"Namsac"
Several months have passed since Mithril's destruction.
This is Namsac, a border city in Southeast Asia.
Would you be willing to hire me?
You? You can operate an AS?
A little.
By the way, what's your name?
It's Sousuke Sagara.
I've come to this city in search of something.
Fight!
People bet on pro wrestling matches between decommissioned ASes.
Mr. Sagara wandered into town,
and he took part using an old Savage model.
The winner, Crossbow!
"Intermission 2"
Wh-What happened?
Dao passed out.
He's good. Outrageously good.
That was something else, I tell you!
I knew he'd do it.
You were saying he had no chance.
If nothing else, thanks. You bailed us out.
No problem. But more importantly...
Wh-What?
Can I keep working for you?
If I can secure money for a hotel and three meals a day,
I'm willing to strike a deal.
Of course. By all means.
With Mr. Sagara now a member, Team Crossbow makes its comeback.
The team's young owner, Miss Nami.
A reporter and team sponsor, Mr. Lemon.
The maintenance crew: Mr. Asch, Mr. Riley, and Mr. Kaew.
His life with his new teammates
brought Mr. Sagara a brief peace of mind.
Had it not been for his true goal in coming to this city,
this place might as well have been Heaven for him.
Looks kind of weak.
That's not true.
They're the colors of the mech I used to pilot.
Huh?
It's our turn! Are final adjustments done?!
Okay!
Be careful, Sousuke.
Fight!
Opponents attack him one after the next.
But for Mr. Sagara, who'd been fighting in ASes since his guerrilla days in Helmajistan,
winning in the arena was not difficult.
He won every match. The audience went wild over the Crossbow fights.
The winner, Crossbow!
He's won every time.
Who the hell is this guy?
Does it really matter? His strength is a huge help.
Lunch break's over, guys. Now, back to work.
You got it.
Here, Sousuke.
What's this?
A shopping list. You and Lemon, go buy this stuff.
It's nearly all specialized AS parts.
You can't get these at a regular shop.
Oh? You haven't been to the market yet?
Market?
This is what comes to mind when I watch your matches.
You're not simply fighting to earn a living.
You're fighting for something bigger.
Some goal, off in the distance.
I'm a layman when it comes to ASes, but I just get that kind of feeling.
How about it?
I'm not sure. But...
But?
When it comes to ways of expressing myself well, this is all I have.
Combat?
That's right.
I wish I had some talent like photography, or music, or drawing.
But unfortunately, this is all I've got.
Don't sell yourself short.
You might be surprised to find you have some other talent.
For instance...
For instance?
Like being a ladies' man.
What the heck?
Don't move!
A meeting with the police chief who controls the city.
Mr. Sagara offered to take part in dangerous illegal battles,
in which live ammo is used.
I also hear the payout is way higher.
Half of those who compete are dead within a matter of months.
Are you also aware of that?
That sounds about right.
Should I ask what your motive is?
Money.
Anything else?
I'm out for blood.
Fine, then. I'll talk to the right people.
But until it's all done, I'm gonna keep your friend in custody.
My objective was the illegal battles from the start.
To get closer to the dark side of the operation,
I needed to keep winning the public battles.
Y-Yeah, but what for?
Because, apparently, Amalgam is involved with the illegal battles.
Amalgam...?
It's the name of an organization.
They plan and stage conflicts all around the world.
They've played a role in the serious terrorist incidents
that occurred over the past several years.
H-Hold on...
There's a top-secret mercenary force that was fighting against Amalgam.
I'm a survivor of that force.
Survivor?
What happened to it, then?
It was wiped out by Amalgam. Three months ago.
No way.
Amalgam is an organization hidden in the shadows.
On my own, it's hard to even contact them.
The few clues I have are this city, and the illegal battles.
I want to get close to Amalgam.
For that, I need your cooperation.
Convincing his teammates to help,
Mr. Sagara makes for the illegal battle venue.
--But this gamble proved to be too dangerous... --This is takin' forever.
--But this gamble proved to be too dangerous... --Are you sure this is the place?
Assuming this map isn't wrong, yeah.
I figured we'd be led to some dangerous locale, for an illegal battle.
This is just the boonies.
There are old ruins over there. I figure they probably use those?
