Part 87: Update LXXIII - Rebirth

Update LXXIII - Rebirth

This update covers the events of Updates V-VII.

Since we've, you know, seen the majority of this stuff already, I'll be heavily abridging or even entirely skipping anything that's unchanged. If you want a refresher, I'll be listing where we were on the first run so you can take a look back. If you have no interest in Saber or Archer's playthrough and just wanted to see Extra's main story, feel free to hop to the very end of Saber's run to see the bonus boss and stop there. Extra is a bad game, I don't mind if you decide to call it good here.



For our second playthrough, we'll be going with Saber.





Music: None


The intro bit is unchanged



But this time we'll be going with male Hakuno.



With the same name.



You ever noticed how Hime was never actually used? The nickname might as well just be a save file name.





There he is now!





We chase after Leo.



Go get our effigy.



Do the fucking tutorial again come on I just beat the game let me skip this too.



And go die.



Hmm...



I wonder if...?





Yeah, fair.



And finally...



Well spoken, nameless traveler! Even if the world will never hear of your desire, know that I admire and respect it!

Music: Battle - Fourth Chimeric Lunar Sea


In fact, your destiny begins now!



The sound of breaking glass is accompanied by a light cutting through the gloom. I manage to move my weary body and aching head to see what's happening. I didn't notice it before, but something was slowly rising up from the floor in the middle of the room. That form-



Our new Servant's dress is...



Certainly, ah, unique.



Its appearance isn't much different from that of a human being, but something was different. Clearly so. The power emanating from it transcended that of any human, or of any enemy I've faced in getting here. An awesome power that seems as if it'd vaporize anyone it touched swirls within my body almost against my will.





Yes.



All right, I give my blessing! I will bestow upon you the honor of being my Master.

~

No.

...What? I do not understand. Your intentions are beyond my ken. ...Hmph. I see that you are from the Orient. Modesty may be esteemed in your culture; you must let it go now. Fortunately, I am tolerant and will allow you a single mistake. —So, you are my Master, correct?

...I nod almost reflexively in response to her overwhelming haughtiness, which seems to more than compensate for her short stature.

Your inability to be articulate concerns me greatly... But as this is a time of crisis, I will let it pass. I have confirmed the purity of your contract. Now Master, take my hand.

~~





She takes a hold of my hand and helps me to my feet. From the hand she had grabbed comes a sudden warmth...and then a sharp pain, like I've been cut by a knife. On the back of my hand, as though tattooed, is a strange symbol that looks like some kind of crest. Totally confused, I alternate between staring at the mark on my hand and the person standing before me. And then-



A noise behind me brings me back to my senses. Turning around, I see that the effigy from before is still there, now in a fighting stance. I wince uncontrollably, recalling my previous defeat at its hands.



While I am by your side, have no fear that you may lose your way. Remember that victory is all that matters.



Master, strike with my sword. Show me the extent of your abilities in this first battle!



'Umu' is Saber's verbal tic. Tamamo has 'mikon', but that only shows up in Extra as a fairly rare canned voice line.





So how does Saber compare to Tamamo?




Much better.



Her normal attacks are also a lot more flashy.





Saber only has a pittance of MP compared to Tamamo, but has more than enough HP to make up for it.

Music: School III


The battered effigy stops moving. There's no way it'll still function after being effectively torn apart.



She continues to talk. ...However, the sound of her voice doesn't quite reach my ears. The heat coming from the mark on my hand grew in intensity during the fight and the resulting pain has become unbearable and burns through my consciousness.



This explanation section is the same.



But what the fuck was this? Was Twice watching us all this time?







And the hell is this? We now know that there's no way this could have been the original Hakuno, as they wouldn't have remembered it in the first place.



'True memories of childhood' brings to mind Twice's vomited exposition, so is Hakuno somehow plugged into Twice's memories? If yes, why? So much of this stuff is just... never ever elaborated on.







Music: School III




The overwhelming, unforgettable presence of someone suddenly appears beside my bed— What I think to be a valiant young man garbed in crimson is, in fact, a young woman. ...But as this being is not human, any normal conclusion based on gender or looks would be moot.



Incidentally, you are fully aware of what the Holy Grail War entails, correct?



Holy Grail War?

Holy Grail War? I've heard mention of it, but what is it, exactly?



While pitiful, ignorance is hardly a sin. I shall instruct you as I am able. Firstly, the Holy Grail is said to have held the blood of a savior and has the power to grant wishes.

Holy Grail...THAT Holy Grail? It's the basis of an entire body of western religious history. A holy relic said to perform miracles that became well-known through the Arthurian cycle.



But no matter. The Holy Grail for which you are fighting is a different object altogether.

