Demon Lord 2099 (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

♪
[VELTOL]
Pardon me.
-[MALE OGRE 3C] Is this joker
with your family? -Hey!
[VELTOL] Takahashi, can I
safely assume that small,
ominous box is the item
we're stealing?
[MALE FOX 3A]
That's enough!
Only the most trusted members
of each of our families..
[TAKAHASHI]
Yup.
That's the goal.
[gasps]
Wait. What?
[TAKAHASHI]
How's the Familia-less wonder
chatting with me?
[VELTOL] I simply reproduced
the Familia's
aether communications
using my own magic.
Enemies are few.
I can easily subdue them.
[sighs]
Fine, but no killing.
I'll try to refrain.
Only the living can
appreciate the power
that comes from a million
faithful subscribers!
Who are you
and why are you here?
[chuckles]
Immortal Evening!
Hello! I am Demon Lord
Veltol Velvet Velsvalt!
Grovel, fools and subscribe!
[VELTOL] Not
a single spark of recognition.
I must work harder.
[MALE OGRE 3A] What
kinda game are you playing?
Well, I have recently come into
a colossal amount of faith,
and I wish to test it on you.
Try to stay standing
through my warm-up.
Just what the hell are you
gabbing about,
you hippy-hair bitch?
All that hair is digging
into his brain!
[scoffs]
Rather low-level insults.
You're nothing compared
to the haters in my chat.
We've heard enough from you!
Vestum.
[laser firing]
♪
Impossible.
[VELTOL]
Is that all?
It's my turn now.
[groans]
[MALE FOX 3A]
You bastard!
[VELTOL]
Pathetic.
The mobs in the prologue of BS
proved a far greater challenge!
I'm sick of you!
Now, die!
I made ya look!
[gunshot]
-[groans]
-[MALE OGRE 3C] Huh?
[groans]
[VELTOL]
Takahashi, it is done.
Whoa. Damn, dude!
You really are
a Demon Lord, huh?
You just busted up those
yakuza bare-handed!
He shot his ally.
That was your doing?
[Takahashi giggles]
[TAKAHASHI] Yup!
Just a little aether hack-age!
I cracked into
the uggo's Familia
and overwrote his perception.
It was easy-peasy!
[VELTOL]
I see.
In retrospect,
you didn't need the help.
Now, let's hurry up
and grab that box!
I'll head on in.
-[VELTOL] Don't. Not yet.
-Huh?
[MALE PILOT 4A]
Plunder Three to HQ.
Presumed enemy assault
on point 1908
has been confirmed.
[explosion ]
♪
[laser firing]
Hello.
A Magino-Gear?
No freaking way!
[TAKAHASHI]
That's a fourth-generation MG,
an Ashed Dawn!
Those are reserved
for City Guard special forces.
The yakuza shouldn't have one!
[VELTOL] I have never witnessed
one in person.
It's beautiful.
[TAKAHASHI]
Not the time, man!
Now, get out of there!
This is a fight
even you can't win!
It shall prove
an excellent test of my power.
[laser firing]
[MALE PILOT 4A]
Plunder Three speaking.
Commencing elimination
of target.
♪
[scoffs]
[laser firing]
[laser firing continues]
[beeping]
[laser firing]
Dell Ray!
[wind gushing]
[VELTOL] I doubt that will
be enough to destroy the enemy.
[laser firing]
[VELTOL]
At my full power,
I would've pierced
through it with ease.
[swoosh]
[VELTOL] I suppose
that the faith provided
by my subscribers
would have its limits.
A measly million.
You're really flexing
that sub count!
So, what if I am?
Let's have some fun.
[VELTOL]
Gradschere.
[TAKAHASHI] This
is majorly bad news, Velly!
Are you trying to draw me
into close combat?
I respect your nerve!
[grunts]
[laughter]
I thought your trappings
were armor.
But now I know
they are much more!
Don't tell me that's all.
I want to see
what you're truly capable of!
[smirks]
[VELTOL]
Splendid
[MALE PILOT 4A]
Target eliminated.
Proceeding to retrieve
the objective.
-[VELTOL] Slow down.
-Huh?!
This game is not yet over.
[MALE PILOT 4A] Huh?
But your head!
[VELTOL] You have shown
considerable skill.
It is clear
you have gone through
a great deal of training.
What you lack is
true combat experience.
♪
A brief word of advice.
"During victory,
grip your hilt the tightest."
[gasps]
As a reward
for your brave efforts.
[VELTOL]
The sight of my dark sword.
Engrave this moment upon
the slate of your soul.
Rampage in the black sky.
Vernal!
♪
[VELTOL] It so pains me
that I cannot show you
its full capabilities
at this time.
But take the opportunity
to bask in
what glory you are able,
mortal.
[VELTOL]
What's the matter?
Are you too scared to move?
[MALE PILOT 4A] [whimpering]
You monster.
♪
[thuds]
Though it is clear you fought
with much heart,
you were up against
the wrong foe.
[VELTOL]
Now, it's time for you to talk.
[MALE PILOT 4A]
Plunder three to HQ.
Target is alive.
