Part 42: Golden Poem - Path

Path


Cheat sheet



Such impudence! Such disrespect! Such audacity! You're nothing but a bound spirit! But now... My calculations... My equations, all broken... Body of the Master, Hakunon, I never considered what may happen if the full Regalia fell to you. I see now how you transferred your memories to your past self, suing a method that bypassed temporary spiritrons, and involved information only. Still, your sacrifice is useless, for you failed to see the end! ...You've caused me such needless trouble, human!

Nothing I've done is useless. Nothing I've done is foolish. Another me grew close to someone, close enough to continue the fight even after the end. All I've done is carry that torch. And that's why I'll never let him win. Why he and the Umbral Star will never hurt our world again.

...Don't get carried away. No matter what you think you know, the system won't change for you. All that WILL change is that someone else will consolidate the Regalia. As long as Sephyr exists, you can't avoid the inevitable. Try to refute that however you like. I'll be waiting. *teleports out*

Well, it's hard to disagree with him there. We've seen in Flame Poem and Dawn that whenever shit's going south for him and his plans, he can just turn Altera into the White Titan and change what timeline he's on to give it another try. And since we're doing all of this for Altera, well...

...And so he escapes this time. A fearsome foe indeed, but we emerge victorious. Praetor!

*nod*

Now, you ARE going to explain to me what this victory means for us exactly, yes? Please, regale me with each and every detail. And be warned that should you leave anything out, your punishment already awaits - in My Room!

What exactly would she punish me with in My Room? I don't think she'd leave me in there forever, but whatever she DOES have in mind, it sends a chill up my spine. All that aside, I do want to tell her everything. The story of the Hakunon who is not Hakunon. The story of a Master who came to the end of their path after grasping a single ray of light.



...Hm. So you should have forgotten your journey into the Zero Dark during your long slumber... Yet something surfaced in your mind, and you awoke with those memories still fresh within. Am I close to the mark?

That sounds about right. Although I don't really ahve any way of confirming most of it right now. A lot of it is extrapolation and assumption. But thanks to those memories, I remembered Saber's True Name instantly, and I pegged Archimedes for who he really was.

A different world with a different Praeteor... And not your whole self, but...

The Mind, Body, and Soul. And of those three, "I" was the Body. It was a curious sensation. A very bizarre, specific feeling, hard to digest or explain. In this world, I'm in the same boat, having been split into three as well. But there's a difference, because everything that the Body experienced in the other world was sent to me as data I can see. According to the message, all of the fights against the White Titan, the Umbral Star, and Archimedes are over. But in this world, they still have yet to happen. First of all, the Blue Caster, a different Servant than Saber who also lent me her strength in the Moon's Holy Grail War, has a piece of the Regalia and is about to attack, with the Soul as her Master. After that, someone else will appear with the third piece. A terror who rules over the Zero Dark, Altera. The Vanguard of the Umbral Star.

...So the "you" from the other world, that is to say the Body from the other world... You were close to Altera, were you not?

I think so, yes. But it's not really correct to call that Body "me". The Mind, Body, and Soul, separated as they are, are like pieces of a broken mirror. But she was different. Her circumstances were very specific to her own time and place, and her own emotional experiences. So I'd say her story belongs to her only.

...I agree. From what you have said, that does seem to be the truth of the matter. So the decision that particular Body was something no one else could have done. It was their choice, guided by hope and desire. ...Very well. Praetor, I hereby make this edict: I wish for you to show me the records you inherited. The consciousness of a Master and Servant are connected at a very deep level. It should be possible for me to share your experiences in a most direct fashion.

We might be able to do that. Masters have sometimes been known to dream about their Servants' memories. I can't see any reason why it shouldn't work in reverse. I look into Saber's glorious emerald eyes. They sparkle back at me, and I don't see a single trace of hesitation or doubt. She wants to witness what I've seen, what the Hakunon of another world who risked everything to leave us, from the bottom of her heart. Not just because she's curious, but because we're partners, and in a way, my otherworldly doppelganger was her partner too. She wants to see those memories to gain a deeper understanding of our own relationship. All right. I'll do exactly what she asks. I'm not that great at using Code Cast, but I'll try. I access the records the Regalia gave me.









The three Heroic Spirits who defend the Zero Dark, the Holy Maiden, and those two immensely troublesome Kings... Did they pledge their allegiance to the Umbral Star? No, Altera, they most certainly did not. They pledged to you. They stood by your side because of who you are. Not because you were the strongest, or because they expected you to win. Those three only respect the power of one's heart, the courage of one's convictions.

