Part 78: Update LXIX - Sparks liner high - VS Saber

Update LXIX - Sparks liner high - VS Saber

Music: None
Video: Week 7 Elimination Battle


Today, we finish the Holy Grail War.

If it is your wish, I will open the way to the Coliseum. Now, please present the final cipher key!



Enter the Coliseum

So young Master, who will have their wish granted? You, or the scion of the Harway family? I will be here waiting for the one who successfully manages to reach the Holy Grail.







Music: Duel - Prelude to Confrontation


















Fittingly enough for our final opponent, Leo has the most complicated dialogue tree in the game. Strap yourselves in, we're going to be here for a while.

I couldn't wait.



You stir something up inside me when we fight. I am well aware that as the head of the Harways, I must scour any personal ambition from my heart. But, if you feel this connection between us as well, then it's a different story. It means that you and I are bound by a stronger fate than the pull of individual connectivity.

~

What do you think?

I hope you reciprocate my emotions. You stir something up inside me when we fight. It would please me if you were capable of feeling what I feel.

These two options converge.





lol

But now, you've transformed into a warrior worthy of arresting my full attention.



It was a long road.



But, the time has come for me to pluck that flower before its growth becomes unsightly.



I'm not done growing.



You will be always one step behind me, all the way till the end. Hypothetically speaking, what do you believe could bridge that gap?



The path I've traveled.



I wonder how much strength you've gained from overcoming the obstacles that have crossed that path.



The proof is in the pudding.



It was definitely worth the wait.

~

Maybe a lot, maybe a little.

Is that right? Well then— I'm trembling in anticipation of our fight. Your battles so far have been such brutal experiences. They must have changed you, but how? I expect fighting with you will allow me to determine whether they caused advance or stagnation.

Both of these advance the scene.



My Servant is the best.



Yup, I win by a landslide against that narcissistic Saber when it comes to both power and beauty!







Petitioning my opponent for their agreement at the moment would only reflect poorly on your reputation.



You're no Servant, you're a slave. You know what, I pity you!

It is not that I am not forbidden to speak. I simply see no need to, fair fox. I have already given my heart to my king, so whenever I do speak, it is already in accord with him.



You're spoiling your Master. He thinks he's a king already, pretty soon he'll turn into a despot.

Thank you for the concern, but it is unnecessary. My Master will grow to be a perfect king. The only thing he lacks is... No, I should not have said that. Nothing is lacking about my Leo just yet.

Just yet...? Hmm... So something caught the watchdog's eye. Well, I don't care one way or the other how great your king could be. Compared to my Master, he's nobody.



Unfortunately, that means we have no choice but to fight each other.

No doubt about it, my Master is the one who's going to win.



The scene advances.

~

Reason?! I don't need a reason!



From what you've given me... I don't have enough information to make any conclusions.

This tree has two common end points, this leads into the first.



It's been so precious talking to you. I'm a little sad that we must end our conversation. Do you have anything left to say to me?



I will win.



Prick.

~

It's been fun.

Yes, I had a really nice time. Could this be what it's like to have a friend- No, how silly of me. In any case, I look forward to our battle with great anticipation.

I'll call this one 'Generic 1.'



Strange, you haven't grown.

I'm not sure what you're trying to imply, but it's true that I have not changed. No one expects me to. ...In a way, doesn't it seem like fate that you and I were paired for the final battle? Unchanging me versus the steadily improving you. Like the moon is looking to resolve the timeless clash of innate talent versus self-improvement.

Shit, my narrative analysis got directly called out in the text.

This leads to the second generic end state.



I want to fight you as soon as possible, but I'd also like to speak with you longer. I'm grateful that your defeat was reserved for me alone.

Excuse me, but that sounded like you said you're going to defeat my Master?

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Here I thought those big ears of hers were just for show.





No, I'll win no matter what.

...You know just what to say to make me anticipate our battle even more fervently. It was definitely worth the wait.

~

My Servant really is better!



This leads to the same spiel from Gawain. I'll call this one 'Generic 2.'



Warrior...? I don't know...

Of course you are a warrior—if only by the grace of the strong opponents you have defeated. Anyone would recognize you as a warrior now.

This leads to Generic 2.

~

I rather you refer to me as a king.



Um... Quite frankly, you've caught me by surprise. I mingle with people from many walks of life, but this is the first time I've heard that proclaimed to me. Are you aware of what a king is?



Naturally!

...Hmm... If you desire to be called a king, then you must prove yourself worthy of the title. I don't see any regal potential in you, but neither do I know you to the depths of your soul. Perhaps you are a new breed of king, one that is beyond my imagination.



~

I was just messing with you.



I don't appreciate you lying to me. But, for the first time I've found myself laughing at another's joke.

Both of these lead to Generic 2.



It doesn't matter.

...Is that so? That is good news for the Harways, but personally, I'm a little disappointed. You stirred something up in me when we fought...but apparently the feeling was not mutual. I hoped that a battle between us would be revelatory to me, but it seems you're just another obstacle. Or— Is it possible that you're not only disinterested in me, but in the Holy Grail War in general?



Leo keeps getting so close to figuring out Hakuno's deal.

Though you may have begun without a goal, you must have one by now. Would you mind sharing it with me? What drives you forward? For what purpose do you fight?



I don't know.

... It's a complete mystery to me... How have you made it this far with no goals and no plans? I wanted to face opponents who were different than me, and you are very different. Someone who has nothing can still stand on the final stage... That's useful information.

This one leads to Generic 2.

~

To obtain the Holy Grail.

That's right, obtaining the Holy Grail is the whole reason this tournament exists. Your purpose is legitimate. I assume you have a wish you want the Holy Grail to grant?



That's correct.

