Chapter 11 Episode 24: Render of Reincarnation 3

Things tune in over at the Warmongers' fort where a bunch of no name mobs, Nezha, and Kirito have lined up on standby. Some of the people here are are part of the regular forces, some are hired mercenaries, and everyone has their own individual viewpoints. Minamoto steps up and tells everyone that as one of the top commanders of the Warmongers, he'll be issuing everybody their orders. But first he starts giving an overview as he tells them that it's been confirmed that the forces of the East and West factions have withdrawn about an hour ago. Observations will be continuing, but at this time Operation Mahakala has ended and things are now down to Alert Level 2.

 

Nezha complains in disappointment that they won't get to do anything, especially since they haven't done anything yet either. Minamoto laughs and compliments Nezha's bravery, then assures them that the battle between the big three guilds has only just begun before saying he wants them to put their mobility to use in the Eastern areas. He also mentions expecting great things from all the other competent soldiers. Kirito mentally snorts at this and figures this does not include him. Minamoto tells everyone to take their breaks as needed since he'll be expecting diligent service out of them, then declares the meeting over.

 

Everyone disperses, leaving Kirito to think to himself that he's about stayed as long as he could with the Warmongers, though he's glad about the payout he got off them. He figures that someone weak like him will be having a tough time of things going forward, so he considers going over the the Southern guild next. Kirito then silently disappears among the crowd with no one noticing and having made no connections with anyone, as if slipping away into the fog.

 

Tanetomo shows up and reports his return to Minamoto, so Minamoto compliments him for coming back safe and sound. Tanetomo acknowledges this, and Minamoto decides to make a point now for clarity's sake that he currently has no plans to toss Tanetomo aside. Tanetomo demurs and says it's more than he deserves as he thanks him, but inwardly he takes note of the 'now' bit and comments on how dreadful Minamoto is saying so while looking ahead at everything.

 

Minamoto starts saying that there was a need to move things along and aggravate the situation as much as possible. He tries to excuse himself by saying he was hard pressed on a personal front and that's what the operation's goal was about. Tanetomo doesn't say anything to this, and Minamoto asks if he has something he wants to ask him about. Tanetomo is quick to deny this, but Minamoto says he'll give him permission to do so and prompts him to ask away. Tanetomo decides he may as well as he takes a deep breath, then slowly starts picking his words.

 

Scene transitions over to your end as Shiva comments on how colorful the world was, which he never knew since he had always kept himself in darkness. The gloomy world he had always been in suddenly has light in it, and Shiva's voice has a faint tremble to it as he looks on. There was a repeating eternity that brought him here and a reincarnation cycle that he thought to be endless. These were the days he was supposed to have repeatedly spent in darkness, but now they shine in various brilliant colors within himself. Now that he's leaving, he knows how bright the place is.

 

Shiva speaks his thoughts aloud now to say he was wrong with the above, saying you had illuminated the world for him. You had reflected light into him, and he just became able to see the parts of his heart now. Shiva tells you that you are definitely shining in his opened eye, and he asks that you pass on to Balor that he'll fight him once more if you ever run into him again. Balor seems to still be in the deep dark shadows, and Shiva figures he might still have things to do in Tokyo. Shiva says he still has some regrets about this, but despite that, it's his own decision to leave Tokyo today. His wish he had in coming here has already been granted.

 

Shiva's body slowly starts turning into motes of light that floats up into the sky, and you can either say Shiva's name or watch him silently. Either way Shiva calls your name, and he says that while you may not remember, he remembers all the memories he made with you. If you ever happen to remember them, he hopes they'll be bright memories for you too. Shiva closes his eyes as remembers all that time back in his home world where he did nothing but train. Even when he was isolated and alone, there ought to have been another path before him, things he could only see after penetrating that isolation.

 

Shiva starts speaking again and says he feels it's because he chose this path that things look so bright to him. He also adds that the light that he sees is something that's only inside himself. Shiva thinks about how the light he sees might be the same light that you can see in the end. He may be wrong, but that's fine. This light he sees is something he discovered himself, something he found meaning in for himself.

 

Shiva continues quietly thinking as he wonders if Varuna-Kamadeva also thought about these things back at that moment. Maybe they wished that Shiva would find his own happiness within the repeating world of reincarnation. Everyone has something forced onto them by the world as they live. Just as Shiva was forced to know about love, Varuna must have been forced into teaching him love too. There was probably no meaning in anyone consenting to it since that was how the world's System worked. Everyone lived there even as their minds, bodies, and abilities were toyed with by others. All anyone can do is find their own personal meaning in all those things. Shiva wishes you good luck and says he'll be hoping for your happiness as he looks you in the eyes and smiles. Whatever happens in this repeating world, he feels you'll continue to be bright and sweet as you fight for whatever you are looking for. You say that a lot of things have happened, but you thank Shiva for helping you at the end.

 

Shiva nods at this, then gets awkwardly silent for a moment as he changes the subject to the Exception. In order to get rid of Mahakala, you'll need to make a contract to set up the hierarchy. That means kissing between the two of you as the ones who caused the Exception in the first place. Shiva then blusters a bit and says you guys are forced into this, so you'll just have to deal with it. You either shrug it off, smile and say you're happy about this, or tease Shiva for being bad at communication. In A, Shiva says that's good after a moment and tells you to keep in mind that you have to submit to fate. In B and C, Shiva is shocked by your response and says this is supposed to be something regrettable. He denies smiling about anything or thinking this is a side benefit.

 

Anyways, Shiva collects himself with a cough and says he'll let you decide where to kiss as a mercy for having shot him in the past regardless of your will. Shiva then demands you get on with it as he brings up the hand, the chest, or somewhere else. You can either make Shiva kiss your summoner brand, kiss Shiva's body, or kiss Shiva on the lips. In A, you both put a hand up to Mahakala before facing each other, and Shiva tells you to close your eyes. He brings you in closer to him with an unrefined hand, then takes your branded hand with his other hand. He then gives the back of your hand a rough yet tender kiss. In B, you both put a hand up to Mahakala, then you pull Shiva in closer with your other hand. Shiva makes a quiet noise as you press your lips against the tempered bulk from his endless training. In C, you both put up a hand, then press lips through Shiva's iron mask. Your lips then slowly drift over to the back of Shiva's neck, and Shiva gives an impatient sigh into your ear. Affection, desire, and wild greed abounds, and soon your mind drifts far away.

 

Mahakala's body dematerializes into fragments that cover your consciousness. When you open your eyes, you find yourself in a soulspace of sorts and wonder where you are before Mononobe informs you that you're inside the Exception Mahakala, guardian of the memories of those who lost their bodies. You quickly take note of Mononobe, then react in surprise to him speaking and ask why. Mononobe tells you that Bertro had picked up a part of his relinquished memories as he hands out a hi tech box to you. He also tells you that Bertro is giving to you as his last thanks for granting his wish. You wonder what he means by last thanks, be surprised Bertro is giving you that, or ask what Mononobe means when he said Bertro picked his memories up.

 

Speaking of Bertro, scene shifts over to where he is, smiling as he looks up at the sky while his body is falling apart. He comments on how pretty space is with all the lights and colors he's never seen before. Narration talks about how lots of people believe that the moon will always be wandering across the night sky. But right now, Bertro is looking up at the shattered moon, something he's never seen before now. There is nothing that cannot be destroyed, and there is nothing in the world that cannot be broken. That was something Bertro wanted to prove in the end.

 

Duo walks up to Bertro, and Bertro laughs as he sees him before saying his machine body can't move anymore. At that point Duo notices some of the mechanical parts in Bertro's chest spilling out. Duo says that Bertro had his most important external memory storage unit there and asks what happened. Narration explains that the unit that was there was the most important unit that stores the memories gained by the Artificial World Pillar. It is also the storage equipment for a certain person's memories that the mechanical wolf he rides ate.

 

Bertro tells Duo that he gave the thing to a certain somebody because he's pretty sure that was the thing they wanted most. He talks about how it's human to give unto others what others give to you. He got the thing he wanted most, so he's giving the thing that they wanted most. Duo asks Bertro if he was thinking this outcome was okay from the beginning, and Bertro smiles as if convulsing at that. Duo talks about how Bertro wanted to see the end that came from staking his life on a goal with his own eyes. He guesses that Bertro wanted to know if the sky's destruction could be rewinded in a way that destruction on the earth wouldn't be. Maybe he set out to prove it one way or another, and maybe at the same time he honestly thought it'd be fine if things ended that way.

 

Bertro forces his actuator that controls his facial expressions to move so that he can smile. He starts talking about how if repetitions is the basis for humor and humanity before trailing off for a bit. He still strongly remembers those words he saw the academy library from that one time, whenever it was. But anyways, he tells Duo he's right and that he himself couldn't become human. He couldn't take the repetitions, and he says he wasn't even a computer. With almost all of his body replaced with machinery, there was still something left that wasn't replaced. At the end of the continuous repeating war, the parts that couldn't be taken out had been worn down. How could that be? He was supposed to be equipped with a long lasting unit that released and absorbed intracerebral chemicals.