ALT01 What are you saying...? They lost to me, so now they serve me. It's a simple question of force. Why bother asking?

Do you hear your own words, Altera? I had not thought you to be such a fool.





...I see. I fought with all my might, and in the end, I fell.

I show her the Regalia, split into three. I show her the other Hakunon. The advancing Umbral Star. Altera the Heroic Spirit, Altera the Titan, Altera...no. Sephyr the White Titan.For as long as this fight raged in reality, the record transfer takes only a few seconds, and the playback ends as soon as the transfer is done. Sharing the records turned out to be simple, thanks to the Regalia. Now Saber has seen and processed everything. The beginning and end of the Body from another world. The end of the Heroic Spirit that was Altera from another world. ...That ephemeral and humble dream of a young maiden.

...I am proud of you. Happy for you. The other you, from that other world, achieved the greatest accomplishment any of us ever have.

A golden fire wavers. A flicker of Saber's hair. I almost reach out with my hand to reassure her. I almost call her name, tell her I will never lose her. In some ways, that record is a "memory" of our future. In no way a reflection of our past. It's only one of hte possible outcomes for us. So...



I doubt Saber needs the backup from us, but Hakuno's gotta feel the other Hakuno's emotions more than anyone. It's up to us to make a difference.

...Indeed. Just as you say, of course. ...Well, then. It seems we'll be quite busy from this day forward, seeing as SE.RA.PH is riven with chaos and war on account of the "split". And so, the task ahead is no less than the unification of SE.RA.PH! We must found a new Roman Empire! Even our holy founder, Romulus, could not imagine that we would spread our Empire to the faraway Moon! But we must do so!

It's exactly as Saber says. Caster should have obtained the Soul of Hakunon and the second piece of the Regalia by now. She's probably even started to expand her borders. And since we can't head to the Zero Dark from our side without the merged Regalia... First we have to unify SE.RA.PH. We'll have to somehow convince Caster to join us, and then recruit all the Servants currently on the Moon. The power of the Umbral Star is great, and we will all have to unite in order to face it.



The chance of a lifetime lies in front of us! We shall paint all of SE.RA.PH in scarlet and gold!

Scarlet and gold, the colors of Rome. She's right, those are two of my favorite colors. But we're not talking about that right now...

...Do not fret. I understand. The Umbral Star is truly a force to be reckoned with. Should it ever arrive, not only will it ravage the Moon, but the Earth will face its terrible might as well. And we must also consider the vassals who would serve it. We've defeated Archimedes, but the woman... Altera is strong. And anyone who serves under her will be nearly as strong as she is. We shared the same record, Praetor. At the very least, I understand that well. And so, again, the first task ahead of us is uniting SE.RA.PH. It would be an impossible task to take on the titan with only a third of the Regalia. First on our list is Caster. We'll snap that vixen's ambitions in half, then change her heart with all sincerity. We have a long road ahead of us, but there is nothing to fear. ...No enemy could ever stand in our way.

Piece of cake, right?




Catching up

Surely you understand everything that I long for, everything that I lust for? I have endured such heartrending sorrow. Although I was happy to gaze upon your face, I was left waiting for so long. I held in my feelings for what seemed like an eternity...an entire day, even. In fact, it was over twenty hours. Am I not due for some sort of reward? ...My Praetor.

Over twenty hours? Gotta have been pretty brutal for our flamboyant emperor here.

So casual, and yet so brazen. Short and slim as she is, she radiates so much warmth that I feel hot when she's near me. This...



So even though this is not the affection-raising choice, it's definitely the funnier one, so we'll go with that. Also, Nero's 26 bond level is *way* higher than I left her at the end of Flame Poem (11, for the record). I was grinding Free Battles a whole bunch to level up various other Servants in preparation for doing their Sub-Stories, and Nero / Tamamo / Altera were mainstays because I needed to get a high enough level for all their epilogue scenes if you choose Flame, Orchid, and Dawn, respectively, after you've completed them. It's also important for Nero in particular because after this upcoming stage, I'm going to put Nero in a new costume, gained by getting to a high enough bond level.

What scenes are those, you ask? After Stage 2 of Golden.

