Part 41: Update XXXVIII - What it means to be a vampire

Update XXXVIII - What it means to be a vampire



Music: School I


Well, if the Information Matrix is the reward, we're all going to do these challenges, aren't we?

For once, we have a normal start to the day.

Music: Down to Dawn


And another yellow chat!



This scene actually has a different start based on what gender Hakuno is! Our Hakuno gets:



Her strikes seem to make the air scream. Even as her Master, her expression...terrifies me.

While a male Hakuno instead gets:



I take a moment to thank every deity imaginable that she's my ally. Though they are my foes, I feel really sorry for other Servants...especially the male ones.

Behold my Polygamist Castration Fist! Other deities may allow harems, but never will I!

Wait. Who exactly will you be using that on?

This ends up becoming a recurring joke for Caster, being mentioned (or used) in CCC, Grand Order, and the Extellas.

Anyways, the two openings join up here.

*Phew* I worked up quite a sweat! It's good to use your whole body vigorously sometimes!

...Her thought patterns seem to be shifting at the speed of light. Why would Caster, who prides herself on her thaumaturgy skills, suddenly start martial arts training?

Since our opponent relies on brute strength, I thought I'd learn some hand-to-hand combat techniques. I can't hope to survive against swords and spears just by flinging a mirror around.

I mean, if our enemy catches me off-guard, they'd be able to beat me to a pulp easily! Why, oh why, have I neglected training my physical attributes until now?!

Which is hysterical, considering I've raised nothing but her physical attributes until this week.

My question is: Why is she so concerned with being able to perform physical attacks right now? While brawny Casters do appear to exist, they seem more like exceptions to the rule. Caster's thaumaturgy skills are where her strength lies. She should focus on developing those and her defense.

I'm already good with those things. If I don't up my overall strength, I won't be able to fight other Servants.

I'm just a fragile, delicate little girl, Master. So please take care of me as best you can.

She's obviously angry at me. ...But she's right. Without her powers, she'd be only a young girl, perhaps even weaker than me. I can't solely rely on her powers as a Heroic Spirit. I have to remember that in some ways she's all too human.

... Err...I mean...what I said just now was a joke! If you take it seriously, I'll have to as well...



As Caster sits in a demure pose on her platform of desks, she takes out a piece of paper. On it is written: -About this round's opponent- in suspiciously red ink.



Please take some time to think before answering.







This right here is a Very Special Survey.

While getting Saber and Archer's Level E Matrix only require keeping up with your yellow chats, Caster demands a bit more effort to make her open her heart to you. Each choice in this survey can give anywhere from 0 to 2 points. Keep track of your score, kids!

It's an unforgivable act. (+0 points)

Yes, that's exactly right! Even should it be necessary to survive, I'd never want an entire species to be done away with!

Huh? I mean everything on the planet, not just humanity. Despite my appearance, I really like humans.

~

It will always be a punishable act. (+2 points)

That's true. While every story has two sides, those who commit such an act will be punished in some way. Without consequences, the world would descend into chaos. You have a refined sense of justice, Master.

~

...What kind of question is this? (+1 point)

And once again, all of the questions were randomly chosen, so don't think too deeply about their meanings!

Oh yes; you do realize answering a question with a question is strictly taboo, right? I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and just assume you were giving a neutral response.

~~





Doesn't matter. Cute is cute. (+2 points)



Even I will only go against the grain so much. While I do respect my dear Master, I do worry about our future.

~

It'd be an issue, but not a big one. (+1 point)

I see your point. The court of public opinion can be merciless and cruel... Yes, I can see you're one who can empathize with others yet is concerned with their place in society...

~

...Again, what's with this question? (+0 points)

And once again, all of the questions were randomly chosen, so don't think too deeply about their meanings!

...Though I have to admit they are a little too straightforward. You're sometimes far too obliging, Master. But I know I'd regret it later if I didn't take charge now. I was just using my femininely vulpine charms.

The choices converge.



And the implied meaning for this completely flies over Hakuno's head. Caster doesn't give two shits about Gatou and Arc.

The two main things we know about Caster so far are:

1)She's been up to some seriously shady shit in her past, which she tries to hide at all turns.
2)She desperately wants someone to accept her in spite of that.

With that in mind, the survey makes total sense. She wants to gauge how Hakuno would potentially react if she comes 100% clean. If there's even a chance Hakuno would reject her, Caster won't reveal everything for fear of ruining what she already has.

Anyways, if you have at least 3 points at the end of the survey, you're on track for her Level E Matrix! If you don't, you get the Level E Matrix conversation on Week 7, so have fun redoing the entire back half of the game to properly answer this!









She then leaves her spot.



My imagination must be in overdrive. It's just Caster being overly dramatic and enigmatic like always.



She stays gone even in the room menu!