Looks like they're here.
Sousuke Sagara.
You'll board your mech here.
There are ruins 3km to the northwest. Move there and stand by.
All right, I'll be back.
Be careful!
Don't worry.
I'm worried about the mech, not you!
Oh.
But...
S-Still, don't do anything reckless.
You'd better come back in one piece!
I intend to.
Good, then.
I got started without you.
Oh, Mr. Kurama.
Welcome to the true arena, Crossbow.
Over there you'll find your weapons. Use them as you see fit.
I appreciate that.
I smell ozone!
This mech is...
...an M9, of all things.
Surprised?
Do it.
What attacked him was a state-of-the-art M9, plundered from Mithril.
An old Savage model should stand no chance against this opponent.
But he was the AS operator most familiar with the characteristics of the two mechs.
Hey! Even if it's an illegal battle, isn't this a little much?!
We're relocating! Get in.
I'll never win in a gunfight.
Meanwhile, his teammates
--found themselves in danger, too. --H-Hey! Why're we going in different directions?
Get out.
All right, you don't have to push.
Line up and climb the stairs.
Y-You're kidding, right? Any way you look at it, this's--
Don't give us any trouble!
Are you serious?
Just let us go.
Sorry, but I have my orders. Line up like I said.
There's no need for that.
L-Lemon! You're supposed to be in jail!
Never mind, just get down low.
The situation's under control, monsieur.
A little farther forward, that's right.
What a good mech.
He ended up winning.
Impossible!
So what's your plan now?
He found out who we are. He'll do whatever he has to, to get to you.
E-Enter!
I beg your pardon, sir.
Sagara! Are you watching?!
I know you're there!
Come out and drop your weapons! Otherwise, I'll kill this girl!
I'll give you ten seconds!
Ten!
Nine!
Eight!
Seven!
Six!
Five!
--I'll just have to go out! --Four!
No, I changed my mind.
Nami!
I feel it! Your anger!
Kurama!
If you don't come out, that's fine!
Just keep hiding in this backwoods shithole!
I'll just leave you with this, though.
I'm going to treat that precious girl of yours the same way!
Chidori?!
That's right! I know where she is!
After this I'm going back there to drill some holes in your woman
the way I did to this destitute-looking girl!
How dare you...!
H-He's not coming.
Yeah. Let's go.
Get down!
Enemy attack!
Kurama!
Damn it!
Don't shoot, Sousuke.
Lemon!
What's going on here?
That can wait.
We were too late.
Oh, God...
Oh, God...!
He found himself in shock, unable to shed a single tear.
His body practically moved on its own, all to hunt down the enemy.
What difference was there between himself and the mech he operated?
Sousuke! We're going to proceed with our own operation!
Do what you want.
Your attention!
What I'm asking of you gentlemen is combat.
Combat?
We think an AS is going to show up here in Namsac shortly.
--Here they come. --Sagara's just up ahead.
Behind us!
You son of a bitch!
Talk. How many more mechs are there?
You--
Stop! Stop!
There are eight! Eight!
Did you see a man in a black coat?
--I saw him! At the arena with the police chief! --There he is!
Open fire!
Wait!
Get out of my way!
How big was his sacrifice--his loss?
He expressed it not through tears.
Perhaps battle...
Perhaps a storm of violence was his only means of expressing his heart.
Fire! Fire!
Sagara!
Dao!
Die, Sagara!
Friggin' die!
The mech's systems...!
Go to hell!
Just move a little more!
Die!
Nami... This mech was the best.
Up those stairs?!
Fall back! Fall back!
Where's Kaname Chidori?!
What will you do if I tell you?
Rescue her!
Are you stupid?
Say it!
No, thanks. You can die in frustration.
Tell me!
I don't get it. You and I... gunned each other down?
How?
Because of her!
What, the "power of love"?
Don't make me laugh.
What's wrong with that?!
San Carlos. Or else Niquero, or Granada...
Any others?!
How should I know?
I never should have quit smo...
...king...
Sousuke!
Surely, a part of him must have died in this arena.
Along with something for which he can never atone...
Nami...
No...
Chidori...
I miss you...
I feel cold...
"Episode 9 The Fallen Witch"
Next time: "The Fallen Witch."