“Change can be difficult,” Nefer offers simply, but not dismissively.
Lauma huffs, smiling in a way that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I honestly find it more complicated than difficult.”
She doesn’t regret it, of course. The Frostmoon Scions deserved to know the truth, and she can see that, despite the challenges, her people have proven themselves resilient, and malleable. Adaptable. Many have left, but many others have stayed too, and they’re building something new and something better now because of that difficult truth. She wouldn’t change anything, if she were given the chance to do things over.
But it’s—complicated. More so, lately.
SD Gundam Gaiden NEO: The Forbidden Magic - The Golden Blessing Notes
The original write up of the story for this arc is by earthofhomozu on Instagram. I just translated them and adapted it into English. Because they don't allow reposting of their cards, I will be hyperlinking the individual Instagram posts tied to each section. (Each section will use the name of the first character in that particular post)
If you would like to check out the cards in detail (and see the complete set of cards!), check out this post by 素敵空間亮哥聊SD高达 on Bilibili.
The previous arc is over here, so read that before this post.
Also do note that I will be dropping a lot of Knight Gundam-series related terminology, so don't mind that. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in my inbox or messages.
Prologue
Though Magic Knight Gundam Aerial had managed to quell the rampage of sorrow unleashed by the resurrected Berserk Dragon Kaiser Wyvern, they had now fallen into darkness as a subordinate of BaroqueGun, empowered by the armor and magical sword bestowed upon it by Summoner Prospera!
Now, as part of BaroqueGun's plan, Aerial is being forged into a new body—Mighty Beast Kaiser Tigel—and is set to become BaroqueGun's divine core, replacing the Baroque Core.
However, BaroqueGun and Prospera, intoxicated by their perceived victory, had made two miscalculations.
First, Aerial was not completely under BaroqueGun's control; a faint glimmer of light within their heart was resisting the darkness’s dominion. They may be able to break free from the darkness that is forging BaroqueGun's various new armies.
The other was the existence of Mage Suletta. Although Suletta had attacked the Berserk Dragon and found herself at odds with Miorine, this was because she had become unsettled upon discovering her true identity after engaging in dialogue with the Fierce Dragon.
The beastman mage who lived in the forest was merely a disguise; Suletta and Aerial were beings who shared “the same soul". Having come to understand everything, Suletta rises to save Aerial and to turn despair into hope.
Mage Suletta
During her conversation with the Fierce Dragon Kaiser Wyvern, Mage Suletta ended up attacking the beast. This was because she had been shaken by the realization of who she truly was. Suletta was a being who shared the same soul as Magic Knight Gundam Aerial!
Suletta is a being forged from the ‘Spirit of Harmony’—which split off from the ‘Spirit of Chaos’ that served as the core when Aerial was forged—and shares the same soul as Aerial. Summoner Prospera, who forged her, is the one she calls "mom".
To save Aerial’s soul—which shares the same essence as her own—from the darkness, Suletta joined forces with Spirit Ericht, who had united the spirits sharing the same essence as Suletta (with whom Aerial had contracted), and obtained the ‘Light of Harmony’ that guides one towards a rainbow-colored radiance.
Through the light of harmony, Suletta touched Aerial’s soul and freed them from the darkness wrought by BaroqueGun’s magic. However, Aerial is still incomplete, as they exist only as a soul.
It was then that Miorine, having reconciled with Suletta, called upon the ‘Will of the Golden God’!
Priestess Miorine
Having made up her mind to reveal her true identity, Mage Suletta has reconciled with Priestess Miorine. Miorine’s prayer as a priestess has finally reached the ‘Will of the Golden God’!
The ‘Will of the Golden God’, which had once been separated from the divine manipulator Brave Gundam during the decisive battle against BaroqueGun, is now saved by the power of light through Priestess Miorine’s prayer.
It is said that the power of the Golden God returns to the priestess, allowing her to be enveloped by a dragon; thus, Miorine is now able to obtain the power of the dragon through her prayers.
Having reconciled with Suletta and resolved their differences, Miorine is now able to unite their hearts as one. Responding to the Priestess Miorine’s noble heart and prayers, the Golden God transformed her into a dragon!
In response to Miorine, who realized the fusion of Aerial’s and the dragon’s powers by becoming a dragon herself, the Will of the Golden God created a new light from the shared soul of Suletta and Aerial.
