Recap
"Alice understands! Crush all other games, and Tales Saga Chronicle will be a god-tier game!" Alice declares, grinning.
Alice, turned brain-muscle, spouts dangerous ideas. Mash acts fast.
"Counterstrike." Swoosh!
"Gyaah!?" Alice yelps.
"That sound!" Momo gasps.
"Sensei's hand chop was crazy fast… Yuzu, that's his power," Midori says.
"Eek…" Yuzu shrinks.
Mash knocks Alice out briefly, erasing her muscle obsession. Yuzu cowers, and the twins gape. Alice forgets her brain-muscle phase.
"Huh? What was I…?" Alice blinks.
"You nearly became a sad muscle-solving monster," Momo says.
"Ugh…" Mash flinches, guilty of muscle solutions.
"Really?" Alice asks.
"Here!" Momo hands Alice a card.
"Student ID?" Alice tilts her head.
"Proof you're a Millennium student. Veritas… registered you, so you're officially our friend," Momo says.
"Hacking?" Midori raises an eyebrow.
"Your imagination," Momo deflects.
"Cool," Mash says.
"That's it?" Midori sighs.
"Friends… understood. Fanfare! Alice joins!" Alice cheers.
"Speech is solid! Now, a weapon," Momo says.
"Weapon?" Alice asks.
"Let's show you Millennium!" Momo declares.
They decide to tour Millennium, but first, Alice needs a weapon. In Kivotos, no weapon equals being naked… apparently.
"Every Kivotos student has a weapon. We need one for Alice," Momo explains.
"Hmm," Mash nods.
"Engineer Club's the fastest way," Momo says.
They head there, as Mash has business too.
"Perfect, I needed to visit Engineer Club," Mash says.
"You commissioned something?" Momo asks.
"Not quite. They wanted to 'study my physical abilities,'" Mash says.
"So, they made you something as payment," Midori guesses.
"Yep," Mash confirms.
"What is it?" Momo asks.
"A weapon."
"Weapon!? For Sensei!?" the twins gasp.
"Problem?" Alice asks.
"Giving Sensei a weapon is like arming a demon with a missile!" Momo exclaims.
"They begged, and I couldn't say no," Mash shrugs.
"Poor souls who'll face him…" Midori mourns.
They head to Engineer Club for Alice's and Mash's weapons.
Engineer Clubroom
"Huge as always," Mash marvels.
Millennium's workshop rivals a factory, filled with advanced tools and high-quality weapons. But something's off.
"Were the walls and ceiling this wrecked? Attacked?" Momo wonders.
"Alice understands! A case! Let's start the search quest!" Alice exclaims.
"Sorry, I broke them," Mash admits.
"The culprit was right here!" Momo shouts.
"Apprehended!" Alice tackles Mash, locking an armbar.
"Caught!" Mash says, monotone.
"Alice's moves are slick!" Momo gasps.
"What'd you teach her, Sensei?" Midori asks.
"Muscle greatness," Mash says.
"Muscles… my head…" Alice groans.
"She's remembering!" Momo panics.
"Forget it, Alice! Drop the brain-muscle now!" Midori pleads.
Amid the chaos, Engineer Club leader Utaha appears.
"Hey, Game Dev duo… and Sensei!" Utaha greets.
"Been a while. We need a favor," Momo says.
Mash explains…
"Got it. A weapon for your new friend," Utaha nods.
"Exactly," Momo says.
"Perfect choice coming to us. Victory in Millennium hinges on skilled engineers. Over there are prototypes—take any," Utaha offers.
"Thanks!" Momo cheers.
"Thank you," Mash says.
"No prob, cute juniors!" Utaha winks. "Sensei, you're here! Finally!"
Utaha grabs Mash's hand, shaking it wildly.
"Come! Your custom weapon's done!" Utaha says.
"Custom? Exciting," Mash says.
"You'll love it. We and New Material Dev poured everything into it," Utaha boasts.
"New Material Dev?" Mash asks.
"They create new materials. Their help made this insane weapon," Utaha says.
"Wow," Mash says.
"This way! Alice, Hibiki and Kotori will help you!" Utaha pulls Mash.
"She's hyped…" Momo says.
