Rather than pick up right away from what happened last time, the story decides to rewind a little bit to focus on what happened right after the battle with Yasuyori wrapped up to insert some extra content. R-19 has just come in and walks over to talk to you, asking if you’re all okay and to not push yourselves too hard. The game reminds you that R-19 was made to scout out danger zones, and as part of that he rationally seeks out a protector to fulfill his job. That’s why he’s trying to get your goodwill...at least, supposedly.
You point out that R-19 looks like a mess and ask why he didn’t run away himself or you can apologize for getting him involved. He pauses before saying he’s disposable, so it’s okay. He’s been made to prioritize his job over his self-preservation. You either respond by asking him to not describing himself that way, ask how he can say that about himself, or say he’s pigeonholing himself.
Narration says that when R-19 goes offline, the data he has gets picked up by the relevant worker. He’s never once said why it’s rational and correct to keep going like so. R-19 eventually responds that he doesn’t see any rational basis for you to criticize his actions.
A bit of time later R-19 seems to be thinking to himself, and Jacob starts talking to him by noting he seems mad for the first time since he’s known him. R-19 is confused by this statement and wonders if that is what he’s feeling. Jacob says it is and asks if he didn’t realize it.
Jacob talks about how he’s the same as well, that plenty of people don’t understand him. Maybe when they see something of themselves in him like a mirror, they’ll understand a little more. R-19 has no response to that and asks him to elaborate. Jacob believes that’s not something he can answer for him, so he tells him he should come to his own answer.
Narration then dips into a flashback to talk about how El Dorado was a surging swirl of creation energy before it became the world it is. There, there were two brothers who fought together, Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl. And in the end, Tezcatlipoca sacrificed his right leg so that they could win, which then led to the creation of El Dorado.
The people who lived there and witnessed this brought about a certain belief: the world is maintained by someone’s sacrifice. With many people believing this the idea became reality, and El Dorado became a world where the sun shines because of sacrifices. Self-sacrifice was how their world came to be after all. Since then, self-sacrifice came to be seen as respectable, proof that someone is exceptional.
Tezcatlipoca takes over narration to order the people of the world to train and compete so that the winner may sacrifice themselves. El Dorado became a world of unending war in search of ever greater sacrifices. Tezcatlipoca took the initiative to show that ideal, throwing himself into battle and being fearless of any damage he might take.
Tezcatlipoca says that even now he doesn’t regret making that choice. He loved El Dorado, and all evidence that he lived is over there. He loves that world more than anything, and he believes this with all his heart. Because of that, he never hesitated about continuing to wage war. He could do anything for the world. What would an endless war mean to him?
Then one day, you were gone from that world. Tezcatlipoca always believed you would be there, and it was something he didn’t think he’d ever need to think about. But then you erased all traces of yourself from that world and left him behind.
Tezcatlipoca says he always wanted to be with you in that world with its eternal days forever. He wanted to know why you disappeared, but he never had the chance to ask. In his supposed-to-be empty chest, a cold wind blows. He laments that he never realized why as he was back then. He knows now that he was saddened when you sacrificed yourself.
Now back to the current time, Yasuyori starts thanking Tezcatlipoca for his kindness, then asks to be allowed to resign since he has a place to go back to. Tezcatlipoca agrees and says he can do as he likes. He starts saying that a soldier without any morale is useless when he notices Xolotl in surprise, so he decides to reword his statement.
Tezcatlopoca starts talking about how Xolotl avoided sacrificing himself once just like Yasuyori did. At that point, Quetzalcoatl allowed Xolotl to leave El Dorado. Tezcatlipoca decides to follow that example and allows Yasuyori to leave. What Quetzalcoatl did to him, Tezcatlipoca now stubbornly traces after his traces to answer in kind. He wants you to remember everything and redo it.
Tezcatlipoca talks about how a world of endless war going back and forth is all he wants. That’s how he justifies dismissing Yasuyori and says that’s how he can take it. Narration describes him as speaking haughtily, cruelly, but sincerely in his way of life. Yasuyori acknowledges this, and Tiger Man starts singing Tezcatlipoca’s praises.
Back outside the prison, troopers and special element angels are attacking. Camera then shifts over to the special underground isolation ward, where Mononobe comments that time is up for this place too.
Scene then shifts over to wherever the Rule Makers are in the East side of Tokyo as Amaterasu says that Tezcatlipoca is finished and how sad that is. The members hanging around there are discussing the effects and conclusion of the current incident.
