Fate/extella Part #11 - Flame Poem Arc

Part 11: Flame Poem Arc - Duel

Duel

Flame Poem Stage 5 (this video does NOT incorporate the boss fight)

While we hold plenty of land in the Forces of Destruction's main base, we are also under heavy attack, and Altera has deployed all of her lieutenants in this final battle. Jeanne is up in B sector, Iskandar is at J, and...she's got an Archer, too. He'll be going from G to C to begin challenging Gawain for it. However, even if we wanted to, we couldn't rush to intercept him, as he's completely blockaded at the moment.

This is gonna be a big battle, as you might expect. We'll be ignoring Jeanne and Iskandar for now. Instead, we'll relieve the pressure on E, then go up to meet the enemy Archer.

Shortly after beginning...

And that's the last of Altera's generals. None other than the King of Heroes himself, Gilgamesh. While he's out and about, he'll occasionally fire a bunch of weapons from his Gate of Babylon toward one of your Sectors, inflicting heavy damage on it and starting an invasion, all while not getting himself personally involved. Obviously, we're gonna have to put a stop to that. Just after that first attack, the barriers around Gilgamesh's Sector will drop, and he'll move to attack Gawain.

As I said, we'll wrap things up here first, then go after him.

And the battle has begun. Failing to aid Gawain in time...would have an unfortunate outcome for us. And actually, slight change of plans. We're going to take over this Sector, too, to give us a bit more breathing room before we aid Gawain. He served under King Arthur. He can hold out for a bit.

That...weird-looking Aggressor in the back is the final generic type of Aggressor. This one is really annoying. Normally, it'll throw up an impenetrable shield in front of him to prevent attacks from the front, and its main attack is to throw up a shield in front of you, and charge straight at you, adjusting its course as necessary. It can also stop, drop to the ground, and spin around with its arms to swat you away if you're too close.The best way I've found to deal with this sucker, assuming you don't have a Moon Crux / Drive handy, is to try and get around it, and attack it while in the air. It seems to have less success blocking your attacks that way.

However, even this isn't a great strategy. Best way? Catching it in the blast radius of an Extella Maneuver. Don't get me wrong, though: these guys are extremely annoying.

As great as Gilgamesh is, he and Nero just can't get along. Another great shame. Anyway, Gilgamesh as an enemy is pretty dangerous, indeed. Many of his attacks are projectile-based, and those really hurt. While he's a bit below par in terms of attack speed, the sheer-

Number of his ranged attacks is formidable. You always have to keep an eye on him, as he will punish you quite severely with attacks like this. As for dodging this attack, if he launches it from far enough way, and you see it coming, you can dodge around it and attack Gil from behind.

Oh yeah, and he's already in powered up mode, which means no Moon Drive for him, but you will have to use triangle to stagger him.

Luckily, Gawain's skill (and my own not inconsiderable efforts), forced him to withdraw...for now. Next order of business is to swing around the top of the map, taking over the red Sector in the way, and then confronting Jeanne.

Even so, Iskandar and Jeanne are preparing for their next attacks. This fight is far from over.

And here he is...again. Just can't catch a break here. Now, unfortunately, Jeanne is in a Flame Sector Trap area, and we just used our Moon Crux to shrug off one. We'll take over this Sector to recharge a bit of it, then go after her.

But she didn't help drive the English out of France by waiting around. I do know that about Joan of Arc. Unfortunately, the initial battle with Gilgamesh left much of Gawain's HP drained, so we'll have to quickly bail him out.

Man, in-between his appearance and now, which has only been a few minutes, Gilgamesh has launched two Gates of Babylon into our Sectors. We really are gonna have to wrap this up soon.

Phew...I defeated her pretty fast, and took a major weapon out the enemy's arsenal. Let us continue on this path.

Not THIS path, though... To be fair, this is one of Gil's more dangerous attacks.

But that's it for the King of Heroes, at least for now. Finally we've gotten rid of the biggest threat here in the Zero Dark.

One cool thing about combos in this game is if you start a combo in a certain direction, before you press the final button of the combo, you can turn your character around with the left analog stick and they can fire the crescendo at their former 6-o'clock, like what I'm doing here. While I mostly do it to show off, it does help every now and then if you've got someone on your ass you weren't counting on being there.