"Go, Sensei! We've got Alice!" Midori says.
"Sensei leaves the party… sad," Alice pouts.
"He'll be back soon," Mash reassures.
"True… Alice endures," Alice says.
Utaha drags Mash to his weapon while Alice, guided by Hibiki and Kotori, searches for hers.
"Here, Sensei… your weapon, Proteus!" Utaha unveils.
"Looks like an iron staff stuck in the ground," Mash says.
A staff-like object is embedded in the floor, vibrating ominously.
"Creepy…" Mash mutters.
"Exactly! Not just iron—a special steel alloy," Utaha says.
"Thought so," Mash nods.
"Wait! We're not mocking you. Crafting a weapon for your physique was tough. No plan worked," Utaha explains.
"My fists are faster," Mash says.
"Exactly. Fixed-shape weapons couldn't harness your strength—they'd weaken you. Then, an idea: 'What if Sensei crafts the weapon on the spot?'" Utaha says.
"Huh?" Mash blinks.
"This staff morphs based on grip strength. Your power can reshape it like clay," Utaha says.
"So, I make weapons for any situation?" Mash asks.
"Precisely!" Utaha nods.
New Material Dev's alloy, processed by Engineer Club's tech, birthed a monstrous weapon.
"Incredible invention," Mash says.
"We planned to mass-produce it, but…" Utaha trails off.
"Too heavy?" Mash guesses.
"Yep. Over a ton," Utaha admits.
"Light for me," Mash says.
"Don't compare it to that dumbbell!" Utaha groans. "That's my proudest work."
"No more weapons, right?" Mash asks.
"You think I'd stop there?" Utaha grins, pressing a button.
The floor opens, revealing two more staffs and a chained holder.
"More?" Mash says.
"All yours. Try holding them," Utaha says.
Mash pulls one out effortlessly. "Fits perfectly. Thanks."
"No biggie. We're pals," Utaha says.
"Three staffs… nice. Name's Proteus, right?" Mash asks.
"Yup," Utaha confirms.
Fanfare! Mash obtains Iron Staff: Proteus.
Mash returns to Alice, finding lively chatter.
"Remember when you tried cryosleep with that 'meet in the future' hibernator and everyone caught colds?" Momo says.
"Future Express is still useful… as a fridge," Hibiki says.
"Overnamed for a fridge!" Midori laughs.
"Hey, everyone!" Mash greets.
"Sensei! Got your weapon?" Momo asks.
"Perfect. Alice's weapon?" Mash asks.
"Yes! That one!" Alice points.
A massive railgun, meant for ships or helicopters, not people.
"Huge," Mash says.
"We're aiming for a space battleship! This railgun's our first step, designed for extraterrestrial combat—a Millennium first!" Hibiki explains.
"Cool!" Momo says.
"Typical Engineer Club brilliance!" Midori cheers.
"We'd love to say it's going well… but it's paused," Kotori admits.
"Why!?" Momo groans.
"Budget. The railgun ate 70% of our funds. A battleship? Thousands of times more," Hibiki sighs.
"Should've known that upfront!" Momo snaps.
"Foolish question, Momo. Beam cannons are romance," Utaha says.
"Exactly! You don't get beam cannons, Momo," Hibiki adds.
"Idiots! Brilliant idiots!" Momo yells.
Momo's retorts fall flat, but Mash's words hit.
"Smart people can be dumb sometimes," Mash says.
"Ugh!" the engineers wince.
"Know the word 'mercy,' Sensei?" Utaha asks.
"I try," Mash says.
Staggered but recovering, they continue.
"Meet the weapon: Sword of Light, Supernova!" Utaha announces.
"Oooh," Mash nods.
"Sword of Light!?" Momo gasps.
"Alice's eyes are sparkling!" Midori says.
"Wow!" Alice beams.
"First time I've seen her this excited," Momo says.
"I want it," Alice says.
"Huh?" Utaha blinks.
"Great smiths, I seek that dragon's breath," Alice says.
"We're flattered, but…" Hibiki hesitates.
"Can't do it," Kotori says.
"You said anything here's ours!" Momo protests.
"Keeping it for yourselves?" Midori asks.
