Conquest of the Dark Singularity/Story
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Spoiler Alert! These tabs contain full Event cutscene scripts with major spoilers about the plot and characters. View these tabs at your own discretion. |
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Opening
The crew visits Venera Beach for a vacation. Despite Percival worrying whether they will encounter any more strange incidents this visit, the crew reflects fondly on their memories of Auguste. Just then, the mysterious figure of a fish charges toward (Captain) and collides with the captain. (Captain) awakes underwater.
Vyrn: It's summer!
Lyria: It's the ocean!
All: It's vacation time!
(Captain) and company look out into the vast blue sea in front of them.
This is Venera Beach—a prominent resort destination in the Auguste Isles.
The crew have arrived for some rest and relaxation after their strenuous traveling.
Percival: Think we'll experience any more strange encounters this time?
Vyrn: Nah, not likely. I mean, we just dealt with the whole sumo affair so I'm sure it'll be fine.
Hekate: Strange encounters? Affair? Did... something scandalous happen before this?
Ragazzo: Yeah, what do you mean by that? I thought you guys come here to take breaks.
Vyrn: Oh yeah. It's your first time comin' with us for vacation, huh? Just relax!
Lyria: Yes, it's perfectly normal for all sorts of things to happen whenever we're in Auguste.
Vyrn: We go heave-ho and fish for bonito, smash giant grudge-bearing watermelons, save kappas from underground labor...
Kumbhira: I heard from Catura that you've become zombies before too.
Lyria: Hehe. Luckily we were all fine in the end, but I was really worried for our safety when all those flying sharks appeared!
Ilsa: The ocean had become a matter of concern for the Society as well. I recall sumo powers causing the body of water to vanish entirely not too long ago.
Ragazzo: The hell's all that! What's wrong with this ocean?
Percival: I've heard from an oceanographer that the world underwater is still very much unknown to us. No one knows yet why so many peculiar sea creatures have been appearing.
Ragazzo: Seriously? You sure you're not just dreamin' this all up?
Vyrn: Oh yeah, remember when that happened during summer?
As the others cheerfully reflect on their past experiences, Sig stands at the shore, lost in thought.
Sig: This ocean sure brings back memories of when we fought for our lives against Albacore.
Lyria: Oh, yes! You mean this one, right?
Albacore: ...!
Sig: Haha, still lively as ever, huh? That's what I'd like to see from the primal beast the Drugas fought against for seven generations!
Vikala: Well, I guess we won't need to worry about anything weird happening this time!
Cupitan: It's gonna be a vacation full of friends and fun! Right, (Captain)?
Vyrn: Hey, put the albacore away already, Lyria. You want it to crash our vacation again?
Albacore: ...!
Once Albacore is safely put away, (Captain) makes a dash for the ocean, excited to splash in its waters.
???: ...!
Sig: ...!
That shadow looks oddly familiar...
That shadow looks oddly familiar...
Kumbhira: It's coming for (Captain)! Look out—
There's nothing but blue all around.
Choose: ...!
Recognizing the surroundings to be underwater, the captain wriggles around before realizing that breathing is not proving to be an issue.
Choose: What's... going on?
Unable to comprehend the situation, (Captain) swims around in the dark waters looking for light...
Propelled by a spectacularly strong caudal fin.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 1: A Tunacious Connection - Episode 1
Underwater, (Captain) decides to swim toward the surface. The captain comes across several fish bullying a single albacore named Neruko. Upon communicating with Neruko, it is soon apparent that the captain has become an albacore as well. Meanwhile on the shore, an albacore named Tunaro wakes in (Captain)'s body.
After colliding with what appeared to be a fish on the shore, (Captain) wakes up to find nothing but seawater all around.
Thinking to swim toward the surface, the captain continues through the deep blue.
Young Albacore: I'm... I'm not "weird"! My name's Neruko!
Regular Fish 1: Nope, you're weird! You smell different from the rest of us, bon!
Regular Fish 2: Yeah. You're breaming if you think we can be friends! Hurry up and get lost!
A single, young albacore floats by itself, taunted by the other fish.
Neruko: Why... I just wanted to get along with everyone!
Regular Fish 1: Well it's not happening, bon! We don't hang with weird fish!
Neruko: Hngh...
Choose: Thunnus Blitz!
Regular Fish: Whoooa!
Without a second thought, (Captain) slams into the other fish, driving them away.
Neruko: Big Bro! Thanks for saving me!
Choose: Big... Bro?
Neruko: I'm sorry, Big Bro... You were right all along. I can't possibly make friends...
Neruko: If only I could be a strong and independent albacore, just like you...
Thinking back, how did (Captain) understand what the fish were saying?
The answer is immediate when the captain gazes into Neruko's reflective fish eyes.
(Captain)?: Gasp!
Sig: Phew, glad you're finally awake!
When the captain wakes in the shade of a sun umbrella, the crew breathes a sigh of relief.
Lyria: Here's what happened, (Captain)... Don't panic, okay?
Earlier, an albacore jumped out of the water and the two of you collided!
Earlier, an albacore jumped out of the water and the two of you collided!
(Captain)?: Huh? But... I was the one who jumped...
(Captain)?: Cor? I'm surrounded by skydwellers!
(Captain)?: (Captain)? My name's Tunaro!
Percival: What's wrong, (Captain)? Why are you talking in that manner?
Tunaro: (Captain)? My name's Tunaro!
Ragazzo: What kind of joke is this? Is this one of those Auguste vacation things?
Cupitan: Um, wait!
After some hesitation, Cupitan uses the power of her Rainbow Bow, peering into the heart of the person in front of her.
Cupitan: The color is... fishy. It's entirely that of a fish!
Kumbhira & Vikala: A fish?
Tunaro: I'm not a fish! I may have fins, but I'm still a primal beast—
Tunaro: ...
Cor?
Cor?
The person appearing as (Captain) looks down, noticing for the first time the two legs supporting the body. The captain look-alike turns pale.
Tunaro: Back then, I pulled a Thunnus on the skydweller... We crashed into each other, and then...
Choose: Could it be?
Tunaro: Did we...
The Two: Switch bodies?
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 1: A Tunacious Connection - Episode 2
Neruko, Tunaro's sister, decides to accept (Captain) after learning of the body-swapping situation, and the two decide to work together to find a solution. A turtle with a moustache suddenly approaches the pair, inviting them to the Dragon Palace. Up on land, Tunaro finds himself trapped in a place filled with the very skydwellers he despises. Sig puts an albacore hat on Tunaro to help him calm down. When Ilsa barks at him, Tunaro meekly introduces himself.
Neruko: Say wha! You mean you're... not actually my big bro?
(Captain) has already accepted the reality that the albacore's and the captain's bodies are somehow switched.
(Captain) is now explaining the situation to Neruko, the albacore's younger sister.
Neruko: I can't believe my brother's become a skydweller, of all things... Could it get any worse?
Neruko: But... you still saved me. My real big bro would've done the exact same.
Neruko flicks her fins, thinking to herself as she moves to and fro.
Neruko: Yeah! I'm sure you're a perfectly nice person!
Neruko: It's nice to meet you, (Captain)!
(Captain) says the same and makes to nod, but feels a sting where the gill area is stretching.
Neruko: But what do we do now? We've gotta find a way to switch the two of you back...
Gentle Voice: Excuse me... Might I have a moment of your time?
Turtlestache: Aha... Are you perhaps the albacore known as Tunaro?
Neruko: Wh-who are you? How do you know Tunaro?
Turtlestache: I've come to invite you siblings to the place of our dwelling—the Dragon Palace.
Meanwhile, the crew members on the beach are beginning to grasp the situation.
Ragazzo: So you're telling me that (Captain) and a fish actually traded bodies.
Tunaro: I'm not a fish! I'm a primal beast, cor!
Vikala: Eep!
Kumbhira: Oh no, Vikala! Your rat ears!
Tunaro: Cooor!
Vikala: Eeeek!
Vikala: Hnnngh...
Kumbhira: Vikala!
Vyrn: Uhh, Vikala just keeled over... She's foaming at the mouth.
Cupitan: I don't blame her... I wouldn't know how to react either if someone that looked like (Captain) cornered me like that.
Tunaro: I'll crush you all, skydwellers! Cooor!
The albacore captain, Tunaro, looks smugly at the crew as Kumbhira looks worriedly at Vikala.
Hekate: Ugh, I can't believe you're doing whatever you like with (Captain)'s body!
Hekate: It's not fair!
Percival: Putting Hekate's concerns aside... it seems (Captain)'s visuals will pose quite a few problems for us.
Sig: If that's the case, then you can leave it to me!
With a chuckle, Sig whips out something soft and puts it over Tunaro's head.
Ilsa: What is that peculiar hat?
Sig: What do you mean "what is it"? It's an albacore. The Drugas use these when we have mock battles, in which some of us play as albacore.
Sig: This should make it easier to remember that (Captain)'s an albacore inside, right?
Cupitan: What a great idea! Now we won't be as confused!
Tunaro: Whew... This kind of makes me feel a bit better.
Ragazzo: What kind of mock battle is that! Never mind—this thing still looks every bit like (Captain).
And I could care less whether you feel better or not!
And I could care less whether you feel better or not!
Despite Ragazzo's huffing, Sig steps forward with a smile on her face.
Sig: You said your name was Tunaro? I'm deeply moved at this chance to exchange words with an enemy we once fought for so long.
Tunaro: All skydwellers are still the enemy to me, cor!
Sig: I see... But right now, we're both in trouble. We'll need to talk and work together, don't you think?
Sig: Even fishermen have times when we have to work with rivals, tying our boats together to survive a storm.
Sig: Or do you want to continue living as a skydweller from now on?
Tunaro: Cor... I shudder at the thought of having to walk—and with two legs at that—until the day I die...
Tunaro: But if this is proving to be trouble for skydwellers too, then maybe it's for the better—
Ilsa: You spoiled maggot of a fish!
Tunaro: Glu-glub!
Ilsa: Quit flapping your mouth like it's a set of gills!
Ilsa: No one's got time for a temper tantrum from a diaper-wrapped larva! If you want to return to your body then shut up and listen!
Tunaro: Rrg! Primal beasts don't even poop, cor!
Ilsa: Who said you could talk back! Give me a proper answer, you good-for-nothing small fry!
Tunaro: Y-yes, ma'am, cor!
Cupitan: Ahaha... I can see a purple shade of fear glowing bright.
Sig: Sorry for making you play the villain, Ilsa.
Ilsa: It's fine... I'm used to it.
Once everyone has calmed down, each person briefly introduces themselves.
Tunaro: I'm Tunaro. My hobby's watching skydwellers getting rejected at the beach, cor.
Vyrn: I'm Vyrn! The one unconscious on the ground's Vikala, the Divine Rat of the Twelve Divine Generals.
Lyria: My name's Lyria! And the one looking after Vikala right now is the Divine Boar Kumbhira.
Percival: My name is Percival. I am here both to oversee the treatment of the marmoks as well as for a long-overdue vacation.
Ragazzo: Ragazzo here. I was a part of this big, bad organization called Navis up until a while ago. Now... I'm just a newbie skyfarer.
Cupitan: I'm Cupitan! I'm chasing after my precious friend, Ris, who's a member of Navis!
Hekate: And I am Hekate, a goddess who grants others pleasurable dreams so that I may steal their essence.
Hekate: Since the captain has been so insolent as to ignore my charm, I should like to lure (Captain) to the beach for a most enjoyable time, where we'll come together as—
Ilsa: Ahem. You can call me Ilsa. I once served as a sergeant in a certain undercover Society.
Sig: I'm Sig, head of the Druga Pirates. We Drugas battled against Albacore for seven generations.
Tunaro: The Druga Pirates... from Yudhisthira Island?
Sig: Oh, you know of us?
Tunaro: I've heard of the Drugas from a different school of albacore before.
Tunaro: Rumors say that they're a strange bunch who, after fighting an epic battle with the boss, let him back into the sea without a scratch...
Sig: Haha, we weren't trying to capture him or anything underhanded like that. Praise should always be given for a battle well-fought.
Lyria: At the time, I received some of its power. Even now, Albacore is still alive and well within me!
Tunaro: ...?
When the crew finish introducing themselves, Tunaro turns away, his expression sour.
Tunaro: I hate getting chummy with others, cor. Not just with skydwellers—the others in the sea too.
Tunaro: The only person I talk to... is my younger sister Neruko.
Vyrn: Your sister? Primal beasts can have siblings?
???: Yes, excellent question! That's what has us puzzled too!
???: We already have so many funny little things living in the sea, but we weren't looking to add impossible siblings to the list!
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 1: A Tunacious Connection - Episode 3
Startled by Turtlestache's sudden appearance, Neruko buries herself into the depths of (Captain)'s mouth. They arrive at the Dragon Palace to find it a paradise filled with diverse sea creatures. Despite their strong hatred for skydwellers, the residents have much respect for Tunaro, whom (Captain) is now pretending to be. When mysterious voices prompt the captain to look for clues on the body swap, (Captain) begins interacting with the palace residents in order to gather information.
Underwater, (Captain) and Neruko encounter an elderly turtle with a moustache.
Neruko: ...!
Trembling with fear, Neruko races into (Captain)'s mouth for shelter.
Choose: Neruko?
Neruko: (Don't mind me. I always hide inside my brother's mouth like this.)
Neruko: (It feels safe in here.)
Turtlestache: Hohoho, has the little one gone back into its shell?
Turtlestache: So what do you need this old moustached turtle for?
Neruko: (Wha? You're the one who came to talk to us!)
While Neruko is buried deep inside (Captain), only the captain can hear her voice.
Turtlestache: Hm? Aha. Memory deteriorates the older one becomes, you see. Living too long can present its own troubles.
Turtlestache: Ah, yes! I came as a representative to invite you to the Dragon Palace, Tunaro.
Turtlestache: Everyone is waiting. Will you come with me?
Neruko: (The Dragon Palace? I've never heard of it before.)
Turtlestache: You're in some sort of trouble... I can feel it in my moustache.
Turtlestache: The Dragon Palace is the safest and most delightful place in the ocean. If you are to make plans, I suggest you make them in the comfort of our VIP room.
Turtlestache: Now, this way, if you will... while I still remember the way back.
Neruko: (He's already swimming off... What do you think we should do, (Captain)?)
Choose: Let's follow him.
Neruko: (Yeah... I guess we can go check it out!)
Choose: Just let him be.
Neruko: (You're right... We don't know him. Who knows where he might take us!)
Turtlestache: Hrm... It was toward the coral over there if I recall... Or was it that way through the seaweed?
Neruko: (Uh oh... He's forgetting already. Is he gonna be okay?)
In the end, (Captain) is unable to leave the turtle on his own and decides to follow him to the palace, all the while helping with directions.
Continue 1Turtlestache: We've arrived. This way, please.
On the bottom of the ocean are a number of magnificent, temple-like buildings. It is as if the three had stumbled across ancient ruins.
Neruko: (Amazing... I didn't know a place like this existed in the ocean.)
Palace Residents: Welcome to the Dragon Palace!
Neruko: Glu-glub!
Hellfire Bonito: We've long awaited your arrival, one who stands against our enemy, the skydwellers... The albacore hero Tunaro!
Neruko: (Enemy? Hero?)
Kelp Fiend: Oh? Have you perhaps forgotten to explain the circumstances to our friends here, Turtlestache?
Turtlestache: Hrm? Did I?
Salmrick: Sir Turtlestache... You have no idea how hard it is for us whenever your memory fails you! It'd be best if you relinquished the throne to me!
Kuragi: M-Miss Kombu, if it's all right, I'll do the explaining instead.
Kuragi raises a tentacle hesitantly, and all eyes turn to him.
Kuragi: We, the palace residents, despise skydwellers very much.
Neruko: (Despise... skydwellers? That's just like Tunaro.)
Kuragi: Although we could only wallow in our hatred at the bottom of the sea... you, Tunaro, were different. You took action against our foe!
Frai: The "whoosh" and "bang" when you attacked them were just spectacular! I was impressed!
Colos. Hermit Crab: You were so brave, g-going out to the shore every day to charge at the enemy.
Turtlestache: You are someone we respect. We'd like to learn from you and adopt your way of life, as well as your defiant approach.
Neruko: (Hmm... What do you think, (Captain)?)
(Captain) looks around at the fantastical scene and ponders for a while.
Mysterious Voice: Look for... clues... on the body switch...
Mysterious Voice: You'll find... something... in the palace...
The voices seem to be trying to tell the captain something, but soon vanish like bubbles.
Kuragi: How about it? Would you like to spend some time here with us?
The voices earlier may be dubious, but with no other hints available at the moment, (Captain) has to make a decision.
Choose: Gladly!
Suika Kattosai: Thank you very much. You may call me Suika Kattosai—it would be an honor if we could have a bout together.
Shark Man: Hmph. I guess I can take some time to see if you're really that great!
Turtlestache: Teach us your ways, Tunaro, and we shall bring the wicked skydwellers to their doom!
