Been a bit busy so I'm only just now getting to the new TFS story. Here's the recap:
Bachman recaps the ending of the previous chapter, explaining that Sephiroth was talking about reclaiming Masamune's sword even though it was never his to begin with, and that they recognized he was acting strange, but that they didn't have to dwell in it. They enter the temple carved into the side of the rock face.
Inside we see a few of those purple wisps and then Bachman explains that this is the carven of Hodono, and that deep within five statues keep watch over the land, though he is then confused as to how he knew that information. Alissa suggests that the land has taken an interest in him, as it has in her. They fight some monsters that have grown ferocious due to being sealed inside the temple.
Deeper inside they find a monument engraved with ancient letters they don't recognize, and wonder if it might be an incantation or cipher. Purple wisps appear and become ghostly illusions of the Igaran people saying that Da-chao told them to migrate to the north after their land was burned.
Bachman hears a voice that tells him what the engraving says: "Da-chao, Molhan, Baltai, Gakuren, Laidoh--The Five Swords of Igara. Though they bravely fought back the beast, the magic they unleashed engulfed our home. We fled." He then guides them ahead. Alissa remarks that he has the protection of the land, and as his companions they do as well. Angeal doesn't believe it, but she tells him to just go along with it.
Further within they find a chamber where the walls are covered in deep slashes, which they surmise could have only been done with Masamune's blade. A wisp appears and shows them a vision of the swordsmith Masamune forging the blade using some sort of brightly glinting metal.
He finishes the blade and marvels at its will, describing it as a sword to surpass others. The illusion then erupts in purple flames and transforms into a purple winged demon--a valron. After defeating it, Alissa says that Masamune was acting like the sword possessed him, and Angeal suggests that the sword deceived Masamune into perfecting it and now has its sights set on Sephiroth. Sephiroth says that it's already been decided that he's meant to wield it, but Angeal says it's not just the sword, the whole place is trying to trick them. Alissa says it's their job to investigate how.
They soon arrive in a large antechamber in which the statues of the five warriors are arranged in recesses, on a spiral path leading up to platform upon which rests a giant sealing stone. The statues are bound in paper talismans. A purple wisp appears and slips into Bachman's mind, and he explains:
Baltai, a warrior with a massive body whose strength was matched only by his love of drinking, which got him in so much trouble that he spent half of his life in prison. Da-chao recruited him to their cause, and he used his strength to shield his allies; died at age 34.
Angeal says it doesn't look human, and Bachman says it's just a prison for the monster maintained by Baltai's power. The statue erupts into purple flames, and from that emerges a pale white valron called the Tainted. Upon defeating it, one of the flames surrounding the large stone slab in the center of the antechamber turns from orange to purple, and they surmise that defeating all the monsters sealed in the statues will allow them to break the seal on the central chamber. Angeal cautions them that he feels something strange, and Bachman says he feels it too, but it doesn't feel bad, and Angeal should let it in. As they proceed, Angeal crosses his arms and lingers behind for a moment.
We then get our new exploration dungeon, in which Angeal and Sephiroth are tasked with finding and defeating the Tainted sealed in the other statues. As we find them, Bachman provides descriptions for each:
Molhan, the youngest and only woman of the Five Swords, agile and acrobatic, relayed orders among Da-chao's allies during the battle with the creature; died at age 17.
Gakuren, the oldest, practiced Igaran conjury (magic in today's tongue), performing fearsome feats by placing a terudama (materia in today's tongue) in his mouth. On the verge of death he unleashed the inferno that defeated the beast and set Igara ablaze; died at age 62.
Laidoh, a swordsman and nephew of Da-chao said to have surpassed him. He held off the fiends as they burned single-handedly, paying no heed to his own burns. He continued to guard the party as they ventured home, defending them from other beasts, at last appearing as fire incarnate, clad in burning armor; died at age 25.
The last is Da-chao himself, the hero of heroes who founded Wutai, and the sole survivor of the five. Bachman compares him to Sephiroth, but Sephiroth rejects the comparison.
As they near the final statue Angeal insists that they take a break and clear their heads, recognizing that the other three are behaving strangely, and realizing it's like the result of this place. Sephiroth refuses, and the other two question whether it would be more dangerous to stay in place. Sephiroth tells him he's free to leave if he's scared, but he's going after the blade. Angeal flashes back to the mission briefing at Shinra HQ that Sephiroth skipped, during which the Second Class SOLDIER giving the briefing said that Sephiroth is special and gets every mission done; at the time Angeal thought it would make him a good partner, but is now having second thoughts.
