« I think it sounds wonderful. A place where the cycle of destruction and rebirth continues... A mythology of collapse and creation.
|
(Scandinavia Peperoncino) |
The Indian Lostbelt (インド異聞帯, Indo Ibuntai?), designated Order Lostbelt No. 4 (ロストベルト No. 4?), Sub-Order Horned Monster (角を持つ怪物, Tsuno o motsu kaibutsu?), is one of the seven Lostbelts appearing on the blankened Earth during the Human Order Revision incident. Originating in 11900 DV (Deva Vatsara) India, its Lost Depth is A, its Proper Human History Resemblance is C, its King is God Arjuna, and its associated Crypter is Scandinavia Peperoncino.[1][2] It is the fourth of the Lostbelts visited by Chaldea Security Organization in the undertaking of the Grand Order to restore Earth and the Human Order.
The events of Chaldea's visit to this Lostbelt are covered in the fourth chapter of Cosmos in the Lostbelt; Yuga Kshetra: Samsara of Genesis and Terminus (創世滅亡輪廻 ユガ・クシェートラ, Sōsei metsubō rinne Yuga Kushētora?, localized as "Yugakshetra"), alternatively Black Final God (黒き最後の神, Kuroki saigo no kami?, localized as "The Final Dark God").[1]
Setting[]
During the climax of the Mahabharata, Arjuna absorbed all of the Hindu Gods starting with Krishna. He became Arjuna Alter, a living god with a skewed personality, and decided a perfect being like himself must live in a perfect world befitting him. Originally the Yuga System in Hindu Mythology that destroys and recreates the World occurs after several millennia, however Arjuna Alter's impatience changed it to occur on a weekly basis. While doing this, any person with tiniest bit of evil, or considered "evil" by Arjuna Alter would be killed without exception. Those people cannot reincarnate, and will be forever forgotten. Unlike how it is in myth, Arjuna Alter's Yuga System isn't a complete restart, instead elements deemed imperfect are slowingly removed. To live in this world and be considered good, a person must pray to Arjuna Alter everyday, obey his word, and abandon all weapons and conflict. If a person is deemed a failure, they're considered evil, and thus holy beasts and Kali will come to start a new cycle to remove said "evil". Arjuna Alter wants to create the perfect world then extend it to the entire galaxy. According to Ashiya Douman, once the Major Yuga is in effect, that would be the end of the universe and the trichiliocosm.
The A-Rank Lost Depth in this Lostbelt is due to Arjuna Alter speeding up the Yuga System to a weekly reset. For the Lostbelt king only those who are deemed worthy will reincarnate next cycle, he is slowly eliminating people from existence, including memories and actions. The problem is that the king is an amalgamation of gods, the "perfect and purest being", so he will never find anyone really worthy except himself. With this, the numbers of living humans are decreased with each reincarnation cycle because the king eliminated those who deemed unworthy, until no human remains and humanity would perish eventually.
Locations[]
God's Skyboulder[]
God's Skyboulder (神の空岩, Kami no Sora Iwa?) is the manifestation of Ganesha's Ganesha Vighneshvara and Lakshmibai's Nahi Doongi.
History[]
Prologue[]
At Novum Chaldea, Sion Eltnam Sokaris recounts how it has been a few months since the Chaldeans returned from the Chinese Lostbelt and, in that time, Novum Chaldea has unlocked Rayshift functionality. On a different subject, Goredolf Musik asks Sion why they are going to the Indian Lostbelt when their greatest threat is the Atlantic Lostbelt.[3]
Sion explains that according to Trismegistus, the Atlantic Lostbelt is mostly ocean, one from the Age of Gods filled with ether and Demonic Beasts. Currently, Chaldea has no means of crossing such an ocean safely, as Sion and Leonardo da Vinci had concluded it is impossible to make the Shadow Border seaworthy while preserving its existing functionality. It would be technically possible if the hull were bigger, but Chaldea severely lacks the human resources needed to run a vehicle of that size. Therefore, Captain will go with the Chaldeans to specific coordinates in India where he can perform the Arnonnax Phantasm's activation ritual.[3]
Chaldea will still need to eliminate the Lostbelt, though, given that it seemed indirectly responsible for the recent Rayshift incident. They also need more data on the Fantasy Trees, the Crypters, and the Apostles of the Alien Gods, all of which they'll learn more about as they investigate every Lostbelt. Sion thus reminds the Chaldeans they need to eliminate every Lostbelt, no matter how painful. She concludes the mission briefing by saying the Order will commence at dawn.[3]
Ritsuka rests up, but upon leaving their room, they see Da Vinci sleep-standing in the hallway. Da Vinci is woken up and assumes they still have six hours until the mission. Ritsuka corrects her that it is time for the mission. Da Vinci dismisses her exhaustion and heads for the docks.[3]
Nezha speaks up about Da Vinci, having been behind Ritsuka the entire time, yet they were too focused on Da Vinci to notice. She tells Ritsuka to not let Da Vinci push herself, knowing the duties she inherited from the original is putting a tremendous strain on her small body. She finds Da Vinci similar to herself, so she briefly presumes she understands her feelings. But she realizes she doesn’t and asks Ritsuka to keep this between them.[3]
She reveals she will be accompanying them to the Lostbelt. Her chest jewel is acting up, though, and her Spirit Origin is warning her not to go. Even so, she refuses to back down from a challenge, plus she is certain Rtisuka will help her if things go bad. She and Ritsuka then join up with the others.[3]
At the docks (with Da Vinci arriving last), Sion goes over the mission once more. Afterward, the Chaldeans board the Border to get ready to commence Order Lostbelt No. 4, Sub-Order Horned Monster.[3]
Where to Set Out[]
Arriving in the Lostbelt, the Chaldeans see its Tree is partially awakened. They also spot a giant floating cube, but the Border isn’t getting a response from it. Sherlock Holmes wonders if it is related to the Priestess of the Alien God since she too was undetectable to any instrument. Jingle Abel Meuniere thinks they may get some readings if they were to get closer to it. Goredolf, of course, is against anything that could endanger the Border or himself. Da Vinci also warns against taking the Border to any town, given what happened in China.[4]
After she hides the Border behind a mountain, Da Vinci asks Captain how the Aronnax Phantasm is doing. Captain replies it is quiet, so even if they get to the coordinates, he fears he will not be able to activate the device as long as the Lostbelt remains.[4]
Nezha decides she will accompany Ritsuka and Mash in investigating the Lostbelt, mentioning she has some connection to India. They all then head out for the nearby leyline.[4]
Meeting Hope in a Lonely World[]
Ritsuka summons Rama and Karna once the Spirit Origin briefcase is powered. They, however, both find this India’s topography unfamiliar and the air feels lonely to them. Rama also can’t sense his wife Sita anywhere, which only adds to his loneliness. Karna momentarily has a tense feeling, but he cannot tell what it is.[5]
Holmes asks the two if they know anything about the Cube. Neither of them recognizes it, though Karna finds its shape vaguely familiar. Goredolf therefore presumes the Cube is native to Lostbelt and orders the heroes to investigate the Lostbelt. The heroes start with the immediate vicinity, heading in the director the Border crew tells them.[5]
After slaying a few wild animals along the way, Rama, Nezha, and Karna conclude something about the Lostbelt is keeping them from fighting at full strength. At Da Vinci’s request, Ritsuka and Mash describe how pristine and peaceful the environment is. Holmes detects a nearby town, so the heroes heard there.[5]
A young girl does routine prayers for God to guide her and her father to the next yuga. She then hears a commotion outside and goes to investigate, taking her dog, Vihan, with her.[5]
The heroes arrive in a run-down town, the townsfolk keeping their distance from them. But a young girl isn’t afraid and introduces herself as Asha, along with her dog Vihan. Her father, Ajay, brings her and Vihan into their home, though, when the town suddenly starts panicking about the Kali. Asha tries to implore the heroes to hide and pray, but Ajay interrupts her.[5]
With everyone locking themselves in their own homes, a bizarre six-legged lizard-like creature appears. The heroes presume it to be a Kali when more arrive and start destroying the town, so the heroes proceed to slay them.[5]
Unfortunately, there appears to be no end to them. White beasts then appear and attack the Kali. But they are not friendly and attack the heroes, forcing the heroes to defend themselves.[5]
All the Kali and white beasts are soon slain. But instead of being grateful, the mayor, Prakash, is angry they killed God’s holy beasts (the white beasts), mentioning they wouldn’t attack them without good reason. He fears God will blame the town for the heroes’ “vile” deeds, and so he banishes them from Bichu.[5]
In the nearby plains, the heroes get ready to search for a place to camp. Da Vinci suggests asking Asha, who is hiding in the bushes, for a recommendation. Asha had followed them to give them bananas as thanks for protecting her town. Thanking her, Rama and Karna introduce themselves, but Asha doesn’t recognize their names, leading the heroes to conclude epics like Mahabharata were forgotten or never existed in the Lostbelt. Asha then suggests the heroes camp in a cave she plays in and offers to guide them.[5]
While guiding them, Asha admits she knows nothing about the Fantasy Tree beyond most people in Bichu saying it has something to do with God. She also refers to the Cube as God’s Skyboulder, believing God created it since it’s been around forever. The townsfolk dare not approach its location because of the Kali.[5]
Asha reveals the Kali appear more frequently when the Kali Yuga approaches, which is tomorrow. After the Kali Yuga, God kills everyone, but those loved by him will be resurrected for the new Yuga.[5]
Later, after camp is set up, she confirms the first Yuga is for four days, the second for three, the third for two, and the final, Kali Yuga, for one. Captain explains to Ritsuka that the Yuga is a Hindu concept that says the world cycles through four periods: Krta Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. When the Kali Yuga draws near, the world is filled with evil. Once it is over, the gods destroy and remake the world so a Krta Yuga may begin anew. Da Vinci finds Captain would have ties to India if his True Name is what she thinks it is.[5]
Asha reveals the Kali are always around, unlike how it is with the Proper Human History’s yuga cycle. The Kali’s numbers depend on the Yuga, being an extremely rare sight during the Krta Yuga. Those killed by them lose God’s blessing.[5]
The heroes resolve to protect the people from the Kali, even if that goes against this Lostbelt’s laws. But considering how the Kali outnumbered them and the holy beasts, Rama recommends they recruit more allies.[5]
Asha asks the heroes if they are gods but not the one and only god, considering what she saw they were capable of. Da Vinci finds it strange Asha would say only god since India’s pantheon is known for the being largest in all mythology. Asha confesses she asked because she thought they were like a self-proclaimed god came to Bichu during the last Krta Yuga before heading to the mountains. The heroes decide to investigate, suspecting this person is a Divine Spirit and a Stray Servant.[5]
Karna ensures Asha returns home safely.[5]
A Mountain Where One Encounters God[]
Nezha searches the mountain from the air while the others search on the ground. Karna senses someone nearby and destroys the boulder they’re hiding behind, narrowly not killing Scandinavia Peperoncino. Meanwhile, Nezha is attacked by someone who became blinded with rage upon seeing her.[6]
Peperoncino confirms he is the Crypter for this Lostbelt. But he tells the heroes they should be more concerned about their absent friend. Suddenly, Nezha crashes into the ground and disappears, regretting she couldn’t help Ritsuka more. Her killer, a blonde Nezha with tanned skin and a dark outfit arrives and attacks the heroes. Karna notices Peperoncino is gone.[6]
Nezha soon leaves, though, upon spotting Peperoncino. After she is gone, Mash and Captain mourn the loss of their Nezha. Holmes reveals that the blonde Nezha didn’t seem to be subjected to the Lostbelt’s estrangement effect, like Rama and Karna. The heroes continue their search.[6]
Rama eventually gets tired and tries to rest on an elephant god statue when it talks. The statue proclaims itself to be a god and demands the heroes to leave at once. But it fights the heroes when Fou says to kill it.[6]
Karna breaks the statue to reveal a girl inside. The two seem to know each other, though Karna finds it strange he would feel that way when he never met her before. The girl is sad Karna only has vague memories of being her Servant, but since it can’t be helped, she pretends to have vague memories as well. Karna notices she is a normal human with a divine aura.
The girl introduces herself as Ganesha, and Holmes confirms she is a Pseudo-Servant. Ganesha refuses to help the heroes and goes back into the statue, preferring to be a shut-in. Following Karna’s lead, the heroes remove her from the statue by force.
Ritsuka explains everything to Ganesha, though she is annoyed that an ordinary person like them accomplished so much. She doesn’t know why she was summoned, only remembering that when Ganesha chose her as his vessel, he told her his mother requested the Proper Human History be saved and warned she wouldn’t return to normal if she failed. She also doesn’t know why she is a Mooncancer, though she thinks it was because Ganesha found her through a devilish intermediary.