Saber is delicate, soft, and petite. My precious swordswoman, who blossoms wherever she goes. There's nothing I want to do more than stare back into her smoldering gaze... But! There's no guarantee that we're the only ones here. What if our generals are standing by in their spirit forms? Cu Chulainn wouldn't leave. He'd just go on smirking. Li Shuwen would probably watch over us with that laugh of his. Archer would most likely just stand there with a cool look on his face, Gawain, of all people, would probably egg us on with some sort of abstract encouragment. ...Now that I think about it, none of the Heroes on the Roman side all that decent, are they?

See, the first three we can all believe, but if you're at all familiar with the Gawain of CCC or the Grand Order x CCC event, Gawain is a hot-blooded man with the usual appetites, and that's all I'm sayin'.

What a strange thing to concern yourself with. How could anyone intrude upon us in My Room? I assure you, if anyone WERE foolhardy enough to try such a thing, my blade would make quick work of them.

Yes, I see... But still, Saber. Could I ask you to wait just a little while? I want to share everything with you, everything, but... We're about to fight a war. The enemies ahead are stronger than we've ever faced. So for now...

So the other option is roughly similar. If you choose that one, Hakuno expresses appreciation for Nero's beauty again, in terms you're probably familiar with by now, but eventually throws cold water on the idea. The only difference is we don't get an amusing reflection on what Nero's generals would think about such blatant lewdness.

...Yes. My Praetor, I accept how you feel. Although our honeymoon will continue forever, this neither the time nor place to savor it. But my True Name will grace your lips again soon enough. ...Or could it possibly be, my Praetor, that you might by some sliver of a chance, be teasing me...? Honestly, where did you learn such poor habits? Hm, I should have never let you go to the Moon Cell core. Had I known it would teach you such uncouth behavior... *laugh* I jest, of course! I will bow to your wishes. But when this battle has come to an end, and when all is settled behind us...



It's only fair, after all.



Archimedes of Syracuse...the Great Scholar. There is not a single man in Rome who does not know his name. That is how impressive his legend is. And yet even one such as he...

It's surprising to see Saber so angry. Maybe it's because the Archimedes who betrayed us was a true Heroic Spirit through and through, and not someone recorded in the Throne of Heroes as an anti-Hero, placed there as a threat.

An Anti-Hero is, as you might expect, a villainous Heroic Spirit. Well, at least someone who has a reputation for monstrous / heinous deeds. For example, Medusa is classified as one, but she's not really a villain whenever she shows up. When it comes to summoning spirits, the Moon Cell doesn't give a toss about their reputation, but in terrestrial Grail Wars, there's usually some safeguards to make sure an individual known for such deeds doesn't get summoned, but there's no guarantees it will *stay* that way, if you catch me. Additionally, the definition of "Anti-Hero" is pretty narrow, as you could make a case for a lot of Heroic Spirits, including our pal Nero here, have "Anti-Hero" qualities, but are not classified or referred to as such. It's pretty much a designation for legendary monsters and such, which Medusa, to be fair, is.

Hm, to be frank, it's disappointing. Archimedes' equations are works of art, unbending and unyielding. The standards of beauty are always changing. Strangely enough, others often fail to see the beauty that I myself perceive.

Philistines, the lot of them.

But none can dispute the beauty of mathematics. Their completion, their perfection, so constant and unchanging in the eyes of millions. They symbolize and crystallize human ingenuity, and by their eternal gifts, humanity continues to prosper. And yet, Archimedes has betrayed all of humanity... Such a frustrating tragedy. Can there be some reason for it?! Nonetheless, he is a genius among geniuses. Perhaps he has a reason no one else can comprehend.

Still waiting for the Isaac Newton Servant, but have no fear. We'll be learning how Archimedes went from a hardworking system admin the Moon Cell decided it could trust to handle the Regalia / anti-Velber defenses to what he is now, thanks to his Sub-Story. I'd spoil that, but at the end of Dawn Arc, you can play as all but three Servants: a Lancer, Caster, and a Saber. Doesn't take much guesswork to figure out Archimedes is the Caster. It's the only one that's explicitly canon to the main storyline.

...Is she thinking his reasons are more than just personal?

No. I suspect they're quite personal. A genius like Archimedes is boudn to act only in self-interest. His goal must be tied to his own desires. A man like Archimedes would join the Umbral Star purely for himself, not for some greater good. It disappoints me. I once heard that Archimedes did indeed use his talents for the greater good when he first lived, even if the people failed to understand him... Well, no matter. One could say that he and I were both misunderstood geniuses. In our own way. I swear to defeat the Great Scholar, Archimedes of the Umbral Star. The next time our paths cross, I will wipe that smile from his face.