 

Bertro says that the emotions he had as a human stopped functioning a long time ago. He laughs and says that they were probably gone even before that experiment (re: graduation exam). Duo is quiet for a moment before telling Bertro that he is human. He thinks that Bertro had gotten caught up by his imposed upon area limits. He was involved with people who do nothing but war, and he was no exception. He had a certain sweetness that he wouldn't have needed as someone meant to do war.

 

Duo starts calling Bertro by that name before he decides to call him Robert instead as he looks into what remains of the boy born in the same lab as him. Bertro insists on being called Bertro though, and his thoughts go into how he had changed beyond recognition after all those repeated days. The boy genius Robert born in a test tube at that academy (re: research lab) is nowhere to be seen anymore. Bertro then babbles his name for a bit before laughing again like a speaker. Bertro bids Duo goodbye, still referring to the two of them as interchangeable as he says this is the end for him. He also asks Duo to take over for him.

 

Duo refuses this offer and says he is himself, then calls out to someone he figures is there. They probably came to pick up Shiva's artifact, but Duo doesn't care much at the moment as he asks them to come out. Breke reveals himself as requested and asks in surprise how Duo could tell he was there while he was concealing his presence. Duo says he didn't, but he explains that he knew Breke would turn up wherever there are bodies since he knows what his class is. Breke rejects the explanation and says he came based on his own will and not because of his class since he wanted to know what they were up to when they created him.

 

Duo tells Breke that whatever he thinks, he can't escape his role. He is to eat the bodies of the dead and eat their memories, and Breke was meant to be the counterpart to Bertro's wolf partner for Duo as their replacement. Breke insists his destiny is his own, refusing to accept that anyone else can decide it. Duo tells him that's fine and suggests that Breke come with him. Breke is surprised at this suggestion, and Duo offers to tell him whatever he wants to know as limited by what Duo knows himself. He is going to make Breke do some tough work for him in exchange though, and his first task if he takes this deal would be to carry Bertro back to his medbay.

 

Breke questions this task since he thinks Bertro is just about ready to bite the dust. Duo says he's got some life preservation equipment prepared from some theory he had completed during the loops just for an occasion like this. He's a genius after all, and he prompts Breke to hurry up. Narration dives into Duo's thoughts about him being a genius, and even if no one else said so, the fourth seat, and that strange phenomenon refused him, his brother saw him that way. And since Shuuichi does think of him that way, Duo thinks he should act the part of the genius who understands everything in the world.

 

Breke decides to accept Duo's offer, and he gets a sense of deja vu from that wolf that's with Bertro. Bertro suggests that Duo not do this since the other guildmasters are going to complain about this. He starts to warn Duo about what else might happen if he keeps this up, but Duo informs Bertro that he never told Plan C or Karen Curren anything about this and has no intentions of telling her Bertro needs to be replaced. Bertro asks about the other genius then since the boy who was once called Isaac and is the poster boy of Plan A would never let this go. Duo doesn't answer, and Bertro describes Isaac as a revolutionary genius who chooses evolution through assimilation and the Invaders guildmaster. There's no way he wouldn't notice Duo rebelling against the System.

 

Scene jumps back to your end as Mononobe talks about how there are three genius children who observe the 23 VIPs aside from him observing you. Each of these children has taken a part of Mononobe's worn out memories. All that's left of him when he was supposed to disappear was safeguarded by Mahakala. You comment that you feel like you've heard something like this before as you think of Shino, and Mononobe tells you that the part of him talking to you now is only 1/3 of him. It still feels like a miracle to him that he can talk to you again like this.

 

You decide not to take issue with the geniuses keeping a part of Mononobe's memories, but you ask why they did it to begin with. Mononobe explains that his memories is the most important to Tokyo. He clarifies that it's not that he himself is anyone important, but rather his Original Personality is important. This Original Personality is someone he describes as someone to obey, and he was transferred only a small part of their memory. He says he's pretty much a projected phantom of this person meant to take action for them.

 

You ask about this original body or the memory transfer, and Mononobe is quiet for a moment before he tells you that they are the Omnipotent and Omniscient one of the world, the Exception that represents All Things. They are the one who lords over Tokyo from outside the farthest heights above, the Exception of All, King Solomon. (TN: it's just Solomon and me adding King is just for differentiation since I've stuck with calling Salomon Solomon).

 

Scene shifts over to Christine as she sighs about how it was a great scene and a beautiful showy display that happened earlier. She thanks everyone in the Entertainers for their work, and she hopes that Omniscient One enjoyed things as well. Christine is described as dancing and singing with the masks that collected the past, and she starts talking about how Everything in Tokyo will get involved as the game moves onto a new stage. She prays that His Excellency will enjoy what comes next and that the stage will become even more enjoyable. Christine then stops what she's doing as she turns to Leanan Sidhe and asks if she thinks so too and if she delights in the activity of the gifted children. Leanan shows up but says nothing.

 

Scene then jumps to Claude in his office, who is thinking now that his Zoom call with Minamoto is over with. Snow walks in and announces his return to make a report. For now, the big three guilds have temporarily retreated. Also, the Summoners and Wisemen are continuing with their intel gathering, but things look to be calm for the time being. Claude is a bit surprised as he thanks Snow for the update then says he came at a good time. Snow asks if something is wrong, so Claude brings up that one time way back when Snow reported about seeing the All attribute on the app. Snow asks if he's talking about that time you first showed up in Shinjuku.

 

Flashback kicks in back to the beginning of the game to Claude and Snow's first appearance and conversation. Once that's done, Claude mentions that Minamoto gave him some interesting information. He calls Minamoto an even bigger sly dog than he had thought as he intends to use them for everything he can get. Claude then talks about how you guys still haven't seen the true identity of the top level management for the app game, but according to Minamoto the All Powerful One will show himself once All Eight Exceptions have been encountered. He is the Omniscient One, the Exception of All. Claude orders Snow to start investigating into them, and Snow acknowledges this before telling him he's already gotten something relevant. He's also gotten a call in from Touji earlier about finding someone with the All element in Minato, which Claude finds interesting.

 

Scene shifts over to Ellie flying around somewhere as she talks to herself about things settling down for now, so she should get moving herself. She then picks up her phone as someone calls her and smiles. Tanetomo turns out to be on the other end, though his part of the conversation isn't shown. Ellie thanks him for his information and says he can consider his debt repaid. Tanetomo complains about how irritatingly she phrased that, so Ellie just laughs at how surprisingly difficult he is. She also comments on how he resembles that one person who was in Kabukicho. Ellie suggests that she and Tanetomo could become friends, which evidently prompts him to complain and nag at her while she gets amused at this. She ends the conversation there and says she'll call again, and she starts making her way to her new destination.

 

Flashback kicks in to Tanetomo bugging Ellie to tell him why she saved him earlier. He demands an answer since he can't figure out why she would after the stabbing thing, so Ellie says it wasn't some deep reason. When she was fighting him earlier, she says she saw his Wisdom orb and it reminded her of someone in Kabukicho who had something similar. Ellie thinks about how she's bad at dealing with naggers since they pay so much attention to what she says. She also seems annoyed that those kinds of people keep bugging her to tell them where she plans on going, but for all their ramblings, they disappear when she's not there. While she may have said she didn't like them to their face, she's irritated that she never got to say she didn't hate them.

 

Tanetomo says nothing to Ellie's explanation, and Ellie comes up with the idea to have Tanetomo help her if he wants to repay her. Tanetomo prompts her for details, so Ellie asks if there are any other Hakkenshi around him. He smells the same as a certain someone, and she's searching for him. And if Tanetomo doesn't know, Ellie suggests he can ask someone who does.

 

Back to the present, Ellie talks to herself about going to the South based on Tanetomo's information. The first name she has is for Inumura Daikaku Masanori, the necromancer (re: demon arts user) of the Invaders. She quietly flies along in the night sky like a queen as she remembers an old conversation. Shino may have only been with the Outlaws for a short time, but he did have a conversation with Ellie.

 

Flashback kicks in of said conversation which is presented in summary form. Shino explains about how his old body had split apart into eight memories. Each became an orb, which was then scattered to the four winds. When Shino came to Tokyo, he met the Hakkenshi who possessed those orbs, and he was happy they carried on his regrets. Shino was shy as he compared them to the children of his soul, and he expressed a desire to meet all eight of them if he could. Ellie teased him for sounding old, and then before she knew it, Shino had disappeared. She remembers how Suzuka, Gyoubu, and the others hid away to cry.

