天下制覇

No promises, no demands.

Now to begin the swift and brutal process of scrolling Sage’s abomination off the front page. Thank goodness it’s Wendesday.

Impressions:

Wiser and Xellos make a very strange pair. I thought that both were pulling the other’s chain for awhile, and I wouldn’t be too terribly shocked if Wiser’s whole crush on Lina was made up for whatever reason, but he was more amusing than usual. I was somewhat annoyed that they brought Luna up to terrify Lina a bit since lord knows there is no way we’re ever going to see her. She couldn’t live up to the expectations for terrifying Lina that they’ve set at this point anyway, so I suppose it’s probably for the best.

I do think that Lina’s genius plan here needs some work. I’m disappointed that neither Wiser nor Xellos figured it out. They both should be smart enough to realize that arguably a more threatening mage than Lina is still at large and has the exact same goals as her. Hopefully at least Xellos is not really that dumb and it’s all part of his master plan. It’s hard to tell with Xellos, what with everything being a secret and all. I’m just glad that we got to see him kick the party around for a little bit.

Brief Summary:

In the party’s path is a giant citadel with Wiser standing at the top. After throwing some jibes back and forth, Wiser heads back inside to wait and capture Lina. Inside, Xellos and the two animal grunts have some kind of crazy technological command room set up. Wiser and Xellos chatter and gossip like baboons for a little bit before Wiser admits that he thinks Lina would be a great wife and maybe that’s a plan for getting her on their side. Oi. Luckily, Xellos knows just how to help him win her over.

Lina’s group, meanwhile, has come to a suspicious button… which means it must be pressed. The floor drops out from under them. Continuing onward, they find a beautiful garden with Wiser dressed up like a French dandy. After he confesses his love, Lina electrocutes him. Slightly later, and another suspicious button press, Wiser tries the tragic knight routine and gets exploded. Then we get the noble school gang leader and bronzed muscle man, all of which are exploded as well. Xellos has decided that he’s had enough fun, and one more suspicious button press later, the gang ends up in a strange dome covered in magical runes.

Wiser’s got one last trick… he brings up having a family. That makes Lina think of Luna, and she goes into a panic. Wiser comforts her, but Amelia then blows him up and Lina glomps onto her instead. Xellos finally comes out and decides to get serious. They attack him, but he effortlessly dodges or nullifies every spell and tosses them all around. Lina pulls Pocotta in close and tells him something before attacking Xellos with a huge windstorm that sends Pocotta flying out of the dome. Shortly afterwards, she gives up.

The four are taken captive and carted to Giocanda. Amelia’s worried, but Lina lets them in on her plan. That wind blast send Pocotta sailing clear and free, and this way, they’ll be brought right where they wanted to go anyway with Pocotta waiting in the wings to rescue them. He’s in a nearby field, a bit worse for wear.

Preview:

And we’re apparently already at the castle. That was quick.