Cosmos in the Lostbelt 4: Yugakshetra/Story

❮ Ooku

Yugakshetra

Atlantis ❯

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On December 31, 2019, the entirety of human history was erased in a single stroke.
Every trace of civilization was wiped out, and in its place, the earth was left a bleached wasteland.
No one knew why or how it was done. All that was clear is that humanity had been utterly defeated.

No... It's worse than that.
We never even had a chance to fight back.
Our destroyer was known as the Foreign God, a being from a distant star wielding unfathomable power.

Kirschtaria
...anity.
We have a message for all of humanity.

Kirschtaria
This planet will soon be reborn as an old, brand-new world.

Kirschtaria
Human civilization was a mistake.
The path of our growth was incorrect.

Kirschtaria
And so I have made my decision. I will revolt against all of human history–Proper Human History.

Kirschtaria
We are about to fill this world with inhuman Mystic secrets. We will restore the Age of Gods.

Kirschtaria
To that end, the gods have descended from a far-off galaxy, and in their wisdom, they have used seven seeds to select new leaders.

Kirschtaria
These leaders will remake this planet as they see fit. And the one who reign supreme shall be given the right to renew the world itself.

Kirschtaria
The life-forms from Proper Human History will not be permitted to take part in this war, or even to view it from the sidelines.

Kirschtaria
Trees of creation have sprung up all across the land. Now, all of the old humanity's endeavors will be set aside, frozen.

Kirschtaria
My name is Wodime.
Kirschtaria Wodime.

Kirschtaria
On behalf of the seven Crypters, I have a message for those of you who escaped from Chaldea.

Kirschtaria
No, rather, I have a message for the scant few remnants of the human race: WE will be the inheritors of this planet's history.

---

Crypters. The seven Masters of the old Chaldea who were supposed to save the world.

Daybit Sem Void.
Ophelia Phamrsolone.

Beryl Gut.
Kadoc Zemlupus.

Akuta Hinako.
Scandinavia Peperoncino.

And their supposed leader, the foremost disciple of Chaldea's first director...Kirschtaria Wodime.

No one had even been certain they were still alive. But no sooner had they awoken than they turned on the world they had been meant to protect.
Chosen by the Foreign God, the seven Crypters were entrusted with caring for the Trees of Emptiness...
...the enormous trees that appeared around the world after its scouring.

Each Tree of Emptiness was followed by a Lostbelt; a hypothetical history that had been pruned from the chronicle of humanity.

There was the Russian Lostbelt, where humans had fused with beasts in order to survive in an ultracold environment.
There was the Scandinavian Lostbelt, where a Ragnarök gone awry had robbed the world of any possible future.
And there was the Chinese Lostbelt, where a single ruler who achieved immortality carried the rest of mankind on their shoulders.
These and other Lostbelts were to grow their territory, with the one emerging triumphant becoming Earth's official history.

As far as the Crypters were concerned, their only enemy–or rather, competition, was the other Crypters competing to establish their Lostbelt's dominance.
The few remnants of the old humanity–Chaldea, were no more than a tiny bump in their road.
Before the world was wiped clean, the Crypters had mounted an attack on the Chaldea Security Organization's headquarters, and destroyed them.

Chaldeas was frozen solid, and Rayshifting, the only possible means by which humanity could have prevented the great reset, was lost.
But...though many lives were lost, and the survivors were forced to make a desperate retreat, the last Master of Chaldea still lived.

Thanks to the Shadow Border, the All-Terrain Void-Transporter that had been developed in secret...
...and its cross-dimensional Zero Sail traversal method, the survivors successfully escaped into Void Space.

Having evaded the great reset, they emerged in the Russian Lostbelt a few months later, in April of 2020.
They went on to defeat Kadoc Zemlupus, the Crypter assigned to the Russian Lostbelt...
...overthrow the Lostbelt's king, Ivan the Terrible, and cut down its Tree of Emptiness.

Then, after another battle in the Scandinavian Lostbelt, they arrived at the Wandering Sea, a workshop that was home to the only other survivors of humanity.
Now, they have gained a new ally in Sion Eltnam, an alchemist from the Atlas Institute left in charge of the Wandering Sea...
...and are setting out on the next step of their quest to defeat the Crypters, and the Foreign God...

--SECTION BREAK--

B：Sion
So, how was that recap?
Did I do a good job jogging your memory!?

  1. Like it was yesterday!
  2. Huh? What about the Chinese Lostbelt, or the other things that happened!?
  Select: Like it was yesterday!
Mash
Yes! You glossed over a number of things, but that's basically the long and short of it!

  Select: Huh? What about the Chinese Lostbelt, or the other things that happened!?
B：Sion
Oh, you do not need me to tell you about those.
They just happened recently, after all.
B：Sion
I will save the recap on Goredolf's grand adventure for another time!

===Branch End===

B：Sion
Anyway, it has now been a few months since you returned from the Chinese Lostbelt.

I：Sion
Once you are all rested up, I am going to have you head out on your next Order, Lostbelt No. 4...

I：Sion
...where you will investigate a strange Lostbelt that has been repeatedly expanding and contracting.

I：Sion
Moreover, the Captain will be joining in on your adventure into a dazzling realm of Indian mythology!

A：Sion
Of course, if I had known then it would take this long to get ready, I would not have hyped it up quite so much.

A：Sion
My original calculations had me modifying–er, convincing Captain a bit sooner than this...

Da Vinci
Hey, it wasn't your fault we all got caught up in that...ordeal. Honestly, I'm just glad we were able to verify that we can actually Rayshift again.

Holmes
Indeed. We now know for certain that we are able to Rayshift from the Wandering Sea as well as from Chaldea.

Holmes
While the ability to observe time and space outside the Lostbelts may not help in our efforts to remove them, having more options available can only be a good thing.

Holmes
Though that's not to say some of us aren't a bit worse for wear. I say, Director Goredolf, has your weight returned to normal yet?

Goredolf
It has, not that I had any say in the matter! I still don't think it's right that I was the only one who didn't get to go on break!

Goredolf
Nor do I see why we need an obsolete relic like Rayshifting when we have the Zero Sail!

Goredolf
Go on, Moony, you know I'm right!

Goredolf
Tell them how you and the whole staff are just as sick and tired of Rayshifting as I am!

Meunière
What're you talking about? They're both mind-blowing technological achievements. You've just gotta use them right.

Meunière
Also, I was on the staff at the original Chaldea too, so if anything, I'm way more used to Rayshifting.

Meunière
You agree with me, right, Fujimaru? Rayshifting is way more fun than Zero Sailing, isn't it?

  1. Yeah, I guess. (Monotone)
  2. (Honestly, neither one's exactly a walk in the park.)
  Select: Yeah, I guess. (Monotone)

  Select: (Honestly, neither one's exactly a walk in the park.)

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Et tu, {(M) boy /(F) girl}!? Argh, why did I have to be born so Rayshift-compatible!?

Goredolf
Oh, never mind all that! Sion!
There's something I've been meaning to ask you!

Goredolf
We know now that the Crypters' accursed leader, Kirschtaria Wodime, is in the Atlantic Lostbelt.

Goredolf
I'm also told it's the largest Lostbelt in the world by far, and that the branches of its Tree of Emptiness cover Earth's entire stratosphere!

Goredolf
So what possible point could there be in making a pit stop at this Lostbelt in India!?

A：Sion
It is not a pit stop. We need to go there to ensure our chances of victory are as high as possible.

A：Sion
According to Trismegistus, the ocean occupies most of the Atlantic Lostbelt's territory.

A：Sion
And we are not talking a modern-day ocean here. We are talking about one from the Age of Gods, filled to the brim with ether and Demonic Beasts.

A：Sion
As things stand right now, we have no way of crossing an ocean like that safely.

A：Sion
If you were to enter the Atlantic Lostbelt now, you would just end up as so much seaweed.

Goredolf
I-I see. Does that mean we can't get there in the Border?

Da Vinci
I'm afraid not. Sion and I have been talking about it, and we both came to the conclusion...

Da Vinci
...that it's just not possible to make the Border seaworthy while preserving its existing functionality.

Da Vinci
Just because it can sail in Void Space doesn't mean it can do the same in Reality Space. Each ocean requires a completely different means of traversal.

Da Vinci
And since the Border is an All-Terrain Void-Transporter, we can't allocate that many resources only to make it capable of sailing on real water.

Da Vinci
I guess we could technically do it if we made the hull bigger, but if we did that, we wouldn't have nearly enough staff to run it.

Da Vinci
A vehicle that size would need at least sixty professionals to be operated. Can you guess what resource we are lowest on just now?

Mash
I guess that would be human resources...

Mash
Meunière and the rest of the Border's staff are all doing their best, but...

A：Sion
Right. So you are going to acquire what we need in the Indian Lostbelt.

Fou
Fou?

  1. So...you want us to recruit more people there?
 
  Select: So...you want us to recruit more people there?

===Branch End===

A：Sion
No, no, nothing like that. We already know that you cannot bring anything native to a Lostbelt outside it, right?

A：Sion
No, this is a simple matter of earthbound coordinates.

A：Sion
India has everything we currently lack, so you are going to go there to get it all in one fell swoop.

A：Sion
Is that not right, Captain? We are all done making adjustments and attachments over here.

A：Sion
All you have to do now is personally activate the Aronnax Phantasm in India and attach it.

Captain
...Yes, I'll go with them. It's been several months since I started helping out with the Border's maintenance.

Captain
It might be as slow as a sea turtle, but I can't help but have some affection for it after all this time.

Captain
And I know the Phantasm needs to be activated very carefully, with a precise ritual, and only at particular coordinates.

Captain
I don't know if we can even use it in a Lostbelt or not, but we'll never know unless we try.

Captain
That said, I'm the one who's going to decide what it becomes. That part is nonnegotiable.

Captain
And if I decide it's not going to work, I'm going to come back on my own. Got that, Sion?

A：Sion
Sure, as your Master, I am okay with that. Though I seriously doubt you are capable of being so heartless.

Captain
Hmph.

  1. Um...
  2. What are you talking about?
  Select: Um...

  Select: What are you talking about?

===Branch End===

Captain
...We're talking about my coming along with you to India. I thought you'd already been told about that.

Captain
Da Vinci, do you remember seeing a steel,
pyramid-shaped object somewhere around the dock?

Captain
Well, it's mine. I'd like you to store it in the Border for me. In the worst case, we can use it as a shield.

Da Vinci
Oh, you mean that weird-looking thing that almost seems like part from a car body kit?

Da Vinci
Aha, is that the Aronnax Phantasm thing you were just talking about?

Captain
...Yeah. It's not much use for a mermaid that can swim around the ocean freely, though.

Goredolf
Hmm. I can't say I know what it is you're talking about, but the more Servants around who can keep me safe, the better.

Captain
Um, thanks?
Anyway, glad to be here, everybody.

Captain
Oh, and don't worry about my seat. I already installed one for me, and it only takes up half of Meunière's space.

Meunière
(Whoa, really!?
That means Captain's gonna be sitting next to me!)

Meunière
(This is my big chance to show him what I'm made of!
I can't wait to get started!)

Goredolf
All right, but is that our only objective in India? Does this mean we don't have to cut down its Tree of Emptiness?

A：Sion
No, you will definitely be needing to eliminate the Indian Lostbelt while you are there...

A：Sion
...given that it seems to be indirectly responsible for the recent Rayshift incident.

A：Sion
The Indian Lostbelt...

A：Sion
There is a very good chance that these histories that were pruned away after they were deemed unnecessary contain significant and unprecedented threats.

A：Sion
I have determined that we cannot leave this Lostbelt be just because it is low on our list of priorities.

A：Sion
Besides, there is still so much we do not know,
and not just about the Trees of Emptiness.

A：Sion
What is going on with the Crypters? Who are the Alter Egos claiming to be Disciples of the Foreign God?

A：Sion
Every Lostbelt we investigate provides us with more data.

A：Sion
Fujimaru. Mash.
Da Vinci. Goredolf. Meunière.

A：Sion
As the one supervising the Command Room, and as someone personally wishing for your success, there is something I wish to say.

A：Sion
...You need to eliminate every Lostbelt. We have no choice but to fight, regardless of how painful that choice is.

A：Sion
You need to eliminate them both to improve our chances of victory during the inevitable climactic confrontation, and to return human history to its proper place.

Mash
Sion...

A：Sion
Whoops, scratch that! I should know better than to get overly serious before you have even headed out on a mission!

A：Sion
I am sure we will run into more than enough trouble in the Lostbelts, so we should at least try to enjoy ourselves while we are in the base!

A：Sion
All right, that is all for now. Please make sure to review the particulars of this mission on your mobile devices.

A：Sion
This Order will commence at dawn.

A：Sion
Be sure to get plenty of sleep, and come to the dock by the time we agreed on.

  1. Got it!
  2. Roger that!
  Select: Got it!

  Select: Roger that!

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
...

  1. Huh?
  2. Da Vinci...?
  Select: Huh?

  Select: Da Vinci...?

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
...

  1. Uh, hello?
  2. Is she...sleepstanding...?
  Select: Uh, hello?

  Select: Is she...sleepstanding...?

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Oh, Fujimaru. What's up?

Da Vinci
We have less than six hours until the mission starts. You should head back to your room and get some rest.

Da Vinci
I doubt we'll have many chances to get a full night's sleep once we're in the Lostbelt. Who knows when you'll get another chance to stay in a bed that doesn't rock?

  1. Uh, you might want to check your watch...
  2. It's actually time to go right now, Da Vinci.
  Select: Uh, you might want to check your watch...

  Select: It's actually time to go right now, Da Vinci.

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Huh? It's already time? Have I been sleeping standing up this whole time?

Da Vinci
...

Da Vinci
Hehe, oopsies. I didn't really want to go back to my workshop, so I guess I ended up resting my eyes first a little longer than I meant to.

Da Vinci
Well I feel silly☆

Da Vinci
Anyway, go on and head down to the dock.
I'll catch up with you guys soon!

  1. (Where did she get those roller skates...?)
  2. (She just skated down the hall like it was a giant rink...)
  Select: (Where did she get those roller skates...?)

  Select: (She just skated down the hall like it was a giant rink...)

===Branch End===

Nezha
...As I. Had thought. Da Vinci is having.
Some operational difficulties.

  1. Nezha!?
  2. When did you get here!?
  Select: Nezha!?

  Select: When did you get here!?

===Branch End===

Nezha
I have. Been behind you. For some time. You must. Have been. So focused. On Da Vinci. That you didn't notice.

Nezha
In any case. This is. A good chance. To tell. You this. You can't. Let Da Vinci. Push herself. Too much.

Nezha
She is. Doing everything. Leonardo. Da Vinci would.
Be doing. But while. In a much. Smaller body.

Nezha
That obviously. Puts tremendous strain.
On her now. You must. Be aware. Of that.

Nezha
She may. Have inherited. Leonardo. Da Vinci's. Duties.

Nezha
But she. Is a. Pseudo-Servant. Just like. Mash is.

Nezha
We may. Differ in format. But she and. I are.
Very similar. I understand. How she. Is feeling.

Nezha
No. Scratch that. I do. Not know.
How she. Is feeling. Da Vinci is. So strong.

  1. Nezha...?
 
  Select: Nezha...?

===Branch End===

Nezha
I said too much. My apologies. So please.
Keep this. Between us. Promise?

Nezha
I am. Coming along. To the Indian Lostbelt.
I hope. We can. Continue. To get along.

  1. Same here!
  2. Glad to have you with us again!
  Select: Same here!

  Select: Glad to have you with us again!

===Branch End===

Nezha
Understood. I promise. I will. Not let. You down.

Nezha
That said...

Nezha
The jewel. In my. Chest is. Acting up. A bit. I don't. Think this. Has ever. Happened to. Me before.

Nezha
...The Indian. Lostbelt is. A very. Bad place. Every part. Of my. Spirit Origin. Is warning. Me not. To go.

Nezha
Even so. Every Lostbelt. Is dangerous. I am. The Crown. Prince Nezha. I must. Not back down. From a challenge.

Nezha
If things. Go bad. I know. You will. Help me!
I'm sure. I have. Nothing to. Worry about!

Nezha
Let's go. The others. Are waiting!

Da Vinci
Oh man, sorry I'm late!
I can't believe I took so long to get ready!

B：Sion
It looks like you are all here.
Then let us begin the final rundown!

A：Sion
Your destination is the Indian Lostbelt. Your objective is to help Captain gain experience poi–

A：Sion
I mean, power up the Shadow Border, explore the Indian Lostbelt, and ultimately eliminate it.

A：Sion
Captain and I will handle the Shadow Border side of things, so please do not concern yourselves with that.

A：Sion
What I would like you to focus on, Master Fujimaru, is cutting down the Indian Tree of Emptiness.

A：Sion
I estimate you should have room in the Border to fit about twenty days worth of supplies.

A：Sion
While the Aronnax Phantasm will be loaded into the hangar as supplemental equipment...

A：Sion
...you will not need to account for it in battle,
as it is not meant for offensive purposes.

Holmes
I take it we will be summoning reinforcement Servants within the Lostbelt again, as we have done thus far?

A：Sion
Correct. From here, you will need to travel across Void Space to get close to the Indian Lostbelt...

A：Sion
...and from there, you will need to immediately undergo another Zero Sail in order to make your way inside...

A：Sion
Consecutive Zero Sails are draining, even for Servants, and Da Vinci's protection safeguards can only do so much.

A：Sion
So I think it is best if we keep no more than three Servants on standby in the Border.

Goredolf
Then, no matter how many Servants we win over to our side in the future, we'll only be able to take three of them into a Lostbelt with us?

A：Sion
That is how it works out, yes. I am not saying we can never send more than three if we really have to, but the Servants summoned inside a Lostbelt are more powerful anyway.

A：Sion
So when you get there, I would like you to secure a leyline and use Mash's holy relic to form contracts with new Heroic Spirits, just as you have in the other Lostbelts.

A：Sion
All right then...as the Wandering Sea Command Room's supervisor, I have an order for those of you on the field team.

A：Sion
As of this moment, Novum Chaldea will be transitioning to its first battle position.

A：Sion
Field team, go ahead and board the Border,
starting with Master Fujimaru.

A：Sion
Once I have confirmed all of your vitals are green,
you will begin a Zero Sail...

A：Sion
...and officially commence Order Lostbelt No. 4 along with its Sub-Order, Horned Monster.

A：Sion
Make sure you all give it everything you have,
and I look forward to your safe return!

Section 1: Where to Set Out

Show/Hide Story Chapter

P.A. System
Activating Paper Moon. Initiating planet navigational chart plus/minus convergence. Commencing Shadow Border's docking sequence into reality boundary.

P.A. System
Proper Human History Resemblance: C Lostbelt Depth: A

P.A. System
Firing existence verification tether into Reality Space. Anchor point at Heroic Spirit ■■'s virtual nautical chart, confirmed.

P.A. System
Zero Sail, complete. Emerging into Reality Space.

P.A. System
Reality Space anchor secured.
Reality verification complete.

P.A. System
Establishing Shadow Border's existence within Lostbelt. Zero Sail return successful.

Holmes
Good, we've made it back to Reality Space.

Fou
Fou fou.

Mash
Oof... That violent shaking never gets any easier.
Are you okay, Master?

  1. I'm fine. I'm used to it by now.
  2. This emergence felt a lot like the one in Scandinavia...
  Select: I'm fine. I'm used to it by now.
Mash
I'm impressed, Master. Not many people could adapt to this as quickly as you have.

  Select: This emergence felt a lot like the one in Scandinavia...
Captain
...You don't say.
You've got good instincts, Fujimaru.

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Heh, not so fast. Just take a look at how adeptly I'm carrying myself. Why, I'm the very picture of dignity. A Zero Sail is no worse than a drive in the rain for me.

Goredolf
Surely all that rattling must have been a dreadful sight more difficult for a freshly summoned Servant who's never left that lukewarm base of yours, no?

Captain
...I feel quite as powerless as a krill.
One already in a whale's stomach at that.

Captain
But never mind. So long as I am at sea, even the most violent upheaval is as a gentle breeze to me.

Captain
If anyone should be worried about getting seasick, it's you guys. This ship could and should be much more comfortable.

Captain
In particular, I'd like to add a bit more in the way of padding to my cushions.

Captain
A good captain must always take care of his crew, after all. Had I known how uncomfortable these chairs were, I would have prioritized making improvements...

Da Vinci
Hey, I'm glad to work together to keep the Border's systems in good shape...

Da Vinci
...but I'm not about to let you go tinkering with tiny things like that on your own anytime soon.

Da Vinci
Even something as small as changing the air freshener we use in the bathroom could lead to fighting among the staff.

Da Vinci
I'm actually being a lot more considerate of everyone on board than you might think, you know?

Captain
That is good to hear, but this is the sort of problem that should have been addressed in the planning stages of creating this vessel.

Captain
You might have the most advanced vessel in the world, but it will do you little good if your crew is in too low spirits to make proper use of it.

Captain
I'd guess the previous Da Vinci had no idea how difficult a voyage at sea could be.

Da Vinci
Ouch. Well, you've got me there.

Da Vinci
The last version of me was a genius, but she was definitely kind of...insensitive about things like that.

Da Vinci
Still, she did make this amazingly capable armored vehicle back when nobody had any idea what was going to happen.

Da Vinci
I'd say that more than gets me off the hook for overlooking little things like cushions!

Holmes
Quite so. The next time we build a vehicle, we'll be sure to pay more attention to creature comforts.

Holmes
In the meantime...we have made our way through the storm wall, and are now inside the Indian Lostbelt.

Holmes
We should begin by assessing our surroundings. First things first, Mr. Meunière, can you see this Lostbelt's Tree of Emptiness?

Meunière
...Yeah, I think that's it over there. I can see something far-off to the southeast!

Holmes
So, it has already taken root, as I suspected. Furthermore, it appears to have already grown considerably.

Holmes
But unlike in China and Scandinavia, at least we know where to find it. That should save us a good deal of time.

Nezha
Then let's. Go cut. It down. Right now.

Goredolf
Just like that!? Are all Chinese robots so...bold?

Holmes
No, that would be too dangerous. The tree is very far away, and I doubt the enemy has simply left it undefended.

Holmes
Oh, yes, that reminds me. I'm aware we have yet to define this term for our current circumstances...

Holmes
...but there is almost certainly another enemy we will need to face here.

Holmes
Given what we have seen thus far, there is an excellent chance that there is a Crypter assigned to this Lostbelt, and a king who has been ruling it since prior to the Crypter's arrival.

Holmes
It is therefore in our best interests to gather as much information as we can before we prepare to face them.

Holmes
...While this particular Tree of Emptiness does seem to have grown considerably, it also appears to be in a fairly stable state.

Holmes
So we do not seem to be under any immediate pressure.

Holmes
Of course, if things should take a sudden turn for the worse, we will have no choice but to act...

Holmes
...but for the time being, it should be safe to prioritize investigating this Lostbelt.

Holmes
Whatever steps we take next, we should begin by getting to the bottom of this case–er, that is, this unknown history.

Goredolf
Y-yes, quite. Very well, we will start by gathering information. It's important to know exactly what sort of dangers one is up against, after all.

Nezha
I see. Understood. For now.

Da Vinci
All righty, let's see if there's anything else of interest around here... Hm? What's that?

Holmes
Hmm. It would seem there is something else visible to the naked eye here; something a fair distance from the Tree of Emptiness in its own right. Fascinating.

  1. It's very, uh...square...
  2. It's very, uh...big...
  Select: It's very, uh...square...

  Select: It's very, uh...big...

===Branch End===

Goredolf
What the hell is that!? Is it natural?
Man-made? Hurry up and scan it, man!

Meunière
I'm working on it, I'm working on it! Come on...

Meunière
It's no use. I can't get a read on it with anything! It's like it's deflecting any attempts to scan it!

Holmes
Hmm. I thought it might be some sort of magecraft-based structure...but if it doesn't show up on magical energy scans, perhaps it isn't.

Holmes
It seems all we can do is barely make it out with our eyes.

Holmes
Which would mean that, empirically speaking,
we can't even be sure it is truly there.

Holmes
I suppose one possible explanation is that we are all just seeing things!

Goredolf
You mean, a mass hallucination? As in, a vision from space...? Warm hospitality... A frightening girl... Ghh, my head!

Mash
Please calm down, Director. I'm sure that was just Holmes trying to make a joke.

Fou
Fo fou.

Holmes
At any rate, the only thing we can say for sure at this point is that we have no idea as to what's going on.

Holmes
Though I do wonder if this may have anything to do with that mysterious girl we saw near Russia's Tree of Emptiness...

Holmes
...in the sense that we could also see her despite being unable to observe her with any instrumentation.

Holmes
Then again, I suppose she did technically appear as a sort of blank spot on our sensors... Hmm?

Holmes
Regardless, we still have far too little information to work with, so there is nothing to be gained from drawing conclusions now.

Meunière
Hmm. I guess we might be able to get some readings if we got in close?

Meunière
I can't say I'm thrilled about the idea of getting near that thing, but if you want to head over there and try...

Goredolf
Don't be daft! Why would we try to go inside that thing when we don't know the first thing about it!

Goredolf
Why, if something were to happen to the Border, or to me, mankind's last hopes would be dashed for good!

Goredolf
No, our first order of business is to ensure our surroundings are safe, and then to ensure I'M safe! Isn't that right, technical and administrative advisors!?

Da Vinci
You're not wrong. Lostbelts do have their own populations, so we know there's got to be a town around somewhere.

Da Vinci
I can't tell yet if there's one near that giant cube or anywhere else nearby...

Da Vinci
...but wherever we find one, we shouldn't get too close to it in the Border. Remember what happened in China?

Da Vinci
So if we're prioritizing information and supplies, I think we should start by looking for a campsite.

Da Vinci
Luckily, the environmental readings are all stable, so we can assume we're safe enough to focus on keeping a low profile.

Da Vinci
I'd really rather not use the camo function if we can help it, since it's a major resource hog.

Da Vinci
Now, where's a good out-of-the-way place we could hide the Border around here... Aha, that rocky mountain over there looks promising.

Da Vinci
All right, we should probably decide on our plan of attack here. Just to make sure, how's that device holding up?

Captain
...The Aronnax Phantasm's as quiet as a piece of coral. It's not about to wake up anytime soon.

Captain
I was afraid of this. Even if we get to the coordinates now, I won't be able to do the ritual to activate it as long as this Lostbelt is here.

Da Vinci
Hmm. So we won't be able to use your fancy new device or update the Border until we get rid of this Lostbelt, huh.

Da Vinci
I thought that might be the case, but that doesn't make it any less sucky.

Holmes
What did you expect? One can hardly hope to win first prize without taking part in the race.

Holmes
We will need to cut off this Lostbelt sooner or later, so if anything, this only helps simplify matters.

Goredolf
Indeed! Now, as usual, my duty is to defend the Border, seeing as it's the last bastion of hope for mankind and all.

Goredolf
Fujimaru and Mash, as you two are our field team, you will be working...well, in the field.

Goredolf
Given that this will be the fourth Lostbelt you've investigated, you should be old hands at it by now.

  1. Understood.
  2. I'll do my best.
  Select: Understood.

  Select: I'll do my best.

===Branch End===

Mash
...Yes, sir. I'll be sure to stay alert while we're in the field.

Da Vinci
Like I said before, the environment here's a lot more stable than it was in Russia or Scandinavia.

Da Vinci
It's similar to China's climate in a lot of ways...but in addition to the physical heat and humidity, there's also a high concentration of mana in the air here.

Da Vinci
That means you won't be able to use the portable stealth devices I gave you in China, just so you're aware.

Da Vinci
Still, at least we know you won't need to use the Ollerus Boards or any other special transport equipment here...

Da Vinci
...so you won't have to worry about that.

Mash
Yes, ma'am!

Goredolf
Good, good. Just the sort of enthusiasm I like to see.

Goredolf
However, one can't live on enthusiasm alone. Having just two of you out in the field is a risk I would rather not take.

Goredolf
So the Servants who will accompany you on your investigation shall be–

Captain
Sorry, I think that is a sensible decision, but I can't accompany them.

Captain
I was not sent here as a combatant. Were I to try to fight alongside Fujimaru, I would just get in
{(M) his /(F) her} way.

Captain
My job is to make improvements on this vessel.

Captain
I may not yet be able to do so, but there is still a lot of foundational work I can begin now.

Captain
The first thing I'm going to focus on is improving this bridge's shock absorption. As I said, these cushions leave quite a lot to be desired.

Da Vinci
Hey, I was planning to get to them when I had time, you know!

Nezha
Of course. I will. Accompany them.

Nezha
I have. Some connection. To India.
As well. I am sure. I can. Be useful.

Mash
Right. India has historically been close with China, where they called it Tianzhu. I'm sure you're familiar with it.

Mash
Thank you, Nezha. I'm very reassured knowing you'll be there to help us!

Nezha
...

Goredolf
...
Nonetheless, Nezha alone simply won't be enough.

Goredolf
Da Vinci needs to remain here on standby, so that she can operate the Border at a moment's notice if necessary.

Goredolf
And Holmes needs to stay so that he can make full use of the Border's instruments while he analyzes our findings.

Goredolf
Suffice to say, Fujimaru, that you will need to bolster your fighting force if you are to carry out your investigation.

Goredolf
To do so, you will have to try summoning new Servants in the field.

Goredolf
It's a shame the Atlas Institute Servant wasn't more accommodating, but there's nothing we can do about that!

Da Vinci
(I see Gordy's in a really good mood now that he has another Servant staying behind who can keep him safe.)

Da Vinci
I agree you'll need to start by summoning new Servants, but as they say, every cloud has a silver lining.

Da Vinci
And this particular summoning has two of them.

Da Vinci
First off, electricity. Thanks to Sion, we have another disposable booster you can use, like you did in China.

Da Vinci
She said it's called a Void Cell. I gotta say, the Atlas Institute comes up with some really interesting stuff sometimes.

Da Vinci
As a refresher, just hook it up to Mash's shield and it'll provide all the resources you need for the summon.

Da Vinci
Unfortunately, thanks to all the time it took to make everything, it's only got enough juice for two Servants...

Da Vinci
...but hey, it's still waaay better than flying a kite in a storm, right?

Da Vinci
Second, I already found a perfect leyline for summoning! Aaand it's well within walking distance.

Holmes
I concur. Once you have bolstered your forces there, you can begin investigating our surroundings in earnest.

Mash
Understood. We'll make sure to do that.

  1. Well, no time like the present! Let's go!
 
  Select: Well, no time like the present! Let's go!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou fooou!

Da Vinci
...You sure you're okay with this, Gordy?

Goredolf
Wh-what do you mean?

Da Vinci
Oh, you know, I just figured you'd want to say “Hold it! I'm the director, and I give the orders around here!” or something like that.

Goredolf
Oh.

Goredolf
...Well, I will admit I did come up with a few authoritative directives ahead of time...

Goredolf
...but I ultimately decided they weren't necessary, given how this Lostbelt seems fairly peaceful.

Goredolf
And if there is no point in saying them, well,
why waste my breath? It's only good sense.

Da Vinci
Of course there's a point to them. They're very important! Go on, Gordy, hurry up and say something!

Goredolf
O-oh? Well, if you insist, and if it's not too late... Ahem.

Goredolf
Hold it, hold it! You're forgetting something pivotal!

  1. ...What's that?
 
  Select: ...What's that?

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Your Commander's orders, of course!
We can't start an operation without them!

Goredolf
Go on now, line up! Backs straight!
Never mind the salute, just listen up!

Goredolf
Fujimaru! As the captain of the Shadow Border,
and the director of Chaldea, here are your orders!

Goredolf
You are to investigate this Lostbelt spreading across Indian land, and to find a means of felling that Tree of Emptiness as soon as possible!

Goredolf
In addition to eliminating this Lostbelt,
and protecting Earth from this invasion...

Goredolf
...you are also to secure a path that will enable us to further modify and evolve the Shadow Border!

  1. ...Yes, sir!
  2. On it!
  Select: ...Yes, sir!

  Select: On it!

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
(That's more like it. When a mission's especially difficult, that's when you need to send them off with high hopes.)

Da Vinci
(We're really coming into our own as a team. I think we'd even give the old Chaldea a run for its money!)

Section 2: Meeting Hope in a Lonely World

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Goredolf
I have to ask: are you sure this will work?
You had a fairly rough go of it in China, didn't you?

Goredolf
Granted, I was so out of sorts early on there thanks to having to confront my mortality that I wasn't able to make the same sort of coolheaded decisions I usually do...

Goredolf
I actually don't quite remember what happened very well! Still, I do recall hearing something about being unable to summon Servants there?

Meunière
You don't have to tell us. We're all fully aware.

Meunière
But I think we'll be okay. China was a unique situation, even for a Lostbelt.

Meunière
Still, for what it's worth, I don't think Fujimaru'll have any trouble summoning capable Servants here.

Da Vinci
Same! All we have to do now is give it a shot!
Is everything ready, Mash?

Mash
Yes. Everything is in place for the summoning spell, and the connection to the Spirit Origin briefcase is stable.

Mash
Running final checks...done. Heroic Spirit Summoning System Fate: all systems green!

Mash
Go ahead whenever you're ready, Master!

Fujimaru
My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call, and abide by this will and reason, then answer me.

Fujimaru
I hereby swear.

Fujimaru
I embody all that is good in the world.
I shall defeat all that is evil in the world.

Fujimaru
Seventh Heaven clad in the three words of power! Come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!

Rama
I am Rama, a Saber, and the Great King of Kosala.

Karna
I am a Lancer. My True Name is Karna.
It is good to be here.

Mash
It worked, Senpai!
We couldn't have hoped for a better result!

  1. This is great!
  2. We even know them already!
  Select: This is great!

  Select: We even know them already!

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Whoaa! ...Uh, good, good!
I knew I had it in me!

Goredolf
Why, these Servants I summoned are perfect for tackling India. With a lineup like this, I daresay we've already as good as won!

Da Vinci
Well, teeechnically, it was Fujimaru that summoned them.

Mash
This is such good news it almost makes me want to run around whooping for joy. I won't, of course!

Mash
But at least Fou can hop around gleefully in my stead. Go ahead, Fou!

Fou
Fo fou, fooou!

Karna
I see. Now I understand. So we are fighting for Chaldea on behalf of Proper Human History.

Rama
Indeed! It sounds as though your path thus far has been quite arduous, Master Fujimaru.

Rama
But now that you have summoned me–the King of Kosala, and avatar of Vishnu–your worries are over.

Rama
No matter what manner of hardships may lie ahead, my sword–a bane to all evil–will rend any obstacles you encounter asunder!

Rama
And on the slight chance I'm not enough by myself, you even managed to summon Karna, the Hero of Benefaction!

Rama
This goes far beyond just good luck... Just how many good deeds have you done to earn this kind of karma, Master?

Karna
You give me far more credit than I deserve...

Karna
Still, I can promise you this, Master. Now that I have been summoned here, I will do everything in my power to see your will done. I await your orders.

Karna
That said...as a kshatriya, I could ask for no greater honor than to fight alongside the King of Kosala.

Karna
Truthfully, even I cannot deny that I feel fortune smiling upon us.

Rama
Hahaha, how very respectful of you, son of Surya, god of sun. I will feel most reassured knowing you have my back!

Mash
...

  1. You're really happy about this, huh, Mash?
 
  Select: You're really happy about this, huh, Mash?

===Branch End===

Mash
Oh, uh, yes! Although, I'm also just relieved...

Mash
...since I already know very well just how heroic and dependable they are.

Mash
I'm so grateful they were the ones who chose to answer your call.

Da Vinci
I'll say! Even without the home advantage going for them, I'd say these were some of the best possible Servants we could have hoped to summon!

Da Vinci
Rama, Karna, Arjuna, and Pārvatī were my top choices from the Spirit Origin graph going in...

Da Vinci
...but it was still a roll of the dice as to whether any of them would respond to the summon!

Da Vinci
And if that weren't good enough, Rama and Karna are both enormously well-known and influential here.

Da Vinci
Given all that, along with the fact that they know India like the backs of their hands, I'm sure they'll be even more helpful than usual!

Da Vinci
That said, I'm sure some things might be off for them here, given that it's a Lostbelt and all, but I'm sure they'll still handle it way better than us Europeans☆

Holmes
Speaking of which, what do you make of this Lostbelt so far? How is it different from the India you're familiar with?

Rama
How is it different? How is it NOT different?
I recognize nothing of this topography.

Rama
No, it's more than that. I'm not quite sure how to describe it, but it feels like the air here is...

Karna
Yes, it's very dry.
It makes me feel...lonely.

Rama
Yes! That's it. It makes me feel lonely.
I have no idea what that might mean, though...

Mash
Lonely, huh...

Fou
Fooou?

Rama
And of course, I always make a point to try and sense my wife whenever I materialize, but it seems she is nowhere to be found here. One more reason I feel lonely, I think.

Rama
Ahh, my beloved Sita.
When will I get to see you again...?

Karna
I don't sense anything familiar here either.
Well, I suppose there is–

Karna
...

  1. Is something wrong?
  2. Are you picking something up?
  Select: Is something wrong?

  Select: Are you picking something up?

===Branch End===

Karna
...No, it's nothing. For a moment, I felt a bit of the kind of tension I feel prior to battle.

Karna
I was trying to figure out what it might be, but I couldn't come up with anything. I must have been imagining things...or perhaps my mind was playing tricks on me.

Karna
I'm sorry I can't be clearer than that, Master.

Holmes
Very well then, what do you make of that mysterious cube off in the distance?

Rama
To be honest, I have no idea.

Rama
I've traveled to all manner of countries in my search for Sita, but I've never seen nor heard of anything like that.

Karna
Nor have I. There is something about its shape that seems vaguely familiar...

Karna
...but I am sure that is not the kind of answer you are looking for.

Da Vinci
Not really, no. I could say it looks like a giant die, or an enormous 3D puzzle, but that wouldn't do us any good.

Da Vinci
We want to know what it's made of, not what it looks like.

Goredolf
Hmph. If you Proper Human History Servants don't know, then it's obviously something unique to this Lostbelt.

Goredolf
In which case, the only way we'll find answers is by investigating it. You can start with our immediate surroundings, as I originally planned!

Goredolf
Remember, the fate of the world hinges on us, so make sure you do your damn jobs!

Rama
...Hey, Master? I know he's your superior, but does he have to be so condescending? Does he not know I'm a king?

  1. Sorry about that...
  2. He's a good guy at heart! I promise!
  Select: Sorry about that...

  Select: He's a good guy at heart! I promise!

===Branch End===

Rama
Well, no matter. Given that I am a Servant now,
I can certainly overlook a transgression or two.

Nezha
He is. Definitely condescending. But also.
Totally harmless. I recommend. Not dwelling. On it.

Fou
Fou, fou.

Holmes
All right, why don't we get our investigation underway?

Da Vinci
We'll begin with the immediate vicinity, so just head in the direction we tell you and we should be all set.

Da Vinci
You might run into a wild animal or two along the way, but I'm sure you guys will be able to handle them just fine!

--BATTLE--

Mash
We did end up running into some wild animals,
but you all handled them, no problem!

Mash
That said...

Fou
Fooou?

  1. There's obviously something on your minds.
  2. You all look pretty puzzled.
  Select: There's obviously something on your minds.

  Select: You all look pretty puzzled.

===Branch End===

Rama
Indeed. Now that I've had a quick warm-up, I can say for sure that there is something strange about this land.

Nezha
I agree. Completely. But I can't.
Figure out. What it. Might be.

Karna
Yes. Compared to the one we know from...Proper Human History, was it? It feels as though there is something unusual covering the entire world.

Mash
Is it like the loneliness you mentioned before?

Rama
Maybe, maybe not. It's nothing I can really put my finger on, nor can I put it into words.

Rama
All I know for sure is that, whatever it is,
it's preventing us from performing at our best.

Rama
It doesn't mean we can't fight, but we definitely can't use one hundred percent of our power.

  1. Do you think it'll get better?
 
  Select: Do you think it'll get better?

===Branch End===

Rama
Honestly, I don't know. Things might improve once we get used to it, but at this point, I just can't say.

Rama
Nonetheless, I wouldn't pay it too much heed.

Rama
Even if we can't use all of our power, we still have more than enough to carry out your commands.

Rama
So don't worry about us, Master. All you need to worry about is telling us what to do.

Rama
Now then, it looks like we have more hungry beasts to deal with. Let's take care of them quickly so we can continue investigating our surroundings!

--BATTLE--

Da Vinci
So hey, what do you make of the area so far?

Da Vinci
We've been able to get a handle on it to some degree on our end, but I'd still like to hear your thoughts on it now that you've experienced it for yourselves.

Mash
Well, I can see a lot of placid bodies of water around here. They're all covered in lotus flowers, and it's very pretty.

Mash
And there's also plenty of dry land, so we haven't had any problems walking around.

  1. Basically, it's surprisingly normal.
  2. It's almost strangely peaceful.
  Select: Basically, it's surprisingly normal.

  Select: It's almost strangely peaceful.

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Hmm... Well of course, water is essential for living things to survive.

Da Vinci
It looks like there are large rivers here too, so it would seem it's just as environmentally stable as China was.

Holmes
Oh? This signal... Is that...?

Holmes
Just as I suspected. A world with a pleasant climate is bound to have people, which also means it's bound to have towns.

Holmes
I just picked up what appears to be one such town in the direction you're headed. I'll send you the coordinates now.

Holmes
Be sure to approach it with the utmost caution.

--ARROW--

Inner Monologue
Close your eyes.
Clasp your hands.

Inner Monologue
...Offer your prayer to the god above.

Inner Monologue
Those three things are an important part of our daily lives. We all have to do them.

Inner Monologue
My father complains about everything, but he still prays every day, even if he always grumbles while he does it.

Inner Monologue
If I forget to pray at the right time, he gets really angry. Well, he's always angry, but he gets even more angry.

Inner Monologue
I think, if I had a mother...she'd get angry too.

Inner Monologue
I've only heard about mothers in stories, so I don't know that for sure, but that's what I'd guess.

Inner Monologue
Prayers are very important, so I can't blame them for getting angry.

Inner Monologue
That's true for routine prayers...and prayers just for the sake of praying.

Inner Monologue
Praying is an essential part of our lives.

Inner Monologue
We pray...
And we pray...

Inner Monologue
And we hope that our god hears us.

Inner Monologue
We live our lives the best we can.
We try hard to be good people.

Inner Monologue
So please, o great god above...

Inner Monologue
Please guide us to the next yuga.

A：???
Hm? What's all the commotion outside?
I'm gonna go take a look!

B：???
...Where do you think you're going?

A：???
I-it's okay, I already finished my prayers!
Come on, Vihan!

Rama
Once we confirmed the town was safe to approach, we decided to take a closer look, as there was only so much we could learn at a distance.

Rama
That said, this isn't what I was expecting...

  1. It feels vaguely unsafe here...
  2. It definitely doesn't seem too peaceful...
  Select: It feels vaguely unsafe here...

  Select: It definitely doesn't seem too peaceful...

===Branch End===

Mash
I'd have to agree. There are a number of broken buildings, and the fountain is jutting out at an odd angle...

Mash
It would be a beautiful town square if was properly maintained, but as it is now, it feels kind of run-down.

Da Vinci
What about townspeople? Are there any there?

Mash
Yes, there are, though it feels like they're giving us a wide berth.

Da Vinci
I don't see any furry-eared beasts like we did in Russia, and it doesn't look like the ages are skewed like in Scandinavia...

Da Vinci
At a glance, they look like perfectly ordinary people. Hmm.

Karna
They do seem to be wary of us, but I don't sense any overt hostility. I imagine they would react similarly to any unfamiliar visitors.

Holmes
It would seem they're sizing us up just as we're sizing them up. In that case, it's best if we don't give them unnecessary cause for suspicion.

Holmes
We'll refrain from calling you for the time being, so please use that time to focus on gathering as much information as you can.

Mash
Understood. All right, here goes...

Girl & Dog
...

  1. (There's a girl looking at us very intently.)
  2. (That doggo is adorable!)
  Select: (There's a girl looking at us very intently.)

  Select: (That doggo is adorable!)
Fou
Fou...? Fooou...?

===Branch End===

Mash
She doesn't seem to be afraid of us, either.
I think I'll try talking to her.

Mash
Ahem... Hi there! Could we talk to you for a bit?

A：Girl
Yikes, you surprised me!
...Hello!

Mash
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

A：Girl
Oh, don't worry. I'm always spacing out, so I get surprised a lot.

A：Girl
If you just want to talk, that's fine with me.

A：Girl
Say, can I ask who you guys are? I've never seen anyone else dressed like you before.

  1. We're travelers.
 
  Select: We're travelers.

===Branch End===

Mash
That's right.

Mash
This is Fujimaru, and I'm Mash Kyrielight.

Mash
May I ask your name?

A：Girl
I'm Asha, and this is Vihan! He's astonishingly cute, isn't he?

Vihan
Arf!

Fou
Fou fou. Fou.

Rama
So you are named after the Hindi words for “hope” and “dawn.” That's lovely.

Rama
Oh yes, I almost forgot.
I am Rama, and this is Karna and Nezha.

Rama
You may have heard our names in stories of great warriors, but pay that no heed.

Asha
...?

Karna
(...? Is it my imagination, or do the other people here seem afraid of something now?)

Asha
So if you're travelers, does that mean you don't have a home?

Mash
No, we don't. At least, not in this town.

Asha
You don't? That's terrible! Shockingly terrible!

Nezha
Why is. That terrible?

Asha
'Cause of the kali, of course! You can't pray without a house, and if you can't pray, the kali are gonna eat you up!

Rama
Kali? Asha, is that–

Asha
Ah. Fath–

B：Fierce-Looking Man
What are you doing here, Asha?
Can't you see what's happening!?

Townsperson's Voice
The kali are here!

Townsperson's Voice
Everyone inside? Okay, I'm locking the door.
Get ready to pray!

Townsperson's Voice
Get inside! Hurry!

Asha
The kali are here!?
But, these travelers don't have a home...

Asha
Father, can we let them stay in ours?

B：Fierce-Looking Man
Of course not. I can't afford to look after a bunch of people we don't even know.

Mash
W-wait, please!

Mash
You're Asha's father, right?
Can you at least tell us what's going on?

B：Fierce-Looking Man
...My name's Ajai. Use it.

Ajai
And I've got my hands full taking care of just one ulloo. Sorry, but you lot are on your own.

  1. On our own with what?
 
  Select: On our own with what?

===Branch End===

Ajai
...? What, were you born yesterday or something?
With the kali, of course.

Ajai
All we can do is lock ourselves up in our homes and pray to our god not to discard us...

Ajai
...so that we don't become faithless, worthless people doomed to end up as nothing more than kali food.

Asha
G-go on, travelers! You've gotta hurry and find a place to hide and pray! I'm sure you already know this, but the kali–

Ajai
Be quiet, Asha.
We can't afford to pray for them as well as us.

Karna
Master, all the other people are gone. It looks like we're the only ones left still outside.

Mash
They must have all gone back to their homes.

Mash
Now what should we do?
I know Asha told us to hide, but–

Karna
...Get back, Master.

  1. What is that thing!?
  2. Is that the kali!?
  Select: What is that thing!?

  Select: Is that the kali!?

===Branch End===

Nezha
Be careful. That is. Not the only one!

Mash
Th-they're attacking everything in sight!
Is that why the town is in such poor shape!?

Rama
Kali... That is the devil's name.

Goredolf
Hmm. That must be one unique to Indian mythology, rather than the one defined by the Holy Church.

Rama
I don't know how you Westerners categorize them, but we have always called them devils.

Rama
I do get the sense that these aren't the same devils we know, but whatever they are, they are clearly bent on causing destruction.

Rama
No king can sit idly by and watch such destruction! These creatures will make worthy foes for my indestructible blade!

Nezha
My body. Still feels odd. But the effects.
Are negligible. We should. Have no. Serious issues.

Karna
Agreed. I'm not about to let that stop me from helping. Give us your orders, Master. We'll handle these things.

  1. Got it. Let's fight!
 
  Select: Got it. Let's fight!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right. My Ortinax is holding steady at better than expected readings. I'm good to go, too.

Mash
Armored Shielder, moving out!

--BATTLE--

Nezha
There are. More than. I expected.
This could. Be troublesome.

Nezha
...!?

Person's Voice
Aah! Stay back! Get away from me...!

Person's Voice
P-please, dear god, s-s-s-save m–

Mash
Ah...!

Karna
...It's my fault. I was one step too late.

Rama
These people have no weapons with which to defend themselves.

Rama
If their homes are destroyed, there is nothing they can do to avoid being eaten... This is horrific.

Karna
I've been focusing on the kali going after the more fragile houses, but there seems to be no end to them. It's becoming a problem.

Karna
I could wipe them all out at once with my Noble Phantasm...but that would also end up destroying the very people and homes we are trying to protect.

  1. Then that's definitely not an option!
  2. We'll just have to do the best we can taking them out one at a time!
  Select: Then that's definitely not an option!

  Select: We'll just have to do the best we can taking them out one at a time!

===Branch End===

Karna
Agreed. This is truly a race against time.
Every second counts when eliminating these monsters.

Holmes
Good grief. When I decided to stay out of sight so as not to interfere with your information gathering, I never expected you would end up suddenly fighting such an intense battle.

Holmes
It would seem I'll need to run all the instruments at full power so as not to miss any data. So much for my break... Hm?

Holmes
Hold it. There is something else headed your way.

Holmes
Many somethings, I should say. And all distinctly different from the creatures you're currently fighting.

Mash
!?

Rama
What are these white beasts? Are they hostile too?

Mash
No, look! They're attacking the kali!

  1. So, they're on our side!?
 
  Select: So, they're on our side!?

===Branch End===

Karna
...Not necessarily.

Rama
I am not sure if they eat people, or if they hunt kali and simply mistook us for them...

Rama
...but they're coming after us, too.

Mash
Then I guess there's no point in wondering how these new creatures might affect the situation.

Mash
We'll just have to follow Karna's lead and put everything we have into fighting back.

Mash
We can't let harm come to anyone else!
Please give us your orders, Master!

--BATTLE--

A：Mash
(Huff... Huff...)

A：Mash
...All nearby hostiles have been eliminated.

A：Mash
We did it... We finally managed to get rid of all those demonic looking kali monsters, and the white beasts that showed up later.

Holmes
As I suspected, it would seem those white beasts and the kali are mortal enemies, given how viciously they attacked one another.

Rama
Indeed. Nor did the white beasts attempt to destroy any part of the town. It was thanks to them that we were able to fend off the kali...

Rama
...though we did have to eliminate them as well, given that they also tried to attack us.

Ajai
...

Ajai
You lot did this, huh?
Now you've done it.

  1. Oh, hi, Asha's father.
  2. I'm glad to see you're okay, Ajai.
  Select: Oh, hi, Asha's father.
Ajai
Don't call me that.

  Select: I'm glad to see you're okay, Ajai.
Ajai
...Hmph.

===Branch End===

Karna
Can you tell us what these things are?

Ajai
(At first I figured these guys were from the other side of the mountain, since they don't pray...)

Ajai
(...but I guess they really are just a bunch of ulloo who don't know anything about the kali.)

Ajai
(...Either way, I don't want any part of this trouble.)

Ajai
What's there to tell? If you lot know what's good for you, you'll get out of here as soon as–

Asha
{(M) Mister /(F) Miss}! Are you guys okay!?
...You are? That's astonishing!

Asha
I'm so glad you're all right...

Mash
I'm glad you're all right too, Asha.
What a relief to see you're not hurt.

Asha
Yeah, I'm okay. But Vihan's, well...

Vihan
(Whine, whine)

Mash
I see... He's dragging his leg. Poor thing.

Asha
Yeah. He got it caught under a cabinet that fell down when our house started shaking... I'm sorry, Vihan.

Vihan
(Whiiine...)

Fou
Fou...

Ajai
...

Ajai
God... Is there any value in a dog that can't run...?

???

Wh-what happened!?
The kali are dead...? AND the sacred beasts!?

Mash
...Uh, hello. Who are you?

A：???
I'm Prakash, the town mayor.

Prakash
Are you travelers?
Do you know anything about this disaster?

Rama
We do. These beasts attacked us, so we killed them.

Prakash
............You what?

Rama
If you would like a full account,
then call for your finest scribe.

Rama
It would be such a waste for me to recount my exploits without someone present to record them.

Prakash
Wh... Wh...

Prakash
What have you done!? How could you have k-k-killed the very agents of our god that keep us safe!?

  1. We didn't have a choice. It was self-defense.
 
  Select: We didn't have a choice. It was self-defense.

===Branch End===

Nezha
Agreed. There was. No other. Way. What's more.
They were. Not the. Only ones. We killed.

Mash
That's right. We also fought the creatures you call kali.

Mash
Please understand.
We were only trying to protect your town...

Prakash
Hah! Don't be ridiculous!
There's nothing to understand.

Prakash
What you have done is unforgivable.
It goes against every law of this world!

Prakash
Besides, the god's sacred beasts would never attack people without a good reason! Ahh, this is terrible.

Prakash
If we incur the god's wrath... If he thinks our town allowed, or worse, encouraged your vile deeds...we'll all be done for!

Prakash
Go away! Leave our town at once!
You are no longer welcome in Bichu!

H：Town Citizen
Yeah! Get out of here!

H：Town Citizen
You damn heretics'll get us all killed!

I：Town Citizen
Oh no... Could they be those people I've been hearing rumors about lately? Does this mean we're going to suffer divine punishment...?

Rama
Well this is unexpected. They look like they might start throwing stones at any moment. What would you have us do, Master?

  1. ...Let's get out of here for now.
  2. Retreat!
  Select: ...Let's get out of here for now.

  Select: Retreat!

===Branch End===

Mash
I agree. It would be difficult to gain any more information under these circumstances.

Mash
Besides, I think we should try to avoid trouble with the locals as much as we possibly can.

Mash
Let's go look for somewhere outside of town to set up camp...

Asha
Poor travelers...

--ARROW--

Goredolf
Well this is a fine “how do you do?”

Goredolf
No sooner do you find a town than you get kicked out for fighting.

Goredolf
You barely even have any intel to show for it!
All you did was waste our precious time!

Goredolf
First Russia, then Scandinavia and China, and now India... Why can't we ever catch a damn break!?

Holmes
Good grief. When you're examining a crime scene with a magnifying glass, Goredolf, do you focus on the stain on your pants before even considering the evidence?

Goredolf
H-huh? What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying I have a stain on my finely-ironed slacks!?

Holmes
Oh, no, I beg your pardon.
Your uniform is quite spotless.

Captain
Of course it is. Any sailor worth their salt should keep their uniform white as snow. I had mine cleaned by the Laundry Type before we left.

Holmes
(Laundry Type...? Hmm. I do recall seeing a weird-looking Captain running around base before...)

Mash
Um, Holmes? Do you mean that, if we hope to find anything that might lead us to what we are seeking...

Mash
...we should be prepared to suffer a few setbacks at first?

Holmes
Precisely! If you're too focused on your expense ledger, you'll miss the evidence that's right in front of you, my dear Watson.

Mash
Understood! I'll make sure to keep that in mind!

Goredolf
(Dammit...! That was my chance to be Watson!? Curse my gentlemanly propensity to be so acutely aware of my appearance!)

Goredolf
I-I knew that, of course. I was just, um, playing devil's advocate. A nervous, high-strung devil's advocate.

Goredolf
It was, um, just a cunning ploy to elicit that reaction from Holmes. Yes, that's it.

Fou
Fou...

Da Vinci
Anyway, we need to find a good place nearby where we can pitch camp, right?

Da Vinci
In that case, why don't you try asking the little bunny hiding in the tall grass behind you for a recommendation?

Mash
Good idea. In that case...

Mash
Please don't hide in there, Asha.
Can you come out where we can see you?

Asha
Yikes! You surprised me!

Da Vinci
Since we're already surprising her, I might as well introduce myself. I'm sure she can handle it.

Da Vinci
Hi there, Asha. My name's Da Vinci.
I'm a friend of Fujimaru's.

Da Vinci
I'm not actually there right now. I'm just using something called a transmission to send my voice over the air.

Da Vinci
There's also a detective here who might pop in every now and then, but don't mind him. He's harmless.

Da Vinci
Oh, we also have a commander who's obviously really bad with kids...

Da Vinci
...but I'm having him sit this out,
whether he likes it or not.

Asha
Wow, it's just one surprise after another! You travelers really can do amazing things, can't you?

Karna
The other townspeople were eager to see us leave.
Why did you come after us?

Mash
(That's just like Karna to get straight to the point!
I was curious about that too, but still...)

Asha
Oh, uh, well, I wanted to give you these, to thank you for saving us...

  1. Ooh, bananas! Thanks!
 
  Select: Ooh, bananas! Thanks!

===Branch End===

Rama
Oho, these are fine bananas indeed.

Rama
You know, I used to feast on the bananas that Hanuman would pick for me all the time.

Rama
They were jewels of the heavens, so delectable a single bite could make your cheeks melt away in pleasure...

Rama
...but I can tell that these bananas are surely every bit their equal.

Rama
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this gift, Asha.

Asha
Hanuma...?

Rama
You know, Hanuman? The monkey god?
One of my closest allies?

Rama
...What's that? You've never even heard of him?

Rama
Poor Hanuman. I guess even picking up and carrying a whole mountain wasn't enough to make you famous... You're in no position to be laughing at Lakshmana.

Rama
...

Rama
Hold on. I sincerely doubt the answer could be no,
but let me ask you something just to make sure.

Rama
Have you heard the name “Rama” before?

Asha
...? (Innocently cocking head)

Rama
What!?

Karna
...

Karna
My name is Karna. I am the warrior who once fought alongside the Kauravas, the descendants of King Kuru. Have you heard my name before?

Asha
(Shaking head)

Karna
...I see.

Karna
Well, that is no surprise. I still have a long way to go before I reach the heights of mastery I strive for.

Holmes
Don't be ridiculous, Karna.
That's giving yourself far too little credit.

Holmes
It is no exaggeration to say that in the India from Proper Human History, there is not a single person alive who has not heard your names. That is how great your heroic deeds were.

Holmes
So if the people here have no familiarity with the myths of the past, or the figures from well-known stories...

Holmes
...that would mean that neither the Mahabharata nor the Ramayana exist in this Lostbelt.

Holmes
Alternatively, they may have existed in the past,
but have since been forgotten.

Rama
Hmph. How sad to think that the people of this day have never heard of my grand exploits.

Rama
...No, wait... Does this mean we can't even be sure my exploits happened here?

Rama
And if they didn't, does that mean that neither I nor Sita existed in this India...?

Da Vinci
Either way, if Asha hasn't heard of you, there's no point in pursuing this line of questioning any further.

Da Vinci
I think it's best if we stick to questions she'll actually be able to help us with, starting with our campsite.

Da Vinci
Asha, we're looking for a place where we can rest for the night. Can you think of any good spots?

Asha
Well, um... There's a cave near here we use to play hide-and-seek.

Mash
Anything that would give us shelter from the wind and rain sounds great. Would you show us the way there?

Asha
Sure! Follow me!

Da Vinci
And on the way, we can ask about the really important things, like the you-know-what over there.

Mash
Right. Asha, can I ask you something?

Mash
Do you know anything about that giant tree way off in the distance?

Asha
Ooh, you're curious about it too, huh? So am I! It just sprang up out of nowhere a while ago. I was so surprised...

Rama
Is that all you know about it?

Asha
Well, yeah. I mean, it's really far away, you know?

Asha
Most of the people in town say it probably has something to do with our god, like God's Skyboulder.

Mash
That's actually just what I wanted to ask you about next.

Mash
Is God's Skyboulder what you call that enormous cube floating over those mountains?

Asha
Uh-huh...

  1. God's Skyboulder...
  2. So that's what it's called.
  Select: God's Skyboulder...

  Select: So that's what it's called.

===Branch End===

Rama
Now that we know its name, the next question is obvious. What exactly is it?

Asha
Well that's a funny question.
God's Skyboulder is God's Skyboulder!

Asha
It's been around forever, just like the sun and the ground. Everyone knows that.

Holmes
Hmm...?

Asha
I don't know what else to say. God's Skyboulder is God's Skyboulder, just like the sun is the sun.

Asha
I'm positive my father would say the same thing!

Holmes
Then why is it called God's Skyboulder? Not that I can imagine how humans could have made such a thing.

Asha
Um, I think it's because our god made it?
Or maybe because he lives there?

Asha
Sorry, I really don't know. Nobody ever goes near it.

Holmes
Oh? And why is that? Speaking for myself, I find it an enormously compelling object of interest.

Holmes
Most mysterious indeed.
It is without a doubt worth investigating.

Asha
I just know it's got something to do with our god,
so people are supposed to stay away.

Asha
Besides, they also say there are lots of kali around there trying to kill our god.

Asha
It's not just me.
My father, my aunt...nobody in Bichu ever goes there.

Da Vinci
Oh yeah, we have to ask you about the kali too.

Da Vinci
From what we saw, I'm guessing their attacks happen pretty regularly, but–

Asha
Wow, you mean the kali never come to your town, travelers? That's so surprising!

Asha
You must be from somewhere reeeally far away, especially if you can't even see God's Skyboulder from there.

Asha
But yeah, of course the kali show up a lot whenever a yuga's about to end.

Asha
And since tomorrow's Kali Yuga, I bet there'll be way more tomorrow than there were today.

Mash
Huh? What are you talking about?

Asha
You mean you don't know? I thought everybody knew lots of kali show up on Kali Yuga, since it's the last yuga and all.

Asha
That's why everyone always locks their doors even tighter and prays even harder than they did for Dvāpara Yuga today.

Nezha
...

Nezha
Question. What will. Happen. When tomorrow. Is over?

Asha
You mean you travelers don't even know that? That's REALLY surprising! I'm pretty sure everyone knows that...even Vihan!

Asha
I mean, it's something as natural as the sun giving us daylight, you know?

Da Vinci
Let's just say we're from somewhere reeeally off the beaten path.

Da Vinci
A place pretty much at the ends of the earth where everything from society to history is fundamentally different.

Da Vinci
So please, tell us, Asha.
What happens when Kali Yuga is over?

Asha
Why, our god passes judgment and everyone dies, of course.

Asha
But then, if our god decides you're worthy, he brings you back to life, and the first happy yuga starts all over again.

--ARROW--

Fou
(Munch, munch...) Banafou fo fou!

  1. (These bananas ARE really good, but...)
  2. (I'm glad we found a good campsite, but...)
  Select: (These bananas ARE really good, but...)

  Select: (I'm glad we found a good campsite, but...)

===Branch End===

Rama
(Munch munch munch)... Let me just make sure I have these yugas straight, Asha.

Rama
In this world, the first yuga lasts for four days, the second lasts for three, the third lasts for two...

Rama
...and the final one, Kali Yuga, comes on the final day. Do I have that right?

Asha
Uh-huh. Oh, but they do say each yuga used to be waaay longer a long time ago.

Asha
Once upon a time, I heard there used to be things called “years” and “months” during each yuga...though I don't know what they are.

Asha
Maybe that's why my father always says it's a lot harder to keep track of things like anniversaries now.

Asha
...I wonder if he remembers that my four thousandth day of being alive is coming up soon...

Karna
Then, when Kali Yuga is over,
you said a god will then pass judgment...

Karna
...killing everyone and bringing them back to life, right?

Mash
An actual god... I guess it's certainly not impossible, especially given what we saw in Scandinavia, but still...

Mash
So this...judgment is just a normal part of life here?

Asha
Uh-huh. As long as you pray, everything stays the same, just like how the sun rises when it's morning.

Holmes
It would seem our shared perceptions of normality are fundamentally misaligned. This could be quite difficult.

Holmes
After all, it only makes sense that someone who perceives such abnormalities to be entirely mundane would find them unremarkable.

Da Vinci
We'll just have to take each difference one at a time.

Da Vinci
Let's start with something simple. In this case, I think it's got to be defining exactly what a yuga is.

Da Vinci
Yugas might be a pretty well-known concept, but it's still important to make sure we're all on the same page.

Da Vinci
Plus, talking about it might help us figure out what the differences are between our concept and Asha's concept.

Da Vinci
So, first off, does everyone here know what yugas are in our world?

  1. I don't, so I was hoping you could fill me in.
  2. I do, but I'd like to go over them anyway.
  Select: I don't, so I was hoping you could fill me in.

  Select: I do, but I'd like to go over them anyway.

===Branch End===

Captain
Yugas are a Hindu concept that says the world is always cycling between four distinct periods.

Captain
In order, those periods are called Kṛta–or Satya–Yuga, Tretā Yuga, Dvāpara Yuga, and Kali Yuga.

Captain
When the Kali Yuga draws near, law, order, and morality cease to exist, and the world starts to fill up with evil instead.

Captain
Then, when the Kali Yuga ends...

Captain
...the gods are said to destroy the world, remake it, and let a new Kṛta Yuga begin all over again.

Mash
Uh... Th-thank you, Captain...

Captain
Not at all. I just overheard something with which I was familiar, so I thought I would chime in.

Captain
That's all I had to say.

Da Vinci
(Captain... Now I see. If your True Name is what I think it is, then you would have some ties to India...)

Asha
So you guys DO know what yugas are!
Well that's a surprise!

Asha
Oh, I get it. You were just teasing me, weren't you? You're so silly!

Rama
Hmm, this truly is difficult. There are some concepts we share and some we don't, and both kinds are mixed together in the same word.

Karna
At least it seems that we're mostly on the same page when it comes to our enemy.

Karna
I also knew that devils called kali appear during the Kali Yuga to plunge the world into chaos.

Da Vinci
Sure, but according to Asha there, today is only supposed to be the third one, Dvāpara Yuga.

Asha
Oh, the kali are always around.
There're just more of them depending on the yuga.

Asha
You almost never see one during the Kṛta Yuga, and there're so many during Kali Yuga it's shocking!

Asha
...If a kali kills you, you won't be able to receive the god's blessing anymore. That's why everyone prays so hard.

Da Vinci
(Hm? So it's not getting killed they're worried about, but what comes afterwards...?)

Da Vinci
(Does she mean that in a religious sense?)

Karna
Whatever the reasons for it, it sounds like there will be even more kali attacking that town tomorrow.

Karna
What would you have us do, Master?

  1. ...We can't just stand by and do nothing.
 
  Select: ...We can't just stand by and do nothing.

===Branch End===

Mash
...I agree. Chaldea values human life above all else...even if that notion flies in the face of how this Lostbelt works.

Rama
Exactly. Sometimes, there are things you just have to do, regardless of whether people hate you or even cast stones at you for it.

Rama
In my case, those things come so naturally to me that it's hardly even a choice.

Rama
My body just ends up moving on its own.

Rama
I think that's what happened back when I lent my aid to Sugriva long ago...

Karna
That man I failed to save earlier... His dying scream was not one of a man who had made peace with his fate.

Karna
...This system seems evil to me. I may no longer be able to save that man's life, but I can at least make sure that tragedy never happens again.

Nezha
Then. We are decided. We fight!

Nezha
...This Lostbelt. May not. Be familiar. To us.

Nezha
Yet for. Some reason. This land.
Of India. Feels familiar. To me.

Nezha
Perhaps some. Of me. Originates here.
As well. As China? I can't. Say why...

Nezha
But I. Will not. Hesitate.
To protect. These innocent people.

Nezha
Now we. Know what. Is happening. Tomorrow I.
Will work. Even harder. Than ever.

Nezha
Do not. Worry Master. And Mash.

Mash
Nezha...

Holmes
We have only just begun our investigation of this Lostbelt's Tree of Emptiness, to say nothing of this God's Skyboulder object.

Holmes
Given that those townspeople could help shed some light on these things, I would certainly hate to lose any of them. It will be dangerous to help them, but I won't stop you from doing so.

Rama
The townspeople also called those white creatures sacred beasts, and said they were the god's agents...

Rama
...but there weren't nearly enough of them to handle all the kali, and that's before they went and tried to attack us, too. We can't count on them.

Rama
If we're going to be fighting even more kali tomorrow, I would like to find another fighter or two to shore up our ranks while we have the chance.

Da Vinci
And given what happened earlier, I don't think we can expect the townspeople to help us out.

Asha
... (Fidgeting)

Nezha
What is. It Asha? Is something. The matter?

Asha
No, nothing's wrong. See, um...back in town, I actually peeked out the window and saw you guys fighting.

Asha
Oh, I was still praying to our god the whole time,
so I think I should be totally fine!

Asha
You were amazing. I've seen people go hunting before, and you guys didn't move anything like them. It was like...you weren't even human.

Mash
...

Asha
Then I saw you talking to other people far away after I followed you, and got surprised all over again.

Asha
So, um...I was just wondering...

Asha
Are you guys maybe gods, but not THE god?

Holmes
Gods who aren't THE god?
That's an interesting way to put it.

Asha
Well, you know, there's only one god, and you're obviously not him, right? That's all I meant. I hope I didn't say anything weird.

Da Vinci
(Only one god? But India's pantheon is known for being one of the largest in all mythology...)

Asha
I-I guess I did say something weird. I'm sorry.

Asha
Lately, there've been rumors going around of people who seem like gods but aren't THE god, so I just thought...

  1. As a matter of fact, Rama here is practically a god.
  2. As a matter of fact, Karna here is practically a god.
  Select: As a matter of fact, Rama here is practically a god.
Rama
Indeed. I don't usually go around telling people this, but I am actually the avatar of Vishnu. Very occasionally, I can even hear him speaking through me, which is always an incredible surprise!
Rama
Even I cannot help but be respectful when I speak to him directly, even if his voice may only be coming from inside of me.

  Select: As a matter of fact, Karna here is practically a god.
Karna
That is not true, Master.
I am merely the son of Surya, god of the sun.
Karna
I am certainly no god myself.

===Branch End===

Asha
I knew it! I've never heard of any god by that name before, but that's still amazing! I'm shocked!

Mash
If Asha thought we were the beings she's heard rumors about...

Mash
...that would of course mean people are talking about other beings like us.

Da Vinci
It sure does. And whoever it is, they're very likely to be a Servant. I knew there had to be at least one in this Lostbelt.

Asha
They say one of them came to Bichu not too long ago.

Asha
I think they're staying on a mountain near here.
Are they a friend of yours?

  1. They came to your town?
 
  Select: They came to your town?

===Branch End===

Asha
Uh-huh. It was during the last Kṛta Yuga,
though I didn't get to meet them myself.

Asha
But they only took a little look around town before they went to the mountain.

Nezha
Are you sure. They were not. Just a. Passing traveler?

Asha
I guess they could've been... But I heard they dressed really funny, and they even said they were a god.

Mash
It could be a Divine Spirit.

Mash
And if they were alone,
they could also be a Rogue Servant.

Mash
I'm sure they would be a powerful addition to our forces if we could convince them to help us.

Rama
Indeed. There is still a lot we don't know about this world's yugas...

Rama
...but we can focus on them once we have dealt with this immediate threat.

Rama
Now that we've eaten our fill of those delicious bananas, I say we try and look for this being next.

Asha
I'm sorry. I wish I could show you the way, but I need to get home before I get in trouble...

Mash
That's okay. If you can just tell us where to look,
I'm sure we can find this place ourselves.

Mash
I'm actually more worried about you, Asha.

Mash
I know your town isn't too far from here, but I still don't like the idea of making you walk home by yourself...

Asha
I'll be fine. The kali only just showed up,
and I can always count on Vihan to–

Asha
Oh, right. I didn't bring him with me,
'cause he got injured.

Asha
But it's okay! I can be home in no time as long as I run all the way there!

Karna
...Master.

  1. (Could you see that she gets home safely, without her noticing?)
  2. (Would you mind quietly making sure she gets back safe?)
  Select: (Could you see that she gets home safely, without her noticing?)

  Select: (Would you mind quietly making sure she gets back safe?)

===Branch End===

Karna
Very well.
You have my word that no harm will come to her.

Asha
Okay then, see you later, {(M) mister /(F) miss}...god...?

  1. Just {(M) mister /(F) miss} is fine. See you later!
 
  Select: Just {(M) mister /(F) miss} is fine. See you later!

===Branch End===

Asha
Bye!

Mash
You know...I was so surprised when she came all the way after us just to say thanks.

Mash
Especially given how the adults there reacted to us.

Mash
She was so sweet, and we learned a lot of useful things from her.

Da Vinci
Definitely. That said, Mash, I'm sure you're already aware of this, but...

Mash
...Yes. I know.

Mash
Once we destroy this Lostbelt...

Mash
...she and Ajai are going to disappear, just like the people we met in the other ones...

Holmes
From a purely pragmatic perspective, maintaining good relations with the locals will facilitate our information gathering efforts.

Holmes
I suppose the only advice I can give is to not think about it too much.

  1. ...Yeah.
  2. Holmes is right. Let's just be ourselves and not worry about it for now.
  Select: ...Yeah.

  Select: Holmes is right. Let's just be ourselves and not worry about it for now.

===Branch End===

Mash
...Okay, Master.

Karna
I did as you instructed, Master. Asha walked straight back to town, and is now safe and sound in her home.

  1. Thanks, Karna.
  2. I appreciate it!
  Select: Thanks, Karna.

  Select: I appreciate it!