Palace Residents: Destroy... the skydwellers!
Neruko: (Glub! They get kinda scary when they start talking about skydwellers...)
Neruko: (Don't ever let them find out that you're actually a skydweller inside, (Captain)!)
The captain tries to nod before feeling a pinch around the gills once more.
(Captain) decides to stay at the Dragon Palace in the meantime, hoping to acquire more information on the bizarre situation.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 1: A Tunacious Connection - Episode 4
Varuna and Neptune—primal beasts that oversee the ocean environment and sea creatures respectively—appear in front of the crew. They explain that the body swap may be posing a threat to the peace of the ocean. Deciding that working together will be best, the crew invite Tunaro to stay with them. Tunaro is hesitant at first, but agrees for the sake of seeing his sister Neruko again.
On Venera Beach, two primal beasts appear in front of the crew and Tunaro.
Vyrn: Hey, you're...
Choose: Who in the skies are you?
Varuna: My name is Varuna. I'm an agent responsible for carrying out the very important task of defending the pedantic encirclement!
Ilsa: An agent? For pedantic... circles?
???: Hehe. Oh, Varu! Forget pelagic—you could just call it the ocean environment!
Varuna: H-huh!
???: You are so cute, trying to use such difficult words in front of everyone!
Varuna: S-stop patting me! You stupid, silly squid!
Lyria: Ahaha... So you're the primal beast Varuna who protects the ocean. And who might your friend be?
Neptune: I'm Neptune! I protect the many creatures in the sea!
Choose: Haven't we met before?
Lyria: Yes, a few times in battle... Varuna and Neptune, right?
Vyrn: They seem kinda different though. I thought they had a bit more grandeur...
Varuna: You remember? Ugh, I'd rather you forget about our battles...
Neptune: Yeah. We usually just get into character for those!
Neptune: Varu would go like, "Behold the staff of judgment..."
Varuna: Hey, stop that! Stupid, silly squid!
Ragazzo: What's with these two primal oafs?
The crew eventually learns that Varuna is a primal beast who oversees the well-being of the ocean.
On the other hand, Neptune serves as the primal beast who protects the creatures that live in the sea.
Continue 1Percival: Sea creatures? Would you perhaps know how the marmoks are faring?
Neptune: Oh, the little marmoks! So cute, but scary when they're mad. They're alive somewhere within the ocean waters!
Percival: ...
Neptune: ...?
Percival: ...
That's all? What about the location of their habitat or how many of them there are...
That's all? What about the location of their habitat or how many of them there are...
Neptune: Huh? Well... they're like a tornado potato stall!
Lyria: A tornado potato... stall?
Varuna: She means that you find them when you find them, and don't when you don't.
Vyrn: These two are pretty happy-go-lucky, huh?
Tunaro: I don't care about that, cor!
Growing impatient, Tunaro interrupts the conversation.
Tunaro: You know anything about my little sister Neruko?
Varuna: Of course we do! She's together with the albacore look-alike (Captain)!
Neptune: The two of them are getting along quite well. They're at the Dragon Palace right now. Varuna and I are watching over them so don't worry!
Tunaro: I... see. So Neruko's...
Cupitan: Hnnngh, I'm so glad to hear that (Captain)'s safe too!
Ragazzo: Hold it. If you're watching over them, then why're you here?
Varuna: Well, Nep and I are on a mission to investigate and resolve what's happening with your captain!
Neptune: My big bro Poseidon thinks that it might lead to a crisis for the ocean, so he's keeping a lookout too!
Lyria: Poseidon? You mean you're Poseidon's younger sister, Neptune?
Neptune: We're not related by blood, but we're of a similar generation and our responsibilities are comparable.
Varuna: There's no concept of "younger sister" for albacore primals either. Reproduction is impossible even within a school of them.
Tunaro: My younger sister will always be my sister, cor. I have to protect her as her big brother.
Tunaro's words are soft, but resolution burns in his eyes.
Hekate: Drool... That statement was rather bold—almost like (Captain) was saying it.
Vyrn: Quit droolin' like that!
Cupitan: Sniiiff... Honk, honk!
Lyria: Oh! We've got a runny nose too!
Vikala: S-sorry for the wait...
Sig: Oh, Vikala. You changed into your summer swimsuit?
Vikala: Y-yes... I got my other swimwear dirty with all the foam and other stuff... Same with my rat ears.
Percival: Now we have foam in the mix too.
(I'm going to pretend I didn't hear her say "other stuff.")
(I'm going to pretend I didn't hear her say "other stuff.")
Vikala: I c-can't believe I made Kumbhira... clean up all that gross stuuuff!
Kumbhira: I don't mind at all! So don't worry about it, okay?
Vikala: O-okay...
The Three: Boo!
Vikala: Gurgle, gurgle...
Kumbhira: Vikala!
Varuna: Apologies. I saw her quivering and couldn't help myself...
Kumbhira goes back to nursing Vikala, and the rest begin to discuss their plans going forward.
Vyrn: Anyway, Varuna, Neptune—you said you're lookin' into what's causing all this, right?
Varuna: We are! We're thinking of a way to resolve the situation, so just hang tight and leave it to us!
Lyria: We'd like to help too! Is there anything we can do?
Neptune: Hmm... In that case, I'd like to ask you to get along with Tunaro here!
Tunaro: What'd you say!
Neptune: Think about it. What if the only solution was for you to kiss in order to reverse the body switch? It'd be better if you were friends already!
Hekate: I don't think being friends would make it much better.
Ragazzo: I'm surprised that you, of all people, would understand...
Percival: In other words, you're suggesting we strengthen our amity as we will no doubt need to work together for a resolution.
Tunaro: I refuse, cor! How could I possibly work together with skydwellers—
Ilsa: Come again? Thought you said you wanted to see your sister again.
Tunaro: ...!
Ilsa: Cat got your tongue now? Even if you're a small fry, that's no excuse to skimp on showing your worth as a big brother when it counts.
Sig: Hey, relax! We're here at the glorious Venera Beach for a vacation, remember?
Sig: We're all set to have a great time. I'm sure you'll have a blast too, Tunaro!
Tunaro: Rrg...
Tunaro holds in a growl. After a pause, he finally lets out a sigh of resignation.
Tunaro: Fine. Bring on the beach volleyball, the surfing, the shaved ice at a beach house—I want all the works, cor!
Lyria: Ahaha. You sure know how to enjoy a good summer vacation, Tunaro.
Sig: That's what I'd like to hear! Let's get a welcome party going, shall we? It's gonna be a feast!
Ilsa: Time to prepare for a barbecue—and you're coming with me, Tunaro.
Tunaro: Whoa! Don't pull my hand at the same time, cor! I'm gonna trip over my legs!
And so, Tunaro is taken against his will by Sig and Ilsa to enjoy the merry season of summer.
As laughter spreads, Varuna and Neptune look out into the horizon.
Neptune: The Dragon Palace... At least we know (Captain) and Neruko are safe at the moment.
Varuna: But even Leviathan can't tell what kind of things that palace is hiding.
???: ...!
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 2: Tropical Paradise - Episode 1
(Captain) goes around the palace getting to know various residents. The captain assists Crabbie the colossal hermit crab with her move, races with the hellfire bonito Helgoku, and spends a relaxing time with Mei the shark girl. However, Neruko remains hidden inside (Captain)'s mouth, unable to get over her bad experiences interacting with other fish.
After a warm welcome from the palace residents, Turtlestache shows (Captain) to a room.
Turtlestache: This is the VIP room. Hrm...
Turtlestache: Ah, I vaguely remember... Were you not referred to as (Captain) earlier?
Neruko: (Glu-glub! He overheard?)
The captain quickly explains that "(Captain)" is merely a nickname for Tunaro.
Turtlestache: Hm, I see. Seeing how we are to be fast friends from now, I will tell everyone to refer to you as (Captain) as well.
Neruko: That was a close one... Who knows what might expose you as a skydweller.
Palace Residents: Destroy... the skydwellers!
(Captain)'s pectoral fin quivers at the memory of the residents' alarming behavior earlier.
Neruko: I wonder why they hate skydwellers so much though.
Neruko: It's not like they witnessed something awful like Tunaro...
Choose: Something awful?
Neruko: Oh! Nothing...
Neruko: In any case, getting to know the residents could be good for finding out more about what's going on.
Neruko: Wh-what's happening? Why's the ocean floor shaking?
(Captain) and Neruko hurry to where the thunderous sound had originated.
Colos. Hermit Crab: Ngh... Whew...
Neruko: (That's the colossal hermit crab... Crabbie, right?)
Crabbie is busy throwing herself against the ocean floor, as if digging up something.
The entire ocean trembles each time she burrows into the ground.
Neruko: (Doesn't look like it's working... I wonder what she's trying to do.)
Crabbie: Oh... (Captain).
Choose: What's the matter?
Choose: Are you okay?
Crabbie: I'm m-moving to another underwater volcano, you see...
Neruko: (Ohh! I think she's trying to dig a hole in the next volcano she plans to live in.)
Crabbie: I'm sorry you had to see that...
Choose: Thunnus Blitz!
Crabbie: Wha!
Choose: Is this hole big enough?
Crabbie: Oh my...
Crabbie: Oh dear! I e-erupted by accident...
Crabbie: Um, thank you so much, (Captain). Now I can move to my new home without a problem...
Choose: Glad to hear!
Crabbie: ...!
Crabbie: Erm... I'm afraid I have to t-take some things off, so... if you wouldn't mind...
Neruko: (Eep! Get away, (Captain)!)
The two are swimming as fast as they can away from Crabbie when they hear a loud voice from afar.
Hellfire Bonito: Haaah! Fight me, (Captain)!
Neruko: (Glu-glub! My fishdrums are about to burst!)
Neruko: (It's Helgoku, the hellfire bonito... Looks like he's as hot-blooded as he looks.)
Helgoku: Your headbutts every day are impressive, but at the end of the day, the fastest fish is the mightiest one!
Helgoku: Let's race! We'll make those rocks over there our goal!
Neruko: (He's fast!)
The blue sea may still be a mystery, but the captain is no stranger to soaring through the blue sky!
Helgoku: Huff, huff... I can't believe I lost!
Helgoku: Haaah! I knew you were strong, (Captain)!
Neruko: (And off he goes again... What in the seas was that?)
Turtlestache: Hohoho... Seems like Helgoku has taken quite a liking to you, (Captain).
Turtlestache: You're at 8,000 points for Crabbie too—the meter's almost hitting the max, I'd say.
Neruko: (Huh! What're the points for?)
As Turtlestache smiles quietly, the outline of yet another creature approaches.
Shark Man: Hey, you!
Neruko: (Now it's Mei the shark girl... and she's glaring straight at you, (Captain)!)
Mei: Please. Don't get all high and mighty just 'cause you can pull a Thunnus or two.
Mei: I can crush a skydweller into pieces with just my teeth too!
Choose: Take care of yourself, okay?
Choose: But your poor teeth will break.
Mei: Huh!
Mei: Wh-what're you acting so cool for? You're so dumb!
Mei: Hmph!
Turtlestache: You're at 10,000 points for Mei, by the way.
Neruko: (Whoa, she's the highest?)
Still smiling, Turtlestache turns his gaze to (Captain)'s mouth.
Turtlestache: Why don't you try talking with the residents here too, Neruko?
Neruko: Glub?
Neruko: M-me? Talk... to everyone?
Regular Fish 2: Yeah. You're breaming if you think we can be friends! Hurry up and get lost!
Regular Fish 1: It's not happening, bon! We don't hang with weird fish!
Neruko: ...
Turtlestache: Neruko?
Neruko: Sorry... I think I'll pass.
Neruko's expression had brightened for a split second.
However, she soon flips over despondently and promptly returns to the depths of (Captain)'s mouth.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 2: Tropical Paradise - Episode 2
On the beach, the crew holds a barbecue party to welcome Tunaro. Although Tunaro had no intention of enjoying the party, he ends up helping Ilsa and Sig with the skewers and is surprised to receive words of encouragement from Vikala and Ragazzo as well. He begins to relax, enjoying the delicious chicken skewers. On the side, Hekate talks with Varuna and Neptune about the ongoing situation.
Up on the beach, the smell of a delicious barbecue wafts through the air.
Percival: Zerreissen!
Ragazzo: Fiamma di Cannone!
Percival: The bell pepper on the top right corner of the grill... It's almost ready!
Ragazzo: I'll handle it! Think I can entrust the chicken to you, Percy?
Percival: Don't fail us, Ragazzo! Controlling the level of heat for vegetables is no easy feat.
Ragazzo: Right back at ya. We don't want any uncooked chicken or burnt bits now.
The Two: Heh...
Vyrn: Whoa! It's crazy how in sync Sir Burnsalot and Ragazzo are!
Lyria: Nom, nom... Everything is perfectly cooked. It's delicious!
Kumbhira: Oh wow, it smells so good! Why don't we go help them, Vikala?
Cupitan: Kumbhira! Vikala! How're you feeling...
Vikala: I'm fine... Sorry for the trouble.
Cupitan: Glu-glub!
Vyrn: What're you putting those things on for?
Kumbhira: Ahaha... We were thinking it might be easier for Vikala to get used to our surroundings this way.
Vikala: I'm sorry... I thought maybe this could replace my rat ears...
Vyrn: Can they?
Meanwhile, Tunaro is lying on the ground close to the barbecue grill, exhausted.
Ilsa: Good work prepping the hundred skewers.
Tunaro: Huff... Puff... Why am I being worked so hard when the welcome party's supposed to be for me, cor!
Sig: Hm? I don't remember telling you to get to work.
A short while back, the crew had arrived at the barbecue venue and were getting ready.
Sig: Hey, Tunaro. Can you help us with prepping the skewers?
Tunaro: Prepping?
Sig: You have to put the ingredients on the sticks and grill them before you eat.
Ilsa: I'd assume he wouldn't know what happens at a barbecue, since he's from the sea—
Tunaro: Hah! But I do know, having witnessed the culture of skydwellers from high up!
Tunaro: And I've pulled a Thunnus on barbecue venues on the beach plenty of times!
Sig: I see... I was surprised you knew so much, actually. I guess your hatred for skydwellers made you learn a lot about us too.
Tunaro: ...
Tunaro: I'm not prepping the skewers! Who said skydwellers can just boss me around...
Ilsa: ...
Tunaro: Eek!
Sig: Let him go, Ilsa. Don't intimidate him too much.
Sig: It's too bad though—I was hoping it'd be an easy task for you, with your extensive experience in slamming into things and all.
Sig: But if it's too hard for you, then no need to force yourself.
Tunaro: Wha...
Tunaro: I never said it was too hard! There's nothing skydwellers can do that I can't!
Sig: Oh yeah? We'll leave it to you then! No worries, Ilsa and I'll pitch in too.
Tunaro: Urgh! I mean, I did say that...
Tunaro: What do you think of my skewer prepping skills though!
Ilsa: Heh... Pretty decent. You worked long and hard.
Sig and Ilsa exchange looks and smile.
Ragazzo: Yo, Tunaro! Sig! Ilsa!
Vikala: These skewers are ready to eat!
Sig: Ooh, here they come! My stomach's growling with hunger.
Ragazzo: We've got a bunch of different sauces. I'd go for the tomato one.
Vikala: U-um, Tunaro... Here you go.
Tunaro: ...!
Tunaro stares at the skewer offered to him.
Ragazzo: Don't sweat it, buddy. I'm pretty new here too—we can get used to this together.
Vikala: Yes, d-don't worry... I'm not even new, and I still haven't gotten completely used to everything.
Tunaro: Hmph... I'm n-never gonna be friends with skydwellers...
Ilsa: Stubborn little chicken fish.
Here, lemme take that.
Here, lemme take that.
Ilsa takes the skewer from Vikala and puts it near Tunaro's mouth.
Ilsa: Open up. I'm rather used to forcing food down people's throats when they're being picky. You want to experience it for yourself?
Sig: You're hungry, aren't you? It's nothing to be so hardheaded about.
Tunaro: ...
Under the crew's watchful gaze, Tunaro hesitates for a moment before taking a bite of the chicken skewer.
Sig: How is it?
Tunaro: ...!
Amazi—I mean... not bad, cor.
Amazi—I mean... not bad, cor.
Ilsa: No need to hold back—eat as much as you want. You can't enjoy a vacation on an empty stomach.
Tunaro: Right... Yeah. I'm only restoring my energy. Sigh, skydweller bodies are such a bother!
Sig: Haha... Don't forget to chew, all right?
Tunaro begins eating heartily, and the crew continue their scrumptious barbecue on the beach.
A slight ways away, Varuna and Neptune are on a terrace watching the commotion with great interest.
Varuna: A barbecue in the middle of this emergency? They're way too used to this.
Neptune: Nom, nom... I heard from Big Bro Poz that they always become friends with new primal beasts really quickly!
Varuna: Hey, how'd you get that chicken skewer! That's not fair...
Varuna: I've been working hard, you know! It's thanks to me that the ocean's still salty!
