Part 149: The trial is over. Now comes the execution.

We did it!
HELL, YEAH! Check that!
Ha-HA! A victory for truth, justice, and all that good stuff!
You've done well, but not well enough to match my power.



OH COME ON.

How...How in the...?!
Ultimately, you bracers exist simply to protect people. Only those who have attained enlightenment can hope to match one such as myself.
The trial is over. Now comes the execution.
Gh!
In that case, Loewe.
I'd like to challenge you. One on one.
Oh?
JOSHUA?! Are you kidding me?!
It's all right, Estelle.
Loewe may be strong, but that last fight still had an effect on him. Trust me...I can do this.
...Okay. I trust you.
Honestly, I've got some business to settle with this idiot too, but...
Ah, screw it. Guess I can trust you to handle this one.
Just don't lose to him, you got it?
Don't worry. I won't.



It's true that I've lost a bit of my edge. I'm a little slower, in particular. You could even walk away from this fight as the victor...
But I wouldn't bet on those odds, if I were you.
Maybe not, but still.
This soul of mine, which was saved by a sister, bound by a professor, freed by a father, and is now one with Estelle's...All I've learned as a bracer, and the power given to me by Ouroboros...



Video: Joshua vs. Loewe

-Silver Will: Super Arrange-



What are you doing, Joshua?! You're faster than this! Why not use your speed to try and best me?!
...
I have something I want to ask you, Loewe. Why? WHY do you continue to side with Weissmann? Even after all this?
You said before that it wasn't about revenge for Karin.
That you wanted to 'bring the world to trial.'
What does that even mean?
Mmm...
It's nothing you need concern yourself with.
I simply wished to see if humanity could answer for its failings.
'Answer its failings'? I still don't follow...
Humanity is the plaything of forces greater than individual men. The passage of time, the changing ideals of nations, gradual shifts in values and ethics...They are helpless before these, and when such storms blow over man, they are knocked into the cracks and lost, unable to free themselves.
Hamel is but one example.
...
Ironically, this great city is exactly the same. It began as a paradise--people living full, fulfilled, satisfied lives in the clouds. However, at the same time as the Great Collapse--or as part of it--people abandoned this paradise and fell to the earth.
This city was sealed away...and people forgot it even existed. Almost as if they sought to forget an inconvenient truth. As if they sought to deceive themselves.
...
The truth is ever easily suppressed, and people will happily accept anything they wish to be true in its place. That is mankind's weakness. That is their sin.
But the Aureole's overwhelming power will force people to face the unabated truth. How helpless they are without the backing of nations...How vulnerable they become once you strip them of all their luxuries...
All they've locked away in their delusions will be dragged before their eyes, raw and exposed. And they will witness.
Locked away in their delusions, huh?
So forcing people to confront that is your goal?
It is.
As long as we continue to delude ourselves, to believe our world is always just and good, mankind will repeat its mistakes forever. More tragedies like Hamel will happen. A second time, a third...Who knows how many? So many more like Karin will bleed their lives out on the arms of those they care for.
You want to know why I obey Ouroboros? That's why. And I have no regrets for what I've become in pursuit of my goal.
I see.
I think you're the delusional one, Loewe.
What?
I'm a weak person myself, so what you've said hits home. There's some truth in it.
But we all have the potential to overcome hard times or face our weaknesses. People aren't helpless. Not completely.
Remember when Karin saved me ten years ago? She was strong then, and that made all the difference.
Tch!
There's no way you never realized that. Not with how important Karin was to you. Not with how important you were to her.
You're deluding yourself, Loewe, and you know it.
...No...





Karin was...She was the only one who could have ever made a difference! None of her actions speak for humanity! They must still be tested! They must face their delusions! And I must see if they are worthy of Karin's sacrifice!
In that case, I should be all the proof you need!
I, the weakling and liar who lived on through my sister's sacrifice!
I, who found my way once I met Estelle! I, who could only have come here to meet you again with her help!





-Silence-





-Dancing With The Wind-



Heh. Would you look at that?



You put all you had into a single opening you forced out of me. Haha...You little fool.
*pant*...Hah...
Not...good enough...?
Hah. The Bladelord's dropped his sword. It doesn't get much more final than that.
All I can do is admit defeat.
Defeat...? I...
YOU DID IT!



