Part 33: Dawn Arc - Fall

Fall


Dawn Arc Stage 4



So, we've got a pretty similar setup here to Flame Poem Stage 3, just with Gawain replaced by Elizabeth and enemy Elizabeth replaced by Lu Bu. Lu Bu here does make the stage quite a bit harder, as he hits *hard* on Hard, and because of Altera's somewhat slugishness (though she's nowhere near the slowest character in the game), combined with the long range of some of his special attacks and halberd, make him much more of a menace than Elizabeth was.

First on our agenda is to take him out, just for a change of pace from the last time we did this.



Here's what I mean about Lu Bu making this stage harder: a single swipe from his halberd took off ~20% of my HP. You really have to play hit and run with this guy, and only attack when you are absolutely sure you can get a decent combo in without getting interrupted. A single move from him can take off a huge chunk of your health. Just remember that no enemy in this game can break a guard without being in Moon Crux / Drive mode and using a particular move, which the AI will not fail to do if you're blocking for more than like three consecutive seconds. Lu Bu has some tremendous lag time between the end of one combo and the beginning of the other, so that's when you'll need to take advantage.

Lu Bu does have some powerful AoE special attacks, and extella is one of those games where your proximity to the blast center has no relation whatsoever to how much damage you'll take from it, if you didn't block. Even if you're standing on the very outer edge of the AoE hit, you'll take the full amount of damage from it.



Rewinding a bit, and I just wish Gilgamesh provided color commentary for every stage in this game.







This is Altera's final unlocked attack: a *massive* charge attack that covers a lot of ground, swoops up anything in its path, and then slashes them away. I do actually have something to add to this one.



You know Altera's Noble Phantasm in this game? Yeah, we've seen it a few times. But, her Grand Order NP is *totally* different. Minus all the song and dance, her NP is basically identical to this final move, but there it's just called "Photon Ray", whereas in this game it's called "Tear Drop Photon Ray", which I assume accounts for the difference.

Now, to be perfectly exact, at one point in Grand Order's story, Altera does pull out Tear Drop Photon Ray to nuke a particular baddie, but that's a story you'll have to discover for yourself, I think. In addition, all of Altera's attack animations are taken straight from this game, which is a neat thing to discover if you're someone like me who went extella->Grand Order and noticing all of them.



And the stage's biggest obstacle is down. Well, Tamamo might be more of a threat, just because of her speed / Regalia, but whatever. Full disclosure, I did have to restart this stage because Lu Bu did way too much damage to me for me to go on. Only time I've had to do that this thread.



Can't argue with results, I'm afraid. Not that he doesn't have a point, mind. From here on, it's mostly a familiar story of going around and putting out fires, taking out Plants, and gradually building your side's Regime Matrix. However, it's nice to have a stage with a lot of fighting like this stage where you can use Altera's crowd control prowess to its fullest extent. If you're using a Mystic Code with only one anti-Trap Code Cast, just make sure to prioritize Sectors that you don't have the counter for, assuming they haven't been taken over already.

Really, it's pretty irresponsible to go after either Karna or Lu Bu before you've put out some fires, but hey, that's Altera for ya. Just go in and smash and break everything, and those who are left standing are the ones who deserved to remain standing. Culling the herd, you see.



After the completion of the Regime Matrix, we still have one last issue to clear up: Karna. Luckily, finally we're paired up with a decently slow enemy who doesn't hit overly hard, but can surprise you with some pretty devastating special moves both at range and in close combat. Just prior to this screenshot, he threw an exploding spear at where I was.

But, he is quite slow, so you can just pressure him a whole bunch and he won't be able to break out easily.



This is actually a two-parter. The first part, as you can see, involves him shooting a bunch of lightning out in a circle, then the second is him throwing his spear in the air and causing additional lightning damage to get you. Luckily I was fortunate and the first part knocked me too far away for the second to get me. Quite fortunate. Do note this move can cause paralysis if it hits you. Luckily I had antidotes on hand, but it can be annoying if you don't and you just have to run around / block like a dope until it goes away.

But, after Karna fell, that's about all she wrote for this stage. Time for the main event.


The Second Regalia

Yes. Here I am, Vanguard of the Umbral Star. Normally, I'd ask you to hear me out again, before it comes to violence. But... This time, it seems our actions will speak louder than words. And not even because you're unsuitable for my poor, dear Husband. Above even that, one thing is clear...You're an enemy of the world. Am I wrong?

You are absolutely correct. I am the enemy of civilization...and of you. I'm not even a real Heroic Spirit.

Well, we all have our little deviations from the norm, but let's not get into that. Hmm, yes. No matter who you are, my sweetheart's nature is to try to understand you and offer you a hand. ...Just like with me. So nothing else needs to be said. Come, my dearest.

...Her eyes, the color of the Sun, stare at me. For that moment, she ignores Altera entirely. ...I can feel just how precious Hakunon is to that Caster. How much she meant every word she said. As much as I appreciate that, I can't go with her. Not that I want to destroy the world, but I'll never stop being her Master. *shakes head*

...I understand. It tears my heart to hear it, but I'm happy for you. This is just who you are. You come across someone who's only known rejection and betrayal, and you stick with them to the end. That resolution to be true to yourself...you are, and always will be, my Master. Now, prepare yourselves. I, Tamamo no Mae, will come at you with everything I have.

...I'm as happy as she is. Whoever I was before, they chose the right Servant. Tamamo no Mae. That's her true name. It fits her so perfectly. *teleported back into ring*

...Here we go.





One that's nice about fighting previous player characters is you know what kind of moves the enemy will bring out and how to avoid them. Tamamo here is no exception, and you should probably have a pretty keen grasp of what kind of tricks she can pull out if you hope to counteract her speed against your attacking power, as Altera.



