Part 29: Dawn Arc - Elite

Elite


The Maiden in Blue



Well then, I doubt this stage is gonna be much of a grind.



I have to say, I really like Arco Wada's take on non-Wada character designs in this game. Takeuchi Takashi did the original design for Jeanne, and because Takeuchi seems to have a thing for short-haired, blonde heroines, Jeanne ended up with a face that looked *quite* similar to Artoria's face (her ponytail notwithstanding). And there's a *lot* of Saberface characters in this franchise (19 as of this writing), to the point where one of the Traits in Grand Order is even called "Saberface". Arco Wada's designs don't tend to look so samey and it's a rare look for Jeanne when she appears really focused. In fact, as much as I do like Takeuchi's style and every Saberface, at least when it comes to Jeanne, I do prefer Wada's take.

As a post-script, I have to add "as of this writing", because there are two more Saberfaces than when I started this thread (one of them is by Wada, to be fair).

Vanguard of the Umbral Star! You, who would steal humanity's future!



...I see. So you're the next Top Servant, then. The Holy Maiden, Jeanne D'Arc. Planning to save someone else's homeland? How futile. Quit before you make your last mistake.

If I can make another aside, even though Jeanne is from France and is now defending the Moon Cell, I still think her ultimate goal (i.e. protecting the planet) counts as "Protecting France".

Following the King of Conquerors, here comes the Holy Maiden of the Nation of Salvation. Her true name is Jeanne D'Arc, a world famous hero from France's Hundred Years War. Even if I'm stored away in the ring, I can feel her hidden power from here. If the King of Conquerors' intensity is like an onrushing tank, the Holy Maiden is like a flow of cool, clear water. Beautiful, but also intense. After all, enough water can bring down a mountain...

...Hmph. You've saved some lives, and taken others. But that's all you've done. I am the messenger of all destruction. No force, not a tsunami, not even you, can stop my ferocity. You should yield and join my forces. If you obey, then I will spare you. A Top Servant like you would be of use to me.

Join you? ...You're quite different from what the Moon Cell led me to imagine. But your call to surrender is a waste of breath. I may not have the Royal Authority, but I am nonetheless a Ruler.

...?

I was given this Extra Class to help adjucate the Holy Grail War, but...now, I will use this power for battle, I will seal you away, Altera, and forever this time.

She's referring to her role in Fate/apocrypha, her first apperance in this franchise. In that spin-off, the Fuyuki Grail War instead moves to Romania, where a new Holy Grail War is fought between two factions: Red and Black. Seven Servants apiece, with Jeanne summoned as a neutral party who the Holy Grail trusted to keep the War in line, namely because she has absolutely no desire for the Grail itself, or even something she wants to have happen. Fate's take on the Maiden of Orleans is she is, in a word, "perfect". Harboring no negative emotions whatsoever, no animus, no wishes, etc, what you see with Jeanne is exactly what you get.

Here in extella, I imagine the Moon Cell, standing in for the Grail, considers her anti-Servant abilities as Ruler a valuable weapon to neuter Altera's devastation.

...I see. So you don't wish to kill me. You hold true to your faith. To be so naive, and to have nonetheless survived so many battles... You must be very powerful. I have seen your kind before. Fine. You've put me in a good mood, Jeanne D'Arc. I will first destroy that holy faith within you.

Is that so? You're not the unstoppable destroyer you think you are.

...But I am. Why else would the Moon Cell have sent you?



Well,we've seen Jeanne more than a few times thus far in this thread, but like I said with Iskandar, Altera's lower speed will considerably change how you should fight her. Not to mention, we can't use the Regalia here to power up, so you have to be a lot more cautious around here. Recall that her flag gives her a long reach, and her special attacks, especially her sword combo / firestorm moves. Those will punish you severely, but you should be able to get the edge on her if you've got a good idea how far Altera can hit with normal attacks.



At level 19, I can more than handle this.


The King in Gold

...!

...A storm hits. No, more than that. I'm getting chills. Even locked away in this ring, I can feel them. An overpowering existence is coming very close. Someone like the King of Conquerors? No, none at all. No, not at all. And not like Jeanne D'Arc, either. In the blur between that instant and the next, a hellish rain drills straight into the ground all around us.







Ack...!





So, not to disparage any of the other voice actors in this game, but Tomokazu Seki as Gilgamesh is consistently amazing, and he has a great theme song, so from this point on, if Gilgamesh has a large speaking role in a scene, assume it has my recommendation for watching, because you'd be right about that. As pitch-perfect as the casting for the Fate franchise generally is, *this* dude can pull off Gilgamesh like few could even dream.

*laugh* I see you mongrels have gathered for war once again. Do you not ever tire of fighting? You think you deserve to be called a "Top Servant"? Ah, the Moon's Holy Grail was playing a joke when it gave YOU that title. I grant you mongrels the honor of an audience with me. Open your eyes. Down in despair. I am truly the one supreme Heroic Spirit.

