Part 97: FINAL Chapter: Era of Destruction (Part 2)

If you choose peace:

I have a problem with people that can only measure others on their own terms.
...
Sorry, Gaioh. All I've ever wanted was a peaceful world where I could live free and easy.
And if I have to go through you, well...
Fine. Then let's do this.

If you talk your way out:

Maybe that'd be true if this was some kind of game.
But it's not. Peoples' lives... lots and lots of lives are at stake here.
So I'm not playing around, Gaioh. We're completely serious here.
Fine. Then let's do this.

And if you do what we're doing, demanding a good fight:

Yeah, I'm all in. I mean that.
Maybe these guys feel differently, but I want to fight you for real.
Perfect. If that's your answer, I don't have to hold anything back!

Either way:

And I'll even tell you what I'm after, if you want...
To get stronger!



He's called in his weapons!
Geiltiran. Gaioh. I like the names this world gave me.
Let me thank you... by making some prime DAMons out of you and your planet.
That's why I've let you guys play all this time!
So we weren't even worth turning into DAMons back in Limonesia?
And that's why you didn't make any new ones since you got here!
That's right. I've been raising your world to be ready to consume.
By traveling around and lighting fires.
So that's why...
I do not belong to you.
And all our battles were not simply pieces of your plan!
I don't need your permission. My fight began the moment I summoned the Geiltiran!



I think he just went into combat mode!
We have to destroy that thing, or...
Taking it out is more important than finding out what Gaioh's up to!
Dammit! He's going to regret treating us like bugs!
ZEUTH, I can't wait to eat warriors from another universe.
He knows about us?
He's just trying to psych us out! Don't listen to him!
I'll sever that Stigma of yours. That's one of my missions too.
Stigma?! The same thing Ime said...
Yep. I'm offering to give you back control of your fates.
What are you talking about? You just said you'll destroy us!
Gaioh... your goal is to get stronger? Then we'll break through even higher!
Let's see just who's really stronger!
Here we go! Fighting for the whole world!
GOONZ - exterminating Gaioh!
All units, open fire! We will defeat him with all the firepower we have!
Soul... spirit... emotion... will... pride... desire... obligation... responsibility... duty... rage... sorrow... love... courage...
Give me all you've got! Show me you have the power to kill a god!
Gaioh, King of Destruction! You're my last target!



Here we go!




Geiltiran (Gaioh)
Skills
Double Actions
Perfection
Spirit Block
Morale
Break Will Limit
Prevail L7
Spirits
Trust - 20
Sense - 10
Faith - 20
Drive - 30
Courage - 40
Soul - 40
Traits
HP Regen (S)
EN Regen (L)
Full Block
Weapons
Infinity Nova (6 ammo, 120 Will, armor, size, MAP)
Aleph-Naught (10 EN)
Fang of Eternity (20 EN, stats halved, barrier)
Ace Bonus: At 130 Will, casts Strike at the beginning of each phase.

On Hard, when Gaioh goes all out, he goes all out, shooting up to level 99. He's also got pretty much everything on the boss list - two actions, a stupidly long-range attack, Perfection, Prevail, immunity to all conditions (double immunity to pilot conditions, at that), top tier terrain ranks (though his weapons are "only" A's), and an Ace Bonus.

His Geiltiran is 40% upgraded across the board and has about 250,000 HP. That should be easy enough.

If Crowe doesn't give him an excuse, he drops to level 70 and his stats go down to match, along with his Prevail level. On Normal, he's 70 on full fight mode and 60 otherwise, with another drop in Prevail level and even less EN regen. I'm not sure what the last would accomplish, considering he has 1000 EN, but so much of his stat block is for show already.

Speaking of stats for show, note how he has Trust, Faith (original: Friendship), Drive, and Courage. Hmmm.



Gaioh starts very far away, but because Aleph-Naught is a (P) attack with a range of 12 (!), he can still hit GOONZ easily. It might even be worth awakening Shinobu to drag him out, forcing Gaioh to use both of his movements.

If I can't defeat Gaioh within next turn, it's probably just because some of the GOONZ couldn't reach him.



In the meantime, it's just me and the Dinodamons.



He does know how to use that range; I think I'm going to have to spend a turn just moving in on him. God forbid he uses his MAP attack.

Gaioh, King of Destruction! You stand at the center of the world's distortions!
And what are you gonna do about it?
Destroy you! That is our mission as Celestial Being!
Trying to stop fighting by fighting...
We're exactly the same, you and I.
What?
Setsuna F. Seiei! Stay focused!
Fight! Remember what you fight for and fight!
We fight with the spirit of that man upon us...
His spirit? Then I guess I really do have to consume you, huh?
Exia, exterminating the target!
I will destroy the distortions that create war! I... am Gundam!







