Prince
Something tells me that's the guy responsible for that lightning strike.
The Manifesto is crouched above the entrance, its body is a deep red, it has long white hair, and its face is covered by a large white Oni mask, electricity seems to be leaking out of its body
Ford
Damn it, looks like someone found us!
Wade, you were probably right about them knowing about us!
Wade
Tsk, I don't want to fight in the city centre, we'll only be drawing more attention to ourselves!
Prince, Ford, I want you two to do whatever you can to fend off that Manifesto, I'll help with the evacuation!
Ford and Prince nod as their Manifestos emerge and they charge forward
Wade
Anemoi: Zephyr.
The wind starts to pick up as it helps pick up people and gently guides them down off the roof
Devil's Trill throws a punch at the mysterious Manifesto, amplifying the sound of its electricity
The Manifesto reacts with lightning fast reflexes to the attack, causing the sound to be released behind it, shattering the glass of a nearby window
Ford
Try to reel it in a bit more!
We don't want to make this any bigger than it already is!
Remember, normal people don't understand what's happening!
Prince
No, something's telling me I need to go all out against this thing!
I'm not sure why, but I feel like if we pull our punches, we'll regret it!
Ford
Whatever, I'm sure you're imagining things!
I'll show you how it's done.
Kintsugi Soldier punches a hole in the wall, as it then repairs it and creates large spikes out of the stone that attack the mysterious Manifesto who just jumps and perches itself on the pillars
Prince
Wow, very subtle.
Ford
Shut up!
Just focus on putting pressure on that thing–
As the two bicker, the Manifesto suddenly appears before the two of them, releasing a large amount of electricity
Prince
Ugh…
(What even happened, with how loud that electricity is, I should've heard it coming!)
Devil's Trill continues to throw punches that it avoids as Kintsugi Soldier continues to change the terrain around them
Prince
(I don't get it, this thing is moving so quickly, I don't know how it's possible for it to avoid all of our attacks!)
(Though, when I consider its powers seem to be based around electricity, then wouldn't that mean it could feasibly move as fast as electricity does?)
(Like when lightning strikes, the bolt always appears before the sound, that would explain how come I wasn't able to hear it approaching me!)
Ford!
I think it's a losing battle trying to fight this thing head on, we're better off looking for the user!
Ford
What? Why?
Prince
This thing moves way too quickly for either of us to be able to hit it!
It moves faster than Devil's Trill's sounds!
Let's fall back for now and come up with a new plan while defending!
Ford
Ugh, alright…
Ford creates a giant barrier between them and the Manifesto
The crackling begins to sound like static
Manifesto
He…do…ing…ay?
Ford
?
Prince, did you hear something?
Prince
Yeah, I did…
But I must be wrong…
Ford
You misheard something?
Prince
I must've…
Because otherwise, that Manifesto just spoke!
Ford
!?
Are they able to do that?
Prince
I-I'm not sure…
Wait, I guess they could!
Ford
You guess?
Prince
Well, I use Devil's Trill to talk and imitate voices, so it would make sense if they could talk, I just always assumed that it was because Devil's Trill controls sounds!
Ford
Well then, what did it say?
Prince
…
The electricity becomes far more fierce and makes a beeline straight for Ford and Prince, striking them dead on, while a third bolt travels into the distance
The Manifesto begins to walk towards the two on the ground, speaking in its crackling, electronic voice
Manifesto
Hey…do you think you're getting away?
After getting the last person off the roof, Wade looks around and sees large flashes of electricity and lightning coming from the next rooftop over after Prince and Ford had destroyed the balcony they were on
Wade
Tsk, we need to catch up to them!
George, you should bring your Manifesto out too before things get worse!
George
Ah, funny story…
I don't have one…
Wade
!?
(He doesn't have a Manifesto?)
(No, the president told us he was assigning only Manifesto users on this mission…)
(Come to think of it, when we met, Prince didn't seem to trust him, and when Prince asked to see his Manifesto, he hesitated and that's when the attack began…)
(It was almost as if the attack started in order to save him from getting in trouble!)
(Which means, either this man is the attacker, or at least working with them!)
Wade stops as George stops behind him
George
Why did you stop?
Aren't we going after the other two?
Wade
No, first, you're going to deactivate your Manifesto.
George
My Manifesto?
I already told you, I don't have one.
The man is suddenly held in place by the wind
Wade
As if I'd believe that.
You aren't the man we were meant to meet, you're one of the revolutionaries, aren't you?
That's how you recognized us, you saw that guy's projection from the train!
George looks dumbfounded before smiling
George
I guess I'm not as good an actor as I thought!
That's right, I'm one of Brian and David's brothers in arms!
After what we saw, we knew you'd be coming to Europe, and so we decided to lay in wait for you!
