://Roots>>Episode 17

Painful Forest
Continuing where the last episode left off,Haseo is seen charging at a monster,and striking at him.The monster counter attacks with its fist,Haseo quickly jumps out of the way,the monster continues by charging at him.Haseo uses a skill that makes the dirt go flying around him,making the monster stop,since he cant see Haseo anymore.With a quick jump in the air,Haseo unleashes a white ball of light and strikes it on the monster,nailing it right on the head,allowing Haseo to do the final strike on the monster,killing him for good.Looking back at the monster,he remembers the fight between Phyllo and him,and the words Phyllo told him about becoming stronger in order to defeat Tri-Edge.Haseo shows a displeased look about that saying,he smirks saying he will become stronger and will save Shino.

Back in town,Pai is with Phyllo,she seems to think Phyllo doesnt want to go anywhere.He says that isnt true,there is a reason.The reason is...its because he has nothing to talk to her about.He continues with saying,that no matter how many times she asks him,he has no intention of telling her anything about that.As soon as he says that,Yata enters the scene,asking when did he start sitting there like that.Yata says a line,"One day,she...",which makes Phyllo turn his head to look at Yata.Yata continues,"...took interest in you who always sat here,and started talking to you."The scene is in grey,perhaps a flashback scene,it shows Phyllo sitting on the bridge,but with looking down at the water below him,there is another person stand next to him.From what Yata is saying,just from his appearance,she might have saw Phyllo as nothing more than a stuffed animal.Talking away,while waiting for someone,while enjoying this world.Phyllo speaks up asking Yata,about when did he have the right to look at other people's memories?Yata just smirks at him,saying that through her,Phyllo met Ovan,but was that it?Phyllo says,if he's investigated that much,then there is no need for Phyllo to answer.Yata wants to know the relationship with him and Ovan.Phyllo refuses to talk with Yata about it,saying Yata has wasted his time to come all the way here.He soon stands up,Pai asks where he is going,Phyllo just glides away saying,its dinner time.

Back to Painful forest,Haseo is sitting down at the base of a tree,he says its the last one.Meaning the last healing potion he has,and he uses it.Once he does,2 more monsters appear before him,Haseo smirks at them and then charges forward.Back in town,Tabby is sitting on a box,where Saburo is there next to her.She is wondering if Haseo is working hard,Saburo doesnt understand how you can work hard in a game.Tabby believes she has a point,because she thought Haseo didnt like these official events.Saburo asks about her,if she is going to participate in that event.Tabby says its too much for her,and cant do anything.Saburo points out that,dont you think if you think you cant do it,then would you really lose the ability to do it? And nothing will start if you dont move. Tabby realizes that,Saburo continues with saying,if someone who's afraid of heights can unexpectingly start to like sky diving...Tabby interrpts her saying,its enough.Sabu is interrupted with a flash mail,she is being called.She tells Tabby,that if she stays hesitant like that,bugs will come out of her head.Tabby doesnt say anything,she doesnt really care.In the monitoring room,Yata is watching Haseo in Painful forest.He is down on the floor,and saying,"Damn it".

Saburo heads to the temple dungeon to meet with Pai,she asks if its necessary to always come to this place to meet.Pai says that Sabu has interacted with PCs than she has.Sabu asks if she is going to do something dangerous,Pai says its under the allowance of the rules.Pai mentions the black Multi-weapon from the Twilight Brigade,and asks Sabu if she remembers.Saburo says his name.Pai wants Sabu to follow him to the Painful Forest.Sabu says that he was the one after all.Pai just wants her to follow the orders.Sabu restates the order,which is to make contact with Haseo.Pai will give Sabu any other directions after the contact.Sabu now knows how it feels to take a detour,Pai isnt understanding her metaphor.Back in town,Tabby is with Phyllo,talking about how she heard the Painful Forest is a horrible place.Its full of monsters that wont even appear in ordinary areas.No shops,and only items you can get from monsters you defeat.Phyllo speaks up saying,its just an area you go for fun.Tabby wonders if Haseo went there to become stronger.Phyllo comments about where else would he go.Tabby hopes he is alright.Phyllo thinks it wont be a problem if he went there to just level up,just as long as he doesnt face Tri-Edge.Tabby wonders if there is something she can do.Back to haseo,he is charging at a big,muscular monster,he lands a strike on him,but gets knocked away by its fist.