She recounts she happened upon Bichu while searching for why she was summoned. But seeing how idyllic everything seemed, she returned to the mountain on the assumption she was summoned at the wrong place and time. She confirms she was summoned and visited Bichu five days.[6]
The heroes surmise this was during the first Yuga, so the town would have been perfectly intact. Rama reprimands Ganesha for not staying to protect the townspeople from the Kali, but Mash finds it pointless to dwell on the past. She pleads with Ganesha to help them, wishing to honor the departed Nezha’s desire to keep fighting. Ganesha reluctantly agrees to help.[6]
Kali Yuga/The Demon of the End[]
Koyanskaya feels something has been off with her ever since Qin Shi Huang captured her. She also regrets not killing everyone with planted explosives when she snuck into the Border, as she could have spent the rest of her time on leisurely touring the Lostbelts. But she refuses to dwell on it and instead decides to focus on her business in the Lostbelt: checking on the Tree and seeing what creatures she can find.[7]
Looking upon the Kali, Koyanskya is delighted she can mess with everything humans love, unlike how it was in China. She notes how this Lostbelt is very hospitable for humans, but so strict with virtue and goddess that any who stray from it are removed from the cycle of reincarnation. That is what she enjoys about single-minded gods, though she doesn’t care for this world’s god or that monk with the creepy grin. So she thinks she’ll mess with them while wrenching the smiles from the blissfully ignorant humans.[7]
Heading back to Bichu, the heroes find the land has become desolate in a single day. Karna feels there is something else in this world now similar to the estrangement effect. He recommends to Ritsuka to keep in mind that while it will not harm them, it could impede their ability to fight, remarking there is a difference between fighting in a blessed paradise and fighting in an accursed land.[7]
He then spots a pack of wild beasts, which provides an opportunity to test his theory. The heroes proceed to slay the beasts so they do not follow them to town.[7]
After the beasts are slain, Karna reflects how odd it feels to fight alongside Ganesha. He is happy for her but also oddly pained that he doesn’t know why he feels that way. Part of him wants to talk with her, while another wants to stay away. He is certain he knows her, but he cannot remember the specifics.[7]
Ganesha regrets she cannot tell Karna the truth, but feels lucky she can fight by his side.[7]
Da Vinci asks Ganesha what she makes of God’s Skyboulder, but she too knows nothing about it.[7]
The heroes eventually reach Bichu to find it has been destroyed. Prakash is incensed they returned. He refuses to help them defend the town from the Kali for it is all a trial set forth by God. He says there is no need to fight, certain the holy beasts will save them so long as they pray sincerely. But having blasphemers who refuse to pray like the heroes around will only stain the town, and so the mayor demands they all leave, saying they are not wanted.[7]
Ganesha asks Prakash what god he is talking about. Her question confuses the mayor, as there has ever been only one god.[7]
After the townsfolk flee to their remaining homes, the heroes try to defend the town from the Kali all the while fending off any holy beasts who may attack them. But the Kali keep coming, leading Holmes to conclude they will continue to do so until the day is done. Ganesha then senses something coming.[7]
Ashwatthama crashes down before everyone. He was Karna’s friend in life, but Ashwatthama makes it clear they are now enemies, which Karna accepts since they’re both Servants.[7]
Karna asks Ashwatthama who his Master is, but Ashwatthama answers he’ll soon find out. Meuniere and Holmes debate whether he or the other Nezha are Peperoncino’s Servant. But Da Vinci finds that doesn’t matter now as it is obvious Ashwatthama came to stop the heroes.[7]
As he fights the heroes, Ashwatthama warns Rama not to brag about being an avatar of Vishnu in this Losbelt as he might not like what happens. Mash tries to inquire what he means when several Servants arrive: an old hunter, the other Nezha, and a masked man. They all reprimand Ashwatthama for his actions.[7]
Kali Yuga/A Revolving World[]
The old hunter points to a figure approaching on Vimana, calling him the final god. Though he looks different, Karna recognizes the figure as Arjuna. Arjuna proclaims himself to be a god and takes note of Ganesha, Rama, and Karna as they all have divine power. He thought he felt something, which is why he came to Bichu, but he concludes the heroes are defective, therefore evil, beings not needed in the next yuga.[8]
God Arjuna gathers energy into a sphere, overloading the Border’s sensors. Karna tries to antagonize his brother into fighting him, but God Arjuna completely ignores him.[8]
Rama throws Brahmastra at God Arjuna, only for it to bounce off him harmlessly. He refuses to give up though and gets ready to fight God Arjuna with Karna when Peperoncino arrives and strongly advises against it, calling God Arjuna an amalgamation of the Hindu gods.[8]
He tells the heroes to escape and reveals he was in the mountains fleeing from Nezha, which is why she stopped fighting them. Holmes thus deduces God Arjuna is the Master of Nezha, Ashwatthama, the old hunter, and the masked man.[8]
Peperoncino knows he and the heroes are supposed to be enemies, but he assures the heroes he isn’t lying and again implores them to escape as quickly as possible.[8]
The heroes decide to believe him and prepare to escape when Peperoncino’s former Servant, Ashwatthama, steps up to stop them as one of God Arjuna’s Lokapala. He wants to see God Arjuna’s perfect world, so he is going to defeat the heroes and watch as they’re sucked into the dissolution. With no other option, the heroes fight Ashwatthama.[8]
Peperoncino dodges all of Ashwatthama’s attacks with magecraft, providing Karna an opportunity to deal a decisive blow with Vasavi Shakti. But Ashwatthama still lives and is healing at an alarming rate. The heroes flee without finishing him off, per Peperoncino’s advice.[8]
Running with the heroes, Peperoncino explains God Arjuna has been preparing to destroy and remake everything in the Lostbelt. But it takes him a long time to gather the ridiculous amount of energy needed to pull off such a feat. The heroes will disappear completely if they’re caught in it, so their only hope to avoid it is the Border’s Zero Sail.[8]
Goredolf is very much against allowing Crypter on the Border, saying Kadoc Zemlupus was only ever a prisoner. But Ritsuka has already decided to trust Peperoncino and Peperoncino practically offers himself up as a prisoner. Goredolf, thus, reluctantly allows Peperoncino onto the Border under the pretense of gaining information on the Crypters. The heroes head for the Border once Mash receives its rendezvous coordinates.[8]
God Arjuna finishes charging and prepares to deploy. Meanwhile, the heroes feel the wave of energy that was unleashed. They conclude it is something they must absolutely avoid. Fortunately, the Border arrives and everyone gets on board.[8]
However, Zero Sail isn’t instantaneous and requires five seconds to ready, time Holmes fears they do not have before God Arjuna unleashes his Noble Phantasm. So Karna exits the Border, prepared to sacrifice himself to provide those necessary five seconds to ensure Ritsuka survives. Ritsuka and particularly Ganesha are very much against it.[8]
God Arjuna activates Mahaprayala to destroy the world. Karna activates Kavacha and Kundala to protect the Border from it. He assures Ganesha that they will meet again one day and asks her to take care of Ritsuka for him. Preparations for Zero Sail are then completed. Holmes activates it immediately just as Karna is overwhelmed by Mahaprayala.[8]
The Relic Called Falsehood[]
The Border just barely made it into Imaginary Number Space. Holmes is baffled, though, by the sheer power God Arjuna wields and asks Peperoncino what is he. Peperoncino finds it only fair he reciprocate.[9]
In the rift between worlds, Limbo and Koyanskaya watch as God Arjuna prepares to recreate the world, removing everything he deems unnecessary and defective. While Limbo enjoys it, Koyanskaya finds it boring and is upset God Arjuna let the Chaldeans get away. Limbo warns her to be careful with her words, as neither of them will survive the recreation process if God Arjuna decides they too are unnecessary and defective. He is also certain God Arjuna would send one of his Lokapala to kill the Chaldeans if he truly deemed them as unnecessary.[9]
He compares God Arjuna’s process of recreating the world as him making the mold for the perfect sand castle. He feels it won’t be long before that comes to pass, though he admits the “sand” may get worn and tattered the more they destroy and rebuild. But he finds it a small price to pay to bring God Arjuna’s grand project to fruition.[9]
Koyanskaya thinks to herself how one of all three Apostles Limbo is one to be especially wary of. She considers him to be rotten to the core and the type to wreck everything in his path and do it all over again somewhere. The Priestess gives her a look that Koyanskaya interprets as the Priestess suggesting she dislikes Limbo because they’re similar. Koyanskaya demands the Priestess to say something, questioning if her role is solely to observe.[9]
The Priestess leaves with a look that Koyanskaya interprets as the Priestess saying, “I can already see where this is going.” She decides she’ll make do with modest gains in the Lostbelt and focus on discovering Limbo’s plans, not wanting him to disrupt her own future plans.[9]
God Arjuna then finishes recreating the world and the Yuga Cycle begins anew.[9]
Peperoncino confirms the Lostbelt was pruned because of the power Arjuna obtained. He speculates something happened at the end of the Mahabharata’s war that led Arjuna to acquire every Divinity in India, starting with Vishnu through his avatar Krishna. From there, Arjuna eventually became the amalgamation of the gods he is now, with nothing remaining of his original personality. Holmes concludes God Arjuna is neither human nor Servant, but an entirely new divine conceptual being.[9]
Goredolf demands Peperoncino to explain what his intentions. In response, Peperoncino recounts how he summoned Ashwatthama to be his Servant after becoming a Crypter. After getting assigned to the Indian Lostbelt, he made contact with its king, Arjuna. Once he learned he was essentially a god, he spent his first few months trying to control him.[9]
But God Arjuna changed after an Apostle—a Onmyouji—spoke with him, becoming harsher to this world than ever before. God Arjuna concluded he needed more pawns and so stole Peperoncino’s contract with Ashwatthama. After that, he summoned a few more Servants on his own. Peperoncino thus fled as fast as he could, concluding the Lostbelt is a dead end.[9]
He confesses he has no interest in avenging his comrades, given Ritsuka spared Kadoc and buried Ophelia Phamrsolone. As for Hinako Akuta, she wasn’t human and was never on anyone’s side but on her own, so he sees no reason to avenge her. He knew the instant he arrived in Chaldea she wasn’t human.[9]
Ritsuka asks Peperoncino what he meant when he said the Lostbelt was a dead end. Peperoncino replies it is related to the fact God Arjuna is progressing the yugas faster and faster and what he does in between cycles. He believes it will be faster for the Chaldeans to see it for themselves.[9]
Da Vinci announces they’re about to resurface. The heroes all agree to go out and investigate once they do. Peperoncino he’ll help as well, convincing Goredolf it would be a bad idea to keep him on the Border and expressing his intentions to support Mash.[9]
Return of Paradise/The Shape of Evil to be Cut Off[]
Peperoncino recounts to himself how he experienced Mahaprayala many times already. Each time filled him with dread and disgust, not liking how everything changed around him and not knowing when he will be discarded as unnecessary. He thought he would feel different now that he avoided it this time, but nothing changed. He concludes this world is perfect, yet unbearable.[10]
The heroes exit to a beautiful and serene environment. Da Vinci informs them they are in the same spot as before, the entire world just changed. Holmes recommends they pay Bichu another visit.[10]
Mash notices Peperoncino scowling and asks him what is wrong. Peperoncino, however, deflects it by talking about the importance of skincare. He then informs everyone that is the people who change the most following the recreation.[10]
The heroes arrive in Bichu, looking as idyllic as it was when Ganesha first visited. The people are also happy, including Prakash, because it is the Krta Yuga, the yuga of happiness. There are exceptions, though, such as Ajay. His daughter, on the other hand, is glad to see the heroes again.[10]
Mash notices Vihan isn’t with them and asks Asha how he is, recalling he broke his leg during the Kali Yuga. But Asha has no idea who Vihan is.
Outside town, Peperoncino explains the Lostbelt’s yuga cycle is distorted as each yuga is supposed to last for centuries, not days. But the yuga cycle wasn’t always as distorted as it is now, being closer to how it’s supposed to be. Peperoncino also deduces the drastically shortened cycle is why there are so many Kali.[10]
He then reveals God Arjuna was able to shortened the yuga cycle in part thanks to the power the Tree granted him. As for why, he thinks it’s because God Arjuna is in a rush to create his perfect world.[10]
He further reveals God Arjuna purges what he deems as failures and unnecessary between each cycle in pursuit of a perfect world without evil. Living things and inanimate objects are both included, and when it happens to the former, it is like they never existed. The heroes realize Vihan was purged all because of his broken leg. Peperoncino says the same thing happens to those killed by Kali, social pariahs, and those judged by God Arjuna himself to be flawed.[10]
Da Vinci realizes God Arjuna isn’t truly recreating the world, only removing what he doesn’t like while preserving the rest. Holmes suspects the reason the Lostbelt was because God Arjuna was constantly changing the world to make it perfect.[10]
Peperoncino reveals destroying and recreating the world takes a lot out of God Arjuna, so he spends most of his time riding the Tree on Vimana. Rama suspects it may be related to him containing so many powerful Divinities in himself. It may also explain why he seems so devoid of personality.[10]
Mash realizes this resting period is why God Arjuna needs Servants. Ritsuka and Ganesha recall Ashwatthama called himself one of God Arjuna’s Lokapala, who according to Peperoncino were guardians of all directions in original Indian mythology.[10]
Peperoncino reveals God Arjuna ordered his Servants to kill him if they happen upon him since he is Ashwatthama’s former Master. He doesn’t know the True Names of the old hunter and masked man, though he is certain they’re an Archer and a Caster.[10]
He also reveals the holy beasts are primitive guardian beasts God Arjuna made to counteract the Kali and they manifest naturally. Since there are almost no Kali during the Krta Yuga, though, they are supposed to wander around like normal animals. Holy beasts then just happen upon the heroes and attack.[10]
After the beasts are slain, Peperoncino asks Ritsuka and Mash what they think of this world. They both answer it’s’ wrong, with Mash wondering what happens to the all love Asha felt for Vihan. Peperoncino is happy to see the girl who was akin to a living doll expounding on love. He wonders, though, what Beryl Gut would think of the new Mash.[10]
Holmes gives his own criticism by pointing out how civilization has clearly not progressed when compared to Proper Human History and stalled, which is enough for him to declare this world a far cry from ideal.[10]
Rama realizes Sita must be one of the Divinities God Arjuna obtained as she is the avatar of Lakshmi——Vishnu’s consort. As such, he has no other choice but to save her, calling it his very reason for existing.[10]
Ritsuka and Mash both believe they can trust Peperoncino after he says he finds God Arjuna’s soul to be ugly as sin. Holmes and Goredolf are less trusting, however, finding it suspicious Peperoncino would allow his assigned Lostbelt to be destroyed. Goredolf even asks him why he didn’t refuse to become a Crypter from the start.[10]
Peperoncino reveals they had no choice if they wanted the Alien God to resurrect them. He thought the competition between the Lostbelts would be fun, but his duties as a Crypter no longer interests him nor does he want to be Chaldea’s enemy. He also reveals Crypter is a designation given by Marisbury Animusphere for Masters of Team A when Mash asks what it is.[10]
The heroes conclude they have no chance against God Arjuna as they are now, and so they head back to Bichu in hopes of hearing rumors that would lead to another Stray Servant. Mash, meanwhile, is feeling conflicted about fighting the Crypters, having known them from before. She acts like nothing is wrong when Ritsuka and then suggests they ask Asha.