 

After the flashback ends, Ellie talks to herself about how much it felt like a joke that she couldn't do anything despite being called queen. She also questions why she cares so much about the memories Shino left behind. He achieved his long held wish and disappeared, so he probably might not return even if the orbs were all collected. But still those left behind memories weighed on Ellie's mind. Ellie's intuition told her that the central part of this matter is likely not on the straight and narrow path. Luckily, that fact means it involves the Outlaws way of life, and that's what her intuition as Queen of Kabukicho is telling her. Ellie then says it's time for her to go to the Portal in the South.

 

Back to your end, you tell Mononobe that if his memories are out there, you'll bring All of them here and ask him to wait. Mononobe is quiet for a moment before he says you probably won't stop if he told you to. He's surprised to see that he's happy about this, and he notes he doesn't have the time to stop you anyway. He starts flickering to your shock, and Mononobe notes that this is about all the time he has to talk to you as only a third of his self. Mononobe then tells you to listen as he tells you a revolution is coming to the game. This revolution looks like it will pull in All the people into it and change everything.

 

You ask about this revolution and change, and Mononobe talks about how people change. If something looks like it's not changing, it just means that something you can't see is being sacrificed. Because of that, he makes a point of telling you that you cannot make a sacrifice of yourself. Don't be entrapped by the idea of saving him. He cares more about the safety of you and the other students than his own self. You tell him it'll be fine as you smile, grab his hand, and/or hug him. Mononobe is surprised at this at first, but he smiles too.

 

Mononobe says that if he still has anything he wishes for, then he wants to see you and everyone else graduate. He wants to see you break out of this endless repetition. Mononobe then says that once you leave, you have to go back home and rest your weary mind and body. He then thanks you for coming to see him. You now have a new goal and a new vow once you return to your room, and your battle is now advancing to a new stage. Despite the lack of the customary tag, End of Chapter 11.

Chapter 11 Episode 23: Render of Reincarnation 2

We tune in to Ose who is somewhere at Sunshine Street in Ikebukuro watching the crisis of the day unfold, and he talks to himself about understanding the whole picture about the Warmongers' Operation Mahakala. Though on further reflection he notes that calling it the Warmongers' plot is a bit inaccurate since only a part of them came up with the thing. Ose exposits about how the Warmongers has seven World Representatives in their ranks, and the main players for this incident are three of those Representatives (Wa no Kuni, Gehenna, and Deva Loka's) along with two collaborators, the guildmaster (Bertro) and one other (Daikoku). Ose notes that Shiva doesn't quite fit the description of World Representative, but that fact in itself is a condition for the plan.

 

Ose talks about Deva Loka being the world of repeated creation, preservation, and destruction, and Shiva is the Transient who has the power of one of those steps, that of destruction. Narration cuts in to talk about how the power to destroy the world by oneself is not something seen often even among the World Representatives. If anyone were able to weaponize that ability, it'd likely become a great advantage. But at the time Shiva was summoned to Tokyo, he had rejected his class and stubbornly kept his third eye closed.

 

Ose starts speaking again and says the other four behind Operation Mahakala had the common goal of controlling and using the power of universal destruction within Shiva. In their attempts to do so, they started thinking...why can't someone else just use it? If Shiva refuses to accept his role, then why not get someone else with the same class to do it? Though of course, they'd need someone who carried the same belief in destruction as him. So to do that, they planned their way through it using the following steps.

 

The first thing they did was make contact with the Exception Mahakala, who was sealed underneath Tokyo, and gain his cooperation. They probably built their fort in Hikarigaoka for this purpose, then changed it into an Exception domain so that he could act. Once that was done, they made the battles between the big three guilds happen in locations of their choosing. Ose guesses that splitting the battlefields in two was to make one of them equivalent to Deva Loka while the other would be equivalent to Shangri La. They would then need to power to connect them, which would be your ring. By borrowing the power of your ring, they would put in Mahakala's memories into Shiva's body.

 

By combining Shiva and Mahakala into one body, they succeeded in their plan in using the power of universal destruction. That said, while the two were combined into one body their personalities remained separate. Shiva saw a strong opponent, then the person they would not allow anyone else to kill and challenged them to battle, which resulted in an Exception occurring. Ose suggests that the type of Exception Mahakala is comes from a contradiction in beliefs, the hierarchy between the 23 people within you and to 'Shiva and Mahakala.' In Deva Loka Shiva had won over Varuna-Kamadeva, but in Shangri La the result between Varuna-Kamadeva and Shiva-Mahakala (re: the one who possessed the same class and concept) was the opposite.

 

Ose decides it's time to set the complicated subjects aside and focuses on the most important part. That is, the clash between the two was deemed not to have an established hierarchy, which is why Mahakala has turned into an Exception and the power to absorb spacetime has gone berserk. Now, even the moon has been drawn in and has been set on a collision course to the ground. If the thing lands, everything within the walls will be buried under a giant rock, and everything will be sealed. In that case, the time rewind of the app probably won't work since Tokyo will be seen as a physically enclosed area, just like the walls that surround Tokyo and the 23 other worlds.

 

Ose starts talking about how those walls did not exist at one time in the past around Tokyo and the 23 worlds. The forcible division by them is what's caused this contradiction. Deva Loka and Shangri La is much the same, and they were once one world too. Ose then brings up the Exile of Shangri La, saying they are another side of Varuna before naming them as the versatile Asura. He takes a moment to look up at the falling moon, noting that Operation Mahakala has reached its final stage and starts to guess what the mastermind's motive for this is before transition cuts him off.

 

Scene then shifts to your end as Shiva starts coming to, wondering where he is before remembering what the impact of the Exception did to him. You call out to Shiva or stay quiet, and Shiva tells you he no longer has any desire to fight you and admits he lost to you guys. You win, so he tells you to be happy about it as he calls you Varuna-Kamadeva. You either tell Shiva that's not actually your name as you tell him what it is, or you just nod silently. Shiva says he knows either way since there was once a loop where you two spent time together. You probably don't remember though, which means it's pointless to be telling you this.

 

You tell Shiva to talk about it later as you extend a hand out to help him. Shiva sadly notes that you never changed, and that the one who changed was him. You've always extended your hand to people no matter who it was, before anyone else. You however deny that you do this before other people help as you say you were helped in the beginning too. You also add that you've been helped since then as you think about the gang, Triton and Jinn, the guildmasters of the allied guilds, and Mononobe. Shiva wonders about whether you were given a hand first or whether you gave a hand first. In all the repeating yugas you guys always kept doing so, but when Shiva killed you, he feels he must have broken the connection. You call out his name or wait silently for him to continue.

 

Shiva brings up again that there used to be a yuga of peace in the past here in Walled Tokyo. You went to various different schools where you laughed and cried with others. Most days were filled with activity, and sometimes they were calm. When the loop first happened, most of the people in the city were hoping for an endless paradise. And while it may seem unbelievable now, there was even a time when even the World Representatives avoided bloodshed and joined together with people. The same went for Shiva too, where he spent that yuga with you at a certain school in peace.

 

But at the turning point of one loop, everything came crashing down. In the beginning someone had killed you, and the World Representatives all thought it was some sort of accident. But then it kept happening, and even the World Representatives killed you too. And Shiva killed you too, just like he did in Deva Loka. Shiva thinks it's about then that the Recorders began going crazy, and he supposes it happened because they could no longer bear continuing to witness that kali yuga the age of vice happening over and over.

 

You ask Shiva what he means by Recorder, and Bertro starts cackling as he addresses Shiva and says it's time to end the repeating loops now. Shiva is surprised to see Bertro around, and Bertro thanks him or whoever he's talking to now about seeing the true completion of the ultimate weapon now. That would be the Exception of Shangri La, the rampaging class and concept of the void that sucks in all space and time.

 

Mahakala roars, and Bertro talks about how if Mahakala's power of the black hole that absorbs all things goes out of control, everything will turn into the primordial chaos where Mahakala will take it all in. Bertro adds that it this includes everything in the void overhead past the only hole in Tokyo's walls. The moon itself will be pulled in, turning everything into an enclosed space and preventing loops from occurring again.

 

Teda gets annoyed at Bertro running off on his own to plot this without his input, so he's going to oppose him over this. He then turns to Marduk to ask if he's going to help him or go help Bertro. Marduk says he'll go along with Teda since he's a hero, and as a hero he can't overlook the world being returned to the primordial chaos. Bertro is fine with this says you guys can try surpassing it and smash through the ultimate destruction. He laughs and says he'll happily accept what the outcome is since it would be progress for mankind and the repetition of the history of war. It's what his Plan B is all about after all.

 

Mahakala roars as he summons more Shadow minions that pop out of himself. Kengo snorts about this being easy to get as he turns to you and says it's the decisive battle. You stumble for a bit, so Kengo grabs you and holds you up as he tells you not to push yourself. He also calls you an idiot as he asks if you thought he wouldn't notice that you've been having trouble moving since using Dual Heaven Dragon. He already heard about how it worked from Shirou during the prison school incident, so he tells you not to hide it from him. You nod and say you can still move one of your arms and that half your body is just paralyzed. You insist you're okay since you can still hold a sword.

