Xenoblade Chronicles Guide- Walkthrough Part 21: Stop! Sword... time... ?!?

Despite the likely growing sense of urgency the game gives you around here to try and get you into the Residential District, you’ll want to take it slow enough to pay careful attention to each of the major events here- the next one, which starts when you reach the entrance bridge for the colony, is no exception.

As you step out onto the bridge, Dunban begins charging towards the Mechon that occupy it- only to stumble and fall, dropping the Monado as his body gives out.  Reyn moves up to help the hero of the last war, who tries to insist that he should keep going.  Reyn disagrees, doubtless partly thanks to the blood Dunban coughs up in the middle of his attempt to overcome his own physical frailty.  Shulk naturally agrees with his loud friend- and then goes for the Monado.

With both Dunban and Reyn caught off-guard, it’s simplicity itself for Shulk to scoop up the strange red weapon and raise it to a ready position.  He takes a moment to force himself past what seems to be some sort of built-in security on the Monado against being wielded, then lets out a primal scream as he moves to charge at the Mechon on the far end of the bridge.  The scream and Reyn’s shout of caution and surprise are both interrupted by the apparent slowing of time, Shulk charging forwards across the bridge and catching a blast from the lead Mechon in the face, dropping like a rock.

Moments later, Shulk is mid-scream again, startled and puzzled that what he seemingly saw and felt happening has not happened at all yet.  Not put off, he keeps going.  When the exact same Mechon prepares to fire, the young technician is ready and sidesteps the blast, dashing past it and cutting down the mechanical creature with the legendary weapon.  Moments later, he again is treated to slowed-down events that un-happen, a claw-and-shot combo by one of the particularly tall Mechon that takes him down hard the first time and leaves him sprawled on the bridge are instead not only avoided, but turned into an opportunity to cut down the machine making them.

Seeing their companion making surprising headway against the invaders, Reyn and Dunban move up to support Shulk, but Dunban takes a moment to ask the blond what is going on.  Shulk replies that he seems to be seeing a short way into the future.  Dunban asks that he confirm what the older man just heard, which Shulk does.  Dunban mutters to himself about Dickson claiming the Monado had a hidden power, but when Shulk asks Dunban what he was saying, the Monado’s now-former wielder brushes the question off.