Part 37: Dawn Arc - Sunset

Sunset


Return to the Zero Dark

She won't even hesitate for a moment before rushing in. Her attacks are more like a raging fire than a strike. her force alone is comparable to me when I was on Earth. ...It irritates me to admit this, but she truly is the Servant of Hakunon. She's proven worthy to call herself the Sovereign of SE.RA.PH. It seems you're already near the core. Am I...going to make it? ...This is a race against time, I see. She'll win if she takes down the core. As long as Archimedes is on her side, hacking the core will be easy once he gets to the cavern. ...But that's not a given. I won't let you save this world from me.



Please leave it to me, my Lord. I'll hack through at once.

Hmph. It seems they've arrived at the throne room. They're planning to steal your Master.

...I see. How long will it take to breach the cavern?

Not long. They have a Regalia as well as an engineer.

Then... I'll reconquer our old territory immediately and head for the throne.



Oh, they've confined us? They used a shield to seal off this sector. They're tied to the Aggressors. If you crush them all, the shields will disappear.

But before that, have a nice little detail.



This is what it looks like if you go back to My Room during this stage. It's a nice little detail. It is a bit curious to know why Giant Altera did just a total 180 last time. Well, maybe not a 180. More like a 90. Anyway, we should probably hurry up...


Dawn Arc Stage 7

So this stage is unique, for a few reasons. Like the first two stages of Dawn Arc, it's really small, and it's one of the very few stages in the game without enemy invasions. But, not to spoil too much, but this stage is timed after you finish the first Sector and move on to the second. Unlike the last stage, the time limit is quite tight, so you can't slack off. Third...well, you'll see.

Oh yeah, and still no Code Casts, as Hakuno is still...indisposed, at the moment.



In six minutes, they'll breach the cavern. We haven't lost yet, Altera.



The fragment of Nero's armies that we're fighting are going all out against us, and this is just the first wave for four. Lots of Aggressors here , and two of them with hammers. Don't hold back now.



Another fun wave. Note that you can't skip this, as the objective of the stage is still to complete the Regime Matrix, which necessitates you control every Sector. This one can be really tricky, as you might imagine, since all of these enemies can stagger you and hit you decent ranges. My advice would be to focus on the hammer dudes first, since they're easier to bring down, then catch the floating ones with EMs as much as possible.

Oh, and there's archer dudes hidden in the crowd, just to make it a little funner. Take these guys out tout de suite, because getting staggered at the wrong time means you could take a ton of damage.



Yeah, and this one is even worse. Gilgamesh's suggestion is not a bad one, and you don't *need* that firepower against the inevitable fight against Nero. So while there are two Phantasm Circuits here to be able to launch your NP, I considered it more interesting to fight this one legit.

It's a rough one, just for how many of these guys there are. Play this one careful and cool, or just nuke everyone. Your choice.



Final Sector is much easier combat-wise, but because of the somewhat-maze like nature of the area, it can sometimes be hard to tell how you get at an Aggressor. All the same, it's fairly small, so you shouldn't have trouble worming your way around to taking out everything. Just make sure to do everything decently quickly, after all. I ended with 1:37 on the clock.



...I will. I must. If not, then what was the point...?!



There's also a full health / EM restore item right next to the portal, to top yourself off if necessary.


Thrice-setting Sun

...I can't even call this a "cavern" anymore. The main body finally went into isolation mode. Or could it be...?



No response. Our connection isn't even working. The main body's disabled... Archimedes probably hacked into it when she went into isolation mode.





...Are you okay? Stay there. I'll have everything taken care of shortly. Show yourself. I've already sensed your presence.



Forgive my impertinent entrance, but if I had shown myself, you would have attacked me without a word. Which would have defeated the purpose of coming here. Even if we must fight, I have questions first.

...What questions? Have you come to lecture me on the truth of good and evil?

...Hmph. Who do you think I am? I care nothing for that. in fact, it bores me.

It bores you...? What?

I would never presume to judge your personal interests. If you happen to enjoy destruction, well, some people do. All I can do is accept that. Whether your interests happen to be "good" or "evil" depends entirely on where one stands, I believe. If you were one of MY subordinates, I would treasure that destructive nature of yours. To be honest, I would love for us to fight side by side. But sadly, here we are, forced to let our swords speak for us. Before that, and regardless of the Umbral Star or any such thing - I would learn the secrets of your soul. The three Heroic Spirits who defend the Zero Dark, the Holy Maiden, and those two immensely troublesome Kings...

Did they pledge their alligiance to the Umbral Star? No, Altera, they most certainly did not. They pledged to you. They stood by your side because of who you are. Not because you were the strongest, or because they expected you to win. Those three only respect the power of one's heart, the courage of one's convictions.

What are you saying...? They lost ot me, so now they serve me. It's a simple question of force. Why bother asking?

Hah! You fail to understand even yourself, Altera! Humans do not simply kneel before power. ...Well, some do, but aside from those! The Great King of Conquerors, Iskandar. The Holy Maiden, Jeanne...something. And that golden man with such horrible taste! Those three Heroes would never give in to mere strength. They did not choose to obey the Umbral Star. Altera... They felt something in you as Heroic Spirits. And I feel it in you as well. That is what I wished to say before this duel. I have not come to fight you because of whom you serve...



