Let’s Blog: Ar Tonelico III – #8: The Zombies are Coming

After stopping at that point in the middle of Fallen Heaven Road, the Nico player apparently ran back to town and Dived several levels into Saki in order not to make her feel unloved. I’m just going to skip a few more PVs and complete the area, assuming it isn’t necessary to power Saki up to beat the bosses, then do some Diving with her once I get back to town.

Spoilers, as usual.

From the save point, you’ll run up several staircases and collect chests until you reach the entrance to Fallen Heaven Peak, which is a cave. Inside, you re-encounter Rufan, who says that they’re likely too late. Finnel suggests they search for survivors anyway. Hikaru Gojyou agrees: “If they weren’t able to make it to Jouteimon, there might still be some people hiding here.” Aoto is eager to begin searching, but…

Tatsumi says to wait, and points to where some gun-wielding people are shuffling out of a tunnel towards them with a zombie-like gait.  Gengai says “They’ve got Limit Syndrome… They’re coming this way! We have no choice but to fight!” Aoto hesitates at the thought of killing another human, even if they’re enemy soldier, but Gengai says “Don’t go easy on them. These guys aren’t human any longer… They’ve had their free will destroyed and their bodies warped.” Aoto says, “So that’s what ‘Limit Syndrome’ is…”

A fairly tough battle follows, the guys can kill your Reyvateil in seconds, and it’s difficult to do much damage without song magic. Took me a second try to beat them.

After the battle, Tatsumi comments that they really can’t be called human, and Hikaru says that is what happens to humans who volunteer to be purified; their minds are overloaded past their limits, thus the name. After a bit of chatter about the cruelty of Clusternia, they continue further into the cave. There’s not far to go though, just up a staircase to find a camp full of people who are very glad to see Gengai.

One mentions the “Great Fang Alliance”, and when Aoto asks what that is, Tatsumi says it’s a band of people who oppose Clusternia. Fallen Heaven Peak was their base of operations, while Gengai is the leader. Gengai begins addressing the alliance, stating that their first priority is to safely evacuate the civilians elsewhere, but others shout that they should launch a counterattack on the Tower while they’re not expecting it.

Gengai makes a speech about how he understands the feelings of those who lost loved ones in the cleansing, and also wishes revenge, but they are not prepared to mount an attack. The important thing is to ensure no lives are wasted. With his charisma, he quickly cools tempers down.

He then tells Rufan that the two of them should go to Tokoshie Canopy this evening, where the two of them will advocate full-scale war on Clusternia. He suggests that Aoto and the others stay at the camp for the night and rest. Initially he wants Saki to accompany him for her protection, but when Aoto demands to come and says he wants to protect Saki as well (offering to join the Great Fang Alliance to prove his sincerity), eventually leaves it to him.

The cutscene ends and you’re allowed to roam freely, though there is nothing to do in the camp except use a save point. If you rest at it, you’ll see a conversation where Saki apologizes to Aoto for causing him trouble. The conversation eventually turns to discussing their childhood, and Saki reminisces that she used to love to read kamishibai to everyone as a child. “But… the director passed away not long before I escaped… ” she continues. “And I didn’t even say goodbye to everybody… I’m worried about them…”

Aoto is curious about her use of the word “escaped”, and wonders if the Clusternia military was pursuing her back then. Saki replies, “I think so. There was a person I was with… We escaped together, and he said I mustn’t ever return, or I’ll definitely be captured…” Aoto deduces that she’s talking about Kiraha, and asks if that’s all she remembers. Saki says, “Most of the time. Every time I pray, I feel like I’ve lost something more… I wonder if one day I’d forget those children, too…”

Aoto identifies the easy solution: stop praying from now on. He says he’ll work harder to protect her, so that they don’t end up in a situation where she needs to pray. He’s also reminded that he knows where her home of Ougai was now- in the city of Arukia- and promises to take her back there some day. This makes Saki extremely happy.

Afterwards, another cutscene occurs with Tatsumi practicing some V-Board tricks (which unfortunately is impossible to get a good screencap of with the interlaced video), only to slip and nearly fall into a chasm. Gengai suggests he should do a little more traveling; he says he won’t be able to teach him anything more. Tatsumi confesses his true objective is to reach the Tower. Gengai says that it’s dangerous, to which Tatsumi replies “And it’ll still be dangerous a hundred years from now, won’t it?” He thanks Gengai for what he’s taught him up until now.

Gengai has a suggestion, though: that Tatsumi formally join the Great Fang Alliance. He’ll be able to get close to the Tower when they mount an attack, and continue to accompany Aoto until them. Gengai bribes him with a V-Board magazine from inside the Tower, containing techniques unknown to anyone on the Great Fang. You’re shown a short tutorial demonstrating how you can use Item Synthesis to fuse the magazine into a better weapon for Tatsumi.

As a parting word, Gengai tells him: “Your voice is returning to normal. Better do something about it.”

Tags: ar tonelico, ar tonelico 3, gust, jrpg