Neptune: If only you turned it sweet—I'd drink it up like a Blue Auguste in no time!
Varuna: You stupid, silly squid! Don't go drinking up Leviathan's body!
Hekate: Goodness... Would you look at these two primal fools.
Varuna: Oh! You're that seductive supernatural being!
With a sigh, Hekate seats herself beside Varuna and Neptune.
Hekate: So how much do you know about the circumstances at hand?
Varuna: We don't have any reason to tell you!
Hekate: If you do not wish your *** be *** by a *** and have your *** shamelessly exposed within my dreams, then speak now.
Varuna: Waaah! That's so obscene!
Neptune: But still, the body-swapping situation... It's like if I went up to them over there and asked for a skewer with no meat, fish, or vegetables.
Hekate: I'm sorry?
Varuna: She mean's she's got nothing.
Hekate watches Neptune gulp down several more skewers before clearing her throat.
Hekate: I don't believe for a second that you don't know anything. This is happening within your realm, after all.
Hekate: For example, tell me—what kind of place is the Dragon Palace (Captain) is at right now?
Varuna: ...
Varuna: It's a mystery.
Hekate: A mystery?
Varuna: It's concealed by a barrier that prevents any sort of interference. A regular sea creature wouldn't be able to recognize that the space is there at all.
Varuna: Honestly, the two of us don't know anything other than the fact that there's an incredible barrier set up around the place.
Hekate: Wh-what! Then you don't actually know whether (Captain) is safe—
Neptune: Oh, no need to worry about that. I can tell if something is alive in the ocean or not.
Neptune: Besides, I do know that there's plenty of unique creatures in the palace. It's an interesting place, that's for sure.
Varuna: It's a gathering place for all the wacky creatures we've been seeing—that's where they come from.
Hekate: So it's a paradise in the ocean... and (Captain) is there getting to know the creatures living there?
Tracing a finger across her lips, Hekate looks over at Tunaro, who is reveling in the barbecue with the others in the captain's body.
Thoughts swirl within Hekate's mind as she gazes out toward the shore.
Hekate: (I wonder if there's a chance that (Captain) will awaken to some new... interests?)
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 2: Tropical Paradise - Episode 3
Neruko tells (Captain) about her past experiences of being utterly rejected by others for being weird. The only one who ever offered her a fin was her big brother Tunaro. Just then, the two notice a strange glow coming from a jeweled box in a shrine. They swim toward it to take a closer look, but Kuragi the lumber jelly tells them not to touch what is known as the "tamatebako." (Captain) and Neruko have no choice but to return to their room.
(Captain) continues to swim around the vicinity of the palace, meeting a few more of its residents.
Suika Kattosai: I dare say you have made a clean slice into my heart, (Captain).
Suika Kattosai: Will you grant me the honor of another bout in the future?
Frai: Hehe. Someday I wanna be Frai, the shooting star of the ocean! I'll shoot through the water and blossom like fireworks!
Frai: Huh? I'm outta my mind? Well you helped me gather materials for it, so what does that make you?
Salmrick: Who's the king? I am, of course!
Salmrick: No one's ever been willing to play King's Game with me before. I'll give you the title of being the very first one, mun!
After meeting everyone, (Captain) decides to search deeper in the palace for clues on how to switch bodies again.
The ruins continue on and on like a labyrinth. Eventually, Neruko lets out a small sigh.
Neruko: It's amazing how you were able to get along with everyone so quick, (Captain)...
Neruko: I'd never be able to do the same.
Choose: You're getting along with me just fine.
Neruko: That's different! I mean, you look the same as Big Bro Tunaro... and you're kind.
Neruko: The fact that you can actually get along with me just proves you're that amazing.
The captain asks Neruko if she wants to share why she is feeling so low.
Neruko: ...
Neruko: I've always been alone, ever since I was born.
Neruko: All alone in these dark waters... floating, drifting.
Neruko: It was really, really scary.
The young albacore hesitates before nervously continuing.
Neruko: Even when I tried to talk to the other fish, they told me I was weird or that I was gross. They avoided me, yelling at me to get away.
Choose: Weird?
Neruko: Apparently I look creepy to other sea creatures.
Neruko: It's not like I wanted to be born like this...
Neruko: Then, one day...
Regular Fish 3: What a weirdo! You're not like the rest of us, sun!
Regular Fish 4: God, I don't wanna be your friend! Now scram!
Neruko: Hngh...
Tunaro: ...!
Neruko: Glu-glub?
Tunaro: I've got plenty of space in my mouth for you to hide.
Tunaro: As an albacore, there's no need to force yourself to blend in with the other sea creatures, cor.
Neruko: ...!
Neruko: Big Bro Tunaro came to my rescue.
Neruko: He gave me my name too—said "neru" means "to sleep" in a language somewhere. He put it in my name so I'll always be able to sleep well and grow up strong.
Neruko swims round and round, showing off her powerful fins.
Neruko: Deep down, I do want to get along with other fish. But some things just aren't meant to be, I guess.
Neruko: But it's all right! I've got Big Bro Tunaro now, after all!
Neruko smiles at (Captain). The captain is about to say something in response when something distracts the both of them.
Neruko: Glu-glub? That light just now... It came from over there.
The two of them follow the enticing glow and swim further into the ruins, finally arriving at a space that looks like a shrine.
At the heart of the shrine sits a solemn, wooden box.
Neruko: What is that box? And that light...
Kuragi: You're not allowed here.
Neruko: Glu-glub!
Kuragi: This shrine houses the "tamatebako"—the jeweled box. Even we residents are forbidden to approach it. I believe you were warned not to come here...
Choose: I was... looking for the bathroom!
Kuragi: Bathroom?
Neruko: (What's inside that jeweled box?)
Kuragi: Well, let's go back then, shall we? I'll show you back to your common room.
Mysterious Voice: Look for... clues... on the body switch...
Mysterious Voice: You'll find... something... in the palace...
Something is hidden within the walls of the Dragon Palace.
With the puzzling voices from earlier still fresh in (Captain)'s mind, the captain trails after Kuragi, caudal fin flipping pensively.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 2: Tropical Paradise - Episode 4
The crew finally takes the opportunity to ask Tunaro his reason for disliking skydwellers so much. Tunaro explains that he once spent his days in the skies with his friends, but one day, everyone but himself was captured by skydwellers. Upon hearing about this terrible incident, Sig apologizes to Tunaro as a skydweller. Tunaro feels conflicted when he sees the pained expressions on every crew member's face.
A sunny afternoon at the seaside calls for an intensive game of beach volleyball.
Vikala: T-tossing it to you, K-Kumbhira!
Vikala: Hah!
Kumbhira: Nice set, Vikala!
Kumbhira: Get ready for my reckless spike!
Cupitan: Oh, no, you dooon't! Check out my rainbow receive... and then another toss! Whoooo!
Tunaro: Here I go, cor! Thunnus Spike!
Vikala: Eep! They got us...
Kumbhira: Don't sweat it! I wouldn't have been able to get it either.
Tunaro and Cupitan exchange a high-five to celebrate their small victory.
Cupitan: We did it! Yaaay! Let's keep it up!
Tunaro: C-Cupitan? You're not usually this excited, cor...
Vyrn: Rainbow Girl said something like "this is the only way to survive this hat-astrophe" and stabbed herself with one of her Prism Arrows.
Lyria: I bet she thinks that staying hyped like that will help her make it through!
Cupitan: All riiight, here we go agaaain!
(Somebody stop me...)
(Somebody stop me...)
Ilsa: Tunaro. Your next partner's going to be me. Ready to face the battlefield?
Tunaro: Yes, ma'am, cor!
Tunaro: ...
Wha!
Wha!
In that moment, however, Tunaro returns to his senses and stamps his foot on the ground.
Tunaro: No! I'm not about to have a good time with skydwellers!
Vikala: Huh... Why keep reminding yourself like that? You were having a great time with us just now.
Kumbhira: Tunaro... Why do you hate skydwellers so much?
Percival: I'm sure there are things you would rather not discuss—yet if you don't put it into words, we'll never be able to understand. The choice is yours.
Tunaro: ...
With a sigh, Tunaro shifts his gaze to the ball at his feet.
Tunaro: It's not exactly a story for summer vacation. You okay with that, cor?
Vyrn: Of course. Our crew doesn't have many stories appropriate for a typical holiday, so you'll fit right in.
When the others chuckle and nod in agreement, Tunaro looks resigned.
Tunaro: The school of albacore I belonged to... originally lived in the skies, cor.
Ragazzo: Sorry, I gotta ask—do albacore primals usually fly in the sky?
Sig: Yeah. They soar through the skies at high speeds, occasionally crashing through airships.
Sig: But sometimes they'll slow down and dive into the ocean near Yudhisthira, perhaps to change their trajectory.
Lyria: Like when we helped the Druga Pirates in that battle against Albacore!
Ragazzo: I see... What about the other albacore in the sea then? Actually, while I'm at it, what exactly is a "school"?
Neptune: Albacore are an unusual type of primal. They live in groups called "schools," and each school makes up a single primal beast.
Neptune: Within a particular school is a gigantic entity that serves as the boss... You've fought against one, haven't you, Sig?
Sig: Yeah! Memories of fighting that albacore are going to flash before my eyes when I die... I know it.
Neptune: The ecology of each school of albacore is different. They can live in the sky or in the sea.
Neptune: But we've only started seeing albacore in seas outside of the Yudhisthira waters recently.
Tunaro: I can explain why that is, cor.
Tunaro's tone grows solemn.
Tunaro: My albacore friends and I belonged to a school that was relatively small within our species.
Tunaro: We don't have concepts like being of the same blood, but we were like family and lived peacefully in the skies.
Tunaro: But one day...
Airship: ...
Tunaro: Suddenly, a skydweller ship appeared in the middle of our migration route.
Tunaro: We couldn't stop so abruptly... so while we felt bad, we had no choice but to charge straight into the airship.
Tunaro: But then...
Tunaro: Huh?
Tunaro: I couldn't believe my eyes, cor. My friends flying at the front of the group were lodged in the airship and couldn't get out.
Percival: Impossible! You mean to say that the airship was able to withstand the force of the albacore?
Ilsa: That's absurd. Steering clear of albacore is essential even for the strongest of the Society's ships.
Tunaro: But that wasn't all, cor! The skydwellers captured all of my friends that were stuck in the airship!
The Crew: ...!
Tunaro: They were waiting to ambush and capture us all along, cor.
Tunaro: I was at the rear of the group, so I was the only one who barely managed to avoid the ship and dive into the ocean...
Tunaro: Lucor, Alea, Borba, Cabaco... They all got caught!
Tunaro bites his lip in anguish, clenching his fists even tighter.
Tunaro: News of the albacore abduction quickly spread among our species, cor.
Sig: ...!
So that's why a portion of albacore moved their habitat to a safer place...
So that's why a portion of albacore moved their habitat to a safer place...
Tunaro: The skydwellers took my family away... I have nothing but hate for them now.
A heavy silence hangs over the crew.
Sig: ...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sig gives Tunaro a deep, sorrowful bow.
Tunaro: The Druga Pirates have nothing to do with the school I belonged to.
Sig: That may be true, but... that's not what I mean.
Sig: I know... that there are a lot of terrible people out there, roaming the skies and the ocean.
Tunaro: ...
Sig: The Drugas are keeping watch on the coastal waters for poachers, but we're only going back and forth with no progress to be made.
Sig: Still... I also know that there're a lot of good people in these skies, as well as in the ocean.
Tunaro: Hmph! I don't need you to put a bow on—
Sig: Right. I know words alone won't mean anything to you.
Sig: After all, even for me... All this time, I thought all albacore were the same.
Tunaro: ...!
Sig: Before I met you, it never even crossed my mind that albacore could have their own unique traits.
Sig: So I understand—I don't have any right to tell you anything. But I'd like to at least offer my sincere apology as a skydweller, if you'll take it.
Sig: I'm truly, truly sorry!
Lyria: Sig...
Tunaro: ...
Tunaro: (Damn it... Why did it have to be like this, cor? They're supposed to be despicable skydwellers...)
Tunaro: (But everyone here's listening to my story with such sad faces... like some of their own had died.)
The crew's eyes are filled with tears, their gazes cast downward in mourning. Tunaro's lip quivers as he watches them.
The Two: ...
Neptune: (Who knew... that Tunaro was a survivor of that incident.)
Varuna: (There must be more to it that we don't know about! I just have a feeling...)
The two primal beasts sense an ominous ripple within their watery realm.
If left alone, there's no doubt that the ripple will eventually turn into a surging wave, bound to come crashing down onto all of Auguste.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 3: Fishy Situation - Episode 1
That night, (Captain) tells Neruko that being someone labeled as the "singularity" isn't normal either—in fact, everyone is weird in their own way, and that is normal. Neruko is encouraged once again to try and interact with the palace residents. Meanwhile, the crew on the shore are playing with sparklers together. Tunaro tells the others about how worried he is for his sister. Kumbhira, Cupitan, Sig, and Ilsa step closer to Tunaro, enveloping him in an almost familial warmth.
That night, (Captain) and Neruko are in their room preparing for bed.
Neruko: Wow, a fluffy seaweed bed! Miss Kombu, the kelp fiend, went through all the trouble of setting it up for us!
Neruko: I was skeptical at first, but once we got to know them a little, the palace residents were so nice and fun to talk to!
Neruko: Well, I was only peeking out from inside your mouth, but still.
Choose: Do you still feel out of place?
Neruko: Yeah... I can't help it. Albacore were never supposed to be in the ocean, so I don't think it's possible for me to get along with the others...
Seeing Neruko's gloomy expression, (Captain) tells her with confidence that there's no one more out of place than yours truly.
Neruko: Glu-glub?
Out of place? You?
Out of place? You?
(Captain) reminds Neruko that a regular person does not simply switch bodies with a primal beast.
Neruko: Hm, I guess that's true... But I thought you just happened to get caught up in this mess.
Shaking left and right as if to say "no," (Captain) realizes that this action no longer hurts the gill area.
As strange as the body switch situation is, it may not be such a bizarre occurrence compared to everything else the crew has experienced so far.
Losing one's life at the start of the journey, getting tangled with the archangels and Six Dragons, coming face to face with the many dangers of the sky...
Not to mention recreating the power of the Omnipotent, and most of all...
Choose: Being labeled the "singularity."
Neruko: Singularity?
The captain gives a sheepish smile, as if to sympathize with Neruko's confusion.
Choose: We're all similar in one way or another.
Neruko: ...!
Whether in the sky or in the sea, everyone is a little more peculiar than they think, and at times, more normal than they believe themselves to be.
Neruko: Everyone's weird... and yet normal?
Regular Fish: ...
Palace Residents: ...
Neruko: But... even if that were true, I still couldn't make any friends!
Choose: You definitely can here at the palace.
Neruko: ...
Without a response, Neruko sinks herself into the bed of seaweed.
Tunaro: Remember what I said before about how albacore don't need to blend in or get along with other sea creatures?
Neruko: Yeah! That's when I decided I'm gonna be a strong albacore like you...
Tunaro: You might be different from me, Neruko.
Neruko: Huh?
Neruko: (At the time, why did Big Bro Tunaro say that?)
Neruko: (I wanna see my big bro again...)
On the dusky beach, Tunaro gazes quietly at the flickering lights on his sparkler.
Tunaro: (I wonder if Neruko's feeling lonely, cor...)
Kumbhira: Hey, Tunaro. Mind if we join you?
Cupitan: I want to do that thing where we compete to see whose sparkler lasts the longest! That's something friends do, right?
Tunaro: I don't remember ever being friends with you all.
Kumbhira: Aw, come on. Sitting in the corner all by yourself has to get a little lonely. Just let us hang out here, okay?
Tunaro: ...
Kumbhira and Cupitan crouch down in front of Tunaro, the three forming a triangle. They light their sparklers at the same time.
Cupitan: You were thinking about your little sister Neruko, weren't you?
Tunaro: Cor!
Kumbhira: Hehe, you dropped it. You lose this round, Tunaro.
Tunaro: H-hey, that's not fair! You can't just use your Rainbow Bow power or whatever to look into people's hearts...
Cupitan: I didn't. I don't need to look to know what's occupying your mind.
Cupitan: I can understand what it's like to constantly think about someone dear to you who's far, far away...
Cupping her hand to protect her sparkler from the wind, she stares at the delicate flecks of light.
Cupitan: Ever since you came to the land, you've been worrying about Neruko's safety much more than your own.
Tunaro: Of course, cor. It's a big brother's duty to look out for his younger sister.
Cupitan: Is that all?
Tunaro: ...!
Cupitan: Relation by blood isn't a concept among primal beasts... but you still call her your younger sister. There must be a reason for that, right?
With a sigh, Tunaro takes another sparkler and lights it.
Tunaro: I met Neruko on the day of the incident, right after I lost my friends to the skydwellers' schemes.
The Two: ...!
Tunaro: Originally, albacore didn't belong to the sea.