===Branch End===

Karna
I kept an eye out for kali on the way there and back, but didn't see a single one.

Karna
However, I can't say for certain whether that is because they had just attacked, as Asha said, or if it was merely a coincidence.

Nezha
Unfortunately there. Is still. A great.
Deal we. Do not. Know about. These beings.

Rama
Well, it won't be long before we face them again. And that gives us all the more reason to bolster our forces.

Rama
So let us be off to this mountain where the god lives.

Rama
I wonder what sort of god they are. It would certainly be nice if it turns out to be one we know, just to save time.

Rama
Of course, I'm hoping that it will be Sita!

Rama
She's the avatar of Lakshmi, so she could easily have ended up being treated as a god in her own right.

Karna
I hope you will be reunited with her as well...but there is no guarantee this Servant will even be an Indian god.

Karna
They are just as likely to turn out to be a god from the West, or some other region altogether.

Karna
The odds of our encountering a familiar face are really quite slim.

Karna
Just try not to get your hopes up too high...

Section 3: A Mountain Where One Encounters God

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Mash
This is the mountain Asha told us about.

Rama
So far...I'm not seeing the god we're looking for.

Holmes
I don't detect a Servant reading from here.
What can you sense?

Karna
I think I can sense something akin to divine aura...but it's too faint to be certain.

Rama
I sense it too. At least we would seem to be on the right track. Let's keep looking around.

Rama
Heeey! Is anyone heeere!?
Siiitaaa! It's me, Rama!

  1. Is anybody heeere!?
 
  Select: Is anybody heeere!?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou fooou, fou fooou?

Rama
Ugh, this is getting us nowhere.
We should split up and cover more ground.

Nezha
That is. Very true. I can. Fly by. Using my. Wind Fire Wheels. I will search. From the. Skies above.

Mash
Ah! P-please don't go off too far, Nezha!
We don't know what else might be here!

Mash
...Do you think she'll be okay...?

Rama
Don't worry, she's a venerated hero in her own right. I'm sure she'll be fine.

Rama
She said it herself, she's somewhat similar to us in certain ways.

Rama
I do agree that her tendency to rush headlong toward her goals with a single-minded earnestness has the potential to cause trouble...

Rama
...but I also doubt there are few who can keep up with her sheer airborne maneuverability.

Karna
Besides, it seems we have our own things to worry about.

Da Vinci
Yeah, figures there'd be a monster or two hanging around the mountain where that god lives. Think you guys could take these things out quickly so you can get back to looking for them, please?

--BATTLE--

Holmes
Have you disposed of all the hostiles then?

Mash
Yes, it was no problem. I don't think the Ortinax has ever been in better shape.

Mash
It's so much more stable now than it was before we came to the Wandering Sea.

Mash
Not only does it have properly outfitted equipment now, but having both Da Vinci and Sion fine-tune it is like...

Mash
...this one proverb I heard a while ago.
Giving an ogre a heavy weapon?

Karna
Something's not right.

Mash
I-I knew it! I thought it sounded strange as soon as the words left my mouth.

Mash
Kintoki's the one who taught me that expression, but I think something might have gotten lost in translation...

Karna
I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with Japanese sayings either. I was speaking about our enemies.

Karna
They are indeed all gone, but there is still something else here... Something whose intentions I cannot discern.

  1. Huh?
 
  Select: Huh?

===Branch End===

Karna
...There.

Karna
Show yourself.

---

The dust cleared to show...
...a human with a sublimely beautiful body.
A body with perfect symmetry, as if it were the epitome of genderless beauty.
Their lips curved in an indomitable,
but amicable smile.

Even after Karna's spear sailed past them...
...grazing their side and obliterating a boulder with sufficient force to impale a hundred frail-bodied humans...
...they were smiling.

They were smiling with the same casual ease as a person enjoying a gentle breeze at an outdoor café...
...their face betraying not so much as a hint of fear or panic.
It was as though they had not just had not a care in the world, even after being millimeters from death.

---

D：???
My, my, my... Since when is a Servant supposed to go tossing spears at fragile little humans?

Karna
Were you a normal human, I would indeed be deeply ashamed, but I sensed such an attack would not nearly be enough to end you.

Karna
Now that I have seen you for myself,
I am even more confident in that assertion.

D：???
Well doesn't that just smack of a bit of ex post facto covering your derriere, honey.

D：???
I thought I'd hidden myself pretty well, so imagine my surprise when that spear went whizzing past me.

D：???
Oh well... That's what I get for not being more careful about investigating strange noises.

Mash
You're... You're...!

Mash
Peperoncino!

Peperoncino
Heeey. Long time no see, Mashie.

Peperoncino
Oh my, you're SO much more expressive now than you were the last time I saw you.

Peperoncino
Well I think that's just peachy♡

--ARROW--

Inner Monologue
The moment I saw that thing soaring across the sky...

Inner Monologue
...I was overcome with emotion.

Inner Monologue
Loathing as foul and putrid as excrement. Rage so hot it could blind me. And above all, some...thing I couldn't ignore no matter how hard I tried.

Inner Monologue
Which is why... Which is why...

Inner Monologue
...I had to destroy it, no matter what.

Nezha
...

Nezha
Wh-what!?

Nezha
...! Who are–!?

Goredolf
Scandinavia Peperoncino!
You're one of the Crypters!

Peperoncino
Absatively. And you must be Chaldea's new director.
As for you...

Peperoncino
Why, you must be Mashie's Master, Fujimaru.

  1. That's right.
  2. ...
  Select: That's right.
Peperoncino
Oh my, how forthcoming of you. I like that.

  Select: ...
Peperoncino
Oh my. I understand your trepidation, but it just breaks my heart to see you won't even give me the time of day.

===Branch End===

Mash
If you're here, Peperoncino, then...

Mash
...you must be the Crypter in charge of this Lostbelt, aren't you?

Peperoncino
Hmm, yes, I suppose I am.

  1. So you're here to stop us from cutting down the Tree of Emptiness...
  2. So you're the one trying to grow this Lostbelt...
  Select: So you're here to stop us from cutting down the Tree of Emptiness...

  Select: So you're the one trying to grow this Lostbelt...

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
...

Peperoncino
Oh, riiight. Almost slipped my mind. Before we do that whole song and dance, there's something I really should warn you about.

Rama
Oh? And what is that?

Peperoncino
Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly happy to sit here and chat with you all you like...

Peperoncino
...but maybe you should be a little more concerned about your absent friend right now?

Mash
Huh? What are you talking abou–

Holmes
What is...
Look out!

Holmes
Something's plummeting right towards you!

Da Vinci
They're Servants.

Da Vinci
One of them's Nezha...but her vital signs are dropping like a rock!

Da Vinci
And the other one is...is...
What in the world!?

Nezha
Khh... Ah...

Mash
Nezha! Master, it's Nezha!
But, her body is...!

Nezha
I failed. I was. Careless...
Master. I'm sorry...

Nezha
This is. Beyond terrible. It would. Be one.
Thing if. I had. Only lost. But this...

Nezha
Master... I'm so. Sorry...
I wish. I could. Have helped. You more...

Mash
Ah...!

Rama
Keep your guard up, Master. We can mourn for her later. Those dust clouds are clearing away, and whoever killed Nezha is about to step out.

Mash
Huh? Nezha...?

Holmes
I'm afraid not.
Yes, that is Nezha, but she is not the one we know.

Holmes
I will be direct. The Nezha you know is gone.
Her Spirit Origin has completely vanished.

Holmes
The Nezha before you now is not the one summoned at the Wandering Sea, nor the one who was once present at Chaldea.

Holmes
I suspect that Servant there is a different side of Nezha...and an enemy who serves this Lostbelt.

J：Nezha
...

J：Nezha
Report: Individual exercise complete.
Hereby returning to my duty as a divine general...

J：Nezha
...eliminating foreign elements.

J：Nezha
Commencing operation.

Karna
I have a report to make. That tall man is gone.
I didn't even see him leave.

Rama
Hmm. That's concerning too...but we don't have time to go looking for him now.

Rama
I don't know if this Nezha is his Servant or not,
but her intentions couldn't be more hostile.

Rama
We'll have to focus on dealing with her first.

Rama
Here she comes, Master and Mash! I know how you feel right now, but you need to get your heads in the game!

B：Mash
...R-right! Disengaging Ortinax limiters.
Preparing for full-powered Anti-Servant combat!

--BATTLE--

Mash
Sh-she's strong...!

Nezha
Battle is proceeding smoothly/Victory is at hand.

Rama
You might be a little more talkative than our Nezha,
but you don't understand your situation at all!

Nezha
Denied/There is nothing wrong with my analytical capabilities.

Nezha
Hm...?

Nezha
...

Nezha
Higher priority recalled.
Disengaging from battle.

Rama
Damn, she got away.
Was she acting on her Master's orders...?

Karna
I can't tell. But that Nezha was a formidable fighter indeed. I sense that she is...optimized for this land.

Karna
If we had kept at it, one of us would have ended up resorting to releasing the full power of their Noble Phantasm.

Karna
Perhaps we should be grateful that this mountain where the god we are looking for resides still stands intact.

Fou
Fou...

Mash
...

  1. Mash...
 
  Select: Mash...

===Branch End===

Captain
...I know what's going on.
It's a lot like the tides.

Captain
No matter how much you plead, or how much you pray,
there are some things you can't stop...

Captain
...and you just have to accept them.

Captain
I got to know Nezha pretty decently myself after I met her in the Wandering Sea.

Captain
It's true that I was interested in how her mechanical body was made with sage arts, but I also felt like we were similar somehow.

Captain
...So I know that Nezha was a great warrior,
and an upstanding Servant.

Captain
I'm sure she was prepared for this, much more than she needed to be. She would never want you guys to be so sad about her that you stopped moving forward.

Mash
...Yes. You're right...

Captain
Let me just ask you one thing.
...Did she die in vain?

Karna
Not at all. The enemy's sheer mobility was like few things I have ever seen.

Karna
If Nezha hadn't come in contact with them first, they might have taken us by surprise and critically injured all of us.

Captain
...If that's what you think, Hero of Benefaction,
then it must be true.

Captain
Then when we get back, and I make my report to Sion,
I'll tell her Nezha fulfilled her duties admirably.

Mash
...I'm sorry. I'm okay now. Let's get back to work.

Holmes
Agreed. Now is not the time for you to worry about this other Nezha. We'll handle that analysis on our end.

Holmes
Although, one thing I did notice in your battle just now...

Holmes
...was that she did not appear to be subject to this world's estrangement effect, as you are.

Holmes
So we may be able to learn more about that effect by focusing our efforts there.

Rama
This world's estrangement effect... That's a good way to put it. It does feel like we aren't truly in this world, even though we clearly are.

Da Vinci
Anyway, we won't have answers for you anytime soon, so I'd like you guys to keep going with your god search for now.

Rama
Then we'll do just that.

Rama
Come now, cheer up. King's orders.
Moping around won't get us anywhere.

Rama
Sometimes, you have to say goodbye before you're ready, and others, you get to meet someone you never expected to. That's life.

Rama
Now come on, Master! We have a new god to meet!

  1. ...Yeah.
  2. Okay, let's go find them!
  Select: ...Yeah.

  Select: Okay, let's go find them!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou!

Mash
Yes, Master.
I promise to give this search my full effort!

--BATTLE--

Rama
All that aside.
All that aside...

Rama
Where IS this god? I can sense something nearby,
but I don't see them anywhere.

Rama
I've actually worked up a sweat from walking around so much. I think I'll take a little break here.

Rama
Aha, this rock should make a fine seat.
There we go...

???
DAAAAAAHHH!

Rama
Wh-what in the world was that?
It sounded like a pig squealing for its life.

???
I-I can't take it anymore! Fuhee! A beautiful boy's beautiful body, coming in direct contact with me!

???
Uh, I mean, never mind that.
Ahem, testing, testing...

???
“How dare you, humans...mans...mans... Bow your heads before me...me...me... You are in the presence of a god...od...od...”

???
“Leave here at once if you value your lives...ives...ives... Do that, and I promise your family will live in health, and your business will prosper...er...er...er...!”

Rama
What the!? Did the rock just talk!?

Fou
Fou! Fo fo fo fou! (Special Translation: All right! Kill it with fire!)

???
“What was that? What a cheeky little animal you are, daring to challenge a god... Fuheehee, yes, I can understand you. Know why? 'Cause I'm a god!”

???
“Very well then, if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you shall have...ave...ave...ave! Now leave all your money behind as an offering...ing...ing...ing...!”

--BATTLE--

???
“Worship me... Praise me... Spoil me... Run to the convenience store and get me more ice cream so I can concentrate on grinding...”

Rama
...Hey, Karna? This divine aura...
It can't be what I think it is, can it...?

Karna
......

Karna
Don't move, Rama. This won't take long.

???
Huh? Wha? Waaaaaah!?

D：???
H-hey, watch it!
Do you have any idea what a close shave that was!?

D：???
Your spearhead was just a few centimeters away from making a yucky shish kebab out of my flab–

D：???
...

Karna
...

D：???
...Karna? What're you doing here?

Karna
I was just about to ask you that.
What are you doing here, ■■■■■■?

Fou
Fou... Foooooou!?

--ARROW--

???
...Karna? What're you doing here?

Karna
I was just about to ask you that.
What are you doing here, ■■■■■■?

  1. There was a woman in there!?
  2. You two know each other?
  Select: There was a woman in there!?
???
Hey, there's no one in here!
Pay no attention to the gal behind the curtain!

  Select: You two know each other?

===Branch End===

Karna
Hm? Did I just say something...?

Karna
...What a strange feeling.

Karna
I have no idea why I said “I was just about to ask you that” or what it was I wanted to say afterwards.

Karna
...This is all very unclear, even to me.

Karna
I've never met this woman before.
And yet... And yet...

Karna
It's strange. I don't know how to describe this feeling. It feels as though I've just met the light of my life...

Karna
And like I've just encountered my big sister...
And like I've just encountered my life coach...

Karna
And like I've just encountered someone who needs to be cared for and tended to, all at once... I'm afraid I don't know how else to put it.

???
...

???
(Ahh, so that's what's going on. I guess that makes sense, since Karna's not a god...)

???
(So he just vaguely remembers his former Masters from other worlds.)

???
(...Oh well, can't help that now! 'Sides, nobody has to know as long as I keep my mouth shut!)

???
Hmm, hmm. So you feel like we're friends even though we've never met before, hm? What do you know, that's more or less how I feel too.

???
I get the feeling a lot of stuff's happened,
but I can't seem to remember any of it clearly.

???
Hey, doesn't this remind you of one of those RPGs where the protag's got amnesia and a tortured past?

???
I wonder when we'll get to the cutscene where I awaken to my hidden power! Not that waking up is really all that high on my to-do list, really...

???
Personally, I prefer to hang out in the starter village and wait for someone else to defeat the final boss.

Mash
I see you're, um...a very unique person.

Karna
Wait. There is one thing I know for sure; you're human. But then, how are you cloaked in that divine aura?

???
Oh, that! Sorry Karna, but you got it all wrong!

???
I guess not even your vaunted sight managed to see all the way to the truth of the matter this time!

???
Meh heh heh. Me, human? Perish the thought.

???
I'll have you know I'm one of the best-known and most popular gods in the whole world! Just call me...Ganesha!

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou...

A：Ganesha
Hey! Which one of you just called me Indian mythology's sideshow act!?

A：Ganesha
Look, I can understand why you'd do a double take at a gal with an elephant for a head, but my fame and divinity are the real deal!

A：Ganesha
So show me the respect I deserve, dammit!

Rama
Of course I respect Ganesha. And I can more or less tell that your divine aura is genuine.

Rama
But then there's this...other aura that couldn't be further from the divine...

Karna
Yes, that's it exactly, Rama. I'm impressed. It only took you a moment to see through this being's true nature.

A：Ganesha
Hey! You don't gotta be THAT impressed!

Holmes
From what you have said, the young lady appears to be a Pseudo-Servant with the Divine Spirit Ganesha as her core.

Holmes
Ganesha is known for many things, including wisdom, wealth, prosperity, fortune, business, and the removal of obstacles. Truly fascinating.

Da Vinci
Chaldea had its fair share of Divine Spirit Servants of all kinds...but this one looks to be much more like its vessel than the spirit inhabiting it.

Da Vinci
Think Zhuge Liang, only with a Divine Spirit instead of a Heroic one.

Mash
I've definitely heard the name “Ganesha” before, and I think I at least know the essentials about him.

Mash
His elephant head is probably his most famous aspect, and he's also said to be the son of Shiva's wife, Pārvatī.

Mash
It's too bad Pārvatī's not here with us.
Then you could have had a nice mother-child reunion.

A：Ganesha
Geh. She's around too?

Mash
Oh, not right now. I was just speaking hypothetically.
...Do you not wish to see her?

A：Ganesha
Oh, well, it's not like I'd mind or anything...

A：Ganesha
I just really don't care for the way she always blurts out whatever she's thinking.

A：Ganesha
While I'm at it, would it have killed her to give birth to me in a more normal way?

A：Ganesha
As for my old papan, well...

A：Ganesha
He's the guy who cut off my head and figured everything would be fine if he just stuck an elephant's in its place.

A：Ganesha
So I'm not sure I'd really know what to say if I ran into him now...

A：Ganesha
Basically, even I, Ganesha, might start freaking out a bit if both my parents were here.

A：Ganesha
Though I do still respect them. I think.

Mash
I see. That sounds...complicated...

Goredolf
Oh for...! I've had just about enough of this!

Goredolf
Well done on finding a Divine Spirit Servant, but you didn't come all this way to waste time on meaningless drivel!

A：Ganesha
Who's this fa–Ahem, stout old guy?

Goredolf
You were about to say “fat,” weren't you!?

A：Ganesha
Well, I'm a god, so I figured I'd show some mercy and not diss you at our first meeting.

Goredolf
Is that so! Well how bloody kind of you! Frankly, you're the last one here who should be commenting on my physique!

Karna
...Does this mean you now have a friend with whom you can discuss fitness?

Karna
Hmm. This may be cause for celebration.

A：Ganesha
What're you talking about!? I don't wanna celebrate anything like that!

Karna
At any rate, that man is something like the supervisor of my current Master, Fujimaru.

Goredolf
Damn right I am! I'm not just a noble with a bit of extra girth. I'm the leader of this entire operation.

Goredolf
You're a Rogue Servant, are you not?
Then be a good lass and help us out!

A：Ganesha
Whaaat? You wanna make me work?

A：Ganesha
Hard pass.
Ninja vanish!

Mash
Ah! She went back inside that statue.

Rama
We need all the help we can get to keep the nearby village safe.

Rama
Especially now that we've just lost one of our most capable allies.

Mash
...

Ganesha
It sounds like you guys have it rough...

Ganesha
But, sorry, I can't help. If you need someone to help you fight, you'd better try some other god.

Ganesha
Honestly, I don't wanna fight even a little bit. I'm just gonna hang out in here and keep enjoying my sweet, sweet shut-in life.

Ganesha
It's actually way more comfortable in here than it looks. It's got cushioning out the wazoo, and of course it's fully air-conditioned.

Ganesha
I can even manifest handheld game consoles in here thanks to my mysterious godly powers of wealth.

Ganesha
There's nothing like a good roguelike for killing time. I could play those for hours on end...

Karna
She is stubborn. I know from experience how hard it can be to get her to act. At least, I think I do.

Karna
Master, would you happen to know if there are any stores around here that sell Swiss rolls?

  1. Why Swiss rolls?
 
  Select: Why Swiss rolls?

===Branch End===

Karna
...I was speaking figuratively.

Karna
I only meant that I have some idea of how to handle her.

  1. If you've got a way to convince her to help us, go for it.
 
  Select: If you've got a way to convince her to help us, go for it.

===Branch End===

Karna
Understood. Then I will drag her out of there by force.

Mash
It's not the most diplomatic solution, but for some reason, I get the sense that we would actually be doing her a favor...

Rama
Indeed. This is how we usually handle gods who refuse to listen to reason.

Ganesha
No way! My butt shall not leave these cushions! I'm warning you, anyone who tries to mess with my shut-in lifestyle's in for a SERIOUSLY bad day!

Mash
It's still hard for me to believe she's a god when she says things like that...but we can't afford to back down now.

Mash
I'll help Karna try to get her outside as peacefully as possible!

Ganesha
Fuhaha, you fools! Our earlier battle was just a demo!
Now, witness Ganesha's full power!

--BATTLE--

Ganesha
Nooo! My paradise suit...

Karna
Well done. It's good for your health to get outside and exercise now and then.

Ganesha
Gnnn, why do you have to be so boring and right all the time, Karna? Who do you think you are, my dad!? My mom!?

Karna
How strange. I'm certain I have no connection to Ganesha, yet I find myself inexorably compelled to help you.

Karna
...Was I a fan of Ganesha back when I was alive?

Ganesha
...

Goredolf
Hahaha, so we've won? We've won, right?

Goredolf
Then since we now hold your life in our hands, you're going to cooperate with us whether you like it or not!

Ganesha
Ugh, this freakin' guy again.

Ganesha
You know, the way you just expect I'm gonna go along with whatever you say reminds me of a teacher I had back in middle school. I really hated that guy.

Ganesha
Maybe your fat ass needs a bit of divine retribution for abusing your authority.

  1. Listen, I just want to talk. Will you hear what we have to say?
 
  Select: Listen, I just want to talk. Will you hear what we have to say?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Hmm. Well, I do feel a kind of kinship with you, seeing as you look to be the only other {(M) Average Joe /(F) Plain Jane} here.

Ganesha
So I guess I can at least hear you out. 'Specially since it doesn't look like Karna's gonna give up anytime soon.

Ganesha
Besides, if I'm being honest, I still don't fully get what's going on around here anyway.

Ganesha
So, what is it you wanna talk about?

Ganesha
The world's been bleached clean...
Trees of Emptiness... And Lostbelts...?

Ganesha
I see... All right, I get the gist. Sounds like things are even rougher for you guys than I thought.

Ganesha
Although... You...

  1. Hm?
 
  Select: Hm?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
You're actually the most important part of your operation! What gives!? I thought you were a fellow
{(M) Average Joe /(F) Plain Jane}, turncoat!

Mash
Yes, {(M) he /(F) she} is. Senpai may only be ranked as a standard-class Master, but {(M) his /(F) her} accomplishments easily meet or exceed those of an A-rank mage.

Mash
I would be happy to elaborate, but I'm afraid that to do so adequately would require me to write at least a five-hundred page report...

Mash
...and it would unfortunately be a little difficult to do that now.

Ganesha
Hmm, you don't seem like you can tell a joke with a straight face... You're serious, aren't you? Yikes.

Rama
You're the vessel for a Divine Spirit now.
Doesn't that mean you are also anything but ordinary?

Karna
.........

Ganesha
Oh come on, Karna!
You could at least pretend to back me up here!

Ganesha
...On second thought, never mind. You'd just say something like “She was never ordinary. Her unusual weight and waistline clearly set her apart.”

Ganesha
And the worst part is, you wouldn't even be saying it to be mean!

Karna
How did you know? Perhaps you truly were worthy to be chosen by Ganesha...

Karna
...No, wait. Something tells me that can't possibly be the case...

Holmes
All that aside, I do have to wonder:
Why were you summoned to this Lostbelt?

Ganesha
Why was I summoned?
Believe me, I've been asking myself the same question.

Ganesha
I think it was kind of a “You have been choseeen” deal? Like, the Ganesha inside me showed up and said something like:

Ganesha
“Save the world, hero of the digital realm... If diversity is Proper Human History's greatest strength, then even someone like you can do this...”

Ganesha
“Now is the time for you to spread your wings... And since this is a request from my mother, not doing so is not an option...”

Ganesha
"Be warned: If you fail to save the world,
you will never return to the way you were..."

Ganesha
So, yeah, Ganesha seems to be a pretty nice god,
and he's definitely an Indian one at heart.

Ganesha
Oh, and don't bother asking me about my class.
I'm not quite sure what it is, either.

Ganesha
I think that might be 'cause Ganesha found me through some sort of devilish intermediary or something?

Da Vinci
Yeah, I don't know what to make of this Extra class either...

Da Vinci
But we can worry about that later.

Da Vinci
At any rate, it seems pretty clear that the Counter Force summoned her here automatically.

Da Vinci
So it seems like a safe bet that she'll end up joining our side.

Ganesha
But why'd Ganesha choose me of all people?
I'm just an unemployed shut-in with excess padding.

Ganesha
If it were up to me, I'd be demanding an explanation from him and requesting he choose someone else immediately.

Ganesha
'Course, I guess that's kinda moot now that I'M Ganesha.

Karna
I think it comes down to compatibility.

Karna
You may be an ordinary person, but you are an ordinary person with some exceptional qualities.

Karna
I may not remember why I know that,
but I do know that for certain.

Ganesha
...Th-there you go saying things like that with a straight face again! Hmph!

Fou
Fo fooou...

Karna
That goes for you too, Fujimaru.

Karna
I'm not good with words, so I can't explain it well, but you have many exceptional qualities. You may not be a great warrior or a powerful mage, but you are a great Master.

  1. Th-thanks.
  2. C-come on, you're gonna make me blush...
  Select: Th-thanks.

  Select: C-come on, you're gonna make me blush...

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Anyhoo, even if I don't like it, I figured now that I'm here, there must be something I'm meant to do.

Ganesha
So I took a look around and happened upon that town, but it couldn't have been more idyllic. We're talking “THIS is what world peace looks like” peaceful.

Ganesha
Even a shut-in like me couldn't help but admire the fields of flowers and find this world beautiful.

Ganesha
So I figured there was nothing for me to do after all, and Ganesha must've messed up and sent me to the right place at the wrong time or something.

Ganesha
So I came back here and've been enjoying my lazy NEET life ever since.

Ganesha
The end! Well? If you got a problem with that, then bring it on!

Holmes
Tell me, how long ago were you summoned?
When did you pay the town a visit?

Ganesha
Hmm... I'd say about five days ago on both counts.

Da Vinci
Okay, so according to what Asha told us...that would be back during the first yuga, Kṛta Yuga.

Da Vinci
Were the buildings broken back then?

Ganesha
Uh, no? It was a perfectly neat little town.
Not so much as a brick out of place.

Mash
Then the destruction we saw must have all happened over the last five days, thanks to the kali...

Rama
That was a little–no, incredibly careless of you, Ganesha.

Rama
If you had only stayed there, you would have had every chance to fulfill your divine duties and save the townspeople.

Ganesha
H-hey, whaddaya expect? There wasn't a single thing wrong with the place back then...

Mash
What's done is done. There's no point dwelling on the past. Right now, we need to worry about tomorrow.

Mash
...We just lost a friend of ours a short while ago.

Mash
I miss her terribly...but I'll never forget how determined she was to keep fighting.

Mash
So I feel like we need to carry on in her stead, and keep moving on.

Mash
Which is why we need your help.

Mash
Will you please join us, Ganesha?

Ganesha
(Sigh)... I didn't even think gods were real before, and now, I AM one.

Ganesha
It's still hard to believe this is happening.
Part of me's convinced it's all just a big mistake.

Ganesha
But, it does look like I've got a quest to save the world now...

Ganesha
And if there's a branch where a town gets attacked open now, I guess I can't just sit back and watch.

Ganesha
...Fine, I'll go with you, all right?
Just don't expect me to be much help in battle!

Goredolf
Harrumph. You could have saved us all a lot of time if you'd just agreed to help us from the beginning...

Mash
Thank you, Ganesha. I'm so glad you'll be helping us!

Da Vinci
Okay guys, it's gonna be dark soon, and we don't want to be out and about in an unfamiliar land at night.

Da Vinci
So I say we go back to the cave and make camp there until morning.

Da Vinci
We'll head out again at the first sign of daybreak.
Make sure you all get plenty of rest!

Section 4: Kali Yuga/The Demon of the End

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Koyanskaya
Nngh.

Koyanskaya
Nnngh.

Koyanskaya
Nnnghhh...!

Koyanskaya
Argh, this is ridiculous!
Even I can tell something's off about me!

Koyanskaya
Thinking back on it, I haven't been my usual spiteful self ever since Qin Shi Huang captured me...

Koyanskaya
If I'd just planted a bomb or three when I snuck onto the Shadow Border, and blown everyone to kingdom come...

Koyanskaya
...I could've spent the rest of my time on a leisurely tour of the Lostbelts... I swear, what was I thinking?

Koyanskaya
...No, no, I shouldn't dwell on it.

Koyanskaya
No capable woman would let what she did or didn't do in the past stop her in the present!

Koyanskaya
I'm just going to focus on business here! Once I get in my groove, I'll get my old spite back in no time flat.

Koyanskaya
I'll just check in on the Tree of Emptiness's growth now and then, and devote most of my time to seeing what sorts of wonderful creatures I can find in this boring old world.

Koyanskaya
Still... Kali, huh.

Koyanskaya
This works out nicely for me. They're just the sort of thing that makes abandoning a Lostbelt worthwhile.

Koyanskaya
China's regime was so ridiculously strict and thorough about getting rid of anything it didn't like that there was nothing left for me to have fun with...

Koyanskaya
But here, I can get back to my roots and really mess with everything humans love. Chaldea just adores that sort of thing.

Koyanskaya
This world is very hospitable to human life, but also extremely strict about virtue and goodness.

Koyanskaya
If a human strays from the path even once, their god's law won't even let them reincarnate anymore.

Koyanskaya
Ahh, that's what I love about boring, single-minded gods. They're as cruel and merciless as they come.

Koyanskaya
Still, I don't much care for this world's god,
or that shitty monk and his creepy-ass grin...

Koyanskaya
...so I think I can spare some time to mess with them while I take care of business!

Koyanskaya
Maybe I'll take one of those blissfully ignorant humans and wrench the smile from their face juuust a tiny bit.

Koyanskaya
Hehehe, why, I'd bet that's exactly what some people actually want.

Koyanskaya
And walking the line between supply and demand is an important service in its own right♡

Ganesha
Hmm. So you're always on the lookout for this Sita person, huh?

Rama
Yes, I am. If you happen to see her anywhere, please let me know right away. ...You don't know what she looks like? Not a problem.

Rama
If you ever see the greatest woman in the world–one so beautiful and graceful with inner strength that could move mountains–and think she would be perfect as my wife, you'll know you've found Sita.

Ganesha
I, uh, I see... Hmm...

Ganesha
I still like the whole hot shota king thing you've got going on, but knowing you've already got a canon ship makes it a lot harder to fantasize about you.

Ganesha
I'm sure some people wouldn't let it hold them back, but somehow, I'm not really into that.

Ganesha
Oh well, guess I'll just have to keep my fantasies to a minimum and enjoy gazing on some hot Rama flesh in real life!

Rama
I am...not sure what you're talking about... Some kind of protective spell? In that case, I will gladly accept it.

Karna
...

Da Vinci
On a different subject, you guys are outside now, right? What's it look like?

Rama
Something has seemed off to me since this morning.
No, not just off. It's...outright strange.

  1. Pretty sure there was a lot more water around here.
  2. Pretty sure there were a lot more flowers around here.
  Select: Pretty sure there was a lot more water around here.

  Select: Pretty sure there were a lot more flowers around here.

===Branch End===

Mash
That's true. The change in the environment is even more drastic than I was expecting.

Mash
The ground is dry and barren, the wind is much stronger and foul-smelling, the plants are all dead or dying... Everything is so different from yesterday.

Mash
Maybe this area drains really easily, so all the sunlight it got yesterday dried it up?

Rama
I didn't think it was that bright out,
but who can say with a strange land like this.

Ganesha
And then there's the weather. It's not sunny, or cloudy, or rainy... If anything, it's kind of...sandy?

Karna
Whatever the cause, this area is clearly much more arid than it was yesterday.

Karna
The ground is so dry it's begun to crack,
exposing the minerals and ore underground.

Da Vinci
That much environmental change in a single day, huh...

Da Vinci
There's gotta be something particular to this Lostbelt that's responsible for this.

Da Vinci
We'll just have to ask Asha or someone when we get the chance.

Mash
Still, looking around here...

Mash
Does it make anyone else uncomfortable,
or is it just me?

Mash
It's like...I can't sense much in the way of life now.

Mash
Compared to yesterday, it feels like everything's cold and inhospitable, if not outright hostile...

Karna
I agree. The air is even drier today.

Karna
It feels as though there is something else in this world now... Something besides the mysterious presence that has been holding us back since we first came here.

Karna
It may not be likely to harm us outright, but it could still interfere with our ability to fight.

Karna
I recommend you keep that in mind, Master.

  1. What do you mean?
 
  Select: What do you mean?

===Branch End===

Karna
...I mean that there is a difference between fighting in a blessed paradise, and fighting in a cursed place of death.

Karna
Though of course, a true warrior remains strong regardless of their environment.

  1. I see... Thanks, I'll be careful.
 
  Select: I see... Thanks, I'll be careful.

===Branch End===

Karna
Hm...it seems we now have a good chance to put that to the test.

Mash
It's a pack of wild beasts. We can't have them following us to the town. Let's take care of them now!

Mash
It may be colder and dry today, but that also means we won't have to worry about our footing, since there isn't any more mud.

Mash
Mash “Always Look on the Bright Side” Kyrielight, heading out!

--BATTLE--

Ganesha
Hmm, I guess I am a little heavier today than I was yesterday. Though it might just be that I ate too much breakfast.

Karna
...

Ganesha
Something wrong?

Karna
No... I was just thinking how strange it is to be fighting alongside you–or rather, Ganesha.

Ganesha
...You mean, in a bad way?

Karna
Not at all. I feel oddly elevated.
I'm very proud...no, happy for you.

Ganesha
...Hehe. Gotcha.

Karna
Though it's also oddly painful that I don't know why I feel that way.

Karna
Part of me is compelled to talk to you...and part of me is compelled to stay away.

Karna
I'm certain I know you somehow, but for some reason,
I can't remember anything specific.

Ganesha
...

Karna
...Is something wrong?

Ganesha
No, no, nothing's wrong.
I was just thinking the same thing.

Ganesha
(I know, Ganesha. There are rules and etiquette about that sort of thing.)

Ganesha
(Even if it was all a big mistake, I'm still a divine vessel now. I'm not gonna try to weasel out of this.)

Ganesha
(...Besides, that would just make things harder for Karna. Yeah, I kinda...okay, really wish I could tell him the truth, but I won't!)

Ganesha
(Besides, I feel pretty lucky just getting to fight on the same team as him!)

Ganesha
Oh, by the way... Since I was technically sent here to save the world, let me just make sure I've got this straight.

Ganesha
You said we've basically got three enemies to deal with in this Lostbelt, right?

Ganesha
One of them's the Tree of Emptiness.
If we cut this down, the whole Lostbelt goes away.

Ganesha
Another's the king, sort of the being at the center of this Lostbelt. They keep the Tree of Emptiness safe...probably.

Ganesha
And last is the Crypter, a Master who wants the Lostbelt to grow bigger instead of go away.

  1. Yeah, pretty much.
  2. There's also the Foreign God's Disciples, but otherwise, yeah.
  Select: Yeah, pretty much.

  Select: There's also the Foreign God's Disciples, but otherwise, yeah.

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Hmm, hmm. So the most important thing's the Tree of Emptiness then. That's it way off in the distance there, right?

Ganesha
Basically, we've just gotta cut it down and we're done, right? So why aren't we heading there now?

Mash
Every Lostbelt king we've faced so far has been incredibly powerful.

Mash
And if we get close to the Tree of Emptiness,
I'm sure we'll run into the one here too.

Mash
We may be able to see the tree from here, but it's far too dangerous to approach it now. We need to at least gather more information first.

Da Vinci
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. What do you make of that giant floating cube over there? A local we talked to called it “God's Skyboulder.”

Ganesha
Oh, that? I was wondering what its deal was too,
but I got absolutely nothing.

Ganesha
I don't have a better word for it than “mysterious.” It just feels like something impossibly out of my reach.

Ganesha
Kind of like unlocking an analysis skill on my skill tree!

Karna
It's not just that boulder. We still know next to nothing about this entire world.

Da Vinci
Yeah... It's definitely not her fault, but I don't feel great about having Asha be our sole source of information, either.

Da Vinci
We still need to talk to all sorts of people to find out anything we can on the king, the Tree of Emptiness, and God's Skyboulder.

Da Vinci
That's another reason why it's worth taking the time to defend that town. Make sense, Gordy?

Goredolf
Why are you looking at me!? I didn't say a word! But if you're going to do this, then make sure you do it well.

Goredolf
There will be no secret hero nonsense on my watch. I want you to put these people so far in your debt they'll be begging you to let them help!

Da Vinci
Oho, it's not like you to be so forthcoming, Gordy!
It's a good look for–

Da Vinci
Huh!? These readings...!

Da Vinci
Hey, you guys should be in viewing distance of the town by now, right? Can you see anything?

Rama
We can. Something's not right here, Master.

Karna
I can see smoke coming from that direction.
...The attack must have already begun.

  1. Come on, let's hurry!
 
  Select: Come on, let's hurry!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou!?

  1. Oh no...!
 
  Select: Oh no...!

===Branch End===

Mash
This is terrible...

Ganesha
No way. This place was so nice just a few days ago.
How did this happen?

Karna
The first wave must have already gotten here. I thought we had gotten here as soon as we could...but it seems I was careless yet again.

Asha
Ah.

Ajai
You guys came back, huh.

Mash
I'm glad you two are both okay!

Asha
Y-yeah, we are! Although...

Ajai
Damn ulloo. Today's Kali Yuga.
We're not done by a long shot.

Asha
Yeah... There's gonna be even more kali today.

Asha
So many you'd jump outta your skin in surprise.
And today, they could show up anytime.

Rama
I remember you said there were more kali during Kali Yuga...but this is far more than I expected.

Karna
They're clearly going to keep destroying more of the town. How are you going to survive their attack?

Asha
I know... Our house was destroyed too.
But we've gotta do something.

Asha
Maybe we'll ask someone to let us stay in their house, or hide in the rubble... Or just run away.

Asha
We'll just have to keep praying and do the best we can.

Ajai
...Hmph.

G：???
You again!? What are you doing here!?

Mash
Mayor... We saw that your town has already suffered significant damage. Couldn't you and the other townspeople work together and let us help you fight off the kali.

Prakash
Don't be ridiculous. How many times do I have to tell you? This is all our god's will. It's a trial he's set before us!

Prakash
There's no need for us to fight. As long as we pray with sincerity, the sacred beasts will save us!

Prakash
Having blasphemers with no intention of praying like you lot around will leave a stain on this entire town.

Prakash
You can't be here, you shouldn't be here, and we don't want you here! Now go away and leave us alone!

Ganesha
Which god're you talking about?

Prakash
What do you mean, which god!? God is god!

Prakash
There's only been one god ever since he made this world during the first yuga long ago!

Holmes
(There it is again. He believes what he says with absolute conviction. At first I thought this town just happened to practice monotheism...)

Holmes
(But does this mean there really is only a single god in this world?)

Holmes
(Could they be this Lostbelt's–)

Prakash
Aah, they're back! I'll just have to forget about the heretics for now...!

Prakash
O god, I pray to you now with the greatest sincerity! I've fulfilled my duties as this town's mayor! Please, lend me your protection!

Asha
Oh, Auntie.

J：Aunt
Asha! Ajai! I finally managed to convince my husband to let you in! Come on, you can pray in our house this time!

Ajai
Thanks. Come on, Asha.

Asha
Wait! I have to carry Vihan!

Vihan
(Whiiine...)

Mash
Please be careful, Asha!

Rama
Yes, make sure you are well hidden. I'm sorry your house was destroyed, but I can at least help you rebuild it when this is over.

Rama
In fact, I can even have the animals in the nearby woods come and help with but a single call to action.

Asha
Thanks! But that's okay.
This yuga's almost about to cycle over!

Rama
...?

Asha
You guys all be careful too!

Ganesha
(Sigh) Things are worse here than I thought. This looks like one of those post nuclear apocalypse RPGs or something. It's even worse because I know what it was supposed to look like.

Karna
Unfortunately, if we don't fight back now,
the destruction will only get worse.

Karna
Look. They're here.

Ganesha
So those're the kali... Yup, they definitely look like Indian demons. Not that I have any idea what Indian demons look like.

Goredolf
Are you sure you're an Indian god!?

Rama
There are even more of them now than there were yesterday. I'm counting on you, child of Pārvatī.

Ganesha
Whoa, whoa, don't do that. Fending off wild beasts is one thing, but I have zero confidence when it comes to fighting actual demons.

Ganesha
When you get right down to it, I'm just a shut-in who's never had a job in her life. There's no way I can live up to expectations like that...

Karna
It may have been brief, but I did fight you myself.
I have a fair idea of what you are capable of.

Karna
Your power is perfectly adequate. You should be more than capable of fighting alongside us.

Karna
Rama and I will both be trusting you to watch our backs.

Ganesha
...

Ganesha
(Sigh) Well, technically, I guess I am Ganesha now.

Ganesha
And I know old Elephant Head's gonna be upset with me if I don't show off his godly side at least a little bit.

Ganesha
So okay, fine! I obviously don't have a choice,
so I'll do it already!

Ganesha
If any baddies think they can get past this wall of divinely protected flab, they're welcome to try!

Mash
I'm glad you're willing to help.

Mash
Both the Ortinax's hardware and software are working fine. For this fight, I'll be prioritizing long-term stability over explosive output.

Mash
We're up against a lot of enemies, Master,
but let's do our best to push them back!

--BATTLE--

Ganesha
Guuuh, there's so many of them! This is exhausting!
Can I take a break now?

Fou
Fooou, fou fou!

Ganesha
(Sniff) What's that? Why do I have all these excess energy stores (read: fat) if I'm not going to use them?

Ganesha
Okay, okay! I'll hang in there a little longer!

Karna
...Now those creatures have shown up too.
Things are about to get even busier for us.

Rama
So the sacred beasts are now here as well. We'll just have to try and get them to focus on the kali as much as possible. If any of them come after us, we'll have no choice but to take them out.

Mash
Right. The Ortinax's output is holding steady, even after prolonged operation. I can keep going, no problem.

Mash
All right, here comes the next wave of enemies, Master!

--BATTLE--

Ganesha
(Huff...huff...) That's the last of–

Ganesha
Nooo, they're still coming! Nobody told me this was gonna be a horde mode where you can't even grind out any EXP!

Rama
At least they're coming in waves, so we've been able to keep them at bay...but it does feel like we've been fighting them forever.

Holmes
Given how the townspeople aren't any less fearful now...I'm afraid I'm forced to come to an unfortunate conclusion.

Holmes
I suspect the kali attack is going to continue for the entire rest of the day.

  1. Great...
  2. Just what I didn't want to hear...
  Select: Great...

  Select: Just what I didn't want to hear...
Holmes
I do apologize. Much as I have a reputation for beating around the bush, nothing could be further from the truth.
Holmes
When certain truths need be spoken, I have no compunctions about doing so right away, regardless of how unpleasant they may be to hear.

===Branch End===

Karna
No matter. Our task is to continue to fight until our enemies are vanquished. If that means we must fight on until dusk or dawn, then so be it.

Karna
Though that's not to say you should keep fighting with us, Master. Please take some rest whenever you must. It would be bad for all of us if you were to collapse from exhaustion.

  1. Don't worry. I'm making sure to pace myself.
  2. I'm okay. I've actually been slacking off more than you'd think.
  Select: Don't worry. I'm making sure to pace myself.

  Select: I'm okay. I've actually been slacking off more than you'd think.

===Branch End===

Rama
Excellent posturing, Master! Very inspirational! That said, this battle has become a true war of attrition.

Rama
As long as things continue like this, I think we'll be able to prevent any further casualties.

Ganesha
Oh, for... Just so you know, Rama, that is exactly the sort of thing you absolutely DO NOT SAY unless you want things to suddenly get much, much worse.

Ganesha
There... I knew it.

Ganesha
Ganesha can feel something coming.

Prakash
Is that... Could it be...

Prakash
...the new agent of god I've been hearing rumors about...!?

Karna
That's...

Da Vinci
It's not the other Nezha... It's a new Servant we haven't seen before. Be careful, guys!

???
The hell!? I knew I sensed an unfamiliar divine aura around here, but I sure as hell wasn't expecting this!

???
What is this bullshit? This is pissing me the hell off...
What do you think you're doing here, Karna!?

Karna
...Hello, Aśvatthāman.

  1. You know each other!?
  2. Is he an Indian hero too?
  Select: You know each other!?

  Select: Is he an Indian hero too?

===Branch End===

Karna
That's right. His name is Aśvatthāman.

Karna
I fought for the Kauravas alongside this brave warrior during the Kurukshetra War.

Karna
He is the son of Droṇa, my mentor, under whom we both trained. He is both my friend, and–

Aśvatthāman
And right now, I'm your enemy, Karna.

Karna
...

Ganesha
Wh-wh-what do you mean!?
Didn't you just say he was your friend, Karna!?

Karna
I spoke the truth.

Karna
But now, he and I are both Servants bound to obey our Masters' orders.

Karna
If our Masters are at odds with one another,
then of course that makes us enemies.

Aśvatthāman
Yeah, exactly! It's so damn obvious it's maddening!
I couldn't agree more, dammit!

Ganesha
Guh. Is he always this angry?

Ganesha
He looks like he's gonna be as tough to communicate with as Karna, though for real different reasons.

Ganesha
Bros and punks are the hardest kinds of people for shut-ins to deal with...

Karna
That's just how he is... Though I do think he used to be a little more...ah, composed.

Karna
By the way, Aśvatthāman, who is your Master now?

Aśvatthāman
Ha! Just hearing you ask that pisses me off.
You'll figure that out soon enough.

Karna
...?

Meunière
We already ran into a Master candidate here.
Maybe he's Peperoncino's Servant too?

Holmes
I'm not so sure.

Holmes
Strictly speaking, we still have no evidence that the other Nezha we met is Peperoncino's Servant either.

Da Vinci
Never mind who his Master is for now. We've got more than enough to digest just by having a new Servant to deal with.

Da Vinci
Well, since he's showing up now, there's not much question as to why he's here.

Aśvatthāman
That ALSO pisses me off. 'Course it's obvious. I can't let you lot run around doing whatever the hell you want.

Goredolf
Khh, now we've got to fight another Servant too!? Oi, Karna! Don't you dare go easy on him just because you know him!

Karna
...Do you really think I would?

Goredolf
Eep!

Da Vinci
Sorry about that!
I think Gordy just forgot who he was talking to!

Captain
...I'm getting bored just sitting around doing nothing, so I think I'll speak up too.

Captain
I know Karna already told you who Aśvatthāman is, but his perspective is colored by having known him in life.

Captain
Since I only know of him from the Mahabharata...

Captain
...let me give you one more piece of objective information about how Aśvatthāman is depicted there.

Captain
In the Mahabharata, he's said to be just as strong as Karna, if not stronger. So...be careful.

Ganesha
Whaaa...?
You mean this guy's actually on Karna's level?

Karna
I won't deny that. I was never the strongest warrior, even back when I was studying under Droṇa.

Rama
Then we should not even consider going easy on him.
We'll need to keep our guard up at all times.

Da Vinci
Exactly. Be extra careful when facing him, guys!

  1. Got it!
 
  Select: Got it!

===Branch End===

Mash
This is clearly no time to be worried about conserving energy. Switching Ortinax over to Anti-Servant combat mode.

Mash
Armored Shielder Mash Kyrielight,
preparing to engage in full-powered combat!

Mash
Awaiting your orders, Master!

Aśvatthāman
...Oh, I'm mad as hell.

Aśvatthāman
Now that I'm a Servant, anger's the only thing I feel.
My whole Spirit Origin is built on it.

Aśvatthāman
So even though I haven't fought you since we last crossed swords while training under my old man, Karna...

Aśvatthāman
I feel no nostalgia. No joy. The only thing I have, the only thing I feel–the only thing I AM now...is rage!

--BATTLE--

Mash
...!

Rama
Now I see. I can indeed tell for myself that you and Karna studied under the same master!

Aśvatthāman
Yeah!? Freakin' infuriates me to admit it,
but you're not bad yourself, brat.

Aśvatthāman
In fact, you kind of remind me of someone.
Parashurama...? Or maybe Krishna?

Rama
I can see why you'd think that. Those two are avatars of Vishnu, just as I am. I am Rama, King of Kosala!

Aśvatthāman
Ha. That so? Well, let me give you a little tip.

Aśvatthāman
In this Lostbelt, I wouldn't go around bragging about being the avatar of a god. You might not like what happens.

Mash
What do you mean by–

Holmes
Hold it! Something else is headed your way!
It's not reading like a kali or a sacred beast!

Holmes
Wait, this–these are Servants!
And not just one! There are several!

E：???
...Hehe. Looks like you're out of time, Aśvatthāman.

Nezha
Recommendation: Cease this game.
It is meaningless.

G：???
I concur. There's no point to your game, or in us being here. I swear, I don't even know why we came along at all.

  1. ...!!!
 
  Select: ...!!!

===Branch End===

Section 5: Kali Yuga/A Revolving World

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Mash
Master, get back!

Mash
There are two Servants I've never seen before, and...

Nezha
...

Mash
I guess that other Nezha was on the enemy's side after all...

Mash
We already know how strong she is.
Be very careful not to let your guard down, Master.

D：???
Whoa there, slow down, girlie.
We're not here to fight.

Mash
!?

Aśvatthāman
Tch... You guys piss me off! First you make me come all this way to see what's up, then you just show up anyway!?

Holmes
So they are Aśvatthāman's allies. But, why would so many Servants band together like this...?

Nezha
Anger: Unnecessary. We need only obey him.

G：???
We haven't sensed Indian gods here in a long time. I don't blame him for being interested, even if it's pointless.

Ganesha
Uh, why're they looking at me like that? I haven't done anything wrong aside from eating like a pi–uh, elephant.

Da Vinci
Fujimaru, are you seeing this? Or rather, not seeing it?

  1. Yeah. The kali and sacred beasts are all gone.
 
  Select: Yeah. The kali and sacred beasts are all gone.

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Yup! I think we might've just accomplished our initial goal of keeping this town safe, so that's cause for celebration.

Da Vinci
Though maybe not too much, since we've now got new,
much more difficult obstacles instead.

Mash
If you aren't here to fight, then why are you here?

D：???
Didn't we mention it? We're accompanying him. He told us to come along, so we did. That's all there is to it.

Rama
This “him” you speak of... Is he your Master?

Nezha
...

D：???
Hmm, something like that. Or close enough, anyway.

D：???
Either way, it's only natural we'd obey him.

D：???
After all, he's the only god here. The one, final god.

D：???
Look, here he comes!

Holmes
This reading...!
Actually, I'm sure you can all see this as well.

Holmes
Look up in the sky!

Da Vinci
Yeah, I think you Indian heroes might just recognize that. We know what it is too.

Da Vinci
Though the only time we saw someone riding it,
it was the decidedly non-Indian King of Heroes.

Da Vinci
It's both a flying chariot, and a ship. A floating palace that serves as transport for the gods that's said to even be capable of ascending into space...

Karna
...A white Vimana!?

Rama
Who's that riding it?
...Is that...?

Karna
He looks different, but I still recognize his face.
I would never mistake him for anyone else.

Karna
So, I can say with certainty...

Karna
That is Arjuna.

  1. Arjuna!? Really!?
 
  Select: Arjuna!? Really!?

===Branch End===

Holmes
Not the one recorded in Chaldea, of course. He must have an altogether different Spirit Origin here...

B：???
...No.

B：???
Once...I may have been known...as Arjuna...
But now...

B：???
I am a god.

Rama
What's going on!?
It feels like...my hair is standing on end!

Ganesha
Y-yeah, I feel it too... I-I don't know what's up with that, but I'm getting chills...

Ganesha
B-but I do know that no good guy would ever go around introducing himself as a god!

Ganesha
With the obvious exception of Ganesha,
since he's the real deal!

God Arjuna
So, beings with...divine power...have come from the outside. An avatar of Vishnu, a child of Pārvatī, and...

Karna
...

God Arjuna
...Karna, son of Surya...
So that is all of you.

  1. Don't forget about us normal humans.
 
  Select: Don't forget about us normal humans.

===Branch End===

Mash
That's right. The Master of Chaldea and {(M) his /(F) her} Servant are here as well.

Fou
Fou, fou!

Aśvatthāman
Ha. He usually wouldn't even look at you if you're not gods.

Aśvatthāman
But you guys are idiots. So idiotic it's infuriating.
Thanks to that, now he's noticed you, too.

Aśvatthāman
Which means you guys are done for.

D：???
Well, now that you've come all this way to see them for yourself, what do you think?

God Arjuna
...Nothing.

I：???
Huh?

God Arjuna
This ended up being...no more than a fleeting diversion.

God Arjuna
I thought...I might feel something...
But...there was nothing.

God Arjuna
To me, as I am now...all these...foreign elements I see below me...

God Arjuna
...are equally defective, immature, and worthless.

Karna
...!

God Arjuna
They do not belong in a perfect world...
In that sense...they are evil.

God Arjuna
God has witnessed defective beings.
God has witnessed evil...

God Arjuna
They have no place...in the next yuga...

D：???
Welp, there he goes.
I guess he's not going to give us any orders then?

Nezha
Conclusion: Impossible. Futile. Meaningless. Nothing and no one can break his concentration. We'll just have to wait.

I：???
Man, this really was a waste of time. I knew I should've just ignored all this and kept going with my research.

I：???
...Yeah, yeah, I know that means I'd be gone in the next yuga. I just wanted to vent.

  1. What's going on?
 
  Select: What's going on?

===Branch End===

Meunière
Crap, crap, crap! Arjuna's gathering an unbelievable amount of energy around him!

Holmes
Indeed. The sheer energy for this Noble Phantasm–if it can even be called that–is like nothing I have ever seen.

Holmes
In fact, several of our sensors have been overloaded while trying to measure it...!

Goredolf
Wh-wh-what!? That can't possibly be good!
Hurry up and do something!

Karna
Hear me, Arjuna. You think I'm defective?
Immature? Worthless?

God Arjuna
...

Karna
Look at me. Look me in the eye, take up your arms,
and pay attention, Arjuna.

Karna
Otherwise this spear will be put to a cowardly use,
and I don't want that.

God Arjuna
...

Karna
Even after all that, you would still ignore me, Arjuna!?

Rama
Karna, I understand you two have a lot of history. And I'm sure there are rules you are bound to as warriors of Kuru.

Rama
But neither of those is true for me. As far as I'm concerned, he's already started this fight.

Rama
And as I'm sure you know, when I decide to do something, I do it, whether my enemies are paying attention to me or not.

Rama
Master! I'm going to use everything I've got to stop him. Requesting permission to release my Noble Phantasm!

  1. By all means!
  2. Permission granted! Now let him have it!
  Select: By all means!

  Select: Permission granted! Now let him have it!

===Branch End===

Rama
Brahmastra!!!

Ganesha
Uh, Rama? I think your NP might be bugging out,
'cause it looked like it didn't work on him at all!

Rama
What!? That can't be! That blade even destroyed the great rakshasa, Ravana! How could it have–!?

Holmes
I understand your shock and confusion, but since we must rely on accurate information, let me be clear.

Holmes
Your Noble Phantasm did not so much as scratch him.

Holmes
Furthermore, he did not take any sort of defensive action against it. It simply failed to do anything to him.

Mash
That lines up with what I saw, too.
Though I still can't believe it!

Holmes
At first I thought it might be an effect of the enormous amount of power he's concentrating near him, but that doesn't appear to be the case either.

Holmes
Which would mean he possesses some sort of anti-interference ability that not even Rama's Noble Phantasm can penetrate.

Holmes
But how is that possible...?

Rama
Be that as it may, we kings are notoriously stubborn.
I could never hope to find Sita if I were to give up now.

Rama
I'm going to try again, and I won't hesitate to use anything or anyone. Help me, son of Surya!

  1. Please help him, Karna!
 
  Select: Please help him, Karna!

===Branch End===

Karna
...If that is your order, Master.

Goredolf
Hurry it up! Whatever's going on there, the pressure's still building! Now get a move on before it's too late!

  1. All right, this time, I want you both to–
 
  Select: All right, this time, I want you both to–

===Branch End===

I：???
Oh for... Can you really not see what's going on here?

Peperoncino
Forget it! It won't work!

Peperoncino
Don't take this the wrong way, but neither Ramie's nor Karnie's Noble Phantasms will have a chance against him!

Peperoncino
Trust me, he outclasses you guys in every way.
After all...

Peperoncino
...he's every Indian god rolled into one single superbeing!

--ARROW--

  1. It's you!
 
  Select: It's you!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou!?

Mash
Peperoncino!?

Peperoncino
Well, here we are–together again,
and much sooner than I expected!

Peperoncino
I was going to just sit back and watch, but I just HAD to say something after seeing how utterly dense you are.

Peperoncino
We can talk more later, though.
Right now, you need to skedaddle. Chop, chop!

Goredolf
What!? You're our enemy too! Why should we listen to anything you have to–

Peperoncino
Well, what if I told you that I was only up in those mountains because I was running from Nezha?

Peperoncino
And that Nezha only stopped fighting you guys because tracking me down was a higher priority?

Peperoncino
What I mean is that they are my enemies as much as yours!

Holmes
I see... So if that Arjuna is the Master of all those Servants, including Nezha...

Holmes
...then our young Scandinavia Peperoncino can be the Master of none.

Holmes
There appears to be no evidence to the contrary, either...

Peperoncino
I really don't have time to lay it all out for you right now... (Sigh) I guess I'll have to try the direct approach.

Peperoncino
Yes, I am a Crypter, and I know we're on opposing sides...but I promise you, I'm not lying.

Peperoncino
If you don't get out of here right now,
it will be the end of everything.

Mash
...!

  1. But, what about the townspeople?
 
  Select: But, what about the townspeople?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
It's okay. You don't have to worry about them.

Peperoncino
The ones who are fine are well and truly fine, and the ones who aren't, well...you can't help them now, anyway.

Peperoncino
The one thing I can say for sure is that there's a very good reason why you all need to get out of here as fast as you possibly can.

Peperoncino
If that's still not enough to convince you, then I'll have to resort to clichés instead of logic.

Peperoncino
The truth is...right now,
that's the only weapon I've got.

Peperoncino
Ready? ...Here goes.

Peperoncino
I hope you'll trust me on this.

Mash
Peperoncino...

Ganesha
Nn... What do we do?

  1. ...I believe him.
  2. I don't think he's lying.
  Select: ...I believe him.

  Select: I don't think he's lying.

===Branch End===

I：Mash
Same! Peperoncino is a good person!
I can't imagine he would ever try to deceive anyone!

Karna
A good person, huh.
From my perspective, you seem to be...

Peperoncino
What? A show-off?

Karna
...No. If nothing else, I agree that you aren't lying.
I have no objections to Master's decision.

Goredolf
Wh-what!? You believe him!?

Holmes
Field decisions trump everything, Mr. Goredolf! Get used to it! All right then, hurry up and make your way out of–

Peperoncino
Oh. Well hello, Aśvatthāman. Long time no see.

Aśvatthāman
I guess so.
Pisses me the hell off to see you here, ex-Master.

I：Mash
!?

Aśvatthāman
My contract with you's been completely overwritten.
Any connection we had is long gone.

Peperoncino
Aww, well that's too bad. I don't suppose you'd let me go to celebrate us no longer being Master and Servant, would you?

Aśvatthāman
Hell no. I can't just let you guys walk out of here.

Aśvatthāman
Now that the big boss has decided he wants you gone,
it's my job as one of his Lōkapāla to see it done.

Peperoncino
Hmm, well that puts me in a pretty pickle.
Would you say all the others feel the same way?

Aśvatthāman
How should I know? But I'd guess they wouldn't do anything unless they were directly ordered to. Pisses me off.

B：???
Hehe. Yeah, pretty much.

B：???
Oh, but don't get me wrong, it's not because I don't care about my job. I'm just confident that you're more than capable of handling this alone, Aśvatthāman.

B：???
Confidence is hugely important, you know. It's just like hunting. It's a bad idea to work too hard when you're confident in your position.

B：???
If you go around hunting down mountain animals when you don't need to, the mountain'll end up dead.

Karna
Is your position the only reason you're standing in our way, Aśvatthāman?

Aśvatthāman
Nah, there's more to it than just that.

Aśvatthāman
I know if I stop you guys from getting away now,
it'll get us one step closer to his perfect world.

Aśvatthāman
And you know what? I want to see his perfect world!
I admit it!

Aśvatthāman
Which means I got no choice but to stop you.

Aśvatthāman
So I'm gonna beat all your asses down...

Aśvatthāman
...and then, I'm gonna kick back and watch as you all get sucked into the dissolution!

Rama
The dissolution...? What do you mean?

Rama
Hmph... So the time for words is over, huh. Then I guess I'd better get ready to respond in kind.

Rama
If nothing else, I can understand him a lot better than the being way up there. Let's take him down and secure a way out of here, Master!

Karna
(So you still refuse to look my way, Arjuna...!)

Karna
(...No. Right now, I have another role to fulfill.)

Karna
Awaiting your orders, Master.
Let's make our way through!

--BATTLE--

Aśvatthāman
Rrrgh! Stand still, dammit!

Mash
Pepe's using magecraft to help us! He's not doing any damage, but he's moving so fast that the enemy can't focus on us. Now's our chance!

Da Vinci
Hmm, can't say I've seen a spell to speed you up quite like that. It looks like it just lets you move around really quickly, plain and simple.

Peperoncino
Hehe, want to know how it works?

Peperoncino
Well, like its name suggests...I use the power of love to bend space around me!

Da Vinci
Oh for...! He's obviously lying, but we'll just have to leave it at that for the moment! The important thing is, the enemy's vulnerable now!

Da Vinci
There're no life-forms nearby, and you're a good distance away from the town now, so don't worry about holding back!

G：Karna
Vasavi Shakti!!!

Mash
It's a direct hit! That should do–

Mash
...What!?

Aśvatthāman
Rrgh, rrrgh, rrrghhh...!

Aśvatthāman
What was that, Karna!? It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than that to kill me!

Holmes
The attack did hurt him, that much is certain. But he's recovering from the damage at an alarming rate!

G：Karna
...I see you've changed since I last saw you, Aśvatthāman.

Aśvatthāman
Ha! What'd you expect? You're the one who died first...

Aśvatthāman
Losing to Arjuna, of all people...!

G：Karna
...I did. I won't deny it.

Peperoncino
Hey now, slow your roll there, people.
You don't have to finish him off just yet, okay?

Peperoncino
The important thing is, he's hurt enough for us to get past him now! So come on, hurry!

  1. He's right. Let's go!
  2. Everyone run for it as fast as you can!
  Select: He's right. Let's go!

  Select: Everyone run for it as fast as you can!

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
Dammit! Get back here...!

Fou
Fou, fou fou!

Ganesha
(Huff, huff) J-just so you guys know...!

Ganesha
Since I'm Ganesha and all, I can actually run faster than you'd think. Way faster than any ordinary human.

Ganesha
I don't even get tired that easily.

Ganesha
But I do FEEL tired, and for a NEET like me,
that is the worst thing of all!

Ganesha
There's no one else in the whole world who hates running as much as we do!

Karna
Complaining about it won't make it any easier.
Just be quiet and keep running.

Ganesha
I only said that because I was hoping you'd take the hint and carry me!

Karna
I can't. I would be crushed under your weight. Perhaps that is owed to the weight of Ganesha's divine power?

Ganesha
Hey, I'm not THAT heavy!

Rama
By the way, why are you running away with us?
I thought you were our enemy.

Peperoncino
I have my reasons!

Peperoncino
Arjuna didn't see me as an enemy before now,
so I was fine as long as I was just laying low...

Peperoncino
But since Nezha found me in the mountains,
and especially now that I've helped all of you...

Peperoncino
...I'm pretty sure he's decided I don't have a place in this world!

Peperoncino
Basically, now I'm qualified to be collateral damage!

Mash
Um, Pepe, I'm still not sure what that mea–

Peperoncino
Sorry, Mashie, but you really need to focus on moving those legs, not your mouth. We need to HURRY, honey!

Peperoncino
If we don't get away in time,
it's curtains for all of us!

  1. So how far away do we need to run?
 
  Select: So how far away do we need to run?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
You're kidding me! You really don't even know that!?

Peperoncino
All right, fine. I'll just have to explain as we run.

Peperoncino
Arjuna there is about to destroy and remake everything in this Lostbelt.

Peperoncino
Dissolution and rebirth... Destruction and reconstruction... Cataclysm and genesis... As the last god of this world, all of that is within his capability.

Mash
...Huh?

Peperoncino
The reason he's taking so long to charge up is because he needs time to gather the ridiculous amount of energy he needs to pull all that off.

Peperoncino
And if any of us get caught in the destruction and rebirth of this world, we'll end up disappearing completely.

Peperoncino
One hundred percent, absolutely guaranteed.
No recourse, no way out...nothing.

Holmes
That's quite difficult to believe.

Holmes
But, if that enormous mass of energy were to keep growing at an accelerated rate...I suppose it's not impossible...

Holmes
But then, if that's true, what happens to the world after it's been recreated? What about the life-forms?

Peperoncino
I'll fill you in on that later!

Peperoncino
Right now, I'm just answering Fujimaru's question of how far we need to run!

Peperoncino
So now that you know, I'm sure you can figure out what you have to do to avoid a massive Noble Phantasm capable of destroying the entire world, right?

Peperoncino
You're the only ones with an evasive measure that can get around that. I'm counting on it to save my skin, too...

  1. ...The Border's Zero Sail!
 
  Select: ...The Border's Zero Sail!

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Exactly! I'm glad you worked it out!

Da Vinci
Naturally, I figured that might be the case, so I've got the engine all warmed up and ready to go☆

Da Vinci
Let's figure out where to rendezvous, and we'll head there right now and come pick you guys up!

Peperoncino
I'll admit, it's still risky. I'm not sure what will happen if Arjuna becomes aware of the Border too...

Peperoncino
But right now, it's the only hope we have!

Goredolf
Hold it, hold it! Just a damn minute!

Goredolf
You want us to let a Crypter onto the Border?
And let him experience a Zero Sail on top of that!?

Goredolf
Preposterous! Absolutely out of the question!

Goredolf
I know we've had a Crypter on board before, but that was strictly as a prisoner. Not to mention there were extenuating circumstan–

Holmes
Naturally, neither Da Vinci nor I have discounted the risks in this course of action.

Holmes
But right now, the most important thing by far is ensuring Fujimaru's safety.

Holmes
All other considerations are secondary at best.
Besides...

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Holmes
Just look at {(M) him /(F) her}. Once {(M) he /(F) she} makes up {(M) his /(F) her} mind to trust someone, there's nothing any of us can say to persuade
{(M) him /(F) her} otherwise.

Holmes
Especially since {(M) he's /(F) she's} the one out there doing all the heavy lifting.

Peperoncino
Ugh, I thought we'd been over this already.

Peperoncino
At this point, I'm just a single, powerless mage.
I don't even have a Servant anymore.

Peperoncino
I'd say that more than qualifies me as a prisoner, personally.

Goredolf
Hmm. A prisoner, huh... I do still regret how Kadoc Zemlupus ended up getting away...

Goredolf
If I look at this as another chance to gain some valuable information about the Crypters...

Goredolf
...maybe the reward is worth the risk?

Goredolf
...All right, I'll make a special exception just this once! But he's to be kept under tight security at all times!

Mash
Thank you, Director Goredolf!

Mash
...I've got the Border's rendezvous point coordinates!
Let's get there as fast as we can, Master!

  1. Just gotta hang in there a little longer!
  2. Come on guys, let's run for it!
  Select: Just gotta hang in there a little longer!

  Select: Come on guys, let's run for it!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Peperoncino
(Sheesh. I've finally got a chance to survive.
All that's left now is one simple question...)

Peperoncino
(...Will we make it in time...?)

--ARROW--

  1. (Huff... Huff... Gasp!)
 
  Select: (Huff... Huff... Gasp!)

===Branch End===

Fou
Fo fo, fo...u...

Mash
Are you okay, Master!?

Mash
We're almost there. Just hang in there a little long–On second thought, now that we've come this far, I doubt anything else will try to attack us.

Mash
I'll carry you the rest of the way. You too, Fou!

Fou
Fooou!

Ganesha
A-are we at the rendezvous point yet!?

Rama
Damn. Even with all this distance between us,
the pressure from Arjuna is only growing stronger.

Rama
I've never felt the air turn so stifling before, not even when Ravana nicked my throat with his sword, or Kumbhakarna the giant's foot was hovering above my head.

Rama
...This isn't normal. I'm not usually afraid of anything except losing Sita...

Rama
...but for some time now I have been getting chills all the way down to my Spirit Origin!

Karna
...

Holmes
Calculating expected arrival time based on our current speed and distance. Setting estimated limits based on current observation results.

Holmes
Putting those together, we get...

Goredolf
Well? What is it, man?
Why aren't you saying anything? Oi!

Holmes
...The only parameter we can adjust now is our speed.
We'll just have to hurry as best we can.

Holmes
If you happened to install a secret acceleration system while you were working on the Border, Captain, this is the moment to reveal it.

Captain
I didn't have time for that. All I did was make sure all the existing systems were working.

Holmes
(We should just be able to rendezvous in time if we use all our resources and go at top speed. The real problem is...)

Holmes
...I'll make as much headway on my end as I can.
Please hurry, Da Vinci!

God Arjuna
...

God Arjuna
...It's done.

God Arjuna
Extracting...unified divine power from...all divinities, condensing process...complete. Using the tenth...to control execution...

God Arjuna
...

God Arjuna
Deployment prepartion... Begin.

  1. What was that...!?
 
  Select: What was that...!?

===Branch End===

Rama
Th-this is...!

A：Peperoncino
...!

Ganesha
Ah, aah... This is it! We're done for!
It's all over now!

Mash
I can tell too. It couldn't have been more clear. Whatever that was...it's something we absolutely have to evade.

Mash
Please...please hurry up, Da Vinci!

H：Da Vinci
Sorry for the wait!
Come on in guys, the hatch is wide-open!

Da Vinci
Everyone on board!? Okay, shutting the hatch...now!

  1. So, we made it...?
 
  Select: So, we made it...?

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Haha, hahaha! Well that wasn't so bad!
You really had me going there, Holmes!

Goredolf
Couldn't resist having a bit of fun with us in lieu of Watson's absence, eh old–

Holmes
We're not out of the woods yet.
The real problem is readying the Zero Sail!

Goredolf
What!?

Holmes
It doesn't just happen automatically at the push of a button. I did everything I could to prepare in advance...

Holmes
But even if we skip some of the checklist, go with the bare minimum, and turn a blind eye to everything else...

Holmes
...it won't work. Even if we perform the operations as fast as possible...it's still not enough.

Holmes
It's a difference of only five seconds, maybe even less, between the time we need and the time when Arjuna releases his Noble Phantasm...but those are five seconds we just don't have!

Mash
No...!

Da Vinci
Hold it. Hold on just a damn minute!

Da Vinci
Which one of you just went outside in their spirit form!?

Karna
That wave earlier...
Now I see. I don't understand it, but I can sense it.

Karna
It's true. This world is going to be destroyed, then remade. If we are caught in that, we will disappear.

  1. Karna!?
 
  Select: Karna!?

===Branch End===

Karna
We can't let you be erased, Master.
So I'm going to do what I must to ensure you survive.

Da Vinci
Karna... You don't mean...!

Karna
Five seconds? Leave it to me.

Karna
By setting everything I have ablaze and becoming the very radiance of the sun... Even this Arjuna will not be able to consume it all at once.

Karna
For at least these five seconds,
I will make sure he knows who I am.

Ganesha
B-but, if you do that, you'll...!

Karna
...

Ganesha
C-come on, Karna, you can't do this! Be reasonable!

  1. I can't ask you to sacrifice yourself for my sake!
  2. ...!
  Select: I can't ask you to sacrifice yourself for my sake!

  Select: ...!

===Branch End===

Karna
There is no other way. Get ready to set sail.

Mash

.........Holmes!

Holmes
I'm working on it! It'll just be a bit longer!

Karna
That's it. Any Servant would do the same.
This is what I want. You need not worry about me.

  1. Karna!
 
  Select: Karna!

===Branch End===

A：Peperoncino
Don't you dare let his sacrifice be in vain!
Now sit down and buckle up!

Rama
Tch... You didn't even talk to me before you left! You've got a lot of nerve going off on your own like that, Karna...

Rama
You are truly the great Hero of Benefaction, a warrior among warriors! As they say nowadays, you live up to the hype and then some!

Rama
I'll take care of things from here.
You give him hell!

Karna
...Thank you.

Holmes
Entering final phase of emergency dive preparations!
Initiating countdown–

Goredolf
H-how much time do we have until the attack hits us!?

Holmes
So little that I'd rather not spend it answering that question!

Ganesha
Wait... You can't... This isn't...

Karna
Arjuna... This may go without saying, but there are few things I want more than to run you through.

Karna
I could even take advantage of this briefest of opportunities to try and do so now.

Karna
But...

Karna
At this moment, I am a Servant sworn to protect my Master.