Music: School I


Interesting. You helped her out in order to gain an ally. Way to play smart. You're pretty cool, dude.



As in... "the vast ocean of information."

~

At this point in the tournament, most of our enemies should be in possession of superior Servants. I've seen you going to the nurse's office a lot. Are you sure you're not ignoring your Servant?



That's why you can touch, smell, hear, see, and taste the virtual world around you. It's all thanks to the incredible processing power of the SE.RA.PH.



I highly recommend that you do not ever think "I am special" while you are here.

Shame that enemy intel never actually comes into play.



Quick stop to boost Magic a bit more...



And we can check in on Rani!

Music: School III




I must have been lost in thought for a while, because Rani looks worried about me. That reminds me, Rani said she'd research Gatou. I hope she was careful-she isn't healed yet.



There are far too many references to a Demonic Eye within the Atlas archives to narrow it down.

Sadly, my own investigation of my opponent has not progressed.

Sound: Door opening


While Rani and I are exchanging troubled glances, I hear a noise behind me.

Music: Stops


Oh! I did not wish to believe it, but a clandestine tryst is being held! My god shall not allow it!

I have to give Gatou some credit.



I don't know what he's blathering on about, but yeah, I wouldn't be caught dead chanting that.

The man may be nuttier than a squirrel's stockpile, but he doesn't give a single shit about gender. He sees two teens alone in a room together (Sakura just vanishes for this scene) and he instantly barges in to make sure nothing can happen.



Fucking what.

Okay. So. Kiara Sessyoin. Right now, she's just a one-off name, but she'll become more relevant in CCC. Just keep this line, specifically the fact that Gatou is using it as an insult, in mind for the future.

I—Nay, my god shall end you most gloriously! If your will to fight is lacking, you shall die here!

Music: Breach








Music: School I


Sakura is back, but she has nothing new to say.





Now we just have to wait for Taiga to show up.



Be careful that she doesn't stab you in the back. This battle has the highest of stakes. Don't come complaining to me when you get betrayed.



This item's awesome. Use it in battle and your Servant's HP will regenerate every turn.



Music: Fourth Chimeric Lunar Sea - Second Floor




Here we go again.



We'll have to do it fast, because we still have hunting left to do!

Unlike yesterday, we actually have to fight Gatou.

Music: Fear


Urd! Varyu! Lend me the speed of your divine winds!

We start with the same score we ended yesterday with, so we could let Gatou get a few more than he got yesterday and still win this.



The Carnivores are in the exact same spots as last time. This contest is nothing but padding to fill out the week.



We get one.



Gatou gets one.



And then I take the route that got me killed last time.



The fight automatically starts once all targets have been killed, but rushing him down early saves me some time.





Interestingly, Hakuno's name isn't listed in blue text here.

The Trials of Monji, Chapter 4, Verse 5. "...And so, the lamb was eaten by the lion." All right then, why don't we have my divine lord pass judgment upon your piety? Now! I implore you, master of my soul! Awe this little lamb with your supreme ruthlessness and mercy! Glory be to your infinite light for all of time!



Okay, I don't know how I manage to make sense of his annoying diatribe, but somehow I do. —Divine lord? Is his "wish" to spread a religion where his Servant is the god?



My god is a True Ancestor! My god is the true mother!



That makes half his info coming from him blabbing. If he didn't win the jackpot to end all jackpots with Arcueid, he would have died in the first week.

To live with this truth, as I do, is the merciful gift I wish to bestow upon every person! The Holy Grail is already part of my divine lord!



Wait, her myth has something to do with the Moon Cell. She could treat the SE.RA.PH like a Reality Marble! Luckily, she's already transformed into a Berserker and can't use it or anything. We still have a chance—!

My divine lord! Crush these morons with your star-heavy might!

Music: Duel - Unauthorized Battle






AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

With that extra info level, we finally have enough intel to handle this.



And Caster has enough MP now to just brute force all unknown actions without much fuss.



And since we're supposed to fight her today, she no longer spams her skill on turns 2 and 3.



On turn 3, however, I try for a big brain play.

You see that Skill Arc is using for her fourth move? I can use Aphotic Cave to block it, then use the refund on that to cast an extra Curse on move 6. Extra will happily let you use more MP than you currently have, so long as you have a way to restore enough before the Skill is used.



Eeeeeeeeeexcept Arc decided to use a buff, meaning I wasted the MP and now can't use that last Curse!

Anyways, Rail Zeppelin is a buff that gives a chance to inflict Stun on Break.



With no MP in the tank, the Curse fails to go off and instead just wastes that action. Thankfully, Arc's damage is toned down for proper fights, so that free hit isn't a risk.