"Not that…" Hibiki says.
"Simpler reason," Utaha says.
"Simpler than money?" Momo asks.
"Too big and heavy for personal use," Hibiki explains.
"140 kg base, over 200 kg with recoil!" Kotori adds.
"So… super heavy?" Momo says.
"Yep!" Hibiki nods.
Too heavy for Kivotos students to lift…
"Too much for you guys," Mash says, lifting Supernova one-handed.
Not for Mash, who hoists 10-ton barbells daily. 140 kg is nothing.
"140 kg… one hand!?" Midori gapes.
"Sensei's insane!" Momo yells.
"Try it, Alice?" Mash offers.
"Yes! Alice equips Sword of Light!" Alice says.
"Wait! Sensei's an exception—" Kotori starts.
"She lifted it!" Hibiki gasps.
"Two people lifting 140 kg!?" Utaha stammers.
Alice, gleeful, holds Supernova.
"Alice, we need to inspect it," Hibiki says.
"Buttons…" Alice mutters.
"Stop, it's dangerous!" Kotori yells.
"Light!" Alice shouts.
Energy gathers at Supernova's tip… and keeps gathering.
"It's stuck charging!" Alice panics.
"Needs more tweaks!" Hibiki says.
"It's growing!" Momo freaks.
A glitch causes the energy to build, nearing explosion.
"Utaha-senpai, what do we do!?" Momo waves Supernova.
"Alice, stop swinging!" Hibiki yells.
"Shooting might fix it…" Kotori says.
"I'll handle it," Mash says.
"How!?" Momo asks.
"With this." Mash pulls out Proteus.
"Our masterpiece!" Utaha gasps.
"An iron staff won't stop it!" Momo cries.
"How?" Midori asks.
"Like this." Mash stretches Proteus, reshaping it into a bat.
"What!?" they gasp.
"Reshaped with grip strength!?" Hibiki stammers.
"Even as a bat, the railgun's too powerful!" Utaha warns.
"Trust me," Mash says.
Mash, bat ready, faces Alice.
"Fourth batter…" echoes self.
"Center fielder…" echoes self.
"Mash Burnedead!" echoes self.Swing!
"Sensei…" Alice hesitates.
"Trust me and shoot," Mash says.
"But—"
"I'm a strong character," Mash assures.
"Got it!" Alice nods.
Alice aims. The energy bullet fires.
"Light!" BOOM!
"Sensei!" they scream.
The bullet, at Mach 6 (2 km/s), rockets toward Mash. No one could react… normally.
"Hup!" CRACK!
Mash swings, hitting a perfect home run.
"WHAT!?" they gasp.
"Amazing!" Alice cheers.
The bullet pierces the wall, vanishing far away. Mash approaches Alice.
"You okay?" he asks.
"Yes! Sensei's not just strong—he's a cheat… no, a bug character!" Alice says.
"Am I… flattered?" Mash wonders.
Unsure if "bug character" is praise, Mash joins Utaha.
"Sorry, broke another wall," Mash says.
"It's fine… but how'd you hit that?" Utaha asks.
"Mach 6, you said!" Momo adds.
"How?" Hibiki asks.
"It had a wind-up. Straight shot, no problem," Mash says.
"Liar…" Kotori mutters.
"Your reflexes are the weapon," Utaha says.
Mash read Supernova's wind-up, timed it, and swung. That's it.
"Great staff. Thanks. You're all amazing," Mash says.
"Glad you like it," Utaha smiles.
"Supernova's awesome!" Alice says.
"What now? Giving it to her?" Utaha asks.
"After inspection and safety mods," Hibiki says.
"So…" Momo starts.
"It's yours. Use it well," Utaha says.
"Yay!" they cheer.
Fanfare! Alice obtains Sword of Light: Supernova!
Fanfare! Mash obtains Iron Staff!
"Woohoo!" they high-five.
Mash with Proteus and Alice with Supernova boost the party's strength.
Personal Take
Hoshino, Hina, Mika, Tsurugi, Neru: Strong characters.
Toki: Cheat character (cheat gear).
Mash: Bug character.
Just my headcanon, forgive me!
Comments, ratings, and likes fuel me! Please!
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