Wade
How did you know we'd be here?
George
We have a man on the inside who was more than willing to sell you out!
Wade
Fine, we'll get you to give us the rest of the information after you end the attack!
Remember, since Ford and Prince are with your Manifesto, I'm the only one here with a Manifesto to defend myself!
George
I wouldn't be so sure of that!
Suddenly, Wade turns and is shot with a large bolt of electricity, causing him to lose his grip on George who manages to kick Wade
George
Haha, didn't see that coming, did you?
Wade
What just happened…?
George
That attack was courtesy of my Manifesto, Choc Celeste.
More accurately, it was a trap I set beforehand.
Wade
What do you mean?
George
Where's the fun in telling you?
Just know, no matter what happens, you won't be able to predict Choc Celeste's next attack!
So try and fight me all you want!
Wade
(How come he's so confident?)
(Wait, that electric shock hurt even though the Manifesto is on a different rooftop, did Ford and Prince get hit by that same attack?)
(How are they doing right now?)
George
You're probably worried about your friends and want to go check on them.
Go ahead, I won't stop you.
Just remember, if you decide to follow my Manifesto, I'll just run away, and you won't have any way of stopping me then!
Wade
You don't want me to fight your Manifesto, is that it?
George
No, I'd say it's more I want to keep the smartest member of your group away from the Manifesto before you can figure out a plan against Choc Celeste.
Wade
…
Is that all it is?
Don't worry, I'll be able to come up with a plan while fighting you, and I'm sure those two will as well.
You're underestimating our team.
Those two might not look like much, but I guarantee you, they're some of the most skilled Manifesto users you could hope to find!
Prince and Ford are running across rooftops while fending off attacks from Choc Celeste
Ford
Damn it!
Why is this thing so fast?!
Not to mention, it feels like its attacks are targeting us!
It's not fair for it to have such good aim–
Ford tries to talk, but no sound comes out
Prince
Sorry, but I need to think and you aren't helping!
(Ford's right, this thing has such good aim…)
(The user must have excellent control over his Manifesto and its abilities…)
(Still, because of its speed, fighting it directly is out of the question, none of us are anywhere near fast enough for that.)
(If we want to win against something like that, then we have no choice but to find the user.)
(Given it's power, the user has to be nearby–)
Choc Celeste appears right next to Prince
Choc Celeste
Hey…where do you think you're going?
Choc Celeste charges its fist with electricity before throwing a punch towards Prince, slamming him into the wall of a nearby office building
Prince barely manages to absorb the blow with Devil's Trill catching him at the last moment
Ford
Prince!
Are you alright!?
Prince
Ugh…
Other than the bleeding and broken bones, I'm fine…
Ford
Tsk, I'll do what I can, but it will be a bit rushed…
Kintsugi Soldier puts its hands on Prince as the wounds begin to repair
Prince
Thanks…
I really am at a loss for what we can do.
There's only one thing I know, the user has to be George.
He was the only person close enough to us to be able to control this Manifesto.
I've even been listening for stray heartbeats, but there hasn't been a thing.
He's the only one here who's been out of place.
Ford
Fine, so say your hunch was right, what should we do about it…now?
Ford looks puzzled as Kintsugi soldier stops
Prince
What is it?
Why did you stop?
Ford
It's probably nothing, but, when Kintsugi Soldier was repairing you, it found something weird in your hand…
Prince
My hand?
But what would be in my…!
Prince remembers the bad feeling he had before shaking hands with George
Prince
Ford, can you see if you have one too?
Ford
Uh, sure, why?
Prince
I need to see something!
Kintsugi soldier puts one hand on Ford as he is shocked to discover something
Ford
Hey, you were right, the same thing is in my hand.
What is it?
Prince
I'm pretty sure it's the reason that Manifesto is able to have such good aim!
Choc Celeste finds the two again as it begins to charge up the largest electric shock yet
Prince
Uh oh, it's getting worse!
Ford, can you remove it!
Ford
Uh, I'm not sure, it might take some time!
Choc Celeste begins to leak electricity as it starts to glow
Prince
I don't think we have much time!
I think it's done chasing us and just wants to end it!
Ford
Just hang in there for a few more seconds!
The large amount of electricity is thrown at the two as they close their eyes, bracing for impact…
Waiting…
Prince opens one eye, only to see a small bubble in front of him
Prince
What happened?
???
I thought it was rather lively here.
I never thought I'd expect to find a giant fight against a Manifesto.
You two really don't have any talent for fighting in large cities.
Prince
Who are you?
The source of the voice is an old man with a large moustache, a buzz cut, and several large scars on his face
???
My name is Cliff, I was sent here by the American government to meet a young man named Prince Spectre.
Do you know where I could find him?