Shadow Skill TV Anime Series Episode 11 – Synopsis Cast of Characters: Elle Ragu - 59th sevalle of Kuruda Gau Ban – her adoptive brother Faury Brazmetizer – Sui Reme Kyo Ruu – Septia King Iba Stola – Hawkeye, 55th sevalle of Kuruda Kai Sink – 56th sevalle of Kuruda Scarface Vy Low – 57th sevalle of Kuruda Kain Phalanx – G, 58th sevalle of Kuruda Dias Ragu – Black Wing, valle of Kuruda Lean – commander of the Solouthan armies Glock – general of the Solouthan armies Gana Gee – Wedge, Hu Reme Kuruda veteran platoon Teaser: (Opening Credits) Act 1 I lost the above when I accidentally taped over Episode 10. Act 2 The Forest of Jura. A troop of soldiers bearing crossbows is moving purposefully through a clearing when they are ambushed by the Kuruda veterans platoon. The veterans manage to make short work of the soldiers, with one survivor making a clean getaway. The commander of the veterans says there is no need for unnecessary pursuit or unnecessary killing. The veterans run down the Jura river, taking note of the heavy concentration of troops and deciding on a strategic retreat for the moment. Two of the veterans are sent to Kuruda to request for assistance – the sergeant says that Elle is all they need, and to be sure to bring her back. That done, the four veterans part ways – the commander and sergeant to delay the armed men, and the privates to continue onward to Kuruda. In the forest shadows, Gana Gee is lurking, muttering, “Come, Elle Ragu…” Her black demon beast comes down and curls up around her, and she smiles an evil grin. An army encampment. The commander, Lean, is describing the Kuruda mercenaries as demons and not human, who control the power of Souma unlawfully. Until that day, the extermination of the Holy Land was an impossible dream; but despite the ridicule it has received, the time has come to put that plan into action. Holy Countries that have monopolized the wealthy, fertile lands should be destroyed. Holy Countries are not to be spared. “We shall slaughter the mercenaries of Kuruda,” declares the commander, as we see Kain Phalanx standing behind him. “Our despicable neighbors and one of the hated Holy Countries we will now crush! Now is the time to show the great army of Suluothan and shatter the Kuruda’s two thousand years of invincibility as the legend claims…for the sake of our prosperous future! For a victory over poverty and starvation!” Outside his house, beneath the light of the full moon, Dias Ragu is standing alone. In his hand is a black wing boomerang. Closing his eyes in concentration, he stills himself and then launches the black wing; with eyes closed, he listens to the song of its flight as it slices the air and traces a perfect path outwards and back into his outstretched palm. The forest on the way to Prorahan. Booted feet are walking steadily through the woods. They belong to the 56th sevalle, Kai Sink, who stops in a clearing, sensing that he is not alone in the dangerous beauty of the night. “Why don’t you show yourself to me, for goodness sake?” he snaps in some irritation. “We are both far too old to be acting so shyly here.” Silence, then a figure emerges from the shadows. It is Scarface. “Unlike you, I happen to be very shy…especially on a night like this one…when an itchy, moonlit facial scar makes my face grim. And it’s doubly worse to meet up with the same man who gave me that itchy scar…on a night…like this.” “So have you already gone off to see him again?” asks Kai, and Scarface answers, “Heck, no! In fact, you’re going there right now, so in that case, I’ll go back to Kuruda knowing everything is safe…” “Very well…do you have any messages, then?” “The great war has already begun,” says Scarface, causing Kai to look grim. “There’s no point in messages any more. All there is, is life and death of one human or another. Here’s a gift for you, friend…” Scarface tosses a bottle into the air, and Kai catches it neatly. “A great wine…” and Scarface is gone. Kai snorts, “Such a whimsical fellow,” and takes a pull from the wine jug. “It tastes almost like…blood.” In another part of the forest, the two Kuruda veterans are racing down a trail towards Kuruda. The scene shifts to one of of heavy troop movements. Commander Lean can be seen borne on a sedan chair. He tells his general, Glock, to set a course for their destination – Prorahan. “We can’t overthrow the Kuruda using traditional weaponry, we must now capture us that legendary smith Dias Ragu…” Watching them are the veteran commander and the sergeant, who wonders aloud why the enemy picked that particular time of the night to start moving around all their troops. “I don’t know,” replies the commander, “But this time, one thing I know is for sure, they’re for real…it’s serious. This is on a scale unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.” Shadowy figures continue to move through the night in the forest, and one unwary soldier trips a booby trap. As a log come crashing down, the two veterans leap up from out of their concealment and set up a hot pursuit. A hand holding a pair of metal balls is shown. And a voice says, “It would seem that the troops led by Lee have begun their forward advance.” “What is Kuruda’s reaction?” “They have yet to learn of the troop activities. Soloufan has an advantage of about seven to three.” “What is the sentiment about exterminating the Holy Countries among the Soloufans?” “Most of the country has been set on fire, master.” “Fan those fires, and teach them all a hard-earned lesson. That there is no such thing as a peace that will last for all eternity in this world…” Act 3 Mist enshrouds the main gateway into Kuruda. The guards on watch start in surprise at the sound of running steps. They offer a challenge as figures emerge out of the mist, resolving themselves into the forms of the two veteran Kuruda privates. The old men collapse on the ground, and as the sentries ask if they are all right, one of them delivers the emergency message: “Is the 59th sevalle available or not?” “What?” “The war has…the war has begun, you fools!” The palace hallways echo to the sound of panicked footsteps as the sentry cries out: “Shadow Skill! Lady Elle Ragu! Lady Elle Ragu!” Two farmers look up from their work in the fields at the sound of pounding hoofbeats. It is Elle, mounted on a horse going a full speed, with the two veterans close behind her. Flashback to the trio standing before King Iba Stola in the throne room: “The commander and the sergeant are treasures among the country’s greatest mercenaries. Understand, 59th sevalle, Elle Ragu?” “Yes, sire!” “Rescue the platoon and stop the advancing Solouthan unit no matter what it takes to get the job done. An army of Kuruda’s troops will follow as soon as all the preparations are made. For now, go!” “Yes, sire!” In the present, Elle asks, “How many of the enemy are there?” “Countless numbers!” “We wouldn’t bother asking for reinforcement if we could actually count them!” “Of course!” In Kuruda, the army is making its way out of the gates, cheered by the townspeople. The Green Octopus Inn. Faury, Kyo and Gau are gathered in the common room. Kyo is concerned that Elle is late getting back. Faury says the fact that a writ of summons is involved means the situation is serious. “I doubt she’ll be coming back soon,” she says, and Gau abruptly gets to his feet, an angry expression on his face. “Where do you think you’re going? Even if you do go there, you’ll be Elle’s…no. I mean, you’re only going to be a sevalle’s burden.” Hotly, Gau responds, “I am not a burden on anyone, do you hear?” Kyo points out that Gau beat Low fair and square to prove his worth as a full-fledged Kuruda mercenary. “Try once to get it into your head,” says Faury forcefully, turning angry dark eyes on Gau. “You don’t have to worry about crossbows when you’re fighting one on one.” Gau’s potentially angry reply is forestalled by the door opening. Scarface enters the room, and Faury gets to her feet instantly, asking if something has happened. Scarface ignores her and speaks straight to Gau. “I believe you’re man enough to have this favor asked of you…” The scene shifts to three riders. It is Faury, Kyo and Gau, mounted on horseback and riding at top speed. We hear the King’s voice: “Are you sure about that?” Flashback to a room in the palace, and Scarface telling the King, “Yes, there’s no doubt about it. Solouthan’s real objective is none other than Dias. Their main force is heading towards Prorathan with everything they’ve got right now, I’m afraid. The only reason they attacked was…” “As a clever decoy to draw sevalle far and away from the…real battle.” Scarface nods assent, and the King turns away from the window he has been staring through. “But our units have already moved out towards the forest of Jura!” “Gau Ban.” “Hm?” “I’ve just sent Gau Ban out towards Prorahan. I told him that the safety of Dias is in danger. And I’m now thinking that we can wager everything on that boy.” “You want to use this critical situation as a training ground!” cries the King, shocked. Scarface tells him, “Let Kuruda’s main force continue on their way to the forest of Jura. Keep in mind that they’ve got their own fire to extinguish.” Anxiously, the King tells Scarface, “You realize that if that boy fails to stop the enemy now, it will bring harm to the entirety of Ashlianna. This won’t just be a problem of Kuruda’s, then.” “I and Kai Sink shall take the full responsibility. Kai is on his way to Prorahan even as we speak…the word ‘defeat’ cannot be found anywhere in the two