Lostbelt 1 Summary: Section 20 (PART 2)

Section 20: The Turbulent Land (Part 2)



Kadoc:
…It’s about time. Is there anything you want to say?



In Yaga Moskva, Kadoc is with a captured Atalante. She has nothing to say. Kadoc says that it must be hard for her to be trapped in between.



Atalante:
…This is a betrayal of the future.


Kadoc:
No, that’s wrong. We are the ones who were betrayed.
I am only seeking reparations from him.
Merely pointing out the meaning of the actions that he has done, that he will do.
…In your heart, you should be thinking that this is right, too.



Atalante mutters that Kadoc is trying to make her bear disgrace. He begs to differ; if she sees it as a disgrace, then he is proud of her. Anastasia asks if you will really come. Atalante is certain that you will.



Kadoc:
If it has to be done, we might as well do it all at once. Turn everything around in a single go.
Right, Avicebron?


Avicebron:
…That’s right, it’d be an unparalleled, thrilling reversal. For you, at least.
It’s not particularly thrilling, in fact, it’s not even a cheap drama.
This is proof. It’s proof that I can do it, that I can pull it off too.


Avicebron:
…I see. Then, it is farewell.
I must meet up with Guda after all.


Avicebron leaves.


Anastasia:
Cowardly, delicate, bold, and cunning… How amusing my Master is.


Kadoc:
…Even if I do something like this, I’m only third-rate.


Anastasia:
Well, it’s not like I hate your masochistic side, though?


Kadoc:
I’m not being masochistic, it’s the truth.


Anastasia says that if Koyanskaya were around, she’d be keeping an eye on several places. But the vixen has long fled Russia. Kadoc doesn’t care much as he’s long used to being thought of as incompetent. The execution is about to be announced, which means that your target is clear to them.

An explosion rocks Yaga Moskva, and immediately after, the Oprichniki arrive bearing a report. As the Tsar’s representative, Anastasia hears them out. It seems that a Servant has attacked the city. Kadoc asks if the Servant is alone – upon confirmation that is indeed so, he immediately realizes that this is a diversion, and orders the Oprichniki to ignore it.

They refuse. The Oprichniki see their meaning of existence in massacring all who would defy the Tsar. Kadoc then reconsiders his words and tells them to quickly kill the enemy, as they may not be allowed to disturb the Tsar’s dreams. Once the Oprichniki leaves, Kadoc self-depreciatingly points out how things have not gone well after all. Anastasia finds him thoroughly pessimistic.


Kadoc:
Well, if it’s just one Servant then it is still manageable. The Oprichniki in Yaga Moskva are invincible.
By exerting the [Extraordinary Authority], even a Servant’s head would fall.


===


Elsewhere, Billy is shooting down Oprichniki one after another. He’s lost count of how many he has downed. A hundred? Two hundred? Maybe even three hundred.


Billy:
Seriously, thank god I’m a Servant.
If I couldn’t create unlimited bullets with my magical energy, I’d end up having to wail away at them with my bare hands.
Well, though I say unlimited…


More and more Oprichniki appear. The enemy’s numbers seem unlimited too, and Billy grumbles.


Billy:
Hey, you guys! Shouldn’t you be giving up and running away about now!?
(In front of me, two at one o’clock. Behind me, three at seven o’clock. On my right, one at four o’clock)
(Regulate my breathing, blow a little whistle, and slowly slide my hand towards the holster)
Ah, that’s right! There’s another thing I wanted to ask you about---


Billy lets out a series of quick shots that fells all but one of his enemies.


Billy:
Damn, I missed a shot…!


The Oprichniki takes the chance to close in and slash at Billy. Yelping in pain, he knocks the Oprichniki back and shoots it down. He pants at the exertion.


Billy:
Good grief, I feel like a dog.
Water was pretty scarce out in the West so I think I was panting like this all the time.
Ah, dammit, it hurts. Really, I was a big idiot to take on this diversion!
Was I an idiot, yeah, I really was, I was a really big idiot. Ah---


He reloads.


Billy:
Even so, I’m not about to hand over the role of a lone outlaw to anyone else. I’m staking my name as “Billy the Kid” on this.
Still… it really is getting quite tough.


The numbers of Oprichniki still look unending. They’re already beyond his current ability to handle. Billy wonders if it really will go as Da Vinci said. Da Vinci had offered to tweak his gun back at the Shadow Border. Billy naturally refused vehemently.


Da Vinci:
Even a universal genius like me cannot do anything to weapons smithed by gods and legends.
After all, those come from an age which has Mystery far surpassing the era in which I lived.
Though there are sacrilegious Heroic Spirits who will modify even the weapons of others, that is another thing.
For you, your weapon still has room to be improved. After all, that Thunderer of yours is a mass-manufactured product.
It’s a quality work amongst mass-produced goods that came about by sheer coincidence in assembly.
Although mass production averages out the level of performance of the product, the providence that can be called coincidence is still unavoidable.
That weapon miraculously turned out well. However, without being worked on by a master craftsman, it can’t be anything more.


