Queen's Blade Battle

QB Anthology 4 + Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 9.5

2012-03-01T06:35:00.001-08:00

Updated the translations page with another chapter of the QB Anthology Comic by final_agent, this time a 4-koma drawn by pixiv artist Hirose Madoka (it sure is diverse), download here:

As for the Illustrated Stories, extra chapter! Read on to find out about the largest mystery in Rebellion (at least in sheer size).

Who can get their hands on the mobile fortress Bligh?
Enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 9.5: Battle in the Ruins

After leaving the ruins, a devastated canyon extended.

If you raised your eyes, only a line of the quite distant sky could be seen. Cliffs towered over that deep, dark canyon.

Too thin for people to pass through anymore, the fragile scaffolding rattled if you put your feet on it carelessly, to the point that you just knew it was going to collapse.

If you looked down, the deep abyss opened a mouth that continued who knows how far, it even felt as if only darkness awaited the victims inside it. Even so, in the valley of the death where no signs of life could be detected, five figures advanced.

They were the “Alchemy Strategist” Yuit, the “Twin Taimashi” Tarnyang and Sainyang, and the “Alchemy Android” Vante, who carried on her shoulder the “Child of the Dragon”.

“Hurry up! That girl is absolutely chasing after us, before she arrives, the seal of the “Sacred Treasure Fortress Bligh”… uhyauu!”

Before she finished speaking, the step under the “Alchemy Strategist” Yuit collapsed, and her small body fell into the abyss.

“Yuiit!”

“Gaooon!”

Vante stuck out her right hand towards Yuit before Tarnyang screamed.

But, she wouldn’t reach!

The very moment she felt so, Vante’s wrist disconnected from her arm, and aiming at Yuit, it sprung at her and caught her ankle by a hair’s breadth.

That was the special move of the extraordinary android Vante, the “Alchemy Android”, called the Missile Punch.

“T, thanks, Vante…”

While she was pulled up upside down, Yuit thanked her.

“Gaonn.”

“Really… wasn’t it you yourself, Yuit, who said to pay attention to the steps since they’d easily collapse.”

“S, sorry…”

“…Let’s leave that behind us. We should go ahead without quarreling.”

Being told by Sainyang, Yuit and Tarnyang calmed down.

Nodding to one another, they began to walk on the path along the thin canyon once again.

“Really… you don’t pay enough attention… ahya?”

Crummble!

“Vante!”

“Gaooon!”

Seeing Tarnyang hanging upside down, Sainyang sighed.

“…I don’t think you can speak in such a patronizing way to people…”

“A, anyhow, we must proceed with utmost caution… or else this will happen…”

Still hanging upside down, Tarnyang said so as if to excuse herself.

At the same time, the “Leader of the Fang” Elina and the “Solar Dancer” Luna Luna were advancing through the canyon of the death, chasing after Yuit’s party,

“Hey hey, hurry up! We must catch up to those girls, don’t we?”

Manipulating four tentacles skillfully, Luna Luna advanced in the face of the unstable scaffold.

“I know that! But, I can’t make a mistake on this road, can I?”

Going the same way, Elina advanced casually through the nimble, thin scaffold, as if she could completely feel her own body weight.

“To get inside the “Ruins of the Beast”, there’s no way around this “Canyon of the Death”, this is the main road. If we’re to catch up to those girls, you have no choice but to keep up.”

“Hm, but catching up, can we do it?”

“Well, don’t we have to catch up to them by any means? ...Ah, look!”

As Luna Luna’s tentacles raised her body for her to observe their destination, she pointed to the path.

“What? …The road, it collapsed?”

“Since the scaffold around here is weak, it’ll collapse with just a little vibration… surely, it broke down because of those girls.”

“It can’t be, did they fall down?”

Elina murmured, looking into the bottom of the sheer precipice. No one would survive if they fell down from there, not even Elina.

“I want you to forgive me for all this.”

As far as Elina was concerned, she wouldn’t say it was over with just stopping Yuit’s party.

Even if she had to torture Yuit, who had seemingly solved the mystery of the “Sacred Treasure Fortress Bligh” somehow, to get information from her, she absolutely had to secure Bligh for the Queen’s Army.

“Sister Claudette… if Elina obtains Bligh… I wonder if you’ll praise me…?”

Upon her triumphal return having solved the mystery of Bligh, the Queen Claudette would look at Elina’s face and speak words of appreciation. Picturing such an image, Elina would grin involuntarily.

---

They kept walking along the path of the cliff, through the fragile, thin scaffold, for a few hours.

Finally, Yuit and the others left the canyon, and managed to arrive at the deepest part.

“It’s here…”

A majestic appearance towered before their eyes, that took Yuit, Tarnyang and Sainyang’s breath away. There was such a huge stone gate, they knew they would have believed it even if they had been told it was the entrance to a giant’s house.

“Is this… the “Sacred Treasure Fortress Bligh”?”

“But, how do we open it? Can such a large door ever be opened?”

“Indeed… I’m sure there must be some trick to it.”

Sainyang said to the puzzled Yuit.

“L, listen, the key… I don’t think we have it anywhere on us…”

“The key…?”

Reacting to the word “key”, the “Child of the Dragon” sitting quietly on Vante’s shoulders, opened her mouth calmly to speak.

“Southern land. The gate serves as the key, and the key serves as the gate. Holding the key, a small, wise person. The steel servant, the protectors of the dragon, the gate will be opened, and then closed.”

“We’ve heard that many times… if the hints were a little easier to understand…”

Sainyang was observing the stone gate with a sidelong glance while Yuit grumbled, and suddenly raised her voice.

“Look, look! Over there, up top, there seems to be something!”

“Eh?”

Yuit and Tarnyang lifted their faces, focusing their eyes on the direction Sainyang was pointing at.

Around the top of the stone gate, a small recess had been excavated.

“Is there anything there…? It kinda looks like a decoration of the stone gate.”

“They’re at the left and the right of the stone gate, on both sides… but, how could we go to such places…”

Tarnyang folded her arms in worry. Next to her, Sainyang, who had been looking right at the stone gate, asked Yuit.

“Say, Yuit… Vante’s Missile Punch, would it reach over there?”

“Eh? Yeah, I think it’d reach.”

“Well then, I want you to pick us up, to take us to the recesses over there. Both of us.”

“I don’t think that’s a rational action… but I understand.”

“Thanks, then, shall we, Tarnyang!”

“Eh… shall we, what?”

“Stand on Vante’s arm.”

“Eh, wait, Sa, Sainyang… Are you serious?”

“Tarnyang, don’t you think this much is easy as pie? Or, is this impossible?”

“T, there’s nothing impossible! This much, is a piece of cake!”

“I thought you’d say that, in that case… together on 2!”

“Ah, wa, wait, we’re really going…? One!”

“Two!”

Tarnyang and Sainyang, moving without feeling their own body weight, jumped upon both of Vante’s extended fists, waiting to be catapulted.

“Okay then, Yuit, Vante, please!”

“This is reckless… but it’s fine. Okay then, Vante, gooo!”

“Gaoooooon!”

With a roar, Vante shot the Missile Punch with both arms at the same time. The twins stood on top of the iron fists, and flew through the air in a straight line.

“Uwaaaaaa!”

“Teyaaaaa!”

“A, amazing… both of them.”

Yuit couldn’t believe the scene as she watched in amazement, and next to her, the “Child of the Dragon” looked up expressionless at the stone gate.

With one breath, both girls, Tarnyang and Sainyang jumped into the recesses, and the Missile Punches, even after losing their baggage, kept their momentum and sank into the rock.

“Are you alright?”

Yuit called out to them from below, and the two people looked at her and waved their hands.

“L, like I said, this was a piece of cake…!”

“However, Yuit! Here, there’s something like a mechanism!”

“Here as well!”

“This here, looks like it’ll move if I pull it!”

“Same goes for this one!”

"..."

Yuit put her hand on her chin, deep in thought. After a while, she raised her face and shouted to the two people.

“Both of you! At the same time, operate the mechanism!”

“Got it!”

“Roger!”

“1, 2, 3…”

“There!”

When Tarnyang and Sainyang operated the mechanism inside the recesses at the same time, a sound like an earth tremor echoed around them.

Rummmmmble…!

“W, what is this sound…?”

Confused, Yuit took an extensive view of her surroundings. She instantly found the answer.

The lower part of the stone gate had begun opening slowly.

“Yuit, how is it?”

Tarnyang and Sainyang, who had gone down to move away from the cliff, called out to her.

“Tarnyang, look! It’s open!”

Tarnyang quickly noticed what Yuit was seeing, and hit Sainyang on the shoulder.

“Really… but, how are we supposed to go inside there…?”

Tarnyang was puzzled. As she said, there was no passage leading inside the open gate, there was only yet another towering stone door instead.

“What should we do this time?”

Ignoring her own complaint, Tarnyang approached the gate.

“Hm? Here, I see something like a keyhole?”

“Keyhole?”

At Tarnyang’s words, Yuit, Sainyang and even Vante, who was restoring and mounting her Missile Punches, drew near.

“You’re right… a keyhole.”

“But, won’t this need an extremely large key?”

Now that she mentioned it, the keyhole was quite large, it was like a child’s arm could fit in there.

“We have nothing like a key suitable for this.”

“If we did, we’d know immediately.”

“Yeah, isn’t it about the same size as the key that’s always hanging around Yuit’s neck?”

“Yep yep, a key with approximately the same size as this one, to go look for it now… oh.”

Tarnyang and Sainyang exchanged glances, and said no more.

“What’s wrong, you two? Anyways, we need to find the key…”

“…Y, Yuit?”

“Hm, what?”

“I mean… it can’t be, but we think…”

“So, what is it?”

Tarnyang and Sainyang, both timidly, pointed at the key around Yuit’s neck.

“It can’t be… doesn’t it make sense…?”

Asked by the two people, Yuit looked at them blankly.

“Eeh? Noo waay! This is Vante’s activation key. Why would it be the key of these ruins…”

“B, but, just in case, it may…”

“If you’re going to say that much… fine.”

Preventing Yuit, who was going to try it out, from touching the key, a voice echoed from the canyon.

“Wait, you guuys!”

---

“Kuh…! Leader of the Fang Elina… and Moonlight Dancer Luna Luna!”

Looking at the pursuers who had finally arrived, Yuit called out their names.

“Seems like we’re in time… well, I want to say, thanks for your hard work on guiding us here. Now, you just have to give us the key. Didn’t you find it skillfully, the key of the ruins?”

“E, even you, I didn’t know what it was!”

“I told you to give it to me, lady.”

Luna Luna smiled when she said that to Yuit.

“Your doll companion, Vante… in the ancient language of the Calibara, the meaning of “gate”… I wonder if you don’t know it?”

“Eh…”

“You’re getting it backwards, aren’t you? That mobile fortress’ activation key was taken by that person, the alchemist Cyan, and she hid it and deceived us by saying that it was the activation key of that doll.”

“Mother… hid it…?”

“You know, if you look at it, it’s a simple trick… but, it was good that I chased you before you beat us to the punch, Yuit… that activation key, no, the “Sacred Treasure Fortress Bligh”… I won’t hand it over to the Rebel Army!”

Elina said so, readying her claws, and next to her, Luna Luna said one more thing to Yuit.

“I was told by Elina… Your Rebel Army, is a group of demons that keep on plundering and destroying the countries that go against you… if we hand Bligh over to you, I don’t even know what will happen to this Calibara forest… you know”

“Wait, what lies have you fed her!”

“Ooh, isn’t it the truth? Since your leader of your group is the “demon” Annelotte and everything.”

“Ugh…”

The scary memories of Annelotte’s rampage still remained in Tarnyang and Sainyang. When she referred to them, they couldn’t help faltering after all.

“If you give such a demon this enormous power, we won’t know what will happen… So, give up, you guys! If you do now… If you do now, you won’t get off too bad… You won’t get a death sentence, I’ll send you to the “Fierce Tiger’s Den” to avoid it.”

“I have to protect these ruins, entrusted to me from my honorable ancestors… so, even though I’m afraid I’m not a cute child anymore… I can enjoy myself some more.”

“Well, let’s settle this quickly, and say goodbye to this irritating place!”

Before she finished speaking, Elina kicked the ground and rushed out.

“Tsk… Tarnyang, Sainyang, Vante, come here!”

“Gaoon!”

Vante stepped ahead and crossed her arms, catching Elina’s claw. When the claw and the strong arm clashed with each other, sparks came off.

“Sainyang, we’ll go as well, we’ll start full throttle!”

“Y, yeah!”

Sainyang turned around and thrust her waist towards Tarnyang. Tying both hands behind her back, Tarnyang tried to connect her own waist to Sainyang’s.

“Double Dragon Formation, Dragonic Howl!”

“Taaaaah!”

The scream concentrated inside Tarnyang’s body and was transferred to Sainyang, and after running through Sainyang’s body, it was released as a shock wave from her mouth!

“Giggle, I’ll have you two together as my opponents, LUCKY!”

Happily saying that, Luna Luna bent her back to avoid the shock wave.

“Kuh, Sainyang!”

“Hyaauh?”

Noticing that Luna Luna’s tentacles were attacking at the same time she evaded, Tarnyang hurriedly pulled Sainyang towards herself. And it was in the nick of time, as the blade attached to the tentacle passed before Sainyang’s eyes.

“Tsk… Even if she’s one person, because of those tentacles it’s like she can take on two or three people, no, even more…”

“Do you get it now? If we play all jumbled up we’ll have more fun...giggle.“

Yuit, Vante, Tarnyang, Sainyang, Elina and Luna Luna were all jumbled up now, releasing deadly blows and defending.

In those circumstances, letting one’s mind wander just for an instant would prove fatal.

So, they didn’t notice one thing.

“Wait, w, watch out!”

When she noticed it, Tarnyang shouted as her face started paling.

“N, no, watch out, don’t come this way!”

Yuit understood the situation as well, and screamed.

“My my, don’t you want all of us jumbled up, now that we’re having so much fun, lady?”

Luna Luna smiled bewitchingly, as a tentacle caressed her cheek.

“…”

As expected, remaining still expressionless, the “Child of the Dragon” was standing unaware in front of Luna Luna’s eyes.

“S, Stop… don’t lay a hand on that chiild…!”

“Giggle, I wonder what I should do?”

The “Child of the Dragon” was certainly well within Luna Luna’s tentacle’s attack range.

If they moved carelessly, the “Child of the Dragon” might fall victim to her; thinking so, Tarnyang, Sainyang and Yuit stopped moving.

But, the “Child of the Dragon” didn’t care much about that situation around her, and reaching out for Luna Luna, she tightly grasped with both hands the small ornament by her crotch.

“Hyauh!”

The Moonlight Dancer Luna Luna whined before the unexpected action.

“…”

Slowly, the “Child of the Dragon” kept on stroking Luna Luna’s elephant ornament with both hands.

“Ah… a, mn, hiu, a, ah… kku, fu, a, ah…”

As if even her nerves went through the decoration, Luna Luna let out disconnected sighs.

“Yuit, Luna Luna’s appearance…!”

“Y, yeah… she’s changing, again…!”

The brown color of her skin faded out, and Luna Luna’s appearance changed back to the one she had the first time they met her.

“…”

“Haa, haa… haah…”

When the “Child of the Dragon” let go of her grip, rather than the “Moonlight Dancer” Luna Luna, there was the “Solar Dancer” Luna Luna there.

“Luna Luna! Solar Dancer Luna Luna!”

“Yahoo, how have you been?”

“We’ve been awful! And you know that!”

“Ah, right. But, aren’t you the bad guys, who want to steal from the ruins and devastate the forest?”

“That’s wrong! We’d never think of doing anything like that!”

Yuit desperately appealed to Luna Luna.

“My hometown, the Little Elves’ Forest, was burned down by the Queen’s Army! Even if they pretend to be cooperative at first, they’ll suddenly crawl deep into the forest! The same thing will happen to this forest if we leave them as they are!”

“Eh… But, Elina…”

“You can’t believe what Elina says! She made the people in your village work for her, and she made a fool of your dance!”

“It… seems she did?”

“Heey, Luna Luna! Don’t be fooled by what those people are saying, we have to hurry up and defeat them!”

While fighting Vante, Elina turned towards Luna Luna and shouted.

“Trust me! We are allies of the Calibara tribe! If the Queen’s Army obtains the “Sacred Treasure Fortress Bligh”, they plan on burning down this forest as well!”

“Hum… which one should I trust?”

Luna Luna pondered, tilting her head to the side.

“That’s right… the thing is, it was Yuit and the others who helped me… Besides, they even praised my dance… yeah, I got it!”

“Eh, wait!”

“Sorry, Elina, but still, I’ve become their ally!”

“Wait, just, one second… that’s not what you promised!”

“But Elina, even you made a fool of my dance, these children said it was great… So as I thought, I’d better go with these people, don’t you think…?”

“F, for such a reason?”

At that excessively irrational reason, Elina felt exhausted for a moment.

That was her oversight.

“Gaoooooon!”

Weaving her way, Vante rushed and unleashed a punch.

“Kuuh!”

Elina leaped, without getting into a panic. But Vante, no, Yuit wasn’t aiming at Elina herself.

“Vante, do iit!”

“Gaoooh!”

Vante’s fist beat the ground thoroughly!

Clatter clatter!

“Eh, ah, wait, a sec, eh…!”

The ground collapsed, and began to collapse at Elina’s feet.

“Uh… hya, a, a, aaaaaah…!”

Her footing was lost faster than she could escape, and Elina’s figure disappeared along with the rubble in the blink of an eye, falling into the canyon which bottom couldn’t be seen.

---

“Haah… haah… haah…”

Once the intense battle finished, before even catching her breath, Yuit headed to the stone gate.

“Mother Cyan… the Bligh you discovered, I’ve finally found it now… are you watching from somewhere, mother…?”

Muttering quietly, she inserted the key, and twisted it.

Rummmmmmble…!

Along with a short earth tremor, the stone gate really opened this time, and inside it, there was the central part of the “Sacred Treasure Fortress Bligh”, guiding the party in.

This way, the Rebel Army took possession of the strongest fort, succeeding in obtaining a base.

But at the same time, the Queen’s Army, together with its allied forces, the pope’s agency, was arranging a large battalion of troops to exterminate the Rebel Army.

The battle had yet to end.

>>Special commentary by Elina:

Uooooh, I’M SO PISSED OFF! The pipsqueak strategist, the iron puppet, the conjoined twins, and even the pervert dancer, I’ll rip them to shreds the next time I see them!

Hey you, listen! After I did my best, this can’t be happening to me! First, when I attacked the village of the Little Elves, I gathered information on Bligh. I read the scroll Cyan left behind carefully, but I didn’t get its meaning, and I discovered the location of the legendary land, Shai-Fang (maybe the first time anyone ever has).

Then, I kidnapped the mystical brat without anybody noticing. Furthermore, I lured Yuit into the jungle, anticipating her. I even solved Bligh’s mistery ahead of Yuit, so! I need no help even if I fell this far down the bottom of the valley! In the first place, I’m one of the few talented people in the Queen’s Army! I almost don’t have to work!

Big sis Leina, hurry and come pick me up!

*However, Elina was grave when she returned to Gainos. Please listen to the supplementary Drama CD for details!

