This page deals with the events of Suikoden II, later known as the "Dunan Unification War". For convenience's sake, the protagonist's name will be referred as he was in the Drama CD (Riou).
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Backstory - Formation of the Highland Kingdom and the City States Jowston
In the region of Dunan, there existed a kingdom known as the Highland Kingdom, formed by a Harmonian noble named Maroux Blight as a reward for crushing rebellions in the Harmonian Civil Wars. It grew ambitious quickly enough that it crushed the neighboring kingdom of Dunan, but was pushed back by the forces of South Window. The Highland Kingdom was also blessed by the Beast Rune by the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia.
Eventually, the forces of South Window united with what remained of the Kingdom of Dunan: Muse, Mathilda, Greenhill and Two River. Together, they formed the City-States Jowston and they continued to keep the power of Highland in check, though sometimes they did some political maneuvering to expand their own kingdom. Such as a conflict to poison the chief of Grasslands’ Karaya Clan to put them under the submission of Greenhill by its mayor Alec Wisemail. And additionally, it viewed the Scarlet Moon Empire, and later the Toran Republic, as enemies, so they still did skirmishes time to time.
Eventually, the forces of South Window united with what remained of the Kingdom of Dunan: Muse, Mathilda, Greenhill and Two River. Together, they formed the City-States Jowston and they continued to keep the power of Highland in check, though sometimes they did some political maneuvering to expand their own kingdom. Such as a conflict to poison the chief of Grasslands’ Karaya Clan to put them under the submission of Greenhill by its mayor Alec Wisemail. And additionally, it viewed the Scarlet Moon Empire, and later the Toran Republic, as enemies, so they still did skirmishes time to time.
Backstory - Rise and Fall of the Hero Genkaku
The conflict eventually reached its turning point when the Blight family was under King Agares Blight while the current mayor of Muse city was Darrel. King Agares had the upper hand with the skirmishes thanks to the competence of his champion Han Cunningham, who also possessed part of the Rune of the Beginning, the Black Sword Rune. And in the same time, Darrel was a rather incompetent military leader, with his ‘leadership’ accruing losses over losses.
However, hope still existed for Jowston. A seasoned warrior and general by the name of Genkaku rose amongst the City-States army. On his arm is the counterpart of the Black Sword Rune, the Bright Shield Rune. With Genkaku’s genius, he managed to retake back territories of the City-States. It was also stated that the possessors of the halves of the Rune of the Beginning would be fated to clash against each other, and so it was: Genkaku and Han faced off against each other.
And suddenly, they managed to broker a temporary truce and had meals with each other. Talking together, they became fast friends and realized the futility of the war between Highland and Jowston. Therefore, they returned home and suggested a peace conference to end the war. The conference, however, ended not-so-peacefully because Darrel botched the negotiation: He refused to hand over a certain town of Kyaro no matter what. Agares then suggested a combat by champion to settle things eventually, and naturally, Genkaku and Han would be the champions representing their factions.
Still adamant to get things working in his favor, Darrel secretly coated Genkaku’s blade with poison, so it would kill Han and bring him victory. Genkaku detected it in time, and so, he refused to even draw his sword, and Han scored a decisive victory.
With Kyaro becoming a Highland territory, Genkaku was punished with exile and his name disgraced, but he didn’t care. He instead retreated back to said town and lived a simple life of being a martial arts instructor, adopting orphans to teach them martial arts. Two of such are unrelated children who became siblings via adoption: A girl named Nanami and a boy named Riou. Shortly after, Riou befriended a lonely rich kid of the Atreides family, Jowy. As friends, Jowy also attended Genkaku’s martial arts lessons and the two and Nanami became an inseparable trio.
However, hope still existed for Jowston. A seasoned warrior and general by the name of Genkaku rose amongst the City-States army. On his arm is the counterpart of the Black Sword Rune, the Bright Shield Rune. With Genkaku’s genius, he managed to retake back territories of the City-States. It was also stated that the possessors of the halves of the Rune of the Beginning would be fated to clash against each other, and so it was: Genkaku and Han faced off against each other.
And suddenly, they managed to broker a temporary truce and had meals with each other. Talking together, they became fast friends and realized the futility of the war between Highland and Jowston. Therefore, they returned home and suggested a peace conference to end the war. The conference, however, ended not-so-peacefully because Darrel botched the negotiation: He refused to hand over a certain town of Kyaro no matter what. Agares then suggested a combat by champion to settle things eventually, and naturally, Genkaku and Han would be the champions representing their factions.
Still adamant to get things working in his favor, Darrel secretly coated Genkaku’s blade with poison, so it would kill Han and bring him victory. Genkaku detected it in time, and so, he refused to even draw his sword, and Han scored a decisive victory.
With Kyaro becoming a Highland territory, Genkaku was punished with exile and his name disgraced, but he didn’t care. He instead retreated back to said town and lived a simple life of being a martial arts instructor, adopting orphans to teach them martial arts. Two of such are unrelated children who became siblings via adoption: A girl named Nanami and a boy named Riou. Shortly after, Riou befriended a lonely rich kid of the Atreides family, Jowy. As friends, Jowy also attended Genkaku’s martial arts lessons and the two and Nanami became an inseparable trio.
Backstory - Darrel's final spite and disgrace.
However, Darrel wanted one last spite on the Highland for taking Kyaro away from him. He secretly hired a group of ruffians to ambush the Highland Royal family’s entourage. Agares was overcome with fear and ran away in terror, leaving his wife and son Luca in the mercy of the ruffians. The ruffians proceeded to subject Luca to a most horrific torture: Repeatedly raping his mother in front of him, to the point that she died giving birth to a bastard sister, Jillia. Luca escaped eventually, but his mind was forever scarred and he would grow up into a misanthropic madman. After learning the involvement of Muse, he swore revenge on the City-States and eventually humanity.
Eventually, after Darrel passed away, his incompetence and blunders were revealed, and it was his name who fell into disgrace. He was succeeded by his daughter Annabelle, who was a much more capable and charismatic leader, but was saddled with trying to clean up the huge mess her father left behind. Genkaku’s name was cleared, but he refused to return to politics, he’s content with being the adoptive grandfather of Riou and Nanami.
As Riou, Jowy and Nanami grew up, eventually the Highland Kingdom tried to promote a nationalistic youth brigade program known as ‘Unicorn Brigade’. Many young men were drafted and trained in order to prepare themselves to become soldiers to serve the country. Riou and Jowy enrolled there and eventually had to depart from Kyaro.
One night when the brigade was camping at the Tenzan Pass north of Kyaro, our story begins…
Eventually, after Darrel passed away, his incompetence and blunders were revealed, and it was his name who fell into disgrace. He was succeeded by his daughter Annabelle, who was a much more capable and charismatic leader, but was saddled with trying to clean up the huge mess her father left behind. Genkaku’s name was cleared, but he refused to return to politics, he’s content with being the adoptive grandfather of Riou and Nanami.
As Riou, Jowy and Nanami grew up, eventually the Highland Kingdom tried to promote a nationalistic youth brigade program known as ‘Unicorn Brigade’. Many young men were drafted and trained in order to prepare themselves to become soldiers to serve the country. Riou and Jowy enrolled there and eventually had to depart from Kyaro.
One night when the brigade was camping at the Tenzan Pass north of Kyaro, our story begins…
Massacre of the Unicorn Brigade - Life with the Mercenaries
It’s the night, and Riou and Jowy are preparing to retire for the day. However, their sleep is interrupted with a sudden attack by the City-States soldiers, butchering innocent children within the brigade. Under the command of their captain, Rowd, Riou and Jowy tried to make their escape. But they smell a trap, so they return. What they see next surprises them beyond doubt: The attack was done by a group of Highland soldiers as planned by their own prince, Luca Blight. And Rowd is also in cahoots for his own plans. Riou and Jowy make their escape to a nearby waterfall and after repelling the pursuers, they make a promise to reunite in that spot in case they survive what they’re going to do next: Jump off the waterfall to ensure the pursuers lose track of them.
Riou is separated from Jowy during the leap. But, he’s found by two familiar faces: Veterans of the Gate Rune Wars, Viktor and Flik, now running a mercenary fort after apparently surviving the battle of Gregminster castle. However, they’re mostly hired by the City-State, so they had no choice but to put Riou under arrest and have him do chores. However, Riou shows a strong, hard working ethic, befriending the Kobold captain Gengen and doctor trainee Tuta.
One night, Jowy manages to catch up with Riou and attempts to rescue him, but they’re overwhelmed with the more experienced Viktor and Flik. There, they revealed what has happened that night, but this surprises Viktor, as he believed that at the moment, the City-States and Highland were in a truce, something must have happened. However, they still can’t let go of Riou and Jowy, two Highland citizens, just like that. So the two get put in jail again, but on the same night, both of them break out of jail and attempt to return to Kyaro.
Riou is separated from Jowy during the leap. But, he’s found by two familiar faces: Veterans of the Gate Rune Wars, Viktor and Flik, now running a mercenary fort after apparently surviving the battle of Gregminster castle. However, they’re mostly hired by the City-State, so they had no choice but to put Riou under arrest and have him do chores. However, Riou shows a strong, hard working ethic, befriending the Kobold captain Gengen and doctor trainee Tuta.
One night, Jowy manages to catch up with Riou and attempts to rescue him, but they’re overwhelmed with the more experienced Viktor and Flik. There, they revealed what has happened that night, but this surprises Viktor, as he believed that at the moment, the City-States and Highland were in a truce, something must have happened. However, they still can’t let go of Riou and Jowy, two Highland citizens, just like that. So the two get put in jail again, but on the same night, both of them break out of jail and attempt to return to Kyaro.
Return to Kyaro and Leaving
The way to Kyaro is through a misty valley known as North Sparrow Pass. But there are dangerous monsters lurking and the two guards have strict orders to not let anyone pass. Without any choice, Riou and Jowy look around the nearby Ryube village for clues. There, they encounter a traveling performer troupe consisting of sisters Rina and Eilie and a big ‘little brother’ Bolgan. Riou gets roped into Eilie’s knife-throwing performance and manages to keep his cool to ensure the show goes off without a hitch. The three agree to join Riou and Jowy to reach a new performance spot and have more manpower to face the monsters of the North Sparrow Pass.
The guards still won’t let them pass… until Rina uses her womanly charms to bribe the guard for a passage. In the middle of traveling the valley, they defeat a Mist Monster, which is only possible because there’s five people fighting. After arriving in Kyaro, Riou parts away with the traveling performers and then with Jowy. He returns home to Nanami, but not after noticing a stray flying squirrel, Mukumuku, and taking it with him.
After a comical reunion with Nanami, Riou tells her the incident of the Unicorn Brigade, and right now, they’re marked traitors, branded as the culprit of the incident. They decide to run away, but they’re cornered by Rowd and apprehended easily. Meanwhile, the news of the incident got into the Atreides household, and Jowy ends up disowned and tossed to jail as well.
Rowd apologizes for what has happened, but he has his own goals that he’s desperate to achieve that he’ll have to sacrifice Riou and Jowy for. It involves gaining a lot of money, so Riou and Jowy see him as nothing but a greedy jerk, but Rowd never tells them that he needed a large sum of money to deliver his sickly sister to a good doctor in Toran.
The next day, Riou and Jowy are paraded to the gallows and even had the chance to encounter the royal princess, Jillia Blight. Jowy curses at how the country has betrayed him and they are wrongly accused, but it does nothing. Fortunately for the two, both Viktor and Flik have been tailing them since their escape from the Mercenary Fortress and rescue them from execution. After retrieving Nanami, they make their way back to the fortress where Riou is given a better privilege, so long as he’s not causing trouble, he can travel as he pleases in the nearby area and even recruit people for the mercenaries. Even Gengen is allowed to accompany him too and he gains access to the help of warehouse guard Barbara and bartender Leona.
The guards still won’t let them pass… until Rina uses her womanly charms to bribe the guard for a passage. In the middle of traveling the valley, they defeat a Mist Monster, which is only possible because there’s five people fighting. After arriving in Kyaro, Riou parts away with the traveling performers and then with Jowy. He returns home to Nanami, but not after noticing a stray flying squirrel, Mukumuku, and taking it with him.
After a comical reunion with Nanami, Riou tells her the incident of the Unicorn Brigade, and right now, they’re marked traitors, branded as the culprit of the incident. They decide to run away, but they’re cornered by Rowd and apprehended easily. Meanwhile, the news of the incident got into the Atreides household, and Jowy ends up disowned and tossed to jail as well.
Rowd apologizes for what has happened, but he has his own goals that he’s desperate to achieve that he’ll have to sacrifice Riou and Jowy for. It involves gaining a lot of money, so Riou and Jowy see him as nothing but a greedy jerk, but Rowd never tells them that he needed a large sum of money to deliver his sickly sister to a good doctor in Toran.
The next day, Riou and Jowy are paraded to the gallows and even had the chance to encounter the royal princess, Jillia Blight. Jowy curses at how the country has betrayed him and they are wrongly accused, but it does nothing. Fortunately for the two, both Viktor and Flik have been tailing them since their escape from the Mercenary Fortress and rescue them from execution. After retrieving Nanami, they make their way back to the fortress where Riou is given a better privilege, so long as he’s not causing trouble, he can travel as he pleases in the nearby area and even recruit people for the mercenaries. Even Gengen is allowed to accompany him too and he gains access to the help of warehouse guard Barbara and bartender Leona.
Luca Blight's Village Massacres
Riou uses this privilege wisely and manages to recruit other people such as the wandering swordsman Rikimaru, a cheery girl named Millie and her freakish pet Bonaparte, hunter and wolf duo Kinnison and Shiro, and a haughty magic user Zamza.
When they travel to the nearby village of Toto, they’re greeted by an innocent girl named Pilika. Jowy reveals that when he jumped off the waterfall, he washed up in this village and was helped by Pilika’s family, with Pilika now calling him uncle. Riou becomes acquainted with Pilika’s family, and then Pilika makes a request for them to visit Muse to buy an amulet as a birthday present for her parents.
Riou and Jowy comply with that request easily, but when they return to Toto, the village has been completely razed. Pilika is crying hysterically at the loss of her parents and Riou learns what happens thanks to a passing-by scholar and another Gate Rune War veteran, Apple. Ever since the war concluded, Apple has been wandering to gather materials to write a biography about her master, Mathiu Silverberg. Her travels brought her to Jowston and she witnessed what happened in Toto: The White Wolf Army, personal soldiers under Luca Blight, ravaged the town as his first plan to expand the territory of Highland, annuling the truce with City-States with the Unicorn Brigade incident as the justification, therefore, the City-States is the scapegoat.
She suggests reporting this tragedy to Viktor. But before they depart for good, Riou manages to recruit a warrior woman named Hanna, who’s devastated at her inability to protect Toto from Luca.
Viktor and Flik listen to Apple’s warning well and suggest Riou and Jowy to rest for the day, letting Pilika sleep and recover from her shock. The next day, Riou is given the task to bring in a blacksmith named Tsai who lives in the woods near Ryube, in order to fix the Fire Spears, the same Fire Spears that defeated the Armored Cavalry of Teo McDohl. They hope that the spears can stave off the Highland Army.
They manage to reach Tsai and recruit him. But, on reaching Ryube back home, Riou and Jowy witness the Highland banner standing there and the soldiers razing the place to the ground. And Luca Blight is personally present there, gleefully torturing several citizens before horribly killing them; even forcing a woman to act like a pig and then killing her under the justifications that pigs must die. Riou and Jowy are incensed, they cannot let such evil roam free. But Tsai knocks some sense on them, telling them that at their current strength, they’re no match of Luca and would end up senselessly throwing their lives away.
When they travel to the nearby village of Toto, they’re greeted by an innocent girl named Pilika. Jowy reveals that when he jumped off the waterfall, he washed up in this village and was helped by Pilika’s family, with Pilika now calling him uncle. Riou becomes acquainted with Pilika’s family, and then Pilika makes a request for them to visit Muse to buy an amulet as a birthday present for her parents.
Riou and Jowy comply with that request easily, but when they return to Toto, the village has been completely razed. Pilika is crying hysterically at the loss of her parents and Riou learns what happens thanks to a passing-by scholar and another Gate Rune War veteran, Apple. Ever since the war concluded, Apple has been wandering to gather materials to write a biography about her master, Mathiu Silverberg. Her travels brought her to Jowston and she witnessed what happened in Toto: The White Wolf Army, personal soldiers under Luca Blight, ravaged the town as his first plan to expand the territory of Highland, annuling the truce with City-States with the Unicorn Brigade incident as the justification, therefore, the City-States is the scapegoat.
She suggests reporting this tragedy to Viktor. But before they depart for good, Riou manages to recruit a warrior woman named Hanna, who’s devastated at her inability to protect Toto from Luca.
Viktor and Flik listen to Apple’s warning well and suggest Riou and Jowy to rest for the day, letting Pilika sleep and recover from her shock. The next day, Riou is given the task to bring in a blacksmith named Tsai who lives in the woods near Ryube, in order to fix the Fire Spears, the same Fire Spears that defeated the Armored Cavalry of Teo McDohl. They hope that the spears can stave off the Highland Army.
They manage to reach Tsai and recruit him. But, on reaching Ryube back home, Riou and Jowy witness the Highland banner standing there and the soldiers razing the place to the ground. And Luca Blight is personally present there, gleefully torturing several citizens before horribly killing them; even forcing a woman to act like a pig and then killing her under the justifications that pigs must die. Riou and Jowy are incensed, they cannot let such evil roam free. But Tsai knocks some sense on them, telling them that at their current strength, they’re no match of Luca and would end up senselessly throwing their lives away.
Fighting for the mercenaries - Acquiring the Rune of the Beginning
They bitterly had to return to the Mercenary Fort, where at least Pilika has regained her cheerful personality. After delivering Tsai to Viktor, Riou is told to leave the rest to the adults, he can hide for his own safety. After seeing the horrors of Luca delivered on Toto and Ryube, Riou refuses to just sit idly and offers to join the mercenaries in combat, along with Jowy. Flik decides to test Riou’s mettle by dueling him. Eventually, Flik recognizes Riou’s potential and allows him to join.
After naming their battalion, Riou and Jowy retire for the day. And in the very next day, the Highland Army under generals Solon Jhee, Culgan and Seed, led their battalion to attack the fort. Thankfully, the Fire Spears manage to defeat them. However, the Highland Army immediately sends a second squadron, now with General Kiba Windaimer joining the fray. The mercenaries have no reprieve and try to stave them off, but Kiba’s great defense proves too much even for the Fire Spears. Suddenly, the White Wolf Army under Luca himself appears from behind. The battle is lost.
Viktor and Flik issue a retreat to Muse. However, Pilika is left behind, so Riou and Jowy brave the fort infested with Highland soldiers to find the girl. And Pilika ends up traumatized again when she’s forced to witness Luca brutally murdering Riou’s guide in the early days, Pohl, right in front of her and happily tries to murder her next. Riou and Jowy manage to block him, but they’re shoved off easily. However, Viktor and Flik manage to save them by blowing up what remains of the Fire Spears, taking down the fort and giving the boys time to escape from Luca’s wrath.
Riou and Jowy only manage to reunite with Nanami and three random people capable of fighting that they recruited before. The trauma, however, rendered Pilika mute.
On the way to Muse, they reach Toto, then Pilika guides them to a cave where her parents used to take care of a shrine there. It turns out to be a shrine that stores the parts of Rune of the Beginning, done by Genkaku and Han themselves. Guided by Leknaat, Riou and Jowy recall events that led them here, and together, they express their desire to obtain power to protect those dear to them. And so, they claim the rune, Riou gets the Bright Shield Rune while Jowy gets the Black Sword Rune. However, they’re not quite aware of the tragedy awaiting them thanks to taking up the Runes…
After naming their battalion, Riou and Jowy retire for the day. And in the very next day, the Highland Army under generals Solon Jhee, Culgan and Seed, led their battalion to attack the fort. Thankfully, the Fire Spears manage to defeat them. However, the Highland Army immediately sends a second squadron, now with General Kiba Windaimer joining the fray. The mercenaries have no reprieve and try to stave them off, but Kiba’s great defense proves too much even for the Fire Spears. Suddenly, the White Wolf Army under Luca himself appears from behind. The battle is lost.
Viktor and Flik issue a retreat to Muse. However, Pilika is left behind, so Riou and Jowy brave the fort infested with Highland soldiers to find the girl. And Pilika ends up traumatized again when she’s forced to witness Luca brutally murdering Riou’s guide in the early days, Pohl, right in front of her and happily tries to murder her next. Riou and Jowy manage to block him, but they’re shoved off easily. However, Viktor and Flik manage to save them by blowing up what remains of the Fire Spears, taking down the fort and giving the boys time to escape from Luca’s wrath.
Riou and Jowy only manage to reunite with Nanami and three random people capable of fighting that they recruited before. The trauma, however, rendered Pilika mute.