...I feel the same way. We'll definitely settle things next time we meet. No matter what, we need to crush every one of his plans.

Yes! Our hearts and minds are united in this noble endeavor! We will put on the greatest of shows for that evil sycophant, bright as his place in history may be!

We may be facing a full-scale invasion from Tamamo's forces, but we've still got a chance to catch up with Nero. If we didn't, what's the point of all this?



Yes, a lion. You are aware that the new SE.RA.PH is expanding every day, are you not, my Praetor? From the seven old layers to the seven new layers. Their basic format has not changed, but each layer is growing more and more each day. Some new territories mirror specific lands and ages within Earth's history... But others are full of wildlife, bursting with jungle-like terrain.

Saber is correct. The new world that was created after the Moon's Holy Grail War is slowly but steadily growing. That I know. But what was that about a lion?



The way Sakura Tenge says "Lion" is just adorable.

According to Archer, a lion was seen in one of the new areas near the Roman territories! Or at least, it resembled a lion!

She corrected herself. I didn't miss that. My own dear Saber stopped and corrected herself.

Well, Archer did mention a snakelike tail, and a goat growing out of its back, or some such nonsense. But he must have been mistaken. Or it must be some unknown species, or some sort of NPC made in the image of the lion family's long-lost cousin. I would love nothing more than to capture it...to keep it as my darling pet.

I picture that for a second. Our petite Saber, clinging to a six foot lion monster, fluffing up its mane, petting it, calling it a good boy...Oh ho. Not a bad image at all. If anyone can tame a wild beast, it's Saber. She would definitely do it at any cost. And I'm sure that no matter how much she fused over it, all the lion would do is sit there, wagging its tail adorably. I can easily imagine that. And that scene would be so brilliant that I would have to avert my eyes.

Hm? What's the matter, my Praetor? Why are you suddenly covering your face?

...This could be a good thing. I'd like to look for that lion if we have some time. And I'll have to level up the screenshot skills of my heart to the MAX before that time comes...!

I've missed Mind Hakuno. Really I have.

Hmph. Why are you nodding to yourself as if you've come to some grand decision? Help me understand, won't you? At any rate, lions are wonderful... Ahh, I want one to cuddle... I want to play at being Heracles... To cuddle the lion's neck and hold on tight...

Of course, heroes fighting with lions is a pretty popular motif in classical mythology, but it's important for Heracles in particular, as the slaying of the Nemean Lion was his first Labor. Let's hope Nero doesn't have to get to that point, and can indeed tame the mighty chimera that Nameless spotted.



Hakuno ain't scared of no lion.

Yes! The early Emperor gets the lion, so let us leave at once! I will allow you to challenge it as well, my Praetor. Show me how you would face the lion, and throttle it with your naked flesh on fully display!

Sounds fair.

A-Ah, um... I see. I get it now... That was one of the legendary tasks of Hercules, or Heracles, as Nero would have called him... A one-on-one wrestling match with a lion. So that's why Saber is so excited about this... Okay, I'm going to go ahead and veto that plan. We have too many other things to handle right now for a lion hunt. Now, Saber, let's get ready for the next battle!

Hm... I-I suppose it is just as you say... I will have to choke a lion some other time...



Before we begin, this is what Nero's full Install Skill circuit looks like. As you level up a Servant's bond level, you'll get more slots to put things in, and more links between the nodes. Each Servant's circuit is different, allowing for more powerful combinations based on the number of links (I think the max you can bonus you can give to an Install Skill is +60%. Nero can only manage 40% at most). I decided to give Nero a pretty balanced line-up, with a focus on elemental attacks / potentially insta-killing normal enemies.

Prepare well for the next stage. Get a lot of anti-Flame Sector Traps Code Casts, and get ready for a rumble. One of the harder stages in the game.


Gathering, again

Ah yes, conversing with you in My Room was truly enjoyable! This must be the meaning of the word "honeymoon". I would wish for nothing more than to stay there forever with you, but unfortunately we have so much to do. Now that our bodies are rested and our energy restored, we should be on our way. Come, to the battlefield!

*alarm buzzes*

Something slashes through Saber's words. Some kind of alarm? Could it be an effect of the piece of the Regalia she holds, or is it a function of this throne the Regalia made? With the alarm comes a sense of urgency. It doesn't look like this is one of Saber's surprises.

An enemy attack. It seems we have no time to waste. Hm, and after I already planned my grand strategy to sweep their forces. how discourteous of them to strike first.

