Wen is forced back a step, and Kagutsuchi is impressed that your sword skills aren't hindered by the severe cold. Aizen notes that Shirou's judgment was right, and Wen starts laughing as he says you're not bad. Wen also describes your sword as the hero's sword that shines even brighter within Kamuy Kotan's all-freezing blizzard. Aizen harrumphs and says he'll cover you, then fires off his NP. Wen manages to evade and says the numbers are against him, so he'll tip the scales back since there's still someone whose growth wasn't hunted. Then a bunch of ciramantep show up.
You notice that there's something different about the mobs and wonder if it's because this is another world. Wen says there's still more to be surprised about, then ambushes Aizen and cuts a piece of his clothes off. Aizen takes offense at this and calls Wen so rude to tear off his clothes, saying there's enough shamelessness around with just you. Wen casts his NP, which then creates Shadow Aizen out of the clothes scrap. Aizen thinks aloud about how Wen's artifact can manifest someone's past as another being, then realizes why he felt some deja vu when he first saw this at work. He says it's the same as Ophion's artifact, though the concept is different.
Shadow Aizen starts ranting about hearing a voice disturbing the public order and swearing to purge it. Aizen is surprised and asks if he's his representation of his past. Shadow Aizen answers with a yes, describing himself as the protector of public morality, strict with everyone and always striving to enforce discipline. Aizen doesn't say anything, so Shadow Aizen proceeds to declare there's no need to study into the different forms of love. Love is misconduct, and love is to be purged he yells! Aizen says he agrees after a moment, saying that thought still hasn't changed.
You either call Aizen's name or watch him quietly. Aizen looks sad for a moment, then tells his Shadow copy that it still doesn't know yet that That Isn't Everything. He thinks about the Missionaries and talks about their unconditional love, thinks about Kimun and Kagutsuchi and their student teacher love, the Summoners and their friendship and loyalty leading to mutual development, and he thinks of you as he trails off.
Anyways, Aizen declares that he's learned of many kinds of love during the jamboree. Shadow Aizen scoffs at him for showing mercy for shameless desires disguising itself as love and refers to his original as a fool. Aizen yells back that he'll purge him so that he won't be so flippant again, then starts the episode battle. More story happens after that.
After the battle, Shadow Aizen is baffled that his Purge Beam isn't hitting. Aizen tells him that he's only focused on how dangerous love is, meaning only one facet of it. He scoffs at the idea of being hit by a beam that treats it with a sort of fearful respect, then yells out to Ophion about realizing his inexperience again.
Flashback kicks in that narration sets a few weeks ago. Aizen is surprised at what he's hearing and requests Ophion to repeat himself. Ophion talks about the exchange student program with the Missionaries and says he told him to enter it. Narration describes Ophion as looking out the window in the direction of Aoyama as he speaks.
Aizen asks for an explanation, so Ophion starts off by pointing out that Aizen is always haranguing on the dangers of love. Before he'll explain he asks Aizen to say why he does that. Aizen answers that love is the most dangerous form of energy in the world. If it starts to gather on any one person it's liable to incinerate them. In which case, Aizen says he needs to control that love.
Ophion asks if Aizen would try to control him too under those premises.
Aizen is shocked at the suggestion and insists he would never think to
do so. Ophion prompts him to explain what difference there is between
dangerous love and safe love. Is it an energy level difference or what?
Aizen is unable to come up with an answer, so Ophion says he'll tell him
one thing about love, a story about the dragon he respects and the
journey he went on.
Ophion starts to tell a story of Oldphion, the dragon who went on a journey crossing worlds that went on so long it hollowed out what he held in his chest. It was love that pushed him on, it was that energy that spurred him to chase after someone no matter how far they would be. Ophion says he wants to know and reach those heights too someday.
Aizen starts to ask if he's talking about his older self, and Ophion confirms it as he says Aizen must have seen him before. Ophion tells Aizen he should go on a journey too, and when he comes back he should tell him what he's gotten from it. Aizen looks surprised, and Ophion tells him to answer his question when he gets back, so Aizen acknowledges the order.