Karna
I am not here to meekly accept this outcome, nor resign myself to my fate. I am here to stand before you with pride, so that you may ignore me with disdain.

Karna
So today, I will not be taking up my spear. Instead...

God Arjuna
God...has cast his gaze downward.

God Arjuna
These defects are unnecessary...and therefore...evil.

God Arjuna
Begone, evil...
You have no place in the new yuga...the new world.

God Arjuna
I will now...wield the sword...of the god who ends all things.

God Arjuna
I will cut off the world. From the rift in the world...made by the blade...clear purification will burst forth.

God Arjuna
Terminus and Genesis...will cycle anew...

God Arjuna
Sword of dissolution, let your blade fall.
Mahāpralaya...

Karna
Behold... These are the shining armor and earring given to me by Surya, god of the sun.

Karna
But know this. Once I transform myself into the life's radiance, this gold will no longer be my armor.

Karna
It will merely be a sign that I am burning bright as the sun, here where you can see it.

Karna
Kavacha and Kundara!

Ganesha
Golden armor...

Karna
...!!!

Rama
He activated his defensive Noble Phantasm...!
But, even with its protection...!

Ganesha
Karnaaaaaa!

Karna
It's all right...
I don't know how I know you, but I know you well.

Karna
And though I can't explain it...I have every confidence that we will one day meet again.

Karna
So don't be sad.
And please...take care of Master for me.

Ganesha
...!

Holmes
There! Shadow Border, untether from reality.
Void Space Dive, Zero Sail: unfurl!

Section 6: The Relic Called Falsehood

Show/Hide Story Chapter

  1. ...Are we still alive...?
  2. ...Did we make it...?
  Select: ...Are we still alive...?

  Select: ...Did we make it...?

===Branch End===

Holmes
Good grief.
Talk about escaping by the skin of one's teeth.

Holmes
We may have paid a heavy price, but at least we managed to protect what we absolutely needed to.

  1. ...
  2. Karna...
  Select: ...

  Select: Karna...

===Branch End===

Rama
Even wearing nigh-indestructible armor imbued with the sun god's power...there's only so much one can do when the very world crumbles away.

Rama
Truth be told, I'm impressed he lasted as long as he did.

Rama
That was a feat akin to holding back all the waters of the ocean, or catching a falling star with one's bare hands.

Rama
There are few heroes in all of history who could have withstood a cataclysm like that, even just for a few seconds.

Rama
For us, those few seconds were truly the difference between life and death.

Rama
Karna, Hero of Benefaction... I salute your strength and devotion. You have my eternal thanks.

Goredolf
...First Nezha, now Karna. We've barely just gotten here, and we've already lost two of our Servants.

Holmes
As coldhearted as this may sound, we can't move on if we keep our focus on the past. Let's go over what we've gained as well.

Mash
...Yes. I-I know. You're right.
Go ahead, Holmes.

Holmes
That wave of light we observed just before we dived contained a truly unbelievable amount of magical energy.

Holmes
More than enough to convince me it was capable of destroying this entire Lostbelt...

Holmes
...if I hadn't already seen it with my own eyes.

Holmes
No one hero should ever be able to wield power of that scale.

Holmes
But, given that he clearly can...there must be a reason for that.

Holmes
We've even heard a few hints towards his nature already. The final god. Every Indian Divinity rolled into one.

Holmes
So now, I think we'd best hear more about him from someone I believe is uniquely qualified to answer.

Holmes
Let me come right to the point:
What is he?

Peperoncino
Okay, now seems like as good a time as any for a bit of a chat.

Peperoncino
Plus, now that you've shown me what the Reverse Side of the World looks like, it's only fair that I reciprocate, no?

--SECTION BREAK--<b>

The rift between worlds. The inside of nothingness. The gap between heaven and earth. The space outside the universe.
Here, where a single moment spans an eternity, only he, and the few beings he acknowledges, are able to exist.

<b>God Arjuna
...Storage records...organization...complete.
Commencing...reconstruction...

Limbo
Mmm...

Limbo
Mmm, mmmmmmmmm... Delightful!

Limbo
What a delightful way of molding the world as you see fit! I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching it!

Limbo
It's so unilateral! So transcendent!
And above all, so violently correct!

Limbo
Ahh, what a blessing it is to witness it so closely!

Koyanskaya
...If you say so.
Personally, I think it's just plain boring.

Koyanskaya
He even had the perfect chance to get rid of the Chaldea clowns, and he let them get away. What was he thinking?

God Arjuna
Unnecessary...defects...deleted. Continuing...logic absorption...and conceptual repairs.

Limbo
Ohhh my my my. You really should be more careful, hmm? You're lucky he seems not to have heard you this time.

Limbo
If he decides we're defective and unnecessary too,
we won't be able to escape the recreation process either.

Limbo
He's a god, after all.
He gets to make those sort of judgments.

Limbo
Right now, the Chaldeans are little more than pests to be cleaned up along with the rest of the trash.

Limbo
If he did decide that Fujimaru and {(M) his /(F) her} little gang were truly unnecessary, he would send one of his Lōkapāla to handle them.

Limbo
It is not our place to say anything,
let alone to do so impertinently.

Koyanskaya
...

Limbo
No, all we need do is stand back...

Limbo
...and merely spectate as he recreates this world into his own perfect little sandcastle!

Limbo
It may be wrong to draw up plans and create molds when it comes to making sandcastles, but as they say, if this is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Limbo
Why doesn't anyone else try their hand at it? The more we repeat the process, the closer we'll get to making the perfect plans and mold!

Limbo
At the rate we're going now, why, I expect it won't be long at all before we get there.

Limbo
Yes, I suppose the “sand” we're using may get worn and tattered the more we destroy and rebuild...

Limbo
...but that is a small price to pay to bring such a grand project to its completion, don't you think? So of course...we will keep going! HeheheHEHEHE!

Koyanskaya
(Sigh)...

Koyanskaya
(The Foreign God's Disciples consist of three Alter Egos...)

Koyanskaya
(But this monk is one to be especially wary of. Part of it is that he's very much rotten to the core...)

Koyanskaya
(...but it also couldn't be more obvious that in the end, he's going to cast off the few inhibitions he has, wreck everything in his path, and move on to do it all over again somewhere else.)

Koyanskaya
(...What's with that look? Are you saying I only dislike him because he reminds me of myself?)

Koyanskaya
(I'm a patient woman, but even I can only take being lumped in with something like that for so long...)

Koyanskaya
(Why don't you open your mouth and actually say something for once?)

Koyanskaya
(Or is your job really just observing, and nothing else?)

Koyanskaya
(...Well, I guess you didn't need to say anything there. Your actions couldn't have said “I can already see where this is going” louder than if you brought a megaphone.)

Koyanskaya
(All right, I'll just make do with modest gains in this Lostbelt and focus on finding out what that monk is up to.)

Koyanskaya
(After all, I certainly don't want him getting in the way of my own future plans...)

God Arjuna
Final value allotments...confirmed.
Entering... Executing...

God Arjuna
Thus, the world is reborn...its cycle begins anew...

XXXXXth Yuga Cycle – Inception

--SECTION BREAK--<b>

<b>Peperoncino
So, I'm sure you've all at least figured out this much, but that Arjuna is the core of this Indian Lostbelt.

Peperoncino
He's the reason this world became part of the Pruning Theoretical Phenomenon.

Peperoncino
Let's see...
To tie it to Holmesie's earlier question...

Holmes
(...Holmesie?)

Peperoncino
...this world was pruned away because in it,
he gained the power you've just witnessed.

  1. What happened, exactly?
 
  Select: What happened, exactly?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Just so you know, this is almost all speculation on my part, okay? There's no one around who can prove what really happened.

Peperoncino
Anyway, I don't know exactly when he got all that power, or when this world became estranged from Proper Human History.

Peperoncino
All I know is that it was a long time ago. But I can make an educated guess. It was probably during the Mahabharata.

Peperoncino
Something happened right around when the war it depicts came to an end. Something that led to Arjuna acquiring every Divinity in India.

Mash
Right, you mentioned that earlier.
Then, it's really true?

Holmes
It would certainly make a kind of paradoxical sense, given what we've seen thus far. A feat as extraordinary as remaking the entire world simply wouldn't be possible without an equally extraordinary background.

Holmes
...But that still doesn't explain how it happened.

Peperoncino
This is also just speculation, but I think he probably acquired the Divinities in phases.

Peperoncino
In the most plausible explanation I can think of,
he probably started by acquiring Vishnu's power...

Peperoncino
...since his closest friend, Krishna,
was one of Vishnu's avatars.

Peperoncino
What's more, Krishna was said to have one of the strongest connections to Vishnu of all his avatars.

Peperoncino
Not that I'm saying you're weak, of course, Ramie.

Rama
I am perfectly able to understand the point you are making. Never mind the placations. Just keep going.

Peperoncino
You got it, hon. So, if Arjuna somehow got Vishnu's Divinity from Krishna, peacefully or otherwise...

Peperoncino
...it stands to reason that it could have laid the groundwork to do the same with the other Divinities.

Peperoncino
Vishnu is one of the most powerful gods in all of Indian mythology, after all.

Peperoncino
I expect he went around hungrily unifying all the other Indian gods in this Lostbelt one by one after that.

Peperoncino
Indra... Even Shiva and Brahma were no exception.

Peperoncino
So once he'd absorbed all their Divinities,
he became what he is now...

Peperoncino
...an Arjuna with divine power over death and creation, ruler of this Lostbelt and capable of destroying and rebuilding everything alike.

Peperoncino
No... You can't even call him Arjuna anymore. He may have started as Arjuna, but he's something else altogether now.

Peperoncino
That's why he no longer has a shred of the heroic Arjuna's personality.

Peperoncino
You saw that for yourselves, didn't you?

  1. Yeah, we did...
  2. Yeah. He was nothing like the Arjuna we know.
  Select: Yeah, we did...

  Select: Yeah. He was nothing like the Arjuna we know.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes. He seemed...disconnected? Mechanical? I'm not sure how best to describe it, but...it did seem very clear that we won't be able to reason with him...

Holmes
Technically, this would not be the first such entity we've met. If you'll think back to Scandinavia, Sitonai was an amalgamation of three Divine Spirits.

Holmes
But Arjuna would seem to be on another scale altogether. So much so it's hard to believe they're in the same category.

Holmes
At this point, it is all too plausible to accept that he is neither human nor Servant, but an entirely new divine, conceptual being.

Holmes
Truth be told, I'm surprised he's even able to maintain his form.

Goredolf
All right, so we know what his deal is!
Now, what about you!?

Goredolf
What's your game here, Crypter!?

Peperoncino
Me? Why, isn't it obvious?

Goredolf
The only thing that's obvious about you is that your face practically screams “Don't trust me”!

Peperoncino
Well, I never! I'll have you know I was just trying to keep my embarrassment from showing!

Peperoncino
But, all right.
If you need me to explain, I can do that.

Peperoncino
After becoming a Crypter,
I summoned Aśvatthāman to be my Servant.

Peperoncino
After I was assigned this Indian Lostbelt, the first thing I did was make contact with its king, Arjuna.

Peperoncino
Once I learned he was basically a god, I spent my first few months here trying to control him as much as I could.

Peperoncino
But after that Foreign God Disciple showed up,
Arjuna suddenly started behaving strangely.

Peperoncino
I guess the Disciple must have managed to sway him over to his side.

  1. Who is this Foreign God Disciple?
  2. Can you tell us more about what this Disciple is like?
  Select: Who is this Foreign God Disciple?

  Select: Can you tell us more about what this Disciple is like?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
He's a young man who always wears some sort of Japanese outfit. He calls himself a monk, but he's clearly a failed onmyouji.

  1. (A monk...?)
  2. (An onmyouji...?)
  Select: (A monk...?)

  Select: (An onmyouji...?)

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
He's very handsome, but he's also thoroughly twisted and just rotten to the core. Definitely not my type.

Peperoncino
If I'd approached him, the odds were better than even that one of us would've ended up dead.

Peperoncino
And we couldn't have that, right? Seeing how we're both technically on the Foreign God's side and all.

Peperoncino
So I always made sure to keep my distance from him.
I never even got a chance to find out his True Name.

Mash
At least we know he isn't Koyanskaya, and it sounds like he's not Father Kotomine–Rasputin, either.

Peperoncino
Oh? Teehee, I am fond of Koyanskaya.
She may be evil, but she's a pure sort of evil.

Peperoncino
You know how she can cross between Lostbelts as she pleases, right? So I see her every now and then...

Peperoncino
...but I haven't gotten a read on her. It's like, she doesn't respect the Foreign God despite being an Alter Ego?

Peperoncino
But anyway, Koyanskaya doesn't have anything to do with Arjuna.

Peperoncino
Basically, thanks to the other Alter Ego, the male Disciple, Arjuna started taking a much heavier hand to his world than he ever had before.

Peperoncino
After that, it sounds like they needed more pawns for running errands and such...

Peperoncino
...so he went and took my contract with Aśvatthāman, all because he just happened to be close by! Ahahaha!

Peperoncino
And just like that, Aśvatthāman was his, and there was nothing I could do! A lot of good being a Crypter did me, right? At that point, all I could do was laugh at how absurd it all was!

Goredolf
Wh-what!? He just took your contract from you!?

Peperoncino
Thinking back on it now, I shouldn't be surprised,
considering just how powerful a god he is.

Peperoncino
I just didn't really get how powerful until he was using that power on me.

Peperoncino
Then, to top all that off, he went and summoned a few more Servants all on his own!

Peperoncino
I don't know if he figured out how by studying Aśvatthāman, or if the Disciple told him, but I guess it doesn't matter.

Peperoncino
The point is, once he had more Servants on his side,
I knew I had zero chance of taking Aśvatthāman back.

Mash
I got the impression that Aśvatthāman used to be your Servant based on our earlier conversation.

Mash
What I really want to know is,
what happened after that?

Peperoncino
After that? I ran away as fast as my legs could carry me, of course. I didn't want to die for nothing, after all. That's really all it comes down to with me.

Holmes
But don't you Crypters have a duty to grow your Lostbelts? Isn't that how you're supposed to determine which one is truly worthy to rule?

Peperoncino
Well sure, but with this India...or rather,
with Arjuna there, that's just not going to happen.

Peperoncino
Honestly, I knew it was pointless almost as soon as I got here.

Peperoncino
Easy to see this world is a dead end,
and nothing I can do about that.

Peperoncino
So I gave up on my responsibilities to grow this world's Tree of Emptiness. I mean, who cares who the king of the world is if you're not alive to see it?

Peperoncino
Kirschtaria's probably already figured out that my Lostbelt's a lost cause.

Peperoncino
In Daybit's case...I'm not sure. I wish he would show at least a little interest in it, but oh well.

Peperoncino
Oh, that reminds me. I heard you had run-ins with Kadoc, Ophelia, and Akuta.

Peperoncino
Well, if you're not going make this personal, I won't either.

Peperoncino
Besides, I can't go around avenging my comrades or talking about Crypters' pride with things as they are right now, can I?

Mash
...

Goredolf
Hmph. So you're refusing to comment on the Crypters, is that it?

Goredolf
And as long as we don't bring up the Crypters ourselves,
you won't oppose us as one... Is that what you're saying?

Peperoncino
Take it however you like. But just knowing that Fujimaru spared Kadoc, and buried Ophelia...

Peperoncino
Well, that's more than enough reason for me to want to avoid fighting {(M) him /(F) her} if I can.

Holmes
I notice you didn't mention Akuta Hinako there.
What about her?

Peperoncino
Oh, Akuta's a special case.
I mean, she wasn't even human, right?

Peperoncino
She was never on anyone's side but her own to begin with, so I don't see any reason to avenge her.

Meunière
You knew Akuta Hinako was a True Ancestor!?

Peperoncino
Akuta did a good job keeping her cards close to her chest, but I've always had a good nose for that sort of thing.

Peperoncino
I knew the instant I arrived at Chaldea that she wasn't actually human.

  1. ...What did you mean when you said this world is a dead end?
 
  Select: ...What did you mean when you said this world is a dead end?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Oh yes, that's the last thing I need to tell you about.

Peperoncino
Arjuna uses his power to destroy and recreate the world over and over, cycling it through periods called yugas.

Peperoncino
I'll spare you the details for now, but while they're similar in some ways to India's original conception of yugas...they ultimately diverge pretty wildly.

Peperoncino
We have a couple of problems. First, he's gradually going through the yugas faster and faster. Then there's one of the things he does as he completes each cycle.

Holmes
Something he does when he remakes heaven and earth in between yuga cycles, hmm.

Holmes
We have already been informed about something along those lines. Namely, the “judgment” Asha told us about.

Holmes
I can infer what that judgment entails thanks to her telling us it involves everyone dying and coming back to life...

Holmes
...but of course, now is not the time for speculation.

Peperoncino
Aww, why not? I'd love to get to see you speculating in person, Holmes.

Holmes
Hard as it may be to believe coming from me...

Holmes
...I have no intention of interrupting someone else's explanation of a thorny riddle with my own half-baked theories.

Peperoncino
Hehe. Well, if you already know that much, it would probably be faster to see it for yourselves then anyway.

Da Vinci
Hi, hi! It's me, Da Vinci! The beautiful genius who's been forced to keep her mouth shut and listen despite being just itching to jump into all this fascinating discussion!

Da Vinci
Our Reality Space observation results have finally stabilized, so we can emerge from our Zero Sail now.

Da Vinci
The longer we stay submerged, the more chance we have of something going wrong, so while I hate to cut Peperoncino's explanation off...

Da Vinci
...I really think we should head back to Reality Space now, especially for our own. What do you say, Gordy?

Goredolf
Hmm... All right, then go ahead.

Goredolf
But I want our security to remain airtight! And make damn sure we resurface inside the Lostbelt, got it!?

Da Vinci
Got it!

Mash
Will it be safe for us to go back outside after we emerge?

Peperoncino
Oh sure. The rules about the yuga cycle are one-hundred-percent absolute, so I can promise you Arjuna won't try anything now that we've just started a new one.

Peperoncino
Though when it comes to other dangers,
I can't make any guarantees.

Peperoncino
I mean, I just don't know, you know?

Rama
We can't let the mere possibility of danger hold us back. We may not be able to do anything about that cataclysm yet...

Rama
...but we'll just have to assume we'll be able to handle any other threats we run into.

Rama
Nezha and Karna may be gone now, but you still have Mash, myself...and Ganesha the Divine Spirit.

Ganesha
...Uh, yeah, I guess so.

  1. ...Are you all right?
 
  Select: ...Are you all right?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Sorry for being so down in the dumps. I'm okay now, I promise. I know I still have my Ganesha duties to fulfill...

Ganesha
And besides, did you hear what Karna said? He asked me to take care of you for him.

Ganesha
Can you believe that? A super great hero like Karna asking a loser like me for help? How does THAT work!?

Ganesha
Still, I don't think he'd have said that if he hadn't needed my help.

Ganesha
So...that must mean he thought I was up to it.
That he trusted me, as a fellow Servant.

Ganesha
So I figure, I may be a loser,
but I can still do my losery best.

Ganesha
If Karna's gonna put his trust in me, I might as well see if he saw something I didn't! Just don't expect me to be much help!

  1. Okay, I won't. Glad to have you with us!
 
  Select: Okay, I won't. Glad to have you with us!

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
I'll come along and help too, of course. Besides, it's easier to explain things when you're seeing them in person.

Peperoncino
Is that all right with you, Fujimaru and Mash?

Mash
Absolutely! Thank you so much, Pepe!

Goredolf
Hold it! What do you think you're doing, Peperoncino!?
Have you forgotten you're our prisoner!?

Peperoncino
Huh?

Peperoncino
But the Border won't be leaving this Lostbelt until Fujimaru finishes what {(M) he /(F) she} came here to do, right?

Peperoncino
So how could I possibly get away on my own?

Peperoncino
Besides, helping all of you is the surest way to help me survive too.

Peperoncino
Not to mention that Mashie just looks sooo adorable after all this time...

Peperoncino
...that I can't help but want to support her anyway, you know?

Mash
I, uh, I see. Thank you?

Peperoncino
Of course, if you insist on keeping me in here, well, I can't blame you for that, but are you sure it's a good idea?

Goredolf
A good idea? Don't be preposterous, of course I'm sure it's... No, wait, hang on. Hmm... What if...

Peperoncino
(...Oh my, he's gone so pale.)

Peperoncino
(Scared of keeping an unknown element like me here in the heart of their operations. God, he's so easy to read...)

Goredolf
(...I could have Holmes and Captain restrain him,
but what if he's planted a bomb inside his body...?)

Goredolf
(...There's something frightening about him that reminds me of a mercenary.)

Goredolf
(He may have said he only wants to survive, but he's obviously not the least bit frightened about dying.)

Goredolf
(I could easily see him blowing himself up, and taking us all out with him... So then, the safest option would be...)

Goredolf
...All right, I suppose it would be the humane thing to do. Very well then, just this once, I'll grant you special permission to accompany Fujimaru.

Goredolf
But be warned, this permission is contingent on you obeying every order we give you, without question. Refuse, and I won't hesitate to take whatever measures I deem necessary. Is that clear!?

Peperoncino
Okay, that's fair. If I die, I die. Works for me!

Da Vinci
Okay then, let's get going!

Da Vinci
Shadow Border, preparing to emerge!
Everyone hold on tight!

Da Vinci
As soon as we're safely back to Reality Space,
let's go see what this newly remade world is like!

Section 7: Return of Paradise/The Shape of Evil to be Cut Off

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Inner Monologue
...I experienced the Kali Yuga ending several times after Aśvatthāman was taken from me.

Inner Monologue
I felt the light of creation wrapping me in a tight embrace, just as powerless to do anything as the people absorbed in their worthless prayers.

Inner Monologue
As long as the god of this world doesn't consider you defective, at least there's no pain. You don't feel it.

Inner Monologue
The light just keeps getting brighter, blinding you and even numbing you to the passage of time.

Inner Monologue
The next thing you know, you're right back where you started, only everything around you's been changed...

Inner Monologue
I don't know what the locals make of that experience...

Inner Monologue
...but it was awful enough to almost make me vomit.

Inner Monologue
I'd rather stick my head inside a festering dead body, or kiss a pile of excrement from a prison cell without plumbing.

Inner Monologue
Those options might be revolting, but least I wouldn't have to be so frightened.

Inner Monologue
So while I hate to admit it, when that light finally subsided, and I found myself standing there...

Inner Monologue
...I would be relieved that I had avoided being taken away.

Inner Monologue
But it was never long after that my relief turned to worry, to the point that I could barely think straight. Maybe I just got lucky this time. What about the next time? Or the time after that?

Inner Monologue
So in retrospect, it was inevitable that I would take action like this sooner or later.

Inner Monologue
This time, I managed to avoid the light by escaping to the Reverse Side of the World, so I thought I might feel differently now...but surprisingly, nothing changed.

Inner Monologue
Upon laying eyes on the new world of this cycle, I felt the same things as always: loathing, and discomfort.

Inner Monologue
To use more contemporary slang...I just can't even with this world.

Inner Monologue
I guess its god bothers me even more than I expected.

Inner Monologue
　　　　...Ahh. In many ways, it's a perfect world...

Inner Monologue
　　　　And yet...
　　　　it's also just...unbearable...

  1. Where are we now...?
 
  Select: Where are we now...?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fouuu!

Mash
The air smells sweet, there's water and flowers everywhere you look, and there's a calm and gentle breeze... What is this place?

Da Vinci
Wanna know what the most surprising part is? You're standing in almost the same spot that we Zero Sailed from.

Da Vinci
Our location didn't change.
The entire rest of this world did.

Holmes
Thankfully, there are no hostiles in the immediate area. Let's begin by paying another visit to the town of Bichu.

Peperoncino
...

Mash
Um, is something wrong, Pepe?
You look kind of angry...

Peperoncino
What's that? You're jealous of how soft and smooth my skin is? Why, it's all in the upkeep, hon!

Peperoncino
Unlike Ms. Never-Changing Akuta, I actually have to work to make sure I look this good.

Peperoncino
Go on, feel how supple my cheeks are for yourself.
They're my pride and joy, you know♡

Mash
Th-that's okay...

Peperoncino
Oh silly, there's no need to be shy.

Peperoncino
But anywho, going to visit that town next sounds just dandy. The topography and plant life changes that come with a new yuga are all just surface-level details.

Peperoncino
The thing that changed the most after what Arjuna did will have been the people.

  1. Okay, let's go check out the town.
 
  Select: Okay, let's go check out the town.

===Branch End===

Rama
Understood. But make sure to keep the Border's location in mind at all times from now on, Fujimaru.

Rama
I don't want us to ever have to run for our lives like that again if we can help it.

  1. What in the...!?
 
  Select: What in the...!?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou! Fou!

Ganesha
Wow, there's not a single brick out of place now...
In fact, this is exactly what the town looked like when I first came to this world!

Mash
I can't believe it... It's like the kali never attacked it at all. What in the world is going on?

Mash
Then there's the people going about their lives here... They all look happy now, they're practically beaming.

Rama
Great. Look who it is.

Prakash
Goodness, you're all okay!
This is wonderful news! Just wonderful!

Prakash
This truly must be the god's will.
All is right with the world once again...

Prakash
...Oh, no, that isn't quite right, is it?
First, I owe you all an apology.

Prakash
No matter how dire the circumstances were at the time, I should never have spoken to you like that.

Prakash
I know it won't be enough to truly make amends, but I'll be including all of you in my prayers from now on.

Prakash
I only ask that you please not hold what I said against the people of this lovely town.

Ganesha
(Whaaa? Yesterday he wanted to run us out of town,
and now he's all happy to see us!?)

Fou
Fou, fou.

  1. Even Fou's nuzzling up to him...?
  2. ...(He really is sorry. He's not just saying it...)
  Select: Even Fou's nuzzling up to him...?

  Select: ...(He really is sorry. He's not just saying it...)

===Branch End===

Rama
...Didn't you say we were godless heretics you wanted nothing to do with?

Prakash
Don't be ridiculous! The fact that you're here now is proof you overcame the last yuga's difficulties with us.

Prakash
That makes you all one of us now.
You're our friends. Our family!

Prakash
And not only that, today is the blessed first day of Kṛta Yuga, the yuga of peace.

Prakash
Are you hungry? If you like, you're welcome to come and eat with me at my mansion.

Prakash
Or would you prefer some fine ornaments for the young ladies? We also have plenty of beautiful flowers.

  1. That's very kind of you, but we're okay.
  2. We kind of wanted to explore the town, so...
  Select: That's very kind of you, but we're okay.
Mash
Y-yes, I'm afraid we have some pressing business we need to take care of. I appreciate the offer, but we really should be on our way.

  Select: We kind of wanted to explore the town, so...

===Branch End===

Prakash
...I see. Well that's a pity. I was hoping to introduce you to the rest of the townspeople.

Prakash
Oh, by the way, that mansion over there is my house. I'm afraid it ended up that big on account of my being mayor...

Prakash
It's very embarrassing, living somewhere as ostentatious as that...but, it is not without meaning.

Prakash
Please feel free to come visit whenever you have the time. You'll always be welcome in my home.

Prakash
Good day then...

Ganesha
What the heck? I've never seen someone go from jerkwad to sweetheart in no time flat like that. He seemed elated.

Peperoncino
It's probably because Kṛta Yuga's the yuga of happiness. Tends to make most of the locals friendly and kindhearted.

Peperoncino
Though of course, I'm sure there are exceptions.

Ajai
...Tch. You guys again.

Mash
Oh! Master, it's Ajai! He doesn't seem any different now than he did before.

Mash
I'm not judging either way, I'm just surprised how simply hearing him click his tongue again has made me feel so relieved.

Mash
And then there's–

Asha
Ah, it's you guys! This is such a surprise!

Asha
So you made it to the new yuga, huh? That's great!

Mash
...Yes. It wasn't easy, but we did make it.
I'm glad to see you're okay too, Asha.

Asha
I sure am! I prayed extra hard,
so I didn't get hurt at all!

Mash
I see. That's wonderful.

Mash
Oh, but speaking of hurt, is your dog–I mean, Vihan okay?

Mash
He hurt his leg before the Kali Yuga, right?
I don't see him with you...

Asha
Huh?

Mash
...?

Asha
Who's Vihan?

--ARROW--

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Mash
...

Fou
Fou...

Rama
All right, it should be safe to discuss this now that we've come this far. What is the meaning of this?

Peperoncino
This world runs on the yuga cycle.
But needless to say, these aren't proper yugas.

Peperoncino
A real Kṛta Yuga, or Satya Yuga depending on who you ask, is supposed to last for forty-eight hundred years.

Peperoncino
Then the Tretā Yuga is supposed to last for thirty-six hundred years, the Dvāpara Yuga for twenty-four hundred...

Peperoncino
...and the Kali Yuga for twelve hundred.

Peperoncino
And on top of that, these are in god years, where each one is equivalent to three-hundred and sixty human years.

Peperoncino
Suffice to say, we're talking about a reeeally long cycle.

Holmes
Whereas in this world, it would seem only the ratios have been preserved, given that each yuga is apparently four, three, two, and one day long, respectively.

Peperoncino
That's right. But the people I've talked to here said things weren't always like this.

Peperoncino
It used to be that the yuga cycle lasted for hundreds of years, or maybe even longer.

Holmes
So that is what this world was like immediately after it was pruned away and became a Lostbelt?

Peperoncino
Right. I'm sure the period where kali would show up had to have been proportionally longer back then...

Peperoncino
...but I'd also bet they showed up much less frequently than they do now.

Peperoncino
Otherwise, the people here would have gone extinct long ago.

Peperoncino
But over time, the cycle got shorter and shorter,
and now it only lasts ten days.

Peperoncino
I have to think that drastically shortened cycle is why there are so many more kali now.

Peperoncino
They used to only be let out a bit at a time, but now the floodgates have been opened, so to speak.

Mash
Why did Arjuna shorten the yuga cycle so much?

Peperoncino
Part of it is thanks to that Disciple pouring poison in his ear, like I said earlier...

Peperoncino
...and part of it is that the Tree of Emptiness has given him power he didn't have before that lets him do so.

Peperoncino
Yes, I know that only addresses the how, not the why.
I'm getting to that.

Peperoncino
I think the reason he sped things up so much...is to reach whatever end he has in mind for all this that much faster.

Peperoncino
In short, it looks like he's in a rush to create his perfect world.

  1. What do you mean by that...?
 
  Select: What do you mean by that...?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Okay, now I can finally answer the question that's been plaguing all of you:

Peperoncino
What exactly happened earlier?

Peperoncino
The answer...is that it's something unique Arjuna does. Something that isn't meant to happen in a normal yuga.

Peperoncino
Whenever one of these shortened yuga cycles comes to an end, he purges everything he considers defective and unnecessary from this world.

Peperoncino
He believes that by repeating that process over and over...

Peperoncino
...he'll eventually arrive at a perfect world, devoid of anything it shouldn't have...or, as he thinks of it, evil.

Mash
...!

Da Vinci
Damn. That's one hell of a destination.

Holmes
I see. So this purging must include living things,
not just inanimate objects.

Peperoncino
Right. And as far as I can tell, when a living thing is purged...it's like it never even existed.

Rama
So that's what happened to the poor dog that couldn't run after breaking its leg.

Mash
I can't believe it... Asha loved that dog more than anything, and now, she doesn't even remember him...

Ganesha
Yeah... That's harsh.

Peperoncino
It happens to anyone who's unlucky enough to be killed by a kali, too. That's a sort of disqualifying offense.

Peperoncino
Same goes for people who end up as social pariahs, or if Arjuna himself ends up judging you to be flawed.

Peperoncino
When the next yuga rolls around,
they just cease to exist.

Peperoncino
It might sound contradictory, but I think Arjuna adjusts for things like that whenever he remakes the world.

Holmes
I see. That would explain how continuity and discontinuity can exist simultaneously in a new yuga.

Holmes
For example, Asha may have completely forgotten her beloved dog, but she still remembered all of you.

Holmes
But how does such a thing even work?

Peperoncino
I'm not entirely sure myself, but I can tell you what that blabbermouth Disciple of the Foreign God said.

Peperoncino
He said Arjuna collects every bit of data that makes up the world whenever he blows it away, kind of like a snapshot.

Peperoncino
Then, when it's time to begin a new Kṛta Yuga, he uses that data–let's call it Snapshot A–to reassemble the world.

Peperoncino
As he puts everything back together, he removes all the elements he deemed defective and unnecessary...

Peperoncino
...and in the end, he has a new world based on Snapshot A, but reflecting the changes he's made.

Ganesha
Ohh, I get it. He's a cheater.

Ganesha
He's basically hacking his save data, changing the parameters to suit his preferences before reloading it.

Ganesha
Cheaters! The scum of gamers everywhere. Don't they know hacking saves takes all the fun out of it!?

Peperoncino
He's not doing this to have fun. All he cares about is making what he considers to be a perfect world.

Peperoncino
A world consisting only of what is truly necessary,
with nothing wasted or evil to be found.

Ganesha
Aha... Now I know what genre he's playing, too.
He's into 4X games.

  1. What're those?
 
  Select: What're those?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
A 4X game is a simulation where the player just sets the initial parameters and then the world sort of plays out from there.

Ganesha
And if you're a cheater, if something happens in your sim that you don't like–say, if an enemy nation takes you by surprise and invades you...

Ganesha
...you save your game, hack your data, and reload...and it's like the enemy nation that was bothering you never existed.

Ganesha
That's the kind of thing we're talking about here, right? Arjuna's just doing that over and over until he wins, right?

Ganesha
I swear, what's the point of even playing if you're just gonna cheat to win! Death to cheaters, that's what I say!

  1. Now I get what's going on... I think...
  2. I guess some people just care about the destination, not the journey...
  Select: Now I get what's going on... I think...

  Select: I guess some people just care about the destination, not the journey...

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Video game analogies aside...

Da Vinci
If that's true, it sounds like Arjuna isn't remaking the world from scratch every time he resets the cycle then.

Da Vinci
Instead, he's basically treating the world like a model, adding new parts and removing old ones.

Holmes
Then it would stand to reason that, strictly speaking, the people here may not be dying and being brought back to life.

Da Vinci
Yeah. It seems more likely that everything down to their souls is being saved as data...

Da Vinci
...and that their memories are being modified when they're put back into the new world.

Da Vinci
And if that's the case, we're talking about a much smaller-scale feat than creating the entire universe from nothing.

Da Vinci
It's still a big frigging deal, don't get me wrong.

Da Vinci
But if Arjuna's got every Indian Divinity AND support from the Tree of Emptiness, it's theoretically possible.

Holmes
Hmm... I'm beginning to see the larger picture.

Holmes
There is something about this Lostbelt that is almost reminiscent of a Singularity.

Holmes
The Russian, Scandinavian, and Chinese Lostbelts we've seen so far were all the result of a world where some definitive event happened in their respective pasts to dramatically change the course of history.

Holmes
But this Indian Lostbelt is still in the middle of its definitive event.

Holmes
Here, its king is continually trying to evolve this world by regularly recreating it with parameters that would be unthinkable in Proper Human History.

Holmes
While he has yet to reach his goal of a perfected world, I suspect the reason this world was pruned...

Holmes
...is that the very act of trying to change it in such a manner was considered a mistake.

Goredolf
Ahem.

Holmes
Hm? What is it, Director Goredolf?
If you have any questions, please, go right ahead.

Goredolf
Do you! Ever! Shut up!?

Goredolf
I don't mind you explaining things, but I insist you do so concisely, in a report I can read at my leisure!

Goredolf
You just gave me flashbacks to one of my teachers in my Clock Tower days who would lecture me for what felt like days on end!

Goredolf
Who cares if the people here are technically dying or not when this world is remade?

Goredolf
The part that actually matters is that WE will die if we get caught in that!

Holmes
I suppose you do have a point.

Goredolf
Of course I do. Now then, I say we pivot this discussion to more practical matters. Namely, how do we stay safe, and what is our next course of action?

Goredolf
You there, Peperoncino! It's only by my good graces that you're running around outside instead of being confined in the Border under lock and key.

Goredolf
Now repay the favor by telling us something we can use, dammit!

Peperoncino
Something you can use, hmm.
Well, I guess I can think of one thing...

Peperoncino
Pulling off a feat that massive takes a lot out of Arjuna, so he isn't able to move around much.

Peperoncino
And I don't just mean that long stretch of time at the end of a Kali Yuga when he charges up that Noble Phantasm.

Peperoncino
I'm pretty sure that, unlike most Servants, he doesn't do much of anything the rest of the time either.

Peperoncino
I guess he just doesn't have access to the energy he would need to do more than ride that Vimana of his.

Peperoncino
I think that's how he spends most of his time...just riding around the Tree of Emptiness on his Vimana.

Peperoncino
Of course, he might look like he's spacing out up there, but I'm sure he's actually keeping a close eye out for the next bit of evil to purge.

Rama
It's probably got something to do with containing so many powerful Divinities within himself. It would also explain why he seems so devoid of personality.

Mash
But then...isn't that exactly why he would need other Servants to handle other things for him?

  1. Aśvatthāmān did say something about that, didn't he?
 
  Select: Aśvatthāmān did say something about that, didn't he?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Yeah, he did. I think he called himself a...Lōkapāla?

Peperoncino
Lōkapāla... In original Indian mythology, Lōkapāla were said to protect the world... They were the guardians of all directions.

Peperoncino
Though I don't know what that could mean.

Rama
We know who their Nezha is now,
but who were those other two Servants?

Peperoncino
I'm afraid I don't know. I was already on the outs with Arjuna when he got around to summoning them.

Peperoncino
By that time, he just considered me an outsider he didn't need to worry about, though since I'm Aśvatthāmān's former Master, he did tell his Servants to eliminate me if they happened to see me.

Peperoncino
Suffice to say I have no idea what their True Names are, though I get the feeling they're an Archer and a Caster.

Da Vinci
I think I could make an educated guess, but there's no point in speculation at this point. We need solid info.

Holmes
Well, this seems like a good time to tell you that those Servants are not the only enemies we face here.

Holmes
There are also the sacred beasts...the Mystical creatures the people here referred to as the “agents of god.”

Peperoncino
Oh, those? They're primitive guardian beasts Arjuna made to counteract the kali. They manifest naturally.

Peperoncino
And since there are almost no kali during the peaceful Kṛta Yuga...

Peperoncino
...the beasts are supposed to just wander around like normal animals.

  1. Holmes, what did you mean by “this seems like a good time”?
  2. “Supposed to”?
  Select: Holmes, what did you mean by “this seems like a good time”?
Holmes
I suspect the answer to that, and your next immediate course of action, will be clear to you soon enough.

  Select: “Supposed to”?
Peperoncino
Oh my, you're a better listener than I took you for.
Attentiveness is a wonderful quality, you know♡

===Branch End===

Mash
Sacred beasts!

Peperoncino
I guess that means Arjuna really doesn't want us here, then.

Peperoncino
So of course, they'll attack us on sight now,
just like the kali.

Rama
You said these beasts wander around just like ordinary animals, yes?

Rama
Then we clearly can't let our guard down just because it's Kṛta Yuga now.

Rama
Still, I don't know if it's the sunshine or what, but my body feels lighter now. This shouldn't take long!

Ganesha
Y-yeah! I'll show you guys how well I can hold my own in a fight! O-or at least, I hope I'll be able to...

--BATTLE--

Peperoncino
Okay, now that we've gone over how things generally work in this Lostbelt...

Peperoncino
...what do you think of it?

  1. I don't think it's right.
  2. I don't like it.
  Select: I don't think it's right.

  Select: I don't like it.

===Branch End===

Mash
Me neither. Asha and Vihan looked to me like they were the best of friends.

Mash
They were like...family...

Mash
And I'm positive that had nothing to do with how well Vihan could or couldn't run.

Mash
It didn't matter how well he could hunt or stand guard, either.

Mash
As far as Asha was concerned, she just loved him and wanted him to stay by her side...

Fou
Fou...

Mash
So if the god of this world just erased their relationship for his own reasons...

Mash
...what happens to all the love she had for him,
all the happiness she felt when they were together?

Mash
Where does it go?

  1. ...You said it.
 
  Select: ...You said it.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou fou!

Peperoncino
(Amazing... The same girl who used to resemble nothing so much as a living doll, expounding on love...)

Peperoncino
(Oh, this is just precious...
(Sniff) I think I'm going to cry.)

Peperoncino
(Although... I wonder what Beryl would say if he saw this new Mash...?)

Holmes
Allow me to offer some criticism of this world from a different perspective.

Holmes
I'm sure it's been some time since a calendar meant anything in this world, but for the purposes of our discussion, let's say the year here is 2021.

Holmes
As I'm sure you're aware from visiting the nearby town, civilization here has not advanced anything like as far as in Proper Human History.

Holmes
That is not to say I only value postindustrial age advances, or that I have no appreciation for a life lived in harmony with nature. I assure you, neither is true.

Holmes
I am merely saying that civilization as a whole has clearly not progressed here when compared to Proper Human History.

Holmes
That aspect alone is enough for me to declare this world a far cry from anything approaching the ideal.

Holmes
The march of civilization has stalled here just like in the Chinese Lostbelt, albeit for very different reasons.

Ganesha
And it hardly needs saying, but I don't like the way this god does things either. Cheaters get permabanned, that's what I say.

Ganesha
On another note... Is everything okay Rama?
Something on your mind?

Rama
I just realized something.

Rama
Arjuna has obtained every Indian Divinity in this Lostbelt's history, right?

Rama
Then, that would mean...Sita is one of them.

  1. Really!?
 
  Select: Really!?

===Branch End===

Rama
Just as I am an avatar of Vishnu,
Sita is an avatar of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi.

Rama
Of course, that doesn't mean they are one and the same...but they're certainly close enough. So then, what should I do?

Rama
What else? I have to save her. That is who I am.
It's my very reason for existing.

Peperoncino
So love is your main motivator for defeating Arjuna...
Well that's just beautiful.

Mash
What do you think of Arjuna, Pepe?

Peperoncino
Me? It's like I said. I thought he and this world were a dead end the moment I met him.

Peperoncino
Can't get much further from my type than this version of Arjuna. He might be a pretty face, but that soul of his is ugly as sin.

Mash
...

Mash
Master, there may not be any need for me to say this,
but please let me say it again anyway.

Mash
Pepe is...a good person. I believe we can trust him, and I think we should work together with him on this.

  1. I think so too.
  2. Looks like we're both on the same page, Mash.
  Select: I think so too.

  Select: Looks like we're both on the same page, Mash.

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Aww, that's sweet♡ Thanks, you two.

Holmes
Nonetheless, the fact remains that you are a Crypter.

Holmes
Are you truly about to let your assigned Lostbelt be destroyed? What will you say to the others?

Peperoncino
Why, I'll just say “I did my best,
but it wasn't good enough. Oopsie.”

Peperoncino
I don't want to get on their bad side, either.
I'm just going with the flow here.

Goredolf
Hmph, well I trust you even less now. If you're so easygoing, why did you join the Crypters in the first place?

Goredolf
You could have just turned them down from the start.

Peperoncino
...Well that was a cruel thing to say.

Goredolf
H-huh...?

???
...Circumstantial change confirmed.

???
I have a proposal for you chosen ones.
An offer for those of you who were cast aside.

???
If you desire acclamation, then choose rebirth.
If you desire indolence, then choose eternal sleep.

???
It makes no difference to a god.

Peperoncino
I didn't want to have to tell you this,
but we didn't have any choice.

Peperoncino
“Thawing the Coffins” might not sound like a big deal, but it's basically like recovering dead bodies.

Peperoncino
We were all dead in there.
We were never going to wake up from that darkness.

Peperoncino
But then, the Foreign God came and told us:

Peperoncino
“You may live on as a Crypter, or die as a Master.”

Peperoncino
And that was that.

Mash
...!

Peperoncino
Honestly, I still don't know who or what this Foreign God is.

Peperoncino
Kirschtaria seems like he does...but he's not one to talk.

Peperoncino
All I know is, in exchange for being given new life, we were to be thrown out into this newly wiped-clean world...

Peperoncino
...and put in charge of growing our respective Lostbelt's Tree of Emptiness.

Peperoncino
Of course, I know we betrayed all of mankind when we chose to leave our Coffins as Crypters, so I'm not under any illusion that we're the real victims here.

Peperoncino
I'll even admit that I thought this game to see who'll get to be king of the world sounded fun.

Peperoncino
Whatever will be will be, you know? If an old monk friend of mine were here now, he'd probably say something like:

Peperoncino
“You guys were just unlucky.”

Ganesha
...

Peperoncino
Still, there's nothing to be gained from cursing your fate, and besides, I was already getting bored with it.

Peperoncino
So I'm just going to do the best I can,
and try not to throw my life away for nothing.

Peperoncino
I'm not going to sell out my fellow Crypters, and I have no desire to fight all of you to the death either.

Peperoncino
And since that works out for both of us,
isn't that good enough for now?

Mash
...Then, does that mean nobody on Team A willingly chose to side with the Foreign God?

Peperoncino
Hehe, I don't know about all of us, but me, Kadoc, and Ophelia sure didn't. Oh, wait, I guess Ophelia's an exception.

Peperoncino
She swore to become a Crypter for her own,
very personal reasons.

Mash
...Then please, just tell me one thing.
Where does the name “Crypters” come from?

Mash
Is it a code name for something?
Did the Foreign God give it to you?

Peperoncino
No waaay! You're really bringing that up now!?
Oh, right, I just remembered!

Peperoncino
You never knew this, did you, Mashie?
Now it all makes sense!

Peperoncino
The name “Crypters”...

Peperoncino
...comes from Director Marisbury. It was the title he gave to the special Masters who were chosen for Team A.

Peperoncino
Anywho! Let's talk about how exactly we can go about beating Arjuna!

Peperoncino
'Cause I'll be honest, I've got nothing. Ahahaha!

Rama
This is no laughing matter. He even shrugged off my Noble Phantasm like it was nothing.

Rama
Although now I understand why... It's because his very divine existence is just that strong.

Rama
There's no trick or even magecraft involved.
It's just what he is, plain and simple.

Ganesha
Geez, so he even cheats just by existing!?
How in the world are we supposed to beat him then?

Peperoncino
Honestly, you're in much worse shape to fight him now that Karnie's out of the picture.

Peperoncino
I just don't see how Ganesha there could ever fill his shoes, no matter how hard she tries.

Ganesha
Hey, you don't have to rub it in.
Believe me, I'm well aware.

  1. Maybe there's someone else who could help us?
  2. I say we go look for Ganesha Number 2.
  Select: Maybe there's someone else who could help us?

  Select: I say we go look for Ganesha Number 2.

===Branch End===

Holmes
True, there could well be another Rogue Servant here. If we could find them and win them over, it would be the fastest and surest way of bolstering our ranks.

Rama
That would be great, but it is a big “if.”

Da Vinci
Well, if there is anyone else like Ganesha around here, there's a good chance someone in town might know about them.

Da Vinci
Why don't we head back to Bichu again and see what we can find out?

Peperoncino
Sounds good to me! Then what are we waiting for!? Like they say, no road is long with good company, and it's best to make hay while the sun shines! Eeeeee☆

Peperoncino
Don't worry about a thing! I'll make sure we never run out of things to talk about on the way!

Rama
Ah...I can't say that was actually a concern...

Mash
...

Mash
(...)

Peperoncino
We didn't have any choice.

Mash
(That's right... I'd forgotten that.)

Mash
(Everyone had their reasons for making the choices they did. That's why things ended up like this.)

Mash
(Nice people... Not so nice people... People who were interested in me... People who weren't interested in me...)

Mash
(I know everyone on Team A.)

Mash
(I'd forgotten I knew that. I only just remembered that they were also people who lived in Chaldea.)

Mash
(That's why, right now, I...)

Mash
(...If I was stronger, maybe I wouldn't be feeling so conflicted right now.)

Mash
(If only I was a perfect Demi-Servant, then–)

  1. Mash?
  2. Something wrong?
  Select: Mash?

  Select: Something wrong?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fooou?

Mash
O-oh, sorry, it's nothing!

Mash
...It looks like we're almost there.

Mash
I already have an idea for who we can talk to first.
It would be great if she knows something!

Asha
Other gods?
Hmm... Ummm...

Mash
I guess you haven't heard anything then...

Peperoncino
Maybe using the word “god” isn't the best way to go about it. It might be better to take a different approach.

Peperoncino
We're looking for someone who is very much out of place in this world... In other words, someone who finds this place as wrong as we do.

Peperoncino
If someone like that exists, they'd probably be out fighting kali regardless of what yuga it is.

Peperoncino
So the question we should be asking is...

Peperoncino
Here, little miss, let me put it to you this way.

Peperoncino
Have you heard any rumors about naughty heretics who don't obey your god's teachings? Oh, besides us, of course.

Asha
Oh! I think the mayor would probably know something about that!

Prakash
Well, I wouldn't call them bad, exactly. Everything alive in this world is the god's creation, after all.

Prakash
But I would say they're just a bit too focused on the wrong things, unfortunately.

Prakash
Nonetheless, yes, I have heard there are people like that in the village on the other side of the mountain.

Prakash
I'm told they spend most of their time taking up weapons and fighting the kali, in defiance of the god's teachings.

Prakash
They certainly do things differently than we do in Bichu, where we accept god's trials with piety and grace...

Prakash
...but I suppose that is just the way they choose to live their lives.

Mash
It's still a bit shocking how much more amiable he is now compared to when we first met him...

Mash
But at any rate, this is great! Now we have a promising lead! Let's head for this village right away, Master!

Da Vinci
Sounds good to me, but just be aware that you might not be able to get there by nightfall.

Da Vinci
I think it's better if we don't move around too much in the middle of the night, so if you find a good place to make camp, don't be shy about doing just that. Okay?

Ganesha
Don't worry about that! I hate going at a forced march. If I have to go hiking, I make sure to take it nice and slow.

Ganesha
As long as I'm around, I won't be letting anyone push themselves too hard. Not even if they want to!

--ARROW--

Ganesha
(Zzz)

Mash
We'll be heading back out at dawn, Pepe.
Are you sure you don't need to get some sleep?

Peperoncino
What about you, Mashie?
You're still standing watch this late?

Mash
I'm a Demi-Servant, so I'm fine going without sleep for a while.

Peperoncino
Hmm. Funny how you're okay without sleep, but the Divine Spirit Servant over there apparently can't get enough...

Peperoncino
Well, that's okay. This works out nicely for me.
Mind if I stand watch with you for a while?

Mash
Uh, no, that's fine with me...

Peperoncino
That was only a pretense, of course. I was actually just waiting for a good chance to ask you this.

Peperoncino
...Did you get a chance to talk to Ophelia?

Mash
...Yes, I did.

Mash
We didn't have a lot of time...but I still feel like we said a lot.

Mash
Much more than we ever expressed to each other in Chaldea.

Peperoncino
Hehe, I'm glad to hear that.

Peperoncino
She always did want to have a good heart-to-heart with you. I could tell.

Peperoncino
So? What'd you talk about?

Mash
Well, one of our topics...

Mash
...was romance.

Peperoncino
No way! Seriously?

Peperoncino
Aww, what I wouldn't give to have been a fly on the wall for that!

Peperoncino
I can't think of anything better than Ophelia talking about romance.

Peperoncino
I can just imagine the three of us chatting over a nice cup of tea, hours passing in the blink of an eye...

Mash
Do you...know what happened to everyone, Pepe...?

Peperoncino
I heard what happened from Kirschtaria and the others, yes. But those are just boring old facts. That's not what I really want to know.

Peperoncino
That's why I wanted to ask you about them directly.

Mash
...I see. I don't think there's anything I need to keep secret, so I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

Peperoncino
Even though I'm a Crypter? Even though I'm your enemy?

Mash
Yes. I remembered that, despite everything that's happened...we were still both members of Team A.

Mash
That hasn't changed just because you're a Crypter now, too.

Peperoncino
I see. Well thank you.

Peperoncino
I'm sure Kadoc, Ophelia, and Akuta are frustrated by how things turned out...but I doubt they have any regrets.

Peperoncino
So they all fought bravely, huh. And here I am,
just pathetically doing whatever I can to survive.

Mash
I don't think that's anything you need to feel bad about...

Peperoncino
Hey, I'm still on the Crypters' side.
I can't help but be frustrated too.

Peperoncino
No matter how hard it is to survive...I still find myself thinking there might've been a better way to end things.

Peperoncino
Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring down the mood.

Peperoncino
If things don't go your way even after you've struggled as much as you can, your only choice is to give up and move on. I just had to come to terms with that again.

Peperoncino
That's just my lot in life, I'm afraid.
Nothing I do ever quite seems to work out.

Mash
Really? But, you've always seemed to me like you excel at everything you do...

Peperoncino
Hehe. That's only because I stick to things I know I can do. No, I'm talking about fate and destiny...

Peperoncino
But hey, that can be extremely motivating in its own right. And it's not like I've given up on everything, you know?

Mash
...

Peperoncino
All right, I think it's time I got to bed.
A complexion this perfect requires pleeenty of sleep.

Peperoncino
Besides, how could I look Ophelia in the eye if I neglected my own skin care after I kept admonishing her?

Peperoncino
...Thank you for telling me what happened with the other Crypters, Mashie. Good night.

Mash
Of course. Good night, Pepe...

Section 8: The Queen of the Walled Village

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Woman
Khh... Aaah!

Man A
Damn sacred beasts! Of all the luck,
running into a huge pack of them like this!

???
It seems luck was not on our side today. I was hoping we could pass them by without incident, but oh well.

Man A
...■■■■■!

Man B
I-I'm so sorry. I was so close to them that I ended up drawing my bow in fear!

???
Don't worry about it. The blame is partly mine, for forgetting how it feels to hold a weapon for the first time.

???
I'll need to reevaluate both the technical and mental aspects of our training program...

???
At any rate, the rest of you hurry back to the village. I'll hold them off here.

Woman
B-but...!?

???
No buts. We can't risk leading them towards the village.

???
Besides, the more commotion we make, the more likely we are to be captured by the Lōkapāla we've been hearing rumors about.

???
The Lōkapāla are said to serve god directly, and have incredible power in their own right. The moment they find us, it's over. We can't let that happen.

???
I could manage on my own if it came to that, but if you or the village caught their eye, it would be disastrous.

???
So I want you all to head back to Dival ahead of me.
And don't forget the supplies we collected.

Man
But you can't possibly handle them all on your own!

???
Don't worry. My plan isn't to defeat them all. I'll just be buying us time...and I am well accustomed to trials of endurance.

???
Besides, I already told you.

???
I am not human. I am something else...something with the power of a thousand ordinary people.

???
A shadow of humanity who manifested in this land by the grace of the rightful gods!!!

Da Vinci
I know this isn't the first time we've had to stay behind, but man, it sucks not being able to actually drive around in our vehicle. What's the point of even having it then?

Goredolf
Don't be ridiculous! If the enemy were to find and destroy the Border, the jig would be well and truly up.

Goredolf
Camouflage function or not, we still need to make sure we stay out of sight at all times!

Goredolf
That mad dash we made to pick up the field team during the Kali Yuga was under the most extenuating of circumstances! There will be no repeat performance!

Da Vinci
Yeah, yeah, I was just grumbling.
I know you're right on this one, Gordy.

Holmes
Oh? Just a moment. Do you think you can stop and hide in that tall grass over there?

Mash
Yes. I'll set the Ortinax to silent mode.
Please be as quiet as you can, everyone...

Fou
...Fooou...

  1. That's a lot of sacred beasts...
  2. It was almost like watching a sacred beast parade.
  Select: That's a lot of sacred beasts...

  Select: It was almost like watching a sacred beast parade.

===Branch End===

Mash
Luckily, they don't seem to have noticed us.
Let's stay here and wait for them to pass.

Peperoncino
They're certainly very pretty to look at.
No wonder the people here call them agents of god.

Ganesha
They really are just like any other animal without any kali around, huh. I wonder what they eat. Maybe we could use food to tame them?

Peperoncino
...

  1. They're gone...
 
  Select: They're gone...

===Branch End===

Rama
Good. Then let's keep going. It shouldn't be much farther to our destination village.

Fou
Fou fou!

Mash
I see something. That must be it over there. Thank goodness we didn't run into any trouble on the way.

Ganesha
Hmm, I like the wall they've put up here.
Gives the place a real freedom fighter vibe.

Rama
The mayor of Bichu did say they go around fighting kali here. If anything, I would be surprised if their village wasn't fortified like this.

Rama
...Hm?

Man
Come on, hurry!

Woman
It's us! Open the gate, quick!

Mash
...Those people seemed to be in an awfully big hurry to get inside. I wonder what that was all about?

Ganesha
Looks like we were far enough away from 'em that they didn't notice us.

Rama
But did you see? They may have only been modified farm implements, but they were still carrying weapons.

Rama
They really do seem to be different from the people of Bichu. We may well be able to learn something new here.

Peperoncino
I think you're right. Let's go see!

Rama
...Hmm. They're not opening the gate for us.

Peperoncino
And they're not answering when we knock, either.

Rama
Heeey! Open the gate for us!

Rama
I'll have you know most nations would be thrilled to have me pay them a visit!

Mash
Let me see if I can hear anything from inside...

Woman's Voice
Who was that!? Is someone here!?

Man's Voice
Oh no... Aaah! This is it!
They found us! We're done for!

Woman's Voice
What do we do!? What're we gonna do!?

Man's Voice
How should I know!?

Man's Voice
There's no way we can fight them off on our own.

Man's Voice
We'll just have to keep the gate closed until she gets back!

Mash
I'm not sure why, but they sound very...agitated...

Goredolf
Oh, I've got a bad feeling about this. And my bad feelings about this sort of thing have a way of always being right.

Ganesha
At least we know there're people inside.

Ganesha
And since we're Servants, we could probably just jump over the wall if we have to.

Ganesha
Of course, just 'cause we can doesn't mean we–

???
You there! What are you doing here!?

Fou
Fou!?

Holmes
...A Servant reading.
Well, it seems luck is with you today, Master.

Holmes
Of course, we aren't yet sure whether this is good or bad luck.

Holmes
Whoever this Servant is, they're headed your way at top speed. Be on your guard!

Mash
They just jumped clean over us and landed on top of the gate!

Mash
It's a Servant we've never met before!

Peperoncino
Well that's too bad. It would've made things a lot simpler if you already knew each other.

Ganesha
I hate getting chewed out by strangers. It's like a hundred times worse than when it's someone you know.

Ganesha
What I'm trying to say is, this lady looks really pissed off at us, so maybe do something about that?

???
That divine aura... Curses. Despite my best efforts,
it looks like you finally found us.

???
You must be the ones who serve the false god...
The Lōkapāla!

  1. Huh!? I-I think you've got the wrong idea!
 
  Select: Huh!? I-I think you've got the wrong idea!

===Branch End===

Rama
Whoa, whoa, slow down.
Us, the Lōkapāla? You must be joking.

???
Don't lie to me.
It can't be a coincidence that you've shown up now.

???
Besides...I heard you planning to invade our village by jumping over these walls!

Ganesha
I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding! I only mentioned jumping the wall to rule it out as a bad ide–

???
So, you continue to lie to me.

???
Very well. If you have finally learned of my existence, and the existence of this village that seeks to end the false god's cycle, then so be it.

???
I will run and hide no longer. If the time has come to fight, then I shall rise to the challenge.

???
Prepare yourselves, Lōkapāla.
You will not be taking anything from me this day.

???
Even if I must face a god...this time,
I will make sure to defend my home to the very end!

--ARROW--

Limbo
Mmm...

Limbo
Yes, I'm aware. I'm well aware indeed.
The fox woman is up to something, isn't she?

Limbo
Then if I may, allow me to tell you something.
Something of great importance.

God Arjuna
...

Limbo
Oh, no, no, no. Of course I would leave the decision of what to do with this information entirely in your capable hands. All I would humbly ask of you is your attention.

Limbo
That said, I must stress that depending on how things turn out, matters could grow very serious indeed.

Limbo
Why, what if my colleague, one of the Foreign God's Disciples ostensibly sent here to help you...

Limbo
...were to become the very sort of thing you cast out of your world...?

Mash
Please, listen to us!
The Lōkapāla are our enemy as well.

Mash
We only came here in the hope of finding allies who could help us fight against them!

???
Talk is cheap. I've lost track of how many times someone claiming to be my friend betrayed me.

Voice Beyond The Wall
Hey, look! She's back!
And she's fighting to protect us!

Voice Beyond The Wall
We're saved!

Voice Beyond The Wall
Then those ARE Lōkapāla!
Dammit, they finally found our village...!

Voice Beyond The Wall
Please, my lady, help us! The Lōkapāla showed up right after we got back to the village. We've been barring the gate and holding out until you arrived!

???
There, you see? I knew you couldn't be trusted!

Goredolf
Argh, what did I tell you!? Misunderstandings only invite further misunderstandings!

Goredolf
I've seen this sort of thing before. Back in the Clock Tower... No, all of my life, really...

Goredolf
I would look around one day and realize everyone had forsaken me, even though I didn't do anything wrong...

Goredolf
Well, maybe that's not entirely accurate.
There was this one time I–

Peperoncino
Sorry, hon, but your life story is gonna have to wait, mmkay?

Rama
The circumstances being what they are, she doesn't seem to truly be trying to kill us...but she's certainly very hardheaded. Her movements are as firm as her beliefs, it seems.

Ganesha
Hey, Rama. Are you feeling this too?

Rama
I am. It's faint...but she definitely has the air of a Divine Spirit. Maybe she's a Pseudo-Servant, like you?

Holmes
Good grief. I knew India had an expansive pantheon,
but that can't be the answer for everything, can it?

Holmes
One does not generally run into a Divine Spirit at every corner, so to speak.

Peperoncino
Forget that! How do we get her to listen to us!? We'll never get anywhere if we don't clear up this misunderstanding!

  1. We've been telling her over and over, but she won't listen.
  2. I can't seem to get through to her no matter what I say...
  Select: We've been telling her over and over, but she won't listen.

  Select: I can't seem to get through to her no matter what I say...

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou...

???
Well? Aren't you going to try to scale these walls?
You'll need to do better than–

???
...?
Is that...!?

  1. It looks like something caught her eye...
  2. Why'd she jump back onto the wall?
  Select: It looks like something caught her eye...

  Select: Why'd she jump back onto the wall?

===Branch End===

???
...

Mash
She seems to be looking at something far away...
What's going on?

Holmes
Well, this is certainly less than optimal. I know you're in the midst of a battle, but I strongly urge you to take note of your surroundings, particularly what is behind you. Immediately.

  1. Behind us?
 
  Select: Behind us?

===Branch End===

Rama
What!? Sacred beasts!?

Ganesha
Huh!? Wait, this pack looks kind of familiar...
Are these the ones that passed us by earlier?

Peperoncino
Those were going in a different direction, and I'm pretty sure they didn't notice us at all.

Peperoncino
Maybe there's something here that lured them this way?

???
A different group from the sacred beasts we encountered earlier? Of all the times for them to show up...

???
No, this is no coincidence. It only makes sense that the Lōkapāla would have the means to control them.

???
They must be trying to make their way into our village and “cleanse” it. Especially since one of our elderly died this morning.

Mash
...?

???
Begone, foul agents of the false god!
You will not be claiming our dead today!

Peperoncino
My, my. She does make for quite the striking figure, doesn't she?

Mash
She certainly does.

Mash
She must be the manifestation of a noble Heroic Spirit, here to guide the people of this place along the right pa–

Mash
!?

Rama
What happened!?
Did something knock her off the wall!?

Mash
No, um... It looked to me like she just...sort of...lost her footing.

Ganesha
Now she's wriggling around where she fell... It looks like her feet're stuck in some hole in the ground.

???
Curses. I can't believe I fell right into one of the pitfalls we dug to prepare for the next kali attack...!

???
...

???
Give me a moment. I'll be out of here in no time.

Ganesha
Looks like they're pissed off about all the dramatic tension evaporating! Though I could just be projecting there!

Mash
We can't let the sacred beasts hurt her while she's incapacitated. Let's take them down and keep her safe, Master!

  1. You know it! Get 'em, guys!
 
  Select: You know it! Get 'em, guys!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fooou!

--BATTLE--

Mash
All hostiles in our vicinity, eliminated.
Well done, everyone.

???
...

Rama
Well? Now do you understand we aren't your enemy?

???
...Yes, I do. I'm not so foolish as to insist otherwise at this point. I see now that I was gravely mistaken.

???
No one who would fight against the sacred beasts could possibly be allies of the false god.

???
I am truly, sincerely sorry,
and I thank you for your assistance.

???
Please, tell me why you have come here. No, on second thought, it's only right that I tell you about myself first.

Rama
Yes, you have a point. All right then, let me first ask you this: Are you a Divine Spirit?

???
Yes and no. I am a Servant, but right now, a goddess resides within my body, sharing her power with me.

???
When I was first summoned to this land,
she was already there inside me.

Da Vinci
Hmm. There've been plenty of cases where a Divine Spirit would inhabit a person from the past to become a Servant...

Da Vinci
And since Heroic Spirit Servants are technically people from the past, I guess it makes sense that a Divine Spirit could inhabit one of them, too.

Da Vinci
Though I definitely haven't heard of many cases where it happened quite like this.

???
I expect it's because this god and I happen to share the same name.

???
I believe having words, sounds, and names match is very significant when it comes to magecraft.

???
Then again, I was originally given this name in the hope of receiving her blessing, so perhaps it isn't much of a coincidence after all...

Da Vinci
You don't say. Okay, that makes sense.

  1. So what is that god's name?
 
  Select: So what is that god's name?

===Branch End===

???
...

???
...Lakshmi.

???
And I am the Rani of Jhansi, a land which once existed in India, who was named for her...

???
My name is Lakshmi Bai.

--ARROW--

Fou
Fou fooou?

  1. Lakshmi Bai...?
 
  Select: Lakshmi Bai...?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
I would like to think that anyone would be a bit embarrassed to recount the history of their own life...

Lakshmi
...no matter how proud of that life they may be.

Da Vinci
So that's why Holmes has been so unusually quiet... (Sigh) All right then, I guess I'll–

Captain
...Lakshmi Bai is a hero from nineteenth century India known for her role in the Indian Rebellion.

Da Vinci
Oh? ...Hehe, thanks for jumping in, Captain.
Why don't you take it from here?

Captain
Despite being born to royalty, she took up a sword and led a small rebel army in order to protect her nation of Jhansi.

Captain
She was known far and wide for her leadership and charisma.

Captain
...At the time, revolts were breaking out all across India, under all manner of different circumstances.

Captain
When one small state tried to revolt, the neighboring nations would often end up siding with the British...

Captain
...isolating the rebels and cutting them off from working with like-minded people in other regions.

Captain
But the Jhansi rebels managed to hold out till the very end.

Captain
And it was all thanks to their exceptional leader, Lakshmi Bai.

Lakshmi
...I wouldn't call myself exceptional. I was just flailing around trying to hold everything together as best I could.

Lakshmi
Between Kunwar Singh, Tatya Tope, and many others I could name, there were no end of leaders more talented than me.

Lakshmi
All that aside, you sound like you know a lot about our struggle. Are you Indian yourself?

Captain
...I'm nobody. Just another Nameless. It doesn't matter where I'm from. I'm done now. Over and out.

Da Vinci
...While we're at it, we should probably also go over your Divine Spirit, Lakshmi.

Da Vinci
Though I'm sure Ganesha and Rama know a lot more about her than I do.

Da Vinci
In Indian mythology, Lakshmi is known as the goddess of fortune, prosperity, beauty, and–

Rama
And the consort of Vishnu... Right. That's right!

Rama
Then...could it be...?

Rama
I am an avatar of Vishnu,
and Sita an avatar of Lakshmi.

Rama
Sita, are you in there? I'm sure if you are,
I'll be able to feel your presence!

Rama
...Hmm.

Rama
I'm guessing this is clear to all of you as well, given that her grip on my skull is strong enough the bones are starting to crack...

Rama
...but unfortunately,
I sense no trace of Sita inside her.

Lakshmi
Who is this man, advancing on a woman he's never met before as if to propose to her? Do you mind if I break him?

Mash
I-I understand how you feel, but please go easy on him! Rama has his own complicated history!

Lakshmi
I see... I suppose I can't blame him for misunderstanding. I should have been more precise.

Lakshmi
The goddess Lakshmi exists within me more as a power source than anything else. I can barely sense her consciousness at all.

Lakshmi
It's almost as though her heart has been implanted in me to provide me with energy.

Lakshmi
I doubt my output can measure up to that of an unadulterated Divine Spirit.

Lakshmi
So I'm afraid I am not a manifestation of the goddess Lakshmi so much as my core is that of the human, Rani Lakshmi Bai, with small elements of the goddess.

Rama
Then...Sita really doesn't exist inside you,
as I suspected. Right. Of course she doesn't.

Rama
Now that I think about it, if she had, I would have sensed her well before you introduced yourself.

Rama
But I was not even able to tell that the deity within you was Lakshmi.

Rama
You must have only her divine power and nothing of her consciousness.

Ganesha
Ganesha didn't realize who you were either.

Ganesha
Of course, that might be 'cause he was never very close to you, seeing as how you're just as up there in the pantheon as his mom, Pārvatī.

Lakshmi
Ganesha? ...Yes, now that you mention it, I do sense a divine presence inside you...one I would never in a million years have guessed by looking at you.

Ganesha
Yeah, I know, but it's true. Believe me, I've spent pretty much this entire time wishing all this were just some weird joke.

Rama
And I am Rama, the King of Kosala. Surely you've heard of me, as well as my beloved Sita?

Lakshmi
Oh, of course! There's not a soul in India who doesn't know your name.

Lakshmi
Forgive me. I thought you were just an, um, unusually youthful young man who hadn't yet learned how to behave around women.

  1. Maybe now's a good time to share our side?
 
  Select: Maybe now's a good time to share our side?

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Good point. We have a bunch of things we need to tell you about.

Da Vinci
Who we are... How we got here... What we're trying to do... It's a long story, but I hope you'll bear with us.

Da Vinci
...And I think that about sums it up.

Goredolf
Hold it, hold it! What about me!?

Goredolf
I thought you were saving the most important figure in our group for the end so as to make a lasting impression!

Da Vinci
Uh, yes, this is Goredolf Musik, who I absolutely, positively, definitely didn't forget to introduce. Nope.

Da Vinci
As you can probably tell from his sheer girth–I mean, his dignified stature, he's our commander in chief☆

Goredolf
Hehe, indeed I am. A stout build is the mark of a true elite, after all! As the commanding officer here, I expect you to treat me with all due respect.

Lakshmi
I have one question for you. Are you British?

Goredolf
Hm? Uh, no, I'm not.

Lakshmi
What about you?

Peperoncino
Me? Oh, hehe. That would be telling, hon.
You've got to get to know me better first.

Peperoncino
I suppose I can at least tell you that no, I'm not British either. Though I did spend a good bit of time at the Clock Tower.

Da Vinci
Hoo boy... Well, there's one last person in our group I should introduce you to.

Da Vinci
Sorry Holmes, the jig is up.
You can't keep hiding forever.

Holmes
I assure you, I was doing no such thing. I was only waiting for a more opportune moment once things had settled down.

Holmes
Good day, Ms. Lakshmi Bai.
Sherlock Holmes, detective, at your service.

Lakshmi
Are you British?

Holmes
Yes, I am.

Lakshmi
...

  1. ...Is that a problem?
  2. Ohhh...
  Select: ...Is that a problem?

  Select: Ohhh...

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
The Indian Rebellion was... Well, it was a war for India's independence against its colonizers, the British.

Da Vinci
And since Lakshmi Bai lost her life in that conflict,
I imagine she has some strong feelings about it.

Da Vinci
(Though I do get the impression there's someone else here with some connection to that...)

Captain
...

Da Vinci
(Oh well, guess it's not my place to say anything here.)

Holmes
I was only a few years old when that war broke out, so while I can't personally apologize for my country's actions–

Lakshmi
...No, it's all right. I'm sorry. That was rude of me.

Lakshmi
There is little sense in my asking that.
It's just an old habit... One I can't seem to shake.

Holmes
You have nothing to apologize for. It's not for me to say whether you should or shouldn't feel that way.

Holmes
Nor is it for me to say whether you should hold onto those feelings, or try to forget them.

Holmes
All I can say for sure is that our countries' histories are intertwined. Certainly neither of us can pretend otherwise.

Holmes
If this hadn't come up now, Fujimaru would no doubt have noticed the air of discomfort between us...

Holmes
...and gone on to learn what happened between our countries for {(M) himself /(F) herself}.

Holmes
...If there is any meaning to be found by having people from the past come together like this–besides the role we play as Servants, of course–I suspect it lies there.

Lakshmi
...Agreed. I will think of you as no more than a man by the name of Sherlock Holmes.

Lakshmi
Besides, under these circumstances,
the more allies we have, the better.

Mash
Then...does that mean you consider us allies?

Lakshmi
It was difficult to convince the people of Dival of the wrongness of this situation...but once I did, they agreed to work together to forge their own destiny.

Lakshmi
Their village here is now the base for all such like-minded people.

Lakshmi
As you are warriors fighting against god, just like us, I would be honored if you fought at our side!