Unfortunately, Asha hasn’t heard any rumors about other “gods”. Peperoncino then instead asks her if she heard any rumors about heretics besides them. Asha directs them to Prakash, who points them toward a village on the other side of the mountain that takes up arms against the Kali in defiance of God Arjuna’s teachings. The heroes set forth for the village immediately.[10]
They rest for the night in a cave midway through the trip. Standing watch, Mash tells Peperoncino she and Ophelia had a good heart-to-heart before she died, like Peperoncino suspected Ophelia always wanted. She also details how Kadoc, Ophelia, and Akuta each fought bravely to the end. Peperoncino admonishes himself for not doing the same and regrets how nothing he ever does works out.[10]
Rani of the Walled Village[]
A group of armed men and women are beset by a pack of holy beasts when their leader comes to the rescue. The leader urges them to hurry back to the village while they themselves hold off the beasts. They cannot risk causing too much commotion lest they are more likely to be captured by the Lokapala they heard rumors about. For that reason, the leader again urges everyone to hurry back to Dewar with the supplies they collected. Their plan isn’t to defeat the holy beasts but merely hold them off, reminding everyone they aren’t human but a shadow of humanity.[11]
The heroes reach the village Prakash told them about. They see armed villagers hurry inside and close the gate behind them. The heroes try to get inside, but the villagers sound agitated and are determined to keep the gate closed until she returns.[11]
A Servant suddenly hurries toward the heroes at top speed, jumps over them and lands on top of the gate. Sensing their divine aura, she accuses them of being the Lokapala. The heroes try to explain they are not, but she refuses to listen. She thinks they came to invade the village and attacks them under the belief they came to invade the village, which seeks an end to the distorted yuga cycle.[11]
Meanwhile, at the Vimana, the Priestess informs Limbo what Koyanskya has been up to. Limbo, in turn, begins to tell God Arjuna.[11]
The heroes continue to fight the Servant, who still refuses to listen to what they say. Rama and Ganesha both sense the faint presence of a Divine Spirit coming from her.
Suddenly, the Servant notices something in the distance and jumps back onto the wall. It is a pack of holy beasts, which she surmises are coming to “cleanse” the village, especially since one of their elderly died this morning. But she declares she will not let the beasts claim the dead when she suddenly falls off the wall and into one of the pitfalls made to prepare for the next Kali attack.[11]
The heroes slay the beasts to protect her while she is incapacitated. The Servant, having witnessed it, apologizes to the heroes for thinking they were Lokapala.[11]
Rama asks her if she is a Divine Spirit. She answers she is a Servant, though there is a goddess in her sharing her power with her. Said goddess was already inside her when she was first summoned to this land. She suspects it happened because they happen to share the same name. The goddess’ name is Lakshmi and her name is Lakshmibai.[11]
Captain details Lakshmibai’s role in the Indian Rebellion, praising her as an exceptional leader. Lakshmibai is surprised by his knowledge and asks if he is Indian himself. Captain claims he is nobody and that it doesn’t matter where he is from.[11]
Rama gets uncomfortably close to Lakshmibai, trying to sense Sita from her. But to his dismay, as Lakshmibai grips his head with crushing force, he cannot sense a trace of Sita. Lakshmibai explains she only possesses Lakshmi’s power and none of her consciousness. Neither Rama nor Ganesha can sense Lakshmi inside her.[11]
After hearing who the Chaldeans are, Lakshmibai explains how she organized the people of Dewar into a resistance against God Arjuna. And since the Chaldeans seem to be doing the same, she welcomes them as allies.[11]
She then reveals she was summoned ten days, though Holmes questions how she survived the recreation. Peperoncino suspects she survived because she wasn’t considered to be flawed. He warns her she will be labelled as “evil” if she joins them. Lakshmibai joins the heroes regardless, especially knowing they have a way of avoiding the recreation.[11]
With it being a peaceful yuga and considering they have more allies, Holmes and Da Vinci then recommend the heroes investigate God’s Skyboulder.[11]
God's Skyboulder[]
As the heroes for God’s Skyboulder, Lakshmibai confirms she doesn’t know what it is either. It was already there when she was summoned.[12]
Peperoncino admits he considered getting rid of it in case it turned out to be something dangerous, being the unknown element that it is. But since he hadn’t a clue how to do that, he left it alone. Not to mention Daybit told him he was better off leaving it alone.[12]
The heroes soon come across a pack of holy beasts, so they hide and wait for them to pass when they notice a dead body on the roadside. Lakshmibai tries to reach it, but she is too late. The body then completely vanishes via the Holy Beast’s power.[12]
Lakshmibai reveals the holy beasts purify the bodies of those who died unexpectedly. She suspects God Arjuna considers the dead as unnecessary and wants them gone as quickly as possible. It is a gross perversion of what a true Samsara cycle should be, one that has no respect for the journey of the dead and leaves no hope for those left behind.[12]
The holy beasts soon finish up and leave, allowing the heroes to continue onto their destination without incident.[12]
They reach their destination, but there is an unfathomable number of Kali before the Skyboulder even though it’s Krta Yuga. Lakshmibai feels as if these Kali were always here and didn’t come from somewhere else. Regardless, with the sheer number of Kali around, the heroes have no choice but to abandon their investigation and escape.[12]
Rama deduces those Kali were there solely to guard the Skyboulder. Da Vinci questions the true nature of the Kali. Peperoncino, noting how they remain even after the recreation, suspects that either God Arjuna uses them to determine who is worth preserving or they merely remain out of necessity. If it’s the latter, it means they are a crucial part of God Arjuna’s system, so they may just disappear if he is defeated. The heroes then return to Dewar to plot their next course of action.[12]
God's Commander[]
At some town, Archer finishes killing the last of the “out of season” Kali, saving a boy in the process. Nezha then arrives to pick him up, admonishing for being late to the meeting.[13]
After she brings him to the Vimana, Archer tells the others that there are fewer holy beasts in his territory. He and Nezha both agree it was Chaldea, with Archer suspecting they have a way to survive Mahāpralaya. Limbo finds this to be a grave issue and asks the Lokapala, who God Arjuna embedded with Divinities, what they plan to do.[13]
Since Ashwatthama is out on an assignment, Nezha volunteers to go after the heroes. She let them go last time and wishes to finish the job. She declines Archer’s offer of help and leaves after telling the non-cooperative Caster she didn’t expect him to help. Limbo admires her speed and is certain she won’t let them down, calling her Kubera, Regent of the North.[13]
At Dewar, the heroes learn the villagers have vague recollections of those they lost to the distorted yuga cycle. Peperoncino thinks it’s because not even God Arjuna can completely erase the remnants of those he purged. He finds it oddly careless of God Arjuna, though, to leave behind physical records upon hearing the villagers started to remember because of items left by those they lost. But thinking to himself, he suspects it was maybe Koyanskaya who left those items as per her usual cruelty.[13]
The heroes are invited to come inside the village but they decline on account of Nezha’s arrival. She confirms God Arjuna bestowed each of the Lokapala with one of his Divinities as the rumors Lakshmibai heard say. She makes it clear all the heroes are her target now, not just Peperoncino.[13]
Mash questions why this Nezha would want to kill because whether she is a different aspect or embedded with a Divinity, she is still Nezha and the Nezha they knew always had a strong sense of justice. It angers her that Nezha would blindly follow God Arjuna’s decree, finding it to be unjust for him to be the sole arbiter of what should and should not be.[13]
Peperonico, calling her a product of mankind’s arrogance and rationalism, is glad to see Mash express such emotion. But it also makes him nervous, as her innocence was her greatest source of strength. He questions what she’ll gain in its stead once it’s all gone. [13]
Mash asks Nezha for her thoughts on this world, but Nezha refuses to answer and attacks. A battle between her and the heroes thus ensues.[13]
As the heroes battle Nezha, Peperoncino deduces Kubera, god of wealth and treasure, is the Divinity she was embedded with, assuming God Arjuna embedded his Lokapala with the Divinities of the original Lokapala. He then realizes why Kubera is such a good match for her. Nezha stops him from saying more and proceeds to overload herself with her own Noble Phantasms.[13]
The heroes realize Nezha purposely expended her Noble Phantasms faster than Kubera could replenish them. When asked why she did it, Nezha confesses it is because of her conflicted feelings for her father, Li Jing, who’s considered the same as Kubera. She finds it wrong for her father to exist inside her, believing such a being could never be her. The heroes realize that is why she overloaded herself, but they question the roundabout way she chose to commit suicide.[13]
Nezha admits she considered fighting God Arjuna as a way of killing herself, but she determined he would’ve removed her consciousness if she lost. She also killed Chaldea’s Nezha because she couldn’t stand that there was a her who wasn’t defective. She believes defects should disappear and considers it salvation that she will not return in the next yuga. In response to a Dewarian woman being offended by her words, she elaborates that disappearing can be considered salvation for those ashamed of their defectiveness.[13]
After saying she knows nothing about the Skyboulder, Nezha reveals the Lokapala’s Divinities will disperse once they’re defeated. With the exception of the independent Ashwatthama, each of the Lokapala maintain their own territories. There are only three Lokapala, though, rather than the original eight, so they each cover a wide swath of land. Nezha was charged with the North to South-East; Archer William Tell is charged with the North to South-West; Caster Asclepius is charged with the South-East to South-West. Nezha then disappears, hoping the next Nezha Ritsuka meets is the pure her.[13]
Rama notices the estrangement effect isn’t as bad as it once was. Holmes suspects it was thanks to defeating one of Lokapala that the effect was reduced. He further suspects continuing to do so will reduce God Arjuna’s overall power and return Servants like Rama to their original strength. The heroes agree to target Asclepius first. Lakshmibai recalls a town in the south that she suspects Asclepius will appear at.[13]
Treta Yuga/Asclepius, the God of Medicine[]
God Arjuna senses Kubera is gone, but it is no consequence to him. He will simply continue repeating yugas and removing this world’s evils, declaring the demise of the Great Yuga is approaching. Once it comes to an end, he believes all that will remain will be what is truly good and necessary, and he can create his perfect ideal world. Limbo is excited for when that time comes.[14]
Asclepius tries to leave, eager to get back to his research. But God Arjuna stops him, for he has something he needs to tell everyone. Limbo is surprised, as it’s unusually rare for God Arjuna to show a glimpse of humanity.[14]
The heroes on their way south camp out in a cave for the night after slaying a hydra. While eating roasted bananas, Lakshmibai recounts how, during the rebellion, Jhansi like her hardly anything to eat after cleaning up the constant Sepoy uprisings.[14]
Da Vinci asks Captain if he’d like to join in on the conversation. If her suspicions of his identity are true, then there are rumors of him helping the Sepoy during the rebellion. Captain replies he isn’t anyone right now, saying he wouldn’t be his current himself if Sion hadn’t summoned.[14]
Mash tells Ritsuka how difficult it was for her to accept Peperoncino became their enemy since he was always nice to her. So it makes her happy to see them all united under a common goal. She also hopes Asclepius will have his own feelings about this world and be willing to help if they talk with him.[14]
While he agrees dialogue may be possible with Asclepius and William, Peperoncino considers it impossible with Ashwatthama. Ashwatthama is too fiercely determined and seemed to genuinely believe in God Arjuna’s cause. Peperoncino thinks if he got to know Ashwatthama better when the Lostbelt first manifested, he’d at least have an idea what his former Servant is thinking now. As Ashwatthama's former Master, he feels responsible for what happened.[14]
He admits Ashwatthama’s constant anger made them somewhat incompatible, but he didn’t mind as he figured he could let Ashwatthama handle everything that wasn’t his expertise. It is that same anger, however, that makes Ashwatthama so relentlessly devoted to his cause, and Peperoncino admits it scares him to go against someone like that. But he finds Ashwatthama’s anger is closer to passion than white-hot rage as that doesn’t last long and can quickly give in to regret and despair. He doesn’t think a dandelion seed in the wind like himself would last long if he was constantly furious.[14]
Mash agrees with Peperoncino that he never got angry, but she finds he replaced that with self-admonishment and comments how Masters are said to summon Servants like themselves. She knows he is very open-minded, but thinks he also has a strong sense of responsibility and a powerful conviction to not lead an easy life.[14]
Peperoncino knows Mash wishes to get along with the Crypters, being that she was once part of Team A, but he tells her to stop since it would only cause trouble for everyone. They were all loners before they were Crypters and that didn’t change when they became a team. None of them, including himself, were good people, reminding Mash they betrayed humanity and joined the Alien God for their own survival. He tells her not to feel guilty about being the only survivor of Team A and says this was always going to happen to them.[14]
Ritsuka asks him what he meant when he called himself a dandelion seed in the wind. Peperoncino replies by confessing he ran away from his country when he was Ritsuka’s age, being an international stranger ever since. Chaldea was the first place he could ever call home. As for why he ran away, he only answers he didn’t get along with his family, not saying out loud that he hated them to the point of wanting to kill them.[14]
Continue their journey the next day, the heroes run into a man and ask him several questions. He strongly advises against them going to the nearby town as it is currently suffering from an epidemic. The disease has killed several already and there might be even more dead now. After the man leaves, the heroes continue onward.[14]
