Sunday, November 22, 2020

Chapter 11 Episode 1: Everyone's Determination 1

We begin with a flashback to Mahakala's conversation with you via Mononobe from the last chapter. Abridged version: ...hello I guess, MC. For now you can call me Mahakala, the World Representative of Deva Loka. I'm Tezcatlipoca's ally. Everything should be brought to an all-destroying war. This fool discarded his artifact and gave away his power. Now he's an unanchored memory. He's like a ghost who can't leave enclosed spaces. And this fool erased all evidence that he lived. That's awesome! He'll be gone forever next loop. Isn't it just great to destroy everything? Destruction is salvation and Tezcatlipoca is a pussy. Everything must die and start from the beginning again, over and over again. You're going to die, you're going to die, and YOU are going to die! What, you disagree? We shall go to war then. I always knew that was going to happen.
 
Scene then tunes back into the present as Shirou and Snow are talking together in the Ikebukuro Underground Labyrinth, with Snow parroting what Shirou had said offscreen about Mahakala as the destroyer of all and the World Representative of Deva Loka. Shirou confirms that that was definitely what he had to you when you met him and later relayed to Shirou. Shirou mentions that you also told him that he took Mononobe away with him when he disappeared.
 
Snow goes into a pensive silence, so Shirou asks him what's wrong and if he has any doubts about your account. Snow says he does have some questions because he finds it strange that the person you talked to would claim to be That Mahakala of all people, the All Destroyer. Shirou is surprised by this, and Snow adds that it's also weird that they would claim to be Deva Loka's World Rep and all that other stuff.
 
Shirou takes note that Snow phrased things as That Mahakala and asks if he knows him. Snow confirms and starts to say something about the name meaning something in his home world before he notices that the search party has come back, so he asks to put the topic on hold for now. Kengo turns up and announces his presence as he greets Shirou and Snow, saying that you're okay too. You tell Shirou you're back, thank Snow for waiting, then notice that Claude and Shuuichi aren't there so you ask where they went.
 
Snow welcomes you two back and explains that Claude left to attend to another matter. So, since he's gone Snow has humbly taken upon himself to compliment you guys. It's commendable that you both have come back safe and sound, which is to be expected for someone who has captured Claude's attention. Shirou asks you guys how it went in there and if you managed to find who you were looking for. Snow calls them the Exception sealed in the deepest part of Ikebukuro because they could not be allowed into the game, then says they were the previous owner of Kengo's artifact as he asks if you guys managed to make contact. Kengo just laughs and asks if they can't read it off his face and turns to you. You either tell Shirou it went great, tell Snow you managed somehow, or say you think you got something out of it.
 
Shirou smiles and says he believed that you could pull it off. He also asks if Kengo got in your way and couldn't help worrying about the two of you going it alone. Kengo takes some offense at this and says he helped you for sure as he turns to you to back him up. You either agree that Kengo helped a lot, or you be vague and say you can't say that. A has Kengo cheer, glad that you understand. B on the other hand has Kengo sputter in shock as he asks you what you mean.
 
Either way, Snow apologizes for interrupting but informs you guys that there seems to be movement happening up above. The battles had been suspended since the other day between the true big three guilds, but now the South and East factions are marching again. The Warmongers in the West are moving to intercept. The projected battle lines are theorized to be here in Ikebukuro and over by Kabukicho. Kengo snorts about not letting them all mess with your home turf, but Shirou tells him to wait as he asks Snow what the expected number of people is. Snow admits that it looks to be at least 10,000 soldiers from each direction, not including any rear guards. Kengo is shocked by this, as are you as you ask how you could possibly handle that many people.
 
Snow mentions the members being bled away from Aoyama that you already know about may contribute to this among other things, but the number of people being moved still doesn't add up with all that. He's sure there must be some underhanded method being used for this. Even then, Snow believes that these aren't the main forces for the true big three guilds since there are confirmed reports of even larger scale actions being taken in Chuo City in Eastern Tokyo and Setagaya City in Southern Tokyo. There's also been some sudden large scale construction going on of new roads and walls recently. Snow believes these are supply lines and maintenance of marching routes. Shirou comments on their use of public construction work and takes it to mean a certain rumor is true, though he has gotten bits and pieces of info from the rest of the gang. You ask Shirou or Snow what they mean.
 
Snow explains that he's talking about the rumor that the true big three guilds have connections to all parts of Tokyo, including the three branches of government (judicial, legislative, and administrative). Many Transients are coming to Tokyo, which is getting closer and closer to making the number of native residents a minority while the former increase in political influence. The biggest part of their strength is their monopoly on past loop memories, which allow them to plot the optimal strategies. It's already obvious that they're doing it now, but the big three are only glaring at each other and not flexing their strength any more than that. The other small guilds can only be caught up in the big three's grand war, and he supposes that's what the big three guild members think right now.
 
