Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 0 (Manga) Discussion (Chapter 5 out)

[loafhero]

As of this post, the manga is yet to be released but from what is said from Anime News Network (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-01-27/phantasy-star-online-2-gets-episode-0-manga-in-february/.111522), the release of the 1st chapter will be in February (this month, as of this posting). Better to start early, I say. Like with the "Episode 4 Discussion" thread, the purpose of this thread is to discuss about the latest chapters.

I'll try to update the title of this thread as soon as the latest chapters are out. For example, if Chapter 2 of the manga is out, I will edit the title to "Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 0 (Manga) Discussion (Current: Chapter 2)". This way, those that aren't informed of the latest release and especially if their done discussing the previous chapter will know a new chapter is out.

As a surprising amount of users here intend to support the original work such as via purchasing Shōnen Ace (the magazine that the manga is being featured in), I believe its best that we try to avoid doing the following:


Posting the RAWs or links to the RAWs

Posting the full chapters or links to the full chapters that did not come from Shonen Ace or Comic Walker website

Posting a full page or links to the full page of the chapters


What we can try to do:


Posting one panel (that is, the small boxes displaying a scene within a page)

Posting a link to the chapters from the Shonen Ace website (web-ace.jp/shonenace/) or Comic Walker (http://comic-walker.com)

Simply making a post that informs others that the latest chapter or RAWs are released (no links, no images, just inform it through words)


There are no penalties to disregarding the "Don'ts", there's nothing to stop any of you from doing so and you won't be verbally called out on it (at least, not by me). Any of you are free to view the RAWs or scanlations at your own leisure. The only reason to adhere to the Do's and Don'ts here is out of respect for those that want to support the original work and out of respect for the author.

I am currently not aware of any possible translation team planning to translate the manga. Chances are, the manga will remain untranslated to us indefinitely. If any of you have an understanding of Japanese, feel free to summarize the contents of a chapter here.

This is the link (https://twitter.com/kbk_kiyu) of the author's Twitter for those that want to know more about the manga.

[Altiea]

We could do translations, if there are people willing to do it.

I'll probably get scans in once I get my copy, but according to LA Kinokuniya, special orders don't typically show up until a week after release (same deal with my PSO2 Fashion Catalog that I ordered from them). Since we're doing the whole "don't post everything" bit, I'll just link to an imgur album.

[loafhero]

New update from the Shonen Ace Twitter update which shows a new cover once again featuring Matoi and the OG Melphonsina. The tweet also confirms the issue's release will be on the 25th this month. I guess we should expect the chapter to be out on the website by that time:

The cover (https://twitter.com/shonen_Ace/status/834335933776302080)

It looks like Melphonsina is wearing the Neighbor Quartz outfit, one of the available female outfits at the start of the game. I had expected that she'd be wearing Melrandia's outfit from EP1 (minus the tacky giant hat and back ribbon) having assumed that Melrandia was trying to emulate Melphonsina in appearance. At the very least, she could have been given a unique outfit that not only would have made her more distinguishable in appearance but would have also made for a future AC or SG scratch in the game. I mean, the manga is still ultimately advertisement for PSO2 after all.

Loving how cold Matoi looks in the cover.

[Lyrise]

After reading through quest 1, I have to wonder - just how strong Melphseana really is. In their younger days, she's depicted as much stronger than Gettemhult, and not only that, he even admits that she's much too strong for him, how he'd lose to her every time they sparred. The game treats the older Gettemhult as pretty monsterous (at the time of episode 1 that is)...

[Zysets]

We could do translations, if there are people willing to do it.

I'll probably get scans in once I get my copy, but according to LA Kinokuniya, special orders don't typically show up until a week after release (same deal with my PSO2 Fashion Catalog that I ordered from them). Since we're doing the whole "don't post everything" bit, I'll just link to an imgur album.

Will LA Kinokuniya have it in stock? If so I'll probably drive over and buy it myself.

[yoshiblue]

After reading through quest 1, I have to wonder - just how strong Melphseana really is. In their younger days, she's depicted as much stronger than Gettemhult, and not only that, he even admits that she's much too strong for him, how he'd lose to her every time they sparred. The game treats the older Gettemhult as pretty monsterous (at the time of episode 1 that is)...

Love is a hell of a drug.

[loafhero]

That Lisa cameo was interesting. Apparently, she still looked the same even when Afin and Eucreta were still little kids. I see why SEGA is currently hiding her age.


After reading through quest 1, I have to wonder - just how strong Melphseana really is. In their younger days, she's depicted as much stronger than Gettemhult, and not only that, he even admits that she's much too strong for him, how he'd lose to her every time they sparred. The game treats the older Gettemhult as pretty monsterous (at the time of episode 1 that is)...

Its probably the origins of why Gettemhart became so obsessed with nothing but fighting. Melphonsina was probably like a milestone for Gettemhart. Someone he hoped to surpass one day but when she died, he became an empty shell of his former self who can't remember why he liked fighting to begin with.

[Altiea]

Will LA Kinokuniya have it in stock? If so I'll probably drive over and buy it myself.

They do not have it in stock as of today; I don't believe it's in their typical import set. If you place an order for the April issue, however, they'll have it in by next week.

[EspeonageTieler]

yo someone wanna hook me up?

[Altiea]

Just got my copy today. I literally almost laughed out loud at Melphonsina's choice of class combo and weaponry; in terms of gameplay, FI/TE running TDs and Talis is pretty bad.

In all seriousness, I'm liking the direction we're going so far. Matoi has good contrast and personality range, and a lot of characters that got dumped after EP1 are seeing the limelight again. Hope the next one keeps up the momentum.

Also, that sweet Dudu cameo.

[Rayden]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but what's the status with translation for those of us that can't read Japanese? :( Is anyone working on it? Is there any ETA? Thanks a lot.