Ultra Shining Knight Gundam Caliburn
Through the prayers of Priestess Miorine, the Will of the Golden God—which resided in a higher realm—liberated Aerial’s soul from the armor of the Evil God; and, guided by the Golden God, the separated souls of Aerial and Suletta were reunited to form the reborn 'Ultra Shining Knight Gundam Caliburn’, a knight radiating a rainbow-colored glow, born of the fusion of the spirit Ericht—who had formed a contract with the soul of the spirit of 'Chaos', which served as Aerial’s source of creation—and the spirit of ‘Harmony', Suletta, whose soul is one and the same as Aerial’s!
By the Will of the Golden God, the eleven magical swords freed from the Baroque Gun merge into one, equipping the Combined Escutcheon, brimming with golden power.
And riding upon the back of the spirit dragon of the transformed Priestess Miorine, Caliburn—a true hero—can soar through the storm unleashed by BaroqueGun with the aid of the Spirit Dragon Miorine!
Noble Knight Darilbalde
Noble Knight Darilbalde, who regards Aerial as his mentor, also sees his fighting spirit reignited by Caliburn’s arrival. He is resolved to confront BaroqueGun, who exploited his younger brother, Noble Knight Delanza Pros, in the previous chapter. Equipped with new armaments from the Dragon Village, he is now capable of wielding three magical swords!
Meanwhile, Warrior Demi Barding, who has reconciled with Noble Knight Darilbalde and is now recognized as an ally, forms a strike force alongside Hunter Chuchu and Hunter Felsi to provide support for Caliburn!
The Dragon Village and the Benerit Clan have finally reconciled against BaroqueGun! Together with Caliburn, they unite across their differences to face BaroqueGun's forces as one.
Noble Knight Gundam Pharact
To stand against BaroqueGun’s forces, the Dragon Village and the Benerit Clan have reconciled and are fighting alongside the Ultra Shining Knight Gundam Caliburn. And there were even those who chose to leave the Benerit Clan!
Noble Knight Gundam Pharact, which had been used for the Peil clan's research is one of them! Under BaroqueGun’s influence, he once transformed into Pharact Dragon and ran amok, but thanks to Caliburn’s rainbow-colored light, he regained his true power and his sense of self.
Having successfully mastered the power obtained from the Dragon Village, Pharact is now able to transform into his dragon form of his own accord. He has broken ties with the Peil Clan and would no longer be subjected to their alchemical experiments.
Furthermore, Noble Knight Elan, who had long been disillusioned with the Peil Clan's methods, has also broken ties with them—whose actions contravene humanity—and is now cooperating with Suletta (Caliburn), with whom he had previously been on friendly terms.
Noble Knight Michaelis
Although Noble Knight Shaddiq had seen his ambitions dashed after the Dragon Ritual was completed, only for the resurrected Fierce Dragon Kaiser Wyvern to run amok, he was moved to repentance and made a fresh start upon witnessing Caliburn and the others fighting together in solidarity, transcending their differences!
Noble Knight Michaelis, resolved to bear the burden of his sins, dons new armor imbued with magical power thanks to the cooperation of the Dragon Village, and faces BaroqueGun's army with weapons enhanced by magic.
Shaddiq and the other young members of the Three Great Houses, having learnt to ‘cooperate’ rather than ‘compete’, part ways with the old heads of their families and fight valiantly with the aid of the Dragon Village.
Led by Warrior Dylanza Sol, Mage Zwort Heavy and Swordsman Hindley Sturm—whose equipment has been enhanced with the Dragon Village’s aid—the soldiers also join the fray.
With total victory within their grasp, BaroqueGun and Prospera miscalculated. However, BaroqueGun makes use of the bodies of the Alchemised Beings. And, deep down, BaroqueGun had already given up on Prospera…
Baroque Aerial
With the birth of the Ultra Shining Knight Gundam Caliburn, the soul of Magic Knight Gundam Aerial—which BaroqueGun had intended to use as the Divine Core—was fused with Suletta’s soul. This resulted in the creation of ‘Baroque Aerial’ by an enraged BaroqueGun using his magical power!
With Aerial’s soul liberated from the body and armor forged by Prospera, BaroqueGun used his magical power to reduce the original body and magical armor—now mere husks—to nothing more than a core.
Infused with the vengeful spirit of the enraged BaroqueGun, Baroque Aerial’s body has transformed into a sinister and terrifying form.
Following Baroque Aerial, Baroque Gun utilizes his subordinates in the Valley of Seals—those who, in ancient times, served under him as the ‘God of Domination, Baroque Gun’ from the realm of Kazz Zard, were defeated, turned into souls, and sealed away.