When they reach the town, though, everything is perfectly fine. They learn a doctor came and stopped the epidemic. The doctor left without demanding compensation, saying, “I just stopped by to check on things. This isn’t the fundamental solution this world needs.” Mash thinks it was Asclepius and hopes they can convince him to help.[14]
By sheer coincidence, Asclepius appears and demands to know what is going on. Mash tries to ask if he was the one who cured the plague, but Asclepius interrupts and reveals he considers the town to be his exam room. He demands the heroes tell him how they cured the infected when he did nothing to help them. He wanted to study the plague for the sake of advancing medicine, but he outright denies spreading it.[14]
He realizes the heroes hoped he would be like Nezha and be dissatisfied with the way God Arjuna runs things. But he isn’t and in fact believes the defective and unnecessary should be excised. He finds it better than when Zeus killed him as punishment for creating a tonic that could resurrect the dead and made him into a god as consolation. He never wanted to be a god and only ever wated to advance medicine, believing the gods wrongly punished him for achieving excellence. That is why he considers this world to be just for only the excellent may exist. It doesn’t matter to him how many die so long as it is for the advancement of medicine.[14]
The heroes conclude there is something wrong with him. Asclepius, frustrated that they cannot comprehend his obsession, uses the power of Yama, God of Death and Regent of the South, to summon the undead. He figures God Arjuna thought Yama would be a good fit, considering he already resurrected the dead. So long as it isn’t Hades, he is willing the power of any underworld god. The heroes then fight Asclepius’ horde of undead.[14]
It is revealed someone claiming to be from Chaldea cured the plague. He told the last man he had cured to welcome the Chaldeans when they arrive as it will speed things along. When he tried to leave, though, the townsfolk were insistent on repaying him. He couldn’t comprehend why they were treating him so differently despite him following the same principles as he always had and wonder if it was due to his appearance. If true, then it suits his needs perfectly.[14]
The heroes continue fighting Asclepius’ undead, but they keep coming. They then notice a boy who was left behind when the townsfolk fled to their homes as soon as the fighting started. The boy tries to flee only to trip and injuries. To heroes’ surprise, Asclepius tends to the boy’s injury. After the boy leaves, he summons more undead and says this has taken so long “he” has appeared.[14]
God Arjuna suddenly arrives. Asclepius says there is no need for God Arjuna to guard the Tree given his power, especially now no one can reach it, thanks to that ocean growing bigger. He also reveals to the heroes God Arjuna only came because he informed him of their location as soon as he saw them, per his orders. The heroes try fighting God Arjuna.[14]
Out of boredom, God Arjuna blinks, and in that time, he has a dream. He dreams of when fought in the Mahabharata War. He was proud to fight alongside his friends and brothers, but deep in his heart, something dark and wriggling nagged at him. Then bored with the dream, God Arjuna opens his eyes and forgets his dream, for God has no need for dreams.[14]
God Arjuna has defeated the heroes. He is disappointed as he thought they were special since they survived his reconstruction. No longer caring, he then abruptly leaves.[14]
Asclepius summons undead to finish off the heroes when his minions are suddenly obliterated by Daybit Sem Void’s Servant, a Grand Servant.[14]
After his Servant goes into spirit form, Daybit tells Peperoncino he came because of his odd behavior during the last meeting. Koyanskaya reveals she is the one who transported Daybit to the Lostbelt, for which he paid an exorbitant fee. Daybit questions Peperoncino on where his Servant is and why he is fighting alongside Chaldea.[14]
Peperoncino replies it is because he cannot get along with the way God Arjuna does things out of principle. Daybit, upon hearing this, concludes Peperoncino didn’t betray the Crypters. Peperoncino confirms he could never abandon the Crypters, but neither can abandon Ritsuka and Mash. He plans on helping them until this is done. Daybit considers Peperonico to be a good man, calling him Myourenji.[14]
He then gives Peperoncino a hint on how to defeat God Arjuna by saying: “You can’t take something away from someone who has nothing, but you can always take something away from someone who has everything.” Upon seeing Peperoncino undetstands what he must do, Daybit has Koyanskya return him to his Lostbelt but not before giving Ritsuka a quick glance.[14]
Able to move now, the heroes defeat Asclepius while he’s still reeling from Daybit’s Servant’s attack. He retreats, but the heroes are still to batter from their battle with God Arjuna to go after him. Peperoncino recommends they return to Dewar to plan their next course of action, promising to tell everything about “Myourenji” along the way.[14]
Advancement Impulse/People and the Girl[]
On their way back to Dewar, Peperonino confesses his real name is Arou Myourenji. He refuses to say much about his life before joining Chaldea, only that he left Japan for the west, made acquaintances with some at the Clock Tower, and was invited to Chaldea by Marisbury for his combat experience. Considering his family magecraft is Shengendou, Holmes wonders if Marisbury brought Peperoncino on to oversee Team A and ensure their survival no matter how harsh the environment. Peperoncino replies it is something like that but refuses to elaborate.[15]
Changing the topic, Peperoncino tells the others they can weaken God Arjuna if people stop revering him as a god. The heroes realize Lakshmibai’s resistance can be used as a starting point for that goal, as Dewar is proof people can change their minds. Lakshmibai agrees to ask the villagers to help spread this movement once they get back to Dewar. Internally, though, Mash realizes the paradox of having the people resist the current state of their world.[15]
The heroes reach Dewar to find it being besieged by holy beasts. The holy beasts attacked even though no one died and the kali weren’t attacking. After slaying the beasts, the heroes move the survivors to Bichu.[15]
That night, Lakshmibai questions herself if her goal is worth deceiving the Chaldeans. Rama, on a midnight walk, finds and tries to join her, but Lakshmibai heads off to get some sleep. Rama suddenly has an indescribable feeling.[15]
The next morning, Bichu’s citizens and Dewar’s survivors argue about the latter defying God Arjuna’s laws. Kali then suddenly attack the town. The heroes fight the demons joined by the people of Dewar.[15]
As the people of BIchu watch in amazement as the heroes and people of Dewar battle the kali, a kali bursts through the wall and goes for Asha. Without even thinking, Ajay kills the demon with his axe. He then takes Asha to help fight the kali. Other people quickly join him.[15]
Lakshmibai is pleased to see the people finally rising, but she notices Ritsuka and Mash both look sad. Holmes realizes they never told her what will happen if the Fantasy Tree is cut down. Mash promises Lakshmibai they’ll tell her everything after the battle.[15]
Suddenly, from far outside town, William snipes the kali. Once all the kali are dead, though, he turns his attention toward the heroes. The heroes try to hide, but no matter where they go, Mash is always forced to block his arrows. Captain deduces the Divinity inside William is Vayu, the god of wind, which explains how he can control arrows at such great distances.[15]
Rama suggests they close the distance to eliminate William’s range advantage, while Mash insists they maintain a defensive position to better protect Ritsuka. Lakshmibai realizes it may be time for her to come clean. However, she can’t help but wonder what the Chaldeans are hiding and why she senses such grim determination in their efforts. But seeing Ajay trying to keep Asha safe, she realizes there are more pressing concerns right now.[15]
She asks Ajay to bring her a horse-drawn wagon, promising the Chaldeans will pay him if he does. Ajay agrees and goes off to get a wagon with Asha. Lakshmibai explains to the others she plans to drive them to William, promising she will get them to him safely. Ajay returns a wagon and so the heroes commence with Lakshmibai’s plan.[15]
William sees the heroes approaching him on a horse-drawn wagon. He snipes at the horse, but to his astonishment, the arrow hits Lakshmibai in the shoulder instead. He tries again, only for the arrow to deflect off a kicked-up stone and into Lakshmibai again. Finding it strange every one of his shots aimed at something else go for her instead, he decides to aim for her directly.[15]
Though she is shot several times, Lakshmibai gets the others to William. The others then fight William.[15]
William tries to retreat when Ritsuka and Mash question why a family man like him who fought for freedom and justice would be following God Arjuna. He doesn’t know what they’re talking about, though, and leaves. Lakshmibai tries to go after him, but her injuries stop her.[15]
Rama and Ganesha question how all of William’s arrows kept on hitting Lakshmibai and never any of them. Lakshmibai claims it was thanks to Lakshmi’s power. The heroes then return to Bichu.[15]
There, Lakshmibai agrees to teach the people of Bichu on how to fight. But noticing Ritsuka’s less than enthusiastic attitude, she takes the Chaldeans somewhere more private and demands to know what they know. Ritsuka confesses this Lostbelt and its people will cease to exist once God Arjuna and the Tree are felled. Lakshmibai grabs Ritsuka, naturally angry at the deception. She soon calms down when Asha interrupts and signals to Ritsuka that she wishes to meet later.[15]
That night, Ritsuka waits for Lakshmibai at their meeting spot when the Priestess appears. She disappears as soon as Lakshmibai arrives.[15]
Lakshmibai asks Ritsuka for their honest opinion on the Lostbelt inhabitants and what’s happening to them. Ritsuka tells her they feel bad for the people, but they have no choice but to destroy the Lostbelts to save the Proper Human History. Lakshmibai is reminded of her behavior during the rebellion and realizes she has no right to judge Chaldea. Though she has issues with what Chaldea is doing, she agrees to continue helping them to stop God Arjuna.[15]
At her urging, Ritsuka confirms they destroyed three Lostbelts already. From their expression, Lakshmibai can tell that Ritsuka is a normal human trying to bear the responsibility of what they’ve done the best they can. After reiterating her intentions, she leaves as she wonders if Ritsuka would still trust her if they knew her secret.[15]
The Prince of Loss/Divine Judgement Looming[]
During a training session, the heroes take note of how Bichu is divided between those who support the resistance and those who still cling to their old belief. They hope to win over the rest of the town, but as Lakshmibai points out, they can’t devote all their time to that when they need to train those already with them. The Border crew then alerts the heroes to an approaching horde of kali, so the heroes and their supporters get ready to defend the town.[16]
Watching them defend Bichu, Koyanskya surmises their plan is to reduce the people’s faith in God Arjuna. She finds it delightfully cold-blooded, but she wonders if they’re aware everything they’re doing is ironically speeding up God Arjuna’s plans for a perfect world.[16]
Ashwatthama appears and confronts her about putting back the items God Arjuna erased with their owners. Vitch confirms she has, though she claims she did it to identify undesirables for God Arjuna to erase so to speed up the yuga. But Ashwatthama tells her God Arjuna ordered him to kill her. Limbo had told God Arjuna that Koyanskaya’s actions are fueling the resistance. Koyanskya is enraged at Ashwatthama for thinking a mere Servant can kill her and at God Arjuna for sending him. She then fights Ashwatthama in the belief she can easily kill him.[16]
The Kali Yuga begins, so the heroes plan to head for the Border after helping the people defend Bichu some. They’re confident the townsfolk are trained enough to survive until the next yuga cycle begins by then. But then they witness several kali merge into a much larger one. As the people were only trained to fight regular kali, the heroes fight the giant kali while the people handle the regular ones.[16]
The heroes slay the giant kali. Meanwhile, Ajay tries to retreat with Asha but ends up injuring his leg saving Prakash from a kali. Seeing no point in him fighting anymore, he and Asha go find a place to hide. As Asha supports him, Ajay realizes how much his daughter has grown. He remembers she is turning 4000 days old tomorrow and suggests they celebrate, surprising Asha that he remembered.[16]
God Arjuna dreams of the Mahabharata War again. The atrocities he witnessed and experienced during it left him with only one question: why?[16]
He wakes up to Asclepius demanding another Divinity, as he doesn’t think Yama alone is enough. God Arjuna finds it to be a trivial matter like everything else and grants Asclepius his request. Afterward, he sends him and William to Bichu to kill the heroes.[16]
As they head for Bichu, William questions why God Arjuna summoned an ordinary man like him to be his final Lokapala when he already had three amazing mythical figures at his command. Asclepius doesn’t know and thinks there is every chance his summoning was pure coincidence.[16]
The heroes continue fighting the kali when holy beasts arrive with Asclepius, who reveals he was granted a new Divinity. Like before, he raises the undead, but then he produces water. Peperoncino realizes Asclepius’s new Divinity is Varuna, the god of water and Regent of the West, suspecting it is more compatible with Asclepius than Yama, since Varuna was famed for using medicine to save people. Asclepius’ water then enhances the holy beasts’ strength. Holmes tells the heroes that it is very possible Asclepius still hasn't recovered from their last battle, which is something they can take advantage of. With that advice, the heroes fight Asclepius and his enhanced holy beasts.[16]
The heroes slay Ascelipus’ holy beasts when he notices his body is failing him. Peperoncino suspects God Arjuna gave him another Divinity, knowing he’d self-destruct from the strain of possessing more than one Divinity. Asclepius questions why would God Arjuna do that when he remembers everything is inconsequential to him. Rama finds it ironic Asclepius’s pursuit of excellence lead to his downfall and kills him.[16]
As he disappears, Asclepius asks if it was wrong for him to want a world where everyone can benefit from medicine and where the excellent aren’t ostracized. Mash answers it isn’t wrong and thinks any hero would feel the same. But as Ganesha points out, he isn’t allowed to talk about that when he is working for the “jerks” running this world. Asclepius realizes he lacked self-awareness and disappears. William, who just finished killing the kali, heads off to avenge him.[16]