[Altiea]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but what's the status with translation for those of us that can't read Japanese? :( Is anyone working on it? Is there any ETA? Thanks a lot.

I highly doubt any translation work will be done on it. If we want a translation, we'd probably have to do it ourselves.

[TheszNuts]

Think the main priority is getting RAWs out first, its not like we havn't had to deal with moonspeak already.

[Altiea]

If anyone cares, I'm also working on the relevant TV Tropes page, (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/PhantasyStarOnline2EPISODE0) as with the rest of the PSO2 chronology.

[Zangor17]

im pretty interested in this. summaries could be nice for people who don't read Japanese. Also wish i could see the whole raws for pictures but since posting links here seems to be the unpopular choice, guess i wont hold out too much hope for this.

[Altiea]

im pretty interested in this. summaries could be nice for people who don't read Japanese. Also wish i could see the whole raws for pictures but since posting links here seems to be the unpopular choice, guess i wont hold out too much hope for this.

http://www.pso-world.com/forums/showthread.php?237007-PHANTASY-STAR-ONLINE2-EPISODE0-Raw

Raw's already been linked on another thread, if you want it.

[Zangor17]

oh. that's the whole chapter?! i just assumed that was part of it based on some of the entries on your TV tropes page. Seems like there's pages missing? some of the events like dark falz apprentice appearing aren't in the scans. again apologies for asking when people want to officially support the manga.

[Traumin]

If anyone cares, I'm also working on the relevant TV Tropes page, (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/PhantasyStarOnline2EPISODE0) as with the rest of the PSO2 chronology.

On the trope "Funny Background Element", that's not a random arks. That's Klotho on the ground next to Dudu.

[Altiea]

On the trope "Funny Background Element", that's not a random arks. That's Klotho on the ground next to Dudu.

Is it? I couldn't exactly tell. I'll look again.

[Altiea]

oh. that's the whole chapter?! i just assumed that was part of it based on some of the entries on your TV tropes page. Seems like there's pages missing? some of the events like dark falz apprentice appearing aren't in the scans. again apologies for asking when people want to officially support the manga.

Huh. Actually, yeah, you're right. The imgur album is missing like, half the chapter, including the fight scene and all the other stuff. That's really weird. Unfortunately, I don't know where to find a complete raw.

[Golgotha]

http://marumaru.in/b/origin/193130

This is probably the complete scan. I'd like to try to read it since it has furigana, and maybe even "translate", but given my speed, someone else will probably get to it faster.

[Yamishi]

http://marumaru.in/b/origin/193130

This is probably the complete scan. I'd like to try to read it since it has furigana, and maybe even "translate", but given my speed, someone else will probably get to it faster.

I can't read Japanese, but I'd be down for helping in just about any other way -- placing text, anglicizing translations, et cetera.

[Golgotha]

Okay, I slapped it together hastily, as I haven't noticed anyone else doing it.

http://imgur.com/a/LNrGT

I'm not a specialist in anything that constitutes this sort of task, so you're welcomed to fix whats broken or clean scans or improve it overall.
I have transcription with 50% more typos if anyone wants to just start over.

PS: first upload order was bonkers, should be fine now

[loafhero]

So, going off what translations I can find:

[SPOILER-BOX]- The art and fight scenes leave much to be desired. For a manga that's on a monthly release schedule and not a weekly release schedule, I expected more. I mean, I'm not asking for Berserk or Vagabond art quality but sheesh, I've seen better art from weekly release mangas.

- Exposition is handled clumsily. I especially found the race description to be misleading and pointless what with race stats difference being pretty much insignificant in-game. Not to mention that mentioning about Newmans being great at Techniques sounds dumb as a few pages later, we see a T-ATK Human waifu completely demolish a T-ATK Newman. Granted, we're fully aware of why that specific Human waifu is so good at Techniques but still.

- I'm liking Melphonsina's personality so far and I sure do get a kick out of seeing Gettemhart being talked down to and actually being scared of someone else. Would have loved to see a short flashback of one of their sparring matches, or rather, just the end result of it given how "meh" the fight scenes are in this chapter.

- Matoi is just great in this chapter. I've been wanting to see her old cold ruthless self from EP2-6 and this chapter delivered on that. I particularly like this panel of hers the most:

41029

- Matoi's banter with Xion/Clarissa, who is being a smartass troll towards Matoi (Oh, so THAT'S where Xiao gets it), is adorable and fun to watch. More of that please.

- I do have to wonder why Clarissa chose to tell Matoi that Melphonsina isn't a Dark Falz after Matoi fought and almost killed Melphonsina instead of before like with the Player in EP2-6.

- Little Melrandia is adorable. Damn you Gettemhart for destroying all that sunshine and joy by being an abusive prick later on!... Oh, and little Zeno is there too. Yay, I guess?

- Why is Melphonsina patching herself up in the Shop area for all to see? I get that Oracle people are probably desensitized to ARKS girls showing off a lot of skin but come on. The ships have med bays for that. Its not like it wouldn't have been possible to put Gettemhart, Melrandia and Zeno in a scene together if Melphonsina was in a med bay instead of the Shop area. Plus, I totally would have loved to see more of the hot ARKS nurses (who I'm pretty sure are also doctors too given the lack of contrary evidence) and maybe a short cameo of Fillia in training.

- Despite Lilipa (at the time) being a restricted area, somehow without any explanation, Melphonsina still manages to travel there without any trouble by a Campship. I'm not really sure how Campships really work beyond how they function in-game but shouldn't Campships be programmed to not allow regular ARKS to travel to restricted planets? Does Melphonsina happen to be a skilled hacker or did she have connections to pull strings for her? That should've been explained.

- Why did Melphonsina think it was okay track Matoi alone? She got her ass kicked the last time she fought Matoi alone.

