Layzner Ep. 36: Enemy V-MAX, Activate

Mangello tears up his room in a panic and believes that he’ll be the next one to be executed. At the resistance base, Eiji thinks about the implications of Julia’s pendant and that he has to beat Gresco to the Seal of Grados. Anna thinks about how Eiji has barely spoken to her since their return from South America, and Matthew notices how distracted she is. Simone brings soda for everyone, and David wonders if something happened between Eiji and Anna while they were in South America. Anna runs off to get some air, and Eiji decides that he needs to see Julia. David teases Eiji about Anna, but Eiji turns it around by wishing David luck with Simone. After Eiji leaves, a poorly disguised Arthur arrives with the news that the Gradosians are planning to equip all of their SPTs with V-MAX. A researcher will be arriving from Grados in two hours to test a prototype unit. If the test is successful, the V-MAX add-on will be put into mass production. David decides that they have to sabotage the test and slow down the Gradosian schedule. He intends to take the researcher hostage and destroy the V-MAX unit. Matthew wonders if it’s better to wait for Eiji, but David notes that Grados won’t wait for them. Arthur awkwardly tries to ask Matthew about what happened with Eiji and Anna, but he can’t get his point across. Le Cain is informed that the resistance is deploying and probably intends to target the V-MAX sample. Le Cain then issues orders to transfer Dr. Nizon and the unit by air, but to allow the empty container to travel the route by land. David, Simone and the others deploy and attack the container, which is guarded by two hovercraft. A Dtol appears behind them, and the container opens to reveal armed soldiers. Another Dtol and more hovercraft arrive, so the rebels retreat into a nearby building. Dr. Nizon arrives at Grados Tower and introduces himself to Le Cain, who says that he wants to see the V-MAX unit in battle against Layzner. Nizon tries to explain that he needs at least two days to calibrate the unit and train the pilot, but Le Cain insists that he do it in just one hour. The Gradosian forces surround the building, but they don’t move in because the rebels will serve as bait to lure in Layzner. Le Cain summons Mangello and gives him one final chance to destroy Layzner by using the V-MAX unit.

The rebels try to escape between buildings and come under fire, which makes David wonder why the Gradosians won’t take them out. Julia tells Eiji that she did visit the ruin in South America. He asks what happened to her three years ago, and she answers that it was when the ocean embraced her. The Dtols attack the building to attract more attention, and Eiji runs off when he hears the explosions. He rides his motorcycle toward the disturbance and encounters Matthew and Gaw on the street. Julia intends to tell Eiji everything when he returns, but Gradosian guards arrive under Karla’s command and arrest her. The Gashlan is fitted with the V-MAX unit, and Nizon tells Mangello that it should have higher power than Layzner now. However, because the unit isn’t internally installed, it throws off the Gashlan’s balance. Layzner finally arrives at the battle and engages the two Dtols. Anna runs through an alley to try to reach Eiji. After Eiji disables the Dtols, Mangello arrives and activates V-MAX. With his extra speed, he’s able to move quickly and knock Layzner into a building. Eiji takes to the air with V-MAX and tosses Mangello into a building. While watching a live feed of the battle, Le Cain asks Nizon if all the V-MAX units are external backpack types. Nizon answers that regardless of performance, the presence of V-MAX is an advantage. Eiji punches Mangello and causes him to lose his rifle, and he then slams him into the ground. Le Cain isn’t impressed with Mangello’s performance, but Nizon thinks he’s doing well as a first timer, if he can stick to his enemy. Mangello bounces between buildings and clamps onto Layzner’s back. Eiji accelerates and slams into several buildings to shake Mangello off, but the Gashlan’s claw clamps are locked. Le Cain notices that Mangello’s movements are odd, and Nizon explains that he had to resort to some tricks given time limitations. Nizon doesn’t think losing one soldier is a big deal as long as Layzner is defeated. Eiji activates full power and jumps into the air to break free of Mangello. The Gashlan is tossed away and explodes in midair, so the Gradosian forces retreat. Le Cain is shocked by Mangello’s death and says that he wants the same type of V-MAX on his Zakaal that Layzner has. Nizon shocks him by explaining that the Zakaal already has it.