Possessing the soldiers of the Benerit Clan with these souls, he has alchemically summoned and awakened Ancient Knight Aleo and Alchemical Monster Serpent!
Ghost Knight Baroque 1
Baroque Gun, the creator of Baroque Aerial, had used summoning alchemy to resurrect the souls of the two Royal Knights— Zodirock Baroque 1 and Zodirock GN Cannon—who had been defeated by the Golden God in an ancient battle before being sealed away, transforming them into Ghost Knights!
Ghost Knight Baroque 1 and Ghost Knight GN Cannon were originally members of the Zodirock, the personal guard of the Overlord God BaroqueGun, whom BaroqueGun had led from the realm of Kazz Zard. They were among the few Zodirock who were defeated—rather than sealed away by the Golden God—during the ancient war.
Even after becoming Ghost Knights through summoning alchemy, their loyalty to BaroqueGun and their formidable skills remain unchanged, and they give the warriors of the Dragon Village and the Benerit Clan a hard time as formidable foes.
Noble Knight Guel and Lauda
Although he had been held captive by Summoner Prospera alongside Noble Knight Dylanza Pros, Noble Knight Lauda—the younger brother of Noble Knight Guel—attempted to persuade his elder brother. However, faced with the BaroqueGun, he reconciled with his brother and challenged Ghost Knight Baroque 1 and Ghost Knight GN Cannon.
Faced with the Ghost Knight duo—who, in their eagerness to claim credit for BaroqueGun, could do nothing but hinder one another—the brother knights closed in with their flawless, coordinated combat. Ghost Knight Baroque 1 and Ghost Knight GN Cannon were defeated by the Guel brothers and vanished.
Enraged by the Ghost Knights’ incompetence, BaroqueGun used transmutation magic via the Baroque Aerial to create the dark soldiers known as ‘Soldier Gundnodes’.
The trouble with the Soldier Gundnodes is that, when they fall into a disadvantage, BaroqueGun's magical power is infused into them, causing them to run amok and transform into ‘Monster Gundnodes’. Even so, they are no match for Caliburn and their companions.
Meanwhile, knights dispatched from other nations to investigate the Kingdom of Benrit—which was beginning to be viewed as a threat—also come to Caliburn’s aid!
Knight Gundam Tristian
Joining Caliburn and their comrades as they scattered the Soldier Gundnodes unleashed by BaroqueGun were Knight Gundam Tristan and Knight Zaku III, who were dispatched from the Noah region to investigate the Kingdom of Benrit!
They were part of a reconnaissance team from other nations that viewed the Kingdom of Benrit—a nation plagued by constant conflict, including the destruction of the Dragon Village in the past—as a threat. Knight Gundam Tristan was dispatched from Algusopolis (later the Algus Kingdom), and Knight Zaku III from the Munzo Forest region.
Furthermore, the true identity of Merchant Fen, a woman who had long been a collaborator of the Dragon Village, was revealed to be Knight Fen, a member of the reconnaissance team, who was acting alongside Knight Guston. She was a kind-hearted individual who watched over the Dragon Village, where everyone supported one another, from the shadows.
Incidentally, it is said that the reason there are so many Gundam clans in the Algusopolis region of Noah is because it is the region where Brave Gundam was born.
Meanwhile, the enraged BaroqueGun has finally had enough of Summoner Prospera! Her mask undergoes a sinister transformation.
Summoner Prospera
Driven by the fury of BaroqueGun, who found himself at a disadvantage against the Ultra Shining Knight Gundam Caliburn and his comrades, the masked figure controlling Summoner Prospera—who had finally been cast aside—transformed into Spirit Prospera Dragon!
BaroqueGun had transformed the vengeful spirit of a dragon who had been defeated by him in the ancient war and turned the specter into a mask, using it to control Summoner Elnora—whose heart was filled with intense hatred—as Prospera.
Through BaroqueGun, the mask drained Prospera (Elnora) of her original magical power and vitality, along with the magical power of BaroqueGun that resided within her, and was summoned as 'Spirit Prospera Dragon’.
Ironically, upon being summoned as Prospera Dragon, Prospera was freed from the dominion of darkness and, by the will of the Golden God, returned to her former self as Elnora before fading away. Was Elnora truly saved by this?
Fired with a burning determination to fight the ruthless BaroqueGun, Caliburn and their companions united to confront Prospera Dragon and emerged victorious! Around that time, in response to Miorine’s call, the Fierce Dragon returned!