Whew, longest chapter so far. Funny that neither of them commented previously about Yuit's key hanging in front of their eyes the whole time.

It's a nice touch that they confirmed Elina is still alive, even after foreshadowing her possible death, but I guess she'll be sitting out the next battles.

And I noticed that Fiwasaki's site (the guy who translated the 1st volume and part of the 2nd) no longer exists, so I'll update the links in chapter 3 as soon as I can. We'll always thank him for all the work he poured into QB, though.

Next chapter, we're back to Annelotte in the middle of a heated battle!

QB Battle 29.3

2012-02-26T04:36:00.002-08:00

Mirrors: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Translated and added the recent QG Kanu (the first official character with different "states", even more than our own Balrog), and thanks to Okami31, the fanmade chars Kos-Mos:

And Athena Asamiya:

Coming next: Maya (a.k.a Manya) and Aya Brea.

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 9

2012-02-23T06:30:00.001-08:00

In this chapter, the elusive dancer is raring to fight! Whose side is she taking?
Enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 9: Moonlight Dancer

It was a grand banquet.

Here and there, bonfires were burning, and the darkness of the jungle was illuminated just like during daytime.

The rhythm of percussion instruments and men’s voices sang in chorus with the swaying flame, and women carried food and alcohol, weaving their way through them.

The stone pavement under their feet, along with a combination of boulders behind the ruins, was covered in ivy.

“Say, Yuit… there’s no way, we’re, sacrifices… that won’t happen… right?”

“Well… as I expected, it’s the Calibara tribe’s custom…”

“…As I thought, at that time, I wish we could have gotten Vante to help us.”

“But it wasn’t Elina who said to stop Vante, wasn’t that you girls? Since the “Child of the Dragon” had become a hostage, you said we had to do whatever Elina told us!”

Being ordered to stop Vante, who was almost beginning to act violently, Yuit couldn’t help but to seal the control device that operated Vante, stopping her movements.

“That’s true, but… But, I hope we are pardoned in the festival…”

Yuit, Tarnyang and Sainyang were bound, and rolling on the ground, they exchanged such conversation.

Over there, sitting on a chair magnificently decorated, Elina was treated to food and alcohol.

Something was amusing her, as she occasionally laughed heartily.

Beside her, there was also the figure of the “Child of the Dragon”, sitting expressionless. Before their eyes, food was lining up, not touched at all.

“Unless we rescue the “Child of the Dragon” somehow, if she doesn’t return to Shai-Fang… our trip will never end…”

“So, since we came this far… we must absolutely take her back…!”

“But, how…?”

Bound firmly as they currently were, they wouldn’t find a breakthrough.

And yet, not giving up in those circumstances, Yuit told the two of them.

“Please wait until a plain comes into my mind. They’re completely unprepared, so we have to focus on the chance that may come sometime.”

Moreover, Yuit added in a whisper.

“Besides… I have a hunch we may find the “key”.”

“Eh?”

“It's…”

It was when Yuit’s words were about to answer the twins’ question. A cheer arose from the direction of the banquet, and the secret conversation was interrupted.

“What…?”

When they looked, a single dancer had appeared before Elina, and was bowing with an earnest reverence.

With brown skin, the girl had beautiful black hair that seemed to flow and was beautiful to behold, and was scantily-clad in her native dress, fascinatingly illuminated by the bonfire.

The dancer kept on wriggling her waist alluringly without a worry. Yuit involuntarily considered if her waist movement would ever stop.

“Welcome, visitors from the outside world. Giggle, you love my special, lovely hair, don’t you?”

“What, don’t act so familiar with me.”

“Oh, such a haughty attitude, but I don’t hate that. I’ll put you into submission with my DANCE…”

Turning a flirtatious glance towards Elina, the girl started to dance.

Not only Elina, but also Yuit, Tarnyang and Sainyang, still tied on the floor, were fascinated by the dance.

“Wonderful…”

“Indecent…”

“Yeah…”

The men were raising cheers, some even playing musical instruments, but before anyone noticed they sank into silence, their hands stopped, and the banquet was wrapped up in silence. Even for the beasts of the jungle that had become fascinated, their ears got hurt by the silence and they went into hiding there.

“…Ah.”

Yuit was gazing at the dance, and let out her voice involuntarily. The dancer finished her dance and, by chance, as she didn’t feel her own body weight while in motion, stood again before Elina.

“Giggle, I wonder, how was it, visitors from the outside world…? How was my dance…?”

“Eh…? W, well, it, it was quite good.”

“That’s what matters the most… because, as the last dance you’ll ever see, I’d be sad had it been boring.”

“…Eh?”

Thinking she had misheard the other’s words, Elina frowned.

But, she hadn’t misheard her.

The girl introduced herself as the “Moonlight Dancer”, and once more, said in order to warn her.

“What I’ve shown you just now was the “Dance of Death”, that the Calibara Tribe shows before defeating an enemy.”

“What… did you say?”

Elina stood up from her chair in a rush, took a fighting stance and raised her claws.

---

“Why weren’t you deceived? But… I thought!”

“To begin with, you guys came and stepped into the forest as you pleased. You precocious lady who plowed through my important bushes, and tried to peek inside the forest, you must be punished.”

Whispering so, the girl waved both arms in a dance, and the decoration twine around both her hands and feet, happening in a motion reminiscent of a mollusk.

“This is the Hand of God. The weapon that repels the enemies of the Calibara Tribe.”

Bringing the tentacle shining with black luster near her lips, the girl said with a smile.

“Nobody can defeat me… so, you who deceived us, and those people who wanted to steal Bligh… everybody, is going to die… at the hands of Luna Luna, the “Moonlight Dancer”!”

Whoosh!

Elina’s face was attacked by a moving, sharp tentacle.

“Kuh…!”

If she got stabbed with the tentacles, that were equipped with blades at their tips, Elina wouldn’t be safe no matter what.

By a hair’s breadth, Elina jumped aside from the chair, and succeeded in dodging the tentacles’ attack.

“Unfortunately, lady, even if you said “Sorry, Sister, I’m turning you down” and begged me in tears… I wouldn’t give up!”

Not fearing the strange techniques of that girl, Luna Luna, Elina mocked her with a broad grin.

A tense atmosphere flowed between the two people that were confronting each other, taking their distance. All in the world remained still, it was only Luna Luna’s bending waist that wriggled.

Watching over them, Yuit and the others exchanged whispers in a low voice, confused.

“W, wait! Just now, that girl… did she call herself Luna Luna?”

“Y, yeah… but, when she told us about the location of the “Beast Cave”… she called herself the “Solar Dancer”, and besides, her skin color wasn’t this dark, she was more fair-skinned…!”

“M, maybe, Luna Luna, is a common name for dancers…?”

“Ah, that has to be it!”

The three people got the feeling they somehow had the answer for the question.

Looking back, Luna Luna and Elina’s battle had become more intense.

“Giggle, now that you’re caught up, become a prisoner of the Hand of God…”

“Ku… kuuh…!”

Elina was going to jump to avoid Luna Luna’s tentacle.

But, as if reading her movement beforehand, a couple of tentacles latched on to Elina’s legs, coiled around her waist and pulled her back to Luna Luna.

“T… this girl…”

“Giggle, give up, you violated the Calibara taboo, to make up for it… get strangled to death by the Hand of God…!”

“Gu, guuh...! L, let me go, let me goo…!”

Entangled with a tentacle wrapping around her body, Elina struggled desperately.

By chance, her hand grabbed a portion of Luna Luna’s crotch, the ornament that imitated an elephant’s trunk.

“Hyauu!”

As if she was sensitive there, Luna Luna stiffened her body.

“Hi, a, ah… afuuh…”

She raised her voice while her energy drained from her body, and the tentacle that was binding Elina loosened its grip completely.

“W, what? A, anyhow, now’s my chance!”

Jumping in a rush, Elina put distance between her and Luna Luna.

When she lifted her head to glare at Luna Luna again, her eyes opened wide in surprise.

“W, who, are you…!”

Yuit’s party were looking at the scene from far away, and they stared in wonder the same as Elina.

“W, wait, that one… that child!”

“What, that’s definitely who we met in the jungle…”

“Luna Luna… as I thought, they’re the same person…!”

Her dark skin kind of discolored into fair skin.

With a glance that seemed to involve her with everyone she saw, her eyes moved round and round somewhat happily.

With almost the same figure as the “Moonlight Dancer” from until a while ago, certainly she had the appearance of a different person there.

“I hate violence. But, I’ll fight for the sake of protecting everybody from Calibara. This Luna Luna, the “Solar Dancer”, will be your opponent!”

Singing a declaration, Luna Luna turned her tentacles once again towards Elina.

“Kuh!”

As she aimed at a different weak point than not long ago, Elina quickly moved to avoid her sharp straight thrust.

“Just escaping won’t cut it! It’s rare for me to play with people from the outside world, so let’s enjoy ourselves a little more!”

Breathless from repeating the attack, Luna Luna said so with a somewhat beaming expression on her face. Not to make light of her, nor to provoke her, it sounded like Luna Luna’s sincere words.

“Uuk… d, don’t play… the fool!”

Elina, who was battling defensively, found her chance in an instant, jumped up with her claws, and stroke, breaking off the blade at the tip of the tentacle!

“Ah!”

The broken blade revolved round and round in midair, and suddenly got stuck into the ground in front of Yuit’s eyes.

“Hyaa! W, wait! That’s dangerous!”

A pale Yuit complained, and Elina gave her a glance.

“Oh, what a pity. If it hit you, I would have gotten rid of you easily.”

“Hey, gimme a break!”

“What are you looking away for? I don’t have just one hand!”

Laughing happily and enjoying herself until the end, Luna Luna turned her tentacle towards Elina.

“Listen, you’ll need to put in a little more effort, or aren’t you beautiful fighters from the outside world that much of a deal?”

“What…! Someone… someone like you who dances such savage, embarassing dances with such an embarassing appearance, won’t make a fool of me!”

Luna Luna stared in wonder when Elina answered her back.

“Embarassing…? Who, me…?”

“That’s right! You have a complaint?”

“A complaint… I don’t.”

Luna Luna said in a whisper. Her cheeks blushed deep red… No, that wasn’t it. Her fair skin turned brown before their eyes.

“However, that’s the first time someone has said that about my dance… so, I’ll have to teach you. About the magnificence of the Calibara dance… giggle.”

In a blink, the “Solar Dancer” had completed her transformation into the “Moonlight Dancer”.

Licking her lips, Luna Luna stared at Elina’s body as if she was going to run her tongue all over it.

“You too, if you surrendered your body to the pleasure of the dance… you’d understand… this magnificence…!”

“Really… what’s with this child…!”

Before her, it wasn’t only Luna Luna’s appearance that had changed in a moment, but her personality had changed completely as well, and Elina screamed in confusion.

---

The ability of both of them was evenly matched. They had been battling, alternating between advancing and retreating, for a long time.

“Still not enough, eeeeih!”

The four weapons were attached to the tip of the two tentacle had been broken off, and yet Luna Luna was overflowing with fighting spirit, unleashing attacks that aimed at Elina’s vitals, and adversely Elina, catapulting herself with the claw of one hand and emitting a sharp thirst for blood, leaped onto Luna Luna’s bosom to try to hit her with a mortal blow.

“Teyaaaah!”

“Naiive!”

But, Elina’s blow was parried by Luna Luna’s tentacle, and Elina was flung backwards.

“Kuh!”

Elina landed with a somersault. Lowering her body to accumulate spring force, while she prepared to charge at Luna Luna once again, her fingertips touched something on the ground.

“…Hm?”

Something was amiss. When she looked down, a thick rope had fallen on the ground.

“Hey heyy! How can you look away in the middle of a fight…!”

“W, wait a second!”

“…Eh?”

Noticing something was strange about Elina’s look, Luna Luna stopped her attack.

Looking down to follow Elina’s gaze, a rope had been cut off completely, and dropped beside it, she found a broken piece of the sharp claw.

“…That rope.”

“…T, that’s the rope those girls were bound with…! That pipsqueak, she cut it with a broken piece of my claw!”

Although she surveyed the vicinity in a hurry, it was too late, the figures of Yuit and the others were nowhere in sight.

“Wasn’t there a silent child you brought, there?”

“Eh.”

Asked by Luna Luna, Elina turned around.

“S, she’s not here…”

The “Child of the Dragon” who should have been sitting expressionless since some time ago, had disappeared.

“T, those girls…! Not only they escaped, but the “Child of the Dragon” too…!”

“Nevermind that, you’re showing something perfect, that expression of anger at being humiliated. You’re quite lovely.”

Luna Luna muttered with an expression completely devoid of any maliciousness, and Elina turned around and asked her.

“Wait! Leaving fighting aside, you know the location of the “Fortress Bligh”, don’t you? Tell me!”

“Eeeh? Why would I tell an outsider about the secret place?”

“Because those girls are heading there! They’ll know the place if they ask the “Child of the Dragon”, and they even carry the “key”!”

“Eh, is that right? But, didn’t they say they didn’t know about it?”

“They haven’t noticed, but they have the key somewhere! Even the “Child of the Dragon” said they carry it, that’s how things are!”

Elina didn’t even hide her impatience when she said that, and kept on staring directly at Luna Luna.

“Say, let’s leave the fighting aside, and cooperate!”

“Cooperate?”

“That’s right, they’re planning to steal the treasure that all you guys from the Calibara tribe are guarding, how are you going to protect it? Will you watch them in silence?”

“T, that is… troubling, yeah.”

Luna Luna considered it for a while, then nodded her head.

She, both as the “Solar Dancer” and the “Moonlight Dancer”, was tasked with protecting the historic ruins and treasures handed down to the Calibara tribe from the ancient times.

And yet, if their hidden treasure was stolen…

“If I don’t fulfill my duty… it’d be troubling, yeah.”

“I thought you’d say that! So, let’s chase after them! You know where they’re heading, don’t you? Take me there!”

“Thank goodness. Here, follow me!”

Luna Luna said, leading Elina deeper into the forest.

Even in the confusion, Elina was planning to outwit Yuit’s party and snatch the treasure if she had the chance, but one wouldn’t notice that from her acting…

Sure enough, can Yuit and the Tarnyang and Sainyang sisters escape the pursuit from the two people, and obtain the treasure?

They won’t know that unless they fight.

-To be continued-

I thought Luna Luna's transformation was supposed to be subtler, but what would QB be without some fetishes sprinkled in for good measure?

And I noticed recently that the catchphrase, "they won’t know that unless they fight", is used even on the QB anime's intro, they must really like that one.

Next chapter, the ancient fortress Bligh is at hand!

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 8

2012-02-16T06:33:00.000-08:00

Guess who shows up to stop Yuit and the others in this chapter?
Enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 8: Yuit’s Crisis

The group of Yuit, Vante, Tarnyang and Sainyang had met a young girl called Luna Luna in the jungle, and when they asked her the location of the “Beast Cave”, they had been sent to step deeper inside it.

“Really… since she brought us to the entrance, she could have guided us in too.”

Yuit replied with a wry smile to the complaining Tarnyang.

“Now, now… aren’t you thankful she guided us this far.”

“Even so…”

The moment Tarnyang retorted, the figure of Sainyang, who had been walking nervously, disappeared along with a wild scream.

“Ahyau!”

“Sainyang?”

Then at that moment, Tarnyang’s figure also disappeared.

Yuit rushed over, confused.

“H, h, help meee.”

As expected, she abruptly found the figures of the two people.

A pit was hidden by the cave’s rock surface, and Sainyang had fallen entirely into it. And Tarnyang had been pulled from the string that connected their necks, and fell together with her.

“H, H, Hurry up… hurry up and help me, I, I, I’m going to fall! I’m falling down, I’m falling dooown!”

Sainyang had both arms and legs stretched against the wall, frantically trying not to fall down.

No wonder, set up at the bottom of the hole, many spears were pointing upwards, one of them piercing a skeleton.

“Sainyang, shut up! Despite always whispering in a low voice, you have to shout out at these times, don’t you?”

Tarnyang was quite composed, for someone who also was stretching her arms and legs against the pit’s wall. She was probably an older sister you could rely on in a pinch.

“Vante, please.”

“Gaon!”

After Yuit’s command, Vante extended her hand and grabbed the two people.

“T… Thanks…”

Pinching herself like a kitten, Sainyang sighed as she remained in one piece.

“Really, I told you to be careful where you walked, don’t slack off!”

“Incidentally, didn’t you say you were afraid to get in the cave…?”

As usual, Tarnyang ignored Sainyang’s words of complaint, looked back to Yuit, and asked her once again.

“Are you sure, that there’s a treasure deep inside?”

Yuit replied to the question with an amazed look.

“It’s not that! It’s an inheritance of the “Calibara tribe”, a sacred treasure fortress! For the sake of fighting against the Queen’s Army, we absolutely, absoluutely need it!”

“I, I know that! I was just testing you a little!”

“You definitely forgot…”

“A, anyhow, let’s keep going ahead! We’ve come so far inside, we should be reaching the goal soon!”

Saying that to gloss over it, Tarnyang quickly hurried.

“Hey hey, hurry up and follow me… hihyauu?”

She got caught up in a trap, and let out a strange voice.

---

After being caught in and overcoming many traps, the group finally reached the cave’s deepest spot.

“A dead end… it can’t be, did we make a mistake?”

“No way… I didn’t make a wrong turn at a fork, did I…?”

“Ah, here… look.”

Sainyang crouched and pointed at her feet, in the semi-darkness of the cave.

There was a small hole, hidden in the darkness indistinguishably.

“Surely, the treasure room’s beyond this point! Let’s go!”

Saying so, Yuit squatted down and plunged half her head in at once.

“Hey hey, hurry up!”

Though Tarnyang also squatted down and urged Yuit, she immediately turned towards the cave and went back, shouting.

“The hole is too small, I can’t fit well! Only Yuit fits!”

“Eeh! It can’t be helped… Well then, I’m going alone!”

“Gaoon!”

Vante raised her voice in concern, and leaving Tarnyang, Sainyang and her there, Yuit went back into the thin hole.

---

By the time Yuit returned, 2 hours had gone by.

“Geez, I give up, though there was a small room inside, it didn’t lead anywhere! But! There was a box containing some kind of ancient documents, if I look at them somewhere bright…!”

“Heee, ancient documents? I’m curious, I wonder if you can tell me a little about them?”

Something was thrust in front of the dusty Yuit’s eyes, a sharp claw. Of course, neither Tarnyang, Sainyang nor Vante carried such a dangerous weapon.

“W… who…?”

She raised her look.

Standing there, there was a woman in leather armor with swinging pigtails.

“Y… You’re… “Leader of the Fang” Elina…!”

“Oh, you remember me? I’m so happy, “Alchemy Strategist” Yuit!”

“Y, Yuiit.”

“Sorry… we were caught.”

“Ga… gaoon…!”

Behind Elina, many sturdy, half-naked men with strange patterns drawn throughout their bodies were lined up, and they had tied up Vante, Tarnyang and Sainyang.

“That was some perfect timing, lady.”

With a grinning smile, Elina stroke Yuit’s jaw with her claw.

“Now, I’ll have you tell me… what you know, the whereabouts of the “key”…!”