Out of nowhere,he gets healed,he looks annoyed for a moment,quickly gets back up and lands a final strike at the monster,destroying it.He looks back at the person stand there,its Saburo,he asks if she was the one that healed him.Sabu asks why Haseo isnt using healing magic.He refuses to thank her.Sabu continues saying,that this place is a Lost Ground,and that he wont receive anything even if he cleared it.Haseo looks back at her,asking what she meant by that.Sabu is just speculating,but doesnt think she is totally wrong either,and its pointless no matter what.Haseo asks her,how do you know that if you havent even tried? Sabu answers him by saying that is true.Haseo asks who she is.Saburo introduces herself,she asks if Haseo has stereotypes too.Haseo doesnt follow,she tells him,about a PC's name and gender.Haseo isnt interested.Sabu says Haseo is a nice guy.Haseo has no clue what she is talking about.She asks why he is participating in this event,and if he thinks it strange.Since the company didnt even announce the reward for clearing it.Saying CC Corp. doesnt want to get its hands dirty with this newly appeared Lost Ground,and decided to open this even for show.She believes she isnt wrong.She contines with saying,the game has a certain mysterious independence.As soon as she says that,Haseo starts to remember Ovan saying something like that in the past.He stops,Saburo wonders why he did.Haseo says,thats enough and to stop following him.He walks away,Sabu comments that he is an interesting kid.

Back at the new area,that was seen in the last episode,Ovan is walking along a long walkway,when suddenly Tri-Edge appears from a few feet away behind Ovan.Ovan has realized he has come,Tri-Edge looks ready,with his blades in postion,and letting out the sharp ends to appear.Ovan just smirks back at him.Ovan faces him,getting ready to take Tri-Edge's challenge.With a simple lean back,Tri-Edge lunges forward with his blades,Ovan blocks his attack with his gun,another attempt but blocked again,Tri-Edge falls back.Ovan shoots at Tri-Edge,but he too blocks his attack.Tri-Edge moves his hands outward,allowing his weapons to disappear,putting one hand on his wrist,he points both hands in the direction of Ovan,he is going to use the bracelet.Ovan recognizes that postion,sure enough,Tri-Edge's wrist has the familiar data patterns and shape when about to perform Data Drain.Ovan is surprised,but then shows a smirk.He reaches over and releases the lock from the case on his arm,and pulls it off.The case breaks away,releasing what seems to be,Dark Matter.

Back in Painful Forest,Sabu is still following Haseo,when suddenly they both stop after a static disturbance just occured.Sabu asks Haseo if he knows about Tri-Edge.Haseo asks him if he knows about it,Sabu doesnt.She just wonders if he is really a PC.Because any PC attacked by him,would become an unreturner.Haseo asks if she is saying,that he is a NPC.Sabu doesnt think that,if he is a NPC,CC Corp. could've taken care of him by deleting him.Haseo wants to know what is he then.Sabu just says,"A.I." Haseo repeats what Sabu just said,Sabu explains that it stands for Artificial Intelligence,and thats why CC Corp. cant do anything about him.Haseo asks,why dont they just delete the program? Sabu says the name,"Aura" and asks Haseo if he knows her. Haseo turns to look at him,and says her name. He starts to remember Shino talking about Aura in the past before.He asks Sabu,about the statue in the cathedral.Sabu answers him by saying,he is half right and half wrong,that there once was an A.I. named Aura.Haseo asks her,about them not deleting her.Sabu believes so,it was written on the BBS from the last revision.He asks if this A.I.,Aura,is still here.Sabu doesnt know,she believes that there isnt anymore rumors about her,meaning,that she isnt here anymore,and wonders if Tri-Edge is her replacement.Sabu uses an example,like a father who desperately bows his head in order to find his daughter who ran away from home.Haseo wants to know,a replacement for what.Sabu has no clue either,and says he should ask Tri-Edge himself.Back to the fight between Tri-Edge and Ovan,it seems Ovan is injured as he is holding his left shoulder,and kneeling down.They both stare at each other,until Ovan smirks.Blue steams of data are coming out of Tri-Edge,the very same data strings that were leaving Shino's body when she was attacked by Tri-Edge.Tri-Edge has been defeated,leaving on a ball of light there,and it soon flies away from there.Ovan stands up,looking as it goes away,the area where he is standing,has the mark of Tri-Edge on the floor.

