Chapter 11 Episode 12: The Ultimate Weapon Activates 3

Things pick up over at the Warmongers HQ where some bug mobs are moving somewhere, and Bathym follows behind from the shadows. Camera then tunes inside the fort where Duo is, and he comments on how deep the fort goes as he and Mephistopheles descend the place over however many floors. Mephisto explains that the lower levels are the main part originally while the upper levels are for decoration. They don't strictly speaking need any basement levels, they just need it to have a level far enough Where Light Doesn't Reach.

 

Mephistopheles announces that he and Duo have arrived to the lowest floor, and he asks Duo to not stray away from him. He explains that the only people able to move around and not get lost down there are people classed as narrators (though under that he means recorders), or 'those torn from the world and were not originally meant to exist.' If Mephistopheles doesn't guide Duo down there, Duo could end up trapped there unable to leave or go anywhere. Duo is quiet before mentioning that he has a lot of questions, but he decides to start with commenting on how mature Mephisto's vocal tone has gotten and asking if that's how it naturally is.

 

Mephistopheles apologizes and says that neither how it is now or before is the original. He comments that every time he comes down there he can't help but think of all the time that's passed. Duo doesn't understand what he means but doesn't press for elaboration, so Mephisto starts to address Duo before asking if it's fine to call him by name. Duo lets him do so, then asks if Mephisto will get to explaining why he brought him there.

 

Mephistopheles starts talking about how so many bodies have piled up through all the loops that have occurred in Tokyo. The memories of their fallen regrets are buried under this Pillar in Tokyo, along with the people who were never summoned here to begin with. A voice calls out and comments how unusual it is for Mephisto to bring someone along, and Duo reacts in shock at seeing what's down there.

 

Mephistopheles explains to Duo that he's looking at a great being that extends over two different worlds, Deva Loka and Shangri La. It's because of that fact that he's been sealed in this void horizon, and his existence means that the two worlds are not split apart. Some call him the Destroyer of the World, others call him the Protector of the World. Perhaps that seems incomprehensible to you at first glance. How might that be, you ask.

 

The main point however is the same as in politics, nothing more than a question of which side you put emphasis on. What one person may see as the envoy of the god of reform for a rotten world is what another may see as a demon bent on destroying a world worth protecting. These are nothing more than the opinions of opposing factions, a difference in answers to the question of what you believe in. Those who live happily in the world may see him as a fearful destroyer, yet those cut off from the world may see him as someone who would protect them. Due to that, Mephistopheles and the others refer to him as...the guardian of Shadows cut off from the world.

 

At this point, Mephistopheles stops for a moment to reveal that he knows Bathym is there and suggests he reveal himself. Bathym briefly pouts about being noticed as he steps out, then greets Mephisto as he says it's been a while since he saw him. He comments on how he's always plotting in the shadows and asks if he plans on pretending to be the Representative while taking advantage of Shaytan's absence. Mephisto acts surprised at that as he denies that and refers to Bathym as Shaytan's Second familiar. He then says he's just been entrusted with the Lightbringer's absence. He is the shadow he cast upon the world, a fragment of him and a collection of Shadows.

 

Narration starts expositing about Shadows and explains how they are the memories of someone who was cut off from the world. To express it in another way, they are nothing more than masses of information detached from a personality. They are indefinite fleeting things, like a heat haze, dark flames, or lingering smoke from the battlefield.

 

That said, certain Transients with certain classes and powers can use their artifacts to either manipulate Shadows or contain them. One (Surtr) does so to stop themselves from forgetting about those people. Another (Tezcatlipoca) uses them to compensate for the body he's lost. And one other person (Shino) uses them to manifest a short life for themselves until they can clear up their regrets, then disappear like a heat haze. They are malice, regrets, or a persistent body double. That is what Shadows truly are.

 

Narration then brings up Daikoku as an example of someone who has the power to manipulate Shadows. The man who calls himself Daikoku is both headmaster of Shinjuku's police academy and police chief. With his hands he can control Shadows and give life to dead memories. Sometimes he can cover someone in Shadows and control their bodies with his will, and sometimes he can materialize the Shadows directly to form a loyal private army that can handle simple orders. He built a fortune as a dark auctioneer, made various safe houses for himself within Shinjuku, then had 'commodities' collected there. He is charged with supplying the military forces for the Warmongers but would never publicly reveal himself, and until now his true character was hidden in the darkness.

 

The story then tunes back in Somewhere in Tokyo where one of Daikoku's safe houses is located. The Shadow guards moan like zombies about how this is their master's residence and will remove any intruders as they start to attack. Pollux notes that the master must be out of the house, so he tells Andvari this is their chance to get in. Andvari complains about having to do physical work and swears to charge out the ass for this. The two of them are noted to have come here following the dark auctioneer's trial looking for their captured friends, but Pollux is taken aback at how much security is in place against them.

 

A voice calls out laughing and notes how they seem to be struggling, so he offers to help them out. Andvari looks to see who it is in surprise, and Hougen reveals himself shortly after activating his NP to strike down all the possessed guards and prompts them to go in. Further inside the area is Possessed Macan, and once Pollux sees him he activates his NP. Doing so causes lightning to wrap around his fists and the star of Poseidon's protection to shine overhead, which is the power of light that cut through any darkness and repel any calamity.

