Encounter of the Stars - Armstrong | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monster(s) | Soul Cost |
Name | Attribute | Stamina | Rounds |
:50 :150 :300 :500 | |||||
I - Beautiful Back | 20 | 2 | |||
II - The Day They Met | 20 | 2 | |||
III - Busy Warrior | 20 | 2 | |||
IV - Silent Tenderness | 20 | 2 | |||
Amelioration System — Twelve Zodiacs | |||||
First time clearance is rewarded with x1
I - Beautiful Back
20 | 2 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
99,999 | 8(8) | HP: 100 ATK: 99,999 DEF: 10 CD: 8(8)100 |
10 | No | 5 Fire Rune Shield | |||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
99,999 | 8(8) | HP: 100 ATK: 99,999 DEF: 10 CD: 8(8)100 |
10 | No | 6 Fire Rune Shield |
【Beginning】
Armstrong the warrior experienced numerous victories alongside Gods. He and the Court of Aries grew familiar with one another. Therefore, when the Court of Aries was assigned a mission to protect the realm of Humans, Armstrong joined his team and moved to the periphery of Holylight City with Gods.
- Court of Aries: Armstrong, what has caught your eye?
- Armstrong the City Taker: This field... It’s beautiful.
- Court of Aries: Right. This is what we’re protecting.
At a place farther away from the road, a broad field of wheat fluttered in the breeze. It was not that Armstrong had never seen a field of wheat; but, as a man who had grown up on the battlefield, the ones he had seen had all been ravaged. Seeing the golden shimmer of wheat just before harvest was a new experience. The farmers cheered for the army and in turn, the soldiers waved at them.
- Court of Aries: What are you excited about! Keep going!
Armstrong spotted a strand of golden hair in the ears of wheat. Maybe he had been too focused in examining the field. When the farmers cheered in joy, the blonde hair rose from the field. An elegant figure faced the people with its back. When she turned, Armstrong heard the calling from the Court of Aries.
Armstrong caught up hurriedly, but that maiden’s about-to-turn figure had his mind occupied...
【Before Battles】
- Court of Aries: Armstrong, let them witness your power!
II - The Day They Met
20 | 2 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
100 | 2 | HP: 2 ATK: 100 DEF: 1,000,000 CD: 22 |
1,000,000 | No | Symbiosis | |||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
100 | 2 | HP: 4 ATK: 100 DEF: 1,000,000 CD: 24 |
1,000,000 | No | Symbiosis | ||||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
200 | 2 | HP: 2 ATK: 200 DEF: 1,000,000 CD: 22 |
1,000,000 | No | Symbiosis | |||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
200 | 2 | HP: 4 ATK: 200 DEF: 1,000,000 CD: 24 |
1,000,000 | No | Symbiosis | ||||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
200 | 2 | HP: 2 ATK: 200 DEF: 1,000,000 CD: 22 |
1,000,000 | No | Symbiosis | ||||
Wave | ||||||||||
|
200 | 2 | HP: 4 ATK: 200 DEF: 1,000,000 CD: 24 |
1,000,000 | No | Symbiosis |
【Beginning】
The war has been going unfavorably. The Court of Taurus was to send warriors in protection of Holylight City’s supply lines. Armstrong volunteered. The Court of Taurus weighed the situation and recalled the others, leaving only Armstrong to escort the squad.
- Armstrong the City Taker: Captain, you really think highly of me.
- Court of Taurus: Not only me. The Court of Aries also agreed.
- Armstrong the City Taker: Fine, then...I shall be on my way.
【Before Battles】
- Armstrong the City Taker: Dealing with this alone really is a bit difficult...
- Armstrong the City Taker: But not difficult enough to beat me, Armstrong!
【End】
Armstrong lay exhausted on the wagon, taking a short period of rest while the officials moved the wheat. The tough battles tired him out and the purpose of volunteering slipped from his memory. When the maiden handed him a water bottle, he was so tired to open his eyes. He only sensed someone delivering water, took it and poured it down his throat. It was when she talked that Armstrong recognized the person was a maiden.
- Maiden: It must have been hard work, protecting the convoy.
- Armstrong the City Taker: Just because the captain “trust” me too much. I brought this on myself...
- Maiden: But you did well!
- Armstrong the City Taker: It’s too early to say that. We still have to go back!
During the conversation, Armstrong restored his strength. He opened his eyes and saw a maiden in a long dress. She sat on the boxes swinging her legs. Her shoulder-long blonde hair covered half of her smiling side face. Just then, a call to go sounded on their side. She took the bottle from the stunned Armstrong and jumped off the wagon.
Only when the wagon moved did Armstrong come to his senses as the silhouette of the maiden and the girl at the fields merged into one in his mind. It was then that he remembered why had he volunteered to protect the convoy — he had come to see her again. He yelled to the increasingly distant maiden:
- Armstrong the City Taker: Hi! I’m Armstrong! What’s your name?
- Persephone the Harvest Maiden: Persephone!
Persephone waved at him. On the moving wagon, Armstrong stared at the diminishing figure of Persephone, trying his best to keep an imprint of her smile on his mind —
III - Busy Warrior
20 | 2 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
100 | 2 | HP: 100 ATK: 100 DEF: 10 CD: 2100 |
10 | No | CD Restore | |||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
6,159 | 5(5) | HP: 80,540 ATK: 6,159 DEF: 10 CD: 5(5)80,540 |
10 | No | Initial Shield |
【Beginning】
Armstrong was no longer the inexperienced warrior new to his job. He had become a competent prospective Court of Taurus capable of leading other warriors to stop a despicable plot of Demons —
- Pholus: Argh —
- Court of Taurus - Armstrong: Fall back! Stop proceeding blindly!