After dropping her father off at the healer, Asha asks around to see if there is anything she can do to help. But to her dismay, the only answers she gets are that she is too young to fight or to pray for God Arjuna to save them.[16]
William confronts the heroes, forcing them into another fight. They struggle against him, thanks to him easily dodging their attacks and using Vayu’s power to change his arrows’ trajectory. Rama asks Lakshmibai if she can do what she did before, but she doubts it will work this time. She thinks to herself that at this point it is impossible for her to reverse-concentrate all the different possibilities no matter how much hard she pushed the goddess’ Divine Core.[16]
A Dewar man arrives to help Lakshmibai. She is too late in warning non-Mystery attacks are ineffective against Servants when he fires his crossbow at William. William easily dodges and kills the man on reflex.[16]
Asha continues to wander around town, getting more and more anxious that her father might die, especially now that he remembered her birth anniversary. She wonders what she can do to help when she remembers how helpful the heroes have been. She goes off searching, wondering if they’ll know how to fix her father’s injury.[16]
She finds them fighting William, and though she doesn’t understand what is happening, she knew the heroes were in trouble. Wanting to help them, she picks up the crossbow of the man William just killed and aims it at him.[16]
Mash notices Asha aiming the crossbow and yells at her to stop. William aims at Asha but finds himself unable to fire. Ganesha tries to get him to remember his son, knowing from his legend that he would never kill a child. William is confused by what she is saying and gets a headache. Peperoncino realizes to his disgust that William’s memories were deemed useless and erased. Taking advantage of his mental anguish, the heroes fight William once more.[16]
Rama deals William a fatal blow. Peperoncino finds awful for someone to only have their “defective” memories erased; he doesn’t want to know what he would be like if the same happened to him. Rama then tries to finish William off when Ashwatthama stops him.[16]
Those Who Laugh During the End of Yuga[]
Holmes reminds the heroes today is the Kali Yuga, so he strongly advises they hurry to the Border before they’re caught up in Mahāpralaya. However, as Rama points out, that will not be easy because not only are they exhausted from two back-to-back battles, Ashwatthama may also easily kill them as soon as they try to escape. Rama would also like to finish William off, seeing they need to kill the Lokapala to weaken God Arjuna. To his frustration, however, Ganesha points out that will be pointless if they fail to escape Mahāpralaya.[17]
William gets up and shoots Ashwatthama as he remembers he was made to forget something. It was very important to him and he knows Ashwatthama and God Arjuna were the ones who took it from him. The heroes use this chance to retreat, while William uses Vayu’s power to sneak away from Ashwatthama.[17]
Ashwatthama chases after the heroes. Rama gets ready to hold him off when Ashwatthama suddenly crumbles and starts writhing on the ground in pain; Ashwatthama figures William’s arrow triggered it. The heroes take this chance to continue escaping.[17]
Lakshmibai is certain now that the Lokapala know about her God Arjuna will erase her along with everything else he deems unnecessary. She checks with Da Vinci to be certain she will survive the recreation if she is in the Border. Da Vinci reassures her she will and on that subject she points out God Arjuna is now charging Mahāpralaya.[17]
The heroes hurry to the rendezvous point. Meuniere soon gets a visual of them when he notices there is a Servant at the rendezvous point. It is an injured Koyanskaya holding a sign asking to be taken to Imaginary Number Space.[17]
Moments ago, Koyanskaya recounted how she was forced to escape from Ashwatthama, whom she suspected was equipped with powerful holy sutras thanks to Limbo. She complained she couldn’t break out her other tails in this India since that would put her too close to her original. Her goal is to become an entirely new nine-tailed beast, refusing to be part of obsolete folklore.[17]
Looking at God Arjuna charging Mahāpralaya, she concluded it will erase her now that she had been marked as undesirable. She tried to warp out of the Lostbelt but failed thanks to the sutras holding back and her previous trip to South America. As such, she concluded she needed to hitch a ride.[17]
The heroes come to the rendezvous point and see Koyanskya trying to hitch a ride on the Border. She is forming a ball of energy above her head with both hands, making a smile that practically says she’ll use her remaining power to blow herself and take everyone with her if she isn’t picked up. With little choice, the heroes go retrieve Koyanskaya. Holmes urges them to hurry to the Border, having a bad feeling of what’s to come.[17]
Meanwhile, Limbo, with God Arjuna, mocks the Chaldeans for not knowing this world requires less energy to destroy as more excess is removed with each yuga cycle. Laughing that the Chaldeans have very little time to escape, he urges God Arjuna to proceed with the next culling. Suddenly, William appears and fires.[17]
Back when God Arjuna first summoned him, William was told his job would be to kill those less than inclined to follow God Arjuna’s laws. But he refused to obey, for he would never shoot children and left the field he was summoned in. God Arjuna dismissed William’s reason for not obeying him, and so come the next yuga cycle, he removed William’s memories of his son to turn him into a loyal Servant.[17]
In the present, William shoots Apfel Schiessen at God Arjuna. The arrow misses, only for it to twist back and hit God Arjuna through the activation of Zweite Schiessen, with the added application of Vayu’s power to make doubly sure it hit. Deemed unnecessary, William is erased by Mahāpralaya as he finally remembers his son.[17]
Return of Paradise/The Queen's Identity[]
In the Border, having narrowly escaped Mahāpralaya, Holmes asks Koyanskya why she sought refuge with them when she is an ally of the Lostbelts, or rather the Alien God. Koyanskaya answers it’s because she disagreed with God Arjuna. She never liked from the start and was planning to abandon him once he served his purpose, but unfortunately for her, “he” convinced God Arjuna that she was unnecessary. She doesn’t care that she has been exiled from the Lostbelt for now since she never liked it in the first place, but for her own reasons, she will stay a little while longer.[18]
Peperoncino responds that he thought as much. Koyanskaya wonders what he means while calling him a traitor. Peperonico denies he is a traitor and clarifies he does not trust the Apostles. It is because of his doubts about the three of them he shared what he knew with Ritsuka. He thought to gain insight from a different perspective on the situation, which Holmes knew but allowed since it was out of fairness, not malice[18]
Like Peperoncino, he too realizes there is a fatal contradiction given the current state of the world and Koyanskyana’s presence in the Border only serves to reinforce that. He feels he might have the answer, but also feels it would be improper of him to explain. Therefore, as one of those directly involved, he leaves it to Peperoncino to ask about this great mystery.[18]
Peperoncino asks Koyanskayan to confirm for him that the goals of the Crypters and the Apostle don’t completely line up. To clarify what he means, he reveals the Lostbelt will become paradise once God Arjuna has purged it of “evil”, rather a world of nothingness. God Arjuna has clearly gone insane, but worse is that the Apostles are doing nothing to stop him. If anything, that treacherous snake of a man is urging God Arjuna to hurry things along, so Peperoncino has to ask why the Apostles are doing nothing to stop what could be the loss of the Lostbelt and its Tree. Holmes also realizes it is possible the Apostles don’t share a common goal, so he asks Koyanskaya what they are.[18]
Koyanskaya confesses she has her own goals separate from those of Crypters and that monk. She claims they are to torment humans and collect regional monsters, praising the Lostbelt for its kali and holy beasts.[18]
Mash inquires about the other Alter Ego, the monk, but Koyanskya refuses as that would violate her nondisclosure agreement with the Alien God. The most she can say about him is that the two of them do not get along. She does reveal, though despite their differing approaches, the three Apostles all seek to nurture the Fantasy Trees to completion. The same is, of course, true of Grigori Rasputin, who apparently prophesied the Russian Lostbelt would fall and acted accordingly. Koyanskaya refuses to say anymore, specifically about herself.[18]
Thinking to himself, Peperoncino concludes they won’t get more out of Koyanksya that she isn’t willing to give. For now, though, he is glad he could prove his hypothesis. He wonders just how much Kirschtaria Wodime knows about the Alien God’s true identity and objectives.[18]
Koyanskya is then convinced to assist the heroes when they head out, seeing it as a means to work out her debt to Chaldea for saving her. Da Vinci recommends they all get some rest.[18]
In the hallway, Lakshmibai tries to introduce herself to Captain, only for him to interrupt and say he already knows who she is. She wonders if he means they met somewhere before, but he denies it and inquires what made her think that. Lakshmibai answers it was probably his scent, which Captain accepts are more understandable than if she said it was his appearance. He then returns to his duties. Lakshmibai wonders why he is avoiding her as she doesn’t remember wronging him. Although she notes the look in his eyes was possibly that of guilt.[18]
Later, with Koyanskya, the heroes return to Bichu. There Rama explains to Koyanskya that their plan to take down God Arjuna is to the lower the people’s faith in him by convincing them he isn’t god worth worshipping, starting with this town. Once Bichu has all faith in him, they will repeat the process in other towns until he is weak enough to be defeated. Koyanskaya sees the sense in such a plan, saying to herself at least theoretically.[18]
Though it is the Krta Yuga, Lakshmibai feels as if something is off. Peperoncino feels it too and asks Ritsuka if the town seems a bit too quiet, which they affirm. Ganesha is worried about Asha, recalling her father was injured in the Kali Yuga, and suggests they go on check her. Mash agrees, thinking the same thing, so the heroes go to see Asha’s house.[18]
Looking inside her house, they see Asha celebrating her 4000th day of life with her aunt and uncle. While her aunt and uncle seem happy, Asha feels as if they’re missing someone important. She knows it’s always been her, aunt, and uncle, but she can’t help but feel she made a promise with someone who said they’d celebrate with her and said how proud they were of how much she has grown. Then, to her surprise, she starts to cry.[18]
Mash is emotionally overwhelmed to the point she briefly crumbles. At Peperoncino’s urging, the heroes leave the vicinity of Asha’s house. They conclude Ajay was erased simply because of his leg injury. To her horror, Lakshmibai realizes something and runs off by herself to check.[18]
She learns the people of Dewar were erased, thinking it was because they refused to obey God Arjuna. Holmes is surprised, as he assumed God Arjuna would never bother to personally determine the “defectiveness” of individual actions, especially since he allowed Dewar to exist across many yugas even after they began to rebel against him. Koyanskaya suspects God Arjuna’s advisor—that monk—ratted the people of Dewar out to him. She doesn’t divulge the monk’s identity, though, only telling the Chaldeans they’ll find out when they meet him.[18]
Lakshmibai blames herself for what happened and, in a bout of self-deprecation, reveals the goddess inside is, in truth, Alakshmi—Lakshmi’s older sister, the goddess of bad luck and misfortune. Rama realizes that is why he never sensed Sita’s Lakshmi inside Lakshmibai. As for why she lied, Lakshmibai reveals Alkashmi conveyed to her that she wanted to free her sister from God Arjuna, but Lakshmibai thought no one would ever help if they knew she was the embodiment of misfortune. She, therefore, thinks it’s her fault the Dewarians were erased. The others, however, tell her to stop blaming herself for what God Arjuna did.[18]
Moving on to the subject of their next course of action, the heroes conclude their original plan to overthrow God Arjuna will not work. Even so, they refuse to give up. Rama, Ritsuka, and Mash even convince Lakshmibai to continue helping them, with Ritsuka mentioning she isn’t the first complicated goddess they’ve teamed up with.[18]
Rama then proposes they find Ashwatthama, feeling there is something different about him compared to the other Lokapala. Koyanskaya endorses killing Ashwatthama, especially since she wants revenge on him. But Mash points out Ashwatthama’s regenerative powers make him practically immortal. Koyanskya lets slip that is why he had no choice but to obey God Arjuna. She then offers to take the heroes to where Ashwatthama is currently, which they accept. Rama suspects he knows what is going on with Ashwathhama.[18]
Ashwatthama[]
By the first day of the second Yuga, the heroes find Ashwatthama in the mountains. While he acts surprised to see Koyanskya with them, Koyanskaya surmises he knew the Chaldeans were after him, but he couldn’t resist lying in wait upon sensing her aura amongst them. Rama tries to convince Ashwatthama to tell them his story, but this only sends Ashwatthama, leaving the heroes no choice but to fight.[19]
The heroes defeat Ashwatthama, only for him to start regenerating. But upon seeing how painful it is for him, Rama deduces Ashawatthama’s Spirit Origin has been cursed. He expects it is directly rooted in Ashwatthama’s destiny, one so deeply tied to his heroics he would inevitably fall prey to it. Peperoncino realizes it is Krishna’s curse.[19]
Captain explains toward the end of the Mahabharata War Ashwatthama was overcome with anger at his father’s murder and in a cowardly act of retribution, he massacred an entire enemy camp in their sleep. Afterwards, he fired an arrow at the stomach of a pregnant mother of what would have been the last child of Kuru. But Krishna protected the child and cursed Ashwatthama in retaliation. One interpretation of the story says the curse would last for 3000 years, during which Ashwatthama would endure all manner of pain and suffering.[19]
Peperoncino says Ashwatthama wasn’t cursed when he first summoned him, so he expects God Arjuna placed it on Ashwatthama after he stole his Master contract. It would be well within God Arjuna’s power, since he also possesses Krishna’s Divinity.[19]