Camera tunes elsewhere for a moment to take a look at all the forces assembling. Rando NPCs wonder where they all came from in fearful surprise, and if something is going to happen where they're at. After that it jumps over to Hikarigaoka in Nerima, where there's a huge fort at the Warmongers' Portal. It was built only recently preceding the battles, yet it already towers over the surrounding area with an impressive majesty. Curren/Cullen/Karen flies in on her big robot companion and tells it to drop her off there. Guard troopers walk up to her, and she greets them. She introduces herself as the guildmaster for the Rule Makers and is here to talk to the manager their guildmaster, so she demands asks they go call him. The employees mobs leave without a word, and Curren sighs to herself wondering how many times she's done this and how many more times she'll have to do it again.
 
Some time later, the EXE/Star Force looking crazy kid greets Curren as he politely welcomes her to the Warmongers' Portal as he calls her the guildmaster (re: heaven-sent child of Plan C) for the solution based on cultivation/education. He laughs about her coming all this way from the Rule Makers' Portal all the way in the East, then suggests that if he were a computer he could express how moved he is by flashing his lights on and off. Curren declines to comment on this, so Not Megaman Boss Reject asks if his joke fell flat. She confirms, telling him to get it through his head that it wasn't funny at all as she calls him Robert, heaven-sent child of Plan B.
 
Robert seems surprised to be called by that name and comments that they're the only ones to use it. He repeats it to himself a few times before he flips the syllables around to make Bertro and throws in the word battle a few times too, then cackles. Curren says nothing, apparently tired of him already. But anyways Robertro comments that maybe it's more appropriate to call him Charles based on his position. He excitedly waxes nostalgic about their old glory days in schools, when they were the top three as Robert, Charles, and Isaac. He then says that those names and memories have already disappeared beyond the ends of time, past the 'Door into Summer.'
 
Curren gets annoyed as she says she said no pickles can't not express irritation at him rehashing that subject repeatedly. On a side note, Curren and Robert seem to see each other as interchangeable given that every time they address each other, they say 'me' while meaning 'you.' Robert laughs and apologizes, saying repetition is the basis for jokes while retribution is the basis for funny stories. But for a change of subject, he asks Curren if she really came all this way to talk about humor. She explains that she came to see how he was doing and to directly inform him about what's going on with the vacant slot among the World Representatives now.
 
As things stand now, there are three World Representatives no longer in the game: Azathoth, Surtr, and Tezcatlipoca. Curren says she's accounted for this though, so it won't be a problem. Their artifacts have been inherited by the fragment of that greedy wolf. Narration points out that Curren takes a moment to look at the wolf machine maybe cyborg thing Robert is sitting on as she speaks. But anyways, Curren says that as long as Breke exists, the loops should be able to continue without issue. A good System should be able to replace its broken parts and continue working like normal.
 
Robert laughs and approves as he asks if the war can keep going on forever, and he looks outside at the army advancing from the fort. Curren pauses a moment before confirming that, saying that their task is to continue monitoring the repeating loops of Tokyo. They aren't supposed to support any one person's victory, nor are they to take part in anyone's defeat. They aren't supposed to make it exciting either, and she asks if Robert gets that. Robert cackles again and says that while she says that, war and humor are things that escalate each time they repeat. And every time they do that, it gets more interesting doesn't it? He cackles more for good measure, and Curren declines to respond. Robert hopes this war will be fun too.
 
Scene shifts over to the Aoyama graveyard where Ryouta and Hanuman are spying on some special element angel mobs, and Ryouta phones in asking if you guys can hear him. Hanuman reports on scouting out the area near the Missionaries' guild, commenting on feeling like a ninja. Ryouta then reports that a large number of Transients seem to be making their way through the area and heading for Toshima, then asks how Touji's group is doing.
 
Touji reports in from Roppongi, confirming that a bunch of Transients are making their way through Minato from the South and heading for Shinjuku. They don't seem to care about them or the Tycoons. Tadatomo is with him and says they'll continue their observations, then asks how Moritaka is doing since he heard that the battle at the military academy prison was rough. Scene jumps back to base with you guys at the Labyrinth as Shirou answers that he's having Moritaka go with Shuuichi while taking a break. Shirou then says he understands the situation and asks if you'll let him speak, so you either say yes or just nod silently.
 
Shirou asks everyone to listen to him as he goes over the plans. Teams Ryouta and Touji are to continue scouting out Shibuya and Minato. Shirou insists that all groups move as a pair, and if anything happens the plan should be to disengage and run. If the situation changes anywhere, they should let him and Snow know as the Ikebukuro Underground planning unit so they can relay it to everyone else. Shirou then asks you and Kengo to head up and scout around Ikebukuro and Shinjuku. He makes a point of saying that the plan is to not engage with the true big three guilds while unprepared, so for now you have to avoid them as much as possible. Kengo says he worries too much but will get it done as he turns to you. You either agree or ask Kengo to not go crazy out there.
 