- Apprentice appears at the end but honestly, she's easily the most pathetic of the Dark Falzes and, ironically, the least attractive looking. Luther is obviously the prettiest looking Dark Falz. Can't wait for Luther to appear.[/SPOILER-BOX]

[TheszNuts]

Are we to take Merlandia calling Shina sister literally or as an honoriffic?

[Nyansan]

Are we to take Merlandia calling Shina sister literally or as an honoriffic?

Both have the same eye and hair color so I assume they're literally sisters

[Altiea]

Apprentice was only portrayed as pathetic because all of her screentime in the game (all of one Chapter) was spent getting her ass kicked and using meat shields to win a fight (and lost it anyway). The manga is probably her chance to shine.

[loafhero]

That is true. Hard to really show off how strong and menacing a villain can be if their constantly pit against a character that's way too OP for them.

Also, I just noticed that Melphonsina wasn't using any Mates or a healing technique to treat her wounds. Just bandages... What is this? Earth? Girl, this is A.P.228 and you're a friggin Techer. Get with the times!

[SPOILER-BOX]
https://youtu.be/Q6ctb-Pb3lc[/SPOILER-BOX]

[Traumin]

Are we to take Merlandia calling Shina sister literally or as an honoriffic?

They are sisters. This is due to pretty "eh" revealing by Sega/translations, but in Melrandia's ex chapter where you're in the Darker den, it's revealed what Shina's fate already is.
[SPOILER-BOX]She dies, and so Randia takes her older sister's place as "shina".[/SPOILER-BOX]

[Golgotha]

Lilipa was off-limits far before the game events. You only get to visit the planet at cbt-release, and that included being hunted down for peeking into Arks secrets.
[I wouldn't take any manga stuff literally close to game mechanics, because Shiina only finds Lilipa by following transmitter signal]

The Apprentice show up is quite disastrous considering Arks at that moment only fought Elder, and it turned out horrible. Its assumed from manga that Matoi was fighting Apprentice for a while already (that's the part that you travel into at the end of ep2), and - this is my guess - it is the reason Lilipa was locked down until Apprentice changed host.

I have likely botched Shiina's track of thought when she arrived on Lilipa though. It seems a bit more complex than the rest of text.

[loafhero]

A preview of the 2nd chapter from the author's Twitter:

https://t.co/LiggKiUtlX

And what I can tell:

- Matoi looking like she's about to choke a bitch
- Melphonsina looking terrified and I doubt the blood on her face belongs to her
- Melphonsina glomping Melrandia
- Melrandia getting jealous over Gettemhart and Melphonsina being happy together
- On the farthest left, I hope its Luther

[loafhero]

Chapter 2's out:

http://comic-walker.com/contents/detail/KDCW_KS01000058010000_68/

Personal thoughts:

[SPOILER-BOX]
- Matoi's old habit of friendly fire is affecting her ability to fight properly with Melphonsina at her side. I always wanted see this old bad habit of hers addressed and I'm pleased, especially as Matoi shows willingness to improve on it.

- Looks like Apprentice has actual super strength. It wasn't clear at first in EP2 when she strangled + lifted little Sara but its much more evident now as she lifts the bigger Melphonsina with just as much ease.

- Matoi cutting off Apprentice's arm genuinely caught me off by surprise but it was a pretty badass moment.

- Back in EP2, Matoi once talked with the Player about how a random ARKS she tried to help in the past looked at her in fear which caused Matoi to be terrified of rejection. This chapter reveals that random ARKS to be none other than Melphonsina and to be fair, I couldn't blame her for being so scared. Seeing someone's arm get cut off and the one who did it having a murderous look on her face would be terrifying.

- Little Melrandia is still so cute (Fuck you, Gettemhart!)

- Luther finally makes his debut!
[/SPOILER-BOX]

No translation but I really liked this chapter.

[Golgotha]

Since I'm torn between being too lazy to assemble PUBLUS image ripper from ruby (if that even works), having little spare time, and quite few text in this chapter, I'll just put a quick rundown on things that aren't too obvious from pics.

For now at least.

[SPOILER-BOX]
- Wulf and Attosa didn't die from disease, Apprentice killed them.
- Apprentice loses only one arm because Matoi missed.
- After being saved, Shiina goes full spaghetti, but Dia reassures her to just meet Matoi again
- Dia secretly envies Shiina, which by her thoughts "gets everything she wants"
- Luthers age unknown, he is manager of research dept that works on "Void engines" ("void/space engine" in kanji, but "void" in katakana)
- Luther tries to rig six pillar to get to Shion, apparently Matoi now is the only obstacle. He promises Apprentice that she would get her revenge, but in return he wants information about Matoi.
- He says her remaining arm would be more than enough to execute his plan.
[/SPOILER-BOX]

[Meteor Weapon]

[SPOILER-BOX]
- Wulf and Attosa didn't die from disease, Apprentice killed them.
[/SPOILER-BOX]

Uh...who?

[Altiea]

Uh...who?

Council of Six #4 and #3, respectively. Atossa was the original Claris Claes. They're both deceased, but until now their cause of death were never explicitly mentioned. It makes sense that pretty much no one has ever heard of them, since they were only mentioned in Materials Collection.

[loafhero]

Council of Six #4 and #3, respectively. Atossa was the original Claris Claes. They're both deceased, but until now their cause of death were never explicitly mentioned. It makes sense that pretty much no one has ever heard of them, since they were only mentioned in Materials Collection.

Eh, really? I thought Alma was the original Claris Claes.

Melrandia mentioned last chapter that #3 and #4 died from an unknown disease. With this chapter, its likely Apprentice was the one that infected them with the disease.

[Altiea]

Eh, really? I thought Alma was the original Claris Claes.

Melrandia mentioned last chapter that #3 and #4 died from an unknown disease. With this chapter, its likely Apprentice was the one that infected them with the disease.

Right, sorry. I got confused because I'm not looking at my book right now. I believe #4 is Atossa and #6 is Wolf.

[loafhero]

- He says her remaining arm would be more than enough to execute his plan.


