Namco × Capcom/Story/S1:Pre-Stage

Introduction

...The real world.

...The past, transcending time and space.

...A world of swords and magic.

...The land where gods reside.

...The land ruled by demons.

These are various worlds that should never intersect. The events unfolding in each world...

...No one yet realized that all of them were the sparks that would ignite a great war to come.

...At that time, Reiji Arisu and Xiaomu, agents of the special agency "Shinra," who had just finished a battle in Shibuya, were hurrying back to the "Shinra" headquarters.

20XX AD - Shibuya, Japan

(After the sound of a call in progress, the call is disconnected)

Reiji: "Tch... It's no use."
Xiaomu: "That's strange... Weren't they supposed to be open 24/7?"
Xiaomu: "...Could it be, their business hours... have changed?"
Reiji: "That can't be."
Shion: "Um, what's wrong?"
Reiji: "...I can't contact HQ."
KOS-MOS: "There appear to be no radio interference issues."
Reiji: "That's helpful."
Reiji: "Then... it must be 'them'."
Xiaomu: "The secret society 'Shadaloo'..."
Xiaomu: "The fact that they knew about us means there's a high possibility they're up to something bad."
Xiaomu: "They might also know something about the 'sleeping sickness' that's recently become prevalent."
M.O.M.O.: "Sleeping sickness...?"
Reiji: "Strictly speaking, it's closer to collapsing than actually sleeping."
Reiji: "They're alive, but they seem to be unconscious... That's what it is."
Reiji: "The cause is unknown. There's even a far-fetched theory that 'someone stole their souls,' but in this world we live in now..."
Reiji: "I can't deny that either."
Shion: "In this world we've come to... it seems like something terrible is happening..."
Shion: "KOS-MOS, is there anything else you can find out?"
KOS-MOS: "There is insufficient information at this time."
KOS-MOS: "It is believed that no further information can be obtained from this location."
Reiji: "That's perfectly reasonable. ...Alright, let's go."
Xiaomu: "Oh... that's right, speaking of which... when we were fighting earlier..."
Shion: "Is there anything else... that's bothering you...?"
Xiaomu: "Hmm. ...Um, I think your name was Momo?"
M.O.M.O.: "Huh...? Oh, yes."
Xiaomu: "Your skirt's too short. ...It's making me nervous."
M.O.M.O.: "Ah, um... I'm sorry."
Shion: "Is that what you were concerned about during the battle!?"
Reiji: "...You can ignore her."
Reiji: "For now, we have no choice but to go directly to HQ."
Reiji: "That's right, before that... There's somewhere I'd like you to come with me."
Shion: "Eh...?"

[Location: Mishima Zaibatsu Building]

Reiji: "The Mishima Zaibatsu Building... There are people waiting for us in front of it."
Reiji: "It's a place I was planning to go to after we finished dealing with the problems here."
Shion: "That's fine. We did come here suddenly, after all..."
Xiaomu: "That's no good. Men are wolves. You shouldn't just follow them so easily, you know?"
Reiji: "Don't feed strange information to someone who came from another world."
Reiji: "We're going to the Mishima building. We can't be late."

[Location: Namco Theater]

Xiaomu: "Hmm. From here, it'd be faster to pass the front of the 'Namco Theater'."

20XX AD - Japan, Namco Theater

Wonder Momo: "Thank you so much!"
Wonder Momo: "Someday... someday I'll come back here again!"
Wonder Momo: "I won't say goodbye!"
Wonder Momo: "I'll just express my gratitude! Thank you so much...!"

(Cheers)

---

Sakura: "Ah, it's over..."
Karin: "It can't be helped."
Karin: "This theater is located very close to Shibuya, which has been designated a 'closed city'... and so many people are gathered here."
Sakura: "But, you managed to get tickets for the final performance."
Sakura: "...It was worth a shot."
Karin: "Didn't you know? My Kanzuki Zaibatsu was also involved in the construction of this Namco Theater."
Sakura: "Really!?"
Sakura: "They're involved in everything, aren't they?"
Karin: "Of course. The Kanzuki Concern is known throughout Japan, and indeed the world, in the political and economic spheres..."
Karin: "Their reach naturally extends to every genre, from weapon development to entertainment."
Karin: "'In all things, always be the victor'... This family motto doesn't just refer to physical defeat..."
Sakura: (Hoo boy... once she really gets started, she'll never stop... Better change the subject...)
Sakura: "Um... but now, the planned collaboration live performance between Wonder Momo and Felicia is canceled too."
Karin: "...You've touched on something you shouldn't have, Sakura."
Sakura: "Huh...?"
Karin: "Felicia, the musical star from Metro City, was scheduled to come to Japan."
Karin: "And the collaboration with 'Wonder Momo,' the 'Battle Musical'..."
Karin: "You said it so casually, but do you understand how much profit my Zaibatsu was expecting from that?"
Sakura: (Whoopsie, another landmine?)
Sakura: "Ah, um, Kanzuki-san? How about we go get something to eat nearby?"
Sakura: "We can continue the conversation there. Okay?"
Karin: "We're in the middle of a conversation... but I suppose it can't be helped."
Sakura: (Phew... This isn't a high school student's conversation anymore...)