---

“Thaat’s why, we don’t know the whereabouts of the key either…!”

The sturdy men wound around them, and came out of the cave carrying Yuit’s party.

“Wait, stop! Get off me!”

“Oh, it’s useless, you have to ask these guys in their language… Kikerakikera, Purimuuho!”

Elina commanded the men in an unfamiliar language, and Tarnyang and the others were tied up harder. Seemed like she completely ruled over the natives somehow. The Leader of the Fang Elina was formidable.

“Ta, Tarnyang… t, that one! Over there!”

As Sainyang was carried on a man’s shoulders like luggage, her eyes opened up in surprise and she called out to Tarnyang.

“What? Can there be anything weirder than this… Ah, eeeh!”

“What is it? What’s going on?”

When Yuit asked, the Twin Taimashi gave a small nod, their faces turning white.

“T, that one there…”

“What?”

Beyond Tainyang’s line of sight, Elina was taking with her the figure of a very young girl.

“Just who, is that? Elina, is she your child?”

Elina looked back, with a look that mocked what Yuit had asked.

“No way. Or rather, it has nothing to do with you. But, I wonder if you’ll soon feel like talking about the key’s whereabouts? “The key serves as the gate”, I’ll make you hand it over.”

“But, I don’t know anything about a key! I’ve been telling you for quite a while!”

Facing the captured Yuit, Elina kept on asking obstinately about the whereabouts of the “key”.

But, even if she asked Yuit, she had no idea about the “key”. In the first place, it was looking for the “key” why they had come to the Beast Cave.

“Really, we don’t know what you mean… right, Tarnyang?”

Turning her neck, Yuit called out to Tarnyang.

“…”

But, both Tarnyang and Sainyang’s faces showed a serious expression, like they were worried about something.

“Tarnyang, Sainyang?”

What’s wrong, Yuit tried to ask them, but before she could, Tarnyang threw a sharp voice at Elina.

“You there, why did you take our, Shai-Fang’s “goshintai”, with you?”

“Eh…? Goshintai? Where?”

Sainyang replied to the puzzled Yuit.

“Um… the girl Elina is leading… That one there, is our, Shai-Fang’s “goshintai”. “Child of the Dragon”… is her name.”

“Eh…? B, But, you said goshintai, isn’t that kind of like the statue of a goddess… eh, she’s a person?”

Yuit was staring in complete confusion, and Tarnyang and Sainyang gathered and nodded.

“Shai-Fang lost its “Child of the Dragon”… we were looking for her, why was she taken by the Queen’s Army…?”

Talking in whispers, Tarnyang and the others shared these details.

The “Child of the Dragon” from Shai-Fang. Properly said, it was “Child of the Fate Chosen by the Dragon”, their national symbol, surely she had a “Living God” in her.

The “Child of the Dragon” was born knowing everything in this world, and with all-seeing eyes, she occasionally gave predictions to the Shai-Fang’s people.

Only such a person exists in Shai-Fang, but if a new “Child of the Dragon” is born, the “Child of the Dragon” until then is said to lose all their power.

As far as the people in Shai-Fang are concerned, the “Child of the Dragon” was an existence that should also be called the actual existence of “God”.

That “Child of the Dragon” had suddenly disappeared from the Shai-Fang’s village. So, the guardians of Shai-Fang, the “Taimashi” Tarnyang and Sainyang had left the village, on a trip to search for the “goshintai”, that is, the “Child of the Dragon”.

“So, the child you girls were looking for, was with the Queen’s Army?”

“That’s what I want to hear!”

“Want me to tell you?”

What should have been a conversation in whispers must have gotten louder as they got more passionate, and it seemed it had reached the ears of Elina in front of them.

A somewhat demonic smile was reflected on Elina’s facial expression, but even as she felt a strong premonition that she shouldn’t hear it, Yuit nodded involuntarily.

“Yuit, you were relying on a memo written by Cyan, is that how you came here?”

“I, I don’t know what you mean…”

“It’s okay, you don’t need to hide it. I know that much. Because… the one who entered the Little Elves’ forest and left the memo in your mother’s workshop, forcing you to get your hands on it… it was me.”

“!”

Yuit’s eyes opened wide in astonishment.

Yuit’s hometown, the Little Elves forest, had been burned to nothing by the Queen’s Army.

Her mother Cyan had set up an alchemy workshop there.

For Yuit, the place where she had helped with her mother’s research, studied, and witnessed the creation of Vante, that had been her home, the place where she was born.

“Uhn… so…!”

“Yes. So, the contents of your memo, I know all about them. Ymir solved the riddle. Say, did you know? “Peach Tree”, if you transpose it with the language the Calibara Tribe used a long time ago, it’s pronounced like… “Shai-Fang”.”

“W, what… in that case!”

“Indeed, the “Child of the Peach Tree” is, in other words… this brat that won’t say a thing. And though locating Shai-Fang is difficult, with my intel gathering abilities it was no trouble.”

“Then… so, you took the “Child of the Dragon” from our village like that?”

“Eeh, even if I’d say it was severely guarded, it was easy for me to take her. I didn’t hurt anybody, I wasn’t even found out.”

Saying so proudly, Elina poked the “Child of the Dragon” ‘s head with the tip of her claw.

Although her head swung like a pendulum doll, the “Child of the Dragon” remained expressionless and stared into space, somehow not even noticing.

“You there! I won’t let you be rude to the “Child of the Dragon”!”

“Oh, you won’t let me, what do you plan to do while you can’t even move? Scary.”

Giggling after making a fool of her, Elina continued.

“This child was taken in front of Queen Claudette, was asked about the whereabouts of the ancient civilization’s legacy, and predicted this.”

“Southern lands. The gate serves as the key, the key serves as the gate. Holding the key, a small, wise person. The steel servant, the protectors of the dragon, the gate will be opened, and then closed.”

“At first, we didn’t know what that meant! But I thought, the “small wise person” would surely be you. In spite of being a pipsqueak, you’re Annelotte’s strategist, we’ve had a hard time with you, and you’re the alchemist Cyan’s daughter.”

“T, those people… why are they cooperating with you?”

“Aah, the Calibara tribe? I just suggested to them, “If your God is resurrected, you’ll recover the glory of the olden days”, and they easily ate it up.”

“Damn…! Open your eyes! You’re being tricked by this person!”

“Ahaha, it’s useless, no matter what you tell them. They only speak the Calibara language.”

Elina stated, and bringing her face close to Yuit’s, she said with triumph.

“”Alchemy Strategist” Yuit, seems like this contest of wits it’s been my victory. Now, realize this, resign yourself and hand me the key.”

“!”

Elina’s claws stroke Yuit’s cheek, running down a faint scar.

There was pain, and a single line of fresh blood went along Yuit’s white cheek.

Seeing that, Vante, who so far had remained inactive since Yuit’s commands had been cut off, roared greatly.

“Gaoooooon!”

-To be continued-

A few mysteries of Rebellion are slowly being revealed...

The first time I saw Elina speaking that strange language, I thought it might be her "cursing words" she inherited from her mom, but no, it's just that Ymir has gotten really clever.

And I'm changing the "gate becomes the key" hint to "gate serves as the key", since that'd kinda make more sense, unless there are strange transformations going on.

Next chapter, can Yuit's group get out of this pinch?

QB Battle 28.7

2012-02-12T04:00:00.001-08:00

Mirrors: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Added the fanmade Samus Aran and Sakura Haruno (thanks to Okami31):

Coming next: QG Kanu, Kos-Mos and Athena Asamiya.

Edit (02-16): Fix for a small bug with Xiaomu, Emma Frost and Yoruichi & Sui-Feng: Mirrors/Sendspace

Edit 2 (02-17): Updated the translations page with a recently translated chapter from the first QB Anthology Comic, and a few transcriptions from Drama CDs from a friend some time ago.

Edit 3 (02-19): Updated the translations page with a new, suggestive chapter from the QB Anthology. And, a fix for a bug and a typo in Samus Aran: Mirror/Sendspace

Edit 4 (02-20): The 1st fix up there may have left it worse off, sorry. The true fix for no bugs: Mirror/Sendspace

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 7.5

2012-02-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

Extra chapter! You don't get to know what happens in the underground prison if you just follow the online stories, I had to scan this baby straight from the second volume myself.
And since this seems to be the only chapter without a proper pic, I'm using this extra illustration that ended up belonging to the first chapter.

And, this chapter marks the revival of the untamable bandit.
Enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 7.5: Indomitable Heroine

In the stronghold prison “Fierce Tiger’s Den”, there was now a wild chaos.

“To the plaza! All the soldiers rush to the plaza!”

“The subterranean dungeon is under attack! Defend it as soon as possible!”

“How many enemies are there!? One hundred? Two hundred?”

Maria’s strategy to break the chain of command had paid off, and now the jailers couldn’t observe and fully understand the entire situation.

Maria was hiding herself and observing the situation, and stifling a yawn under her mask, she thought of going ahead of Annelotte’s party.

“Fuwaa… well, I’ll go soon to meet Risty as well, hasn’t it been a long time…?”

---

“Sister Annelotte, this way!”

“Wait a second! The bolt here… if I close it…! With this, it should buy us some time.”

Annelotte and Mirim had shaken their pursuers somehow, and when they came to, a gloomy staircase spread out before their eyes, and they stared at the passage leading to the dungeon with anxiety mixed in their eyes.

“Really… is it here, where the Bandit of the Wilderness Risty, is imprisoned…”

“I don’t think Maria is one to make a mistake.”

“Well… that’s why she’s my teacher.”

When Annelotte hesitated, Mirim supported her.

For not being alone at that moment, Annelotte thanked her in her heart, and she went down the stairs.

“Let’s go, we’ll meet my fourth teacher!”

“Yes!”

---

Down the long, narrow stairs, beyond a corridor even longer and narrower, there was a prison where prisoners were locked up.

“What’s, with you?”

Glaring with eyes that hadn’t lost their rebellious spirit despite having become a prisoner, a man hurled his low voice at Annelotte’s party from the other side of the iron bars.

“S, Sister…”

While protecting the frightened Mirim behind her back, Annelotte asked the man.

“Is someone called Risty, being captive here? She’s the one called the “Bandit of the Wilderness”."

“Why, do you ask?”

“We’re here to help.”

The man raised his eyebrow. The prisoners at the rear emitted a bland response.

“Who, are you?”

“I’m the only child of the Margrave Kreutz, Annelotte.”

As he heard her name, the glint in the man’s eye became even sharper.

“What I heard, was this. The Margrave Kreutz was someone who decided to go against the Queen of Thundercloud Claudette and was crushed, a man who raised a daughter pretending her to be a man.”

The man’s voice sounded with a mix of amusement.

“That person was looking for us guys, and even though we heard a rumor that she wanted to meet us… No way, did you come to a place like this for us?”

“You guys?... No way, I didn’t.”

“Aah, that’s right.”

The man, gathering with the prisoners at the rear, threw out his chest, and nodded largely.

“We guys are the group of bandits from the Large Fang Mountain led by our elder sister Risty, the “Bandit of the Wilderness” ‘ gang.”

---

The story the man who called himself Risty’s underling told them, was one Annelotte’s party couldn’t readily believe.

A mysterious demon had attacked their hiding place all of a sudden. In order to let her underlings escape, Risty had fought alone. When the bandits escaped, the Queen’s Army was expecting them.

There was some mysterious conspiracy hidden there. Although she felt that way, it was frustrating not to know the perpetrator’s true identity, and Annelotte involuntarily ground her teeth.

“Annelotte!”

A call broke the line of her thoughts, that was falling into circles. When she turned around, the “Phantom Warrior” Maria was coming over, holding her sword.

“How did it turn out?... These people, they’re Risty’s friends, right?”

“Ah, but, what’s the situation above like? If you’re here, does it mean there’s not much time?”

“Since it became a mess, I think we’ll be fine for a while. They think we’re aiming at the chief’s head, and the guards are assembling elsewhere.”

“You are…”

To interrupt the next question the man was going to ask her, Maria asked conversely.

“But, what of Risty? Isn’t she here?”

“Aah, that’s right.”

The man replied, biting his lips.

“Our elder sister was taken and was immediately moved to somewhere else. From the talk of the jailers, seems like there’s a special ward further inside.”

“Further… inside.”

The man grabbed the prison bars, and begged Annelotte with a frantic expression.

“We beg you! No matter what happens to us guys, help our elder sister!”

Annelotte, Mirim and Maria went down, deeper and further into the prison.

At the bottom layer, after Mirim’s Hyper Vibration Sword tore to pieces the firmly sealed iron door, the three people finally managed to reach the depths of the “Fierce Tiger’s Den”.

“Here it is…”

They were in a strange room.

The room’s entrance was wide enough to fit a hundred people, but only a thick pillar stood in the center to support the ceiling.

A gloomy, damp atmosphere with the stink of a beast, as if to reaffirm somehow that they were in the inner depths of the “Fierce Tiger’s Den”.

Creak… creak, a creaking sound was echoing regularly through the whole room. From the central pillar, a log grew sideways, and as one beast pushed that log, the pillar rotated.

With a red mane of disheveled hair, and glaring shining eyes, the beast bared her gritted teeth.

Her name was…

“Risty… Are you the “Bandit of the Wilderness”, Risty…?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been called that… but yeah, that was my name.”

Facing them, the beast slowly rotated the pillar.

Though she was slightly dirty, from her eyes it could be seen that her mental strength hadn’t disappeared, and both her arms were swelled to bursting with more muscles, even if that beast had been captured, it showed that she was still a wild animal.

“Someone’s here… I thought if somebody came to help me… it would be Leina. Maybe she’s lost her touch. Heheh.”

Risty murmured, while pushing the pillar.

“This here… Ouch…”

Mirim said, scared, and Risty answered.

“This here goes up to the upper prison… It’s connected to the prison my friends are in. If I don’t keep on rotating this pillar, the ceiling of the upper prison will fall down and squash all my friends, what a horrible taste.”

While she talked, Risty kept on turning the pillar. If her legs missed one step, her friends would die… that was a plan only a demon could devise, and Annelotte’s party started paling with dread.

“But… in that case, you can’t sleep, nor have a meal?”

“Aah, that’s right… Since I was brought here, I haven’t slept a wink, and my mouth hasn’t taken even a drop of water.”

“That can’t be…”

Next to the surprised Mirim, Maria sighed, and muttered.

“A curse… right?”

“Quite so, and I know which one.”

“A curse?”

“Aah… on the day of the attack, a curse was put on me… the “Indomitable Curse” befell on my body. I can’t eat, drink or sleep well, but I won’t die from it… on the contrary, you could say I’m alive thanks to the curse.”

“You were captured months ago… and you still keep your sanity.”

When Maria said so, Risty grinned broadly, somewhat proudly, relaxing her mouth.

“On my arms, the lives of my friends are hanging… Plus, isn’t it natural?”

Risty said so carelessly. Annelotte admired the strong spirit she saw in her, and her mental strength to protect her friends.

Even if she was captured, and cursed… unlike her, who began to act violently with the demon blood lurking inside her, she protected her friends, the people important to her… Feeling such a resolution in Risty’s words that “resolution” didn’t do them justice, Annelotte decided to respect this person.

“I’m Annelotte. I came here to meet you… Bandit of the Wilderness… no, “Indomitable Heroine” Risty.”

After saying so, Annelotte began telling Risty the situation so far.

Because of Queen Claudette, her home and her lands had been taken, and she had been defeated when she tried to take revenge.

Saved by Maria, she went on a trip to organize a Rebel Army. To ask for Risty’s help, she had gone to the Large Fang Mountain, but it had already been attacked by someone, it was an empty carcass.

Some of Risty’s subordinates had joined Annelotte, they were still in good health.

“Risty, you’ll escape from here. If you can rescue your captured friends from the upper floor, you’ll be free as well.”

After Annelotte said so, Maria continued with a nod.

“The opponent who cursed you, I have a clue on who it is. Instead of being shut in a place like this, I think your nature is more like going and beating them?”

“Hm? Now that I’m taking a closer look at you… I see.”

Risty stared at Maria’s face. In the eyes behind the mask, it seems like Risty felt something.

“Understood. I’ll trust you.”

Saying that, Risty pointed to her chest with her chin, and spoke.

“You there, you were called Annelotte, right. Put your hand here just for a moment.”

“Huh…? Eh, ah, my hand? Like, on your chest?”

Annelotte stared in wonder at the sudden command.

“Thaat’s right, put your hand right here on my chest, c’mon, hurry up.”

“W, w, why…?”

“Just do it!”

“Uh, w, well then… E, excuse, me.”

Annelotte timidly put her hand on Risty’s chest. Annelotte’s fingertips pressed between the sweaty skin and the dirty clothes.

“I, is… this okay?”

“Aah, that’s right… just a little deeper…”

“Uh, uuh… hm?”

Like she told her, Annelotte’s fingers went deeper into her breast. Her fingertips touched something solid.

“That’s it, pull that out.”

“Uh, uuh.”

She pulled it out slowly, it was a small jewel ornament.

“This is…?”

“You can have it. Whoever has that, can proceed to the Gemstone Mountain.”

“Gemstone Mountain…”

“There’s a person called the “Gemstone Princess” there. That person will know you’re my comrade if you show it to her.”

“…I understand.”

Annelotte replied, grasping tightly the jewel ornament.

“But, I’m just holding onto it. Risty, first of all you have to get out of here.”

“No, you have to go now, head to the mountain, I’ll meet you there.”

“That’s absurd. We’ll go together.”

“I’ll help Risty. You go on!”

“Sister Annelotte, we must hurry!”

Annelotte nodded at what Maria and Mirim said, and headed for the exit. To see her off, Maria said to her back.

“We’ll be fine, hurry up and go!”

“I’ve decided to believe in you, thanks, Maria. Let’s go, Mirim!”

“Yes!”

Along with Mirim, Annelotte ran up the stairs, without looking back.

---

1 hour later.

Surrounded by soldiers, Maria held the collapsed Risty.

The pillar wasn’t rotating anymore. From the soldiers’ way of speaking, it was obvious the prisoners from the upper floor had escaped successfully. Mirim probably destroyed the jail when she left.

“Crap… I think I can’t move my body.”

Risty murmured with frustration.

“It can’t be helped, you’ve been doing hard labor for many months without a break. You did a great job, Risty.”

Maria’s words had a somewhat gentle sound to them.

“Sorry… I keep on being saved by you.”

“What are you saying. It was you who saved me first.”

Step step, the soldiers narrowed the circle that surrounded them.

“Those guys… they were very interesting.”

“Don’t you think? That’s why I lent them a hand.”

“If it’s those guys… I feel they can do it.”

“Though I want to see this through to the end… this is relentless.”

“You won through Queen’s Blade, are you giving up with just this much?”

“Now, I wonder about that?”

Fuwaa, yawning greatly, Maria drew her sword smoothly.

“I’m slowly getting sleepy… I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”

“That’s fine, me too… but I’ll strain my remaining strength to the end! Anyhow, that’s why I’m the “Indomitable Heroine”!”

The collapsed Risty shook up her whole body, and stood up.

“Here we go!”

“Let’s do thiis!”

The two people shouted simultaneously, and plunged into the soldiers.

To distract their attention from the escape of the bandits and Annelotte’s party, it was a desperate battle.