  1. It's a deal!
 
  Select: It's a deal!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fooou, fou!

Da Vinci
I guess the Counter Force must've summoned you too.
Have you been here long?

Lakshmi
Yes. I'd say it's been at least ten days since I arrived.

Holmes
Then you must have been caught in the world's recreation a number of times. How did you survive?

Peperoncino
God or not, remaking this entire Lostbelt is a major undertaking.

Peperoncino
Arjuna wouldn't change how he goes about it just because a Servant's been added to the mix.

Peperoncino
So long as he doesn't think of you as unnecessary or defective, I expect he'd just bring you back along with all the other people.

Peperoncino
Ugh. It just galls me thinking how our very survival in this Lostbelt...

Peperoncino
...is completely dependent on his absurdly arbitrary standards.

Rama
It's natural for gods to be somewhat self-centered given their immense power, but Arjuna definitely takes it too far.

Peperoncino
Oh, speaking of which, you should know he's already got his eye on us.

Peperoncino
So if you join us, you're sure to wind up with the whole “evil” label, and you won't be able to survive the world being remade anymore.

Lakshmi
That's fine. It could only have been a matter of time before he took notice of me anyway.

Lakshmi
Besides, you have a way to evade the destruction, yes? So if it comes to that, I'll be counting on your help.

Mash
You mean the Border? Yes, of course you'd be welcome to join us in there. ...Wouldn't she?

Goredolf
The Border is the last bastion of hope for all of humanity. We can't just go letting any old Servant we meet on it.

Goredolf
...Er, under ordinary circumstances, anyway. But in this case, I suppose we do have a fair handle on her True Name and background.

Goredolf
And it would be a shame to lose a valuable ally so soon after finding one... Very well, I'll authorize your entry into the Border in case of emergency.

Lakshmi
...You have my gratitude.

Goredolf
Of course, ideally, I hope to be quite finished with this place long before he even uses that preposterous Noble Phantasm of his again.

Peperoncino
You said it, honey. Fortunately, he only ever does that at the end of the Kali Yuga.

Peperoncino
So it would be just peachy if we could put a stop to all this before then.

Ganesha
So, now that we've got a new ally and all...what's our next step?

Holmes
I've already got something in mind for that. There are risks involved, naturally, but the rewards should be significant.

Holmes
Now that we're in the middle of the first, relatively peaceful yuga, and especially now that we have more allies, this would seem to be the perfect time to investigate one thing in particular.

  1. What's that?
 
  Select: What's that?

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Hehehe. Remember that thing we've been wondering about ever since we came to this Lostbelt?

Da Vinci
It's the biggest, most mysterious thing here by far, and it's got to contain some useful information. Now, we want you guys to finally go and investigate it.

Mash
...God's Skyboulder!

Section 9: God's Skyboulder

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Mash
So you don't know what God's Skyboulder is either then, Lakshmi?

Lakshmi
No, I don't. It was there when I was first summoned here, and it hasn't changed at all in the time since.

Lakshmi
At least, I don't think it has. I haven't been watching it this whole time, so I can't say for certain.

Peperoncino
Well, I have been watching it this whole time,
so I can. It definitely never changed.

Rama
Since we haven't actually asked,
you don't know what it is either, correct?

Peperoncino
That's right. I just noticed there was a big, weird cube in this Lostbelt, and didn't think anything more of it.

Peperoncino
I mean, sure, I considered investigating it and getting rid of it in case it turned out to be something dangerous, since it is so bizarre and all...

Peperoncino
But I hadn't the slightest idea how to go about it,
so I decided to just keep an eye on the thing.

Peperoncino
(Not to mention Daybit told me I was better off leaving it alone.)

Peperoncino
(...Don't dismiss something before you've seen its true nature, huh. True, if I did, I'd be no better than Arjuna.)

Lakshmi
It was the same with me. I didn't know what it was,
so I couldn't do anything about it.

Lakshmi
I could see that giant tree and the cube no matter where I went, but I had more pressing matters to attend to.

Lakshmi
Rather than bother with something I knew nothing about, I figured my time would be better spent helping the people here who had been led astray by this unjust god.

Rama
That is very admirable of you. But are you sure it's okay to leave that village unattended?

Lakshmi
They should be fine during the early yugas.
Especially while there are barely any kali around.

Lakshmi
They have weapons now, even if they were hastily assembled, and I've taught them how to fight as best I can.

Lakshmi
They should be able to handle themselves in a pinch.
The only thing I'm worried about right now are the sacred–There.

Mash
It's another pack of sacred beasts, Master.
Let's hide and wait for them to pass again.

Ganesha
Hmm, it's not just sacred beasts.
There's something else there, next to the road.

Ganesha
Wait. Is that...a person?

Holmes
I'm not picking up any vital signs. I'm afraid it's a dead body. Perhaps they died of disease, or in an accident...

Rama
Why are you going over to it?

Lakshmi
Damn. We're too late...

Peperoncino
...

  1. The body's disappearing...!
 
  Select: The body's disappearing...!

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
So you didn't know then? That's one of this world's mistakes. The sacred beasts purify the bodies of anyone who happens to die unexpectedly.

Mash
...!

Lakshmi
My guess is the false god thinks dead bodies don't belong out in the world, and wants them gone as soon as possible.

Holmes
I see. So if this world were a single entity, the sacred beasts are the white blood cells of its immune system.

Holmes
Since we can assume this world's god would be the head, the sacred beasts must be its macrophages, created to detect, isolate, and remove any foreign elements...

Holmes
So then, does that mean the kali they fight are something like a virus? Most intriguing.

Lakshmi
...Whatever the case, people are people. When they die, they shouldn't just be cleaned up like trash.

Lakshmi
Their karma should determine what they become in their next life. At least, that's what my people believe.

Lakshmi
That's what a true Saṃsāra cycle is meant to be.

Lakshmi
We cremate dead bodies to free their souls, and ensure they go on to their next life without issue.

Lakshmi
But here...as long as the sacred beasts are around, nobody will be able to hold a proper cremation.

Lakshmi
If this world has no respect for the journey of the dead, and no hope for those who are left behind...

Lakshmi
...then it is nothing but a world of death.

Rama
So that's why you were concerned about the sacred beasts showing up in Dival.

Rama
Because one of your elderly had passed away.

Lakshmi
Right. He was an old man whose time had come.
There is nothing anyone could do about that...

Lakshmi
...but I didn't want the false god stealing our right to give him a proper farewell. You really helped us out there.

Ganesha
...They're finally leaving.

Holmes
If they haven't already spotted you,
then I would urge you to hold back for now.

Holmes
You're almost to God's Skyboulder, and I would very much prefer to avoid making a commotion wherever possible.

Lakshmi
I know. I would have stopped them if I had found the body first, but as things stand now, my only choice is to let them go...

Mash
We should be okay now. I'm certain the sacred beasts can't detect us from this far away.

Lakshmi
Good. I'm glad I didn't have to sneeze while we were hiding. Let's go.

Mash
(Wow. I knew she was cool and collected, but I didn't know she also had such a charming sense of humor...)

Peperoncino
My, my, seeing it this close up really makes you realize just how big it actually is, doesn't it?

Peperoncino
Ooh, I've got an idea. Why don't we take a little group photo to commemorate the occasion?

  1. Pepeee!
  2. Look behind you! Behind you!
  Select: Pepeee!

  Select: Look behind you! Behind you!

===Branch End===

Rama
Was that a joke, or were you just trying to avoid facing the reality of our situation? Either way, it wasn't funny.

Ganesha
If you want a pic, go ahead and take all the selfies you want. Just don't come running to me if the whole thing turns into a jump scare.

Fou
Fou fou, fooou!

Peperoncino
Aww, you guys are no fun.
I was just trying to lighten the mood a little.

Da Vinci
So, um... These numbers we're seeing are accurate, right? Our sensors aren't on the fritz or anything, right?

Mash
That's right. We made it to the area near the cube without a problem, but...

Rama
Where did all these kali come from!? I thought there were barely supposed to be any during the Kṛta Yuga!?

Lakshmi
I think it's the place, not the time.

Lakshmi
They're showing up as though they've just been here all along, rather than coming from somewhere else.

Mash
Be that as it may, the sheer number of them is almost absurd.

Mash
There are as many here as there were during the Kali Yuga... Maybe even more!

Ganesha
Hey, I've got an idea!
Why don't we just run away! Seriously!

Lakshmi
You have a point. We can't investigate the cube with all these kali around. Annoying, since we just got here.

Lakshmi
If they surround us, we'll have nowhere to go.

Holmes
True, we can only take so many risks when it comes to safety. And there's certainly nothing to be gained by attempting to complete an impossible goal.

  1. Guess we don't have any other choice...
  2. We're getting out of here! Now!
  Select: Guess we don't have any other choice...

  Select: We're getting out of here! Now!

===Branch End===

Mash
Understood! We'll break through the kali behind us and make a run for it! Awaiting your orders, Master!

--BATTLE--

Ganesha
(Huff, huff) Okay, I think that's enough distance between us and them.

Holmes
I never imagined there would be that many kali gathered there.

Holmes
I expected it might be dangerous, but with numbers like that, adding one more to our ranks still won't be enough to fend them off.

Lakshmi
You don't have to rub it in. I wish my Noble Phantasm were capable of blasting them all away at once, too.

Holmes
My apologies; I assure you I was not speaking sarcastically. I was merely reflecting on my failure to foresee a situation like this.

Lakshmi
I see. That's all ri–No, I'm sorry.
I was being oversensitive.

Lakshmi
...While we're on the subject, this seems a good chance to tell you this. Naturally, I will do everything in my power to accomplish our mutual goal. I have no intention of holding back.

Lakshmi
But I should warn you, for your own safety, you shouldn't expect me to come through when it really counts.

Lakshmi
I have never truly been able to accomplish the things I most wish to do. That is just my lot in life.

Holmes
(Well that's a strange opinion to have of oneself. Perhaps her failure to defend her country in life had a traumatic effect on her?)

Holmes
...Be that as it may, there is no doubt whatsoever that you are far more useful in combat than a detective in a remote location.

Holmes
So I hope you will continue to lend {(M) Mr. /(F) Ms.} Fujimaru your aid.

Lakshmi
Of course I will.
I would be pleased if you trusted me on that much.

Mash
At any rate, there really were a ridiculous number of kali there. Lends the impression that it may be even more important to this Lostbelt than we thought.

Rama
Indeed. It was as though those kali were there solely to guard the Skyboulder.

Rama
The fact that we can no longer see them after putting just a little distance between us and the Skyboulder would only seem to confirm that.

Rama
I wonder what this could mean...

Peperoncino
...

Da Vinci
For that matter, we still don't know what those kali demons actually are.

Da Vinci
I'm guessing Holmes is probably right in that they're like a virus infecting this world, in opposition of the sacred beasts...

Da Vinci
...but still, we have not the slightest idea what they are, where they come from, or where they go...

Peperoncino
I don't know either, but I can say they're not any ordinary kind of creature.

Peperoncino
Given that they stick around even after the world is remade, maybe Arjuna uses them as a means to determine who is worth preserving...

Peperoncino
...or maybe they just remain here out of necessity.

Peperoncino
If it's the latter, that would mean they're a crucial part of the stage Arjuna uses to run this world.

Peperoncino
So, if we defeat him...maybe they'll all just go poof?

  1. I guess this means we've just got to figure out what to do about Arjuna...
 
  Select: I guess this means we've just got to figure out what to do about Arjuna...

===Branch End===

Holmes
At least we now know that God's Skyboulder is protected by vast numbers of kali, and can't be approached lightly.

Holmes
It may not be much, but it is more than we knew before.

Holmes
In the meantime, I suggest we return to Dival and plot our next course of action.

Section 10: God's Commander

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Inner Monologue
Anger. Fury. Rage is all I've got.

Aśvatthāman
Goddamn bastard...

Inner Monologue
Servant memories are weird. It doesn't matter if they're from before your current body's age, or after.

Inner Monologue
Everything that ever happened to you while you were alive comes flooding into your head all at once.

Inner Monologue
They're simultaneously your own memories, and the recollections of a complete stranger. Facts you know to be true, and lies no more real than a dream.

Inner Monologue
...I think that's why I remember–why I know what I once did.

Inner Monologue
I remember the end of the war, when I heard that Dhrishtadyumna's cowardly plot had succeeded, that my father had been killed.

Inner Monologue
I remember when I heard that Bhima had cheated to inflict a fatal wound on Duryodhana, the oldest of the hundred Kaurava princes.

Inner Monologue
Everything inside of me vowed then that I would make them pay.

Inner Monologue
I swore I would exact revenge on them by any means necessary.

Inner Monologue
So I chose to sneak in under the cover of night and murder all of my enemies in their sleep.

Inner Monologue
You think that cowardly? Criminal? An affront to all that is good and just? I don't care. I don't care! I don't care!!!

Inner Monologue
I was so angry I didn't care about anything else. I think that's when I threw away everything in me besides fury.

Inner Monologue
I let my fury swallow me whole until I was nothing more than a beast...a vessel of pure rage.

Inner Monologue
To put it another way...that was the moment when Aśvatthāman became no more than anger incarnate.

Inner Monologue
So of course, the peaceful scenery of the Kṛta Yuga only infuriates him. The sweet scent of pollen, the sun's gentle rays, the birds' happy chirping...his only response to it all is to grow ever more enraged.

Inner Monologue
Everything he sees, and doesn't see, makes him angry. But the things that anger him most...are those he sees both constantly, and never.

Inner Monologue
He is always angry. Always.

???
There we go. That takes care of the lost, out-of-season kali. Guess you can't even go through the Kṛta Yuga without running into at least one.

???
You know, there were always some dumb beasts up in the mountains who'd forget to hibernate for the winter, too.

???
I'd always hunt 'em whenever I happened to see one. There's no telling what sort of trouble a dumb beast could get up to.

???
Clearing away otherwise unfair or impossible obstacles is just part of the job.

Child
Th-thank you for saving me, god!

Child
It showed up so suddenly, and I haven't been praying since it's still Kṛta Yuga...

???
Ah, don't worry about it. And I'm not a god.
Just a hired hand.

Child
...?

???
Oh, sorry, you don't have to worry about that, either. Anyway, you did great holding it together. I'm proud of you.

Child
(O-oh man! I can't believe a god is patting my head!)

Child
Are you a god too!?

Nezha
Admonishment: You are late for the meeting.
I had no choice but to come get you.

???
Whoops, is it that time already? Sorry 'bout that.
Well, see you later, son.

Child
Oh, uh, bye! Thank you again!

Nezha
...Do you like kids?

???
...Who can say?

???
Hey, sorry I'm late.

Nezha
I cannot believe you made me carry you with my Wind Fire Wheels.

???
Hehe, well I had a great time.
Thanks for the thrill ride.

???
'Course, a lot of those thrills were more chills at the idea of showing up here late.

???
I'm just a regular guy. I'm not nearly important enough to keep a mythological hero waiting, let alone a god.

Nezha
Advice: There is no point saying what you do not mean. Besides, you're something of a mythological hero yourself now.

???
Anyway, I hate to steal the spotlight after showing up late to the party, but I got something to discuss.

???
Hmm. I was hoping Aśvatthāman could help with this,
but I guess he's not here?

Nezha
Answer: I cannot predict his actions. Our Master allows him to act freely. Thus, I have no intention of picking him up.

???
Guess I'll just have to talk to you guys about this then, if that's all right with you.

???
Anyway, I just noticed a little while ago that there's fewer sacred beasts in my area than there's supposed to be.

Nezha
Query: You think it is them?

???
Probably. I'm guessing they have a way of surviving the big guy's Noble Phantasm.

???
Don't you find it interesting,
seeing how you overcame death yourself?

???
What? Don't be ridiculous. That's just reconstruction. It has nothing to do with the concept of death. I couldn't care less about it.

???
So no, I don't find it interesting. Besides, I'm sure that guy there already knew. He just didn't say anything.

Limbo
Hehehehe? Well, yes, that's true.

Limbo
It is almost certainly the case that they managed to escape to a safe zone.

Limbo
But regardless, the fact remains that interlopers who would interfere with the god's sandbox–I mean, his beautiful reign–have survived.

Limbo
That strikes me as a grave problem.
A very grave problem indeed, no?

God Arjuna
...

Limbo
There! As you can see, he agrees with me quite vehemently!

Limbo
Indeed, as Lōkapāla whom he personally embedded with Divinities...

Limbo
...surely you understand that much without the likes of me spelling it out, no?

Limbo
Now then, what do you plan to do about this?

???
Well, I'd just been planning to point Aśvatthāman in that direction and let him go nuts.

???
But if he's not here, he must be off on another job.

Limbo
Yes, that he is. I believe he's dealing with a little...unfinished business on our end...

???
Hmm. Guess that means we'll just have to take care of this ourselves then.

Nezha
Proposal: I will go.

Nezha
Not only do I have time to address the issue,
but I also let them escape once. I will finish this.

???
Want some help?

Nezha
No need.

???
Great. Less work for me.

???
Just to be perfectly clear, I'm not going either.
I've got plenty keeping me busy.

Nezha
Response: I never expected you to come. Departing now.
...Wind Fire Wheels!

Limbo
Mmm, what a go-getter she is! How wonderful!

Limbo
What a pleasure to see such world-class mobility in person! I'm sure you won't let us down, Kubēra, Regent of the North!

Nezha
(...I finally have another chance. I have changed since then. Resolution: I will not let them get away this time!)

Goredolf
Damn, so we can't even get close to God's Skyboulder.
And here I thought this would be our big breakthrough.

Goredolf
I was hoping we would find a way to take Arjuna down there. So much for that.

Ganesha
I knew it. I knew this wasn't gonna work out.

Ganesha
It never fails. On the rare occasion I ever try to actually put a little effort into something...

Ganesha
...I just end up getting reminded of what a failure I am.

Ganesha
That's pretty much me in a nutshell. Waste of space.

Mash
It's not your fault it didn't work out, Ganesha.
None of us expected there to be that many kali there.

Peperoncino
Exactly. Moping won't do you any good, hon.
Let's try to stay positive, 'kay?

  1. I agree.
  2. There are limits to that.
  Select: I agree.

  Select: There are limits to that.
Peperoncino
And getting past those limits is what separates the children from the grown-ups.
Peperoncino
It's like remembering to be grateful for the things you already have. That's a pretty important ability in my book.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fo fooou.

Lakshmi
For my part, I was essentially fighting this battle alone until all of you came along.

Lakshmi
Now there's a chance, even if it's just a small one, for us to go on the offensive. I think that's progress in itself.

Lakshmi
Why don't we rest up for a while?
Maybe that will help a good idea come to us.

Woman
Lady Lakshmi! Welcome back!

Lakshmi
Thanks for standing guard. Anything to note?

Woman
No, everything's been the same as usual here.

Mash
I see you're all armed here, unlike Ajai and the other people in Bichu.

Mash
I guess those rumors about you fighting the kali off instead of just praying were true.

Woman
You must be Lady Lakshmi's companions.

Woman
Yes, that's right. I'm afraid Lady Lakshmi had to explain it to us many times before we understood, but eventually...

Woman
...we realized that there's something strange about this world. That we didn't like it here.

Rama
This has been the way things are for as long as you've known. I'm sure it wasn't easy to see them differently.

Woman
...I think I once had someone I loved more than anything. But I can't even remember their name, or their face.

Mash
...!

Peperoncino
Whoever it was must have been killed by a kali in a past yuga...

Peperoncino
Anyone who Arjuna considers defective, unnecessary, or evil disappears when a new yuga begins, as if they never even existed.

Peperoncino
But it makes sense that it would be exceptionally complex to adjust every single parameter in the world that pertained to the people who disappear.

Peperoncino
I guess not even Arjuna can completely erase their remnants...the holes they leave behind in the hearts of the people who cared for them...

Woman
Some of us realized they lost someone when they saw the gifts their loved one gave them in their homes.

Woman
At first, it only feels like something is vaguely off, but in time, you start to remember them more clearly... Especially if they left behind any letters, which some did.

Peperoncino
Oh my. That's surprisingly careless of him, leaving behind so many physical records like that. Although...

Peperoncino
(...Maybe Koyanskaya is the one behind sadistically cruel touches like that. I certainly wouldn't put it past her.)

Ganesha
Man...only being able to half-remember someone you cared about sounds rough.

Ganesha
That is...way worse than Asha just forgetting about her dog.

Woman
Yes. It's painful, not being able to remember someone who once meant so much to you...unbearably so.

Woman
That's why I decided to fight back. I think everyone else in our village more or less feels the same.

Woman
Lady Lakshmi is the one who taught us how to fight.
Any friends of hers are friends of ours.

Woman
Please, come inside.
We don't have much, but you're welcome to–

Holmes
I appreciate the kind offer, but it's better if we stay out of your village for now.

Rama
Indeed... Oh, don't misunderstand.
We're very happy to accept your invitation.

Rama
But we can't very well bring along another guest who was definitely not invited!

Nezha
Update: Targets spotted.

  1. ...Nezha!
 
  Select: ...Nezha!

===Branch End===

Nezha
Warning: Do not call me that.

Nezha
You may know another Nezha, but I am not her.

Da Vinci
Yeah... She's right. That isn't the Nezha you know, or the one we came here with.

Da Vinci
She's still Crown Prince Nezha, Marshal of the Central Altar...but this one serves Arjuna as one of his Lōkapāla!

Lakshmi
So that is one of the false god's servants.

Lakshmi
The rumors I've heard say they like to brag about how he's shared his divine power with them...

Nezha
Affirmation: Yes, he has given each of us one of his many Divinities. If he is a false god, then so are we.

Nezha
Conclusion: That is all I need to know. If you would refuse to obey his laws, then I cannot stand idly by.

Nezha
Assertion: Divine punishment is required here!

  1. I guess we can't talk this out then...!
 
  Select: I guess we can't talk this out then...!

===Branch End===

Goredolf
All right, Peperoncino, this is your time to shine! You said she ran off to pursue you back at the mountain where we found Ganesha, yes!?

Goredolf
Then your job is to draw her attention away from us once more!

Peperoncino
I'm preeetty sure that's not gonna work now. Last time she didn't see you guys as a threat! I don't think that's the case anymore!

Nezha
Affirmation: That man is no longer my sole target.

Nezha
You are now all equally high priority targets.
I will not let any of you escape.

Peperoncino
See?

Mash
But why?

Mash
Even if you are a different aspect of her that was summoned, or were embedded with a Divinity...you're still Nezha, aren't you?

Mash
And the Nezha we knew always had a strong sense of justice.

Mash
In this world...the only measure of something's value is whether god deems it worthy or not.

Mash
He's the sole arbiter of what should and should not be.

Mash
I think that's inherently unjust... It disparages the value in feelings, memories, life, and death alike.

Mash
So then... How can you...!?

Peperoncino
(Oh my... That was certainly heartfelt.
She really has learned how to express her anger.)

Peperoncino
(You are a product of mankind's arrogance and rationalism, so while I'm glad to see such emotion from you, it makes me a bit nervous.)

Peperoncino
(Your innocence was your greatest source of strength.
Once that's gone...what will you have gained instead?)

Mash
Nezha, please tell me something.
What do you think of this world?

Nezha
...

Nezha
Answer unnecessary.
Commencing attack!

  1. We're not going to go down without a fight!
  2. Get ready to fight back!
  Select: We're not going to go down without a fight!

  Select: Get ready to fight back!

===Branch End===

Rama
You've got it, Master!

Lakshmi
I can't let you return to your false god now that you know about our village. Prepare to die.

Ganesha
You do realize saying stuff like that totally makes you sound evil, right?

Ganesha
Anyway, Nezha's a figure in Journey to the West and The Investiture of the Gods, right? I think some people also call her “Nazha”?

Ganesha
Oh man, I can't believe I'm up against someone so famous... Th-then again, I guess Ganesha's right up there too, huh.

Ganesha
All right, fine...
I'll just put in a picoeffort, like usual!

  1. Picoeffort?
 
  Select: Picoeffort?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
It's a word I came up with! It means my unusual willingness to try, my usual hopelessness, my wish to avoid responsibility...

Ganesha
It's basically all sorts of feelings rolled up into one big old mess, okay!? Get with it!

--BATTLE--

Goredolf
How can she have so many Noble Phantasms!?
What's going on here!?

Da Vinci
I don't think those are Noble Phantasms. They're probably Baobei depicted in The Investiture of the Gods. So I can understand why she has them...

Da Vinci
...but the Nezha we know has never exhibited this kind of fighting ability. There's something else going on here.

Holmes
She did say that Arjuna shared one of his Divinities with her. I suspect the key lies there.

Holmes
This is no natural Divine Spirit amalgamation, like we've seen with Sitonai. This is a case of divine elements simply being fused into an existing being.

Holmes
As difficult as it may be to believe...

Holmes
...if one of Arjuna's Divinities is truly able to coexist with a Servant's Spirit Origin...

Holmes
...that would indeed explain this remarkable increase in her power and abilities.

Peperoncino
Assuming he gave her one of the Lōkapāla regents tasked with defending different directions, I'd say Kubēra's probably at the top of the list of possibilities.

Peperoncino
Kubēra's the god of wealth and treasure, so that would explain why she has such an abundance of power now.

  1. Kubēra...
  2. I've never heard that name before...
  Select: Kubēra...

  Select: I've never heard that name before...

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Not well known in your neck of the woods, huh?
Trust me, he's a very important god in India.

Peperoncino
There are all sorts of stories about him, but they all agree that he was the guardian of the north.

Peperoncino
He was also known as Dānapati, the Lord of Wealth,
and as Vaisravana, son of Vishrava...

Peperoncino
Though in Japan, he might be better known as Tamonten or Bishamonten.

Rama
Kubēra... I think he was Ravana's half brother. As I recall, he battled Ravana, only to lose both the fight and control over the island of Lanka.

Rama
And in that case, he has some connection to me as well...or rather, to Sita.

Peperoncino
Also... Ohh, maybe that's why he's such a good match for Nezh–

Nezha
Request: Shut up! There is no need to explain.
We are here to fight.

Nezha
...Still, I will tell you one thing. The Divinity of the god of wealth does reside within me.

Nezha
Declaration: Therefore...therefore this can only end in defeat!

Ganesha
Oh cripes, another OP item!? No fair! She's decked out in legendary gear, and I'm still in my starting equipment!

Peperoncino
(...Gods have immense power far beyond ordinary beings. That's what makes them gods.)

Peperoncino
(If this Nezha really has been given a Divinity, it would definitely explain how she got so absurdly strong...)

Peperoncino
(...but it's so sad, I can barely stand to watch...)

--BATTLE--

Mash
You've noticed too, haven't you, Master?
That fight was clearly...

  1. Nezha... Why...?
 
  Select: Nezha... Why...?

===Branch End===

Nezha
...

Lakshmi
That was an incredible display of wealth and fortune.
It almost makes me envy you. But...

Peperoncino
You took it too far. Even with all your abundance, you were spending it faster than you could replenish it.

Ganesha
You know, I thought the way you were burning through your items seemed familiar... You were doing it on purpose.

Rama
You went out of your way to use more of your power than necessary. You made sure to use so much that not even the god of wealth could recover from the loss.

Rama
Why?

Nezha
Kubēra is the god linked to my father.

Mash
Huh?

Peperoncino
In China, Crown Prince Nezha's father is known as Tuō Tǎ Lǐ Tiān Wáng, aka Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li, aka Li Jing.

Peperoncino
And in Japan, Li Jing is considered to be the same as the figures I mentioned before, Tamonten and Bishamonten.

Peperoncino
There's a lot of cross-pollination between Taoist lore and Buddhist myth when it comes to gods like these, so it can be difficult to make sense of...

Peperoncino
But the long and short of it is, we can be pretty sure that Li Jing and the Hindu god Kubēra are one and the same.

Nezha
And I, of course, have a connection to my father.

Nezha
Confusion: There is something inside the jewel I hold in my chest. I do not know what to call these feelings I hold towards my father.

  1. What does all that mean...?
 
  Select: What does all that mean...?

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
The details are a little different between Journey to the West and The Investiture of the Gods...

Da Vinci
...but basically, Nezha was born with tremendous power, and wrecked a lot of things even as a baby.

Da Vinci
Her father acted in anger and fear,
and Nezha lost her body as a result.

Da Vinci
She was later reborn into a new being thanks to the Buddha and Taiyi Zhenren.

Da Vinci
Well, the real story might be more complicated than that, but that's an accurate picture of the central relationships.

Da Vinci
Plus, they say Nezha's father is still afraid of her power, so...

Nezha
I am Crown Prince Nezha, Marshal of the Central Altar.
I am not Li Jing.

Nezha
It is therefore impossible for me to tell what I think and feel now that both beings have been combined within me.

Nezha
But, I can be certain about this:

Nezha
It is not right for Li Jing to exist inside Nezha.
It is utterly preposterous!

Nezha
Truth: Such a being can never be me!
Truth: That is not how I am meant to function!

Rama
That's why you burned yourself out!
You couldn't accept what you've become!

Ganesha
But why take such a...well, roundabout approach to suicide?

Lakshmi
Good point. If you wished to end your life, you could have done so any other number of ways. For example...

Lakshmi
...you could have fought back against the god who made you that way with all of your might. Since he trusted you enough to bestow you with power, you should have had plenty of chances to attack him if you chose.

Nezha
I considered that, of course, but deemed it impossible. His divine power is just too great...

Nezha
And if I lost, he might decide to erase my consciousness for being defective.

Nezha
Then I would truly become nothing more than a puppet with Nezha's body and Kubēra's power.

Nezha
Conclusion: That would be a fate worse than death!

Da Vinci
Hmm. If you ended up as a Berserker thanks to that violent side of you being the most prevalent in your manifestation...

Da Vinci
...that would probably also mean that your feelings about your father are stronger and fresher than the usual Nezha.

Da Vinci
Which would explain why you just didn't want to deal with it...

Nezha
Yes. I tried not to think about it at first. I buried my feelings deep down and did my best to forget them.

Nezha
But then...I saw her.

Mash
...Our Nezha.

Nezha
The moment I saw her...it felt like I had been cursed.

Nezha
I was overcome with rage, and hatred, and envy... So much so that I couldn't stop myself from destroying her.

Nezha
I could not stand the idea of another me...a truer me, being out there.

Nezha
I could not accept it.
But, destroying her did nothing to lift my curse.

Nezha
I could no longer ignore my incompleteness.
I could no longer stand how ugly I was.

Nezha
That's why I did this...

Nezha
Elaboration: It was not you who destroyed me.

Nezha
I destroyed me.

Mash
I can't say I approve of what you did...but I can understand it.

Nezha
...That is fine.

Nezha
If nothing else, I was able to avoid the worst possible outcome. For that, I thank you.

Nezha
...But...I will not apologize.
The one to whom I should apologize is no longer here.

Nezha
Defects should just disappear.
For the first time, I understand that logic.

Nezha
The defective Nezha mixed with her father will disappear. That is how it should be. Salvation: I will not return in the next yuga.

Woman
You... You're a servant of that god!
You have no right to say that!

Woman
My lover is gone now. How dare you say they were defective? How dare you say they deserved to disappear!?

Nezha
Apology: I have no way of knowing that.
All I am saying is...

Nezha
...for those of us ashamed of our defectiveness, getting to disappear can be a kind of salvation.

Da Vinci
Hang on! If you're really grateful to us,
then give us some info before you disappear!

Da Vinci
It can be about anything! Arjuna, the other Lōkapāla... Oh, we want to know about God's Skyboulder too!

Nezha
That giant cube?
Truth: Unknown.

Nezha
I know nothing about it either.
Nor do I know who might know something.

Da Vinci
Damn. I was afraid you'd say something like that.

Nezha
The Lōkapāla are Servants that he has bestowed with Divinities. If you defeat them, those Divinities should disperse, like mine is.

Da Vinci
So we can whittle down their forces by taking them out, huh? That's definitely good to know.

Da Vinci
Whenever we inevitably face off with Arjuna, not having to also fight three Servants with godly power at the same time will be a huge help.

Mash
Can you tell us anything about the other Lōkapāla?

Nezha
Answer: Aśvatthāman is a special case. He goes around on his own, fighting battles in place of Arjuna.

Nezha
The others watch over different regions. They sometimes assemble under Arjuna's orders, but in general, they keep to their assigned area.

Nezha
There are only three Lōkapāla, so each one covers a wide swath of land. I do not know what happened to the gods who were originally meant to guard the different directions.

Peperoncino
There are supposed to be eight Lōkapāla, one for each cardinal direction. I wonder if their Divinities are still inside Arjuna because he doesn't need them...

Peperoncino
What do all of you Lōkapāla do, exactly?
And which directions do you oversee?

Nezha
Answer: We watch over people, guard against revolt,
and take care of the sacred beasts.

Nezha
My territory stretches over everything from the north to the southeast.

Nezha
The old man handles everything from the north to the southwest...

Nezha
...and the young man handles everything from the southeast to the southwest.

Nezha
The old man is William Tell, an Archer,
and the young man is Asclepius, a Caster.

--ARROW--

  1. William Tell...!
  2. Asclepius...!
  Select: William Tell...!
Da Vinci
Sweet! We got his True Name!
Da Vinci
Times may have changed, but he's still one of the most famous Archers in history. Maybe we should look for a few apples he can shoot off your head?
Holmes
As a rule, Servants are usually summoned in their prime.
Holmes
So his middle-aged appearance must be because that time in his life is when his skills were at their peak.
Mash
And then there's Asclepius...
That must be the Servant in the hood.
Da Vinci
He was one of the Greek heroes who sailed on the Argo. He's known as the father of medicine, and he's still worshipped in some circles today.

  Select: Asclepius...!
Da Vinci
Sweet! We got his True Name!
Da Vinci
Asclepius is a hero known for being one of the Argonauts, and for founding medicine as we know it today.
Da Vinci
It's too bad Atalante's not here;
she might have been able to tell us more about him.
Holmes
And then there's William Tell...one of the most famous hunters in the world. So that's who the elderly man is.
Holmes
As a rule, Servants are usually summoned in their prime.
Holmes
So his middle-aged appearance must be because that time in his life is when his skills were at their peak.

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Interestingly, neither of these Heroic Spirits have any connection to India whatsoever.

Da Vinci
But now, they've been given the Divinity and power of Indian gods... I wonder what effect that's had on their abilities.

Nezha
Answer: Unknown. I never paid much attention to their abilities. I did not need to.

Nezha
Oh...
Report: I have reached my limit.

Nezha
Outsider... No, Master of Chaldea.

Nezha
Maybe we will meet again someday.

Nezha
And if we do...

Nezha
...let it not be this defective version of me.
I hope it will be that other, pure me...

Rama
Just because a Servant is given divine power, that doesn't necessarily mean they will see it as a good thing.

Rama
If anything, it was that power that made her see herself as defective...

Mash
...Yes. Even Servants are no exception.

Mash
Knowing what you need, what you don't,
what to keep, what to discard...

Mash
I think everyone has to decide those things for themselves, because no two people are exactly alike.

Mash
It's no one else's place to unilaterally choose them for you. Not even a god...

Woman
...

Lakshmi
You had every right to say what you did to that Lōkapāla.

Lakshmi
I can more than understand your anger at someone desiring to cut themselves off from this world after they've been going around doing the same to others.

Lakshmi
All I'm saying is that the ones serving the god have their reasons as well.

Lakshmi
As that girl there just said, it's not right for a single entity, even a god, to make decisions for the entire world.

Woman
Yes... You're right. Besides, the important thing is that you and your comrades succeeded at defeating one of the Lōkapāla.

Woman
This is cause for celebration.
I'll go tell the others!

Goredolf
Wahahaha! Not only did you defeat one of the Lōkapāla, you even learned the True Names of the other two Servants!

Goredolf
This is a most welcome turn of events,
Fujimaru! It feels like... Like...

Goredolf
Like the car infuriatingly blocking our way moved aside, and we finally got to floor it and leave them in the dust!

Goredolf
Now we just have to keep up our momentum all the way to the finish line!

Ganesha
Uh, you're not really much good at gauging the mood, are you? We're not exactly celebrating here...

Ganesha
No, wait. My god power's telling me what's really going on here.

Ganesha
You did gauge the mood here, and just ignored it... NEETs like me aren't too good at that sort of social stuff.

Ganesha
Though I guess you could also call it a pretty minor skill.

Goredolf
Would you mind not psychoanalyzing me right where I can hear you!? Especially when you're going to be so spot-on!

Goredolf
As the Commander, I merely offered my assessment of the present situation...

Rama
A Servant doesn't get to choose who summons them.
While this was very unfortunate for Nezha, it worked out for us.

Rama
If she hadn't purposely worn herself down, I don't think we could have avoided taking some heavy losses.

Mash
I agree. It doesn't feel like we won so much as she let us win.

Peperoncino
Nezha was a special case, since she just happened to have a special connection to the Indian Divinity she was given.

Peperoncino
I don't think we can count on anything similar happening with the Lōkapāla who don't have any ties to India.

Mash
...

Rama
Agreed. Aśvatthāman was a significant threat,
even when we were only trying to get away.

Rama
His regenerative abilities and his immortality were both on a scale I've rarely seen.

Rama
As for the other Servants...

Rama
...we should assume they're at least as powerful as Nezha would have been if she'd made better use of Kubēra's power, if not more so.

  1. Yeah. The next one we face might not be this easy.
  2. Ah, we'll figure something out!
  Select: Yeah. The next one we face might not be this easy.
Rama
Exactly, Master.
I'll make sure to remain on my guard!

  Select: Ah, we'll figure something out!
Ganesha
That's it!? I can't tell if you're deliberately trying to stay positive, or just a hopeless optimist.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Still, if nothing else, at least we've made a bit of progress.

Lakshmi
Eliminating one of the Divinities under Arjuna's control is a victory no matter how you look at it.

Lakshmi
Though of course, it's still too early to say how much value or significance this victory portends...

Rama
Actually, now that you mention it...I think I do feel a little lighter.

Rama
That indescribable pressure we've felt hindering us in this world...

Rama
That strange feeling that something is off, that's been preventing us from finding our footing...

Rama
It feels like it's not quite as bad now.

Holmes
Hmm. It seems safe to assume that eliminating one of the Lōkapāla has improved the state of the world somehow.

Holmes
Needless to say, if we're going to defeat Arjuna, we'll need to reduce his overwhelming power and find a way to draw out more of our own.

Holmes
If eliminating Lōkapāla can achieve both at once,
that would truly be killing two birds with one stone.

Da Vinci
Forget birds or stones. At this point, that looks to be our only possible path to victory, period.

Da Vinci
So I guess we'll just have to make our way down it a little bit at a time. Journey of a thousand miles and all that.

Da Vinci
In other words, our next course of action is to try and take out all the other Lōkapāla.

Da Vinci
And luckily, we now know where we can probably find them.

Da Vinci
Sure, they may just be very general directions, but it's still better than having no lead at all. Plus, I bet the towns and villages in those areas will know something.

  1. No objections here.
  2. Sounds good to me.
  Select: No objections here.

  Select: Sounds good to me.

===Branch End===

Holmes
According to Nezha, Aśvatthāman moves around freely on his own, so going after him won't be an option.

Holmes
So the question is, who do we pursue first?
William Tell, or Asclepius?

Goredolf
Hmph, that's a no-brainer.
The Archer is clearly the higher priority target.

Da Vinci
Oh? Why's that?

Goredolf
Isn't it obvious? We can't have him sniping Fujimaru, now can we!?

Goredolf
{(M) He's /(F) She's} the cornerstone of our whole operation here, after all.

Goredolf
I may be personally blessed by the goddess of fortune,
but Fujimaru there is the one holding the key to our victory.

Goredolf
Therefore, we should take out the Archer first,
to eliminate the risk of Fujimaru being taken out at a distance and ensure {(M) his /(F) her} safety.

Holmes
I understand how you feel, but I'm not certain the choice is so clear-cut.

Holmes
We shouldn't let our king rush headlong into danger just because we're wary of their rook.

Goredolf
Nnn... Nnnnnn... No, no, I understand.
It's a question of who has the greater advantage.

Goredolf
The fact is, we currently have no Servants who excel at mid to long-range combat.

Goredolf
Every member in our current lineup is a close to midrange fighter.

Goredolf
If we were to go after the Archer first, we could end up struggling to pin him down, only to have him really throw a wrench in the works by calling in reinforcements.

Holmes
Agreed, that is a distinct possibility.

Goredolf
Casters, on the other hand, tend to be excellent mages,
but they're certainly not known for their prowess in battle.

Goredolf
Being an excellent mage doesn't automatically make you an excellent warrior, after all.

Goredolf
No, most Casters fight by laying cunning traps and collecting information outside of battle to stack the deck in their favor.

Goredolf
So in a head-to-head brawl, they're likely to fall one step behind compared to an Archer. If we can drag them into such a brawl, we should have a good chance of defeating them.

Goredolf
Essentially, our goal would be to reduce the enemy's forces by going after the weaker opponent first.

Holmes
That would leave the Archer's threat looming over us, but that has been no less true all this time.

Holmes
I believe we can minimize the risks by taking measures against any attempts at sniping and eliminating the Caster as quickly as possible.

Goredolf
Then it's settled. We'll go after the Caster first.

Ganesha
I can't believe it.

Goredolf
Wh-what can't you believe?
As a fellow chubster, I demand an explanation!

Ganesha
Hey! I'll have you know that I only have all this extra weight out of respect for Ganesha!

Ganesha
Anyway, I was just surprised that you were acting like a decent commander for once!

Ganesha
You really do know the differences between Servant classes, don't you, Gotchy?

Goredolf
(Gotchy...? Does that mean she thinks I'm like Karl Gotch, the undisputed god of pro wrestling...?)

Goredolf
Heh. That's a rather elegant nickname you've come up with there, young lady. That, I appreciate.

Goredolf
But to be clear, I've been studying this sort of thing ever since I knew was going to be the next director of Chaldea.

Goredolf
After all, it would be quite the farce if Chaldea's top brass didn't know the first thing about its crucial Heroic Spirit summoning system.

Goredolf
Isn't that right, Kyrielight?

Mash
Yes, Director. I know you've been studying diligently every day since we left Russia.

Goredolf
What!? No, no, I've known these things all along!
I'm nothing if not a capable commander, after all!

Goredolf
Er, regardless, I now easily know just as much as a newly minted Master.

Goredolf
Furthermore, I've also taken another look at Fujimaru's reports.

Goredolf
By this point, I can quickly calculate each class's traits, the cost of summoning a given Servant, and the amount of strain placed on the nervous system by the Mystic Code...

Goredolf
...with just one hand and a common pocket calculator.

Goredolf
Incidentally, Fujimaru, you'll be getting hungry in about three hours, so make sure you have some rations ready to go.

Mash
(He's even calculated the rate Master burns calories...!)

Peperoncino
Yes, yes, very impressive.
Now, can we get back on track?

Peperoncino
So, we'll be going after Asclepius first. Nezha said he's in charge of the south, but how do we go about finding him?

Lakshmi
I am told there's a town in the south. If his job includes keeping an eye on the people in his region, there's a strong chance he'll show up there.

Da Vinci
In that case, we should be able to ask someone in this village where to find it. Okay, sounds like a plan to me.

Goredolf
Good! All right, Fujimaru, your next mission is to head south, find the Caster Asclepius, and defeat him!

Da Vinci
Oh, and don't worry.

Da Vinci
Yours truly, the beautiful Ms. Da Vinci, will be holding an extensive lecture on Greek heroes to give you something to listen to on the way!

Section 11: Treta Yuga/Asclepius, the God of Medicine

Show/Hide Story Chapter

God Arjuna
...

Limbo
Oh? My, my... It would seem Kubēra has vanished.

Tell
Well damn, now I feel bad for pawning my job off on her.

Asclepius
Don't be stupid. She ran off on her own.
You didn't ask her to go.

Asclepius
Also, if you're going to bother saying that sort of thing, then you could at least pretend you mean it. You don't look the least bit sorry.

Tell
Yeah? Dunno what to tell you then.
I'm really broken up over here.

Limbo
Mmm... This won't do. This won't do at all.

Limbo
I could tell Crown Prince Nezha was up to something...but she was still one of the hands of god.

Limbo
The fact that she's gone now is–

God Arjuna
There is...no...problem...

God Arjuna
The gods' power...is infinite. Even if...one is shattered...I remain...limitless...

Limbo
Indeed, indeed. Of that, I have no doubt whatsoever. But you must agree that it is...inconvenient to have one fewer pawn to serve you, yes?

Limbo
Is that not why you summoned the other Servants after Aśvatthāman? To have them execute your will?

Limbo
What do you say? If you like, I would be happy to provide you with another summoning spell.

God Arjuna
No. Even that...is of no consequence. All I need now...is to keep...repeating the yugas.

God Arjuna
Thanks to...the power...you all brought me...

God Arjuna
I have been...able to speed up...the sluggish yuga cycle...

God Arjuna
So I will...continue on. I will keep drowning...the world's defects...its evils...and cutting them away...

God Arjuna
The demise of the Great Yuga...the cycle formed by the other yugas...that only a god can see...is approaching...

Tell
The Great Yuga, huh. You said this ten-day yuga cycle you're repeating is itself just a part of this Great Yuga, right?

Limbo
Indeed, now is the time for this universe to end! The whole world has lapsed into degeneracy! The Great Kali Yuga and its massive destruction is at hand!

Limbo
O god, you should be proud. The seeds of morality you have tended for an eternity are at last about to bear fruit.

Limbo
Ordinarily, it would take hundreds, no, thousands of years, but that would be far too long a wait!

Limbo
Thanks to you dramatically shortening the small yuga cycle to ten days, the Great Yuga cycle has been sped up as well! Mmm, how wonderful...

God Arjuna
And then...all that will remain...is that which is...truly good...truly necessary...

God Arjuna
Then...I will be able...to create a perfect...ideal world...

Limbo
Indeed! Indeed, indeed! What a lovely world that would be! If that really does happen, why...that would be just lovely!

Limbo
Soon... Very soon now, I think...

Limbo
...you will remake the world over the course of enough small yugas for us to get there.

Limbo
I wonder how many more yugas it will take? One? Two? Few enough that we can count them with our hands!? Hehe, hehehe, I can't wait to find out!

Asclepius
Tch. Hey, Alter Ego. Enough with the digressions.

Asclepius
Basically, the boss is telling us not to worry about Nezha's death, right? Fine, got it.

Asclepius
Now, can I get back to my research?
I've got a lot on my plate, you know.

Asclepius
I swear, there's nothing worse than all the time people waste on pointless chatter.

Asclepius
Especially when they're your patient, and you've got to listen to them blabbing away about their inane personal lives.

Asclepius
It would be one thing if they at least had some interesting rare disease...

Asclepius
...but it's almost always just another boring cold or broken bone or something.

God Arjuna
...Wait.

Asclepius
All right, if you want me to wait, I'll wait.
What is it?

God Arjuna
There's something...I should...tell all of you...

Limbo
(Oh? My, my, how unusual. Yes, it's not every day we see a glimpse of his humanity...)

Fou
Fou fou?

Rama
Hmm. I don't see as much water or flowers as I did yesterday.

Rama
This looks like the harvest season.
I guess that's dependent on the current yuga too.

Mash
As I recall, today is the beginning of the Tretā Yuga.

Da Vinci
That's the time when things start to deteriorate a bit from how they were during Kṛta Yuga, and one fourth of the world's rightful order is lost.

Da Vinci
It's quite the radical difference for us to just see things change so instantaneously, but that's just the way this world works.

Da Vinci
For the people who live in this world,
this is all perfectly normal.

Holmes
Nonetheless, I cannot help but feel that this state of affairs is far too sudden and unnatural.

Holmes
If the yuga cycle has been shortened to a mere ten days, something is certainly amiss.

Holmes
At this point, I would not be the least bit surprised to learn there was some sort of distortion here affecting the entire world.

Peperoncino
...

Da Vinci
All right, now that we've all adjusted to our new surroundings, it's time for the lecture I promised. You keep walking, I'll keep talking.

Da Vinci
Asclepius is a hero from Greek mythology. His father was the Olympian god Apollo, and his mother was a woman named Coronis, making him a demigod.

Da Vinci
Shortly after his birth,
he was entrusted to a centaur sage...

Da Vinci
That's right. Our very own Chiron.

Da Vinci
Asclepius first studied medicine under him, but his talent for medicine surpassed his teacher's eventually.

Da Vinci
In addition to the sun, Apollo was also the god of sickness and healing, so that's probably where Asclepius got his talent for medicine.

Da Vinci
To elaborate, he took the knowledge of herbology Chiron imparted to him and expanded on it...

Da Vinci
...which led to the concept of medicine as we know it today spreading far and wide.

Da Vinci
Up to that point, healing had strictly been the domain of the gods, which is probably why he came to be known as the father of medicine, and a god in his own right.

Da Vinci
At the time, the concept of a doctor–someone with both the knowledge and skills to treat injuries and disease in someone other than themself...

Da Vinci
...and a patient–the beneficiary of the doctor's knowledge and skill–was a huge paradigm shift...and Asclepius is the one who made it happen.

Ganesha
Wow, when you put it like that,
he sounds like a really big deal.

Ganesha
Though of course, I'm sure Ganesha's way more famous than him, being an actual god and all!

Da Vinci
As I mentioned earlier, he was one of the Argonauts,
owing entirely to his skill as a doctor.

Da Vinci
He probably got to know Atalante, Heracles,
and Medea during the voyage on the Argo too.

Da Vinci
It's too bad none of them are here now.
They might've been able to tell us more about him.

Lakshmi
I'm sorry, but I have no interest in his life story.
All I need to know is how to defeat him.

Da Vinci
Oh, there are plenty of other interesting stories to share about him. Like the one about how his staff became entwined with snakes and came to be symbolic of medicine everywhere...

Da Vinci
But it looks like that one will have to wait.

Da Vinci
The beautiful Ms. Da Vinci is taking a short sabbatical.

Mash
Why's that?

Meunière
I'm picking up a huge wildlife reading!
It looks like some kind of hydra!

Da Vinci
Hmm, is this because I mentioned snakes? Maybe words have more power than we give them credit for.

Holmes
While there are many Indian legends involving serpents, such as naga and Vritra, this would seem to be no more than an ordinary creature.

Holmes
One that is apparently set on having
{(M) Mr. /(F) Ms.} Fujimaru for its supper.

  1. Hard pass!
  2. Talk about the struggle for existence...!
  Select: Hard pass!

  Select: Talk about the struggle for existence...!

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
There is no need to bother Indra about this. The fewer dangerous animals there are, the safer it is for everyone.

Ganesha
I don't wanna be eaten either...

Ganesha
You guys have seen how a snake's stomach bulges out after it swallows its prey whole, right?

Ganesha
I'm warning you now, hydra; the same thing's gonna happen to you if you eat me.

Ganesha
Oh, by the way, I'm a vegetarian now, so if you wanna make me an offering, some potato (chips) would hit the spot!

--ARROW--

  1. Nom nom nom!
  2. It's so good...!
  Select: Nom nom nom!
Fou
Fou fou fou!

  Select: It's so good...!

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Right? Right!?
I make the best roasted bananas you'll ever have!

Peperoncino
Go on, Mashie, try one!
They're great for your skin and for staying in shape.

Peperoncino
You're still a growing girl, so you've got to eat up!
Of course, I'll be digging right in with you!

Mash
I-I'm eating one right now... It IS really good!

Fou
Fou... Fo fo!?
Fooou...

Ganesha
Of course it's too hot for you, Fou. Cats have very heat-sensitive tongues, and you're practically one of them. You'll just have to make do with a regular un-roasted banana.

Lakshmi
I haven't camped out since the rebellion.
This really brings back memories.

Rama
By definition, a rebellion involves fighting a ruler much stronger than you. Surely it can't all be nostalgic.

Lakshmi
Of course not. I remember very well how we never had enough supplies to go around.

Lakshmi
The sepoy incited uprisings left and right before they ran off to Delhi, leaving us Jhansi to clean up the mess.

Lakshmi
Thanks to that, we had almost nothing in the way of people, funding, or supplies. Sometimes, my comrades and I had nothing to eat but a single half-rotten banana between us all...

Da Vinci
...Hey, I know it's none of my business, but are you sure you don't want to join the conversation?

Captain
Heh... You are quite intelligent, aren't you?
Then you do know who I am.

Da Vinci
Well, if you are who I think you are, I just remembered that there were rumors of you helping the sepoys in their rebellion.

Da Vinci
Of course, that is just how the story goes,
so I have no idea if it's true.

Captain
...Who can say?
The truth is, I'm really not anyone right now.

Captain
All I can say is, if Sion hadn't summoned me,
I wouldn't be who I currently am.

Da Vinci
Huh? Then, does that mean–

Captain
At any rate, we should be using this time to let Fujimaru and {(M) his /(F) her} team rest, right?

Captain
I don't see any need to jump in with my own old, unasked for stories.

Captain
I'm going to take another look at the engine. If you don't see me again tonight, it's because I'm busy there.

Da Vinci
...Got it.

Rama
Hehe, it seems you're no ordinary queen either. Though I could already tell as much from the way you fight.

Lakshmi
Are you saying a queen who would sleep on the ground is no true queen?

Rama
Not at all. Sita is said to have been born in the ridge between two rice fields. If anything, I'm fond of women who have an earthy scent.

Lakshmi
...

Peperoncino
My, oh my! I guess the really famous heroes are natural Casanovas! I'll have to make sure I remember this!

Rama
Huh? Why would you do that? Wait... You're not planning on telling Sita about this if we find her, are you!?

Rama
You've got it all wrong!
I wasn't making a pass at her!

Peperoncino
I know that, silly.
Of course I won't tell Sita about this.

Rama

Don't lie to me! It's written all over your face!

Mash
...

  1. It's pretty relaxing here, isn't it, Mash?
  2. These roasted bananas are really good, aren't they, Mash?
  Select: It's pretty relaxing here, isn't it, Mash?

  Select: These roasted bananas are really good, aren't they, Mash?

===Branch End===

Mash
...Yes. Definitely.

Mash
Can I tell you something, Senpai? For some reason I can't really explain...I feel like everything's going to work out.

Fou
Fooou?

Mash
I know God Arjuna is incredibly powerful.
I know this world runs on a truly bizarre system.

Mash
...And I know that Nezha and Karna aren't here to help us anymore...

Mash
We've seen some very...very painful things...

Mash
To be honest, it was all bringing me down a little.

  1. ...Me too.
 
  Select: ...Me too.

===Branch End===

Mash
But now, having all of us gathered around a campfire like this makes me feel more...optimistic?

Mash
Pepe was always so nice to me,
even back when I didn't know anything at all.

Mash
I knew he was a very social person...

Mash
...so it was difficult for me to accept that he had become our enemy.

Mash
But now, we're sitting around the same campfire,
united in a common goal.

Mash
It's all so... I don't know if this is the best way to say it, but it makes me really happy...

Mash
And you know, I'm actually kind of hopeful right now.

Mash
Maybe, just maybe, Asclepius...the Caster we're about to face will have his own feelings about this world, just like Nezha did.

Mash
So if we talk to him, maybe there's a chance he'll be willing to help us ou–

Peperoncino
Oooh, you've grown up to be such a good girl, Mashie!
I'm so glad to hear you think that!

Mash
Ah! Pepe...

Peperoncino
Of course, I'm not too hopeful about my own prospects,
so I can't share your optimism...

Peperoncino
But in that sense, we each have to place our own bets. So it's nothing you need to worry about.

Peperoncino
You're right, it's definitely not impossible. It might well be worth our while to try talking to him and William, even if they are Lōkapāla.

Peperoncino
But...I don't think we should waste our breath on Aśvatthāman.

Mash
...What makes you say that?

Peperoncino
You saw what he's like when we fought him before.
You know how fiercely determined he is.

Peperoncino
You can't give anything that much effort unless you really, truly believe in what you're doing.

  1. It didn't matter how many times we defeated him...
  2. He just wouldn't stay down, no matter what...
  Select: It didn't matter how many times we defeated him...

  Select: He just wouldn't stay down, no matter what...

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Right. However much you hurt him, he'll just bounce right back, even if the wound is fatal.

Peperoncino
He was nowhere near so durable when he was with me, so it must be something with the Divinity Arjuna gave him...

Peperoncino
But at any rate, he didn't even think to pretend he was out of commission so he could take it easy until his wounds finished healing, right? He's as hardcore as they come.

Peperoncino
So I don't think we should get our hopes up about him secretly hating this world and being willing to betray it.

Peperoncino
If anything, he seemed to me like he cared more about serving Arjuna than anything else.

Peperoncino
Not because Arjuna's his Master now. I got the impression that he's a true believer in what Arjuna's doing.

Peperoncino
He and Arjuna might have been enemies back when they were human, but I'm pretty sure Arjuna is way beyond thinking about the Kauravas and the Pandavas at this point.

Peperoncino
I always meant to try and get to know Aśvatthāman better, but I was so busy back when this Lostbelt was first made that I kept putting it off.

Peperoncino
Now I really wish I'd made the time for him. Maybe then, I'd at least have an idea of what he's thinking now.

Fou
Fou, fou fooou!

Peperoncino
Oh my, are you trying to slap some sense into me, little animal?

Peperoncino
Trying to tell me I shouldn't have let my contract with my Servant be taken away?

Peperoncino
Yes, you're right.
I'm his former Master, so I feel responsible too.

Peperoncino
Even then, he always seemed like he was angry about something, so we couldn't have been less alike.

Peperoncino
But I didn't mind that. I figured that way, I could let him handle everything that wasn't in my wheelhouse.

Peperoncino
Not to mention he was always an incredible fighter.

Ganesha
Angry, huh?
That's true, he was always super pissed off.

Ganesha
Is there, like, a reason for that,
or is it just how he is?

Peperoncino
I'm not sure. All I know is, he was like that right from the time I summoned him.

Peperoncino
So who knows? Maybe that IS just how he is.

Peperoncino
There is one story that says he attacked an enemy army in the dead of night out of anger over his father's murder.

Peperoncino
Even though that sort of thing was absolutely against the rules of warfare at the time.

Peperoncino
Anywho...as a Servant,
he's always been fueled by rage.

Peperoncino
I'm sure there's more to him than that, but his rage burned so hot it seemed like it subsumed everything else.

Peperoncino
In some aspects...you could say he was a bit socially awkward.

Peperoncino
But anger's a force to be reckoned with.

Peperoncino
Some people think of anger as giving you blinders and making you unwilling to see reason, but on the other hand, that kind of focus can be very powerful.

Peperoncino
So the idea of going up against someone so relentlessly devoted to his cause, well...

Peperoncino
It scares me.

Peperoncino
Honestly...I don't know what he'd be like now if I was still his Master.

Mash
It sounds like he would have been a very helpful ally.

Peperoncino
Hehe, you think? I have a feeling a lukewarm puddle like me would've only cooled him off, and not in a good way.

Peperoncino
Anyway... I'm sure that wherever he is now,
he's mad as hell about something.

Peperoncino
I swear, I don't know how he does it. It takes just oodles of passion to stay angry all the time.

  1. Passion? Really?
  2. I thought he was just, you know...bad-tempered.
  Select: Passion? Really?

  Select: I thought he was just, you know...bad-tempered.

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Oh yes, his heart simply burns with passion.

Peperoncino
When you grow up, you'll understand just how hard and how sad it is to be so angry that you burn yourself out.

Peperoncino
That kind of white-hot rage usually just doesn't last. Most of the time, anger quickly gives way to regret and despair.

Peperoncino
I can't even imagine what it would take to be truly angry all the time. Even sincerity only gets you so far.

Peperoncino
I mean, how long do you think a dandelion seed like me that goes wherever the wind takes him would last!? If I my hair ended up burning off in my fury, I wouldn't have anything left!

Ganesha
That sounds like it's taking the Buddhist idea of the world as a burning house of suffering a liiittle literally. And honestly, I can't imagine how a guy named “Peperoncino” isn't already living it up.

Peperoncino
Right? Right!? Peperoncino's a great name,
if I do say so myself! And it suits me perfectly!

Peperoncino
After all, I'm a spicy hot pepper from my head to my toes! I make it a point to live nice and carefree wherever I go!

Mash
...I'm not sure I agree with that, Pepe.
You've always seemed very sincere to me.

Mash
You never got angry, no...but you easily made up for it with how hard you were on yourself.

Mash
Besides...it's said that Masters summon Servants who are a lot like themselves.

Mash
You may be very open-minded, but underneath that...

Mash
...I think you have a very strong sense of responsibility, and a powerful conviction to not lead an easy life.

Peperoncino
Oh my, that's very kind of you.
But you're giving me way too much credit.

Peperoncino
I know you wish you could get along with us–with the Crypters, I mean, since you also used to be part of Team A.

Peperoncino
But you've really gotta give that up, girl. If you don't, you'll just make trouble for yourself, your Master, and us.

Peperoncino
We were all loners well before we were Crypters.
That didn't change just because we joined a group.

Peperoncino
Some of us have our own ideals. Some of us have faced major oppression. Some of us are natural rebels. Some of us were born in the wrong place. Some of us have lost our humanity entirely.

Peperoncino
We've all got our own issues, and they don't go away just by being part of a team.

Peperoncino
There was not a good person among us.
Not any of them, and not me either.

Peperoncino
I mean, we sold out all of mankind and joined forces with the Foreign God just so we could survive, remember?

Peperoncino
Maybe you have a little survivor's guilt at being the only one left, Mashie, but you don't have to feel bad.

Peperoncino
This was always going to happen to us.

Da Vinci
(Always going to happen...?
Where are you getting this from, Peperoncino?)

Peperoncino
Still, I really did enjoy my life in Chaldea, so for me...

Peperoncino
You might even say it gave me a reason to live!
Eeeeee☆

Rama
I-I see. I don't quite get what you were talking about, but I can see that you are a man of conviction.

Rama
You have quite the keen eye, don't you? I've noticed it helping us in battle since you joined.

Rama
That keenness doesn't seem entirely physical, either.
Is it some sort of magecraft?

Peperoncino
Why yes.
It's Divine Power, just like the kind you use, Ramie.

Peperoncino
It's a technique I came up with to let me use the power of the gods in my human body.

Peperoncino
I'm also pretty good at Jinsokutsu, Tashintsu,
and Rojintsu, I'll have you know.

Mash
Jinsokutsu, Tashintsu, and Rojintsu...?

Goredolf
Hmm? I could have sworn I've heard those terms somewhere... Do you know anything about them, Administrative Advisor?

Holmes
Those are three of Japan's Shugendou Rokujintsu,
or six supernormal Buddhist powers.

Holmes
Jinsokutsu is the power to run faster than any ordinary human. Tashintsu is the power to read other's minds.

Holmes
And Rojintsu is... Hmm. My apologies. I do understand the concept, but I struggle to articulate it and make myself understood...

Holmes
It's...something unique to Buddhism, almost an awareness of one's destiny, not dissimilar to enlightenment...

Peperoncino
My, my, I'm impressed you know that much about Eastern philosophy! You really are a great detective, aren't you?

Peperoncino
I would say Rojintsu is...the power to know one's self well, maybe? That's as good a way to remember it as any, Fujimaru.

Peperoncino
Of course, I doubt you'll have much use for it,
being Mash's Master and all.

Peperoncino
I mean, knowing that much about yourself?
That's just asking for trouble, right?

Holmes
(...Interesting. Rojintsu is said to be a state of mind that quells all doubts... Yet he thinks of it as asking trouble...)

  1. Um... Why did you call yourself a dandelion seed earlier?
 
  Select: Um... Why did you call yourself a dandelion seed earlier?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Oh my, that's what you're concerned about?
You're awfully bold for such a cutie.

Peperoncino
It's simple. I ran away from my country when I was about your age.

Peperoncino
Ever since, I've been an international stranger. Chaldea is the first place in my life that I could actually call home.

  1. Why did you run away...?
 
  Select: Why did you run away...?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Why, because there wasn't anything there for me. I didn't get along with anyone in my family, extended or otherwise.

Peperoncino
(That's putting it mildly, of course, since I hated them so much I killed them all myself. Oh well! Funny old life, isn't it?)

Aśvatthāman
Dammit...

Aśvatthāman
...Goddammit all!

Inner Monologue
Rrgh, this pisses me off. I'm so friggin' pissed right now. I'm so mad I could throw up. I'm so mad it's making me dizzy.

Inner Monologue
This goddamn anger never goes away!
And it won't as long as I am who I am.

Inner Monologue
That's why I want it to hurry up and get here...

Inner Monologue
When the Great Yuga ends, the world'll finally stop cycling through destruction and rebirth...

Inner Monologue
Every last evil defect will disappear,
and the world will finally be perfect.

Inner Monologue
It can't get here soon enough...

--ARROW--

Holmes
I'm picking up a life-form nearby...a human. There's still some distance to your destination, so they may be a traveler.

Mash
You can never have too much information.
Let's go say hello.

Man
Hm? I've never seen any of you before...

Mash
Hi there.
Would you mind if we asked you a few questions?

Man
You're headed for the town nearby? Don't bother. If I were you, I'd just turn around and go back where I came from.

Ganesha
Huh? Why's that?

Man
There's a real nasty disease going around in that town.

Man
I was just heading there myself to look for a new job, but once I heard about it, I turned right around.

Man
It had already killed a number of people by the time I heard about it... Might be dead bodies everywhere by now.

Rama
A plague? That's...

Man
All right, I'd better get going.
Don't say I didn't warn you.

Man
We've got prayers and the sacred beasts to help us with the kali, but you can't pray away a disease. You only get one life; gotta make the most of it.

Ganesha
Prayers and the sacred beasts, huh...
Those don't actually do that much to help.

Lakshmi
Well? What do we do now?

Goredolf
I can't believe I forgot to ask about something so basic. Tell me, Technical Advisor...

Goredolf
Am I right to assume we're all fully inoculated against the various pathogens we expect to encounter in our travels?

Da Vinci
You bet we are! Think about all the places we've already been to. We're covered as far as just about any plague around goes!

Da Vinci
Of course, Fujimaru is already pretty well set thanks to {(M) his /(F) her} innate poison resistance, so the vaccinations are more for peace of mind than anything else.

Da Vinci
But in case you're still concerned, Director...

Da Vinci
...we could always have the Servants go on ahead and collect more detailed data about this virus before–

  1. No need for that. Let's just keep going.
  2. That's okay. Let's just go. I need to see what's happening for myself.
  Select: No need for that. Let's just keep going.

  Select: That's okay. Let's just go. I need to see what's happening for myself.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Understood. Then we will continue as planned.

Goredolf
Just make sure you don't touch anything strange, all right? And do you have enough masks and gloves? You know you're not supposed to share them, right?

Ganesha
We get it, we get it! Geez, you sound like my mom!

Da Vinci
Just so you know, the Border isn't exactly bursting at the seams with vaccine doses and such...

Da Vinci
...so be prepared for the possibility that you might not be able to save everyone in this town...

  1. H-huh?
 
  Select: H-huh?

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou fooou?

Rama
It's a perfectly ordinary town. It certainly doesn't look like there is a plague going around.

Ganesha
Does this mean that other guy was lying?

Lakshmi
That's not the impression I got from him...
Excuse me, do you have a moment?

Man
What do you want?

Lakshmi
We were told there's a deadly plague going around this town. Is that true?

Man
Ahaha, whoever told you that must've been way behind the times! Sure, we did have a scare like that recently.

Man
People were collapsing left and right, some of them died of fever, and the people treating them kept catching it...

Man
We thought that god had forsaken us,
and this town was done for.

Man
Hell, I was bedridden with it myself until not too long ago.

Mash
So there was a plague going around here...
But now it's all over?

Man
Yup! Just when things were at their worst,
a doctor showed up and saved us all.

Man
I don't know what we would've done without him. I had to quarantine myself so my wife and kid wouldn't catch it.

Man
I didn't even know if I'd ever get to see 'em again.
Hehe, but now, we're all one big happy family again.

Man
That doctor is our savior, no doubt about it. We offered him a home here and told him he'd never want for anything if he stayed with us...

Man
...but he just took off. Wouldn't accept anything in return. Picture of modesty, he was.

Man
All he said was, “I just stopped by to check on things. This isn't the fundamental solution this world needs.”

Man
I wonder what he meant by that. He did look really stressed about something, even after saving us...

Man
But anyway, things are perfectly fine here now, so relax and enjoy your stay! Trust me, it's a great place!

Peperoncino
...

Mash
A mysterious, heroic doctor...

Mash
Da Vinci, can we quickly go over what you know about Asclepius again?

Da Vinci
Sure thing.

Da Vinci
There's all sorts of Casters. Mages, witches, alchemists, beautiful inventors whose genius knows no bounds...

Da Vinci
But in Asclepius's case, given his title and background, he's definitely a doctor.

Mash
I knew it.
Master, this might mean we were right after all!

  1. Doctors are always good, right!?
  2. Maybe he'll be willing to join us!
  Select: Doctors are always good, right!?

  Select: Maybe he'll be willing to join us!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right! If he's only pretending to obey Arjuna...

Mash
...but deep down, he knows this world is wrong, and can't bear to see people in need, maybe we can convince him to–

Holmes
You should have your answer to that directly.
Here he comes now.

Holmes
He doesn't appear to be going on the offensive,
but keep your guard up all the same.

Asclepius
What the? What's going on here?

Rama
There he is. Even if we did come here looking for him, I wasn't expecting to find him this quickly. You must have some very good karma indeed, Master.

Mash
This is perfect. We were just hoping to talk to you, Asclepius. Are you the one who–

Asclepius
Shut up.
I've been saving this town for my experiments.

Asclepius
It's practically my exam room, and I won't tolerate patients worth less than used gauze speaking out of turn in here. Patients should only speak when spoken to.

Asclepius
Is this your doing? How did you heal all the infected when I didn't lift a finger to help them!?

Mash
...Huh?

Peperoncino
My, my. I guess you're not the good doctor we've been hearing about after all.

Asclepius
Of course not.
I was just about to study this plague.

Asclepius
Why would I bring anything that could cure it?

Asclepius
Ugh, idiots... Medicine is advanced by studying new diseases as they progress.

Asclepius
I thought with the plague in town,
I would at least have no shortage of cases...

Asclepius
But now you're telling me there's not a single infected person left!? You can't be serious!

Asclepius
I don't know who you are, but you have some nerve taking away my precious research opportunity!

Ganesha
Hmm, he sounds like a self-centered sociopath. I'm guessing he dumped every stat point into INT, everything else be damned.

Rama
Hmph. I don't know what you mean by the second part, but I agree wholeheartedly with the first.

Rama
Just answer me this.
Did you spread this plague here yourself?

Mash
...?

Asclepius
Huh? What are you, stupid? What useless mush do you have festering between your ears? Why would anyone ever do that?

Asclepius
Of course I want to advance medicine by studying as many cases of disease as possible, but the point is to cure patients, not create new ones.

Holmes
Be that as it may...it would seem you didn't do anything to limit the disease's spread, either.

Asclepius
Because I knew I couldn't. I don't waste my time with pointless endeavors. It's far more sensible to make a vaccine after studying the disease.

Lakshmi
Even if more people end up dying in the meantime?

Asclepius
Yes, that is undeniably tragic. But as long as they die while I'm studying them, they serve to advance medicine.

Asclepius
I stake my pride as a doctor on never letting a patient die for nothing.

Asclepius
I'll always make sure their death leads to a new discovery...

Asclepius
...and eventually, to advancing medicine as a whole...

Ganesha
Sounds nice and all but the guy is OOZING mad scientist vibes!

Ganesha
I don't think we can hope for much from him.

Ganesha
He didn't heal this town, and he isn't anything like Nezha either!

Asclepius
Aha... I see. So that's your game.

Asclepius
You thought that deep down, I might be dissatisfied with the way that god runs things here, just like Nezha was?

Mash
I take it that means you aren't then?

Asclepius
Of course not!

Asclepius
Excising all that is defective or unnecessary from the world? That is how things ought to be!

Asclepius
It's immeasurably better than a weak, foolish god getting rid of exceptional things...

Asclepius
Do you know what happened to me?
Do you have any idea what Zeus put me through?

  1. I've heard stories...
  2. (What was it again...?)
  Select: I've heard stories...

  Select: (What was it again...?)
Da Vinci
Oopsies, you already forgot? Okay, no problem.
I'll just give you a quick refresher course!
Da Vinci
In Greek mythology, Asclepius masters the art of medicine...and ultimately ends up creating a tonic that can bring the dead back to life.
Da Vinci
As you can imagine, the gods didn't take too kindly to that.
Da Vinci
Particularly Hades, the god of the underworld, who was especially displeased at the idea of humans overcoming death and making a joke out of his Authority.
Da Vinci
But since Hades couldn't harm Asclepius himself on account of him being Apollo's kid and all, he asked Zeus to punish him instead.
Da Vinci
Zeus agreed, and killed Asclepius with a thunderbolt through the heart...
Asclepius
...
Da Vinci
But to try and provide Apollo with some consolation, Zeus also brought Asclepius's body to the heavens...
Da Vinci
...and gave him a place among the gods as the constellation Ophiuchus, the “Serpent Bearer.”
Asclepius
Some consolation that was. “Now that I've made you a god as well, all is forgiven, yes”!? I never asked for that! It was meaningless! Completely and utterly meaningless!