Amaterasu sighs as she wonders why people just can’t get along, though she admits that Tezcatlipoca is suffering the consequences of his actions. Bael is there as he ask about how the Majority Decision of the Warmongers guildmaster means the attack on the prison school has been approved. Amaterasu confirms and says Michael has sent his angels to verify that.
Bael asks if this is a majority decision coming from the West before he changes that to World Representatives. Are they all really cutting Tezcatlipoca out? Amaterasu is sad but says yes to that. She says all three factions approve, but she changes her wording to tacitly consenting.
Bael asks as if to clarify that the crime of causing mutual distrust among all the big three guilds and breaking the rules is serious. Amaterasu says yes and thinks that in any loop past this, all the other World Representatives will knock Tezcatlipoca out first.
Bael laughs at Amaterasu for talking about “any loop after this one.” He says that everyone thinks that their world will continue for eternity, but he tells Amaterasu that every world will end one day. Just something he knows as he starts cackling while the camera pulls away.
Speaking of laughing, scene tunes back over at your end to Tezcatlipoca doing just that. There’s an altar over in that forest there, and Tezcatlipoca is giving off dark light like he’s the sun. Tezcatlipoca turns to his minions as he refers to them as his warriors and lovely slaves of war. He tells them that it’s due to them that he can illuminate the world and shine with their pride.
The light shines, the trees grow thick, and a dark breath pulses like a heart. Shirou calls out to you and everyone asking if they’re okay since vision is getting blocked. Yasuyori is surprised, and Breke says he can pick up the ‘scent’ of pros used to killing on the battlefield coming.
What comes next is Tiger Man and other nameless flunkies counting up and making a show of jumping out of the trees, yelling and smiling and cheering their brains out for Tezcatlipoca. Tiger Man yells to the elite guard group that it’s time to show their superstar the best lucha libre ever. Their heartbeats are somehow audible, but that gets covered by the darkness along with themselves.
You hear loud crashes and yells happening, so you try to call out to everyone. Before you get anywhere, Tiger Man jumps down in front of you for a surprise attack, though you manage to fend him off in your still half-injured state. Tiger Man just laughs in reaction to that and asks how you’ll react next as he sends rubber strips all around before calling his NP.
Tiger Man starts jumping all around to attack you from above, and you are unable to keep track of him through all of this. Since Tiger Man’s temporary heart is something given to him by Tezcatlopoca, its beats are covered up by the jungle since it too is a part of Tezcatlipoca. His attacks get compared to a jaguar hunting its prey.
You attempt to swing at him, but in your condition Tiger Man is able to easily dodge as he segues into slamming into you with a spinning moonsault press. He cheers for himself for pulling it off. You yell out in pain and have the option to be happy about it a little. In any case Tiger Man prompts you to get back up since the battle’s only just begun.
You are confused by him not trying to finish you off there and can back away from him. He’s surprised you’d ask and answers that he pro wrestles. He has to entertain the audience or else what’s the point? All he wants to to is to entertain them. You are shocked by this before you ask who he’s actually talking about, or you can just stand there staring at him in silence.
Tiger Man decides to take the moment to ask if you ever admired Tezcatlipoca for protecting the world. He describes him as gallantly facing against dangers to the world, making a sacrifice of himself by himself and protecting everyone. He also describes him as aloof, noble, and strong, someone who shines with all his might showing no traces of anger or disdain. Tiger Man says he admires him and wanted to be like him. It’s a wish he developed himself instead of something he was pushed to by others.
Tiger Man says he hoped to stand beside Tezcatlipoca and relieve even a bit of his loneliness. He says he can’t do it though, so he decides that he at least hopes Tezcatlipoca’s wish can come true. He then declares that he’ll show his brilliant form in war as his life burns out. You either react with surprise, confusion, or silence.
Tiger Man says he offered his heart as that he doesn’t regret it. He also says he doesn’t mind giving up the rest of his body if Tezcatlipoca asked him to, but Shennong walks up behind him and yells that he shouldn’t be so casual about that. Shennong shoots at him, though Tiger Man barely dodges it. He jumps back into the trees, his presence hidden once again.
Shennong is annoyed by this but turns his attention to ask if you’re okay. You are surprised by him being here and thank him. Shennong says that if you have the light of your sword, it’ll be the easiest way for people to find you. Then he notices your arm right away and figures you can’t use it. You ask him for a favor, asking him to inject you with some pain killers and an anti-paralytic so you can use your arm a bit longer.
Shennong sorts through his mixed feelings before complaining about how all his patients are. He agrees to do it but says he’ll be lecturing your ass off after everything is over. He then prompts you to bring your arm out and get ready.