On the way to Muse, they reach Toto, then Pilika guides them to a cave where her parents used to take care of a shrine there. It turns out to be a shrine that stores the parts of Rune of the Beginning, done by Genkaku and Han themselves. Guided by Leknaat, Riou and Jowy recall events that led them here, and together, they express their desire to obtain power to protect those dear to them. And so, they claim the rune, Riou gets the Bright Shield Rune while Jowy gets the Black Sword Rune. However, they’re not quite aware of the tragedy awaiting them thanks to taking up the Runes…
Sindar Ruins of the White Deer Inn
They reach Muse only to find that the latest law forbids entry without a permit. Nanami tries to bypass the rule, but she gets insulted to hell and back to the point she loses her temper and has to be restrained. The group ends up taking a rest in a nearby White Deer Inn managed by a woman named Hilda who has a son named Pete and a rather adventurous husband named Alex. Alex has apparently deciphered a secret of ruins near the inn and was led to believe that there were treasures there to lift them from poverty and maybe open an inn in Muse. However, Hilda just prefers that Alex stays out of trouble.
The next day after resting, the group meets Alex again, who’s now dejected that the people of Muse didn’t listen to his story and refused to lend their help. But this cues the group that Alex and his family has permits to Muse. Alex then strikes a deal, he’ll give them the permits if they help him find the treasure of the ruins. They agree while leaving Pilika to play with Pete since it’s dangerous for kids to be in the ruins.
The ruins turn out to be one left behind by the Sindar race. But Alex doesn’t pay heed to it and helps out in solving the puzzles of the ruins. At the end of the ruins, the group defeated the guardian of the treasure, a Double-Headed Serpent. And finally, the treasure is right in front of them… a mere healing herb instead of a huge amount of cash. Alex becomes terribly disappointed that when they exit the ruins, he ditches the herb.
But when they return to the inn, they find Hilda on the ground, having been afflicted with a terrible fever. They are all completely helpless and Alex risks losing his wife because they usually go to Muse for a doctor, but time is shorter than ever because of the war. Jowy is sent off to find a doctor nearby, but he naturally fails to find one. Riou, however, simply returns to the ruins entrance and picks up the healing herb. Turns out, it’s the right cure for Hilda, saving her from death.
The next day after resting, the group meets Alex again, who’s now dejected that the people of Muse didn’t listen to his story and refused to lend their help. But this cues the group that Alex and his family has permits to Muse. Alex then strikes a deal, he’ll give them the permits if they help him find the treasure of the ruins. They agree while leaving Pilika to play with Pete since it’s dangerous for kids to be in the ruins.
The ruins turn out to be one left behind by the Sindar race. But Alex doesn’t pay heed to it and helps out in solving the puzzles of the ruins. At the end of the ruins, the group defeated the guardian of the treasure, a Double-Headed Serpent. And finally, the treasure is right in front of them… a mere healing herb instead of a huge amount of cash. Alex becomes terribly disappointed that when they exit the ruins, he ditches the herb.
But when they return to the inn, they find Hilda on the ground, having been afflicted with a terrible fever. They are all completely helpless and Alex risks losing his wife because they usually go to Muse for a doctor, but time is shorter than ever because of the war. Jowy is sent off to find a doctor nearby, but he naturally fails to find one. Riou, however, simply returns to the ruins entrance and picks up the healing herb. Turns out, it’s the right cure for Hilda, saving her from death.
In Muse - Infiltrating Highland Camp
As promised, Alex hands the group his family’s permits and they can finally enter Muse… but there’s one problem: Alex and Hilda are grown ups while Pete is younger than them. They have to pretend. Nanami overreacts as an adult woman to pass as Hilda while Riou keeps his cool to pass as Alex, but Jowy ends up underreacting and unable to act like Pete. They end up being tossed in jail afterwards. Thankfully, Viktor explains to the guards about their arresting mistake and Riou and friends are free to explore Muse and reunite with the mercenaries in the inn.
Riou, however, ends up witnessing a confrontation of a mysterious woman in white named Elza against a veteran of the Gate Rune War, Clive. Both belong to the Howling Voice Guild, and Elza ends up running away with Clive in hot pursuit.
Viktor then invites Riou, Jowy and Nanami to visit the current mayor of Muse, Annabelle. Annabelle recognized them as the sins of her father towards Riou’s adoptive grandfather still weighs upon her. She promises to tell the story of Genkaku when she’s not busy. They’re allowed to explore the town hall, but they soon overheard Annabelle’s assistant, Jess, discussing a pair of unused Unicorn Brigade uniforms. He then ropes Riou and Jowy to go along with his plan to spy on a Highland camp about their supplies while pretending to be survivors of the massacre, as he suspects that an attack of Highland is imminent.
Without telling Viktor and Flik, Riou and Jowy agree to the plan. After reuniting and helping Tuta and gaining the trust of a swordswoman named Anita, Riou and Jowy depart to the camp and at first, their sneaking attempts work and they manage to gather the correct information. However, Rowd manages to bust them out and they’re forced to go into hiding, which only succeeds because the visiting Jillia Blight takes pity on them. Jillia also explains to the two about Luca’s madness and her inability to stop him, so she also apologizes to them.
However, Rowd manages to halt their escape one last time, so Jowy stays behind and uses the power of the Black Sword Rune so Riou can escape. Escaping with just Nanami, Riou had to come clean with Viktor and Flik about the plan. The two confront Annabelle and Jess about this, with Jess being adamant that he’ll have to do any means necessary to ensure the survival of Muse and the City-States, even if it means manipulating children. While angered, Viktor, Flik and Annabelle can do nothing about this and suggest that they retire to the inn.
Nanami instead chooses to stay and wait for Jowy outside the gates. Riou accompanies her with Pilika and sure enough, Jowy returns safe and sound.
Riou, however, ends up witnessing a confrontation of a mysterious woman in white named Elza against a veteran of the Gate Rune War, Clive. Both belong to the Howling Voice Guild, and Elza ends up running away with Clive in hot pursuit.
Viktor then invites Riou, Jowy and Nanami to visit the current mayor of Muse, Annabelle. Annabelle recognized them as the sins of her father towards Riou’s adoptive grandfather still weighs upon her. She promises to tell the story of Genkaku when she’s not busy. They’re allowed to explore the town hall, but they soon overheard Annabelle’s assistant, Jess, discussing a pair of unused Unicorn Brigade uniforms. He then ropes Riou and Jowy to go along with his plan to spy on a Highland camp about their supplies while pretending to be survivors of the massacre, as he suspects that an attack of Highland is imminent.
Without telling Viktor and Flik, Riou and Jowy agree to the plan. After reuniting and helping Tuta and gaining the trust of a swordswoman named Anita, Riou and Jowy depart to the camp and at first, their sneaking attempts work and they manage to gather the correct information. However, Rowd manages to bust them out and they’re forced to go into hiding, which only succeeds because the visiting Jillia Blight takes pity on them. Jillia also explains to the two about Luca’s madness and her inability to stop him, so she also apologizes to them.
However, Rowd manages to halt their escape one last time, so Jowy stays behind and uses the power of the Black Sword Rune so Riou can escape. Escaping with just Nanami, Riou had to come clean with Viktor and Flik about the plan. The two confront Annabelle and Jess about this, with Jess being adamant that he’ll have to do any means necessary to ensure the survival of Muse and the City-States, even if it means manipulating children. While angered, Viktor, Flik and Annabelle can do nothing about this and suggest that they retire to the inn.
Nanami instead chooses to stay and wait for Jowy outside the gates. Riou accompanies her with Pilika and sure enough, Jowy returns safe and sound.
Fall of Muse
The next day, Viktor invites them to the meeting at the summit, which is attended with the representatives of the City-States; Gorudo of the Matilda Knightdom, Teresa of Greenhill, Makai of Two-River, Granmeyer of South Window, a representative of the neighboring Tinto region by their leader Gustav, and finally, the military general of Muse, General Hauser; to discuss the upcoming Highland attack. However, the discussion was filled with distrust that Jowy secretly feels that the Alliance is hopeless.
The next day, a group of Highland soldiers under Solon Jhee, Culgan, and Seed lead the attack on Muse. There, Viktor and Flik spot a mercenary named Gilbert and having known him, attack him to change his mind about working with Highland. The Knightdom of Matilda also sends reinforcements led by the Blue Knights leader Miklotov, but then is forcefully called back by Gorudo. The Highland Army retreats, but Jowy grows increasingly annoyed at this alliance.
The group at least tries to inquire about Genkaku from Annabelle, but what awaits them is yet more bickering between Granmeyer and Gustav about sending their troops for war. That night, it turns out Jowy has hired the mercenary Kage, who once was hired by the Toran army in the Gate Rune Wars, to do some spy work. In the night, Annabelle has two visits, first from Viktor who just shares a drink and has a good talk.
And the next one is by Jowy… who intends to assassinate her. Annabelle manages to do a feint, but even that fails to save her life. Riou and Nanami come to witness Jowy’s betrayal and being late in saving Annabelle. Jess reports that the Highland soldiers are swarming the city, but on the sight of the mayor dying, he quickly accuses Riou and Nanami as the murderers. But since he’s busy managing the defenses, he doesn’t pay too much attention to them for now. Riou and Nanami retreats to the inn to retrieve Pilika, and Leona tells her that they’re to rendezvous at the South Window.
Muse has fallen, while Riou and Nanami are left wondering just why Jowy would betray them. Nanami expresses her tiredness of the war and desire to just leave everything altogether and live a quiet, simple life. But she notices that it’s probably impossible at the moment.
The next day, a group of Highland soldiers under Solon Jhee, Culgan, and Seed lead the attack on Muse. There, Viktor and Flik spot a mercenary named Gilbert and having known him, attack him to change his mind about working with Highland. The Knightdom of Matilda also sends reinforcements led by the Blue Knights leader Miklotov, but then is forcefully called back by Gorudo. The Highland Army retreats, but Jowy grows increasingly annoyed at this alliance.
The group at least tries to inquire about Genkaku from Annabelle, but what awaits them is yet more bickering between Granmeyer and Gustav about sending their troops for war. That night, it turns out Jowy has hired the mercenary Kage, who once was hired by the Toran army in the Gate Rune Wars, to do some spy work. In the night, Annabelle has two visits, first from Viktor who just shares a drink and has a good talk.
And the next one is by Jowy… who intends to assassinate her. Annabelle manages to do a feint, but even that fails to save her life. Riou and Nanami come to witness Jowy’s betrayal and being late in saving Annabelle. Jess reports that the Highland soldiers are swarming the city, but on the sight of the mayor dying, he quickly accuses Riou and Nanami as the murderers. But since he’s busy managing the defenses, he doesn’t pay too much attention to them for now. Riou and Nanami retreats to the inn to retrieve Pilika, and Leona tells her that they’re to rendezvous at the South Window.
Muse has fallen, while Riou and Nanami are left wondering just why Jowy would betray them. Nanami expresses her tiredness of the war and desire to just leave everything altogether and live a quiet, simple life. But she notices that it’s probably impossible at the moment.
Reaching Southwindow - Return of Neclord
Their path to South Window is blocked at Coronet, where the Highland has blocked sea travels from there. But there, they meet familiar faces… the performer trio of Rina, Eilie and Bolgan. They discuss a way to get into South Window together, and eventually while exploring the town, Riou witnesses a bickering between several veterans of the Gate Rune Wars: Sheena fails to urge Tai Ho and Yam Koo to lend their boat to go across the river without being caught by the Highland soldiers. However, Riou’s urging works better against Tai Ho who decides to gamble his luck with the game of dice. Riou’s luck prevails and wins over Tai Ho, so they bring in the performers to get on Tai Ho’s boat, reaching the town of Kuskus and allowing them to reach South Window where they reunite with Viktor and Flik.
They secure a meeting with Granmeyer, who gives them a task that may sound personal for Viktor: His old hometown of North Window has become a site of mysterious incidents where women were vanishing. Viktor is tasked to investigate there, while accompanied by Granmeyer’s aide, Freed Yamamoto. Riou and Nanami are invited, while Eilie also wants to tag along out of curiosity. Flik wants to accompany too, but Rina suddenly gets extra clingy on him and forces him to have some meals with her.
Arriving at North Window, Riou is greeted with a dead town full of graves. Viktor explains to him that his home was destroyed long ago by the vampire Neclord, but he believes that he has vanquished the bloodsucker for good in the previous Gate Rune Wars.
And to his shock, Neclord suddenly appears fine and dandy as if nothing has happened. He attacks Riou’s group, and Viktor realizes it’s futile to fight Neclord without the Star Dragon Sword, so they have to retreat. Viktor remembers that after the war, he put the Star Dragon Sword in a cave south of North Window, the Cave of the Winds. The group heads there immediately.
In the middle of the trek to the cavern, they meet an experienced vampire hunter, Kahn Marley. He reveals the reason why Neclord survived the last battle: He was using a doppelganger technique, what Viktor slew before was just his doppelganger while his real body was in Jowston all along back then. But with his technique, he could ensure that he’ll never escape again. Unfortunately, the Star Dragon Sword reveals its true high and mighty nature, being easily irritated and attacking Riou and Viktor when it perceives them as insulting it. To the point that Viktor has to beg like a lowly servant so it will cooperate.
Confronting Neclord in his palace set in the North Window castle, he tries another trick to make Viktor drop the Star Dragon Sword: Bringing back Viktor’s old love, Daisy, from the grave and using her as a shield. However, as much as it pains Viktor, he’s not fooled and cuts down Daisy, revealing her as nothing but a clay doll. Neclord escapes while leaving an Abomination monster for Riou to contend with. Viktor is pissed that Neclord escapes again.
They secure a meeting with Granmeyer, who gives them a task that may sound personal for Viktor: His old hometown of North Window has become a site of mysterious incidents where women were vanishing. Viktor is tasked to investigate there, while accompanied by Granmeyer’s aide, Freed Yamamoto. Riou and Nanami are invited, while Eilie also wants to tag along out of curiosity. Flik wants to accompany too, but Rina suddenly gets extra clingy on him and forces him to have some meals with her.
Arriving at North Window, Riou is greeted with a dead town full of graves. Viktor explains to him that his home was destroyed long ago by the vampire Neclord, but he believes that he has vanquished the bloodsucker for good in the previous Gate Rune Wars.
And to his shock, Neclord suddenly appears fine and dandy as if nothing has happened. He attacks Riou’s group, and Viktor realizes it’s futile to fight Neclord without the Star Dragon Sword, so they have to retreat. Viktor remembers that after the war, he put the Star Dragon Sword in a cave south of North Window, the Cave of the Winds. The group heads there immediately.
In the middle of the trek to the cavern, they meet an experienced vampire hunter, Kahn Marley. He reveals the reason why Neclord survived the last battle: He was using a doppelganger technique, what Viktor slew before was just his doppelganger while his real body was in Jowston all along back then. But with his technique, he could ensure that he’ll never escape again. Unfortunately, the Star Dragon Sword reveals its true high and mighty nature, being easily irritated and attacking Riou and Viktor when it perceives them as insulting it. To the point that Viktor has to beg like a lowly servant so it will cooperate.
Confronting Neclord in his palace set in the North Window castle, he tries another trick to make Viktor drop the Star Dragon Sword: Bringing back Viktor’s old love, Daisy, from the grave and using her as a shield. However, as much as it pains Viktor, he’s not fooled and cuts down Daisy, revealing her as nothing but a clay doll. Neclord escapes while leaving an Abomination monster for Riou to contend with. Viktor is pissed that Neclord escapes again.
The Strategist Shu vs General Solon Jhee - The States Army is formed
Kahn makes his exit, with hopes that he’ll be able to figure out how to not let Neclord escape. However, Flik, Rina and the rest of the mercenaries directly meet the group in North Window to report that the Highland Kingdom has attacked South Window, and after Granmeyer surrenders to let them escape, he’s executed and his head put on a spike. Freed is devastated hearing the fate of his lord.
The group only has the old castle left behind by Neclord to hide and it’s only a matter of time until Highland comes storming. All seems hopeless, until Apple voices her opinion, there’s still one hope left: a keen strategist, moreso than her strategy that failed them in the Mercenary Fort. She knows one brilliant student of Mathiu living in the nearby town of Radat, Shu. He was expelled for unruly behavior, but his mind was brilliant with no equals. Riou is sent to recruit him, accompanied with Nanami and Apple, if they’re to stand a chance against Highland.
When they reach the place, however, Shu shows no interest in helping as he’s content with his life as a trader and using Mathiu’s teachings to maximize his profit. Apple has to beg multiple times and throw away her pride by falling on her knees and begging for help, and even Shu rejects that. With the help of the informant Richmond, Riou learns a way to ambush Shu to force an audience with him, by waiting at the Radat Bridge where Shu has an important meeting.
Riou succeeds in securing another audience. This time, Shu gives a rather important tricky task: He has a rather rare coin from the Island Nations. He tosses it to the river and if they can find it, he’ll join as their strategist. With the Highland Army approaching in one day, they’re short on time. First, Riou asks the people to lower the sluice gate for a better chance to find the coin. The guard refuses at first, but is convinced otherwise when a sailor, Amada, tells him to back off a bit, and is then won over by Riou’s persistence. So, as a manly man, Amada proposes a duel. Riou bests him in combat and Amada agrees to lower the sluice gate as a result.
However, it takes until night to find the coin to no avail as Nanami is just ready to give up, but Apple insists on searching anyway. By accident, Riou eventually finds the coin. Turns out, Shu has been watching and he’s impressed with their tenacity. Additionally, Riou’s Bright Shield Rune, formerly belonging to Genkaku, convinces Shu that his plight is a real deal, and so he agrees to help. Though behind the scenes, Richmond may have something to do with this…
Returning to the North Window castle, Shu quickly devises a strategy to take advantage of Solon Jhee’s lack of naval experience and how his men at the moment are composed of former South Window soldiers. He orders Freed to join up with Highland as deserters while Viktor holds the ground. But in the meantime, he wants Riou to lead up a small battalion to sneak behind and attack Solon Jhee just once to shake the morale of the Highland soldiers, causing the South Window soldiers to defect and thus making the scales more even.
The strategy works wonders and after a string of victories, Solon Jhee is forced to retreat and experience the bitter taste of defeat. Everyone cheers on the victory and Riou’s big part in it. It is at this point that the time is right to start mounting a counterattack against Highland, there’s enough potential: A base, group of capable men and high morale. All they need is a leader to unite them… and Riou is the greatest candidate, based on how he’s the son of Genkaku. To clear things up, Viktor invites him and Nanami to listen to the story of Genkaku, the one that Annabelle failed to tell before her death, at night.
The next day, after realizing the responsibility he carries and what he can do to end the war, Riou accepts the leadership. Leknaat comes to congratulate him for making it this far, and presents him the Tablet of Destiny, and also the servitude of Luc, who has some condescending remarks on his fellow veterans of Gate Rune Wars. Additionally, famed Doctor Huan of Muse also decides to join in as a part of celebration.
The group only has the old castle left behind by Neclord to hide and it’s only a matter of time until Highland comes storming. All seems hopeless, until Apple voices her opinion, there’s still one hope left: a keen strategist, moreso than her strategy that failed them in the Mercenary Fort. She knows one brilliant student of Mathiu living in the nearby town of Radat, Shu. He was expelled for unruly behavior, but his mind was brilliant with no equals. Riou is sent to recruit him, accompanied with Nanami and Apple, if they’re to stand a chance against Highland.
When they reach the place, however, Shu shows no interest in helping as he’s content with his life as a trader and using Mathiu’s teachings to maximize his profit. Apple has to beg multiple times and throw away her pride by falling on her knees and begging for help, and even Shu rejects that. With the help of the informant Richmond, Riou learns a way to ambush Shu to force an audience with him, by waiting at the Radat Bridge where Shu has an important meeting.
Riou succeeds in securing another audience. This time, Shu gives a rather important tricky task: He has a rather rare coin from the Island Nations. He tosses it to the river and if they can find it, he’ll join as their strategist. With the Highland Army approaching in one day, they’re short on time. First, Riou asks the people to lower the sluice gate for a better chance to find the coin. The guard refuses at first, but is convinced otherwise when a sailor, Amada, tells him to back off a bit, and is then won over by Riou’s persistence. So, as a manly man, Amada proposes a duel. Riou bests him in combat and Amada agrees to lower the sluice gate as a result.
However, it takes until night to find the coin to no avail as Nanami is just ready to give up, but Apple insists on searching anyway. By accident, Riou eventually finds the coin. Turns out, Shu has been watching and he’s impressed with their tenacity. Additionally, Riou’s Bright Shield Rune, formerly belonging to Genkaku, convinces Shu that his plight is a real deal, and so he agrees to help. Though behind the scenes, Richmond may have something to do with this…
Returning to the North Window castle, Shu quickly devises a strategy to take advantage of Solon Jhee’s lack of naval experience and how his men at the moment are composed of former South Window soldiers. He orders Freed to join up with Highland as deserters while Viktor holds the ground. But in the meantime, he wants Riou to lead up a small battalion to sneak behind and attack Solon Jhee just once to shake the morale of the Highland soldiers, causing the South Window soldiers to defect and thus making the scales more even.
The strategy works wonders and after a string of victories, Solon Jhee is forced to retreat and experience the bitter taste of defeat. Everyone cheers on the victory and Riou’s big part in it. It is at this point that the time is right to start mounting a counterattack against Highland, there’s enough potential: A base, group of capable men and high morale. All they need is a leader to unite them… and Riou is the greatest candidate, based on how he’s the son of Genkaku. To clear things up, Viktor invites him and Nanami to listen to the story of Genkaku, the one that Annabelle failed to tell before her death, at night.