Da Vinci realizes Ashwatthama’s immortality comes from being born with Yama and Shiva’s power and Krishna’s curse is too powerful for him to remove on his own. As a result, Ashwatthhama is trapped in a prison of endless suffering and death offers no escape. Ganesha wonders if that means God Arjuna is essentially blackmailing Ashwatthama into obeying him with the promise of removing the curse. Peperoncino suspects, though, that will not happen until God Arjuna gets his so-called perfecte world.[19]
In his rage, Ashwatthama confesses he followed God Arjuna’s commands to escape from his eternal suffering. Then, angrier than the heroes have ever seen, he ascends to his third Ascension stage and fights the heroes.[19]
Ashwatthama recalls when God Arjuna stole his contract with Peperoncino and proclaimed himself to be his new Master. Immediately after God Arjuna cursed him, Ashwatthama tried to kill him, but God Arjuna’s Divine Power stopped him, killed him, and resurrected him. He tried again and again, each time suffering the pain of Krishna’s curse and each time getting more and more angry.[19]
But eventually his spirit broke, and he concluded helping God Arjuna achieve his perfect world was the only way to free himself of the curse. It was humiliating for him, but thanks to that, he was always angry and thus remained himself. He swore to himself once God Arjuna got his perfect world, he would hit him one last shot to prove that not even he could stop him from being himself.[19]
In the present, Ashwatthama is defeated and tries to dare Rama into shredding him with Brahmastra. Rama concludes that would be useless since Ashwatthama’s body would simply regenerate. He suspects it is Ashwatthama’s connection with God Arjuna’s nigh-infinite supply of magical energy that forces him to regenerate, each time being subjected to the torment of Krishna’s curse. But fortunately for Ashwatthama, Rama says he knows how to do away with the curse.[19]
Without hesitation, Rama transfers the curse from Ashwatthama and into himself, able to do so because he and Krishna are both avatars of Vishnu. Ashwatthama is grateful in his own way and immediately voices his intent to revolt against God Arjuna. But he’s angry that Rama took the curse in his place as it’s essentially trading one ally for another. Rama assures him as an avatar of Vishnu, Krishna’s curse is less effective on him, though admittedly, he will lose half his strength. But in exchange for his lost strength, the heroes gain Ashwatthama—a powerful warrior and a capable tactician.[19]
Peperoncino sees through his Tashintsū that Ashwatthama is an open and honest person. He calls him as much and finds anger is deeply rooted in his being. Da Vinci asks Ashwatthama if he ever wished to be free of his anger. If he stayed with God Arjuna, God Arjuna might have purged him of such "defective" emotions as per his perfect world. But both Ashwatthama and Peperoncino make it clear to her that he does not regret who he is. Mash (observing the conversation) finds Ashwatthama and Peperoncino have great chemistry, even though they are nothing alike. The heroes then leave the mountains.[19]
The Flaw of Being "There"[]
Time advances to the Dvapara Yuga; The cycle begins to break. For a moment, Holmes thought there was something off with the surrounding, but it seemed it was nothing more than a momentary sensor malfunction.[20]
Ashwatthama, having heard the heroes’ plan was to use the people’s faith to remove God Arjuna’s divine status, tells them they were on the right track, though obviously, they can’t rely on the people anymore. He offers a solution but warns they’ll die if it fails, and there is only a tiny chance of succeeding. Nevertheless, the heroes wish to hear it.[20]
Detailing his plan, Ashwatthama states God Arjuna is considered perfect because he controls the yuga cycle. But the heroes can turn that advantage into weakness if they can defy the recreation, even by the slightest, and make God Arjuna not perfect. Koyanskaya remarks that since remaking the world is a such massive undertaking, even the tiniest flaw would have a big impact. In order to defy the recreation, though, Ashwatthama says they’ll need to face Mahaprayala head on and survive. Once they’ve done that, they’ll have proven God Arjuna’s fallibility and disrupt the idea that he is perfect. He asks if there is anyone among who can pull it off.[20]
Ganesha thinks back on how in this world, anything that God Arjuna deems worthless gets erased. She is stunned it hasn’t happened to her yet, as she considers herself, as a shut-in, to be worthless. She thinks she should’ve been the first to go, calling herself a spectator, an uninvited guess here only by coincidence. But not wanting to betray the trust Karna put in her, she volunteers to face Mahaprayala head on.[20]
Lakshmibai thinks back on how in this world, anything that God Arjuna deems worthless gets erased. She thinks, as a goddess of misfortune, she perfectly fits that criteria, but even so, she believes there is nothing wrong with her praying for her family’s happiness. She tells Alakshmi she will always be her friend, not caring what others may think. Luck hasn’t always been on her side either, but that is why she wants Alakshmi to trust her. She vows to her she will assuredly free her sister from God Arjuna and volunteers to face Mahaprayala head-on as well.[20]
To withstand Mahaprayala, Ganesha explains she will use her second Noble Phantasm, while Lakshmibai explains she will apply Alakshmi’s power to her true Noble Phantasm. It is meant for defensive, but she had been it using offensively. But Ashwatthama tells them withstanding Mahaprayala will not be enough because even if God Arjuna doesn’t notice something is off at first, the jester next to him will. They need to make God Arjuna think they belong, so to achieve that, Ashwatthama declares he will send them back in time.[20]
Meanwhile, God Arjuna senses Ashwatthama is no longer cursed. Limbo expects it will not be long before he rebels and suggests to God Arjuna he use his Master authority to force Ashwatthama to kill himself. But God Arjuna considers it trivial, especially with the end of the Great Kali Yuga nearing. Limbo agrees and notes how the world has reached its breaking point with the recreation during the last Kali Yuga. He stops himself from declaring the world will end in the next cycle, saying instead will reach perfection.[20]
He reminds God Arjuna, though, that Ashwatthama has Yama and Shiva’s powers and convinces him Ashwatthama must not be allowed to join up with the Chaldeans. God Arjuna decides to send every remaining holy beast after Ashwatthama.[20]
Back with the heroes, Holmes explains Ashwatthama sending anyone back in time is a miracle made only possible by the Lostbelt’s anomalous nature and the fact God Arjuna’s constant destruction and recreation of it has made its inner space-time unstable. Even then, he requires the full use of Shiva’s power and it can only be done once.[20]
Earlier, Ashwatthama explained to Ganesha and Lakshmibai that they need to become an ever-present element that no on, not even God Arjuna, will question, all the while enduring Mahaprayala up until the present day. Only then will their efforts to prove God Arjuna's fallibilityand weaken him enough for the heroes to defeat. For that to happen, Ganesha and Lakshmibai will need to remain from the start of God Arjuna’s reign to the present, which may be thousands of years, if not longer.[20]
Ritsuka asks Ganesha if she is sure about this, having asked her many times already. Ganesha tries once more to reassure them she is going to be fine. Lakshmibai shares Ritsuka’s concern, as while her own task is to supply Ganesha with power, Ganesha has the greater mental burden of needing to remain conscious for thousands of years maintaining the spell and her Noble Phantasm.[20]
Ganesha tries again to reassure everyone she’ll be fine, which is only reinforced by the secret info Ashwatthama told her and Lakshmibai. Ashwatthama angrily reminds her that only applies if the two of them return safely and if everything else goes well.[20]
Ashwatthama tells Ganesha and Lakshmibai need to hurry and get started because God Arjuna is still his Master, so it is likely he knows he isn’t cursed anymore and will try to do to something. Then, as if on cue, Holmes and Meuniere warn the heroes every holy beast is approaching them from every direction.[20]
Lakshmibai tells Ganesha they need to do what needs to be done before the holy beasts reach them. But understanding they need time, she pours all her magical energy into her Noble Phantasm and makes full use of Alakshmi’s power to intentionally bring about a certain reaction.[20]
Da Vinci reports a group of kali are fast approaching; Lakshmibai admits she summoned them. Peperoncino remembers Alakshmi was said to be Kali the Demon’s second wife. Lakshmibai replies she does sense a connection between the kali and the Alakshmi inside her. She suspects the giant kali the heroes fought in Bichu was a consequence of her using Alakshmi’s power in their fight against William. She came to realize after that she forms a connection with the kali whenever she makes full use of Alakshmi’s power. While she cannot fully command them, she can at least command the kali to hold the holy beasts back.[20]
As the others hold off the holy beasts (during which Peperoncino demonstrates his true skills as a killer), Ashwatthama starts preparations by first awakening Mahākāla—the manifestation of Shiva inside him that controls time itself—followed by supplying himself with metric tons of magical energy provided by God Arjuna. He knows God Arjuna will sense what is happening, so preparations need to be completed before he tries something.[20]
Lakshmibai and Ganesha activate Nahi Doongi and Ganesha Vighneshvara, followed by Ashwatthama using Mahakala Shakti to send them back in time. He assures the others it was successful, telling them to look up to see for themselves. All that is left is to pick the two up. Mash understands where it is they need to go.[20]
With Lakshmibai gone, the heroes now have to contend with both the kali and the holy beasts. They try to breakthrough but there are far too many hostiles and they keep coming. Worse still, Ashwatthama warns God Arjuna is fast approaching on Vimana. Fortunately, the Border arrives to pick them up. The heroes board it and Goredolf uses evasive maneuvers to retreat from the monsters, heading for where Ganesha and Lakshmibai should be.[20]
Those Moments felt like Eternity, with You[]
God Arjuna once more dreams of the Mahabharata War, one where he questioned why no one could stop it when they all understood it was foolish. He concluded the root cause of such foolishness was evil, calling being defective, being unnecessary, dishonesty, lawlessness, intolerance, distrust, intolerance, disloyalty, bravado, deception, obliviousness, ignorance, decadence, jealously, stupidity, and avarice all evil. He couldn’t understand why it was they couldn’t rid themselves of such things, even though they knew they were evil. It was only at the war’s end did he understand the world cannot remove evil on its own. If no one else would do it, he would, the most evil and foolish of them all. He wished for a perfect world where evil does not exist, and fortunately, the power to do that was there for the taking.[21]
Time advances to the Kali Yuga; the cycle breaks even further. Holmes senses the world is about to buckle over from all the strain of the cycles.[21]
With Captain’s guidance, Goredolf maneuvers the Border to evade the Vimana’s shooting. The heroes are heading for the Skyboulder, which they all now understand was created it from Lakshmibai and Ganesha’s Noble Phantasms. Mash questions why it is shaped like a cube. Ashwatthama assumes Ganesha subconsciously based it on the most impenetrable thing she knew.[21]
Holmes calls it an impenetrable domain made for the purpose of ignoring the outside world―an alternate world that physically embodies the concept of shutting oneself away. It is because of that the Border’s sensors couldn’t detect anything from it. Furthermore, because it is made from their magical energies, it was impossible for Ganesha and Lakshmibai to sense what it actually was before they learned the truth.[21]
But the problem with reaching the Skyboulder to release Ganesha and Lakshmibai from it is to the plethora of kali protecting it. Holmes deduces that since the kali have a connection with Alakshmi, the scent of the goddess’ magical energy must have lured them to the Skyboulder. The heroes open up the Border is to fend off the kali as Goredolf continues to drive it toward the Skyboulder.[21]
Breaking through all the kali, the heroes reach the Skyboulder. Limbo is annoyed they can’t target the Border directly now it’s hiding in the Skyboulder’s shadow, so he urges God Arjuna to destroy it. However, to Limbo’s befuddlement, God Arjuna doesn’t know what the Skyboulder is, having been unable to see it because it was there from the beginning.[21]
For thousands of years, Ganesha spent her time playing video games created from her divine power. But as time passed, she became less and less capable of coping with the sheer isolation to the point she had a mental breakdown and nearly forgot everything. The one thing she didn’t forget was a promise she made with someone, someone who believed in her and now waits for her. A light then appears and from the other side Ganesha hears a familiar voice.[21]
Ritsuka gently touches the Skyboulder and, concerned for the mental well-being of Ganesha and Lakshmibai, speaks the agreed upon release password: “Even shut-ins are allowed to see the sky.”[21]
Lakshmibai is restored to human form and stumbles. Rama catches up and helps support, now considering her to be his sister-in-law because Alakshmi is Lakshmi’s sister. Internally, Captain is also relieved to see Lakshmibai back, though he still can't bring himself to speak withe her.[21]
According to Da Vinci, it was Lakshmibai’s job to be the outer shell and use her Divine Core as a source of energy, so the mental strain on her was light since she was an inanimate object that entire time. But Ganesha had to remain conscious the entire time to maintain the domain so she could have easily had a mental breakdown.[21]
Ganesha stumbles, but Ritsuka catches and supports her. Ganesha reads her notes to remember Ritsuka’s name and uses that as the key to use her divine power and restore her memories. She cries about how it took them so long and assures Mash that her mind is more or less intact. But looking past Ritsuka and Mash, she thinks the only reason she did completely breakdown was because she couldn’t break her promise to him.[21]
Holmes states that thanks to Ganesha and Lakshmibai constantly withstanding Mahaprayala they have proven God Arjuna isn’t perfect so the resulting drop in his divine power should be severe. Ashwatthama says God Arjuna is essentially cursed now because, by constantly overlooking something like the Skyboulder, he has proven himself to be defective. As such, the heroes should be able to harm God Arjuna now, though he will not be an easy opponent.[21]
Ashwatthama forces himself to disappear because he overexerted himself using Shiva’s power to send Ganesha and Lakshmibai back in time and to sever his contract with God Arjuna, so he isn’t ordered to kill the heroes. He already done what he could the moment Ganesha and Lakshmibai were freed—the moment this world’s destiny was thrown for a loop—but he is certain his Spirit Core can still be used for something. Truthfully, he was already a shadow of himself by the time they reached the Skyboulder.[21]