-To be continued-

Quite an intense chapter, well worth the exclusivity.

Who would have thought Annelotte had such naming sense, though?

And about Risty's new title, I went with "Indomitable Heroine" because it sounded the coolest, but she could be "Persistent Heroine", "Fortitudinous Heroine" or something like that. Considering how hard it is to nail the "official" titles, I half-expect it to be wrong.

Next chapter, we resume Yuit's search to solve the mistery of Bligh!

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 7

2012-02-02T06:30:00.000-08:00

In this chapter, the former heroine reappears in Rebellion!
Enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 7: The Fierce Tiger’s Den

"Coming across you was really a blessing, Maria."
“Well, for the time being, let’s have a toast for the completion of your training. Hey hey, you young lady as well!”
“Y, yes.”
Near the capital city of Gainos, there was a bar at a trading city.
Annelotte and Mirim were drinking a mug of beer together with the “Phantom Warrior” Maria.
The aloof, masked warrior who had once saved Annelotte’s life.
Without assembling a faction, she was a fighter of remarkable ability who continued fighting the Queen’s Army by herself.
Since she instantly disappeared to somewhere else shortly after the fights ended, people called her the Phantom Warrior.
Though everybody felt like they knew her true identity, it was a taboo somehow.
Fortunately, Annelotte and Mirim were fine with not inquiring into Maria’s history at all.
Annelotte respected Maria from before, and Annelotte and Mirim had searched for her once again, and had asked Maria to teach her how to fight.
Maria had said “You’re my first pupil. Nice to meet you”, and had agreed.
After several months of training, Annelotte was definitely able to learn something by living with her every day. Now, it was the time of her graduation.

Even though Maria’s beer mug was filled to the brim with ale, Annelotte’s and Mirim’s were filled with white milk.
Although it was an odd drink to request at a bar, the many different customers at the bar of that town couldn’t neglect their trades to direct questioning looks at them. At the establishment, none of the other customers were especially observing Annelotte’s party.
That was something that, as wanted people, both Annelotte and Mirim appreciated.
Because, not only they were plotting a rebellion against the Queen, the pope’s agency had recognized them as “heretics”, therefore becoming traitors to God.

“Annelotte, you’d better meet Risty.”
“Phantom Warrior” Maria, quite sleepy already, said that to Annelotte’s party while occasionally dozing off. She said someone had put her under the “Sleep Curse”, needing to sleep 16 hours or more per day, and intense drowsiness would visit her intermittently, all of a sudden.
“Risty… the “Bandit of the Wilderness”?”
Sitting next to Annelotte, Mirim asked, puzzled.
“Yes. You’ve trained under Tomoe and me, and you’ve become strong. However, you’re just one person. What you’re aiming for, is not to settle this with your own strength, one-to-one… is it?”
“Ah, that’s right… cooperating with my comrades, adding more and more people and bringing forth the strength of everyone combined… that’s what we must do.”
“As I thought, like Risty. How important and difficult it was to build up an organization, and the way strength could be brought from there… she was familiar with it.”
Maria said, shaking her jug as if playing with it.
“She decided to fight against Queen Claudette before you guys did. And she had gathered comrades and organized a rebel army… however.”
“When I went to the Large Fang Mountain, where she was supposed to be, in order to ask for her help, it was already empty there… although we know she was attacked, as her comrades who had run away told us… but where she is now after being captured, is something we don’t know after all.”
Annelotte remembered how Risty’s hiding place was now an empty carcass, and bit her lip.
“The Queen’s Army was anticipating her, so they caught her… but what did those guys attack her for? I’m rather worried.”
“Ah, the might of someone else than the Queen’s Army… it seems. In the first place, if the Queen captured the rebel forces, they’d announce it publicly as a warning.”
“Risty’s insurrection plan is too large-scale, if she announced it, it could have the opposite effect and mislead the public, so she’s keeping it as a secret, we have to do so as well.”
Maria said so, and unable to resist it anymore, she flopped down with her cheek stuck to the table.

“Munya… I heard a rumor that they send that kind of criminals to a secret detention center for their execution…I don’t know where.”
“…So, locating it is our next objective…?”
Annelotte was at a loss.
Munya, munya, Maria was sleeping like a log.
The dead atmosphere was broken from an unexpected direction.
“Did you knoow?... Hiccup!”
Both Annelotte and Maria, who was more than half asleep, looked back at the owner of the voice. Holding the jug filled with milk with both hands, Mirim was in a good mood, smiling with a flushed face.
“There is a concentration camp called the “Fierce Tiger’s Den” to the north of the frontier. Atch [half-sneeze]… Its existence is kept a secret, made for criminals, it’s unofficially used to house criminals to be executed… so I have heard.”
Showing a somewhat dreamy look, Mirim still gave a steady answer.
“Is that true? Way to go, Mirim!”
Saying so, Annelotte patted Mirim’s shoulder… and frowned.
“…You reek of liquor! Mi, Mirim! You, what are you drinking…?”
“Eh, this heere?”
Mirim answered while drinking and spilling the contents of her jug, exhaling breath that reeked of liquor with a “Pooh!”
“It is miilk.”
“It absolutely isn’t!”
“Milk isn’t yellow, and bubbles shouldn’t appear in it, either…”
“It is milk, an uncle turned to me and said: “A lady like you should drink uncle’s special delicious milk” and gave it to me.”
Facing Annelotte and Maria, Mirim answered, laughing with a cackle.
“ Because of that, please hear me out. I was nice, but miss Elina used to threaten me, saying “If you make any more mistakes, I’m sending you to the Fierce Tiger’s Den”. Don’t you think that’s cruel? What do you think? Although she liked me despite my mistakes, she was always being picky, and teasing me… uuuuh.”
“Wa, wait Mirim, get off me, you’re sticking too much to me!”
“Since I still need to work hard, that’s why, that’s why…”
“W, wait a second, Maria! H, help me here!”
“Snoore.”
“You fell asleep!”
Annelotte managed to take the seriously intoxicated Mirim to a hotel, but not without great effort.
She’d never let Mirim near alcohol again, she decided.

---

The “Fierce Tiger’s Den”, according to the information relayed by Mirim (that by the way, the person herself didn’t remember at all), was on the north of the continent, a facility like a stronghold built in the middle of a coniferous forest, covered with snow.
“I investigated a bit, this facility was built by the 3rd generation Queen, seemingly to imprison those who opposed her.”
Lowering her voice, Maria said to Annelotte.
“During Aldra’s reign this facility was never used, it was left to rot…”
“So, is it Claudette who restored it?”
“Exactly.”
“Sister Annelotte, miss Maria, looks like we’ll arrive soon.”
Mirim, who was observing the “outside” situation, said to the two people in a whisper.
“Is that so?... We were cramped in here, it’s about time we got out.”
“Good, if we stay cramped anymore, my body will harden.”
A cart had been dispatched with goods to the “Fierce Tiger’s Den”, and inside a small gap, three people were hiding in it, complicatedly entangled.
Bump, the cart shook with a bang, and stopped.
That was the sign, the three people exchanged glances, and nodded firmly to each other.
“Well, let’s go along with the plan.”
“Maria, you still have room to improve. In this place, you’ll be defeated.”
“If I seem to get into big trouble, I’ll escape suitably, worry about yourself, and do your best.”
“Both of you, a guard is coming!”
“Well, let’s get out… yaah!”
In order to have the drop on the guard who was revising the cargo, Maria jumped out of the wagon.
“The prisoners you all captured, I’ll make you return everybody to us!”
Maria said, cutting down the guard. Moving like a flow, she knocked down two guards and the cart driver, almost simultaneously with the high-pitched alarm that sounded from the top of the watchtower.

“Come here kittens, I’ll beat you all!”
Maria was shouting, somewhat happily, while she faced the situation, and in reply, the guards from the top of the watchtower shot arrows at her.
A barrage of arrows rained from above, and Maria raised her shield to protect herself.
“Tsk, not fair!”
Cursing, she took out a dagger from the back side of her shield and threw it, and the guard holding the bow fell down the watchtower with a scream.
“Heey hey, if you lose your cool, you’ll get hurt!”
In response to Maria’s provocation, a guard with a spear ready bustled into sight.
“Really, isn’t this too much to receive one person!”
Grasping her sword once again, Maria was quite definitely laughing.
Skipping over and cutting off the spearhead of the thrusting guard, she knew that was an indication that Annelotte’s party had successfully escaped from the cart.
“Hey hey hey, you guys know you’re plenty for a person like me alone!”
Shouting with a cheerful voice as if enjoying herself with a game, Maria deliberately stressed out that she was one person on her own.

---

At the same time, Annelotte and Mirim had successfully escaped from the cart, and were taking a roundabout path to the back of the stronghold.
From the distance, the sound and the voices of the battle reached their ears, carried by the wind. As long as they heard them, it’d mean both Maria and them were safe.
“According to the diagram Maria prepared, around here we should go underground to get to the prison, but…”
Frustrated, Annelote’s palm touched the stone wall.
She expected a gate according to the information, but due to the recent remodeling, the door was plastered up and was unusable.
“We’ll have to start over… look for another place to get in.”
Replying to what Annelotte said, Mirim shook her head.
“No, Sister. If we miss here, there will be no time.”
“If so, then how…?”
“Open… here!”
Fully prepared to die if necessary, Mirim drew her sword. Responding to her fighting spirit, the Hyper Vibration Crystal blinked, and the Hyper Vibration Sword roared.
“…Teyaaah!”
Mirim pointed it toward the wall and thrust, grinding with a thunderous roar while sparks scattered around the wall.
“Hyaauuuuh!”
Raising her voice involuntarily as the vibration assaulted her entire body, Mirim didn’t stop her assault on the wall.
“Mi, Mirim, don’t overdo yourself!”
“I, I’m, fine…! Hyaaunh! If, if it’s for you, Sister!”
Mirim withstood the vibration through gritted teeth.
Cold sweat appeared on her face, but she could only watch. A person such as Annelotte would get impatient.
“Mirim… Mirim!”
“A, ahn…! S, Sister… Annelotte… Sisteer… hyaaunh!”
Pop!
Suddenly, Mirim’s sword no longer faced resistance.
The sword scraped off the wall little by little, and pierced through the opposite side.
“I did it! Uh, ah, eh, huh…?”
At the same time she smiled a smile of satisfaction. The wall clattered and crumbled, as if it was about to collapse and fall on top of Mirim.
“Mirim! Watch out!”
Holding out her hand at once, Annelotte tried to grab Mirim.
“S, Sister…!”
“A, uwah…!”
But Annelotte and Mirim, along with the side of the wall, fell into the very spacious room of the semi basement.

---

Whooosh!
Although they must have fallen several meters, thanks to the water at the bottom, neither Annelotte nor Mirim were greatly hurt.
Plain water? No, that was wrong.
“Ah… it’s hott!”
Annelotte jumped up in a hurry. Thick, billowing steam collected on her face, and she couldn’t see even 1 meter ahead of her. They hadn’t fallen into water, but into boiling water.
“A, are you alright, Sister Annelotte!?”
Thanks to the Hyper Vibration Armor, Mirim was completely unhurt, and she called out to the anxious Annelotte. When Annelotte quickly covered all her senses, checking that she wasn’t injured anywhere, she nodded to Mirim.
“I, I’m fine… However, w, where, on earth…”
As if replying to Annelotte’s murmur, wind quickly blew from the wall Mirim had destroyed, blowing away the steam that covered them.
“W, what…!”
“Kyaa…!”
Annelotte was speechless. Mirim covered her eyes involuntarily.
Around the two people, stark naked girls stood stock still staring at them with a blank stare on their faces.
Kapoon.
Such a relaxing sound resounded from somewhere.
"A... A bath...?"
Gradually grasping where they were, Mirim murmured with a shaking voice.
The large bathroom for the guards.
Probably, they were in such a place.
“In…”
One of the stark-naked guards murmured, overcome with surprise.
“In…?”
Mirim asked back involuntarily.
“In… Intrudeeers…!”
They weren’t wearing anything, nor were they carrying weapons, but they were still members of the guard. Coming to their senses because of the scream, they surrounded Annelotte’s party to capture them.
“S, Sister…!”
“Don’t panic, the opponents are all unarmed… we’ll break through somehow!”
“Y, Yes!”
As they got together and covered each other’s backs, Mirim and Annelotte drew their respective weapons.

Could Annelotte and Mirim, as well as Maria, rescue Risty after all?
They won’t know that unless they fight.

-To be continued-

Like some people say, Leina "took a level in badass".
Seems like there's a little timeskip here, I wonder what the others were doing during the time...
And yes, this chapter references two scenes, Tomoe's training and Maria's first appearance, that I'll need to take care of in the future (as long as I can stay ahead of the anime... :p)

Next chapter, we're unexpectedly sticking with Annelotte!

QB Battle 28.3

2012-01-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

Mirrors: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Couldn't finish all I wanted in time, but still, to celebrate 2 years of this game, I went ahead and added Bayonetta and, from the Endless Frontier games, not only Kaguya Nanbu:

But also Xiaomu (who was originally from Namco x Capcom), with enough assists to cover most of the E.F. ladies:

Before the next update, I'm releasing a small patch with the few bugs yet to correct for recent chars.

Coming next: Samus Aran, Sakura Haruno and, though I wanted Kos-Mos to join the E.F. chars above as soon as possible, probably not next update. Not sure if Kanu will make it in time...

Edit (02-01): The small patch to fix a few recent mistakes/typos: Mirror/Sendspace.

Edit2 (02-05): Updated the What is QB page with the latest char, Queen's Gate Pyrrha.

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 6

2012-01-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

Yep, I'm upping the ante. For the next while, weekly translations, yay!

So, in this chapter, taken from here, a new character appears.
Feel free to correct any mistakes, and enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 6: Jungle

The southern jungle.
On the southern part of the continent, a dense jungle was in full leaf, many parts of it still unknown, where it was said that ancient relics and secret treasures hadn’t yet been found by anyone, and strange creatures lived.
"Gaoon…!"
Functioning without ever feeling tireness, the "Alchemy Android" Vante cut through the trackless path and kept going forward. After her, the figures of three people followed.
"Really noow, is there a secret weapon slumbering in a place like this, Yuit?"
The "Taimashi" Tarnyang had already asked that question many times over, yet she did it once more.
It could be said that friendship had blossomed after the end of the battle, and now she was getting quite familiar with the "Alchemy Strategist" Yuit.
"It’s unreasonable to ask the same thing time and time again, Tarnyang. It’s written in code on the scroll my mother left behind, so deciphering it is not easy…"
"So, you have a clue you don’t really understand, and you still lead people into a jungle like this?"
"Uh-oh, don’t start again… Besides, it’s the only clue we have, so we have to choice but to rely on it."
Looking at the pair quarreling, the "Taimashi" Sainyang sighed.
Currently, they were aiming at the ancient ruins, the "Calibara Ruins", that were said to be in the depths of that jungle.

---

Due to the attack by the Queen’s Army, Annelotte had turned into a demon and had gone missing.
But, neither Yuit nor anybody in the Rebel Army thought that Annelotte’s will had been defeated in the least.
So, what they had to do was to reinforce their military power even more by the time Annelotte returned to the war front, was what Yuit and the others thought.
And Yuit aimed at the "Mobile Fortress Bligh".
Formerly pursued by Yuit’s mother, who was once called the "Great Alchemist", it was the legacy of an ancient civilization.
Though it was a fortress, it moved on its own, and it was said to govern the battlefield.
Anyway, she had been an unreliable mother with an irresponsible nature, who would entrust her daughter to Vante and go on a journey. The only clue to the fortress Yuit had now was the suspicious scroll she was grasping tightly.
Sainyang’s divination sign had read "Good luck towards the south" and they had gone together, leaving for the southern jungle without waiting for Annelotte to rejoin them.
"So, have you made progress deciphering the scroll?"
"I’ve made progress, but not much… even if I’ve deciphered the code, its contents are like a riddle, so I’m stumped…"
"A riddle, huh… Sainyang, you like puzzles, maybe you’ll figure it out?"
"I, I don’t think you’re supposed to lump together puzzles with riddles…"
"Right, but still, we might find a clue, Yuit, let’s hear that puzzle."
"F, fine…"
Opening her mother’s notebook reluctanctly, Yuit read out loud to Tarnyang and Sainyang.
"The gate becomes the key, and the key becomes the gate."
"...."
"...."
"....Is that all?"
"R, Right."
"I see, I see… Okay, Sainyang, start solving it!"
"Eh, eeh! Is that all? Isn’t, isn’t there more?"
"The memo only has some scribbles besides that… "Child of the Peach Tree" and "Key <- Beast Cave?"… There’s much of the memo to worry about, but it barely seems connected at all…"
"There are many names like that… unless we meet a person familiar with the situation in this area, we won’t understand it…"
Said Sainyang, struggling to find a solution somehow with so few hints, and Yuit nodded in agreement.
"That’s why, we came to this jungle… inside here we could find a person from the tribe that lived here in the ancient times, the so-called "Calibara tribe", as the records state…"
"Ancient times..."
"They "lived"…?"
"Right. The records tell that the forest was taken by the "Wild Elves" as their residence and it became a war, and even though it was possibly destroyed…"
"Perhaps they might have survived, then?"
"The Calibara Tribe fell a long time before my mother was born, at the very least, but the descriptions in this scroll hint at my mother having contacted them. So, maybe... It’s quite logical for such a huge thing like Bligh to be hiding in this unexplored jungle!"
Left with a ray of hope, Yuit turned her eyes towards the jungle.
It was then that:
"Kyaaaaah!"
A scream that didn’t come from Yuit, Tarnyang, Sainyang or let alone Vante reached their ears.