Early on, the Holy Grail War was the name given to the ceremony magi held to gain the Grail. In truth, it was a bloody melee from which the sole survivor would be granted the Holy Grail. In simple terms, the tournament you're now in is an approximation of the original Holy Grail War.



Magi...Wizards... Although I can hardly believe that these words apply to me, it seems that others think of me as one. Whatever the case, it sounds like this Holy Grail War is a merciless fight for survival.



The rules are simple. Two Wizards are assigned to fight each other using their Servants as weapons. The magus who loses to their opponent is stripped of both their Command Seals and their life.

My eyes are drawn to my left hand where I've been marked with three strange symbols.



There are a number of minor rules, but the most important one is: Win. Simple, is it not?

I doubt it's that simple. While I have a million questions, at least I know the basics now. And whether I want to be here or not, I'm now a participant in this Holy Grail War nonsense.

Indeed. As long as you understand the basics, that is enough for now. Now then, do you know what a Servant is?



Sorry, I don't have a clue.



With an irritated expression, the Servant before me continues to lecture me with subtle disdain.



Only those whose deeds are acknowledged long after their deaths become Heroic Spirits.

The Servants recreated here by the Holy Grail are drawn from those whose legends endure. Servants are basically soldiers, there to guide and protect the magus who summoned them. As per the rules of the original Holy Grail War, Servants are divided into seven classes. Originally, the classes of Heroic Spirits were hidden, but things have changed over time. Saber. Lancer. Archer. Rider.



Even with just two scenes, the differences between Saber and Tamamo are like night and day.

Also, these classes identify core skills only. Replicating every single skill would be impossible. A Heroic Spirit's main traits are aligned with a class and then given form. It'd be safe to assume that an enemy Servant's class will give you clues about their powers. Furthermore, it is said that those of the Saber class are far superior to other Servants.

...So then, allow me to test your knowledge. I'm sure you know which class I belong to, yes?



Saber.

Correct. As the Saber class is the best of the Servant classes, it's obvious that I'm a Saber. Yes, you have answered well. I can sense the promise and potential in you.

~

I don't know.

...I can see your mind is often bereft of oxygen. How can you say I'm anything but a Saber?

Choosing Rider also adds in:

And to imply I'm a mere Rider... Though I am a skilled charioteer, I like them not.

~~

Now then, from this time forward, you may refer to me as Saber. No honorifics are necessary. As you are my Master, I will allow you to address me as an equal.

Saber... Her personality is going to be difficult to deal with, but she's definitely a worthy ally. Wait... If all Servants are Heroic Spirits, I wonder who Saber was in real life.

My true name? I have nothing embarrassing to conceal and I'd be happy to tell you... ...Hmph. But it'd be a disaster if an enemy were to learn my true identity from you. But if my name were to be known, it wouldn't affect my resolve or my approach to battle.



While Tamamo hid her name out of fear she would be rejected, Saber has much more practical reasons to hide hers.

...But I understand your unease at knowing nothing at all. Although I can't tell you my name, question not the truth of my words. And as for the Holy Grail— All I know is that it grants wishes and creates Servants using famous figures from history. With you as magus and I as the mightiest of Heroic Spirits by your side, the Holy Grail will be ours!

For now, let that truth put your mind at ease. Allow my sword to clear away all of your doubts—



With that, my Servant disappears into the ether. However, I can feel their presence nearby. They must be staying out of sight when they're not needed so their identity can't be compromised. But how their identity would be guessed just by their appearance is beyond me.



Then Sakura shows up and Hakuno notices his amnesia.

Music: School IV


Now, NG+ comes with three main perks.



The first is that we carry over all unspent money, so we can freely buy whatever items we need.



The second is that we keep our Mystic Codes, letting immediately slap on some MP restoration.

Not all of them, however, as we lose our old Girl's Uniform, (which is instantly replaced by your starting Uniform) the Base Red Mystic Code, and any Mystic Codes given by our Servant.

But... why though? Would giving me early access to restore(); be that broken, when the earlier healing Codes would be a full heal anyways? Would letting me have +200 Master MP be that bad, when I've already beat the game once already?



I'll be going with the Staff of Fortitude, as Master MP efficiency is at a premium when I have no items to refill it and a non-existant base total.



Also, Saber's Matrix.




That last bit is latin for 'Kingdom of Heaven and Hell.'







Aaaaaaaand I have to wait to spend my SP again. Lovely.



Since I keep all the shop Mystic Codes I can save my money, giving me even more to toss around by the time we get to Archer's playthrough.



Saber has a room chat for 30 and 100 items used, so I might as well get a headstart on it now.



And after all that, we can go get reacquainted with Rin.

Next time: Holy shit NG+ will be a breeze.