Aizen narrates that he understands now, saying Ophion's radiance illuminated the world. It was the kind of love that shined on the world loved by his love, and Aizen wonders if that wasn't the love he adored. Back to the present, Aizen tells his Shadow copy that is seeing love only as a danger, hating and fearing it from the bottom of his heart. Because of that he can only think of it as something that can hurt people. Once he knows the beams are coming, he can dodge them all day as someone with a third eye. Aizen also says that beams can be used in ways other than burning things down.
Aizen fires out his lasers in a wide spread pattern. Doing it this way means it can't do any damage, but it also blinds Shadow Aizen out of sheer brightness. With the Shadow left open by this move, Aizen takes the opportunity to blast him with his NP. The attack is strong enough that his artifact is blown back by the recoil, and the Shadow bursts into darkness and disappears.
Aizen starts addressing Wen and says he now understands why he was reminded of someone when he first saw him. He knows the look in his eyes, the look of a worn out love at the end of a long journey. It's the look of sadness of having lost sight of the love and goal he had at first, leaving him with only the actions he was taking.
Wen is surprised that Aizen is suggesting he loved this irritating world, then more outraged than ever as he says Kamuy Kotan used him only to throw him to the ends of oblivion. Kimun pleads for Wen to stop hurting people, but Wen snaps at him to shut up and says Kimun only ever spoke of love. Aizen notes that Wen hasn't been giving a proper explanation for a while and asks him to do so. Wen then agrees to talk about System Kamuy Kotan and their roles.
You ask about either of those points, and Wen starts talking about how Kimun picks out weak children of mortals and gives things to them. The thing is, the flip side of choosing something is that all other choices are not picked. To give special treatment to a child is the same as abandoning the others as not being special. In this world, bear kamui are given the role of preserving the balance of life. Kimun is to hunt down animals and give their meat and fur to children to extend their lives. Wen is to hunt the children who ended up growing to continue the world. As such, Wen and Kimun are two in one, opposites meant to fulfill the purpose of bear kamui.
Kimun is shocked by this declaration, and Wen explains that's why Wen carries the memories while Kimun doesn't. He asks if Kimun gets the significance behind that, though Kimun doesn't answer. Wen tells him it's because having those memories would get in the way of properly acting in his class in giving love and gifts to people. Wen's hate for the world that drove him to do dirty business would just be a hindrance.
Kimun tries to argue about not having those memories, and Wen angrily says he shouldn't have them since he left them behind every time he reincarnated. This outburst blasts everyone present with Wen's force of will. Wen then starts talking about how he gets called Wen Kamui for obstructing growth and protecting the world's eternity and how he gets forced out of the world's faith. Once the equilibrium is preserved, Kimun would reincarnate again and Kamuy Kotan lives happily ever after. Wen calls himself Kimun's shadow cut off by the world and his inconvenient memories. Kimun asks if that's why he himself attacked the beloved the children repeatedly, and you call out either of their names.
More ciramantep show up growling, and Aizen is shocked there's still so many of them hiding in the snowfall. He notes that you guys are in a disadvantage if this is their territory. Wen says it's time to stop playing and that you guys shouldn't be able to put up a real fight here. He talks about how his class has been hounding at him and about hunting down everyone, but Kimun cuts him off with a roar, grabbing him and dragging him with him down the cliff. You try to call after him, but Aizen stops you from going since you guys can't see the bottom, which would put your life at risk too.
You demand that Aizen let go of you so that you can go save Kimun, but Aizen flat out refuses because you're an important teammate. Kagutsuchi notices something and points it out, and Koropokkur pops up all of a sudden. He says nothing, but he stares at your sword as if missing someone from a far off memory. Koropokkur eventually jumps off the cliff and floats down as if his leaf were a parachute, disappearing from view. With no one to lead them the ciramantep scatter, and a voice calls out to you after that.
Shirou tells you not to continue since he doesn't want to lose two teammates at once, and he walks up supported by Moritaka. Aizen is surprised and asks if he's okay to move already. Shirou says his head still feels fuzzy, but he's recovered a bit thanks to Aizen. You either try to tell Shirou about Kimun, say you need to go save him, or say you won't do that. Shirou sympathizes but asks you to calm down since he doesn't want to abandon him either. But as things stand, everyone's been hurt and the snow storm is weakening you all further. No one has the strength to find a way around the cliff, so for now the party needs to regroup and reassess its condition. He begs you to understand, and you tell him you know and thank him.