"H, H, Help mee!"
Yuit and the others looked at the place they had heard the scream from, and it was a weird scene.
"W, what is… this…?"
Even Tarnyang who didn’t care about minor details, could only mutter in a daze.
"Ah! Th, there are people here, please, somehow… somehow, help mee!"
Wearing only a thin cloth, the girl, who was hanging upside down, turned towards Yuit and the others and screamed.
With the native dress of that place, the cloth barely hiding the tip of her chest, a jewel coiled around her waist as an ornament, and a decoration concealed between her legs that imitated the face of an elephant, the young girl was almost exposing her voluptuous body to the open air.
That girl had been caught and was now entangled in rope-like things with the thickness of a child’s arm.
"E, even if you say to help you…"
"Tarnyang, there! There’s some kind of animal!"
Sainyang pointed to the ground below the girl who was asking for help.
"What is that… a tiger?"
"A tiger… with, some kind of… tentacles, attached to it?"
It growled when Yuit and the others glared at it, and it certainly looked like a tiger.
But, a pair of tentacles grew on its back, with which it had lifted the young girl up in the air and entangled her.
"T, this is a tentacle tiger! It lifts up its prey and entangles it until it’s weak enough to be eaten… Ahyaa, hia, d, don’t touch me in strangle plaaces!"
The girl screamt as her body was felt up by the tentacle.
"S, she’ll get eaten… she’s in danger, help her, Vante!"
"Gaoon!"
Yuit decided to attack, and gave Vante an order.
"Wait! If you attack blindly, the beast might take the girl and run away! This one… leave it to me!"
"W, whatever is fine, just hurry up! Ahi, hyaunn!"
When she saw Tarnyang smoothly drawing her sword and getting prepared, the girl hanging in midair turned pale.
"Hya, hyauu… d, don’t cut mee…!"
"It’ll be fine, just stay still… Let’s go! Sainyang!"
Sainyang touched Tarnyang’s shoulder with her right hand.
If Sainyang made a symbol to start with her left hand, a miraculous power would begin to fill the point of the sword Tarnyang had readied.
"Tarnyang, how do you feel about this…?"
"With the holy sword technique, staying calm… and with Sainyang’s spiritual power filling my sword, I should be able to make the enemy lose its will to fight… if it succeeds."
"D, do you think it’ll succeed?"
"That’s… For such an animal we’ve just seen for the first time, I can’t guarantee it…"
"You have to be… a little more reliable, Tarnyang…!"
"Be quiet! I can’t concentrate!"
Cold sweat appeared on Tarnyang’s forehead, showing her degree of concentration. While retorting to the jeering behind her, she slowly swung her sword as if describing an arc, looking like she was cutting a pattern in the air.
"Uuuh… m, my blood is rushing to my… head, this is it…"
When the girl muttered with a beet red face due to the long time she had been upside down, a change finally showed up in the tentacle tiger’s appearance.
"Gururururu...."
Although its low growling didn’t change, it slowly turned back, loosened its tentacles and released the captured girl, dropping her back to the ground.
"Kyau!"
The girl fell on her buttocks and screamed.
"Gururu…"
While staring at the body it was reluctant to part from, the tentacle tiger stepped back, disappearing into the depths of the jungle.
"Fuu… we did it somehow…"
Relaxing at last, Tarnyang wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"That wasn’t great, Tarnyang. It was something terribly unreasonable!"
"See, I can make it if I try!"
"…As always, when I get serious, we solve the problems."
As usual, Sainyang’s murmur wasn’t heard by anybody.
Unaware as well of Sainyang’s bitter words, Tarnyang asked the released girl.
"Say, who are you? Why are you in the middle of a jungle like this, where strange animals can capture you?"
"Ah! That’s right! Thank you very much, you really saved me! I almost got eaten by the tentacle tiger back there!"
The young girl laughed, and after bowing with an earnest reverence, she straightened up and introduced herself.
"Thanks, I am Luna Luna. They call me the "Solar Dancer"."
"Luna Luna…? I, I am Yuit. This is Vante, and these two odd people connected by the necklace are Tarnyang and Sainyang."
"Yuit, Vante, Tarnyang and Sainyang, right, nice to meet you!"
"W, well, nice to meet you too, but, where do you come from? Is there any village nearby where people live?"
Becoming a little confused at the conversation that came out of nowhere, when Yuit asked, Luna Luna raised both hands overhead instead of answering, and turned around in the spot.
"Ahahah! As thanks for saving me, I’ll show you my dance!"
"D, don’t, there’s no time for dancing…"
"Eh? Which reminds me, you’re people from that tribe, right? With those pointy ears, you’re Wild Elves, right?"
Asked by Luna Luna, who had stopped dancing but still kept doing things at her own pace, Yuit replied.
"No… We come from the Margrave Kreutz’ territory."
When she heard out loud the name of the land that was the base of Annelotte’s Rebel Army, Luna Luna tilted her head.
"Mar-gra-ve Kre-utz… is it, on which side of the forest?"
"It’s not in this forest, when you leave this jungle, it’s northeast, a little further after crossing the desert of Amara."
Yuit explained while visualizing a map in her head.
Hearing that, Luna Luna put on a puzzled expression.
"Outside? What do you mean, outside the jungle?"
"Eeh?"
"Anyhow, it’s the first time I see people other than those from the tribe of the Wild Elves! How unusual!"
"…Somehow, for this child, the jungle is like the whole world…"
Yuit nodded involuntarily to Sainyang’s accurate analysis.
Somehow, they had come across a resident of the jungle. Although she didn’t seem to know about the Calibara tribe, she might have heard some clue about the fortress.
"Aah! I felt hopeless after getting caught by the tentacle tiger a while ago, but I was saved by people born elsewhere who I just met for the first time, how lucky! I need to dance to convey this feeling to future generations!"
As soon as she screamed so, Luna Luna wriggled her body and began to dance again.
"W, w, w, wait! Wait, that’s enough dancing!"
Confused when she was made to stop dancing, Luna Luna pouted with discontent.
"Eh, I thought I’d take the trouble of showing you the welcoming dance handed down by the Calibara."
"M, maybe next time… what, Calibara?"
"Eh? Right, I’m Luna Luna from the Calibara tribe. The guardian of the tribe, and the best dancer."
"It, it can’t be…"
"Finding them this easily…"
The party was overcome with surprise.
Yuit pulled herself together somehow, and asked Luna Luna.
"We, we were searching for the Calibara, that’s why we came to this jungle! Say, the name of the "Beast Cave", do you remember having heard it before?"
"Eh, "Beast Cave"…? Yes, I know it, but…"
Luna Luna answered, tilting her head to the side.
"But, the law says that it must not be told to anyone other than the tribe members…"
Although Luna Luna murmured so, frowning with a worried expression, she suddenly smiled with a bright face and continued.
"But, that’s it! You guys, you saved my life!"
"W, well… thanks, Luna Luna! Quickly, I want you to lead us to the "Beast Cave"!"
"Right, let’s go, follow me."
Luna Luna accepted merrily, and went deeper into the jungle. The party hurried to chase after her.

-To be continued-

This was more like an exposition chapter, but we can't have battles all the time. Still, it's funny that the rebel army thought Annelotte would be up and running, but it was a girl from the queen's army who got her to do just that.
We have Luna Luna acting here like a naive, spoiled kid, pretty much like Menace used to, but I didn't mistranslate her title up there, this is just a "sunny personality" of sorts.
And Calibara and Bligh are originally spelled as "Karibara" and "Burai", since they're supposed to be kind of a big deal, maybe we'll find out about their proper romanization sometime.

Next chapter, we go back to Annelotte for more battles!

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 5

2012-01-19T06:37:00.000-08:00

A rare chapter revolving around the humble "strongest warrior", Mirim, taken from here.
Don't hesitate to point out any mistakes in my translation, and enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 5: Mirim’s Decision

Gainos castle, in the middle of an audience.
Sitting on the throne, there was the Queen of Thundercloud, Claudette.
On her right, as her close aide, the “Iron Strategist” Ymir, and on her left, as a close associate to the queen, stood the “Inquisitor” Sigui.
On that day, due to Annelotte having turned into a demon before their eyes, Sigui and the Pope's agency had arranged complete support for the Queen’s Army.
A momentary common front had been established.
“We have located the hiding place of the “Princess Knight” Annelotte, Sister Claudette.”
Elina, the “Leader of the Fang”, reported.
She was the boss of the “Assassins of the Fang”, the group tasked with underground activities and intel gathering, and was also Claudette’s half-sister.
"A small farm village downstream... The village of Wassilica is sheltering her. Am I to send in the army immediately?"
Sigui nodded at Elina's words.
"If it's the case that the villagers adore Annelotte and support her... We must be prepared to conclude that due to the demon's temptation, the village has already become heretic by now. As an Inquisitor, the most appropriate thing to do is to sentence the whole village to be burned to the ground."
Without even raising one brow to the terrible proposal, the "Iron Strategist" Ymir accepted it as a matter of course.
"Very well, let's make the Queen's Army advance at once to suppress Annelotte... ...As lady Inquisitor says, the village shall be burnt to ashes on behalf of sheltering Annelotte."
"You're using alchemy before the eyes of an "Inquisitor" like myself, but even if I'm rather unwilling to... I'll pretend not to know."
"I humbly appreciate it. Now, Mirim. Prepare for the sortie immediately... Mirim, Mirim?"
Ymir called out to Mirim, who was standing by her side just now. As there was no reply, she tilted her head to the side.
Mirim hadn't heard her own name being called, as her thin shoulders were shaking, and her face turned pale with fret.
"It can't be... just like that, my... my hometown, will be burnt to the ground...?"

---

"Big sis! Big sis Annelotte!"
Annelotte smiled gently at the girl who came to show her a handmade flower ornament.
"How skillful... I can't do that, no matter what."
"That can't be! I'll teach you, big sis Annelotte, and you'll be able to!"
As she saw the very young child puffing up with pride, Annelotte smiled and stifled a laugh.
But, her facial expression became gloomy immediately again.
The poor people from the Wassilica village had helped Annelotte, after she fell into the canyon and undertook a serious injury.
It seemed like they had clearly concluded something from Annelotte's appearance, as they hadn't inquired deeply about her goals, and had lent her a house, as they said, so that her wounds would heal.
From the words the young man of the village revealed in the middle of the medical treatment, Annelotte understood the reason.
"The Savior who frees people from oppression."
In the eyes of the people from the village, especially most young men like him, she was Annelotte, the one who led the Rebel Army.
The queen's oppression was equally present in such a small village as Wassilica.
All the people, unrelated to their income, had the obligation to pay heavy taxes due to the wartime, and severe punishment was inflicted on whoever couldn't carry it out. Under the pressure of that situation, the people perceived Annelotte and the Rebel Army entirely as Saviors.
For Annelotte, that was exceedingly heart-breaking.
"What is it? Do you still hurt anywhere?"
Looking at Annelotte's facial expression, the little girl asked with visible unrest.
"No... I'm fine, don't worry."
She hurried to dismiss it, but Annelotte couldn't brighten up her mood.
Since that day, she hadn't been able to meet Yuit, Vante, Tarnyang, Sainyang or any of her other comrades.
Not knowing what had become of them felt horrible to Annelotte, she couldn't stop worrying.
Besides, even going back to fighting side by side every day, only for the demonic blood to awaken again, was something that Annelotte feared.
Not caring about friends or foes, feeling even for a moment that she needed to kill everyone before her eyes, the feelings of joy that came from it.
Considering all that resulted from her inner self, it was scary.
In that case, should she turn her face away from everybody, and let the village remain peaceful?
Although it might turn out to be a mistake, Annelotte couldn't find a reason to get up, not able to muster her strength.
"Ah... big sis, someone is coming."
Annelotte's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the young girl's muttering voice.
When she raised her face, focusing on the figure that was coming from afar, her eyes opened wide.
"It's her...!"
A young girl was rushing towards the prairie.
With a body that could reasonably be called that of a girl thin from working hard all day, the armor coiling around her barely succeeded in covering her bare skin.
In order to run faster, she was carrying on her back the large sword she usually wielded with both hands.
That is, she was unmistakably an opponent Annelotte had had to face more than once, a champion from the Queen's Army, the "Hyper Vibration Valkyrie" Mirim.
"Finally... I'm here!"
Clenching her teeth, Annelotte tried to draw her sword from her waist.
"Alia, step back!"
Annelotte called out to the little girl. But, the girl didn't nod in Annelotte's direction, she just muttered.
"Mirim... sis?"
Annelotte could hardly believe her ears.
“H, how do you know her name?”
“Because, because, this girl is my older sister.”
“Is, is that so… your sister? R, Really…?”
“Alia… Hyauu!”
Wanting to call out the girl’s name, Mirim fell down.
“Yes… as I thought, she’s my sis, Mirim… Sis, you fall over immediately even on a flat surface…”
The young girl sighed deeply while looking at Mirim’s face, that had become covered in grass from the ground.
"However, why does big sis Annelotte know about my sis, Mirim?"
They had tried to kill each other two or three times… unable to answer, Annelotte mumbled with a doubtful expression on her face.
“Ah… miss, Annelotte…”
Mirim called out Annelotte’s name, while tears rolled down her muddled face.
“I, I… I don’t plan to fight you, miss Annelotte… but, but…”
The contents of Mirim’s talk were enough to make Annelotte turn pale.

---

Half a day later, on the next morning, the Queen’s Army had arrived at the village.
“I thought you were nowhere in sight, did you arrive before us, Mirim?”
Paling before the “Iron Strategist” Ymir’s question, Mirim still nodded.
“Y, yes… B, But, m, miss Annelotte doesn’t seem to be here any longer… s, so, this village…”
During Mirim’s words of explanation, Ymir gave the impression that she wasn’t that much interested.
“Is that so?... So, the army shall go back. Right now, though, the village’s “cleansing” will start.”
“Ehh! P, Please wait, Miss Ymir! S, Since miss Annelotte isn’t here, it makes no sense to attack the village…! Miss Inquisitor is as equally guilty as the villagers of being fascinated by her…!”
Mirim confronted her and spoke frantically, but Ymir only replied coldly.
“Right, this was your hometown… But, it’s a shame. Our burning the village down won’t be stopped.”
“W, why is that!”
“Every village the “demon” Annelotte stops by, is likely to get tainted with evil… No, it should be tainted by now. There’s no way to purify contaminated water, to turn it back the way it was. So… you’ll destroy it.”
Adding that last bit, Ymir laughed with a broad grin.
“We’ll announce to the world that although the villagers helped Annelotte, they were completely annihilated when she left. If the rumor spreads, Annelotte or her Rebel Army won’t have even one supporter.”
“H, how cruel…! Burning down the village… And making it as if it was miss Annelotte’s and the Rebel Army’s plan… What is this!”
Mirim staggered, unable to stand on her legs, in the brink of desperation. The one before her eyes right now, she had found out, wasn’t a person who had given her a fine job and a salary to support her poor family, but a brute who was trying to take her family and friends away from her.
“What’s with that look? Besides, what do you intend to do by drawing your Hyper Vibration Sword?... It can’t be, will you turn your sword against me?”
“T, t, this is… my, my village! Even if Miss Ymir says to assault it…!”
“What if I do?”
“I… I’ll fight you!”
Bzzz!
To agree with Mirim’s scream, the Hyper Vibration Sword made a loud sound.
“How amusing! If you rebel against your parent, you should be punished!”
Laughing inappropriately, Ymir drew huge battle axes for both hands.
“Daaaaah!”
Aiming at Ymir, Mirim charged.
“Haa!”
Parrying the point of the sword with her axe’s side, Ymir slashed and hit Mirim on her back!
“Kyaah!”
If it had been an ordinary person, the blow would have broken their spinal column, but Mirim was only clumsily thrown onto the ground, in such a way that she didn’t take serious damage.
“As expected from my special Hyper Vibration Armor.”
“T, take it out… gh, hyaa, kyafu, hyaaann…!”
With the axe wedged into her back, the Hyper Vibration Armor kept on working at full capacity to prevent damage. Instead of damage, her whole body was assaulted by the vibration, and involuntarily, Mirim let out her voice, writhing in agony while trying to dislodge Ymir’s axe.
“What a waste. There’s no way you can win.”
“Ya, yahaa, w, why… t, the crystal is, m, more powerful, than, usual… a, ahi, hinn…!”
The Hyper Vibration Crystal empowered and protected Mirim.
But now, it was vibrating more violently than ever, and was torturing Mirim’s body.
With the strong stimulus, the strength in her hips gave out, and Mirim involuntarily went down on her knees.
“Ya, a, w, why, hya, t, the crys, gaa… a, ah, aah…!”
“Can you feel it? The crystal’s vibration is greater than usual… it was me who built your weapon and armor, did you forget? Something like altering the output of your Hyper Vibration Crystal is easy for me.”
Saying so while smiling with a broad grin, Ymir kicked down the kneeling Mirim, trampling on her back.
“Ta… take it out, gh… hyaaunn! Ah, hyaa, a, aa, aaah! A, hyau, miss, Y, Ymir…”
Twisting her body, Mirim turned to Ymir, a deer-like look on her face.
“Please… I, I don’t care what happens to me, just let the villagers…”
But, Ymir’s answer was merciless.
“That is out of discussion. In the first place, even if we overlook it, lady Inquisitor will know that the village was dyed by the demon and won’t forgive them.”
“But that’s…”
"Don't worry. Although I can’t say it out loud, it’s possible to change, everyone will be born together again as faithful people.”
“P, please, spare them… ku, u, uuu…!”
Mirim’s voice began to be tinged with pain. The Hyper Vibration Crystal’s magical power was decreasing.
“U, aa, a aaah…!”
“Mirim, look. I’ve grown fond of you. Though I began by seeing you as a body to experiment on, your honesty surprised me, you’re an interesting person. I ask you. Do I need to kill you?”
“P, please… spare… the others…”
“…How deplorable. Farewell, Mirim.”
When Mirim heard Ymir’s words, she resigned herself and shut her eyes tightly.
Clang!
An intense metallic sound.
But, even when she kept waiting, the end didn’t come.
“Eh…?”
Timidly, Mirim opened her eyes, only to see Ymir’s battleaxe stuck in the ground beside her.
“Y, you bastard…!”
Ymir murmured, holding down her wounded arm.

“You actually came back… “Princess Knight” Annelotte!”

---

“Wh-...!"
Mirim lifted her head. Before Ymir, staring intensely at her, there were the pale flame of the ghost horse Ambrosius and Annelotte, who had changed her cursed sword “Grim Venus” into the shape of a lance.
“M, miss Annelotte! You said you were leaving…!”
“Sorry, but even if I wasn’t here, it was likely that the Queen’s Army attack on the village wouldn’t stop… so, I changed my mind and went back. I absolutely can’t escape to somewhere safe at the cost of somebody’s sacrifice!”
“But… that’s…”
Surely, she quite agreed with Annelotte’s words.
But, while Annelotte had truly come back, would she be able to save the village?
“Probably, it’s impossible for me alone. But, if you lend me your help. “Hyper Vibration Valkyrie” Mirim!”
“Me… what…?”
“You understand that if the Queen’s Army stays this way, it won’t only be this village. Everybody in the continent will suffer! So, Mirim!”
“For the sake of, protecting… everybody…!”
Mustering her strength as a result of the flame now lit in her heart, Mirim stood up.
Acting in concert with Mirim’s vitality, the Hyper Vibration Crystal installed in her chest and waist vibrated, giving off a light radiance.
“Fuah… a, nnh…!”
Withstanding the vibration that stimulated her whole body, Mirim pointed her sword at Ymir.
“Mirim, you bastard…!”
“I, I have… to protect, everybody, in the village…!”
“Evacuate your army, “Iron Strategist” Ymir! You don’t stand a chance!”
Annelotte said, restoring her lance back to the shape of a sword.
“Guh, mmuh!”
Ymir clenched her teeth. Although it was mortifying, it was just as Annelotte said.
“Mirim…! If you leave the royal protection, you’ll be considered a heretic for using alchemy. Lady “Inquisitor” won’t stay silent, either!”
“I, I understand that! However, how can I abandon my village!”
“Fine then, go to hell on your own, I’ll let lady Sigui get rid of you. You’ll get burned at the stake along with that demon girl!”
Leaving them with that parting threat, Ymir ran away, escaping from there.