The next day, after realizing the responsibility he carries and what he can do to end the war, Riou accepts the leadership. Leknaat comes to congratulate him for making it this far, and presents him the Tablet of Destiny, and also the servitude of Luc, who has some condescending remarks on his fellow veterans of Gate Rune Wars. Additionally, famed Doctor Huan of Muse also decides to join in as a part of celebration.
Gaining the Alliance of Two River
The next day, Riou gets a visit by Fitcher, a messenger from Muse, who has been working in Two River in the time being. After hearing the victory against Solon Jhee, he believes that it’s imperative for the one who beat Solon Jhee to have an audience with Two River’s Makai. And in that time as well, Riou realizes the necessity of a shipman. So, he returns to Radat and asks Amada to join his army as the official shipman. After beating him in a duel again, Amada joined up for good. In the same time, Riou also lets Freed reunite with his wife Yoshino and she instead offers to join as well. He also tries to get Richmond to join him, and ends up having to uncover yet another of his trickery of using a double-sided coin to make him join for good.
Before Riou returns to his castle, he explores the region around to recruit some able men, including Tai Ho, Yam Koo and another Gate Rune War veteran, Templeton; reuniting with Alex and Hilda, allowing them to open up a shop in his castle; and an eccentric inventor named Adlai who invents an elevator in his castle.
After bringing Amada to the ship docks, he controls the ship well enough to arrive at Lakewest. He prefers to stay on the ship, though. Fitcher also has to depart earlier to take care of administration. He gives Riou a pass to prove himself as the real deal and secure an audience with Makai.
Riou then uses the time to recruit a sweet old lady named Taki who resides at Lakewest… and then he returns to South Window to meet up with Clive again. He’s looking for a way to Lakewest to confront Elza, and Riou provides him. And after hearing rumors about a group that assaults only women in Kuskus, Riou decides to travel with an all-female party to attract this group, in which eventually a bodyguard named Oulan goes to crush this group and she joins Riou’s army as a result.
Unfortunately, Clive’s pursuit of Elza meets a roadblock where it turns out that she already left a letter that she’s gone to a Forest Village near Greenhill. Therefore, the business at Two River comes first.
Unfortunately, the moment Riou steps into Two River, he gets his wallet stolen by a Winger named Chaco, which includes his pass, so he’s unable to prove himself to the guards and denied an audience. He chases Chaco in the neighboring Winger settlement to no avail, but when he returns, he witnesses Fitcher being intimidated by the Kobold general Ridley for rule-breaking and abandoning Two River to follow a sham person. Riou steps in and Fitcher vouches for his identity by revealing his relations with Genkaku and the possession of the Bright Shield Rune.
Finally having an audience with Makai, Riou is on the way to secure an alliance with Two River, and gets to learn on how the Wingers come to Two River and then cause trouble for humans and kobolds alike. Riou is allowed to rest in the inn where he also recruits an armorer named Hans to open a shop in his castle, and also finds out that Chaco ate his dinner.
The next day, however, Riou catches Makai and Ridley arguing. Apparently, Ridley is pissed that he can’t trust humans. Riou and Fitcher try to reason with Ridley, but they’re rejected by his kobolds. And then, Chaco now steals Fitcher’s wallet and in an attempt to corner him, they end up searching through a sewer full of monsters and a giant rat waiting in the end. They get out on the other side, which is actually the kobold section of Two River. Ridley catches on and they manage to gather information that Makai was seen making deals with Highland, which is why Ridley was cross at the humans.
And when they return to Makai, they find him signing a peace treaty by General Kiba and his son Klaus. Klaus takes his time to personally greet Riou as the one who defeated Solon Jhee and hopes for a fair battle of wits later. Regardless, with the treaty being signed, Makai apologizes that he can’t make an alliance with Riou’s army and he has to go home empty-handed. Before Riou can retire to the inn for the day, Chaco calls him since his granny, the Winger elder Su-Su, wants an audience with him. Su-Su apologizes for Chaco’s behavior and explains to him how they owe Genkaku a favor to vouch for the Wingers’ integrity in Two River and hopes for him to fight for what Genkaku does. Chaco, however, still doesn’t trust Riou.
The next day, Riou tries to exit the Two River and finds the Highland Army ready to assault, Makai is paying for his inexperience and naivete for being too trusting on Highland. Riou helps to stave off the Highland assault, but it seems too much… until suddenly Chaco leads a group of Wingers to attack the Highland soldiers, stating that even if humans and kobolds hate them, Two River is still their home and they damn well want to defend it at all costs. Riou and Fitcher then volunteer to plead for help from Ridley, since his presence will turn the tides. While at first hesitant, Ridley is eventually convinced to join the fray after agreeing to defend his home and not let the humans or wingers upstage the kobolds as equals. Kiba is still convinced that he has the upper hand, until Klaus reports that an army of volunteer Kobolds from the southern village is coming to pincer them. Kiba admits defeat and orders a retreat.
Eventually, Riou finds out that Shu had a hand in convincing the Kobold volunteers based on Ridley’s reputation amongst Kobolds. Makai agrees to ally himself with Riou’s army and fires Fitcher from his position so he can be recruited by Shu. Chaco finally admits Riou as his friend and returns his wallet… but not Fitcher’s.
Before Riou returns to his castle, he explores the region around to recruit some able men, including Tai Ho, Yam Koo and another Gate Rune War veteran, Templeton; reuniting with Alex and Hilda, allowing them to open up a shop in his castle; and an eccentric inventor named Adlai who invents an elevator in his castle.
After bringing Amada to the ship docks, he controls the ship well enough to arrive at Lakewest. He prefers to stay on the ship, though. Fitcher also has to depart earlier to take care of administration. He gives Riou a pass to prove himself as the real deal and secure an audience with Makai.
Riou then uses the time to recruit a sweet old lady named Taki who resides at Lakewest… and then he returns to South Window to meet up with Clive again. He’s looking for a way to Lakewest to confront Elza, and Riou provides him. And after hearing rumors about a group that assaults only women in Kuskus, Riou decides to travel with an all-female party to attract this group, in which eventually a bodyguard named Oulan goes to crush this group and she joins Riou’s army as a result.
Unfortunately, Clive’s pursuit of Elza meets a roadblock where it turns out that she already left a letter that she’s gone to a Forest Village near Greenhill. Therefore, the business at Two River comes first.
Unfortunately, the moment Riou steps into Two River, he gets his wallet stolen by a Winger named Chaco, which includes his pass, so he’s unable to prove himself to the guards and denied an audience. He chases Chaco in the neighboring Winger settlement to no avail, but when he returns, he witnesses Fitcher being intimidated by the Kobold general Ridley for rule-breaking and abandoning Two River to follow a sham person. Riou steps in and Fitcher vouches for his identity by revealing his relations with Genkaku and the possession of the Bright Shield Rune.
Finally having an audience with Makai, Riou is on the way to secure an alliance with Two River, and gets to learn on how the Wingers come to Two River and then cause trouble for humans and kobolds alike. Riou is allowed to rest in the inn where he also recruits an armorer named Hans to open a shop in his castle, and also finds out that Chaco ate his dinner.
The next day, however, Riou catches Makai and Ridley arguing. Apparently, Ridley is pissed that he can’t trust humans. Riou and Fitcher try to reason with Ridley, but they’re rejected by his kobolds. And then, Chaco now steals Fitcher’s wallet and in an attempt to corner him, they end up searching through a sewer full of monsters and a giant rat waiting in the end. They get out on the other side, which is actually the kobold section of Two River. Ridley catches on and they manage to gather information that Makai was seen making deals with Highland, which is why Ridley was cross at the humans.
And when they return to Makai, they find him signing a peace treaty by General Kiba and his son Klaus. Klaus takes his time to personally greet Riou as the one who defeated Solon Jhee and hopes for a fair battle of wits later. Regardless, with the treaty being signed, Makai apologizes that he can’t make an alliance with Riou’s army and he has to go home empty-handed. Before Riou can retire to the inn for the day, Chaco calls him since his granny, the Winger elder Su-Su, wants an audience with him. Su-Su apologizes for Chaco’s behavior and explains to him how they owe Genkaku a favor to vouch for the Wingers’ integrity in Two River and hopes for him to fight for what Genkaku does. Chaco, however, still doesn’t trust Riou.
The next day, Riou tries to exit the Two River and finds the Highland Army ready to assault, Makai is paying for his inexperience and naivete for being too trusting on Highland. Riou helps to stave off the Highland assault, but it seems too much… until suddenly Chaco leads a group of Wingers to attack the Highland soldiers, stating that even if humans and kobolds hate them, Two River is still their home and they damn well want to defend it at all costs. Riou and Fitcher then volunteer to plead for help from Ridley, since his presence will turn the tides. While at first hesitant, Ridley is eventually convinced to join the fray after agreeing to defend his home and not let the humans or wingers upstage the kobolds as equals. Kiba is still convinced that he has the upper hand, until Klaus reports that an army of volunteer Kobolds from the southern village is coming to pincer them. Kiba admits defeat and orders a retreat.
Eventually, Riou finds out that Shu had a hand in convincing the Kobold volunteers based on Ridley’s reputation amongst Kobolds. Makai agrees to ally himself with Riou’s army and fires Fitcher from his position so he can be recruited by Shu. Chaco finally admits Riou as his friend and returns his wallet… but not Fitcher’s.
Side Quests: Recruitment & the Unicorn Test
Before reporting back to base, Riou lets Gengen reunite with his brother Gabocha in the Kobold section of the Two River and the latter ends up sneaking to Riou’s army. Riou also remembers a creepy spot within the sewers and takes Chaco there. To his surprise, Chaco is reunited with a creepy Winger and ‘big brother figure’, Sid. While Sid completely creeps Chaco out, he instead offers to join Riou’s army to ‘better protect his little brother’.
He also visits the Forest Village to let Clive resume his hunt on Elza, only to find her already setting up a dummy person to distract Clive while she has gone to Rockaxe in Matilda. In the same village, Riou impresses a martial artist named Wakaba with his strength so she joins him to search for her master. He also approaches the gardener Tony and gives him the chance to manage a garden in his castle.
While passing by the border between Greenhill and Muse, Riou comes across a veteran of Gate Rune Wars, Meg, who tries to pass the border by unveiling her creation, Gadget, only for it to not impress the guards and she settles with joining Riou instead to better her trickster skills. After buying a Fried Tacos to get him steamed up, Riou manages to convince a bathmaker named Tetsu that he has experienced a time in the bath so Tetsu can make a bath in his castle. He also wins a gambling match of dice with Shilo to get him to open his own gambling joint in his castle.
In the same place, Riou also encounters a pair of Gate Rune War veterans, the teenage couple from Warriors’ Village, Hix and Tengaar. Ever since the war, Hix has been on the next phase of his quest as a warrior, to prove his manhood by undergoing a trial, with Tengaar nagging him for his success. But just like before, Hix is a bit too reluctant on this particular quest: A ‘Unicorn Quest’ to fight off a unicorn located somewhere in the Kobold village south of Two River.
Even the kobold elder are not convinced of the existence of the unicorn, and this pisses Tengaar off that she name-dropped her village, and suddenly the elder takes interest. That night, Hix explains to Riou about his history with Tengaar, though he avoids talking about events of the previous war.
The next day, Riou and Hix find out that Tengaar has been afflicted with a ‘Unicorn Curse’ for speaking too brazenly about the Unicorn quest that she would never wake up from her sleep. To wake her up, Hix has to fetch several items in various locations. Over-eager to save Tengaar, Hix doesn’t even question the ridiculous premise of the quest which boils down to various Fetch Quest, something that Riou notices easily: Kobolds seems to be spotted in places designated, and sometimes Tengaar acts suspicious, such as sneezing or being spotted sitting on a chair instead of sleeping.
On finally fetching the final item, Hix then finds Tengaar nowhere to be seen. The elder reveals that the unicorn has taken her and Hix must venture through the forest behind the village to save her. Riou and Hix venture through the forest… only to find Tengaar safe and sound and apologizes for the selfish sham she put him through. This is because the kobold elder is indebted with the founder of the Warriors’ Village, Klift the Crusader, that he had to make up for it when the Crusader’s descendant asked for help, in this case, Tengaar wanting Hix to finish his manhood ritual ASAP. As for the unicorn, everyone there knows it’s a fairy tale so it doesn’t exist…
Only to be shocked when an actual unicorn, Sigfried, makes an appearance in that very moment, scaring off the kobolds and threatening to take Tengaar away. Just like his old encounter with Neclord, Hix knows he’s scared to death, but he has sworn to protect Tengaar, so he’ll fight for her sake. Witnessing his spur of bravery, Sigfried vanishes and wishes him and Tengaar good luck.
After thanking Riou for helping them, Tengaar then offers to join Riou’s army along with Hix as a token of gratitude, once again dashing Hix’s plan to finally go home. But of course, he can’t say no to his girlfriend.
Riou finally returns to the castle for a well-deserved rest afterwards. While wandering through the castle, he is approached by a peculiar man named Hai Yo who wants to open a restaurant and cook for him. Riou allows him to, but his men say that Hai Yo looks suspicious. Indeed, Hai Yo will end up bringing his own past and troubles towards Riou… but that is a story for another folder.
He also visits the Forest Village to let Clive resume his hunt on Elza, only to find her already setting up a dummy person to distract Clive while she has gone to Rockaxe in Matilda. In the same village, Riou impresses a martial artist named Wakaba with his strength so she joins him to search for her master. He also approaches the gardener Tony and gives him the chance to manage a garden in his castle.
While passing by the border between Greenhill and Muse, Riou comes across a veteran of Gate Rune Wars, Meg, who tries to pass the border by unveiling her creation, Gadget, only for it to not impress the guards and she settles with joining Riou instead to better her trickster skills. After buying a Fried Tacos to get him steamed up, Riou manages to convince a bathmaker named Tetsu that he has experienced a time in the bath so Tetsu can make a bath in his castle. He also wins a gambling match of dice with Shilo to get him to open his own gambling joint in his castle.
In the same place, Riou also encounters a pair of Gate Rune War veterans, the teenage couple from Warriors’ Village, Hix and Tengaar. Ever since the war, Hix has been on the next phase of his quest as a warrior, to prove his manhood by undergoing a trial, with Tengaar nagging him for his success. But just like before, Hix is a bit too reluctant on this particular quest: A ‘Unicorn Quest’ to fight off a unicorn located somewhere in the Kobold village south of Two River.
Even the kobold elder are not convinced of the existence of the unicorn, and this pisses Tengaar off that she name-dropped her village, and suddenly the elder takes interest. That night, Hix explains to Riou about his history with Tengaar, though he avoids talking about events of the previous war.
The next day, Riou and Hix find out that Tengaar has been afflicted with a ‘Unicorn Curse’ for speaking too brazenly about the Unicorn quest that she would never wake up from her sleep. To wake her up, Hix has to fetch several items in various locations. Over-eager to save Tengaar, Hix doesn’t even question the ridiculous premise of the quest which boils down to various Fetch Quest, something that Riou notices easily: Kobolds seems to be spotted in places designated, and sometimes Tengaar acts suspicious, such as sneezing or being spotted sitting on a chair instead of sleeping.
On finally fetching the final item, Hix then finds Tengaar nowhere to be seen. The elder reveals that the unicorn has taken her and Hix must venture through the forest behind the village to save her. Riou and Hix venture through the forest… only to find Tengaar safe and sound and apologizes for the selfish sham she put him through. This is because the kobold elder is indebted with the founder of the Warriors’ Village, Klift the Crusader, that he had to make up for it when the Crusader’s descendant asked for help, in this case, Tengaar wanting Hix to finish his manhood ritual ASAP. As for the unicorn, everyone there knows it’s a fairy tale so it doesn’t exist…
Only to be shocked when an actual unicorn, Sigfried, makes an appearance in that very moment, scaring off the kobolds and threatening to take Tengaar away. Just like his old encounter with Neclord, Hix knows he’s scared to death, but he has sworn to protect Tengaar, so he’ll fight for her sake. Witnessing his spur of bravery, Sigfried vanishes and wishes him and Tengaar good luck.
After thanking Riou for helping them, Tengaar then offers to join Riou’s army along with Hix as a token of gratitude, once again dashing Hix’s plan to finally go home. But of course, he can’t say no to his girlfriend.
Riou finally returns to the castle for a well-deserved rest afterwards. While wandering through the castle, he is approached by a peculiar man named Hai Yo who wants to open a restaurant and cook for him. Riou allows him to, but his men say that Hai Yo looks suspicious. Indeed, Hai Yo will end up bringing his own past and troubles towards Riou… but that is a story for another folder.
Rescuing Teresa from Greenhill
The next day, Riou hears distressing news. While Solon Jhee’s failure in South Window caused him to get executed, he was replaced with a capable newcomer who proceeded to bring down Greenhill with minimum casualties. However, hope still exists since the acting mayor, Teresa, is still alive, but her whereabouts are unknown. Since Greenhill prides itself for its educational institute, the New Leaf Academy, Shu devises a plan that Riou should disguise himself as a student to find out the whereabouts of Teresa and get her to join them. To facilitate this, Nanami tags along with Pilika as ‘fellow students’, Flik is ordered to accompany them as bodyguard, and Fitcher scouts ahead to enable their sneaking better. For this mission, Riou is only allowed to bring allies who are of school’s age.
After setting up his party, Riou departs to Greenhill. Fitcher has set up the enrollment letter for them to use and they manage to enter the gates. Flik ends up saving a student named Nina who gets instantly smitten to him. After taking care of the enrollment process with the librarian Emilia, Riou proceeds to look for clues about Teresa. He immediately reveals his identity with Emilia, who trusts him instantly after explanation and promises to help him while providing cover.
During the days of investigation while posing as a student, Riou experiences a relaxing school life while having to contend with Nina and her infatuation with Flik, eventually accusing Nanami as a rival in love, and learning that one of the sub-captains assigned to the town happens to be Rowd. The bodyguard of Teresa, Shin, is also occasionally spotted, but from there, Riou learns that some people in Greenhill aren’t that pleased with Teresa’s actions. Flik also has to save Fitcher again from soldiers of Muse that accuse him as a cowardly traitor.
Eventually, Nina states a rumor about a ghost wandering in the night, which scares Nanami. At one night, Riou hears noises that he decides to investigate about the ghost’s existence, accompanied with Nanami. The search eventually leads him to discover a secret passage linking the dormitory and the New Leaf Academy main building. There, Riou corners the shadowy ‘ghost’... who turns out to be Flik, tailing an actual ‘ghost’, whom he suspects to be Shin. They discover a hidden passage leading to a small forest.
They discover a cabin, to which Shin declares that he cannot let anyone pass for the sake of Teresa. Flik is almost preparing to fight, but the tension causes Pilika to cry. And with that, Teresa comes out herself, allowing Riou to explain himself. Teresa catches on that he wanted the power of Greenhill, but declines because she has completely failed Greenhill. Teresa then explains about the fall of Greenhill.
When she heard news that the Highland was about to attack, Teresa naturally geared up for defense. However, when the Highland came with a brand new commander, all they did was just to release the prisoners from Muse and then camped near the gates, doing nothing at all. While the addition of Muse soldiers at first lifted the morale of the people of Greenhill, the purpose of prisoner release became clear. Rather than hoping for a fair fight, the purpose was to drive the wedge between the people of Greenhill and the soldiers of Muse. Soon enough, they began arguing on what to do with the limited food supplies of Greenhill: Is it for the people of Greenhill, or for the war, thus it’s for the soldiers of Muse? Eventually, the rift was created and the people and soldiers fought each other instead, so the Highland won without even lifting a finger. Teresa failed to prevent it, thus she held herself responsible for this fall and her people now despise her.
After hearing the story and Teresa’s refusal, Shin suggests that Riou’s party leave Greenhill. But in that very day, they witness Rowd making an announcement that there will be a reward for citizens who apprehend Teresa. Rowd’s lack of charisma does not win the attention of the people, forcing the new commander to eventually deliver the news.
And the new commander is none other than Jowy.
Jowy turns out to possess a better charisma to win over the people, but gives an extra condition: Teresa must be delivered alive, not dead. While this happens, Pilika naturally approaches Jowy without saying anything since she misses her uncle so much. This almost exposes Riou, but Fitcher’s timely intervention allows them to escape. They try to go back to inform Teresa, eventually realizing that Nina has been the bridge for her and the actual events in Greenhill. Instead, Teresa decides to surrender herself to quell the chaos.
Just before Teresa could surrender herself, after a bit of intervention with Riou’s team, Nina arrives and rallies the whole town, commonfolk and soldiers alike, to announce that they love Teresa and don’t blame her for getting the town taken over by Highland. They await the day that Teresa will return and liberate the town. Moved, Teresa promises to return to reclaim the town and for the moment aligns herself with Riou.
Shin eventually stays behind to stall the pursuing army by Rowd. En route, however, they encounter Jowy again, now as enemies. With the former friends facing off each other, Jowy suggests that Riou quits being the leader of the City-States army, but Riou can’t back down either. Nanami and Pilika get extremely distressed at having to fight Jowy, but Flik manages to force them to run off for awhile. Jowy gets accosted by Rowd for letting them go and not giving information, but he surprisingly gets covered by two high ranking Highland generals, Culgan and Seed. After Rowd leaves, Culgan and Seed reveal that they do this out of their loyalty with their home and someone like Luca Blight can only bring it to ruin, thus they see Jowy as someone worth pledging loyalty to and will save Highland from Luca.