He's actually still kind of dangerous, honestly.



And did I mention stupidly far away? This is why it takes two turns. Getting through his dumb danger zone.



Defend. We're going to take fire.



Plenty of Panic to go around, too.



He's at 122 Will; safe for now.



When the time comes, there's enough Exhaust to go around as well.



The nice thing about operations like this is you tend to end up naturally clustered in stacked command fields.

No attacking at all this turn (maybe a few shots at Dinodamons); there's no point attacking Gaioh before everyone's ready to.



The Leviadamon misses everybody, but...




Gaioh only hits a couple of ships and robots who can take it (Gurren-Lagann and Dai-Guard), but he also hits Setsuna. Sorry.

I... will be Gundam...!



And then Crowe. I have the spare energy to throw an attack out, even if it might miss.

So you know something about Spheres?
A bit. If I'd gotten my memories back any sooner, I'd have snapped up Ime too.
So I'm your prey just like you're mine, huh?
Don't get ahead of yourself. There's nothing special about you. Every one of you is prey to me.
Maybe, but my life's not so cheap I'll just hand it over just for that.
I don't care how strong you are! I'm taking home your head!
That's what I want to hear! You came raring for a fight!
Now who's getting ahead of himself? I'm going home alive!
If I take home your data, my debt goes poof! I'll live as free as I want!
This'll be fun! Me, who craves battle, against you, who avoids it!

(Uh, Gaioh, I said I - you know what, never mind.)

That's right, Gaioh! But it's me and my Brasta who are walking out of here!




Well, that makes Fang of Eternity the Violation attack, I guess. Because he "consumes" you and then you live as a DAMon "forever"?






A journey of a hundred thousand damage...



Crowe levels just from that. The enemy is level 99, after all.



Finally, let's do something real.



Starting with an Analysis, and then being as demoralizing as possible (Chiefs of Demoralization: Dorothy, Eina, C. C., and Nia).

Well, well. I'm glad someone's got the guts to come at me head-on.
Who is this guy?
He's not like Shioni or Ime... he's just enjoying the battle, pure and simple!
It's what I live for. You wanna play with me?
Overwhelming power and pure devotion... and on top of that, infinite malice... this man is a black sun!
You're all right yourself, challenging all of that with open eyes!
The radiance of the sun is behind me! It illuminates the deepest darkness and fear and brings the world a new dawn!
Come and get me, then! Let the two suns collide!
It's a duel, Gaioh! And when we defeat you, the sun will rise once more on this world!





Better...



Again with the "power to kill a god." This line is pretty interesting now that we've gotten through half of Z3, but there's another discussion.



Anyway, everyone is perfectly capable of defending themselves, of course.

I hear you beat Emperor Zuul. Not bad.
What do you know about him?
Not sure. The guy I know wasn't named Zuul when I knew him.
What does that mean, Gaioh?
Does it matter? Just show me your power.
If you really beat him, you'll make me a fantastic DAMon.
I'll never! Godmars and I will never be yours, nor anyone else on Earth!
Oh, yes they well. You'll see my power.
Gaioh! I'll fight you for peace across Earth and space!
Peace?
I'll stop you! That's part of what I swore to Marg!
Fine! If that's what you'll dedicate your life to, then I'll respond in kind and consume you for my own mission!





Come at me with the power of light! Let's see whether it's your power or mine that's fit to kill a god!
So you know something about photon power...
Maybe. I've lived long enough to have seen a few things.
You've lived long enough? And what about all the people who died because of you?
Too bad for them. It was their fate.
You've gotta be kidding! Fine, then it's time for you to meet your fate!
This ends here! We're here to end it!
Good, good! I'll consume the power of light and your valor all at once!









Actually, not everyone is prepared to defend themselves perfectly, but I don't think many of them will be destroyed.






We'll get to Quattro's actual turn later.

You're going down the same path as me, I see.
What does that mean?
Do you have to ask? You and he, and the rest of us, can only live in a fight.
It's inevitable that we should clash. And only one of us can leave alive.
They're right. I'll eat the Getter's power and your three souls!
Heh. Don't make me laugh. We're gonna taste like shit together.
Don't cry on your way down our throats, Gaioh!
Come on, Getter! We'll see which of us is stronger!
You got it!








