Part 62: Instant Vortex - Medusa - Part 2

Medusa 2



So, a little on Medusa's in-universe history. She is one of the original Servants in this series, representing the Rider class since 2004. In the Fate route, she made a few brief appearances before getting herself blasted to smithereens by Excalibur while she was in the middle of her Noble Phantasm. In the Unlimited Blade Works route, she had a considerably more inglorious end. She found her end by getting her neck snapped by Kuzuki, the Master of Caster.

In the Heaven's Feel route, she had a *bit* more presence. It was in this route that her true identity was revealed, and she finally spent most of the plot under her original Master, Sakura Matou. See, Sakura was a Master, but really didn't want to fight in the war and basically handed off Master responsibilities to her adopted brother, Shinji. Shinji performed as well as he usually does in this franchise, and their grandfather decided he was worthless and assigned Rider to Sakura, where Medusa was considerably more effective in a fight than when her idiot brother was managing things. Medusa stayed through the entirety of the Heaven's Feel plot, and played a crucial role in the story at several points, including saving Shirou from Cursed-Arm Hassan and helping him defeat his former Servant, now painted black from the Holy Grail (long story). In one of the endings, in fact, Sakura's mana output is so massive it can even sustain Medusa's presence without the Holy Grail acting as her main power source.

As for her Grand Order presence, obviously her Rider form has been present since the very start, but she also has a Lancer version, and an Avenger version. Both of these iterations of the character first showed up in the Babylonia chapter. The first acted as an ally, initially seen tagging along with Merlin and answering to the name "Ana", to avoid having people confuse her with the monstrous Gorgon terrorizing the city of Uruk. Lancer Medusa is basically what the regular Medusa wishes she could look like, and what she looked like before being cursed by Athena. The form we're most familiar with doesn't like being taller than her sisters and prefers to look as close to them as possible.

The Avenger is pretty much the opposite, and this is something close to the monster that Perseus killed in the actual, proper history. Gorgon, as she's known in the game, is the end result of Medusa having absorbed her dead sisters into her hair and her powers as an Anti-Hero taken to their limit. Gorgon serves as an antagonist for most of the Babylonia chapter, but she makes one final stand as an ally of humanity for one battle to briefly fight against an even bigger threat than her, and that's saying something. She also may or may not have been an enemy you had to fight in a cell block in a certain other event. Personally, I prefer her boss fight appearance, because even if she's really easy, that's a monster you could picture as a ferocious devourer of men, that only the mightiest of Greek heroes could even dream of overcoming. So big you can't even fit her on the screen. She even has rad theme music all her own.

Strangely enough, as I mentioned, she also very briefly appeared as an adult Lancer in the Fate/Grand Order -First Order- special animated thing.



There's not much in-show explanation on how this Medusa appeared. It's the only time she's been seen like this thus far, but her attitude was far crueler than Rider and certainly other-Lancer Medusa. But there you have it. But Grand Order is a bit weird because the plot allows a lot of crazy things to happen that were never meant to happen, all thanks to the ever-troublesome Holy Grail. But that's a whole other kettle of fish.


Medusa stage 2

That's not an issue. They have the numbers, but most of Saber's armies are mere Attack Programs. We only need to worry about their Servants. It's no different than any Holy Grail War. Besides... I have unfinished business with this town. You could even say I have the advantage here. To end up here again... Fighting here on the Moon must be bringing me good luck.

I'll respect your wishes, Rider. If you want to go out and fight, I won't stop you. But be careful. There's more to this battle than beating the enemy army.



This is based on Orchid Words 2, where we had Neutral Sectors explained to us. As before, there are a few areas on the map that are neither blue nor grey. Once you enter a Sector, there are three special node things you have to attack three times to activate them. Once you active all three, the Sector is under your control. If the enemy invades first, though, they'll instantly take it over.



Karna will be lending us his aid here, and he'll proceed to the red Sector in the north and take it before too long. The first thing you should do, obviously, is to take over the other Neutral Sector, but I rather wish I had actually done that while recording. A few minutes after the match begins, Gawain will invade the 4 Key Sector and take it over. He's then going to invade the Neutral Sector in the bottom half of the map, but hopefully you've stopped him before then. The enemy's grip on the south will be tough to break, as they have Gawain and Li Shuwen helping out to secure these areas that we'll eventually have to break into. Speed will be the key word here.



As you get closer to a Sector thingy, your screen will get more static-y, and you'll see that little plume of digital smoke noting where to find one. They'll spawn in three of...let's say about 5 potential places they could appear in any given Sector.



Well, at least Medusa got a nice sun tan from Gawain's sword here... Gawain's special attacks are *very* powerful, and Medusa's defenses are not fantastic, so he'll only need a few good hits to send you flying. Just be careful out there.



Would that I have completed the Regime Matrix under my fortuitous circumstances. Now I'm gonna have another Jeanne Situation, but it's a bit more merciful here because the distances are shorter here. Or something like that. It's still gonna be unpleasant.

Aren't you carrying the wrong Master? Or do they just feel similar?

You certainly talk a lot... Defeat is imminent. Prepare yourself, Archer!



Can't believe I still have one Sector to go. Thank god I have my Noble Phantasm still to fire.



Not every Servant can clear this building on some Fuyuki Sectors. Medusa can do it basically without sparing a second thought of it.



And not every Sector can be nice enough to line up all their Aggressors to wipe them all from the face of the Moon in one blow. I should also mention that the name "Bellerophon" in her Noble Phantasm, as I have been made aware, refers to the horse's bridle, not necessarily referring to the original rider. Odd, I know, but apparently the bridle can enrage Pegasus sufficiently to be a war asset.



You never know how scary Caladbolg is until you see it being deployed against you.



Serves you right it didn't actually kill him, annoyingly enough.



High-damage, fast finishes seem to be a thing with me and Medusa thus far...



I did indeed, but what of it? You're not going to tell me it bothers you all of a sudden, are you? That aside... I want to know why you've lowered your weapon. Can I assume you don't intend to fight anymore? You've won the skirmish over the middle territories. If you'd say there's nothing left to fight for here, I'd agree with you.

Yes, the reason I lowered my blade is because I have no reason to fight you.

Hm. Are you saying that as a member of Caster's army? Or do you have something else in mind?

...You're dancing around it, aren't you? You already know. It's not that Caster has bewitched me, and it's not that I've recalled my former habits. Working with Caster serves my own ends. I have one goal. To bring peace to this new SE.RA.PH... You might have different reasons, but aren't you fighting for the same thing?

...Hm. So, are you suggesting we team up?

Team up? No, I'm suggesting something a little different. I...







Yes. We were able to subdue the middle territories, but the connection has been in bad shape since then. It looks like we're being blocked somehow, but... No. Wait. It's fixed.

I've confirmed the connection is fixed. Once again, I've finished subduing the middle territories. I've destroyed the Servant that the Saber Army sent here. Repeat, the Archer is gone. That is all. Returning home.

You beat that red-jacketed rogue who keeps jauntily showing up again in the nick of time, no matter how many times you beat him down?! How remarkable! Ms. Rider, you've done an amazing job! I never would have imagined! You deserve all kinds of praise! When you're back in the Millennium Capital, we'll throw a great celebration! What glory! What triumph!

Caster's happy. We'll wait for you here at home, Rider.

...Yes. Understood.

Seems like our protagonist may be up to something...