Unfortunately, my rematch with the King of Conquerors *could* have gone better. Mostly it was thanks to that stupid charging Aggressor. Really took this one on the chin, but of course, I eventually defeated him. Just goes to show you can never underestimate the effectiveness of an enemy Servant and an Aggressor. Except if it's that sword Aggressor. You don't ever need to worry about them.

Once Iskandar fell, however, the rest of the conquest here more or less proceeded without interest. Before leaving, just make sure to pick up the two Noble Phantasm Circuits on the map, and get ready for our first real fight with Altera.

Dance of blades

...

Allow me to explain 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. Hear my True Name. Know my story.

She holds her sword high as she declares herself. Whatever her history with the Umbral Star might be, she still looks like a proud Heroic Spirit. A smile is on her face. Just like the one on Saber's. 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?!

There is a scholarly theory going back 200 years identifying the Xiongnu, who mostly inhabited what's now Mongolia, northern China, and north-central Asia, with the Huns, as they were known in Europe. Wikipedia tells me that theory is broadly accepted, but not conclusive. However, Nasu seems to be running with it, for this game, so who am I complain?

More importantly, we finally have the True Name of our enigmatic swordswoman. However...Altera, Attila...wonder why she goes by two names?

...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. I would have loved to clash with you above the heights of Olympus, to the cheers of young maidens, but this stage of ours will do nicely!

Our final opponent: Altera herself. Altera is actually *really* dangerous as an enemy. Not only does she has quite a reach on her sword (her sword always seems to hit from further away than you think it will), her attacks are extremely powerful, and every now and then she'll throw out a projectile attack from her sword that hurts a bunch, too.

Now, even though she does have a Regalia, she can't transform in quite the same way Nero and Tamamo can. So, her attacks just become extra deadly while she's in her Over Limit mode.

I just love her here. A bunch of my goons (the yellow ones) were swarming her, so she responded...by sending those bastards flying.

Don't forget - just like Tamamo, at certain points in the fight she'll stop to try and use her Noble Phantasm.

The curtain falls.

Took way too much damage fighting Iskandar and that one Aggressor. But overall, a convincing victory.

Aestus Domus Aurea

...Flare Effect. Commencing connection with Mars.

Forgive me. You could not defeat me as a Servant. No man, woman, or civilization could. Though I do not understand what it means to live and die as you did... Though I did not wish to take your life... I...have nothing else but the drive for destruction. So...

As am I. Each of us can live by our own rules, our own standards, choose what to forgive and what to forbid. ...One day, this body will burn as payment for my sins. But it will burn in the light of pure conviction, never in the shadow of doubt. I gave into despair once, a lifetime ago. I will never make that mistake again. No longer will I yield to anyone or anything. And above all else...

When I see the gleam in my Praetor's eyes, that light sustains my own! No matter how low my flame might flicker, it cannot be extinguished...because...

You set all your resources on full defense? But if you do that, the Regalia will...

Yes, it will surely break! But whatever happens, happens! Do not stray your eyes, my rival! Do not turn them away from me!

Refnum Caelorum et Gehenna... Heavens, build for me. Shine your greatest light upon me! Dance like a flower and strike down a star! All praise to Domus Aurea!!

No idea about "Refnum", but "Caelorum et Gehenna" is "Heaven and Hell" in Latin.

Altera's movements stop, though her guard remains strong and ready. This new arena has clearly enraptured her. The image of this golden theater, and the lone woman at center stage with her sword in hand... It has captured Altera's heart, her human heart. Saber knows that, as terrifying a menace as Altera is...she can be made to recognize her own humanity. That's why Saber was so fixated on settling the score in a one-on-one battle. She respects Altera as a worthy and powerful foe. Altera would have no idea who she was if she saw herself in the mirror, so Saber took it upon herself to be the mirror. What kind of person is the Heroic Spirit Altera? What does she look like, how does she live, and how do other see her? And...

The beauty you behold is yours as well! Destruction? There is more to you than that! We are Heroic Spirits, you and I. Remember always, this is who you are! And now that you have come to understand... I call upon the heavens - bless my sword! Allow me to bring down this shooting star!

Scream

Yes, thank you, Praetor! I knew you would be here when needed you the most!

...How painful. I have not felt such pain in my core since I first fell... This is not the light of a star, but the light of the human spirit...in such a resplendent theater... And in this theater, I have seen...true beauty... Your dance... Nero...

