Like Fire and Ice

You're here.

The HAS convinced a Feranmut Proxy to leave a creation within the Marker Stone. Generations of Tianshi worked hard to complete the great structure we see today.

Endmin, when facing a foe like Ardashir, we should practice caution.

Of course, I won't let the Endmin fight alone.

She shall meet up with you near the Marker Stone.

Uh! Could she be...?

The Yinglung Special Task Force. They have left the North Wuling Exclusion Zone and are ready to handle the anomalies around Wuling.

As I've said earlier, the Marker Stone is the origin of the Xiranite Dam. It is also the origin of Wuling City.

What is the plan?

I can't leave Wuling City, and I'm afraid I can't spare any of the watchguards...

This is why I hope Endfield can assume full control over the Marker Stone area.

Full ... full control?

We will definitely help, but what exactly do you mean by "full control"?

Ardashir's identity and motives are unclear. But I have a feeling that the Endmin may help elucidate these mysteries for us.

I have faith in you, Endmin. I grant you full authority in the field. The outcomes will be my responsibility.

Endministrator?

This is key to the survival of Wuling. Nothing must happen to the Marker Stone.

You'll not be disappointed.

I don't want this to be yet another battle against Nefarith where you end up hurting yourself.

Though resources and personnel are limited, I have prepared an expert in offensive battles and the Ætherside for Endfield...

The YSTF member assigned to your support has quite the reputation.

She is the youngest major currently in service to Wuling, and also the youngest task leader of YSTF...

And her codename is...

"Arcane".

It hasn't been long since the disturbance at Qingbo Stockade, but the enemies aren't giving us any rest.

We're finally going to face Ardashir.

True. But even with Endfield's clearance levels provided by the Band Accord, we've still found nothing on him...

Perhaps he only appeared recently, just like Nefarith.

It's hard to say. But for now, there is no question that they are allies and have their gaze set upon the Very Large Rift.

I am. When facing Nefarith ... you forcibly used your powers that weren't fully recovered.

Thankfully the suppressor restrained you. Otherwise, you ... it was likely that you might have gone down with her.

Or maybe he's been lurking for ages... And has been around longer than the Civilization Band itself.

And this is what truly confounds me ... their obsession with the Ætherside.

This definitely isn't what Endfield wants ... and I really hope you can avoid these risks moving forward, Endmin.

The fact that they have means of manipulating Æther is very disturbing as well.

Endmin. Ready to move...?

Anyways, it's just that, uh, I think I might know them. That's all!

I guess we'll know when we meet! Aiyo, things will always straighten themselves out.

Let's just set off already! Our mission won't wait!

Of ... of course I am! Haha...

Not friends? That's not true... It's just ... well... Maybe I was thinking about someone else!

Is this ... Precipitation Acid?

Precipitation acid pools... This place was once stacked with Aggeloid remains.

The threats faced by the Wuling Science Expedition were more than just the rift and the Blight Tide.

Once I cut these to pieces, we'll see how well you hide — Hmm?

Hmph. You're finished!

Let's help the Tianshi first!

Okay...

Tianshi Xi Mo, my orders were to evac.

Apologies... I thought they were just trash Aggeloi that I could take care of...

A special organization of the HAS that is directly above the YSTF. The Sui Regulator is closely associated with mysterious Terran entities called "Feranmuts".

And ... don't stray too far from me, Endmin.

Your personal safety is also part of my mission objectives.

And if you're here, what about our North Wuling Exclusion Zone? Aren't we ... just dealing with a single enemy?

Our first step is to join the Security Section in the restricted area. The Sui Regulator has left a Feranmut Heart at that location. We must be prepared.

Do you see what I mean, Perlica? She really is just impossible to deal with!

YSTF task leader, Arcane. Rendezvous with Endfield is a success. Handing field command authority over to the Endministrator.

Li ... I mean ... Arcane...

......

I shall support your forces with squad-level firepower, as well as any essential tactical support and advice for handling Ætherside disasters.

Any questions?

Nope.

Pleased to meet you, Arcane.

...Likewise, Endministrator.

And to you as well, Supervisor Perlica of Endfield Industries.

......And of course, Operator Chen Qianyu.

This enemy is something else.

The Feranmut Heart is a vessel capable of preserving the Feranmut's power. It is one of the crowning scientific achievements of HAS.

The very same power that I can allocate. To fight Ardashir, we need all the cards we can get.

A vessel for preserving the Feranmut's power. The Marker Stone was built with that same power as well.

My direct superior, the Sui Regulator, has provided a technology for accessing that power. It's now time to use it...