Fierce Dragon Kaiser Wyvern
Ultra Shining Knight Gundam Caliburn and their comrades have defeated Spirit Prospera Dragon. With his back against the wall, Baroque Gun summons the ‘Mighty Beast Kaiser Tigel’, forged by Aerial! Then ‘Fierce Dragon Kaiser Wyvern’ appears!
Kaiser Wyvern, who appeared in response to the Priestess Miorine’s prayers, clashed with Kaiser Tigel, whom Aerial had forged from ore and monsters.
Although this was not a clash between the bodies of gods as in the great ancient war, their power was evenly matched. The fierce battle continued, but as Aerial, who had forged him, was no longer present, Kaiser Tigel began to lose his strength.
Finding itself at a disadvantage against Kaiser Wyvern, Kaiser Tiegel began to turn to stone. It seemed that BaroqueGun’s ambition for a complete resurrection had been crushed.
However, BaroqueGun used his last reserves of magic to forcibly unite the petrifying Kaiser Tigel with the core entity, Barock Aerial, thereby achieving a resurrection—albeit an incomplete one!
Temporary BaroqueGun
Although Kaiser Tigel had lost its magical power and turned to stone, BaroqueGun has achieved an incomplete resurrection as Temporary BaroqueGun by utilizing a body forged from Kaiser Tigel as the base and united with Baroque Aerial as its core!
Transformed into a mineral form by transmutation magic, Temporary BaroqueGun incorporates design elements from both the fully revived Kaiser Tigel and Baroque Aerial in its various parts.
Although the power of Temporary BaroqueGun is overwhelming despite its incompleteness, it is unable to fully demonstrate the power of the original BaroqueGun. As expected, this incomplete revival has also affected the Unite process!
Then, Fierce Dragon Kaiser Wyvern accepted Ultra Shining Knight Gundam. As Caliburn and Kaiser Wyvern unite, the ‘Fierce Dragon God’—enhanced by the power of the Spirit Dragon—descends to challenge Temporary Baroque Gun in a final showdown!
Fierce Dragon God Caliburn Kaiser
To defeat Temporary Baroque Gun, which had been resurrected albeit imperfectly, Fierce Dragon Kaiser Wyvern—having accepted Ultra Shining Knight Gundam Caliburn—unites with Caliburn to become Fierce Dragon God Caliburn Kaiser, imbued with the power of the Spirit Dragon!
Enveloped in spirits throughout its body, Caliburn Kaiser harnesses the power of the twelve spirits to dispel BaroqueGun’s darkness. They then unleash the spirits’ power to purify BaroqueGun.
Then, a single strike of rainbow-colored light, uniting all the power of light, shatters Temporary BaroqueGun, causing it to crumble away. Thus, BaroqueGun’s ambitions were thwarted by Fierce Dragon God Caliburn Kaiser, who had unleashed the power of the spirits!
Having exhausted its power, Kaiser Wyvern once again fell into slumber in the Valley of Sealing. Later, in future generations, this valley would come to be known as the Valley of the Machine Soldiers.
With the defeat of Temporary BaroqueGun, Baroque Aerial also ceased to exist. Having already lost the physical form to which it could return, Aerial’s soul, guided by the will of the Golden God, ascended to the heavens together with the Twelve Spirits.
And what of Suletta, who shares the same soul as Aerial?
Epilogue 1
Temporary BaroqueGun was defeated by the Dragon God Caliburn Kaiser, and the spirit of ‘Harmony’—which is also Caliburn Kaiser’s soul—was passed on to the people.
The Kingdom of Benerit, plagued by ceaseless conflict amongst the older generation, was dissolved. Centered around the people of Dragon Village and the young generation of Noble Knights, and flying a coat of arms symbolizing the unity of the Three Great Houses and the Dragon Village, the ‘Kingdom of Lacroa’ was founded!!
Aiming for coexistence between the Human and MS Clans, Noble Knight Guel became the first ‘King of Lacroa’.
Noble Knight Elan was welcomed by the Knight Gundam Tristan and travelled to ‘Algusopolis’, where he was appointed the first king of the knightly nation, the ‘Kingdom of Algus’. Noble Knight Shaddiq was welcomed by the Zeon Clan in the Munzo Forest region by Knight Zaku III and founded the ‘Kingdom of Munzo’.
The tale of ‘Forbidden Magic’ was the story leading up to the founding of the Kingdom of Lacroa. The Wilderlance, once plagued by ceaseless conflict, has been reborn as the peaceful Kingdom of Lacroa.
Meanwhile, there are those who set off on their journeys in silence…
Epilogue 2
Many of the people from the Dragon Village joined the newly founded ‘Kingdom of Lacroa’, but those who knew the art of transmutation magic deemed it ‘forbidden magic’ and left the kingdom, believing it should not exist.
