Part 60: Hero of the Poor - Karna - Part 3

Karna 3



Charitable clothes, huh. It is a modest outfit, to be sure. I'm sure it was much easier on Wada Arco to design this than stick to Karna's already established appearance. Seriously, she apparently had trouble adapting Karna's apocrypha design into a 3D model, but she muddled through somehow. In any case, the final Karna stage is based on Orchid Words stage 5, the assault on the Zero Dark.

So, you'll have Elizabeth, Jeanne, and Gilgamesh as enemies. Normally this wouldn't be much of a problem, but...


Karna stage 3

The thought of fighting alongside you makes my heart race, but I'll have to decline for now. We're built for two different styles of fighting. Don't worry. My Noble Phantasm is the spear that kills gods. The bigger the enemy, the louder it sings. Besides, your Noble Phantasm was made to forge countries. Save your heavenly might for rebuilding the lands that the Forces of Destruction have torn apart.

Eh, whatever you say, Mr. Karna! You take care of the battle, and I'll take care of everything else, just like a heaven-sent wife should!

Sounds good to me. As long as you stay in the sunlight, I'll keep my spear pointed toward the Umbral Star. Let's go! I'll fight for you, and return to the Millennium Capital in victory!



So, his S S T attack that I mentioned as his worst move? It still is, but further research indicated why he was designated as a "Launcher" in CCC (and why he stopped himself from introducing him as "Launcher" to Tamamo in this game). Apparently his Master designated him as such based on this move, since she likened it to "launching" his "hidden" Noble Phantasm, Brahmastra Kundala. He does have to invoke its True Name for it to to reach its full destructive strength, but his actual one in this series has always been Vasavi Shakti. For a guy who basically lived on the street most of his life, he sure ended up with a lot of neat shit.

For such a hard-to-use move, it is pretty good at dealing with those annoying winged, charging Aggressors that pop up occasionally. Only after it stops moving, of course.



So my apprehension before starting this stage was based on the fact that Karna is a *horrible* matchup for Gil. Gil can easily match his range, and has projectile attacks, which Karna so notably lacks. The alternative is of course to get some room from him for Karna's more powerful attacks, but Gilgamesh is always right on your heels. It's just a real pain.



With Gil briefly chased away, we have a little free reign. Taking over this Sector and dealing with Elizabeth are the most pressing concerns at the moment. We just have to reduce the number of enemy Servants lurking around, after all.



As a fun aside, Elizabeth possesses the "skill" Migraine, like Nero does. Apparently both the historical Nero and Elizabeth Bathory suffered from headaches in their life. At least from what we're told. It's not actively detrimental to either of their abilities, it's just kind of a pain for them to deal with every now and then.



And now the mop-up begins. Just have to deal with Jeanne, and Gilgamesh, again. Joy.

A portal just popped up, right? Altera should be on the other side. Now, go! It's time to fight!

It was a real pain, but... Let's settle this right here.



This is how you use Kundala effectively. Just harassing an enemy from a distance while they flail around, either slowly lumbering toward you or finishing an attack animation.





Gilgamesh was just standing there, while paralyzed, and rocketed off at the speed of sound. Moving on...



It was not a well-fought fight on my end.



Finally. Anyway, off we go to the final battle. After I get the last few Sectors, of course. Oh yeah, and don't forget to get the two NP circuits hanging around. They are in their usual spots.



It's an honor to clash with a warrior of Mars. Victory is mine to grasp.

There's various other unique dialogues here. As for the fight itself, Altera is a bit harder than the Jeannes of the world to Karna, but weaker than Gilgamesh. Part of her problem is some of her combos can leave her at a safe distance for a bit, allowing you to Kundala here with little fear of interruption. Really not much to say about her in particular, though. All the usual provios about being careful of her projectile attack (very hard to see coming), and Photon Ray still stand, of course.

I was underestimating you, Lancer. Your spirit burns with a formidable fire.

You're so focused you're not feeling any pain. How I envy you.



Like here. I just barely managed to stop Photon Ray before it hit me. Quite lucky.



Neither Altera nor Sephyr will be a match or Vasavi Shakti.



Took a ton of damage from Gilgamesh, but otherwise a superb performance.


Karna ending

But this is the beginning of the end. Nothing can bring light to the Zero Dark. The Umbral Star will weep black tears upon it. The giant god that culls all civilization... The hand of the White Titan will crush SE.RA.PH, and you with it...



*screech*

This is the true disaster that Ruler spoke of... This is the White Titan of Tassili n'Ajjer, the destroyer of civilizations...! I see... It destroys everything made from human ingenuity, and absorbs it, and grows from it, and self-destructs from it. It's not a god. It's an apocalypse. Surely even the last Avatar of Vishnu, Kalki, who will descend in the end times, could not compare with this magnificence. ...But! No matter what the enemy is, I won't let them rampage in SE.RA.PH. The sun will not wane, nor will it be obscured upon this earth. Even if I have to give my life. Indra, now is the time to awaken. Witness with your own eyes how this single strike of light will destroy the hollow god!