And I would say the same of you, Altera. We danced the dance of life and death together. A pity I could not take the lead. It seems our rivalry must continue unabated.

Then I...was your equal in the dance? I...was able to...dance with another person...for the first time, then...

The third Hakunon steps out next to Altera. The same face as me. The same appearance as me. Nothing needs to be said between us. Just like with Caster's version of me. And in just the same way... This version of me stands over the fallen Servant, meaning to protect her. No matter what, I'm a Master, sworn to fight alongside the Servant who joined me.

My Master... No, it is...too dangerous...to leave the ring... I...cannot protect...

"Protect", you say? Now the truth comes out. You had spoken of your Master as a prisoner, but that was a ruse, was it not? Like Caster... Like myself, you were a dedicated Servant to your Praetor.

...What are you saying...? I simply needed a Master... Without one, I could not have held onto this body...

Oh, come now! At long last, have you no shame? First Caster plays the meek, mewling whelp, must you do likewise? Do you truly wish to make a villain of me? You must be joking. Some may have called me a tyrant, but none would ever call me a fool!

Ah, Nero is peerless when it comes to pointing out others' shit. It's just the worst when no one has your flair for the dramatics. But, in total fairness, very few do.

Ah, just as I thought... Ah, just as I thought... Saber and I must have felt the same thing, just as in the confrontation with Caster.

I shall hear you out later. But for now, as the vanquished, you must hear me. Altera. From now on, the two of you shall be my subjects. I had intended to seize your Regalia adn use it to fuse your Praetor and mine, but... For the moment, you shall be my prisoner - and my guest. I trust you have no objections?

...No, that would be...

Only one - you, Your Majesty - can wield the Regalia. So you showed us in the Holy Grail War. After all, Servant Saber, have you not proven yourself to be the Sovereign of all SE.RA.PH?

Great Scholar, you would join us in the field now? Are you so eager to see the Regalia restored?

What are you...?

There's Archimedes, strolling straight through the remains of Altera's Noble Phantasm. I had grown accustomed to his presence. Distant in a sense, but also warm and caring. The warmth of a teacher looking over his students. That was the Archimedes I know. But now, what I feel instead is something terribly... Terribly cold. Almost like ice. Like a storm, where the very cold cuts away at the body.

Caster's defeat was a mathematical certainty. You had just enough experience and skill to ensure it. However... Altera's defeat was quite unexpected. Her chances of victory were well over 80%, for obvious reasons. What I fail to understand is how you not only survived, but overpowered her, despite your shortcomings. Your display was impressive, in a sense, but also rather unpleasant to watch. Nonetheless, the Moon Cell Automaton did choose you. I may have mentioned this, but the Moon Cell is helpless to defend itself, for all its vast knowledge. Therefore, it named you its champion. And it opened a door, just large enough for the invaders to get through, in order to lure them to you and let the battle take its course. From my perspective as an outside observer, I would call that a very foolish gamble.

Why is he looking at me like that...?

So, all hail the Sovereign, reunifier of SE.RA.PH. But now you shall begin to fall. You and your Master have flown too close to the Sun.

My victories were as certain as you once proclaimed. Not even Altera could stop me. Does that truly surprise you?

It does, in that you literally broke her spirit. Not only numerically - and I watched as her spirit value plummeted - but by forcing her to yield. And rather than finish her, you took her in as a subject. That was unexpected. And unwise, given the risks and the lack of benefits. On the one hand, it was rather endearing of you, but it was also one step too far.

...!

That appearance, that symbology! ...Archimedes, is that what I think it is?! G... Grrr! So, my brilliant strategist, was this all part of your master plan? Let the rest of us clash and die, that you might seize control? Were your designs truly so banal? Ha! Imagine, the Great Scholar, brought forth to fight off infections, being the first one infected himself!

...Oh, you cut me to the quick, Your Majesty. But I cannot deny it. You see before you the most loyal servant of none other than Velber itself.

If you notice from his regular portraits (and model), that there was something weird about his left hand / shoulder blade, but sadly, no one seems to have picked up on that. Now look where we are.

"He who craves power must always take more of it than others offer..." I warned you once of lying, Archimedes of Syracuse...!

But this is not the second time I've lied to you. Technically, it's only the first. Ah, I admire your passion. And your beauty. I regret that we must be enemies. Please understand, I do still respect you. To be counted amongst your adversaries is an honor indeed. However...

What baffles me is that you know your enemy, know what a threat she is, know it's best to kill her outright, and yet you would try to co-exist.

Ah, then do you not see the inherent contradiction in your hatred for human emotions?

Of course I do. I am still human myself, after all, and well aware of my own flaws as such. But despite those flaws, I remain dedicated to order. Did I not set aside my disdain for you to assist in your efforts? I prioritized the greater goal over my own petty feelings. But you? Just the opposite. You knew what you had to do, yet you let your emotions seize and twist you! But that's the nature of a Heroic Spirit...or, shall we say, the charm of a Heroic Spirit. You truly were the most suited among us to bear the Regalia. Refined beyond measure. Beautiful beyond measure. To see you defeat the Blue Caster, to see you bring down even Altera, despite the staggering odds...it's simply too much. An invincible heroine, winning through every single time... Frankly, I can't stand to watch that anymore. You deserve praise for unifying SE.RA.PH. But I must see Velber bring you down, no matter what. I will see you break, see the Regalia break, see SE.RA.PH break, see the Moon Cell Automaton itself break... And all that lives below will break with it. All things beautiful and unsightly, bright and dark. Bonds, souls, flesh, minds, and the knowledge that holds them all together.

...Archimedes, a traitor... I still can't believe it. When did he turn, and why? How did he come across so sincerely before? When he saved me back then, was that a lie? Was it part of his plan?

The hour of destruction has come, Altera. You have played long enough at being a Heroic Spirit, and at being a human.

Ah, ah...aah...! N...no...I...can't...! I've already lost... No more... No more! "Destroy"...? No...I can't do...it...!

Altera! Damn you, Archimedes. What did you do?! Her beautiful body art, gone to waste!

...And you think that's the problem? You and I would never have gotten along. That "body art" was her old, obsolete skill, "Star Symbol". The "Umbral Star" you see before you now is the sign of Velber. If anything, I've made it easier for the two of you to bond, now that you see who she truly is. Look well, and witness your own destruction!

...Whatever it is, it's gigantic. It's channeling a terrifying amount of mana. Its very existence gives off tremendous pressure. However I turn my head, my eyes can't take in all of it at once. This being is so huge, it nearly defies comprehension. A human silhouette... When did I start to recognize individual features? When she first made her entrance? When her surroundings fell apart? When she turned her glowing red eyes toward me? The eyes. Yes, it was when I looked her in the eyes.

As she screams, space itself seems to tremble. The sound is inhuman, unearthly. If a black hole could call out, this would be the sound of it. It's the sound of hunger. So primal, so tremendous, that it resounds across the infinite void of space. The world is breaking. The titan's scream alone is shaking SE.RA.PH apart. She truly is the King of Destruction.

Yes, bear witness! Behold the power, far beyond that of any Servant! Watch as she consumes the works of man, as she grows ever larger, ever stronger! Watch as she transforms worlds into lifeless husks! Can humanity stop her? No! No one can! Nothing will survive her wrath, not even despair! As the Stone of Altamira foretold, the titan Sephyr has awakened in the desert! Now, she stretches out her hand to crush the Moon!

She's glaring at me. She's coming after both of us. Even now, as I look into those two great lights, I know she sees us. I know she recognizes us. And we have her full attention. The White Titan stands and roars. She reaches out toward us with her huge right hand. ...I've been this before somewhere... Of course, in the Moon Cell core. My memories of the attack are still in pieces, but I remember the sheer scale of the attacker, the Enemy, who split me into three. There's no doubt now - the White Titan can only be the same being. And now, here it is again, in front of me, ready to finish the job.

It's rushing at me now. It's coming. It's here. In a flash, it fills my vision. I can't get away. It's too big. It's too fast. It'll catch me. I know it will. It always does. It already has. Can't fight. Can't run. Can't even beg. It's got me. It's tearing out my thoughts. My consciousness is flying apart. I try to hold onto something. Anything I can. Any image, any memory, anything at all... Pieces of the past glitter at me, like a mirror shattering in slow motion. I see battles. We're fighting Caster's army. Or is it Altera's army? I don't know. All I can do is stare out at whatever I can see. And then, for just a moment, I see a golden flame. And a smile. I remember her. I remember myself. I am Hakunon, and I am the sword in her hand.