So, an enemy who can attack Saber's territories at this stage. That rules out Altera, since it's too soon for her to be able to leave the Zero Dark. And that leaves...

Yes, it must be that blue fox. Surely that vixen's lust has consumed her if she's proclaiming herself Queen and invading our beloved Rome. Do not fear, my Praetor. We will do more than simply fight her, yes? We will need more than brute strength to blaze the trail ahead. We will need to hone our forces. And Caster looks to have already gathered support. Therefore, I shall gather my own support! Four supreme warriors, ready to scatter the enemy before them! Allow me to introduce them all!







The first general is...!

Yes, I know him. I remember him. The legendary "Son of Light" of the Celtic Ulster Cycle. A Lancer class Hero, and the champion of the red spear.

His True Name is...!

True Name: Cu Chulainn. A Servant skilled in both offense and defense, he's reliable in any sort of situation.

Y-Yes. That's true, but... Well, I suppose the Son of Light is quite famous...seeing as my Praetor is already aware of him...

Full disclosure, before I played Fate/stay night for the first time, I had no idea who Cu Chulainn or anyone from Irish Mythology was. But now I know a whole bunch of their names.

Hey there, long time no see. Looks like your girl's doing all right.

*ahem* Let me try again. The second general! Though his legend is young, his skills and finesse are godly. His brutal fists are known far and wide...

I know about him too. "The Demon Fist Master, without shape or sound. An Assassin known for his strike, which needs no second strike."

H-His True Name is...!

True Name: Li Shuwen. It doesn't matter to him whether he fights one man or an army. They'll all taste his Demon Fist.

Well, it's quite the library you carry in there, isn't it? I had my suspicions as far back as the Holy Grail War, but don't you konw a bit too much about human history?!

Kaka, was this a coincidence or was it fate?! Pardon me if you happen to smell blood on me. I... Hmm, not very surprised, are you? Well, that suits me just fine. Now, I don't know the particulars of this new SE.RA.PH yet, but I'm looking forward to the new battlefield.

...Hmph. I have a sense of what may come next, but no matter - I shall soldier on! The third...!

Yes, even he serves under Saber now. Under the midday sun, he is invincible. The Knight of the Sun, his class is Saber.

His True Name is Gawa-

True Name: Gawain. With his furious strength on our side, it's as if we've gained an army of ten thousand men. No, even they would not compare to him.

I knew it! Alas! ...Oh. My Praetor. You know of my generals from the records of the Body. Is it not so?



Time to fess up. It was just too easy.

ARE you sorry? Truly? Were you not hiding a mischevious grin as you stole my spotlight? It's true that you are a being of passion. And I do understand the desire to let that passion run wild. That in itself is a wonderful thing. Indeed. I adore it. In fact, the mere thought of calling you "my Praetor of Passion" makes my heart race. However, this is a different matter entirely! No matter where I go, on or off the stage, my spotlight always follows me. And it shines for none other than you. But when you, who should be my beloved audience, storm my stage and steal my show... O, misery! My heart is rent in two!

"Yes, of course. I understand, Saber." In these records I have, this version of me, the Mind, was at odds with the Body, and so were our respective Servants. We led armies of thousands to fight against Altera, with powerful Servants on both sides.

...Have the two of you finished conferring? ...I see, you are the Sovereign of SE.RA.PH. Than perhaps the Moon's Holy Grail organized its battles with a sense of justice...

Yes, I do believe so. In hindsight, I think it's plain to see that the Moon Cell chose its victor wisely. By the way, Lord Gawain, why do you turn from me?

If I may speak past Her Majesty... Hakunon, you were quite instructive to my former master Leo. I believe in your righteousness.

O-Oh. You speak qu-quite candidly, I see... Perhaps I will have to rethink the rewards I was planning for you. We fought a duel, and I clearly bested you, yet still you remain indecisive. No matter; I shall forgive your hesitance. After all, I am a magnanimous soul. Let us move on to the fourth and final-

...Yes. He echoes in the knowledge of Hakunon's Body as well. Although I have doubts that Saber herself chose him....

Oh? You don't seem to be surprised to see me at all. And we never crossed paths in the Moon's Holy Grail War. Is it just that the Regalia makes you extra plucky, or...? I'll leave that question for later. This emergency isn't really the best time to be exchanging introductions. Isn't the enemy at our gate? I'd think we ought to take care of that first.