Meanwhile, Tiger Man is waiting and deliberately allowing you to heal up because it’ll be more fun that way. He’s also sure that Tezcatlipoca wants you to reach him, and he launches his attack soon after. You tell Tiger Man to bring it as you brace your sword with both your hands as the episode battle starts. More story happens after that.
Things tune back in mid battle as he chatters about pushing things harder, better faster, stronger higher in the hopes that this battle will alleviate even a bit of Tezcatlipoca’s loneliness. He jumps and charges at you from all directions, and you call your NP to cut at the darkness and the earth.
You cut off the connection between the ground and the darkness, which surprises Tiger Man. He starts remembering the battle of the two suns he once saw, and the light of the one who stood against Tezcatlipoca was the one who cuts the earth. That was the day Tezcatlipoca remembered as the most enjoyable fight ever as well as something else, and the action cuts in with you hitting Tiger Man. He tells you to go on since he’s waiting for you before collapsing.
After Tiger Man goes down and Shennong lets you go on, Shennong calls out and tells Yasuyori to show himself since he’s sure he’s there. Yasuyori complies, and Shennong says he’s calling in the favor over the sleeping drugs he gave him by asking him to help. Yasuyori has qualms against fighting against Tezcatlipoca since he worked for him before, but Shennong says he wants him to help grant his wish. And to do that, he’s going to need Yasuyori’s power, which surprises him.
Back to your end of things, you run on through the jungle until you reach Tezcatlipoca. He acknowledges that you’ve made it as he calls you Quetzalcoatl, and you either say you’ve come, say you’re you, or say you aren’t Quetzalcoatl. B and C have an extra line where Tezcatlipoca acknowledges that while that is true for you, to him you look exactly like his brother.
Tezcatlipoca talks about how nostalgic the look in your eyes and the way you came to stop the endless war is to him. Mania seems to fill him as he looks deep into your eyes, and he says it’s certain that Quetzalcoatl is within you. You brace your sword, so Tezcatlipoca asks you to wait for a moment and take a look down below.
Tezcatlipoca points out how all your friends are fighting. He talks about how his side is filled with people who wish for war and allow themselves to be hurt. He laughs as he talks about how that form is proof of being alive and that life is precious for how it burns.
You either call his name or keep quiet, and Tezcatlipoca says he’s planning on challenging you before asking if you aren’t going to try to stab him this time. If you beat him, you might be able to look for the teacher you’re looking for. You say you want to talk to him because cutting him won’t mean anything, or you just shake your head.
Tezcatlipoca is surprised since he thinks there’s nothing to talk about. He decides it’s fine since he has something he wants to ask you. He starts talking about how his true form, as best as it can be called that anyways, exists within the network connecting all the mirrors. If you cut him, he can just run away, and he makes a point about how nothing will happen if you cut him now.
Tezcatlipoca laughs and says that’s if it’s limited to him. It’s probably the same with the other Representatives, though he doesn’t know what you think of that. He tells you that in the war in Tokyo, death has no meaning to the World Representatives. Foolish as they are, they aren’t so soft as to be cut down by willpower alone. If you don’t cut off their will to fight, there won’t be an end. In which case, he decides to talk with you a little, if you feel like it.
You either question him on that or keep quiet. Tezcatlipoca asks why you chase after that man you call sensei. You ask if he means Mononobe, and he confirms it through his silence. He then starts saying he’s talked with him plenty of times, and that he has some guesses as to your situation. Tezcatlipoca says that that man left without saying a word to you and left you behind. Then he asks how correct that is.
You either reluctantly agree, say nothing, or ask what Tezcatlipoca is getting at. Tezcatlipoca decides to be direct and asks if you feel like you were abandoned by that man. Do you feel like he thinks of you as unimportant? You aren’t able to answer that, and Tezcatlipoca says you desperately chase after him while you get beaten and whipped. He says there’s no point in you chasing after him because he’s unnecessary to the endless days of this world. It may be stupid to think so, but he asks what you think.
You either say it’s fine or that you don’t think so. Tezcatlipoca seems surprised by your answer, and you say you want to talk to him when you find him. You chase after him because you want to. Tezcatlipoca calls you dense and foolish, comparing you to a painfully stupid dog searching for its master despite not realize it was abandoned. Emotions he hasn’t shown before spill from him, scorn and anger, and the episode ends.
What is Tezcatlipoca talking about? Mononobe left the protag alone with his small child to take care. He got a lot of explaining to do.
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