That is soooo Luther.

Anyway, looks like this manga will most likely show how Luther succeeded in capturing Xion.

[Meteor Weapon]

I don't know why it took him another ten years just to merge with Xion, where coincidentally the time MC whooped his ass.Was he missing something or I just looked passed through a few details. It's been a long time since I last played Ep2 just to recall any sense of it.

[loafhero]

I dunno. Xion was very vague on her circumstances (and she was considerate enough to admit that). That said, its worth noting that the MC could not have foiled Luther's plans if Xion hadn't given him/her the means to do so.

[Golgotha]

Luther doesn't seem to have an authority to do anything at that moment. He is trying to move around six pillar members who presumably prevent him to access Xion. He wants to know about Claris Clays, so maybe you need a Clarissa device to contact Xion or take control over CC itself. In Ep2, you could recall him capturing Sara, making fake Clarissa etc.


Third chapter preview has something that could be interpreted as Apprentice's hunar form, but maybe its just Vibrace.
https://twitter.com/kbk_kiyu/status/857709475477676032

[loafhero]

I sure as hell hope its Apprentice's Hunar form. Apprentice is the only Falz that's never had a Hunar form shown. However, if Apprentice has a Hunar form then that would create a plot hole; if she had a Hunar form, why didn't she use that mode more often during MB 2-6?

[Altiea]

I sure as hell hope its Apprentice's Hunar form. Apprentice is the only Falz that's never had a Hunar form shown. However, if Apprentice has a Hunar form then that would create a plot hole; if she had a Hunar form, why didn't she use that mode more often during MB 2-6?

Maybe she's cocky? She evidently dislikes getting her hands dirty and has yet to display any form of prowess in direct combat, instead summoning minions or using mind control instead. Whoops, I forgot you can fight her as an enemy. All the salt from the Phaleg fight must be giving me a memory lapse.

[loafhero]

Maybe she's cocky? She evidently dislikes getting her hands dirty and has yet to display any form of prowess in direct combat, instead summoning minions or using mind control instead. Whoops, I forgot you can fight her as an enemy. All the salt from the Phaleg fight must be giving me a memory lapse.

My guess is that the devs just couldn't find the time to implement Apprentice's Hunar mode in-game just like how Apprentice's head accessory was supposed to be her visors that slide down when she goes into combat but then that feature of hers got cut.

[Golgotha]

You're fighting apprentice replicas most of the time. Maybe It has something to do with that the original apprentice isn't recorded by darker well(?). There is no genuine apprentice in the game, she is at best worn out during ep2 flashback. Also apparently in manga losing an arm for Dark Falz is a big deal, she doesn't just pop a new one, and even complains to Luther that it reduces her battle ability.
Its kind of peculiar point in the game, hunar forms don't "die", they drop the one-liner and escape, while clones like luther and apprentice actually fall and decompose.

[loafhero]

Taking a look at the preview pic again and I notice more things that strongly suggest Hunar mode and not Vibrace:

- Darker energy forming around Apprentice instead of from a distance. If from a distance, she'd be summoning something instead of turning into something.
- What looks like a slender arm that belongs to a woman but covered in Darker-like armor.

[Meteor Weapon]

Apprentice's Hunar Form confirmed

Falz Aprejina

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DAga0f0XUAAY2RQ.jpg

https://twitter.com/Ymt9sousaku/status/866972452902936577

[Dark Emerald EXE]

I'm legit disappointed we didn't get a chance to fight this.....
So they introduced something new in the manga....even though...the game is the original content.....welp

[loafhero]

Huh, while I expected this manga to fill out unexplained elements of the game's "10 years ago" event, I did not expect for the events to be retconned.

This chapter clearly takes place during the game's MB 2-6 so the things that got retconned:

- Its Melphonsina who discovers Matoi's favourite place in Naberius first when in the game, its the Player who found it first. Last I checked, Matoi has never shared that spot with anyone other than the Player.

- In the game, Little Sara encountered Apprentice by accident and had no idea that Apprentice was leading the massacre until Apprentice slapped and strangled her. Here, Little Sara knew exactly that Apprentice is the perpetrator and tried to stand up to Apprentice for Little Melrandia's sake. Now, to be honest, I actually like this change as it portrays Sara as having courage even during what was the worst moment in her life. Sure, she was just a child then but I still really like this stronger portrayal of Little Sara.

- And of course, the obvious Hunar form of Apprentice which she never used at all during her fight with Matoi in the game. It still looks awesome, though. In fact, Hunar forms have always looked cool... except Double.

- The only way to explain all of this is if it turns out that what we're seeing is a timeline where neither Player nor Persona interfered in through time travel.

All that said, I totally ship Matoi and Melphonsina. No room for you Gettemhart!

[Meteor Weapon]

So there's a possibility that Melphonsina and Gettemhart will probably return in either EP5 or EP6 or as an extra chapter.

[loafhero]

I really liked the part where Apprentice is casually sitting on top of a Kartagot's back.


So there's a possibility that Melphonsina and Gettemhart will probably return in either EP5 or EP6 or as an extra chapter.

I hope not. Nothing against the characters (Melphonsina, at least). I just wish the story has some balls and actually keep certain characters dead instead of using time travel or Deus Ex Phaleg to undo their deaths.

[Dark Emerald EXE]

Isn't Gettemhart like dead? Since he was Falz Elder and double ate em.....which we sort of defeated

[Vatallus]

Gettemhart/Elder is dead at this point of the story. Ate and absorbed by Dark Falz Double. Only reason Luther wasn't fully digested was because Photoner.

[Golgotha]

Maybe its a different timeline or something else, manga hasn't resolved yet, who knows.

I still like to think that manga isn't just an alternative story but foreshadowing to ep5 resurrection theme, where PD rewrote past this way that doesn't involve you, or some other weird stuff.