Oh, my god, my mediator of nature, my creator of the universal order of Yetzirah, my absolute dharma! Bestow strength on me once again—



Bellowing in fervent prayer, Gatou disappears from the Arena. I wonder what a True Ancestor is...



Let's see... They're like wraiths of the earth. Or, you could say they're the will of the stars. If someone called a True Ancestor a vampire, they wouldn't be wrong, but they're really more like spirits. In any case, they're something that barbarian could never handle! That must be why she turned Berserker. If she were in her right mind, I'd be foxmeat! But this way, I stand a chance.

Will of the stars—? I can't quite wrap my head around that one, but does that mean... she really IS a god?! Seeing the relief on Caster's face, I realize how powerful our enemy could have been. It gives me chills. Somehow, we won. On with the hunt!

To put it another way: If Arc wasn't locked into Berserker, she'd sweep the entire Holy Grail War. It wouldn't even be a challenge.

Music: Fourth Chimeric Lunar Sea - Second Floor


Level 2 gets us her class, two keywords, and a skill.










The entire floor is the same as yesterday, so all you need to know is that I gained a level along the way.



And imagine seeing this a few times.











Music: School I


...I'll have to fight back before my Matrix is exposed.



When your back's against the wall, you have to believe in yourself. Well, personally, I believe that my Servant will lead me to victory.



You can't let the calm fool you. We're killing each other tomorrow. It's easy to go all superficial and forget what's really going on here.



He said he'd come up with another one if you liked it.



It replicates not just your looks, but how you experience the world. The SE.RA.PH's amazing, huh?



Speaking with them in your private room will strengthen the bonds that tie you together.



Allow me to give you this wonderful decoration to show my appreciation for all you've done!





This week's decor is a low res image of Hakuno and your Servant.



Get some more Magic...



After this, it's all about the Elimination Battle. And I won't be holding anything back.



And talk to Rani again.



Rani's eyes pop open wide at the mention of that phrase.



My professor taught me that the True Ancestors are the very stars themselves.

Okay, but how could Gatou wield a star? Maybe he can because of her Blind Rage. And more importantly...

...?

More importantly, by talking to Rani, I've realized something about myself. Alone, I might be nothing. But I have Rani and Caster. That's why I can't lose to a lone wolf like Gatou.



Rani smiles gently in agreement, yet again reminding me that I'm not alone. That's why I cannot lose.

I knew it. It was you. My professor's words have taken on life. Please win. Return to me, and we will talk more.

Yes, of course. Even if what I'm fighting is a True Ancestor or whatever, I'm the one who will win. And so, I'll make the most of my last day of the prep period, so that I can win and be with Rani.

Music: School I


Two bits of info came from Gatou himself, while the third is a reward for winning the contest. Meaning that despite all that talk about Rani heading out to find info on them, she contributed nothing of value about Arc.



Touko also has something to say today.



How about you, Aoko? As both a leech and a monster, I'm sure you've met one, right?



Don't insult me like that! I'm a highly respected person who'd never consort with— —Th-That is to say...I may know one or two, but we're hardly friends...acquaintances at best.

While not the outcome I expected, as long as I get my answers I don't care who answers me.

Anyway, there are a myriad of vampire types knocking about. How do I put this...? They're living beings that adhere to a strict code...maybe? They may have different values, but few are "irrational" or "evil" in the way some humans are... In fact, vampires are far more honorable than humans in that they always repay their debts.

...If she can be believed then my opponent's Servant, despite their behavior, is actually an "admirable" Heroic Spirit...?



Huh? Why am I making such a fuss about this? When you've been out of reality for so long, mundane things start to become precious. Don't look so down in the dumps. When times get tough, shoulder through with a smile.



So think long and hand before selling anything, as all transactions are final.

Except those Durable Gym Clothes!



I mean, we're already forced to do menial things like track down those dumb Triggers and stuff. I can't wait for my Coliseum battle tomorrow. My opponent is going to regret ever being born!



Kotomine is waiting by the Arena.

—It's Kotomine. That game... I wonder if I beat my opponent?



You. In the match of 11 versus 3, you have won. Congratulations. As promised, I will disclose some of your rival's information.



The preparation period is nearly over. You'll need the rest of the time to prepare for the battle.



Level 3 holds her Noble Phantasm.




Blut die Schwester is another call back, being the name of Red Arcueid's Last Arc back in Melty Blood.



This update is getting a bit lengthy, so long story short:

Music: Fourth Chimeric Lunar Sea - Second Floor


A Nephilim shows up by the exit portal on day 6.



It dies.



Do you like things that are round or things that are all pointy? To be perfectly blunt, are you a cat person or are you a fox person...

Caster has something to say.



And I get one last level.





Music: School III


It'll hurt lots if their attacks hit so I'll just make sure they don't. Let's squash this disgusting Master under our heels!



Next time: The Elimination Battle.