thousand years of Kuruda’s glorious history…and if we happen to carve out that word for the first time, then that would mean Gau is simply not man enough and nothing more than that.” Act 4 Elle and her companions are shown still charging over the Kuruda plains to the forest of Jura. In the forest, the commander and the sergeant are getting the worst of the battle, and are taking cover by a huge boulder. The sergeant’s attention is drawn by the sight of a beautiful full moon, and the commander agrees, regretfully wishing he had had at least one last chance to drink wine in Kuruda before he died….the enemy platoon approaches slowly, sure of their prey, and it is noted that the reinforcements have not yet arrived. The sergeant begins to take his final farewell, saying how it had been a pleasure to serve under the commander. As the soldiers prepare to make their last stand, hoofbeats ring out on the rock above them. The sergeant exclaims, and the commander declares, “I never had a chance to marry, but I guess a grandfather, waiting to see his first grandchild, must feel a lot like this, right now…eh, sarge?” “I feel the same way!” With a loud battle cry, Elle comes charging through on horseback, red hair flying behind her. Panic is immediate among the enemy, some breaking ranks and scattering. “Your friend Elle is here to rescue you!” she cries, as she leaps straight up from her horse, pursued by a flight of arrows. Beating the arrows down, she lands square in the middle of one squad, launching the Shadow Skill Chainsaw, even as the veterans launch themselves into battle with renewed hope. “Thanks for coming, Elle!” the sergeant calls out, and she answers, catching an arrow in mid-flight, “No problem!” Suddenly she sees a lone figure standing on a rock in the distance. It is Gana Gee, still smarting from the defeat of her demon beasts in the Kuruda palace cellars. Elle recognizes her enemy, even as the veteran commander asks, “What’s wrong, little missy?” Gana Gee gleefully calls out, “You fell for it, Elle Ragu! Now, your brother whom you cherish beyond your very own life will hastily depart for the afterlife!” “What do you mean?” cries Elle, her voice suddenly trembling, but receives only mocking laughter in reply, and she is almost pleading as she asks again, “What…did…you do?” Inside his house, Dias takes hold of his black wing, and slowly moves to stand outside. Eyes closed, the better to sense the enemy, he turns his head and feels the presence of a mighty army lined all along the ridge surrounding his little valley. He opens his eyes and takes a long look at an almost certain fate… “From my left hand, three shall come forth fierce demon beasts…!!” chants Gana Gee, summoning three black panthers to attack Elle and the others. They miss, and the two fighters meet in mid-air, with Gana blocking Elle’s blow with a leg sweep. Elle angrily demands to know what Gana has done, and the Hu Reme taunts Elle with the news that Solouthan’s entire army should be starting their attack on Prorahan at that very moment. “What’s that?” “To capture your elder brother Black Wing and then to keep him for ourselves!” Once back on the ground, Elle charges, consumed by her love for her brother and the fear of losing him. Gana Gee laughs: “Anger has gotten the better of you, sevalle…” and unleashes three more demon beasts, which Elle must avoid, breaking her stride. “Die now, sevalle!” But even as Elle hits the ground, far short of her target, the veterans are racing ahead of her, to intercept Gana Gee in her attack leap. Two miss her, but the commander, coming from behind Elle, manages to grab Gana Gee by the waist, moving them towards the cliff face. Elle hears their cries “Quick, quickly, be on your way!” “Elle! Go to your brother!” but is frozen at the sacrifice of these brave men as they disappear from her view – over the cliff. “Never fail to train yourself…” “What’s that?” cries out Elle, as Gana Gee’s shriek can be heard knifing through the night as the four veterans carry her over the edge of the cliff. “Don’t be a fool!” calls Elle, her green eyes wide with helpless concern, and the commander goes as they plunge headlong, “It was us who had fallen right into their trap, but we went on to call for help! It was our grievous failure…we should now take responsibility for it and do the right and honorable thing!” “So long, our great Elle!” cries the sergeant. “So long from Kuruda’s mercenaries!” “Kill them all dead!” And the five figures plunge to nearly certain death off the cliff. “Grandpa!” cries Elle, running for one last look over the cliff. The enemy leader shouts to his crossbow squad to “Fire!” and as the arrows fly towards Elle, the shot freeze-frames her as she knocks the first one away… (Closing Credits)