Tunaro: Yet suddenly, I found myself subjected to a fate of wandering through the dark, cold waters all alone, forever...
Tunaro: It was then that I saw a single, small albacore trying to talk to some fish.
Tunaro: She kept getting brushed off and was on the verge of tears, but she still tried again and again.
Tunaro: To me... she was practically shining, cor.
Tunaro keeps his eyes on the brilliant sparks in front of him.
Tunaro: I wanted to give this young albacore a happy life.
Tunaro: Who cares about me? What's more important is making sure the little one didn't feel lonely anymore.
Cupitan: And... that's how you decided to stick with her, huh? To protect her as her older brother.
Tunaro: Oh...
Kumbhira: Your spark went out again... Hey, but it lasted longer than the first time.
Tunaro: It's gone... I used my hand and body to shield it from the wind, but it didn't work...
Kumbhira: ...
Kumbhira bends down to pick up the used sparkler before reaching out to give Tunaro a pat on the head.
Tunaro: Wh-what're you doing, cor!
Kumbhira: Telling you how proud I am of you.
Kumbhira: You've protected Neruko all this time. You did your best as her big brother.
Tunaro: ...!
Kumbhira: I can relate in that aspect. After all, I've got ten younger sisters and brothers too.
Kumbhira: I had hoped to provide my siblings and everyone in my village a happy life by serving as the Divine Boar.
Tunaro: ...
Kumbhira: But you know... you have to treasure your own feelings too.
Kumbhira: If you stop caring about yourself and can't be honest about how you truly feel inside... then you'll never be able to move forward.
Kumbhira: Let me... join your crew!
Kumbhira: (Captain) taught me that.
Kumbhira: That's why I want to pass it onto you too.
Kumbhira: Though... it does feel a bit weird, since you just look like (Captain) with a hat on.
Chuckling, Kumbhira pats Tunaro one more time.
Another hand—weathered and calloused from the hardships of fishing and handling firearms—places itself on Tunaro's head.
Sig: Heheh. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm here to tell you you're doing a great job!
Ilsa: Life's a carrot on a stick. Sometimes you need to get a few carrots to keep going.
Tunaro: Sig... Sergeant Ilsa...
Cupitan: I want to pat Tunaro too! Oh, maybe I can help you relax with my Prism Arrow...
The Three: No, don't!
Tunaro: Heheh...
Sig: Haha, there it is! That's a nice smile.
Tunaro: I-it's got nothing to do with me... It's (Captain)'s face...
Ilsa: That's not what makes it nice.
Kumbhira: Yeah. Smile, Tunaro—a smiling face suits you so much better!
Tunaro: ...!
Still gathered around Tunaro, the four of them light the fire on their sparklers once more.
The soft light emitting from each of their sparklers together create a shining brilliance in the middle of the dark beach.
Vikala: Wh-what is that?
Vikala: Four... moms?
Hekate: Forget about that. Vikala, how about becoming one with me?
Vikala: Eep!
Ragazzo: Hey! What're you trying to do to her?
Hekate: Look around! We're in the middle of summer, surrounded by beautiful men and women.
Hekate: Surely something more should be happening!
Percival: A lot is happening right now, might I remind you. The albacore crisis, for example.
Vyrn: Yeah, so don't go botherin' the others in our crew, ya hear? I mean, you said it yourself.
Hekate: I said I intend to make a mess of solely (Captain), remember?
Hekate: Unlike mortals, a goddess such as myself always keeps her word.
Hekate: Rrg... I did say that, but...
Hekate's eyes sweep across the beach when she notices two figures a slight ways away.
Varuna: Ouch, that's hot! The sparks are flying toward me!
Neptune: Oh, Varu. You're supposed to hold the sparkler the other way.
Hekate: Drool... I've found my perfect prey!
Lyria: O-oh! I guess Varuna and Neptune technically aren't part of our crew, but still...
Just as the tip of Lyria's sparkler falls to the sand at her feet, so does a drop of saliva as Hekate continues to stare at the primal beasts, her interest dangerously clear.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 3: Fishy Situation - Episode 2
When everyone is fast asleep that night, Hekate infiltrates the dreams of Varuna and Neptune. The three discreetly share the information they have. The primal beasts explain how there are several things in the albacore incident that stand out to them. Despite her lingering suspicions toward the primal beasts, Hekate agrees to help Varuna and Neptune with their investigations.
That night, Varuna is fast asleep when she suddenly finds herself in the ocean.
Varuna: Whew! Another blue and salty day at sea! The waters sure are peaceful!
Leviathan: It's thanks to your constant hard work, Varuna. Thanks for everythi-viathan!
Varuna: Hehe. I can't believe even the great Leviathan is showering me with praise!
Varuna: Huh? I've never noticed that you talked like that before.
Neptune: Hey, Varu! Nice work today. Here's a kissy kiss for you!
Varuna: Wha! A k-kiss?
Varuna: Stupid, silly squid! You're supposed to save these things for when we're all alone in our secret hole in the rocks...
Neptune?: Sigh... This is so silly I'm getting bored.
Varuna: ...
Wha?
Wha?
Varuna: Wh-wha! You... The seductive spectacle!
Hekate reveals herself, her expression annoyed.
Hekate: This is my dream world. The real you is still asleep.
Varuna: This... is a dream? You can use your powers on primals too?
Hekate: I tried, but I'm not sure if it worked or not. I don't feel any particular essence coming from your dreams... Primals are probably lacking in that aspect.
Hekate heaves a sigh before curling her lips impishly.
Hekate: How you looked just now was what you wish for yourself. It seems you have a hidden desire for your colleague... but don't worry, that's perfectly normal.
Varuna: H-hidden desire? I have no idea what you're talking about! Besides, primals can't make babies...
Hekate: I suppose that's why I feel no essence from you...
Hekate: Actually, I have something I'd like to talk to you and Neptune about. This is getting to be a bother so I'll connect your dreams.
Neptune: Good Varu-vening!
When Hekate waves her staff, the dream world distorts slightly and Neptune appears.
Hekate: I wanted to ask... Who and what is "Neruko" exactly?
The Two: ...!
Hekate: A primal beast—who is supposed to be unchanging and incapable of reproducing—is growing up and doesn't seem to be affiliated with any school. Isn't that right?
Hekate: For a normal albacore, that's unthinkable.
Neptune: Yes, exactly... I've been looking into ancient civilizations and such for clues.
Hekate: I see... So it's a mystery.
As Hekate pauses to think, Varuna and Neptune exchange glances.
Varuna: There's one thing I couldn't talk about earlier, in case somebody heard us.
Hekate: Somebody? There was no one at the beach but us.
Varuna: Our enemy may be someone who is an even bigger mystical existence than us. We need to be extra careful when we talk among ourselves.
Neptune: Right. But it should be all right within Hekate's dream realm!
The two primal beasts nod at each other before continuing.
Neptune: What we're concerned about is the albacore abduction incident.
Hekate: You mean the one Tunaro escaped from?
Varuna: I looked into it, but there were no records of any ship of that description flying that day.
Hekate: ...!
Neptune: Yet a lot of sea creatures with excellent eyesight witnessed the albacore getting captured. It's almost stranger than Auguste itself.
Varuna: Where did an airship of that caliber come from anyway?
Hekate: The Dragon Palace... Neruko... The albacore abduction...
Hekate's gaze turns serious and she nods, her mind made.
Hekate: I'll help with your investigation too.
Hekate: If we don't return (Captain) back to normal soon, how can I become one with the captain this summer?
Varuna: I have my doubts about what's motivating you, but your help will be appreciated!
The primals and the goddess join forces, determined to bring the ocean mystery to light.
When they awake from their dreams, they immediately part ways to continue with their investigations.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 3: Fishy Situation - Episode 3
The next day, (Captain) and the palace residents enjoy a fireworks show put on by Frai the deepflight oyster. Intrigued by the fireworks, Neruko finally emerges from the captain's mouth and is happily welcomed by the other sea creatures. However, Salmrick the king salmun abruptly swims off in the midst of the festivities. (Captain) is sharing a pleasant conversation with the kelp fiend Miss Kombu when Kuragi looks resentfully over at them. Turtlestache notices this and approaches Kuragi.
At the Dragon Palace, the residents have assembled to watch the underwater fireworks show together.
Frai: Whooosh... Bang!
Crabbie: Wow... It's beautiful!
Helgoku: Whoooa! So this is what they call fireworks!
Neruko: (Is Frai really becoming fireworks?)
Choose: Why don't you come out and take a look?
Choose: It's breathtaking.
Neruko: Glub?
Mouth slightly open, (Captain) patiently waits to see if Neruko will make her way out.
Mei: Fireworks, hm? They're not bad, I suppose.
Suika Kattosai: Lady Mei, I'm afraid the sparkle in your eyes is betraying your excitement.
Helgoku: No need to put up a front, Mei! If you think they're pretty, then go on and say so!
Mei: I-I don't need advice from a hotblooded fool!
But... they are beautiful, I'll give them that!
But... they are beautiful, I'll give them that!
Neruko: ...
Neruko: (I'm the same. Truth is, I...)
Mei: You too, Neruko.
Neruko: Glu-glub?
The palace residents all turn their eyes to (Captain)'s mouth.
Mei: I know you're there. Stop hiding and come out already!
Suika Kattosai: We heard from Turtlestache about a new friend who's just as shy as us, you see.
Crabbie: Why don't we... w-watch together? It's not... scary...
Neruko: Huh?
Regular Fish 2: Yeah. You're breaming if you think we can be friends! Hurry up and get lost!
Regular Fish 3: You're weird! You smell different from the rest of us, bon!
Neruko: But... if you see me, you'll definitely think I'm...
Choose: Everyone's weird in their own way.
Choose: Everyone's normal as themselves.
Neruko: ...!
Neruko swims timidly up to (Captain)'s teeth and peeks out through the narrow cracks.
Looking at the limited field of view that she has gotten so used to, she decides to expand it.
Neruko: ...
Hello.
Hello.
Helgoku: Neruko! You...
Neruko: (I knew it...)
Helgoku: Haha, you're a peculiar-looking one, aren't you? Pretty much like the rest of us!
Neruko: Glu-glub?
Suika Kattosai: Nay... I'd say there are bigger surprises, like the one over there who burns even underwater, or a creature like myself who eerily resembles a two-legged person.
Mei: Welcome to the Dragon Palace, Neruko. Sorry we're all so weird.
Neruko: ...!
Neruko: Not... not at all! I'm happy to meet you!
Just as Neruko's eyes are beginning to light up, an odd yet glorious light bursts in the distance, scattering the seaweed around it.
Neruko: Wow! It's... stunning!
Frai: Nerukooo! You wanna be a firework too?
Neruko: Glu-glub!
Frai: Looking at fireworks within a firework! How do you like that?
Frai: Everyone's flying too, you know? Not as high as me though, of course!
Mei's Voice: Take it easy, will you? We want to have our fun too!
Neruko: Ehehe... I want to join in too!
King Salmun: Mun, mun! What a peaceful day, full of fun!
Salmrick: I, Salmrick, will protect the peace of the seas from the skydwellers! I'll destroy them all!
Crabbie: Welp... There he goes.
(Captain) is left in a daze as Salmrick quickly zooms out of sight.
Miss Kombu: You're the perfect older brother, aren't you? Always giving little Neruko the push that she needs.
Miss Kombu: I heard that you helped out with Frai's fireworks too, (Captain).
Miss Kombu swims up to the captain, who catches a whiff of something not unlike a delicious seafood soup cooking in the galley.
That's when (Captain) notices a number of weapons at Kombu's side that appear to be covered in algae.
Miss Kombu: Eep! What're you doing to my hair...
Miss Kombu: Huh? My weapon accessories... They're all sparkly clean now!
Choose: I took the liberty of cleaning them.
Miss Kombu: You took care of the rust and even the split ends too! Where did you learn to do that?
Miss Kombu: Aren't you a mysterious one... Hehe.
Miss Kombu: (How bold of (Captain) to touch a lady's hair like that... Normally I'd have the fool sliced into seaweed flakes.)
The light of the fireworks continues to illuminate the area, revealing the slight tinge of red on Miss Kombu's slippery cheeks.
Kuragi: Rrg... (Captain)! Getting all up in Kombu's business... How dare they look so good together!
Kuragi: I'll admit, being a hero is pretty amazing... but that shouldn't get you everything! Miss Kombu belongs with me...
Turtlestache: You're looking rather tense, Kuragi. Someone step on your tentacle?
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 3: Fishy Situation - Episode 4
The next morning, Hekate tells the crew to leave the investigation to her. The crew spends another day at the beach. Cupitan and Ragazzo build a sandcastle, while Ilsa and Percival converse at a quieter part of the beach. All of a sudden, Salmrick the king salmun leaps out of the ocean, headed straight for the crew. Feeling the king salmun's hostility, the crew prepares for battle.
Waking up to a brand new morning, the crew on land returns to the sandy beach for another day packed with fun.
Sig, Tunaro, Kumbhira, Vikala, Vyrn, and Lyria are in the water, enjoying the cool touch of the waves.
Tunaro: Wha... My arms are too thin! I can't swim with these!
Sig: You won't be able to swim if you keep thinking your arms are fins. Mortal bodies that live on land use their arms and legs.
Kumbhira: Ahaha... Who would've ever imagined that we'd be teaching a fish how to swim?
Tunaro: I'm not a fish! I'm a primal beast, cor!
Vikala: Are you sure it's okay for us to just hang out at the beach like this?
Vyrn: Yeah, that's what Dream Lady told us to do. She said she was gonna go investigate with the primal ladies while we get to know Tunaro better.
Lyria: I am worried... but I can still feel (Captain)'s presence somewhere at the bottom of the ocean.
Sig: The Dragon Palace, eh? Wonder if it's got anything to do with the legends around Auguste.
Vyrn: What kinda legends are those?
Sig: A lot of sea legends shared between fishermen mention a residence somewhere in the ocean where sea creatures gather.
Sig: The details vary between different stories, but some say an old deity of the sea lives there in harmony with the other residents.
Lyria: I see... In that case, then maybe (Captain) won't be lonely!
Meanwhile, Cupitan and Ragazzo are crouched at the edge of the water, building a sand castle.
Cupitan: Okay! I've finished digging a hole on this side!
Ragazzo: That's great and all, but can you not use your Rainbow Bow to dig? It doesn't feel right.
Cupitan: Huh... But it's so useful...
Cupitan reluctantly puts away her bow and switches to scooping sand with her hands.
Cupitan: You're not going to swim, Ragazzo?
Ragazzo: I don't think it's a good idea with these artificial arms. We've got great engineers working on these limbs, but seawater's still a no-go.
Cupitan: "We," huh? Hehe. It's nice to hear you talk like a full-fledged member of the crew.
Ragazzo: Oh, shut it...
Ragazzo: What about you? No one said you had to waste your time hanging around me, you know.
Cupitan: It's not that... I'm just not very good at swimming.
Ragazzo: C'mon, you're not fooling me. You're hoping for some stories about Tristette during our time in Navis together, arent'cha?
Cupitan: Well... Maybe just a little.
Ragazzo: That's some rotten dedication. Although... I'm not really one to talk.
Just then, a large wave comes and sweeps away a part of the castle.
Ragazzo: Crap! We built this thing too close to the water.
Cupitan: Incredible how it's so short-lived... even though we spent so much effort building it.
Ragazzo: We can always build another one. With everyone together and a better spot.
Cupitan: That's... easier said than done.
Ragazzo: ...
It's hard for me too.
It's hard for me too.
Before they know it, the waves begin licking at their feet.
The Two: ...
Without a word, the two start piling sand over the muddy castle once more.
At another part of the beach, two figures stand with their arms crossed as the others are enjoying themselves in the water.
The Two: ...
Ilsa and Percival are on guard, their eyes peeled for any threats or strange occurrences on the beach.
Ilsa: ...
Percival: ...
Ilsa: ...
What hobbies do you have?
What hobbies do you have?
Percival: ...
Why do you ask?
Why do you ask?
Ilsa: Well... never mind. I suppose I'm simply not used to complete silence.
The air of intimidation the pair give off discourages other tourists from approaching, keeping the vicinity quiet.
Percival: I'm not asking you to let your guard down completely, but there's no need to be so formal.
Percival: I know a mongrel who, when keeping watch, likes to play word games so his partner doesn't fall asleep.
Ilsa: Haha. A mongrel, huh? I know a puppy myself and I wouldn't be surprised if word games quickly become a favorite.
Percival: ...
Ilsa: ...
Percival: ...
Game.
Game.
Ilsa: ...
Ilsa: Egg.
Percival: ...
Percival: Gorilla.
Ilsa: Artwork.
Percival: "K," hm? What starts with"k"...
Percival: King salmun!
Ilsa: Heh. I'm afraid that's two words, Percival.
Percival: No, look! It's a king salmun! It just leapt out of the water!
Ilsa: What?
Salmrick: ...!
(I'm gonna protect the peace of the ocean, mun! I'll crush the skydwellers!)