 

Kengo looks unconvinced as he says nothing, so you say you're fine but ask Kengo to lend you a shoulder for this big battle. Kengo agrees and says he'll lend you his shoulder or anything you want, so you should rely on him more. Shiva is watching quietly from the side and thinks to himself that there was a time when he did that too. He lent you his hand and shoulder, and he lived together with you. He talks to himself about having destroyed all that and stopped moving towards the future.

 

Thor pops out and starts talking to Kengo about the bind he's in what with the moon falling to Earth. He figures it's about time he told him about that secret about his artifact. Kengo is shocked to hear about this, so Thor informs him that his artifact...is meant to be worn like an actual belt instead of wrapped around his hand. Kengo's mind is blown at this, and Thor admits he couldn't bring himself to say anything about it before because he also went around doing the same thing Kengo had been doing.

 

Kengo straps the belt around himself and is surprised at the power going through him. Thor excitedly asks him how it feels as he mentions the power multiplies with every wrap around. Kengo says it's fucking awesome and mentions feeling something spin within himself. Narration says the power of Infinitude is turning into a spiral of thunder that revolves within Kengo's body. The five main senses, the sixth sense to see spirits, and the seventh sense to see the things beyond that are opened up. This power can reach any ends of the sky, and that belief and conviction circulates through Kengo's whole body.

 

Kengo turns to you and says it's time to go, and with the power he has there's nothing to be afraid of. Thor snorts about Kengo letting loose like this is reminding him of his old self, which is a bit embarrassing. And speaking of the past, Thor wonders what Odin is doing now and where he is. With a huge uproar like this, he'd totally come over to watch what happens. Thor then realizes he should stop waxing nostalgic and that he needs to watch over Kengo.

 

Shiva narrows his eyes as he watches you and Kengo stand shoulder to shoulder to move forward. You tell Kengo you're ready to go with him to stop Mahakala. Shiva talks to himself as he questions whether you guys will make it in time before saying it's the wrong question to ask. He talks about how he is making a decision, not someone else or the world. Shiva declares he'll show the meaning of all the reincarnations up to this point, and he opens his eyes as he follows behind you guys into the episode battle. More story happens after that. And on a side note, Mahakala's NP is something like Nirguna Bhagavan: Supervisor of the Peaceful Covering Darkness.

 

After the battle, things tune in with Macan, Pollux, and Andvari floating around in zero gravity as Macan asks what the hell is going on. Ellie turns up and is able to use her nightwalker vampire abilities to control the darkness of the primordial chaos to create a foothold for them to walk on. Macan is happy to be able to move normally again, then asks who Ellie is. Ellie introduces herself as the Kabukicho guildmaster as she gives her name, then says she stopped by to repay you as she looks towards you out of the corner of her eyes.

 

Ellie then comments that they need to do something about the Shadow soldiers, then says that while it may be before breakfast, it'd be the main dish for her. She pulls out her wings again as she leaps towards the mobs, and Macan is excited about making this a speed contest before noticing Cthugha there and asks if he's coming too. Cthugha laughs that he did get punched out, but then he remembered his body is made of fire, so he's fine.

 

Garm and Ikutoshi turn up, and Ikutoshi apologizes for the wait as he says he came to help. Garm excitedly tells Macan, Pollux, and Andvari he came over too. Andvari is glad to see that they're okay since he heard about them being captured. Ikutoshi says they couldn't move earlier, but some Fairy Producer helped them out. He admits he wasn't interested in joining this battle, but he notes that he'll have to be involved in the battle with the true big three guilds. Pollux is confused and tries to ask Ikutoshi if something happened, but Ikutoshi says he'll talk about it later as he activates his NP. Garm charges into battle too with his NP activated, and Snow turns up at this point to say he's joining the battle as well. Macan laughs about Snow stepping in and comments things are looking busy. Snow says that since Nomad and the others aren't back yet, he'll fill in for them.

 

Camera jumps over to Teda, who is shooting down mobs left and right and getting annoyed at the constant obstruction before telling Marduk to come with him. Marduk nods and says he'll open a path with him as he attacks. After that, camera jumps again to your side of things as Kengo says he'll share his power with you. Thor speaks up to say Kengo hasn't even gotten used to using two peoples' worth of power yet, but he shrugs and says he'll help with that. The power of lightning coursing from the belt artifact enters your body too, bringing up your power output to his level. You nod to Kengo and thank Thor as you say you guys will go together, and the two of you jump into the chaos like two dragons drawing a spiral. The two of you then fire off your combined attack Drake Basher: Resonating Flight.

 

With the Berserkers, Ellie, Teda, and Marduk clearing the way, your combo attack shoots off at Mahakala. Kengo is surprised when it fails to do anything, since it should have hit Mahakala who's been turned into the concept of the void if you guys had Thor's Infinitude. Unfortunately, the attacks of two people isn't enough as the Exception Mahakala also possesses Immortality through Three Bodies. Mahakala roars as you say you guys still need one more thing, and with half your body paralyzed you cannot use Dual Heaven Dragon again yet.

 

Bertro laughs and says it's time as he directs everyone's attention up above. He declares it's time for the moon to fall onto Tokyo, activating his artifact and using its electromagnetic induction to plot a trajectory. He say the merciless queen of the night is in outer space before calling out his NP, then bids everyone good night. You and Kengo try to brace yourselves since it doesn't seem like you guys can stop it in time, but Shiva steps forward to tell you to not give up and to keep going forward at full strength. Kengo is surprised and asks how long Shiva has been behind you guys, and you call out to Shiva and ask if he's helping you guys.

 

Shiva tells you guys that you were doing the correct thing, and the only issue was that you just had to destroy Mahakala's three bodies at once. He'll step up to be the third attack to your guys' two, and he calls to his third eye and chakra to open up. At Shiva's cry, his third eye slowly starts opening up and the power of reincarnation of destruction starts spinning in a spiral within his body. Kengo can sense this spinning and asks Shiva what it is, so Shiva says his power that can destroy the whole universe should be able to reach Void Mahakala.

 

With the third eye opened, the first chakra muladhara to the seventh chakra sahasrara run into a spiral of power. Once the seventh is crossed over, the understanding of the eighth is reached. That would be the eight consciousnesses, alaya-vijnana, the consciousness that forms the base of all human existence and perceives all things. It is said that when someone knows all eight, they will be able to understand the meaning behind the repeating world.

 

Shiva says he may still be inexperienced, but being able to use up to the seventh chakra is enough to reach Mahakala. Ellie can hear him and comments on the number eight coming up again and its relation to reaching the significance to the world like it's some sort of sign. Shiva talks about coming to this point after so many repetitions and always questioning things after he killed you. He questioned the meaning of his endless training and the meaning of the days he spent with you. Now he declares that he'll use his fists to show what his answer is. Shiva's past and future selves appear behind him, even though he's supposed to be disconnected from Mahakala now. This is the faith of reincarnation that spreads through the universe, and this is the power that can bring destruction to all things.

 

Kengo snorts and agrees to work with him, so he turns to you and says you guys should try one more time. Shiva nods and says he'll work with you guys before calling to Sahasrara to shine upon his crown and use his three bodies to show the power to destroy the Milky Way and the universe as he fires off his NP. The episode then ends as the moon is blasted through by this attack.

 

Chapter 11 Episode 22: Render of Reincarnation 1

Narration starts up by showing Shiva and talks about how the moon is the same in both Deva Loka and Tokyo. It wanes and waxes as a sign of the passage of time, just like reincarnation does. The yugas pass by, and at the end feelings wear out. When that strike pierces through Shiva's chest like that time way back then, the memories of those days resurface. Shiva then takes over narration as he addresses Varuna-Kamadeva, calling them the dragon of origins that trapped him in the cycle of reincarnation. Ever since you shot him with that arrow of love, he's detested you. But on further reflection, he wonders what it was about you that he hated so much.

 

Shiva originally thought he hated you for forcing love on him when he didn't want it, but then as the dragon of origins, you should have been forced to take a lot of things from everything in the world. And after many countless yugas passed, your life was worn down and exhausted, your faith was lost. This was a world where everything was arranged from the beginning, and this is a world where what you love and what role you take is forced upon you. In a world where everything was decided by reincarnation though, Shiva thought you alone seemed to live in freedom. And in your final moments where you gave him love, he thought he could see you smiling. How could you smile though, back in that moment when you disappeared in futility? So now that he thinks about it again, Shiva feels he didn't start out on his journey because he hated you. He remembers what his wish was that moment he came to Tokyo was.

