing my power!
Is this what's talking?
Is this the Sword of Bonds?
Be your foe man, beast, angel, or devil, this power will lead you to a glorious...
I don't think so.
Yes, a glorious victory!
I don't see an actual blade.
Think it's broken?
You're listening, aren't you?!
Hey, you think this is a magic sword?
A magic sword?
I don't know what good it'll do without a blade, though.
It's broken.
With some of these, the wielder's magic actually forms the blade.
Is that how this one works?
It's broken.
Who do you think I am?
No idea.
We're busy looking for the Sword of Bonds.
We don't have time to learn the names of broken swords...
I am the legendary Sword of Bonds which you seek.
I am the finest masterpiece of the Terane Magic Armory...
The hell you are.
What?
We weren't looking for any broken swords!
We don't know for sure that it's broken.
I am not broken!
Guys, let's listen to the nice old man...
How dare you call me a "nice old man"?!
I was trying to help you!
Zem, calm down.
Sorry, I was just caught off guard by a sword talking like it was normal.
I am a proud sacred blade! I only help those who value justice and friendship.
I am the Terane Magic Armory's greatest masterpiece.
The Angel-Class Psychic Weapon. Product Name: The Sword of Bonds.
Product Name?
That was also the project name.
Cool. Very cool.
Now, don't make a fuss. We promise not to drop you before you're in the bag.
You're not going to equip me?
I only use short swords.
How about the Dragonian girl?
I only use my Dragonbone Sword.
You didn't come here in search of me?
Sure we did.
Then shouldn't you be rejoicing?
Wait, what are you going to do with me?
What else?
Sell you.
No!
The contract says we only get half the money if it's busted.
Wait! I don't want to end up in some warehouse somewhere!
Do you have any idea how many years
I've wasted after being deceived by those liars at the guild?
"Liars"? "Deceived"? What do you mean?
The guild sealed me in a labyrinth,
saying it would help me find someone worthy to wield to me.
But I waited and waited, and nobody came.
And do you know why?
Because they never intended to let anyone have me.
I'm sympathetic, sure, but we've got bills to pay.
Yes, if you sell me, you'll get enough money to last ten lifetimes.
But if I travel with you, I can provide you with unparalleled power!
If we've got all that money, we won't need to adventure, right?
I want to apologize for something.
The Guardian system has been activated.
I don't speak Ancient. What does that mean?
In other words, my guardian has awakened.
You won't be able to leave this hall without defeating the Amalgam Golem.
Amalgam Golem?
Icicle Dance!
It's working!
Wait, Dragonian girl!
Something's wrong!
Get away, Curran!
Curran!
Crap. If we're not careful, the Survivors are all going to die here,
in a beginner labyrinth!
Retreat! Head for the exit!
Hurry!
Damn it! Nothing's working!
But while I'm attacking it, it's focusing on me.
I have to let everybody get away while it's coming after me.
Its body is comprised of nanomachines.
Ranged or sharp weapons won't touch it.
Which means?
Use me as your blade!
You can do what you want with me after you make it out of here.
This is my first and last request, as a weapon.
I can't promise what happens to you after we leave.
Then the contract is made.
Ice Spear!
It's no good! It's not even budging!
Magic and physical attacks aren't working!
Hmm...
That's...
The power of the sacred blade.
It wasn't broken?
That girl will do nicely.
Nick, was it? Envision her in your mind and shout this word: "Union"!
Envision Curran?
Just do it! "Union!"
Union, right?
Okay.
Union!
Huh?
You tricked me, you old bastard!
That's strange.
You met the conditions to use it!
It's working?
Even my blade can't kill it!
Below you!
What is this thing?!
Nick!
We'll have to deal with it ourselves.
But our attacks don't work.
What about this?
Freezing!
It stopped.
I tried freezing it, instead of attacking it.
Curran, go get Nick!
Okay!
It's trying to get free by discarding the parts of itself that froze?
Quick Heal!
Freezing!
We can't do anything more than buy time.
But we have to do it anyway!
Let's show them what a pair of casters can do!
I guess I broke a few bones, huh?
Unyielding Fortress's duration ran out, too.
Nick, where are you?!
Curran! Are you guys okay up there?
The two of them are buying time!
If we lose one more person, we're finished.
Take them and run!
We need to get out of here!
