"It was the day the world was to come to an end. The sky rained down in waves of despair, and the cries of the helpless echoed across the land. But even in times such as these, men still struggle towards their little dreams, trying to justify their own existence. At the bottom of the universe, the fighting never ends, here on the Endless Illusion." - Narrator
End of a Dream is the twenty-fourth episode of the anime series Gun X Sword. It originally aired on the 13th of December, 2005. It is the first episode of the 7th and final Volume: Last Rites.
Synopsis[]
"I really do believe Ray and Van are a lot alike. I mean, I know they look like complete opposites, but they both share the same goal, and the same tragic past. I'm not sure, but I think there might be some other connection between the two of them. I don't know what it is but, it still makes me jealous somehow." - Wendy
The Claw's final plan begins to take motion. The world descends into chaos. Ray leads the group to the final battle.
Plot[]
Fasalina and Ray fight while The El Dorado Five and Priscilla take care of the 1-0-1's at the rear. Joshua attempts to drive the Hoverbase out of the way but more enemies block their path. The Claw's birthday system is activated and he requests Fasalina's presence.
When Fasalina retreats, The El Dorado Five and Priscilla handle the knight armors from behind, while Ray deals with the knight armors up ahead, as the hover-base continues to move forward.
Meanwhile, The Claw initiates the Birthday Celebration sequence, as the base-of-operations begins to levitate into the sky. The entire island is a terraform base that will use the Birthday System to reformat the world, imbued with the power from the destroyer system on the moon.
As Priscilla and The El Dorado Five fight the 1-0-1's, they are overwhelmed and both parties are knocked unconscious.
Fasalina returns to have a rematch with Ray. Ray tells Joshua, Carmen, Wendy and Yukiko to retreat.
Fasalina and Ray have a long battle, in which both armors are heavily damaged in the process.
Joshua convinces Carmen, Wendy and Yukiko that he needs to help Ray, so they decide to split up. Yukiko makes Joshua promise that he and Ray will retreat if things get too dangerous. Carmen and the girls leave on the Tanda, heading to The Claw's base.
Ray manages to heavily damage Dahlia. Fasalina is surprised by Joshua driving the Hoverbase towards them, allowing Ray to blast her with a powerful shot from Volkein's gun. Dahlia is practically destroyed and Fasalina left unconscious. However, she was able to damage Volkein's pulse cannon, making it useless. Volkein is also left in a dire state of disrepair, making it unlikely to work.
Joshua brings Ray onto the hover-base with Volkein in tow, and the pair head towards the Birthday System. Ray tells Joshua to follow his own dreams and then knocks Joshua unconscious, heading towards the Birthday System.
The Claw reaches the top of the Birthday System, only to be alerted by his team of the incoming Hoverbase. Suddenly, Saudade appears and Michael attack Volkein. Ray detonates Volkein, destroying the Hoverbase and trapping Saudade under a pile of rubble. Ray then travels up the stairway to attempt to shoot The Claw, but due to his injured eyesight is unable to hit him. Ray tells The Claw his dream was to live in peace with Shino, but The Claw took that away from him. As his dream was ruined, he became vengeful and suffered greatly. When The Claw deflects one of the bullets, it becomes jammed into the birthday armor, ruining his plans. Ray considers this a success, but is killed by The Claw's men.
Ray's last moments have him thanking Joshua, and remembering his wife Shino.
Continuity[]
- Another major part of The Claw's plan is initiated - The Birthday System.
- Both Priscilla and The Eldordo Five are knocked unconscious.
- Carmen, Wendy & Yukiko leave the hoverbase to infiltrate The Claw's facility.
- Ray uses Volkien to destroy Dahlia, but Fasalina is able to destroy Volkien's pulse cannon.
- Ray destroys the hoverbase & Volkien to halt Michael.
- Ray fails to kill The Claw, but his actions damage the Birthday System halting The Claw's plans.
- Ray is killed by The Claw's men.
