Part 22: Orchid Words Arc - Magic

Magic



Before we get started, I think Tamamo needs to get a little serious. Her battle costume from CCC oughta do. Now we'll have a fighting chance against Gilgamesh.



The good news? Gilgamesh pulls one of those "Teleporter to level boss" things, so we only have three enemy Servants who won't support each other to worry about. The bad news? This is one of the madcap level formations in the game. It's a rough one...

Also, playing this stage in the context of the story, you only have four possible Side Missions. Another problem is there's two types of Sector Traps that are in decent quantity between them. I'd go with a Anti-Fire Mystic Code, personally. I went with the Toxic Mage's Silver Staff.


Orchid Words Stage 4

No time for stage intros, it's time for action! Like I said, this is one of the craziest stages in the game. There are three enemy Servants on the field: Jeanne, Corroded Elizabeth, and rounding them out, Altera. Altera is powered up much like Gawain was in the last stage, prior to nerfing.

However, she is considerably more dangerous for three reasons: one, she's faster (both in movement and attacking), two, she has a powerful ranged attack, and three, you cannot nerf her. Needless to say, she is going to bring a world of hurt on you if you try to stop her, which is why the stage objective specifically excludes her in the list of things you need to defeat to win. Especially with our player Servant being Tamamo, I would argue Altera in this stage is as close to "Unbeatable" as this game can get.

While Elizabeth and Jeanne will focus on attacking your Sectors on at a time, Altera will instead focus on attacking Lu Bu and Medusa, then will move on to taking over your Sectors. Unless you feel like going straight into the meat grinder, you're going to let her knock those two out. Lu Bu won't last long, but Medusa will put up a surprisingly good fight.



The key point in this stage is to move *fast*. At the time this screenshot was taken, only three Sectors were 1) not held by the enemy, or 2) not under attack by the enemy. We're first going to go after Elizabeth, but more to the point, our other objective is to stay the hell out of Altera's warpath.





Ah, that's where I remembered the "Corroded" part from, not from something she actually says.



"Corroded" or no, Elizabeth is still Elizabeth, which means she isn't the biggest threat in the game. She has a lot of attacks that can hit you at range or close the distance between the two of you, but her attack speed and power is still pretty low, so she's not a huge threat to you. The biggest threat she poses is slowing you down enough that Jeanne and Altera can take their Sectors and bring you to defeat.



'Course, that won't be happening today.



After taking out Elizabeth, I'd suggest ignoring Jeanne until you can build your Moon Crux gauge back up. This is an ideal spot, because if you let those Plants be for a bit, soon you'll be fighting for every scrap of territory on this map, and that can become troublesome.



Well...that was bound to happen. Like I mentioned, Medusa's next on the chopping block.





Now, there's no need for such a dramatic entrance. Don't mind us, just passing through...



No really, we don't intend to fight...



It's still Jeanne, and she's still dangerous, but much more manageable than Altera is on this stage. This is her most dangerous attack: she'll thrust her spear forward once, then hold it high. After a short charge-up where she'll suck enemies in, she'll burn everything around her to cinders. You best be blocking that.





I mean, not that Jeanne had mountains of HP left, but I was quite surprised a single air attack managed to defeat her. Not sure how that worked out.



Unfortunately, even with the Holy Maiden down, the tide of battle has still not turned considerably. Altera is still hanging about, and *every* enemy-held Sector has a Plant in it. Basically it's just a non-stop brawl until you start taking your Sectors without the enemy contesting it.



In this moment, I accidentally used one of my Poison Bombs. There are Bombs for every element, and they're pretty handy. As you might guess, a bomb just sends out a blast all around you (in a fairly small area, however), of that particular element. It's pretty powerful, and can help knock some enemies back and do quite a bit of damage on top of that.

But it's not much help against a Sector Trap. Luckily, I still had enough time even with the short cooldown where I could counter the trap.x



...Hate those things.



So the battle is over. Our fight with Gilgamesh awaits...





Man. Gilgamesh *really* doesn't like Tamamo, and the sentiment returns. Then again, you could probably count the number of individuals Goldie actually likes / respects on one hand. He rarely gets so animated, though.





So it turns out the aerial attack is *really* powerful, if it hits right. Good to know. Oh, and Medusa was KO'd off-camera. She put up a good fight, you have to admit.



Hm, Moon Crux gauge, no Code Casts... This could be troublesome, if I can't get out of this Sector tout de suite.





Not the proudest moment of my video gaming career, but at least I'm high enough to not get hit by their bombs. So, after getting hit with that Code Cast, and including all the other damage I had taken up to this point, I thought for sure there was *no* way I was going to get in under the damage requirement for EX rank. Well..