Billy:
But the balance now is just nice.


Da Vinci:
That’s your misconception. I assure you, and I guarantee it.
Leave your weapon to me, and that gun will become akin to the magic bullet which pierces all things!
However, wielding this requires a fitting amount of resolve. Do you want to rank your Saint Graph up once?


Back in the present, in Yaga Moskva, Billy prepares himself.


Billy:
…There’s only one way to activate it. Concentrate, overcome, traverse.
Go beyond the limits of limits. Towards the light of thunder which shines on the horizon.
Charge towards that place. Mount my trusty steed and charge, charge headlong to glory and ruin.
…Alright!
---Time for a showdown, Oprichniki.


The Oprichniki attack. Billy dodges and fires. In the blink of an eye, they’ve all been vanquished. Billy’s Saint Graph has successfully ranked up and his Thunderer upgraded. He admires how its weight has not changed, yet its balance is improved and its destructive power tripled.


Billy:
Well then.
This Billy the Kid here’s someone who’s on a far different level from those you’ve harassed till now, got it?
Bring it, boys. The young ruffian king can take on any thousands of you!


 ===


While Billy engages in the diversion, you’ve arrived in Yaga Moskva yourself. Holmes confirms your coordinates and establishes communications. He asks Beowulf to take care of you.


Guda:
…Where’s Mashu?


Gordolf:
Ah, yeah. The girlie’s in the treatment room with Da Vinci so that she can get geared up for battle as a Servant.
Having penetrated this far into enemy territory, it’s not reasonable to expect the Border to not come under attack even once, right?
With that in mind, I made a proposal. Even if she couldn’t go to the frontlines, she could at least raise her shield.


Guda:
New Director Gordolf…!


Gordolf:
Hey, hey, what’s the matter, brat. You got something to say!? I was only establishing a proper battle plan though!?


Holmes:
Excuse me, new director. Please monitor the mountain range north of Yaga Moskva for now.


Having distracted Gordolf, Holmes addresses you.


Holmes:
…Mr. Gordolf was telling the truth. Miss Kyrielight is undergoing adjustments with Da Vinci at the moment.
It was her strong wish to do so. She wanted to be able to sally forth as a Servant should the circumstances require it.


Guda:
…………………………..


Holmes:
Please don’t look at me with such a scary expression. This discussion happened after you left the Border for Yaga Moskva.
Why, there won’t be any problems if we are lucky enough to have things go well. You should keep your full focus on rescuing Miss Atalante.
For me, I will not count her into our combat strength even if she is armed and ready.
I have no intentions of sending a Servant whose power output has dropped to the frontlines.
The only time I will permit her to deploy is when there is a mission which she has sufficient strength to accomplish.
----Indeed. It might let Mashu down, but I will not allow her deployment even when you are in trouble.
Do you understand? Face matters with this premise in mind, Guda.


Guda:
…I can’t burden Mashu any further.


Holmes:
Very well. Then let us go over the situation.



There is still time until Atalante’s execution. Billy has launched his diversion, as has Beowulf’s subordinate Yaga. The numbers of the Oprichniki gathered in the capital are not less than expected. Holmes asks what you have noticed, being on site.

You tell him that the snow here is weaker, the temperature warmer. Beowulf comments that it’s the Tsar’s power which weakens the blizzard that envelops Russia. This is an easier place to live in as far as the country is considered. Meuniere points out there aren’t many gawkers though. They probably stay away in fear of the Oprichniki. Even if there was a crowd of civilians, once the Oprichniki got ready to fight they’d likely scatter.

There are a lot of problems to resolve, but for Holmes, the pressing issue would be the Servants on the opposing side. The most important of all is neither the Priest, nor Koyanskaya, nor Anastasia, or even Ivan the Terrible. Rather, it is the Minotauros. His whereabouts will decide your next move.


===


At the square, Kadoc is about to proceed with the execution of the rebels. The sentence is death by decapitation. However, as they do not have a guillotine, he will have to use something else. Kadoc snaps his fingers. The Minotauros comes lumbering out. Kadoc bids farewell to a silent Atalante.


Holmes:
This is good, it’s a lucky turn of events.


Guda:
How!?


Holmes:
Anyway, we must first start by rescuing her.
For that sake, it is vitally important that we are not divided. Then, how should we proceed?
Yes, it is fine to just get close.
As far as I can observe, the Minotauros has no intellect to speak of.
…Asterios, on the other hand, would have reason and such a plan would not work, but----
Aim for him.
Guda, can you do it?


Guda:
(…take a deep breath…)


Holmes:
---You can, then. As expected, you are someone whose eyes will be lit aflame when cornered.


Beowulf:
Right. Well, it’s time to charge them right from the front!


Musashi:
Ditto. Miyamoto Musashi, here I am!


Patsy:
Are we just going to run in like that without a plan? That’s really just too crazy!
…Dammit!


Guda:
It might be better if you escaped now…

Patsy:
I just need to get closer, right!

Kadoc:
See, here they come.

