Part 91: Shooting Star - Archimedes - Part 3

Archimedes 3



A word, before we begin the final Servant Side Story stage. At the start of Dawn Arc, Archimedes talks about parallel timelines and Quantum Timelocks and such. For the record, though, I put that scene at this start of this thread because I thought it was more thematically appropriate there. Anyway, he talks about branching histories, something the Fate series as a whole has collectively called "Lostbelts" (this name coming from Part 2 of FGO's story, called "Cosmos in the Lostbelt"). Nothing in this series so far has contradicted Archimedes' explanation of them. A single strand of these branches, let's call it the trunk, is called the Greater History of Man. Basically history as we know it encompasses the Greater History, and this trunk leads up to the present day (the Fate series has always had a thing of trying to stay roughly in sync with real-life dates. For example, FSN's story takes place over the last 10 days or so of January and a bit into February of 2004, and late January 2004 is also when FSN was originally released).

A Lostbelt can emerge for any number of reasons. Basically any event that significantly alters the course of history, whether natural or otherwise, can cause a Lostbelt to branch out. However, a universal gatekeeper of sorts monitors all these alternate possibilities, and at a certain time point, this gatekeeper determines the history that's most likely to survive and allows its future to be born. All others are cast off as a what-if history and are doomed to eventual stagnation and death. The eventual culmination of all these cut-offs has resulted to history surviving into the present day. However, that's not to say the Lostbelts just vanish entirely after Archimedes' Quantum Timelock.

It should be noted that very few people in the entire larger Nasu universe are even aware of these alternate timelines, let alone know how to traverse them like Archimedes can. But, he was trusted with the Moon Cell's systems when he was summoned as an engineer, and the Moon Cell has been described as a supercomputer rivaling the solar system in its computing capacity, so I suppose many things are possible when such a wealth of knowledge and observation is in your hands.

Oh yes, and one final note. Archimedes' alternate costume from completing his Side Story is just his outfit without his robe on, where you can see the Velber corrosion more clearly down the left side of his body. We'll be seeing it plenty in the final Golden Poem stages.






Archimedes stage 3

Challenging as it was, I have gained the Sovereign's confidence. All that's left is to unite the Regalia and take it. However... Hm, I suppose I should prepare a puppet to steal the Regalia. A possibility exists that the White Titan would simply destroy it. A puppet who is easy to control, yet somewhat powerful... A malleable tool, not necessarily to my personal liking, but useful nonetheless...

Oh, what's this? ...All of them ganging up on me to crash my solo concert... And the crowd was all fired up, too! I don't care if they were Attack Programs, I don't discriminate against my fans! But Saber and that squirrel don't care about my side of the story... Whatever! She's just a dumb little squirrel anyways! Stupid little squirrel! And Saber, that ring totally doesn't suit you! ...That's what I should've said before they chased me out. My voice and my dragon lance mic are both perfect! That concert was going to make the history books, but... Ugh, who do they think they are? Just because they have some ring or whatever. Yeah! All high and mighty now, huh? Wasn't Saber supposed to be my eternal rival?! Maybe something happened. Something special, when the little squirrel went to the Moon Cell core. ...I mean, they didn't even mention it to me... Just the two of them, all lovey-dovey with each other. How could they leave me in the cold? ...What the hell?! I'd sooner die than ask to join in, not that I would... But it pisses me off! If I could just shoot lightning out of my horns! It'd be like the thundering clouds of Janos Mountain! I've never been this stressed out. I think my diaphragm's gonna get all messed up!

"Janos Mountain" is another name for János-hegy, the actual mountain outside Budapest that Elizabeth here is referring to. It's actually more of a large hill than a mountain, for the record.

I gotta go blow off some steam! Okay, now I know what I'm gonna do. No regrets! I'm gonna do...whatever the hell I wanna do! Saber and the piggy can't tie me up, and I'm not gonna let 'em keep me down! A guerilla storm! I mean...guerilla show! I'm gonna do it!