 

Tajikarao is freed from the Shadow control as he gets up with a groan and asks what's happening, barely aware that he was saved. Hougen teases him for being so careless as to be done in, then apologizes for taking so long to save him since he was waiting for Daikoku to leave. Hougen then starts moving to save all the other captured students in the building and orders Tajikarao to help him. Pollux is happy that Macan is alright and asks if anyone else is there. Macan realizes he can finally move freely and says the Shadows clinging to him prevented him from doing so earlier. He demands to know where Daikoku went. Andvari notes that the place looks important but also wonders where Daikoku could be.

 

Camera swings back to Kabukicho and picks up some time after Marduk got shanked by his own troops. Daikoku is hanging around in some back alley as Tanetomo goes up to him and apologizes for making him wait, then reports that the measure taken for Marduk has been completed. He's confirmed it with the Shadow soldiers Daikoku leaned to him, and as instructed they barely missed Marduk's vitals. He then asks if Daikoku can tell Minamoto that he fulfilled his orders. Daikoku thanks him and says his superior will definitely be pleased, and Tanetomo stays quiet.

 

Narration starts talking a bit from Tanetomo's POV as it goes on about him being ordered to and his carrying out of cutting down one of the Warmongers' leaders that is also one of the World Representatives. He thinks to himself that he will be the next to be cut off, with his lord probably totally going to push all the responsibility to him and claiming he acted on his own. But Tanetomo thinks to himself. Was there really no other way? Couldn't he have done something else? He doesn't know what anyone else is thinking, and he can't tell who is an ally or who is an enemy. Tanetomo may be a leader, but he isn't allowed access to all of the guild's information or memories of loops past. He doesn't know much about Marduk, and he doesn't understand much about the man in front of him either.

 

The only thing Tanetomo understands for sure right now is that Daikoku is holding some official papers from Minamoto. Various strategies are underway, and the situation is following the road to chaos. Even with his virtue of wisdom, Tanetomo is having a problem figuring out what the correct judgment call to make is here in this muddled, complicated state of affairs. It feels as though he were wrapped up and sinking into the deep dark gloom.

 

Daikoku starts talking about how everyone that can shine in Kabukicho has sunk. Sucks what happened to Marduk there, that Calf of the Sun. He does hope that Marduk will forgive him, since he had to do it to him or else the shadows would never have stood a chance if his light shone. So now he can keep making his moves in the back, and he wonders if it was unnecessary until the communication jamming went up. But he had to be careful, and now he can finally advance things to phase two. He had always devoted himself to being a fixer in the shadows, but this particular job is something he cannot leave to anyone else to do. If it's not him with his fate with that being, it will never be completed he says as he cackles.

 

Daikoku takes off his glove and presses it to the bloodstained ground. He commands the activation of the artifact of Ne no Kuni (an underworld) in the name of ___, which he uses to give life to dead memories. Tanetomo is shocked by what happens as Something in Daikoku's hand starts shining darkly. The darkness spreading from his palm starts pulsing to life, and Tanetomo questions what Daikoku is in his thoughts. Tanetomo has done a background check on Daikoku of course. He is called on of the Seven Lucky Gods, the gatherer of wealth Daikokuten. There are many who know of that belief, but no one has ever said anything about him having this power to control shadows.

 

Scene briefly swings over to where Ellie is as she points out that the moon is being covered. All the dust the rock bombardment has kicked up has turned into something of a dome covering the city, and the smell of rotting corpses start filling the area below. With the moonlight blocked out, Kabukicho now looks like the land of the dead as spoken of in folklore.

 

Things then focus on your side as Marduk groans and asks why his troops did what they did, then tries to declare that he won't go down here and leave things unfinished. Meteors are still falling on the city, so if Marduk were left alone he'd probably get crushed sooner or later. Kengo asks what the hell is going on and if there's infighting among the Warmongers. He then complains that he's too stupid to figure out what anyone is thinking. Kengo starts asking what you guys should do and who you should fight, but then he's surprised when you start moving forward to help Marduk up and throw one of his arms around your shoulders to get him to safety.

 

Marduk is also shocked by your actions, and you tell him to be quiet so that he doesn't open his stab won't any bigger while you carry him to a shelter to be fixed up. Kengo questions the idea if it's okay to help Marduk as he brings up that he might turn around and attack you like Shiva did. You however insist on helping if anyone in front of you is in trouble because that's what everyone else did for you, and thoughts of the gang, Mononobe, Triton, and Jinn flash through your head.

 

Kengo regards you for a moment before he decides to agree as he says that trying to think about hard stuff is stupid for an idiot like him. Kengo moves to support Marduk from his other side, then asks him his name. Marduk relents after a moment and tells you, so you tell him to hang on as you swear to save him. He apologies and thanks you. You guys then look up, and you and Kengo react in shock at what you see floating above the ruined buildings.

 

Camera then jumps over to Claude and Minamoto's Not Skype call, and Minamoto starts talking about how it's generally the same idea as what Claude did back then in the underground arena. Claude says he understands after a moment and says he's talking about using an Exception as war potential. Minamoto says it won't lose control over itself and that how desirable it is to have it keep its mind. Since it went berserk and uncontrollable in Claude's case, it can't really be called a weapon. For that reason, the Warmongers created extensions to the underground area beneath Kabukicho. All of the area beneath Tokyo is connected by leylines, so theoretically it should be possible to summon an Exception anywhere you want. You just need someone whose fate is connected with that Exception and a Place Where Light Doesn't Reach, like somewhere underground.

 

Back on your end the underwhelming looking Exception starts talking about how nice it is above ground and how it doesn't hurt. You ask in disbelief at how it could be here since no clash of powers took place, and the being is described as the guardian of Shadows, the one who straddles between Deva Loka and Shangri La. He is the manifestation of Mahakala, the Exception of Shadows. And on that note the episode ends.