Peperoncino tells Ashwatthama that Ritsuka is going to be disappointed as they thought they were going to fight alongside him until the end. Ashwatthama thinks Ritsuka may summon him one day. Holmes finds that most encouraging and asks Ashwatthama if he could be there for Ritsuka whenever they need to hold back their anger.[21]
Ashwatthama apologizes to Peperoncino for failing to be his Servant, believing he has every right to be angry. But Peperoncino knows it wasn’t Ashwatthama’s fault, nor can he bring himself to live in anger like Ashwatthama can.[21]
Ashwatthama tells Peperoncino there was nothing wrong with how he lived his life, recounting how his comrades in life were also good-for-nothings. But he sees Peperoncino’s resignation affects everything he does and why he hates human society for not helping outcasts like him. He isn’t disappointed though and hopes they’ll be Master and Servant again. Peperoncino thanks Ashwatthama for giving him something to look forward to. Ashwatthama then disappears, telling the others to take care of the guy taking his place.[21]
It is revealed much earlier Ashwatthama had entered where God Arjuna sends everything he erases—a formless trash heap where different concepts simply float about. There he found someone he figured had been ever since he saw them become Surya’s light itself. [21]
Though time is meaningless in this place, he told the figure they both only have a moment to connect and pull them out of there. But to Ashwatthama’s astonishment, the figure wished to train themselves so they could face God Arjuna on even ground out of respect and despair for the hardships their brother went through to reach his current state. Ashwatthama agreed to be their sparring partner, revealing them to be Karna.[21]
They sparred countless times until, at long last, Karna was satisfied.[21]
In the present, it is revealed Ashwatthama left his Spirit Core behind all so he could take advantage of the moment God Arjuna’s fallibility was undoubtedly proven so a certain someone could return using his Spirit Core as an anchor. He is the one person God Arjuna would absolutely refuse to absorb, even if he had Divinity. Karna has, to the astonishment of nearly everyone, returned, fulfilling his promise to Ganesha—Jinako Carigiri—that they would meet again.[21]
Final Dark God[]
Through Ashwatthama’s Spirit Core, Karna knows the gist of what transpired during his absence. He also inherited Shiva’s power, albeit only temporarily.[22]
God Arjuna descends to face Karna and asks him why he opposes him when he too witnessed the atrocities of the Mahabharata War. He proclaims his purging of “evil” is the blade of justice by which he guides his world, calling it proper and right in every way.[22]
Suddenly, the ground violently shakes, and from the sky, a violent storm of red lightning is unleashed. God Arjuna calls it proof that the end of the final yuga—the fruition of his perfect world—is close at hand. Karna refuses to dispute his brother since he never saw his “perfect” world for himself, so he instead will let those he trusts to speak for him.[22]
Ritsuka calls God Arjuna’s world so right that it’s wrong. Holmes refutes him on the premise that his world’s civilization has not advanced one iota, calling any philosophy that would lead to the calamity before them backwards. God Arjuna dismisses their words as nonsense and calls them evil.[22]
Limbo concurs and tells God Arjuna the time has come for him to punish “these fools” personally. Ritsuka recognizes Limbo as the Caster they encountered in Shimosa. Holmes surmises this to mean Shimosa was a small Lostbelt, and that Limbo is not a Caster but an Alter Ego—an Apostle of the Alien God like Rasputin. Confirming the detective’s deductions, Limbo reveals he was the first to prepare for the coming of the Fantasy Tree and he turned Shimosa into hell to test a pet theory of his.[22]
Mash realizes Limbo is the one who led God Arjuna astray. She tries to ask Koyanskaya about it, only to find her gone and a note tsaying she is closed for business. Limbo says she had no choice but to escape as aiding Chaldea, no matter the circumstance is unforgivable. But he will not report her misdeeds to the Alien God, seeing that she is absent and there is no proof she aided Chaldea.[22]
Limbo denies he came out of hiding because he had no other choice, claiming it’s not yet time for him to dirty his hands. But he is willing to demonstrate his tricks if others so insist. He declares he only showed himself to personally see what is about to happen.[22]
Holmes suspects the current state of the world’s drastic change is either a sign of it making significant forward progress or the coming end. He further suspects Limbo manipulated God Arjuna if his goal is to see what happens after the end. He tells the heroes God Arjuna and Limbo must be eliminated before this world plays host to a fatal event from which there is no coming back. Karna can handle God Arjuna while the rest focus Limbo.[22]
Lakshmibai decides she’ll use the kali to keep the nearby holy beasts at bay. She now understands the kali are both part of this world and its last form of resistance—creatures apart from god born to fight against order. She believes they are why she—why Alakshmi—were summoned. Leaving the holy beasts to Lakshmibai, the heroes fight God Arjuna and Limbo.[22]
Karna finds he still can’t harm God Arjuna, even with Shiva’s godly strength. But he refutes his brother’s claims that he is perfect and asks him for what purpose he consumed the gods. He is certain God Arjuna sought to create a just world, but he knows Arjuna would never choose an inhumane path to it, so someone else must have done so instead.[22]
He recounts how it was not Arjuna but the dark Krishna—Vasudeva — inside him who aimed that fatal arrow at him. Therefore, he concludes deep down God Arjuna isn’t Arjuna, but that dark Krishna. He doesn’t know why it happened, only that God Arjuna’s inner qualities were inverted. He calls him the result of avarice and so in his eyes, God Arjuna is far from the perfect god and was merely altered into a man who is both Arjuna and not Arjuna.[22]
Karna’s words get to God Arjuna. Limbo, knowing God Arjuna now has doubts about his own godhood, offers to present him with new power from the truly right and proper god. God Arjuna gives his answer by immediately heading for the Tree. The heroes get into the Border and give chase.[22]
The heroes reach the Tree but find it’s surrounded by a strangely colored lake—it wasn’t there when Peperoncino first arrived. Holmes surmises it is the Ocean of Milk from the Hindu creation myth. He warns the waters are highly poisonous, strong enough to easily melt through steel, human, or spiritual bodies, so trying to barrel through it with the Border is highly inadvisable. Rama realizes God Arjuna left in the Halahala—the poison Vasuki the serpent king spewed forth from the pain of being used to churn milk. Regardless, the heroes need to cross the lake before the holy beasts caught up.[22]
As Lakshmi and Alakshmi were both born when the Ocean of Milk was churned, Lakshmibai is certain she can do something about the poison. She thinks that if she concentrates her misfortune around her (like she did with William’s arrows) she might be able to limit the poison’s effects to herself. Captain, however, calls her plan the cheapest form of self-sacrifice, asking if she thought about it’s like for those left behind and hear others praise her martyrdom. He continues to say you never stop wondering if you stayed to fight with her instead of running away.[22]
Lakshmibai realizes who Captain is. Captain confesses he never had those experiences himself, but those regrets became the core of who he is. That other version of him—a ship captain—fought in the Sepoy Rebellion and ran away when he lost someone important, unlike Lakshmibai, who stayed and fought to the end. They fought in different regions, but inspired by rumors they fought at the same time, Captain admits he can’t help but feel a connection with Lakshmibai. Lakshmibai doesn’t judge Captain for choosing survival and reasserts she is the only one who can do what needs to be done.[22]
Captain asserts that isn’t true anymore and requests Da Vinci to grant him authority, knowing she already deduced why he came along. He is granted it, allowing him to activate something Sion secretly installed into the Border to both improve it and him. It is his ship, the Nautilus—a ship of hope that can conquer any sea in the world, no matter how deep.[22]
Undergoing an excited shift in personality, Captain connects the Arnonnax Phantasm to his Spirit Origin to activate his Noble Phantasm. A mysterious light then surrounds the Border, starting from the front. Holmes realizes the Arnonnax Phantasm is the Nautilus’ naval ram. Captain explains by installing its naval ram to a vessel, other ships can be retroactively defined as Nautilus too.[22]
Ritsuka realizes Captain’s True Name. Karna also senses a western god inside him. Captain reveals he is both Triton—son of Poseidon—and Captain Nemo, the lone sailor who fights against tyranny whoever he goes. He is an amalgamation Servant Sion made by intentionally combining an ancient Mystery with a newer legend. He is the “no one” named Nemo, the guardian of the sea travel who can chart through any ocean. Mash senses a familiar warmth upon him saying that.[22]
Meuniere notices a fixed wavelength in the Border’s data that is nearly identical to the entity they encountered during their Zero Sail to the Scandinavian Lostbelt. Nemo confesses that was his true Nautilus. He was out on patrol on Sion’s orders and he recalls nudging the Chaldeans in the right direction when he spotted them back then. He wasn't attacking like Goredolf thought.[22]
As the Nautilus continues to form, Nemo calls his love for the sea is his entire reason for being. So when he was summoned to a nigh-waterless world, he was pretty distraught, and he didn’t have high hopes for anyone, not for Sion nor the Chaldeans when they first arrived at the Wandering Sea. He thought modern people were to blame for what happened to the Earth, but now, having seen them in action for himself, he knows the Chaldeans are good people who keep moving forward, no matter what. He thus vows he will help them from here on out. The Nautilus then finishes forming around the Border and crosses the Ocean of Milk.[22]
Upon reaching landfall, the heroes disembark and head for the Tree. Before they reach it, Rama decides to entrust his Brahmastra to Karna. Krishna’s curse is affecting him too much for him to fight effectively and even without it, his utter lack of fame in the Lostbelt keeps him from fighting at his full strength. Karna replies the lack of fame affects him as well, but Rama points to Ganesha as the one person who knows in her soul Karna’s heroics. Rama then gives Karna his Brahmastra to grant him Vishnu’s power, imploring Karna to save Sita in his place. Taking Shiva and Vishnu’s powers as his own, Karna’s Spirit Origin transforms.[22]
At the Tree, the heroes confront God Arjuna, who delightfully believes Karna's new form is proof he is also closer to becoming a perfect god. But Karna asserts neither of them is close to being a perfect god, pointing out God Arjuna’s fixation on his name as proof that deep down he is still human.[22]
Limbo, seeing that Karna’s words cut deep for God Arjuna, offers God Arjuna power to ease his concerns and commands Fantasy Tree Spiral. The Tree opens up, exposing the galaxy within like what happened with China’s Tree, but has inexplicably turned black. Holmes doesn’t know the significance of the color change, only certain that a tremendous amount of magical energy is now flowing from Spiral and into God Arjuna.[22]
Thinking to himself, Holmes concludes the names of the Fantasy Trees are all names of different galaxies, like he suspected. He suspects they are weapons of invasion from other celestial bodies, but he questions their method of invasion when with sheer magical energy they could easily incinerate the Earth’s surface as Goetia did. He furthers questions why the Trees were modeled after galaxies and if they are truly weapons of invasion.[22]
God Arjuna boasts he is more powerful than he was when he first absorbed gods. But Karna asserts that changes nothing and asks his brother if he ever looked at himself and admitted to his own faults. God Arjuna questions his own infallibility, rendering him at his most vulnerable. He tells Karna to stop looking at him, irritated that his eyes are trying to make him see something inside himself. He considers that a sin and declares he must pass judgement on Karna himself, screaming his name. Karna is pleased his brother has abandoned his detachment and declares he will never stop trying to surpass him like he has always done, screaming Arjuna’s name. The battle between the two brothers then begins.[22]
The cycle completely shatters. God Arjuna has lost to Karna, and he demands to know why he lost when he had every Divinity, while Karna only had Shiva and Vishnu. Karna points to Ritsuka, telling God Arjuna he lacked companions. In other words, God Arjuna stopped being a god when he grew dependent on Spiral’s power and wholly abandoned the people. God Arjuna was in contrast to the last Lokapala who had the power of a god in tune with the people.[22]
God Arjuna is frustrated by his defeat, but he finds it ironic he possesses the same “evil” he sought to eliminate. He realizes he is too flawed to be a perfect god and concurs with Karna that he became the greedy dark Krishna in his pursuit of perfection. He realizes the contradiction of wanting to destroy all evil while his evil—his obsession with Karna—remained in his soul.[22]
Karna calls God Arjuna a victim of the Lostbelt, something that can only exist in the Pruning Theoretical Phenomenon. But he doesn’t pity him, only feeling shame that he couldn’t defeat the ordinary Arjuna. He recounts how Arjuna always sought completion, but he feels having nowhere left to go upon reaching completion to be woefully incomplete. God Arjuna realizes he was a walking paradox from the beginning and disappears, disappointed he couldn’t be the man Karna wanted him to be.[22]
Peperoncino laments how if it weren’t for Limbo, he and God Arjuna might have made something of this Lostbelt. The Priestess appears and Peperoncino immediately proclaims he can’t turn back now, for he only washed his hands of the Lostbelt King, not the Lostbelt. But he knows none of them had a choice, especially with the Priestess watching them, calling her U. The Priestess immediately leaves, making Peperoncino wonder if she disliked being called that. Regardless, her appearance gave him the push he needed to take responsibility.[22]