Getting as many people back alive as possible is what the Survivors do!
Not "as many people as possible".
We all go back together!
You can't survive if you keep hoping for the impossible!
We're all go back together!
I'm sorry...
for breaking your pendant...
I told you...
You said not to worry about it, but it was important to you, wasn't it?
My last party leader gave it to me.
I wanted to throw it away, but I just couldn't do it.
I was never able to believe it...
That I was tricked, that they left me to die...
I never could believe it...
I kept hoping that one day I'd wake up and Calios would be there like always,
and that we'd go back to adventuring like we always did.
Seeing the pendant made me want to believe in Calios,
even if I knew I was just running away from reality.
I knew it, but I couldn't forget my days with Calios.
I chose to spend my time with my memories, instead of with the people around me.
It was...
It was so much fun!
So when the pendant broke that day...
it wasn't a bad thing for me at all.
Curran.
It wasn't a bad thing at all.
Nick, say the word again.
Freezing!
Unyielding Fortress! Quick Heal!
Unyielding Fortress! Unyielding Fortress!
That's enough, Zem.
But... But...
Use the rest of your spells when Nick gets back.
I'm done for.
But... But...!
This can't... This can't be how it ends!
We did great, didn't we?
We did all this without Nick and Curran.
Don't you dare smirk at us!
He has a core that controls his movements.
The core moves at random throughout its liquid metal body,
keeping it perfectly safe at all times!
But the lesson here is this: nothing can save you from ultimate power.
Nick!
Curran!
Ignition!
An aura blade, just like we were told.
Wow, it looks just like the real thing!
I think you meant to say that the real thing looks so incredible!
That's right!
It looks just as incredible as the real thing!
It's nothing impressive.
Very true!
Though if you keep saying "real thing",
someone might start wondering if there was a fake out there somewhere!
What a wonderful sacred blade!
It's such a shame we have to let go of it.
It's nothing impressive, at all.
It's not as powerful as we'd thought, but I guess it is old.
It's nowhere as strong as me.
Very well. We'll pay the agreed upon amount.
Good. It would suck if we got lied to.
So?
Who's the boy...? girl...? who's been standing there this whole time?
A new member of the Survivors?
Indeed! I am Kizuna!
How peculiar. Doesn't that just mean "Bonds", same as the sword?
Well, good luck, I guess.
Of course! Leave it to me!
We were lucky that there was that stock of mass-produced copies.
Those guys at the guild were easy to fool!
Didn't you say something about valuing justice and friendship?
Saving somebody's life sounds like friendship and justice to me.
"Life"? You're a sword.
I'm a sword and a person!
I've got a parallelization function!
A function that lets a sacred blade take human form.
I still don't really understand how it works.
I was scared for a second when you said your name.
Why?
'Cause people will figure it out!
Well, I can't help it.
Sentient magic items have a lot of their power tied to their names.
They do?
For instance, if we named it "Mop" it might gain the power to clean our rooms.
That's pretty simplistic.
Here's our pay for this job!
We've finally got money to spend on our hobbies!
Until now it's all gone to rent and bills!
It's been so long.
Let's go, then.
You going to the tavern?
We're a little different when it comes to that, actually.
Survivors Rule #1!
No interfering with other peoples' hobbies!
What?
We all have something we must protect.
A forbidden holy ground where no one else may tread.
O-Oh! I don't understand, but that sounds very important!
So we're going to take some time off.
What will you do?
I'm going to an idol concert.
If you want to come, you have to come in blade mode.
How boring!
I'll read a book or something, then.
Sure.
You're not going?
There's still time until the race starts.
Want to come with me?
Really?
It's uh... forbidden ground, right?
You can come, but no complaining about how I use my money!
Okay!
I'm a member of the Survivors, too, after all!
Hey, Kizuna.
What?
You waited hundreds of years for us to come, right?
Oh, that's right.
I waited hundreds, no, thousands of years, for someone to come use me!
I see.
You really hung in there, right?
Don't treat me like a kid!
You're a good kid.
Hey, don't make fun of me!
I'll slice you in two!
Don't you dare, Mop!
I'll clean your clock, damn it!
Oh, no! He'll wipe the floor with me!
I'm not a mop!
This was where it started.
Their, no, our true adventure... started here...
Looking back, it all started here...
Next time: "A Meeting with the Iron Tigers."