===Branch End===

Asclepius
All I ever wanted was to advance the field of medicine! All I did was find a way to cure death!

Asclepius
But the Greek gods were too narrow-minded, lazy, cowardly, and arrogant to accept that.

Asclepius
They were wrong, and they punished me for all the wrong reasons.

Asclepius
They punished me for nothing more than achieving excellence.

Peperoncino
Ahh... Now I see.

Asclepius
But this world is the complete opposite of that. All that is excellent endures, and all that is inferior disappears!

Asclepius
It couldn't be simpler! This is exactly how things are meant to be! This is what a just world looks like!

Rama
And what is it you want when that world reaches its end state?

Asclepius
Weren't you listening to me? All I want is to advance my medical arts. I thought I made that clear.

Mash
...So you don't care what the world loses as long as it helps you with that?

Asclepius
Huh? As long as mankind doesn't go extinct,
people will always need doctors, right?

Asclepius
So don't worry about that.
There will always be people around.

Asclepius
I'm willing to rack up as many sacrifices as it takes to ensure my patients' survival, no matter the cost!

Mash
...Master. I'm afraid Asclepius is–

  1. Yeah, I know.
  2. Yeah... Something's fundamentally wrong with him.
  Select: Yeah, I know.

  Select: Yeah... Something's fundamentally wrong with him.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Medicine is important,
but you cannot ignore how people feel.

Lakshmi
You may be an excellent doctor...but you've completely failed to treat these people's cries of grief!

Asclepius
I am no counselor. There are some conditions I can't do a damn thing about. Like stupidity.

Asclepius
Ugh, there's nothing I hate more than stupid patients.

Asclepius
All you have to do is listen. If your doctor says not to do something, don't do it. If they say to do something, do it.

Asclepius
Why is that so hard for you to understand!? Don't you want to get better!?

Asclepius
It doesn't make any damn sense! It's just like I thought. Your heads are the most affected part!

Asclepius
If you patients are so soft in the head that you're trying to get rid of this just world...then it's clear which part of you I need to amputate.

Goredolf
So it's a fight he wants, is it!?
Get him, Fujimaru! Don't be afraid!
He's only a Caster, and a just doctor at that!

Asclepius
“Just a doctor”!? Have you forgotten that Arjuna made me a Lōkapāla, and granted me one of his Divinities?

Asclepius
The Indian god he bestowed upon me...

Asclepius
...is Yama.

Peperoncino
Yama... That's the god of death, king of the dead,
and the Regent of the South!

Mash
Master, I'm seeing new hostiles appearing out of the ground one after the other... They appear to be moving skeletons!

Asclepius
I guess Arjuna thought Yama would suit me, since I already managed to resurrect the dead on my own.

Asclepius
Well, as long as it's not Hades, I can get along with another god of the underworld...and I have no qualms about using what I've been given.

Asclepius
Yama wields authority over the dead. Well, technically, it may be authority over this land's memory of the dead, but there is no meaningful difference.

Ganesha
Aaah! Great, so now we gotta play some kinda horde mode with zombies?

Ganesha
I don't think we'll be able to beat it unless you've got some special attacks with invincibility and massive AoE!

Goredolf
The hell? He summoned that many fighters that quickly, without any preparation or chanting!? What kind of necromancy is that?

Holmes
This is clearly outside the realm of human magecraft.

Holmes
This is divine power, just like how Kubēra let Nezha use so many Noble Phantasms at once. Be very careful.

  1. Got it!
 
  Select: Got it!

===Branch End===

Asclepius
Even idiots like you know about autopsies, yes?
The dead can still be valuable in medicine.

Asclepius
You're all probably going to die here now that you're up against me...but don't you feel better knowing your deaths will be useful?

--BATTLE--

Man
I don't know how we can thank you! As if curing our disease wasn't enough, you even tended our fields for us...

Man
Are you a new Lōkapāla!?
You must be, to show us this much kindness!

Man
Please, stay with us.
The whole town would be thrilled to have you!

???
...Tch.

Man
Hm?

???
...Sorry. My throat's been acting up a bit.
Pay it no mind.

???
I just stopped by to check on things. This isn't the fundamental solution this Lost–this world needs.

???
It's the ones who will show up after me who are bound to end you.

???
They're from an organization called Chaldea, just as I am. Make sure to welcome them when they get here. It'll speed things up.

Man
Okay... But, it isn't, um, Chaldea we want to thank. It's you.

Man
Please, won't you stay with us for just a little while? We would be honored...delighted, even, to repay someone so virtuous.

Woman
Yes, exactly. Please, right this way.
Everyone's dying to hear more about you!

???
(They really mean it. These people can't have much to spare, yet they still want to reward an outsider...)

???
(...Never mind that. Why do they like me at all?
This sort of thing would never have happened before.)

???
(I'm not doing anything different than I was before. I'm still operating under the exact same principles I always have. So why am I seeing such a different reaction now...?)

???
(Is it only because of what I look like?
Do people really care about appearances that much?)

???
(Oh well. If that's is true,
it suits my needs perfectly.)

--BATTLE--

Mash
They just keep coming, no matter how many we take down... Wait. What's that!?

Da Vinci
Shit, it's a kid! Most of the town's residents hid after you started fighting...but he must've been left behind!

  1. Kid, get out of here! It's not safe!
  2. We need to protect him no matter what!
  Select: Kid, get out of here! It's not safe!

  Select: We need to protect him no matter what!

===Branch End===

Child
A-aaahhh...

Child
(Sniff) O-ow ow ow...

Ganesha
Crap, he tripped. And he's too far away to...
Huh?

Asclepius
What's wrong? You fell down?
Hmm, your knee is injured. Let me see it.

Child
G-god...?

Asclepius
So you cut it on a rock. Even in the middle of town,
the roads really need more work.

Asclepius
That's why a fall at that speed can produce lacerations like this... Now I see.

Asclepius
I'll have to remember the size and depth of his wound, so I can comprehend similar situations in the future with just a glance.

Asclepius
As for your wound, there's nothing unusually wrong with it. To treat it, first we wash it with clean water.

Asclepius
Then we apply some of these medicinal herbs.

Child
It's not bleeding anymore...?

Asclepius
Of course not. I just stopped it.

Asclepius
Now listen to me. Don't take that off until the pain is all gone. Doctor's orders.

Asclepius
If you can't listen to them, that will mean your thick skull is the real problem. Don't make me give up on you.

Child
I-I won't! I promise! Thank you, god!

Asclepius
That's a good patient. Take care.

Ganesha
Whaaa? What the heck, guy!? Are you one of those gruff, curmudgeonly doctors who hides his heart of gold beneath his prickly exterior?

Asclepius
What are you talking about?

Asclepius
I heal those who need healing, and show no mercy to those who would interfere with my medicinal pursuits.

Asclepius
That's all there is to it. It couldn't be simpler.

Lakshmi
That dedication is not a bad thing in itself.

Lakshmi
But why do you insist on prioritizing that over all else?

Lakshmi
How can you so casually dismiss everything else wrong with this world, or the suffering of its people?

Asclepius
You're asking my reasons? ...That's a new one. They're so blindingly obvious that I don't even have an answer ready.

Asclepius
To tell you that, I'd have to pay attention to things I usually ignore, and bring my thinking down to the level of my most idiotic of patients.

Asclepius
...

Asclepius
Never mind. There's no point. I'm just going to keep working on kicking you interlopers out of my exam room.

Rama
First you help a child, and now you're back to raising the dead... Which are you looking for, praise or revulsion?

Asclepius
I have no need for either. Now will you stop acting up? You are the very worst sort of patient, aren't you?

Rama
It doesn't matter how many dead you throw at us. If I can defeat a great rakshasa, I can defeat you too.

Asclepius
It never fails. It's always the most ignorant patients who make things worse.

Asclepius
You should simply have resigned yourselves to assisting me in my study of medicine.

Asclepius
Now this has taken long enough that he's shown up.

  1. ...?
 
  Select: ...?

===Branch End===

Holmes
I'll explain later! All of you, cease combat and get away from there immediately!

Da Vinci
I knew this was a possibility, but I didn't think it would actually happen now!

Da Vinci
And by “this,” I mean the worst-goddamn-case scenario we can think of. Talk about luck not being on our side!

Lakshmi
...

Mash
Master! Over there, in the sky!
It's...!

Rama
Arjuna!

Ganesha
Whaaa...!? I thought he spent his time flying around the Tree of Emptiness!

Asclepius
I swear, there's nothing worse than amateurish home remedies.

Asclepius
With his kind of power, and Vimana's mobility, there's no need for him to stand around guarding that tree.

Asclepius
Especially now that no one besides him can even get close to it, thanks to that ocean growing bigger.

Asclepius
The only reason he usually stays there is because he typically has no need to go anywhere else.

Asclepius
Which of course means that if he does have a need to go somewhere else, he will.

Asclepius
Of course, in this particular case, he only knows because I informed him when I found you, as he ordered me to do.

Asclepius
I guess he's actually taken a rare interest in you.

  1. (We can't get away from him!)
  2. (They've got us surrounded!)
  Select: (We can't get away from him!)

  Select: (They've got us surrounded!)

===Branch End===

God Arjuna
...

Lakshmi
So...you are the sole god of this world. The one they say absorbed every other Divinity in India!

God Arjuna
So...you are...a god, too?
Ah, but...you are a tiny, insignificant one...

Lakshmi
Shut up! You are nothing but a shadow of a once-great hero! Don't you dare compare me to your stolen Divinities!

Lakshmi
Your insolence is unforgivable. Now release every god you have within you! Immediately!

Rama
I couldn't agree more. I'm sure you have a Divinity linked to this world's Sita. I'm not letting you get away!

Da Vinci
Okay, but maybe you could not let him get away later!? Haven't I told you guys that you don't stand a chance against him yet!?

Da Vinci
In fact, I'm pretty sure we told you to get out of there! Did you not hear us or something!?

Peperoncino
Oh, we heard you just fine!
But it's not that simple!

Mash
I don't think we can avoid combat at this point.

  1. We'll get through this! Somehow!
  2. Let's find our chance and get out of here!
  Select: We'll get through this! Somehow!

  Select: Let's find our chance and get out of here!

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes, Master! We can't let our mission end here...
Awaiting your orders!

--BATTLE--

Inner Monologue
I blink out of sheer boredom.

Inner Monologue
In the infinitesimal span of that blink...I had a dream. How unusual.

Inner Monologue
It was a dream about a foolish war.

Inner Monologue
A war that started for laughable reasons, persisted in absurdity, and ended in trivialities.

Inner Monologue
There is something there. Something within my memories fighting alongside my beloved friends and brothers.

Inner Monologue
Wanting nothing more than to grant their wishes, my arrows found their way into every one of our hated enemies.

Inner Monologue
I fought earnestly, with no shame, proud to be counted among my brothers' ranks.

Inner Monologue
But, even so, something nagged at me deep within my heart.

Inner Monologue
Something dark and wriggling.

Inner Monologue
As I grow bored of even that, I open my eyes.
And once the darkness fades away...

Inner Monologue
...I forget that I ever dreamed at all.

Inner Monologue
God has no need of dreams.

--SECTION BREAK--

Mash
...Ortinax output...it's dropping...systems overloading...
Wait...please... I'm not...done for ye–

Rama
You...bastard... I can't...afford to lose...

Rama
If I can't...protect Fujimaru and...{(M) his /(F) her}
companions...then who... Guh...

Ganesha
Oh man, oh man...
I guess...I wasn't good enough after all...

Ganesha
Even though Karna asked me to take over for him...I just can't...

Lakshmi
...Dammit. I guess I've failed...yet again...

God Arjuna
...

Asclepius
Well? Was this a satisfying diversion?

God Arjuna
No...I am just...disappointed...

God Arjuna
These people...survived my reconstruction...
I thought...maybe...they were special...

God Arjuna
But...they were not worth...verifying...

God Arjuna
Although...what did...I verify...?

God Arjuna
...

God Arjuna
I feel no need...to understand.

Asclepius
Hey! First you had me call you, now you're just up and leaving? What do you want me to do with them?

God Arjuna
I no longer...care...

Asclepius
...Messing things up and capriciously leaving as soon as he gets bored, huh. He's a god all right.

Asclepius
Guess this means I can do whatever I want with them. At least he didn't obliterate them with a divine punishment.

Asclepius
Okay then...

Asclepius
...let's hurry up and end this already,
so I can get back to my research.

Goredolf
Hey. Hey! Heeey!

Goredolf
Are you s-serious? None of you can even move?

Peperoncino
...!

Peperoncino
(...I guess there wasn't any point in choosing after all.)

Inner Monologue
...I knew I was a hopeless dead end.

Inner Monologue
Thanks to my Rojintsu–the only power I was born with–I couldn't help but be “enlightened” about that.

Inner Monologue
So I never needed to lie to myself. I don't even need to remember when it began, because I always knew from the start.

Inner Monologue
My life has no value.
I'm just a pitiful jester, born to a pitiful world.

Inner Monologue
So then...why did I make that choice?

Inner Monologue
Why was I holding on so hard?

Peperoncino
(Haha... Right. Of course.)

Peperoncino
(It's because if I die here and now...)

Peperoncino
(...then if nothing else, these feelings won't have been worthless, and they won't be erased.)

Peperoncino
(In that case, maybe this is an end I can accept...)

Asclepius
Wh-What the!? My specimens!

???
I'm surprised this place turned out to be a land of the dead. Or did I just pick an odd time to visit?

Peperoncino
Wha... What in the world!?
What are you doing here, Daybit!?

--ARROW--

  1. Daybit?
  2. A Crypter...?
  Select: Daybit?

  Select: A Crypter...?

===Branch End===

Goredolf
D-Daybit Sem Void!
The Crypter with the most talent of them all!?

Goredolf
I thought he was off raising another Lostbelt!
A-and what's that!?

Holmes
Is that...a Servant?

Da Vinci
...!

Da Vinci
(The miasma around them is too strong for us to properly observe them, but I was just able to get an idea of their scale...)

Da Vinci
(...That's a Grand Servant. There's no doubt about it. Daybit somehow formed a contract with a Grand Servant!)

Asclepius
What's this about? Who are you, and what is...

Asclepius
...!?

???
Yama... Also known as Yamaten.
Passing judgment on the dead? What a joke.

???
Death is meant to be eaten. Life is meant to be sacrificed. Giving the dead freedom would never pass in my world.

???
So I consumed them. But they tasted terrible.
It proves they haven't been eating anything decent.

Daybit
Try to stay behind me. Remember, this isn't your land. Didn't anyone ever teach you not to drink the tap water when you travel?

???
Good point. I'll be more careful.
Besides, we didn't come here for the food.

Mash
Daybit...!

Daybit
...

  1. (He's not even looking this way...)
 
  Select: (He's not even looking this way...)

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Wh-why are you here? HOW are you here?
You can't just show up and surprise me like this!

Peperoncino
I didn't have any time to prepare, my hair is a mess!
Oh gosh, you've got to give me some warning!

Daybit
Should I have waited? You looked like you were in trouble, so I thought I would help.

Peperoncino
I-I mean, don't get me wrong!
You definitely saved my life, and I appreciate it!

Peperoncino
But seriously, what are you doing here in India!?

Daybit
I came because of the way you were behaving at our last meeting.

Daybit
I wasn't sure if it was because things were going well or poorly for you, but I found it strange that you didn't say anything about how things were going in your Lostbelt.

Daybit
We may have an agreement not to interfere with each other's Lostbelts, but there are no rules against making personal contact.

Daybit
I acted on intuition rather than logic, and then only because I consider you a friend... Was I out of line?

Peperoncino
Oh, no, not at all. It's just, this is a Lostbelt, you know? You can't just walk in and out of them, right?

Daybit
We can't, no. But fortunately, we know someone who can.

Koyanskaya
Hellooo! Whether it's kidnapping, assassinations, or coup d'états, NFF Services is ready and waiting to assist!

Koyanskaya
That said, I was pretty preoccupied with my own affairs, so I was hoping to avoid answering any sudden business calls for a while...

Koyanskaya
...but you know, there aren't many people like Daybit around, right? So I thought it would be worthwhile to have him owe me a liiittle favor, without the Foreign God getting in the way.

  1. Koyanskaya...!
 
  Select: Koyanskaya...!

===Branch End===

Koyanskaya
Well, if it isn't Fujimaru. Not so long time no see. Oh, don't worry, I'm doing my best to torment the humans here just as much as you'd expect.

Koyanskaya
Buuut, until Arjuna gets at least a little farther away from here, I can't really have as much fun as I'd like.

Koyanskaya
Let's just say I don't want to draw too much of his attention right now by doing as I please.

Koyanskaya
So in the meantime, just think of me as a beautiful tour conductor keeping a silent but watchful eye on her group of students on a field trip and don't pay me any mind♡

Daybit
...While I was at it, I thought this would be a good chance to ascertain the extent of this woman's abilities. They did not come cheap, but you needn't worry about that.

Daybit
Anyway, what happened to you? Your contracted Servant is nowhere to be seen, and you're fighting alongside our enemy.

Daybit
It was worth the few minutes it took to see this for myself, but I can't imagine how you got to this point.

Peperoncino
It's because I can't go along with this god, the core of this Indian Lostbelt...or the way he does things.

Peperoncino
But I couldn't criticize him in front of Kirschtaria, since one of the Foreign God's Alter Ego Disciples is involved.

Daybit
Why can't you go along with him? His way of doing things may be unusual, but his logic appears sound.

Peperoncino
Hmm... I guess it's a matter of taste? Lifestyle, aesthetics, principles...that sort of thing?

Peperoncino
I guess, to put it another way,
it's because of who I am.

Daybit
So you haven't turned your back on the Crypters then.
In that case, there's no problem.

Peperoncino
Of course not! I would never abandon you guys.

Peperoncino
But I can't abandon these kids either. Now that things have come to this, I'm planning on helping them out until this is over, one way or the other.

Peperoncino
That shouldn't be a problem, right?

Daybit
I see. You're a good man, Myourenji. You really know how to take care of people.

Peperoncino
Eeeeee!

  1. Myourenji?
  2. Sorry? I didn't quite catch that.
  Select: Myourenji?

  Select: Sorry? I didn't quite catch that.

===Branch End===

Daybit
Can you defeat this god?

Peperoncino
Ugh, you're already moving past it like it never happened...

Peperoncino
Anyway, I'm trying, but honestly, it's a real challenge. I mean, he's pretty much a perfect being.

Peperoncino
...I don't suppose you have any advice for me, do you?

Daybit
So you're up against a perfect god, huh.
...Hmm.

Daybit
No, I don't have any advice. The more godlike a god is, the stronger they are. It's pointless to even try to fight a perfected god.

Peperoncino
Tell me something I don't know.

Daybit
You should change your plan of attack.

Daybit
You can't take something away from someone who has nothing, but you can always take something away from someone who has everything.

Peperoncino
...!

Peperoncino
So...you're saying I should try to slow him down?

Daybit
I have to go now. Guess we didn't have time to celebrate our reunion. Don't tell Wodime about this.

Daybit
I may not have violated the agreement, but it still doesn't look good.

Koyanskaya
Oh, are you headed back now?
Thank you for traveling with NFF♡

Koyanskaya
Okay everyone, I hope you don't mind if we step out for now. Don't worry, I'll be coming back very shortly.

Daybit
...

  1. (Did he just look at me right before he left...?)
 
  Select: (Did he just look at me right before he left...?)

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Christ on a cracker! Between the other Crypter and that minx showing up out of nowhere, it's been one thing after another! But never mind that now!

Goredolf
You there, field team! I trust you can move now!?

Rama
Of course! That bought us more than enough time to get out of that predicament!

Rama
Master! Arjuna has left, there are fewer dead now, and the Crypter is gone!

Ganesha
And we even have an idea of Pepe's real name now!

Fou
Fooou, fou?

Peperoncino
I-I don't know what you're talking about.
In fact, just forget you heard anything!

Peperoncino
We have bigger fish to fry right now!

Peperoncino
Ahh, I feel much better. There's just something about a sudden stroke of luck that puts you in a good mood.

Peperoncino
All righty, let's strike back while the iron is hot!

Lakshmi
...A sudden stroke of luck, huh. I just hope it's not a prelude to a greater stroke of bad luck...

Lakshmi
Either way, it looks like I'll have to put it out of my mind for now!

Mash
Ortinax load reduction sequence successful...
Output has restabilized!

Mash
Asclepius appears to still be reeling from Daybit's surprise attack! Now's our chance, Master!

--BATTLE--

Asclepius
Dammit. Can a doctor really accept his death at the hands of a violent patient? No. Definitely not.

A：Mash
Asclepius is making an escape!

Holmes
I'd prefer not to let him get away, given how he's our current priority target. Can you go after him?

Ganesha
N-no way.
I'm so exhausted I can barely move as it is...

Rama
We still haven't recovered from the wounds Arjuna inflicted on us. We'll just have to call this one a draw.

Lakshmi
Good grief... Now that the battle is over, I expect the townspeople will come out of hiding soon.

Lakshmi
It would be a lot of trouble to explain what just happened to them. I say we leave now.

Peperoncino
Sounds good to me. Why don't we head back to your walled village–Dival, was it?–And plan our next course of action on the way?

Lakshmi
...You seem awfully pleased about all this.

Peperoncino
Do I? I didn't think I was acting any different than usual.

  1. Something's definitely up, Myourenji.
  2. You're definitely pleased, Myourenji.
  Select: Something's definitely up, Myourenji.

  Select: You're definitely pleased, Myourenji.

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Wha...!? Don't...!

Peperoncino
(Sigh)... Okay, you win. If you want to know about that stuff so badly, I'll tell you on the way.

Peperoncino
Let's just leave before the locals start throwing stones at us for assaulting an agent of god or something.

Mash
...

  1. You okay, Mash?
 
  Select: You okay, Mash?

===Branch End===

Mash
Oh, uh, yes, I'm fine.

Mash
Well, not FINE fine. I'm just as exhausted and hurt as everyone else is.

Mash
I was just...thinking about something else.

Mash
Now that we've faced Arjuna directly, it's clear just how overwhelmingly powerful he is.

Mash
And not just as a lone fighter.

Mash
I could tell he was on a completely different scale...almost like he was competing with the ground itself to see who was stronger.

Mash
Oh, but please don't misunderstand me, Master!
I'm not about to give up by any means!

Mash
I'm just saying, analytically speaking, that Arjuna is undoubtedly the most powerful god in this world.

Mash
And...the more I think about how we could hold our own against him, the more I come up blank...

Mash
Even if we succeed at defeating the Lōkapāla and reducing his power, would it really make any difference...?

Fou
Fou...

  1. We'll come up with something if we all brainstorm together.
  2. Don't worry. We'll figure something out. I know it.
  Select: We'll come up with something if we all brainstorm together.

  Select: Don't worry. We'll figure something out. I know it.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes... You're right. I'm sure it'll be fine.

Mash
Okay, Master, shall we start heading back? Our first order of business: get Pepe to tell us his full name.

Peperoncino
Not you too, Mashie!?

Section 12: Advancement Impulse/People and the Girl

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Peperoncino
...Honestly, I don't think the name on your birth certificate matters that much.

Peperoncino
What really matters is what people think of you and what THEY call you.

Peperoncino
That says so much more about who you really are than a name in some database ever could.

Peperoncino
Just look at all the famous historical figures who aren't known by the names they were given at birth!

Peperoncino
You even had some in Chaldea, like Billy the Kid and Blackbeard, right? So there's no reason I can't–

  1. Nice try. Now spit it out!
  2. Oh just tell us your real name already!
  Select: Nice try. Now spit it out!

  Select: Oh just tell us your real name already!

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Will you listen to me!? This is important, dammit!

Peperoncino
...Oh, the hell with it.
It's Arou, okay?

Peperoncino
My old name is Myourenji Arou.

Mash
Myourenji Arou... So that's your real name?

  1. I had a feeling you were Japanese!
  2. Figures. Where the heck did “Peperoncino” come from...?
  Select: I had a feeling you were Japanese!

  Select: Figures. Where the heck did “Peperoncino” come from...?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Hm, so you had your suspicions all along,
did you, Fujimaru!?

Peperoncino
You're surprisingly observant, aren't you?
You little devil, you!

Mash
I'm impressed you figured that out before I did when I've known Pepe longer, Senpai... I guess I still have a lot to learn about being more observant...

Peperoncino
Anyway, it really doesn't mean anything to me, so I'd rather you just keep calling me Sexy Pepe as always.

Peperoncino
In fact, don't even bother calling me that other name, 'cause I won't respond.

Fou
Fou fooou.

Peperoncino
...And don't ask me anything else about where I came from or who I was before Chaldea. Besides, there's nothing there that isn't in my Team A profile.

Peperoncino
All you need to know is that after I left Japan for the West and started really enjoying my life, one thing led to another, and I ended up getting to know some people at the Clock Tower.

Peperoncino
Eventually, Marisbury invited me to Chaldea, saying my combat experience was just what he needed to make up for the academic bent of all the other mages...

Peperoncino
...and now, here we are.

Da Vinci
So then, you must've been born to a mage family, right?
Shugendou, was it?

Da Vinci
I'd looove to learn more about it, since it's the foundation of Far East magecraft and all. Pleeease? (Puppy dog eyes)

Peperoncino
Don't try to milk the whole little girl appearance thing. It's demeaning.

Holmes
I've heard that Shugendou is a mixture of Buddhism and mountain worship unique to Japan.

Holmes
Did Marisbury bring you on to serve as Team A's guide...or perhaps an overseer of sorts?

Holmes
Survival is crucial when Rayshifting to an unfamiliar location, after all.

Holmes
Perhaps it was your job to keep an eye on the others and ensure they could survive even in harsh environments?

Peperoncino
Hehe. I'll say it was something like that and leave it there.

Ganesha
I remember you saying something about being able to use Divine Power before.

Ganesha
But then, how come the names of the spells you use in battle don't sound anything like Shugendou?

Peperoncino
That's just 'cause I made them up myself. Traditional Japanese names are just lacking a certain je ne sais quoi.

Peperoncino
...Anyway, as much as I love me, I'd love a different topic of conversation even more.

Peperoncino
Shouldn't we be discussing our next course of action?

Rama
He makes a good point. Honestly, I don't care what his name is. We should be trying to figure out how we can possibly take down Arjuna.

Mash
Yes... You're absolutely right.

Mash
I do think we're on the right track, but I can't help but think we're still missing something crucial...

Lakshmi
...All right, enough stalling.
You've got something in mind, don't you?

Mash
Huh?

Peperoncino
Who, me?

Lakshmi
Yes, you. It's obvious you know something, just like you did earlier. It's written all over your face.

  1. (She sure doesn't want for conviction...)
 
  Select: (She sure doesn't want for conviction...)

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Hehe, you got me.

Peperoncino
Daybit really is something else.
I guess this is what you call natural intuition?

Peperoncino
“The more godlike a god is, the stronger they are.”
That's it in a nutshell.

Peperoncino
And it's exactly what we needed to be reminded of.

Mash
What do you mean...?

Peperoncino
It couldn't be more basic. Think about it. What makes a god a god? Here, let me put it another way.

Peperoncino
Which kind of god do you think is stronger? One nobody's ever heard of, or one everyone believes in and prays to?

Holmes
Now I see. Basic, indeed.
A fact so elementary that I failed to consider it.

Meunière
I can't tell if you're serious,
or if this is just sour grapes...

Peperoncino
There's something similar for Servants too.
I think it's called a fame bonus?

Da Vinci
Ohhh, yeah. Now that you've pointed it out,
it really is a simple problem.

Da Vinci
The reason Arjuna is a god here isn't just because he collected every Divinity in this land for himself.

Da Vinci
It's also because the people here worship him as a god.

Da Vinci
Buuut...what would happen if they didn't consider him a god anymore?

Goredolf
...His divine strength would be reduced.

Holmes
Precisely, Director.

  1. Umm... I still don't get it.
 
  Select: Umm... I still don't get it.

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
It means the fewer people who believe Arjuna's a god, the weaker he'll become.

Ganesha
Ganesha's super popular, so I don't have any idea what it feels like to have faith in you fade away. No, really.

Rama
I see. So this is like asking where I can be a greater hero: the India that knows me, or this India that doesn't.

Rama
By virtue of who I am, I can of course be a great hero in either...but there is still bound to be a difference.

Rama
If these two versions of me were to throw their Brahmastras at one another...

Rama
...the victor would surely be the one from the India that knows me. And there would definitely be an observable gap between the two.

Mash
Now I get it. So then, how can we get people here to stop believing in Arjuna...?

  1. There's a great place to find out!
  2. We're already heading somewhere where we can figure that out!
  Select: There's a great place to find out!

  Select: We're already heading somewhere where we can figure that out!

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Dival... Then, you're saying my resistance was not for naught after all?

Peperoncino
Not at all! If anything, you already did the hardest work of making our first toehold! I'm super grateful!

Lakshmi
...To be honest, I have had my doubts about my actions here.

Lakshmi
While I never doubted my conviction that this world was wrong, and desperately needed to be fixed...

Lakshmi
...I did wonder if my efforts here were meaningful, and whether there was anything to be gained by involving the people of this land in my fight.

Mash
...

Lakshmi
This war I started...people have gotten hurt.

Lakshmi
I may be a queen and a commander, but I am not so saintly as I am made out to be. I still have doubts.

Lakshmi
I do believe in what I'm doing, but I'm not so naive that I never thought to question it.

Lakshmi
I have never forgotten what one of the locals told me back when this began.

Lakshmi
They said what I was doing was meaningless. That I was pointlessly endangering innocents, even getting them hurt.

Lakshmi
But...it wasn't meaningless after all, was it?

Peperoncino
It sure wasn't. Your village is showing us the way forward. Now we just need to keep spreading the gospel, so to speak.

Peperoncino
It might not be easy, but your village has proven that these people can change their minds.

Peperoncino
Who's to say the same can't happen somewhere else?

Lakshmi
...You're right. Once we get back to Dival, I'll talk to the villagers and ask them to help us spread this movement.

Lakshmi
I expect the people of this land will be much more receptive to them than they would be to someone like me.

Peperoncino
Sure, but every movement needs a charismatic leader like yourself, y'know?

Lakshmi
Oh...

Mash
(A movement to get the people here to resist the current state of their world... I know that would help us...but...)

Peperoncino
(Oh... I see you've realized the paradox with this plan, Mashie. Figured you might...)

Rama
Good, our plan of action is set.
Then let's be on our way.

Rama
You know, I think I even feel lighter on my feet now.

Ganesha
Guh, speak for yourself. All the bad karma I racked up as an unemployed bum is still weighing me down.

Ganesha
I wish there was a wagon or something here right now.
It wouldn't even have to have any seats.

Ganesha
Really, I don't care what I ride on as long as I don't have to walk.

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Ganesha
Did you just jump on me like I'M the one who should be giving YOU a ride, you weird cat-thing!? Ganesha is no mere pack mule!

Ganesha
Do you think you're more important than a god!? I mean, you're really cute so I guess you can ride, but still...

Fou
Fou, fou. Kyu?

--ARROW--

Lakshmi
What the... What happened here!?

Woman
Lady Lakshmi! You're back! Thank goodness!

Lakshmi
I'm glad you're all right. What in the world...
No, wait. I know what happened here now. It's them!

Woman
Yes, it's the sacred beasts! A number of them suddenly showed up all at once, even though no one had died and the kali weren't attacking us!

Rama
We can figure out why later. Right now, there are buildings being destroyed, and people being attacked!

Rama
I'm sure you know what it is we need to do, Master!

  1. We have to help them!
  2. We have to drive the beasts away!
  Select: We have to help them!

  Select: We have to drive the beasts away!

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Dammit...I knew it. Does this mean you won't let me forget after all...?

--BATTLE--

Rama
That takes care of all the sacred beasts.
But, I'm afraid...

Woman
Ahh... Our village...
Why? Why did this happen!?

Lakshmi
...

Holmes
We drove away other sacred beasts and defeated Nezha here only a few days ago. Unfortunately, it is no surprise that this town may have drawn the enemy's notice...

Lakshmi
...Forgive me...

Woman
I-it's all right, Lady Lakshmi. This wasn't your fault.
We just weren't strong enough.

Woman
There were more of them than we were expecting, and some were bigger than any sacred beast we'd ever seen before.

Woman
Besides, they may have crushed our wall and destroyed our homes, but we still have our lives.

Woman
...At least, that's how those of us who survived feel.

Ganesha
But, what're you gonna do now? That wall was there to keep you safe from the kali, right?

Ganesha
Now that it's been destroyed...

Rama
Forget fighting back. You can't even live here with your village in ruins like this.

Rama
Based on my experience as a king, my suggestion is to abandon the village. I think that is your only choice.

Woman
...

Rama
I understand how you feel, but there is just no way you can rebuild your defenses before the next Kali Yuga.

Rama
As I see it, your only option is to stay in the closest nearby town–I think that would be Bichu–until the Kali Yuga is over.

Lakshmi
No! That's... They can't...

Woman
...It's all right, Lady Lakshmi. He's right.
We know we don't have any other choice.

Woman
I hate to leave the village I grew up in...but we can always rebuild. We can't bring people back to life.

Rama
...I see. I may not be your king,
but I commend your decision nonetheless.

Rama
You are strong and brave people,
and you should be proud of that.

  1. We'll be with you every step of the way.
  2. Let's make sure they get there safely.
  Select: We'll be with you every step of the way.

  Select: Let's make sure they get there safely.

===Branch End===

Mash
Yes, Master. Of course we will.

Mash
Although...I am a little uneasy about what will happen once we get there.

Ganesha
Hey, no point worrying about that now.

Ganesha
Besides, that mayor guy looked like he'd turned over a new leaf. I'm sure it'll be just fine.

Prakash
Oh my... What a terrible hardship you've all been through.

Prakash
Well, I don't see any need to discuss this with the others. Of course you can all stay here.

Lakshmi
Thank you. I can't tell you how grateful I am for your kindness and hospitality!

Prakash
Think nothing of it. This is what neighbors are for. The important thing is that you're all safe and sound.

Prakash
Make yourselves comfortable in the town hall for now. We can figure out what to do next once you're settled in.

Ganesha
Told ya!

Mash
Oh, thank goodness. This is such a relief!

--ARROW--

Lakshmi
(...)

Lakshmi
(Ahh...)

Lakshmi
(My sins truly do run deep...)

Lakshmi
I... Goddess within me, what do you think?

Lakshmi
I know you won't answer me.
But I also know that you're listening.

Lakshmi
That's why I asked you back then what it was I should do.

Lakshmi
...And now, here we are.

Lakshmi
I know what I'm doing, and I've made my peace with it.

Lakshmi
But, even so, now that things have come to this,
I can't help but wonder...

Lakshmi
The village is in ruins, lives have been lost, and people are grieving. Who can say this isn't the result of getting caught in that inescapable current?

Lakshmi
Is what I...what we're doing here...

Lakshmi
...truly worth deceiving the Chaldeans–

Lakshmi
...

Rama
Aha, so this is where you've been hiding. I was just taking a midnight walk. What brings you here?

Lakshmi
Oh, it's you... I was doing the same. I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd sit out and watch the moon.

Rama
I see, I see. The moon really is lovely tonight.
May I join you?

Lakshmi
Heh, I think it best you don't. If you mistake me for your wife again and try to, for instance, put your arm around me, we would lose a valuable fighter.

Rama
...Forgive me. I meant no offense.

Rama
Though I have no romantic feelings for you, I should still have chosen my words more carefully.

Rama
My humblest apologies, Lakshmi.

Lakshmi
I'm afraid you'll have to enjoy the night sky alone, young king of bygone days. I'm going back to get some sleep.

Rama
...Hmm, strange.
I don't even know how to describe this feeling...

Asha
Whoa, it's such a surprise to wake up and see you here!
Good morning, {(M) mister /(F) miss}!

  1. Morning! I see you're as cute as ever today!
  2. Morning! I see you're as cheery as ever today!
  Select: Morning! I see you're as cute as ever today!
Asha
Huh? Hehe... Nobody's ever called me cute before...
You really surprised me...

  Select: Morning! I see you're as cheery as ever today!
Asha
Uh-huh! It's the one thing I'm good at!

===Branch End===

Mash
Good morning, Asha. Good morning, um...

Mash
Why do you have that axe, Ajai?

Ajai
...Damn ulloo. It's for my job, of course.

Asha
My dad's a great lumberjack!
He can cut down a tree thiiis big in no time!

Rama
A lumberjack, huh. That's a fine line of work.
People can always use more wood.

Ajai
Shut up. ...So you're the ones who brought the people from Dival here, huh?

Ajai
This town doesn't have that much to spare either.
You'll regret that.

Mash
No we won't.
Prakash welcomed them with open arms just yesterday.

Mash
We were just about to–

Prakash
There you are!

Mash
H-hello, Prakash. Is everything all right?
Y-you seem upse–

Prakash
I heard why you had to leave your village!

Prakash
It's because a pack of sacred beasts attacked it!
Our god's own holy agents!

Prakash
The sacred beasts would never destroy a village unless it needed to be destroyed! It must have been irredeemably evil!

Prakash
No one from that village is welcome here!

Lakshmi
Hold it. We told you ourselves what brought us here. We told you what we had done to earn the beasts' ire, and our reasons for doing so.

Lakshmi
You had no problem with any of it yesterday. You said that loving your neighbor was the most noble act anyone could–

Prakash
Oh yes, I heard all about what you did! You abandoned your prayers, and turned your backs on our god!

Prakash
You took up corrupt arms against kali and sacred beast alike, and slaughtered them with your own barbaric hands!

Prakash
I did feel sorry for you, as I assumed you must have had no other choice...but that has nothing to do with our town!

Prakash
And yet you still had the gall to come here and shamelessly ask us for help!

Prakash
The sheer audacity of it all!
Your insolence sickens me!

Ganesha
Wait, how are we back to this whole song and dance?
Oooh, I know! This is his evil twin, isn't it!?

Holmes
Do you truly believe I would ever be deceived by such a simple trick?

Holmes
If a mere evil twin were all it took to fool me,
I would shutter my business and retire to Sussex.

Man
Yeah! You're all filthy barbarians!
That's why the sacred beasts purified your village!

Woman
You brought this on yourselves!
You should all be ashamed!

  1. Now the villagers are joining in...!
 
  Select: Now the villagers are joining in...!

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
Hmm, they were all fine with this yesterday. What happened? Did they get brainwashed overnight or something?

Peperoncino
You might be closer to the mark than you think.

Peperoncino
It's said that people's hearts grow cold when a yuga cycle, even a normal one, nears its end.

Peperoncino
That lines up with my experiences too, but it's still a shock to see them change so much, so quickly.

Asha
Why's everyone so angry now? I don't like this...

Ajai
...Told you so.

Holmes
Of course, I expect there is a bit of variance between individuals as far as this change is concerned. What a fascinating metaphysical law.

Mash
N-never mind that now! Look!

E：Man
Shut up! You have no idea what we've been through!

F：Woman
Yeah! I'm sick and tired of forgetting the people I've loved!

Man
Don't you talk to that like us, you heretics!
We are good people who keep the god's laws!

Woman
That's right!
We want nothing to do with your blasphemy!

Lakshmi
...I don't like this.
The last thing we want is people fighting each other.

Da Vinci
I don't suppose it would be any better if they were fighting things that aren't people?

Da Vinci
Like, say...a pack of decidedly inhuman things that are headed towards that town as we speak?

Peperoncino
Well, it is the Dvāpara Yuga now. This is about the time when they start to pick up the pace!

People
It's the kali! The kali are here! Okay, everyone...

People
Get ready to pray/fight!

--BATTLE--

F：Woman
Ahh...!

F：Woman
I-is this it? Does this mean we were never any match for the kali to begin with...!?

Lakshmi
Don't give up! Our greatest strength is our ability to work together! Follow my lead; I'll clear a way forward!

Woman
R-right!

H：Man A
I-I can't believe it... They really are fighting back.

I：Man B
Yeah... I don't get it. The ones in the weird outfits aside, they're just regular people, same as us, right? Why would they do that...?

Ajai
...

Asha
{(M) Mister /(F) Miss}...

Man
A-a kali broke through the wall!
God protect me! God protect us all!

Asha
Ah... Aah...

Ajai
Dammit. Now I've done it.

Ajai
It's all their fault. Now that they've shown us we can fight back ourselves...my body just moved on its own...

Ajai
...Well, there's nothing to be done for it now.
Come on, Asha!

Asha
F-father...?

Ajai
Prayers aren't gonna do anything now that the wall's broken. The only thing I can depend on now is my axe.

Ajai
We're getting out of here Asha. Those people are ulloo, but we've still got better odds sticking with them.

Asha
...O-okay!

H：Man A
H-hey! What're you guys doing!?

I：Man B
...H-hold on! I'm coming with you!
I'm not gonna let myself get eaten without a fight!

H：Man A
Huh!?
...Wait up! I'm coming too!

Mash
Master, look!
More people are joining us in the fight!

Mash
And not to get away from the kali...but to help the people they're attacking!

  1. That's a big help and all, but...
  2. ...
  Select: That's a big help and all, but...

  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Hehe. As I thought, there's nothing more inspiring than the sight of ordinary people valiantly fighting for their lives.

Lakshmi
Compared to that, a mere queen can only do so much.

Rama
Of course, as I think someone once said, it also matters how brightly the one standing at the forefront shines.

Mash
...

Lakshmi
...? There it is again. You two have had that sad look on your faces ever since we decided to try and win more people over to the resistance.

Lakshmi
Is there something wrong with the people of this land fighting back? If there is, then please, tell me.

Holmes
Ah, yes. We haven't yet told you precisely what will happen once this Lostbelt's Tree of Emptiness is cut down, have we?

Holmes
...I'll let you decide whether or not to tell her.

  1. ...Of course we're going to tell her. But we can't right now!
  2. We'll tell her, but now's not exactly the best time!
  Select: ...Of course we're going to tell her. But we can't right now!

  Select: We'll tell her, but now's not exactly the best time!

===Branch End===

Goredolf
...Hmph. Fujimaru is right. I am commanding this mission, and I have no plans to hide the truth.

Goredolf
But this isn't the sort of thing you just drop on someone in the middle of battle.

Goredolf
So...for the time being, I'd ask that you just focus on winning this fight. The rest can wait until after that.

Rama
I haven't heard much about this either.
Whatever it is, it sounds very important.

Ganesha
...

Lakshmi
...?

Fou
Fou!

Mash
Lakshmi! We'll explain everything after this battle.
I promise.

Mash
But there are even more kali headed this way right now.
We need to deal with them before we–

Mash
Huh!?

Rama
An arrow just blasted those kali away!
Where did it come from!?

Ganesha
I can't believe it...
It looked to me like it came from outside the town!

Tell
Hehe. Gotta keep things, even our god's judgment, at least sorta fair, seeing as I'm his servant and all.

Tell
If the kali unfairly outnumber the sacred beasts, it's my job to thin the herd, even if it is a pain in the ass.

Da Vinci
This is not good. I was hoping we could take our time with him after dealing with Asclepius, but now he's shown up on his own...!

Mash
The Archer...William Tell must have killed those kali from quite a distance! Be careful, Master!

Goredolf
Whaaat!? You're telling me he nailed them from that far away!? Even a sniper rifle would have trouble at that range!

Holmes
Remember, he's a Servant, and an Archer at that. We should assume his arrows are infused with magical energy.

Holmes
Nor can we assume his crossbow is less deadly than a modern assault rifle merely because it appears to be old-fashioned.

Rama
Nonetheless, the sheer distance is absurd. Even my sharp eyes can't clearly make out his position!

Peperoncino
True, this is too much, even for a first-rate Archer. Maybe the Divinity he was given has something to do with it?

Man
An agent of god and the sacred beasts have come to save us! I knew our prayers would be answered!

Woman
We're saved, everyone! We're going to be okay now!

Ajai
Damn ulloo... I don't know how I know this, but if those arrows end up hitting one of us by mistake...

Ajai
...I can tell the god wouldn't lift a finger to help us.

Ajai
...Stay back, Asha.
Don't you dare get in front of me. I mean it.

Asha
I-I won't.
...Thank you, Father.

Mash
This is going to be a difficult fight! Those arrows may be taking out kali right now, but there's no telling when they might come flying toward us.

Mash
I'm going to focus first and foremost on keeping you safe, Master. Whatever you do, make sure to stay behind my shield!

--BATTLE--

Rama
That's the last of the kali! But now...

Mash
The sniper hasn't stopped!
He's going after us now!

Holmes
This is hardly a surprise. Given how openly you have been opposing their god's rule, it makes sense he would be unwilling to let this chance pass him by.

Holmes
The good news is, neither Asclepius nor Aśvatthāman are anywhere nearby.

Holmes
I suspect he just happened to catch sight of you while dealing with the kali, and decided to pick you off as well while he was at it.

Goredolf
Forget the coolheaded analysis, dammit! Make sure you keep a wall between you at all times! Find a shadow to hide in!

Mash
We are! But it's not–

Meunière
How the hell is he seeing you guys? And how the hell is he able to still snipe at you!? The only way this makes sense is if the arrows can go around obstacles!

Peperoncino
That might be exactly what's happening.
I have an idea or two of how that could work.

Captain
...(Sigh) I was just told to share some more facts about India, since I don't have anything better to do right now.

Captain
The Lōkapāla inside this guy is probably Vāyu, the god of wind. He'd be a great fit for an Archer.

Rama
Hanuman's spiritual father, huh.
That would explain how he was able to fly so nimbly.

Rama
It could also explain how he's able to control his arrows so freely across such vast distances.

Captain
Vāyu is also the spiritual father of Arjuna's brother, Bhima, said to possess unparalleled strength. Gods don't come much bigger than him.

Captain
...So, how are you going to fight him?

Mash
Khh! I'm still barely managing to deflect his arrows, but the longer this goes on...!

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Rama
The usual way to handle an Archer is to close the distance and negate their range advantage. What do you say, Master? Shall we try that?

  1. Let's give it a shot.
  2. I don't think that'll work here.
  Select: Let's give it a shot.
Mash
Wait! It's not safe to make a move without a plan!

  Select: I don't think that'll work here.
Mash
...You're right, Master. It won't.

===Branch End===

Mash
...!

Mash
We can only deal with his arrows right now because keeping our feet planted lets us focus on every direction at once.

Da Vinci
She's right. One wrong move,
and that delicate balance would be lost.

Da Vinci
You're our most vulnerable target here by far, Fujimaru.

Da Vinci
If even one arrow makes it past Mash...it's game over.

Ganesha
You see? I KNEW shut-ins were the most powerful class around.

Ganesha
We'll have to make ourselves comfortable and settle in for the long haul here. Step one: break out that kotatsu!

Rama
No, by definition, that won't get us anywhere. I'll just have to go out there myself and settle this as quickly as–

Rama
I guess that won't work either.
So, we have a bit of a problem...

Lakshmi
...

Lakshmi
(At this rate, things aren't looking good either way...)

Lakshmi
(I can't afford to be concerned about appearances now.
Maybe this is the time to come clean.)

Lakshmi
(But, I can't help but wonder...)

Lakshmi
(What are they hiding?)

Lakshmi
(I know they don't mean me harm, and that they are just as devoted to winning this war as I am.)

Lakshmi
(But, why do I sense such grim determination in their efforts...?)

Asha
{(M) Mister /(F) Miss}...? A-are you guys okay?

Mash
Please stay back, Asha! We're fine, I promise!

Ajai
Damn ulloo! I told you to stay behind me!

Lakshmi
(Right... I should have known. Whatever it is they're not telling me, it doesn't matter. We have more immediate concerns.)

Lakshmi
Your father is right. Both of you should stay back.
But I do have one favor to ask.

Lakshmi
There must be a wagon somewhere in this town, or even just a single horse and cart. Would you bring them here?

Mash
Lakshmi?

Ajai
Is there some reason I should listen to you?

Lakshmi
No, there isn't. I am asking a favor. No... Not even that. I'm willing to offer payment in return.

Lakshmi
There's nothing wrong with motivating people with money or goods. I learned that back in that rebellion...

Lakshmi
To be clear, they are the ones who will be paying,
not me. Fujimaru, you must have something in the way of food or valuables, do you not?

  1. Well, if you're okay with rations...
  2. Well, if you're okay with the stash of jewels we have on the Border...
  Select: Well, if you're okay with rations...
Ajai
You have food? ...All right.
As long as it's filling, I don't care how it tastes.

  Select: Well, if you're okay with the stash of jewels we have on the Border...
Ajai
You have jewels? ...All right.
I should be able to sell those for money to buy food.

===Branch End===

Ajai
...I'll be back soon.
Come on, Asha.

Asha
O-okay.

Rama
What's all this about?

Lakshmi
I have a plan. A plan that will let us take down that Archer even while he continues to snipe at us.

Mash
Th-that sounds like just what we need right now.
What exactly did you have in mind?

Ganesha
Yeah. I don't see what we could do with a horse and cart except use them to charge straight at him.

Ganesha
And that sounds like it'd be...real hard. What if the Archer shoots the driver, or the horse?

Ganesha
And if we keep them safe, that would leave Fujimaru wide open...

Lakshmi
I know that. Unfortunately, it is difficult to explain, but I can say this...

Lakshmi
You will all ride the cart, I will ride the horse, and I will see you to him safely. I promise.

Peperoncino
You're, um, certain about this?

Lakshmi
...Haha. Don't worry.

Lakshmi
I'll do this just as I've always done things and work just as hard. No, even harder. That way, we'll be sure to get there.

Mash
(She's smiling... Does that mean she really is that confident in her plan...?)

Ajai
How's this?

Lakshmi
That's fine. You can go now.
Just leave the horse there.

Asha
B-but miss...

Lakshmi
That goes for you too. No need to worry about me.
Just go and hide before you get hit by a stray arrow.

Lakshmi
Good. All right, on my signal, you all get into the cart. I'll get the horse moving once you're all in!

Lakshmi
Don't worry about anything except keeping Fujimaru safe until we get there. Got it?

Mash
Got it!

Lakshmi
Good answer. All right...let's go!

Tell
Oh? So, they came out, huh. Looks like they're planning to ride that horse-drawn cart all the way here.

Tell
'Course, they must've known I'd pick off the horse first if they tried something like that...

Tell
Well, let's see what they had in mind to deal with that.

Lakshmi
His first bolt will probably be coming any moment now.
Keep your guard up.

Mash
I will, but I expect he'll go after the horse first.
Or maybe you...

Mash
Please make sure you keep your guard up too–

Lakshmi
...!

  1. Lakshmi!
 
  Select: Lakshmi!

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
...I'm fine! It's just my shoulder!
No need to slow down!

Tell
The hell? I know I was aiming for the horse.
How did I miss!?

Tell
...I pride myself on being a good hunter. I shouldn't have any problem taking down a domesticated farm animal.

Tell
Let's try that again.

Mash
Oh no! Lakshmi! You've been shot again!

Lakshmi
I'm fine! All you need to worry about is keeping Master safe!

Tell
Whoa, whoa, what the hell? What's going on here?

Tell
The horse kicked up a stone that knocked my arrow off course...

Tell
...and deflected it into the rider.

Tell
...This is freaking me out. I don't need to be hitting anything other than what I was aiming at!

Tell
Let's try a different target. I'll use Vāyu's power to aim for the Master five meters off to the side...

Tell
Damn, it happened again. It was a bird this time.

Tell
How does hitting a bird's feather knock my shot off course and into the rider again!?

Tell
What is going on here? Is it a Noble Phantasm?
A skill? Some innate trait?

Lakshmi
Gah!
Khh...!

Rama
Lakshmi! Hang on!
I can deflect those arrows with my–

Lakshmi
Stay there! Don't worry, this is just part of who I am.
You being here would only muddy it. Or maybe you'd make it clearer? Hehe.

Mash
Lakshmi...!

Lakshmi
I told you, don't worry. These shots won't kill me;
they weren't aimed at me.

Lakshmi
Of course, if one of them does come directly for me,
then it'll need to be deflected...but that's a job for my sword and my sword alone!

Tell
(Weird. It doesn't matter if I aim for the horse,
the wheels, or the Master. Everything hits the rider.)

Tell
(It's like everything surrounding them is working it make sure I only hit her.)

Tell
(But none of them are enough to kill her.
Makes sense, since I wasn't trying to.)

Tell
Okay, then. New plan. We'll just kill you first.

Lakshmi
There! He's started to aim for me directly.
I knew he would eventually! That's more like it!

Lakshmi
He certainly earned his fame! I can hardly tell where the shots are coming from, and it's all I can do to deflect them and avoid dying!

Mash
...!

Lakshmi
Don't make me repeat myself again! I'm not slowing down! Just think about what you're going to do when we get there!

Lakshmi
Ghh! Aagh...!

Lakshmi
You can't...stop...me!

Lakshmi
(...I've always fought for my country.
How could I not?)

Lakshmi
(It was true during the sepoys' rebellion, and it's true now. I wasn't fighting for some greater meaning.)

Lakshmi
(I just had to keep moving forward to protect what I held dear.)

Lakshmi
(So that's what I did, even before I knew what I was doing. I wavered, I even hesitated, but I never stopped!)

Lakshmi
(The meaning can come later. What pushes me forward are the reasons that lie behind me!)

Lakshmi
(I know what lies behind me now isn't my own country.
I know it's not my homeland, Jhansi. But...)

Lakshmi
(...they are still people, just like the people of my country were.)

Lakshmi
(What lies behind me, then and now, are people.
People with homes...livelihoods...and families!)

Lakshmi
(So I'm not stopping for anything, goddess. Whatever happens to me, and no matter how ugly things get, I can't stop until I get where I need to go!)

Tell
Dammit!

Lakshmi
We're here. To think you never hit your target even once, William Tell. Talk about bad luck.

Tell
Heh. All those arrows fired, and I still couldn't bring you down. Guess you were even more slippery quarry than that scumbag of a Vogt, Gessler.

Mash
We did it, Master! We made contact with the enemy!

Ganesha
You okay, Lakshmi!?

Lakshmi
(Huff, huff...) I'm fine. But, as I said, I'm afraid the rest of you will...have to take it...from here...

Rama
I still don't know how you did that, but we could never have made it here without your help...

Rama
We won't let your efforts go to waste!
Let's do this, Master!

  1. His long-range attacks aren't gonna be much help now!
  2. There's no way we're losing a close-range fight!
  Select: His long-range attacks aren't gonna be much help now!

  Select: There's no way we're losing a close-range fight!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fooou!

--BATTLE--

Tell
Guh... They're too damn close. I'm in trouble here.
Time to get the hell out!

Ganesha
Hey! After all that, you're just gonna run away!?
Have you no honoooooor!?

  1. Tell! I thought you fought against tyrannies, not for them!
  2. Tell! I thought you were a good man who cared about his family!
  Select: Tell! I thought you fought against tyrannies, not for them!
Mash
That's right. I know your story too.
Mash
You were a brave hero who wanted nothing more than to protect your family!
Tell
...
Mash
So why are you doing this!?

  Select: Tell! I thought you were a good man who cared about his family!
Tell
...
Mash
That's right. I know your story too.
Mash
You were given an impossible task given by the wicked Vogt that ruled over your town, and you somehow won, all to protect your family!
Mash
You were a great hero who fought for justice and freedom.
Mash
So why are you doing this!?

===Branch End===

Tell
...Heh. I don't know what you're on about.

Tell
I'm just a hunter Servant, bound by contract to do what his Master orders. That's all there is to it.

Tell
It's not my place to decide how this world should be.
Woods are woods, as far as I'm concerned.

Lakshmi
Get back he– Ghh!

Peperoncino
Don't bother. You're in no shape to go after him.
We got some good hits in; that's enough for now.

Peperoncino
Though it does sting knowing we've now let both him and Asclepius get away.

Holmes
He certainly made a quick getaway. Either he's using the wind god's power, or that was his own innate skill.

Holmes
That aside... Did you notice how outmatched he was by the end? It seems you did quite a number on him.

Holmes
Considering how his initial assault had you pinned down to start, I would say this was a victory well-earned.

Rama
Indeed. And we owe it all to you, Lakshmi Bai. Your plan was more than a little reckless, but I have to admit that it worked.

Rama
Although...I still don't know how all those arrows ended up hitting you.

Ganesha
I was wondering the same thing.

Ganesha
I mean, if any of us were gonna be a human shield, I figured you guys would've made me do it for...obvious reasons.

Ganesha
How'd you do it?

Ganesha
Not that I want to learn how myself! The only thing you'd get from sticking me with arrows is a bunch of lard and hot air leaking out.

Lakshmi
That was...

Lakshmi
...my inner goddess's power.

Mash
I see... I never knew the goddess Lakshmi had any such ability.

Holmes
...

Peperoncino
...

Rama
...All right, that's enough.
I was curious about that, but not overly so.

Rama
Right now, I say we head back to town and rest up,
before things get really busy.

Lakshmi
Huh? What do you mean by that?

Ajai
Hey, ulloo.
...Teach me how to fight.

Lakshmi
Huh?

Ajai
And not just me. These guys too.

Ajai
Now that we know it's possible to fight back,
we've got no choice.

Ajai
You showed us that truth, so now you've gotta help us learn to do it better.

Lakshmi
...!

Mash
(This is wonderful. They've all chosen to resist the kali of their own accord.)

Mash
(But, that also means...)

Rama
You stood up bravely against the kali,
and exposed yourself to unseen arrows.

Rama
You should be proud, Lakshmi. It was not your words that inspired these people to fight back, but your actions.

Ganesha
Oh yeah. You were like a saint or something, the way you charged ahead so recklessly and literally suffered the arrows of misfortune.

Ganesha
I don't blame these guys for being impressed.

Lakshmi
(A saint...? As if that was even possible...)

Lakshmi
...At any rate, I'm happy to see you all ready and willing to fight.

Peperoncino
The fewer people believe Arjuna's a god, the weaker he'll get. Looks like we just took our first step towards that.

  1. Yeah, that's...great...
  2. We'll have to keep it up then...
  Select: Yeah, that's...great...

  Select: We'll have to keep it up then...

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
You don't sound very excited about this.

Lakshmi
...That does it. I think it's time we found somewhere to talk.

Lakshmi
...All right, out with it.
Would you tell me what's going on already?

Lakshmi
What is it you know that I don't?

Lakshmi
Does saving these people have some larger implication I'm unaware of?

Mash
Master...

  1. Okay. I'll tell you everything.
  2. (...I don't think I can bring myself to tell her just yet.)
  Select: Okay. I'll tell you everything.
Lakshmi
That... That can't be true!
Goredolf
It is. Once we defeat this Lostbelt's king and cut down its Tree of Emptiness, this version of India will disappear forever.
Goredolf
Along with all of its people.

  Select: (...I don't think I can bring myself to tell her just yet.)
Goredolf
Hmph. If you won't explain, then I will.
Goredolf
For a skilled commander like myself to direct his operatives as if they were his own hands, those operatives need to understand the mission.
Goredolf
The fact is, once we defeat this Lostbelt's king and cut down its Tree of Emptiness, this version of India will vanish forever.
Goredolf
Along with all of its people.
Lakshmi
What!?

===Branch End===

Goredolf
So, I'm afraid that even if their rebellion is successful...there is no future for them.

Goredolf
The only people who will benefit from our winning this war...are us.

Rama
I see. I had a feeling something like that was going on here...

Lakshmi
Then...even if these people win back their liberty...they are doomed to disappear...?

Lakshmi
And you knew this all along!?

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Mash
Lakshmi!

Asha
Oh gosh, oh gosh! You guys really surprised me!
Are you fighting? Please don't fight!

Lakshmi
...

Rama
No... We weren't fighting, exactly.

Asha
Really? Oh good! That's a relief!

Rama
What is it?
Is there something you wanted to see us about?

Asha
Well, uh, I just wanted to thank you for saving us.
And to give you this!

Asha
You looked like you were hurt pretty badly,
so I brought you some bandages and medicine.

Asha
Are you okay, miss?

Lakshmi
...I-I'm fine. Thank you.

Asha
Huh, you really do look okay now...
Maybe I was just seeing things?

Asha
Well anyway, I'm so glad you're okay!

Ganesha
We're the ones who should be thanking you for getting us that horse and stuff. Thanks.

Asha
Hehe!

Lakshmi
...I'm sorry.
I... I need to be alone right now.

Lakshmi
...

  1. (Got it.)
 
  Select: (Got it.)

===Branch End===

Mash
Master...?

  1. It's nothing.
 
  Select: It's nothing.

===Branch End===

Holmes
She is also a Heroic Spirit from Proper Human History.
In time, I believe she will understand.

Holmes
But for now, I think it best that we give her some space.

Asha
?

  1. (Okay, I think this is where she told me to meet her...)
 
  Select: (Okay, I think this is where she told me to meet her...)

===Branch End===

  1. ...!
 
  Select: ...!

===Branch End===

  1. (She's really staring at me hard...)
  2. (I think...she wants to tell me something...)
  Select: (She's really staring at me hard...)

  Select: (I think...she wants to tell me something...)

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
There you are. I'm sorry to impose,
but I had to talk to you alone.

  1. (Looks like that girl is gone...)
  2. D-don't worry about it. So what's up?
  Select: (Looks like that girl is gone...)

  Select: D-don't worry about it. So what's up?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
I want to ask you something.
I think you know what it is.

Lakshmi
I want to know what you think about the people of this world...

Lakshmi
...and about what's going to happen to them.

Lakshmi
For the moment, I would like to put aside our various titles–Master, Servant, queen, mage, and so on...

Lakshmi
...and simply ask your opinion, one person to another.

Lakshmi
I want to know your honest thoughts, without worrying about what anyone else might think.

  1. (There are some things I'm still not sure about, even now. But...)
  2. (Honestly, I still don't have everything figured out. But...)
  Select: (There are some things I'm still not sure about, even now. But...)

  Select: (Honestly, I still don't have everything figured out. But...)

===Branch End===

  1. (For now, I'm just going to tell her what I really think.)
  2. (For now, I'm just going to tell her what I'm thinking as best I can.)
  Select: (For now, I'm just going to tell her what I really think.)

  Select: (For now, I'm just going to tell her what I'm thinking as best I can.)

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
...I see.

Lakshmi
So, in the end...this is the only path available to you.

Lakshmi
Outside of this India, Proper Human History...Earth itself has been almost completely destroyed.

Lakshmi
And to save it, you have no choice but to cut down these Trees of Emptiness...

  1. ...Yes. That's what I'm fighting for.
 
  Select: ...Yes. That's what I'm fighting for.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
...You remind me of myself, back during the rebellion.

  1. You mean, the one in India from your time...?
 
  Select: You mean, the one in India from your time...?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Back then, I never thought about what the future might hold.

Lakshmi
There were only things I had to do, and only one path available to me: the path of fighting to protect my homeland. So that's what I did.

Lakshmi
I didn't have some larger plan in mind, like driving every last one of the British out of India, or destroying Britain itself...

Lakshmi
The truth is, I never stopped to think about what the future might hold...

Lakshmi
...though it should have been obvious that, win or lose, there would be more to be done once the war was over.

Lakshmi
Then again, I suppose my options were so limited,
and the path I had to walk so difficult...

Lakshmi
...that I didn't have the luxury of thinking about anything besides what was right in front of me.

Lakshmi
Still, regardless of what the future might hold...

Lakshmi
...if I know the path I'm taking is the right one,
and I know I have to go down it...

Lakshmi
...then that's exactly what I'll do.
I think, deep down, that's just who I am.

  1. ...?
 
  Select: ...?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
What I'm trying to say is, I'm in no position to judge anyone for the hard choices they have to make under unprecedented circumstances.

Lakshmi
At any rate, I'm glad you told me what you really think.

Lakshmi
Just knowing that you do feel bad for the people in these Lostbelts is something of a relief.

  1. So what are you going to do now?
 
  Select: So what are you going to do now?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
I...still don't like this.

Lakshmi
But, I also have no intention of letting this false god continue to have his way with these people.

Lakshmi
We may ultimately only be putting this problem off until later...but right now, the only way to protect them is to keep doing what I've been doing.

Lakshmi
So that's what I'm going to do.

  1. I hope this means you'll keep helping us.
 
  Select: I hope this means you'll keep helping us.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
...Heh. You're an odd one, aren't you? Not many people could say something like that so readily.

Lakshmi
You know, I have to ask.
Why did you come here when I asked you to?

Lakshmi
Didn't it occur to you that I might decide to kill you in order to keep these people safe?

Inner Monologue

You give it some thought, and say...

Inner Monologue

...you felt the same way she did.

Lakshmi
?

Inner Monologue

You go on, ignoring her perplexed expression.

Inner Monologue

You say that...

Inner Monologue

...just as she called you here to talk to you person to person...

Inner Monologue

...you also felt like you had a responsibility to do the same for her.

Lakshmi
...

Lakshmi
Oh, right. There's one more thing I wanted to ask you.

Lakshmi
This isn't to judge or condemn you.
I just want to make sure I understand.

Lakshmi
Is it true that you've erased the people in three other Lostbelts already?

  1. ...Yes. It is.
 
  Select: ...Yes. It is.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
(What an expression.)

Lakshmi
(I can tell {(M) he's /(F) she's} not lying, or gone mad with power. Neither is {(M) he /(F) she} ignorant of what {(M) he's /(F) she's} done,
willfully or otherwise.)

Lakshmi
(This perfectly ordinary human child simply knows what {(M) he /(F) she} has done, and accepted it as best {(M) he /(F) she} can.)

Lakshmi
All right. That's all I had to say.
I'm sorry for keeping you up so late.

Lakshmi
I said that you and I have some things in common, and you've shown me that we have no choice but to walk the same path.

Lakshmi
So, for the time being, nothing needs to change.
I will continue to fight this false god alongside you.

Lakshmi
We may disagree on some things, but right now,
that shared goal is all that matters.

Lakshmi
You may treat me the same as that Peperoncino person. If you think it best to be wary of me, or to get rid of me...then you're free to do so.

  1. Don't worry, I trust you. Thanks.
 
  Select: Don't worry, I trust you. Thanks.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
(...I wonder... Could you still say that if you knew my ugly secret...?)

Section 13: The Price of Loss/Divine Judgment Looming

Show/Hide Story Chapter

  1. How's it going?
 
  Select: How's it going?

===Branch End===

Rama
Not bad. Many of them are in good shape thanks to farming and hunting.

Rama
I doubt I can train them each to kill kali alone,
but I am sure I can teach them to survive in battle!

Rama
All right, it's time for lunch!
Just make sure none of you have too much to eat!

Asha
Here's your lunch, Father!

Ajai
...Thanks.

Asha
Guess what? I helped make it today! Auntie even said I did a great job! Isn't that great!?

Ajai
...Sure.

Asha
Also, um... You know how the anniversary of my birth is coming up soon...?

Ajai
...

Asha
N-never mind, it's nothing! See you later!

Asha
Oh, it's you! Hi, guys!

Mash
Hi, Asha. You brought your father his lunch?
That's so responsible of you.

Asha
Hehe.

  1. How are things in town?
 
  Select: How are things in town?

===Branch End===

Asha
Really different! It's so surprising!
My father's spending a lot more time here now.

Asha
It feels really lively, too...though,
in other places, it's really, um, quiet...

Peperoncino
It looks like the town has been split cleanly in half.

Peperoncino
There are more people who support fighting back against the kali now, but not everyone has joined in.

Peperoncino
On the one side, we have the people from Dival,
along with the people they inspired to join them...

Peperoncino
...and on the other, there are the people who are still holding on to their old beliefs...

Ganesha
I've noticed a lot of people watching from a distance and whispering among themselves. Who knows what they might try to pull.

Mash
There are going to be even more kali as the yuga cycle goes on.

Mash
I'd like to think that more people will decide to join us once they see us fighting...

Peperoncino
Our ultimate goal is to reduce Arjuna's power by getting people to realize how imperfect and unnecessary of a god he is.

Peperoncino
So I certainly hope a bunch more decide to join us,
or we'll be in big trouble.

Peperoncino
We should be hoping to win over the rest of this town, then keep that momentum to win over other people here.

Lakshmi
We can't devote all our time to convincing those holding out when we also need to train those who have joined us.

Lakshmi
Whatever else may happen, we can't let anyone else be killed as long as we're in a position to help.

Ganesha
Looks like you're pretty much over it then, huh?

Lakshmi
...I don't know about that. But I do know what it is I need to be doing right now.

Lakshmi
What's more, I know now that there's something else I need to keep my eye on.

Lakshmi
There is someone already walking the path I need to follow.

Lakshmi
I may not fully grasp it, but I understand well enough to know that I no longer have the option of hedging my bets.

  1. (Is she looking at me...?)
 
  Select: (Is she looking at me...?)

===Branch End===

Meunière
Hold up! I think you're going to have to postpone the training for now!

Meunière
I'm seeing a number of signals making their way towards the town... Looks like more kali!

Holmes
It would seem they're all warmed up and raring to go, now that it's the final day of the Dvāpara Yuga. Here they come!

Rama
All right, everyone who's ready to fight, prepare for battle! But remember, your ultimate goal is to survive. Don't try to be a hero!

Mash
We'll be handling the front line, so there shouldn't be any issue with them joining us.

Mash
Preparing Ortinax for immediate combat...
All systems green!

Mash
I'll try to draw as many of them towards me as I can.
Awaiting your orders, Master!

--BATTLE--

A：Koyanskaya
Hmmm, I see. So they're going after faith...the Achilles' heel of every god that shows themselves before mortals.

A：Koyanskaya
How delightfully cold-blooded.
It could be just the surgical strike they need.

A：Koyanskaya
Even if they don't have time to pull it off,
it's certainly making things more interesting!

A：Koyanskaya
A god that nobody believes in is little more than a doomsday device, and one even ordinary people can destroy at that.

A：Koyanskaya
Still, I have to wonder...

A：Koyanskaya
Are they aware that everything they're doing may, ironically, speed up the whole paradise without people living here?

Aśvatthāman
...There you are. Ugh, seeing you pisses me off.

A：Koyanskaya
Oh, hello, Aśvatthāman. What brings you here?

Aśvatthāman
You know why I'm here, dammit.
I'm here to clean up your mess.

Aśvatthāman
You've been taking things Arjuna erased along with their owners at the end of the Kali Yuga...

Aśvatthāman
...and putting them back to remind other humans that they existed, haven't you?

Koyanskaya
I have. What about it?

Koyanskaya
I was under the impression that I was doing exactly what your god would want me to.

Koyanskaya
There's nothing wrong with rooting out people holding on to unnecessary attachments to their defective past lives.

Koyanskaya
Granted, I won't deny I enjoy the look of despair they get when they realize they can't even remember who they lost...

Koyanskaya
But the point is, I'm helping to find undesirables so we can end the yuga cycles ahead of schedule.

Aśvatthāman
I don't care how you get your kicks, but it's hard not to be pissed at how much more work you're making for me.

Aśvatthāman
It'd be one thing if you were just defectively getting in the way, but now that you're making this much trouble for us, I was told to handle you directly.

Koyanskaya
Huh? Juuust a minute. Explain to me how my work is being anything less than helpful!

Koyanskaya
The particulars aside, it should be exactly in line with what Arjuna wants!

Koyanskaya
Your thickheaded god who's so drunk on his Divinities that he's forgotten what human feelings are SHOULD be complimenting me like:

Koyanskaya
“What an incredibly capable woman you are! You're the goddess I've been searching for my whole life!”

Aśvatthāman
Your Alter Ego friend told Arjuna all about how your actions are directly fueling the resistance movement that has been gaining traction.

Aśvatthāman
That's really the one bit where I sympathize with you.
It sucks having your friends sell you out.

Koyanskaya
...

Koyanskaya
Now I see what's going on here.
So that's how the monk wants to play this.

Koyanskaya
What an ugly, petty man. That's the difference he'll never make up between him and the other onmyouji.

Koyanskaya
Putting aside the question of whether it's more trouble to deal with an arrogant bastard who'd knowingly keep a deadly parasite around just because he can...

Koyanskaya
...or a rotten parasite himself who will try to murder you outright in an ambush...

Koyanskaya
A mere Servant, thinking he can kill me?
The idea is so infuriating it's almost depressing.

Koyanskaya
He calls himself a destroyer, just because he was able to take out the other gods and order around a few regent Servants? Ridiculous.

Koyanskaya
I would never lay down and die for a being who can't even truly become a pure destroyer of worlds, let alone one of his pathetic lackeys.

Koyanskaya
That emperor who embodied all of humanity was one thing, but I can destroy a mere warrior like you with just a few bites!

Aśvatthāman
...Well, whadda ya know.
Guess you've got a bit of rage in you yourself.

Aśvatthāman
Fine by me! Go ahead and get as mad as you want! I'm pretty furious that I've gotta put an end to someone I have no desire to kill!

Aśvatthāman
As your friend must have put it, Arjuna's all we need to end this world... There's no room for a walking disaster like you here!

--ARROW--

Mash
It's the Kali Yuga again. I hope we can escape in the Border with more room to spare this time.

Rama
Agreed. But I expect things will be okay.

Rama
This town knows how to do more than just pray now. We will help them all we can, then make our escape when the time is right.