To handle a special foe like Ardashir, it is only reasonable to have more than a single solution.

Well, she has quite the personality.

Though Li is someone around our age, she does give off this rather special vibe...

And it's different from what I felt with Tianshi Zhuang and Mi Fu...

I just never expected her to be "Arcane"...

Nevertheless, it is also important that we work together... Chen, be strong and just put up with it for now.

Well, I ... I don't care anymore anyway.

Endmin, this might be something that Chen doesn't really want to talk about...

It's alright, Perlica! Until now, I just haven't wanted my personal business to hamper Endfield operations in Wuling.

So, Endmin, I actually was a YSTF reservist...

Remember when Perlica said how I'm a little nervous about home? She's right, but it's not just being nervous. It's me ... haha ... being disappointed in myself.

After graduating from Tanjian Hall, I chose YSTF as my career. I thought joining the task force would allow me to help more people and defend my home...

I thought I could be someone like Mom, a responsible and truly heroic master fighter.

Heh, but I didn't pass the exams, and even got into a super big fight with the best and most annoying reservist ever.

Look at her. Nothing's changed! You saw her personality. I shouldn't be blamed for getting into a fight.

Mi Fu, do you really need an entire army for this operation?

No. Their job is to shore up our defenses. The watchguard's most important duty is to keep the city safe.

Other elite squads will be operating outside the city to locate the enemy.

...No. Decapitation is a job reserved for the Yinglung Special Task Force.

Wait, isn't that her task force...?

Yinglung Special Task Force is an elite unit under HAS. They should be stationed at various key locations and hazardous rifts...

An emergency call... The boss probably found something.

Wha? Locate the enemy? Why not just seize the initiative and attack them already?

Yinglung Special Task Force?

Ah... Never mind, I didn't say anything.

Uh, it's someone I knew before ... just some old friend who's kinda hard to deal with.

It's nothing, really. I was just a little surprised to hear she might be coming, is all.

Indeed. Moving them from their North Wuling Exclusion Zone posts also highlights the urgency of the local situation.

We must take back the initiative.

Is there anything Endfield can do to help?

Just get on with your mission. I can take care of the Feranmut Heart.

Don't worry. I won't go down that easily. I've got enough fight in me to protect the Feranmut Heart.

Still, I must thank you for your timely intervention.

Tianshi Zhuang ordered most of them to evac.

Strange thing is, we just completed the evac when Ardashir cut off all roads into the Marker Stone area...

It seems he's not planning to target any of us.

That's bugging me too.

Ardashir likely used some trick to destabilize the Marker Stone. The situation in there might be worse than we think.

Endmin, we're counting on your team at the Marker Stone.

Much appreciated, but the Marker Stone is crucial to the integrity of the entire Xiranite Dam, and Wuling's efforts in containing the Very Large Rift.

My personal safety pales in comparison to the gravity of our situation right now.

You and Arcane should wholly focus on dealing with Ardashir. I'll figure out the rest.

Farewell.

The Feranmut Heart is a technological product from the Age of Terra. Integration with Protocol-Originium tech created the form we see today.

The Marker Stone itself is also furnished with several hearts to keep it stable.

...Alright, I must borrow the power within the Feranmut Heart.

The target, Ardashir, has taken the Marker Stone area. We suspect his aim is to disable the Marker Stone.

I gathered its data during combat. It exhibits abnormal Depth readings and Blight-like properties.

The Blight... My powers will indeed play a significant role.

A thorough analysis? During that brief encounter?

I know there are no precedents on the record.

Kinda, but I'm not authorized to do so. It would probably reject my attempt...

Really...? Or maybe he's aiming for something else.

The enemy has the initiative, and it is very unsettling.

The charge up will take some time, which we can use to share intel.

The target's Arts created fire that does not match Originium Arts Theory, and actually exhibits Æther energy properties.

And within thirty minutes of his appearance, anomalous energy entities began appearing nearby. I'm still unsure...

But you mentioned Blight-like... A walking Blight-form...

But when analyzing this together with Nefarith's actions in Valley IV ... Ardashir is likely to have mastered more advanced means of "manipulating" the Blight.

Charge up is almost complete, Endmin. What is our next course of action?

—Push into the Marker Stone, and capture Ardashir.

Roger.

Hostile activity? It's coming from the Cloudrest Woods...

What's over there?

A Tianshi Pillar, and an emergency repair team deployed just moments ago.

But the situation at the Marker Stone is just as desperate. This might be an enemy's attempt to delay us.

We cannot let this go unchecked.

......

Endmin, it's your call.

We'll save the people first.