...The golden Heroic Spirit...

...

So the "leader" of this rabble has given up already. But you there, you still have a bit of spark in you, don't you. Even at the sight of my magnificent self, you have the gall to raise your sword. You're scarcely even a mongrel.

...

Don't waste my time with your stoic nonsense. You have my permission to speak. In fact, I happen to feel generous today. So much so that I'll show you more of my treasured swords, if you behave. After all...it's rare for this sort of instability to occur on SE.RA.PH. Rare enough that I bothered to tear through the boundary and see for myself. Do you understand, mongrel? Not one soul in ten thousand has had the privilege I give you this day. What more could you ask for?

He came here without being summoned...?! That's...not possible. Even for a Top Servant...

Goldie here is referring to being summoned to the Far Side of the Moon during the events of CCC. He was one of the playable Servants. After doing whatever he ended up doing during that silliness, he was stuck on the Far Side. That is, a normal dude would be stuck there, but we're talking about *Gilgamesh* here. There is no such thing as limits on such an existence.

I'm at a loss for words... I'm as stunned as she is. That golden Heroic Spirit's presence is overpowering, and he hasn't even revealed his true name yet. If I still had my memories, I might have known his origin. I try to see what I can sense, but all I can perceive is an enormous projection of Noble Phantasms, just like in that "rain"...

"Enormous" is putting it mildly. He's Gilgamesh. No hero predates his tale, and his Gate of Babylon contains the prototypes of all the weapons ever used by heroes anywhere in the world. Not entirely true, though. He doesn't have weapons directly used by gods or forged by the planet itself (i.e. Excalibur), but as for pretty much everything else? Yeah, he's got that covered. He's also got much more than weapons in there. He's got space ships, (apparently awesome) wine, and probably a whole lot of other stuff he doesn't feel like bringing out. After all, Gilgamesh is "He who saw the deep".

You've come without being summoned. So you can do the impossible. What is that to me? I exist to fight. I am a killing machine. Whatever stands in my way...I WILL destroy it.





...You have the scent of an ancient civilization. You were far above humanity in your first life, weren't you? Golden armor, infinite Noble Phantasms. Only one Servant fits that description. I didn't call for you, yet here you are, King of Heroes!

King of Heroes... The world's oldest hero, Gilgamesh?!

*laugh* The "scent"? What fitting savagery from an underling of the Umbral Star. You're a beast, drooling over what's in front of you. But in admiration of your unparalleled body, I will accept those words from you. Dark warrior! I know your legends, even older than mine. Prove to me that they are true!

The King of Heroes, Gilgamesh. That's the name of the Hero from the oldest epic known to man, the first human to have his deeds passed on in legend. He was a cruel King who reigned in the city of Uruk, collected every treasure, and even defied the gods. How could this be? Even by Top Servant standards, he's incomparable. Any Wizard in the Holy Grail War would know his name. Hell, I've lost my memories, and even I remember him now. It's no good. We can't possibly beat him. ...And yet, Altera still has her sword raised.

My victims were older and greater than you. Spare me your boasting. You'll always be the whelp who ran from me.

*laugh* I see. I 'd assumed you were a mindless monster. Very well. Be sure not to bore me!



As always, Gilgamesh is a powerful enemy (though we've gotten our Regalia gauge all charged up, if things get particularly hairy). His biggest advantage is his projectile attacks, as you might imagine (and given how generally overpowered projectile attacks are in this game), and he's one of those enemies that's easier fought at close range than hitting -> retreating -> advancing -> hitting, etc.

There are a few healing cubes located around the arena in case you need them, keeping in mind you still can't heal in combat. Once you've got him to about 60% HP...





Gilgamesh strikes without hesitation or mercy. He's no doubt aware that Altera fights for the Umbral Star, but he has no qualms about catching his own soldiers in the crossfire. The amount of artillery he's laying down would be terrifying just to watch, and here we are in the thick of it. In a sense, I'm more frightened of him than I am of Altera... Hm...? A relentless destroyer. In those terms, they're both the same. I should have seen it sooner.

What's wrong? Aren't you going to transform? Or are you trying my patience on purpose now? You'd stand a fair chance as the White Titan. This mock Heroic Spirit act of yours isn't even amusing anymore. Now stop holding back! Most monsters don't amuse me much either, but a walking apocalypse - that gets my attention. ...The titan that killed gods and trampled down the earth. That would indeed be worth using my treasured swords!





...

...The King of Heroes is right. Altera broke a sweat against the King of Conquerors, and here she's up against a wall. If she really can transform into a world-destroying titan, why doesn't she? Is her ability to transform restricted somehow? If so, it occurs to me that SE.RA.PH was built on information. We could theoretically reproduce the White Titan's data and unlock her powers that way. Of course, that's a wild guess...