Rama
They should be more than capable of surviving until the next yuga cycle begins by then.

Ganesha
Oho, speaking of kali... Here comes another wave now. But I'm sure it'll be fine. Like you said, these people have all been training–

Peperoncino
Wait. Something's not right.

  1. What are those kali doing?
  2. Are those kali swarming together...?
  Select: What are those kali doing?

  Select: Are those kali swarming together...?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
What the hecking heck?
They just merged into a new giant kali!

Man
What the hell is that!?
I've never seen a kali like that before!

Woman
Why is this happening!? Are they making themselves stronger because we decided to fight back...?

Lakshmi
...

Ajai
...Stay back, Asha.

Asha
O-okay... Be careful, Father...

Rama
This isn't good. We only taught these people how to handle normal kali. That giant one is in a whole other league!

Rama
It's a shame we won't be able to help them with the other kali...

Rama
...but we're the only ones here who can handle that giant. Let's go!

--BATTLE--

Rama
There, it's dead! How are the people doing!?

Ajai
Hrn!

Ajai
There's nothing more I can do.
Let's get out of here.

Asha
O-okay!

Asha
...?
Father, over there!

Prakash
Aaah! Please, h-help me...
My leg got stuck in the rubble!

Prakash
Please, god.
I'll pray to you as much as you like, I promise...!

Ajai
...

Ajai
...Goddamn ulloo!

Prakash
Th-this isn't my fault... I-I know!
This is all the god's will... It has to be...

Ajai
Gnnh...

Asha
Father! Fatheeer!

Ajai
...Don't cry. It's no big deal. I'll just have to get used to limping for a while.

Ajai
No point in me trying to fight anymore.
Lets go find a place to hide.

Asha
Hold onto me, Father! I'll help you walk!

Ajai
...

Asha
Are you okay? Does your leg hurt?

Ajai
...You've really grown up, haven't you.

Asha
Huh? Well sure I have.

Ajai
I guess that makes sense, seeing how you turn four thousand days old tomorrow. We'll have to celebrate...

Asha
(He remembered!)

--SECTION BREAK--

Inner Monologue
...Once again, I dream as I close my eyes.

Inner Monologue
I dream of an impossibly tragic war...

Inner Monologue
...taking place for impossibly meaningless reasons.

Inner Monologue
A pointless war that wiped an entire clan out of existence.

Inner Monologue
A war that swallowed the land whole, claiming untold numbers of lives.

Inner Monologue
A war that trampled the souls of countless brave warriors underfoot.

Inner Monologue
Uttara, son of Virata, died.
His brother, Shveta, was killed by Bhishma.

Inner Monologue
Bhima killed the King of Kalinga.
Virata's eldest son, Shankha, also died.

Inner Monologue
All one hundred of the princes died, one after the other.
...Iravan was killed as well.

Inner Monologue
I killed Bhishma with Shikhandi's help.
...Abhimanyu was also killed.

Inner Monologue
So many dead. So many killed. Death and killing.
Killing and death. Over, and over, and over.

Inner Monologue
I saw countless friends and allies die.
I saw countless enemies and foes die.

Inner Monologue
Once all my thoughts had passed me by...and all my emotions had been drained out of me...

Inner Monologue
...I was left with only one question.

Inner Monologue
Why?

???
Hey... Hey!

Asclepius
Good, you're finally awake.
I didn't know you slept too.

Asclepius
I know this is short notice, but I need a new power.

God Arjuna
...?

Asclepius
It's like I told you in my report.
Yama's power wasn't helpful at all.

Asclepius
Come to think of it, it's probably because he's similar to Hades. I may have spent my time hating him without realizing it.

Asclepius
So I need you to lend me another Divinity.
Yama alone isn't going to cut it.

Asclepius
Of course, this would be strictly to help me with my research...and to help me uphold the laws of this just world.

Asclepius
So you can understand that my request is completely justified, right?

God Arjuna
...A trivial matter...as all things are...

--ARROW--

Asclepius
Dammit, I didn't expect him to give me another job as part of the package.

Asclepius
...Oh well, I guess I can't really focus on my research until they're taken care of, anyway.

Tell
Does that mean I can trust you to deal with them?

Tell
I know I brought some sacred beasts along with me, but I can't let the kali run rampant either.

Tell
Part of our job is making sure the judgments are handled impartially. Any imbalances need to be corrected.

Tell
Especially seeing how there's a whole new giant kali I've never seen before now. Maybe he's the alpha or something?

Asclepius
Suit yourself. You're staying outside the town, right? It's none of my business what you choose to point your crossbow at.

Tell
Hehe. Actually, I'm tired of picking targets off at long range.

Tell
It feels like it dulls my instincts, you know? I just can't seem to get in my usual hunter mood that way.

Tell
I've remembered that taking shots from extreme distance isn't my thing. I'd much rather stay at a comfortable hundred paces or so.

Asclepius
Are you sure those aren't the aftereffects speaking?

Tell
Huh?

Asclepius
I may have perfectly healed your physical injuries thanks to my medical expertise and his abundant magical energy...

Asclepius
...but even I can't help with your mental ones.

Asclepius
The memory of your precious arrows failing to find their targets...

Asclepius
The abject defeat you suffered as an Archer unable to land a single shot on your intended target...

Asclepius
Those are the kind of things that leave a deep, permanent mark on your Spirit Origin. Much as I hate to admit it, even I can't cure that.

Tell
I don't know... I've never been an especially sensitive hunter. I just think sticking to my preferred range'll make things easier for me.

Tell
At any rate, I'll take care of the kali in town and come back you up when I'm done.

Asclepius
Honestly, now that I have the power of two gods to work with, you hardly need to bother.

Asclepius
This is like being able to do two different operations simultaneously. I can handle even the most difficult patients and hum at the same time now.

Tell
By the way...there's something I've been wondering for a while now.

Asclepius
What is it?

Tell
It's nothing major, mind you. I was just curious why I was the last Lōkapāla summoned, is all.

Tell
He already had Nezha, the son of the great Chinese hero Li Jing, and you, the legendary god of medicine from Greek mythology.

Tell
Not to mention Aśvatthāman, the heroic half-incarnation of Shiva from the Mahabharata, was here even before you two.

Tell
So with all those amazing mythical figures around...why would he pick an ordinary guy like me as his final Lōkapāla?

Asclepius
Beats me.
Who knows what a god that pure could be thinking.

Asclepius
Besides, we don't even know if he summoned you on purpose. You'd have to ask him or the Alter Ego about that.

Asclepius
There is every chance that you were only summoned by sheer coincidence. Don't worry about it.

Tell
Yeah, you're right. You're absolutely right.
But, in case it wasn't a coincidence...

Tell
...there was just something about your posture that told me now might be a good time to think about it.

Asclepius
My posture? What are you talking about?

Tell
You know, I don't even know myself.
I guess it's just hunter's intuition.

Rama
There really are a lot more of them on Kali Yuga.
And that's not all...

Ganesha
Sacred beasts!

Lakshmi
Yes. And they seem to be even more worked up than usual. Does this mean...

Asclepius
Of course it means one of us will show up, though not the same one as last time. But, as I have already been compensated, I suppose I can make a house call.

  1. Asclepius!
  2. You're...um...that doctor guy!
  Select: Asclepius!

  Select: You're...um...that doctor guy!
Da Vinci
That's Asclepius! I know Greek heroes have difficult names, but you've at least got to try!

===Branch End===

Asclepius
Arjuna's quite generous as gods go. All I had to do was ask, and he gave me a new Divinity.

Mash
A new Divinity!?

Ganesha
That's the same one you were using before!

Asclepius
And now...there's this.

Asclepius
I still have issues with the idea of gods,
but at least this one isn't Greek.

Asclepius
If it'll help me keep making progress,
I won't hesitate to use whatever I can.

Ganesha
Is that...water?

Peperoncino
Water... Oh no. He's got Varuna, the god of water! That one might be an even better fit for him than Yama!

Peperoncino
Varuna was the Regent of the West...and was famous for using medical science to save people!

Lakshmi
He's using that water to enhance the sacred beasts' strength. It must have some sort of medicinal properties.

Ganesha
Oh, great. So he's doping his attack beast-things with divine steroid water.

Ganesha
I bet it's going to give them some completely broken regen ability or something... This is going to be a huge pain in the ass, I can tell already!

Ganesha
Look, I enjoy a brutally difficult grind fest as much as the next gamer, but at some point it gets too hard to even bother with!

Rama
Stop whining!

Rama
The people of this town have finally found the will to fight back. I'm not going to let these things ruin that!

Rama
...Not on my watch.

Rama
We need to prove that neither this false god, nor his underlings, are invincible. They can be–MUST be defeated.

Rama
We're the ones who showed them this path, and started them along it. Now we have to show them what lies at its end!

Holmes
Even if he does have a new Divinity at his disposal now, it's still no more than a tool...something more or less tacked-on, to use the modern parlance.

Holmes
Even if this new Divinity does pertain to healing, the damage to Asclepius's own Spirit Origin is not the sort that can be recovered from in a day.

Holmes
Not when Asclepius himself has Divinity of his own.

Holmes
In brief, it is eminently possible that he has not recovered from damage he sustained in your last battle. That could be just the advantage you need.

Holmes
I wish I could give you some more helpful instructions,
but I'm afraid that's all I've got this time.

Mash
That's more than enough, Holmes.

Mash
Master, we're up against Asclepius and his two Divinities. I know he's a formidable enemy, but...

  1. Yeah. I can't say why, but I know we can take him!
  2. We're still gonna win!
  Select: Yeah. I can't say why, but I know we can take him!

  Select: We're still gonna win!

===Branch End===

Fou
Fooou!

Asclepius
You're welcome to try, foolish patients.

Asclepius
At this point, I've both conquered death and gained the power to heal people with godlike power, despite not being a god myself. I've never been more capable!

Asclepius
Maybe now, I can cure that idiocy of yours just as well as I can everything else!

--BATTLE--

Asclepius
What's wrong, sacred beasts!? I know you can keep going! Come on, get up! I'll keep healing you!

Asclepius
Ghh...!?

Asclepius
What's going... Guh!

Holmes
In short, you are neither a Pseudo-Servant in a special vessel...

Holmes
...nor a naturally occurring Divine Spirit amalgamation. That made all the difference.

Mash
...I remember what happened with Nezha.

Peperoncino
Nezha intentionally chose to overload her Spirit Origin, but you've done a decent job of it without even trying.

Peperoncino
Not only are you bearing the brunt of two Divinities in a single Servant body...

Peperoncino
...but one of them is boosting your already perfect healing abilities well beyond their limits.

Peperoncino
You've obviously been pushing yourself waaay too hard.

Peperoncino
And since you don't have some special background that lets you handle that kind of load, like Arjuna does...this was only ever going to end with you destroying yourself.

Peperoncino
I'm pretty sure Arjuna knew that too.

Asclepius
What!? That can't be right!
Why would he do something like–

God Arjuna
...A trivial matter...as all things are...

Asclepius
Dammit... So that's what he meant. He didn't care what might happen to me. I'm has completely inconsequential to him as anything else!

Asclepius
That damn fool didn't appreciate the value of medicine any more than the other idiot gods did!

Tell
...there was just something about your posture that told me now might be a good time to think about it.

Asclepius
...I see. So that's what he was going on about.

Asclepius
Maybe I have been the idiot all this time...

Rama
It's ironic, Asclepius. You sought a world where one would never die just for excelling.

Rama
And now, you've excelled so much in your pursuit of power that you brought about your own death.

Asclepius
Tch. I can't believe I forgot something so fundamental... Even medicine can be harmful in excess.

Asclepius
I neglected to walk that line, and now I'm paying the price. What an embarrassing mistake.

Asclepius
...Speaking of things I forgot...

Asclepius
Hey. Before I go, just tell me one thing.
Do I seem that strange to you?

Asclepius
All I want is to advance medicine for the good of all mankind. Women, children, the elderly... Everyone should be able to benefit from getting the treatment they need.

Asclepius
All I want is a world where you won't be an outcast just for excelling. Excellence shouldn't be a crime.

Mash
...You're not wrong.
There's nothing strange about your stance.

Mash
I think any hero would feel much the same as you do.

Mash
But, even so...I'm not quite sure how to describe this, but...

Ganesha
You don't get to talk about that kinda thing when you're working for the jerks running this world. Least, that's how it feels to me.

Ganesha
'Course, my feelings are also Ganesha's feelings right now, so they do carry plenty of divine weight.

Asclepius
The more a god thinks such things without any reason, the worse that is, huh... Hmm... That's possible. Maybe that lack of self-awareness is what I need to treat...

Rama
We won. Though I don't know what he kept muttering about even as he disappeared... What an odd man.

Mash
...Asclepius's Spirit Origin has completely vanished.
We've beaten him.

Mash
We did it, Master!

Fou
Fou fooou!

Tell
Ah damn, they got him, huh.

Tell
Well, I've just wrapped things up with the kali here.
Guess I may as well go and avenge him.

--ARROW--

Asha
Father fell asleep after I took him to the healer...
That means he'll be okay, right...?

Asha
I wonder if...there's something I can do to help...

Man
You want to help? I don't know, you're still just a child... We can't give you a sword, and there aren't any other weapons you could use safely...

Woman
You can pray, of course! Go on, close your eyes and pray as hard as you can for our god to help!

Asha
Nnn...

Mash
Look out, Master!
It's William Tell!

Rama
Oh? So you're coming to face us yourself this time?

Tell
Actually, that's about the distance I prefer to operate from. Besides, this is the climax of the hunt.

Tell
I can't just pass up a chance like this,
when my quarry's already weak and exhausted.

Tell
A hunter doesn't feel bad about bringing down their prey. We feel accomplished.

Holmes
We are in a difficult position, having fought so many kali and Asclepius. I would much rather we had time to recover before our next showdown with William Tell.

Tell
I'm sure you'd like that, but the thing about hunters is that we don't let our quarry escape.

Tell
Traps, wind, climate, scents, bait... When we decide to bring down a target, we make sure to use whatever it takes.

Tell
And if we let a wounded animal get away,
well...there's no greater shame than that.

Tell
When that happens, we just have to accept it's god's will, and resign ourselves to going to bed with an empty stomach.

  1. Looks like we have no choice but to fight!
  2. Looks like he's not gonna let us get away!
  Select: Looks like we have no choice but to fight!

  Select: Looks like he's not gonna let us get away!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right. We'll just have to settle things here and now, Master!

Holmes
If he has yet to fully recover from the last battle, you should still have a chance, though it won't be an easy fight by any means. Hang in there!

Peperoncino
Well, at least we don't have to worry about him sniping at us from extreme range now...

Peperoncino
...but he can still control the wind as he likes thanks to Vāyu.

Peperoncino
Keep your guard up, Fujimaru. There's no telling how he'll try shooting his arrows at us next!

--BATTLE--

Ganesha
Dammit! None of my attacks are landing!

Peperoncino
Every time I think we have him, he slips out of reach again! He's just too damn good at controlling the positioning of this fight!

Mash
I can't read his arrows' trajectory! It's taking everything I have just to defend against them!

Lakshmi
He must be using the wind god's power to control their flight path. We can't even tell where he's firing from.

Rama
This must be what it is like to be a cornered animal,
but we can't let him bring us down.

Rama
It bears asking, I think... Can you draw his fire toward you like you did before?

Lakshmi
I don't think so. The situation is too different.

Lakshmi
(At this point, there's no way I could reverse-concentrate all the different possibilities, no matter how hard I pushed the goddess's Divine Core...)

Rama
I see. I'm not sure why that is,
but I'm glad to hear it all the same.

Rama
At least now, we won't have to rely on a cowardly strategy where you end up hurt...

Rama
...and all I can do is stand back and watch,
angry at myself for being so helpless.

Lakshmi
There you go again...

Man
Hang on, Lady Lakshmi! I'll help you!

Lakshmi
Stop! That won't work on him!
Any non-Mystic attacks will just–

Man
Argh...

Tell
Damn, sorry about that.
I wasn't ordered to hurt any civilians...

Tell
...but I couldn't help the reflex to return fire when he shot at me.

Tell
I have to say though, that's pretty impressive for a homemade crossbow.

Tell
Even so, you shouldn't go around firing it at a real hunter.

Rama
Dammit! There has to be some way we can defeat him!

--ARROW--

Inner Monologue
As I kept walking...
I got more and more anxious.

Inner Monologue
What if... What if Father ends up dying?

Inner Monologue
He remembered my birth anniversary and everything.
He said he would celebrate it with me.

Inner Monologue
And, for just an instant...I'm pretty sure he even patted my head earlier.

Inner Monologue
What do I do?
How can I make sure everyone ends up happy?

Inner Monologue
Is there any way for my father to get better, the kali to go away, and all of us to go on to the next yuga together?

Inner Monologue
...Then I remembered the nice travelers.
The ones who seem like gods, but aren't.

Inner Monologue
If the only thing I can do is pray, I'd rather pray to them. Besides, they know all sorts of things.

Inner Monologue
Maybe they'll even know how to fix my father's injury.

Inner Monologue
I'll go look for them.

Asha
...?

Inner Monologue
I didn't know what was going on, but I could tell that the travelers were in trouble.

Inner Monologue
It's really surprising,
but I can't just stand around in shock.

Inner Monologue
The man attacking the travelers must be one of the bad gods someone once told me about.

Inner Monologue
Honestly, I still don't know what the difference is between good gods and bad gods.

Inner Monologue
But...I definitely don't want the travelers to die.

Inner Monologue
...I have to do something.

Man
Argh...

Inner Monologue
Something fell to the ground in front of me.

Inner Monologue
...I know what this is. I saw the grown-ups practicing with them. You just squeeze this part, and it shoots an arrow!

Inner Monologue
Could I use this to help?

Inner Monologue
Maybe, if I can help the nice travelers,
they can help my father?

Mash
Huh!? Is that–

Mash
Oh no! Asha, stop!

Tell
Hmm? Someone else foolish enough to shoot at a seasoned hunter? Time to show them what happens when...

Tell
(Huh!? I can't pull the trigger...)

  1. Stop! You can't shoot a child!
  2. What are you doing!? Didn't you fight to protect children!?
  Select: Stop! You can't shoot a child!

  Select: What are you doing!? Didn't you fight to protect children!?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Yeah! We all know your story!

Ganesha
Come on, William, don't you remember your son?

Ganesha
Don't you remember how you had to shoot that apple off his head to save him from that jerkwad of a Vogt!?

Ganesha
Listen, I'm a haaardcore gamer, so I may not know much outside of my wheelhouse, but I know this:

Ganesha
Shooting a kid is the one thing William Tell should never, ever do!

Tell
Huh? My...son?

Tell
...What are you talking about...?

Tell
Nnn...?

Peperoncino
(I can't believe it... His memories must have been deemed useless and erased!)

Ganesha
I-I don't know what's going on, but at least he finally stopped moving around! Now's our chance! Don't worry about Asha! My impressive girth can function as an even more impressive meat shield!

Rama
This is the opportunity we've been waiting for!
Come on, Master! It's time to finish this!

--BATTLE--

Tell
Khh...

Rama
You failed to shoot the quarry you were hunting–our Master–and you almost shot a child instead.

Rama
What a shame. You are no longer William Tell,
the heroic Archer engraved in the Throne of Heroes.

Rama
You are nothing more than an ordinary hunter at the mercy of a god.

Rama
Begone, William Tell, before you are past redemption!

Tell
Ghh... Arghhh!

Peperoncino
(What an awful fate, having only your “defective” memories erased...)

Peperoncino
(I don't even want to think about what I'd be like if that had happened to me.)

Lakshmi
This battle isn't over just yet!
Finish him!

Rama
I'm well aware!

Rama
Huh!?

???
Ugh... This really pisses me off.

Aśvatthāman
I'm still not done with my last job,
but I couldn't just ignore all this crap.

Aśvatthāman
Dammit all, it makes me real angry that you guys had the bad luck to be here when you have nothing to do with the beast I was chasing!

Section 14: Those Who Laugh During the End of Yuga

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Peperoncino
Aśvatthāman! Of all the times for him to show up!

Holmes
Indeed, I was just about to remind you.
I assume none of you have forgotten what day it is.

Holmes
Today is the Kali Yuga, when the entire world is unmade and recreated.

Holmes
If we are to safely avoid its effects, I might suggest that you begin your retreat toward the Border. Alacrity would be advisable.

Lakshmi
Can't you see what we're dealing with here, detective? We can't possibly turn our backs on this opponent.

Ganesha
Dammit, it's just been one thing after another!

Ganesha
Oh, I almost forgot. What're you doing here, Asha?
Where's your dad?

Asha
He... He hurt his leg,
and he's at the healer's right now...

Ganesha
Gotcha... That sounds serious, but right now, you've gotta get outta here and hide, Asha!

Asha
O-okay...

Mash
Aśvatthāman is bound to come after us if we try to run away.

Mash
Since we destroyed the giant kali, the townspeople should be able to look after themselves.

Mash
So, I think the best thing we could do now is try to make a break for it.

Rama
There are two problems with that idea.
First, Aśvatthāman is a powerful Servant.

Rama
With all of us so exhausted, merely escaping him isn't going to be easy.

Rama
If we're not careful, he'll end up mowing us down the moment we turn our backs on him.

Rama
And second, I'd really like to finish Tell off while we have the chance.

Rama
We need to eliminate him if we're going to defeat Arjuna, and we may never get another chance like this again!

Ganesha
Yeah, but... What about, you know, our lives?
Shouldn't surviving be our first priority?

Ganesha
I mean, even if we do manage to take him down, what's the point if we all end up dead 'cause we failed to get away?

Rama
I know. I know, but...! Grr, dammit!

Tell
Nn...gh...

Lakshmi
Tch, just what we needed.

Aśvatthāman
You awake now? Good, then you can help me take care of these guys. Especially since you were supposed to–

Aśvatthāman
What the!?

Tell
(Huff... Huff...) Nope, I just can't seem to remember anything from my old life.

Tell
But...I do remember there was something from it I was forced to forget.

Tell
That's right... I know there was something real important to me...something I don't have anymore.

Tell
And I know you and that god were the ones who took it!

Mash
Are they falling out with each other!?
No, wait. It looks like...

Peperoncino
It looks like William Tell was never a complete Lōkapāla to begin with.

Peperoncino
At any rate, now's our chance to run for it!
Let's get out of here!

Fou
Fo fooou!

  1. Okay, let's go, everyone! But keep an eye out in case anyone comes after us!
 
  Select: Okay, let's go, everyone! But keep an eye out in case anyone comes after us!

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
Wha...!? Hey, get back here, dammit! Oh, now I am REALLY PISSED!!! You're gonna pay for that, old ma–

Aśvatthāman
He's gone too. Guess he must've used Vāyu's power to make an escape. I doubt he'll last long with those wounds if he pushes himself too hard, but still... Dammit!

Aśvatthāman
Well, if I can only go after one of 'em...might as well stick to the ones I can see.

Mash
Aśvatthāman is coming after us!
I was afraid this might happen!

Rama
Keep running! I'll hold him off at the rear!

Rama
I know about his amazing regenerative abilities.
They practically make him immortal.

Rama
I may not be able to defeat him now, but I would at least like to stop him from coming after us.

Rama
Of course, since he'll recover from most damage as soon as we inflict it on him, I'll probably have to cut off both his legs to do even that.

Rama
Dammit, that's just as much work as defeating him! Especially while trying to make an escape at the same time!

Rama
Hmm...?

Aśvatthāman
Ghh... Of all the...stupid times!
Rrgh... Damn...it...

Aśvatthāman
That damn...conceptual arrow must've triggered it...!
Ghh... Aaaaaahhh!

Rama
Now he's writhing around on the ground and sweating like a pig... What's going on? It looks like... he's in pain?

Rama
I don't know what's going on, but I'm not about to look this particular gift horse in the mouth! Let's get out of here while we can!

Aśvatthāman
Khh, guh... Dammit... Now I'm...really pissed...!

Lakshmi
Now that they know about me, I'm sure the false god won't hesitate to erase me with everything else he doesn't want in the world.

Lakshmi
You're certain that I can avoid the cataclysm as long as I'm on board your ship, yes?

Da Vinci
Absolutely! ...Speaking of which, it looks like Arjuna's started to charge up his Noble Phantasm, right on schedule!

God Arjuna
...

Holmes
Confirming our distance from Arjuna now...
Good, we should be safe here.

Holmes
The one thing we must avoid at all costs is a direct attack on the Border.

Holmes
We can't escape to Void Space without a vehicle capable of a Zero Sail, after all.

Mash
We're only a few hundred meters away from the rendezvous. It looks like we won't have any trouble reaching it in time.

Peperoncino
I can hear the Border's engine now!
Ahh, home sweet home!

Goredolf
Now don't start that! This is NOT your home, dammit!

Ganesha
All that aside, I still kinda wonder why Aśvatthāman stopped chasing us.

Rama
I don't think he stopped so much as he–

Meunière
Good, I've got a visual on your position! We'll get ready for the Zero Sail as soon as we rendezvous!

Meunière
Wait... Huh!? Hold up! Hold everything!

Da Vinci
What is it, Meunière!? If this is about taking a bathroom break, you should've thought of that before we left!

Meunière
What? No! There's a Servant right next to the rendezvous point!

Goredolf
What!? Did one of them come after us!?
This is terrible! What if they attack the Border!?

Holmes
No... We need not worry about that. Based on these readings I'm seeing, the answer is plain to see.

Holmes
They're wounded.

Holmes
This Servant has clearly been so gravely injured that they are no longer able to move.

Holmes
Furthermore...

Goredolf
F-furthermore?

Holmes
...it is a Servant we are all familiar with, Director Goredolf. Though we are decidedly not on friendly terms, unfortunately...

Holmes
Fujimaru and {(M) his /(F) her} team should be coming up on her shortly. For the moment, I suggest we wait to see what happens.

Holmes
Perhaps then, we will be able to determine what brought her here...

Goredolf
Wat.

--ARROW--

Koyanskaya
That emperor who embodied all of humanity was one thing, but I can destroy a mere warrior like you with just a few bites!

Koyanskaya
Alas, my shortsighted–I mean, lovely bark turned out to be worse than my bite... Now I see what they mean when they say the brightest stars burn out the quickest...

Koyanskaya
That locally sourced Lōkapāla is on a whole different level. He must be the most powerful Servant in this Lostbelt, excepting Arjuna.

Koyanskaya
And if that weren't enough, he even had some powerful holy sutras equipped, no doubt thanks to that damn monk...

Koyanskaya
I can't break out my other tails here in this India. That would put me too close to my original for comfort.

Koyanskaya
My goal is to become an entirely new nine-tailed beast, after all. I refuse to be part of obsolete folklore.

Koyanskaya
Oh well, at least I was able to punch that angry meathead's stupid front teeth down his stupid throat before I made my escape! Ahh, that felt good!

Koyanskaya
All I have to worry about now...

Koyanskaya
...is that god's monstrous power.

Koyanskaya
Now that I've been marked as an undesirable, I can't afford to get caught in it. And try as I might to leave...

Koyanskaya
(Sigh) It isn't just those damn sutras holding me back. If only I hadn't taken that side trip to South America...

Koyanskaya
At any rate, it looks like I won't be able to manifest in any other region until I can get rid of this “virtue.”

Koyanskaya
In which case...

Koyanskaya
Well, any port in a storm. Like I always say,
this world is all about give and take.

Koyanskaya
If I have to hitch a ride to avoid getting wiped out of existence, then so be it.

Holmes
I believe...she's attempting to hitchhike.

Goredolf
Wha... Wha... What in the world is that minx thinking!?

Da Vinci
Hmm... Unfortunately, she's too close to the rendezvousfor us to go around her without losing a lot of time.

Da Vinci
But of course, there's no telling what she might do ifwe stay on track and end up running into her...What should we do?

  1. She does look like she's been through a lot...
  2. She looks like she's in pretty bad shape...
  Select: She does look like she's been through a lot...

  Select: She looks like she's in pretty bad shape...

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Huh!? Whoa, whoa, whoa! You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking, Fujimaru!

Goredolf
I know she helped us out a little in China,
but that hardly makes us allies! Not by a long shot!

Goredolf
Besides, let's not forget that it was completely, entirely, one-hundred percent her fault that we were poisoned in the first place!

  1. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try to help her.
  2. I know, but...I still want to help her.
  Select: I couldn't live with myself if I didn't try to help her.

  Select: I know, but...I still want to help her.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fooou!?

Goredolf
There, you see!
Even the little fur ball knows we can't trust her!

Meunière
Come on, we need to make a choice here!

Meunière
That's fine if you wanna ignore her, but you should know she's charging up some weird kind of magical energy!

Meunière
She's holding both hands up and forming some kind of glowing ball of energy above her head!

Fou
Fou! Fo fooou!

Meunière
And just look at that smile.
I can almost hear her saying:

Meunière
“If you don't come get me, I'm gonna use all my remaining power to blow myself up and take you all out with me.”

Captain
...Meunière, I recommend making a detour.

Captain
We should pick up Fujimaru's group at least ten kilometers away from her.

Meunière
I told you, we don't have time for that!

Meunière
Besides, they're already going as fast as they can!

  1. I don't think we have any other choice but to pick her up too...
  2. Like they say: In for a penny, in for a pound.
  Select: I don't think we have any other choice but to pick her up too...

  Select: Like they say: In for a penny, in for a pound.

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Grrr...! Oh, all right! I'll consider this a distress signal and allow it just this once!

Goredolf
She may be one of our most contemptible enemies, but abandoning someone asking for help would just lead to more headaches down the road!

Peperoncino
Yeah, pretty much.
Besides, you let me on board when I was in trouble.

Peperoncino
You might as well do the same for Koyanskaya.

Peperoncino
Also, those injuries of hers? It looks to me like she had a falling out with one of our other enemies.

Peperoncino
I had a feeling that was going to happen sooner or later.

Holmes
If that's true, that would mean she's become a target for Arjuna's Noble Phantasm.

Holmes
It would certainly explain why she's looking to the Border, of all places, for refuge.

Holmes
Bringing her on board does pose a risk, but we also know she's been weakened. If she attempts anything untoward, we will not be defenseless.

Holmes
Furthermore, we may be able to gain new and valuable information from her, or even have her fight with us again for a time.

Goredolf
True, true.
But I warn you to exercise the utmost caution!

Goredolf
That minx's devilish charms were powerful enough to deceive even a first-class dandy like myself!

Goredolf
If we're going to let her on board, we should put a bag over her head or something just to be safe!

Meunière
Uh, I'm pretty sure we won't have to worry about that. We all know real well what sort of person she is by now...

Goredolf
Don't be ridiculous! You're the one I'm worried about the most, Carpaccio!

Goredolf
I can tell from the “beta male” look on your face that practically screams “2D girlfriends are all I need” that you'd be powerless against her charms!

Meunière
You're worried about ME!? What are you, my mom!?

Goredolf
...Are you quite sure you'll be all right?

Meunière
Positive.

Goredolf
Well...all right then.

Goredolf
Still, I'm going to give myself a few good dabs of this cologne, just in case.

Meunière
(In case of what, exactly...?)

Goredolf
All right, go ahead and do a full throttle drift to the spot right between Fujimaru and Koyanskaya!

Goredolf
We'll depart once again as soon as we've taken all necessary precautions!

Koyanskaya
Oh good, you stopped.
I guess this means you're letting me on?

  1. You're going to tell us all about what's going on, okay?
 
  Select: You're going to tell us all about what's going on, okay?

===Branch End===

Koyanskaya
But of course. I would never expect a free ride♡

Fou
Grrr, fou! Fou fou, fooou!

Koyanskaya
Oh my, little Fou, you really do have it out for me,
don't you? Ooh, I'm so scaaared.

Koyanskaya
Anyway, let's get going, shall we? Or is the plan to put me in some BDSM gear before we get moving?

Koyanskaya
Perhaps one of you is giddy at the thought of an opportunity to do all sorts of naughty things he missed his chance for in China?

Goredolf
I-I-I'll have you know I was thinking nothing of the sort!

Goredolf
The only thing I'm hopeful for at the moment is the Suspension Bridge Effect!

Holmes
At the moment, I would prefer you get on the Border posthaste, so we can begin our Zero Sail preparations.

Holmes
I tried to ensure we would have time to spare, but I have a bad feeling about what's coming... Do try to hurry!

Limbo
Hehe, hehehehe, hahahahahaha!
How unexpectedly thrilling!

Limbo
Perhaps you were simply unaware, my dear Chaldeans?

Limbo
Oh my, this will never do.
Surely you should know better than that by now, no?

Limbo
This world gets leaner and leaner as more excess is shaved off with each yuga cycle!

Limbo
That, of course, means that it requires a bit less energy to destroy it as the cycles go on...

Limbo
So if you were expecting it to take as long as it did before, why, you might just find yourselves running a liiittle short on time.

Limbo
Hehe, hahahahaha! Go on, god!
Let us proceed with the next culling!

Limbo
...Huh?

Tell
I see. So you want me to help run this world so you don't have to bother yourself with trivial matters, huh.

Tell
And by running this world...you also mean taking care of people less than inclined to cooperate.

Tell
Heh. Well, I hate to tell you this after you went and summoned me, but I'm not the man for the job.

Tell
My arrows are meant for shooting apples off my son's head, and for shooting that scumbag Vogt through the heart.

Tell
I'll never use them to shoot children.
So, guess that's that. Sorry.

Limbo
...What will you do now?

God Arjuna
If that is...his reason...for refusing to obey me...then those thoughts are...unnecessary...

God Arjuna
There is something...inside him...that should not...be there.

Limbo
Indeed, indeed. I couldn't agree more. But, as luck would have it, the next yuga cycle is almost upon us.

Limbo
All you need do is remove that defect from him, and he will then have no choice but to serve you faithfully...

Tell
I thought I was only going along with you guys as a hunter for hire.

Tell
And as the guy being hired,
I expected you to pay me for my help.

Tell
Nobody ever told me I'd be the one paying you such a heavy price. Consider our contract null and void!

Tell
Apfel Schießen!!!

Limbo
You fool! Your idiocy knows no bounds! What can a half-dead Archer's arrow hope to do against a god!?

Inner Monologue
I hear a voice from a long time ago...one of the “records” that remains in this shadow's head.

Inner Monologue
A voice dripping with oppressive authority,
intolerant of the slightest defiance.

Inner Monologue
“I'm told you have some skill with a crossbow? Then go ahead and make this shot. If you succeed, I will overlook your transgressions...”

Inner Monologue
A mess of emotions... Reluctance, doubt, fear... Each raged within me at those words, but still, I took the shot.

Inner Monologue
I shot an apple off of my son's head,
because I had no other choice.

Inner Monologue
That was my profession, after all. I'd made a life out of only ever hitting what I aimed at.

Inner Monologue
But I never thought of myself as the god of marksmanship. Besides, even gods are known to miss sometimes.

Inner Monologue
And a hunter always has to consider what will happen if they miss their shot.

Inner Monologue
Because the fact is, the moment their arrow misses, there will be another target that absolutely needs to be hit.

Inner Monologue
So I had another arrow ready to go inside my jacket.

Inner Monologue
If my first arrow failed to pierce the apple...

Inner Monologue
If both my son's world and mine had ended with that shot...I would at least make sure the beast so needed killing would die with us.

Inner Monologue
Thankfully, I didn't need to use my second arrow on that day...

Inner Monologue
But even so, I had every confidence in the world.

Inner Monologue
If my first arrow had missed...or rather, if the arrow that absolutely needed to hit its target didn't...

Inner Monologue
...the fact that there would then be another target that needed to be hit...

Inner Monologue
...meant that my second arrow would be sure to find its mark.

God Arjuna
Mm...

Limbo
What!? It hit!?

Tell
I always make sure to hit the targets I can't afford to miss. Like the apple on my son's head.

Tell
But of course...I also have another arrow ready to go, just in case I miss. That second arrow is my true Noble Phantasm.

Tell
It doesn't matter if my Zweite Schießen's target is an evil Vogt or a god...it'll still find its mark.

Tell
There are some shots you can only make after you've already missed.

Limbo
...Now I see.
Your Noble Phantasm interferes with causality!

Limbo
It's a shadow arrow that's guaranteed to hit if the arrow before it misses! And on top of that, you infused it with all of Vāyu's divine power to make doubly sure it hit its target!

Limbo
Though of course, that's still not nearly enough to so much as scratch him...

Tell
If this good-for-nothing hunter managed to get god's attention, even for just a few seconds...

Tell
...I'll consider that plenty meaningful in itself, knowing that a human's will reached him.

Tell
After all, a few seconds has got to count for a lot when you're a god remaking the entire world.

Limbo
...!

Tell
Hehe, surprised?

Tell
If the look on your face is any indication,
this wasn't for nothing after all.

Tell
Well, I'm just that much happier I took the extra effort to rouse these bones for one final shot.

God Arjuna
Your entire being...has become...unnecessary...

Tell
Haha, you think I didn't see this coming?
I know how close I am to dying better than anyone.

Tell
But you know, the wounded quarry is the most dangerous as the end closes in.

Tell
There's nothing stronger or more dangerous than a cornered animal. I know that better than most.

Tell
Oh, and one last warning before I go.
I told Asclepius this too, but...

Tell
...the reason you summoned me last is because you felt a regular old human would be a good match for a god, right?

Tell
Even if you only realized it subconsciously,
that doesn't make it any less true.

Tell
Hell, maybe that's why that last arrow got through to you.

Tell
If you don't realize what that means...someone even more desperately cornered than me's gonna end up firing a third arrow.

Tell
I wonder who that'll end up being?
Hehe, hehehe...

God Arjuna
God...has cast his gaze downward.

God Arjuna
You have become...unnecessary...
Furthermore...

God Arjuna
God has...also seen...

God Arjuna
...

God Arjuna
These defects are unnecessary...and therefore...evil.

God Arjuna
Begone, evil... You are not needed in the new yuga...the new world.

God Arjuna
I will now...wield the sword...of the god who ends all things.

God Arjuna
I will cut off the world. From the rift in the world...made by the blade...clear purification will burst forth.

God Arjuna
Terminus and Genesis...will cycle anew...

God Arjuna
Sword of dissolution, let your blade fall.
Mahāpralaya...

Tell
I don't know about defective...

Tell
...but I can tell that I'm not really me if I can't remember my son...

Inner Monologue
...

Inner Monologue
...

Inner Monologue
...Oh. There you are.

Inner Monologue
...It's all right. It's okay now.
It took me a while, but I finally remembered.

Inner Monologue
I'm sorry I couldn't be the father you deserved...

Section 15: Return of Paradise/The Queen's Identity

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Holmes
The Zero Sail has entered a stable zone. We should finally be safe here, at least for a while.

Holmes
Once again, we escape by the skin of our teeth...
I was hoping to never have to cut it that close again.

  1. I'm sorry...
  2. At least we made it, right?
  Select: I'm sorry...

  Select: At least we made it, right?

===Branch End===

Captain
You are as tasteless as a tiger shark.
Do you always bring your enemies with you like this?

Koyanskaya
Oh, if it isn't the strange Servant I saw in the Wandering Sea. I didn't know you were here, too.

Koyanskaya
As you can see, I'm currently nothing more than a fellow fugitive.

Koyanskaya
As they say, no road is long with good company, and love makes the world go round. What a perfect example of strange bedfellows! Or shipmates, if you will.

Koyanskaya
Of course, this is strictly a temporary business arrangement, but I do hope we can get along for its duration.

Da Vinci
Likewise. Oh, and not so much as afinger on the instruments, please.

Da Vinci
If you so much as breathe on them, Mr. Detective thereis going to open up a can of baritsu on your ass.

Holmes
Now, now, I'll thank you not to refer to we detectives as you would a knife. Never mind that my deductions are so sharp one could cut oneself on them.

Holmes
Even I would need a hot shower if I were to get the blood of so toxic a vixen on me.

Koyanskaya
Oh my, the office banter is so pointed here☆
You're not picking a fight with me, are you?

  1. Is it awkward in here, or is it just me?
  2. Oh man, I'm getting serious chills down my spine.
  Select: Is it awkward in here, or is it just me?

  Select: Oh man, I'm getting serious chills down my spine.

===Branch End===

Meunière
(What I wanna know is, why's no one pointing out how Koyanskaya's outfit just magically fixed itself!?)

Goredolf
(She even looks good in a traditional Indian outfit, complete with sari... Is she an angel–er, a demon after all...?)

Holmes
All right, enough small talk. We have a great deal of questions, and precious little time.

Holmes
Let's begin with your present circumstances.

Holmes
Why did you seek refuge aboard the Border? Aren't you with the Lostbelts...or rather, the Foreign God?

Koyanskaya
Hmm, well, you know how bands sometimes split up because of creative differences? It's a lot like that. I think Peperoncino there can attest to it.

Koyanskaya
I never liked this one much to begin with, and was planning to wash my hands of him once he'd served his purpose, but he ended up beating me to the punch.

Koyanskaya
He filled Arjuna's ears with all sorts of nonsense about me, and now I'm officially persona non grata in this India.

Koyanskaya
That said, I never had much of an opinion about this Lostbelt to begin with, so I'm not too broken up that I've been exiled from it now...

Koyanskaya
But for the time being, I think I'll stick around a while longer. Let's just say I have my reasons.

Peperoncino
Aha... I thought as much.

Koyanskaya
Thought as much about what, Peperoncino the Traitor?

Peperoncino
Oooh, a swing and a miss!
I haven't betrayed anyone, but thanks for playing!

Peperoncino
My goal as a Crypter is to grow my Tree of Emptiness, and I certainly haven't abandoned it.

Peperoncino
I'm not on bad terms with anyone from Team A, and I have no intention of defying the Foreign God either.

Peperoncino
The only ones I don't trust...

Peperoncino
...are you Alter Egos. I mean, how could I?
You're all the definition of shady.

Peperoncino
It's because I have my doubts about you three that I shared the information I have with Fujimaru.

Peperoncino
I thought I could gain some insight from a different perspective on this situation. Though I'm sure Holmesie already deduced as much.

Holmes
Indeed, I was fully aware that you were probing our goals and perspectives.

Holmes
But of course, I allowed it, as I could tell you were doing so from a place of fairness rather than malice.

Holmes
Given the current state of the world, it doesn't take much thought to realize this fatal contradiction.

Holmes
The fact that Ms. Koyanskaya is here right now only further serves to reinforce it.

Holmes
While I do feel as though I already have a firm grasp on the answer, I also feel as though it would be improper for me to be the one to explain it.

Holmes
So, as one of those directly involved...

Holmes
...I would like to ask you about this great mystery we can no longer ignore, Scandinavia Peperoncino.

Peperoncino
Aww, that's sweet. How can you be so kind and handsome, and yet also so unpopular? Is it because you're inhuman at heart?

Peperoncino
All right then, don't mind if I do.
Koyanskaya, you can confirm this for me, right?

Peperoncino
The goals of the Crypters and the Foreign God's Disciples don't completely line up, do they?

  1. !?
 
  Select: !?

===Branch End===

Mash
What...do you mean?

Peperoncino
Let me be clear: this world is headed towards oblivion. The way it's being run now, it can't possibly end up at anything halfway decent.

Peperoncino
Once it's completely purged of “evil,” we're not gonna have the perfect world he's aiming for. We'll be left with a world of total nothingness.

Peperoncino
It's fair to say that Arjuna has gone completely off the rails.

Peperoncino
But the bigger problem...is that you Disciples aren't doing anything to stop him.

Peperoncino
If anything, that treacherous snake of a man is pushing him to hurry things along. Why?

Peperoncino
The way things are going now, both this Lostbelt and its Tree of Emptiness will be lost forever. So why aren't you two trying to stop that?

Holmes
Furthermore, given the state we found you in, it seems there is also every possibility that even you Disciples don't share a common goal.

Holmes
Tell us: What exactly are you?

Koyanskaya
Hmm, good question. I suppose if it will pay my fare, I'll answer you as far as I'm able to.

Koyanskaya
I do indeed have my own adorable goals I'm working towards. Adorable goals that neither the Crypters nor that shitty monk share.

Rama
I sincerely doubt there's anything adorable about them.
What are they?

Koyanskaya
Well, there's tormenting humans... Oh, and collecting regional monsters, I suppose? It's a hobby of mine, investigating new and unusual creatures.

Koyanskaya
This Lostbelt has both kali and sacred beasts,
so I'm already pretty happy about that.

Holmes
...

Mash
What can you tell us about the other Alter Ego?

Koyanskaya
I'm afraid that's one I can't answer. It would violate the nondisclosure agreement in the contract I signed with the Foreign God.

Koyanskaya
The most I can say is that he and I most certainly do not get along, as you can tell from my presence here.

Koyanskaya
The three Alter Egos may have different approaches due to different personalities, but share one common goal.

Koyanskaya
All three Alter Egos want to grow the Trees of Emptiness to completion.

Mash
I see... Is that true for Father Kotomine–I mean, Rasputin, too?

Koyanskaya
Of course. But you know what happened in the Russian Lostbelt, what with its king and Kadoc being who they are.

Koyanskaya
Well, despite what you might think, that priest is a genuine saint, complete with the ability to know the future... I guess you'd say he can make prophecies?

Koyanskaya
And apparently, he prophesized that the Russian Lostbelt was only ever going to end poorly, and acted accordingly.

Koyanskaya
...All right, that's enough from me.
I believe I've more than paid for my fare by now.

Captain
Oh no you haven't. Not by a long shot.
It costs a lot more than that to ride my ship.

Da Vinci
Leaving the question of whether it's your ship or notaside, I do agree that she has only begun to pay herfare.

Koyanskaya
Oh, come now☆ Do you have any idea how much Rasputin's secrets would normally cost? That priest never says a word about himself, you know☆

Koyanskaya
It wasn't easy to part with them, but since doing so would be his problem more than mine, I figured I could share them with you as a little bonus of sorts!

Da Vinci
So she's willing to sell out her teammates' skills,but not her own secrets, huh.

Da Vinci
Talk about a dyed-in-the-wool misanthrope. It's likeeverything she does is designed to piss others off...

Peperoncino
(I have a feeling we're not going to get anything from her that she isn't willing to give us...)

Peperoncino
(For now, I guess I should just be glad that I was able to confirm my hypothesis.)

Peperoncino
(I wonder just how much Kirschtaria knows about the Foreign God's identity and objectives?)

Koyanskaya
At any rate, I no longer have any interest in what happens to this world. I am, as they say, over it.

Koyanskaya
So by all means, go ahead and mess with it as much as you like. I'd be especially happy if you could give that shitty monk some much-needed comeuppance.

Goredolf
Do you really think we're done here?

Goredolf
We saved you when you were at death's door, and I doubt you're anywhere close to your old strength yet.

Goredolf
To put it another way, you have nowhere to run,
and your life is in our hands now.

Koyanskaya
Oh my, does this mean your gentlemanly facade is crumbling? Now that I'm your prisoner, I wonder what you're going to do to me?

Koyanskaya
Are you going to bind my limbs and throw me in solitary? Chop me into tiny pieces, like what happened in China?

Goredolf
What? No, no, I'm just referring to your promise to temporarily cooperate with us.

Goredolf
Though that's not to say we won't take precautions.

Goredolf
I trust there won't be an issue letting her out of here along with Fujimaru?

Holmes
I highly doubt it. Not with Rama, Ganesha,
and Lakshmi all keeping an eye on her.

Holmes
Once we have our safety measures in place, I believe our most prudent course of action would be to act on this new information.

Holmes
And of course, when the situation calls for it,
we would like you to assist us in battle.

Holmes
At the moment, I believe that covers the manner of assistance we expect from you.

Koyanskaya
Hmm. Well, I can't promise to be of too much help in combat, but I can certainly fight well enough to protect my own life.

Koyanskaya
And if you're treating me as a guest rather than a prisoner, I'll agree the information I shared doesn't cover my fare.

Koyanskaya
So rest assured, I'll be glad to work off the rest. I certainly don't want to be in debt to humans, after all.

Da Vinci
Well, if nothing else, at least we madeit through another cataclysm unscathed.

Da Vinci
I think we've all earned a little break today, so whydon't we kick back and relax while we wait for theoutside world to stabilize?

Da Vinci
If all goes well, maybe we'll even be able tosettle everything during the next yuga cycle...

Captain
...Oh.

Lakshmi
So you're the one I heard on the transmission.

Captain
...I go by Captain right now,
though that name has no particular meaning.

Captain
Not that I have any other more meaningful name to go by right now anyway.

Lakshmi
Good to meet you, Captain. I'm–

Captain
You don't have to tell me.
I know who you are.

Lakshmi
Do you mean we've met somewhere before?

Captain
...Of course not. What makes you think that?

Lakshmi
Hmm. I guess it would be your scent.

Captain
...My scent, huh. Well, I guess I can understand that more than I could if you'd said my appearance.

Captain
Anyway, I'm afraid I have a lot of work I need to get back to. You should rest now, while you can.

Lakshmi
(I wonder why he's avoiding me?
I don't remember wronging him.)

Lakshmi
(Although, that look in his eyes...
Was it nervousness? Fear? No, wait.)

Lakshmi
(I think it was...guilt?)

--ARROW--

Ganesha
Phew! I don't think I've ever been so happy to see the sky.

Ganesha
There really is something about seeing it for the first time in a while that appeals even to a die-hard shut-in like me.

  1. Really?
  2. I thought you were the type who never left their room no matter what...
  Select: Really?
Ganesha
Well sure. All the more so when you've been inside as long as I have.

  Select: I thought you were the type who never left their room no matter what...
Ganesha
How would I get food, or go to the bathroom?
Of course I go out when I gotta.

===Branch End===

Ganesha
I always enjoyed the early mornings when I'd have to run down to the convenience store to replenish my snack supplies after fighting a massive raid boss for three days straight.

Ganesha
The way you could still see the stars as the first rays of sun started to creep over the horizon was just divine...

Ganesha
Whoa! Maybe it was those spiritual morning walks that made Ganesha choose me for his vessel!

  1. (Yeeeah, probably not.)
  2. (A three day raid boss fight? What were the devs thinking?)
  Select: (Yeeeah, probably not.)

  Select: (A three day raid boss fight? What were the devs thinking?)

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou...

Holmes
My apologies for the seemingly endless string of similar instructions...

Holmes
...but I would like you all to start by returning to Bichu, as usual.

  1. Got it.
  2. Let's get going then.
  Select: Got it.

  Select: Let's get going then.

===Branch End===

Koyanskaya
Ahh, what a perfectly peaceful little human town.
It makes me positively nauseous☆

Koyanskaya
So, what's the plan here? You do have a plan to take down that spoiled brat turned god, don't you?

Rama
We're going to tear him off his divine throne and bring him down to our level, starting with this town.

Rama
Now that these people have fought their way through a Kali Yuga, there should be even more of them on our side.

Rama
Once we've convinced this town he isn't a god worth worshipping, we'll move on to other towns until he's weakened enough that we can defeat him.

Koyanskaya
A god boycott campaign, hm?
Okay, I can see the sense in that.

Koyanskaya
(At least, theoretically...)

Lakshmi
Even though we're in the peaceful Kṛta Yuga now, something feels...off.

Peperoncino
I feel it too...
Does this town seem weirdly quiet to you too?

  1. Definitely.
 
  Select: Definitely.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou, fou.

Ganesha
Hey guys? I'm kinda worried about Asha.

Ganesha
Remember she said her dad was injured?
Maybe we should go check on her first?

Mash
Of course. I was just thinking the same thing. I think her house was over in that direction. Let's go see her.

Mash
There's her house! Thank goodness it's intact... Why don't we take a peek inside through the window first, to see how they're doing?

  1. (There's candles and all sorts of yummy looking things on the table...)
  2. (It looks like they're celebrating something...)
  Select: (There's candles and all sorts of yummy looking things on the table...)

  Select: (It looks like they're celebrating something...)

===Branch End===

Aunt
Hehe, I'm so glad we all made it to the Kṛta Yuga to celebrate your four thousandth day of life, Asha!

Uncle
Me too. A lot's happened over the different yugas...
More than I can even remember.

Uncle
I was worried how things were going to go when we first took you in...

Uncle
...but you've grown up to be a wonderful little girl.

Uncle
Though you know, it's strange.
I know we've been here since way back...

Uncle
...but this house still doesn't feel like our home...
Maybe it's just too big for us?

Aunt
I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe it's time we thought about moving. I think there's another house we could live in not too far from here.

Aunt
But we don't need to think about that now. Today's your special day, and we're going to celebrate! Go ahead and eat anything you want, okay?

Asha
Okay...

Aunt
Aww, what's wrong, Asha?
You don't look very excited.

Asha
...Auntie?

Asha
Doesn't it feel like we're missing someone important?

Mash
...!!!

Aunt
Huh? What do you mean?

Aunt
Aah! Oh for...
Now look what you made me do.

Asha
I-I'm sorry...
Are you okay?

Uncle
Haha, you dropped a dish over a little question?
You're such an ulloo.

Asha
Ah... There it is again.
It feels like...someone else should've said that.

Asha
It feels...strange that nobody's saying it.

Asha
Yeah... It really feels like...there ought to be someone else here with us...

Aunt
What an odd little girl you are.
Who would that possibly be?

Aunt
You know it's always been just the three of us.

Asha
Y-yeah, I know. But, I can't help but feel like...I made a promise with someone...

Asha
Someone who said they'd celebrate with me...and patted my head, telling me how much I'd grown...

Asha
Huh...? Am I...crying? Well that's a funny surprise...
This is supposed to be a happy day...

Mash
Ghh...!

  1. Mash!
  2. Pull yourself together!
  Select: Mash!

  Select: Pull yourself together!

===Branch End===

Mash
I-I'm okay... I'm okay.

Mash
But Senpai, this is just... Just...!

Peperoncino
Let's get out of here.

Peperoncino
...Right now, I don't think even I could look Asha in the eye and smile.

Ganesha
She said his leg was injured. Is that why?
A little thing like that...?

Rama
That's just like what happened to Vihan. This is horrible. I don't even have the words for how horrendously wrong this all is!

Lakshmi
...Oh no!

Lakshmi
Does this mean...!?

  1. Lakshmi! Where're you going!?
 
  Select: Lakshmi! Where're you going!?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
They're not here!

Lakshmi
Hey!

Prakash
Oh, hello. Is everything all right? Would you like to come to my house and have a glass of grape juice?

Lakshmi
Forget about juice!
What happened to all the people in the town hall!?

Prakash
Hm? What do you mean?

Lakshmi
You know damn well what I mean. I'm talking about the people who came here from Dival.

Lakshmi
There were dozens of people living here while they tried to find new homes!

Prakash
I'm very sorry, but I truly have no idea what you're talking about.

Prakash
Nobody has ever lived in the town hall.

Lakshmi
Dammit...

Prakash
You poor thing... I don't know what you're talking about, but I can tell you've been through a lot.

Prakash
Well, if there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to call on me. Good luck...

Lakshmi
Dammit... Dammit!!!

Lakshmi
Just refusing to obey is a sin now, you false god? A crime so great you throw them away like they're worthless!?

Holmes
It seems we were too lax in our assumptions.

Holmes
Given how removed Arjuna is from this world...

Holmes
...I assumed he would never bother to personally determine the so-called defectiveness of individual persons' actions.

Holmes
Especially since we knew Dival continued to exist across yugas even after they began fighting back.

Koyanskaya
That sounds right to me, if we're just talking about Arjuna himself.

Koyanskaya
I'm sure he would consider changes in the little peoples' faith as trivial matters beneath his notice.

Koyanskaya
But he has a certain advisor at his ear–one who loves nothing more than snitching.

Koyanskaya
And I can't see that slimy, devious monk not taking the chance to rat these people out.

Holmes
Yes, I recall you mentioned him on the Border as well. It sounds as though you and he are on extremely poor terms.

Koyanskaya
Oh yes. He's a wonderfully shitty monk☆

Koyanskaya
As for who he is, well, you'll find that out when you meet him yourselves.

Rama
So it's his fault these people disappeared.

Lakshmi
No... It might... It might be mine.

Mash
Lakshmi?

Lakshmi
It might be because I helped them. Because I lit a fire under them. Because I drew the false god's attention to them.

Lakshmi
Maybe I'm the reason they were eliminated.

Lakshmi
They might have been erased as though they never existed because they got caught in my cloud of bad luck!

Rama
Lakshmi...

Lakshmi
...No. That is not my name.

Lakshmi
I've been lying to you this whole time. Everything that's gone wrong is my fault. I knew I should have stuck to fighting on my own!

Ganesha
Wh-what are you talking about?
You're not making any sense!

Lakshmi
...

Lakshmi
The god that resides within me is not Lakshmi.

Goredolf
Wh-what was that!?

Lakshmi
Me, the goddess of happiness and prosperity?
Haha, what a joke. I'm the exact opposite.

Lakshmi
I bring adversity and tragedy wherever I go. I'm the embodiment of things everyone should avoid and despise.

Lakshmi
The real name of the goddess within me is Alakshmi–Lakshmi's older sister, the goddess of bad luck and misfortune.

--ARROW--

Captain
...It's true. Those two sister gods are more alike than shrimp and prawns.

Peperoncino
Alakshmi... That's the goddess of misfortune, Lakshmi's direct opposite. You're saying that's who you really are?

Lakshmi
She is still a source of power lacking in consciousness,
as I told you before...but yes, that is who I really am.

Rama
So that's why I was never quite able to sense my beloved Sita's Lakshmi inside you...

Rama
Part of it is because she's only a source of power now, and part of it is because they are sisters.

Rama
No wonder I never got more than a vague impression of the Divinity inside you.

Ganesha
Why didn't you tell us this sooner?

Lakshmi
Alakshmi's request was simple: she conveyed to me that she wanted to help her sister trapped within the false god.

Ganesha
Okay...so what's the problem?
That's one of our goals, too.

Lakshmi
But who would ever want to join forces with the embodiment of bad luck and misfortune?

Lakshmi
I...I've been using you for my own ends all this time.

Lakshmi
I thought you would refuse to help me if I was honest about my identity...

Lakshmi
...and that would make it harder to achieve my goal of defeating the false god and rescuing Lakshmi.

Lakshmi
Some leader I am. I'm just a foolish woman steeped in lies and deception!

Lakshmi
Now those people were erased without a trace, and all of your hopes are dashed, too. And it's all my fault!

  1. No. You're wrong there.
 
  Select: No. You're wrong there.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fou fou!

Peperoncino
I understand that you're really Alakshmi.
But you're still wrong about the rest.

Mash
Senpai and Pepe are right. You didn't erase Ajai,
or the people of Dival... Arjuna did.

Mash
You can't blame yourself for this.

Rama
Indeed. Are you going to insist that every last bit of bad luck we've had was actually your fault?

Rama
Because even for a goddess of misfortune, that would be going a bridge too far, Lakshmi!

Lakshmi
Wha...

Rama
We're fighting for the fate of this entire world. Your luck can't possibly affect that, no matter how bad it may be.

Rama
It is our skill and responsibility alone that will determine the outcome of our fight, just as it always has before!

Rama
So the only laments I'll allow from you are your clumsiness and the way you constantly stub your toe and squirm in agony!

Rama
If you thought we hadn't noticed,
you were gravely mistaken!

Fou
Fou. Fo fo fooou.

Lakshmi
...

Koyanskaya
Sooo, if you're finally done playing guessing games where the answers were obvious...

Koyanskaya
...it's about time we started planning our next course of action, no?

Holmes
...Agreed. Truth be told, I had already formulated a hypothesis as to whom Lakshmi's true Divinity might be.

Holmes
Lest we forget, the power she demonstrated during our first battle with William Tell was clearly nothing that a goddess of fortune would possess.

Koyanskaya
Oh yes, that reminds me. I don't sense Vāyu anywhere, so it seems Mr. Tell never did make it to this yuga, did he?

Koyanskaya
Though I can't say I'm surprised, given the resistance he put up at the end.

Holmes
I'm considering that a highly probable possibility as well.

Holmes
Given how bravely he fought last we saw him, I'm not sure if I should regret that we were unable to have him join us...

Holmes
...or be glad that at least a bit more of Arjuna's power is now gone.

Da Vinci
Okay, in light of all that's happened, we need to figure out a new plan, starting with where our old one went wrong.

Da Vinci
It's obvious now that we were severely underestimating the extent of Arjuna's ability to erase things he considers defective whenever he remakes the world.

Da Vinci
Hard as it might be to believe, we know now he can get rid of entire communities if he wants to.

Da Vinci
Maybe he came up with some way to simplify it, like assuming anyone who takes up arms against the kali is defective.

Da Vinci
But either way, now that we know he's capable of mass removals like this...

Da Vinci
...we should probably assume that the more people stand out, the more likely they are to be erased.

Peperoncino
So, what you're saying is...

Peperoncino
...our plan to turn more people against him and drag him from his godly throne isn't looking too good anymore...

Mash
...

  1. So, what? We're just going to accept that this is how things are here?
  2. So, what? We're just going to give up on defeating him?
  Select: So, what? We're just going to accept that this is how things are here?

  Select: So, what? We're just going to give up on defeating him?

===Branch End===

Mash
No... Absolutely not, Master!

  1. You better believe it.
 
  Select: You better believe it.

===Branch End===

  1. I don't care if this world's god is the one behind it.
 
  Select: I don't care if this world's god is the one behind it.

===Branch End===

  1. No one should have to live in a world where they could be erased like this.
 
  Select: No one should have to live in a world where they could be erased like this.

===Branch End===

Fou
Fooou!

  1. I'm not giving up yet!
  2. Let's figure out our next plan!
  Select: I'm not giving up yet!

  Select: Let's figure out our next plan!

===Branch End===

Rama
I couldn't agree more, Master!
We may be back to square one again, but so what!

Rama
As for you, queen who has slightly worse luck than most people...

Rama
...I have no desire for you to wander about in sackcloth and ashes being so terribly morose.

Rama
Who is going to benefit from your doing such a thing?
It is an utterly pointless endeavor.

Lakshmi
...

Rama
Now that we know our old plan won't work, we need your help more than ever in coming up with the next one.

Rama
Will you help us? Will you continue to fight beside us, just as you have till now?

Mash
I second everything Rama said.

  1. Let's just say you're not the first complicated goddess we've had on our team.
  2. Compared to some other companions we've had, a goddess of misfortune is nothing.
  Select: Let's just say you're not the first complicated goddess we've had on our team.

  Select: Compared to some other companions we've had, a goddess of misfortune is nothing.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
...Heh. You truly are an odd one, aren't you?

Holmes
All right, now that we've reaffirmed our intent to continue onwards, I would like to begin discussing specifics.

Holmes
Does anyone have any information that would give us a good place to start?

Rama
I'll get right to the point:
I can think of one thing.

Da Vinci
Oh? What's that?

Rama
Aśvatthāman. There's something wrong with him.

Peperoncino
Yes, I think we all saw that for ourselves,
Ramie darling. Care to be a little more detailed?

Rama
Hmm... I'm afraid it's difficult to explain. All I can say is, when we ran into him during the last yuga...

Rama
...it felt like there was something fundamentally different about him compared to the other Lōkapāla...

Koyanskaya
Heh heh heh. At least one of you has an eye for detail.

Koyanskaya
Disposing of Aśvatthāman is something I totally endorse, especially as I have my own grievances with him.

Koyanskaya
I would like nothing more than for all of you to beat him within an inch of his life♡

Mash
But we still don't know how to deal with his regenerative powers. Fighting him was like fighting an immortal...

Koyanskaya
Hehehe. Exactly. He's immortal.

Koyanskaya
That's why he has no choice but to do what Arjuna says.

Lakshmi
...What do you mean by that?

Koyanskaya
Oopsie! Now I've gone and said too much.
Let me just go ahead and zip these lips back up.

Koyanskaya
Anyway, I do think it's worth a shot. If you like,
I could even tell you where he is right now.

Goredolf
Hold it! I appreciate that proposal, but I don't trust it! Koyanskaya can only be trusted to lead us into a trap!

Koyanskaya
What? And here I made that proposal with the very purest of intentions...

Koyanskaya
I guess this means you still haven't forgiven me after all, Your Excellency... (Sniff, sniff...)

Goredolf
Why in the world would I forgive you when you haven't shown the slightest sign of repentance!? Did that sari do something to your brain, Beautiful!?

Koyanskaya
Juuust kidding☆

Koyanskaya
All right then, I'll go ahead and give you the data you'll need to track Aśvatthāman down.

Koyanskaya
Just to be sure of the results,
why not conduct the search yourselves?

Holmes
Hmm. True, that would be safer. Though it will mean we'll need to walk around ourselves to pick up his signal.

Da Vinci
That's just the trade-off we'll have to make for security.

Da Vinci
Even if it takes a little longer, it's a lot better than walking into a trap completely defenseless.

Rama
All right, now that our next goal is decided, let's go find Aśvatthāman and take him out quickly.

Rama
...Don't worry.
Once we find him, just let me handle everything.

Rama
I think I know what's going on with him now, so the next time we meet, I'll see if I'm right...

Section 16: Aśvatthāman

Show/Hide Story Chapter

  1. ...There you are!
 
  Select: ...There you are!

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
That's my line.

Aśvatthāman
But what's this? Well whadda ya know!

Aśvatthāman
I can't believe the quarry that got away from me came back of her own accord! I'm so happy, it's actually pissing me off!

Koyanskaya
I appreciate you reacting exactly how I thought you would.

Koyanskaya
You must have known the Chaldeans were hot on your tail, yet you couldn't ignore my aura and couldn't resist waiting around for me to show up...

Koyanskaya
I'm so glad you're as simpleminded as you look.
Now, let's get to our grudge match, shall we?

Koyanskaya
Oh, but do be warned: you'll be facing Fujimaru and {(M) his /(F) her} team this time around, and they're veeery tough cookies.

Koyanskaya
You see, they do this ungodly annoying thing where they get stronger and stronger each time they do battle.

Aśvatthāman
Ha! I never could tell whose side you were really on, woman.

Rama
Let me ask you this, Aśvatthāman:
Would you be willing to tell us your whole story?

Aśvatthāman
What was that?

Rama
I am a generous king, and I can tell what others are truly thinking. I promise I will neither laugh at you, nor look down on you. What do you say?

Aśvatthāman
...Ugh, every one of you just makes me so friggin' furious! I don't even know what you're talking about!

Peperoncino
What are you doing, Ramie!?
I thought you said you could handle him!

Rama
I thought I could, but it seems this problem is not as easily solved with words as I had hoped.

Rama
We'll just have to pin him down and have him cool off more naturally.

Ganesha
So we're gonna have to fight him after all!?

Lakshmi
I will help you, but what I said before still holds true: do not rely on me too much.

Lakshmi
There is no telling when my poor luck could result in a fatal error.

Da Vinci
But you can control it at least a little, right? Like you did when you got all Tell's arrows to hit you?

Lakshmi
...A little, yes. But there are some areas that are still out of my control.

Lakshmi
(Not to mention that the recoil from that time is probably–)

Peperoncino
Oh, Aśvatthāman.
You really are an awkward boy, aren't you?

Aśvatthāman
Ha! You mean like the opposite of how you strut around in those fancy clothes of yours, ex-Master!?

Peperoncino
Well, I'm certainly less awkward than you. I keep my life nice and simple by doing whatever it takes to stay alive.

Peperoncino
Of course, that still leaves the question of what I want to do with my life once I keep it. It's not easy being human, you know? We always want more.

Aśvatthāman
Hmph. Guess you really must be adroit if you can say that sort of thing with a smile. Maybe I am kind of awkward by comparison.

Aśvatthāman
All I've got going for me is my anger. So it's only natural that anger would become my entire life.

Aśvatthāman
Living my life makes me angry, and my anger gives me a reason to live. Yeah, I know it doesn't make any sense.

Aśvatthāman
Just like I know that the moment my anger dies out,
I won't be me anymore!

Aśvatthāman
So as long as I'm still kicking, I've got no choice but to keep my fury burning...to keep burning my whole damn life!

--BATTLE--

Aśvatthāman
Ghh...!

Mash
We did it! But–

Ganesha
Dammit, I knew he was just gonna heal himself again!
Is he seriously immortal or something!?

Aśvatthāman
Is that all you've got? I can keep this up–
Khh, rrgh...!

Lakshmi
Hm? Is it just me, or is there something else mixed in there?

Lakshmi
It's not just the pain of regeneration. It seems as though there's something deeper eating away at him...

Rama
I knew it. It's just as I thought, Aśvatthāman.

Rama
You're cursed, aren't you?

  1. Cursed!?
  2. ...Did you just say “cursed”?
  Select: Cursed!?

  Select: ...Did you just say “cursed”?

===Branch End===

Rama
That's right. Of course, there are many different kinds of curses, but for this, I believe I know what is at work.

Rama
Even as we speak, this curse is tormenting Aśvatthāman...

Rama
...or rather, his Servant Spirit Origin, relentlessly.

Rama
This curse must be so powerful that not even a great warrior like him can remove it.

Rama
I expect it is directly rooted in his destiny...

Rama
A curse so deeply tied to his heroics that it is inevitable he would fall prey to it.

Peperoncino
Oh man... I know what it is.
That's Krishna's curse, isn't it!?

Aśvatthāman
...!

  1. What's Krishna's curse, Professor!?
  2. What's Krishna's curse, Captain!?
  Select: What's Krishna's curse, Professor!?
Holmes
I'm sorry to, as they say, burst your bubble,
but you won't find any professors here.
Holmes
Both Da Vinci and I would be happy to share what we know about India from books, but in this case, I believe Captain would be the most knowledgeable.

  Select: What's Krishna's curse, Captain!?

===Branch End===

Captain
...It's something that happened towards the end of the great war depicted in the Mahabharata.

Captain
Aśvatthāman was overcome with anger at his father's murder, and in a cowardly act of retribution, he snuck into the enemy camp and killed them all in their sleep.

Captain
Afterwards, he fired an arrow at the stomach of the pregnant mother of what would have been the last child of the Kuru...

Captain
...but Krishna protected the baby and placed a dreadful curse upon Aśvatthāman's head in retaliation.

Captain
One interpretation says that the curse would last for three thousand years, during which he would be forced to endure all manner of pain and suffering.

Peperoncino
I would definitely have noticed if he'd been cursed like that when I first summoned him.

Peperoncino
So Arjuna must have put the curse on him AFTER he stole my Master contract from me.

Peperoncino
It would be well within his power,
since he also possesses Krishna's Divinity.

Da Vinci
Aha. Now it all adds up.

Da Vinci
Aśvatthāman, your immortality comes from being born with Yama and Shiva's power, and the curse you're dealing with now is too strong for you to remove on your own.

Da Vinci
So you're trapped in a prison of endless suffering,
and death offers no escape.

Mash
!

Ganesha
Then...does that mean you have to do what Arjuna says, or he won't undo the curse?

Ganesha
That IS pretty rough.

Aśvatthāman
...Shut up.

Peperoncino
At the very least, I can imagine that curse going away once Arjuna finally has his so-called perfect world.

Peperoncino
Though either way, I guess that doesn't leave you much choice but to cooperate with him...

Aśvatthāman
Shut uuuuuup!

Aśvatthāman
I'm so goddamn pissed I can't stand it! I'm mad at myself for being a slave to my anger! For getting myself cursed!

Aśvatthāman
I'm mad at how goddamn weak I am, so weak that I have to obey Arjuna, my mortal goddamn enemy, just to escape this endless pain! All I can do is just keep getting angrier and angrier!

Mash
Aśvatthāman is getting madder than we've ever seen him! Be careful, Master!

--BATTLE--

Inner Monologue
I don't know anything about this Crypter stuff,
but whatever they are, that one was still my Master.

Inner Monologue
Once he ordered me to leave Arjuna alone,
I was able to hold back my urge to kill him.

Inner Monologue
But...once my Master was no longer my Master...

Inner Monologue
Once Arjuna slapped that curse on me like he was putting a collar on a stray dog, and then told me he was my new Master...

Inner Monologue
There was no way in hell I was going to take that.

Inner Monologue
I tried to kill him immediately after he cursed me.

Inner Monologue
I tried to kill him in the span of a single breath...
In the blink of a goddamn eye.

Inner Monologue
But...

Inner Monologue
...it did nothing.

Inner Monologue
His incredible divine power stopped me, killed me, and brought me back to life. The curse ate away at my body, and I attacked him again.

Inner Monologue
Over and over, I was stopped, killed, revived,
and cursed. Stopped. Killed. Revived. Cursed.

Inner Monologue
Every time he stopped me, I got angrier.
Every time he killed me, I saw red.

Inner Monologue
Every time he revived me, my fury grew. Every time he cursed me, I became still further enraged.

Inner Monologue
Was I just buying time? No way. I wasn't nearly calm enough to think about drawing Arjuna's attention long enough to let my old Master escape.

Inner Monologue
...Though I guess it ended up working out that way.

Inner Monologue
It was all just desperate fury, all simply in vain...

Inner Monologue
...until my spirit finally broke.

Inner Monologue
Contorting bowels. Rage. (Hell). Every agony in the world. Tearing myself apart. Decimation of the ego.
(A single instant). Drool. Flickering consciousness.