Miorine, freed by the will of the Golden God, quietly set out on a journey, having fulfilled her role as a ‘priestess’—together with Suletta! Though Suletta shared the same soul as Aerial and her spirit, as the Spirit of Harmony, was sublimated, Suletta was able to remain in this world through the soul of the alchemized beastman.
And so, Miorine and Suletta set off on their journey, and alchemical magic was gradually forgotten not only in the later Kingdom of Lacroa but throughout the history of the Saddrac World.
Unfortunately, however, it is impossible to completely eradicate the BaroqueGun. Yet there is no need to fear. For in every age, there are those who possess courage.
The journey of Miorine and Suletta shall be blessed by the will of the Golden God.
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SD Gundam Gaiden NEO: The Forbidden Magic: END
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For my final thoughts on this series and some observations, go here.
i've only read a scuffed google tl of a chinese post on sd gundam gaiden neo vol 4 so i could be reading wrong but what do you mean suletta and miorine "fuse" to become this calibarn
i don't normally talk about ships on here but i WILL be making an exception for laufer bcos goodness me... they tickle my brain so much. i enjoy both of them a lot as individual characters but what honestly always gets me is lauma's boundless yet wise compassion. and what i mean by that is she will always try to appeal to nefer's innate morality, but she would never guilt-trip nefer. when nefer still plays hard to get, lauma doesn't push; she plays by the same game. "okay, i'll pay you for the commission, nefer." and that must be something so foreign to nefer, who is far more used to people trying to twist her arm. even when nefer is deliberately being difficult, lauma is still kind. still compassionate. but she's not a fool. and that's such a good foil to nefer whose worldview has been shaped to view compassion and kindness as exploitable weaknesses. lauma is so good paired with nefer because lauma never tells nefer or tries to convince her to be good; she simply leads by honest example and for nefer, a woman who deals in lies and deceit, that's worth more than anything else. god i love them so bad my girlsssss my shaylassss
Ok ok ok ok, I am SOOOO sorry about being like several weeks late with this because of irl stuff and needing to rest, but they have actually announced the last box set for SD Gundam Gaiden NEO: The Forbidden Magic. Thanks to 素敵空間亮哥聊SD高达 on Bilibili for the images. The title of this arc is...
SD Gundam Gaiden Neo: The Forbidden Magic - The Golden Blessing
Which might be a reference to the first opening of G Witch. (I personally prefer Slash but The Blessing is fine too)
If you haven't read the previous chapter, go here for my translation.
Below the Read more will be a brief summary of the set up of this arc, some artwork, and a translation of the card list.
Now facing the revived Evil God, the people of Dragon Villageand the Benelitt tribe join forces. The Evil God awakens his ancient minions and sends them to fight against the Dragon Village people. Though the Magic Knight Gundam Aerial had fallen under the dominion of the Evil God, Mage Suletta had discovered her own secret and calls upon the spirits who had contracted with Aerial. Then, Aerial's soul and the spirits achieve a miracle through alchemy...
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Artwork
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Card list + translations
The Evil God's Magic Knight
The Golden God's Will
Berserk Dragon Kaiser Wyvern
Mage Suletta
Spirit Ericht
Shrine Maiden Miorine
Warrior Demi Barding
Hunter Demi Trainer
Hunter Kenanji
Hunter Chuchu and allies of the village
Blacksmith Nika
Knight Guston
Nobel Knight Darilbalde
Nobel Knight Gundam Pharact
Noble Knight Michaelis
Noble Knight Guel
Noble Knight Elan
Noble Knight Shaddiq
Mage Sophie and Norea
Warrior Dilanza Sol
Sorcerer Zowort Heavy
Fencer Heindree Sturm
Knight Gundam Tristian
Knight Zaku III
Soldier Gundnode
Monster Gundnode
Ancient Knight Aleo
Alchemy Monster Serpent
Ghost Knight GN Canon
Ghost Knight Baroque 1
Summoner Prospera
Spirit Prospera Dragon
Baroque Aerial
Beast Kaiser Tegel
Temporary Baroquegun
Luminous Knight Gundam Caliburn
Item - Combined Escutcheon
Wild Dragon God Caliburn Kaiser
Epilogue 1 - Establishment of a New Kingdom
Epilogue 2 - The Forbidden Magic
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Look forward to me translating this when it's out!
stormborns
ellievsbear
blakekathryn
tangentwithtanner
prguitarman