(I'm gonna protect the peace of the ocean, mun! I'll crush the skydwellers!)
Vyrn: Whoa! What is that?
Sig: That's a king salmun! It's a subspecies of the salmun—a legendary fish that you'd expect to find at the Dragon Palace!
Vikala: It's... It's c-coming this way!
Kumbhira: Hang onto me, Tunaro! I'll pull you to shore!
Tunaro: O-okay, cor!
As the crew scramble to swim back to shore, Cupitan, Ragazzo, Ilsa, and Percival race toward the water from the beach.
Salmrick: ...!
(Prepare yourselves, skydwellers!)
(Prepare yourselves, skydwellers!)
Lyria: Did... it just say something?
Percival: I'm not sure, but I'm sensing an incredible bloodlust from it. Get your weapons ready, everyone!
As the crew scramble to swim back to shore, Cupitan, Ragazzo, Ilsa, and Percival race toward the water from the beach.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 4: Deep Trouble - Episode 1
After being exposed, (Captain) flees from the Dragon Palace without Neruko. After meeting the sources of the mysterious voices, Varuna's familiar Octosuke and Neptune's familiar Leverrier, the captain learns that everyone in Auguste has fallen asleep and makes for the surface.
(Captain) has been accused by Kuragi the lumber jelly of being a skydweller.
Shocked, the palace residents gather around the accused and the accuser.
Helgoku: What's that supposed to mean, Kuragi? (Captain) is obviously the albacore hero, no matter how you look at him.
Kuragi: No, that would be the real Tunaro... who's since swapped bodies with this skydweller named (Captain)!
Mei: What are you talking about! Don't get delusional on us just because you aren't getting the attention you want!
Suika Kattosai: ...
Do you have any proof of this?
Do you have any proof of this?
Kuragi: (Captain)... was looking for a bathroom!
Neruko: Oh dear!
Crabbie: A... bath-room?
Turtlestache: A room that skydwellers use to deal with their waste. It's something we sea creatures have no concept of.
Salmrick: Do primal beasts even create waste?
Miss Kombu: (Captain) must have just been making a joke.
Miss Kombu: Did you really decide he must be a skydweller just from that, Kuragi? Are you sure that you've been getting enough sleep?
Kuragi: Okay then, who else but a skydweller would know about their weapons! Are all those perfectly repaired swords in your hair a joke too, Miss Kombu?
Miss Kombu: W-well...
Frai: Let's use the Shell of Truth!
When Frai comes down to chime in, the rest of the residents suddenly act relieved.
Crabbie: Of course... We can just have Frai check.
Neruko: What's the Shell of Truth?
Suika Kattosai: Frai, in her innocence and purity, has the ability to determine if one is lying.
Helgoku: Just put your fin into her shell and say you're not a skydweller! So long as you're not lying, it won't close on you!
Neruko: W-wait a minute! Surely we don't need to—
Mei: Don't worry, Neruko. This is the fastest way to disprove Kuragi's ridiculous idea. Just stay with me and watch, okay?
Neruko: ...
Surrounded by the palace residents, (Captain) has no choice but to go along with them.
All the captain can do is think hard about being an albacore.
Choose: I'm not a skydweller!
Palace Residents: ...!
As soon as the words are spoken, Frai's shell slams shut on (Captain)'s fin.
Turtlestache: Skydweller!
Suika Kattosai: I'm disappointed that it's come to this, (Captain)! Prepare to die!
Disregarding the sound of ripping fish flesh, (Captain) forcefully swims away from Frai as the other residents all attack at once.
Helgoku: Go! Don't let the skydweller escape!
Neruko: (Captain)!
Turtlestache: No, Neruko! That's not your real brother!
Mei: Don't worry, this is where you belong. Just stay here with me, okay?
Neruko: But... but...
As (Captain) flees the palace, Neruko finds herself with no choice but to stay.
Within but a few moments, the two are separated by the dark blue of the deep sea.
The pursuit lasts so long that (Captain) can no longer tell how much time has passed.
After making sure that all the residents have truly given up, the captain hides behind a rock.
However, unbeknownst to (Captain), two figures are slowly drawing closer...
Octopus: Are you all right, (Captain)?
Sea Serpent: We're very sorry about all of this... We managed to get in contact with you once, but then we were cut off.
Choose: I know those voices!
(Captain) realizes that the two creatures are the ones who suggested that a clue related to the body-swapping might be found within the Dragon Palace.
Octosuke: Name's Octosuke. I guess you could say I'm Miss Varuna's familiar.
Leverrier: And I am Leverrier, familiar to Lady Neptune.
Leverrier: We have kept ourselves apprised of your situation. Let me first express our relief that you are safe.
Octosuke: Yeah, we've been keeping an eye out for you this whole time.
Octosuke: Our masters are hanging out with your crew on the beach, so they're in the know too.
Octosuke: Well, we can't even detect the palace's presence, so to be honest with you we've really just been swimming in circles hoping to bump into the darn thing...
Choose: Is everyone all right?
Leverrier: Well... They were, until just moments ago.
Seeing Leverrier's downcast expression, (Captain) feels like the ocean had suddenly been replaced by waters of the North Vast.
Octosuke: All the mortals in Auguste have fallen into a mysterious nightmare.
Choose: Do we know who's to blame?
Leverrier: We're assuming it's someone from the Dragon Palace, but we don't actually know.
Leverrier: Whoever it is, though, we can be sure that they're powerful.
Octosuke: Will you work with us to protect the peace of these blue seas and skies, (Captain)?
Choose: Of course!
Just when everything seemed lost, Octosuke and Leverrier have appeared to show the captain the path forward.
Propelled by once-again resolute fins, (Captain) swims off with the two familiars.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 4: Deep Trouble - Episode 2
The sleeping crew members dream of becoming albacore and being fished up by different people. Facing certain death on the cutting board, some give up, some fight back, and some accept their fate. Upon hearing Hekate's call to awaken, they get up to find her in an albacore's body.
Percival: Augh... Where am I?
Percival awakens to find himself in the ocean. Suddenly, he hears a lively voice coming from above him.
Vane's Voice: Nice, I think I've caught a big one!
Percival: Augh, my lip!
Percival: Is that a fishhook in there?
After being rapidly pulled up through the water, Percival reaches its surface and is bathed in the light of the sun.
Vane presses him down onto the deck, where he flops desperately.
Vane: Man, I was right! This thing's huge!
Percival: (What in the skies is going on? Did I just turn into an albacore?)
Vane: It's a lively one too! No wonder I had so much trouble bringing it in!
Percival: (Is Hekate doing this? No, her dreams are more—)
Vane: Right, let's get you gutted!
Percival: ...!
Percival: (Damn it, mongrel! Can you not tell that it's me?)
Vane: Wow, you've really got some energy! This is the best fish I've ever caught!
Percival: (You're the worst dog I've ever had the misfortune of meeting!)
Percival keeps flopping vigorously in hopes of making Vane recognize him.
Vane: Hm? Wait a second... This way you're flopping around, as if you're blazing with pride...
Percival: (Did he finally figure it out?)
Vane: You must be the boss albacore!
Percival: (You accursed mutt!)
Meanwhile, in another dream...
Kumbhira: Right, let's get you gutted!
Vikala: (K-Kumbhira? It's me, V-V-Vikala!)
Vikala has also turned into an albacore and has been fished up by Kumbhira.
Kumbhira: My, you're a lively one aren't you? I bet my little brothers and sisters will gobble you right up!
Vikala: (Oh no, she's not going to notice, is she? Well, I can't say that I've lived a long and happy life, but it looks like fourteen years is all I get. Thanks for everything, my friends...)
Kumbhira: Huh? Why did it suddenly go limp?
Vikala: (But... Actually, I really don't want to go out as a fish!)
Kumbhira: Oh, it's flopping around again. You've got a lot going on in your head, don't you?
In Cupitan's dream, she has come face-to-face with her beloved.
Cupitan: Go ahead, Ris. I'm an albacore...
Cupitan: However you decide to eat me, just make sure to savor it, all right?
At the same time, Ragazzo is also facing the person he loves more than any other.
Ragazzo: Yeah, I thought it would be you.
Ragazzo: But that said, I've got a place I've gotta get back to now.
Ragazzo: Sorry, but I'm gonna fight you till my last breath!
As for the other members of the crew...
Sig: I've become an albacore? What a rare experience!
Ilsa: Hah, don't make me laugh. I've long been prepared for this to happen!
Lyria: Oh my!
Hekate: Wake up, everyone!
Vyrn: Huh? What's going on?
Hekate's voice reverberates through everyone's dreams, causing them to gradually awaken from their slumber.
Hekate's Voice: Someone or something had put you all to sleep. Fortunately, I was able to use my power to wake you up.
Kumbhira: I see... Thank you, Hekate.
Hekalbacore: It was no trouble. I am the goddess of the night, after all.
Kumbhira: Hekate!
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 4: Deep Trouble - Episode 3
Though the crew has been awakened, Vikala, Percival, and Ragazzo have also swapped bodies with albacore. Hekate explains that albacore had headbutted them while they were sleeping, which were probably sent by their enemy to get them out of the picture. She can't remember what she was doing right before she became an albacore either. Lyria starts feeling like something bad is about to happen, and suddenly the sea level starts to rise rapidly.
The crew wakes up to find that Hekate has become an albacore.
Vyrn: Uh, are we sure that we're actually awake?
Cupitan: I am, at least. This indecent color is definitely Hekate.
Hekalbacore: Don't get too surprised yet. There's more where that came from.
Kumbhira: Oh, come on. I don't think anything's going to beat—
Vikalbacore: ...!
(Kumbhira!)
(Kumbhira!)
Percibacore: ...!
(To think that we would be subject to such humiliation!)
(To think that we would be subject to such humiliation!)
Ragazbacore: ...!
(Man, I can't say I saw this coming...)
(Man, I can't say I saw this coming...)
Cupitan: Glub glub?
Though the whole crew is now awake, Vikala, Percival, and Ragazzo have turned into albacore.
Hekalbacore: I'm able to speak directly into your minds, but I'm assuming that those three are capable of no such thing.
Ilsa: So what exactly is going on? Where even were you when all this started?
Hekalbacore: I don't really remember, actually. I feel like I had discovered something, but...
Hekalbacore: I must have been hit in the head by an albacore, causing me to both forget and swap bodies with it.
Hekate surveys the beach as she continues to telepathically communicate with the group.
Hekalbacore: Everyone in Auguste has been made to fall into a deep slumber.
Sig: Everyone on the whole island?
Hekalbacore: Indeed. Such a feat would be beyond even my powers. Whatever did this must be even more supernatural than I am.
Hekalbacore: That said, everyone but us was merely put to sleep. We must be the ones this extra-supernatural being really wants out of the picture.
Ilsa: Are you telling me that it's trying to weaken us by turning our crewmates into albacore?
Hekalbacore: Yes. I saw some of them headbutt you all as you slept and then walk off with your bodies.
Vyrn: But wait, why haven't we gone all fishy too then?
Hekalbacore: I don't know why, but it seems like anyone who was judged to be akin to an albacore was ultimately left unaffected.
Cupitan: Oh, are you talking about that dream? I turned into an albacore, but I just kind of accepted it!
Ilsa: So everyone who accepted the metamorphosis was spared it, while those who resisted ended up with the short end of the stick...
Albacore Crewmates: ...!
While the crew members are discussing the situation, they suddenly hear a groan from nearby.
Tunaro: ...!
Sig: Oh, Tunaro's still sleeping? He doesn't sound like he's having a good time of it...
Hekalbacore: Perhaps my powers aren't as effective on primal beasts as they were on you? Well, I'm sure he'll wake up eventually.
Hekalbacore: I've deliberately neglected to wake up everyone else on the island to avoid causing a panic.
Vyrn: So do you think that this extra-supernatural being is behind everything, including (Captain) and Tunaro swapping bodies?
Ilsa: It seems that every "enemy" I face feels the need to beat around the bush to get what it wants. What in the skies could it be trying to accomplish?
Lyria: I'm feeling something terrible. I think that there might be something truly frightening making its way toward us...
And sure enough, just as Lyria voices her fears...
Without warning, the sea swells with a roar loud enough to break the island.
Kumbhira: What's happening? There's a bunch of waves coming our...
Sig: No, it's way worse than that!
Sig: The... the sea is growing!
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 4: Deep Trouble - Episode 4
Hoping to help resolve the situation from within the Dragon Palace, Neruko opens the tamatebako, where she finds a black dragon scale. She is then placed under mind control by the mastermind of this incident, the ancient god Seahamut, who leads her and the rest of the palace residents to the surface to sink all the skies into the ocean. After witnessing this procession, (Captain) makes after them as fast as possible.
Moments before the crew members on the beach witness that terrifying scene...
The residents of the Dragon Palace are reeling from the shock of discovering that (Captain) is a skydweller.
Kuragi: It was all a sham! (Captain) was deceiving us the whole time!
Miss Kombu: Yes, well... I suppose I can't deny that we weren't told everything.
Kuragi: "Weren't told everything"? What's that supposed to mean?
Mei: Do you not get it? None of us can bring ourselves to believe that (Captain) is really a bad person. I can't at least.
Crabbie: Bu-but... All skydwellers are bad, right?
Frai: Hm? Actually, why do we hate skydwellers so much anyway?
Helgoku: Well, that much is obvious! They... uh... huh?
Turtlestache: None among us will ever forget our hate for the skydwellers... They are a threat to our very existence!
Palace Residents: Kill... the skydwellers...
Neruko: Eep!
Neruko: (This really is weird... Something's wrong with their eyes!)
Neruko: What is this box? And that light...
Suddenly, Neruko remembers the jeweled box.
Neruko: I know! The tamatebako!
Neruko: That box was glowing with the same light that everyone's eyes were!
Neruko: It seemed like whatever's in it is a secret, so I bet that if I open it—
Kuragi: Didn't I tell you to stay away from the shrine?
Neruko: Kuragi!
Kuragi floats in front of Neruko, blocking her path.
Kuragi: You know, ever since we first met, I've always felt a real, primordial disgust for you.
Neruko: ...!
Kuragi: Your bizarre cuteness, how round you are—I just instinctually don't like any of it. It makes me sick.
Kuragi: And hey, I'm not proud of feeling that way, you know? But I do, and I'm sure everyone else does too. They're just too nice to say it.
Neruko: ...
Kuragi: Come on, let's go back. I'm just a little irritable right now, I don't want to drive you out or—
Neruko: You're just as weird as anyone else!
Kuragi: Wha!
Surprised by Neruko's sudden shout, Kuragi unthinkingly floats a step back.
Neruko: Why are your tentacles wood! Why is a tree even growing in the ocean!
Neruko: The others are the same! The bonito and god albacore and demonbream and the ones with strange patterns... They're all as weird as anyone else!
Kuragi: Wha... What are you even talking about?
Neruko: Everyone's as weird as anyone else, and that's fine!
Neruko: But when you guys talk about skydwellers, you start acting weird-weird!
Kuragi: Seriously, what are you talking about! Whatever, just come with me and—
Neruko: Thunnus Blitz!
Kuragi: Gah!
Despite her size, Neruko manages to knock Kuragi out cold with one blow.
Neruko: I know for sure that (Captain) is trying to solve this from outside the palace!
Neruko: So I need to do what I can to help everyone too... And that's opening this box!
Neruko pushes open the ancient tamatebako with her head.
Suddenly, she feels something ominous pulse out from the box and across the ocean.
Neruko: Glub... What was that? It sent a chill down my dorsal fin...
Neruko: Right! More importantly, what's in this box?
Meanwhile, (Captain) is hearing about what's happened on the beach from the two familiars as they search for the palace.
Octosuke: So yeah, most of the strange things that have been happening here on Auguste seem to have been caused by the Dragon Palace.
Leverrier: Specifically, it seems to be quite often involved with changes to the ocean and the creatures that live in it. That's why we were ordered by Leviathan to keep a close eye on it.
Choose: You were?
Leverrier: Yes. Leviathan rules all of the primal beasts of the ocean. Auguste's waters are almost entirely part of Leviathan's body after all.
Octosuke: Lyria's copy of Leviathan allowed us to detect what happened to you on the beach right away.
Leverrier: Be precise, Octosuke. Our masters were the ones who detected it. We were merely informed later.
Octosuke: Don't split hairs. How has spending so much time with Miss Neptune not taught you to be more easygoing?
Leverrier: Spending time with Lady Neptune has taught me that I, at least, must strive to be diligent.
Octosuke and Leverrier smile at each other, but their expressions quickly become downcast.
Octosuke: Unfortunately, we can't get in touch even with our beloved bosses right now.
Leverrier: Something must have happened on the beach while they were investigating.
Choose: What do you think the enemy's after?
Octosuke: I can feel it in my suckers. The enemy's goal is to conquer all the—
Octosuke is suddenly interrupted by an ominous wave that pulses across the ocean.
Leverrier: What was that? It made me shiver from head to tail...
Choose: Was that... Bahamut?