[Dark Emerald EXE]

Maybe its a different timeline or something else, manga hasn't resolved yet, who knows.

I still like to think that manga isn't just an alternative story but foreshadowing to ep5 resurrection theme, where PD rewrote past this way that doesn't involve you, or some other weird stuff.

But......PD was Persona which was you...from another timeline......that.....

http://www.quietspeculation.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Counting-Cards-640x250.jpg

[Tymek]

Have Chapter 2 and 3 been translated yet?

[zandra117]

aww I missed chapter 2

[loafhero]

Reading this chapter again, Little Sara being injured by Apprentice actually looks kinda funny. Its mainly the expression Sara has on her face that kills the seriousness of her injury scene.

Something else I notice from reading again, on page 24.... sheesh, that ARKS looks like they lost their right arm and legs.

[Yamishi]

Have Chapter 2 and 3 been translated yet?

I didn't even know Chapter 1 was translated...

Edit: Found it a few pages back. Looking forward to more! :)

[Vatallus]

For the sake of discussion I fully believe this Manga can and does take place in a timeline where we haven't intervened yet. For all we know this could actually be the timeline where Persona originally came from. We know nothing on how Matoi's situation went at Apprentice or after Apprentice if we didn't show up.

All we really know is Persona came from a timeline where Matoi became Profound Darkness. It didn't specify when or where she did, just that she did. But we do know Persona has feelings for Matoi. They obviously were partners still at some point. It could have just been with a Matoi who was 28 instead of 18. (Remember 10 year gap between Matoi vs Apprentice and when we found her).

All we know is that we went back in time. Found Matoi's hiding spot instead of Melphonsina, and befriended Matoi instead. We see Apprentice's Hunar form in the manga during their fight. We didn't see it in game. For all we know our presence at that scene (actually Persona's) could have triggered something in Matoi that made Matoi decide to outright nuke Apprentice instead of giving Apprentice the chance to change.

In the end this is all just a theory unless they tell us otherwise, but I do believe this could and would have been possible in the timeline where Persona originally came from and Persona's actions making a bit more sense. Example - Persona looking for Clarissa but not even knowing where the parts actually are.

A way to cross check this would be to see how the Zeno of that timeline developed.

[Meteor Weapon]

Iirc, Elder/Gettemhart's reaction towards Double at EP3 imply that Double killed the original Melphonsina.

[Vatallus]

Iirc, Elder/Gettemhart's reaction towards Double at EP3 imply that Double killed the original Melphonsina.

Double did. There is nothing saying yet that Double won't do it again. We don't see her at all during our time travels. That doesn't mean she wasn't still alive though. It was even stated by Melrondia that Gettemhart changed after the person he cared about was killed 10 years ago. I think this was in.. ep2 she said that? Killed by a Falz. Melrondia supposedly had the chance to save this said person but chose not too over jealously. Assuming the english translations were correct at the time.

That doesn't mean she won't die the same way again though or in another way. If we go by what Persona says all hope was pretty much lost in his timeline. If this manga ends up tying in as a prelude to Persona's real timeline then Melphonsina is still killable at some point. Maybe not right now in the manga, maybe not at the end depending where it ends, but still possible that at one point she dies.

[loafhero]

All we really know is Persona came from a timeline where Matoi became Profound Darkness. It didn't specify when or where she did, just that she did. But we do know Persona has feelings for Matoi. They obviously were partners still at some point. It could have just been with a Matoi who was 28 instead of 18. (Remember 10 year gap between Matoi vs Apprentice and when we found her).

I wholeheartedly approve of cougar Matoi.

[Anduril]

To me it seems like it could also be possible that this timeline is more than just one iteration back. Something like:

Timeline 1: Ep0--> at some point after Matoi becomes [PD], Xion sends "The Player" back to change things, thus creating

Timeline 2: Things then play out similarly to 2-6, but "The Player" still fails in their mission, and Matoi becomes [PD], forcing them to have to travel back again, but now as [Persona] (basically, a timeline that didn't have it's own [Persona] as a separate player in things, and whose "present" is null)->

Timeline 3: Ep1&2 aka "Our" timeline
Also, maybe there are two [Persona]s in "our" timeline:


The one in the present, who is the one from the previous timeline who didn't live "our" life (explaining why they don't know exactly where the parts of Clarissa are)
The [Persona] who we meet in 2-6 being the "us" who gave into despair at the end of Ep3 (with the 2-6 fight being an event that only happens in "our" timeline, not in the previous [Persona]'s)

Which to me would explain a bit of the behavior differences between the two, with the "first" [Persona] still seeming to want to protect Matoi to some degree (to the point of becoming [PD]), while the 2-6 one is intent on killing her. (Unless I'm forgetting a conversation in Ep3 that basically makes them one-and-the-same)

I just made my head hurt... I'm sick and tired, and I'm not even sure if any of that made sense.

[Altiea]

I really want the player to make a cameo at the very end of the manga. That would be cool.

I am prepared for a Falz Appregina miniboss fight in EP5.

[loafhero]

Yeah, time travel's a bitch. Its better not to think too hard on it.

[Vatallus]

EP3 Persona told us multiple times to kill Matoi before it is too late. So that Matoi wouldn't need to suffer. I think Persona only changed his/her idea after watching us weaken Matoi Veil which convinced him/her to use Clarissa and drain the darker energy from Matoi (and us) into him/her. Even though this would still mean Profound Darkness would be born, Matoi would be safe, and with our combined strengths we would be able to hold Profound Darkness as bay because animeeeeee~ ... I need to stop.

This is also the same Persona who told us they tried many times to save Matoi just to watch her become Profound Darkness anyway. Ultimately convincing Persona that killing her pre-Profound Darkness was the best option.


EP5 better be about Profound Darkness and making some new Falz because if I get another episode like EP4 I'm going to need some drugs to help with this depression. Or give me more Quna Assassin. One or the other. Just do something damn it.