I failed to retrieve
the objective.
I am unable to continue
and have no choice
but to execute
Code 80-90.
♪
[TAKAHASHI]
Velly!
-[panting] -This cube.
It is your treasure, isn't it?
Yeah, but, bro,
did that robo-giant
seriously decapitate you?
Indeed.
You don't get to "indeed" me
when my lunch is halfway up
my freaking throat!
I'm shocked to see weapons
able to enhance
an individual's power
so greatly.
What a frightening age.
Hold the phone!
Forget the age, it's you!
A dude able to take down
a Magino-Gear
is the definition
of frightening!
Huh?
[TAKAHASHI]
Wait. It's an IHMI unit.
No way the yakuza could get
their hands on this.
We must be in too deep.
How scary.
I knew that this gig
was going to be risky,
but we're in uncharted
waters now, my demonic bestie!
[VELTOL]
More importantly.
Are you always so chill
or do you have a death wish?
-[VELTOL] What is this?
-Huh?
It's a data storage device
made out of mithril.
My client seems to be
interested in the files
they're storing inside.
[TAKAHASHI] Which means
it's time for the sneaks
to take some peeks!
We're allowed?
[TAKAHASHI] It's fine.
You're curious too, right?
My client is smart enough
to know
I need to see
what the drama is about.
♪
A blank page?
♪
This some kinda hit list?
These people, their names,
they're my immortal subjects.
All of them?
-[VELTOL] Yes.
-Huh.
Is Machina's name here?
[TAKAHASHI]
Nope, all clear.
That's good.
I'm gonna give my client a call
and see what's up.
Just a second.
[grunts]
I can't get a hold of him,
but he's always
next-level weird
about answering his phone.
I guess I'll just have
to go in person.
All right. This matter is now
my concern, so I will join you.
If someone is harboring malice
toward the immortals
it is my duty as their king
to protect them.
[VELTOL] This apartment
building is enormous.
[TAKAHASHI] My client
lives up on the 13th floor.
To anybody that does
my kind of work in this city,
he's practically famous.
[VELTOL] Famous, eh?
Clearly quite wealthy, too.
♪
-So, was that more hacking?
-[chuckles]
If you couldn't guess
from my previous work,
I'm apartment security's
worst nightmare.
-Hold on.
-Huh?
May I please do
the button pressing?
Yeah, sure. But why?
That's simple.
I enjoy button pressing.
[beeps]
So, you're into both kicking
butt and pushing buttons.
Mm-hmm.
Oh. I forgot that we can't
pop up to the 13th floor
directly from the first.
Press two to start.
Now press 17.
Take us to the 4th.
All the way to the top.
And finally, the 13th.
Why dally with that bother?
Eh, bet he likes
the added security.
Careful. My client, Ejyu,
can be crazy paranoid.
There are traps built in
all over the floor.
If you try to move through
too fast or get lazy
and accidentally step on one,
you'll be Swiss cheese
in a matter of seconds.
Understood.
[VELTOL] Hm?
Nope. No traps here.
[TAKAHASHI] Huh? Hey!
Slow your freaking roll, dude!
Well, to be more precise,
there were both physical
and magical traps here,
but they are no longer armed.
You can tell all that, too?
Yes. As Demon Lord,
constructing and maintaining
dungeons was my job.
Discerning the location
of traps is light work.
[doorbell rings]
Come on, old man.
I didn't take you for the type
to ignore a friendly doorbell.
[VELTOL]
Huh?
It's open.
[TAKAHASHI]
Something's off.
Ejyu would never be
this careless.
[door creaks]
Ew! The heck is that smell?
It's not safe here.
Proceed with caution.
[TAKAHASHI]
Will do.
Looks like nobody's home.
Come on.
[door opens]
Oh! No napping
on the job, geezer!
Wakey-wakey!
Uh
[gasps]
He-he's dead!
[VELTOL]
Mm. That face.
-[TAKAHASHI] You met him?
-I did, just once.
Though his dress was
far shabbier at the time.
Yeah.
He liked to disguise himself
as a homeless dude
when he went out
to gather intel.
He has stab wounds
to both the heart and the neck.
From the moisture in the blood,
it would seem he was killed
just days ago.
[TAKAHASHI]
Huh?
[VELTOL] I'm sure
the death of your client
comes as quite the shock.
[TAKAHASHI] I mean,
he did have a lot of enemies.
Oh, no.
This wasn't an act of hate.
[VELTOL] The wounds
do not convey any emotion.
His murder was rather
business-like.
So, it was a hit?
And executed by
a skilled hitman.
Clearly. Must've been one hell
of a grudge
if they felt the need to sic
a top tier assassin
on the poor guy.
Would they have needed to
destroy his Familia as well?
[TAKAHASHI]
Prolly just a coincidence.
[VELTOL] If their goal
was simply to kill him
that blow to his heart
surely did the job.
You think the real goal
was destroying the info
on his Familia?
Mm.
I wonder if it has to do
with the job he sent me on.
And when did you accept
the assignment?
A week ago.
He was killed
soon after hiring you.
What a shame.
That list is the only lead
we have.