They reach the final statue and Bachman explains:
Da-chao, a middle-aged swordsman with a rough demeanor who loved his homeland and was respected by all. As the leader of Igara's warriors he took it upon himself to defeat the beast, and the other warriors volunteered to aid him, deeply moving him. He wrote letters to each, recruited the four strongest, and set off to face the fiend. He returned covered in burn scars. He led the people north to found Wutai and his advise contributed to their great prosperity; survived to the age of 100.
Alissa says that Da-chao was changed by the fighting in Igara. Sephiroth asks the statue to witness his strength, and they fight a red valron called the Befouled.
Upon defeating it the stone vanishes, revealing a spiral stairway down. Angeal makes them halt, saying that he's concerned that they aren't in their right minds, saying that their job was to investigate the village, not obsessively track down this sword. Bachman is acting like he was born here, and Alissa sees it happening too. Though Alissa thinks Angeal is the strange one for not accepting what's happening.
Sephiroth tells Angeal not to get in their way, and Angeal responds by punching him in the face and telling him to get a grip.
Sephiroth responds in kind, saying nothing will stop him from retrieving the sword.
He says the feeling isn't strange, and that his desire is everything. The trio leaves Angeal behind and proceeds, reaching the Sword's Chamber.
As Angeal lies unconscious, he is swarmed by purple wisps and has a vision of him taking his mother and father on a vacation to Costa del Sol. In the vision he talks about how grateful he is and how he wanted to repay their kindness, and that no matter how difficult it is in Midgar or how hard the work is, he can always lift up his sword and remember how proud it makes him, just like they do.
He tells them that as his work takes him around the world and broadens his horizons, he wants to take them to visit all the places he visits. His father offers him another new sword (resembling the Mythril Saber). His father says that since Angeal never uses his sword, it must be because he doesn't like it; perhaps it's too big or heavy. Angeal thinks to himself that he doesn't use it because it's so special to him, and he knows how much it cost his father. His father apologizes for making him lug around a big hunk of steel, but Angeal realizes that this is an illusion, and his father would never say such a thing... because his father was dead, and it was his fault. The phantoms of his parents vanish and he's surrounded by a swarm of purple wisps and he falls to his knees.
The scene changes to something like a void, and his mother appears, warning him that he can't make a ruckus over every injustice in a place like Shinra. He responds saying he now knows for sure that this isn't really his mother.
The illusion transforms into a valron and he defeats it. Angeal says that he didn't know what his mother's life was like, but did know that she passed down to him important lessons: Be true to your sense of justice. Don't let your surroundings dictate your actions. He draws the Buster Sword and slashes through the illusion.
With the illusion dispelled, he wonders who is appearing before Sephiroth to manipulate his heart.
As the trio approaches the sword, the wisps appear and swarm, and Sephiroth collapses, remarking that the blade will always be his. He flashes back to when he and Team Glenn returned from the mission to Rhadore.
The SOLDIER tells him that he's to report to the President to receive a special commendation, despite Sephiroth declaring the mission a failure. His three subordinates are to return tot he barracks and await further instructions. Sephiroth demands that they be commended as well, but they tell him to just go and not make it difficult. Glenn pats him on the shoulder and tells him not to worry, they'll have a party and get drunk in honor of his promotion.
Later at their party, Sephiroth says that he doesn't feel like celebrating, but they cheer him on, telling him that he now has his pick of missions. Glenn tells him to give them a call if anything easy and lucrative turns up. Sephiroth says it'd be a waste, he'll call them when he really needs them, for the tough missions. Glenn slumps and the other laugh. Matt tells Sephiroth that he has a place in mind to investigate for their next mission, handing him a photograph:
They marvel at its aura and wonder if a treasure might be there. Sephiroth say it resembles Wutai, but different. As Matt prepares to offer the details, a Shinra Security Forces CO and infantry member enter, ordering Glenn, Matt, and Lucia to come with him. He informs them that they are to face judgment by tribunal and will be detained.
Sephiroth attempts to admit his involvement, but the CO cuts him off telling him that the chief engineer testified and cleared him, which Sephiroth calls out as a lie. Glenn, Matt, and Lucia apologize and tell him that they'll be fine, and Glenn asks him to watch Refu for him. Before leaving, Lucia gives Refu a pat and glances back at Sephiroth. Refu approaches a dejected Sephiroth and whimpers, and he says he'll see them soon.
Sephiroth then awakens to the sound of Alissa calling him. He tells her that he's okay and was just lost in thought...
To be continued in the next post...