Inner Monologue
Purple, red, green, black. Lost vocal chords. Spirit Origin violation. Existing, then not, then existing again. Poisonous thoughts. Defeat, pain, chills, hives, agony, fire, all on top of one another. A terrible curse.

Inner Monologue
How can I make this damn curse go away?
...What do I have to do to be free of it?

Inner Monologue
If helping that damn god get the world he wants is the only way for me to escape this damn curse...

Inner Monologue
If this law far more merciful than death is the only way to go...

Inner Monologue
...then I will BE rage. The moment I stop being angry is the moment I stop being me. So I decided I was going to stay angry all the damn time.

Inner Monologue
Once I knew I couldn't kill that god beyond gods like this, no matter how angry I got...

Inner Monologue
...I instead chose to burn my own damn weakness with the fires of my rage until the very end.

Inner Monologue
It was humiliating for me.
Along with idiotic, immature, and inferior.

Inner Monologue
But even so, thanks to that, I knew I'd be able to stay angry until my last breath.

Inner Monologue
I might've lost the bond with my true Master,
and been forced to submit to my most hated enemy...

Inner Monologue
...but at least in this, I still had my pride.

Inner Monologue
This way, I would at least be able to remain myself right up until this defective, evil world disappeared.

Inner Monologue
Then I'll be able to hit that smug, all-knowing,
all-powerful god with one last shot.

Inner Monologue
I'll show him that even with his perfect little plan to recreate as he sees fit, and then only what he deems essential, he still couldn't stop me from being me.

Inner Monologue
That way, right when everything's about to end,
I'll get to laugh in his stupid face...

Peperoncino
...You really are an odd bird, aren't you?

Peperoncino
You actually chose to keep losing to Arjuna and his curse just so you could continue to be yourself.

Koyanskaya
Exactly. And thanks to that, he's done for,
since there's no possible way to save him.

Rama
...Yes, I'm sure there isn't.

Aśvatthāman
Khh... Ugh, this goddamn pisses me off.
So what're you gonna do now, huh?

Aśvatthāman
You gonna tear me to shreds with that sword of evil's bane? Sounds great. Do it. Come on, do it!

Rama
Even if I did tear you to shreds,
your body would simply regenerate.

Rama
I suspect it's your connection to Arjuna's nigh-infinite supply of magical energy that forces it to do so.

Rama
Then, once your body is cursed again, it is subjected to endless torment for all of eternity...

Rama
Hehe. But, fortunately for you, I know of a way to do something about that curse.

Aśvatthāman
What'd you just say?

  1. Way to go, Your Majesty!
  2. Ramaaa!!! Attaboooy!!!
  Select: Way to go, Your Majesty!
Rama
Why thank you, Master. Take a moment to drink in my regal glory if you like.
Rama
My brother and Sita would often look at me like that...

  Select: Ramaaa!!! Attaboooy!!!
Rama
Hey! You were supposed to gaze at me in awe and admiration there!
Rama
What are you–Don't you pat my head!
I'm a king! I deserve far more respect than that!

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
Ha. You and your damn nonsense are pissing me off.
What the hell can you even do about this curse?

Rama
This.

Rama
...Ngh. This is...quite something, isn't it...

Peperoncino
Whoa, whoa, whoa! What did you just do!?
Don't tell me you–

Aśvatthāman
Huh!?

Rama
(Cough) Krishna and I...are both avatars of Vishnu...basically beings of the same nature.

Rama
So if your curse comes from Krishna's power,
I should be more than capable of affecting it.

Rama
While I can't completely destroy it, of course,
I can at least transfer it from your body to mine...

Rama
Ghh, nnngh! Ow ow ow ow!

Rama
...I am an invincible king. I'm not about to complain about the pain from a little curse like this. If you thought you just heard otherwise, then I suggest you have your ears checked.

Ganesha
...

Lakshmi
Y-you're out of your mind!

Koyanskaya
Ugh, I can't stand that sort of simpering self-sacrificing nonsense. If you subject me to any more of this, I'm going to start demanding compensation.

Aśvatthāman
Whoa, whoa, what the hell? Are you stupid or something? Dammit, this pisses me off. I'm still just as angry as ever.

Aśvatthāman
If I don't have to worry about being held hostage to my damn curse anymore... If there's nothing holding me back...

Aśvatthāman
Arjuna was always my mortal enemy, even before he made himself into some kind of god! There's no way in hell I'm not gonna revolt against him!

Mash
!!!

Aśvatthāman
But what's the damn point of me being free of my curse if you just end up cursed in my place!?

Aśvatthāman
All you're doing is gaining one guy and losing another!
It's simple math, dammit! Ugh, you frickin' piss me off!

Rama
Don't be ridiculous. Of course I've thought of that.

Rama
As an avatar of Vishnu, Krishna's curse shouldn't affect me as much as it affected you.

Rama
Let's say it brings me down to half my normal strength.

Rama
But in exchange for that strength, we get Aśvatthāman, the hero of the Kauravas.

Rama
A man who is not only an exceptionally skilled warrior, but a tactician clever enough to serve as commander in chief.

Rama
That is to say, you are a Servant who can fulfill more than just one role.

Rama
So while we may have lost half a warrior, we effectively gain two to make up for it! That's a net gain of one and a half warriors!

Aśvatthāman
...

  1. He's stalking over to me now...
  2. He's glaring at me something fierce...
  Select: He's stalking over to me now...

  Select: He's glaring at me something fierce...

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
You. This guy's your Servant, right?
...Does that mean I should be angry at you?

  1. Go easy on me, please!
  2. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
  Select: Go easy on me, please!

  Select: I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

===Branch End===

Mash
A-at any rate! Can I please ask you something just to be sure, Aśvatthāman!?

Mash
Now that you're not cursed anymore,
you no longer have a reason to obey Arjuna.

Mash
So...does that mean you're willing to help us now?

Aśvatthāman
Tch. What'd you go and ask that for? You went and reminded me of how completely pathetic I've been.

Holmes
Hmm. I never expected Rama to take on the curse himself, but the benefits of this trade-off may well outweigh the drawbacks.

Holmes
Having Arjuna's last Lōkapāla come over to our side would be quite the boon indeed.

Fou
Fo fou, fooou!

Peperoncino
...

Aśvatthāman
What's that look supposed to mean, ex-Master? If you want to laugh at me, go ahead. It'll give me another reason to be angry.

Peperoncino
Oh, it's not that. I was just thinking how you really are just how you appear through my Tashintsu. You wear your heart on your sleeve...so to speak.

Peperoncino
So that thing rooted deep inside you is anger. That's what drove you to the Pandavas in the middle of the night.

Da Vinci
Hey, I just have to ask: Haven't you ever wished you could just let all your anger go?

Aśvatthāman
Why? 'Cause it's the whole reason I ended up like this?

Aśvatthāman
Yeah, yeah. I know my anger is what ended up getting me cursed by Krishna while I was alive.

Da Vinci
But you might eventually be able to let go of it if you'd stayed with Arjuna, right?

Da Vinci
I doubt he'd want any “defective emotions” in his perfect world, after all.

Aśvatthāman
Aha, now I get it.

Aśvatthāman
You think I regret giving up that chance to get rid of this anger, don't you?

Aśvatthāman
Haha. Hahaha. Don't be an idiot.
Why the hell would I ever regret that?

Peperoncino
It's true, Da Vinci. You've got it backwards.
Anger is everything to him right now.

Peperoncino
In fact, I think he made sure his anger would be the one part of him to stick around by constantly proving that he was useful with it.

Mash
(They were only Master and Servant for a short time, and they're absolutely nothing alike.)

Mash
(And yet, in spite of that,
Pepe and Aśvatthāman really seem to click.)

Mash
(Maybe this is what they call chemistry...?)

Aśvatthāman
Yeah. Right now, anger and me are one and the same. It was the one way I had to avenge my father and friend's humiliation.

Aśvatthāman
If we were back in Kurukshetra when that war was still going on, and they'd been humiliated again...

Aśvatthāman
...I'd do the same damn thing without hesitating.
Every time.

Aśvatthāman
I'd have used my anger as a weapon to avenge my father and friend, even if I ended up cursed every damn time!

Peperoncino
Got it. I knew you were awkward and simpleminded...but I also know that's why I can trust you.

Da Vinci
Okay then, why don't we find somewhere we can relax and figure out our next course of action? You're a tactician too, right? Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Rama
All right, let's–Ghh!

Ganesha
Hah! You look like an old man who just threw out his back.

Rama
I'm fine, you hear me!? My body just, uh,
hasn't quite adjusted to this curse yet.

Rama
J-just give me a moment.
I'll be up and about in no time...

Ganesha
You know we don't have time to wait around.
Guess I'll just have to give you a piggyback ride.

Rama
A-all right. This is degrading, but I do get the feeling I've had something similar happen to me before.

Rama
...Perhaps it is just part of my destiny to suffer piggyback rides now and then...

Section 17: The Flaw of Being "There"

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Holmes
...?

Da Vinci
Hm? Something wrong, Holmes?

Holmes
No, it's nothing. For a moment, it seemed as though there was something off about the surrounding area... Hopefully, it was nothing more than a momentary sensor malfunction.

Aśvatthāman
Hmm. So you thought to use people's faith to tear Arjuna down from his divine throne, huh.

Lakshmi
Unfortunately, it didn't work. I never thought even the false god would be so heartless as to cast away every person who lost their faith in him.

Lakshmi
I should have known better than to hope for even so much as that from him...

Peperoncino
Honestly, we're kind of stumped right now.
I don't suppose you have any good ideas?

Aśvatthāman
...

Aśvatthāman
You're on the right track.

Aśvatthāman
Taking away Arjuna's god status is almost certainly the only way we'll be able to beat him.

  1. But...
 
  Select: But...

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
I know, dammit. Obviously, we can't count on the people of this world to help with that anymore.

Aśvatthāman
So then, our only choice is to use something else.
Assuming we even can, anyway.

Da Vinci
IS there something else we can use?

Aśvatthāman
Ugh, dammit, I really didn't want to bring this up since it's a big whole all-or-nothing deal, and that pisses me the hell off.

Aśvatthāman
If we mess it up, we'll all be dead and gone. And even if it works, it'd still only give us a tiny chance of coming out on top.

Aśvatthāman
You still wanna hear it?

  1. Like you said, we don't have any other choice.
 
  Select: Like you said, we don't have any other choice.

===Branch End===

Mash
Right. Please tell us, Aśvatthāman.
Whatever it is, we're ready to hear it.

Aśvatthāman
...The biggest factor in Arjuna remaining a god and in control of this world is that he's the one advancing the yuga cycle.

Aśvatthāman
The obvious idea that anyone capable of destroying and recreating the world would have to be a god, only reinforces his position as one.

Aśvatthāman
So as long as he keeps the yuga cycle going,
he's pretty much a perfect god.

Ganesha
Makes sense. I mean, you'd have to be one helluva god to remake the whole damn world...

Ganesha
Oh crap, that sort of thinking's part of the problem, isn't it!? Dammit!

Aśvatthāman
But if we look at it another way,
that advantage is also a weakness.

Aśvatthāman
If we can defy that world remaking, even just a tiny bit, then he won't be a perfect god any longer.

Koyanskaya
Hmm, I see. Since remaking the world is such a massive undertaking, even the tiniest flaw would have a big impact.

Koyanskaya
Like how a single scratch in a large precious gem makes its value plummet.

Mash
But, how would we actually do that?

Aśvatthāman
That's the problem. We can't take the safe or easy way out with something like this.

Aśvatthāman
We'd have to face Arjuna's world destroying Noble Phantasm head-on...

Aśvatthāman
...refuse to disappear, and continue our existence as continuous entities.

Aśvatthāman
Once we've done that, we'll have proven his fallibility, and really messed up the idea of him as some perfect god.

Goredolf
A-are you serious!? You want us to face that terrifying Noble Phantasm head-on!?

Goredolf
I thought you were an actual tactician, not an armchair general, you fool! It doesn't matter how plausible something seems if it can't actually be DONE!

Aśvatthāman
Shut up, dammit! You think I don't know that!?
That's why I'm saying IF we could pull it off!

Aśvatthāman
...So that's the plan. An almost suicidal battle of endurance where one wrong move means you're gone for good.

Aśvatthāman
How about it?
Anyone here think they can pull that off?

--ARROW--

Inner Monologue
...I think back on this world.

Inner Monologue
Here, anything its god deems useless,
defective, or unnecessary...

Inner Monologue
...gets erased as though it never existed.

Inner Monologue
And yet...I'm still here. Haha, how weird is that?

Inner Monologue
Me, a hopeless unemployed shut-in who's only good at video games.

Inner Monologue
A Divine Spirit Servant in name only who just happened to end up with godly power by some freakish twist of fate.

Inner Monologue
There's no way Arjuna wouldn't hesitate to write someone like me off as worthless.

Inner Monologue
I should've been the first to go. I'm just a spectator, an uninvited guest who's only here by coincidence.

Inner Monologue
At least...that's what I thought.

Inner Monologue
But, you know...

Inner Monologue
...even I can't deny that someone knew what I was,
and said they needed my help anyway.

Inner Monologue
I can't let the hero who placed his trust in me down.
So...

Ganesha
I'll do it.
Or at least...I'll try.

Inner Monologue
...I think back on this world.

Inner Monologue
Here, anything its god deems useless,
defective, or unnecessary...

Inner Monologue
...gets erased as though it never existed.

Inner Monologue
...And what could be more useless or unnecessary than a goddess of bad luck and misfortune?

Inner Monologue
That said, I'm sure this one wish of mine can still be granted.

Inner Monologue
No matter how despicable the role given to me may be, or how defectively unlucky I may have been born...

Inner Monologue
...there shouldn't be anything wrong with praying for my family's happiness.

Inner Monologue
No matter what anyone else says about you,
I'll always be your friend, kind Alakshmi.

Inner Monologue
Luck hasn't always been on my side either, like when I failed to defend my country...but that's exactly why I want you to trust me.

Inner Monologue
This time, I won't let anything happen to the ones I care about.

Inner Monologue
I'm going to make sure your wish to free Lakshmi from that awful false god comes true.

Inner Monologue
That wish may not be anything so large as a country. It's easily small enough to fit into your hand.

Inner Monologue
Which is why...I'll make sure to hold onto it tightly.

Inner Monologue
I won't let it slip out of my hand for anything.

Inner Monologue
Not for the world, and not for its god!

Lakshmi
...I'll do it too. I'm sure I can.

  1. You guys...!
 
  Select: You guys...!

===Branch End===

Mash
But...even Karna couldn't withstand that Noble Phantasm for long. Don't you think it's too risky?

Ganesha
Not gonna lie, if we were gaming, this would be like Hardcore Mode on the Nightmare difficulty setting. Not pretty, but it's our only shot.

Ganesha
Besides, I think I've got a decent shot at winning. I mean, we're talking pure endurance, not reflexes, right?

Ganesha
If do a bit of min-maxing, I think I can optimize my build just enough to survive.

Ganesha
Not to mention that I've–Ganesha's seen that Noble Phantasm a couple of times now.

Ganesha
Basically, all I've gotta do is sit still and keep camping until it's over, right?

Ganesha
I can do that sort of thing in my sleep. I know 'cause I have before. So I'm sure I'll be fine.

Ganesha
Just you wait. I'm gonna come up with a foolproof strategy before the game starts and show you all what a NEET is truly capable of!

Ganesha
That's the difference between me and Karna...between me, and a true hero who faces adversity head-on.

Ganesha
Of course, speaking as someone who never asked to be entrusted with all this responsibility...

Ganesha
...I figure I need to at least try to live up to it, or I'll never be able to look him in the eye, you know?

Lakshmi
As for me...I think my purpose lies in protecting others.

Lakshmi
While I've thus far had to use my Noble Phantasm to defeat my enemies, it is meant to be used defensively.

Lakshmi
This seems like a perfect opportunity to do just that.

Lakshmi
Of course, I will do my best to tamp down my bad luck and prevent any unfortunate accidents...but if you cannot help but worry, I will understand.

Lakshmi
I'm sure you would rather remove any uncertain elements when carrying out your–

Ganesha
Whoa, whoa, are you kidding me?
I'm pretty much counting on your help out there.

Ganesha
Honestly, I was a bit nervous about doing this on my own... But if you're there with me, I think I've got a real shot!

Da Vinci
Just to make sure: You guys do have a plan for making this happen, right?

Ganesha
What, you don't believe me? ...Well, I guess I can't blame you. Basically, I'll be using my secondary Noble Phantasm.

Lakshmi
As I said before, I'm thinking of applying Alakshmi's power to my true Noble Phantasm...

Holmes
I see. There are definite risks with that plan,
but there is at least a chance it may succeed.

Aśvatthāman
...Tch.

  1. Are you mad about something else now?
  2. Is there a problem?
  Select: Are you mad about something else now?

  Select: Is there a problem?

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
I'll say. How the hell'd you actually come up with a plan to pull this off? Now I've gotta explain the rest, dammit.

Mash
Is there something else we need?

Aśvatthāman
Oh for... Were you really planning on withstanding Arjuna's world remaking cataclysm like it was just a bad storm?

Aśvatthāman
'Cause you can't. If Arjuna doesn't realize something's not right at first, the jester next to him will.

Koyanskaya
Yes, I'm sure he will.
That's why he's there, after all.

Mash
Then...what can we do?

Aśvatthāman
If you're gonna evade Arjuna's eye when he looks over the entire world, he'll need to think you belong here.

Aśvatthāman
He's gotta take you for granted so much that he'd never even think to question your presence.

Aśvatthāman
In other words...

Aśvatthāman
All right, here's the last part of the plan.

Aśvatthāman
...I'm gonna send you two back in time!

--ARROW--

God Arjuna
...

Limbo
Is something wrong?

God Arjuna
...It is...a trivial matter...but...

God Arjuna
Aśvatthāman...has escaped...his curse.

Limbo
What?

Limbo
Mmm... That is more than a little troubling. I expect it won't be long before he rebels against you.

Limbo
Say, I have an idea. Why not try using your Master authority to just make him destroy himself?

God Arjuna
That would be...trivial, but...the Kali Yuga is near...
As is...the end of...the Great Kali Yuga...

Limbo
I see. So you would prefer not to waste your energy on a single Servant then?

Limbo
Yes, yes, you do have a point.
Especially given the current situation!

Limbo
The world is nearing its limit! The reconstruction it underwent during the last Kali Yuga has brought it to its breaking point!

Limbo
And that means...!

Limbo
The world will en–I mean, reach perfection,
in the very next cycle! Hehe, hehehehehe!

Limbo
I'm sure you will need every bit of power you have to bring that about, so it makes perfect sense that you wouldn't want to waste any on him.

Limbo
However...I must remind you that Aśvatthāman is like a demigod, and holds the power of Shiva and Yama within.

Limbo
While he may be no match for you and your absolute divine power...

Limbo
...he could still cause trouble for you if you do nothing to stop him from joining up with the observatory survivors.

Limbo
Surely you don't wish for anything to go wrong during your momentous Great Kali Yuga, do you?

God Arjuna
...

God Arjuna
Very well... I will send...sacred beasts...after him...
Send...every last one that breathes...in this land...

Limbo
...An excellent idea.
I believe that will certainly be for the best...

Aśvatthāman
You ready yet? If not, hurry it up already.
We don't have all day here.

Ganesha
I really wish you'd stop getting angry every time you talk to me. It's a little tough for negative types like me to deal with.

Aśvatthāman
The hell you just say!? Sorry 'bout that!
This is just how I am!

Ganesha
That doesn't make me feel better at all!

Lakshmi
All that's left for us to do now is start concentrating. Although...

  1. Are you sure you want to do this here?
 
  Select: Are you sure you want to do this here?

===Branch End===

Mash
I was wondering the same thing. I thought you would want to go somewhere a little more, um, magecraft friendly.

Aśvatthāman
It doesn't matter where we do this.

Aśvatthāman
Not when these two are about to travel through time.

Mash
...

G：Peperoncino
I still can't quite believe this is happening.

G：Peperoncino
Though I suppose it isn't all that dissimilar from Rayshifting.

Holmes
I'm afraid I must disagree. Rayshifting is pure engineering built on Spiritron Theory.

Holmes
What we are attempting to do here is a once-in-a-lifetime feat that relies on a series of coincidences.

Holmes
Simply put, a miracle.

Holmes
A miracle only made possible by the anomalous nature of this Lostbelt, rather than regular Earth...

Holmes
...and the fact that its inner time and space have grown unstable thanks to Arjuna repeatedly destroying it.

Holmes
Even then, it still requires us to make full use of the power of Shiva, the ruler of time.

Holmes
One might say it is the exploit to end all exploits.
And needless to say, we can only employ it once.

Holmes
Which, of course, is why I would like to ensure you are all as thoroughly prepared as possible.

Aśvatthāman
If Arjuna ever realizes you two aren't completely of this world, it's over.

Aśvatthāman
So you've gotta become part of it. Something no one would ever think to question, like the sun or the sky.

Aśvatthāman
And while you're doing that, you'll have to endure his world-ending cataclysms right up to the present day...

Aśvatthāman
...when your efforts to prove his fallibility will finally have meaning.

Aśvatthāman
That's the only kind of poison that'll weaken him enough for us to defeat him. Much as it pisses me off to say this...it's basically a way to curse him.

Ganesha
Okaaay. So, I gotta ask...how long do we have to do this?

Aśvatthāman
From the point when Arjuna first started ruling the world like this all the way to now.

Aśvatthāman
I won't know how long that is until we do it, but I'm guessing it'll be thousands of years, if not longer...

Mash
...

Fou
Fou...

  1. Are you sure you're sure about this?
 
  Select: Are you sure you're sure about this?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Geez, what is this, the millionth time you've asked?
I keep telling you, I'll be fine.

Lakshmi
I can understand how they feel.
I still have my doubts as well.

Lakshmi
After all, the role you agreed to take on comes with a far greater mental burden than mine.

Lakshmi
My task will simply be to provide you with power. You're the one who will be using it to maintain the spell and your Noble Phantasm.

Lakshmi
You'll have to stay awake the entire time, without letting your mind rest, or retreating into an inorganic state.

Lakshmi
You're going to have to maintain uninterrupted consciousness for thousands of years.

Lakshmi
So long a time could drive even a god to madness.
Are you absolutely certain you can handle this?

Ganesha
Ha ha ha! Do you even know who you're talking to? I'm a professional shut-in! I am...the queen–no, the empress of NEETS!

Ganesha
Plus, you throw in my mysterious divine powers, I summon some video games and other goodies, and this'll be a cakewalk, like a staycation!

Ganesha
Hell, this is the perfect time to one-hundred percent a few thousand-hour games I've had my eye on for a while.

Mash
...Senpai.

Mash
I know Ganesha is treating this lightly...but she must be more worried than she's letting on.

Mash
I'm sure she's trying to be brave,
so as not to worry us.

  1. ...Yeah.
  2. We are asking a lot of her...
  Select: ...Yeah.

  Select: We are asking a lot of her...

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Hey! Don't you know better than to whisper about someone right in front of them!? NEETs are really sensitive, you know!

Ganesha
I'm telling you, I'll be fine. Really.

Ganesha
Besides, Aśvatthāman told us all about some top secret info, so there shouldn't be any problem keeping our prom–

Aśvatthāman
That was only if you two make it back here safely,
AND if everything else goes well, dammit!

Aśvatthāman
Just FOCUS on what you're about to freakin' do! Ugh!

Ganesha
Gaa! Didn't I just ask you not to get so angry at me!?

Ganesha
Actually, I think I know now why it's especially hard for me to get near you. You reek of Ganesha's old man, Shiva.

Ganesha
It reminds me of the uncle who always scared me...
I wish you'd at least learn to use your inside voice.

Captain
...This won't be an easy job for you, either.
It'll be like swimming against the current.

Lakshmi
Heh. Are you worried about me? Don't be.
I'm used to enduring strenuous conditions.

Lakshmi
Truly, that's the only way we guerrillas know how to fight.

Captain
(...I know. That's why you...
Why I...)

Aśvatthāman
Look, just hurry up and let me know when you're ready. I'm not gonna rush you, but the sooner we do this, the better.

Aśvatthāman
Arjuna's still my Master right now. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he knew I wasn't cursed anymore.

Aśvatthāman
And the only thing I'm really concerned about is him trying to–

Holmes
I'm afraid your concern was well-founded. There are sacred beasts headed your way from all directions!

Meunière
Holy hell, there's so many of them! Is... Is this ALL of them!? I've never seen this many before!

Aśvatthāman
(Tch, now what? Should we try again later, or–)

Lakshmi
We can't be certain that the situation won't worsen further. We should take care of what we need to do before the sacred beasts reach us.

Ganesha
D-do you really think we have enough time?
They're headed here awfully quick!

Lakshmi
I'll make sure we have enough time. I have nothing left to hide, so I'll tell you what I'm about to do.

Lakshmi
I'm going to pour all of my magical energy into my Noble Phantasm.

Lakshmi
Now that I've made full use of Alakshmi's power, there should be another unavoidable reaction besides bad luck.

Lakshmi
I'm going to bring that reaction about intentionally. At this point, I should be able to control it somewhat.

Da Vinci
Now there's a group of kali headed your way too!

Lakshmi
There it is. I summoned them.

Goredolf
You did what!?

G：Peperoncino
Aha... Now I get it.

G：Peperoncino
I knew I was forgetting something important.
Alakshmi is said to be Kali the Demon's second wife!

Lakshmi
I don't know about that, nor can I ask her. But I do sense a connection between the kali and the goddess inside me.

Lakshmi
Remember when that giant kali formed in Bichu?

Lakshmi
I think that was the consequence of using my goddess power in the fight against William Tell.

Lakshmi
That's why the kali were so frenzied back then; I form a connection to them whenever I make full use of Alakshmi's power.

Lakshmi
Though I'll admit I didn't realize this myself until after I saw that giant kali.

Lakshmi
If I'd only realized it sooner, we may have been able to lessen the damage they did to Bichu...

Mash
Does that mean you can control them,
or give them instructions?

Lakshmi
I doubt it. The best I can do is point them in a given direction.

Lakshmi
But I will try and command them to hold back the sacred beasts as best as I can!

Lakshmi
Come, Ganesha! Aśvatthāman! We have work to do!

Ganesha
I was hoping for a little more time to, y'know, mentally prepare...but I guess that's not happening! Aw man, I really wanted to do this in a more relaxing environment!

Aśvatthāman
Tch, we'll just have to play the hand we're dealt!

Aśvatthāman
Listen up. This is a big job, even for me. It's gonna take time to focus, and as much as it pisses me off, I won't be able to move while I'm doing it.

Rama
Don't worry. A few hundred sacred beasts is nothing for a man of my abili–Ghh, nnghh!

  1. Um, are you okay?
 
  Select: Um, are you okay?

===Branch End===

Rama
H-hahaha! Not to worry!
A curse like this just makes for a fairer fight!

Rama
...Or so I was hoping. But I'm afraid things may be more dire than I thought.

Rama
Ganesha and Lakshmi are preparing for their endurance spell, and Aśvatthāman is getting ready to send them back in time.

Rama
The only ones here who can fight are me saddled with this curse, and Mash. Peperoncino, I don't suppose–

G：Peperoncino
This should really go without saying, but I'm just a human mage. Don't expect any more from me than that.

Mash
The Ortinax's systems are all green.
I won't have any issues using it! That said...

Mash
We are very, very seriously outnumbered. It'll be difficult to defend against them, let alone drive them awa–

Mash
Aah! Master, look out!

Mash
She stopped the sacred beasts attacking us from above!

  1. You just saved me... Does that mean you'll help us?
 
  Select: You just saved me... Does that mean you'll help us?

===Branch End===

Koyanskaya
Absolutely not. I'm only repaying my debt.

Koyanskaya
Don't mistake this for anything other than that.

Koyanskaya
I will never help humans. I will never accept them,
or love them, or forgive them.

Koyanskaya
The only thing I will do is repay them any debt I may owe. That is the only reason I'm doing this.

Koyanskaya
...Though of course, I trust it goes without saying that I can't possibly take care of all these beasts myself.

Mash
We know that!

Mash
I'll handle any hostiles that manage to get past Lakshmi's kali and evade your shots!

Rama
There's no need to wipe them all out.
We just have to buy enough time for... Khh!

G：Peperoncino
Oh for... Stop it, Ramie!
You can't push yourself too hard!

G：Peperoncino
Okay, Fujimaru, this is it!
Let's try to buy them as much time as we can!

--BATTLE--

Rama
Ghh...!

B：Peperoncino
I guess there's only so much we can do, even if it's just to buy time. We're all doing our best, but there's just not enough of us.

Mash
Unfortunately, there's nobody else who can help us now, and there's nothing more we can do on our own!

B：Peperoncino
...

B：Peperoncino
Well, that's not entirely true.

Mash
Huh?

B：Peperoncino
Obviously, we can't increase our numbers or anything, but we might still be able to pull this off if we change how we go about it a little.

  1. You mean, we all need to try even harder?
  2. I'm pretty sure we're all giving it everything we've got already!
  Select: You mean, we all need to try even harder?
Mash
Um, if you're talking about psyching ourselves up and giving it one-hundred and twenty percent, I don't think that's going to help!

  Select: I'm pretty sure we're all giving it everything we've got already!

===Branch End===

B：Peperoncino
No, I don't mean that. See, there's someone here who's still trying to play it cool, even in this situation.

B：Peperoncino
A real dummy who has yet to put all their cards on the table.

B：Peperoncino
I'm the dummy. It's me.

Fou
Fou!?

B：Peperoncino
I wasn't planning to do this in front of you and Mashie, Fujimaru.

B：Peperoncino
Maybe that's because I'm still technically your prisoner, and I thought it'd be better if I didn't do anything that'd make you more suspicious of me.

B：Peperoncino
But now that I think about it, I don't really mind if you know. And if it'll mean we make it out of here alive, I don't see any reason to hesitate.

Mash
Um...what are you talking about?

B：Peperoncino
...Killing.

B：Peperoncino
(Step in with Jinsokutsu, use Tashintsu to read how it's going to act, and...)

B：Peperoncino
These things might not be ordinary creatures, but it's not like they keep their brains in their stomachs or have organs made of diamond, right?

B：Peperoncino
As long as their bodies follow mostly the same rules as ours, I can apply the knowledge I already have and probably manage somehow.

B：Peperoncino
From there, all I have to do is destroy their vital organs, and they'll die just like any other creature.

Mash
...!!!

B：Peperoncino
That's not to say I like doing this sort of thing. It is just awful on my cuticles, and it's not even any fun.

B：Peperoncino
That said...I can't say I really hate doing it.
I guess that's not great either, huh?

B：Peperoncino
I suppose I can't judge Beryl after all.
Not when I'm doing the same thing as him.

Mash
...

B：Peperoncino
Aww, it hurts to see you look so upset, Mashie.

B：Peperoncino
Oh well, no going back now!
Especially not when we're still severely outnumbered.

B：Peperoncino
Come on, guys, let's keep it up!
We don't have time to be slacking off!

--BATTLE--

Mash
There isn't a single wasted motion in his combat style. Pepe...he's obviously very proficient in it.

Mash
I've seen other styles like it before.

Mash
His movements and methodology are straight out of Assassin Emiya and Emiya Alter's playbook...

Rama
You've been holding out on us, Peperoncino.

C：Peperoncino
Well of course I was! Beautiful people like myself don't reveal all on the first date!

Rama
Beauty!? I'm not sure what beauty has to do with this,
but at any rate, I'm glad to see you can fight!

C：Peperoncino
But of course! True beauty is freedom, after all. There's nothing those of us with beautiful bodies can't do.

C：Peperoncino
If I told you you had a beautiful body too,
Ramie, would you hold it against me?

Rama
I don't know what you mean by that, but whatever it is, I'm quite certain now is not the time for it!

C：Peperoncino
Aww, you're no fun... But, I guess you're right.
We do still have more sacred beasts to deal with!

C：Peperoncino
Hang in there, people! Aśvatthāman and the others should be done soon! For now, the dance continues!

--BATTLE--

Koyanskaya
Ugh, are we still not done?
This is getting REALLY old!

Mash
There's no end to them... It's as though every sacred beast in the world is coming after us!

Fou
Fou, fooou!

Mash
We haven't heard any status reports from the Border for a while now either. I can't tell if we're making progress or going in circles...

Mash
...But either way, it doesn't matter! We've just got to keep doing what we can, as best we can!

Inner Monologue
...Burn. Burn.

Inner Monologue
I've got to burn myself–my anger–for fuel.

Inner Monologue
We'll never get Arjuna to drop his guard again.
This is our only chance.

Inner Monologue
This world's space-time is coming apart at the seams thanks to Arjuna breaking and remaking it over and over.

Inner Monologue
But it's that instability that'll let us break the rules and send someone back in time, even if we only get one shot.

Aśvatthāman
(First, I've got to awaken Mahākāla...the manifestation of Shiva inside me that can control time itself!)

Aśvatthāman
(Next, I'm gonna need a metric ton of magical energy.
And fortunately, I know just where to get it...!)

Aśvatthāman
(Since that bastard Arjuna is still my Master...I'm not gonna be shy about grabbing up some of that endless magical energy for myself!)

Aśvatthāman
(That's part of controlling Servants, “Master.” If they need more magical energy, it's your job to fork it over!)

God Arjuna
...?

Aśvatthāman
('Course, he'll figure out what I'm up to soon enough. That's why we only get one shot at this. Gotta make sure everything's in place before he can mess it up!)

Aśvatthāman
What's taking you guys so long!?
Hurry it up already, dammit!

Inner Monologue
...I am a guardian.

Inner Monologue
I protect countries. People. Hopes. Dreams.

Inner Monologue
That is why I'm here. That is why I exist.

Inner Monologue
As a queen, I may have failed to protect my country, and I may have lacked the skill needed to help my people's rebellion succeed...

Inner Monologue
...but I think that's why I was called here,
as though I were some sort of hero.

Inner Monologue
I think this world is giving me another chance to get it right.

Inner Monologue
It's challenging me to protect the things I couldn't protect before.

Lakshmi
Very well. Challenge accepted.

Lakshmi
I am Lakshmi Bai, the Rani of Jhansi!

Lakshmi
To those kind failures lending me your strength, Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, and I promise you this:

Lakshmi
We will not let one more thing be cruelly and unjustly taken from us! This time, we will protect everything!

Lakshmi
Nahi Doongi!!!

Inner Monologue
Are you seeing this, Karna?

Inner Monologue
In the end, this is what it all comes down to. I'm gonna be true to myself, obstinate pessimism and all.

Inner Monologue
Since there aren't many things I'm good at, I want to at least be decent at the things I'm used to.

Inner Monologue
Once, in a very different time and place...

Inner Monologue
...you believed in me completely,
even though you knew I wasn't special.

Inner Monologue
So now...even though I'm scared, I've got to act like what I'm about to do is no big deal, just like I usually do.

Inner Monologue
Besides, I'm not running away from everything this time. I'm just waiting for someone to come and get me.

Ganesha
Hey, Ganesha? I'm sorry you drew the short straw, getting me as a vessel. But you knew what you were in for, right?

Ganesha
I sure hope so, seeing as you picked the world's biggest NEET and all.

Inner Monologue
Ganesha's the god of prosperity, the god of knowledge...and the god of obstacles, especially removing them.

Inner Monologue
And what are obstacles? Obstructions. Things that try to hold us back or stop us from getting where we want to–where we need to go.

Ganesha
I've always been keenly aware of obstacles. I feel like I've been surrounded by them my whole life.

Ganesha
So for me, treating the entire outside world like one giant obstacle is as easy as pie.

Inner Monologue
All right, it's time to gather up that power, and solidify it to protect me in my own little world. It's time to make a nice comfy NEET cave to last me a good, long time.

Inner Monologue
A completely impenetrable domain that not even a god could hope to pry open.

Ganesha
...Ganesha Vighnesvara...

Mash
Wait... I can sense their Noble Phantasms!

  1. Did they make it!?
  2. Aśvatthāman!
  Select: Did they make it!?

  Select: Aśvatthāman!

===Branch End===

Aśvatthāman
All right... You guys better hang in there. I'm gonna be mad as shit if you give up before you're done!

Aśvatthāman
But hey, don't worry! Sure you'll be gone a long time, but we'll see you again real soon!

Aśvatthāman
Mahākāla Shakti!!!

  1. They're gone...
 
  Select: They're gone...

===Branch End===

H：Peperoncino
Are you sure it worked, Aśvatthāman!?

Aśvatthāman
Hah. What, are you trying to piss me off?
Look up, dummy, and see for yourself.

Aśvatthāman
They did it.

Aśvatthāman
All we've gotta do now is pick our heroes up and congratulate 'em on a long-ass job well done!

Aśvatthāman
Khh...!

Rama
Are you all right, Aśvatthāman!?
I thought I still had your curse!

Aśvatthāman
It's not the curse, dammit. It's 'cause I used too much power to mess with time... But don't worry about that now!

Mash
Right! I finally understand now...and I know just where we need to go to pick them up!

H：Peperoncino
There's just one more problem.
Now that Lakshmi's not here...

H：Peperoncino
...the kali aren't helping us anymore!

Koyanskaya
Ugh, this is way more trouble than I expected! All right, fine, I'll just consider everything around us an enemy then!

  1. Let's find a spot where we can break through them!
  2. We'll just have to make our way through them as best we can!
  Select: Let's find a spot where we can break through them!

  Select: We'll just have to make our way through them as best we can!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right. There are still a huge number of hostiles,
but I know we can get past them!

Mash
The Ortinax has accumulated some strain...but it still hasn't reached its limit. There should be no issue using it in combat.

Mash
Moving forward!
Please make sure to stay right behind me, Master!

--BATTLE--

Rama
There's just...too many!
Argh, if only I could use my body like normal!

Aśvatthāman
Oh crap. Is that...!?

Aśvatthāman
He must've finally figured out something was up. Guess that's no surprise, since we were messing with time itself!

Mash
What's wrong, Aśvatthāman!?

Aśvatthāman
Arjuna's on his way here. Based on how fast Vimana is approaching, we don't have much time!

D：Peperoncino
I'm sure we don't. But these things just keep coming, no matter how many we kill.

D：Peperoncino
Forget going to pick them up. At this rate, we won't even be able to get through all these sacred beasts and kali.

Koyanskaya
...It looks like your plan won't work after all.

Koyanskaya
Your idea of making a perfect god fundamentally flawed from the start was so wonderful it made my ears stand on end...

Koyanskaya
But it seems you were just one–no, two steps short of seeing it through.

Mash
We can't break through all these hostiles!
And after we've come all this way...!

Rama
Damn it! Isn't there anything we can do!? Anything?!

  1. No... We're not giving up yet!
 
  Select: No... We're not giving up yet!

===Branch End===

F：Holmes
We arrived in time!

H：Mash
The Border!? What... How!?

G：Goredolf
We can talk later! Hurry up and get in already!

Holmes
Sorry to worry you! We couldn't even spare the resources to tell you we were on our way at top speed!

Mash
Wait... What are you doing in the middle of this Lostbelt anyway? Isn't it dangerous for you to be here!?

Da Vinci
Oh believe me, I told them over and over,
in no uncertain terms, how bad of an idea this was.

Da Vinci
The Zero Sail is our lifeline.

Da Vinci
Even a little damage to the Border would make it impossible for us to evade the next cataclysm.

Da Vinci
Needless to say, we were risking everything to come here! But...

Goredolf
Gaaah! So many kali and sacred beasts up ahead of us!
This is the worst S curve I've ever had to drive through!

Goredolf
Gnnn, I can't believe they're making me drift in a twelve-wheeler!

Goredolf
Well what do you know. I actually did it.
Surprised? I am too.

Goredolf
Go on then, all of you hurry up and strap in!
This ride isn't gonna get any smoother!

Goredolf
We don't want you getting hurt if we run into anything!

Goredolf
If you die, Fujimaru, that's the end of everything!

Goredolf
There's no point in keeping the Border out of harm's way if there's no one around to drive it!

Goredolf
A pit crew certainly can't compete in a race on their own, after all!

Meunière
(I think you've finally started talking to yourself,
chubby! But who cares! You actually pulled it off!)

Meunière
(I still can't believe we got there in time! I had my doubts about him driving the Border manually, but I guess machines really do require an analog touch!)

D：Peperoncino
Wait, hang on.
Why does it look like he's holding the wheel!?

Da Vinci
This isn't normal, believe me. See, we were thinking about what we could do to get to you guys as fast as possible...

Da Vinci
...and we decided the best way to do that would be to share the load.

Da Vinci
Meunière and I focused on controlling the engine and making sure all the Border's power went to keeping it at top speed...

Da Vinci
...and Gordy's job was to focus on the actual driving.

Da Vinci
I swear, I don't even know when he installed the extension system that let us split up our jobs like that...

Captain
...I didn't have anything better to do,
and I thought it'd be useful.

Meunière
Get this, Fujimaru. It turns out our director is actually a pretty badass driver!

Goredolf
Heh! Well, I couldn't let the detective keep the top score on the simulator's highest difficulty course forever.

Goredolf
In fact, I finally beat his record just the other day!
How do you like them apples!? Hahahaha!

Holmes
...(Quietly applauds while smiling wryly)

Goredolf
While I do prefer on-road, I've driven more than my fair share of off-road as well. And they say the Phoenix shines brightest when things are at their worst!

Goredolf
...Graaahhh! Move, move! Get out of the way!

Mash
His concentration is incredible!
He's right between sacred beast and the kali alike!

Aśvatthāman
Ha! That's some good anger you've got there, big guy.
I like how you let it loose in your driving, too!

  1. Are you angry too, Director?
 
  Select: Are you angry too, Director?

===Branch End===

Goredolf
You know what? I am, dammit!

Goredolf
And not just because we had to save you to keep our hopes of fixing this mess alive.

Goredolf
I have my own bones to pick with this world!

Mash
Huh?

Goredolf
But since I can't give this world a good slug, I'm taking out my resentment towards it with the Border.

Goredolf
Perfectly natural for defects and failures to be erased in this world? How dare they say that in front of me!?

Goredolf
Ever since I, Goredolf Musik, was born, I never did anything well enough to get so much as a single gold star!

Goredolf
Well, now it's time to show off what a disgraced noble is really made of! Whatever you do, don't undo your seat belts! And try not to talk unless you want to bite your tongue!

Mash
Well, um, I can't say I saw this coming... But at least now, we should be able to meet back up with Ganesha and Lakshmi!

Rama
I just hope...we don't run into more trouble...on the way there... (Huff, huff...)

Holmes
Indeed. I'm seeing a signal in the distant eastern sky.
...It's Arjuna.

Holmes
We can't let him catch up to us now!
Floor it, Da Vinci!

Da Vinci
What do you think I'm doing!? If you really want to help me go faster, then just leave me to it!

Da Vinci
Keeping the engine running at full speed without it blowing up in our faces isn't as easy as I make it look, you know!

Section 18: Together With You, At the End of the Eternity Known as a Moment

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Inner Monologue
I witnessed a foolish war.

Inner Monologue
A foolish war that left me with nothing but one question.

Inner Monologue
...Everyone understood how foolish it was.
So why couldn't we stop it?

Inner Monologue
That much was obvious. It was all down to everything that was bad and wrong in the world.

Inner Monologue
In other words...the root cause of all this foolishness was evil.

Inner Monologue
This is the sort of thing that happens when we can't rid ourselves of evil.

Inner Monologue
Being defective is evil. Being unnecessary is evil. Dishonesty is evil. Lawlessness is evil. Intolerance is evil. Distrust is evil. Adultery is evil. Disloyalty is evil.

Inner Monologue
Bravado is evil. Deception is evil. Obliviousness is evil. Ignorance is evil. Decadence is evil. Jealousy is evil. Stupidity is evil. Avarice is evil.

Inner Monologue
Everyone knows these things are evil.

Inner Monologue
So why can't we rid ourselves of them?

Inner Monologue
So I made a wish. Perhaps I felt differently in other worlds, but here in this one...

Inner Monologue
...I wished that there was a way we could be rid of them all.

Inner Monologue
It was only after the war ended that I understood.

Inner Monologue
The land stained red with my comrades' blood made it clear. The endless retribution, one cowardly act of violence begetting another, and on and on made it clear.

Inner Monologue
The feeling of killing a hated rival with my own hands made it clear.

Inner Monologue
The world simply cannot rid itself of evil on its own.

Inner Monologue
So if the world won't do it...someone else will have to.

Inner Monologue
And if no one else is willing...

Inner Monologue
...that leaves only me.

Inner Monologue
After all...

Inner Monologue
...the one who spilled the most blood on that land...

Inner Monologue
The one most emblematic of the battlefield's evil foolishness...

Inner Monologue
In other words, the most evil and foolish one of all was...

Inner Monologue
I wished for a just and proper world.

Inner Monologue
An obvious, completely ordinary world that no one would ever think to question.

Inner Monologue
A world so pure and perfect that only newborns and gods could believe in it.

Inner Monologue
A righteous world where people never killed one another.

Inner Monologue
Fortunately...the power I needed to destroy all evil and create that world...

Inner Monologue
...was right there for the taking...

--SECTION BREAK--

God Arjuna
...

Goredolf
What was that!?

Holmes
Vimana is firing magical energy blasts at us from afar!
Evasive maneuvers!

Goredolf
Grrr, damn it aaall!

Peperoncino
My, my, it looks like he's finally taking us seriously.
Whatever you do, try not to slow down, okay?

Goredolf
Easy for you to say!

Peperoncino
Well, what else can we do? Our lives are in your hands, and those hands are driving this vehicle.

Peperoncino
Come to think of it, I guess the fate of the whole world is in your hands too, huh?

Goredolf
Stop that! I'm under enough pressure as it is! Grr, doesn't anyone have any good news for me, dammit!? At this point, I don't even care if it's real or not!

Holmes
My apologies, Commander, but I'm afraid I'm only seeing another abnormality in our nearby environment.

Holmes
(Although... Did the state of the world just change?
Why now of all times?)

Holmes
Hmm. Well, this is certainly less than optimal...

Holmes
(It appears that...the entire world is starting to buckle under the strain of all these cycles...)

Meunière
Never mind that now, Holmes! Can't you see we've got more urgent matters for that big brain of yours to focus on!?

Meunière
Between the kali, the sacred beasts, and the magical energy blasts, there's just too much for me to keep track of alone!

Da Vinci
Boy, it'd suuure be nice if a certain captain with nothing better to do was willing to help us out right about now.

Captain
I'm only here to upgrade the ship.
I didn't sign up to be part of the crew.

Captain
...But, I guess the circumstances are dire enough that I don't have a choice. And this shouldn't be too different from detecting torpedoes.

Meunière
Really!? Phew, you're a lifesaver!
Okay then, you handle the cannon fire!

Captain
...But, since we don't have any decoys to lead them away, all I can do is read the incoming projectiles' trajectories.

Captain
The steersman piloting this ship will have to handle the rest.

Captain
I can still tell you when to take evasive maneuvers, of course, but as for whether we survive, the gods only know.

Goredolf
Isn't surviving against a god exactly what we're trying to do here!?

Mash
Please, Director Goredolf! Please do whatever you have to in order to get us there!

Goredolf
Arrrgh! All right, you want to do this thing?
Let's do this thing!!!

Captain
...Here comes the next one. Stay on course for the next five seconds, and... Swerve!

Goredolf
Wahahaha! At this point, all I can do is laugh! Do try to keep the impossible demands to a minimum, my dear Captain!

Peperoncino
I sure hope we make it out of this.

  1. At least we're almost there now...!
 
  Select: At least we're almost there now...!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right. When I first saw it, I never would have thought that this could be what it really was...

Mash
...Can I ask a silly question?
Why is it shaped like that?

Aśvatthāman
Beats me.
All I know is, Ganesha's the one handling that.

Aśvatthāman
She probably based it off the most impenetrable thing she knew about.

Aśvatthāman
I don't know exactly what that could be, and I doubt she does either except maybe in her subconscious.

Holmes
It is an impenetrable domain made for the sole purpose of ignoring the outside world–an alternate world that physically embodies the very concept of shutting oneself away.

Holmes
Given all that, it is no wonder we were unable to get a proper read on it.

Holmes
Furthermore, as it was made by a combination of both Ganesha and Lakshmi's magical energies...

Holmes
...that made it impossible for either of them to sense what it actually was before they knew the truth.

Rama
This is only the second time we're paying it a visit,
but it feels completely different now.

Rama
Back then, it was nothing more than a large object whose nature and purpose were completely unknown to us.

  1. Now, we know it's been waiting all this time to fulfill its purpose.
  2. Now, we're about to give it the purpose it's been waiting for!
  Select: Now, we know it's been waiting all this time to fulfill its purpose.

  Select: Now, we're about to give it the purpose it's been waiting for!

===Branch End===

Mash
Right! It's time to go back to God's Skyboulder...
To the place where Ganesha and Lakshmi are waiting!

Holmes
Yes, but not so fast.
Remember what happened the last time we were there.

Goredolf
Dammit, that's right!
There are tons of kali protecting it!

Captain
...Slowing down now would make us sitting ducks.
Full speed ahead.

Holmes
Now I see. Those kali are here because of Lakshmi...or rather, Alakshmi.

Holmes
Since she has a connection to them, they must have been lured here by the scent of her pure magical energy...

Holmes
...and it's since become a kali nesting ground of sorts.

Mash
If we keep going like this, kali are going to start attacking the Border!

Mash
Please open the side hatch, Holmes!
I'll go out there and try to fend them off!

Aśvatthāman
Well, guess I'd better head up to the roof then.

Peperoncino
Just make sure you don't lose your footing, got it!?

Holmes
By the way, if you pull that hidden lever there,
you'll find a porthole, so make good use of it.

Koyanskaya
You STILL won't give me a break!?

--ARROW--

Inner Monologue
...
......

Inner Monologue
.........
............

Inner Monologue
I'm still fine. Totally fine. Like I said, I still have plenty of video games to keep me occupied here.

Inner Monologue
No interruptions. Just me and my games.
It's like heaven.

Inner Monologue
What could be better than a place where all I have to do is grind? Being a NEET is the best.

Inner Monologue
All I have to do now is keep doing exactly what I've been doing. Easiest job in the world.

Inner Monologue
So...yeah.

Inner Monologue
I'm not worried about this at all. Why would I be?

Holmes
We're here. Thankfully, the blasts from Vimana are sending the nearby kali scattering! Now's our chance!

  1. Thank you, Director!
 
  Select: Thank you, Director!

===Branch End===

Goredolf
Ha, haha, hahaha aaahhh...!
A-all of a sudden, my knees won't stop shaking...

Da Vinci
Oopsies.
Looks like the adrenaline finally wore off.

Da Vinci
I guess the rest of us'll just have to take it from here...

Da Vinci
But in the meantime, great job, Director Goredolf!
You really saved our asses!

Limbo
Tch. We can't target the Border directly now that it's hiding in that thing's shadow... But no matter!

Limbo
We may not know what it is they're after, but whatever it is clearly has something to do with the Skyboulder!

Limbo
Therefore, the answer is obvious! All you need do is focus your godly power on breaking it apart!

Limbo
Even if the Skyboulder has endured your cataclysms up to this point, a being of your abilities should still be able to destroy it if you focus solely on–

God Arjuna
...

God Arjuna
...The Skyboulder...?
What is that...?

Limbo
!

Limbo
Does this mean...you couldn't see it all this time!?
All because it's been here from the beginning!?

Limbo
Mmm... Now what to do...

Inner Monologue
I've started to get a little bored.

Inner Monologue
But, I'm still fine. Totally, totally fine.

Inner Monologue
I can easily use my god powers to make new games or summon existing ones. I've got everything I need here. I can do whatever I want.

Inner Monologue
I've got role-playing games, strategy games, sim games, action games, puzzle games, adventure games, shooting games, racing games... I've got fantasy worlds, sci-fi worlds, historical worlds, modern-day worlds...

Inner Monologue
Video games are the pinnacle of human civilization. If you get tired of one, you can always move on to another.

Inner Monologue
Man, this is so much fun. I love grinding and leveling up. I love looking for rare items.

Inner Monologue
And if I run out of things to do, there's no end of different challenge runs to try. The sense of achievement I get from beating those is all the sweeter since I'm just doing them for their own sake. I'm having the time of my life here.

Inner Monologue
...I stopped counting the days 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　forever ago.

Inner Monologue
.................................
...........................I'm bored.

Inner Monologue
I'm a moaning machine. A complaining machine.
A tantrum-throwing machine. A crying machine.

Inner Monologue
My mind is completely empty. I don't even want to think about what I'm thinking about.

Inner Monologue
I just let my body do whatever it feels like at any given moment.

Inner Monologue
And since nobody's watching...how's that any different from a broken machine, repeating the same useless motion over and over?

Inner Monologue
...Wait. What IS a machine?

Inner Monologue
Crap. This isn't good. I could end up freezing at any time. Better make sure my most important data's saved.

Inner Monologue
...Not that it'll matter if I end up falling apart completely.

Inner Monologue
I think...
　　　　　　　I'm remembering something unpleasant.

Inner Monologue
I won't move. I can't move. I don't want to move.
I won't do anything. I don't want to do anything.

Inner Monologue
...
...

Inner Monologue
......
......

Inner Monologue
...But...
　　　　　　I have to at least do what I came here for.

Inner Monologue
Why isn't there anybody here!?

Inner Monologue
Why won't anyone talk to me!?
Why won't anyone respond to me!?

Inner Monologue
Why? Why!? Why!?!?!? WHY!?!?!?

Inner Monologue
Why am I...all alone...

Inner Monologue
Ngh... Ngggh... Gaaaaaah...
...Please... Somebody... Anybody...

Inner Monologue
Please...be with me...
Don't leave me alone...

Inner Monologue
I don't want to be alone forever...

Inner Monologue
　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A

Inner Monologue
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Rama
(Huff, huff) At last...
We can finally relieve them of their long duty...

Mash
That cube shuts out everything from the outside world... But there should be one key that can unlock it.

Mash
...Go ahead, Master.

Inner Monologue
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Inner Monologue
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Inner Monologue
Somebody...
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Save me.

Inner Monologue
　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Kill me.

Inner Monologue
...
...

Inner Monologue
......
......

Inner Monologue
No. Not yet. I can still. Keep going.
　　　After all...

Inner Monologue
My old self...didn't have anything...

Inner Monologue
But my self here...already knows.

Inner Monologue
I don't even know...
　　　　　　...who I am anymore...

Inner Monologue
But...I do know...this.

Inner Monologue
Even though...I'm nobody special...
　　　　　　　　there's someone...waiting for me.

Inner Monologue
There's someone who 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　believes in me.

Inner Monologue
And, besides...

Inner Monologue
　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　...I promised.

Inner Monologue
...?
...!?

Inner Monologue
...Is that...
　　　　　　　　　　　　...light?

Inner Monologue
Yes... Light.

Inner Monologue
I can hear something coming from it.
Something far away...and familiar...

Inner Monologue
“■■■■■■”

Inner Monologue
Yes. That's it.

Inner Monologue
That's the one thing...I never forgot... The one thing...I've been waiting for...all this time...

Inner Monologue
A voice accepting me as I am.

Inner Monologue
{(M) He /(F) She} places {(M) his /(F) her} hand delicately upon the cube's surface.

Inner Monologue
{(M) He /(F) She} knew they couldn't possibly be fine with this.
{(M) He /(F) She} knew they couldn't possibly be okay.

Inner Monologue
{(M) He /(F) She} knew all along...
The two people waiting inside here...are both liars.

Inner Monologue
That's why this is a kind, oh so gentle mass of lies. A wall of determination erected by the two people inside who decided to fight by lying.

Inner Monologue
{(M) He /(F) She} takes a deep breath, and readies the reunion password in {(M) his /(F) her} mind.

Inner Monologue
The password they agreed on mere moments/eons ago...to tell them their job is finally over.

  1. “Even shut-ins...”
 
  Select: “Even shut-ins...”

===Branch End===

  1. “...are allowed to see the sky.”
 
  Select: “...are allowed to see the sky.”

===Branch End===

Rama
Easy there.

Lakshmi
...Ngh...

Lakshmi
How many centuries...millennia...has it been...?

Rama
I can't say. None of us have any idea how long you spent like that.

Rama
But I do know your long, painful journey was a success. You should feel proud about that.

Lakshmi
You're... Rama... That's right. I remember now.

Lakshmi
...Forgive me. It's been so long since I took human form, I can't seem to stand up straight...

Rama
That's all right.
You can lean on my shoulder as long as you need.

Lakshmi
But...as I recall, the problem...is that, you're married...

Rama
What's wrong with helping a woman who can barely stand? Sita would never have a problem with that.

Rama
Besides, Alakshmi is Lakshmi's sister,
which also makes you Sita's sister.

Rama
Surely there can't be anything wrong with a man caring for his sister-in-law.

Captain
(...Welcome back, Lakshmi Bai.
It's good to see you again like this.)

Captain
(This time, at least...
But, I still...)

Da Vinci
Lakshmi's okay!

Da Vinci
But of course, her job was to be the outer shell,
and to use her Divine Core as a source of pure energy.

Da Vinci
The mental strain on her should have been relatively light, since she spent all that time as an inanimate object.

Da Vinci
...What about Ganesha?

Da Vinci
She had to stay conscious the entire time to keep their combined Noble Phantasm domain going! What about her!?

Da Vinci
She might be a god, but she was still in there alone for what must have felt like an eternity. She could easily have had a mental breakdown!

  1. A-are you okay!?
  2. Talk to us, Ganesha!
  Select: A-are you okay!?

  Select: Talk to us, Ganesha!

===Branch End===

Ganesha
...Nn. Nnn...

Ganesha
You're...um... Oh, right. I wrote it down in the notes in my save data file so I wouldn't forget...

Ganesha
...Fujimaru.
That's right. You're Fujimaru.

Ganesha
Now, I just use that as the key to use my godly wisdom power and reload my memories, and...

Ganesha
...

Ganesha
Ah! I remember! I remember now.
Oh man, what took you guys so loooong?

Mash
I-I'm so sorry... Are you okay?
Is your mind still intact?

Ganesha
Hehe. Well, more or less. Trust me, if anyone can handle being in a tiny room alone for a long time, it's a top-tier NEET like me!

Ganesha
'Course, my body's pretty much useless right now.

Ganesha
I'm sorry your Master's been saddled with holding me and all my excess padding up.

Ganesha
Oh, but... I knew it.

Mash
(Huh? Is she looking past us...?)

Mash
(Is there something... No...)

Mash
(Someone there...?)

Ganesha
...Yeah. That's right.

Ganesha
Maybe the only reason I was able to hang in there...was because of what he asked me back then.

Ganesha
...Hehe.

Ganesha
After all...I couldn't break my promise, could I?

--ARROW--

Holmes
Now that Ganesha and Lakshmi's existences have been confirmed here...

Holmes
...we have proven beyond all doubt that Arjuna is not a perfect god.

Holmes
And because they have proven his flawed nature by enduring his massive world-undoing cataclysms...

Holmes
...the resulting drop in his divine power must be severe indeed.

Aśvatthāman
Good. It worked so damn well I skipped being happy and went right back to unyielding rage!

Aśvatthāman
What's more, Arjuna's basically cursed now.
Since I sent them back to the past...

Aśvatthāman
...all that time they spent here only reinforces the concept that any god who could miss something like this for so long MUST be defective.

Koyanskaya
I see. To put it another way, it's as though a loan someone forgot to put on the books has finally come due.

Koyanskaya
And now that we've proven that loan exists, we have the right to charge an exorbitant amount in interest...

Koyanskaya
Hehe, this should make for a spectacular show. There's nothing more exciting than a rival company on the verge of bankruptcy.

Fou
Fou, biffooou!

Peperoncino
Now we should be able to actually hurt him, huh. Though that's not to say he's going to be an easy opponent.

Holmes
Just a moment. As I see it, part of my job is keeping an eye on things that Fujimaru's group can't.

Holmes
And right now...that would be you.

Peperoncino
Aśvatthāman!? Nooo!

Holmes
...You're ending your own life here. Why?

Aśvatthāman
Ugh, you guys piss me off. Can't you tell, dammit?
There's several reasons.

Aśvatthāman
First, I had to push myself way too hard to use Shiva's power to send those two back in time.

Aśvatthāman
Second, I'm still technically Arjuna's Servant. If worse comes to worst, he could end up making me hurt you guys.

Aśvatthāman
And finally...there's no point keeping anyone around who can't fight worth a damn. 'Course, it pisses me the hell off.

Aśvatthāman
Don't worry. The moment those two were freed... The moment this world's destiny was thrown for a loop...I'd already done what I could.

Aśvatthāman
And by that, I mean my Spirit Core should still be good for something.

Aśvatthāman
Truth be told, I was already pretty much a shadow of myself by the time we got here.

Peperoncino
I know there's no point in saying this now...

Peperoncino
...but Fujimaru thought {(M) he /(F) she} would get to fight beside you right to the end.

Peperoncino
I can tell you, {(M) he's /(F) she's} going to be real disappointed.

Aśvatthāman
Ha. Well, who knows? Maybe {(M) he'll /(F) she'll}
end up summoning me {(M) himself /(F) herself} one day.

Holmes
That would be most encouraging.
You are truly a dependable Servant.

Holmes
In the future, Fujimaru there is bound to bear witness to any number of scenes where {(M) he /(F) she} will be forced to stand back and bite {(M) his /(F) her} tongue, no matter how angry {(M) he /(F) she} may wish to get.

Holmes
If you could be there by {(M) his /(F) her} side at times like that,
I think that would mean a great deal indeed.

Aśvatthāman
Heh. Guess you really do know the only kind of role I'm cut out to play.

Aśvatthāman
As for you, ex-Master... You're the one who originally summoned me, so...sorry I couldn't be of more help to you.

Aśvatthāman
I was supposed to be your Servant, but boy did I ever fail at that. You've still got every right to be angry at me.

Peperoncino
Hehe, I'm not angry. I know you couldn't help it. Believe me, I understand that sort of thing all too well.

Peperoncino
Maybe, if I could get angry or upset on your behalf...

Peperoncino
...it'd help you feel more appreciated as a Servant...

Peperoncino
But, I just can't.
I don't know how to live my life that way. Sorry.

Aśvatthāman
The way you live your life, huh... While we're on the subject, let me say this: I was still your Servant for a while, so I know this much about you.

Aśvatthāman
You might think you've lost your way, and that you don't deserve to be thought of as human anymore.

Aśvatthāman
...But you're wrong. I think you put your foot right through the path you were headed down...

Aśvatthāman
...to make extra damn sure you wouldn't get lost on it.

Aśvatthāman
Maybe I don't have any right to say this, seeing how I snuck in and massacred all those people in the dead of night, but my comrades were all a bunch of good-for-nothings too.

Aśvatthāman
Especially Duryodhana and the other hundred princes...
Though they were still good guys at heart.

Aśvatthāman
Anyway, I think they were fine just the way they were.

Aśvatthāman
They might've been good-for-nothings, but they lived their lives the best they could. I think that's all anyone can do.

Peperoncino
Yeah, I know. There's no right or wrong when it comes to living your life.

Peperoncino
But still, when you're born on the outside looking in on the world, there's not a whole lot you can do, right?

Peperoncino
So, I get it.
It's one of those things that just can't be helped.

Peperoncino
It's not worth complaining about to anyone, and it's not worth asserting my rights over either.

Peperoncino
I just...can't help but think it's a shame that this world sometimes ends up producing outcasts like me.

Aśvatthāman
Man... Your resignation really colors everything in your life, doesn't it?

Aśvatthāman
That's why you feel bad for the world's lack of tolerance instead of for yourself. It's why you're appalled by human society's failure to help people like you.

Aśvatthāman
But you know, it takes a big person to think like that, too. I don't have a problem with it. Hell, I wouldn't have a job without it.

Aśvatthāman
Who knows? Maybe I'll end up running into you again someday as well.

Aśvatthāman
I'm sure you already know this, but as a Servant, I'm not good for much except being a fiery ball of endless fury.

Aśvatthāman
But...if you still haven't learned your lesson, and end up as my Master again someday...

Aśvatthāman
...I'll make sure to make up for your lack of fire by getting good and angry on your behalf.

Aśvatthāman
Even if you aren't able to muster up any anger on your own about the world's injustices, I've got rage enough for both of us.

Aśvatthāman
...I think that's what I'm meant to do.

Peperoncino
Hehe. Well thank you, Aśvatthāman.
That'll give me something to look forward to.

Aśvatthāman
Ha... Well, glad I got all that off my chest.
I'm counting on all of you to take care of the rest.

Aśvatthāman
And by the rest, I mean the guy taking my place.

Aśvatthāman
I'm pretty sure you already know this, but he's not exactly the most graceful guy around.

Aśvatthāman
I knew it. I figured I'd find you here.
Really pisses me off that you've been slacking.

???
...I have not been slacking off.

Aśvatthāman
I know that. I'm guessing this is the end... The place where Arjuna sends all the so-called failures he erases.

Aśvatthāman
A big old trash heap with no shape or form. Just different concepts floating around every which way.

Aśvatthāman
I figured you must still be drifting around here back when I saw you turn into Surya's light itself.

???
Of course you knew. You were the one who said that.

Aśvatthāman
Ugh, is there anyone more tightly wound than you?
Freakin' infuriating.

???
...

Aśvatthāman
All right then, let's do this. We've only got a moment to pull it off...even if time is basically meaningless here.

Aśvatthāman
Here's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna use everything I've got to pull you out of here, and you're gonna use everything you've got to climb the hell out.

???
What do I have to do?

Aśvatthāman
It's easy. All we gotta do is be ourselves.
Long as we do that, we should be able to connect.

???
...All right. Let's do it.

???
If there is no concept of time here, all the better.
I want to keep going until I'm satisfied.

???
If the time we experience here has no meaning,
that means we can use as much of it as we like.

???
So why just go back as I am now if I could use this time to train and get even stronger?

Aśvatthāman
The hell? At any moment of existing in this space, we could be torn to shreds, and you wanna TRAIN here!? What the hell is WRONG with you!?

???
I'm just going to do the same thing Arjuna did.

???
Now that I know how far he pushed himself,
I have to do the same to meet him on even ground.

Aśvatthāman
The same thing he did...?

???
He must have put himself through tremendous hardships before he reached his current state.

???
It's one thing to say he collected every Indian Divinity into himself, and another altogether to actually do so.

???
He may rule this land now, but he has not transcended its bonds. His current state is the answer he arrived at after countless hard decisions and tribulations.

???
In which case, it would be the height of rudeness to challenge him as my ordinary self.

???
So I will put myself through the same ordeals he did as a sign of respect...and of despair.

???
I will only challenge him once I have pushed myself as far as I possibly can. As his brother, I owe him no less.

???
And you are going to help me get there, Aśvatthāman.

Aśvatthāman
Ha... You're too damn good for you own good, you know that? Irritating as hell. But then, I guess that's just how you've always been, isn't it?

Aśvatthāman
All right, fine. I'm the one who came to get you, so I guess I've got a responsibility to see this through to the end. If you want to do this thing, we'll keep at it until you're good and satisfied.

Aśvatthāman
Come to think of it, I guess not caring about time is something you and the guy outside got in common... I can't tell if you're a good match for each other or not.

Aśvatthāman
...All right, here I come, Hero of Benefaction!
Get ready for a world of pain!

--BATTLE--

Aśvatthāman
What's the score up to?
I lost count in the high thousands.

Aśvatthāman
Dammit...
It pisses me the hell off how strong you are!

???
You are impressively strong yourself. I truly think you are one of the strongest warriors I have met.

Aśvatthāman
Well? Did you do everything you wanted?

???
I did.

Aśvatthāman
Then I guess you got nothing to worry about.
There's only one thing left to say now.

Aśvatthāman
Let's go fight together again.
I'll even let you borrow me.

???
...Thank you. I accept with gratitude.

Aśvatthāman
Ha. That's what I like to hear. Now hurry up.

???
Thank you, my friend.

???
Your anger may be defective and improper...

???
...but there are still some lost hopes that only it can save...

Goredolf
Wha... What's going on?

Goredolf
No way. Is that...!?

Da Vinci
Aśvatthāman's Spirit Origin was at its limit.

Da Vinci
Even if his connection to Shiva did let him interfere with time, he still had to sacrifice a lot to pull it off.

Da Vinci
So he chose to burn freely so he could leave his Spirit Core behind...

Da Vinci
...all so he could take advantage of the moment when Arjuna's fallibility was proven beyond all doubt.

Da Vinci
Because he believed that by doing so, a certain someone would come back, using his Spirit Core as an anchor...

Rama
What!?

Lakshmi
...!

Peperoncino
...

Holmes
That's right. The possibility was always there.

Holmes
Would Arjuna ever absorb him,
and make him a part of himself?

Holmes
Absolutely not.

Holmes
Even if he did possess Divinity, he is the one being Arjuna would almost certainly refuse to absorb.

Holmes
After all...

Holmes
Oh, my apologies. It would seem that the time is not yet right to speak of that.

Mash
Ah... Aah...!

Mash
M-Master, look. Behind you...

  1. ...!
 
  Select: ...!

===Branch End===

Ganesha
...Ahaha. Honestly, it was really, really hard waiting for hundreds and thousands of years.

Ganesha
But, you did say we would be sure to meet again.
That's a promise in my book.

Ganesha
I mean, after all...

Ganesha
I knew that you of all people would never, ever lie.

Karna
...And so we have met again.

Karna
You did wonderfully, Jinako Carigiri.
Absolutely wonderful.

Karna
I can tell you've grown since we last met. Your face is now as full of life as a beautiful spring flower.

Section 19: The Final Dark God

Show/Hide Story Chapter

  1. Karna!
  2. Welcome back!
  Select: Karna!

  Select: Welcome back!

===Branch End===

Karna
I'm sorry it took me so long to return, Master.

Karna
Hm...? What did I just say?

Karna
I feel as though I said something I couldn't possibly know...

Ganesha
Eh, happens to everyone now and then.
Don't sweat it!

Ganesha
Besides, we've got much bigger things to worry about. Like bringing you up to speed on what's going on right now.

Karna
Fortunately, I already have a fairly good idea of that.

Karna
My memories are...a little muddled,
but they remain unbroken.

Karna
Aśvatthāman's Spirit Core has given me the gist of everything that transpired while I was gone.

Karna
...It would seem the time has come to settle things.

God Arjuna
...Kar...na...!

Ganesha
I'm afraid I'm not gonna be much help.
As you can see, I'm all tuckered out.

Karna
That won't be a problem.
Aśvatthāman lent me more than just his Spirit Core.

Karna
For the time being...I can also use Shiva's power,
at least to a certain extent.

Holmes
I see... So you inherited Aśvatthāman's traits when you took over his Spirit Core!

Karna
Of course, this power won't last forever.

Karna
But I should be sufficiently familiar with it by now to hold onto it for a while, after all those duels we had.

Peperoncino
Well this is all great news, for sure. But we've still got a long way to go, given who we're up against.

Peperoncino
...Speak of the devil.

God Arjuna
...

Karna
Arjuna. We can do this down here, or up there.
The choice is yours.

God Arjuna
...

Mash
He came down!

God Arjuna
...Karna... I know you.
You're...Karna...

Karna
Yes, I am. And now, I'm going to defeat you.

God Arjuna
...Why?
Why do you...oppose me...?

God Arjuna
You were there...too...
You witnessed...that foolish war...just as I did...

God Arjuna
I'm purging evil...from the world.
Everything that is defective...and unnecessary...

God Arjuna
That is...the blade of justice...I use...to guide this world...

God Arjuna
My world...is proper and right...in every way...

  1. Now the ground is shaking!?
  2. What's going on with the sky...?
  Select: Now the ground is shaking!?

  Select: What's going on with the sky...?

===Branch End===

God Arjuna
This is...the proof. The end...of the final yuga...when justice...reaches its apex.

God Arjuna
A perfect world...of peace and harmony...is now...close at hand...

Karna
I have not seen for myself whether this world is what you say, so I will not speak to that.

Karna
I will instead let those whom I trust speak for me.

  1. There's nothing right about this world.
  2. This world is so right it's wrong.
  Select: There's nothing right about this world.
Peperoncino
Short and to the point. I like it.

  Select: This world is so right it's wrong.
Peperoncino
Hehe, well there's an interesting viewpoint.
Maybe you could even say the same about people.
Peperoncino
After all, someone who only knows what's right inevitably ends up doing the wrong thing.

===Branch End===

Holmes
Allow me to refute your premise by substituting
“the world” for “civilization.”

Holmes
Civilizations roots must logically lie in humanity,
not gods.

Holmes
This world may be refined as a result of you whittling away the people you deemed defective, but its civilization has not advanced one iota.

Holmes
Any philosophy that would lead to what we see here has its priorities completely backwards.

God Arjuna
I can't...understand... You speak...nonsense. You are defective, unnecessary...and therefore, evil...

Limbo
Mmm... Indeed, indeed!

Limbo
The time has clearly come for you to pass judgment on these wicked fools yourself.

Koyanskaya
Well, well, look who just couldn't resist putting in an appearance. I guess that was inevitable though, this god being your last bastion and all.

  1. (I've seen that Servant before...!)
  2. (That's the Caster from Shimousa...!)
  Select: (I've seen that Servant before...!)