Aizen suggests believing in Kimun and says that fortunately, this world is Kimun's world so he knows it well. Moritaka agrees, saying that moving recklessly and compounding the situation would go counter to Kimun's teachings. He suggests making use of the experiences you guys had during the event. Shirou then directs everyone to go to the cave that was found earlier so that you guys can rest and recover your stuff.
Time moves to the point you guys reach the cave, which is bigger than expected and provides protection from the wind and snow. You comment that you guys can rest here and wonder if there are any bears inside. Moritaka assures you that his nose can confirm the safety of the cave. Shirou asks you guys to listen to him once you put your bags down so that he can assign jobs. You either express relief that Shirou is okay and say the Evils are fine too, or you can bark for some reason.
In A and B, Shirou says the Evils did their best to warm him up. On the way over his vision cleared up and the Evils calmed down. Aizen then muses that this is parental love. In C, Moritaka tries to insist that he isn't a dog, but you cut him off by patting his head, which he calls cheating.
Anyways, Shirou asks Moritaka to take entrance guard duty. Moritaka agrees to do it and says the cold won't bother him with his fur. Shirou then assigns the Evils to gather everyone's bags so they can do an inventory check for food and usable items. Since there's no knowing how long it'll take to solve the overworld shift, Shirou wants a clear idea of what you guys have on hand. The Evils chatter in acknowledgment.
Before Shirou decides to assign any other jobs, he asks Aizen if the portable tub is usable. Aizen says he hasn't tried it out but it should be fine. He also says that the manufacturer said it could use firewood too. Shirou then asks you and Aizen to set the bath up. Aizen isn't against the idea but he mentions not having much water left, so he'd prefer to save it for drinking. Shirou says it'll be fine and starts explaining the idea of using empty bags to collect snow for the bath water, so Aizen says he understands and will get on that. Shirou then asks Kagutsuchi to use his fire to keep people warm as they work, and Kagutsuchi says he'll do his best.
The party splits off to do their respective tasks, and the bathtub works without issue. In the middle of taking turns bathing and warming up, Aizen starts making a face at you. You ask what's going on, and Aizen says it's your and his turn to use the bath next. He does admit he does have something he needs to talk to you about though, so he prompts you to get in as he calls you love singularity before correcting to your name. You can choose to make it a foot bath or a full bath.
Once you guys are in, Aizen is quiet. You either try to talk to him or try to think of something to say. Aizen sits there looking awkward for a while before eventually complaining that nothing could be more uncomfortable than this. He demands that you say something, or else he will. You decide to let Aizen speak first, though if you phrase it as "just talk" he calls you detestable but says that's why you're his archenemy.
But anyways Aizen starts talking about how you guys got past the danger earlier by using what you learned during the event. These were things that he didn't know while he was at Roppongi, stuff he learned from reexamining himself away from his normal stomping grounds. Aizen learned about many kinds of love as well as survival techniques. You either say Aizen's name or keep quiet.
Aizen says what Wen said hit him hard, specifically the bit where making a choice means discarding all others. He goes back to calling you love singularity, saying the love energy collecting around you is so disgustingly huge it could blow up Tokyo. That makes you a danger like he thought you were. He still believes this to be true.
However, Aizen also doesn't feel that the love of the rest of the party is worth less than that. It's all energy that moves everyone forward, something everyone has even if it is dangerous. He talks about learning a new way to use his beams through his new perspective, which leads to the conclusion that there are other possible outcomes to being the focus of so much love besides destruction. Aizen says he also knows that it won't instantly solve the world's problems that Wen talked about. It's a competition of life scrambling for the limited time and heat, and Aizen doesn't know how to handle that at the moment.
Aizen isn't giving up though since he has a task to fulfill for Ophion. He declares that he will make it back and have something of an answer for the love that shines upon the world. And so...Aizen gets a little flustered before saying that you can't fall here. You will both escape as teammates, and if you go down before him, he'll purge you. You either say you accept, or you say you're associates until then. In A, Aizen snorts and says it's a good response. In B Aizen says he knows and that he won't repeat himself.
Narration sums up that the party has suddenly been caught in a blizzard in Kamuy Kotan. You could die at any moment, and the yell you get from your rival in this horrible situation burns hot within you even after getting out of the bath, and the episode ends.
No comments:
Post a Comment