He wonders if Ritsuka truly understood that they only helped the people as a means to more efficiently erase God Arjuna and eventually them. The Servants knew enough to keep quiet about it, but Peperoncino could tell it really wore on Ritsuka and Mash. He is certain they both wished there was a way for the people of this Lostbelt to live happily ever after from now, but they both know they have no right to wish that when they’re taking the people’s future away. He finds that very responsible for two young as them. But none of that matters to him because he has already decided to side with the people believing they deserve more.[22]
With God Arjuna gone, the Divinities he consumed have all been set free and both the holy beasts and kali are vanishing. Now all that is left for the heroes to do to is to destroy Spiral. But Peperoncino declares on behalf of the Crypters that he is going to kill the Chaldeans now.[22]
Ritsuka and Mash are shock, particularly Mash who thought they became friends and lost all reason to fight one another. Peperoncino admits both are true, but he never said he’d fight on the side of Proper Human History. The Crypters all willingly agreed to serve the Alien God in exchange for their lives. He himself thought its conditions were fair and Kirschtaria’s plan was in the right. He prioritized his own life over the world and considers himself now to be an enemy of humanity.[22]
Denying he hates human society like Da Vinci asserted he does, Peperoncino describes how peaceful, loving, and full of hope for the future this Lostbelt is. It is a rare world, one that has never been troubled by conflict nor ever had a complicated society that is difficult to survive in. But its simplicity was why it was pruned away as unnecessary. Peperoncino thus finds Chaldea’s claims of peace ironic when they reject a peaceful world such as this, as if they can’t conceive a world not full of pain and suffering. He rejects the very notion Proper Human History is peaceful, considering more cruel than any Lostbelt.[22]
Holmes agrees with Peperoncino that the Lostbelts are likely less awful than the modern world Ritsuka hails from. But he believes that’s all the more reason to be proud of it because any history daring to call itself Proper Human History should aspire to overcome all manners of hell. Chaldea’s journey has made him more certain humanity has chosen the most difficult route. Ritsuka has chosen to walk that same path, so Chaldea will be behind them every step on the way.[22]
Tired of talking, Peperoncino asks Karna if he’s ready to go, impressed by how long he’s been holding out beyond his limit. Ganesha considers the very notion of Karna betraying them ridiculous, but to the shock of his allies, Karna confesses he may end up betraying them after all.[22]
He helps Rama realize Krishna’s curse disappeared with God Arjuna, and so he returns Brahmastra to him, undoing his transformation. Afterward, he confesses to Ritsuka he used all of his strength in his battle with God Arjuna and he only continues to exist through sheer force of will. That is what he meant by betrayal and declares he will return it to him. Ritsuka is confused by what Karna means, but Ganesha understands and finds it very much like him.[22]
Karna joins Peperoncino and begins to disappear. Ganesha tells him she plans to return to her regular shut-in self once everything is over. Karna tells her, however, to use the opportunity now afforded to her as a god to go out and experience new things. Though this is goodbye, he feels the two of them will fight together again, so long as she remains Ganesha. Ganesha dislikes the idea of fighting again though and bids Karna farewell. Karna bids her farewell as well and his Sprint Origin disappears, returning Ashwatthama to form--- fully ascended. Now rejoined as Master and Servant, Peperoncino and Ashwatthma fight the heroes.[22]
Eventually, the heroes defeat the pair and destroy Spiral. Peperoncino considers using his Sirius Light, but Ashwatthama convinces him not. Peperoncino regrets their teamwork wasn’t enough, thinking it would have been different if they kept their contract the entire time. Ashwatthama is angry about it but feels they were a good match. He apologizes he couldn’t win this battle, but Peperoncino is fine since he is still alive. Ashwatthama is amused that his Master decides for himself whether he won or lost and disappears after they say goodbye to each other.[22]
Peperoncino calls out to someone, saying they could have won if they helped. An exhausted Limbo appears and confesses he had every intention of helping. However, he ran into some unexpected trouble of his own.[22]
During the battle with God Arjuna, Limbo plotted to kill Ritsuka while everyone’s focus was on God Arjuna. But he was ambushed by Asclepius, who used his own death to restore himself to his pre-Lokapala self and resurrected himself through a slow-acting mimetic. Asclepius had identified Limbo as the “malignant tumor” that needed to be excised from this world upon being restored to his original state. He and Limbo then fought.[22]
Badly damaged, Limbo doubts his current Spirit Origin will not last much longer. He regrets that Spiral was destroyed, but he laughs there is always next time. Peperoncino realizes Limbo’s current body is a Shikigami—a shadow of himself—and wonders where the real Limbo is. He decides to not worry about that now, though, since he and Limbo still answer to the same leader. Limbo replies that is true as long as they share the same goal. His Shikigami then crumbles away.[22]
Thinking to himself, Peperoncino concludes Limbo knew the Lostbelt was doomed. But instead of trying to prevent its destruction, Limbo helped to hurry it along. Peperoncino therefore surmises there is more to the Apostles’ goals than they’re letting on.[22]
He then calls on Koyanskya, who immediately appears and correctly presumes he wishes to go to the Greek Lostbelt. Before leaving, Peperoncino tells Ritsuka and Mash that he truly enjoyed their time together, but he cannot abandon the Crypters either. He recommends blaming that nothing can be done about it on the unfairness of the world, like he resigned himself to since birth. He thinks with any luck he, Ritsuka, and Mash will meet again before Koyanskaya warps him away.[22]
With her duty done, Lakshmibai suspects she will soon return to the Throne. She apologizes again for lying about her identity and while she appreciates Ritsuka doesn’t hold it against her, she still regrets not having trusted them. She hopes to someday repay her debt to them, but she doubts they’ll ever need a Servant like her. But Ritsuka, Captain, and Rama all agree she will be a welcome addition to the team. Lakshmibai appreciates it and considers it an honor to have fought alongside the heroes of her childhood bedtime stories. She prays Rama will be reunited with Sita one day and bids him farewell.[22]
She then asks Ritsuka if there was any meaning in them fighting alongside the people of this world against its god, since they’re going to disappear now. For her part, she cannot accept the people of this world will disappear, nor can she condone the actions that led to this point. In that sense, she may hate Ritsuka for leading the people to their fate. However, while she may not accept this fate, she wholeheartedly believes these people will someday be properly reincarnated.[22]
Starting to disappear, she tells Ritsuka not to be sad since they do not need to believe what she does. She suspects the sheer weight of being responsible for erasing three worlds already is only just sinking in for them. She warns the Chaldeans if they continue down this path, they’ll be choosing to make themselves the villains in the eyes of every other world out there. Ritsuka knows this, earning Lakshmibai’s respect for their strength of will. Calling them her comrade-in-arms, she wishes them good luck and disappears.[22]
Ganesha decides she is going to watch over the people now that they’re truly free. She knows it will not change the fact they will disappear, but she believes there is meaning in being there. She then congratulates Ritsuka on a job well done and leaves in her elephant god statue.[22]
Afterward, the Chaldeans prepare to head for a specific area so Nemo can perform Aronnax Phantasm’s activation ritual. Nemo already synched with the Border earlier, so the activation ritual is practically halfway done. Once that is done, the Border will be able to cross the seas and reach the Atlantic Lostbelt. Holmes, however, recommends they first take a break before heading for the ritual coordinates. Mash requests permission that she and Ritsuka be allowed to visit some place she feels obligated to even if it is pointless. Da Vinci agrees to take them there.[22]
A World Where the Cycle ■■s[]
Asclepius chastises himself for not eradicating the source of the Lostbelt “infection”, as Limbo was merely a symptom. He proclaims it isn’t enough and that both he and mankind need more knowledge and techniques if medical science is to advance. Collapsing, he nearly accepts the Lostbelt as having been treated upon noticing Spiral is gone until he realizes that is not enough.[23]
He then hears a crying boy having trouble finding the right herb. Asclepius, upon hearing it is for the boy’s ailing mother, asks him what her symptoms are. After hearing her symptoms, he tells the boy to treat his mother himself and gives him medicine with instructions on how to properly administrate it. The boy thanks Asclepius and immediately runs off.[23]
Asclepius recalls that someone once asked him what drove him to pursue the advancement of medicine so fervently. He admits to himself that he forgot what that was a long time ago. The only thing he knows is that humans continue his work and believes they will eventually advance medicine to surpass death itself. He disappears, believing his mother, who he never got to know, will know how he feels when human medicine surpasses death.[23]
Asha notices nothing is happening even though the Kali Yuga is over. She also notices the giant tree and God’s Skyboulder are gone. Her aunt notices there aren’t kali either and wonders if it’s a change for the better. Asha notices something outside and goes to check.[23]
To her surprise, it is RItsuka and Mash, who came to say their goodbyes and to tell her the truth. They tell her about God Arjuna’s distorted yuga cycle and how she was made to forget her father. Asha accepts it, as she had been feeling like someone was missing in her life.[23]
Asha asks if there are proper reincarnations since Ritsuka and Mash said the reincarnations initiated by God Arjuna were wrong. Ritsuka believes there must be proper reincarnations. Asha agrees and hopes she can see her father again when a proper reincarnation comes. She thanks Ritsuka and Mash for telling all this and returns home.[23]
Mash apologizes to Ritsuka as she knew her request was selfish, but she felt she had to tell Asha the truth. Ritsuka tells her she was right to do so. Holmes tells her everything she has experienced so far has shaped her into who she is today. Similarly, he wants her to remember everything they do is necessary for the restoration of Proper Human History. But only time will tell whether or not their actions were right and the ones to judge them will be those of the Proper Human History. Mash understands. having learned in the previous Lostbelts that they will need to make difficult choices. She assures Fou she is feeling calmer now and tells Ritsuka tonight is the perfect night for a drive.[23]
Meanwhile, Asha wonders if she would’ve been happier on her birth annniversary if ■■■■ was there. Though she can longer remember him, she decides she’ll pray for her father to eventually be reincarnated and starts to cry. Her tears come faster as she wonders if her prayers will be answered now that God Arjuna is gone. She cries in her sleep, calling out for the father she can no longer remember.[23]
Participants[]
Servants
Designation | Identity | Affiliation |
---|---|---|
Lancer | NezhaWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
Saber | RamaWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
Lancer | KarnaWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
MoonCancer | GaneshaWP | Ritsuka Fujimaru |
Saber | LakshmibaiWP | Resistance |
Berserker | NezhaWP | Arjuna Alter |
Archer | William TellWP | Arjuna Alter |
Archer | AshwatthamaWP | Arjuna Alter |
Caster | AsclepiusWP | Arjuna Alter |
Berserker (Living Hero) | ArjunaWP (Alter) | N/A |
Alter Ego | Ashiya DoumanWP | Alien God |
Non-Servants
Designation | Identity | Affiliation |
---|---|---|
Fantasy Tree | Fantasy Tree Spiral | Alien God |
Crypter | Scandinavia Peperoncino | Crypters |
Development[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt PV
- ↑ Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - SIN: Land of Unified Knowledge - Prologue
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Prologue
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 1: Where to Set Out
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 2: Meeting Hope in a Lonely World
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 3: A Mountain Where One Encounters God
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 4: Kali Yuga/The Demon of the End
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 5: Kali Yuga/A Revolving World
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 6: The Relic Called Falsehood
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 7: Return of Paradise/The Shape of Evil to be Cut Off
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 8: Rani of the Walled Village
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 9: God's Skyboulder
- ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 10: God's Commander
- ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 14.18 14.19 14.20 14.21 14.22 14.23 14.24 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 11: Treta Yuga/Asclepius, the God of Medicine
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 12: Advancement Impulse/People and the Girl
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 16.13 16.14 16.15 16.16 16.17 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 13: The Prince of Loss/Divine Judgement Looming
- ↑ 17.00 17.01 17.02 17.03 17.04 17.05 17.06 17.07 17.08 17.09 17.10 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 14: Those Who Laugh During the End of Yuga
- ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 18.14 18.15 18.16 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 15: Return of Paradise/The Queen's Identity
- ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 16: Ashwatthama
- ↑ 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 20.12 20.13 20.14 20.15 20.16 20.17 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 17: The Flaw of Being "There"
- ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 21.14 21.15 21.16 21.17 21.18 21.19 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 18: Those Moments felt like Eternity, with You
- ↑ 22.00 22.01 22.02 22.03 22.04 22.05 22.06 22.07 22.08 22.09 22.10 22.11 22.12 22.13 22.14 22.15 22.16 22.17 22.18 22.19 22.20 22.21 22.22 22.23 22.24 22.25 22.26 22.27 22.28 22.29 22.30 22.31 22.32 22.33 22.34 22.35 22.36 22.37 22.38 22.39 22.40 22.41 22.42 22.43 22.44 22.45 22.46 22.47 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 19: Final Dark God
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 Fate/Grand Order: Cosmos in the Lostbelt - Yuga Kshetra: Saṃsāra of Genesis and Terminus - Section 20: A World Where the Cycle ■■s