“M, miss Annelotte… thank you very much…!”
Representing the villagers, Mirim bowed her head to Annelotte.
“I should be the one thanking you. However, from now on your village will be exposed to danger because of me. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not like that… Besides, not only this village is in danger. If we leave them as they are, how many villages would have been destroyed by the Queen’s Army?... At least, that’s how I feel.”
After Mirim said that, she took Annelotte’s hand and said, beseechingly.
“That’s why… miss Annelotte, I… I want to join your Rebel Army, please!”
“Eh… B, but.”
Due to Mirim’s desperate vigor, Annelotte backed off one step involuntarily.
But, Mirim closed the distance between her and Annelotte again, and begged Annelotte, staring at her within breathing distance.
“I, I have opposed Miss Ymir… I have nowhere to go now.”
Mirim appealed to her through teary eyes. Looking at her face, Annelotte felt like the strength of her shoulders was leaving her somehow.
Fuu, Annelotte replied while breathing a sigh.
“So… That’s how it is? I don’t mind, but I can’t guarantee that you’ll be alive tomorrow.”
“I’m prepared for that! Besides, it’s not decided that tomorrow will be worse than today, is it?”
Mirim might have been saying that frantically, but she gave no indication that she was going to change her mind.
Moreover, Annelotte also had better have one more comrade.
With a wry smile, Annelotte said to Mirim.
“I understand, from today on, you’re one of our comrades, Mirim. Welcome to the Rebel Army.”
“T, t, thank you very much, miss Anne… Sister!”

“S, Sister?”
Annelotte stared in wonder when she was addressed more respectfully all of a sudden.
“Yes! Can’t I call you that, Sister?”
“It, it’s not that… just…”
“Great! Now then, Sister! What should we do now?”
“R, right… we must rejoin our comrades.”
“Understood! We shall depart! Let’s go! For real!”
“Y, yes.”
Somehow affected by the spur of the moment, a puzzled Annelotte left the village.

-To be continued-

Poor Mirim, if Nyx was the unluckiest girl in all QB, Mirim is definitely the QBR counterpart.
The names of Mirim's village and sister are actually written as "Washirika" and "Aria", I don't think we'll get an official romanization, though.
And a fun fact, the "Let's go!" Mirim says in her last sentence is written in English in the original, but in a really weird way, so I bet she doesn't even know the meaning of the phrase.

Next chapter, what are Yuit and the others up to?

QB Battle 27.8

2012-01-15T06:22:00.000-08:00

Multiupload: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Started correcting some minor mistakes with recent characters, and added Morrigan (thanks to Okami31) and Zelda-Sheik (thanks to Luis Carlos + Okami31), though it's mostly Sheik, actually:

Coming next: finishing the round of minor corrections, some surprise characters to celebrate, and I'll try to squeeze in Samus Aran as well.

Edit (01-16): Didn't notice two fanmade pics were PNG, Morrigan was bugged at Off Balance. Fix: Multiupload/Sendspace

Edit 2 (01-19): Replaced the Marshland Witch's pic with a full scan of the page. In case you want to know what is says, it'd be "Finally here! The Marshland Witch participates in the war's climax! Scheduled for launch in 2012"

Edit 3 (01-20): Queen's Gate Kanu was released, and we have more previews than usual this time. Also, WTF, they went and shut Megaupload down? That is both ridiculous and a bother, but as if that will accomplish anything... :p
I hope Anonymous stop them before they get any crazier.

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 4

2012-01-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

So, next chapter, originally posted here. Since that's Annelotte's dark side right there, you know things are going to get messy.
Let me know if you spot any mistake, and enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 4: Demon Blood Again

"Big bro, stop! It has to be a trap!"
"I understand. Still..."
According to the information they got on the early morning of that day, a supply convoy had met with an ambush from the Queen's Army and had become isolated.
Although their misunderstanding had been settled and Tarnyang and Sainyang held back and became their comrades once again, if they simply stood and watched, it was evident they'd be crushed before the overwhelming enemy.
However, against Yuit's complaint that they shouldn't go to fight, Annelotte shook her head and replied.
"Still, I can't abandon our comrades.... if we do, I feel that the meaning of the fight will be lost."
"...Okay, if big bro says so... but, make me a promise."
"A promise?"
"Yes, take me with you. Then, when the soldiers move, everybody will come forth. Even with our halved military power, we'll launch ourselves and turn the tables on them."
"Thank you... Yuit"
Annelotte extended her hand and patted Yuit's head.
Yuit smiled from ear to ear, but still had a somewhat proud look.
"Then... come, Ambrosius, and let's go!"
In response to her call, the spirit horse Ambrosius materialized into the empty space, braying loudly.
"Let's go, we'll use our full strength and rescue our comrades!"

---

Annelotte’s party arrived in time to achieve said goal.
The place where the supply unit was ambushed was a straight road, surrounded by a cliff on one side and a canyon on the other.
Because of the surprise attack from above the cliff proposed by Yuit, confusion arose among the Queen's Army which was surrounding Tarnyang’s party, and they successfully used the chance to rejoin them.
Choosing a wedge formation to cross through the siege, it seemed like their strategy to escape had been a success.
However, the plan was still too optimistic, to say the least.
Their enemy, the Queen’s Army, had sent out the strongest warrior amongst them, in order to crush Annelotte’s party.
"Vante! Stop that girl, the "Hyper Vibration Valkyrie" Mirim!"
"Gaoonn!"
"Hyaa… D, don’t come, please don’t comee!"
Turning towards Mirim, who easily cut down Tarnyang and Sainyang, Vante charged.
"No matter if her body is strengthened, this should be effective! Vante, Sonic Blast!"
"Ga, ga, ga, a, a, aaaaaaaaa!"
The shout released out of Vante’s mouth acted as a shock wave, and hit Mirim full on!
"Hyaa! S, Shuut uuup!"
Mirim grabbed both her ears and crouched down.
Seeing their chance then, Annelotte shouted.
"Now! We’re retreating now! Those who can move, go and help the injured!"
The soldiers from the Rebel Army started running, aiming for the breaktrough.
But, screams and blood splashes rose from the battle, and the soldiers fell noisily.
"Hey, you know this just can’t be, fufu, since we were told by Sister Claudette to crush the Rebel Army."
Laughing before them, gazing at the fallen soldiers, was the "Leader of the Fang" Elina.
"What…! Just Mirim was difficult enough...!"
Yuit turned pale, and seeing her chance in that moment of hesitation:
"Teyaaaah!"
"Gaoon!"
Mirim regained the freedom of her body, and cut Vante down.
"Vante! B, Big bro…!"
Annelotte caught the look on Yuit’s eyes, and gnashed her teeth.
Because of her imprudence, was she to lose comrades again?
Abandoning her comrades, would she shut herself up in the castle?
If she had more… more power!
A person heard the murmurs in Annelotte’s mind.
It was someone in the inner depths of Annelotte’s heart, who could barely suppress a chuckle while it whispered.
"I assume, I can take your place?"
"Who… who are you?"
"I am you. "Possessed Knight Annelotte." In spite of being bloodthirsty and starving for a fight, you can’t find a reason to swing your blade and kill your opponent, so I’ll kill them on your behalf… I’m your other self!"
"No, no! I just… so I can… protect… my comrades…"

---

As a black tornado occurred in the middle of the battlefield, the "Inquisitor" Sigui observed the situation from a distance.
"That’s.... what a sinister-looking energy...."
Clutching the mace with the holy mark tightly in her hands, she muttered a prayer to God.
Wasting no time, she clearly understood what was happening among the confusion in the battlefield.
Before anyone noticed, the beautiful silver hair of the "Princess Knight" Annelotte had changed into a jet black color, and she was attacking her enemies with a strength that surely seemed beyond a human’s.
...No, it wasn’t just her enemies.
Anybody standing in her way, not caring if it was friend or foe.
That’s how she was fighting.

"I never took it at face value, but it seems the"Princess Knight" Annelotte being a demon is not a lie after all…"
"Miss Sigui."
Awaiting behind Sigui, the priest fighters called out to her as they watched the situation.
Sigui nodded towards them in agreement, and said.
"Let’s go. To those who fail to see the light of god, it’s our duty as the terrestrial representatives of God to hand down divine punishment."

---

""Holy Pose", "Worship"!"
Sigui entered the battlefield with a loud proclamation, raising her nun garbs slowly and praying to God, and settled in an instant the confusion which was governing the battlefield up till then.
Everybody there, no matter if they were friend or foe, postrated themselves before Sigui, who stood up exposing her underwear.
That was the "Holy Power", a manifestation of the miracles of God.
"Gaoon!"
Being a mechanical woman made from alchemy, known as the "Alchemy Miracle" Vante, she wasn’t affected by the effect of Sigui’s Holy Pose.
But, Yuit couldn’t help but to kneel before Sigui against her will, and couldn’t give her a command.
Therefore, Vante had to stay upright, waiting for an order.
"Wa, wait, why can’t we help kneeling? This isn’t logical!"
"Fuwawa… I, I can’t move…!"
Even Elina, along with the Queen’s Army she commanded, and Mirim were kneeling just like the Rebel Army.
"Before the majesty of God, there are no friends or foes."
Sigui spoke to those admiring the effects she herself had brought about.
"Besides… Mirim, you’re an evil warrior who uses alchemy. Just the same as those wild heretics. It wouldn’t be strange for me to put you on "trial"!"
"Hiuu! I, I’m not… But I’ve prayed a lot, and back in my hometown, I even went to church together with my siblings!"
"Then, I’ll have to "educate" you carefully so that you don’t stray from the path again."
Sigui smiled gently. But, feeling something ominous from her smile, Mirim shivered.
"I heard the Rebel Army was a wicked army, being led by a demon ringleader, with a heretic strategist who used alchemy, and who had won over savage tribesmen as comrades… clearly, all the rumors were true."
"Hey! Who’s a savage tribesman from the country! "
"Tarnyang, this is no time to interfere…"
"Uneducated savages… still… It seems I have to be her opponent now."
Sigui turned around, and faced the knight princess, the only person who would be able to escape the restraint from the "Holy Pose".
"U…gh, gu… uh."
Gritting her teeth, eyes sparkling, Annelotte slowly rose up.
"As expected from a demon… wouldn’t you say? Shaking free from God’s restraints enough to move, that’s not something an ordinary person can do."
Sigui slowly prepared her mace.
"S, stop! Big bro isn’t evil! Because, it was the Queen’s Army who attacked us!"
"In that case… Assuming a bear attacked a human village, would you leave it at large just because it came looking for food?"
Sigui ignored Yuit’s scream.
"Besides… if the opponent is a demon, as an "Inquisitor", leaving them at large would be equivalent to sin."
Muttering in order to persuade herself, Sigui then turned toward Annelotte, and proclaimed loudly.
""Possessed Knight" Annelotte, veredict, guilty. As is appropriate, my humble self will burn you at the stake!"
"Oooooh!... Kill, kill, kill!"
Annelotte, with disheveled, jet black hair after she transformed due to the manifestation of her demonic blood, closed her distance with Sigui.
Chink! Sigui’s mace parried away Annelotte’s sword, the "Grim Venus".
"Eat this!"
Throwing off sparks, the "Grim Venus" changed its form from a sword into a spear, altered its trajectory, and tried to land a thrust on Sigui.
"As expected from a demon’s weapon, I can’t be careless… But, I’m the strongest!"
Sigui shouted while twisting her body, and the chain coiled around her waist extended, twined around Annelotte’s spear and took it.
"Guuh!"
As her wrist was twisted, Annelotte let out a groan of pain. After the chain coiled around her hands and took the spear, it was hurled away.
Swoosh!
"Hyaa!"
The spear flew through the air and landed blade first into the ground close to Yuit, who let out a scream.
"W, what are you doing, that’s dangerous!"
"If it hit you, it’d save me the time to burn you at the stake."
Sigui replied with an unconcerned look. Before her eyes, Annelotte was standing the pain well, but her prey wouldn’t be snatched away.
"So, prepare yourself."
Step by step, Sigui approached Annelotte.
As long as she could get closer, with the power of her Holy Mace she could sentence Annelotte to burn at the stake.
"Gu, gu, gu…!"
Resigning to her impending death, Annelotte kneeled on the ground.
"Big bro…!"
Yuit shouted with a grim voice.
"But…! You can’t die, big bro, big broo!"
Was it that her voice reached her ears, or was it the survival instinct of a demon?
"U…o, o, oooooooh!"
Howling as loudly as she could, Annelotte grasped her fist tightly and hit the ground under her feet!
Thuuump!
"A vain struggle, isn’t it… eh, w, what!"
Sigui dropped her mace, and raised her voice in amazement.
Rrrumble… Resounding from behind the cliff, a sound like a rumble could be heard from the ground.
"It, it can’t be… the power of a demon, is this strong…!"
The cliff collapsed, as the ground broke and fell into the canyon.
Sigui muttered while her face became pale due to the current situation.
"You realized you were going to die, so you tried to take me down as well… but that won’t happen. How fitting is it that only you and your renegade comrades will die here!"
"W, what a disaster! As we are now, everybody will fall into the bottom of the valley, we must run away!"
"Hauuu, I, I can’t move my body!"
"…That girl from before, she hasn’t freed herself yet."
"Sainyang! I’ll explain later!"
"Vante! Help the others!"
"Gaoo!"
Among the chaos, Yuit freed her body and wrote commands on her device to control Vante without delay, but it was a moment too late.
"Kyaaaaaa!"
Except for Sigui’s subordinate soldiers that escaped quickly, the soldiers of both the Queen’s Army and the Rebel Army still remained.
All of them fell into the canyon, along with the collapsing rubble…

---

"Annelotte, 0 points."
As her consciousness faded, she recalled the words of the teacher who had once taught Annelotte well.
It was certainly a rare morning for it to be snowing on the teacher’s forest.
The teacher had thrown a snowball at Annelotte, and as Annelotte had tried to parry it with her sword, her face had gotten covered with snow.
Seeing that, her teacher had said so.
"My pupil. As you know, your sword is made for cutting. But, even if you wanted to cut the snowball, it split into two and hit your face. Do you understand?"
"So, what am I supposed to do?"
Annelotte had asked defiantly, and when her teacher had said to throw a snowball at her, she had done just that.
"Eii!"
And then, she had stared in wonder.
Her teacher had swung the sword lightly, diverting the snowball’s trajectory without splitting it, and it had fell by her teacher’s side.
"If you cut everything that you hit, the sword won’t accomplish half of its role. Cut whatever you should cut, and don’t cut whatever you shouldn’t cut. Any person able to do that is a swordsman worthy of 100 points."
"How can I do that?"
"Become strong."
Her teacher had answered carelessly.
"If you’re weak, you can’t cut what should be cut. If you’re halfway strong, you’ll cut what shouldn’t be cut, and you’ll probably be tortured by regret."
After saying that, her teacher had added with a whiff of a smile.
"It’s on this year that I've understood that as well. Because of that, you mustn't stop even though hardships may appear, just do your best now."
And finally, her teacher had said.
"Don’t get drunk on "power", Annelotte. Whatever your sword cuts, it absolutely must be under your own control."
Teacher… I am, useless…
My sword… I couldn’t suppress the impulse of destruction…
My inner self… rather, my other self…
The demon blood… that, I won’t forgive…

-To be continued-

It's the first time Alleyne appears directly in these stories, in a scene that wouldn't show up in the OVA, but since she remains unnamed, I guess she really is doomed not to appear in Rebellion.
About the Holy Pose Sigui uses, it was previously translated as "Holy Pose: Service", but given its actual effect, "Worship" is more fitting.
And on the fall, if I understood it right, it's just Annelotte and random soldiers from both sides who end up falling.

If you want to know if Annelotte makes it out of this, don't miss the next chapter!

QB Battle 27.4

2012-01-01T03:57:00.000-08:00

A nice update to start the year with:

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Added the recent QBR Izumi (by a hair's breadth, really), based on LW's Gildersleve but with a special arrow instead of spells, and thanks to Okami31, not only Zero Suit Samus:

But also Katt:

Also, the What is QB? was updated with the recently announced Rebellion character, the Marshland Witch herself.

Coming next: Zelda-Sheik, and Morrigan. And in a matter of days, a new Illustrated Story.

Queen's Blade Rebellion Illustrated Stories: Upheaval, chapter 3

2011-12-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

Since no one seemed to volunteer to translate these, I guess it’s up to me.

If you’re not familiarized with them, the Illustrated Stories are the way Hobby Japan are telling Rebellion’s canon story on an episodic basis. The first volume worth of stories was compiled here, and the first 2 stories of the second volume were translated (also by Fabio) here: first one (1 & 2), and second one (1 & 2).

With that said, it’s time for the next story, originally posted on this Hobby Channel page, to shine. Feel free to correct me if you notice anything wrong with the translation, and enjoy!

Upheaval, chapter 3: Coming! Twin Taimashi

The Margrave Kreutz’ territory.

The Margrave Kreutz’ territory had once been a famous place in the kingdom, it had started as a desolate outpost but due to the cultivations of the inhabitants, it became the grain-producing region of the greatest kingdom, called the “golden land” for its development.

The Margrave Kreutz was a man famous for his loyalty, who didn’t join the conservative forces in their opposition to the count Earl and the Queen’s Blade tournament that determined the next Queen, and pledged alliance to the successive Queens.

One year ago, the former Queen Aldra was defeated at Queen’s Blade, and during the coronation of the new Queen Claudette, the fate of that land and its population was reversed.

The rumor that the Margrave bitterly faced Queen Claudette, who advocated for the abolition of the aristocracy, is said to have been the beginning of it all.

Even the nobles, with forces opposing the Queen and harboring similar emotions as the Margrave Kreutz, couldn’t attack.

A rumor instantly expanded "Seems like the Margrave isn’t pleased with the new Queen’s plan to abolish aristocracy”. Even more, you could say it didn’t take long until it was exaggerated as much as “The Margrave is going to rebel" and “He’s training even unarmed women and children in order to make his whole territory into a rebel army”.

And finally, to prevent a royal suppresion army to turn towards his territory and crush the inexistent, illusory rebel army, the Margrave Kreutz’ territory was dragged into the vortex of the flame.

Even that Margrave Kreutz was relentlessly, crushingly smashed by the Queen’s faction.

The several aristocrats who had underestimated the new Queen's seriousness didn’t fight after that, and relinquished the territory to the Queen.

That was, one year ago.

That had happened no more than one year ago.

And yet, Annelotte remembered it.

And yet, she… she had to come this far.

"Big bro!"

Annelotte was interrupted by Yuit’s voice calling out to her.

“Ah, uuh… so, how’s the situation inside the castle?”

“Right, the reparations are almost complete, since it was a splendid castle from the start, it’ll make a great stronghold for us!”

“Is that so?... That’s very good.”

“Ah ... I’m sorry, big bro... I’m remodeling a castle with so many of your memories…”

"It’s fine. It’s much better than it just rotting away.”

Annelotte hurried to reply with a smile at Yuit, who was making an apologetic face.

Yes, where they were now was the Margrave Kreutz’ territory, where Annelotte was born and raised.

It was because of the castle.

On a certain day, Annelotte and the others had gone to the Large Fang Mountain but didn’t meet the "Bandit of the Wilderness" Risty, and it wasn’t by chance, as they got to know the facts from the mouth of the person who had escaped from there.

Due to the raid of a mysterious opponent, the Rebel Army had been partially destroyed.

In order to let the others escape, Risty had gone missing.

They couldn’t meet Risty herself, but they befriended her companions, fellow warriors with the will to face the Queen’s Army.

And due to Yuit’s suggestion, they had abandoned the ruins and were remodelling the Kreutz castle for it to become the stronghold of the Rebel Army.