 

Shiva says he wanted to know what Varuna-Kamadeva's feelings were when they shot him, no matter what. He wanted to ask if he was special to them. In a world where it's set up that people love and want someone, he wanted to know if his feelings for them, the one cut off and disappeared from that world, were genuine. He wanted to know the answer, and he believed that there was someone who could tell him. Shiva then noticed that the answer was within himself from the beginning. Perhaps then would be when his endless reincarnation would really come to an end.

 

The story decides it's time to turn things back a little to show something else. Over where Daikoku is in his Shadow Realm or whatever, he starts cursing and bemoaning that he almost got away with it if it weren't for that meddling girl had the power of Mahakala and gotten closer to the All being. He also rants about this person grating form and dispelling the grudges of eight million corpses sleeping beneath Tokyo, sworn to Yaegaki, the All-Knowing All-Powerful to tear the Yakumo to pieces and stands above even Amaterasu. Daikoku then reminds himself that he still has a bunch of soldiers on hand and tells himself things aren't over yet as he melts into the shadows and shadowwalks away.

 

Ellie and Tsukuyomi are turn up in some back alley in Kabukicho, which Ellie notes in surprise as she asks if they were sent back to their original location. Narration describes how Ellie had torn her way through the darkness with all her strength and brought 'two' people with her. Tsukuyomi says that's how it looks like, then thanks her and says it's been awhile since he's been outside again. He seems relieved to be out of the restraints of the Great Darkness. Tsukuyomi then tells Ellie it's okay to relax since it looks like Daikoku pissed off somewhere, though he does note that Daikoku still looks like he's up to something.

 

Ellie is quiet for a moment before she turns to talk to Tsukuyomi. He asks her what's up, surprised that she looks docile for once. Ellie asks him if he knows what that nonsense Daikoku was talking about when he said Yaegaki and Yakumo before he poofed away. Tsukuyomi answers that those are words that are passed down in his world. Yakumo means eight clouds while Yaegaki means eight fences. Also, eight denotes all of creation in the world and the power of the god who rules over All things. Ellie tilts her head to the side as she thinks on that for a moment.

 

When Ellie speaks again, she tells Tsukuyomi she remembers she has something to go do outside, so she'll be heading off for a bit. She also tells him she'd like for him to take care of Kabukicho and asks if he'd be fine with that. Tsukuyomi looks caught off guard at this question for a moment until he gives her a gentle smile, commenting on how unusual it is for her to say that when she's usually so whimsical. He asks if she's worried about the rest of the Outlaws, then says his absence caused the queen problems.

 

Tsukuyomi thinks to himself about how Ellie had never left Kabukicho until now, and he supposes she may feel protective of her friends, though she may not recognize it herself. Ellie looks sad as she denies that after a moment, saying she just wanted to do that at the time. She also adds that she has something that she wants to do that involves leaving Kabukicho, and that that's all there is to it. Tsukuyomi tells her he understands, saying he'll take care of things and asking her to be careful as he calls her their beautiful queen. She nods back in response.

 

Tanetomo turns out to be here as he speaks up and tells Ellie to wait. He asks why she saved him, asking if she wanted to put him in debt to her. Ellie is surprised at the question and casually says she forgot that he was there. Tanetomo gets huffy at the response and demands to know why she saved him despite the whole repeated stabbing thing. Ellie cuts him off and says she didn't have some big reason for doing so, but as she takes a moment to remember Tanetomo's name, she tells him she'll answer, but she wants his help with something. Tanetomo is baffled by this response and asks her to repeat herself, and Ellie comments that the word debt made her remember something, saying that she needs to thank you too. She ends the conversation there as she spreads her wings and starts flying to the north.

 

Scene shifts over to Kabukicho where Balor's possession by Shadows is temporarily dispelled when you used Dual Heaven Dragon on Shiva-Mahakala. Balor says he knew you could do it and puts on his king's mode of speech to express his pride in his grandchild for the moment. The Shadows immediately grab him again though, and he along with all the Shadow-possessed mobs sink into the ground and disappear. Macan is surprised by this turn of events and demands he come back to keep fighting since he's not satisfied yet. His complain is cut off when Andvari asks why the ground is splitting up, and Pollux directs their attention to something.

 

Camera shifts to Shiva-Mahakala. The link has been broken, so Shiva is no longer possessed while Mahakala has gone crazy as the light of power streams endlessly into him. You exclaim that this is the light of an Exception occurring that you've seen so many times already. Berserk Mahakala roars, and Kengo asks in surprise what's going on as he sees that the earth and the sky are splitting apart. Everything around is breaking into little pieces as far as you can see, and these bits start getting drawn to Mahakala. You freak out as you start getting affected by a state of zero gravity and start getting drawn in yourself. Gravity loses its meaning, and the hierarchy of all creation is being lost.

 

Camera then jumps to Ose for a second as he reports to what's happening like he's talking to someone (unless he's just narrating his observations to himself) about confirming the outbreak of an Exception. Endless power is flowing into Mahakala. Back to your end, Kengo floats around crazily as your sense of equilibrium has gone haywire. You yell to Kengo, yell about getting dizzy, or yell about losing all sense of direction. Marduk yells to you guys to calm down since you aren't in any immediate danger. He explains that what's here is primordial chaos, the way the world was before heaven and earth were delineated. Kengo is shocked to see him while you take a moment to recognize him and express relief he's okay.

 

Marduk nods after a moment and says he mostly has an idea as to what's going on. Kengo questions this and asks about him losing his memories, so you ask Marduk if he got his memories back. Marduk denies it after a moment and tells you guys he heard what's happening from someone else. Teda pops out from behind Marduk and says he told him, then greets you. You ask who he is and wonder if you met him before, or you say you don't know him but think he's cute. C surprises Teda as he says you should be saying cute as he comments that you need more discipline, even if you've been reborn so many times.

 

Anyways, Teda shrugs this as the usual way conversations go with you, so he tells you to open your big fat ears and listen to him. He dramatically proclaims himself the Sun King of Shuriten and the World Representative of Nirai Kanai as he gives his name, then asks if you get it now. He's also part of the Warmongers, and he figures that should clue you in enough. Kengo gets on guard against Teda when he mentions the World Representative bit, and you either take note of his affiliation, position, or take up a battle ready stance. C makes Teda laugh as he calls that a cute reaction as he says he likes that about you.

 

Kengo just cannot believe cheeky little brat is one of the Warmongers, so Teda snorts at him for judging by appearances, then comments that big guys tend to be crude. Kengo gets offended at this, so you try to rein him in since he's talking to a child, treat Teda like a scared kid and try to comfort him, or wonder if he's really a World Representative. B gets an extra bit with Teda seeming to like this treatment and laughing about making a special exception for you to do this.

 

Kengo asks that if Teda is a Warmonger, he's like Marduk before in he's come to challenge you into a fight. Teda doesn't give a response, and you plead with him for this not to be the case. Teda tells you he totally did come to fight, only to reveal that he was kidding and wanted to see your reaction. But frankly speaking, he doesn't see much of a point in fighting you now. Kengo is confused by this, and you ask Teda to explain what he means.

 

Teda asks if you know at least about the part where you're the trophy they're all fighting over, so you nod. Teda starts talking about how the commonality among the Warmongers is their desire to fight with you, then asks if you know that part too. He mentions that all of them including him have seen your last moments, which lead him to the realization that he doesn't really want things to end. Teda brings up Balor and says that after he killed you, he bound himself to the prison school as a death row inmate and abandoned the game. Kengo is surprised at this, and Teda says that's why he doesn't feel like fighting you now and asks if you understand.

 

You answer that you do understand, then ask how Marduk feels. Teda turns to Marduk to ask the same thing, so Marduk makes a measured response to say that his mission as a hero is to drive out the concentration of danger that is Tiamat. Tiamat is not actually an individual, but a phenomenon of ruin and chaos born when several dragons gather in one place. That brings disorder to the world and unhappiness to the people, making it an enemy he cannot overlook.

 

That said, Marduk says that in your current state, he doesn't think you'll be causing disorder anytime soon. In that case, he's willing to go focus on solving other problems first. Marduk takes a look around at what's happening before speaking again, and he declares that as a hero he can't leave what's happening now alone. You ask the two about the possibility of them helping you, so Marduk denies the idea after a moment. He says he's just holding a temporary truce until the situation is brought back to order again. Teda says it's a little different in his case, in that he won't hand you off to anyone else. He says you belong to him, but he tells you to remember that he has no intentions of protecting you.

 

You shrug off the refusal as unfortunate, but you say it's good enough and thank them as you hope to get along with them for now. Teda and Marduk are taken aback at this, but smile after getting over it. Teda says he needs to go beat on the people who drew up this plot so that he can settle his irritation, by which he means that wily butler, that villainous prick, and their guildmaster.