  Select: (That's the Caster from Shimousa...!)

===Branch End===

Mash
Master...? Do you recognize him?

Holmes
I'm quite certain {(M) he /(F) she} does.

Holmes
That Servant matches the description of a hostile entity {(M) Mr. /(F) Ms.} Fujimaru encountered in the parallel world of Shimousa.

Holmes
Though looking back on it now, it would seem that Shimousa was actually a small Lostbelt in its own right.

Holmes
At any rate, although that Servant went by Caster of Limbo...the one we see here now is an Alter Ego.

Holmes
You there. I trust you are also a Disciple of the Foreign God, just like Rasputin?

Holmes
I believe you said your name was Abe-no-Seimei,
one of Japan's greatest onmyouji?

Limbo
Mm. Mmm. Mmmmmm! What a dreadful thing to say!

Limbo
No righteous Chaldean Servant should be quite so devious! You really should know better, Lord Detective.

Limbo
It's one thing to joke, but quite another to merely play along with my using an alias just to put the screws to me.

Limbo
Dreadful, simply dreadful.
What was it again? Abe-no-Seimei?

Limbo
True, that cowardly schemer is certainly an acquaintance of mine, so I'm not completely unfamiliar with his name...

Limbo
But my name is simply Limbo, Lord Sherlock Holmes,
and I would ask you address me thusly.

Limbo
And yes, as you surmised, I am indeed one of the three Alter Egos who serve the Foreign God!

Limbo
I am the one who made the first move to prepare for the coming of the Trees of Emptiness...

Limbo
...and turned Shimousa into hell to test a pet theory of mine!

Mash
Then... That's the Servant who's been leading Arjuna down this path...?

Mash
Koyanskaya, can you tell us anything more about...
Huh?

Koyanskaya
“Sorry, we've closed for the day☆
We look forward to your business in the future♡”

Mash
Koyanskaya's gone!
The only trace she left behind is this note!

Limbo
Indeed, indeed! I'm certain she had no other choice but to make her escape!

Limbo
It is absolutely unforgivable to side with Chaldea, no matter the circumstances!

Limbo
That said, I am not entirely heartless. I see no need to go out of my way to report her misdeeds to the Foreign God.

Limbo
Now that she is nowhere to be seen,
there is no proof that she helped you.

Limbo
Mmm, I think we can leave it at that.

Holmes
(I suppose it was inevitable her injuries would heal now that she's had time to rest... Oh well.)

Holmes
(I'll have to think of a way to capture her for good some other time...)

Holmes
Very well then: Limbo, you must be the Servant who has been serving as Arjuna's military advisor of sorts.

Holmes
Now that you're showing yourself after hiding away all this time...

Holmes
...does that mean you no longer had any other choice?

Limbo
Hardly. My appearance here is merely a matter of courtesy.

Limbo
It is not yet time for me to get my own hands dirty.

Limbo
Although...

Limbo
If you absolutely insist, I think I can manage a few tricks of my own!

Limbo
Humbled as I am to be the opening act to this world's god, if I must, I must! Hahahahaha!

Peperoncino
Looks to me like you want to keep clear of danger as much as possible.

Limbo
Oh no, no! All I want is to see what's about to happen up close and personal!

Limbo
Hehe, hehehehehehe!

Holmes
(This world's sudden drastic change must be due to its situation making significant forward progress...)

Holmes
(Either that, or it's starting to come apart at the seams now that the end is near!)

Holmes
(If Limbo's goal is to see what happens after that, he may even have been pulling Arjuna's strings up to this point...)

Holmes
...No, never mind that. Right now, all I can say for sure is that we have no time to waste.

Holmes
We need to eliminate Arjuna and Limbo as quickly as possible.

Holmes
Should we fail to do so, this world will play host to a dreadful, fatal event.

Holmes
And it is clear from Limbo's barely restrained delight that there will be no coming back from whatever it is.

Holmes
I believe we can leave Arjuna to Karna.
The rest of you, please focus on Limbo!

Lakshmi
I can use the...kali...to keep the nearby...sacred beasts away.

  1. Are you all right, Lakshmi?
  2. You okay?
  Select: Are you all right, Lakshmi?

  Select: You okay?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Of course.
Now that I've come this far, I finally understand...

Lakshmi
The kali are both a part of this world,
and its last form of resistance.

Lakshmi
They are creatures apart from god,
born to fight against order.

Lakshmi
Perhaps that is the reason why I...why Alakshmi was summoned here.

Lakshmi
So that I could help them.

Lakshmi
Heh... Some queen I turned out to be.
Once a rebel leader, always a rebel leader!

Lakshmi
We'll handle the sacred beasts. The only enemies the rest of you need to worry about are those two.

Lakshmi
I'm counting on you, Fujimaru!

Mash
Arjuna is no longer a god we can only look up at from afar.

Mash
He's now destruction incarnate, and we have to stop him no matter what! Let's go get him, Master!

--BATTLE--

Karna
What incredible power. Even with Shiva's godly strength, I still can't manage to harm you.

God Arjuna
Godly... Yes.
For I am...god.

God Arjuna
I have consumed all other Divinities, and brought them together to become a single, perfect god.

God Arjuna
Karna... Son of Surya, wielder of Shiva's strength...

God Arjuna
If you wish to stand in my way...that is fine.

God Arjuna
As a truly perfect god, it will be simple for me to trample over you...

Karna
...You claim to be perfect?
Then let me ask you this.

Karna
Why did you consume the gods in the first place?
What did you want with so much power?

Karna
I am sure you sought to create a just world, but I know that Arjuna would never choose such an inhumane path towards it.

Karna
Someone else must have done so instead. Who?

God Arjuna
...!

Karna
You need not answer. I know that, too.

Karna
The king of the Yadavas, Vāsudeva, was not the same man as the Krishna who was an avatar of Vishnu...yet they shared a name nonetheless.

Karna
On that day, it was not Arjuna, but the dark Krishna inside him who aimed that arrow at me.

Karna
The same is now true for you, isn't it? Deep down, you are not Arjuna, but that dark Krishna, aren't you?

God Arjuna
...

Karna
I don't know why it happened, but I can see that your inner qualities were somehow inverted...

Karna
...and what you are now is the result of that avarice taking control and greedily consuming all the other Divinities.

Karna
When I look at you, I do not see a perfect god. Far from it.

Karna
You have been irrevocably altered into a man who is both Arjuna, and not Arjuna. Nothing more.

Arjuna
Ghh...I'm...?

Holmes
That got to him.
Could this be the last push we need?

Da Vinci
I don't know. It doesn't look like he's gonna make it that easy for us!

Limbo
Oh, no, no, this won't do at all. Calm yourself. To be a perfect god, one must have power above all else.

Limbo
You became what you are by following your greed.
It is only right that you continue to do so.

Limbo
If you have concerns about your godhood,
then allow me, your humble servant...

Limbo
...to present you with new power from the truly right and proper god.

Limbo
Now then...shall we begin?

God Arjuna
...

Holmes
Arjuna's run off!

Holmes
There is no question of where he is heading. There's only one thing left that he could rely on for help.

Da Vinci
Get in the Border, guys!
We're going after him full speed ahead!

--ARROW--

  1. Is that...!?
 
  Select: Is that...!?

===Branch End===

Mash
It's the Indian Tree of Emptiness! But what's that strangely colored lake surrounding it!?

Peperoncino
What's going on?
That lake wasn't there when I first got here!

Holmes
These readings... Now I see. I knew this was no ordinary water, but I would never have guessed that it could be...this...

Ganesha
You figured out what it is?
Then why aren't you JUST TELLING US ALREADY!?

Holmes
I was just getting to that. Don't worry, I have no intention of falling back on bad habits now.

Holmes
I understand you have no need for a detailed analysis at this point, so in lieu of that, I will simply say this:

Holmes
I believe that is the ocean of milk.

Peperoncino
The ocean of milk...? You mean, the one from the Samudra Manthana in the Hindu creation myth?

Holmes
The very same.

Rama
That's the one where Vishnu, the other gods, and even the Asuras all worked together to create a nectar of immortality.

Rama
The ocean of milk is also said to be where the sun and moon come from...though I doubt that's what Arjuna wants to do with it now.

Goredolf
Well, if it's only an ocean of milk,
we should be able to cross it, no?

Holmes
I'm afraid that would be rather difficult.

  1. But why!?
  2. Why's that?
  Select: But why!?

  Select: Why's that?

===Branch End===

Holmes
It's highly poisonous. I've only done a quick scan so far, but I can already tell it's strong enough to easily melt through steel, a human body, or even a spiritual body.

Holmes
While the Border is sealed tightly enough that we could theoretically attempt to barrel through it...

Holmes
...we would be unlikely to get far before the Border started to dissolve.

Rama
I see. So this is Halāhala...the poison Vāsuki the serpent king vomited forth from the pain of being used like a rope to churn the milk. And Arjuna apparently chose to leave it mixed in.

Peperoncino
In the myth, Shiva becomes known as the Nilakanta of the blue throat because he gets rid of the poison by drinking it, but...

Karna
I'm only borrowing Shiva's power; I don't know if I can do the same. Though I could jump over it and get to the tree by myself.

Holmes
I don't recommend that. Given what happened earlier, it's likely Arjuna came here to receive some form of support from the Tree of Emptiness.

Holmes
Our only hope now is to hit him with everything we've got. Letting him pick us off individually now would be the height of folly.

Mash
Th-then what can we do?

Holmes
Well–

Meunière
Whatever it is, do you think you can hurry and figure it out before all those sacred beasts catch up with us!?

Lakshmi
...All right. I'll figure something out.

  1. ...Like what?
 
  Select: ...Like what?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
I doubt I can erase the Halāhala...

Lakshmi
...but both Lakshmi and Alakshmi were born when the ocean of milk was churned. I am sure I can do something.

Lakshmi
If I concentrate my misfortune around me, like I did when I drew all of William Tell's arrows...

Lakshmi
...I might be able to limit the poison's effects to myself.

Mash
But, that would mean...!

Lakshmi
There is no other wa–

Captain
This is ridiculous. Just ridiculous.

  1. Captain?
 
  Select: Captain?

===Branch End===

Captain
You're just using your bad luck as an excuse to take the easy way out. It's the cheapest form of self-sacrifice.

Captain
No soldier, hell, no person at all has any business doing that.

Captain
Did you ever stop to think about what it's like for those of us left behind?

Captain
To hear you praised for dying like a saint,
like your death is something to celebrate?

Captain
...You never stop wondering what might have happened. If only you hadn't let her fight alone. If only you'd stayed behind, instead of running away...

Lakshmi
I knew it... It IS you...

Captain
...Yeah, it's me. I didn't experience these things myself, but these regrets ended up becoming core to who I am.

Captain
That other version of me–the one who would go on to become a ship captain–fought in the sepoy rebellion, lost someone important to him...

Captain
...and unlike you, who stayed and fought to the very end, he ran away like a coward.

Captain
We may have fought in very different regions...and neither of us may have been in a position to influence the other's battles...

Captain
...but after being inspired by the rumors I heard about you, and knowing we were fighting at the same time, I can't help but feel a connection...

Lakshmi
...The path I took was the only one available to me. I'm not going to judge you for the choices you made. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with choosing to survive.

Lakshmi
It is no different now. There is something I need to do, and I'm the only one who can do it...so that's what I'm going to do. That's all there is to it!

Captain
...No. That's not all there is to it.

Lakshmi
Huh?

Captain
What I'm trying to say is, that wasn't the only way then, and it isn't now, either. You need to pay more attention to your surroundings.

  1. Do you have something in mind, Captain?
 
  Select: Do you have something in mind, Captain?

===Branch End===

Captain
Yeah, I do. I wouldn't have said all that otherwise. Though I kind of hate how this is playing out just like Sion said it would.

Captain
Da Vinci, I need you to grant me authority.
You've already figured out why I came along, right?

Captain
Well, now's the time.
Much as I'd rather not do this, I suppose I must.

Da Vinci
I knew you were sneaking around doing something. Does this mean we're finally going to get some answers?

Captain
...(Sigh) I wish I could've just stuck to maintenance. Initiating a naval battle of my own accord is really hard.

Captain
But as hard as that is, letting another far-off comrade in arms go to her death would be even harder.

Captain
This thing manifests whenever I accept that this is just the sort of Phantom Spirit I am.

Captain
Sion secretly installed it inside this ship.

Holmes
Hmm. Does this thing you speak of have something to do with the part that was meant to be activated in India?

Captain
...Yeah, I guess so. It's kind of like a system that makes this trial fitting possible.

Holmes
I only have one question. Will this thing you speak of let us get across this poisonous ocean of milk?

Captain
I think so. You should all know what I'm talking about, too.

Captain
Sion isn't just trying to improve the Border.
She's trying to improve me, too.

Captain
Because you're going to need both of us if you're going to cross that stormy ocean.

Captain
Well, maybe not me so much as my ship.

Captain
My ship is a dream of the future made real. A high tech concept once considered a mere flight of fancy.

Captain
It's called the Nautilus, a ship of hope that can conquer any sea in the world, no matter how deep.

Captain
Aw yeah!
If we're gonna do this thing, let's DO this thing!

Captain
No more holding back for me!
Every good ship's gotta have good waters to sail!

Captain
Okay crew, get to your posts! Any back talk, even from Master, and you'll be swabbing the poop deck for a month!

  1. Where'd all this come from!?
  2. When did you get so upbeat!?
  Select: Where'd all this come from!?

  Select: When did you get so upbeat!?

===Branch End===

Captain
Why wouldn't I be excited!? I've been waiting to go on my maiden voyage since I got summoned!

Captain
Imaginary Aronnax Phantasm rigging...all set!

Captain
Connecting lines to my Spirit Origin and giving them power!

Captain
Okay, that's all of my Noble Phantasm's magical energy. And I'll make sure the Border doesn't feel a thing!

Goredolf
Wh-wh-what is this!? What's going on!?
You're not about to explode on us, are you!?

Mash
It looks like...a mysterious light is surrounding the Border, starting at the front...

Holmes
The front, you say?
As opposed to the drivetrain, or the engine...?

Holmes
By Jove, I've got it! The Aronnax Phantasm is a naval ram, the Nautilus's most famous feature!

Captain
Right you are. My Nautilus was known far and wide as a monster of a ship.

Captain
And by attaching its naval ram to a vessel, other ships can be retroactively defined as the Nautilus too!

  1. I knew it! Then your True Name is–
 
  Select: I knew it! Then your True Name is–

===Branch End===

Captain
Hehe. But that's not all.

Karna
Indeed, it's not. Now that you've come out of your shell, I can sense the Western god inside you.

Captain
That's right. I am the great Triton, son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea! The deep seas are my beloved domain!

Captain
And I'm also Captain Nemo, the lone sailor who fights against oppression and tyranny wherever he goes!

Da Vinci
Aha! I KNEW you were an amalgamation Servant!
But wow, those are some big names to combine!

Holmes
I see... Ms. Sion had already admitted you were a Phantom Spirit. She must have intentionally combined an ancient Mystic with a newer legend...

Nemo
I'm the “no one” called Nemo. The guardian of sea travelers who can chart a course through any ocean.

Mash
A guardian... Now that you mention it, this warmth I'm sensing feels...familiar...

Meunière
No way! Am I reading this right!?

Da Vinci
What is it, Meunière!?

Goredolf
An explosion? It's an explosion, isn't it?

Goredolf
Dammit! I knew I shouldn't have let some pip-squeak from who knows where mess around with my Border!

Meunière
No, no, it's not an explosion! I just noticed this fixed wavelength in the Border's data! It's almost identical to the thing we observed back during our Zero Sail on the way to Scandinavia!

Goredolf
What!? Then, that strange entity we encountered back then was actually...!?

Nemo
Yes, that was my true Nautilus.
I was out on patrol there on Sion's orders.

Nemo
I think I remember giving you a little nudge in the right direction when I spotted you guys there.

Holmes
Now I see. If Mr. Goredolf hadn't had us make an emergency exit in his panic...

Holmes
...we might have benefited from your guidance even more.

Goredolf
W-well how was I supposed to know any better at the time!?

Da Vinci
While I'd love to dig into these new revelations about your ship and the Atlas Institute's Zero Sail technology...

Da Vinci
...right now, we still have to worry about this ship!
How's it looking?

Nemo
It's doing great. I've had my eye on it for a while now, and it's turning out to be just as good a ship as I thought. Better, even!

Nemo
I'm a Phantom Spirit, not a typical Servant.
My entire reason for being is my love of the sea.

Nemo
So when I was summoned to this earth without a decent body of water anywhere to be seen, and told to lend my aid to humanity, well...

Nemo
Honestly, I was pretty upset.
Sion's nice and all, but she's not really human.

Nemo
And the Wandering Sea may be a sea, but there's no life to be found in it anywhere.

Nemo
So when you Chaldeans showed up...I didn't have high hopes for you all, either.

Nemo
I figured modern people must be to blame for the Earth ending up like this.

Nemo
But now that I've seen you in action here in India...

Nemo
...I can tell you're the kind of good people I remember.

Nemo
You're travelers who keep rowing forward no matter how roughly the seas toss your ship.

Nemo
No matter what kind of predicament you encounter, or what kind of enemy you go up against, you're the kind of people who can smile and laugh about the experience when it's all over.

Nemo
So now that I know that, I'm done moping around. Besides, I also remembered that my Nemo side still has some unfinished business to take care of.

Nemo
So you'd better believe I'm going to help you out! I declare this here and now, as the guardian of voyages!

Nemo
From this point forward, this ship is no longer limited to the waters of Void Space!

Nemo
There is now no storm it can't cross,
and no ocean it can't sail!

Nemo
Whether we're up against the sea of storms or a poisonous ocean of milk, you no longer have anything to fear!

Nemo
Now let's go!
Full speed ahead!

Da Vinci
Well, if the world's most famous captain insists,
I guess we'll just have to oblige! Let's do this thing!

--ARROW--

Goredolf
Hold it! I still haven't given this the all clea–AAAH! A-are you sure we'll be okay!? We're not going to dissolve!?

Holmes
It would seem there is nothing to worry about. The Border's hull is holding strong against the poison.

Nemo
Heh, this is nothing compared to the time I hid inside an undersea volcano. We won't have any problem reaching land!

Nemo
Though that's not to say it doesn't sting a bit.
Generally, when my ship is damaged, I hurt too.

Lakshmi
You don't have to do this...

Nemo
Don't worry about it, Lakshmi Bai. Not this time.

Nemo
Here, there are no cowards willing to send you off to your death just because you refuse to stop fighting when they've already given up.

Nemo
Of course, I ran away from the rebellion to build the Nautilus, so I might've been just as cowardly until now...

Nemo
...But I'm not anymore.
This time, I'm staying right here.

Nemo
I'm going to get you there safely, help you save these people, and fight at your side until the very end.

Lakshmi
...You are a good man and a good friend, Captain Nemo. Thank you.

Nemo
...All right, we're almost across the ocean of milk!
No turning back now! Are you all ready to disembark!?

  1. You know it!
  2. It's time for the final battle!
  Select: You know it!

  Select: It's time for the final battle!

===Branch End===

Karna
Yes. This may not be strictly true, but I feel as though I have trained my fiery spear for thousands of years.

Karna
I WILL cut through Arjuna's mind, even if I have to use every bit of my essence for kindling.

Ganesha
I'll help out as much as I can, too. Though I'm still so exhausted that I think watching out for Rama is all I can do right now.

Rama
...

Goredolf
Oh well, all right!
At this point, I don't care how you go about it.

Goredolf
Go ahead and use every dirty trick in the book if you have to! Just make sure you take him down! Director's orders!

Peperoncino
Oh my, he's really going there, isn't he?
It's almost impressive how low he's willing to sink!

Peperoncino
I could've sworn he was much cooler back when he was driving the Border. That sure didn't last...

Peperoncino
Maybe he's the type of guy who only really shines when the chips are down?

Nemo
We've made land! We can see the Tree of Emptiness with our naked eyes now!

Nemo
Go on and take the portside hatch out of here,
Fujimaru! I'll lower the ramp now!

Nemo
Once you've all disembarked, I'll head back out and wait for you in the bay so the enemy can't attack the Border!

Nemo
Don't worry about holding anything back! As long as you win this battle, I promise I'll come and get you!

Nemo
Now go out there and settle this thing once and for all!

Mash
...We will! Thank you, Captain Nemo!

Mash
Master Fujimaru, five Servants,
and one allied Master...

Mash
...preparing to enter the Indian Lostbelt's final phase on behalf of Proper Human History!

  1. The place is covered in...white flowers...?
 
  Select: The place is covered in...white flowers...?

===Branch End===

Holmes
They would appear to be cluster amaryllises...known in some parts of the world as “flowers of heaven.” The environmental readings appear stable, so they shouldn't pose any threat.

Da Vinci
Only eight hundred meters to go! The Indian Tree of Emptiness is right past that hill!

Da Vinci
Its heat signature is rising rapidly!
Try to hurry as best you can, guys!

Mash
Understood! We'll continue to approach the Tree of Emptiness on foot!

Rama
(Ghh... It looks like this curse isn't getting any better with time, as I'd hoped it would...)

Rama
Then it seems I have no other choice.
All of you, wait. I need to say something.

Ganesha
What's up, Rama?

Rama
I'm sure Arjuna will be waiting for us at the tree. Before we fight him again...I need to talk to you, Karna.

Karna
What is it, King of Kosala?
You seem to be in poor health.

Rama
I am. That's why I have a request to make of you, son of Surya.

Rama
I want to entrust you with my Brahmastra.

Mash
Huh?

Karna
...Your reasoning?

Rama
Ghh, argh... Surely you can see why for yourself.

Rama
My body is still suffering from Krishna's curse that I drew away from Aśvatthāman.

Rama
Frankly, I'll never be able to fight to the best of my ability like this. So this is all I can do.

Rama
While I do hate to do this, since it feels like I'm letting Fujimaru down as {(M) his /(F) her} Servant...a good king knows when to delegate.

Rama
As the son of Surya, and the one true hero who fought for the Kauravas, there is no one better suited to wield the Brahmastra in my place than you.

Karna
...

Rama
Besides, no one in this world knows of my adventures. That fame, or lack of it in this case, makes it impossible for me to fight at my full strength even without the curse.

Karna
But the same holds true for me.

Rama
No, it doesn't. There's at least one person here who sees you differently.

Rama
See that? Those are the eyes of someone who knows deep down in her soul how heroic you truly are.

Rama
That makes you better suited than me to be a hero in this land. And so, my power is now yours.

Karna
...

Rama
But be warned.

Rama
Now that Aśvatthāman has entrusted you with Shiva's power, and I have entrusted you with Vishnu's...

Rama
...if you were to lose to Arjuna now, it would be an absolute disgrace!

Rama
Remember, he has my wife's goddess form in his possession! He holds within himself Alakshmi's younger sister. Alakshmi's wish to free her sister is in your hands now.

Rama
And so, I implore you, Karna: save Sita in my place!

Karna
...!

Rama
Master, I'm sorry to ask your forgiveness rather than your permission, but is this all right with you?

  1. I second Rama's request.
  2. Please help us, Karna. We can't beat Arjuna without you.
  Select: I second Rama's request.

  Select: Please help us, Karna. We can't beat Arjuna without you.

===Branch End===

Karna
What a strange thing to say, Master. I am your Servant. I answer to you, not the King of Kosala.

Karna
But, for now, I will humbly accept this great honor you have both entrusted to me, and swear to you this:

Karna
I will use all the power I have been given to see that Arjuna is brought to justice!

Ganesha
Bwaaa!!?? Your hair! Your spear!
They're totally different now!

Ganesha
I don't know what's going on, but it's freakin' badass! I can't put it any better than that!

Ganesha
You were already a sight for sore eyes before, but now those eyes are just popping out of their sockets!

Ganesha
This is so unfair! But I'm not complaining! Hell no!

Karna
I see. It's an honor to hear you think so highly of me, Ganesha.

Rama
I-I'm kind of taken aback by this myself,
to be honest, but this is all for the good.

Rama
You are no longer merely borrowing my power, nor Aśvatthāman's.

Rama
This new form of yours is clearly the result of you making it your own. I could ask for nothing more.

Lakshmi
(What incredible power. I can't be certain it will be enough to defeat Arjuna...but it just might do the trick!)

Lakshmi
All right, no sense staying put any longer than we need. Let's go!

God Arjuna
...

Mash
There he is!

God Arjuna
Karna... Kar...na...

Karna
Arjunaaa!!!

--ARROW--

God Arjuna
...Kar...na... Karna...!

Karna
Yes, it's me. Though I have changed a little since we last met.

Karna
This power is incredible. To think this is still only a fragment of Shiva and Vishnu's strength.

God Arjuna
I...see... Hehehe, now I see! So you have...also come closer...to becoming a perfect god!

God Arjuna
Good. That is how it should be. If you mean to stand in my way, that is exactly how it should be!

Karna
...? What a strange thing to say.

God Arjuna
What...?

Karna
Neither of us is at all close to being a perfect god.
That could not be clearer.

Karna
Would a perfect god be so fixated on my name,
as you have been thus far?

Karna
That can only mean one thing...
Your humanity is showing through.

God Arjuna
...!!!

Karna
You are very much still human deep down inside, Arjuna. That is why we can do battle like this.

Karna
I, for one, am grateful that neither of us are gods.
We are both warriors. Nothing more.

God Arjuna
Karna...you bastard!

Limbo
Mmm, how very surprising! I never thought the Hero of Benefaction could cut so deep with but a few words!

Limbo
In that case, allow me the honor of stopping up this god's ears, so as to shield them from these wicked words!

Limbo
God! God! God of this land!
If you feel as though you are still lacking...

Limbo
If you sense that what you have may still not be enough, then rest assured that I am here to ease your concerns!

Limbo
Behold...a benefaction from the one true god!

Limbo
Behold these stairs that link us to the skies! This texture that transforms everything into its rightful form!

Limbo
This Lostbelt may be yet another frail bastion for humanity, but its way of life is completely unique!

Limbo
In place of a future that expands ever outward, it has elected a future that narrows infinitely inward!

Limbo
Indeed, that is the one good thing about this Lostbelt! It will reach its end goal quicker that way.

Limbo
Turn, turn, turn! Every time the cycle turns, more is shaved off! Now, its destruction reaches a fever pitch!

Limbo
The roots of cosmic fantasy have descended upon us, and the Tree of Ideology has died! Hear me, foundation of a new world, and bloom!

Limbo
Your name is Tree of Emptiness Spiral! You are the many finite boundaries that surround this planet!

Goredolf
Th-the Tree of Emptiness...!

Mash
It's opening up even further!
And not only that...!

Peperoncino
What is this!?

Holmes
This change in color... It seems to be like what we saw in China, only taken even further...?

Holmes
I don't know what this new black color means, but I believe the tree's structure remains identical to the one in China.

Holmes
That is to say, the Tree of Emptiness contained its own pocket dimension. Now, the Tree has opened up, exposing the galaxy inside.

Holmes
There's no time to analyze it further,
and as of yet, no telling what it means.

Holmes
All I can say for certain at this point...is that a tremendous amount of magical energy is flowing from it and into Arjuna!

Holmes
(Orochi. Sombrero. Mayall. And now, Spiral. As I suspected, they're all names of different galaxies.)

Holmes
(They must be weapons of invasion from other celestial bodies. But why invade like this?)

Holmes
(With that much sheer magical energy, they could just as easily incinerate the Earth's surface, as Goetia did.)

Holmes
(So why would our enemies go out of their way to model the trees after galaxies? Are they truly weapons of invasion?)

God Arjuna
Ahh... Haha, hahaha, hahahahaha!

God Arjuna
I feel just as powerful now as I did when I first absorbed the gods. No, even more so...!

Karna
It doesn't matter how much power you take in from elsewhere, Arjuna. This changes nothing.

Karna
...Oh, right. I have been told that I have a tendency to say too little rather than too much, so let me be abundantly clear about this.

Karna
If the dark Krishna inside you truly has become who you are now...

Karna
...then you yourself have become something you saw as defective, and you just haven't realized it yet.

Karna
Though, honestly, I never saw you as defective at all.

Karna
So let me ask you: What are your own deficiencies?
What is your own evil?

Karna
Have you ever looked at yourself, and admitted that you might also have faults?

Karna
The Arjuna I know was no god, but he knew the value of taking a good, long look at himself.

God Arjuna
Looking... Yes...
Like the way you're looking at me now.

God Arjuna
Stop that, Karna...
Don't look at me...like that...

Holmes
That's it. That was exactly the last piece we needed. Karna put it into place without even trying.

Holmes
A god is most vulnerable when they begin to question their own infallibility!

B：Arjuna
You're doing it again... Your eyes are trying to make me see something inside myself!

B：Arjuna
That is...a sin. It is evil.
I must pass judgment on you...with my own hands!

B：Arjuna
Karnaaa!!!

Karna
The only thing I see now is the fact that you can no longer ignore my spear.

Karna
Now that you have abandoned that irksome detachment,
I finally have the chance I've been waiting for.

Karna
It doesn't matter if you're a god. I will keep trying to surpass you, just as I always have!

Karna
Arjunaaa!!!

--BATTLE--

Mash
He... He did it, Master!
Arjuna has been fatally wounded!

Arjuna
...How?

Arjuna
I should have completely outclassed you! Even if you do have Shiva and Vishnu's power now, I have the power of every god!

Arjuna
Not only do I too have Shiva and Vishnu, I also have Agni, Indra, Brahma, Soma... All of them...!

Karna
You're still searching for a reason?
You truly are a thickheaded man.

Karna
Very well then, I'll tell you why you lost... Though I'll admit, I too only realized this while we were fighting.

Karna
It is because you lack something crucial.
Something that I possess, and you do not.

Arjuna
What...? That...that can't be.
I possess every Divinity in the–

Karna
What you lack...is that.

  1. (Is Karna pointing at me...?)
 
  Select: (Is Karna pointing at me...?)

===Branch End===

Arjuna
...!

Karna
That's right. Companions. To put it another way...a god is only a god if there are people who recognize them as such.

Karna
A god cannot be a god if they are all alone.

Karna
You grew dependent on power from beyond this world in the Tree of Emptiness, and wholly abandoned its people.

Karna
You may have become a nigh omnipotent god thanks to that power, able to create and destroy entirely by yourself...

Karna
...but such a god is no god at all.

Karna
You must have known that yourself,
even if you didn't realize it.

Arjuna
What...?

Karna
This Spirit Core informed me all about the last Lōkapāla, a fusion of god and man, more balanced than any other.

Arjuna
Then...you're saying his was the strength of a god in tune with people?

Karna
It sounds like you know whom I mean.

Karna
Now that you understand,
all that remains to say is this:

Karna
While I did not do so using solely my own strength...
I won this time, Arjuna.

Arjuna
G-ghhh... Karna...!

Arjuna
This failure is...unacceptable...
I've never been...so humiliated...

Arjuna
...Humiliated...?

Arjuna
...

Karna
...

Arjuna
Heh... Hehehe...

Arjuna
This frustration at my defeat is the sort of defective, useless, and unnecessary evil I sought to eliminate.

Arjuna
Haha! So what is it doing inside of me!?

Arjuna
Now I see. I was never a complete being to begin with... Of course not. I am too flawed to be a perfect god...

Arjuna
I only sought perfection, greedily, to my own detriment... To the point I no longer realized I was doing so.

Arjuna
You are right, Karna...
It was the dark, greedy Krishna inside me...

Arjuna
The one who consumed even the gods, and tolerated no evil whatsoever... That is who I...

Arjuna
...Now I understand why I lost. My blade of destruction could not be turned on myself.

Arjuna
No matter how many yuga cycles passed, my obsession with you...my evil...would always remain.

Arjuna
It was that obsession that drove me to become a perfect god beyond what was necessary.

Arjuna
So the god I became–the final god, born of evil, who tried to guide his people toward a proper world...

Arjuna
...still harbored a dreadful evil within his soul.

Arjuna
I probably should have tried to destroy that first, before I turned my focus to the world...

Karna
...

Arjuna
Now, that evil I failed to destroy has become my own destruction... So foolish of me...

Karna
All I know is, a being like you could only have come about in a world like this.

Karna
You're one of this Lostbelt's victims, something that could only exist in the Pruning Theoretical Phenomenon.

Arjuna
I don't need your pity.

Karna
Pity? I don't pity you.
I was just thinking what a great shame this is.

Karna
The Arjuna I truly aim to defeat is an ordinary man. He was never given the role of a god, final or otherwise.

Karna
But incomplete as he was, he never stopped seeking completion. I think that is who you were meant to be.

Karna
The world is no different. Once it is truly “complete,” there is nowhere left for it to go.

Karna
And having nowhere left to go...strikes me as woefully incomplete.

Arjuna
Ha... So it's a paradox. I believed I was complete, all while failing to notice the ways in which I was not.

Arjuna
What's more, believing myself complete was itself the seed of further deficiency.

Arjuna
Now I see. I was a walking paradox,
right from the beginning.

Arjuna
I couldn't even be the man...
you wanted me to be...

--ARROW--

Peperoncino
(It's over...
I warned you, Arjuna.)

Peperoncino
(Your way of doing things was only ever going to lead to your own death, and not one you'd be happy with, either.)

Peperoncino
(...It's a real shame, isn't it?)

Peperoncino
(If only that Alter Ego hadn't shown up, you and I might've been able to make something of this Lostbelt after all.)

Peperoncino
Anyway, now it's time to decide what I'm going to do next...

A：???
...

Peperoncino
You're right! I can't turn back now!

Peperoncino
I only washed my hands of this Lostbelt's king,
not the Lostbelt itself.

Peperoncino
Besides, it's not like any of us ever had a real choice anyway, especially with you watching over us. Right, U?

A：???
...
...

Peperoncino
Aww, maybe she didn't like me calling her that.
It's too bad we can't communicate more easily.

Peperoncino
Still...that gave me the push I needed. Time to take responsibility for looking the other way all this time.

Peperoncino
I wonder if you understood what we were really doing here, Fujimaru.

Peperoncino
We didn't give the people of this world weapons and teach them to fight so they could live.

Peperoncino
We just wanted them to survive to use them to defeat Arjuna, with no real concern for what came afterward.

Peperoncino
The only reason we helped these people was so that we could more efficiently erase their god, and eventually, them.

Peperoncino
The Servants may have known enough to keep quiet about it...

Peperoncino
...but I could see how it wore on you and Mashie.

Peperoncino
I'm sure you both wished there was a way these people could all live happily ever after from now on.

Peperoncino
But you both know you don't have any right to say that when you're taking their future away from them.

Peperoncino
That's very responsible of you,
especially when you're both still so young.

Peperoncino
But, unfortunately, none of that matters to me.
I can say it all I want.

Peperoncino
These people aren't livestock reduced to following a god gone wrong. They deserve more than that.

Peperoncino
So as one of the people responsible for helping them take back their lives, I'm coming down on their side now.

Peperoncino
All right...time to take care of this last bit of business.

Peperoncino
Otherwise, how could I show my face to Kadoc, Ophelia, and Akuta?

Mash
Even though they were fighting for the fate of this world...

Mash
...it seemed to me like their battle was intensely personal.

Rama
That's usually what battles between true warriors boil down to.

Lakshmi
I'm grateful to you, Fujimaru.

Lakshmi
I can feel Alakshmi's joy in knowing that Lakshmi's Divinity has been freed.

Lakshmi
All I need to do is return the favor. So, that is the Tree of Emptiness responsible for creating this false world.

Lakshmi
Very well, I will do what you ask. Although...this will be my first time felling a tree instead of fighting a war or rebellion.

Ganesha
It's weird seeing it pulsing and squirming like that. Makes me kind of motion sick to watch...

Goredolf
Even after seeing it in China, I still don't know what to make of it! Me, one of the Clock Tower's most prodigious talents!

Goredolf
Still, however it works, it's clear that thing is what's keeping this Lostbelt in place!

Da Vinci
That's true. Don't hold back now,
Fujimaru. This is just like the other ones.

Da Vinci
I'll try to analyze it as much as I can, but that's not really our priority right now.

Da Vinci
We still have to take back the world we lost...and to do that, that tree's gotta go down!

Meunière
And hey, now that Arjuna's gone, the sacred beasts and kali are vanishing too, so there's no one left to get in your way.

Peperoncino
Well that's mean. What am I, chopped liver?

Peperoncino
Or is it just that you can't imagine that a Master without a Servant could be a threat, Meunie?

Peperoncino
Come to think of it, I never did greet you guys properly, did I? Well, better late than never. Welcome to my Lostbelt.

Peperoncino
It's so nice of you to come all this way, remnants of Chaldea. But now...it's time to say goodbye.

Peperoncino
My name is Scandinavia Peperoncino. On behalf of the Crypters...I'm going to kill you now.

Mash
...!

  1. Pepe...
  2. ...Please stand aside.
  Select: Pepe...

  Select: ...Please stand aside.

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Aww, why do you look so disappointed,
Fujimaru? Were you hoping for someone stronger?

Peperoncino
Well, that's fine with me. It'll make my job easier. I guess this means it was worth traveling with you guys after all.

Peperoncino
But hey, I still kept my end of the bargain, right? We only agreed to work together until Arjuna was defeated.

  1. I can't just move on like that...
 
  Select: I can't just move on like that...

===Branch End===

Mash
Me neither...
Pepe, I don't understand.

Mash
We've been traveling around India together all this time. We've talked about so many things.

Mash
I thought there was no reason for us to fight each other anymore!

Meunière
Yeah! I was just listening in on your conversations most of the time, but you sounded like you were all really getting along!

Meunière
I thought we, you know, had an understanding!

Peperoncino
An understanding? ...That must be because we all happened to feel the same way about this world.

Peperoncino
I sure don't remember discussing anything deeper than that.

  1. Then why do we know your birth name was Myourenji Arou?
 
  Select: Then why do we know your birth name was Myourenji Arou?

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Oh my! Of all the things I wish you'd forgotten,
you just couldn't let that one go, huh!?

Peperoncino
Well, if your memory is that good, you should have no problem remembering what I said and didn't say.

Peperoncino
I do consider you Chaldeans friends now. I really do. And it's true that I don't have any reason to fight you.

Peperoncino
Buuut...did I ever say I was willing to fight for Proper Human History?

Mash
...!

Mash
B-but, I thought you only agreed to help the Foreign God in exchange for your life because you had no other choice.

Peperoncino
Well, you're wrong. All of us are here by choice.

Peperoncino
Make sure you don't ever say that to any of the other Crypters, Mashie. Not unless you want to insult us.

Peperoncino
Yes, we did agree to help the Foreign God in exchange for our lives. But we made that choice willingly, not reluctantly.

Peperoncino
Personally, I thought the Foreign God's conditions were fair, and Kirschtaria's plan was in the right.

Peperoncino
Do you get it now? I chose my own life over the rest of the world.

Peperoncino
That makes me an irredeemable villain.
You guys would call me an enemy of humanity.

Da Vinci
...Yeah, I get it now. You don't hate other people, and you don't hate yourself.

Da Vinci
No, you hate something much bigger than that. You hate human society. You're literally a public enemy.

Peperoncino
Eee☆ Does that make me a terrorist?
Ooh, how glamorous!

Peperoncino
But no, you're wrong there.

Peperoncino
I never hated this Lostbelt,
putting aside how Arjuna ran it.

Peperoncino
You understand, right, Fujimaru? This is the fourth Lostbelt you've seen so far, correct?

Peperoncino
It's peaceful here. There's hope for the future, and love to be had just by being alive. You could live a full life here.

Peperoncino
It's rare for a world to turn out like this, even if the people who live here don't know that.

Peperoncino
In the big picture, it's never been troubled by war or revolt.

Peperoncino
And in the little picture, it's never had to worry about communities growing old and dying off, or a beloved brand going under, or a hot new trend fizzling out.

Peperoncino
The more complicated society gets, the harder it gets to survive in it. It's cruel and unforgiving, and so many things slip through the cracks.

Peperoncino
But this Lostbelt never had anything like that.
Life was simple here. People were happy.

Peperoncino
...That's why it was destroyed. Pruned away.

Peperoncino
History decided this world was too happy, too perfect, and pruned it away for being unnecessary.

Peperoncino
Can you believe that? You people fighting for humanity always say you want peace...

Peperoncino
...but then you go and reject a world like this–a truly peaceful place. It's like you can't conceive of a world not dominated by pain and suffering.

Peperoncino
So I don't ever want to hear you say that Proper Human History is more peaceful than any of these worlds.

Peperoncino
Trust me, your world is a crueler, more disgusting hell than any world you'll find in a Lostbelt.

Mash
...

Peperoncino
So, now do you understand why you and I can never see eye to eye?

Fou
Fou...

Holmes
...You're right. I agree with you.

Holmes
I doubt that any Lostbelt is as awful as the modern world {(M) Mr. /(F) Ms.} Fujimaru hails from.

Holmes
But that's all the more reason for us to be proud of it!

Holmes
Any history daring to call itself Proper Human History should aspire to overcome all manner of hells!

Holmes
If anything, this journey has only made me more certain that mankind has chosen the most difficult route possible.

Holmes
{(M) Mr. /(F) Ms.} Fujimaru has spent {(M) his /(F) her} whole life on the forefront of that route. If {(M) he /(F) she} wishes to continue down this path, we will be there with {(M) him /(F) her} every step of the way!

  1. Holmes...!
  2. Thank you...!
  Select: Holmes...!

  Select: Thank you...!

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
Ooh, I knew you'd say something like that, Holmsie!
I do love that side of you!

Peperoncino
Anyway, I think that's enough talking.
Ready to go, Karnie?

Peperoncino
I'm impressed how long you've been holding out,
but you must be at your limit by now, no?

Ganesha
Huh? Why're you bringing Karna into this now?
He's not double-crossing us, is he?

Ganesha
No way, what am I even saying? The odds of Karna doing that are down there with the idea of a game series having a hundred sequels!

Karna
...I'm sorry. I'm afraid...I may end up betraying you after all, Ganesha.

Ganesha
No way!

Karna
...Let me ask you something, Rama.
How are you feeling now?

Rama
Me? Now that you mention it, I feel great.

Rama
Krishna's curse must have been lifted when Arjuna vanished.

Karna
Good. Then I can return your sword of evil's bane. Thank you for lending it to me. It was a great help.

Karna
Now then... Master, there is something I need to tell you.

  1. What is it?
 
  Select: What is it?

===Branch End===

Karna
I used the last of my strength during my battle with Arjuna.

Karna
In fact, my Spirit Origin is already gone.
I'm only here right now by sheer force of will.

Meunière
Really!? Holy shit, he's right! Karna's magical energy signal is gone! He really is just there by force of will!

Ganesha
!

Karna
...That is what I meant by betraying you.
All that remains now is what was here to begin with.

Karna
...I feel like I should return it now.
Especially as that's what he wants.

  1. Huh?
 
  Select: Huh?

===Branch End===

Ganesha
...Now I gotcha. So that's how it is, huh?
Haha, that's just like you, Karna.

Karna
...Do you want it?

Peperoncino
You bet I do, hon. Besides, I figured this would happen. Why do you think I stood back and didn't say anything?

Peperoncino
In spite of everything, I still can't bring myself to abandon them. I couldn't even if I wanted to.

Peperoncino
...I like them too much.

Karna
I see. Then it's yours.
Though I suppose it was always yours to begin with.

Karna
I'm told I'm the Hero of Benefaction, after all,
so I would feel wrong about holding onto it.

Peperoncino
Suit yourself, hon. Just don't expect a thank-you.
Although, are you sure you're okay with this?

Karna
I am.
...I have faith in my Master.

Ganesha
Man... I can't believe you're still doing the right thing here, Karna. Geez, get a clue, will you?

Karna
I'm sorry.

Ganesha
And stop apologizing so much. Then again,
you wouldn't be you otherwise, would you?

Ganesha
Anyway, since it looks like we're saying goodbye and all, I just want you to know.

Ganesha
Once this is all over, I plan on going right back to my old carefree shut-in self, so don't you worry about me.

Karna
This is a rare opportunity. As you're now a god, I suggest getting out there and seeing a little more of the world.

Karna
Besides, you've just finished being shut away for countless years. The outside world should seem even newer to you now.

Ganesha
Aww.

Karna
Besides...
This may be goodbye, but we don't know for how long.

Karna
As long as you wear that Ganesha hat, I have a feeling that I will have another chance to fight by your side.

Ganesha
Hey, don't say that! Coming from you,
it sounds like it'll actually happen!

Ganesha
I've had more than enough fighting to last me my whole life, thank you very much!

Ganesha
(Still... Considering how the best I could do before was cower in fear behind him...)

Ganesha
(...getting to fight by Karna's side is definitely something new...)

Ganesha
...Well, see you around.

Karna
And you.

Holmes
So he's disappearing?
...No, it would seem not.

Mash
No, he isn't. I can tell what's about to happen...

Aśvatthāman
...Tch, he gave my gift right back to me, huh?
Pisses me the hell off.

Peperoncino
You wanted more?

Aśvatthāman
Nah, I'm just angry. Same as usual.

Aśvatthāman
I know what's going on here.
I could see it happening while I was inside him.

Aśvatthāman
Looks like it's time to keep my promise,
and get angry on your behalf. Am I right?

Peperoncino
That'd be grand. Would you mind?

Aśvatthāman
Ha? The hell you mean, would I mind? Don't ask me, order me, dammit! You're my Master, aren't you?

Peperoncino
...Well then, don't mind if I do,
my angry little Servant.

Rama
Good grief. Just when I think it's over, we have to go up against yet another formidable hero.

Rama
Then again, if this is a new chapter in the chronicles of the King of Kosala, I could ask for nothing more!

Rama
In fact, I'm grateful you've given me this last chance to show off what I can truly do!

Ganesha
Aw man, my joints are still really stiff... And I really don't like going up against these Shiva types.

Ganesha
But, I'm pretty sure the whole reason Ganesha came here in the first place was to do something about that tree. There's no way I can back out of this one!

Lakshmi
It doesn't matter who stands in our way. I will see this through to the end. It's the least I can do for my comrade in arms who brought us here.

Nemo
...

Peperoncino
Ooh, you're all so fired up now! I love it!

Peperoncino
That just leaves you and Mashie, Fujimaru.

Peperoncino
You're the Master who's the key to this whole operation, right? So what are you hanging your head for?

Peperoncino
You've fought hard and bravely to get this far, right? And not just here in India, but everywhere you've been.

Peperoncino
So now's the time to take responsibility for making it all this way. I want you to thrill me one last time, just like you've been doing all along.

Mash
...Pepe...

Mash
If this is about responsibility...
If our only choice now is to do what must be done...

Mash
Then we're not going to back down either. We can't.
Not after coming this far!

Mash
Awaiting your orders, Master!

Mash
Our goal is to defeat the enemy Crypter and Aśvatthāman... and to cut down the Tree of Emptiness!

  1. ...Let's do it!
 
  Select: ...Let's do it!

===Branch End===

--BATTLE--

Holmes
...Well done. You've managed to fell the tree.
I can see its magical energy signal fading rapidly.

Peperoncino
Looks like there's only one thing left to do... It might be too little too late, but if I use my Sirius Light–

Aśvatthāman
Don't bother. You know just as well as I do.

Aśvatthāman
This anger's only a runway. It's meant to help you get back up to speed so you can keep on going.

Aśvatthāman
This isn't the destination by a long shot.
So it's okay. Don't sweat it.

Peperoncino
...I guess our teamwork just wasn't up to snuff.

Peperoncino
Maybe things would've been different if we'd kept our contract this whole time. I'm sorry, Aśvatthāman.

Aśvatthāman
You think? It pisses me off, but I felt like I got to raise more hell out there than I thought I would. Seems to me like we were a pretty good match.

Aśvatthāman
...Sorry I couldn't win this one for you.
Believe me, I'm pissed off about it too.

Peperoncino
Hey, I'm still alive. That's good enough for me.

Aśvatthāman
Ha. So you decide for yourself whether you've won or lost, huh? You really are a clever Master.

Aśvatthāman
...See ya.

Peperoncino
...Goodbye, my awkward Servant.

Peperoncino
What were you doing? I'm pretty sure we could have won if you'd helped us out.

Limbo
...Khh! Gah...!
Phew...

Limbo
Yes, yes, I had every intention of assisting, truly I did.

Limbo
But I'm afraid I ran into some entirely unexpected trouble of my own...

Limbo
...Now then...

Limbo
Let's get this over with, shall we?

Limbo
Now that everyone's gaze is rooted to the god high in the sky, it's time I introduced myself properly.

Limbo
Indeed, how could they not be in awe at the god of a Lostbelt? Mmm, truly, they cannot help it.

Limbo
Just as I cannot help it if I take advantage of this moment...

Limbo
...to pluck the Master of Chaldea's heart clean out of {(M) his /(F) her} chest.

???
Hey.

Limbo
Yes?

Limbo
MmmmmraaAAAHHH! What is this!?

Asclepius
Just as I thought.

Asclepius
I hate not being able to go into specifics,
but damn if my head doesn't feel much clearer now.

Asclepius
Good thing I realized in my final moments that I might've caught some bug I wasn't aware of. All that was needed to cure it was my death.

Limbo
...Aha. So you made one of your resurrection tonics.

Asclepius
You think I could make that as a Servant? Hardly. Maybe if there was a gorgon around here, but short of that...no.

Asclepius
No, the best I can manage now is a slow-acting mimetic. But I can still make sure it at least works well for me.

Asclepius
As the saying goes: physician, heal thyself.

Limbo
So, you used your own death to restore yourself to your original state...

Limbo
I'm impressed you figured out a way to escape from Arjuna's divine control!

Limbo
That, however, does not explain why you're getting in my way now, Asclepius.

Asclepius
Why else? As soon as I came to my senses, I knew exactly where to find the malignant tumor eating away at this world, and I also knew I could never live with myself if I didn't excise it.

Asclepius
Once I surgically remove you from this world,
my work as a doctor will be done.

Peperoncino
Hm? Ahahaha, I didn't even realize how beat up you were! That's hilarious!

Limbo
Hehehe, I doubt THIS Spirit Origin I'm using here will last much longer! And it seems a great deal of time has passed as well...

Limbo
Enough for the tree bestowed upon this world to be destroyed. Ah, what a shame! Ah, what a pity!

Limbo
Still...there is always next time. Mmmhehehehehehe.

Peperoncino
I knew it. That body is just a shikigami–a shadow of yourself–isn't it? I wonder where the real you might be?

Peperoncino
Well, I won't worry about that for now. Besides, we both still answer to the same leader, don't we?

Limbo
Indeed we do. As long as we still share the same goal, of course. Hehehe...!

Peperoncino
(...Indeed. I heard you say this Lostbelt would get to its end goal quicker this way, Limbo...)

Peperoncino
(You knew this Lostbelt was doomed, didn't you?)

Peperoncino
(But instead of trying to prevent its destruction, you tried to hurry it along... There's more to the Disciples' goals than you're letting on, isn't there?)

Peperoncino
Hey, Koyanskaya? Think we can cut a deal here?

Koyanskaya
But of course. I presume you'd like a one-way trip to the Greek Lostbelt then?

  1. Koyanskaya!?
  2. Peperoncino!
  Select: Koyanskaya!?
Koyanskaya
Why yes. Where there's demand, so too will there be supply. That's just as true in neighboring towns as it is in neighboring nations.
Koyanskaya
Whether it's a late-night bus or a brand-new space shuttle, Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya at NFF Services is here to provide♡

  Select: Peperoncino!
Mash
No! Pepe, wait!

===Branch End===

Peperoncino
I swear, Daybit never misses a beat.

Peperoncino
I still can't believe he came all this way just to teach me how to call on you.

Koyanskaya
Well, if it's a trip between Lostbelts you're looking for, just sit back and let me handle everything. We can discuss what I am sure will be a most generous compensation later.

Koyanskaya
Do be advised, this is a one-time only tour package, complete with a...special payment plan.

Peperoncino
Yes, yes, I'm aware.
I knew I was making a deal with the devil.

Peperoncino
...Mash. Fujimaru.
I really enjoyed our time together here. I mean it.

Peperoncino
But at the same time...I can't turn my back on the other Crypters either. Just how it is!

Peperoncino
So, what can you do? I say we just blame it all on the world and our unlucky lots in life and leave it at that.

Peperoncino
I resigned myself to it a long time ago.
Since birth, honestly.

Peperoncino
Anyway, with any luck, maybe I'll see you again someday! Adieu!

Goredolf
Tch, he got away.

Da Vinci
That's just how it goes sometimes. Frankly, after all the nonstop fighting we've been doing, I'm just amazed we managed to take out the tree.

Da Vinci
I think Fujimaruand the others deserve a big round of commendations from you, Commander.

Goredolf
Hmm... Yes, I suppose you're right...

Da Vinci
Hehe, and speaking of commendations,
I almost forgot to give some myself.

Da Vinci
We couldn't have made it to God's Skyboulder or freed Ganesha and Lakshmi without you, Gordy. You really came through.

Da Vinci
Why don't you let me handle the driving from here,
and get yourself some well deserved rest?

Goredolf
You don't have to tell me! This may not be my most glamorous move as commander-in-chief, but I'm leaving the rest of this mission in your hands!

Goredolf
I'll deal with the aftermath later! Right now, my stress and exhaustion are both at their pe–arrrgh.

Meunière
Damn, he just went out like a light the moment he sat down.

Meunière
Lucky guy. Maybe I should head to the break room for a nap too.

Da Vinci
Go for it! Captain and I can take it from...
Huh? Where'd he go?

Da Vinci
Oh, right, he must've gone to say his goodbyes to her.
Well, I can't blame him for that.

Da Vinci
Meunière, go ahead and tell the rest of the staff we're officially off high alert.

Da Vinci
And make sure to let them know they've all been doing a great job, too!

Lakshmi
Now that my task is fulfilled, it seems this world is sending me back where I came from. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you...

  1. You mean about your secret identity?Haven't thought twice about it.
 
  Select: You mean about your secret identity?Haven't thought twice about it.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
I appreciate that... But it doesn't change the fact that I made a mistake in not trusting you.

Lakshmi
I hope I'll have a chance to repay this debt I owe you someday...though I doubt you'll ever need a Servant like me.

  1. I'd love to have you on our team.
 
  Select: I'd love to have you on our team.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
You really don't hesitate with that sort of thing, do you...?

Nemo
...I've already given you a ticket.
You're free to board my ship at any time.

Lakshmi
Thank you. I suppose fighting to take back the world is a form of rebellion in its own right, isn't it?

Lakshmi
If I get the chance to ride your ship again someday, I expect I should have no trouble succeeding in whatever my next rebellion may be.

Lakshmi
Farewell, old comrade.

Nemo
...Bye.

Rama
Why couch your wishes in so many hypotheticals? No need to hold back. You can and should join us again.

Rama
Let me be absolutely clear: you were not nearly as powerless or as troublesome as you think.

Rama
You may harbor the goddess of misfortune, but the worst I saw from you amounted to no more than an amusing bit of clumsiness. And that, heh, I consider to be good fortune.

Rama
I think you must have been controlling your bad luck unconsciously, more than you realized.

Rama
You are a great warrior, and a queen who protected her people admirably. Be proud and hold your head high, Lakshmi Bai.

Rama
Or would you prefer I call you Sister-in-Law,
in honor of Alakshmi's power?

Lakshmi
No thank you. I've had quite enough excitement for one rebellion.

Lakshmi
...See you around, King of Kosala.

Lakshmi
It has been an honor to fight alongside the heroes of my childhood bedtime stories.

Lakshmi
I suppose I would even say...it was fortunate.

Lakshmi
Though I am the avatar of misfortune,
it seems good things may still come my way.

Lakshmi
So I'm certain it's possible that you will one day be reunited with the one you love as well. I pray that day comes. Farewell.

Lakshmi
...Lastly, there is something I need to say to you, Fujimaru.

Lakshmi
Now that I'm about to meet my end in this place...

Lakshmi
...I need you to answer the question I've been putting off until now.

Lakshmi
Was there meaning in us fighting alongside the people of this world against its god?

  1. ...You mean, because they're going to disappear now?
 
  Select: ...You mean, because they're going to disappear now?

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
Yes. I already know my own answer to that question.

Lakshmi
Peperoncino knew that our urging them to fight would ultimately lead to their destruction.

Lakshmi
So I can't accept that they're simply going to disappear now that this battle is over.

Lakshmi
Nor do I condone everything we did to reach this point, my own actions included.

Lakshmi
In that sense...I may even hate you for leading them to this fate.

  1. ...!
 
  Select: ...!

===Branch End===

Mash
...

Lakshmi
...However. However!

Lakshmi
I may not accept this fate,
but that doesn't mean I've lost hope!

Mash
Lakshmi...?

Lakshmi
I refuse to let things end like this.
I refuse to let this be their ending!

Lakshmi
I was born in this land. I grew up believing in reincarnation.

Lakshmi
And so I have no problem rejecting this resolution.

Lakshmi
Who cares if they go back to the Pruning Theoretical Phenomenon? Who cares if the Felling Theoretical Phenomenon is resolved? All I know for certain...is that these people's lives aren't going to end here.

Lakshmi
There's bound to be a next time for them. There's bound to be! I just know a proper reincarnation is waiting to save all of them!

Lakshmi
They'll all be reborn in accordance with their karma, and go on to be even better people in the future.

Lakshmi
That's how the world works.
That's the natural state of things.

Lakshmi
Others may think it sounds like some sort of fairy tale, but I–we, truly believe that all life always has another chance...

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
...I'm sorry. No need to look so sad.
I'm not saying you need to believe this as well.

Lakshmi
I'm only saying that this is what I wish to believe.

Lakshmi
Come to think of it...you've already ended three other worlds in this manner, haven't you? The sheer weight of that responsibility is only just sinking in.

Lakshmi
If you continue down this path, you'll be choosing to make yourselves out to be the villains in the eyes of every other world out there.

  1. ...I know.
 
  Select: ...I know.

===Branch End===

Lakshmi
I'm impressed. Not many would have the strength of will to do something like that. For that, you have my respect.

Lakshmi
...Farewell, my comrade in arms. And good luck.

Ganesha
My work here is done too. Though I think I'll hold off on going back to being a shut-in, at least for a bit.

  1. Why's that?
  2. Because of what Karna said?
  Select: Why's that?
Ganesha
Hehe. Well, Karna pretty much told me to, right?

  Select: Because of what Karna said?
Ganesha
Yuppers. Pretty much.

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Besides, my real self might be a hopeless NEET,
but right now, for whatever reason, I'm a god.

Ganesha
How can I put this... It kind of feels like I'm riding the safest car in the whole world?

Ganesha
And since that kinda chance doesn't come 'round every day, I thought I'd hold off on shutting myself back in and see what else is out here.

Mash
I've never seen anyone treat being a god like owning a vehicle before...

Ganesha
And that's not all. You know how there's not a single god left in this world now, right?

Ganesha
I'm guessing that's new for this place.

Ganesha
So now, for the first time ever, these people are gonna have to learn to live in a world without any gods in it.

Ganesha
They don't have to pray in hopes it'll save them from being murdered by beasts, but they also won't have paradise coming around every ten days to look forward to.

Ganesha
They've only ever known a world where their god was trying to lead them towards “perfection”...so I think all this new freedom might be a lot for them to deal with.

Ganesha
I mean this whole brand of freedom has a lot of dangers they're not used to, y'know?

Ganesha
It's like suddenly telling a NEET they're free to do whatever they want and throwing them out on the street.

Ganesha
There's no right or wrong way for these people to live anymore. Now, they just have to figure out how to exist as best they can.

Ganesha
So as the last god remaining, I feel like it's up to me to keep an eye on them.

Mash
But...this world isn't going to...

Ganesha
Yeah, I know. Sometimes, there's just nothing you can do. Hmm, what's a good example... Oh, I know.

Ganesha
It's like if your favorite manga café is closing for good, and you just want to wander around it on its last day of business and enjoy it while it lasts.

Ganesha
Sometimes you come across a shelf with a series you never noticed, and others, you might be browsing books you've read dozens of times.

Ganesha
It might not change anything in the end, but I think there's still meaning to be found in just being there.

  1. ...Yeah. I'm sure there is.
 
  Select: ...Yeah. I'm sure there is.

===Branch End===

Mash
A manga café, huh.
I've only heard stories about them...

Ganesha
Whoa, really? You mean you've never been to one? I can't believe it... Other than convenience stores, they're one of the few other paradises outside my home I can visit...

Ganesha
Well hey, you know what they're like, right,
Fujimaru? Why don't you tell Mash about them sometime? Or even better, you could build one in your base!

  1. I'll get right on that.
  2. I'll see what we can do.
  Select: I'll get right on that.

  Select: I'll see what we can do.

===Branch End===

Ganesha
Just what I like to hear. Welp, that's all I've got to say, so I guess I'll be going then. And hey, congrats on a job well done!

Mash
H-her statue can...move around on its own.
I...had no idea...

Da Vinci
All right, so: You remember the other reason we came to this Lostbelt, right?

Nemo
...As clearly as a blue-ringed octopus.

Nemo
I need to perform the Aronnax Phantasm's activation ritual, and only in a particular area in India.

Nemo
Luckily, I already synced up with the Border earlier,
so we're pretty much halfway there.

Holmes
Well, that is most encouraging.

Holmes
Once that is complete, we will then finally be able to reach a certain Lostbelt protected by especially tempestuous seas.

Holmes
While I do look forward to that future expedition, there is no need to rush. I would say we have more than earned ourselves a little break before we begin making our way towards Captain Nemo's coordinates.

Mash
...Um, if we're taking a break anyway...could I make a request?

Mash
There's somewhere I'd like to stop on the way.

  1. ...
 
  Select: ...

===Branch End===

Mash
I know there's no point in going there.

Mash
But...I also feel like we should.
I think...we're obligated to...

Da Vinci
Oh my, what's this? Gordy's supposed to decide where we go next, but he's off snoozing it up.

Da Vinci
Oh well, guess that means no one is going to gripe about it...

Da Vinci
...if a certain beautiful genius who's taken back the wheel decides in his place, will they?

Section 20: A World Where the Cycle ■■s

Show/Hide Story Chapter

Asclepius
...Well this is disappointing.
My doctor's intuition is telling me quite clearly...

Asclepius
I may have succeeded at removing that cancerous Alter Ego from this world, but he was only a symptom. I wasn't able to eradicate the source.

Asclepius
Dammit. Even if I did only just wake up, that's no excuse for me to fail a simple operation.

Asclepius
It's still not enough. I need more techniques. More knowledge. No, not just me... If medical science is to advance, mankind will need more, too.

Asclepius
I don't have time to rest.
I must return to my research... My training...

Asclepius
Well, it seems the other source of this world's infection–that giant tree–has been excised as well. If so, maybe that'll do...

Asclepius
No. No, it's not enough. There's nothing more dangerous than amateurish medical treatment.

Asclepius
No layperson should ever attempt an operation under anything but the most dire circumstances. The sooner foolish patients die, the sooner they can help medical science advance.

Asclepius
...Hm? That sounds like someone crying.
...And they're coming this way.

Boy
Waaaah! (Hic) Waaaaaah!

Boy
(Sniff) Wh-what do I do?
I don't know which is the right kind...

Asclepius
What's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you in pain?
Are you itchy? Answer my questions accurately.

Boy
Aah! ...Wh-who're you?

Asclepius
It doesn't matter who I am. If you're neither sick nor injured, and have no need for a doctor, then go away.

Asclepius
I'd offer to go away myself, but I'm afraid my own legs can't take another step.

Boy
Y-you're a doctor!?
P-please, you've gotta help my mom! She's sick!

Boy
She won't stop coughing no matter what we do!
I don't want her to die!

Boy
I heard the herbs around here could help her,
but I don't know which one to pick...!

Asclepius
Calm down. So the patient's your mother, is it? How frequently does she cough? Does she cough up blood? What color is the phlegm? Tell me everything.

Asclepius
Hmph, what a waste of time. This diagnosis won't do a thing to help advance medical science.

Boy
...

Asclepius
I don't even need to go treat her myself.
You handle this.

Asclepius
Take this and have her swallow it. It'll put her to sleep, but that's normal. Don't worry about it.

Asclepius
Wait until morning, and if she's still coughing,
give her this pill as well. That's all.

Boy
R-really!? Th-thanks, Mr. Doctor! Thank you so much!

Asclepius
...His mother, huh.

Inner Monologue
For some reason, I suddenly remembered when someone asked me why I cared so much about advancing medicine.

Inner Monologue
What is it that drives me to pursue it to the exclusion of everything else?

Inner Monologue
(Hell if I know.
I forgot that sort of thing a long time ago.)

Inner Monologue
Still...there is one thing I know I want.

Inner Monologue
Humans... Mankind... Carry on my work.
Travel the path that others have blazed.

Inner Monologue
There is no need to fear failure.

Inner Monologue
Casting aside excellence may be foolish,
but it is no less so to cast failure aside.

Inner Monologue
For anything that continues to evolve will always be defective when compared to the future.

Inner Monologue
If human medicine can reach the same heights I did, and continue on even further, they will no longer have anything to fear from the gods.

Inner Monologue
I once managed to conquer death...
Will mankind ever do the same?

Inner Monologue
Yes. I'm sure they will.
As long as no foolish gods try to get in their way.

Inner Monologue
How I loathe such gods, none more so than Apollo,
who impregnated a human woman, only to let her die.

Inner Monologue
If human medicine can ever truly surpass death...

Inner Monologue
If it advances to a point where they can bring back the dead, and no one ever has to die again...

Inner Monologue
...then someone else will tell her in my place.

Inner Monologue
...I forgot what it was I wanted to tell her,
but it's probably a trifling matter.

Inner Monologue
Some day...the mother I never got to touch,
or even to lay eyes on...

Inner Monologue
The mother who was killed by a foolish, detestable god, and reduced to ash by the time I was born...

Inner Monologue
...will know how I feel...

--ARROW--

Asha
This is so strange, isn't it, Auntie? The Kali Yuga is over, but nothing happened. I'm shocked!

Asha
The giant tree and God's Skyboulder are gone, too...

Aunt
That's true, it's so strange. But we haven't seen any kali, either. Maybe this change is for the better?

Asha
Hm? There's something outside the window...
I'm gonna go take a look.

Aunt
Okay, but be careful, all right? It's dark outside now, so I don't want you going off too far.

Asha
I won't!

Asha
Oh wow, it's the travelers! What a surprise!

Asha
What's up? It feels like it's been forever since I saw you...

Mash
Well, um... We...came to say goodbye.

Mash
And...to tell you what's going on.

  1. This world's god is gone now.
  2. There's no more reincarnation cycle anymore.
  Select: This world's god is gone now.

  Select: There's no more reincarnation cycle anymore.

===Branch End===

Asha
...What do you mean?

Mash
Up until now...a god was putting this world through an endless cycle of reincarnation.

Mash
...Those reincarnations were...wrong.
They never should have happened.

Mash
...Do you want to know what took place in them?

Mash
Do you want to know what you forgot...?

Mash
If you do...you should know it's going to be painful.
Maybe you're not even meant to know about it.

Mash
But, even so I–we feel like we're supposed to tell you...

Asha
Oh... Yeah. That makes sense.

Asha
I knew I'd forgotten something.
I could tell something wasn't right.

Asha
Please tell me, {(M) mister /(F) miss}.

Asha
I wanna know what I forgot...
and what I lost...

Mash
...

Asha
Father...

Asha
So I did have a father...

Mash
...

Asha
...Know what? I'm not surprised.

Asha
Even when I'm talking to my auntie and uncle at home,
or when I go outside to play...

Asha
...I wanted to call out for someone, but I couldn't,
and it felt like something was missing...

Asha
I was wondering why I felt like that.
Now it all makes sense...

Mash
W-wait! Please don't get the wrong idea!
This wasn't okay!

Mash
Your father...Ajai wasn't defective or evil in any way!

Mash
He could be overly blunt, and he was kind of awkward...but he had an inner strength that kept him going no matter what things were like around him...

Mash
He loved his family, and he fought bravely to protect them...

Mash
And...

Asha
Thanks, miss!
It's hard for me to imagine, but I think I get it.

Mash
I'm sorry. I wish I had more than words to convey what he was like...

Mash
I did the best I could, but I'm still not sure if this means anything to you...

Asha
...

Asha
Hey, are there proper reincarnations?

Mash
...Huh?

Asha
You said this world went through wrong reincarnations before, right? So I was just thinking, if there're wrong ones, maybe there're proper ones too...

Asha
O-oh no, did I surprise you?
Did I say something weird? I'm sorry.

  1. Not at all. I think...there must be proper reincarnations too.
  2. Not at all. I don't know...but I'd like to believe in proper reincarnations too.
  Select: Not at all. I think...there must be proper reincarnations too.

  Select: Not at all. I don't know...but I'd like to believe in proper reincarnations too.

===Branch End===

Asha
Hehe. Yeah, I think so too.

Asha
So...if my father went away in a wrong reincarnation...

Asha
...do you think maybe I'll get to see him again when there's a proper one?

Asha
...I hope I can...

Mash
...

Mash
Y-yeah... I'm sure...you can...

  1. (Mash...)
 
  Select: (Mash...)

===Branch End===

Asha
Thank you both for telling me all this!

Asha
Well, I should get back home, before my auntie and uncle start to worry about me... Oh, you guys are all leaving on another journey now, right?

Asha
I'm gonna miss you guys, but I hope you have fun! Come see me again sometime, okay!

  1. ...That's enough, Mash.
 
  Select: ...That's enough, Mash.

===Branch End===

Mash
...

Mash
I'm sorry, Senpai.
I know this was incredibly selfish of me...

Mash
But, I just felt like I had to tell her...

Mash
Maybe...I'm just trying to make myself feel better...

  1. ...Maybe. But that's okay.
  2. ...No, I think you were right to tell her.
  Select: ...Maybe. But that's okay.

  Select: ...No, I think you were right to tell her.

===Branch End===

Da Vinci
...

Holmes
...If you ask me, I think it's still too soon to come to conclusions.

Holmes
My job is to tell the truth, and the truth is,
we are doing what we must to save the world.

Holmes
That is a fact, and one we must not forget.
We must not resent it for purely personal reasons.

Holmes
Mash, everything you've experienced up to this point, good and bad alike, has helped shape who you are.

Holmes
Similarly, do keep in mind that everything we've done here is necessary for what we're trying to accomplish.

Holmes
...At least for now, of course.

Holmes
Time will tell whether the actions we took were the right ones or not.

Holmes
Though I can't yet say if that answer will be revealed to us...or to others who will pass judgment on us.

Holmes
Regardless, once we are done, the people judging our actions will be those of Proper Human History...and that is how it should be.

Mash
...Yes. You're right.

Mash
I learned in Russia, Scandinavia, and China...that we would have to fight other worlds' futures in order to take back our own.

Mash
That we would have to make difficult choices,
but we can't let them hold us back.

Fou
Fou...

Mash
I'm okay now, Fou. I feel calmer now.

Mash
I have to apologize to you too, Master.
I'm all right now.

Mash
Now come on! Let's head to where we need to go and get that part activated!

Mash
Oh, look at that, Master. The starry sky is so beautiful here! I think this'll be the perfect night for a drive.

Inner Monologue
...Good night.
My blanket is nice and warm. It still smells of sunlight after being hung up to dry.
My tummy is nice and full,
thanks to the yummy meal Auntie made.
When I open my eyes, I can see the beautiful earrings Auntie and Uncle gave me for my birth anniversary lying on my nightstand.

I'm so happy right now. So happy.
Although...maybe I don't deserve to be.
I remember the nice travelers...and what they told me...
...and it makes my chest go tight.

I remember how sad and lonely I felt on my birth anniversary...when it felt like someone was missing.
Now I know there was supposed to be someone named ■■■■ there.
If ■■■■ had been there, would my birth anniversary have been more fun? If ■■■■ was here now, would I be even happier?

Huh...? What was his name again?
Who was I thinking about?
I know they told me about him, but I already forgot. Even though I really cared, and wanted him to be there...
Oh, right. I prayed about this before I went to bed.
I'm sure I can still remember that.

That nice {(M) man /(F) lady} said that there could be proper reincarnations from now on.
So, I'll pray that, in the next reincarnation...or the one after that, or even the one after that...
...■■■■ will come back to me.

Asha
(Sniffle)
H-huh?

Inner Monologue
That's weird. All of a sudden, I can't stop crying.
I don't understand.
It feels like someone I was close to used to scold me whenever I cried before, so there's no point in crying now. I don't need these tears anymore.
But, no matter how hard I pray for our god to take my useless tears away, they still keep coming.

I only just remembered that the nice {(M) man /(F) lady} also told me...
...that god isn't here anymore either.
Now what do I do?

Does this mean nobody will hear my bedtime prayers?
Does this mean they'll never come true?
That thought makes me even sadder,
and now my tears are coming even faster...

If god really is gone now...
...then who's going to get rid of these tears I don't need?
If god isn't here anymore...who am I supposed to pray to from now on?

...However, prayers are heard simply by virtue of being prayers.
And not by a proper reincarnation cycle...

Asha
Fa...ther...

...but by the transient dreams of a young girl crying herself to sleep.