1 Hour Later - Japan, Namco Theater

Momo: "..."
Momo: (So... it's all over now, huh?)
Momo: (I finally made it this far... I came all this way...)
Momo: (I practiced so much for the live performance with Felicia...)
Momo: "But... I guess it can't be helped..."
???: "...That's right, it can't be helped. Momo... Kanda." Momo: "Huh!? Wh-who is it!?"
Momo: "The building is already closed...!"
Amazona: "..."
Momo: "Amazona...!? What's wrong? The final performance is already over..."
Amazona: "..."
Momo: "...You're... different!? Who are you!?"
Amazona: "Momo Kanda... You will meet Lord Druaga."
Momo: "Wh-what are you... talking about!?"
Momo: "Lord... Druaga...!?"
Amazona: "Momo Kanda... You have no right to refuse..."
Amazona: "If you resist... I'll cut off one or two of your limbs... and take you by force..."
Momo: "...Wh-why...!?"
Amazona: "..."
Momo: "S-someone! Is anyone there!?"
Amazona: "It's useless... Your screams won't reach anyone..."
???: "...Except for one person."
Amazona: "...!"
Momo: "Huh!?"
Amazona: "You...who are you...!?"
Bravoman: "Bravoman, has arrived...!"
Momo: "Bravoman... B-Bravoman?"
Momo: "The Super-Powered Human... Bravoman!?"
Bravoman: "I've come to pick you up, Momo Kanda..."
Bravoman: "No, 'Wonder Momo'."
Momo: "...Huh?"
Amazona: "...Don't do as you please..."
Bravoman: "Momo, who is she?"
Momo: "Amazona... She's my rival, but... she's been acting strangely lately..."
Bravoman: "...It seems she's been possessed by a demon."
Momo: "A demon...? What are you talking about...?"
Amazona: "Momo Kanda is...the one with the strong soul power to become Lord Druaga's 'sacrifice'..."
Momo: "Sacrifice!? What are you talking about!?"
Bravoman: "And you are being targeted by a demon."
Bravoman: "Because you possess such strong power that you can draw out the power of the 'Super Transformation Substance'."
Momo: "Super... 'Super Transformation Substance'...!?"
Bravoman: "We'll exchange business cards and talk in detail later, but for now, let's get outside...!"
Bravoman: "Momo Kanda...you must make a decision there."
Momo: "...A decision...?"

Meanwhile - Japan, In Front of Namco Theater

Felicia: "...Aw man... I didn't make it in time...?"
King: "Yeah. If everything went according to schedule, it should be about an hour after it's finished."
Felicia: "Geez... what's going on, King!?"
King: "Well, there's nothing we can do about it..."
King: "The plane was delayed because of the 'monster incident'... What else is there?"
Felicia: "...I guess."
Felicia: "*sigh*... The collaboration live show next month has been postponed indefinitely, and I couldn't even make it in time today... Ugh!"
King: "The problem is happening on a global scale... There's nothing we can do about it, no matter how angry we get."
Felicia: "Does that mean all we can do is wait in silence?"
King: "The Lord is watching. He wouldn't just leave things like this."
Felicia: "...Well, that's true..."
King: "By the way, about that monster incident... Are you not involved in it?"
Felicia: "...To be honest, I do sense something strange."
Felicia: "But... hmm, the smell feels different somehow?"
Felicia: "King, you seem to have a good sense of smell too... You understand, right?"
King: "....This is a mask."
King: "But, this is a bad sign. There's also the matter of 'Shibuya'."
Felicia: "That's why I came to say hello specifically for the final performance!"
Felicia: "And yet, I didn't make it in time...!"
Felicia: "On top of that, I came here secretly, so I'll get scolded by my manager when I get back..."
Felicia: "Can't you think about poor me for a change?"
King: "...Think about me, who was dragged along against my will."
Felicia: "Well, well... Don't be so sulky, King."
Felicia: "Don't bare your fangs like that."
King: "...This is a mask."