“It’s reassuring to have more people… but there’s a big problem.”

Yuit sighed.

"As I thought, is it the severe shortage of goods?"

“Yes… now, with the bandit group… no, Risty’s companions that became members of the Rebel Army, who stole some of the supplies from the Queen’s Army, we’ll be able to endure for a little more… but if we keep up like this, a subjugation army will surely be dispatched.”

“In that case… we still don’t have a chance."

“I seems so .... although I’ve set some traps to defend us for now, I can’t honestly say if they’ll buy us enough time."

"Traps ....? I don’t find it pleasant for you to get used to and add strange mechanisms to this castle…”

"Hmph, big bro, isn’t that harsh. Don’t you understand, "Necessity knows no law"?"

“I get it, I get it… though logic and feelings are different things.”

Despite Annelotte saying that, Yuit was opening her mouth to explain it all once again from scratch, when:

“Gaoou! Gaoou! "

Waiting behind Yuit, the “Clockwork Automaton” Vante raised her voice in a roar twice.

“Vante?"

When Yuit heard Vante’s voice, her facial expression changed completely from Annelotte’s protégée to genius strategist in a moment.

“Yuit, what’s wrong? What did Vante find?”

Yuit replied briefly to Annelotte’s question.

“…An intruder, big bro… “Somebody” other than our comrades, is approaching the castle…”

---

Kreutz’ castle, before the castle gate.

Two girls were standing in front of a huge iron door, shut firmly.

The duo was wearing the national costume of Shai-Fang, the place north of the continent considered an Eden for its mountain glaciers, both of them joined by a metal ring on their necklaces, connected by a string.

The necklace and the string where called the “Ryu-Rin-Nen”, and it was proof that the twins were the Taimashi [antidevil experts] that protected the unexplored region of Shai-Fang, the Eden with its mountains that parted the clouds.

“Easy, Sainyang! Don’t get cold feet after coming this far!”

“I don’t mean I’m particularly frightened… I just mean we should proceed a bit more formally… going with sis’ violent ways, it won’t turn out well…”

"Don’t you understand, if we don’t try, we won’t know if it turns out well or not! We’ll age faster if we only think about how we’ll fail before we do it!”

“We, we won’t age faster…”

The moment Sainyang flinched, Tarnyang turned her body to the gate, opened her mouth widely and shouted.

"Is that…? That one too…? "Princess Knight" Annelotte! “Alchemy Strategist” Yuit! Both of them have come out, we can fight them if we need to!”

“Hey, sister… just stop… When we met those people last time, we couldn’t grasp their strength.”

“Sainyang, you coward! Have you forgotten how we were deceived by them and the terrible experience we had?”

“It sure was a terrible experience… but, but…”

As Tarnyang turned her gaze away from her, Sainyang murmured in a whispering voice that couldn’t be heard by anybody.

“But, wasn’t it because of sis’ hostility…”

Tarnyang didn’t hear Sainyang’s murmur.

Because, peeping out the windows of the castle walls, Yuit turned up and asked Tarnyang a question.

“Long time no see, Tarnyang, Sainyang. Did you find the goshintai [object of worship containing the spirit of a deity]? What terrible experience did you have?"

“Whaat? Gaah!”

Tarnyang raised her brow at Yuit’s casual question.

“How can you say such a thing! What do you know! What do you know of the hardships we suffered!”

“Wh, wh, what are you talking about?”

As far as Yuit remembered, when they met before, two people were on a trip to look for the “goshintai” that was stolen from the “Eden” Shai-Fang.

They had travelled together just for a few days.

On the way, they were able to hear some rumors about the “goshintai”, and went to confirm them.

Tarnyang’s and Yuit’s parties had gone in different directions.

“Because of… Because of you I thought we would die! So hot, narrow, stinky, itchy… I remember it aaaall!”

“Mostly, I think you reap what you sow, as Tarnyang recklessly plunges into things.”

Behind Tarnyang, that was making a fuss, Sainyang whispered in a low voice.

“A, anyway… I more or less get it, you experienced something terrible… then, what do you intend to do?”

Swish! Thrusting the finger in her direction, Tarnyang declared loudly.

“Yuit! I won’t be satisfied unless I beat you up! Fight!”

"Eh... ?"

Yuit was flabbergasted at the unexpected words.

She turned to look at Tarnyang with a very apologetic face.

“Wai, wait a second, a fight, can’t we talk it over?”

“Shut up shut up shut up! Until you crawl to my feet and say you're sorry, my anger won't settle down!"

"Huh... why did it come to this..."

Yuit sighed and looked up at the sky, then cast her eyes to the ground again.

At that time, her expression had become one of complete resolution.

"It can't be helped, if you say that much, I guess I can't do anything... But!"

Yuit raised her hand towards the sky, and snapped her finger.

"Gaoooon!"

Along with the roar, a shadow of a person that was holding back behind Yuit appeared, aimed at the ground, and jumped down from high above!

"Your opponent won't be me... but Vante!"

"Wait, uh, you can't hand it down! Fight yourself!"

Tarnyang was panicking at the unforeseen development, but Yuit answered with a straight face.

"Vante is a Clockwork Automaton my mother built. That is to say, Vante will fight whenever I fight! Now, Vante, let's go! Let's cool down her head!"

"Gaon!"

Raising up both arms of steel, Vante threatened Tarnyang and Sainyang.

Responding with an even more fearless smile, Tarnyang adopted a peculiar pose.

"Fufun, when this automaton gets knocked down, it'll be your turn next! Sainyang, don't lag behind, let's go!"
"Eh, uh, y, yes!"
Called by Tarnyang, Sainyang got ready while keeping her always reluctant facial expression.
"Two people as one! Watch carefully, the might of the Twins Dragon Formation!"

"Still, if you think about it, I feel we don't really need to fight, though..."

"Shut up! Like the old saying goes, "In for a penny, in for a pound"!"

"You're using it wrong..."

"Sainyang, we don't have the time to look away now! Look out, it's coming!"

"Eh... Hyaa!"

Vante had charged at them from afar, closing the distance at a speed beyond common sense, to strike Sainyang while she wasn't prepared!

"Haah!"

Tarnyang pulled the string that connected Sainyang and her, and thanks to her drawing her sister towards herself, Vante's fist stopped just before Sainyang's eyes.

"Hey, Sainyang, this will get dangerous if you don't pick up the pace!"

"...But, I've been serious so far."

"I, I mean, get even more serious! C'mon, let's go!"

"Y, yeah..."

After Tarnyang said so, she held both of Sainyang's legs by the side, and held her up in the air.

The expression with which she glared back at Vante was brimming with the confidence of victory.

"Take this, Twins Dragon Formation!"

"D, Dragonic Spin... ...!"

"Deeeyaaaaah!"

Slam!

Along with the scream, Tarnyang swung Sainyang's body desperately and attacked Vante!

"H, how... what?"

The scene stunned Yuit a little.

But, the Dragonic Spin wasn't a technique out of desperation.

Swinging Sainyang was making full use of one of their art's strong point, increasing the two people's offensive strength several times, up to tenfold.

"Gaoooon!"

Crossing both steel arms, Vante was blocking Tarnyang's attack.

But, the two people's attack was so heavy and strong that both her legs were firmly digging into the ground, as she was pushed back more and more.

"Nuaaaa!"

"Hyauuuu!"

Letting out a roar, Tarnyang was swingng Sainyang.

Raising her voice in a shriek like manner, Sainyang's body was striking Vante.

Vante's whole body was creaking, and it appeared to have reached its limit.

But, Yuit smiled with a daring grin, even confronted with a situation of obvious inferiority.

"Vante, now!"

Just then, she pointed at them and gave an order.

"Gaoooooooonn!"

Letting out a remarkably loud roar, Vante extended both hands, and simultaneously grabbed both Sainyang and Tarnyang, who still held her.

"Hyann?"

"Wh, what?"

"Vante, noooow!"

"Gaoooon!"

Vante threw Tarnyang and Sainyang together.

"Hyaaaaa!"

"Uwaaaaa!"

The duo screamed while flying through the air, as they were heading to a canal close to the gate.

Splash! Raising a great spray, both of them landed on it.

Fortunately, it seemed that the water had dried up halfway and they were only around waist level deep.

"Sa, Sainyang! Hurry up...!"

"...W, wait a second, don't push, sis...!"

After being thrown, both of them had become intertwined in a weird posture and they couldn't stand up easily.

Laughing at the situation, Yuit shouted.

"There's no way to escape! I made it myself, behold the power of the Kreutz castle's defensive system!"

Saying that, Yuit turned on a device.

"Wh.. what-what!"

"Wawawa .... wawaa!"

As their bodies were lifted up, Tarnyang and Sainyang embraced each other and screamed.

A trap knit with a thick rope had been built into the bottom of the canal, and had picked up the two entwined people and lifted them up.

“Like this… oww, I can’t move…!”

“I told you so… calm down…”

“You’re 100 years too early to beat the intellect of myself, Yuit, the “Alchemy Strategist”!”

Yuit declared proudly, looking down on the two people who complained under her gaze.

"Sure, if you fight fair and square, you’re stronger than Vante. But your weak point is that you two are connected by your necklace, and your honest characters. .... In some respects, you're similar to a certain somebody."

---

“…What's taking so long, Yuit?"

Informed about the captured visitors, Annelotte came and, seeing the two soaked people hanging, asked with an amazed look.

“The castle’s defense is working properly, we had to show you, big bro.”

“That may be true… but that doesn’t mean you can keep them hanging up forever… release them immediately.”

“Uuu, Annelotte! You deceived us once, but we won’t forgive you! If you release us from this trap, we’ll fight you again!”

“...Again… I think we lost completely… however, if you keep struggling… it hurts…”

Annelotte tilted her head at the words of the struggling Tarnyang.

"Deceived? What in the world…?”

In the end, Annelotte and the others understood the reason behind the misunderstanding of Tarnyang’s party.

-To be continued-

---

So, that's it for this chapter. I don’t think this was mentioned before, but Vante’s usual cry, “Gaon”, is the onomatopoeia of a lion’s roar.

And since they were just introduced, I should note that Tarnyang is supposed to speak with a noticeable Chinese accent, as she ends most of her sentences with the chinese “ne” (something rather untranslatable). Sainyang doesn’t, though, but even in the gender-ambiguous Japanese language, she gets directly referred to twice as a “she”, in case there was any doubt.

So, look forward to the next chapter, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

QB Battle 26.9

2011-12-18T03:46:00.000-08:00

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Added the fanmade Cassandra and, an unusual concept, Valkyries (thanks to Okami31 for the pics):

Coming next: BOF2's Katt, and Zero Suit Samus (unless Izumi gets scanned early, probably we won't get her next time).

Also, check back next week when, against all odds, I attempt to revive the translations of the Illustrated Stories.

QB Battle 26.5

2011-12-04T02:56:00.000-08:00

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Added the fanmade Psylocke and Saber Alter (thanks to Okami31 for finding pics for both):

Coming next: Cassandra, and probably Valkyries galore.

Edit (12/09): Updated the What is QB? page with the next character (after the upcoming Izumi), Queen's Gate Kanu.

Edit2 (12/16): Izumi's out, and the guys at Moeyo previewed her right on time (for some reason, making the last pics needlessly naughty).

QB Battle 26.1

2011-11-20T03:27:00.000-08:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra (update) + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra (update) + Fanmade (update)

Added Marvel's Spider-Man, and the fanmade Emma Frost (thanks to Okami31):

Corrected some repeating restrictions of some super-heroes, and adopted the official names of the Rebellion girls (Sigui, Yuit & Vante, the media file/update have their updated images), so watch out for the tournaments and stuff.

Coming next: Psylocke.

Edit: Replaced the App file, as Emma Frost had a matrix typo.

QB Battle 25.7 + Vanquished Queens

2011-10-30T02:42:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade

Added the recent Queen's Gate Taki:

Taki has a few of her unique moves, unlike Ivy, it seems they tried a little harder to characterize her properly.

And as promised, I managed to translate the Vanquished Queens artbook, so go get it while it's fresh:

Coming next: Emma Frost (had to settle for finishing the translation in time), maybe Spidey, and updating the Rebellion girls' names and titles to their official ones (like Sigui, Eilin, etc).

Edit (11-12): Just had some sudden, annoying RL business to take care of, I'm postponing the update for next week, sorry.

Queen's Blade Rebellion Izumi's Profile

2011-10-25T01:26:00.000-07:00

A special intermission, to introduce the new character to be released on December 16th (since her profile was leaked quite early :p), Izumi, Samurai of the War God.

"W, What, are you walking in front of me~!"

A ronin from Hinomoto, user of the self-proclaimed "War God Flowing Fencing".
In reality, she comes from a town of farmers, and taught herself fencing. Seems like her false personation was discovered in Hinomoto, and she ran to the continent.
She came across Annelotte, and ended up following her of her own accord. She acts aloof when she talks, but she still follows her earnestly. Even if she were to lose her, she'd follow her with her full spirit.
When it comes to fighting, she wields a huge nodachi [large sword across her back]. She's also able to play a whistle made from seashells, that boosts her strength and her comrades'.
As a vain person, she won't ever say she's "just a warrior from Hinomoto" to try and correct her lie, and hates losing more than any of her fighter comrades.

Height: 154cm
B: 84
W: 56
H: 83
Occupation: Self-proclaimed "Samurai"
Weapon: Nodachi "Saodake" (picked up somewhere)
Protection: Samurai Plate
Likes: Rice
Dislikes: Bossy people
Hobbies: Washing

QB Battle 25.3

2011-10-16T03:17:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Added the fanmade Saber (thanks to Okami31 & Luis Carlos), and an alternate, whip-using Ivy (thanks to Okami31):

Coming next: Emma Frost and Queen's Gate Taki, and I'm aiming to release the Vanquished Queens translation by next time, as well.

Edit (10-25): Besides the great news that is the Rebellion anime green-lit, QBR Izumi has a proper release date now, Dec. 16th, and her cover page was updated. I got hold of her profile as well, so I'm translating it ASAP.

QB Battle 24.9

2011-10-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra (update) + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra (update) + Fanmade (update)

Had to buy the missing Battlebooks myself (the hardest part was finding them, though), but adapted Marvel's Storm, and added the fanmade Komachi Onozuka (thanks to Luis Carlos):

Storm was missing the character sheet, so I hope the real damages of the moves aren't too far off...

Coming next: Alternate (whip-only) Ivy, and FSN Saber.
Even if Taki was recently released, I don't think she'll be on time for the next update.

Edit: Changed the App links to correct Cammy not working in Arcade mode.

Edit2 (10-06): QG Taki was reviewed here. Also, I had to cancel the Vanquished Queens commission as it was unexpectedly expensive, but don't fret: I'm taking care of the matter myself (shouldn't be a surprise by now :p), and I should be able to finish an acceptable translation of the artbook sometime soon.

QB Battle 24.5

2011-09-18T03:21:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra + Fanmade

Added the recent Noel Vermillion:

Since Hongfire is unavailable, updated the Translations page with the text translations of the unedited chars so far (if someone with some kind of editing skills could grab those and translate the books, it'd be awesome).
And while on the subject of translations, I'm about to commission the translation of Vanquished Queens, so that should fill some of the blanks in the "post QB/pre-Rebellion story" soon.

Coming next: Komachi and Storm (now for real), and maybe alternate Ivy too.

Edit (09-20): Fix in case that the game glitches after selecting any character, because of the file with the "banned chars": Megaupload/Sendspace

QB Battle 24.2

2011-09-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra + Fanmade (update)

Added the fanmade Chun-Li (thanks to Okami31) and Sophitia (thanks to Okami31& ayrawinla):

Also thanks to ayrawinla, fanmade guardian Shion and seductress Shion:

And the summoner Shion (naughty pics warning). There's also the config file to enter tournament bosses and chars banned from random choices:

Coming next: Komachi, Battlebooks' Storm and QG Noel.

Edit: Corrected the fanmade updates having summoner Shion not selectable. Also, since no one seems to be taking care of these anymore, translated Rebellion Menace's bio.

Edit2 (09-05): Oh, the next week I had a couple of days off and everything, but it seems I have another week-long trip to Madrid, so don't expect many things for the next update. Noel Vermillion is guaranteed, though, because she's as standard as they come.

QB Battle 23.7

2011-08-21T04:14:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra (update) + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra (update) + Fanmade (update)

Added the recent Lyla (mostly based on LW's Arafael), plus the fanmade Sakura Kasugano (thanks to nabesean):

Also fanmade, She-Hulk and ninja Shion (thanks to Okami31 and ayrawinla):

And adapted one more mecha, the Shadow Hawk. There's now an option to not gain or lose XP ever, and you can change the app's language to French to change a bit of the menus (thanks to Joystikman):

Since this humble blog made one year recently and we're past 30K visitors, I wanted to celebrate by at least reaching the nice number of 150 chars.
Thanks everybody for spreading the QB love, let's aim for 200 characters next~!!

Coming next: the pending config file to choose Banned chars and Tournament bosses, Chun-Li, replay with commentary, maybe seductress Shion, and there's some chance of QG Noel.

Edit (08-22): A little update to fix some of the moves of Lyla, She-Hulk and Sakura: Megaupload/Sendspace

Edit2 (08-23): Added info on the next QB Rebellion character, Izumi.

Edit3 (08-25): A little update for the "fanmade Sophitia DLC" (thanks to Okami31 & ayrawinla): Megaupload/Sendspace

QB Battle 23.1

2011-08-07T03:54:00.000-07:00

A tiny update because of the unexpected trip.

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars + Fanmade (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars + Fanmade (update)

Corrected some accumulated matrix errors, and added the fanmade Christabel (thanks to ayrawinla for doing all the work):

Coming next: fixing an unusual glitch, some more options for the config folder, She-Hulk and Sakura, and probably Lyla.

And yeah, next week QG Noel is getting released.

Edit (08-11): Lyla confirmed for next update, and Queen's Gate Taki announced for late september. (Yay for official & fanmade overlap xP)

QB Battle 22.9

2011-07-24T04:52:00.000-07:00

Now there's a 3rd link with only the fanmade characters:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars + Fanmade chars (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars + Fanmade chars (update)

Added the fanmade Wonder Woman and Touhou's Sakuya (thanks to Okami31 and Luis Carlos), as well as an option to show the images in the reverse order:

Coming next: She-Hulk and Sakura Kasugano.

And don't forget, Lyla is to be released this coming week...

Edit (07-26): Fix for some of Wonder Woman's punches resulting in Lasso attacks: Megaupload/Sendspace

Edit2 (07-29): Next week I'm going on a business trip again, so I'll see if I can get at least Sakura done for next version.

QB Battle 22.5

2011-07-10T04:03:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra chars

Didn't have that much time, so it's only the fanmade Taki (thanks to Okami31):

Coming next: Touhou's Sakuya and Wonder Woman.

QB Battle 22.2

2011-06-26T04:03:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra chars (update)
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra chars (update)

Added the recent Yukimura Sanada, and the fanmade Black Widow (thanks again to Okami31):

Yukimura is short and her attacks are pretty weak, but her strong points (I think) are that she doesn't get disarmed easily (she gets no damage penalty for hitting with only one weapon), and that some of her moves give great score boosts for the next ones.