- Nightfall Savant: What? I thought the Court of Taurus is the strongest among the Zodiacs.
- Nightfall Savant: I did not expect such a pushover.
In the purple flame, Armstrong held a little demi-elf. The infant elf had only just hatched and was still fragile. Armstrong led his men to storm a hideout of Demons only to fall into an ambush, surrounded by spread-out Demon soldiers. Their leader was sitting on a giant demonic statue, protected by flying dark dragons.
- Nightfall Savant: It’s great chance to have the Court of Taurus personally testing my products.
- Nightfall Savant: I hope it wouldn't be too difficult for you!
One of the dragons dived down and shot a purple beam from its mouth —
- Nightfall Savant: Take that kid as a gift! Beat the replica and run back to your Court!
【Before Battles】
【Enemy Dialog】
【End】
In the ambush, warriors were left either dead or wounded and the leader of the Demons fled. Even though they destroyed its research facilities, the Demon leader seemed to have prepared for it and under the rubble, they could find nothing but deformed bodies.
The girl with dragon wings remained in silent. This product was the only survivor of the Demons’ experiments. Armstrong did not want to ask her too much. After all, she had just escaped from that egg-shaped jail and still needed time to calm her mind.
- Pholus: Sir, everything was burnt...
- Court of Taurus - Armstrong: Then it looks like a retreat is our sole option...
Armstrong approached the demi-elf, which was cautiously looking around. He noticed that the child had eyes of a lady, just like Persephone...In a while of his stare, her azure iris turned crimson —
Armstrong hurried and held the child, disregarding her weak resistance. Her body temperature had dropped quite a bit since her hatching. Armstrong hastily channeled his immature power of God and the demi-elf gradually relaxed in the warmth.
It was only until seeing the child unharmed did Armstrong feel relieved. He could not help blaming himself for being lax and forgetting his responsibility as a Court of Zodiac.
IV - Silent Tenderness
20 | 2 | 0 |
Monster/Stats | Enemy Skill(s) | Wave | Monster | Attack | CD | HP | Defence | Loot | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wave 1 | ||||||||||
1 |
|
100 | 2 | HP: 100 ATK: 100 DEF: 10 CD: 2100 |
10 | No | CD Restore | |||
Wave 2 | ||||||||||
2 |
|
651 | 3(2) | HP: 130,196 ATK: 651 DEF: 10 CD: 3(2)130,196 |
10 | No | Trojan |
【Beginning】
Since coming to the Court of Taurus, Armstrong kept thinking about the reason for his fight.
He could not bear watching the way other Courts of Zodiacs carry out their responsibilities; the Court of Aries guarded people but seldom actively attacked; the Court of Cancer only dispatched of the Demon generals but not the Demon soldiers; the Court of Gemini guided souls of the deceased but never intervened on life and death of those in battle...
The last Court of Taurus once answered:
- Old Warrior: Indifferent doesn’t mean calm; senseless doesn’t mean steady.
He brought Armstrong into the woods to meditate. Using the trees as his armor had taught him how to suppress his anger. He put a fire into the branches but could not light on the slightly yellowish leaves.
After that, Armstrong always pondered the words of the last Court of Taurus...
- Old Warrior: Armstrong, can you control your power now?
- Armstrong the City Taker: Yes, Court of Taurus.
- Old Warrior: Good. Now is your final trial.
- Old Warrior: Turn around.
Armstrong turned and was about to ask his question. Suddenly a strong force struck his back, pushing him out of the palace. He was shocked and shouted:
Armstrong felt that he gradually turned into a golden bull of fire. A familiar scene appeared in his mind, with the beautiful field and the maiden he always had a feeling for.
- Old Warrior: Remember. Always be steady like you always are,
- Old Warrior: and protect the people with your silent tenderness.
【Before Battles】
【End】
Even though Armstrong saved Persephone, their relationship did not improve. At the time, the power of the Astralist turned him into a fire bull, giving him the power to dash out of the Demons’ circle. Later, he followed the instructions of the Astralist and ran all the way to the Virgo Court. He shifted back to human-shape only when he returned to the Taurus Court. Thinking back, he could not speak as bull, which was fortunate. If he was able to talk, he might have damaged his own image with nervous nonsense.
Armstrong finally understood the beliefs of the Courts of Zodiacs. They each had their own duties; Aries was to protect; Cancer was to eliminate; Gemini was to soothe —
- Court of Gemini - Castor & Pollux: Armstrong.
- Court of Taurus - Armstrong: Why are you here?
- Court of Gemini - Castor & Pollux: I just bumped into Persephone.
- Court of Gemini - Castor & Pollux: She asked if I knew who sent the fire bull to save her...
- Court of Gemini - Castor & Pollux: ...I think the answer is pretty obvious.
- Court of Gemini - Castor & Pollux: But I was in a hurry to seek help, so I ignored her question...
- Court of Taurus - Armstrong: Spit it out. What do you want me to do?
- Court of Gemini - Castor & Pollux: Armstrong is really reliable...
— though the ways the Courts choose to fulfill their duties Armstrong still did not recognize...
See Also