--MANGA TRANSLATIONS--
--TRIGUN MAXIMUM VOLUME 7, CHAPTER 5-- --"AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED, IT WAS ALLREADY THE BEGINNING OF THE END"--

Translation by sumire

Page 125

Vash: So this is it.

Pages 126-127

Vash and Wolfwood arrive at Knives' fortress.

Wolfwood: This is the last stop on the line...
Vash the Stampede...

Page 128

Wolfwood: Have you prepared yourself?

Vash: I'm ready.  I've been thinking about this moment all along.

Wolfwood: I guess you have.
That's just like you.

Wolfwood: Now, how are we going to get in there?

Vash strides off.

Wolfwood:--HEY! You're just going to waltz in through the front door?

Page 129

Vash and Wolfwood walk in. Wolfwood is amazed at the palpable force of Knives' presence.

Wolfwood (thinks): This is... Knives'...
What a feeling of pressure...

He glances over at Vash in surprise.

Wolfwood (thinks): So _that's_ why he chose to walk right in...
If he's resonating so strongly, there's no way to conceal himself.

Vash is showing signs of Angel-Arm effect on his skin.

Pages 130-131

Suddenly, Wolfwood is gored by several giant crosses. He is literally ripped apart in a spatter of blood--

Page 132

--Wolfwood snaps out of his hallucination.

Wolfwood (thinks): ...!! Wha...!? Out to kill me...!!

Page 133

Vash: Wolfwood?

Wolfwod: What is it, Tongari?

Wolfwood (thinks): Right now, the last thing I want is to be a burden on him.

Vash: ..... Never mind.

Wolfwood (thinks): Looks like I've bumped into something meant just for me.
But if it was able to pass through Knives' "presence" to hit me, then...

Page 134

Elendira is waiting for them.

Elendira: I'm surprised.
I never imagined you'd just walk right in.
He's been waiting for you.
Elendira: Don't worry.
As long as you don't try anything funny, you'll get the full VIP treatment.
Right this way.

Page 135

They come to a massive stairway.

Elendira (to Wolfwood): This is as far as you go.

Wolfwood: .....

Vash: Up here?

Elendira: Yes.

Vash: Wolfwood... I'll be all right.  _You_'re the one who'd better be careful.

Page 136

Wolfwood (thinks): So he did notice after all...

Vash ascends the stairs.

Wolfwood: --Tongari!

Elendira raises his case to block his path.

Elendira: It's how Master Knives wants it.
You don't need any more explanation than that, do you?
Wolfwood: .....
Was that you, earlier?

Elendira: Hm? What do you mean?

Page 137

Wolfwood: .....
No, it wouldn't have been you...
You don't give a damn about me.
Elendira: You've got that last part right. But let me ask you anyway...
Your true loyalties lie...
Where, exactly?

Wolfwood laughs grimly.

Wolfwood: If I intended to make you my enemy, you'd already be dead.

Pages 138-139

Suddenly, Wolfwood whips out the Cross Punisher. He knocks a big flying cross out of the air.

Pages 140-141

Double Fang and Trip of Death burst onto the scene, cross-guns drawn. They stand at a stalemate with Wolfwood and Elendira.

Trip of Death: How did it feel to die once,
Wolfwood... or should I call you Chapel?

Page 142

Wolfwood: You should have gone ahead and done it.
Then I wouldn't have pumped you full of lead for that damned name.
Elendira: All three of you, put your guns down right this instant.
I'm not in the mood to overlook your petty squabbles. 
I'll gut you without mercy, pity, or favor.

Page 143

The three back off. Wolfwood is surprised to notice something.

Page 144

Double Fang gazes back at him impassively.

Wolfwood: Livio...
Damn you...!!

Wolfwood spots one of Trip of Death's henchmen lurking behind him.

Trip of Death: ..... The perfect plan, isn't it?
In other words, I've got more than one weapon at hand.
And he's a fine piece of work, too.
Better at it than a certain someone.
The laughs just don't stop.

Page 145

ToD: Well, there's no one I mistrust more than you...
But I'll let it pass for the time being.
As long as I'm alive...
I'll gladly kill you in your sleep any time.

Trip of Death and Double Fang fade back into the shadows.

Wolfwood: Shit!

Page 146

Elendira: ...So you three know each other, then?
Although I guessed as much from your equipment.

Wolfwood: Shut up.

Elendira: Oh, you're angry. How cute.

Wolfwood fumes in silence for a moment.

Wolfwood: ....
You sure are laid-back.

Elendira: Hm?

Wolfwood: Imagine what's about to happen up there.
When was the last time those two met?

Elendira: ....? The Fifth Moon incident.

Wolfwood: They lopped off a third of that huge stone tower...
...And blew a hole in the moon.

Page 147

Wolfwood: You've seen it, too, haven't you--
--When he was out of control at Fort Ryuu-Tsu-Jou.
Knives' aura...
Even I can feel something bottomless there.
Wolfwood: But I'll tell you this--
It's still far from being a "certainty."
If it drags on, this place will be obliterated, too.

Page 148

Elendira: Don't worry. It'll all be over in an instant.

Wolfwood: Blind faith, huh? From a man like you...

Pause.

Wolfwood: ...woman like you...

Elendira: It would be easier if it _were_ blind faith. But this is reality.

Page 149

Meanwhile, Vash has reached an open-air platform at the top of the tower. He advances towards a pavilion. His skin is crackling with Angel-arm energy.

Pages 150-151

Knives sits asleep in a tangle of cloth and Plant-angel parts.

Page 152

Elendira (to Wolfwood): That's right.
He's asleep right now.
His mere presence is causing this feeling in the air.

Page 153

Wolfwood staggers under a sudden change in the air. Elendira is unaffected.

Elendira: ...It's starting. Try not to faint, would you?

Page 154

Vash's glasses are smashed and the side of his face erupts in feathers. Knives--and some strange parts--emerge from the shadowy pavilion.

To be continued...

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