King of Heroes. It's true, I am the reincarnation of that great destroyer. I didn't leave the kind of legacy other Heroes did. My sword exists to annihilate all in my path. But... Even so, I...I have a memory of walking the Earth in this form. Not as a titan all those years ago, but as an ordinary human. Once, I fought for more than destruction. I fought to leave something behind, I know I did. And I don't want to lose that memory.

Oh...?

You called me a "mock Heroic Spirit", and you're not wrong. But... Right now, I'm just "Hero Altera". And as long as there's someone who calls me by that name, I'll wield my sword in this form. If you wish to fight against Sephyr, then you'll have to crush this body and my resolve along with it!

Ah... And now, for the first time, I understand something about her. Everything she just said was completely sincere. Every word of it was true, and it came from the bottom of her heart. She may be the King of Destruction. She may be a killing machine. She was born that way, and I fully expect her to stay that way. But at the same time, just in this one moment, I felt a quiver in her heart. Not as Altera, the Vanguard of the Umbral Star. Not as Altera, the killer machine. If she can be a Heroic Spirit, then I-

You say you won't become the White Titan? Then I will rouse the slumbering giant myself!





*laugh* Now, become the titan! Or perish as a mock mongrel!

...I...don't want to be Sephyr...!

...Poison, she said. An offensive program designed to inflict continuous, lasting damage. But if that's the case, we have an option. A certain Code Cast can cure poison, regardless of the nature of the target. This particular poison having come from a Noble Phantasm, it might be harder to cure, but I can at least suppress it. "Altera", I tell her, "I'm going to use a Code Cast. Hang on."

You're...helping...? ...Fine. I'll leave the treatment to you, Prisoner.



Could be a turning point in their relationship, certainly... But never mind that, we still have a hero to fight.



So because Altera doesn't have the same connection to the Moon Cell that Nero and Tamamo have (with them being recognized by the Moon Cell itself to wield the Regalia, unlike our grim friend here), Altera unfortunately doesn't have any fancy transformation sequence. We'll just have to do with the massive damage boost.







This was a pretty cool way to end the fight, if I do say so myself.



...Hah.

...What's the meaning of this, King of Heroes?

It's just as it seems. The one I had business with was the White Titan. If you refuse to bring her forth, then I will have to deal with you instead. Vanguard of the Umbral Star... No, Hero Altera. You may have forgotten in that little nap of yours, but you and my Kingdom have some old debts to settle. Back on ancient Earth, before I was born, a contract came to be. With the White Titan, I should say, not with yourself.

You and I...made a contract?

Not quite. My father was the one who made the contract. Loathe as I am to admit it, you spared him once. And so, you made the gods swear to you that the debt would never be forgotten, and that one day, it would be repaid. Though I myself played no part in accruing that debt, it would tarnish the name of Uruk were I to ignore it. Do you see? On behalf of the gods, I have come to fulfill that contract. I will assist you, just this once.

So you, with all your...peculiarities...wish to join my army?

Fool, I said nothing of "joining" you. Though I respect you for standing as a Heroic Spirit. Mockery aside, I would not stand in your way.

It seems there's no more animosity between them. ...Good. The relief floods through me. I can almost feel my consciousness collapse from all the tension and fatigue, all melting away now. Now that I've heard him out, it seems he came to test us rather than kill us. ...Though he no doubt would have killed us if we hadn't fought so hard.

Oh, is that your Master locked away in your ring? You pathetic little prisoner...though you are rather astute, I must say. At any rate, you were not the titan I expected you to be. I had no choice but to determine that for myself. Still...

Hm? He gave me a look just now. Or did I imagine it?

...Oh, so this is how fate plays out. How amusing. Rejoice, Altera! I have decided that from this point on, I shall act as your second in command!

As I mentioned, he's indirectly referencing CCC again. Through one way or another, Gilgamesh came to know our friend Hakunon for a bit on the Far Side, and here she is now. Unlike the vast preponderance of humanity that's not fit to lick the crap off his shoes (or greaves, whatever), he actually quite likes Hakunon.

Wh-Why?! The ancient King of Heroes, playing second fiddle?! To Altera?! Who's working for the Umbral Star...which wants to destroy the world? D-Doesn't that mean the world's finished?! And wait a second...didn't he say he wasn't going to join earlier?!

Hah. I said that in the heat of the moment. Pay it no mind. Though if Altera had been here alone, I'd already be on my way. No matter. I have deigned to lend my support. Ask me no more questions. But I warn you: I have no intention of advising you in any of your plots. Even if your lives are on the line.

So in other words...

Think of it like this. You've been given history's greatest, finest weapon.

The greatest weapon...