[loafhero]

Something I realized is that if the manga's story is one where neither Persona nor the Player time travelled in, that would mean that Sara would have never gave the Clarissa to the Player. Luther would still kidnap her AND acquire the Clarissa.

[Golgotha]

Have Chapter 2 and 3 been translated yet?

I'm in an ugly hiatus until July, and my inability to rip pages in normal resolution for ch2-3 doesn't help.

On a bright side, contents of 2-3 are pretty much WYSIWYG, spare that one post about second chapter.
If someone will be so kind to find/upload fair res of chapters, but no one will show up to translate them, I will eventually try to make it so.

[Rayden]

Has Chapter 1 been translated yet?

[loafhero]

Latest chapter is out.

[SPOILER-BOX]- Unlike what I had thought, there is someone to pick up the Clarissa from Little Sara despite the absence of the Player; Melphonsina. This, along with how Persona never appears to stab Matoi, further shows that Episode 0 is an alternate retelling of the game's "10 Years Ago" event" where neither Player nor Persona time travelled in and Melphonsina replacing Player in this scenario.

- Apprentice summons 2 brand new insect darkers for the fight but they don't really show anything worth mentioning about as their killed pretty quickly by Matoi. The fight itself is pretty hard to follow as some things are drawn so messily and certain scenes zooming in too close to the characters.

- Matoi gives an AWESOME slasher smile as she continues to fight Apprentice despite a handicap. Consider me scaroused!

- The mind-controlled ARKS part happens just like in the game but with Apprentice in her Hunar mode as she's using the mind control. Also, unlike in the game, the mind-controlled ARKS do land a hit on Matoi... multiple times. One even breaks her arm by stomping on it. Damn.

- Melphonsina joins in to help Matoi against Apprentice. I'm hoping that Matoi finishes off Apprentice the same way she did in the game cause that scene was pretty epic.

- So far, it doesn't seem likely that Matoi getting stabbed is gonna happen but I could be wrong. It would be interesting to see how things would have turned out if Matoi wasn't accidentally sent into the future, though.
[/SPOILER-BOX]

[Golgotha]

Preview of quest 5 doesn't seem to deviate from how the things went with main character.

http://pso2.jp/players/news/image/sysupload/element/info/20170629/A02.jpg

[loafhero]

I just checked out the preview.

Gettemhart with a horrified expression on his face with what appears to be Melphonsina's face on the right panel. Presumably, the next chapter will have Double appearing and killing Melphonsina as is in the game's lore.

The other preview looking like Matoi's collected Darker energy about to burst out. She's in horrible pain but its hard to tell if its from having a giant sword stabbed through her gut.

[oratank]

https://cdn.meme.am/cache/instances/folder404/400x/57222404.jpg

[Tymek]

I just checked out the preview.

Gettemhart with a horrified expression on his face with what appears to be Melphonsina's face on the right panel. Presumably, the next chapter will have Double appearing and killing Melphonsina as is in the game's lore.

Melphonsina was killed by [Double]?

Where can I read this by the way?

[loafhero]

Melphonsina was killed by [Double]?

Where can I read this by the way?

In EP3, as the Player is making inquiries on the "10 Years Ago" event in order to help Afin's sister problem, they learn from Zeno that Melphonsina was killed by a powerful Dark Falz that were a pair and acted very childishly.

You can read it here (http://comic-walker.com/contents/detail/KDCW_KS01000058010000_68/) but for legal and money purposes, they only allow you to read the latest chapter until the next chapter release. You can't read the previous chapters in this site. You can try to find the other chapters in a different site but I've got no clue on any other sites that has this manga.

[zandra117]

why am I getting the feeling that melphonsina becomes the player due to xion hax

[loafhero]

What if the Player was a reincarnation of Melphonsina all along?

[oratank]

yeah thing kinda go to that way shina do all player role done in a game story hope we are not her reincarnation.

[loafhero]

It would explain why Gettemhart took an "interest" in Player in EP1 *shiver*

[Poyonche]

Xion probably made the Player just because Melphonsina failed in saving Matoi. :wacko:

[loafhero]

Xion probably made the Player just because Melphonsina failed in saving Matoi. :wacko:

It would sure as hell explain why Xion chose the Player as if they were as special to her as Matoi was to Xion. Player and Matoi are both her "children".

[Kondibon]

It would sure as hell explain why Xion chose the Player as if they were as special to her as Matoi was to Xion. Player and Matoi are both her "children".Can I use this as an argument against people shipping Playa-chan and Matoi...?

[loafhero]

Can I use this as an argument against people shipping Playa-chan and Matoi...?

Why bother? You'll just be bombarded with "wincest" counter-arguments.

[Vatallus]

Figured I'd just drop this here. CDjapan is selling what I assume is the "compiled" volume of the PSO2 Episode 0 Manga set to release on July 25/26th. While I am not certain if this is the whole Episode 0 manga placed together in one book my understanding of the word compiled means it is? Idk.

Anyway just dropping that info here for anyone that wanted to get a physical copy and didn't know anywhere else to get it.


(Also if my understanding of what they mean by compiled in this sense is wrong then someone please let me know)

[djknitex]

Ohh interesting, I will be up on this. What are everyone's thoughts about it? Better than the Anime?

[loafhero]

Ohh interesting, I will be up on this. What are everyone's thoughts about it? Better than the Anime?

The anime was never much of a high hurdle... so, yeah. I think its better than the anime but not by much as the manga is mostly just a retelling of story content we already know but with some deviations. Deviations that I'm assuming were made because its easier to use a pre-written character with a default appearance, race, and gender (Melphonsina) rather than the Player character who could be ANY of those.

That said, seeing badass Matoi in action again is pretty awesome.