Upon seeing what was in the box, Neruko's eyes go wide with shock.
Neruko: A scale... A scale from a black dragon?
Neruko: What?
Enormous Figure: So you've reached the primeval shine... However, you're too late.
Neruko: Ahh... Ahh...
Enormous Figure: It's time for conquest, my singularity of the sea...
Leverrier: ...!
The barrier around the Dragon Palace has fallen!
The barrier around the Dragon Palace has fallen!
Octosuke: They dropped it themselves, I imagine. Guess that means they're ready to go out and paint the town red.
Suddenly, something that looks like a giant dragon appears before the trio above the now perceivable Dragon Palace.
Enormous Figure: ...
Octosuke: Well ain't that quite the beastie.
(Captain) notices an open, wooden box floating near the giant figure.
Octosuke: Good eye! Considering what's happening, that must be the tamatebako from that fairy tale!
Leverrier: No! Do you mean to say that monster is the legendary Seahamut?
Seahamut: Auguste will only be the beginning. All the skies will soon be submerged in my ocean.
Palace Residents: ...
Choose: Everyone!
Octosuke: Looks like they're under some sort of mind control. This is one nasty god we're dealing with here.
Seahamut: The proper place for islands is in the ocean. I shall be the ruler of these skies!
Seahamut makes for the surface with the residents of the Dragon Palace in tow.
(Captain) manages to spot Neruko among their ranks.
Choose: Neruko!
Ignoring the captain's call, Neruko silently follows the others to the surface.
Octosuke: This isn't good. The sea level's rising. That joker actually plans to drown the sky...
Leverrier: They're headed toward your friends on Venera Beach!
Choose: Let's go!
Seahamut has suddenly appeared and declared that he will sink the skies into his ocean.
In order to face this threat, (Captain) and the two familiars swim after the giant figure with all of their might.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 5: Fried By the Truth - Episode 1
While connected to Seahamut, Neruko is shown visions of Auguste's past. There, she sees that the black scale is a remnant of the omnipotent's power and the source of all life in the ocean. Eventually Seahamut was born from it and started creating all kinds of life with the goal of killing the sky and Astral gods. Finally, Neruko learns that she herself was created by Seahamut to be the singularity of the sea.
Neruko: Where am I?
Neruko wakes up floating near the bottom of the sea.
Neruko: I opened the tamatebako and felt a connection between me and some kind of tremendous being... and then what?
As she tries to piece together how she got here, a familiar figure suddenly enters her field of view.
Neruko: Why... I don't understand... Why won't anyone talk to me?
Neruko: Is that... my past?
Neruko: I hate the ocean... Even though it's so big, there's no room for me in it anywhere...
Neruko: Why was I even born?
Neruko: It is. I'm inside my memories right now.
Just as she grasps what's happening, Neruko's surroundings begin to change as she's thrown even further into the past.
Neruko: Whoa! The water's all gone!
Neruko: Huh? The terrain's the same as the part of the ocean floor I was just at...
Neruko: Is this scene from all the way back when there was no ocean here?
Neruko: But I can't possibly have any memories from...
As Neruko falls into thought, two people walk past her.
Seadweller 1: Hey, have you heard about what's in the jeweled box they have at the temple?
Seadweller 2: Whoa, you shouldn't be gossiping about that. It's the divine source of life for the great ocean, you know?
Seadweller 1: Oh, don't be silly. The "great ocean" doesn't even come up to my knees.
Neruko: Huh? What do you mean?
Neruko unthinkingly tries to speak to the pair, but naturally, her voice fails to reach them in the memory.
Seadweller 1: Anyway, I heard from the priest that it's a scale in there.
Seadweller 2: A scale? Is that why the fish it makes have scales too?
Seadweller 1: No, it's a dragon scale. Something that fell from god when he was split in two.
Seadweller 2: Yeah? I don't really get it, but that sure does sound impressive. I'd better keep up with my prayers.
Astral: The ocean is home to much life and countless legends.
Leviathan: ...!
Astral: You shall be responsible for it, Leviathan.
Neruko: The ocean is growing so big... That must be why the temple sank.
Neruko: And now it's at the bottom of the sea, where nobody even knows it exists anymore...
Neruko: Hm? The tamatebako... Is it glowing?
Seahamut: ...
Gradually, the light convalesces into a shape before granting itself the spark of life.
Seahamut: Foolish Astrals... To think they would allow their toying with the ocean to sink me.
Seahamut: That said, it was the power that they directed here that served as the catalyst for my birth. For that, I must be grateful.
Seahamut: As thanks... I think I shall use the power of the ocean to kill the sky and Astral gods.
Neruko: ...!
Seahamut: ...!
Seahamut uses his power to create a host of sea creatures.
Seahamut: This is not enough. I shall need a weapon that can control the stars, skies, and even the moon... In other words, a singularity.
Seahamut: ...!
Seahamut continues to use his power for several hundred years.
Eventually, he succeeds in creating what he seeks at the bottom of the ocean floor.
Neruko: Huh?
Sea Singularity: ...
Neruko: But... how could...
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 5: Fried By the Truth - Episode 2
As Lyria uses the power of the earth primal beasts inside her to raise the land to counter the encroaching ocean, Seahamut appears from the water and sends the residents of the Dragon Palace, who have been powered up by the mind control, to attack. The crew struggles against them, causing Hekate to call for the four crew members who are albacore to leave and search for their own bodies. Through all of this, Tunaro is still suffering in his sleep.
As soon as the sea begins rising before the crew's eyes, Lyria lets out a call.
Lyria: Everyone, lend me your powers!
Earth Primals Beasts: ...!
Vyrn: Lyria's raising the land to counter the rising sea!
The height of Auguste's land starts to grow, keeping it above the sea level.
At the same time, Ilsa is looking irritatedly at her transceiver.
Ilsa: No response. I was hoping to get some backup, but as usual it's useless in a pinch.
Hekalbacore: It looks like there's a barrier covering all of Auguste. Nobody on the outside can reach us or even tell what's happening.
Ragazbacore: ...!
(Whoa! Anything that can pull that off...)
(Whoa! Anything that can pull that off...)
Percibacore: ...!
(Can only be called a god...)
(Can only be called a god...)
Cupitan: ...!
Everyone, look at the ocean!
Everyone, look at the ocean!
Seahamut: ...!
Sig: Is that... the god of the sea?
From the ocean emerges the dragon-like behemoth, Seahamut.
Ilsa: I assume we can all agree on that thing being the enemy mastermind.
Hekalbacore: It looks like it plans to rule the skies by engulfing everything in the ocean.
Once Seahamut's upper body fully emerges from the water, he stops his advance and the palace residents begin to approach the beach.
Vyrn: We've got minions coming up fast! Protect Lyria!
Mei: Kill the skydwellers...
Cupitan: Prism Arrow... Let this be a prayer to the child of caprice, and link us to a hueless dream!
Mei: Humph...
Cupitan: What? My Prism Arrows don't work!
Ilsa: Burst Erasure!
Suika Kattosai: Kattoslice!
Ilsa: A watermelon, huh? Come to get revenge on me for Pupper eating one of you a while back?
Frai: Shells on the Oyster Go!
As Frai holds back Kumbhira with her spin move, the sharp shell knocks off the Divine Boar's albacore mask and approaches her neck.
Kumbhira: Ngh! It's matching my blessed might? This thing's much stronger than a regular deepflight oyster!
Cupitan: Some kind of mind control may have removed their mental limiters! That would explain why my Prism Arrows didn't work!
Sig: At this rate, they're going to get to Lyria!
Hekalbacore: Let's assist them!
Vikalbacore: ...!
(Ah, yes, of course!)
(Ah, yes, of course!)
Albacore Crewmates: ...!
(Wait, how are we supposed to do that?)
(Wait, how are we supposed to do that?)
Hekalbacore: Shoot! We'll have to find our hijackers before we can be of any use!
Hekalbacore: Let's go! It's time for me to get my bombastic body back!
Hekate speeds away with the other body-swapped crew members in tow.
As the battle on the beach rages on...
Tunaro: Urgh... Gah!
Tunaro lies moaning in the sands, still trapped in an obviously distressing dream.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 5: Fried By the Truth - Episode 3
Tunaro awakens after dreaming about the incident that led him to hate skyfarers and sees the crew being overwhelmed. His hatred almost allows Kuragi to convince him to kill Kumbhira, but his memories with the crew prevent him from going through with it. Disappointed by his hero's hesitation, Kuragi attacks him, but Sig takes the blow in Tunaro's place. Now determined to protect the crew, Tunaro strikes Kuragi down.
It happened on a beautiful, sunny day.
Lucor: Look, Tunaro! There's not a cloud in the sky, cor!
Tunaro: Yeah, it's great to feel the sun on my scales! Skydwellers apparently call this "sunbathing," cor!
Alea: I see you're still as fascinated by them as ever, cor. That's why you're always flying in the back, right? Because that gives you the best view of them?
Tunaro: Yeah! Their culture is so interesting, cor! There's so many ways that they've thought of to play on the beach!
Lucor: They like to collect shells, right? I want to try that too!
Borba: It's fine for you to look at the skydwellers, but don't forget to look out for us too! Bringing up the rear is an important position, cor.
Cabaco: Don't worry, Tunaro's plenty strong. I'm sure he'll protect us no matter what happens, cor!
Tunaro: Heh! My blitz is unstoppable, cor!
We were flying our set route through the skies, like always.
Borba: Message from the front, cor. Boss says there's an airship in our path.
Tunaro: Can we not avoid it?
Borba: We could if they tried to avoid us, but it looks like they're not moving, cor. Their engines might be down.
Tunaro: Well, there's nothing we can do about that. Everyone, get ready for collision, cor!
I slowed down as fast as I could to fall behind and get a better view of the school.
Cabaco: ...
The next thing that I saw was the boss and everyone else getting stuck in the hull of the airship.
Alea: I can't move, cor!
Lucor: Tunaro, help!
Tunaro: ...!
Hold on, I'll break it in—
Hold on, I'll break it in—
Borba: Get out of here!
Tunaro: Borba?
Tunaro: But my blitz should be able to—
Borba: Use your head! If the boss couldn't break it, then neither can you!
Borba: You need to survive, even if you have to do it alone, cor!
As he speaks, figures on the deck drop a net and start pulling Borba up.
Tunaro: ...!
Tunaro: Cor damn it!
Tunaro: Damn you!
Tunaro: Damn you, skydwellers! I'll never forgive you!
Tunaro: ...
Wha!
Wha!
Sig: Finally up, Tunaro?
Ilsa: Pick up your weapon! We need to hold them off!
Upon opening his eyes, Tunaro is greeted with the sight of the skydwellers and palace residents locked in battle.
Frai: Let It Rip!
Kumbhira: Gaaah!
Tunaro: Kumbhira! Are you all—
Kuragi: Tunaro? You're the real Tunaro, aren't you?
Tunaro: ...!
Kuragi approaches Tunaro, his moss sparkling with admiration.
Kuragi: You can understand me, so I must be right! I've been desperate to meet the hero who stands up to the skydwellers!
Kuragi: This is your chance to destroy one of our mutual enemies! Quickly, finish her off!
Tunaro: ...
Kuragi: Tunaro? Oh, have you not gotten used to your human body yet?
Tunaro: ...
No, I'm fine, cor.
No, I'm fine, cor.
Tunaro steels his resolve and draws the captain's sword.
Lucor: Tunaro, help!
Tunaro approaches Kumbhira, who has been paralyzed by Frai's attack, and points the tip of the sword at her throat.
Tunaro: She's a skydweller! I've been waiting for this day to come for... so long...
Sig: ...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Sig: After all, even for me... All this time, I thought all albacore were the same.
Tunaro: She's wrong! Skydwellers are just skydwellers!
Kumbhira: Tuna... ro...
Looking at the shaking sword tip, Kumbhira gently smiles at Tunaro.
Kumbhira: Smile...
Tunaro: ...!
Kumbhira: Yeah. Smile, Tunaro—a smiling face suits you so much better!
Tunaro: Argh... Argh!
Kuragi: Tunaro? Don't tell me you...
Tunaro: ...!
Kuragi: ...
What a disappointment. I never would have imagined that our hero was such a coward.
What a disappointment. I never would have imagined that our hero was such a coward.
Kuragi: It looks like I'll have to kill you first.
Tunaro: What?
Kuragi: Die!
By the time Tunaro comprehends what is happening, Kuragi's tentacle is bearing down on him.
Unable to react, Tunaro consigns himself to his fate and closes his eyes.
Sig: Grgh!
Tunaro: Sig?
Sig lies on the beach, blood pouring from the hole in her chest opened by the hard wooden tentacle.
Sig: Ahaha... For goodness sake... Keep on your... toes, won't you?
As blood drips out of her mouth, Sig reaches her hand out toward Tunaro's head.
Sig: Still... You did great there...
Tunaro: Sig!
Kuragi: Isn't this the leader of the Druga Pirates?
Kuragi: What a fool she is, jumping into harm's way to protect her enemy.
Tunaro: ...!
Tunaro: Vorpal Blade!
Kuragi: Gah!
Suddenly, Kuragi's tentacle is blown away by Tunaro's strike.
Kuragi: Tunaro! Why you...
Kuragi: I'm not the one you should be attacking! Have you forgotten what the skydwellers did to your brethren!
Tunaro: Of course I haven't. I'll never forget the anger, sadness, and hate that I felt!
Tunaro: But...
Ilsa: Time to prepare for a barbecue—and you're coming with me, Tunaro.
Cupitan: I can understand what it's like to constantly think about someone dear to you who's far, far away...
Kumbhira: But you know... you have to treasure your own feelings too.
Tunaro: I want to protect these people, so that's what I'm gonna do, cor!
With newfound resolve in his voice, Tunaro brings his blade down upon Kuragi's head.
Kuragi: Aaagh!
All traces of doubt have disappeared from Tunaro's eyes, leaving them shining with a noble fire.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 5: Fried By the Truth - Episode 4
The albacore crew members find their bodies and discover that Hekate has changed into a seashell bikini for some reason. After being beaten back once by the albacore possessing them, they successfully reclaim their bodies with Hekate's powers. Hekate regains her memories of what happened before she was attacked, and then Varuna and Neptune appear, claiming to understand what is going on.
The albacore crewmates run off to search for their bodies, eventually finding four swimsuit-wearing figures standing motionlessly on the beach.
Albacore: ...
Vikalbacore: There! That's my body!
Ragazbacore: Hell yeah! Now we've just gotta bash heads again and we'll go back to normal, right?
The four crewmates converse using a mechanism unique to albacore as they face off against their own bodies.
Albacore: ...
Percibacore: I must say, it's quite odd looking at myself like this.
Hekalbacore: Yes, I agree—
Albacore: ...!
Hekalbacore: Wait, why has she changed clothes?
Vikalbacore: A sh-sh-shell bikini? I-is that allowed?
Hekalbacore: Invoking the fertility of the sea to appeal to one's lust on a primal level, while also allowing the shells to serve as a carnal metaphor...
Hekalbacore: Argh, I can't believe I didn't think of that myself!
Ragazbacore: What the hell are you getting upset for?
As the crewmates are taken aback by Hekate's new swimsuit, the albacore prepare for combat.
Percibacore: Oh? Reluctant to give up my body, are you? You have excellent taste for a fish.
Ragazbacore: I have to fight myself, huh? I'm up for it. Let's do a bit of overcoming!
Ragazzo's reckless charge at his own body serves as the signal for the other three fights to begin as well.
Albacore: Hah!
Percibacore: Gah! I'll get fried if I approach without a plan...
Albacore: Fiamma di Cannone!
Ragazbacore: Damn, you gotta hand it to our engineers... I've got no clue how to get in.
Albacore: ...!
Hekalbacore: Agh! My body is too perfect!
Vikalbacore: U-um... Could I have my body back, please?
Albacore: Ah... Aah...
Vikalbacore: Huh? Are you trying to say someth—
Albacore: ...!
Vikalbacore: Eep! Stop throwing rocks at me!
After having difficulty overcoming themselves, the crewmates retreat together and hide behind a boulder.
Ragazbacore: What's holding you up, Percy? The heat of your flames is stronger in the center. You should be able to rush past the edges, right?
Percibacore: What? How do you know that?
Ragazbacore: I figured it out watching how the stuff you grilled turned out during the barbecue.
Percibacore: Hm. What about you though, Ragazzo? Why not make use of your hand's tendency to malfunction when smoke gets in through the barrel?
Ragazbacore: What! How did you...
Percibacore: Did you think I wouldn't notice how careful you were to keep smoke away from it?
Vikalbacore: U-um... Well... If you know each other's weaknesses, why don't you fight each other's bodies?
Albacore Crewmates: You're right!
Vikalbacore: Wait, we're doing it too, Hekate?
The crew members jump out from behind the rock and face off against opponents that they have a better chance against.
Albacore: Hah!
Ragazbacore: There's my opening! Thunnus Blitz!
Albacore: Fiamma di—
Percibacore: Fool!