The man of the spiral! I finally get to eat you!
He... reminds me of the Spiral King... why?
It doesn't matter! He's just a huge rock standing in front of us... in front of the world!
I'll break through him with my drill! Full spin ahead!
That's right! If you can't beat me, you have no hope against the heavens!
We'll see, right now, which of us gets to go up against them!
Here we go, Gaioh! A lot of people are spinning my drill with me!
Bro, Nia, Yoko, Rossiu, and the whole Great Gurren Gang are with me! There's no way you can beat me!
My drill is going to bust through the heavens!








We have to beat him or the whole world will be turned into DAMons! Here we go, Ibuki, Aoyama!
That's good. You're definitely worth consuming.
You man-eating freak! You think everything's just going to go perfect for you?
Akagi! You've got all our power! Just this once, don't think and go for it!
Right! We're going all out today!
If we don't stop him, we're all out of jobs, right?
Exactly! Go get 'em, Akagi! For 21st Century Security, and for everyone in the world!
You got it!
Then come and get me, salarymen! I'll eat all three of you at once!
You won't turn us and Dai-Guard into a DAMon!
All together! Salarymen can fight for peace too!








So you've got some mission. But your reasons don't matter anymore!
Now you're a woman I can get to like.
Whoa, where'd that come from?
You can't mess up the whole world and then turn around and mess with us like that!
That wasn't a joke.
My reasons don't matter, because you understand battle at a base level - and that's what makes you worth eating.
Our reward for earning the king's favor is turning into a DAMon?
I'm afraid we must turn it down. We're not quite tired of the world to the point where we're willing to give up now.
No more talking! Show me your power!
That's just fine! Come on, Kurara, Sakuya, Johnny, Eida!
The beasts within us are roaring! Let's go wild!








Damn it! We finally draw him out and he's this powerful!
You can instinctively feel my power? But it's too late to chicken out!
Are you kidding? The Cyber-Beast Force doesn't know the meaning of retreat!
We only go forward! No matter what's in our way!
That's the real proof of our... of humans' strength.
Then show me! Show me your real power!
Shinobu! Are you going to take that from him?
Nah, but arguing with him isn't going anywhere! So let's answer with our power!
Just what I was hoping for! You might be my finest prey!
We'll show you our wild power, Gaioh... Dancouga's power!
Let's go wild!







Finally.











That probably wasn't the Macross' best attack for this. Oh well.



He's finally under 100k, and only up to 108 Will.

It's over, Gaioh! We're ending this right now!
Glad you're fired up. Your mech is beaming your passion straight into my head.
W-what does that mean?
He... he totally is enjoying the fight!
We can't let him go, can we?
I live for the fight. So I'll fight as long as I live!
But if your fight is taking peace and happiness away from people...
Then we'll fight you! That's our mission as Gran Knights!
Then it's your mission against mine! Our fight will make our blood boil!
We won't lose! Sol Gravion is the crimson fang that fights for all the fangless!









What does this jerk smell like?
Hmm... so you remember me?
I suppose you would, Machine Angel. You were an angel yourself once.
What does he know about Aquarion?
My Angel blood feels something from that man...
Who is he?
He's our enemy, that's who he is!
Apollo...
No way I'm ever friends with a freak who turns people into monsters!
That's fine with me. I just wanted to fight you.
All that matters is that whichever one of us wins gets to carry out their mission!
I don't know or care who you are! Something in me is telling me you have to go down!
Let's go, Gaioh! We'll stop you!





I think I finally get why Ime was so into you.
What?
You're going to help me get back on my feet, black Megadeus!
Does he know about Big O?
It must have been in the memories he lost!
Enough chitchat! I'm right here!
Whatever he knows about Big O, I oppose violence without reason! That's just how I operate!
Big O! Action!









So you're behind everything.
I won't stop you thinking so. That's just what I am.
What is this guy talking about?
I'd actually rather have this guy than one who goes around spouting dumb excuses.
Either he or us will be destroyed...
We'll decide that right now!
Come on! I"ll eat all of you! It's my mission... it's why I exist!
Locked on...
Target: Gaioh, King of Destruction... this ends now!





Come on, ZEUTH! You're my most prime prey!
He's fighting as if it's a game!
Not quite. Fighting is my whole life.
You can't live your whole life as a game, can you?
That doesn't make any sense! But since you're spreading war, you're our enemy... an enemy of the whole world!
If we're enemies, then come on already! I'll consume your soul!
If you want a fight, we'll give you one! And we'll make sure that fight stops here!







Gaioh, King of Destruction! I'll stop you!
What are you so mad at me for? You're from a different world.
I'll fight anyone who spreads fighting! Do you know how much fighting there's been, how many people are dead because of you?
I guess I haven't counted.
Why, you--!
There it is! Hit me with your anger and whatever else you've got! All of it!
Those are the souls I want! That's why I fight!