[djknitex]

The anime was never much of a high hurdle... so, yeah. I think its better than the anime but not by much as the manga is mostly just a retelling of story content we already know but with some deviations. Deviations that I'm assuming were made because its easier to use a pre-written character with a default appearance, race, and gender (Melphonsina) rather than the Player character who could be ANY of those.

That said, seeing badass Matoi in action again is pretty awesome.

Good enough for me, I'll give it a read before I sleep tonight!

[Tymek]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDixim8XoAEcz2D.png

[Poyonche]

Chapter 5 out

We now know how Gettemhart got the scar on his face !

[Golgotha]

Given how Omega works with dead people, this comic is really sort of a tie-in to the future events - if someone missed the new commercials, you can notice Melphonshina and Gettemhart in here being themselves.

In omnibus, Alma says that time is resilient to changes. Even if you try to change it, the outcome might be the same. For example, if Alma could avoid being killed by Luther, she would still die somewhere else. Which probably led to Xion finding a way to save Matoi without time fixing itself and preventing any sort of intervention. With this concept, "failed" timeline, or altered timeline where the outcome to ep1 is the same, it makes sense.

[loafhero]

I really had a difficult time telling what the hell was going on in the action scenes. Apprentice's Hunar mode is so overdesigned that I often can't tell where her face is or what kind of movement she's making. The drawings were a complete utter mess. Page 28 being an obvious rush job.

The Apprentice fight ended just as fast as it did in the game's story but I had hoped she'd put up more of a fight and lasted longer while in Hunar mode. In fact, I actually think Apprentice's defeat was much more exciting in the game than in the manga. In the game, Matoi (without the Clarissa) dual wielded two Rods, sent Apprentice crashing into a building and proceeded to blast her continuously until the amount of energy from the separate Rod blasts exploded. Here, its just a flash of light from the Clarissa and *poof* old lady Apprentice. Looks like her Hunar mode wasn't that big of a power boost or Matoi was just that powerful.

Also, Apprentice does not escape Matoi after their fight like in the game. Double consumes her immediately afterwards which makes me wonder if little Eucreta will become an incomplete Falz or not.

So Matoi's contained Darker energy would have burst out of her anyway regardless of Persona's intervention or not.

The rest of the events appear to go exactly as Zeno described it in EP3. Gettemhart and Melphonsina overwhelmed by Double while Zeno provides sniper fire from a high vantage point away from the fight. We see Gettemhart get his scar like his in-game model from EP1. I'm also assuming Zeno got his scar too when Double blew up his vantage point he was sniping from.

[Altiea]

Chapter 6 is also technically out a month early, with the release of the book.

[SPOILER-BOX]Sheena and Matoi have a dispute about purifying Matoi, since it would destroy her memories.
They both wind up changing their minds; Sheena wants to purify her, but Matoi doesn't.
Melphonsina forcibly purifies Matoi, which splits the Clarissa into three parts and causes Melphonsina to become engulfed in light and disappear.
Everything after more or less follows the game: Gettemhart goes crazy, we get to see Luther experimenting on Sara, then time skip to the present day, where we see Gettemhart still being crazy, Zeno and Echo doing Zeno and Echo things, and Afin and the player (not shown) finding Matoi in the Forest.[/SPOILER-BOX]

[Anduril]

Chapter 6 is also technically out a month early, with the release of the book.

[SPOILER-BOX]Sheena and Matoi have a dispute about purifying Matoi, since it would destroy her memories.
They both wind up changing their minds; Sheena wants to purify her, but Matoi doesn't.
Melphonsina forcibly purifies Matoi, which splits the Clarissa into three parts and causes Melphonsina to become engulfed in light and disappear.
Everything after more or less follows the game: Gettemhart goes crazy, we get to see Luther experimenting on Sara, then time skip to the present day, where we see Gettemhart still being crazy, Zeno and Echo doing Zeno and Echo things, and Afin and the player (not shown) finding Matoi in the Forest.[/SPOILER-BOX]
I am assuming that that version of Afin's aibou we (don't) see at the end is the first iteration of [Persona].
Now I kinda wish they would give us a side story along the lines of ep.10 of Madoka showing us the other failed attempts to save Matoi that [Persona] went through.

[loafhero]

Chapter 6 is also technically out a month early, with the release of the book.

[SPOILER-BOX]Sheena and Matoi have a dispute about purifying Matoi, since it would destroy her memories.
They both wind up changing their minds; Sheena wants to purify her, but Matoi doesn't.
Melphonsina forcibly purifies Matoi, which splits the Clarissa into three parts and causes Melphonsina to become engulfed in light and disappear.
Everything after more or less follows the game: Gettemhart goes crazy, we get to see Luther experimenting on Sara, then time skip to the present day, where we see Gettemhart still being crazy, Zeno and Echo doing Zeno and Echo things, and Afin and the player (not shown) finding Matoi in the Forest.[/SPOILER-BOX]

[SPOILER-BOX]So, Matoi gets sent into the future regardless even if Xiao didn't open an emergency time portal to pull the Player back into the present. Going with Anduruil's theory, this might be the beginning of the Persona & Matoi cycle that would eventually be broken in the game.

Melphonsina's "death" at the hands of Double was just a mistaken assumption on Gettemhart's part probably because he was unconscious and woke up not seeing Melphonsina at all. Big chance that this iteration of Melphonsina may have been teleported to Omega without her memories (as a result of the Clarissa's purification) while other iterations (PSO2 main timeline) died being eaten alive by Double while saving Melrandia as recounted by Zeno in EP3.

Its also possible that in each timeline that Persona travels to, the Clarissa parts locations are always randomized which would explain why Persona struggles to find the parts.[/SPOILER-BOX]

[Altiea]

[SPOILER-BOX]So, Matoi gets sent into the future regardless even if Xiao didn't open an emergency time portal to pull the Player back into the present. Going with Anduruil's theory, this might be the beginning of the Persona & Matoi cycle that would eventually be broken in the game.

