Consulting the Engineering Club: Decoding the Anomaly (Node 1-3)

The Whispering Page's projections are too abstract to understand. Yuuka suggests seeking assistance from the Engineering Club, known for their expertise in advanced technology and data analysis. She specifically recommends speaking with Kotama, one of the club's most brilliant, albeit eccentric, members.

• Location: Millennium Science School - Engineering Club Workshop (accessible via Node 1-3 on the chapter map).
• Objective: Seek assistance from the Engineering Club to analyze the Whispering Page.
• Key Interaction: Upon arriving at the workshop, you'll find Kotama engrossed in her latest project, surrounded by various gadgets and half-finished inventions. Yuuka and Noa will present the Whispering Page to her. Kotama, initially dismissive, becomes intrigued by the page's unique energy signature.
• Dialogue Choices: During your conversation with Kotama, you'll encounter your first set of dialogue choices. While these choices don't significantly alter the main story path in this chapter, they can influence Kotama's disposition towards Sensei and potentially unlock minor flavor text.
  • Option A: "We need your expertise, Kotama." (Positive influence on Kotama's opinion, she appreciates the direct appeal to her skills.)
  • Option B: "This page is causing problems for the Seminar." (Neutral, she'll acknowledge the issue but might not feel personally invested.)
  • Option C: "Can you make it into a new gadget?" (Negative influence, she'll be annoyed by the trivialization of a serious anomaly.)
  Recommendation: Choose Option A for the most favorable outcome and smoother progression.
• Combat Encounter (Mandatory): As Kotama begins her analysis, the Whispering Page reacts violently, summoning 4x "Corrupted Archive Sentinels" (Lv. 5, Heavy Armor) to defend itself. These are larger, more robust digital entities. They are vulnerable to Piercing damage.

Combat Strategy: Corrupted Archive Sentinels (Node 1-3)

This encounter introduces enemies with Heavy Armor, requiring a shift in your damage type focus. You'll need to utilize students with Piercing attacks to deal optimal damage.

• Enemy Type: Corrupted Archive Sentinels (Heavy Armor)
• Enemy Level: Lv. 5
• Recommended Damage Type: Piercing (deals 200% damage to Heavy Armor)
• Recommended Students (Early Game Focus):
  • Shiroko (Piercing, Striker): An excellent early-game Piercing DPS. Her EX Skill, "Rapid Fire," deals high single-target Piercing damage.
  • Hina (Piercing, Striker): If you've managed to acquire her, Hina is a top-tier Piercing AoE damage dealer. Her EX Skill, "Terror," devastates groups of enemies.
  • Izuna (Piercing, Striker): Another strong Piercing option, especially for single-target damage. Her EX Skill, "Ninja Arts: Shadow Clone," creates clones that deal damage.
  • Nonomi (Piercing, Striker): Her EX Skill, "Millionaire's Shot," deals AoE Piercing damage and can be very effective against clustered enemies.
  • Yuuka (Piercing, Tank): While primarily a tank, her basic attacks are Piercing, and her EX Skill, "Calculated Defense," provides a strong shield. She's essential for soaking damage.
• Strategy:
  1. Team Composition: Prioritize 2-3 Piercing damage dealers (Strikers) and a reliable Tank (Yuuka is ideal here). A Healer (Serina, Hanae) can be beneficial for sustained fights.
  2. Target Prioritization: These Sentinels hit harder than the Data Fragments. Focus fire on one Sentinel at a time to quickly reduce the incoming damage.
  3. Piercing Advantage: Ensure your main damage dealers are Piercing type. Their attacks will deal 200% damage, significantly shortening the fight.
  4. EX Skill Management: Use EX Skills strategically. If Sentinels are spread out, use single-target EX Skills. If they group up, AoE Piercing skills (like Nonomi's) will be highly effective.
  5. Tanking: Keep your tank (Yuuka) at the front. The Sentinels have a "Heavy Strike" ability that can deal moderate damage, so a strong tank is crucial.
  6. Avoidance: Sentinels have a slow-moving projectile attack. While not easily avoidable, positioning your students to spread out slightly can prevent multiple students from being hit by the same projectile.
• Common Pitfalls: Using Explosive students against Heavy Armor will result in significantly reduced damage (50%), making the fight much harder and longer. Ensure your team composition reflects the enemy's armor type.

Rewards for Node 1-3 Completion: