Chapter 9 Episode 18: System of Karma 3

Things start off with narration from Tiger Man, though that’s not immediately apparent. He starts talking about the city covered in gold, El Dorado. A world that is surrounded by golden walls, and a world where everything is offered so that the sun can shine its golden hues.

Everything owned by the people who live there are offerings for the sun, and as they searched for ever better things to offer, they had to turn to fighting. The people of El Dorado did their best for battles since they were born, giving everything they had for the repeating war.

In other words, they were all soldiers who took on that role and continued to fight. And the whoever is chosen to be the most worthy of the sun would be the sacrifice of the year and given the honor that position brings.

Someone somewhere, maybe us or whoever, tells him that this is an awful story. He’s surprised by that and asks why we think so. He says all they feel is profound joy in becoming one with the shining one. He prompts us to look at the sun, asking us if it shines taller and brighter than anything.

Tiger Man says it’s laughable what we see, but that itself is the sun. The supreme black sun, which he says is another name for Tezcatlipoca. Tiger Man himself is a general for El Dorado, and even amongst the powerful army there is no one who doesn’t know him and his strength.

Tiger Man starts talking about the day he was offered to Tezcatlipoca, which he says he’ll probably never forget for the rest of his life. His arms and legs were tied to the altar, and his heart was given to the sun. That was the first time he ever saw the sun change forms.

It was a mirror that spewed smoke, which then shifted into the form of some kind of serpent or dragon. Tiger Man reverently describes it as sublime, asking if that’s really what Tezcatlipoca‘s form is. As his body started to cool, it was filled with a part of Tezcatlipoca.

The next moment, there was a strong heart thumping in his chest. Tiger Man says he was made to live, specifically as someone not himself. He describes himself as being one of Tezcatlipoca’s thoughts, which would mean his heart could stop at any time. And at last he became a nagual.

He shook in happiness, because his entire being became one with the sun. He then threw himself into continual battles to make the most of the time he was given. At some point there was a light, strong as but differently colored from the sun that enveloped his field of vision. All he could see before he closed his eyes was a shining winged serpent. It was as if there was an exact copy of Tezcatlipoca, like a new false sun.

The two suns clashed violently above the altar Tiger Man laid out upon. Even as the surroundings burned down, Tiger Man could hear Tezcatlipoca’s voice. They were enjoying it, crying out as a warrior filled with the delight of battle. The other sun seemed to yell out like they were trying to reason with them. “Why...why...?!” Tiger Man thinks he heard. And he also got the feeling the other sun looked at him.

For his part, Tiger Man was fascinated by that battle. It was a beautiful, dazzling struggle of strength against strength. If he could have fought like that, if he could have lived like that...he doesn’t finish the sentence.

Eventually, the other sun went past the golden walls and fell to the ends of the world. Tezcatlipoca, the true sun according to Tiger Man, won. And he was supposed to cheer for him. But he couldn’t, because his body wasn’t moved. And that was because Tezcatlipoca looked sad to be left alone. He seemed to be grieving the battle that ended in an instant.

Tiger Man supposes that if there is eternity in this world and a battle that never ends, he would surely be in that locked up place...

Scene shifts over to Alice, where narration says she’s locked in a room in Tokyo Babel Tower in Sumida Ward, staring out a window. Christine knocks and comes in, greeting her and saying she’s here to visit as a representative of the Entertainers.

Alice says she’s happy to see her, but she’d be even happier if Christine were to let her out of prison. Christine says she isn’t able to do that, nor is she still allowed to do anything in Tokyo yet. Alice doesn’t seem pleased with that, but Christine says it’s not all bad. It’s why she was allowed to see her.

Alice decides to ask Christine about what is happening outside. She heard about the Exception arising in Otemachi and set out to go over there, since it’s her job to keep the game running smoothly. But before she could go she was called back, and she’s been out of the loop ever since.

Alice is also fed up with being prohibited from communicating with Jambavan, her collaborator on the outside. So she asks Christine how the Exception was resolved. She can see that life goes on, but she wonders if it’s a sign that she doesn’t need to leave anymore. Alice makes a comparison to Humptey Dumptey and whether he fell off the wall yet in terms of her impatience, which Christine finds poetic.

Anyways Christine then answers the question saying the Exception has returned to its original form. She suggests it’s like the Game Masters have decided beforehand that the incident wasn’t related to the game’s whole existence. After all, it did happen in an environment the World Representatives of Eden and Takamagahara had complete control over.

Christine repeats the point about how the higher levels of the Game Masters have judged it to be a part of the game, which she says the World Representatives may have anticipated. Alice cuts in to ask Christine is working above her, saying she’d do it because she thinks it’d be interesting.

Christine takes it as a compliment but denies it, saying she is just an actress. Alice decides to accept it, saying thanks to her she knows the big picture. She calls the World Representatives the main players of the game, and if they’re taking action it probably means it has to do with ‘that.’

Christine answers yes and talks about how Alice once talked about confidential information regarding the trophy. Alice says that refers to you, and Christine says that’s why the World Representatives are here. Azathoth and Surtr were probably here for slightly different reasons though.

Anyways Christine also says the Intervention Ban in the Six Central Wards of Tokyo has been lifted at the same time, which Alice briefly comments on. Christine talks about in past loops there have been times where people who meddled first turned the tides to their favor, and the game did not end with a conclusion. Because of that the Game Masters struck an agreement with the World Representatives. Since then there’s been a set time where no one can interfere with the trophy.

Christine then asks if that agreement is why players were able to act. Alice says it is, though it was some other Game Masters who initiated it. Whatever the case is, Christine says that as a result, the game moved onto a new phase. The real three bug guilds have eagerly waited for it and are now taking action.

Alice asks if she’s saying things are turning out like every other loop has. Christine doesn’t answer, so Alice elaborates. The World Representatives will dissolve and absorb other guilds and divide Tokyo into three. That would include the Game Masters, the ones who progress things, and the Entertainers, the producers.

Christine says the Warmongers are ahead this time around, and Alice comments on them wishing to fight with the trophy for eternity. Christine reports that they’ve dismantled almost all of the Berserkers at the moment, and the Outlaws and Beast Tamers will fall eventually. They are also advancing in other areas and are planned to be the fastest to fill out their ranks.

In all the other loops the World Representatives keep each other in check. Generally any direct contact with the trophy tends to happen way later, but the El Dorado Representative doesn’t seem to want to wait that long. Christine says they might start something soon, if not already. Alice decides to stop her there.

Alice says she understands why she was stopped from going to Otemachi. It seems that her job has come to an end this loop, which she reasons is because the World Representatives know so much more about Exceptions than she does. She thinks that they have no reason to fear them ending the world if they can redo things through the loops. The lives of everyone in Tokyo lies in their hands, pawns to do with as they wish while they try to live as best they can.

Christine questions that comment to Alice’s surprise. Christine then suggests that if the World Representatives believe they know everything about Exceptions, they might end up being tripped over by their arrogance. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Alice asks Christine to stop being so roundabout and asks what’s different this time. Christine talks about how Surtr and Azathoth have withdrawn from the Representatives. It’s just that this time they ended up a little bit differently compared to other times. When the Exception was summoned, their wish from their summoning was fulfilled, and they have vanished from Tokyo.

Christine says that’s what it means to cut your tie to Tokyo and return to your own world, to fulfill your role. If another loop were to happen, she says they probably won’t return. Alice is shocked by that idea.

Christine talks about other people who aren’t the Representative but have fulfilled their roles. Alice angrily says she doesn’t know anything about that nor does she know any details about past loops. She asks what’s happening now.

Christine starts talking about hypotheticals. What if there are people who continue on after them? What if this is the beginning of the end? Maybe it’s finally time for the finale to come to the repeating game.

Scene shifts back to the Kamata guild workshop as Arc asks if it’s a Shadow attacking her. As it charges at her, she tries to get her chains to ensnare it, but the thing simply passes through them. Arc figures it’s not a Shadow because they would have been caught and asks if it’s smoke when the thing punches her through the chest.

The strike doesn’t physically hurt Arc. Instead it fills her with memories she’s never seen before, and the surprise of it leads her to accidentally loosen her grip on all the wrestlers she’s tied up. They all move to surround her, and the smoky being flies back into Tiger Man’s body through his mouth.

Tiger Man’s limp body starts to thump in his chest, and he coughs upon reviving. He talks about how his heart is still working, putting a hand over his chest like he’s praying before saying he’s been allowed to fight to the bitter end.

Arc asks if the smoke was an artifact before saying it couldn’t be since she felt a will in it. Then she asks if there’s another Transient inside Tiger Man and tries to ask who he is.

Tiger Man says he once offered his heart to the sun. There was no greater honor, and yet he still wanted to continue with his lucha/war. Tezcatlipoca heard his wish, and Tiger Man says his breath is inside his body. Because of that, as long as he can still move, he just wants to offer up the best lucha he can.

Arc asks if Tezcatlipoca is the name of the smoke, and Tiger Man says he’s his nagual. He also declares himself El Dorado’s strongest luchador, then says they should fight. He wants a fight where even if his heart were to burst here he’d have no regrets. The mobs start cheering and hailing Tezcatlipoca, then start closing in on Arc.

At that point you intervene with a yell, taking down several of them. Arc is happy to see you, and you apologize for making her wait. You can also hug her if you want. If you do she’s taken by surprise, but she hugs you back, slightly shaking as she’s glad you’re okay. Either way she says that she believed you’d come.

The mobs aren’t phased by your attack and start surrounding you guys again. You’re aware that your sword isn’t suited for this many opponents, but luckily Xolotl and Amatsumara come in to help. Xolotl uses his CS right away while Amatsumara yells about the wrestlers making a mess and needing punishment. He then uses his own CS to blow part of the crowd away.

You either say that the both of them are okay, hug Xolotl, or hug Amatsumara. Going B, he’s surprised and says you shouldn’t do that here. He’s glad you’re okay though as he hugs you too and rubs your back.

In any case Amatsumara says he’s going to clear out the mobs for trashing the place, and Xolotl says he’s different now that he has eyes. He’ll do his best as a bodyguard and get complimented by Hakumen. You notice the eyes at this point and ask about them, and if they’re like Amatsumara’s.

Amatsumara says they are and brags about them. Xolotl talks about how he can really see now and starts saying he can see how you look when he stops and stares, noticing something. When you try asking what’s wrong, he takes step after step towards you before eventually freaking out asking why you, first in the polite form before switching to a more casual form, are here. Tiger Man starts flickering for lack of a better term as the smoky thing calls you Quetzalcoatl, and the episode ends.