You actually beat Loewe!
You even just knocked away his sword! You didn't hurt him!
I wouldn't have had the slightest hope of victory if I was fighting to kill. There's always a better way.
That's what it means to be a bracer, right? That's what Dad taught us.
Yeah!
Ah, of course.
You had the techniques Weissmann placed in you, all filtered through the wisdom of the Divine Blade. Hah. What hope did I even have?
Loewe...
Mmm...
I joined Ouroboros because I wanted to test humanity. With you having answered that, I suppose I've run out of reasons to continue working with them.
I think it's time I found a new line of employment.
Ah...!



You're back...Thank Aidios, you're back! Loewe's back! It's over! It's over...!
H-Hey...
I always thought about you, even after the Brights took me in. I remembered your voice, your face...that you were important to me, but not who you were. Then I finally remembered, only to learn that you're my enemy.
I just...didn't know what to think...
Hah...I see.



Ummm...
(Haha, even Joshua's got a cute side to him!)
(Ahhhh, kinda makes me wish I had a little brother like him...)
(C'mon, Kevin, don't tease.)
(Oh, for cryin' out...)
(No matter how old he tries to act, he's still just a kid who needs family, huh?)
(Haha, you think so?)



I know nothing's settled yet, but still...
You big dummy...
You don't need to apologize, okay? You've finally made up, right? Go on, spend some time with Loewe!
Er, spend...Yeah...
Haha...
Estelle Bright, I owe you a debt I don't think I can ever repay.
Er, huh?
With both Renne and Joshua here. You've done all sorts of things I never could yet made it look so trivial.
And you've guided so many other people to this point...You truly are one of a kind, Estelle.
You know, if you're making fun of me, we can totally throw down again. Just saying.
And Agate Crosner. Your blade strikes with conviction and force now, rather than empty rage. You've managed to find your reason for fighting now, I assume?
Uh, yeah, I guess...
Wait, where do you get off soundin' all self-righteous like that?!
Soundin' like the old man at this point.
Ha, I'm honored to be compared to the Divine Blade.
And you...Hm...
Uh? Somethin' on my face, chief?
No.
You're Kevin Graham, yes? Would you happen to know a woman named Rufina?
...Where did you get that name?
So she WAS a Gralsritter. I thought so. I fought a bowgun-wielding churchwoman similar to yourself several years ago. That was one of the few other times I've been so thoroughly matched. Is she still well?
...No.
Unfortunately, she died in an accident. Was about four years back.
I see. I mourn the church's loss, then. She was a person of character.
(Who are they talking about?)
Oh, yeah. Loewe, why ARE you up here? This circle on the ground isn't the Aurole, is it?
No, that's just some broadcast equipment.
It sends the miraculous power from the Core Sector out across the city.
The what now?!
The Core Sector is where the Aureole is, I'm guessing?
Yes.
The proper function of the Axis Pillar is, essentially, as an antenna broadcasting the Aureole's power to the rest of the city. Its range seems to be roughly a thousand selge. Using the Gospels, the Aureole could affect things not just in what we call Liberl now, but across a good deal of the continent.
The more I hear, the crazier it gets...
So in order to stop the shutdown phenomenon, we have to get down to the Core Sector and do something about the Aureole?
It would be the only way.
But 'doing something' with the Aureole may prove difficult. It's an artifact of some sort, but it's...sentient, in some way. It mercilessly removes foreign or threatening elements. That Celeste Auslese managed to seal it away in the first place is impressive in and of itself.
And, on top of the Aureole, you'll have to deal with Weissmann.
Oh, crud...
It's a fight we can't put off any longer.
But with your help, Loewe, not even Weissmann could stop us.
You brat...Just assuming I'll help you out of the blue like that? Now why would I possibly want to help YOU out? Heh.
Haha...


-Silence-





Loewe!



-Release from the Spell, And...-



I would say you've done a splendid job, overcoming my little trials and reaching the pinnacle...But all these little rule violations! Tsk, tsk. So unsporting.
'Rule violations'?! What are you talking about?!
We fought every one of your dumb Enforcers fair and square! And...And Joshua beat Loewe! One on one!
Heck, we've been FAIRER about this than we should've been!
Mmm. I see you've yet to grasp the full extent of the plan.
All servants of Ouroboros receive power from the Grandmaster in some way or form.
If you have a few members of Ouroboros assisting you, that hardly seems a fair or informative experiment, now does it?
We're an...experiment?
I've been a fool...
Us coming here was part of your plan all along, wasn't it?!
Haha...I'll admit to adding many of my own personal touches to the plan...But yes, about half of it did consist of you making your way here.
Right. The Gospel Plan's about more than the Aureole, isn't it?
Correct. All is according to the Grandmaster's design. But as I said, you were never meant to have Ouroboros members as part of the experiment.
Which means...Joshua here is ruining the precision of my results. Forgive me, my boy, but I think it's time you became my puppet once more.
What? What do y--