How do you fight like that?
!
You can't beat me with all that doubt in you.
Show me your real power. You could be the greatest soldier if you just gave up those doubts.
I don't like trying to read peoples' minds. I don't like doing it, and I don't like others doing it.
And what are you going to do about it?
I'll forget my doubts, just for a moment... and survive this fight as a just another pilot!





Quattro is underleveled. I didn't expect much out of him.

You're one of that bit of humanity that's starting to awaken new power.
Do you mean Newtypes?
Hit me with all the powers you've got, or neither you or any other human has a chance of survival!
Newtypes aren't just weapons, but...
But if I can do anything with this power... if I can end this fighting with my power!
That's right! That's what I want! I want to see every last bit of your power!
And then I'll eat it! And reach the highest level of existence!







You know, I do think this is the end of it. And there's only... five conversations left hanging.

The Great Axion is sunk. You're the only one left!
That thing's just where I sleep. I'll fight as long as I have a body to fight with.
So you haven't given up? I guess the King of Destruction is as free as it gets.
But this world's in serious trouble if we let you go.
So if you're not going to stop fighting, we'll make you stop the hard way!
You're free to try... but if you want to stop me, you can't do it by talking!
That was the plan! This world doesn't have room for you!





Or not?

Using your vast power to ruin lives... the very picture of brutality.
And that's why you're going to beat me, right?
No, I'm going to beat you because you're in the way of my plan.
The world will be mine soon enough, and there will be no place in it for you.
There can't be two kings... but can you overcome such vast power, Lelouche?
Of course I can! I will overcome whatever stands in my way! Such is my goal!
I like you! Feed me your determination!
I refuse!
Then I'll eat it myself!
Gaioh, King of Destruction! I command you in the name of Zero, Commander-in-Chief of the Black Knights!
Vanish from my world!








Valor and Soul are rapidly falling in effectiveness before that Prevail.

If I can beat you, the fighting ends! And I can go back to them alive!
You should be glad you have somewhere to go back to...
But I'm eating you! So if you've got something to fight for, now's the time to show me!
What is he talking about?
What is the King of Destructions mission, exactly?
Who cares what it is?
Our mission is to beat him and save the world, Alto!
I know that!
Ranka! Sheryl! I'm flying to protect who and what I love! So I'll beat this guy!
And I'll eat your soul! That's why I am!









Nope, we're actually done. Let's go back and see the last words, and then...

King of Destruction... I will avenge my homeland of Insaraum!
Heh. It's you, Marguerite.
What is so funny?
Just remembering what a good woman you were.
How dare you!
I'm not joking.
I'm honestly glad you've got the fire in you that you had way back in Insaraum.
I am not as weak as I was then! I fight in the name of Sir Cheval and all my people!
En guarde, Gaioh! If it costs me my life, I will defeat you!

The size of the machine doesn't matter, does it? I'm making you the ultimate DAMon.
I refuse. I still have something to do.
I didn't ask how you felt about it. If you come at me, I'm taking your soul!
I will survive. No one can stop me.

Anyway...



"Funny" story - it had to be Alto because he could finish Gaioh with an attack that didn't override his death animation.

Hah hah hah hah! You guys are strong!
Something funny?
No. It was a good fight.




Something seems a little off about his end. Marguerite feels like there was something more to his fight than just his personal fun. But what matters is that he's gone, and the world is safe. The question is, what was the thing hidden on this moon that would have unlocked his memories?



A high-pitched noise says we won't have a chance to find out - not if we intend to make it out of here before the barrier around the dark moon closes up once more. And we do have to make it back to see the world at peace again. And to see how much it's changed through the trials it's faced. After all, the great threat did manage to unify it, for better or for worse. And each GOONZ has their own day-to-day fight to get back to, or start anew - whether it's with terrorists or oppressors or just company stock. Crowe, for his part, is free, free at last...



With the death of Gaioh, King of Destruction, and the sinking of the Great Axion, the Imperium was destroyed.

In the aftermath of the great threat, the revolution upon world and its people reached its peak. In response to the remaining threats, the value of the UNF under control of the World Peacekeeping Council was impressed upon all, and the time was ripe for the world to abandon nationality and be united. The motion was executed quickly, and within a mere month after the destruction of the Imperium, the three superpowers and other nations announced a World Federation.

The year is MWD 0020. The world has survived the war that came to be known as the Destruction Event and begun to unite under the banner of the World Federation.

As the long-awaited peace descends on the world, those who fought to bring it about each go to their own new battles...

Next: Stay tuned for the ever-afters!