Rocket boots, confirmed. Also, I've always loved how Nero loves her own flamboyancy, but when it comes to someone as gaudy as Gilgamesh, she just can't stand the man.

...but because you are an excellent Servant, a Heroic Spirit worthy of a fight to the death... Let our swords ring out as equals, both of us blessed with the same Master!

Same... I, the same as you...? No... "Blessed with the same Master"... You would not disparage me for being a temporary contractor, or for poaching your Master from you?

My Praetor's charms are certainly attractive, but never once have they been wasted on the wrong person. And you, my other Praetor, I stand against you not because your Servant is a foe to the world, but simply to make you see reason. Restoring you, the question of the Umbral Star, all that will come in due time!

...You're... No. Just as I've heard, you're a terrible tyrant.

I-I am no tyrant! How in the world could you possibly conclude that from anything I've told you here?!

...It's simple. No one can stand up to me. The best anyone can manage is a fighting retreat. ...But you come toward me without hesitation. You fight for the sake of avoiding destruction, yet you don't deny destruction itself. How do you reconcile that?

Easily. Again, destruction is not what i stand against. Ugliness, unsightliness, those I abhor. And you... You are beautiful. It pains me to admit it, but your swordsmanship exceeds my own, and your body is a golden blessing from the heavens themselves. Though I will exceed you presently, have no doubt! You should be honored to fall before me, Altera...my joyously beloved rival.

...I see. So this is the other Hakunon's Servant. ...Enough chatter. I have no questions for you, only a quick death. But... Allow me to thank you. Few, if any, have ever called me beautiful before. Crimson Saber. The flower of flames, blooming brightly only to drop its petals. Your glorious dance ends here.



You are mistaken in so many ways. I will discipline you with my sword!



Nero vs. Altera is actually a pretty fun fight. Nice mix of straight up close-range fighting and using Altera's powerful / wide-ranging sword swings to swat away Nero's charges and quick attacks. As you might expect, she starts off in Regalia mode, and is as dangerous as you'd expect her to be. Just bait her punches and dash past her. If you're a real daredevil, you can even fight her a bit, but you're not gonna stagger her and she will almost certainly hit you a few times. It's fun, though.

Luckily, this is a *huge* arena, so you'll have plenty of movement space. Nero will throw out the Regalia every now and then, but she'll also deploy it at certain damage thresholds. Just be on the lookout for it, since Regalia attacks are one of the few things that can do pretty significant damage even if you're in Moon Drive mode.



Speaking of damage thresholds...

Now, Altera. The time has come for us to settle this.

...

Before the end, allow me to explain once more how deeply in the wrong you are.

...Oh, I am not without my flaws. My obsession with my hated enemy, for one. Everywhere I turn, I hear your voice, and I see flames in the shape of flowers... And so now, in this instant, I will answer your voice with my own. ...Listen. Here my True Name. Know my story. My name is Altera. I am she who wields the Sword of Mars and a descendant of the proud Xiongnu!

She holds her sword high as she declares herself. Regardless of her history with the Umbral Star, she still looks like a proud Heroic Spirit. I wonder which, in that moment, she considers herself to be. Maybe even she doesn't know. A smile is on her face. Just like the one on Saber's. I can understand how Saber feels now, calling Altera her worthy rival. A sword is made to destroy. Simply touching one can strip away flesh. A solid swing can hack through meat and bone. But even so, when I see these two Heroic Spirits, women who live by the sword, facing each other for the future of this place... The way they guard themselves from each other, not only their flesh but their resolve... It's too beautiful.

You reveal yourself, then? I understand. A descendant of the Xiongnu, are you?! All is clear now, White Princess of the Sword! Your people brought about the demise of Western Rome. You are none other than Attila the Hun!

...Yes, I was once called that. The elders chose the name, not I. To hear it now is to recall a long-dead dream. My true name is Altera. You need remember only that, Sovereign of the Moon Cell.

No, I...will not truly be called "Sovereign" until I have defeated you, Altera! I could ask for no stronger opponent than the champion of the Xiongnu! I am the fifth Emperor of the Roman Empire, Nero Claudius. My sword will set your frozen heart ablaze. And now, Altera...let us end this!

You recognize this exchange? It's 100% identical to Nero and Altera's pre-battle dialogue in Flame Poem, up until Nero's last two sentences. That's one thing I do like about parallel timeline business. Even if the way things happen is considerably different, some things are absolutely set in stone. Nero would always have the same burning passion for her beliefs no matter what timeline you're on. Body Hakuno would always make the same decision about fighting alongside Altera to the bitter end, no matter how things developed, just because that's who Hakuno is, and always will be.

I... I WILL cross swords with you! This... I...

I hear the pain in Altera's voice. She lacks Saber's self-confidence. That pierces my heart, "empty" as it might be. ...Oh, but Altera. At the very least, you're a complete being, more so than I am.





After a bit more back and forth, it's all over. I guess in exchange for drawing out the Regalia's full power, Nero won't pull out her Noble Phantasm. We are not limiting ourselves here.



The end begins.