While en route to return to his castle and passing by in Two River, Riou noticed the beautiful runemistress Jeane, after apparently teaching in the New Leaf Academy, has set up a store in there. He asks her to join, which is accepted right after she appoints a replacement shopkeeper. Riou then revisits the Kobold Village, where he helps a girl named Yuzu relocate her missing sheeps then bring her and her sheeps to his castle.
Riou returns to his castle safely with Teresa, but she’s a bit tired and requires rest, thinking that Shin perished in his covering battle. However, Shin returns safe and sound thanks to the help of Nina. Thus, Teresa, Shin and Nina officially enlisted to Riou’s army… and Flik had to contend with a rather persistent fangirl. In the meantime, Luca allows Jowy to ask for a reward for his success at taking over Greenhill. Jowy then asks for a marriage with Luca’s sister Jillia, and also an ‘extra plan’ that Luca may like.
After setting up his party, Riou departs to Greenhill. Fitcher has set up the enrollment letter for them to use and they manage to enter the gates. Flik ends up saving a student named Nina who gets instantly smitten to him. After taking care of the enrollment process with the librarian Emilia, Riou proceeds to look for clues about Teresa. He immediately reveals his identity with Emilia, who trusts him instantly after explanation and promises to help him while providing cover.
During the days of investigation while posing as a student, Riou experiences a relaxing school life while having to contend with Nina and her infatuation with Flik, eventually accusing Nanami as a rival in love, and learning that one of the sub-captains assigned to the town happens to be Rowd. The bodyguard of Teresa, Shin, is also occasionally spotted, but from there, Riou learns that some people in Greenhill aren’t that pleased with Teresa’s actions. Flik also has to save Fitcher again from soldiers of Muse that accuse him as a cowardly traitor.
Eventually, Nina states a rumor about a ghost wandering in the night, which scares Nanami. At one night, Riou hears noises that he decides to investigate about the ghost’s existence, accompanied with Nanami. The search eventually leads him to discover a secret passage linking the dormitory and the New Leaf Academy main building. There, Riou corners the shadowy ‘ghost’... who turns out to be Flik, tailing an actual ‘ghost’, whom he suspects to be Shin. They discover a hidden passage leading to a small forest.
They discover a cabin, to which Shin declares that he cannot let anyone pass for the sake of Teresa. Flik is almost preparing to fight, but the tension causes Pilika to cry. And with that, Teresa comes out herself, allowing Riou to explain himself. Teresa catches on that he wanted the power of Greenhill, but declines because she has completely failed Greenhill. Teresa then explains about the fall of Greenhill.
When she heard news that the Highland was about to attack, Teresa naturally geared up for defense. However, when the Highland came with a brand new commander, all they did was just to release the prisoners from Muse and then camped near the gates, doing nothing at all. While the addition of Muse soldiers at first lifted the morale of the people of Greenhill, the purpose of prisoner release became clear. Rather than hoping for a fair fight, the purpose was to drive the wedge between the people of Greenhill and the soldiers of Muse. Soon enough, they began arguing on what to do with the limited food supplies of Greenhill: Is it for the people of Greenhill, or for the war, thus it’s for the soldiers of Muse? Eventually, the rift was created and the people and soldiers fought each other instead, so the Highland won without even lifting a finger. Teresa failed to prevent it, thus she held herself responsible for this fall and her people now despise her.
After hearing the story and Teresa’s refusal, Shin suggests that Riou’s party leave Greenhill. But in that very day, they witness Rowd making an announcement that there will be a reward for citizens who apprehend Teresa. Rowd’s lack of charisma does not win the attention of the people, forcing the new commander to eventually deliver the news.
And the new commander is none other than Jowy.
Jowy turns out to possess a better charisma to win over the people, but gives an extra condition: Teresa must be delivered alive, not dead. While this happens, Pilika naturally approaches Jowy without saying anything since she misses her uncle so much. This almost exposes Riou, but Fitcher’s timely intervention allows them to escape. They try to go back to inform Teresa, eventually realizing that Nina has been the bridge for her and the actual events in Greenhill. Instead, Teresa decides to surrender herself to quell the chaos.
Just before Teresa could surrender herself, after a bit of intervention with Riou’s team, Nina arrives and rallies the whole town, commonfolk and soldiers alike, to announce that they love Teresa and don’t blame her for getting the town taken over by Highland. They await the day that Teresa will return and liberate the town. Moved, Teresa promises to return to reclaim the town and for the moment aligns herself with Riou.
Shin eventually stays behind to stall the pursuing army by Rowd. En route, however, they encounter Jowy again, now as enemies. With the former friends facing off each other, Jowy suggests that Riou quits being the leader of the City-States army, but Riou can’t back down either. Nanami and Pilika get extremely distressed at having to fight Jowy, but Flik manages to force them to run off for awhile. Jowy gets accosted by Rowd for letting them go and not giving information, but he surprisingly gets covered by two high ranking Highland generals, Culgan and Seed. After Rowd leaves, Culgan and Seed reveal that they do this out of their loyalty with their home and someone like Luca Blight can only bring it to ruin, thus they see Jowy as someone worth pledging loyalty to and will save Highland from Luca.
While en route to return to his castle and passing by in Two River, Riou noticed the beautiful runemistress Jeane, after apparently teaching in the New Leaf Academy, has set up a store in there. He asks her to join, which is accepted right after she appoints a replacement shopkeeper. Riou then revisits the Kobold Village, where he helps a girl named Yuzu relocate her missing sheeps then bring her and her sheeps to his castle.
Riou returns to his castle safely with Teresa, but she’s a bit tired and requires rest, thinking that Shin perished in his covering battle. However, Shin returns safe and sound thanks to the help of Nina. Thus, Teresa, Shin and Nina officially enlisted to Riou’s army… and Flik had to contend with a rather persistent fangirl. In the meantime, Luca allows Jowy to ask for a reward for his success at taking over Greenhill. Jowy then asks for a marriage with Luca’s sister Jillia, and also an ‘extra plan’ that Luca may like.
Attempting to forge an alliance with the Matilda Knightdom - Part 1
The next day, Shu concludes that after they succeed with Two River and Greenhill, the next course of action is to form an alliance with the Matilda Knightdom. Nanami forces herself into Riou’s entourage and they cross the border between the Greenhill and Matilda… where en route, Riou bumps into another veteran of the Gate Rune War, the teleportress Viki, who snooze after the victory celebration of Gate Rune War and found herself in this moment. Riou allows her to teleport to his castle. Soon, Riou is escorted right into the main headquarter of the knightdom, Rockaxe, by the leader of the Blue Knights, Miklotov.
Unfortunately, the meeting for alliance is doomed: The leader of the White Knights and the de facto leader of Matilda, Gorudo, callously insults Riou and the City-States for being weak and sends him to rest for the day before planning to kick them out. That night, Riou is visited by Leknaat to learn about the Rune of Beginning.
The next day, Miklotov reports that several refugees from Muse have been sighted approaching Matilda. Just in case they don’t do anything funny, Gorudo agrees to deploy. However, Gorudo instead orders the whole knightdom to stand still and do nothing… as Luca Blight’s White Wolf Army catches up to them and rounds them up for reasons and slaughters those who don’t fall in line.
Miklotov feels extremely uneasy with this, and with the help of his friend and Red Knight leader, Camus, he sneaks out to Muse. Camus then asks Riou to follow and watch over Miklotov while he covers for Miklotov’s absence in front of Gorudo. Riou includes Clive in his entourage, so he manages to catch up with his pursuit with Elza in a bar of Rockaxe… only to find out he’s another step late: Elza has gone to the town of Radat.
Unfortunately, the meeting for alliance is doomed: The leader of the White Knights and the de facto leader of Matilda, Gorudo, callously insults Riou and the City-States for being weak and sends him to rest for the day before planning to kick them out. That night, Riou is visited by Leknaat to learn about the Rune of Beginning.
The next day, Miklotov reports that several refugees from Muse have been sighted approaching Matilda. Just in case they don’t do anything funny, Gorudo agrees to deploy. However, Gorudo instead orders the whole knightdom to stand still and do nothing… as Luca Blight’s White Wolf Army catches up to them and rounds them up for reasons and slaughters those who don’t fall in line.
Miklotov feels extremely uneasy with this, and with the help of his friend and Red Knight leader, Camus, he sneaks out to Muse. Camus then asks Riou to follow and watch over Miklotov while he covers for Miklotov’s absence in front of Gorudo. Riou includes Clive in his entourage, so he manages to catch up with his pursuit with Elza in a bar of Rockaxe… only to find out he’s another step late: Elza has gone to the town of Radat.
Side Quest - The ex-Dragon Knight
While approaching Muse, Riou stops by in a Highway Village, only to encounter two more Gate Rune War veterans, Humphrey Mintz and ex-Dragon Knight Futch. Humphrey pays for Riou’s lodging for reasons, while Riou starts learning about Futch’s friendship with Kent, until suddenly Kent goes missing because he’s so hyped with tales of Futch being a Dragon Knight while in truth he has been excommunicated due to losing his dragon Black. Kent is last seen in Mount Rakutei and somehow by hearing all those, Riou offers to help.
Mount Rakutei is covered with mists, making it impossible for them to travel. However, Riou uses the Bright Shield Rune to dispel the mists. Riou, Humphrey and Futch travel through the mountain until they find Kent and defeat the giant Harpy guarding him. Kent insists that he hears a dragon and wants Futch to retrieve it so he can become a Dragon Knight again. And indeed, he finds a dragon egg on top of the mountain, ready to hatch.
But, Futch refuses to take it since he has bonded so close with Black he refuses to take any other dragon than Black. Humphrey then decides to kill the hatchling before it can become a menace to humanity since the fate of a masterless dragon is usually either to die in the wild or grow up to become a wild beast that threatens men. Riou and Futch manages to stop him and Futch decides to adopt the newly hatched white dragon, whom he christens ‘Bright’.
As a token of gratitude for helping them save Kent, Humphrey and Futch decide to join Riou’s army, also reuniting with some of their old friends.
Mount Rakutei is covered with mists, making it impossible for them to travel. However, Riou uses the Bright Shield Rune to dispel the mists. Riou, Humphrey and Futch travel through the mountain until they find Kent and defeat the giant Harpy guarding him. Kent insists that he hears a dragon and wants Futch to retrieve it so he can become a Dragon Knight again. And indeed, he finds a dragon egg on top of the mountain, ready to hatch.
But, Futch refuses to take it since he has bonded so close with Black he refuses to take any other dragon than Black. Humphrey then decides to kill the hatchling before it can become a menace to humanity since the fate of a masterless dragon is usually either to die in the wild or grow up to become a wild beast that threatens men. Riou and Futch manages to stop him and Futch decides to adopt the newly hatched white dragon, whom he christens ‘Bright’.
As a token of gratitude for helping them save Kent, Humphrey and Futch decide to join Riou’s army, also reuniting with some of their old friends.
Attempting to forge an alliance with the Matilda Knightdom - Part 2
With his business somehow done in Highway village, Riou resumes his mission to catch up with Miklotov. Thankfully, the guards in the border have also cooperated with Camus to let Miklotov pass. Together, they reach Muse only to find a horrific sight…
A dark swirling energy rises to the sky, forming a two-headed wolf beast, with Luca Blight maniacally delighting at the sight of mass deaths he facilitates for it: The human sacrifices to the Beast Rune. When Riou enters Muse, the town is completely empty. And they only find one man saying that everyone is dead before suddenly expiring and his corpse evaporating magically. Highland soldiers catch up so they have no choice but to escape. However, Miklotov learns that the people of Muse have been slaughtered for certain ceremonies. And as a knight, this would not stand.
Returning to Rockaxe, Miklotov reports everything to Gorudo, but the White Knight leader remains unsympathetic to the plight of Muse and ignorant to what Miklotov reported and witnessed, to the point of threatening Miklotov about his knight’s oath. Finally fed up with Gorudo’s Lack of Empathy, Miklotov declares that he’s human first and knight second, therefore he tears off his knight badge to symbolize that he’s done with Gorudo and offers to join Riou’s army in hopes to stop Luca Blight’s madness. Gorudo orders Camus to arrest Miklotov for treason, but Camus also tears off his own badge, defecting to Riou’s army. Gorudo then orders the rest of the Red and Blue Knights to arrest the traitors… then they also tear off their own badges, agreeing with Camus and Miklotov’s sentiments.
Riou then escapes before Gorudo can summon his White Knights to arrest them all. Camus then stays behind to let Riou and Miklotov escape. The two are greeted by Shu in the border, to which Camus shows himself, revealing that he has recruited almost all of the remaining Red and Blue Knights as they couldn’t stand Gorudo either. While the alliance with Matilda Knightdom has failed, Riou has gained a sizable amount of soldiers for his cause.
While en route to return to his castle, Riou revisits the Kobold Village, where he helps a girl named Yuzu relocate her missing sheeps then bring her and her sheeps to his castle. He also revisits Radat and meets another veteran of the Gate Rune War, the elf Stallion. Having been experienced in running away in battle many times, Riou defeats Stallion in a footrace and he decides to join his army.
Of course, in Radat, it means that he also brings Clive in hopes to pursue Elza. Clive finally catches up to Elza and demands the duel to settle his grudge, because Elza has killed a member of the Howling Voice and he’s supposed to arrest her, once and for all. However, in the ensuing shoot out, Clive’s gun refuses to shoot and he’s horribly wounded because Elza’s shooting succeeded. Riou takes him to the castle infirmary where Dr. Huan tends to Clive’s wounds, but he’s still puzzled at how his gun refuses to shoot…
Meanwhile, Jowy lays out his extra plan that will please Luca. The details can only be seen later, but what’s important is that Jowy introduces his personal strategist to facilitate it: Leon Silverberg, the veteran strategist serving both the Scarlet Moon Empire Succession War and Gate Rune War.
A dark swirling energy rises to the sky, forming a two-headed wolf beast, with Luca Blight maniacally delighting at the sight of mass deaths he facilitates for it: The human sacrifices to the Beast Rune. When Riou enters Muse, the town is completely empty. And they only find one man saying that everyone is dead before suddenly expiring and his corpse evaporating magically. Highland soldiers catch up so they have no choice but to escape. However, Miklotov learns that the people of Muse have been slaughtered for certain ceremonies. And as a knight, this would not stand.
Returning to Rockaxe, Miklotov reports everything to Gorudo, but the White Knight leader remains unsympathetic to the plight of Muse and ignorant to what Miklotov reported and witnessed, to the point of threatening Miklotov about his knight’s oath. Finally fed up with Gorudo’s Lack of Empathy, Miklotov declares that he’s human first and knight second, therefore he tears off his knight badge to symbolize that he’s done with Gorudo and offers to join Riou’s army in hopes to stop Luca Blight’s madness. Gorudo orders Camus to arrest Miklotov for treason, but Camus also tears off his own badge, defecting to Riou’s army. Gorudo then orders the rest of the Red and Blue Knights to arrest the traitors… then they also tear off their own badges, agreeing with Camus and Miklotov’s sentiments.
Riou then escapes before Gorudo can summon his White Knights to arrest them all. Camus then stays behind to let Riou and Miklotov escape. The two are greeted by Shu in the border, to which Camus shows himself, revealing that he has recruited almost all of the remaining Red and Blue Knights as they couldn’t stand Gorudo either. While the alliance with Matilda Knightdom has failed, Riou has gained a sizable amount of soldiers for his cause.
While en route to return to his castle, Riou revisits the Kobold Village, where he helps a girl named Yuzu relocate her missing sheeps then bring her and her sheeps to his castle. He also revisits Radat and meets another veteran of the Gate Rune War, the elf Stallion. Having been experienced in running away in battle many times, Riou defeats Stallion in a footrace and he decides to join his army.
Of course, in Radat, it means that he also brings Clive in hopes to pursue Elza. Clive finally catches up to Elza and demands the duel to settle his grudge, because Elza has killed a member of the Howling Voice and he’s supposed to arrest her, once and for all. However, in the ensuing shoot out, Clive’s gun refuses to shoot and he’s horribly wounded because Elza’s shooting succeeded. Riou takes him to the castle infirmary where Dr. Huan tends to Clive’s wounds, but he’s still puzzled at how his gun refuses to shoot…
Meanwhile, Jowy lays out his extra plan that will please Luca. The details can only be seen later, but what’s important is that Jowy introduces his personal strategist to facilitate it: Leon Silverberg, the veteran strategist serving both the Scarlet Moon Empire Succession War and Gate Rune War.
The Battle With Kiba Windaimer
The next day, Shu gives distressing news. Highland soldiers have been sighted with Radat and may be preparing for war. Riou decides to scout the town, accompanied with Viktor. There, they see both Kiba and his son Klaus declaring that the town is under the occupation of Highland. They also spot Riou easily and Klaus officially issues the challenge of wit in the battlefield.
Retreating back to his castle, Riou hears that they should have enough time to wage a battle. He orders the deployment. However, Shu somehow put a group of Kobolds in the frontline for no apparent reason, to the puzzlement of Ridley. Shu refuses to explain himself, so eventually Ridley decides that humans still cannot be trusted and pulls back along with the kobold forces. With the State army in disarray, Kiba seizes the chance and charge. Riou’s army is forced to retreat. While everyone still wonders about Ridley’s betrayal, Shu tells everyone to rest for the day because he has a plan for the next day.
In the meantime, Jowy’s marriage proposal goes underway as Jowy is meant to drink a chalice with King Agares to link their blood together. However, this has been a plot by Luca, to which Jowy also conspires with, to kill Agares: Jowy has poisoned his own blood, but has taken antidotes so he survives the ordeal. So, when Agares drinks the chalice which has Jowy’s blood in it, Agares is poisoned and dead. Luca then uses this chance to gloat on how his revenge for Agares’ cowardice that cost the life of Luca’s mother is complete, and callously mocks Jillia’s distress about her father’s death.
The next day, he reveals another strategy: Riou’s unit will appear alone to bait on Kiba’s unit to expose himself, the rest of the State Army will hide in ambush.
In the battlefield, Klaus detects Shu’s strategy so he advises his father to march carefully. When the States army’s ambush party springs up, Klaus already expects that, so he orders the army to ignore the ambush and charge straight for Riou’s unit. However, just as Kiba’s unit’s rear flank is open, suddenly Shu gives a signal, and Ridley’s unit and the kobold units he took with him suddenly appears from the rear to ambush; it turns out the previous argument and Shu’s callousness were staged, and that caught Kiba and Klaus by surprise. With this multi-faceted ambush succeeding, Kiba decides to charge forward anyway, he still has a backup in the form of Rowd’s squad. However, suddenly, a message-bearer arrives and forces Rowd’s squad to retreat, leaving Kiba and Klaus stranded alone and captured as a result.
Being brought in front of Riou, Kiba and Klaus demand him to get it over with, and execute them as honorable soldiers of Highland. Riou instead asks them to join his cause, acknowledging their military prowess. Kiba and Klaus at first refuse, until suddenly a message arrives from Highland to congratulate the State Army’s victory, and they’ll be looking forward to meeting on the battlefield… signed by Leon Silverberg with the permission of Luca Blight, King of Highland.
It’s at this time that Kiba realizes that there’s been a change in King, and Klaus confirms that Agares has been assassinated by Luca, but he didn’t tell his father because he didn’t want him to worry about things outside the battle. Kiba then changes his mind. He’d rather take the knight’s shame to betray his liege than serve a mad king, so he offers himself to join Riou. Klaus comes along as well, acknowledging his defeat of wits with Shu. However, Shu starts to worry that Leon’s involvement is caused by his own involvement within the State Army.
Retreating back to his castle, Riou hears that they should have enough time to wage a battle. He orders the deployment. However, Shu somehow put a group of Kobolds in the frontline for no apparent reason, to the puzzlement of Ridley. Shu refuses to explain himself, so eventually Ridley decides that humans still cannot be trusted and pulls back along with the kobold forces. With the State army in disarray, Kiba seizes the chance and charge. Riou’s army is forced to retreat. While everyone still wonders about Ridley’s betrayal, Shu tells everyone to rest for the day because he has a plan for the next day.
In the meantime, Jowy’s marriage proposal goes underway as Jowy is meant to drink a chalice with King Agares to link their blood together. However, this has been a plot by Luca, to which Jowy also conspires with, to kill Agares: Jowy has poisoned his own blood, but has taken antidotes so he survives the ordeal. So, when Agares drinks the chalice which has Jowy’s blood in it, Agares is poisoned and dead. Luca then uses this chance to gloat on how his revenge for Agares’ cowardice that cost the life of Luca’s mother is complete, and callously mocks Jillia’s distress about her father’s death.
The next day, he reveals another strategy: Riou’s unit will appear alone to bait on Kiba’s unit to expose himself, the rest of the State Army will hide in ambush.
In the battlefield, Klaus detects Shu’s strategy so he advises his father to march carefully. When the States army’s ambush party springs up, Klaus already expects that, so he orders the army to ignore the ambush and charge straight for Riou’s unit. However, just as Kiba’s unit’s rear flank is open, suddenly Shu gives a signal, and Ridley’s unit and the kobold units he took with him suddenly appears from the rear to ambush; it turns out the previous argument and Shu’s callousness were staged, and that caught Kiba and Klaus by surprise. With this multi-faceted ambush succeeding, Kiba decides to charge forward anyway, he still has a backup in the form of Rowd’s squad. However, suddenly, a message-bearer arrives and forces Rowd’s squad to retreat, leaving Kiba and Klaus stranded alone and captured as a result.