Note that I'll be on a work-related trip to the capital for the next several days, so I might not be able to fix any potential mistake until I come back.

Coming next: within a couple of days, the "guide for making custom characters", and for the next version, Taki.

Edit (06-27) : First version of the Guide for Custom Characters is up. I tried to explain more or less the basics, so if you guys want more details on any part, I'll try and get more specific.

Edit2 (07-07) : Updated info about the next Queen's Gate book, Noel Vermillion.

QB Battle 21.7

2011-06-12T03:32:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra chars

Added the fanmade Tifa Lockhart (thanks to the pics gathered by Okami31):

Since Tifa is one of the most popular game characters, I tried hard to convey her "FF gameplay" into here.

All the problems that resulted from changing the compiler version should hopefully be solved now...

Coming next: If I can't get anything extra done, at least Black Widow.

Edit: Replaced Rebellion Risty's profile with one I translated into english in the What is QB? page.

Edit2 (06-14): Fix to make Tifa's MP work properly: Megaupload / Sendspace

Edit3 (06-17): Patch to avoid 2P Echidna's disarming glitch, and a correction for one of Nyx' moves: Megaupload / Sendspace

Edit4 (06-23): Patch to avoid 2P Claudette's parry glitch: Megaupload/Sendspace. QG Yukimura Sanada confirmed for this next update.

QB Battle 21.4

2011-05-29T05:05:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars (update)

Changed the music system (should be compatible with everybody, though if that's not the case, let me know and I'll let users choose between the two), and adapted the giant robots Griffon and Locust, from the Battletech series (it's kind of weird to fight robots with normal people, but whatever :D):

The robots had highly damaging moves but took little damage, so to adapt them, they take more damage and the moves are less powerful (the end result is basically the same). Also, they bring a new concept, "overheating": if after doing moves, you reach 30 Heat, you'll only be able to use a couple of moves that release Heat that turn (kind of risky moves, at that).

Coming next: Tifa, and maybe Black Widow.

Edit (06-01): The What is QB? page was updated with Queen's Blade Rebellion Lyla's announcement for July 29th. Also, a fix that might solve the ongoing music problem for some users: Megaupload/Sendspace

QB Battle 21.0

2011-05-15T03:09:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra chars

Added Felicia (thanks to Okami31):

Not really a big update, but I was busy installing Windows 7, upgrading the C# compiler and stuff.

Coming next: mechas ahoy, from the last incompatible series, Battletech's Griffon and Locust.

Edit (05-24): Fix for the glitch when playing music, you guys let me know if it works for everybody: Megaupload / Sendspace

QB Battle 20.8

2011-05-01T03:39:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (update) + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media (update) + Extra chars

Besides the new file in the "config" folder to set your own BGM (let me know if music doesn't play somewhere it should, or if you want different music in another situations), added the recent Ivy, and Yoruichi & Sui-Feng from Bleach (thanks to Okami31 for gathering pics):

Ivy has rather standard attacks (some fans complained about her not having signature moves). As for Yoruichi & Sui-Feng, I tried to split the pages and maneuvers around 50/50, to make each one feel more independent than Eirin & Ymir.

Coming next: Felicia.

Edit: Small fix for replaying correctly 1p vs 2p battles: Megaupload / Sendspace

Edit 2 (05-03): Removed the "adult warning" that kept getting in the way, and added a disclaimer at the top of the page. I hope no one complains, the content is not that strong, imho.

QB Battle 20.4

2011-04-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)
Sendspace: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)

Added Catwoman (thanks to Okami31 for the pics) and updated Cammy's images with more professional-looking ones (thanks to etherblade).

The files you modify in the "config" folder won't be overwritten by updates anymore, and most of the choices in Online battles won't ask both parties now, except for gimmick selection and color selection (like Luna Luna's or Darth Vader's).
By the way, if you want to fight online against other players, be sure to join the Hamachi channel featured at the top of the page.

Coming next: Choosing your own music for each screen, Bleach's Yoruichi & Sui-Feng. (I'll postpone the Night Owl earning Gimmick Points when leveling up until I understand those points better).

Edit (04-27): Ivy confirmed for next update, Yukimura Sanada's preview pics here (she doesn't have a "double matrix", as I assumed her "speed mode" would need, though).

QB Battle 20.1

2011-04-03T03:56:00.000-07:00

Megaupload: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)
Sendspace: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)

Finished the Warhammer guys with Kal Jerico, and now Night Owl can choose Gimmicks (ninja tools) to use in the fights.

As for fanmade characters, beware of the bee showdown: not only Q-Bee (thanks to Charles for gathering pics), but also the "Killer Bee", Cammy.

Q-Bee was quite a challenge (because there isn't much artwork depicting her as in the middle of a battle), but borrowing a lot from the Birdman with Lance and Net concept character, she became an atypical flying character.

Coming next: Night Owl gaining extra BP or gimmick points when leveling up, and some more customization through the "config" folder. It'd be nice if there was Ivy too, but who knows.

Edit (04-05): Fixed some bugs and typos Q-Bee had: Megaupload/Sendspace. And coming next time too, Catwoman from DC.

Edit (04-06): Tiny patch for Q-Bee resulting in incorrect ranges sometimes: Megaupload/Sendspace

Edit (04-08): Fix for Huit & Vingt's Chemical Gas incorrectly succeeding everytime, and to improve the CPU's response against it: Megaupload/Sendspace

QB Battle 19.7

2011-03-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

An update that changed some of the battle's inner workings, hopefully there's no difference.

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars (update)

Added Warhammer's Ephrael Stern, and thanks to Bill, not just the fanmade Balrog from Tolkien's LotR:

But also the Triceratops and LW's Mutant Hill Giant:

Due to a revision of the wraiths' draining, Airi and the other two might be quite stronger now, so watch out for that. Also, renamed Swashbuckler into Lilli and Sarah into Sara, so I'd recommend deleting the "Swashbuckler" and "Sarah" folders.

Coming next: Kal Jerico, Q-Bee and the ninja's gimmicks. Also, Soul Calibur's Ivy is around the corner, so look forward to her sometime soon.

Edit (03/23): Patch for Annelotte not having available moves right at the start: Megaupload / Sendspace

QB Battle 19.3

2011-03-06T03:11:00.000-08:00

An update with an unexpected new challenger.

Megaupload: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)
Sendspace: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)

There's two more of the Warhammer characters, Captain Leonatos and Eldar Exarch:

Also created a QB version of Ryu (thanks to chaosmaje for gathering the pictures), and added the Tyrannosaurus Rex converted from the Dino Fight series by Bill:

Coming next: probably the last two from Warhammer, Kal Jerico and Ephrael Stern, the Mutant Hill Giant and the Triceratops, and maybe the ninja's gimmicks.

(Also, this version might or might not fix the "scrolling bars" problem in Windows 7 computers, let me know about that).

Edit (03/07): QG Yukimura Sanada was delayed, her new release date is April 28th.

Edit2 (03/08): Fix that should make Story Mode properly playable: Megaupload / Sendspace

Edit3 (03/10): Another fix for Challenge Mode (and any battles in a row, I assume) to not glitch, and probably fixes Capt Liliana's odd "matrix error" warnings: Megaupload / Sendspace

Edit4 (03/14): A silly mistake might have caused some of the media files not to have the "captain liliana_10.jpg", so if you get a matrix error while playing with her and that file is not in her folder, download one of the "media update" files from the previous version (thanks to somagu for checking it for me)

QB Battle 18.9

2011-02-20T03:03:00.000-08:00

The biggest update ever, I guess.

Megaupload: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)
Sendspace: App + Media (upd) + Extra chars (upd)

First off, the recently released Captain Liliana and Branwen (based on LW's Daniel the Pirate and Lizardman):

And adapted from Warhammer Warriors, Kharn and Tyranid Warrior:

And thanks to Bill's help, LW's Oowell and the fanmade Retarius (a classic opponent of the Secutor):

Plus, there's Dark Echidna, a fanmade recoloring of Echidna as her 2p color, also by Bill.

The original Warhammer Warriors didn't have attack modifiers and the matrixes of all characters were practically the same one, so for variety's sake, I adapted their attacks and matrixes from established characters with similar "traits". For example, Kharn is basically a "ruthless champion", so I adapted him from Hathor and Claudette's books, and the Tyranid Warrior is a "nightmarish assassin", so I chose the Skeleton and Melona for him.

Coming next: quite possibly, Warhammer's Captain Leonatos and Eldar Exarch, besides more extra characters.

Edit: fixed Flaming Cherry and Dark Echidna glitching when being disarmed.

Edit2 (02/23): The What is QB? page was updated with the announcement of Queen's Gate Sen Tokugawa.

Edit3 (02/27): The next update will have dinosaurs in it. As you'd expect, they'll be tough to beat.

QB Battle 18.3 fix

2011-02-08T01:07:00.000-08:00

Fixed a couple of minor bugs that could happen with several superheroes, and a glitch that happened when player 2 lost a weapon with some characters: Megaupload/Sendspace

Edit: The What is QB? page was updated with the announcement of Queen's Gate Yukimura Sanada and Ivy for March 25th.

Edit2: To be expected in the next update, besides a few more extra characters, Captain Liliana and Branwen.

QB Battle 18.3

2011-02-06T03:47:00.000-08:00

Update for the app and extra chars:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars (update)
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars (update)

Fixed some minor bug that could happen at tag battles, and added the Gunslinger, from Lost Worlds, and the Secutor, a fan-made character.

The Gunslinger is close to what Queen's Gate Alice would become (though with various differences), and the Secutor is a gladiator who can ask for mercy if he's losing.

Coming next: from Warhammer Warriors, Kharn the Betrayer and Tyranid Warrior (after the Marvel heroes, it's time to adapt another incompatible series).

Captain Liliana and Branwen will be released in a matter of days; as usual, they'll be added as soon as possible.

Edit: from now on, I'll try to remember to add "update" links to the new characters that get added to the Media and Extra chars files from one version to another, as was pointed out in the comments.

QB Battle 17.9

2011-01-23T05:04:00.000-08:00

Update for the app:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Celebrating one year of this program, I added Replays: you can save your battles in 10 slots and rewatch them later.

Coming next: a few extra LW books, including one or more fanmade ones.

Besides, the What is QB? page was updated with the announcement of Soul Calibur's Ivy.

QB Battle 17.6

2011-01-09T03:08:00.000-08:00

Update for the app and media files:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Added Nowa in Story Mode, and replaced Cham Cham and Kasumi's scans with the ones edited in english by Staples:

Coming next: a neat, simple feature to celebrate one year of QBB!

Plus, the What is QB? page was updated with the silhouette of the newest Rebellion character, and the delay for Captain Liliana and Branwen (now to be released on February 10th).

QB Battle 17.5

2010-12-26T03:21:00.000-08:00

A small update for the app:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Added one more character in Story Mode, Ymir.

Merry Christmas to everybody!

QB Battle 17.4

2010-12-12T02:04:00.000-08:00

One more update for the app:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Added Cattleya and Claudette in Story Mode.

Because of an intensive course I'll be taking, updates will probably happen every two weeks from now on.

QB Battle 17.2 + QB Bitoshi Retsuden: Adventure of the Exiled Warrior

2010-12-05T02:36:00.000-08:00

Another update for the app.

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Added Alleyne and Leina in Story Mode.

The Translations page was updated too, with the artbook about Leina's story.

QB Battle 17.0 Fix

2010-11-29T05:10:00.000-08:00

Fix for a glitch after Risty's 5th battle in Story Mode:

Megaupload/Sendspace

QB Battle 17.0 + QB Bitoshi Retsuden: Picture Scroll of the Musha-Miko

2010-11-28T06:13:00.000-08:00

Update for the app:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Corrected some dialogues for Echidna, and added Aldra, Elina, Risty and Tomoe in Story Mode.

Also, the Translations page was updated with the artbook about Tomoe's story, plus its Drama CD, and Lyla's picture in the What is QB? page was updated with a more detailed one.
PD: The new QG character, Yukimura Sanada, was added to the list at the above page.

QB Battle 16.6 Fix

2010-11-25T01:30:00.000-08:00

Fix for a glitch after the Story Mode's 4th fight if not on the highest text speed:

Megaupload/Sendspace

QB Battle 16.6 + QB Bitoshi Gaiden: Tome of the Ancient Princess

2010-11-21T03:15:00.000-08:00

Big app update:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Added the Story Mode, with 4 characters available for now:

Story Mode consists of 5 battles through each character's own story, and 2 available endings depending on the choice after the 4th one.
Also, added the Translations page with the artbook about Menace's backstory.

Plus, the What is QB? page was updated with the release date of Liliana and Branwen, and the new Rebellion character, Layla.

QB Battle 16.1

2010-11-14T05:33:00.000-08:00

Small update for the app:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Added Arcade Mode's endings for Claudette, Melpha and Ymir.

Coming next: new feature, Story Mode.

QB Battle 16.0

2010-11-07T03:16:00.000-08:00

Update for the app and media:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Added Arcade Mode endings for Elina, Nanael and Nyx, and edited Stella and Tanyan & Sainyan into english.

QB Battle 15.8

2010-10-31T03:42:00.000-07:00

Update just for the app:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra files
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra files

Corrected Multiplayer mode so that it's almost complete, corrected other errors and added Arcade Mode's endings for Aldra, Alleyne and Melona.

QB Battle 15.5

2010-10-24T04:22:00.000-07:00

Update for the app and media:

Megaupload : App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomer: Queen's Gate Jubei Yagyu.

Besides, added the Data Mode, where you can view the stats of your improved characters.
Some trivia: Jubei is the only QB character that needs both weapons to have attacks with full strength, like Marvel's Elektra.

Also, recently updated the What is QB? page with the silhouette of the new unnamed, winged character.

QB Battle 15.1

2010-10-17T03:43:00.000-07:00

More extra characters and some errors fixed:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Gambit and Hulk.

The new character Jubei Yagyu hasn't been scanned yet (unexpectedly), I'll release an extra update right after her scans surface.

QB Battle 14.8

2010-10-10T03:20:00.000-07:00

App updated with more extra characters:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Darkchylde and The Thing.

Coming next: Queen's Gate Jubei Yagyu, and Marvel's Gambit and Hulk.

QB Battle 14.5

2010-10-03T04:17:00.000-07:00

Update for the app and extra chars:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Citizen V and Shi. Besides, the superheroes now have their own fights in Arcade Mode too.

Coming next: Darkchylde and The Thing. Since Jubei Yagyu was released days ago, you can expect her to be added soon, too.

With the new Risty Rebellion's look confirmed, recently updated the "What is QB?" page and added a "Characters" page where the full roster and characters expected to appear in the future are listed.

QB Battle 14.2

2010-09-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

A little update for everything:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Elektra and Spider-Girl.

And as a bonus, Ink Nijihara and Melpha edited into english:

Coming next: Citizen V and Shi.

Also, recently updated the "What is QB?" page with the new QB Rebellion character, Branwen.

QB Battle 13.9

2010-09-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

Update for the app and extra chars:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Thor and Witchblade.

For balance purposes, Thor's "Hurl Mjolnir" maneuver now takes two turns to get the hammer back and restricts more of Thor's moves in the meantime; after all, it's one of the most damaging moves in the game.
Coming next: Elektra and Spider-girl.

QB Battle 13.6

2010-09-12T03:36:00.000-07:00

An all-around update:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Vampirella and Wolverine. With this, there's more than 100 playable characters now.

Plus, bonus: Claudette and Melona edited into english.

Coming next: Thor and Witchblade.

Also, recently added a "unconfirmed characters" section in the "What is QB?" page.

QB Battle 13.3

2010-09-05T04:33:00.000-07:00

An update for the app and the extra chars.

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Iron Man and Rogue.

Multiplayer battles can be fought to the end, also with 1p vs 2p, though there still are things to adjust.
Coming next: Vampirella and Wolverine.

QB Battle 13.0b

2010-08-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

Fixed some minor bugs in Multiplayer Battle, plus added full scans for Claudette, Melpha, Melona, Ink and Stella, and corrected the last two's matrixes.

Megaupload: App + Media
Sendspace: App + Media

QB Battle 13.0

2010-08-29T03:39:00.000-07:00

App and media update:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomers: Queen's Quest Stella and Ink Nijihara (though their matrixes might be wrong in a couple of spots, will be corrected when full scans are available)

The picture above also shows the new Multiplayer Battle: one fighter against various opponents at the same time, the blue "change field" button changes between opponents. It's still not complete so it may not work as it should yet, but you can get a feel of what it'll be like.
Coming next: Iron Man and Rogue.

Also, updated the "FAQs" page with the books that aren't scanned, and recently updated the "What is Queens Blade" page with the next QB Rebellion character's name.

QB Battle 12.6

2010-08-22T02:43:00.000-07:00

Update for the app and the extra chars:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomer: Captain America, from Marvel Battlebooks (a limited series based on Lost Worlds, with an intended simpler system).

The original Marvel Battlebooks didn't have Extended Range attacks and had different order in the pages and in the matrixes, so the process to convert them for compatibility with QB is:
-Adding 8 missing pages (reusing art from other pages)
-Rearranging moves and adding Extended Range maneuvers
-Unscrambling the matrixes twice
-Finding the QB/LW character with the closest matrix, and adapting that matrix to the new character
-Editing the new page numbers and page titles, and missing restrictions from new pages
Coming next: Ink Nijihara and Queen's Quest Stella.

QB Battle 12.4

2010-08-15T03:39:00.000-07:00

New version of the app and the media file:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Newcomer: Aldra Rebellion, Aldra (R) for short. Plus, bonus: Mina Majikina edited into english.

Aldra Rebellion is based on "Arcanthus, the Sage" from Lost Worlds, just replacing his spells and scrolls with her demons' abilities and improving the damage from his Thrust attacks to compensate for her not having Fake attacks.
Coming next: Captain America (from Marvel Battlebooks).

Also, updated Yagyu Jubei's release date in the "What is Queens Blade?" page.

QB Battle 12.1 Fix

2010-08-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

There was a bug that made Arcade mode unplayable sometimes if you had more than 60 chars, fix here:
Megaupload/Sendspace

QB Battle 12.1

2010-08-08T04:08:00.000-07:00

An app update:

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

Corrected some errors with enabling moves, corrected 2-step maneuvers like Katja's or Tanyan & Sainyan's, and added True Versus for Tag Battles.
Coming next: Rebellion Aldra.

QB Battle 11.9

2010-08-04T02:14:00.000-07:00

A new update that adds a Tournament for the Tag Battle mode, and customized lists of teams and tags.

Megaupload: App + Media + Extra chars
Sendspace: App + Media + Extra chars

This must be the 30th update or so since I started this project 7 months ago, but since it's the first one I post here, I'll explain what the links are.
App: Exclusively my work, the application, the characters' data and the necessary files for it to run.
Media: Characters' pictures (from Queen's Blade, Queen's Gate and Rebellion) and songs from the Queen's Blade anime.
Extra chars: Characters from the original Lost Worlds books.

Introduction

2010-08-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my humble site, I'll be posting here regular updates for my fan-made game QB Battle. For more info on the game, please click on the links on the top of the page.