Cast[]
| Character | English Voice Actor | Japanese Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Wendy | Stephanie Sheh* | Houko Kuwashima |
| Carmen | Michelle Ruff | Kikuko Inoue |
| Priscilla | Carrie Savage | Saeko Chiba |
| Joshua | Yuri Lowenthal | Junko Noda |
| Ray | Liam O'Brien | Takahiro Sakurai |
| Shino | Hunter Mackenzie Austin | Kumiko Nishihara |
| Nero | Michael Sorich | Masaharu Sato |
| Jose | Michael Forest** | Motomu Kiyokawa |
| Barrio | Harry Molly | Houki Katsuhisa |
| Yukiko | Megan Hollingshead*** | Satsuki Yukino |
| Michael | Johnny Yong Bosch | Soichiro Hoshi |
| Fasalina | Karen Strassman | Masayo Kurata |
| Researcher | Darrel Guilbeau | Tetsu Shiratori |
| The Claw | Kirk Thornton | Kenyu Horiuchi |
*Credited as Jennifer Sekiguchi
**Credited as Russel Thor
***Credited as Karen Thompson
****Credited as Kirsty Pape
Quotes[]
Fasalina: "Please! You think you can hurt Dahlia with that pop-gun of yours!?"
Ray: "Alright then, TRY THIS!"
Fasalina: "Such savagery!"
- Fasalina uses Dahlia against Ray and Volkein.
Jose: "We'll focus on the rear, though Ray, heads up! That front line is all yours!"
Nero: "Make sure you save some of the fun for us!"
Ray: "Do my best. Just take care of things on your end."
- The El Dorado and Brownie deal with the 1-0-1's at the rear.
The Claw: "Birthday! Just hearing the word gives me chills! A new world born from my coffin."
Researcher: "The body syncs up to brainwave patterns, for more fluid control. It's unarmed of course, but the underlying specs are superior to those of the originals."
- The Claw has he Researcher inform him about The Birthday System.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
- The Claw's plan begins.
Fasalina: "You fight only for vengeance. But we fight for the sole reason of protecting our Comrade's dream! And those that live to protect are always stronger!"
Ray: "Just a bunch of knights in shining armor aren't you? Well let me tell you something! I had a dream once too. To live a peaceful life with the woman I loved. A modest one I know, but HE tore it to pieces when we wouldn't go along with his lunacy!"
Fasalina: "Our Comrade's dream is for all of humanity."
Ray: "AND DO WE THROW OUT OUR OWN?! What did you think? What did you imagine we would do when our dreams were taken away?"
- Ray and Fasalina continue their fight.
Yukiko: "Joshua! You plan, to die with him don't you?"
Joshua: "Of course not. I plan on making sure my brother stays alive. I plan to see for myself if the choices he's made are the right ones. And if not, then I have to lead him away from this path that he's on. He's my brother I have to help him!"
Yukiko: "Alright then."
Carmen: "Ok let's split up then. We'll try to find another way through while you and your brother keep them busy."
Joshua: "You've got it!"
- Joshua wants to help Ray, so he splits up with Carmen, Yukiko and Wendy to help him.
Fasalina: "I don't get it, how could such an ordinary rider keep up with a member of The Original Seven, and in THAT armor?"
Ray: "So you mean you didn't know? You're using technology based on this armor, the foundation for all the optical weaponry you people are using, was VOLKEIN!"
- Ray tells Fasalina that Volkein was the base for all the upgrades the Original Seven armors received.
Joshua: "I'm not like you Ray, i'm just a coward really."
Ray: "You're wrong. All I did was run, from my sadness. Even now i'm running. I have to. Otherwise losing her would be unbearable. The only coward here is me. But it'll all be over soon. Once I've finally settled things with The Claw, I'll go back to who I was and face Shino again."
- Joshua and Ray talk about Ray's true feelings.
Michael: "Stay the course!"
Ray: "Forgive me, Volkein."
- Ray blows up Volkein to stop Michael.
"Do you know what happens to a man when he is deprived of his dream? His heart, and his body are tormented with uncontrollable suffering, anger and grief which he can truly never get over. Can you even imagine such pain? Now CHOOSE! Your dream? or your life?!"
- Ray threatens the Claw with his gun.
"Goodbye Josh... Thank you."
- Ray's final words
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Van is not present in this episode. He is only mentioned by Carmen. This is the only episode in the series in which Van does not appear.
- This is the only episode to use the ending theme, "Calling You" by Shuntaro Okino.