Albacore: ...!
Percibacore: I lured you downwind of Ragazzo... and exactly where the smoke from my flames will end up!
Percibacore: Thunnus Blitz!
Hekalbacore: All right, Vikala. I'll show you the power of a goddess.
Hekalbacore: Grah!
Albacore: ...!
Hekalbacore: Whew. It looks like I can pull off my divine-tier funny faces even when looking like this.
Albacore: ...!
Vikalbacore: Wait, does that mean it's my turn to fight Hekate?
Vikalbacore: Right, so Hekate's weakness... Maybe I invite her to become one with me, then get her while she's distracted?
Vikalbacore: N-no way! I definitely can't do—
Hekalbacore: Thunnus Blitz!
Hekalbacore: Good job, Vikala. She was so interested in you that she didn't notice me sneaking up.
Vikalbacore: Ah, right, you too...
The crew members gather their unconscious bodies before them.
Hekalbacore: Bumping our heads together again, in combination with my ability to interfere with dreams, should let us swap back.
Albacore Crewmates: Thunnus Blitz!
Hekate: I invited him into my dream world so I could peek at the remains of his hidden memory.
Hekate: There's where I discovered that behind the incident was—
Vikala: Oww... Aw, there's a bump on my head.
The crew members get up and see the albacore lying unconscious on the beach.
Hekate: ...
Hitting my head again just made me remember everything.
Hitting my head again just made me remember everything.
Varuna: Are you guys all right?
Ragazzo: Oh, it's the primal oafs. Where've you two been, anyway?
Neptune: We were attacked and swapped bodies with albacore too. We only just finished fixing that.
Varuna and Neptune look at the four unconscious albacore and nod.
Neptune: It's just as we thought... These are Lucor, Alea, Borba, and Cabaco.
Percival: What? Why do you know their names?
The Two: ...
The two primal beasts turn to the ocean and look at the giant figure rising from the deeps.
Neptune: With this, we finally know what's been happening in Auguste's ocean...
Varuna: I-indeed, we do? I definitely understand everything completely!
Hekate: (She doesn't, does she?)
The albacore crew members have finally returned to their own bodies and reunited with Varuna and Neptune.
The secrets that had been buried deep in the ocean will soon be brought to the surface.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 6: An Organic Singularity - Episode 1
The formerly body-swapped crew members rejoin the battle on the beach, where Tunaro has become used to (Captain)'s body, and Hekate declares that the name of their enemy, and the perpetrator of the albacore abduction incident, is Seahamut. She further claims that Turtlestache was Seahamut in disguise. As Tunaro expresses his rage, (Captain) appears and the two finally collide for a second time.
Back on Venera Beach, the tides of the battle have turned.
Tunaro: Hraaagh!
Miss Kombu: Gwah!
Tunaro: I can feel it, cor! I know how to use this body!
Tunaro begins to fight as adeptly as (Captain) and takes down the palace residents one by one.
Miss Kombu: Mmh... What was I just...
Cupitan: This color... The mind control is coming undone!
Cupitan: Tunaro, can you tell what this kelp fiend is trying to say?
Tunaro: Yeah, it seems like she's pretty confused.
Just as the crew members attempt to communicate with their opponents, Seahamut's voice rumbles out across the sea.
Seahamut: Fight, my soldiers.
Palace Residents: ...!
Vyrn: Whoa! This doesn't look good!
Tunaro: Bring it on, cor!
Ilsa: Cupitan and I will back you up! Give 'em hell!
Despite their efforts to fight off the crowd around Tunaro, the crew find the sea creatures increasingly difficult to keep down.
Ilsa: Tch! Their numerical advantage is really making this difficult!
Salmrick: Mun!
Tunaro: Ghah!
Cupitan: Tunaro! Oh no, at this rate we'll—
The Two: Lohenwolf!
Mind-Blowing Meltdown!
Mind-Blowing Meltdown!
Tunaro: Ragazzo! Percival!
Attacked by flames from two different sources, the sea creatures are forced to back away.
Hekate: Seems we've kept you waiting.
Vyrn: Dream Lady! Why are you in a new swimsuit?
Hekate: Haven't a clue!
As Hekate stares down their adversaries, Vikala notices her crewmates laying on the ground.
Vikala: Kumbhira, Sig!
Vikala: I-I'll take care of you this time!
As Vikala starts treating her crewmates, Hekate, Varuna, and Neptune call out to Seahamut in the distance.
Hekate: Forcing the creatures that you yourself created to serve as weapons is a pretty despicable tactic, ancient god of the sea.
Hekate: Or would you perhaps prefer to be called... "Turtlestache"?
Seahamut: Oh?
Impressed by Hekate's assertion, Seahamut has the palace residents cease their assault for a moment.
Tunaro: Turtlestache? Who's that, cor?
Neptune: Turtlestache is the ruler of the Dragon Palace.
Varuna: And, secretly, the ancient god of the sea, Seahamut.
Seahamut: Surely you have no way of knowing any of that.
Varuna: Don't underestimate us. We couldn't see inside of the Dragon Palace, but we've long had a general idea of what it's like.
Neptune: We've been monitoring you for a while, especially recently with Octosuke and Leverrier's help. Leviathan can sense some of what happens there as well.
Varuna: Now Turtlestache is gone and Seahamut is here in his place... That's what I call circumstantial evidence!
Seahamut: ...
Hekate: On top of that, you're the one behind the albacore abduction, aren't you?
Tunaro: What did you just say, cor!
Hekate: I found the helmsman of a ship that had been nearby when it happened. When I searched his memories, I saw that Turtlestache had been there.
Hekate: That airship they rammed into wasn't actually a ship. It was a net that Seahamut created to capture your school of albacore.
Hekate: He must have made creatures that resemble skydwellers, like the shark people, to crew it and capture your brethren.
Tunaro: What! Then the skydwellers are...
Varuna: Completely innocent, yeah.
Varuna: He made it look like skydwellers were to blame, but Seahamut was the one responsible for the albacore abduction.
Tunaro grips his sword tightly and stares down Seahamut.
Tunaro: You! You took my friends!
Neptune: All of the albacore that we were swapped with were ones from your school.
Hekate: Primal beasts must have a mental structure that's well suited to body swapping.
Hekate: I imagine that he captured and froze them because he knew that they could be used like this one day.
Seahamut nods in admiration as he hears the conversation.
Seahamut: You've investigated well, supernatural being of the skies and servant beasts of the Astrals—though there is more you could have uncovered looking in the right places.
Seahamut: However, that knowledge can do you no good now. These seas are already under my control.
Varuna: Don't be ridiculous! The sea is Leviathan's body!
Seahamut: Leviathan regards me as something to be watched, not interfered with. Such is the nature of that servant beast's origin.
Seahamut: What greater proof can there be of that than the fact that fools such as yourselves were put in charge of stopping me?
Tunaro: Stop running your mouth and get ready for a walloping! You're going to pay for what you did to my school, everyone in the ocean, and this crew too!
Just as Tunaro says this, something appears in the ocean.
Cupitan: ...!
That shadow looks oddly familiar!
That shadow looks oddly familiar!
The figure reveals itself to be a single albacore, swimming toward the beach at incredible speeds.
Vyrn: Wait a second... Is that albacore (Captain)?
Seahamut: How troublesome... But I won't be letting you collide with Tunaro.
Seahamut swings his mast, sending a massive wave to block (Captain)'s way.
Leverrier: No, I'm afraid you will.
Octosuke: Brought you a present, Miss Varuna!
Seahamut: Gah! Why you lowly servants of servants!
Ilsa: We'll clear the way! Don't let those marine maggots block their path!
Percival: Go, Tunaro!
Tunaro: Cooor!
Tunaro runs as fast as he can toward his body while (Captain) continues approaching at full speed.
And at long last, the two collide head-on with great force.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 6: An Organic Singularity - Episode 2
(Captain) and Tunaro talk about what's happened while inside of a dream, then return to their own bodies to face Seahamut. After (Captain) rides on Tunaro's back and lands a blow on the ancient god, Seahamut summons Neruko to his side and reveals that their encounters with her were all part of his plan to make her the singularity of the sea. Neruko then speeds off to the beach, forcing (Captain) and Tunaro to pursue her.
(Captain) wakes up surrounded by endless white, seemingly connected to one of Hekate's dreams.
The captain gets up and stands on an invisible floor with two legs.
Tunaro: So we finally meet, cor.
Floating there is the albacore that, until just now, had been (Captain)'s body.
Choose: This is kind of weird...
Tunaro: Yeah, cor. Just a second ago I was you, swinging your sword around.
As the pair laughs bashfully, the white space suddenly changes.
Choose: Where are we?
Tunaro: This is... the aquatic city of Mizarea, Auguste's capital!
Tunaro: I've always wanted to check this place out! I guess Hekate's helping grant my dream, cor.
Tunaro gazes at the skyline that skydwellers had built over generations.
Tunaro: Yeah, this is definitely it! I'd always thought the way this place maintained perfect harmony with the sky and the sea was great, cor.
Choose: You'd been looking at it from the sky?
Tunaro: Yeah, for a long time, cor. I really liked watching skydwellers.
Tunaro gives a timid smile and stops on the Bridge of Wishes.
Tunaro: Your crewmates were all great people.
Tunaro: They all had maybe a bit too much character, but they never let things get boring.
Choose: Our ocean friends were like that too.
Tunaro: They were, cor?
Tunaro: Did Neruko make friends with them?
Choose: Yeah, a whole ton!
Tunaro: ...
Good. I knew that she'd manage it one day.
Good. I knew that she'd manage it one day.
Hesitantly, (Captain) tells Tunaro that Seahamut had taken Neruko.
Tunaro: What! We've gotta go save her!
Tunaro looks back wistfully at the city for just a moment, then turns away and closes his eyes.
Tunaro: I think we'll be able to understand each other for a while after waking up.
Tunaro: But I've got an inkling that eventually we won't be able to communicate anymore, so I'll tell you this now, cor.
Tunaro smiles as he prepares to say something important.
Tunaro: The best way to prep skewers is to hit the ingredients with a Thunnus Blitz right down the center, cor!
As (Captain) laughs at the fact that his advice makes sense, the two dreamers begin to wake up.
Light fills their visions, and they open their eyes to find themselves on the beach.
Vyrn: (Captain)! Are you finally back?
(Captain) removes the albacore hat and takes a look around.
Ilsa: Hah!
Crabbie: Eep!
Percival: ...!
Helgoku: Guh!
Tunaro: Wow! They're beating them back!
Choose: Helgoku, Crabbie...
The crew members are making quick work of their attackers, so much so that the captain becomes concerned for the palace residents' survival.
Lyria: Urgh...
Meanwhile, Lyria is running out of the strength necessary to continue summoning the primal beasts of earth.
Choose: We need to take down Seahamut!
(Captain) decides to focus on their true enemy instead of the palace residents.
Vyrn: But how are you going to get there?
Choose: Tunaro!
Tunaro: Yeah, I've got you, cor!
Ragazzo: What? Don't tell me you're gonna ride that albacore!
Ragazzo: Just kidding, nothing's gonna surprise me anymore!
Seahamut: Fools. You won't be able to lay a finger on—
Seahamut: What? He launched the skyfarer at me?
Choose: Vorpal Blade!
Seahamut: Gargh!
(Captain) gets a solid hit in, damaging one of Seahamut's scales, before landing on Tunaro's back again.
Tunaro: Hah! Sorry, what were you just saying about fingers, cor?
Seahamut: You insolent pests!
Seahamut: Well, no matter. I knew that the singularity, a being that can surpass even the knowledge of gods, would be the last thing to stand in my way.
Seahamut: That's why I've prepared a countermeasure!
Seahamut smiles ominously before using his divine power to call something to him.
After a moment, a single, small fish appears in front of them.
Neruko: ...
Tunaro: Neruko!
Tunaro: What are you doing to her!
Seahamut: I'm helping her grow. As her big brother, isn't that what you should want?
Suddenly, Neruko's body starts to distort and become larger.
Neruko: ...
Tunaro: Neruko?
The creature before them could easily be confused for a perfectly normal albacore.
However, every fiber of (Captain)'s body warns the seasoned skyfarer otherwise.
Neruko: ...!
(Captain) quickly dodges the beam of light from Neruko, but not quickly enough to prevent it from burning a bit of hair.
Seahamut: Hah, my singularity of the sea has come out wonderfully.
Seahamut: I never could have done it without you two.
Tunaro: Huh? What's that supposed to mean?
Seahamut gloatingly slithers as he begins to explain.
Seahamut: The singularity, the being that fate converges on, is something that can change the destiny of the world.
Seahamut: I was able to create a base in the image of one of the servant beasts of the Astrals, an albacore.
Seahamut: But a singularity cannot be born from the factors it is made from alone.
Seahamut: It must come to possess different bonded fates... In other words, I had to arrange for natural interactions with others.
Tunaro: You arranged interactions?
Seahamut: Thanks to the unnatural factors I included in the base, other sea creatures instinctively detested her.
Seahamut: In other words, she was left alone in the ocean. Just as seawater and fresh water do not mix, I was freed from worrying about unnecessary bonded fates coming into the picture.
(Captain) remembers the way that some sea creatures had been unnaturally averse to Neruko.
Seahamut: The first fate I chose to bond to her was you, Tunaro.
Tunaro: ...!
Seahamut: A lonely primal beast that hates skydwellers seemed like it would be a perfect match for my lonely singularity, so I arranged for one to come along.
Tunaro: The true point of that abduction was to make use of me afterward?
Seahamut: Indeed. By having you bond with Neruko, I strengthened her connection to the stars.
Seahamut: Did you think that it was destiny that guided you to meet her right after losing your friends?
Tunaro: ...!
Seahamut: Next I needed to bind her to the fate of the skies. For that, an existing singularity, (Captain), was perfect...
Seahamut: Thus I had you two swap bodies and guided the singularity to the Dragon Palace as Turtlestache.
Seahamut: Last was the fate of the ocean. For that I had her interact with the residents of the palace and then reach self-awareness.
(Captain) is shocked, only now learning that Turtlestache was Seahamut.
Choose: Then you were the one who told Kuragi?
Seahamut: Yes, quite a spectacle, wasn't it? He played his role in driving you out perfectly.
Choose: You were treating them all like pawns!
Seahamut: Hah! How else would I treat them?
Seahamut: I programmed them with instinctual hatred for skydwellers...
Seahamut: They were angry at you for no reason at all, without ever thinking about why!
Tunaro: Seahamut! You're unforgivable!
Seahamut: Unforgivable? Why, you should be thanking me. I brought you and your beloved sister together, after all!
Seahamut: Go forth, singularity of the sea!
Neruko: ...!
Tunaro: She's going after everyone on the beach! We've gotta hurry after her!
The pair pursues Neruko, who is swimming toward the beach at high speed. But they fall far behind, and by the time they reach the shore...
Everyone: ...
Tunaro: No!
Both the crew of the Grandcypher and the residents of the Dragon Palace had all been put out of commission.
Hekate: (Captain)... Run...
Hekate: That albacore is... truly a...
Neruko: ...
Neruko looks blankly at (Captain) and Tunaro as she crushes Hekate beneath her.
Tunaro: Damn it! Neruko, it's me! Go back to your usual, kind self!
Neruko: ...!
Neruko's blank eyes start to glow with blue light.
Mei: Stop this, Neruko!
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 6: An Organic Singularity - Episode 3
Tunaro and the palace residents attempt to wake Neruko up from the mind control, and (Captain) finally succeeds by recklessly charging and headbutting her, causing her to come back to herself. After celebrating their reunion, Neruko and Tunaro prepare to face Seahamut.
Neruko, having become the singularity of the sea, is gathering power to annihilate (Captain) and Tunaro.
However, to everyone's surprise, Mei now stands between Neruko and the crew.
Neptune: Mei...
Varuna: You, of all people, might...
Varuna and Neptune lay on the ground beside Mei, channeling the last of their strength into the shark girl.
Mei: Turn back to normal, Neruko! This isn't like you!
Mei: Let's watch Frai's fireworks together again, okay? I guess I don't mind making some time for you, so—
Neruko: Singuuu!
Mei: Argh!
The beam pierces through Mei, and she falls to the ground.
Choose: Mei!
Tunaro: Neruko! Can you really not recognize us, cor?
Neruko: Ah... Ahh!
Tunaro: ...!
She just...
She just...
Miss Kombu: She's... like we were...
Octosuke and Leverrier are sharing their life forces with the rest of the palace residents, allowing them to wake up little by little.
Miss Kombu: We understand now... Whenever Turtlestache started speaking, we'd lose control of our emotions...
Crabbie: But... it's not like we went all the way into our shells!
Frai: Yeah! It was hard to see, but I could tell that Neruko wanted to help us!
Helgoku: We'll wake her up... with the flames of our friendship!
Neruko: Singuuu!
Palace Residents: Gwah!
Though the palace residents are quickly taken out again, (Captain) and Tunaro nod with hope.