I decided that there was no hope for an EX rank and decided to skip the last few Sectors I needed to take over. Can't win 'em all, especially with Tamamo.



So like with Elizabeth and the lightning back in Flame Poem, it is possible to inflict status effects on bosses. In this case, Tamamo's ice shards attack did this to Gil. I was awaiting his counterattack, but it never came.



I'm glad Shinji Matou can do something useful with his existence. In doll form, but still.



I actually totally forgot Gil could unleash his NP in this stage. I thought that was something reserved for Nero / Tamamo / Altera. Let's *not* let him do that.



I like to think everyone in every Fate timeline hates Shinji's guts and seeks his destruction every time he appears. Even his doll form can inspire awe-inspiring animus.



I think the reason Gil hates Tamamo is because Gil quite dislikes the divine in general, and we're playing as an avatar of Amaterasu. Just a guess.



I'll spare you the details...



How embarrassing... In my meager defense, however, 293 is *right* on the borderline of an A-rank in damage. It's entirely possible that, had I gone after those 3 remaining Sectors (4 if Altera completed her conquest of the SW sector), I would have taken enough chip damage to fail. Ah well.


Like a rat

...Did you say "a portion", my honored guest?

Use your Regalia. Maximize your field of vision, and you'll see the entirety of SE.RA.PH.



Yes, Gilgamesh has his artillery pointed at the Capital, while another force is reaving our territories. Berserker is in pursuit of the latter force. From the looks of it, he intends to make it a one-way trip.

...I see. Mr. Lu Bu is truly a loyal gentleman to the very end...

The one commanding that latter force was most likely the Heroic Spirit, Altera. I'm not sure why she NEEDS a force, but she has one. She must have some sort of personal magnetism, something that attracts other Servants to serve her. Or perhaps AI in the Zero Dark happen to like exotic women... I'm sorry, this isn't the time to be making jokes. Berserker is almost certainly gone for good Do you have any other orders, Caster?

Actually, I think it precisely time for jokes. No better time...

...No, I don't. Good work. Go where you please and get some rest. It may be your last chance. Whatever you do next is up to you. Find a fight, take a nap, or just sit back and wait for the end.

Then I... No, I don't need to say it. Caster, your city is a place of beautiful flowers and fantastic revelry. I'm not very good at enjoying myself, but here, even though I may not have fit in, I can honestly say I had a wonderful time. *teleports out*

Should have mentioned it before now, but the sub-Servant choice for Tamamo is our buddy Karna here. See you in the next route...

...Mr. Karna.

...I don't need to say much either. But you were more decent than I expected. At first, I thought you would be the one to spread chaos I was prepared to take your life when the time came. But...

...But what?

No. It's good that you were blessed with a decent Master. Take care, blue Caster. Look to it that you do not become a monster. *teleports out*

...They're gone. It's just as you've heard, my dearest. It seems Altera's army has us surrounded. But not to worry. I will guarantee your safety. I can't brag about my "Empire" now. This is a battle for survival. Let our fight send a message to our would-be destroyers... Let them know that by the Sun who shines over the mountains, the rivers, and the watery heavens, our brilliance will never fade.


Last night

...from what Elizabeth told us, we'll be plunging into the Zero Dark to battle the forces of the Umbral Star. There'll be no turning back. So, please. Keep your strength up. Or...if you'd rather, we could run from the fighting.



I'm not a protector, not a savior. But I can't abide the White Maiden. Not one bit. ...I can barely restrain myself when I think about her. I'm sorry, my Husband. This is my nature, and it always has been. So if you're tired of putting up with it, please say so. If you want to say goodbye, I'll... I'll try to understand. Not without...tearing up a bit, but still...

Hearing her modest words, I manage to smile. Not out of amusement, but out of affection. Here she is, the Queen of the Millennium Capital, and I finally see her softer side. Aside from this palace, everything she had is shattered now, and all the glory she thought she had is gone. Under the weight of all that, she finally says it. Her show of courage, as she tries so hard to be the perfect wife, is everything I could hope for in one. And at the same time, I know there are still things she's holding back. I think there's something she's ashamed of, something she can't express yet. And that's a bigger issue than the Umbral Star, even if it's hard to put it all into words. All I have to go on, as far as that goes, are vague feelings and subtle gestures. Like the way she closed her eyes in apology. Regardless of all that, I should let her know where I stand. I may only be the Soul of Hakunon, and maybe there's more going on that I understand, but...I've known from the start that I'll stay with Caster until the very end.

My Husband...