Being brought in front of Riou, Kiba and Klaus demand him to get it over with, and execute them as honorable soldiers of Highland. Riou instead asks them to join his cause, acknowledging their military prowess. Kiba and Klaus at first refuse, until suddenly a message arrives from Highland to congratulate the State Army’s victory, and they’ll be looking forward to meeting on the battlefield… signed by Leon Silverberg with the permission of Luca Blight, King of Highland.
It’s at this time that Kiba realizes that there’s been a change in King, and Klaus confirms that Agares has been assassinated by Luca, but he didn’t tell his father because he didn’t want him to worry about things outside the battle. Kiba then changes his mind. He’d rather take the knight’s shame to betray his liege than serve a mad king, so he offers himself to join Riou. Klaus comes along as well, acknowledging his defeat of wits with Shu. However, Shu starts to worry that Leon’s involvement is caused by his own involvement within the State Army.
Journey to Toran Republic
The next day, when everyone discusses the next course of action after Kiba’s defection, which may not even be enough to face Luca Blight head on, suddenly someone interrupts their meeting. It’s Sheena. He suggests that the State Army appeals for an alliance with the Toran Republic, he’s sure he’ll be able to convince his father, President Lepant, to finalize the alliance. Although Freed is at first aghast at working with the enemy of South Window, eventually he gives in, acknowledging that Luca’s threat is much bigger than Toran. However, before departure, he asks to visit the South Window city hall to pay a final respect to the deceased Granmeyer.
After doing so, Riou forms a group consisting of at least him, Freed and Sheena to take a boat from Radat to the southern Banner village, where the border between Dunan and Toran is located. Beforehand, Riou meets a nobleman named Simone Verdricci who’s looking for his missing Rose Brooch that Riou found in his adventures. He gives it in exchange for Simone's friendship.
The journey to Toran Republic involves climbing through a mountainous area, and at one point, Riou’s party gets ambushed with a giant worm monster. After defeating it, they reach the border, guarded by the ex-bandit Varkas. Sheena convinces Varkas to let them pass and he offers to escort them to the capital Gregminster.
Securing an audience with President Lepant, Freed manages to convince him that despite Toran and Jowston being hostile at each other, Luca Blight presents a greater threat that if he wins against the City States, after demolishing Highland, he’ll take his genocidal campaign to Toran next, and that’s something Lepant cannot ignore. He’s further convinced with Riou’s conviction, noticing the similarity between him and Tir McDohl, the actual hero of Gate Rune War.
To facilitate their alliance, Lepant agrees to lend a group of soldiers to the City-States’ cause, but someone needs to lead them to represent Toran. Luckily for them, there are two candidates available: One of the current Six Great Generals, Valeria, or the Rokkaku chancellor and head kunoichi, Kasumi. Riou can only choose one of them to join him. To further help Riou, Lepant also lends him the artifact that Tir used in the war: the Blinking Mirror. And additionally, he sends Sheena to go join Riou as a war effort rather than having him slack around and hit on women.
Once the meeting concludes, Riou is escorted back to the border to return to the City States. But he asks to return to Gregminster for awhile, something interests him. He goes to the trading center where he meets the trader Gordon. He notices a peculiar urn called ‘Celadon Urn’ and buys it from Gordon. Seeing a potential, Riou asks Gordon to join him, but he only agrees if he can recognize Riou’s trading sense to make a profit of 50,000 potch in trading. Luckily, Riou has done so, so Gordon packs his things to join the States army. Riou also notices a veteran of the Gate Rune War, Lorelai, but she’s not in a cooperating mood.
If he picked Kasumi before, en route home, he accidentally discovers the hidden ninja village of Rokkaku and is immediately taken to the head ninja Hanzo. Kasumi quickly smooths out this incident and asks for Hanzo to lend his strength. For that, Hanzo sends out two of his ninjas, Mondo and Sasuke, to help the City-States army, much to Sasuke’s flustering since he has a crush on Kasumi.
Shu welcomes Riou’s entourage while Apple greets the Toran representative and old friend (Valeria or Kasumi). However, they have no time to waste as they have to prepare for war. And in the meantime, Luca has gotten himself another help from none other than the Holy Harmonia Kingdom itself, in the form of the High Priest Sasarai.
After doing so, Riou forms a group consisting of at least him, Freed and Sheena to take a boat from Radat to the southern Banner village, where the border between Dunan and Toran is located. Beforehand, Riou meets a nobleman named Simone Verdricci who’s looking for his missing Rose Brooch that Riou found in his adventures. He gives it in exchange for Simone's friendship.
The journey to Toran Republic involves climbing through a mountainous area, and at one point, Riou’s party gets ambushed with a giant worm monster. After defeating it, they reach the border, guarded by the ex-bandit Varkas. Sheena convinces Varkas to let them pass and he offers to escort them to the capital Gregminster.
Securing an audience with President Lepant, Freed manages to convince him that despite Toran and Jowston being hostile at each other, Luca Blight presents a greater threat that if he wins against the City States, after demolishing Highland, he’ll take his genocidal campaign to Toran next, and that’s something Lepant cannot ignore. He’s further convinced with Riou’s conviction, noticing the similarity between him and Tir McDohl, the actual hero of Gate Rune War.
To facilitate their alliance, Lepant agrees to lend a group of soldiers to the City-States’ cause, but someone needs to lead them to represent Toran. Luckily for them, there are two candidates available: One of the current Six Great Generals, Valeria, or the Rokkaku chancellor and head kunoichi, Kasumi. Riou can only choose one of them to join him. To further help Riou, Lepant also lends him the artifact that Tir used in the war: the Blinking Mirror. And additionally, he sends Sheena to go join Riou as a war effort rather than having him slack around and hit on women.
Once the meeting concludes, Riou is escorted back to the border to return to the City States. But he asks to return to Gregminster for awhile, something interests him. He goes to the trading center where he meets the trader Gordon. He notices a peculiar urn called ‘Celadon Urn’ and buys it from Gordon. Seeing a potential, Riou asks Gordon to join him, but he only agrees if he can recognize Riou’s trading sense to make a profit of 50,000 potch in trading. Luckily, Riou has done so, so Gordon packs his things to join the States army. Riou also notices a veteran of the Gate Rune War, Lorelai, but she’s not in a cooperating mood.
If he picked Kasumi before, en route home, he accidentally discovers the hidden ninja village of Rokkaku and is immediately taken to the head ninja Hanzo. Kasumi quickly smooths out this incident and asks for Hanzo to lend his strength. For that, Hanzo sends out two of his ninjas, Mondo and Sasuke, to help the City-States army, much to Sasuke’s flustering since he has a crush on Kasumi.
Shu welcomes Riou’s entourage while Apple greets the Toran representative and old friend (Valeria or Kasumi). However, they have no time to waste as they have to prepare for war. And in the meantime, Luca has gotten himself another help from none other than the Holy Harmonia Kingdom itself, in the form of the High Priest Sasarai.
Side Quest - Various Recruitments
The next day, before meeting, Riou takes his time to travel around. Taking the canine Shiro along, he then obtains the services of the beastmaster Badeaux, who hands him over two Listening Crystals. Bringing a sound set he found, he recruits the sound master Connell within the Forest Village. In the same village, Riou encounters a girl named Ayda protecting a wounded griffin despite the other villagers urging her to kill it. Several other wild griffins appear to cause ruckus, even knocking Ayda out, forcing Riou to defeat the wild griffins. The Listening Crystal starts to react and the wounded griffin reveals its identity as Feather. As a token of gratitude, it offers to join Riou and Ayda goes along as well, acknowledging Riou’s desire to protect nature.
Still curious about the Unicorn Legend, Riou revisits the Unicorn Forest with a maiden, presumably Tengaar. On reaching the spot where they met the unicorn, the presence of Listening Crystal and a maiden like Tengaar triggers the reappearance of Sigfried. Only this time, Riou asks the unicorn to join his cause and Tengaar agrees to have Sigfried form a pact with her as a proof of its joining. And as his last stop, he returns to Two River where he finally wins the interest of a werewolf named Bob and drafts him to his cause. With all those, Riou returns to his headquarters for the annual war meeting.
Still curious about the Unicorn Legend, Riou revisits the Unicorn Forest with a maiden, presumably Tengaar. On reaching the spot where they met the unicorn, the presence of Listening Crystal and a maiden like Tengaar triggers the reappearance of Sigfried. Only this time, Riou asks the unicorn to join his cause and Tengaar agrees to have Sigfried form a pact with her as a proof of its joining. And as his last stop, he returns to Two River where he finally wins the interest of a werewolf named Bob and drafts him to his cause. With all those, Riou returns to his headquarters for the annual war meeting.
The War to Kill the Mad King Luca Blight
In the meeting, Shu reports that Ridley has gone scouting in Radat for suspicious movement of the Highland, only to be shocked with the news that Ridley’s party has been ambushed. Shu quickly issues the order to deploy and rescue Ridley. The kobold general is bravely fighting the ambush, in which he may survive or be captured. However, during the battle, as Sasarai is present, suddenly Luc takes special notice of the High Priest of Harmonia…
Regardless of the outcome, Shu orders everyone to rest for the day. Tsai approaches Riou that there's something he needs to pick up from his old home and asks Riou to accompany him to his old hut in Ryube, which Riou honors.
If captured, Ridley refuses to surrender or leak information to the Highland and is imprisoned. If saved, Ridley reports the current strength of the Highland army. And in the same time, it’s revealed that Leon has come in contact with an old foe, the enigmatic black knight Yuber, and offers him as a new war effort for Highland.
The next day, after Riou honored Tsai's request (and ended up recruiting his daughter Tomo), Shu reveals his plan: Using Kiba to lure Luca to a vulnerable position, in which everyone will ambush and attack him en masse. Kiba is more than willing to participate in this plan, calling out Luca for his patricide towards King Agares whom he respected. Regardless, the ambush goes underway. Luc is strangely absent from Shu’s roster. However, the moment Sasarai appear as reinforcements along with Yuber, Luc decides to appear and showcase the power of his personal rune, the True Wind Rune, forcing Sasarai to retreat as he somehow recognizes Luc.
The moment Luca takes a slight damage, he retaliates with a massive force of power that wounds every unit of the State army and forces Shu to call off the whole army, leaving them stunned at his monstrous strength. After their retreat, Luc refuses to further explain his animosity against Sasarai.
While wondering how to counter Luca’s army, Riou takes a walk and…
Regardless of the outcome, Shu orders everyone to rest for the day. Tsai approaches Riou that there's something he needs to pick up from his old home and asks Riou to accompany him to his old hut in Ryube, which Riou honors.
If captured, Ridley refuses to surrender or leak information to the Highland and is imprisoned. If saved, Ridley reports the current strength of the Highland army. And in the same time, it’s revealed that Leon has come in contact with an old foe, the enigmatic black knight Yuber, and offers him as a new war effort for Highland.
The next day, after Riou honored Tsai's request (and ended up recruiting his daughter Tomo), Shu reveals his plan: Using Kiba to lure Luca to a vulnerable position, in which everyone will ambush and attack him en masse. Kiba is more than willing to participate in this plan, calling out Luca for his patricide towards King Agares whom he respected. Regardless, the ambush goes underway. Luc is strangely absent from Shu’s roster. However, the moment Sasarai appear as reinforcements along with Yuber, Luc decides to appear and showcase the power of his personal rune, the True Wind Rune, forcing Sasarai to retreat as he somehow recognizes Luc.
The moment Luca takes a slight damage, he retaliates with a massive force of power that wounds every unit of the State army and forces Shu to call off the whole army, leaving them stunned at his monstrous strength. After their retreat, Luc refuses to further explain his animosity against Sasarai.
While wondering how to counter Luca’s army, Riou takes a walk and…
- If Ridley was saved from his ambush, Riou encounters Leon Silverberg personally coming to the castle and handing a message for Shu, before leaving.
- If Ridley was not saved from his ambush, Riou encounters Ridley, having been saved by either Mondo and Sasuke (if they’re available), or Chaco (if they’re not available). Ridley reports that he was let go by Leon Silverberg who wants him to relay a message to Shu.
Riou immediately relays the message to Shu, to his shock that even Leon wants to communicate with him. The message turns out to be a leak on Luca’s next move: A night raid to completely raze the castle they’re in. Shu then devises one final gambit: They have to ambush Luca right at the night raid, with three parties of the strongest fighters of the States army, led by Flik, Viktor and Riou respectively. With that, they hope to finally defeat the mad prince, or die trying.
The night raid indeed happens soon and Shu’s plan goes underway. After taking out a majority of Luca’s personal White Wolves guards, Flik’s team ambushes Luca, but he can only take out a few of Luca’s guards. Viktor ambushes him next, and yet, he only succeeds in taking out whatever remains of Luca’s guards. And finally, Riou’s team launches their ambush and they still have to fight for their lives to even greatly wound Luca.
Luca makes his escape, covered by several other Highland soldiers available, and stumbles upon a tree where a firefly charm (made from Pilika’s present from Muse) that he opens since he has nothing else to do. That’s taken as a signal for Shu to order a volley of arrows that further grievously wound Luca and another volley of arrows, which takes out the remaining Highland soldiers trying to protect their liege. Finally cornered, Luca takes one last charge to duel Riou to death.
Even after he’s near death’s door, Luca still possesses enough monstrous strength to be a threat to Riou. But, Riou manages to survive the ordeal and deals the finishing blow to Luca. In his dying breath, Luca sneers at Riou’s reasons for fighting for peace, he still has to deal with a kingdom that wants revenge on their liege’s death. And as one final spit to peace, Luca exclaims that it took hundreds to kill him, and yet he has killed by thousands. He proudly declares himself to be the sublime one, the true face of evil, before finally dying for good.
The mad king is dead, and from afar, the true conspirator for his death, Jowy and Leon, look at the States Army with approval, and yet, they know the war is far from over.
In a few days, Jowy goes to officially marry Jillia and is crowned as the King of Highland.
Side Quest - Various Recruitment
With Luca dead, Nanami asks Riou to go around the world and have a walk in the world that’s enjoying peace at the moment with the mad king dead. Riou decides to use the chance to revisit some places. He goes to Radat to appraise some things, meeting the appraiser Lebrante. He asks the appraiser to join him, but Lebrante says that he can only join if he can find the one urn he’s been looking for to add to his collection: The Celadon Urn. The same urn Riou bought from Gordon in Gregminster. After showing it to him, Lebrante packs his things to relocate to Riou’s castle.
Trying to have some meal, Riou visits the bar in Radat, only to find a thief named Hoi claiming to be him to get free food. His disguise is blown over easily, but Riou thinks that even he does not deserve to be beaten like that, so he covers Hoi and the thief tries to worm his way into Riou’s ranks as his ‘bro’. However, Riou brings him right into the castle, revealing him to be the person Hoi has been impersonating. Hoi awkwardly confirms that no matter what, they’re gonna be bros.
Riou visits Radat next, but just as he enters, he bumps into a veteran of the Gate Rune War, Maxmillian. Even without his trusty squire Sancho around, he’s still determined to lend his troops for the righteous cause, such as Riou’s army, who has done justice a great service by killing that monstrous Luca Blight. Despite noticing his advanced age, Riou lets him join anyway.
Still wanting to eat, Riou visits the inn, only to find a singing girl, Annalee, being kicked out for not having money to pay for her bills. Riou approaches her near the city hall, and she reveals that the only thing she has is her singing voice, she used to be the vocalist of a singing band along with her friends Pico and Alberto, but because of the war, they were separated. Riou is curious with her singing, so he listens to Annalee singing. He ends up feeling invigorated with the song so he asks her to join his army, which Annalee accepts, hoping that her song can soothe the spirits of the people wounded with the war.
Before he can leave the South Window, Riou notices a man in a red cape and hat named Killey. He asks if Riou knows a man named Alex, to which Riou points him to his castle, no doubt he would be referring to Hilda’s husband. When reaching the castle’s item store, Riou sees Alex being accosted by Killey, who demands him to know what he finds in the Sindar Ruins near the White Deer Inn, and there will be a price to pay for the failure to answer. After seeing Hilda and Pete try to protect him, Alex then declares his answer: The treasure of Sindar he found is his family, as the healing herb he found saved Hilda’s life and secured his family. Even Killey is stunned and decides to leave, noting that he’s got a good family. Riou approaches him again in South Window and after much convincing, Killey agrees to join his army.
Riou wants to test his luck again with Lorelai, so he returns to Gregminster. While she’s still doubtful at first, Killey suddenly intervenes, saying that if she keeps up her attitude, the way of Sindar would never open to her. Much to her annoyance, Lorelai finally recognizes Riou’s strength since in her words, Killey knows better than to join a weakling.
Trying to have some meal, Riou visits the bar in Radat, only to find a thief named Hoi claiming to be him to get free food. His disguise is blown over easily, but Riou thinks that even he does not deserve to be beaten like that, so he covers Hoi and the thief tries to worm his way into Riou’s ranks as his ‘bro’. However, Riou brings him right into the castle, revealing him to be the person Hoi has been impersonating. Hoi awkwardly confirms that no matter what, they’re gonna be bros.
Riou visits Radat next, but just as he enters, he bumps into a veteran of the Gate Rune War, Maxmillian. Even without his trusty squire Sancho around, he’s still determined to lend his troops for the righteous cause, such as Riou’s army, who has done justice a great service by killing that monstrous Luca Blight. Despite noticing his advanced age, Riou lets him join anyway.
Still wanting to eat, Riou visits the inn, only to find a singing girl, Annalee, being kicked out for not having money to pay for her bills. Riou approaches her near the city hall, and she reveals that the only thing she has is her singing voice, she used to be the vocalist of a singing band along with her friends Pico and Alberto, but because of the war, they were separated. Riou is curious with her singing, so he listens to Annalee singing. He ends up feeling invigorated with the song so he asks her to join his army, which Annalee accepts, hoping that her song can soothe the spirits of the people wounded with the war.
Before he can leave the South Window, Riou notices a man in a red cape and hat named Killey. He asks if Riou knows a man named Alex, to which Riou points him to his castle, no doubt he would be referring to Hilda’s husband. When reaching the castle’s item store, Riou sees Alex being accosted by Killey, who demands him to know what he finds in the Sindar Ruins near the White Deer Inn, and there will be a price to pay for the failure to answer. After seeing Hilda and Pete try to protect him, Alex then declares his answer: The treasure of Sindar he found is his family, as the healing herb he found saved Hilda’s life and secured his family. Even Killey is stunned and decides to leave, noting that he’s got a good family. Riou approaches him again in South Window and after much convincing, Killey agrees to join his army.
Riou wants to test his luck again with Lorelai, so he returns to Gregminster. While she’s still doubtful at first, Killey suddenly intervenes, saying that if she keeps up her attitude, the way of Sindar would never open to her. Much to her annoyance, Lorelai finally recognizes Riou’s strength since in her words, Killey knows better than to join a weakling.
Side Quest - The Two Heroes Unite
Before leaving the Banner village, Riou hears about a kid named Koh rambling that his parents’ inn just got a visitor and he somehow looks like the legendary hero of the Gate Rune Wars, Tir McDohl. The last he knows about him is that he’s fishing in a nearby pond. When trying to get there, however, Riou is blocked by Tir’s well-known manservant and guardian, Gremio. Koh decides to help Riou circumvent this: He goes to the mountain pass alone and pretends to have been kidnapped by bandits, yelling loud enough that Gremio is startled and goes away, letting Riou finally meet this man in question… it’s truly Tir himself, as other veterans of the Gate Rune Wars confirm his identity.
However, Koh does not return from his trip. Rumor has it that there are actual bandits there and he might have been kidnapped for real, or a monster is sighted to be causing trouble. Tir wants to save the kid, though the Soul Eater acts up. Even so, Tir is determined to save an innocent life and asks for cooperation with Riou. The two heroes combine their strength to travel the mountain pass again and encounter the bandits. The fame of the boy who destroyed the Scarlet Moon Empire and the boy who killed Luca Blight is enough to startle the bandit underlings that they’re forced to retreat. The bandit boss reveals that there’s a monster nearby and he ran off in fear, but couldn’t bring the boy hostage with him.
Both Tir and Riou catch up with Koh, but he has been poisoned heavily, his life is in danger. Then, the monster reveals itself… the same worm monster Riou fought before. During this new fight, suddenly the worm shed its skin and reveals a moth monster inside, with a set of new powerful attacks. Although struggling, the combined power of Soul Eater and Bright Shield Rune is enough to overwhelm the monster. On Gremio’s advice, their old ally, Dr. Liukan should be in Gregminster and able to cure Koh. And so they head back to Gregminster, with the surprise of Varkas that his leader has returned.
After confirming from Liukan that Koh is now safe from death, Lepant expresses his happiness that Tir has finally returned and he’s ready to relinquish the presidential seat to the most worthy man. However, Tir doesn’t feel like ready to rule, especially with a cursed rune like Soul Eater with him. Lepant’s wife, Eileen, has to convince Lepant that the young Tir still needs time to travel and spend his youth. Lepant relents, telling Tir that he can come back anytime when he’s ready.