Atalante:
…!

Kadoc:
I’d not be able to hold up if caught in a battle between Servants.
I’ll escape outside… you should make your choice.
Well, it doesn’t matter to me. You can choose to be saved if you want.


Kadoc leaves, and Atalante shouts out to you.


Atalante Alter:
…Don’t come, Master of Chaldea!


Musashi tells Patsy to get to a safe place and watch. Patsy yells back that he understands and will find cover immediately. The Minotaurus notices your arrival, and haltingly says that this time you will be eaten.


Beowulf:
Hah, interesting. If you want to eat me up then let’s see you try!
Sorry, but I’m one tough customer who’ll give even a fiery dragon a case of indigestion!


Your battle with the Minotauros begins, and provokes him to use his Noble Phantasm. Right when he is about to deploy it, you run for Atalante.


Guda:
Atalante!


Atalante Alter:
Even though I told you not to come…!


The Minotauros’s labyrinth activates, drawing everyone around into it. That includes you and Atalante, making the rescue a success. You get Musashi to slash apart Atalante’s shackles. Atalante praises Musashi’s ability for being able to do that, and Musashi’s flattered, seeing as how her fingers are freezing from the cold and all.

You ask the Yaga if this is all of them. One of the rebels replies that the enemy still have a hold of the children. He begins to break down. Atalante shouts at him to calm down. First they must defeat the Minotauros and escape. Until then, the Yaga are to stand back and guard you. The rebels move as Atalante orders.

The Minotauros appears, gleeful to have found you. Musashi tells everyone besides Servants to step back. This is an opponent she cannot afford to underestimate. Beowulf curses, noticing that the enemy is stronger than before – perhaps due to having deployed his Noble Phantasm.


Beowulf:
But, hey, we came here prepared for that, demon of the labyrinth.
Whether or not you’re stronger then Grendel--- this time, let this fist of mine find out for sure!


The second battle with the Minotauros ensues.


Beowulf:
How about… this!


His attacks are getting to the Minotauros.


Minotauros:
NOT YET, NOT YET, NOT YET! I HAVE NOT EATEN ANYTHING YET!
I, I, I---!


Guda:
Asterios…!


A visage of Euryale passes through the Minotauros’s mind.


Minotauros:
WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS, THAT MEMORY---?
----HAHAHA. WHAT WAS THAT. WHAT WAS THAT, WHAT WAS THAT!
I HAVE NOT ONCE BEEN LOOKED AT LIKE THAT--- I AM JEALOUS OF THAT OTHER ME…


The Minotauros disappears in a burst of gold.


???:
So you took him down. Sorry, I’m late.


Beowulf:
Who’s there!


It’s Avicebron. Remembering that he’s one of your Servants, Musashi wonders what he’s doing here. Avicebron replies that you could say he got caught up in it, or that he came in of his own free will. In truth, matters have become quite bad – however, there would also be issues if Avicebron did not follow Kadoc’s words, or so he says.


Beowulf:
My name is Beowulf. Sir Avicebron, what are you saying?
The way you’re talking… it’s like you’ve sided with the enemy, y’know?


Musashi silently draws her swords.


Avicebron:
Perhaps. The situation’s complicated.
…Well, we do not have the luxury to chat right now. There is no time.
With the Minotauros’s defeat, the dominion of the labyrinth will vanish.
With the cessation of the magical energy required to maintain a miraculous relic from the Age of Gods, we will be able to escape soon.
However, if it is now, we can make good use of this labyrinth.


Beowulf:
…What do you mean?


Guda:
Could it be--- as a golem?


Avicebron:
None other. A relic from the Age of Gods is perfect as the fundamental body for my golem.
What is left is but the reactor core.


Guda:
Core…


Beowulf:
Yeah, I know of it. Something that’ll serve as a substitute for a golem’s spiritual core.


Avicebron:
That is correct.
I have agonized, and continued to agonize about the reactor core.
What I have used thus far in battle are but mere replicas tempered for temporary use.
If vast magical energy is required, that is all which is needed.
However, that is not good enough if Ivan the Terrible is to be defeated.
I have seen it, one step ahead of you. Kadoc Zemlupus showed it to me.
…That is definitely not human. It is an apex creature that existed on this planet long before humans.
Such a monster cannot be defeated with a single blow.
Then what should we do? How should we fight?
---If we had a comparable existence as the core, then.


Musashi:
………


Avicebron remembers his conversation with Kadoc. He told Kadoc that he was indeed looking to recreate the primordial human. Kadoc was willing to help him with that endeavor. There was a valuable pawn they could play, at the right timing. After listening to Kadoc’s explanation, Avicebron agrees to cooperate. With such materials prepared, all that is left is to find a fitting core.


Kadoc:
Core…?


Avicebron:
I will prepare the core. You need not worry about it.


And so he does.


Avicebron:
---In other words, I have to turn myself into the core.


Blood spatters, shocking everyone.


Guda:
Avicebron…?


Avicebron:
…I must confess.
Once, I had killed a child.