 

Teda then says you guys need to start things off by dealing with the current situation. He then gets to what he considers the main problem of the day and points out the Exception you guys say happening. He tells you it's his power going berserk that's causing all of this mess, and Kengo notes that this started happening when you and Shiva clashed against each other. Teda says you guys will need to find and grab Shiva somewhere in this Witch Barrier Exception domain, and you add that you guys will need to sort out the hierarchy as per usual.

 

Kengo says there's a lot of roundabout stuff going around, then asks how you guys are supposed to move and see far with things as is. Marduk brings up that you guys are surrounded by primordial chaos, as he's said earlier. This is how the world was before the heavens and earth, light and darkness were split. So, all they have to do is divide those things. Once that is done, the chaos will settle and you guys should be able to find Shiva. In more simpler terms, they just have to engage in a bit of world creation.

 

You are shocked at the suggestion of world creation before asking if they can actually do that and commenting to yourself that it does make sense. Teda shrugs it off as no big deal and asks who you think they are. You are shocked that they can do it and that they've done it before, and Teda draws an arrow on the sun on his bow like a crescent moon. He asks how anyone can call themselves a World Representative if they don't have a memory or two about creating the world, smiling like the sun as he casually mentions his pet theory.

 

Teda then tells you to pay attention to what he's doing and fall in love with him many times over, and Marduk says his star bow artifact is something that split primordial chaos into the heavens and earth. He then calls to Mushussu and says the time for world creation has come. Kengo laughs and takes it as a challenge as he tells you you guys need to go all out too. He notices that you look distracted, so he asks you what's up. You tell him that you think you hear someone's voice just now. Some egg looking thing turns up, and you see Mononobe in (front of?) it for a moment and say that he's calling to you. Kengo is baffled and asks what you said as the episode battle begins. More story after that.

 

After the battle, narration starts talking about how the true big three guilds all have guildmasters, just like the Berserkers and other guilds. The guildmaster of the Warmongers of the West is the boy who calls himself Bertro and whose body has been entirely replaced with machinery. He is like Duo, a designer baby born in a test tube in a certain research lab. He was artificially given super intelligence, and an artifact that holds the memories of the world was placed inside his body. These children were given a research thesis, that being the investigation and acceleration of the evolution of mankind. Bertro was given the theme of evolution through battle, which the lab referred to as Plan B. And thus Bertro was given the role of stimulating and recording battles in this repeating game in Tokyo. Since then he's constantly watched and recorded the events of what's happening in the game. Always, on and on, long enough that he could no longer tell if he was human.

 

Back to the present, we tune in to Marduk commanding his star bow to split things into heaven and earth. His fired arrow divides the primordial chaos, dividing things into a world. Teda goes next as he commands his sun arrow to go into the rifts, and his shot goes in high to shine on its path ahead. You point Teda and Marduk's attention to the egg thing again, which floats further ahead in the chaos being rent. It kicks and pulses like a single world.

 

Kengo asks what it is, and narration talks about how you guys don't know that the egg/package thing is the memories of worlds that once were, a collection of memories deemed unnecessary by the world that the protector of Shadows Mahakala protected. You start to say that this is the thing you were looking for when the thing starts convulsing, surprising you and Kengo. Cracks appear, the egg soon breaks to reveal Shiva, who you run over to help.

 

Shiva starts talking about seeing a dream of a peaceful yuga before he focuses a bit more and sees you as Varuna-Kamadeva. Teda senses somebody hiding and watching you guys and demands they reveal themselves, and he and Marduk fire off arrows into the darkness. The gloom is pulled away and the view is cleared, revealing the moon falling down from beyond the dust clouds. Teda, Marduk, and Kengo all look surprised by this, and you question if it is the moon since it was so big that you thought it wasn't the moon for a second.

 

Bertro rolls up to the same area as the rest of you guys as he greets you all and says he welcomes you all to the test firing of the ultimate weapon. Teda points him out as the guildmaster Bertro and says he has a lot of nerve to show himself in front of them, and you express some surprise that a kid like him is guildmaster. Bertro confirms his identity before letting a screw loose as he babbles his name and cackles. His laugh is compared to a broken computer.

 

Kengo asks what the deal is with this strange child and says the laugh means something is up with him. Bertro apologizes about not being as funny as he thought he'd be repeating his name like that, then explains he figured repetition is funny. He argues that humans are idiots who enjoy the repetition of things, whether it be everyday life, humor, or the history of war. With every repeat, things escalate, and Bertro argues that would progress evolution. That's why he's set up this ultimate weapon.

 

Teda asks Bertro if he means Mahakala when he says ultimate weapon, so Bertro denies it before pointing above and explaining dropping what's up there is what it is. You look up at the moon and ask if Bertro plans on dumping it on you guys, and Kengo is shocked by the idea. A roar resounds through the area, and the moon is slowly falling towards ground as the episode ends.

 

 

Chapter 11 Episode 21: The Third Choice 3

Things tune in at the Warmongers base as Duo addresses Mephistopheles and asks if he can get to explaining why he brought him to where they are yet. Mephisto says he just wanted Duo to hear him out, which Duo seems suspicious about. Mephisto then starts talking about how Duo's meant to be a replacement for parts deemed to be broken, but he wanted to know about his circumstances besides that. That might just be preaching to the choir though.

 

Duo continues keeping quiet, and Bertro wanders in greeting everyone and telling Duo he came to get him since it's time. Duo asks him what he means by that, so Bertro says he's got a special seat ready for Duo as Operation Mahakala is going into its last phase. Since Duo is meant to be a spare replacement for one of the big three, Bertro decided he wanted Duo to see what happens. Duo is surprised at the mention of special seat, and he starts to ask about it when Bertro confirms he's talking about the walled Ikebukuro where they can see the completion of the ultimate weapon.

 

Scene shifts back to Ikebukuro as Macan complains about the unending onslaught of trash mobs rushing at him before saying something needs to be done about that giant fatass Mahakala. He then notices you two have come back, and Kengo apologizes for keeping them waiting before calling to Thor, saying it's time to go. The two of them charge at Mahakala, and Thor behaves a bit like Kengo's puppet in a fighting game as he mirrors his movements as he goes to punch Mahakala in the face. Kengo notes that two similar things actually are able to hit each other, but Mahakala attempts to explain it's because Shiva's not there. Kengo cannot be bothered to listen to this and winds up to lay the smackdown on Mahakala for all his crap.

 

Back at the dungeon base, Shirou is keeping watch of things and has confirmed that you guys are making contact with Mahakala now. Shuuichi laughs about how well the plan Duo left behind is working and notes that it's going smoother than expected. He then comments his surprise on using Thor in battle like this, despite the Warmongers coming up with the same idea. He wonders if the geniuses had thought of something similar or if it's something Duo put together.

 

Narration talks about how this is the usage of the experiment results Duo and Shuuichi once held at Ikebukuro, the one putting into Kengo Thor's memories to draw out the power of his artifact. Shuuichi then talks some more about having expected more of a reaction to a memory transplant, but he notes that Kengo doesn't seem to be showing any signs of such. He starts to wonder if this is because Kengo and Thor have such similar personalities or something else when R-19 informs Shirou and Moritaka that chaff with labyrinth properties is being released again. Moritaka fumbles with some remote or board as he says he's terrible with complicated doodads, and Shirou says he's counting on Kengo to do his part and hopes that you'll be okay.

 

Over where Daikoku is, Daikoku is surprised as he says that something must be happening with Mahakala as the Great Darkness is snapping apart. He figures Mahakala must have been attacked, but he tries to deny this idea since this should be impossible if he were combined with Shiva. Ellie pays him no attention as she says she's finally found what she's looking for and goes to pull it out. Daikoku freaks out at this and yells for her to stop.

 

Ellie pulls Tsukuyomi out of the darkness, who sighs in relief and says he had been unable to move the entire time he was stuck inside. Daikoku is pissed to see him, but Tsukuyomi says there were some nice parts as he asks Daikoku if he was treated just like old times before referring to him as Okuninushi. The name usage shocks Daikoku while Tanetomo is surprised, so Tsukuyomi explains that Kiou Police Academy headmaster Daikoku has one two more sides to him. He is Okuninushi, the one who connects the worlds of Takamagahara and Wa no Kuni. The land he once ruled was ceded to Amaterasu, and he was cast to the underworld of Ne no Kuni, which is the land Susanoo was supposed to control.

 

Daikoku doesn't give a verbal response, so Tsukuyomi continues by suggesting that Okuninushi is either possessing Daikoku or is hiding within him. But that aside, he starts talking about how Okuninushi had (one of?) the three sacred treasures that can give life to Shadows that he picked up in Ne no Kuni. That should have the same class and concept of the Exception Mahakala, but Mahakala being an Exception means he is sealed and can't exist within Tokyo. That's why Daikoku has been going around acting as his representative 'in Mahakala's name.' Tsukuyomi guesses that Daikoku's figured out some way to take over Mahakala's class and power for himself. He compliments him for taking advantage of the app's blind spot, but he also notes that this requires he be recognized as Okuninushi by someone. Daikoku's reaction suggests Tsukuyomi is right, and Tsukuyomi talks about how people aren't allowed to share the same combination of class and concepts. And if you can't have a class, a Shadow can't exist.