Of course, as you and I are well aware, Tamamo's real strength does not lie in her normal damage, but in her Regalia's way overpowered projectile hits. I don't know if she uses her ice shard projectile move in her normal form (though I'd wager yes, and she just didn't get a chance to use it this time), but you can bet she'll throw out Regalia projectiles. As always, prolonging your time in the air with dashes is your best chance to avoid a huge amount of damage.





Well...to be perfectly fair, it kinda is a dull result.





Swing and a miss. That coulda been bad...



This was a pretty badass way to end this fight. After a few more hits, me and Tamamo both backed off and began charging our NPs at basically the same time. The result...



We're gonna need a digital mop.



Hey, stop crowding.



Most of that damage was taken from Lu Bu, which 1-2 hits more would have dropped me down to A-rank. He's a tricky one.


Love's End

...Mas...ter...! ...Even if...my body...turns to dust...





That resolution to stay who you are. You are, and always will be, my Master. ...Forgive me.



At the very instant when that tri-colored sword strikes Caster down, a sound almost escapes me. A scream. A cry. Caster. Tamamo no Mae. To Hakunon, she was irreplaceable. ...I thought I had nothing left within me, but the weight of her loss is pushing down into my chest. I tell myself I didn't make her decisions. Or Altera's.





Master of the Soul. Sleep within the second Regalia, and await the time of fusion.

Her words are so calm and quiet, it's hard to imagine the magnificent battle that just took place. A killing machine. The embodiment of destruction. The truth of those words hits home. But I know she's also more than that. When the other Hakunon fell together, she understood what it meant. One day, we might fall like that. In fact, I imagine it's almost certain. But even with that... Now... I found someone who'd lived all alone for 14 millennia. I wanted to do something about it. Just to confirm for myself that this empty vessel, with no memories or experience, had a heart of a true human.

The second Regalia. Or a piece of the whole, to be exact. The fusion... We can hold off until we've gathered the third piece. Your condition is stable, For now, you're still safe. Can you see it? What we've gained through this victory.



We've already conquered 70% of SE.RA.PH. By the time we gain the third Regalia, we'll have the rest as well. What that Caster...and the other you...left behind. ...And perhaps a few things will survive in the wake of the destruction. I wonder if they'll punish me for thinking that...

Those words stick out to me. "Survive". Which "things", if any, does she want to spare? Or am I misunderstanding her?

...Oh, I should tell you something. Soon, I will no longer be able to maintain this aspect of myself. The invasion of SE.RA.PH will advance, and when the fused Regalia is completely destroyed, dawn will break on the Zero Dark. When that happens... My duty will have been fulfilled. The Tear of the Star, or the "Ark of the Stars", if you prefer, will automatically pierce the Moon Cell core, and take complete control of the Moon. Once that happens, I'll have no further need to act like a Servant. And the one in the cavern...will no longer need to dream.

I don't really understand what she's saying. I assume the Ark, or Tear, of the Stars is that space vessel that came from the Umbral Star and pierced the Moon. So I don't have all the details straight, but...by "no longer needing to dream", does she mean...the titan in the cavern will be set free?

...No. That's not it. When dawn comes, the Zero Dark will no longer exist as such. And neither will I. So my dream will end. How is it humans say it? Something along the lines of..."The dead no longer dream".






Staying alive

...I had no idea. Maybe there's something I still don't understand here, but this sounds so unfair. Altera wants to be free. She said so in the cavern, I'm sure of it. "The dead no longer dream"? So, what, you fought all this way and laid hands on Caster just to bring your own death on sooner?

I... No, we...have no choice. ...I'm sorry. I wouldn't even know what to do with any freedom if I had it. ...I'm empty. I'm not like you humans. But rest assured...even if I disappear or turn to stone, we will protect you. I won't ever let you die. Because you...have become my Master. *teleports out*

She just says that. It sounds like she doesn't want to face the problem. ...Well, maybe, maybe not. But what did she mean about "rest assured" and turning to stone?! What exactly is "reassuring" about that?! Maybe Altera wants to ignore this whole problem, but I don't. Dying can't possibly be what the Altera in the cavern dreams about.



...I ask her to tell me the truth, without hiding anything.

The truth...?

Yes, the whole story. I want her to tell me how she really feels, about everything that's happened to her. I won't move until she tells me. There's nothing she can do to make me budge, not even crushing me. She said she was empty, but I'm pretty sure i have her beat there. I tell her not to worry about burdening me with her troubles. This Body's got room for them. "...Please", I tell her. "I want to know everything about you...about how you spent all those years alone."

...You're so small. And yet, you're so amazing. This is the first time I've been overwhelmed by a human. ...I can't promise this conversation will be very interesting. I mean, it IS about me. Most of what's in my head is information on my enemies, the humans. It's useful for fighting them, but I don't think it's what you're looking for. That said, I'll tell you if you want. 14,000 years ago, the Umbral Star sent me here, and I destroyed everything in sight. And then came the dream. About someone who lived as "Attila", about 1,000 years back. I'll tell you all about it...

Her story basically matches the dream I saw. Her dream, her memories. But there's one major difference. Altera talks about what she saw. What she felt. Loneliness. Emptiness. Inspiration. The guilt of all the lives she destroyed. And then...One single wish was born, deep within her heart... A wish to leave something behind. The wish blossomed like a life being born. Like a civilization being built. But with no one to share it, with no hope of ever coming true, her wish languished alone. She didn't wish it on the Umbral Star, or on the Holy Grail, but on the darkness of the cavern, for 14,000 years. And the darkness answered only with silence, for an incomprehensibly long time. There she was, in a dream she couldn't wake from, sinking further and further. I can't even imagine how lonely and sad that must have been. There was no god here to save her. No Holy Grail. No one. But still, she continued to wish and wish...