I suppose outcasts are drawn to outcasts. Her actions are...deeply incomprehensible, but she's a surprisingly capable Servant. If I lend her some power and guide her toward her goal, I'm sure she can be of some use as a puppet. Rejoice, Elizabeth Bathory. Some would despise your demi-dragon body... But I will remake you into a top class Dark Star, unlike any other.



It feels fitting that the first and last regular stages in this LP have been against Elizabeth, she who will never die. You can probably tell that Archimedes is gonna take this good-natured bullying too far, though. It's a bit unfortunate, as going by her dialogue, Elizabeth has no idea what's in store for her after this stage. Well, let's get on with it..



As you might expect, this is a really simple outing. You can finish the Regime Matrix in two Sectors, by taking either of the southern Sectors and the top one worth 6 Sector keys. However, it feels nice to be using Archimedes in a real stage, where you can see he's not quite as helpless as my outing against Sephyr might have made him seem. I mean, he's still not great, but I would say he's still better than Elizabeth. The dialogue for this stage, from Archimedes and Elizabeth, makes it seem it came shortly after Flame Poem 2.



Archimedes is quite a bit more level-headed in his stage dialogue than his normal story dialogue makes him out to seem. Incidentally, while I was looking up information about him, I discovered Archy's D&D alignment is Lawful Good, i.e. the same alignment Artoria, Gawain, Jeanne, and Karna have. I just want you to keep that in mind during this stage's outro. Though, to be fair, Servant alignments are more based around how Servants view themselves than any kind of objective standard that applies to everyone. Elizabeth is Chaotic Evil, for the record.





His final special move is even more usage of his cranes (thanks to the thread, I discovered that the cranes in his EM and this are probably a reference to the Claw of Archimedes, which was supposedly used to pluck Roman ships out of the water, as mentioned in Plutarch). However, as befitting his current personality, this one has a dicey twist to it. Enemies in the middle of the cranes are dragged first up, then down by a series of blades that actually delivers pretty nice damage directly in front of him. Sure looks neat, of course.



Huh? Can't you see this isn't a rehearsal? Looks like this animal needs to be taught a lesson.



Really the biggest difficulty I had in this stage was dealing with the stupid hammer guys in the final Sector. But that's only because Archy's special attacks are kinda slow. Even so, still very annoying enemies. Archy's line after you conquer all Sectors...

We have conquered everything. Well, let's move on to the finishing blow.

Sure thing. As soon as she's done with her little Moon Drive here.



I should think Elizabeth would be alright with a contraption like this. Y'know, the whole torture thing. Archimedes in this series apparently specializes in devising inventions to hurt people, which you'd think would make him and Elizabeth be kindred spirits.


Oh no you don't.



That's quite enough of you.



Two more results screens to go...






Archimedes ending

*laugh* I was lucky to find you! Your Spirit Core adapts quite well to the Umbral Star's corrosion! Rejecting it is pointless, and you have no need to fear. Be reborn exactly as you wish to be. Don't worry, I will guide you. A maiden, driven by emotion. A rare Servant, whose dragon bloodline has awakened. A monster, just like the White Titan! How perfect!

Wha...t is t...his?! My Cyber Frame...every nerve is...flipping inside out...! Are you...trying to eat me...?! What is this...? Velber, Void Cell...? AAAHHHHHH! No... I can't... I wouldn't be any different...! Gross, gross, gross...! The insides of my head are going round and round... Help me... Help me, squirrel...!

Oh? I see, now you call for help. Then...



...I will be your savior. Fear not, let it course through you. You are beyond resistance. Bear witness to your own rebirth. The world and the Moon Cell will fall to the whims of Velber II. The Umbral Star will quickly rain ruin upon everything in this solar system. This world is going to end... And only those aligned with the Umbral Star will be granted a new path. You were lucky to be chosen, so rejoice. Rejoice, as I will lead you to a new world. Look upon me, at the true perfection of my ring of numeral formulas. The equation that humanity failed to achieve. ...Look to the heavens and bask in the light of the Umbral Star. For this is truly the beginning of the end...