To wait for Koh to be able to return home, Tir then invites Riou to have a meal in his house, reuniting with his old friends like Cleo and Pahn. At night, if recruited to the States Army, Kasumi gives a report on what happens in Toran during Tir’s absence, though she only goes as far as mentioning that Kirkis and Kuromimi have become the respective chiefs of their races (elves and kobolds). She ends up stammering due to her own crush on Tir and excuses herself.
The next day, Koh is ready to return home to Banner village. After escorting him, Tir and Gremio thank Riou for helping them. Tir plans to stay in his home for a while, and in case Riou needs his help, he can come and visit. With that, the two heroes part ways.
However, Koh does not return from his trip. Rumor has it that there are actual bandits there and he might have been kidnapped for real, or a monster is sighted to be causing trouble. Tir wants to save the kid, though the Soul Eater acts up. Even so, Tir is determined to save an innocent life and asks for cooperation with Riou. The two heroes combine their strength to travel the mountain pass again and encounter the bandits. The fame of the boy who destroyed the Scarlet Moon Empire and the boy who killed Luca Blight is enough to startle the bandit underlings that they’re forced to retreat. The bandit boss reveals that there’s a monster nearby and he ran off in fear, but couldn’t bring the boy hostage with him.
Both Tir and Riou catch up with Koh, but he has been poisoned heavily, his life is in danger. Then, the monster reveals itself… the same worm monster Riou fought before. During this new fight, suddenly the worm shed its skin and reveals a moth monster inside, with a set of new powerful attacks. Although struggling, the combined power of Soul Eater and Bright Shield Rune is enough to overwhelm the monster. On Gremio’s advice, their old ally, Dr. Liukan should be in Gregminster and able to cure Koh. And so they head back to Gregminster, with the surprise of Varkas that his leader has returned.
After confirming from Liukan that Koh is now safe from death, Lepant expresses his happiness that Tir has finally returned and he’s ready to relinquish the presidential seat to the most worthy man. However, Tir doesn’t feel like ready to rule, especially with a cursed rune like Soul Eater with him. Lepant’s wife, Eileen, has to convince Lepant that the young Tir still needs time to travel and spend his youth. Lepant relents, telling Tir that he can come back anytime when he’s ready.
To wait for Koh to be able to return home, Tir then invites Riou to have a meal in his house, reuniting with his old friends like Cleo and Pahn. At night, if recruited to the States Army, Kasumi gives a report on what happens in Toran during Tir’s absence, though she only goes as far as mentioning that Kirkis and Kuromimi have become the respective chiefs of their races (elves and kobolds). She ends up stammering due to her own crush on Tir and excuses herself.
The next day, Koh is ready to return home to Banner village. After escorting him, Tir and Gremio thank Riou for helping them. Tir plans to stay in his home for a while, and in case Riou needs his help, he can come and visit. With that, the two heroes part ways.
The Fake Peace Treaty - The War Continues
Riou’s next stop is to Kuskus village, where he ends up hearing about a Highland ship docking in. Even with Nanami’s urging, Riou takes a detour to the inn, where he meets a peculiar face: A dancer named Karen. After asking him to join, he’s asked if he can dance well. Riou then shows that he can somehow keep up with Karen dancing, impressing her and she agrees to join.
And finally approaching the Highland ship, Riou meets the Highland general Culgan. He comes in peace and wants to personally visit Riou’s castle. Though the two nations’ relations are still tense, Riou decides to honor the request and brings him to the castle. There, Culgan hands a letter before taking his leave.
The letter is about an invitation to sign for peace by the new King of Highland, Jowy Blight. Nanami is overjoyed with how the war is about to end for good. However, Shu smells a rat about this. Still, he lets Riou go to Muse to finalize the peace offering. Teresa also asks to come as the representative of City States within Riou’s army. Additionally, Shu asks for Riou to bring along Chaco for a certain reason. As he sees Riou leaving by boat, Shu then nudges Viktor, who complains that he always becomes the one to do the dirty job.
Riou, Nanami and Teresa head to Muse unimpeded and manage to meet up with Jowy at the summit. However, Jowy made no preparations for a treaty, and Leon reveals that this is all a ruse to hold the States Army leader hostage, forcing them to surrender instead, they have prepared an ambush ready just in case. As Jowy reveals, things have escalated badly that the war needs to have a winner and a loser ASAP, and as the King of Highland, he has his responsibility to make sure his nation is the winner. Nanami is horrified that her dream reunion is dashed again and Jowy and Leon’s ploy may mean that Riou will need to surrender…
But suddenly, Viktor barges in and bail Riou out, and per his request from Shu, he also sends Pilika right into Jowy’s arms. Even Jowy is stunned and unable to tell his soldiers to fire their arrows, since he can’t afford to let Pilika personally witness the mass murder. As Leon noted, all this does is prolong the war. However, thanks to finally being reunited with her uncle, Pilika recovers from her muteness.
Riou only manages to escape with the urging of Viktor, along with Chaco creating a ruckus between Highland soldiers. Once he arrives back to his castle, Nanami chews Shu out for using Pilika as a shield, but Shu remains cold and pragmatic about it, as long as it saves Riou. He then tells Riou that it’s okay to hate him, but it is his duty as a strategist to ensure that his leader lives, no matter what kind of dirty tactic he has to stoop into.
And finally approaching the Highland ship, Riou meets the Highland general Culgan. He comes in peace and wants to personally visit Riou’s castle. Though the two nations’ relations are still tense, Riou decides to honor the request and brings him to the castle. There, Culgan hands a letter before taking his leave.
The letter is about an invitation to sign for peace by the new King of Highland, Jowy Blight. Nanami is overjoyed with how the war is about to end for good. However, Shu smells a rat about this. Still, he lets Riou go to Muse to finalize the peace offering. Teresa also asks to come as the representative of City States within Riou’s army. Additionally, Shu asks for Riou to bring along Chaco for a certain reason. As he sees Riou leaving by boat, Shu then nudges Viktor, who complains that he always becomes the one to do the dirty job.
Riou, Nanami and Teresa head to Muse unimpeded and manage to meet up with Jowy at the summit. However, Jowy made no preparations for a treaty, and Leon reveals that this is all a ruse to hold the States Army leader hostage, forcing them to surrender instead, they have prepared an ambush ready just in case. As Jowy reveals, things have escalated badly that the war needs to have a winner and a loser ASAP, and as the King of Highland, he has his responsibility to make sure his nation is the winner. Nanami is horrified that her dream reunion is dashed again and Jowy and Leon’s ploy may mean that Riou will need to surrender…
But suddenly, Viktor barges in and bail Riou out, and per his request from Shu, he also sends Pilika right into Jowy’s arms. Even Jowy is stunned and unable to tell his soldiers to fire their arrows, since he can’t afford to let Pilika personally witness the mass murder. As Leon noted, all this does is prolong the war. However, thanks to finally being reunited with her uncle, Pilika recovers from her muteness.
Riou only manages to escape with the urging of Viktor, along with Chaco creating a ruckus between Highland soldiers. Once he arrives back to his castle, Nanami chews Shu out for using Pilika as a shield, but Shu remains cold and pragmatic about it, as long as it saves Riou. He then tells Riou that it’s okay to hate him, but it is his duty as a strategist to ensure that his leader lives, no matter what kind of dirty tactic he has to stoop into.
Neclord's End - Saving Tinto From Zombies
The next day, while Riou tries to leave the castle for a walk, he encounters a boy named Koyu who wants an audience with the States Army leader. Riou takes him to his men, and Koyu reveals his distress: He’s part of the Lampdragon Bandits along with his big brother and sister, Gijimu and Lo Wen, and they’re stationed at the mountain area around Tinto. However, suddenly from near Tinto, they end up being accosted with strange pale man-like creatures that many of their men went missing. Viktor eventually manages to conclude that these creatures are actually zombies, which means Neclord has resurfaced and is up to no good. Riou agrees to investigate this with the permission of Shu, but Nanami for some reason forces herself into Riou’s entourage.
To get to Tinto, Riou has to get past the Drakemouth Village southwest of the Kobold Village. After getting through the mountain, Koyu manages to reunite with Gijimu, who’s at least safe with some men, but somehow Lo Wen has gone missing. Gijimu has contacted Gustav about this zombie attack, but he wouldn’t listen to a bandit like him. However, seeing Riou, Gijimu believes that perhaps Gustav will at least listen to the man who beat Luca Blight and he may try to take this zombie attack more seriously. Viktor also sees this as a chance to gain alliance with Tinto for the war against Highland.
Making his way to Tinto city and before he finally enters the city hall, Riou ends up recruiting a scroll maker and acquaintance to Jeane, Raura, though he’s befuddled with her lack of sense of direction. Gustav actually is charitable and asks for Riou’s help in helping this zombie problem. After being introduced to his daughter, Lilly, and his librarian, Marlowe, Riou spends the night in Gustav’s home while Viktor relays the message to Shu to send reinforcements.
The next day, it turns out that both Ridley and Klaus are the chosen representatives from Shu. However, at the same time, Neclord decides to reveal himself, declaring his desire to turn Tinto into his new kingdom of zombies. Gustav is a bit distressed at this, but puts a strong front in the face of his people. Soon, it turns out that Gustav has another help from the remnants of Muse led by both Jess and Hauser. However, Jess still holds an extreme grudge against Riou for the death of Annabelle and accuses him as a Highland spy, completely ignoring his accomplishment of killing Luca Blight. Yet another friction between the States Army is seen.
That night, Leknaat gives another visit to Riou in his sleep. Then, he visits Nanami who cannot sleep and is still kind of hurt by Jess’ accusation. Finally, Nanami lets out her frustration that she just wants to run away from the war with Riou, someone else can take care of the States Army leadership, because this is not the proper place for someone of Riou's age to be, it’s unfair. Riou manages to convince his sister that he wants to take responsibility and the burden to end the war. Finally, Nanami gives in and tells Riou to go to sleep, acknowledging him as a big boy who can make decisions on his own.
The next day, however, Riou sees that Jess has gathered an army of Muse loyalists to strike at an area full of zombies, and with the information claimed to be from someone loyal to Muse, Jess sees no reason to doubt this source. Not even Hauser objects to this seemingly suspicious information out of his loyalty to Muse, so Ridley and Klaus have to also deploy to ensure minimal casualties. All Riou can hope is that the information is actually legit, because there’s no way he can convince Jess who still unreasonably hates him.
While exploring Tinto, Riou and Nanami encounter several workers saying that there’s something suspicious in the mine. The two decide to investigate, and it turns out that Neclord has prepared an ambush against the two and he has ensured that the two cannot escape. Once again, Neclord proves to be invincible against the two and he prepares to use his secret weapon, the Blue Moon Rune, to turn the two into zombies. However, Riou uses the Bright Shield Rune to block off the Blue Moon Rune and secure an escape despite the impossible odds. When he comes back to surface, however, things have taken a turn for the worst: The information Jess received was fake after all, and Tinto has been overrun by zombies. The usage of Bright Shield Rune to escape Neclord has exhausted Riou, so Nanami carries him on a piggyback to escape the zombies.
At the same time, Jowy senses that his Black Sword Rune is aching, it seems that a clash is inevitable.
Riou wakes up in a nearby village of Crom. To his relief, Gustav and Klaus are safe and Shu has sent in Leona to manage the temporary headquarters in Crom to deal with Neclord, but Jess and Hauser are nowhere to be seen, and Gustav reports that his daughter Lilly is missing. For now, he has to concentrate on how to personally deal with Neclord. Still, when exploring the village of Crom, Riou spots a man dine-dashing, which his ally Wakaba recognizes as her master, Long Chan Chan. Riou manages to confront Long Chan Chan and impresses him with his strength, so he agrees to join Riou… after he eludes his pursuer for his dine-dashing. Riou then encounters a window maker named Tenkou and after showing him a window setting, he agreed to join Riou.
After he’s done exploring, Riou is reunited with Kahn Marley, who has finally mastered a way to trap Neclord so he can be finished for good. However, to enable that, he needs the team to meet someone important in the Tigermouth Village. Accompanied with Kahn, Riou returns to Tigermouth village, where he sees a pale woman being accosted as an ally of Neclord’s zombies. However, the woman instead gets pissed off at the lowly insults given to her and scares the crowd by casting magic.
Kahn introduces the woman as the Mistress of the Coven and the oldest creature to walk this world of 27 True Runes, the vampiress Sierra Mikain. Sierra is also hunting Neclord for the crime of stealing her Blue Moon Rune, which caused her original village of peaceful vampires to be overcome with blood lust and had to be killed out of mercy. However, she kind of doubts Riou’s strength and decides to test him, whether he’d be a burden or not. Riou proves himself quickly in battle and Sierra agrees to lend her strength.
Riou returns to Crom, to which Kahn suggests they rest as he’ll be ready for the attack tomorrow. Though, the first time Sierra sees the attractive Klaus, she’s instantly smitten and can’t wait to drink on him (read: suck his blood). Regardless, she doesn’t exactly carry out the deed and the team retires for the day.
The next day, the team receives a report from Koyu and Gijimu that Neclord’s army is ever expanding and they also saw Lo Wen as one of Neclord’s captives. Luckily, Kahn and Sierra’s preparations are ready and Gustav also reveals the location of a mine that connects to the main Tinto mine. They can use that to sneak into Tinto city hall where Neclord is most likely located.
The team departs at once. Within the mine, Riou encounters a reclusive mage named Mazus, but he does not feel like getting out of his hiding spot yet. Traveling further, Riou’s team is blocked off by a Stone Golem. They defeat the creature and proceed forward, finally reaching Tinto.
After making preparations, Riou, Nanami and Viktor barge into Neclord’s main room, where both Lilly and Lo Wen are being held hostage and almost turned into brides (though Neclord has a rather distaste for Lo Wen whom he considered vulgar for a woman). Viktor then launches a long-winded taunt that even befuddles Neclord, but this gives Kahn enough time to set up his trap which immobilizes Neclord. When he tries to use the Blue Moon Rune, Sierra tells the rune to calm down, and the rune obeys, recognizing her as its true master. Neclord mounts one last stand as Riou and Viktor attack him one last time. Finally realizing that he’s cornered, Neclord begs for forgiveness, and Sierra will grant him if he returns the stolen Blue Moon Rune to her. Neclord then returns the rune… but while Sierra ‘forgives’ him, she never said about others forgiving him, and she allows Viktor to exact his revenge, killing Neclord for good with the Star Dragon Sword.
Finally freeing Tinto from Neclord’s grasp, Riou goes outside to see not only Gustav reuniting with Lilly and both Koyu and Gijimu reuniting with Lo Wen, he also sees Ridley returning safe and sound, having protected Jess and Hauser from being completely routed and turned into zombies. Jess finally realizes how much his own hatred has clouded him from the bigger picture and asks for forgiveness from Riou. On the convincing of Hauser, Jess then asks to join Riou’s army for penance, and he forgives him. With that, the States Army’s troop number increases exponentially with both Muse Remnants and Tinto joining them.
Before returning to base, while walking between the mountain pass between Drakemouth and Tigermouth villages, Riou encounters a powerful swordsman with rich history from the Scarlet Moon Empire Succession War and the Falenan Civil War named Georg Prime. After hearing his tough and inspiring advice, he asks Georg to lend his services to him. Georg agrees.
Riou then visits the South Window city to recruit the monk Gantetsu, having to prove his physical strength to push the enormous monk.
To get to Tinto, Riou has to get past the Drakemouth Village southwest of the Kobold Village. After getting through the mountain, Koyu manages to reunite with Gijimu, who’s at least safe with some men, but somehow Lo Wen has gone missing. Gijimu has contacted Gustav about this zombie attack, but he wouldn’t listen to a bandit like him. However, seeing Riou, Gijimu believes that perhaps Gustav will at least listen to the man who beat Luca Blight and he may try to take this zombie attack more seriously. Viktor also sees this as a chance to gain alliance with Tinto for the war against Highland.
Making his way to Tinto city and before he finally enters the city hall, Riou ends up recruiting a scroll maker and acquaintance to Jeane, Raura, though he’s befuddled with her lack of sense of direction. Gustav actually is charitable and asks for Riou’s help in helping this zombie problem. After being introduced to his daughter, Lilly, and his librarian, Marlowe, Riou spends the night in Gustav’s home while Viktor relays the message to Shu to send reinforcements.
The next day, it turns out that both Ridley and Klaus are the chosen representatives from Shu. However, at the same time, Neclord decides to reveal himself, declaring his desire to turn Tinto into his new kingdom of zombies. Gustav is a bit distressed at this, but puts a strong front in the face of his people. Soon, it turns out that Gustav has another help from the remnants of Muse led by both Jess and Hauser. However, Jess still holds an extreme grudge against Riou for the death of Annabelle and accuses him as a Highland spy, completely ignoring his accomplishment of killing Luca Blight. Yet another friction between the States Army is seen.
That night, Leknaat gives another visit to Riou in his sleep. Then, he visits Nanami who cannot sleep and is still kind of hurt by Jess’ accusation. Finally, Nanami lets out her frustration that she just wants to run away from the war with Riou, someone else can take care of the States Army leadership, because this is not the proper place for someone of Riou's age to be, it’s unfair. Riou manages to convince his sister that he wants to take responsibility and the burden to end the war. Finally, Nanami gives in and tells Riou to go to sleep, acknowledging him as a big boy who can make decisions on his own.
The next day, however, Riou sees that Jess has gathered an army of Muse loyalists to strike at an area full of zombies, and with the information claimed to be from someone loyal to Muse, Jess sees no reason to doubt this source. Not even Hauser objects to this seemingly suspicious information out of his loyalty to Muse, so Ridley and Klaus have to also deploy to ensure minimal casualties. All Riou can hope is that the information is actually legit, because there’s no way he can convince Jess who still unreasonably hates him.
While exploring Tinto, Riou and Nanami encounter several workers saying that there’s something suspicious in the mine. The two decide to investigate, and it turns out that Neclord has prepared an ambush against the two and he has ensured that the two cannot escape. Once again, Neclord proves to be invincible against the two and he prepares to use his secret weapon, the Blue Moon Rune, to turn the two into zombies. However, Riou uses the Bright Shield Rune to block off the Blue Moon Rune and secure an escape despite the impossible odds. When he comes back to surface, however, things have taken a turn for the worst: The information Jess received was fake after all, and Tinto has been overrun by zombies. The usage of Bright Shield Rune to escape Neclord has exhausted Riou, so Nanami carries him on a piggyback to escape the zombies.
At the same time, Jowy senses that his Black Sword Rune is aching, it seems that a clash is inevitable.
Riou wakes up in a nearby village of Crom. To his relief, Gustav and Klaus are safe and Shu has sent in Leona to manage the temporary headquarters in Crom to deal with Neclord, but Jess and Hauser are nowhere to be seen, and Gustav reports that his daughter Lilly is missing. For now, he has to concentrate on how to personally deal with Neclord. Still, when exploring the village of Crom, Riou spots a man dine-dashing, which his ally Wakaba recognizes as her master, Long Chan Chan. Riou manages to confront Long Chan Chan and impresses him with his strength, so he agrees to join Riou… after he eludes his pursuer for his dine-dashing. Riou then encounters a window maker named Tenkou and after showing him a window setting, he agreed to join Riou.
After he’s done exploring, Riou is reunited with Kahn Marley, who has finally mastered a way to trap Neclord so he can be finished for good. However, to enable that, he needs the team to meet someone important in the Tigermouth Village. Accompanied with Kahn, Riou returns to Tigermouth village, where he sees a pale woman being accosted as an ally of Neclord’s zombies. However, the woman instead gets pissed off at the lowly insults given to her and scares the crowd by casting magic.
Kahn introduces the woman as the Mistress of the Coven and the oldest creature to walk this world of 27 True Runes, the vampiress Sierra Mikain. Sierra is also hunting Neclord for the crime of stealing her Blue Moon Rune, which caused her original village of peaceful vampires to be overcome with blood lust and had to be killed out of mercy. However, she kind of doubts Riou’s strength and decides to test him, whether he’d be a burden or not. Riou proves himself quickly in battle and Sierra agrees to lend her strength.
Riou returns to Crom, to which Kahn suggests they rest as he’ll be ready for the attack tomorrow. Though, the first time Sierra sees the attractive Klaus, she’s instantly smitten and can’t wait to drink on him (read: suck his blood). Regardless, she doesn’t exactly carry out the deed and the team retires for the day.
The next day, the team receives a report from Koyu and Gijimu that Neclord’s army is ever expanding and they also saw Lo Wen as one of Neclord’s captives. Luckily, Kahn and Sierra’s preparations are ready and Gustav also reveals the location of a mine that connects to the main Tinto mine. They can use that to sneak into Tinto city hall where Neclord is most likely located.
The team departs at once. Within the mine, Riou encounters a reclusive mage named Mazus, but he does not feel like getting out of his hiding spot yet. Traveling further, Riou’s team is blocked off by a Stone Golem. They defeat the creature and proceed forward, finally reaching Tinto.