Tunaro: Hey, Neruko... You know, I'd always thought that all I wanted was to see you become happy.
Tunaro: But the truth is, I was jealous of you, cor!
Tunaro: I always wished I could overcome fear and reach my fin out to others in friendship like you could!
Neruko: ...!
Tunaro: I walked on two legs for the first time... I enjoyed a barbeque and watched fireworks.
Tunaro: I finally did it... I made friends!
Tunaro: So I want you to tell me about your friends too!
Neruko: Ah... Argh...
Neruko: Singuuu!
As Neruko's rampage continues, waves climb higher and higher up the shore, threatening the island.
Seeing this, one person decides that the time has come for desperate measures.
Choose: Thunnus Blitz!
Fully prepared to get hit by Neruko's beam, (Captain) charges at her as fast as possible.
The captain's miraculous blitz successfully ends in a powerful headbutt.
Tunaro: Was that... the skewer technique I told you about?
Neruko: ...!
Memories of their time together in the ocean flow through (Captain) and Neruko's aching heads.
Finally, when (Captain) backs away...
Neruko: (Captain)?
Tunaro: Neruko! You're finally back, cor!
Neruko: Tunaro!
Tunaro: Oh, thank goodness! If I had lost you, I...
Neruko: That was so scary, Big Bro!
Neruko: But... are you sure about this? I'm a weapon that Seahamut—
Tunaro: I don't care about any gods or their secret plans!
Tunaro: You're my precious sister, Neruko, and nothing will change that, cor!
The two rub their cheeks together in joy, but quickly calm themselves and glare at the giant figure in the ocean once more.
Tunaro: All right, Neruko! Let's work together with the skydwellers to take him down, cor!
Neruko: You got it! We can get caught up afterward!
Seahamut: Ridiculous! They dare defy me?
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 6: An Organic Singularity - Episode 4
When Seahamut does not attack even after Neruko is freed from her mind control, the crew surmises that he cannot leave the water and moves to regroup. To prevent this, Seahamut proves that he is not in fact bound to the ocean by crawling onto land, simply being weaker when out of his own domain. The crew members and palace residents, on the other hand, have already been healed by Lyria's primal beasts. After Sig and (Captain) mount Tunaro and Neruko, they fly to challenge Seahamut.
Everyone notices that the beach has become oddly quiet with Seahamut no longer controlling Neruko or the palace residents.
The sea level has stopped rising, and Seahamut himself is motionless out at sea.
Tunaro: Why isn't he coming up here to attack us?
Neruko: Now that you mention it, he only ever sent the palace residents and me after you without ever moving himself!
Choose: Maybe he can't leave the ocean.
Tunaro: I see... Is that why he's trying to make it bigger?
Neruko: Let's take this chance to regain our strength!
Neruko is about to head to where her fallen friends are, but suddenly...
Neruko: Glu-glub!
Seahamut makes his way toward the group with unexpected speed and climbs up onto land.
Seahamut: ...
I'm not so foolish as to let this opportunity to crush (Captain) slip from my grasp.
I'm not so foolish as to let this opportunity to crush (Captain) slip from my grasp.
Tunaro: Nice bluff! We can tell you're just panicking, cor!
Tunaro: I can see your scales dissolving into the air. Just as we suspected... your power is limited to the ocean!
Seahamut: ...
Seahamut: I was prepared for the skyfarers' resistance as well as the primal beasts' use of their telepathy.
Seahamut: The only thing that I failed to account for was you, Tunaro.
Seahamut looks at the primal beast he had considered insignificant with loathing.
Seahamut: However... no matter what, I shall take control of this ocean to defeat the sky and the stars.
Seahamut: Those incompetent gods have let this world fall into decay... Now is the time for everything to be filled by my bountiful ocean!
Sig's Voice: Your bountiful ocean, huh? Well, I'm certainly grateful to you for making it.
Sig: But you know... That doesn't mean I'm going to let you hurt my friends!
Tunaro: Sig!
Sig smiles indomitably even as she applies pressure to the bandage wrapped around her gut.
Sig: I think I've got enough sleep. If I'm supposed to be a fisher, I need to be at least ready to defend my workplace!
Seahamut: The battle between a god and singularity is no place for a mere mortal to meddle. Now drown!
Seahamut: Hah!
Percival: It seems that we can meddle just fine with our merely mortal flames. What do you have to say to that?
Ragazzo: Man, that's a lot of salt we just made. Gotta make sure we put it to good use later.
Seahamut: Accursed mortals! How have you recovered?
Seahamut: ...!
Lyria: Munch, munch...
Is everyone feeling better now?
Is everyone feeling better now?
Seahamut turns to see Lyria cheerfully eating watermelon as she summons primal beasts to heal the injured combatants.
Suika Kattosai: Hah... I spent a long time building up this physique, never knowing that this is how it would prove useful...
Fully recovered, the crew members and palace residents stand united against Seahamut.
Ilsa: That was quite a bit of trouble you sent our way. I hope you're ready to get repaid with interest!
Mei: You've gone too senile, Turtlestache! We're going to stop you before you hurt yourself!
Sig: Let's go!
Tunaro: Hop on, cor!
Sig jumps onto Tunaro's back and soars into the air.
(Captain) hops on Neruko's back and the two fishfarers make their way for Seahamut.
Tunaro: I once thought that Auguste may as well sink to the bottom of the ocean for all I care, cor.
Tunaro: But now, I want to protect this island where sea and sky can live in harmony, cor!
Neruko: Me too! I'd hated this big, lonely ocean for the longest time...
Neruko: But now, I love this weird place where I met my friends! I want to protect it!
Seahamut: You're fools to defy the god of the sea!
Sig: But defy you we will! Children of the skies, seas, and stars, all together!
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Ending - Episode 1
After Sig and (Captain) land a decisive blow on Seahamut, the combatants witness fragments of the god's past. Seeing how he had created much life but had always been alone, they feel like they understand why he took on the form of Turtlestache and started living among the residents of the Dragon Palace. As the vision fades and all begin to celebrate their victory, (Captain) starts to lose the ability to understand the albacore and palace dwellers. As the crew watches them return to the ocean, (Captain) shouts words of parting out to them.
Seahamut: No, impossible! How could the likes of the stars and skies defeat my ocean!
Tunaro & Neruko: Thunnus Blitz!
Sig: Harpoon Wave!
Choose: Vorpal Blade!
With the force of their albacore companions' mighty charges behind them, (Captain) and Sig's attacks pierce Seahamut's throat.
Seahamut: Guaaagh!
The god's scales burst into fragments of light, enveloping everyone nearby.
Suddenly, the two skyfarers and albacore find themselves standing in the middle of the underwater ruins.
Sig: What? Did the ocean end up swallowing us anyway?
Neruko: No, I recognize this feeling! We're seeing Seahamut's memories!
Looking around, they notice faint light coming from a small, neglected wooden box.
Swordshark: ...
Seahamut: Ah...
Seahamut: No matter how many times I create life, it always ends up leaving me...
Seahamut: How long... How long must I live alone in this vast, vast sea...
Neruko: ...!
Neruko: I hate the ocean... Even though it's so big, there's no room for me in it anywhere...
Seahamut: Oh Omnipotent... Whyever did you create me?
As Seahamut's body disappears, the group lands back on the beach where everyone else is waiting for them.
Suika Kattosai: We were also made witness to that memory just now...
Sig: Ironic, isn't it? That the god who created all that life was lonelier than anyone.
Crabbie: S-so... Is that why he became Turtlestache and spent time with us?
Mei: For goodness sake! If he wanted friends, than he should have just said so!
As the group watches Seahamut's body dissolve into the ocean like foam, the joy of victory finally starts to well up in them.
Ilsa: You all did well. That last attack was especially spectacular.
Vikala: Is there anyone who's still hurt?
Mei: Anyway, I can't believe you! Don't make us *** like that, dummy!
Helgoku: Haha, you're *** as ever, ***!
Choose: ...?
Neruko: (Captain)? What's ***?
Tunaro: I see. You're losing the *** to understand ***, *** you, cor?
Bit by bit, (Captain)'s ability to understand the words of the sea creatures slips away.
Choose: Thanks for everything!
(Captain) smiles playfully and bumps head with Tunaro, Neruko, and all of the palace residents in farewell.
Palace Residents: ...
Sig: I think I can understand what they're saying just as well as you can.
Sig: "Thank you. Until we meet again..."
With that, the albacore and palace residents head back into the peaceful ocean.
Ragazzo: Heh, look at that one darting around! Is that Helgoku?
Percival: How is it burning underwater? It makes no sense at all.
Percival: ...
Well, I suppose there's nothing wrong with that.
Well, I suppose there's nothing wrong with that.
Swimming even more energetically than the palace residents are two enormous siblings.
(Captain) looks out at the blue ocean and waves to them while yelling goodbye.
Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Ending - Episode 2
Around when Auguste's recovery from the incident finishes up, Tunaro is reunited with his school. Neruko pushes him to visit the Dragon Palace with them, where Seahamut apologizes to them, having repented his actions. Meanwhile, the crew members laugh about the idea that they are "wacky skyfarers" and start to finally enjoy their vacation.
Some time has passed since the albacore incident.
The water primal beasts have worked to bring the sea level back to normal, and the island residents, after being woken up by Hekate, have already finished cleaning up the coasts.
With that, the people of Auguste have reclaimed their peaceful daily life without ever understanding how they almost lost it.
Meanwhile, Tunaro is visiting a small, uninhabited island.
Tunaro: Why in the skies would Varuna and Neptune want me to come to this island in the middle of nowhere?
Albacore Friends: Long time no see, Tunaro!
Suddenly, the albacore pop out from every corner of the island to greet Tunaro.
Tunaro: Lucor! Alea! Borba and Cabaco!
Lucor: Hehe, Varuna and Neptune nursed us all back to health, cor!
Tunaro: That's great! Everyone's all right then?
Alea: Everyone in the whole school! The boss is raring to go too, cor!
Tunaro: Hngh... That's great... That's really so great, cor!
Borba: Hey, no tears, buddy! We've got just as much saltwater around here as we need, cor!
Tunaro slaps fins with his long-lost friends as they rejoice in their reunion.
Cabaco: Well then, how about you show us around this ocean of yours?
Tunaro: Huh?
Borba: The boss heard about how you've been living in the sea and that got him interested, cor!
Cabaco: The idea that we should try it out for ourselves came up and everyone agreed, cor!
Tunaro: H-hold up, cor! This is all to sudden, I—
Neruko: It sounds like a great idea to me!
Tunaro: Neruko? I had no idea you were here!
Since the incident, Neruko has shrunk back to her normal size and continued living with Tunaro.
Neruko: Well, you keep thinking up excuses to not go to the Dragon Palace!
Tunaro: I mean... the idea of introducing myself to those guys makes me nervous, cor...
Neruko: Come on! I thought you wanted to know about my friends!
Tunaro: O-of course I do! Your wish has finally come true, so...
Neruko: Well then, this is the perfect chance! Let's all glub, glub, go!
With the barrier that prevented it from being found gone, the Dragon Palace has developed into a proper underwater city.
However, the residents living at the center are the same as ever.
Crabbie: Welcome back, Neruko. W-we've been waiting so long.
Neruko: I've got people to introduce to you! This is my brother Tunaro and his family!
Tunaro: I-I'm... Ahem, excuse me. I'm Tunaro, cor. Um, first of all, I'd like to thank you for looking after my—
Frai: Frai-ing Welcome Attack!
Tunaro: Ack!
Helgoku: Welcoming Follow-up Attack!
Tunaro: Dwuah!
Tunaro: Cor you! What do you think you're doing?
Suika Kattosai: I apologize for the rough welcome. But just like my seeds, formalities are best put aside.
Mei: You kept us waiting too long, Tunaro! We've been waiting forever to welcome you!
Miss Kombu: And your family too, of course.
Lucor: All right, cor! I like this kelp fiend, cor!
Tunaro: ...
Tunaro's heart fills with joy as he watches the albacore make friends with the palace residents.
Tunaro: You've got some good friends, Neruko.
Neruko: Hehe... They're your friends too now!
Alea: On that note, we've decided that we're going to live here at the Dragon Palace from now on!
Tunaro: On what note? And aren't you moving a bit quick?
Helgoku: As expected of albacore! You're even fast at making friends!
Mei: You both are going to live here too, right?
Neruko: Of course, glub!
Tunaro: A-are we sure about this? Don't we need permission from the boss of this place or something?
Salmrick: Indeed you do. And if you're looking for our leader...
Turtlestache: ...
That would be me.
That would be me.
Seahamut: I suppose I should speak to you in this form.
Suddenly Seahamut appears before the school of albacore, albeit reduced to the size of a milk bottle.
Seahamut: I'm truly sorry for what I did to all of you...
Alea: Don't worry about it anymore, cor. We're all fine, and the boss has forgiven you.
Lucor: I was sleeping the whole time so I don't really remember much, but I know you never hurt us.
Borba: And while we were recovering, you brought us shells and delicacies from around the skies and stuff every day to apologize...
Tunaro: ...
Well, you've apologized to me and everyone else too, and I've seen you working to put the ocean back in order...
Well, you've apologized to me and everyone else too, and I've seen you working to put the ocean back in order...
Tunaro: I've forgiven you too, but I'm surprised to see that you're still the boss around here.
Seahamut: A perfectly natural reaction. I'm under no illusion that I have any right to be accepted here like this.
Miss Kombu: Come on now, how about you learn from Kuragi's example. He was perfectly happy to be forgiven, you know?
Kuragi: M-Miss Kombu! I told you that I really am sorry!
Mei: You're supposed to be a silly, forgetful old creature, aren't you? So how about you hurry up and forget about this already!
Frai: Turtlestache is the only leader we need, baby! You'd better keep on top of it!
Seahamut: ...
Seahamut looks over the sea creatures surrounding him with gentleness in his eyes.
Neruko: Neither of us have to be alone anymore.
Seahamut: ...!
Seahamut changes into Turtlestache and happily wiggles his flippers.
Turtlestache: Welcome, my albacore friends, to our underwater paradise—the Dragon Palace!
After resolving the chaotic incident, (Captain)'s crew members have returned to enjoying their vacation.
Among them are Varuna, Neptune, Octosuke, and Leverrier.
Varuna: Yup! Ocean's still salty and blue! I'm the one who makes it salty, you know?
Hekate: Oh, you like salty things? I suppose I'll just have to enjoy this Blue Auguste with Neptune then.
Neptune: Sounds good to me! Hekate and I will enjoy this sweetness all by ourselves!
Varuna: Wha— No, I like sweet stuff too!
Leverrier: It seems that Lady Varuna is being made sport of again. Are you going to do anything about it?
Octosuke: Leverrier... What do you think makes the blue sea so relaxing to look at?
Leverrier: So no, you're not. Understood.
Black Dogs: Woof, woof!
Ragazzo: Man, Hekate's dogs sure are cute.
Percival: No more so than the marmoks, I will have you know. Would you like to come with me to see them?
Ragazzo: Could be fun! I think I'm actually developing an interest in the ocean's wacky wonders.
Cupitan: Um, Ilsa! We were both backup for Tunaro, so that means we're friends now, right?
Ilsa: Huh? That's an odd way to think about it but sure, why not.
Cupitan: You're involved in a battle over mysterious weapons too, right? I've always thought that we would probably get along!
Ilsa: Ah, right, that's your deal too. The things are no end of trouble for the both of us, huh...
Cupitan: Do you have any advice for me? Like, a way to make it through the tough times?
Ilsa: Hm? Well, let me think... I suppose that you could do to put on a bit more muscle...
Cupitan: I see, I see... What kind of workout would you recommend?
Ilsa: What would I recommend? Heh. In that case, let me tell you about something I call the Ilsa Scorching Summer Boot Camp!
Kumbhira: Whoa, that looks like some hardcore training... Let's go swim over here, Vikala.
Vikala: O-okay...
Kumbhira: ...
Vikala: Wh-what are you looking at my face like that for? Am I foaming at the mouth again or something?
Kumbhira: Oh, no, that's not it...
Kumbhira: (I can't tell her that I've started to feel like she's missing something without that thing on her head.)
Sig: Looks like everyone's enjoying themselves. I'm glad we can finally have a normal vacation.
Looking over the relaxing crew members, (Captain) nods in satisfaction.
Among them are primal beasts, the goddess of the night, the Lord of Flames, several people involved with different mysterious weapons, Divine Generals, and the leader of the Druga Pirates.
Lyria: Hmm... Is this normal, though?
Vyrn: Now that I really think about it, maybe we're a bunch of wacky skyfarers.
Sig: Haha, sounds good to me. That means it'll never get boring... just like the sea.
A gentle wind blows, as if to give (Captain)'s back a push.
However, being a little weird is probably nothing to feel down about.
Meeting various beings from the skies, stars, and seas has led (Captain) to think this way.
Satisfied with that conclusion, the captain starts running toward the beach to take part in the fun.
That energetic sprint could be said to be the spitting image of the ferocious charge of an albacore.
The End
Cast