 

Back to Ikebukuro, Macan laughs about how the reinforcements have stopped, so now he can finally get on with fighting Possessed Balor. Kengo tells you he can handle things here, so you should head to where Shiva is. You tell him you're counting on him and run off. Time then passes to the point where you reach Shiva and Cthugha, and the two of them are almost done with their fight. Cthugha attempts to charge at Shiva with a full on star flare mana burst, and it's noted that there is no one around who could tank that firepower and live...assuming they do tank it.

 

Shiva responds to Cthugha's attack by bringing in two more body doubles, and you wonder if they're afterimages for a second before realizing that they aren't. There are three real Shivas present, a manifestation of the trinity of the past, present, and future through the power of Reincarnation. His life is guaranteed so long as all three bodies are not destroyed at once, and this ability is a secret art available for Shiva to use because he is Shiva-Mahakala with the faith of Shangri La.

 

You shout in recognition of this being the same attack and defense style move that Snow can use using three bodies, total evasion and extradimensional attacks. You witness how the three Shivas' fists move in detail, and Cthugha is taken down as he moans about how he's supposed to be the protagonist. Shiva says nothing as he turns to glare at you, then tells you to listen to him as he calls you the reincarnation of Varuna-Kamadeva. He talks about how he had fought his way to this point through this world of repeated battles. You have met repeated miserable deaths just like Varuna-Kamadeva, and now you're going to lose to him just like every other time you've fought him. That's what reincarnation and a repeating world is all about, an infinite hell that ends the same way over and over again.

 

You shake your head and say that won't happen this time. Shiva is mildly interested as he asks why you think so, so you tell him that Cthugha's battle showed you how his attack works, so it won't end the same way. Shiva snorts and challenges you to show him you can do it if you can. Show him you can destroy a repeated fate of reincarnation! Shiva resummons his extra bodies and takes up a fighting stance, but before he starts attacking he says he has something he has one last thing to ask you. You either say you'll answer if you can or quietly prompt him to go on.

 

Shiva brings up that there used to be a loop where he spent time together with you here in Tokyo. But in the end of that loop, Tokyo turned into a war zone and the two of you had to fight it out to figure out which of you two would live. The result of that battle was that it wasn't a battle. You made no attempt to resist, and Shiva killed you. He survived and you died, and Shiva asks why you didn't try to do anything. Narration says this is the same thing that happened to Varuna-Kamadeva back in Deva Loka where he was burned away by the light from Shiva's opened third eye.

 

Shiva asks why you had left him behind. Why was he left alone in this repeating suffering, he yells in a pained cry no one else can hear, close to tears. You pick up on other emotions besides anger in his tone of voice that he makes no attempt to hide. You either say you don't remember but start to suggest a possible answer as to why it happened, or you stare silently at Shiva.

 

Shiva is quiet for a moment before he talks about how the power you implanted in him back in his home world was love, which would also be passion and lust. Narration talks about how there was a certain woman in Deva Loka who Shiva was meant to take as his wife when he was made to face his passions. In this world, the Authority based on the faith of a world is a forcible, absolute rule. When Shiva was hit with the arrow of love, it was decided that Shiva's attention would turn towards this woman. But Varuna-Kamadeva's fate as the one cut away from the world was different. That moment when Varuna-Kamadeva was exiled from the world in front of Shiva's eyes, Shiva held different emotions within him towards them, emotions he shouldn't have when he wanted to abandon everything and seclude himself from the world. It was a love that he could not pass off as a fault of that power working on him, lust he couldn't help but have that welled up from within himself.

 

Shiva admits to being afraid, not of the world forcing him to fall in love, but of himself for wanting you. It's why he attacked you right away. Narration says that this could be similar to little chicks imprinting after they hatch. It also suggests that if love was all Shiva felt, then maybe he could have accepted it. You either say Shiva's name or stay quiet and stare, and Shiva starts talking about how he had once killed you in his home world and again here in Tokyo. It was then that he realized that he could not overturn the fate of reincarnation. If fate were changed, then how can he excuse himself for what he did to you?

 

Shiva talks about coming to Tokyo and wanting to redo things from that one time to erase his regrets. He ended up doing the exact same thing though, so he swore to personally kill you himself from that moment on. He sought strength that would surpass all others so that none of the other World Representatives could beat him. He starts shouting in pained yells about how he won't hold back and fight you with all his strength since that's the only thing left that he can do. He dares you to overcome this fate if you can and show him you can do it. He never could do it, and he was always left behind by you. He yells asking if you understand his agony.

 

You can either tell Shiva you do or you don't understand how he feels, but Shiva's response is the same in both cases where he rejects the idea of you understanding him. You either say you'll beat him, save him, or win here and end things. Shiva declares the time for talks is over and challenges you to take on his full power, no matter how many times it takes. You call to Solomon to use Dual Heaven Dragon, and Solomon pops up in response as he tells you to leave it to him. Narration then briefly describes this move as a power technique that turns the inside of your body into an Exception domain to grant you power on par with a World Representative.

 

Scene shifts back to the underground base where Snow watches you in concern. He starts talking to himself apparently as he thinks aloud about the Exile of Shangri La, who he describes as a mighty being with many arms. Narration adds that they taught the faith that you should extend the hand of salvation not only to the weak, but to the strong adversaries as well. This is not the behavior of a king, or of someone who holds a country and fights against strong opponents, but something else. Snow then says if that person's memories lie dormant within you and you try to extend your hands to the strong enemies as well as to the friends you want to protect, you may be able to borrow their power to stand against Shiva, who is now able to do the work of many.

 

Things then jump back to your side as Shiva and his two other selves are homing in on you with their attacks. You block one with your physical blade. When Shiva's second attack comes, you use the shadow blade to block that one. Shiva declares his victory with the third attack incoming and that fate hasn't changed at all, given that you don't have another apparent means of defense. You grit your teeth at the fact that you're short a hand, so you pray to someone within you for help.

 

Shiva is shocked when a third arm appears out of the void to block his last attack, and you take advantage of the moment to swing at him. You stab him, but rather than cut his body you hit him with a blade of light that hits the heart. Shiva asks what's happening, but you don't have any more of an idea than he does as you yell as something starts happening. Narration then starts to talk about what the faith of Deva Loka says about Shiva. Back then when Shiva was shot by Varuna-Kamadeva's arrow, his third eye opened and unleashed the light that could burn down the universe and return everything into the primordial chaos.

 

You ask where you guys are at now and compare it to the universe. Kengo turns up and asks what's going on and if you guys are still in Ikebukuro. Narration explains that this is the shape of the universe in its beginning, the Lightless World before the heavens and earth were split. Everything has been condensed into one point, before the Big Bang occurred. Over in the center is the black hole and Great Darkness Mahakala, who has gone evil black sclera eyed and is sucking up all light. His power as the Exception of Shadow has gone berserk.

 

Scene then shifts to Duo and Bertro who have come to Ikebukuro, and Bertro declares the final stage of Operation Mahakala has begun. He says this is the ultimate destruction, and the result of Plan B for the progress of mankind. The episode then ends with Bertro cackling as he says goodbye and goodnight to everyone.

 

Chapter 11 Episode 20: The Third Choice 2

Cthugha starts narrating about himself as he talks about how his home world is the world of Old Ones. He, the Living Flame, lived on the star of Fomalhaut, which burned beyond the range of light in the void of space. It was a star that flared hotter and farther than the sun, and he was the only one capable of living there since he had a body that was like fire itself. If he had been born somewhere else, he might call his nature lonely...but he insists that you not say that.

 

Cthugha coughs as gets back on topic as he talks about how he cut of bits of himself to make some ember minions to talk to as he lived there. He is the embodiment of the flares of the shining fixed star of Fomalhaut itself, and he was born such that he sometimes explodes and blows everything away. The only talents he has are to burn things and to shine brightly. If he had stayed over there, Cthugha guesses he'd have just spent his time staring at the other stars as long as he lived, not knowing that there could be anyone who could accept him and his volatile state of being. All he knew was what it meant to live by yourself, and if he had stayed he'd probably still not know about anything else. Because of that he's thankful for whoever it was who summoned him here to Tokyo, no matter what reason it was that had them give him this opportunity.

 

Things then tune back to the present as Macan coughs a few times before demanding to know how long Pollux and Andvari plan on hiding behind him. Cthugha freaks out about blowing up again and blasting everyone away, though Macan interrupts the self pity with a short yell. Cthugha shrinks away at this, but Macan surprises him by saying he's actually not bad and laughs about liking strong guys.

