Episode 10 : Enter the Darkness Squad

Skeleton General Skull Kaiser
(Halloween Empire)

Skull Kaiser, formerly one of Samhain's greatest generals, stages a rebellion against impossible odds. The fate of countless worlds rests upon his ability to protect the Loss Queen and beat back her assailants. Along the way he is forced to fight old friends and make new allies...

Episode 10 : Enter the Darkness Squad

From a video screen, Samhain addresses a shining silver figure, kneeling before him. Samhain informs Titan Foiler of Skull Kaiser's defection and orders him, as leader of the Darkness Squad, to use his team to eliminate the rebel. Titan Foiler stands as Samhain's image fades and cannot believe what he's just heard. He remembers training with Skull Kaiser in his youth—though the figures are always shadowy, we get a nice flashback here of them training with some intricate contraptions, sparring, and then finally being awarded their Artifacts by Samhain. He sighs heavily beneath his armor and calls the rest of the squad to him. We cut to Skull Kaiser tinkering with Gran Pham at an access panel. Gran Mid is nearby coiled up and Skull Kaiser inquires as to his recuperation. The snake groans and Skull Kaiser chuckles, saying that he'll be okay soon enough. Skull Kaiser finds what he's looking for, dislodges a component, and is relieved to see that it's fully intact and still functional. He apologizes to Gran Mid for not letting him use his fire on Gran Pham, but he had a good reason. Skull Kaiser steps away from Gran Pham and turns in the direction of the Loss Tower. Kneeling, he speaks Champagne's name. Her image appears before him, and she's startled by all the destruction around. Anticipating her feelings, Skull Kaiser apologizes to her for his mean talents. She looks to him reassuringly and shakes her head, telling him that she knows this is the only way, but that she wishes it could be different. He tells Champagne that he's acquired the component he needed and that once it's been modified and installed, he will have a distinct advantage, even without his troops. The voice of the Kaiser Bones speaks up and praises Skull Kaiser for his ingenuity, the use of Gran Pham's Charge Circuit indeed changes the odds. We cut back to Titan Foiler's chamber where he's summoned his four junior team members. We get brief introductions of each with neat little subtitles. Titan Foiler explains Skull Kaiser's defection and eventually tells them about Jeder Man's fate—he does this last as tactfully as possible, but Schatten Messer, the youngest member of the team, loses his temper immediately. Jeder Man was his brother! He sputters curses and before anyone can stop him, he throws his cloak over himself and disappears. The remaining members of the team step forward, except for Dust Pharaoh, and ask what to do out of concern. Titan Foiler orders Phantasma King to follow Schatten Messer as quickly as possible, to back him up, but they all realize that Schatten Messer is too fast with his ability to travel instantly through shadows.

To Be Continued...