After making preparations, Riou, Nanami and Viktor barge into Neclord’s main room, where both Lilly and Lo Wen are being held hostage and almost turned into brides (though Neclord has a rather distaste for Lo Wen whom he considered vulgar for a woman). Viktor then launches a long-winded taunt that even befuddles Neclord, but this gives Kahn enough time to set up his trap which immobilizes Neclord. When he tries to use the Blue Moon Rune, Sierra tells the rune to calm down, and the rune obeys, recognizing her as its true master. Neclord mounts one last stand as Riou and Viktor attack him one last time. Finally realizing that he’s cornered, Neclord begs for forgiveness, and Sierra will grant him if he returns the stolen Blue Moon Rune to her. Neclord then returns the rune… but while Sierra ‘forgives’ him, she never said about others forgiving him, and she allows Viktor to exact his revenge, killing Neclord for good with the Star Dragon Sword.
Finally freeing Tinto from Neclord’s grasp, Riou goes outside to see not only Gustav reuniting with Lilly and both Koyu and Gijimu reuniting with Lo Wen, he also sees Ridley returning safe and sound, having protected Jess and Hauser from being completely routed and turned into zombies. Jess finally realizes how much his own hatred has clouded him from the bigger picture and asks for forgiveness from Riou. On the convincing of Hauser, Jess then asks to join Riou’s army for penance, and he forgives him. With that, the States Army’s troop number increases exponentially with both Muse Remnants and Tinto joining them.
Before returning to base, while walking between the mountain pass between Drakemouth and Tigermouth villages, Riou encounters a powerful swordsman with rich history from the Scarlet Moon Empire Succession War and the Falenan Civil War named Georg Prime. After hearing his tough and inspiring advice, he asks Georg to lend his services to him. Georg agrees.
Riou then visits the South Window city to recruit the monk Gantetsu, having to prove his physical strength to push the enormous monk.
Liberation of Greenhill
Finally returning to base, Shu reports that the States Army has grown so big that they can retake at least one Highland territory, and Greenhill would be their first target. During the night before the war, Riou walks around the castle to listen to what some of his people are thinking, including how the traveling performer trio, Rina, Eilie and Bolgan, ponder that when the war is over, they may have to hit the road again. Returning to bed, however, Riou is suddenly attacked by a female assassin, Lucia of Karaya tribe. Riou manages to repel her until Viktor and Flik come to his aid and haul her to prison.
The next day, however, Riou finds out that Lucia has escaped. After ordering an increase in security, Shu lays out his plan: Viktor and Flik will hold off the Highland Army from Muse, while Teresa, Kiba and Ridley directly assault Greenhill. Riou can pick whichever group he wants to accompany.
Regardless of whatever group he picks, Riou finds that the gates of Greenhill is a bit harder to crack. Teresa then suggests the same forest path they used to escape, and Shin offers to join to once again protect Teresa. However, Lucia has prepared another ambush within the path, but she’s repelled. Lucia then reveals to Teresa on how her father, Alec Wisemail, has collaborated with Matilda’s Gorudo to poison her father to put the Karaya tribe under their thumbs and she holds Teresa responsible for this. While Teresa is befuddled, she swears to investigate this later and ensures that she has no ill will against Lucia, forcing her to retreat.
Through the path, Riou finally manages to make it to the front gate of Greenhill. However, Yuber makes an appearance and after taunting Riou as the cursed child of the True Rune, he summons a massive bone dragon as the final obstacle for Riou to liberate Greenhill. Riou defeats the creature, finally forcing Yuber to retreat and completely liberating Greenhill, with Teresa being able to fulfill her promise to retake Greenhill for her people.
The next day, however, Riou finds out that Lucia has escaped. After ordering an increase in security, Shu lays out his plan: Viktor and Flik will hold off the Highland Army from Muse, while Teresa, Kiba and Ridley directly assault Greenhill. Riou can pick whichever group he wants to accompany.
Regardless of whatever group he picks, Riou finds that the gates of Greenhill is a bit harder to crack. Teresa then suggests the same forest path they used to escape, and Shin offers to join to once again protect Teresa. However, Lucia has prepared another ambush within the path, but she’s repelled. Lucia then reveals to Teresa on how her father, Alec Wisemail, has collaborated with Matilda’s Gorudo to poison her father to put the Karaya tribe under their thumbs and she holds Teresa responsible for this. While Teresa is befuddled, she swears to investigate this later and ensures that she has no ill will against Lucia, forcing her to retreat.
Through the path, Riou finally manages to make it to the front gate of Greenhill. However, Yuber makes an appearance and after taunting Riou as the cursed child of the True Rune, he summons a massive bone dragon as the final obstacle for Riou to liberate Greenhill. Riou defeats the creature, finally forcing Yuber to retreat and completely liberating Greenhill, with Teresa being able to fulfill her promise to retake Greenhill for her people.
Failed Attack At Muse (And the final recruitment drive)
However, Riou has no time to relax, there’s another distressing news from Shu. Much to the annoyance of both Miklotov and Camus, during the whole campaign to retake Greenhill, Highland has snuck into the Matilda Knightdom and Gorudo easily surrendered to them. Apple then suddenly suggests an immediate attack to Muse, thinking that Highland must be exhausted after subjugating Matilda. And surprisingly Shu greenlit the idea.
However, Riou requested a small time out. With Greenhill liberated and their influence appearing, he feels that this is a good time to expand the recruits. In Greenhill, he recruits the artisan Jude after helping him find a set of clay. Then, while strolling through the inn, he finds one of Annallee’s band members Pico and recruits him to his cause.
Riou then visits the Kuskus town where the famed blacksmith Tessai has taken residence. Tessai is more impressed with the presence of Viktor’s Star Dragon Sword that he begs for a chance to sharpen it, but Viktor and the sword end up arguing due to the sword’s haughty attitude flaring up again. Regardless, the situation is diffused and Riou hands over most of the hammers he found to Tessai, allowing him to upgrade his weapon to a level higher than most.
Coronet town still remains under Highland control, but Riou manages to talk to someone in the free area of the docks, the swordsman Genshu. Looking at Riou’s sharp weapons, Genshu is interested in joining Riou’s army, in which he accepts. Through Emilia’s books, Riou learns about a rumor of an enigmatic black knight being spotted in the Cave of Winds. When he reaches there, he encounters the same black knight that fought in the Gate Rune Wars, Pesmerga. After hearing his grudge against Yuber, Riou invites him to join his army, to which Pesmerga accepts.
Traveling back to Tinto, Riou picks up the last member of Annallee’s band, Alberto. And with his army growing this big, when Riou revisits Mazus, he decides that it’s finally time to get out of his hiding spot and enlists in Riou's army as a mage general.
Finally done, Riou returns to his base and gives the signal to march to Muse. The Highland Army came to defend themselves with the help of the Karaya Tribe. However, in the middle of battle, Jowy signals a retreat to the main Highland army, leaving the Karaya Tribe the last line of defense for Muse. Riou marches on and enters Muse with his army. But to his shock, aside of how the town is still empty, the States soldiers are attacked with multiple golden wolves. According to Luc, these are spawns of the Beast Rune, materializing due to Luca Blight’s mass sacrifice. Furthermore, the Highland Army under Jowy are spotted after faking their retreat before. The States Army is forced to retreat to ensure they don’t get ambushed.
However, Riou requested a small time out. With Greenhill liberated and their influence appearing, he feels that this is a good time to expand the recruits. In Greenhill, he recruits the artisan Jude after helping him find a set of clay. Then, while strolling through the inn, he finds one of Annallee’s band members Pico and recruits him to his cause.
Riou then visits the Kuskus town where the famed blacksmith Tessai has taken residence. Tessai is more impressed with the presence of Viktor’s Star Dragon Sword that he begs for a chance to sharpen it, but Viktor and the sword end up arguing due to the sword’s haughty attitude flaring up again. Regardless, the situation is diffused and Riou hands over most of the hammers he found to Tessai, allowing him to upgrade his weapon to a level higher than most.
Coronet town still remains under Highland control, but Riou manages to talk to someone in the free area of the docks, the swordsman Genshu. Looking at Riou’s sharp weapons, Genshu is interested in joining Riou’s army, in which he accepts. Through Emilia’s books, Riou learns about a rumor of an enigmatic black knight being spotted in the Cave of Winds. When he reaches there, he encounters the same black knight that fought in the Gate Rune Wars, Pesmerga. After hearing his grudge against Yuber, Riou invites him to join his army, to which Pesmerga accepts.
Traveling back to Tinto, Riou picks up the last member of Annallee’s band, Alberto. And with his army growing this big, when Riou revisits Mazus, he decides that it’s finally time to get out of his hiding spot and enlists in Riou's army as a mage general.
Finally done, Riou returns to his base and gives the signal to march to Muse. The Highland Army came to defend themselves with the help of the Karaya Tribe. However, in the middle of battle, Jowy signals a retreat to the main Highland army, leaving the Karaya Tribe the last line of defense for Muse. Riou marches on and enters Muse with his army. But to his shock, aside of how the town is still empty, the States soldiers are attacked with multiple golden wolves. According to Luc, these are spawns of the Beast Rune, materializing due to Luca Blight’s mass sacrifice. Furthermore, the Highland Army under Jowy are spotted after faking their retreat before. The States Army is forced to retreat to ensure they don’t get ambushed.
Assault on Rockaxe - The Decisive Battle
With the attack on Muse ending in failure, Riou attempts to rest in his quarters, but he spots Kiba entering Shu’s room for a personal meeting. It turns out that Shu’s next strategy will be a risky one and he apologizes for asking Kiba to take the most risky part which may cost his life: To stall the forces of Leon Silverberg in Viktor’s old fortress. Kiba, however, is prepared to risk his life for the good cause and asks Shu to take care of Klaus in his absence.
Riou cancels his idea to rest for now, and confronts Shu, to which he confirms that he’s ready for what could be the most decisive battle to decide the outcome of the war. Gathering all his men, he rallies them to fight. In this time, Leknaat congratulates Riou for gathering the 108 Stars of Destiny and unlocks the seal of the final power of the Bright Shield Rune.
After Kiba departs to Viktor’s fort, the States army uses Greenhill’s New Leaf Academy dormitory as a temporary headquarters to prepare for the assault on Matilda. However, while taking a small break, Riou and Nanami spot Lucia sneaking around. They end up chasing her and encountering Jowy. Once again, Jowy asks Riou to stop fighting, to which he refuses. The two confirm that it seems that it’s the fate of the bearers of the Bright Shield Rune and Black Sword Rune to fight, and then Jowy takes his leave, with Nanami being distraught that the two people close to her are fighting each other.
Shu then briefs the plan. The plan is to first break to the first gate of Rockaxe. Afterwards, Ridley, Teresa and Hauser are to lead another squad to stall the Highland forces while Riou prepares a small group to sneak into Rockaxe Castle and replace the Highland flag with the States flag, which will demoralize the Matilda Knightdom and cause them to surrender. Against Riou’s advice, Nanami barges herself into Riou’s group.
Once the army pushes through the ranks of the Highland-Matilda alliance, they finally reached Rockaxe Castle… and finally, a message bearer arrive: Shu’s plan to delay Leon worked greatly, but Kiba sacrificed his own life to ensure the plan worked, fighting honorably for the States Army to his last breath. Klaus knows that his father died with honor and silently mourns for him.
Riou and his group sneaks into the Rockaxe Castle, but eventually his team decides to stall pursuers, leaving only Riou and Nanami to do the flag exchange. However, Jowy ends up being the one personally barring them. He explains why he fights and how disoriented and hopeless the City States are based on how he observed their squabbling and unsavory members and that wars do not miraculously end just because some people say so.
A direct battle seems inevitable, until suddenly it turns out Gorudo has been hiding to assassinate both Riou and Jowy and take both the States and Highland all for himself. He orders his men to fire their crossbows on the two, but Nanami attempts to protect Riou, while he also has enough time to prepare himself and protect his sister. Nanami manages to block three arrows, but she gets hit with the fourth and is fatally wounded. This enrages not just Riou, but also Jowy, that the two set aside the fact that they’re leaders of opposing factions and instead combined their strength to make sure the avaricious Gorudo pay for his crimes.
Gorudo is easily overwhelmed with the wrath of the two parts of the Rune of Beginning and dies. Nanami is at least glad that Jowy is back to his old self temporarily, and reminisces with Riou about their good times before losing consciousness, which terrifies Riou with the prospect of his sister dying. Shu finds out about this in time and orders his men to quickly get Nanami treated while some also do the deed of replacing the flag. Jowy then orders his men to retreat afterwards, thus the States Army regains Muse.
The whole States army is worried sick about Nanami’s condition. But finally, Dr. Huan comes out with his treatment result. Sadly, he announces that despite his best, he couldn’t save Nanami. Riou’s sister is considered KIA. However, Huan also calls Shu for a personal favor.
Riou cancels his idea to rest for now, and confronts Shu, to which he confirms that he’s ready for what could be the most decisive battle to decide the outcome of the war. Gathering all his men, he rallies them to fight. In this time, Leknaat congratulates Riou for gathering the 108 Stars of Destiny and unlocks the seal of the final power of the Bright Shield Rune.
After Kiba departs to Viktor’s fort, the States army uses Greenhill’s New Leaf Academy dormitory as a temporary headquarters to prepare for the assault on Matilda. However, while taking a small break, Riou and Nanami spot Lucia sneaking around. They end up chasing her and encountering Jowy. Once again, Jowy asks Riou to stop fighting, to which he refuses. The two confirm that it seems that it’s the fate of the bearers of the Bright Shield Rune and Black Sword Rune to fight, and then Jowy takes his leave, with Nanami being distraught that the two people close to her are fighting each other.
Shu then briefs the plan. The plan is to first break to the first gate of Rockaxe. Afterwards, Ridley, Teresa and Hauser are to lead another squad to stall the Highland forces while Riou prepares a small group to sneak into Rockaxe Castle and replace the Highland flag with the States flag, which will demoralize the Matilda Knightdom and cause them to surrender. Against Riou’s advice, Nanami barges herself into Riou’s group.
Once the army pushes through the ranks of the Highland-Matilda alliance, they finally reached Rockaxe Castle… and finally, a message bearer arrive: Shu’s plan to delay Leon worked greatly, but Kiba sacrificed his own life to ensure the plan worked, fighting honorably for the States Army to his last breath. Klaus knows that his father died with honor and silently mourns for him.
Riou and his group sneaks into the Rockaxe Castle, but eventually his team decides to stall pursuers, leaving only Riou and Nanami to do the flag exchange. However, Jowy ends up being the one personally barring them. He explains why he fights and how disoriented and hopeless the City States are based on how he observed their squabbling and unsavory members and that wars do not miraculously end just because some people say so.
A direct battle seems inevitable, until suddenly it turns out Gorudo has been hiding to assassinate both Riou and Jowy and take both the States and Highland all for himself. He orders his men to fire their crossbows on the two, but Nanami attempts to protect Riou, while he also has enough time to prepare himself and protect his sister. Nanami manages to block three arrows, but she gets hit with the fourth and is fatally wounded. This enrages not just Riou, but also Jowy, that the two set aside the fact that they’re leaders of opposing factions and instead combined their strength to make sure the avaricious Gorudo pay for his crimes.
Gorudo is easily overwhelmed with the wrath of the two parts of the Rune of Beginning and dies. Nanami is at least glad that Jowy is back to his old self temporarily, and reminisces with Riou about their good times before losing consciousness, which terrifies Riou with the prospect of his sister dying. Shu finds out about this in time and orders his men to quickly get Nanami treated while some also do the deed of replacing the flag. Jowy then orders his men to retreat afterwards, thus the States Army regains Muse.
The whole States army is worried sick about Nanami’s condition. But finally, Dr. Huan comes out with his treatment result. Sadly, he announces that despite his best, he couldn’t save Nanami. Riou’s sister is considered KIA. However, Huan also calls Shu for a personal favor.
The Final War - Marching to L'Renouille
Since Muse has been liberated, Riou decides to take a few men to visit it. One of them being Clive and in the summit, they catch up with Elza where she explains why Clive’s gun wouldn’t even shoot her back then. In the end, she issues one final challenge in a village near Highland Capital L’Renouille, Sajah…
When Riou tries to retire for the day, he spots Apple going into Shu’s room. The two discuss Apple's previous call for attack on Muse which failed. Apple confesses that she feels so useless and wonders if there’s something she can do. Shu just tells her to draw a card he set up in the table and Apple takes the card revealed to have ‘Fire’ written on it. It meant nothing for now, but Shu tells her to retire for the day. Riou enters the room and Shu explains that the next battle will be the final one to decide who wins between the City States and Highland. Everything will be decided tomorrow…
At the same time, Jowy holds a ceremony to appease the people of Highland for the final battle and as if requesting for a blessing from the Beast Rune, Jowy seemingly sacrifices Jillia by stabbing her in the altar. While the people of Highland are enthusiastic, it turns out that Jowy uses a doll for public appeasement, and he collapses. This is all he can do to keep the Beast Rune released by Luca at bay.
The next day, Riou rallies his men to march to L’Renouille. However, Leon’s battalion is spotted flanking the main army. Shu then asks Viktor to do another dirty work and Viktor leads a squad to stall Leon with Shu… But just as Leon approaches, Shu burns the whole forest they’re in, isolating Leon with him so the two strategists can talk man to man, which devolves into the two calling out to each other on how their opposition’s methods are not ideal to end the war.
Apple learns about this and is horrified that she thinks that her drawing the Fire card was a bad premonition coming true all along. She thought that Shu died, but it turns out that Shu has been saved by Viktor. Shu then hands over the main strategist duty to Apple, confident that she can see through the war to the end.
Apple arranges for the final assault with L’Renouille, in which the Highland veteran general and Genkaku’s best friend, Han Cunningham, finally comes out of his supposed retirement to defend his country. In the middle of the war, Yuber ditches the Highland Kingdom. Because of this, Riou’s army breaks through the gate of L’Renouille.
Riou prepares his squad, but in the meantime, finds time to take Clive to the promised showdown at Sajah village against Elza. The two instead agree to switch guns for the duel, and as Elza expected, she ends up being the one shot because Clive’s gun won’t shoot him either thanks to the soul within, and Elza wanted to die by Clive’s hands anyway. Clive is devastated to learn the truth too late. However, he promises Riou that before he returns to the Howling Voice Guild, he will help Riou finish his war for good.
When Riou tries to retire for the day, he spots Apple going into Shu’s room. The two discuss Apple's previous call for attack on Muse which failed. Apple confesses that she feels so useless and wonders if there’s something she can do. Shu just tells her to draw a card he set up in the table and Apple takes the card revealed to have ‘Fire’ written on it. It meant nothing for now, but Shu tells her to retire for the day. Riou enters the room and Shu explains that the next battle will be the final one to decide who wins between the City States and Highland. Everything will be decided tomorrow…
At the same time, Jowy holds a ceremony to appease the people of Highland for the final battle and as if requesting for a blessing from the Beast Rune, Jowy seemingly sacrifices Jillia by stabbing her in the altar. While the people of Highland are enthusiastic, it turns out that Jowy uses a doll for public appeasement, and he collapses. This is all he can do to keep the Beast Rune released by Luca at bay.
The next day, Riou rallies his men to march to L’Renouille. However, Leon’s battalion is spotted flanking the main army. Shu then asks Viktor to do another dirty work and Viktor leads a squad to stall Leon with Shu… But just as Leon approaches, Shu burns the whole forest they’re in, isolating Leon with him so the two strategists can talk man to man, which devolves into the two calling out to each other on how their opposition’s methods are not ideal to end the war.
Apple learns about this and is horrified that she thinks that her drawing the Fire card was a bad premonition coming true all along. She thought that Shu died, but it turns out that Shu has been saved by Viktor. Shu then hands over the main strategist duty to Apple, confident that she can see through the war to the end.
Apple arranges for the final assault with L’Renouille, in which the Highland veteran general and Genkaku’s best friend, Han Cunningham, finally comes out of his supposed retirement to defend his country. In the middle of the war, Yuber ditches the Highland Kingdom. Because of this, Riou’s army breaks through the gate of L’Renouille.
Riou prepares his squad, but in the meantime, finds time to take Clive to the promised showdown at Sajah village against Elza. The two instead agree to switch guns for the duel, and as Elza expected, she ends up being the one shot because Clive’s gun won’t shoot him either thanks to the soul within, and Elza wanted to die by Clive’s hands anyway. Clive is devastated to learn the truth too late. However, he promises Riou that before he returns to the Howling Voice Guild, he will help Riou finish his war for good.
Final Battle - Stopping the Beast Rune
Right in the front hall of L’Renouille, Riou faces off Lucia one last time. Teresa comes to assure her that she will definitely investigate the issue with her father and asks for her trust. Lucia then tries to backstab Teresa, but she does not resist, stunning Lucia and finally making her drop her own knife and letting Riou pass.
Going deeper into the castles, Riou has to duel his grandfather’s best friend, Han. He prevails over that and Han is relieved to be able to meet his friend in the afterlife. Going further deeper, Culgan and Seed mount one last defense in the name of their homeland, but they end up being beaten fair and square by Riou. They let Riou pass while spending their last moments being content that they can fight for their beloved homeland to their last breaths.
Meanwhile, Jowy tells both Pilika and Jillia to move away from the war and start a new life in the Zexen Federation, as he has prepared a new home for them. The two reluctantly agree, but it’s clear that Jowy holds nothing but love towards them and they return the feelings.
The last obstacle that Riou faces is Leon Silverberg, who’s expecting his arrival. Revealing that he and Jowy have been doing their best to hold off the Beast Rune at bay, it falls to Riou to completely obliterate this menace that Luca Blight unleashed by initiating the war. So, Leon shed his blood to ensure the Beast Rune materializes and Riou will have to fight it.