Is that right? As long as you have a purpose, I won't question your need not to die. In just a few minutes, we'll find out if you'll achieve your goal.

Generic 2, once again.

~

I'm not sure.

So, this war is a womb in which your wish is forming. ...I'm sorry to hear that. There still would have been hope if you had said you hadn't decided yet. In the hands of someone with an uncertain mind, the Holy Grail would sink the world into chaos. That uncertainty would poison the world that we Harways take care of. I can't allow that to happen.

While this one gets Generic 1.

I have no wish.

I do find it neat how you can play Hakuno as honestly having no idea on what to wish for, right up to the very end.

Could you be obtaining the Holy Grail for someone else?



No, I just don't have any wishes.



You and I are not so different on a fundamental level. Perhaps that's why I find you so very intriguing?

This leads to Generic 2.

~

Yes, I am.

For someone else? ...Well, "wishes" tend to be made for the benefit of others. You are not standing on the firmest of logical grounds, but altruism is hypocrisy. I'm impressed that you desire for others to benefit from your hard work. You will is genuine. If not for the current circumstances I would have gladly invited you into the Harway organization.



I'm flattered.

—I'm surprised. I didn't expect a positive response from you. I find you very interesting. I completely underestimated you. Now I'm certain the upcoming battle will hold great meaning for me.

~

You Harways are going down.

Going to defeat me, are you? Unfortunately, cutting the head off the Harway family isn't enough to fell the main body. However— If you intend to throttle the ideals of the Harways— No, no. I'm the one who's going to win. It's pointless to elaborate on a hypothetical.

~

Nah, I'm cool.

Could you already be affiliated with another group, such as Rin Tohsaka's organization or the Atlas Institute? That is unfortunate. But, even those groups will eventually come to agree with my ideology. Rin Tohsaka blames us Harways, but the world was already stagnating before we took action.



It would only exhaust society to keep changing pointlessly. I'm perfectly aware that we need to integrate change before the world's stagnation is total. I consider integrating change to be my greatest initiative as the Harway's leader.

All three advance.



To not die.

...Is that right? All living creatures have a survival instinct. Fighting to survive is a legitimate battle. But, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. I thought this war was also your guest for meaning.



You just overestimated me.



For their sake, have some respect for your accomplishments.

This gets Generic 2.

~

Does there need to be a meaning?

Indeed, life is never under any obligation to present meaning. This is just a battle for personal gain that a certain group of people decided to hold. It's irrational to seek meaning in that. Besides, no one can truly understand another's wishes.

~

How about you tell me the meaning.

...Only you know what this battle means to you. I can only tell you what it means to me. To me, the Holy Grail War is about defending the Holy Grail itself from other claimants. Obtaining the Holy Grail is both the objective and the meaning, though that seems hollow. The war itself means nothing. The process is worth nothing. ...I thought you found the process to be meaningful, and that is why I took an interest in you... Maybe I was wrong to think that.

While both of these get Generic 1.



There, that's it.



I'm completely done with these dialogue trees.



In any case, this is it. On to the final battlefield.



I'm aware this is inappropriate, considering the situation, but I have one last thing to say.



Music: Duel - Kill Or Be Killed


Our final arena is in the ruins of an actual coliseum.



...wait, what's with those beams spinning arou-



Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, we're in the bubble. They just didn't put any form of mini-model of the coliseum inside to make it obvious.





Although I'm afraid I'll miss you, I have to keep going. This is it, Gawain. Utilize your sword's full capacity, for me.









But, putting those assumptions aside, your Master isn't cut out to be a king.





I've had the pleasure of knowing a real king. That's why I've always known you're not the real deal.

Either Tamamo is just treating an emperor as effectively a king, or this is a sneaky nod to King Kalmashapada.





I couldn't care less, anyway. Besides, it seems like you know what's lacking as well as I do.









The sun is kind of my personal domain, so I'd appreciate it if you made way for my Master.













You are the raw spirit of a sun goddess? Your beauty makes perfect sense then.

As our final opponent, Gawain comes in with a whopping 37K HP.



He has the same opener as his earlier duels, setting up Divine Aegis and Siege Perilous on turn 1.



Yes, do as you see fit, Gawain.

He then brings out a new skill next turn.



No.



Leo steps in next turn.





Whoops, let that one through!

Blade of the Devoted is Gawain's only offensive skill. It deals decent damage, has no side effects, and can only be used on his third action.



Leo, meanwhile, likes to take out any buffs you try to set with vanish_add(a);.



Except Gawain's buffs wore off that turn, making him reapply them on the next and giving me an opening to reuse Spirit Theft.

As a bonus, it was going to fade that turn anyways, all Leo did was kill the buff one whole move in advance!



I guess a Blade coming out next turn.



And counter with a Sky-buffed Curse.

Gawain's NP trigger is dropping below 50%, as you might expect.



Yes, do as you see fit, Gawain.



Gawain always uses his NP as his final move.









Excalibur Galatine deals 2K damage unblocked, which is honestly kinda humdrum after the risk of instant death with Cu or the sheer firepower of Lu Bu.



Impossible...



Next turn knocks him under four digits.



While the turn after has him use another NP.



...Ah fuck.



This might get close.



I punish him for it, at least.



Not even close, baby.



After healing up, I intentionally tank a normal hit next turn to set up Merciful Sky.



To make absolutely certain Gawain dies right now.

Not shown was Numeral of the Saint, a buff Gawain uses at critical HP that gives him 90% damage reduction for one turn, and bomb(32); from Leo, which stuns against Guard and is always used alongside Blade of the Devoted.

...it just dawned on me that Shinji, Alice, Rin, and Leo all use some form of stun to open up a safe move for their Servant, making it the most common tactic among enemy Masters.





Next time: Preparing for the end.