...I see. Then maybe the world isn't going to end tomorrow if that's what he means by being Altera's second in command. Although I am afraid that the end did just get a lot closer.

...

Hm. Such an earth-shattering turn of events, and still you refuse to smile? You are quite the dull one, Altera. *turns around*

W-Wait. King...of Heroes. Where are you going...?

Second in command or not, I will not follow your orders. Besides, there's no point to me meddling in your affairs.



Gilgamesh is such a spectacular dick. Just gotta love him.

And just like that, he's gone. Is he a stubborn tyrant, or is he just free-spirited?

...All clear.

Altera quickly breathes out a sigh. I can feel her touching her ring ever so slightly. Aside from the difference of scale, it feels just the same as being held by Titan Altera.



...What are you plotting, King of Heroes? I would've never guessed a Servant like you would work under the Umbral Star and help destroy the world.

What? You're still alive, Holy Maiden? Then I trust you heard what I decreed. And so I have spoken. I would never go against my own words. And what about you? It seems you were summoned by the Moon Cell, but a Servant serves their contractor. Heroic Spirits are not meant to fight for the Moon Cell itself. In the end, the priority is the future of mankind. ...Hmph. And yet, just as the King of Conquerors did, you fight for your own passions. In any case, Holy Maiden, I wonder what you truly believe is most important. *teleports out*

...




The Master

...All right. You see... We...encountered the unexpected, and...you... Umm...I want to thank you.

*nod*

Being a temporary Heroic Spirit, I would not have been a match for the King of Heroes. But... I won... And because of you, I didn't just win. I held myself back from destroying everything. Your mana alone would not have been enough for me to do that. ...You chose to help me. And I'm grateful, insofar as I can be.

*nod* No matter what our contract looks like, I am her Master, so of course I'll support her. Regardless of everything up until now, I'll spare no effort in assisting her with my Code Casts from now on. She doesn't have to thank me. After all, our contract binds us together.

Don't get carried away. You're still my Prisoner. That hasn't changed at all. ...Yes. As it was, so it will be.

...Regardless, I feel like something has changed. Am I imagining it? It feels like we're both taking a step together. I know Altera is still an enemy, out to destroy the world. I'm still afraid of her, cautious of her. But even so...something happened between the two of us today.

...What is that look you're giving me? ...Hmph. No matter. If all's clear to you, then head back to the cave. You need to rest and recover your mana, just like last time.





...Oh? What's this? I feel like I've walked in on something awkward. She's hiding her face like an ostrich hides its head. ...What is she doing? I don't remember saying anything to the other Altera that would have upset her like this. At least, not that I'm aware of. If I did say something, I wish she would tell me.

...*whimper*

Huh? Did she just whimper? Is she afraid of something? No..."afraid" isn't the right word. All right, well, standing and watching this isn't going to help. "Titan Altera, why are you...?"

Y-Yes, what? Oh, umm... Welcome back...



Am I supposed to ride her hand up to the cage again? I could, but... Did I really catch her that much off guard just now? She was so relaxed and elegant before. What happened? Hero Altera's never been like this either. This is...*shakes head*

Huh...? Uh...um...

*shakes head*

...Uh...Oh, no...Why? You are...my Master, yes...?

Yes, I am. And her Prisoner. But some things are no longer necessary. Some things need to end.

End...? Do you really mean that? B-But... You just said...you're my Master...

So she does know about our exchange in front of the throne. Which means she should already understand. There's no need for the cage. I won't run away. Even if we're not exactly a traditional Master and Servant here, that doesn't matter. I made up my mind when I used that Code Cast. Because... "I am your Master".

...!

She acknowledges herself as the Great King of Destruction, but she wants to be a person too. I don't know a lot about the Umbral Star, but I think I know Altera enough to trust in who she is now. And I don't want to leave until I know who she will be.

You...trust in me? Even though...you're my Prisoner...? I have captured you. I have threatened you. I made you suffer. I sent you into deadly battle... Forced you into the ring... Yet. After all that, you can still stand tall and call yourself my Master.

*nod*

...Yes. Then I also have to answer your resolution. Please allow me to promise you. I will never put you in the cage again. In fact, I will destroy the cage and prepare you more suitable lodgings.

...How strange. I don't feel any hostility anymore. My first impression of her comes back to me. ...How beautiful she looked. Her red eyes, the face of a benevolent goddess. My fear of her hasn't gone away, but there's something else in me now, something to counter that fear. It's the conviction that Altera is someone worth fighting alongside, even to the death.

...Oh, I'm sorry, I'll have to do that tomorrow. Because...well, there are things that need to be done. Can I request that you stay in the cage one more night, please? Thank you very much, my Prisoner. Just for tonight, please bear with the cage. And also...I greatly appreciate all your hard work today. Please eat up and rest.