 

Pollux compliments Cthugha on the way he shines and decides to give him a welcome to the guild again. Andvari offers to manage and produce things for him as he talks about how being mysterious and not showing anything to the public can sell nowadays too. That means no photoshoots with fans and meet and greets, so Andvari considers starting up a photo pack collection. Pollux says he'll be sure to tell the others like Garm and Ikutoshi what Cthugha is like the next time he sees them.

 

Cthugha asks if the guys are really calling him their friend, and he's so moved by this that he starts crying. The three are alarmed by this for a second until it's clear Cthugha isn't going to blow up again, and everyone is all smiles until Dark Shiva rolls up. Cthugha notices him and asks who he is as he gets his guard up. Shiva talks about seeing Cthugha as someone truly strong, so he wanted to spar with him. Then he gives his name as he describes himself as an ascetic monk who has discarded love and is seeking the heights of isolated strength.

 

Cthugha nerds out about this being the dramatic declaration of self scene and talks to himself about being the protagonist, then focuses to say his name before saying he'll fight to make friends and a harem. Shiva is unimpressed that Cthugha would be so strong and choose something dumb like that. He frames it as discarding isolation and choosing to step into hell the karmic suffering of reincarnation, so he decides he should do him the merciful favor tearing him to pieces until there's nothing left of him.

 

Camera then jumps over to Mahakala still floating at wherever Shiva ditched him, and he thinks aloud about how all he can do is leave things to Shiva while glaring at Cthugha. Narration talks about how Mahakala the Great Darkness' class and power is the ruling of the darkness that wraps up the underground world without a horizon. This darkness wraps up all things up to and including the sun, then melt it all down so that the salvation of demise can be brought about. This darkness doesn't seem to be able to affect Cthugha though, though the point is taken back and clarified to say it's unclear what would happen if it was made to affect Cthugha. That in turn means that Mahakala can't directly try to cover Cthugha and the others with his Great Darkness.

 

Mahakala thinks aloud about how the only thing he can do is target Cthugha's weakness, then commands his own Shadow minions to arise. Andvari is taken aback at the sudden appearance of so many mobs while Macan complains about being bored with weaklings as he wonders if someone stronger is around. Macan then notices Possessed Balor around and excitedly challenges him to a fight.

 

Elsewhere, Marduk is riding Mushussu and looking down at the chaos sprawling about in the area in horror. Dark shadows cover the land, and anybody that touches it seems to be taken wholly into the darkness. The idea distresses Marduk as he tries to insist to himself that he isn't afraid, but Shakey still focuses enough to analyze what's going on as a hero. Marduk asks what's going on with the order of the world, then he asks how you had suddenly disappeared. He's totally lost as to what he ought to do.

 

Narration starts talking about how Marduk has the role of chasing after Tiamat, the phenomenon of several dragons gathering together. It isn't a logical thing in his head, but closer to an inborn instinct. He had seen his target earlier and gave chase, but suddenly they disappeared like smoke. He doesn't know that this happened because of Cthugha/Old Ones' teleportation power. He does have memories of basic knowledge of the world, but he doesn't have any personal memories passed down.

 

Marduk talks aloud some more about how he has no idea as to what he should be doing again, but his thoughts are interrupted by his surprise in seeing some kid running along the walls of a building. Said kid turns out to be Teda, who calls out to Marduk and notes the handy timing as he asks to be let onto Mushussu too. Teda creates some sort of solid light wire that snags onto Marduk's arm, then uses it to pull himself over to land deftly onto Mushussu's back.

 

Marduk is confused as he asks what that power was just now. Teda meanwhile is relieved to be a bit safer than before as he says he kept shooting at the dark minions that never let up on him. Marduk tries asking Teda who he is and why he knows him, so Teda laughs about him being reborn again and says he'll tell him since this is nothing new. He then slaps Marduk on the back so hard that Marduk chokes for a second. Teda laughs this off too as he apologizes, then says letting them do as they want is pissing him off. Teda then invites Marduk to go shooting at the mobs with him for a while, so Marduk agrees, bewildered.

 

Scene shifts over to the Warmongers base, and Mephistopheles is talking about how all of the World Representatives have their own opinions in regards to the game's trophy, and the point he's getting at is that not even the true big three guilds are monoliths. Same goes for the Warmongers, who are a collection of the ones who want to continue fighting the trophy. They are the ones who want to fight them more than anyone else, and sometimes getting in each others' ways is an everyday thing. At the very least, they all want to see the one they exiled. And while he says exiled, the viewpoint is that it's more they escaped their grasp and were driven from the world, which would naturally leave regrets.

 

Bathym interrupts Mephistopheles at this point to say that he came all this way and snuck in because he wanted to ask him about that point. Mephisto doesn't give a response, so Bathym talks about being confused when he heard that Mephisto was the World Representative. He says he looked into a lot of things into the people who call themselves the World Representatives, and he talks about how the Reps are the people who have exiled the memories of the people inside you. Bathym says he picked up on that meaning the lord of Gehenna would be inside you too. The problem however is that Mephisto isn't supposed to have exiled Shaytan, so Bathym asks if Mephisto will explain this contradiction.

 

Mephistopheles admits that Bathym is correct as he refers to him as the second of Shaytan's close associates. Their master is Lucifer, the manager of Gehenna and the one known as Shaytan the Angel of Fire in Eden. Mephisto says it was he who put him to work in the position of World Representative. He denies exiling Shaytan, but he says his position is the most complicated even among the Warmongers.

 

Bathym is confused by this, so Mephistopheles says he has a connection to someone else's memories within you, who he describes as someone who slipped through his hands and ascended to heaven. Mephistopheles also makes a point of changing pronouns for a second to watashi as opposed to boku like he's been using as he calls them the 'human master' he's served like a butler while seeking their soul, and he takes off his mask and smiles. Mephisto then explains that this means he exists in Tokyo as two people, himself and someone else with the same shadow form.

 

Scene then shifts to the underground labyrinth where you and Kengo were sent due to Cthugha's teleport. Snow says his first aid should be done now, then asks if you can move now. You thank him and say his medicine works great as you say you can fight now. Snow tells you everyone else is helping Kengo get ready, though he thinks they should be done soon too. You then say you should head back up to where Cthugha is.

 

Snow asks you to wait as he says he has something he wants to tell you, and Snow starts asking if you remember the first time you met him. You nod after a moment and say it was that time you fought him before reaching the Berserkers. Snow says that back then, one of his attacks never landed on you since that cute little butler that's always with you protected you from that attack. Snow then calls to Solomon asking if he remembers, so Solomon pops up and says he does, adding that it really hurt back then. Snow apologizes, saying he was too inexperienced to stop his attack at that point.

 

You express surprise that Snow can see Solomon, though you say you had a vague inkling about this but are glad to have confirmation about that. Snow nods and says everyone else probably can't see him, but the class and power he has means he can see and touch Solomon as he proceeds to demonstrate it. Solomon goes on to really enjoy Snow's petting and says he must be a holder of the legendary Class S petting certificate. You remember that Snow did manage to touch Solomon back then before asking if Solomon blocked for you and try to ask Snow more about...something.

 

Snow explains that one of his incarnations and Solomon were in the same dimension, and he uses this point to suggest that Solomon might have somebody else's memories inside of him the way you do too. The idea shocks you, but Snow laughs and says it's nothing to be surprised or scared about. If they're the same as you, Snow suggests it ought to be comforting actually. It'd mean you aren't alone.

 

Snow starts to talk about how you have the given memories of 23 unknown Exiles. Maybe you never asked for it, and someone else is finding their own meaning in that. Maybe there are people who will say being given something you never asked for is something to be unhappy about. Snow however says it's not just you though. It goes for Solomon, Claude, and himself too. Everyone lives with being foisted with stuff by other people and appointed to arbitrary roles. Everyone lives with random people from somewhere deciding how they're made up in mind and body, what they want, and what talents they have and can do.

 

Despite all that, Snow asks you to remember one thing. Even if someone declares that your life means a certain thing in this world, he wants you to remember that 'you get to decide what that means to you.' Whether this is unhappiness or a talent, whether someone is a rival or a friend, you are the only one who gets to decide what the purpose of your life and world is. And you are the one who gets to decide how to explain things that happen outside your world.

 

You either say Snow's name or stay quiet. Snow continues by saying that if you know what that is, you'll easily be able to surpass him as he was that day. He apologizes for the long sermon, then asks you and Solomon to take care when you two go. He gives a little chuckle saying that he'll have some hot milk ready for you once the battle is over, and he bows to you in front of the hidden stairway that goes back to the surface. Shirou and Kengo turn up as Kengo says he's ready to go now as he pumps his fist up in your direction. You can either fist bump Kengo, flash a peace sign at the rest of the support team, or head straight up the stairs. A and B flash a quick cut of the relevant people if you choose those options, and in any case the episode ends.