In her clear, golden eyes, my reflection glitters like luminous starlight. Her beautiful gaze sweeps me away. Far from the threat to SE.RA.PH or the Earth. Far from the 14,000-year cycle of destruction. Everything else disappears in an instant. I want to be with her and only her, even if it's just for this one moment. Caster. You've lived an extravagant life, shoved aside anything that didn't interest you, and all without caring what anyone thought. Though you were cast as a villain, your insights and your natural curiosity brought out the best in other people. Despite sometimes feeling ashamed of the evil inside you, you're still fighting to overcome it, and always with a smile.

My...dearest...

...The instant she whispers, I feel like my body is falling away.



So you'll stay and fight. Fragile little mortals, always rushing to embrace their own mortality. Even as a symbolic gesture, it's pointless. No one will remember you. The Umbral Star will erase your entire story. It always does. What you're doing is the very definition of futility. The outcome is literally written in stone. And even so...you're still going to fight me, Hakunon?

...The maiden in white, the embodiment of destruction, is there in front of me, red eyes peering at me curiously. Ever the hardened warrior I always knew she was.

...I see. Just as I thought, humans never learn. It's pointless to teach you. You flicker into being, sputter for a moment, and then die, too weak to survive in my presence. However...understand this. What I'm after is not the Moon Cell. It's the Regalia. Foolish as you might be, you understand that much, don't you?

I get it...Well, I don't, but I nod anyway. The Regalia is the key to the Moon Cell, but she says she only wants the Regalia itself. Why exactly would she want the one without the other? And why would she talk to me about it? Something's not quite right here...

...

She stays silent. I hoped she'd at least give me a throwaway remark, but she doesn't. Meanwhile, I can't think of anything to say back, and I'm not in a position to demand that she go on talking. I try to think through what I want to say to her. I want to ask why her tone seems different this time, compared to the last time she appeared in My Room. I want to ask which is the "real" Altera...but then again, I don't think either one is a mask she wears.

You seem to understand. Of course. You're my Prisoner. But I'm still waiting for your answer... Urgh... My head hurts... It's useless to talk to you like this... I always have to...



I've said enough. If you understand, then prove it to me in battle. If you do that, I'll let you live on as my slave. Fight on, and you and Caster will reach the Zero Dark soon enough. ...And then, with the Sword of Mars...I will eliminate you both. Permanently.



...Another dizzy spell. When I open my eyes, the maiden in white is gone. In her place is Caster, shaking her head. Her face is closer to mine than last time. I must have made her worry. Of course I made her worry. I think I was catatonic just now. I summarize what happened. Altera apparently came to ask us to surrender. If we hand over the Regalia and renounce our will to fight, she implied she might spare us. Maybe, theoretically, we could negotiate with her. But even so... Even so, the end result would be the same. She said as much herself. SE.RA.PH and Earth would both die. So what would that mean for us? Would we buy a little more time for ourselves before we followed everyone else into oblivion? Or maybe she'd invite us to side with the Umbral Star, and follow it around the galaxy while it eats other civilizations. Wait, why am I even thinking about this? Hakunon's Mind would definitely reject that offer in a heartbeat, and so would I - because no matter how you look at it, it sounds unpleasant to say the least.

...Surrender? She said she wanted the Regalia, yes? The maiden who calls herself Altera... ...T-There's something else, honey. Something...related, in a sense... In case you can't read my silent stare... Let me spell it out for you, sweetie...



And her charm is drawing you in, isn't it?!



Before I can even answer that, she pounces on me. I don't even have time to question who's "drawing in" who... Speaking of time, this isn't exactly the most opportune moment... Or maybe it is. There's no one left in the palace. The other Servants have left to spend their last night in their own way. Even Elizabeth, who would normally interrupt us right about now, has gone over to the Umbral Star's side. There's just us and this empty room, overlooking our entire Capital, with no one to stop us. Unless I change my mind.



Just for this moment, close your eyes and tremble at my claws. My Husband... My Husband, please... Even if it's just this one moment, let us be together, dream together...










I hear a whisper. Still on the edge of slumber, it takes me a moment to realize who's talking. Of course, the voice is unmistakable The only one who'd talk to me is...

You don't have to say anything... I just want to tell you... Altera and I are the same. We have the same nature. I'm not proud of that. I couldn't even admit it before. But... I'll admit it to you. She and I are both born to be the enemies of humans. I understand how she wants to dominate humans by force. Because we're both monsters. It's so much easier for creatures without hearts...

That's... At first, I don't understand. The way she's talking, is she punishing herself? Or is she talking to Altera, since she says they're the same? I hear pity in her voice, but something else too, something closer to her heart... When I think a little more, it hits me. Does Tamamo believe that Altera is suffering too? Does that mean Altera has a heart?

...My Husband?



Sometimes, saying nothing is better than saying anything at all. This is one of those times, for Tamamo's sake.

I don't answer. I don't even try to remember any of it. What Caster said, she said for herself.

...Thank you very much.