Snow comments that the current objective is to gather information and agrees that that will be the most important thing going forward. Shirou nods and repeats which areas Ryouta's team, Touji's team, and you and Kengo will be handling. He acknowledges that normally splitting up is the dumbest idea you can have, but right now it's different because you guys will not be mounting a war. He'll take advantage of you guys not being attacked at the moment to focus on collecting information. He also notes that none of the big three plan on making their own Portals into battlegrounds.
 
Snow notes that that would be natural since that would minimize damage to their territory. He says he can see them setting up walls around Shinjuku and Ikebukuro like the Genociders did before around six wards to set up as a battlefield. The West and East are likely to battle here in Ikebukuro, and the South and the West are going to be fighting at Kabukicho in Shinjuku. Shirou thanks Snow, then starts talking about your group goal as he turns to you. You say that the most important goal is to rescue Mononobe, then ask him if he's okay with that. He agrees, then tells everyone that's what they'll be working towards as they recon the situation. All teams acknowledge the order.
 
Shirou takes a breath after the conference call is done, and Snow offers to make him some milk tea. Shirou accepts the suggestion and thanks him, but he asks if they can continue their earlier discussion first. Snow agrees to that, then brings back up that the one declaring themselves Mahakala also said they're calling themselves the World Representative of Deva Loka for now. He also asks to confirm that they told you that he called himself a World Destroyer. Shirou confirms and checks with you, and you back Shirou up as you nod to him.
 
Snow accepts that you were told all this, but he tells you that it all sounds strange to him. To be clear, he finds it to be Impossible. You ask Snow why he thinks so and if he knows Mahakala. Snow tells you guys that he knows of Mahakala being the one who destroys everything in Deva Loka, but he mentions that the name has another meaning. In Shangri La where he and Macan come from, the name means the All Protector. You get confused at this and wonder how those two things can be.
 
Shirou is surprised to hear that Snow is from Shangri La, then brings up the possibility that there happens to be two different Transients from two different worlds that share a name. Snow says he's never heard of that happening in Tokyo since the App works by tying a class and power to a unique name to manifest them. In which case this means Mahakala is someone who straddles both Deva Loka and Shangri La, but Snow says the beliefs of these two worlds Cannot Coexist. It's why the worlds were divided up. You try to ask what that all means. Snow admits that nothing definite can be said yet since it'd be dangerous to take actions on assumptions. However, his intuition feels that the answer to the mystery of the two Mahakalas is in the center of the darkness of the grand war happening.
 
Scene then shifts to the Warmongers HQ, which pans over some new guys before Big Solomon (labeled Student Aide for now) politely informs everyone that the negotiations with the Diet are proceeding smoothly and all war preparation has been done as he bows to the other execs. He now says it's time for the strategy meeting as the time for war has come again. Now is the time for the world war, the grand battle of all mythologies!
 
So now that the South and East are holding the West responsible for breaking the pact, both factions are marching their armies towards them. This is looking to be a war on two fronts, which is something Big Solomon wanted to say. But anyways, it was Big Solomon's job to manage things until the war actually happened, so now he'll be sitting there and watching the rest charge rashly forward.
 
Overly decorated army official (labeled Student Legislator for now) refers to Big Solomon as the World Representative of Gehenna and mentions that the same could be said about himself. In his view, if a war has started it's already over. Big Solomon says he understands as he calls the other the World Representative of Wa no Kuni, then suggests they stay in the fort together. Six armed mask guy looks unimpressed and turns to leave, which prompts Big Solomon to call him Shiva and ask where he's going.
 
Shiva says he has people he needs to fight, so he's departing for battle. He doesn't need any other strategy besides that. Big Solomon cackles at him for a moment before apologizing. If someone else were to hear them, they'd probably take it as overconfidence, but if Shiva were the one saying so it must be true. Shiva is the one called the Destroyer of the Cosmos, the World Representative of 'That' Deva Loka after all. Shiva decides to make a point of saying that he 'does not make being referred to as a World Representative as a good thing.' He asks Big Solomon to understand that his presence there is only as a single ascetic monk wishing only to cultivate himself higher.
 
Big Solomon apologizes, saying he'll take it under consideration and that saying too much is a bad habit from when he was younger. But anyways, he asks if Shiva can go act as the reserve for the Ikebukuro battlefront. Shiva agrees to do so, saying it's all for his training to reach further heights. Teda complains about this decision and calls dibs on Koropokkur, asking if Shiva really is the only one going to Ikebukuro. Big Solomon says he knows and asks Teda to go with Shiva. Despite what he said earlier he can't actually have Shiva going around alone now. They as World Representatives are fighting it out for the trophy, but if Shiva were to come across you he'd be the type to destroy you without a second thought. Military Bull looks on in silence.
 
Camera then follows Shiva as he walks out of the Warmongers fort. He is quiet for a bit, then eventually yells about how he cannot forgive the one who would give him this sort of thing he doesn't describe. His eyes flare up as he glares in the direction of Ikebukuro, and the episode ends as the chapter title card pops up, saying Chapter 11 is War of the Setting Moon.
 
 

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