*snap*









No. No...
Weissmann, you bastard!
You...You damned monster. You put something like THAT into the deepest levels of his subconscious?!
Ah, the fledgling Gralsritter, yes?
I'm sure you know very well what's going on, then. And what hold my power of absolute suggestion has over him.
Gh...
Joshua...this is a joke, right? Come on...Come on back...
. . .
Come on...Stop it! Stop looking at me like that!
Please, that's enough. There's little point.
When all this began, I used my power to rebuild Joshua's shattered mind. The Stigma I sank into the depths of his mind has slept dormant since. When it is invoked, however, the effect is tremendous. Joshua really is little more than a puppet to me now.
No...No...
Ah, incidentally. That little thing on Joshua's shoulder? That isn't just a tattoo. It is the image of the Stigma I burned into his mind, made manifest on his flesh.
I imagine it came as quite the fright when it reappeared after I returned his memory.
...You lied. On top of all the suffering you put Joshua through, you said you'd freed him. But even that was a lie...
Now, now! I wasn't lying when I told him he was free.
If Joshua had just left well alone and not come this far with you, I wouldn't have to do this.
Hahah...Why, one could say this is really all your fault, Ms. Bright. What a monster you are.
...Don't...you...DON'T SCREW WITH ME, WEISSMANN! YOU don't get to tell me anything about what paths I've chosen!



You taking control of Joshua?! All it's done is made me EVEN MORE ANGRY! I am going to beat you clear to Erebonia and back and save Joshua!
Now that's what I was hoping to see.
Ah, but I'm afraid I'm rather busy at the moment. I don't quite have time to stay here right now. Why don't you come down to the Core Sector? Do come visit, so we can finish the experiment. I'll be waiting.
Ah...
. . .






Well, this can't get much worse.
Better question is, how do we get to the 'Core Sector', anyway?
Use the...elevator in the back...



But what elevator? I don't see...





Hurry...No time...
All right!

*KROOOM*

-Hollow Light of the Sealed Land-





Reverie Dragion...
Damn you, Weissmann. So you DID have more than just the one I used...



Don't really get the impression they'll just let us walk on by.
We've got to get past them somehow!
Woman's Voice: Then let us handle this.





Not that I'm complaining, but, yeah, why are you guys here?
The repairs to the Arseille are essentially done.
We got everyone who could fight together and came out to assist you.
Admittedly, I'm just tagging along, looking at everything in awe. Heh!
Heeey, don't forget about us!
The Bobcat's about ready to fly, too!
We figured we'd pop on over and see how you were getting on.
That's great!
So, don't worry about these things! We'll handle them!
Estelle, you hurry after Joshua!
Guys...thanks!



Your light is the only thing that can save Joshua now!
Right!



Split into two groups! Rip them apart!
The Team: Yeah!









How deep do you think it goes?
Well, given how tall the pillar is...I bet this thing runs into the middle of the island.
Yeah...
Estelle, don't worry, all right?
He promised he'd stay with you to the end, right? So don't worry. He'll come back. I got a good feeling, you might say.
Aww, Kevin...thanks.
Yeah...He'll never break a promise if he can help it.
Besides, like heck I'm just gonna abandon him and let that creep Weissmann do what he wants with MY Joshua.
It's time to take back my man with GIRL POWER!
Hell yeah. That's the spirit!

*KROOOM*

Huh? What's that?!
Ohhh, hell...









We really do need to be ready for anything.
Damn right. Bring it ALL on!

-Those Who Guard What Matters Most-



Estelle has already wrecked Dragion's big brother, and that was fifty levels ago. This'll be nothing but a speed bump.







AA Canceler can impede the whole party.



















It even looks sort of frustrated when Hammer Knuckle fails to work.











Maybe this Gaia Shield spam is lame.



What I SHOULD do is move Kevin next to Estelle and Agate.



Now he can cover everyone with Earth Wall instead. Much more efficient.













Bah.



-Silence-







So this is the Core Sector, huh?
Yeah. You feel that power in the air?
Don't think there's any mistake now.
Our boy and the Aureole must be just ahead of here.
They have to be, I think.
Guys...This'll probably be our last fight.
This is where we're gonna stop Ouroboros and the shutdown phenomenon...and it's gonna be where we free Joshua from Weissmann once and for all.



Guys, please, give me everything you still have!
Like you'd get anything less!
Heheh! You leave it to me!