Returning to town,Tabby is spacing out,until she sees Kuhn in the distance,with a player next to him.She asks what Kuhn is doing,he asks what she is doing instead.Tabby says she isnt doing anything,the other player speaks up saying,he will decline after all.Kuhn is ok with that,and to contact him if anything happens.Tabby wasnt sure what just happened,Kuhn formed a guild and asked him to join.The player looks at Tabby and introduces himself.Tabby does the same,and asks about him saying,guild.Kuhn says its a guild for helping newbies.After what happened last time,he thinks there might be something he can do.Tabby repeats what he said,about a guild for helping newbies.Kuhn says the name of the guild,which is Canard,and asks if she wants to join.It seems Tabby was spacing out,Kuhn asks if she was listening.She declines his offer,Kuhn understands and takes his leave.Tabby says to herself about something she can do,Seisaku looks at her.Returning to Painful Forest,Haseo has just defeated another monster,but is then healed out of nowhere once more.With an annoyed look,he turns to look back,Sabu is sitting on a tree branch,smiling.Haseo asks of what she came for.Sabu just says,sightseeing.Haseo isnt buying that excuse,footsteps are heard,and instead of a monster,its a player.Its Taihaku,he is trying to remember who Haseo is.Haseo asks him,if he reaches the center,that means he's cleared it.Taihaku says,he cant tell him something that he has never done before.Sabu believes its impossible,the clear flag would say "reach the center".Haseo wants Sabu to stay quiet.Tai wants Sabu's opinion,she beliesve there is no such thing as clear,this isnt an actual event.Tai believes that is another possibility,Haseo asks which one is it.Tai answers him,playing while you think it exists,or playing while you think it doesnt exist.Which one is more interesting as a game,dont you think it would vary from person to person? As soon as he says that,Haseo remembers Ovan saying something like that in the past,Tai asks if he said something strange.Haseo says no,Tai will take his leave now,if they meet again,it will be at the center.Haseo says,sure.

Out in a field,Tabby is with Seisaku,she asks him why he didnt join Kuhn's guild.He repeats what she is asking him,mainly the reason why he refused to join Canard.He doesnt think newbies are the only ones suffering in this world.Tabby repeats what he just said,he says it may be true that newbies can have a tough time in a game where PKers run rampant,but the ones that will have the hardest time are the mid-range players.That if someone where to unknowingly equip a powerful weapon,you'll become PKers' target.The PKing will continue until you lose the item in question,there are PC's like that.He thinks the ones who really need help,arethe mid-range PCs who have obtained little bit of strength.Seisaku asks what Tabby wants to do,she is wondering she she should do,she isnt sure at all.Seisaku says thats not it,he is asking her what she Wants to do.Tabby wants to to save Shino,and help Haseo.

In the monitoring room,Pai and Yata are watching the three in Painful forest,along with Tabby and Phyllo on the other screens.Pai says she has analyzed what happened at Buruna Gidion,Yata asks if she found anything.She says,the data they werent able to analyze just a few days ago,which Yata says Ovan's name.She believes the same,it also seems he fought with Tri-Edge.Yata is interested in what she said,and a new monitor shows up.Its the very spot where Ovan was last seen,where only the mark of "Sign",is there.Sabu is with Taihaku now,Tai says she is pretty social.She believes he will reach the center first.He asks if that is her objective,she says there is no more than day left in this event and since she's here for sightseeing,might as well see as much as she can.Taihaku stops and asks what that is called.He looks back at her,and says,its called "parasitism".Sabu shows an evil smirk.Meanwhile,Haseo is walking down a path,looking injured,and tired.He soon approaches another monster,which is really huge compared to the last ones.Amazed at its size,he soon shows a smirk,and gets his weapon ready,while letting out a delightful yell.

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