Praetor! Again, you encroach upon me! And Archer, it is as you say. We must deal with this issue at once. The enemy troops have already taken a portion of our Roman territories, and have finished securing their own. And so we must first defeat she who rules those territories, and halt her invasion! But first! Before we head out ot war, there is something I must tell my four mighty generals. This is not ordinary battle ahead. Although the enemy's territories are rich and ripe for plunder, this is not a war of conquest. This is a fight to save our world! Our goal is not simply to destroy Caster's forces, but to settle things with the mastermind behind this conflict. First, we must consolidate the Regalia. Neither my Praetor nor I wish to annihilate the enemy. Their piece of the Regalia is all we need.

She said it. Fighting isn't what we need to do right now. Odd to say that while we're being attacked, but we know Caster is only attacking because Archimedes manipulated her into it. The records make that clear to me. And I know Archimedes will go on plotting. He'll stir every pot he can get his hands on. He'll watch Saber and Caster go at it, and wait for them to weaken. Then he'll take his best chance to merge their two Regalia pieces, and rip open the way to the Zero Dark so Altera can step in...That's probably what he's planning - and hey, now I can predict what he might do! That's why he tried to sidle up to Saber. But since he failed, he'll go to Caste next. If we fought an all-out war with Caster, only Archimedes would win. But it won't go according to plan this time. No matter what he pulls out of his bag of tricks, we'll be ready for him.

Yes, our goal is the piece of the Regalia that Caster holds. And if possible, my Praetor and I will parley for it. Of course, I do say "if possible". I would never expect you to speak empty-handed with armed belligerents. Nonetheless, our first priority is not to battle with them. Understood? When we hold the true Regalia in our hands, we will crush the aspirations of Velber, who hopes to shatter the beautiful blue star upon which love blooms so literally.

Velber, you say...?

So that's the guy pulling the strings, huh? If he's our guy then yeah, it doesn't make much sense to waste our firepower fighting Caster Girl's forces, huh?

I shall send the details on Archimedes and Velber by data. Each of you, please commit those details to memory. Now, then!

Yeah, that's a pretty rough sketch you're drawing for us. I don't think these guys really want to talk. I think they want to pulverize us.

Yes. A blitzkrieg invasion and a swift takeover. I think they intend to establish a base just in front of ours, then crush us at point-blank range.

It seems like the four generals have a good idea of the enemy's movement. They're probably accessing the Throne, which has some of the Regalia's functions.

Yes. Blue Caster, Queen of the "Millennium Capital", who intends to control the entirety of SE.RA.PH, has sent some of her most powerful Servants against us. Berserker, Lu Bu. And the ancient Hero who wields the power of the Sun... His name is Karna. The great Heroic Spirit widely known as the Hero of Charity.

Karna...A Hero whose brave exploits are penned in the old Indian script, the Mahabharata. The record tells me that even in the three way battle that determined the fate of the new SE.RA.PH, he ascended to the Moon Cell with enormous strength. He is sometimes called "the Hero of the Sun", and portrayed as an incarnation of the Sun itself. In that regard, his nature has some similarities to Gawain or Cu Chulainn. Cu Chulainn is the son of the Sun god Lugh, and Gawain wields the holy sword of the Sun, Excalibur Galatine. Karna must be on their level.

...I understand. Both Heroic Spirits are mighty warriors. Even that Berserker alone would be a difficult foe for us to face.

Wow, the Regalia's search function even gives us their True Names, sort of. I won't complain about it making things easy, but... Well, it won't be TOO easy in any case.

From what I've seen, there was a Greek Anti-Hero in their midst as well. Seeing that face brought back memories.

Were you a Greek Hero, Archer? In any case, she has truly sent her best. She means to destroy me.

Well, he's not a Greek hero, I can tell you that, but he can project the shield of the hero Ajax, Rho Aias. Unfortunately he won't be demonstrating that ability in this title.

Then please leave this fight to me. If we would fight for the stars, then my sword, forged from a star, should be our guiding light. What say you, Sovereign? Of course, I will obey your every command.

I give him my thanks. He was a terrifying enemy, but I'm very glad to have him on our side. "Prepare to leave", I tell them all. "From here on out, we can't afford to lose a single battle."

What possesses you to say such a thing now, Praetor? Have either of us ever said, "Oh, this battle might not be so important. We can loes it if we like!"? No! We have lain it all upon the line each time, just as we do now. So the face of our enemy has changed. So the stakes may be particularly high. Shall we not do as we always have? We will face the enemy with all our strength! And so...



That's the spirit.