Melphonsina's "death" at the hands of Double was just a mistaken assumption on Gettemhart's part probably because he was unconscious and woke up not seeing Melphonsina at all. Big chance that this iteration of Melphonsina may have been teleported to Omega without her memories (as a result of the Clarissa's purification) while other iterations (PSO2 main timeline) died being eaten alive by Double while saving Melrandia as recounted by Zeno in EP3.

Its also possible that in each timeline that Persona travels to, the Clarissa parts locations are always randomized which would explain why Persona struggles to find the parts.[/SPOILER-BOX]

Actually, Melrondia does tell Gettemhart what happened to Melphonsina, but I think at that point Gettemhart had already lost his marbles and was more or less tuning her out.

Time for some Google Translate shenanigans!

[SPOILER-BOX]As opposed to purification, Matoi's original plan was to actually destroy herself.
The method of purification was the Clarissa literally consuming all of the Photons in Melphonsina's body to do so.
Even after the purification process, the Clarissa is unable to completely purify Matoi, which will ensure that she'll still become the Profound Darkness, just in the future. Which means Melphonsina essentially killed herself for nothing.
[/SPOILER-BOX]

[loafhero]

[SPOILER-BOX]As opposed to purification, Matoi's original plan was to actually destroy herself.
The method of purification was the Clarissa literally consuming all of the Photons in Melphonsina's body to do so.
Even after the purification process, the Clarissa is unable to completely purify Matoi, which will ensure that she'll still become the Profound Darkness, just in the future. Which means Melphonsina essentially killed herself for nothing.
[/SPOILER-BOX]

[SPOILER-BOX]Oh, so Melphonsina really did die but under far more tragic circumstances.[/SPOILER-BOX]

[Golgotha]

I still don't fully understand whats going on when player goes back in time to meet Matoi. Do we rewrite those events somehow, and push Shiina into some unrelated fatal incident?

[Anduril]

I still don't fully understand whats going on when player goes back in time to meet Matoi. Do we rewrite those events somehow, and push Shiina into some unrelated fatal incident?

Yeah, basically. By the player being present, Melphonsina winds up being with Melrondia, Gettemhart, and Zeno during the attack, and she dies at the hands of [Double].

[loafhero]

So, in the end, Shiina is always doomed to die whether it'd be by Double or as collateral from the Clarissa's excessive Photon absorption.

Man, it must suck to be her.

[Tymek]

But in that case, why did Player not die?

[Altiea]

But in that case, why did Player not die?

Well, the player is supposed to be one of the strongest characters in the story. Also, Xiao did hit the panic button and pull them out prematurely.

[Tymek]

Well, the player is supposed to be one of the strongest characters in the story. Also, Xiao did hit the panic button and pull them out prematurely.

Ah, you're right. I should rewatch EP1~3.

By the way, is it okay to share scans? A friend of mine is in Japan currently, and she picked up the EPISODE0 manga for me. She should be back next week. I'd be willing to provide scans to anyone that needs them. Maybe it could help with translating!

[loafhero]

Finally got to reading the last chapter and boy is it tragic.

The cover page isn't even being subtle about MatoixMelphonsina (not that I'm complaining).

The last page has Matoi (in EP1 clothes but not smiling) in the same position as she was in the cover of the chapter. I think what the last page is trying convey here is that although Melphonsina isn't physically there any more, she will always be a part of Matoi (possibly in the form of Photons). Alternatively, its probably trying to convey that there is now a huge empty part in Matoi's heart that she can't even remember which is the more bittersweet interpretation.

Unlike what I had thought, it seems that Melphonsina knew that the Clarissa would turn her entire being into pure Photons but went through with it anyway to save Matoi despite Matoi not willing to do so.

Although there's no translations yet, I think Gettemhart in page 20 is calling Melrandia "Shina" and Melrandia just accepts it silently.

While the last few pages with Afin there are implied to be from the Player's POV, unlike in the game, its Afin who seemingly hears Matoi and leads the Player to her instead of the other way around.

[Rengemaru]

I've bought the complete volume when it first came out, but didn't have much time to read it. Today, I finished reading chapters 3-6 in one go.

And I have to say, I fully enjoyed this "original" timeline of PSO2 before the Player's intervention during Episode 2. The backstories were nice, Shiina was much lovelier than expected, and emotions drawn by the mangaka were aspiring. It truly caught the feelings we got in the game. And Shiina's "will" at the last couple of pages, asking the Player to save Matoi made me tear up as all memories of episode 1-3 came out bursting. A great additional lore piece for a great game.

I'm just looking forward to Shiina from episode 5 and how will she compare to the "original" Shiina.

[Meteor Weapon]

I'm just looking forward to Shiina from episode 5 and how will she compare to the "original" Shiina.

You'd be disappointed.

[loafhero]

Sad to say that whoever is in charge of writing EP5's story doesn't seem to show the same amount of love for Shiina as the author of the manga.

[Altiea]

Sad to say that whoever is in charge of writing EP5's story doesn't seem to show the same amount of love for Shiina as the author of the manga.

Well, Shiina was also the main character in the manga, so...

[loafhero]

Found this cute little special chapter by the mangaka

https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=66484339

Has a cute little moment between Melphonsina and Gettemhart. Their nervousness confirms for me that they were never a couple back then.

Oldprentice on a motorcycle at the end was hilarious.

[Altiea]

Found this cute little special chapter by the mangaka

https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=66484339

Has a cute little moment between Melphonsina and Gettemhart. Their nervousness confirms for me that they were never a couple back then.

Oldprentice on a motorcycle at the end was hilarious.

It's a doujin, but it's done by the same artist... Canon or non-canon?

The pictures at the beginning at least confirm that the doujin occurs in a time loop, since Melphonsina seems to retain her memory of what happened at the end of Quest 6.

[zandra117]

https://kiyuhiko-dojin.booth.pm/items/717473

the full doujin can be purchased here