After a long battle, Riou vanquishes the Rune incarnation. He enters the throne room to find it empty, Jowy no longer being there. The castle starts to crumble, like it or not, Riou has to make a run for it. He returns to his men safely and they celebrate his safety.
Going deeper into the castles, Riou has to duel his grandfather’s best friend, Han. He prevails over that and Han is relieved to be able to meet his friend in the afterlife. Going further deeper, Culgan and Seed mount one last defense in the name of their homeland, but they end up being beaten fair and square by Riou. They let Riou pass while spending their last moments being content that they can fight for their beloved homeland to their last breaths.
Meanwhile, Jowy tells both Pilika and Jillia to move away from the war and start a new life in the Zexen Federation, as he has prepared a new home for them. The two reluctantly agree, but it’s clear that Jowy holds nothing but love towards them and they return the feelings.
The last obstacle that Riou faces is Leon Silverberg, who’s expecting his arrival. Revealing that he and Jowy have been doing their best to hold off the Beast Rune at bay, it falls to Riou to completely obliterate this menace that Luca Blight unleashed by initiating the war. So, Leon shed his blood to ensure the Beast Rune materializes and Riou will have to fight it.
After a long battle, Riou vanquishes the Rune incarnation. He enters the throne room to find it empty, Jowy no longer being there. The castle starts to crumble, like it or not, Riou has to make a run for it. He returns to his men safely and they celebrate his safety.
Side Quest - Hai Yo and the Black Dragon Clan
In this section, we will chronicle the tales of the chef Hai Yo, which can happen any time during Riou’s story after he recruited the chef.
Riou would occasionally visit Hai Yo’s kitchen, where he would occasionally see Hai Yo being challenged by various chefs due to his growing fame as the head chef of the States army. Riou ends up having to hold a cook-off duels for each challenger. Hai Yo ends up winning his contests with the help of Riou judging what his judges love to eat and placing the right food at the right time between appetizer, main course and desert.
The third challenger, Ryuki, however, has a rather creepy personality and after being defeated by Hai Yo, warns him that the ‘group’ will come and get him… then commits suicide.
The fourth challenger, Shiki, is from the same group and forces Hai Yo to a duel by poisoning the warehouse keeper Barbara. Hai Yo prevails that one too and saves Barbara, but he still can’t stop Shiki from committing suicide, as he belongs to the ‘group’.
Later, Hai Yo is visited by an old friend, Bashok, who suddenly challenges him to a cook-off. Hai Yo defeats him and the representative of the ‘Group’ reveals herself: Gyokuran from the Black Dragon Group. She reveals that Hai Yo has betrayed his group and must pay for it, and she’s the one who forces Bashok to challenge Hai Yo and reclaim the Moon Bird Recipe under the promise that he will be given the cure for his sick daughter, but Gyokuran gloats that she doesn’t plan to honor the promise anyway. Bashok then resolves to find his own way to cure his daughter as there’s still time, and he wishes Hai Yo good luck.
Soon, Hai Yo is challenged yet again with a member of the Black Dragon Group, Ryuko’s brother Ryuki. Hai Yo wins again and just like his brother, Ryuki commits suicide. This devastates Hai Yo, seeing that his presence causes so many deaths.
Eventually, Hai Yo starts losing his drive for cooking at all if it leads to needless deaths. He gets a wake up call from an old friend, one of the chefs of the Gate Rune War, Antonio. Antonio asks Riou to hold a cook off to lift Hai Yo’s spirit. And the request works, Hai Yo feels reinvigorated, to the disappointment of Gyokuran who wants to capitalize on Hai Yo’s Heroic BSoD to win the Moon Bird Recipe with ease.
In a short time, Hai Yo would spot sneaks in his kitchen but cannot identify which one. Then Gyokuran comes to officially issue the challenge for the ownership of the Moon Bird Recipe. But to Hai Yo’s shock, it turns out that a lot of his recipes have been stolen! But even with many of his recipes stolen, Riou still gives his utmost support to help Hai Yo win the cook-off against Gyokuran. Reluctantly, Gyokuran leaves without taking her own life, commending Hai Yo for prevailing over him.
However, the struggle with the Black Dragon Group did not end. Soon, Riou encounters a menacing man who requests an audience with Hai Yo. As Hai Yo complies, the man introduces himself as Retso, one of the leaders of the Black Dragon Group, and challenges Hai Yo to a cook-off. Surprisingly, Retso manages to land completely perfect scores to the judges, landing Hai Yo his first cook off defeat. Retso is about to leave with the Blue Moon Bird Recipe, but he’s blocked off by Riou’s men who begs him to hear Hai Yo’s side of story, where he claims that Retso is being tricked by Jinkai. However, Retso accuses Hai Yo for the death of his daughter Shun Min, whom he was dating back then. Still, in Shun Min’s honor, Retso decides to give Hai Yo one last chance. He will return for another cook-off later.
Hai Yo is trying hard to figure out Retso’s secret but can’t seem to find an answer. It’s then, another chef of the Gate Rune War, Lester, approaches him on the recommendation of Antonio and asks to train him via a cook off. From the cook-off, eventually Hai Yo realizes the secret behind Retso’s perfect scores. As an extra, Lester also offers him to look for a secret recipe by his fellow friend in cooking, Gremio.
The day finally comes where Retso issues his final challenge, and Hai Yo reveals Retso’s secret: He’s using the Hypnosis technique with his wok to hypnotize the judges to always give him perfect scores. He calls out Retso on being so desperate to win. Retso admits that he’s come too far to carry out the grand plan to make everyone happy. Still, he decides to continue on having the promised cook-off, but he also promises not to use the Hypnosis to see through Hai Yo’s determination.
As expected, without Hypnosis, Retso is no match for Hai Yo in the cook-off. And finally, the true leader of Black Dragon Group, Jinkai, reveals himself. He already had the grand plan to use the mighty Moon Bird Recipe that Retso mastered with the techniques of Mystic Sashimi he learned during his time as a chef in the Sol-Falenan Civil War years ago in order to create foods so grand that it will make people happy. However, Retso’s daughter, Shun Min, already knew that it was just a cover for Jinkai’s lust for power, actually wanting to control the world via giving them good food. For that, she stole the Blue Moon Bird Recipe and gave it to her boyfriend, Hai Yo, before Jinkai’s thugs caught up to and killed her, leading Hai Yo to Riou’s army and the various cook-offs. Hai Yo is still adamant in defending Shun Min’s final wishes and decides to settle everything in one final cook-off against Jinkai.
And with the help of Riou and the spiritual help from his old friends, Hai Yo prevails against Jinkai. To make his point and ensure that no more deaths happen because of one recipe, Hai Yo tears the Blue Moon Bird Recipe apart, because the essence of cooking is about serving food to make the one who’ll eat it happy based on their hearts rather than just the quality of the food. Finally realizing that the lust of power led them astray, Retso pleads to Jinkai that they should just start over with the basics about making people happy with foods by also connecting with their hearts. Jinkai accepts his defeat and looks forward to where their paths will cross again.
Hai Yo then takes his time to take some fresh air, exclaiming to the spirit of Shun Min that he kept his promise, before resuming his daily duties as the head chef of the States Army.
Riou would occasionally visit Hai Yo’s kitchen, where he would occasionally see Hai Yo being challenged by various chefs due to his growing fame as the head chef of the States army. Riou ends up having to hold a cook-off duels for each challenger. Hai Yo ends up winning his contests with the help of Riou judging what his judges love to eat and placing the right food at the right time between appetizer, main course and desert.
The third challenger, Ryuki, however, has a rather creepy personality and after being defeated by Hai Yo, warns him that the ‘group’ will come and get him… then commits suicide.
The fourth challenger, Shiki, is from the same group and forces Hai Yo to a duel by poisoning the warehouse keeper Barbara. Hai Yo prevails that one too and saves Barbara, but he still can’t stop Shiki from committing suicide, as he belongs to the ‘group’.
Later, Hai Yo is visited by an old friend, Bashok, who suddenly challenges him to a cook-off. Hai Yo defeats him and the representative of the ‘Group’ reveals herself: Gyokuran from the Black Dragon Group. She reveals that Hai Yo has betrayed his group and must pay for it, and she’s the one who forces Bashok to challenge Hai Yo and reclaim the Moon Bird Recipe under the promise that he will be given the cure for his sick daughter, but Gyokuran gloats that she doesn’t plan to honor the promise anyway. Bashok then resolves to find his own way to cure his daughter as there’s still time, and he wishes Hai Yo good luck.
Soon, Hai Yo is challenged yet again with a member of the Black Dragon Group, Ryuko’s brother Ryuki. Hai Yo wins again and just like his brother, Ryuki commits suicide. This devastates Hai Yo, seeing that his presence causes so many deaths.
Eventually, Hai Yo starts losing his drive for cooking at all if it leads to needless deaths. He gets a wake up call from an old friend, one of the chefs of the Gate Rune War, Antonio. Antonio asks Riou to hold a cook off to lift Hai Yo’s spirit. And the request works, Hai Yo feels reinvigorated, to the disappointment of Gyokuran who wants to capitalize on Hai Yo’s Heroic BSoD to win the Moon Bird Recipe with ease.
In a short time, Hai Yo would spot sneaks in his kitchen but cannot identify which one. Then Gyokuran comes to officially issue the challenge for the ownership of the Moon Bird Recipe. But to Hai Yo’s shock, it turns out that a lot of his recipes have been stolen! But even with many of his recipes stolen, Riou still gives his utmost support to help Hai Yo win the cook-off against Gyokuran. Reluctantly, Gyokuran leaves without taking her own life, commending Hai Yo for prevailing over him.
However, the struggle with the Black Dragon Group did not end. Soon, Riou encounters a menacing man who requests an audience with Hai Yo. As Hai Yo complies, the man introduces himself as Retso, one of the leaders of the Black Dragon Group, and challenges Hai Yo to a cook-off. Surprisingly, Retso manages to land completely perfect scores to the judges, landing Hai Yo his first cook off defeat. Retso is about to leave with the Blue Moon Bird Recipe, but he’s blocked off by Riou’s men who begs him to hear Hai Yo’s side of story, where he claims that Retso is being tricked by Jinkai. However, Retso accuses Hai Yo for the death of his daughter Shun Min, whom he was dating back then. Still, in Shun Min’s honor, Retso decides to give Hai Yo one last chance. He will return for another cook-off later.
Hai Yo is trying hard to figure out Retso’s secret but can’t seem to find an answer. It’s then, another chef of the Gate Rune War, Lester, approaches him on the recommendation of Antonio and asks to train him via a cook off. From the cook-off, eventually Hai Yo realizes the secret behind Retso’s perfect scores. As an extra, Lester also offers him to look for a secret recipe by his fellow friend in cooking, Gremio.
The day finally comes where Retso issues his final challenge, and Hai Yo reveals Retso’s secret: He’s using the Hypnosis technique with his wok to hypnotize the judges to always give him perfect scores. He calls out Retso on being so desperate to win. Retso admits that he’s come too far to carry out the grand plan to make everyone happy. Still, he decides to continue on having the promised cook-off, but he also promises not to use the Hypnosis to see through Hai Yo’s determination.
As expected, without Hypnosis, Retso is no match for Hai Yo in the cook-off. And finally, the true leader of Black Dragon Group, Jinkai, reveals himself. He already had the grand plan to use the mighty Moon Bird Recipe that Retso mastered with the techniques of Mystic Sashimi he learned during his time as a chef in the Sol-Falenan Civil War years ago in order to create foods so grand that it will make people happy. However, Retso’s daughter, Shun Min, already knew that it was just a cover for Jinkai’s lust for power, actually wanting to control the world via giving them good food. For that, she stole the Blue Moon Bird Recipe and gave it to her boyfriend, Hai Yo, before Jinkai’s thugs caught up to and killed her, leading Hai Yo to Riou’s army and the various cook-offs. Hai Yo is still adamant in defending Shun Min’s final wishes and decides to settle everything in one final cook-off against Jinkai.
And with the help of Riou and the spiritual help from his old friends, Hai Yo prevails against Jinkai. To make his point and ensure that no more deaths happen because of one recipe, Hai Yo tears the Blue Moon Bird Recipe apart, because the essence of cooking is about serving food to make the one who’ll eat it happy based on their hearts rather than just the quality of the food. Finally realizing that the lust of power led them astray, Retso pleads to Jinkai that they should just start over with the basics about making people happy with foods by also connecting with their hearts. Jinkai accepts his defeat and looks forward to where their paths will cross again.
Hai Yo then takes his time to take some fresh air, exclaiming to the spirit of Shun Min that he kept his promise, before resuming his daily duties as the head chef of the States Army.
Epilogue - The Final Clash of the Sword and Shield
The next day after the final battle, Riou enters a grand meeting where the States representatives have agreed to form one new nation together based on their battles: The Dunan Nation. Riou is asked to be the new president. However, Riou refused, stating that he has a promise to fulfill with someone. Viktor and Flik let him go for this.
Riou makes it back to Tenzan Pass, back to the waterfall where he promised to reunite with Jowy in case they survive the chaos. Expectedly, Jowy is waiting there. After telling his side of story on how he’s actually inspired with Luca’s strength that despite disagreeing greatly with his methods, he believes that with such strength, he could form a strong nation that ushers a new age of peace for the good of everyone else. However, he decides that it no longer matters. All that matters is that this is the final battle between the King of Highland and the leader of the City States Army. One of them will not walk away alive. Only then the war will truly end.
But despite all those and Jowy’s goading, Riou refuses to even lift his weapon and attack his best friend. Finally, Jowy’s body starts to expire thanks to overusing his Black Sword Rune to hold the Beast Rune at bay. It is then that another miracle by the True Rune happens, as noted by Leknaat: The Bright Shield Rune fully heals Jowy’s wounds and he’s allowed to live again.
At first, Jowy is reluctant, with him carrying such a big sin, he feels like he no longer deserves the rights to live. However, Leknaat states that only by living will he have a chance to redeem himself. Both Riou and Jowy are still young, there’s still the whole world to explore rather than being stuck in one place. Then she takes her leave.
After much thinking, Jowy settles with how he can start over as Riou’s buddy, while legally declaring that the persona of “Jowy Blight, the King of Highland '' is dead. Shu pays them one last visit to bid Riou farewell for his journeys, but he has one last piece of information to report: His secret meeting with Dr. Huan after the fall of Rockaxe. As it turns out, Nanami survived the crossbow bolt wound. However, she personally asked Shu to keep it a secret from Riou so it wouldn’t disturb his duties as an army leader, something that she felt like she kept disrupting him out of selfishness. To facilitate that, she’s retiring to their hometown, Kyaro. When the war ended, she believed that Riou would at least have a home to return to.
Riou makes it back to Tenzan Pass, back to the waterfall where he promised to reunite with Jowy in case they survive the chaos. Expectedly, Jowy is waiting there. After telling his side of story on how he’s actually inspired with Luca’s strength that despite disagreeing greatly with his methods, he believes that with such strength, he could form a strong nation that ushers a new age of peace for the good of everyone else. However, he decides that it no longer matters. All that matters is that this is the final battle between the King of Highland and the leader of the City States Army. One of them will not walk away alive. Only then the war will truly end.
But despite all those and Jowy’s goading, Riou refuses to even lift his weapon and attack his best friend. Finally, Jowy’s body starts to expire thanks to overusing his Black Sword Rune to hold the Beast Rune at bay. It is then that another miracle by the True Rune happens, as noted by Leknaat: The Bright Shield Rune fully heals Jowy’s wounds and he’s allowed to live again.
At first, Jowy is reluctant, with him carrying such a big sin, he feels like he no longer deserves the rights to live. However, Leknaat states that only by living will he have a chance to redeem himself. Both Riou and Jowy are still young, there’s still the whole world to explore rather than being stuck in one place. Then she takes her leave.
After much thinking, Jowy settles with how he can start over as Riou’s buddy, while legally declaring that the persona of “Jowy Blight, the King of Highland '' is dead. Shu pays them one last visit to bid Riou farewell for his journeys, but he has one last piece of information to report: His secret meeting with Dr. Huan after the fall of Rockaxe. As it turns out, Nanami survived the crossbow bolt wound. However, she personally asked Shu to keep it a secret from Riou so it wouldn’t disturb his duties as an army leader, something that she felt like she kept disrupting him out of selfishness. To facilitate that, she’s retiring to their hometown, Kyaro. When the war ended, she believed that Riou would at least have a home to return to.
Aftermath
With the confirmation that Nanami is alive, Riou and Jowy hurry back to Kyaro to reunite with Nanami. And thus, the trio reunites and travels the world to spend their youth, free from any political involvement. The Dunan Nation is still formed, with the responsible adult allies of Riou managing the country. And as of what happens to certain key people of the event known as the Dunan Unification War…
- Teresa returns as the Mayor of Greenhill, succeeding her father. In time, she would mend the wounds between the City States and Karaya tribe. In the following years, she’s eventually elected as the President of Dunan Nation, and when the Higheast Rebellion occurs, she uses her skills to defend her nation. However, her bodyguard Shin vanishes without a trace and eventually she also signs an agreement with Tinto’s Gustav to separate it from the Dunan Nation, forming the Tinto Republic.
- With Teresa’s involvement, Lucia returns to lead the Karaya tribe back in the Grasslands. She later becomes the mother of Hugo, who would become one of the greatest factors of the Fire Bringers War.
- Viktor and Flik decide to wander together as mercenaries despite the loss of their fort, but come back to help Teresa during the Higheast Rebellion. In the rebellion, they mentor a youth named Edge, and eventually Viktor hands over the Star Dragon Sword to him, though that’s just an excuse for him to finally get away from the mouthy sword. Edge would later bring the sword to participate in the Fire Bringers War.
- Pesmerga continues his pursuit against Yuber, but loses track of him for good due to Yuber opting a new strategy of changing his appearance to look less like a black knight as he participates in the Fire Bringers War.
- Luc returns to Leknaat’s services. However, in time, he discovers a horrific secret about how the world works and the involvement of the True Runes behind it. He ends up betraying Leknaat afterwards and becomes the true mastermind of the Fire Bringers War, once again coming in conflict with Sasarai.
- Humphrey and Futch travel to Crystal Valley to Harmonia in order to take further care of Bright. Eventually, Futch is readmitted to the Toran Dragon Knights with a grown up Bright and assigned to babysit Milia’s daughter Sharon, but this instead leads him (and Sharon) to participate in the Fire Bringers War and facing off against his old friend Luc.
- Max retires from knighthood for good, and eventually dies of old age. His mission to fight for justice, however, is inherited to his grandson Fred Maxmillian, who fights in his stead during the Fire Bringers War.
- Meg travels the world to perfect her trickster skill. However, she gets into teen pregnancy and gives birth to Belle. After building up Gadget’s successor, Gadget Z, for Belle, Meg vanishes while Belle participates in the Fire Bringers War.
- Just like in the previous war, during the victory celebration, Viki sneezes and teleports herself through time right into the Fire Bringers War, where she ends up having to fight Luc.
- Tuta finishes his tutelage with Huan and grows up to be a fine young man and a talented doctor on his own. He partners with the nurse Mio to help sick people in the Zexen-Grasslands area. This leads him and Mio to get involved with the Fire Bringers War.
- Rather than ruling the Matilda Knightdom, both Camus and Miklotov becomes traveling swordsmen who protect the weak as they travel. This led them to Zexen-Grasslands, where they reunite with the traveling performer trio, Rina, Eilie, and Bolgan, and together with a certain Nash Latkje, they apprehend a criminal who claim to possess the True Fire Rune (which turns out to be fake).
- The Toran representatives return to their country. Valeria had one final duel/sparring with her rival Anita before they parted ways. Whereas Kasumi starts making a habit to visit Banner village once in awhile for chances to meet her crush, Tir McDohl, again.
- Adlai continues to perfect the art of making elevators. He later tutors a girl named Shizu. Likewise with Tetsu and his art of bathmaking and tutoring a boy named Goro. Both Goro and Shizu would bring their expertise to the Fire Bringers War.
- Apple departs on a journey to continue the biography of Mathiu. There are rumors that she has an affair with Sheena inbetween, but nothing is confirmed. She’s later approached by Mathiu’s grandson, Caesar Silverberg, and accompanies him as his guardian as Caesar becomes entangled in rivalry with his cousin Albert Silverberg as they stand on opposing sides in the Fire Bringers War.
- Freed and Yoshino retire from military duty and spend the rest of their lives as citizens in Radat. They are later blessed with a daughter, Sanae, who ends up traveling to Grasslands-Zexen and becomes involved with the Fire Bringers War.
- Jeane claims to have returned to her shop in Two-River, but she’s also seen in Zexen during the Fire Bringers War. This is actually one of her identical twins.
- If his subquest isn’t finished, Hai Yo then vanishes to escape the Black Dragon Clan. Otherwise, he returns to the Black Dragon island to lay flowers on Shun Min’s grave to inform her spirit that their mission was a success, then he returns to his cook duties in Dunan. Meanwhile, Bashok’s daughter, Mamie, recovers thanks to his efforts, and continues to cook, where her talents bring her to Grasslands-Zexen and be involved in the Fire Bringers War.
- Assuming that he finished his confrontation with Elza, Clive then returns to Harmonia, eventually promoted into the leader of the Howling Voice Guild