No. We've got more to mine.
[TAKAHASHI] Ejyu was best known
as an information broker.
But he was also
an aether hacker.
A Familia has to be connected
to the net at all times,
so it's a bad hiding place.
A guy like him
would have kept his intel
on a stand-alone
storage device.
[TAKAHASHI] It's still got
some juice in it.
No way.
In what world would he not
put a password on this thing?
[keys clacking]
[TAKAHASHI]
All the files on here
are smashed to smithereens!
-No, they're not.
-Huh?
Look how the files
are arranged in the folder.
Huh? Got it!
This is a program array!
I'm impressed
you could figure it out, Velly!
[TAKAHASHI]
Let's go.
Bingo! You were right on
the money!
Wowzah, that "bingo" sounded
super trad-hacker-core
of me, huh?
[VELTOL]
I know little of hackers
and naught of their cores.
"Immortal Furnace Project."
[TAKAHASHI]
Let's see.
Hey. I don't know
who will find this message,
but if you're watching
right now,
that means I'm dead.
[laughs]
Now, there's
an action movie moment!
-A dumb-dumb till the end.
-[EJYU] Whoever you are,
I'll try to make it
quick for you.
Here's the deal.
Our town isn't what it seems.
Our prosperity rests
on the back of evil.
[both gasp]
[EJYU]
Long story short,
it starts at the most basic
level of infrastructure.
The aether reactor,
our power source.
It runs off the lives
of the innocent.
I'll paint a picture for you.
[EJYU] The reactor draws in
aether from lines
running through the ground.
These lines are powered
by the planet's core.
It converts that energy
into magic and electricity
and distributes it out.
To provide enough electricity
for a city as large
as Shinjuku,
the reactor would need
to rest atop
roughly ten overlaid
aether lines.
However, according to
a geological survey
conducted before
the first City War,
there are only two
overlaid aether lines
beneath the reactor
within this entire region.
So, at this point
in the presentation,
I'm sure
you're saying to yourself,
"two measly lines couldn't
provide Shinjuku with power."
You're right.
What's more, electricity is
promised everywhere
in the cryotolerance zone.
Not just in the big city.
[EJYU]
It's safe to assume
there must be another
energy source
supplementing the insufficient
overlay.
That energy source has a name.
The Immortal Furnace Project.
[EJYU]
It's simple, really.
The furnace is
a ritual magic device
that burns souls
and converts them into aether.
Since immortals are higher
spiritual entities,
one of their souls can be
converted into more aether
than the souls of
tens of thousands of mortals.
The more powerful the immortal,
the more energy they provide.
If you want to know
who built the beast,
recovered data says
low-income workers.
People without homes
or whose homes
are away from the city.
Or "were.'
Once finished,
all of the construction workers
vanished completely.
Likely, they were killed
to keep the project secret.
IHMI is your villain.
They treat the immortals
like fuel,
outright calling them
"firewood."
I did some digging,
and I believe
I found the first immortal
used as firewood
to stoke their evil furnace.
[EJYU] Karmic Sword Zenol,
one of the Six Dark Peers.
IHMI drummed up hate
with the Immortal Hunts.
People were leaving immortals
gift wrapped on their doorstep.
More fuel for their flames.
For me, after I ran into
an IHMI assassin
a few months back,
research slowed way down.
I managed to escape,
but they've completely
blocked progress.
That's why I've had to hire
a hacker friend
to do my bidding.
I caught wind of a deal,
and I needed in.
The yakuza
was going to be selling
a list of living immortals
to IHMI.
It's a sign
they're running out of firewood
and I imagine their furnace
is on its last legs.
Once they run out of souls
to burn,
the Immortal Furnace
will stop providing us aether.
Simply put,
the heart of Shinjuku
will cease to beat,
and its body will die.
Be that as it may,
something like
the Immortal Furnace
should not exist.
[EJYU] I've organized
the data I gathered
and saved it to this PC.
To whoever is watching,
it's in your hands now.
I'm sorry for burdening you
with this knowledge.
Forgive a dead man.
Well, I wish you
the best of luck
and hope that you find
some peace.
A great place to start would be
looking for the old Demon Lord.
How hard can it be
to track down
a centuries old immortal king?
[chuckles]
[TAKAHASHI] What
they've done is unforgivable.
We'll make them pay.
We have to.
[VELTOL]
How do we do that?
Shall we upload his intel
to the net?
I dunno.
[VELTOL] I wonder what
would happen to those
living in Shinjuku if this
information was revealed
and the Immortal Furnace
shut down?
I suppose that before
any grand reveal could occur,
we would be murdered like him,
and the data would be erased.
My people are in danger.
I will not sit back
for a second.
It is my duty to stop this.
This battle is not yours.
I shall be first in command.
Right.
Well, to start
can we at least report
the body to the city guard?
I'd seriously feel awful
leaving him like this.
Fair enough.
[VELTOL] I need to get Machina
up to date on our findings.
[TAKAHASHI]
Yeah.
[VELTOL]
Machina, have a moment?
[gasps]
Machina?
Something wrong?
♪
[MACHINA]
The Depths of the Crucible.