Final Countdown

The Cyclops Court is nothing more than a big, sick joke!

*spit* That hurts.

I didn't die under Ascalon's blade. This isn't what I prophesized...

Then maybe she's the one who should've died.

She's bound to come confirm that I'm dead. When that happens, you lot can nail down her shadow and rip her to shreds.

She's wounded too. I didn't get all beaten up for nothing after all...

What are you guys doing?

......

You're aiming at me? Really?

Who bought you off?

Nobody, boss.

It's just a good opportunity to get a promotion.

An opportunity? I see. Babel's entered the city, and you could take my head to curry favor with them.

If Babel loses, you can always go back to the Scar Market. Nothing to lose.

......

......

Heh.

It's a good plan, fellas.

Showing mercy to your enemy will only result in your own death, Manfred. Do not repeat that mistake again.

Forgive me, General. I thought—

Focus on the enemy. It seems these traitors have been sharpening their blades for this ambush for a while now.

They have stirred the hearts of the Victorians. We are the only ones who can extinguish this rebellion now.

*Ancient Sarkaz Language*—

Stand back.

Hmph. We'll handle these guys.

Julie, you and the rest keep going.

Got it.

Don't even think of getting close to the General.

No need to rush. It'll be your turn soon.

I am the General's guard captain, assassin.

Then you're gonna wanna hold your sword tight.

Enough, Manfred.

General!

They have come to me in search of an honorable death, not mercy.

They are using their lives to show me the future as they see it.

You are in a race. She is facing countless threats in Kazdel, just as we are here.

Such a race only ends with my life, or hers.

I will give you a chance. Come, deathmongers. Kill me. Do not disappoint Theresa.

'SHATTER'.

Th-The gates have fallen! They're about to come through!

Notify all operations within the city to disarm the patrolling troops.

The defenses in the city are weak. It's pretty much just the Military Commission's defense forces.

We'll strike at them before they can regroup. Move fast.

Even if both sides are trying to prevent the battle from spreading into the city, this is still rather irregular.

Send all our intelligence back to the Doctor. All operating teams, quicken your pace, and stay vigilant at all times.

Take down the Military Commission's flag in the plaza, and tune our radio into all frequencies in the city.

Prepare for the landship's connection. We want to let Her Highness and the others enter the region that we control ASAP.

Also contact Ascalon's team and tell them to rendezvous quickly. Three teams have already completed their deployments ahead of schedule.

Where to next, Dr. Kal'tsit?

The former site of Babel.

Babel's flag has not been raised there for many years.

......

Mantra's latest report says we've managed to completely clear five main roads.

If everything is going according to plan, Kal'tsit should have seen the fires of the Soul Furnace by now.

Kazdel's defenses are all but crippled, Doctor. We can board the city now.

Good.

But the Military Commission will not give up on Kazdel. If we want complete control of the city, we still need a bit more time.

By then, we might not be able to completely avert the destruction of Kazdel's center city—

Wait.

I felt them.

What?

They are still here, but they have no intention of aiding anyone.

It seems that some arrogant bystanders have joined our battle.

Theresa.

Their souls burn with killing intent, sorrow, misery and determination.

The Military Commission's assassins. They intended to use the city as bait all along, so they can inflict heavy damage on Babel's headquarters.

This was also within my calculations. But this time, there is no wagering or planning our way out of this. We must defeat the assassins, then return to our city.

I will go control the landship's defense systems and mount a defense.

Go, Doctor.

We need not bring another fight into the city, not as it bathes in the twilight afterglow.

Closure, have you made contact with the landship?

Still no response.

......

I-I'm still overriding the city's broadcast power settings, and trying to expand its range. Maybe the landship's comms have a temporary malfunction... I'm doing my best to bring it back online!

......

......

I sense something peculiar, Dr. Kal'tsit.

My mother... She's prepared incantations for every person dear to her heart. When they pass away, an elegy will play in our minds.

I am still in good health at present, but...

Even if Babel can capture Kazdel, it is bound to suffer grave losses.

Theresis was right. They can't unite. The division of the Sarkaz will be the new norm. Even given a long time, the Sarkaz are unable to go from a weak community to a world leader.

Most importantly, I pointed out another path to Theresis. His plans in Londinium will have a greater chance of success if the Sarkaz corrupt the land with Originium and destroy their enemies.

Isn't this a good thing?

Such a determined race is now our followers. They will become the first brilliant bloodstain on the curtain of Originium as it spreads.

That's right... We have no need to destroy them. No need to kill her.

I... should use the 'Civilight Eterna'. I should try to guide its hidden functions, and then I wouldn't need to...

......

...Doctor?

Doctor! Can you hear me?

That's strange. There are some... peculiarities in the Doctor's emotions.

Intense, and... shadowed.

Doctor, what exactly...?

I have reneged on my promise. I have betrayed she who waited within time itself.

It is because of the love I felt. Love for life. Love for existence. Love is eternally pure. It leaves me unthinking.

Kal'tsit. Learn to love. Learn to believe. You have to think. Go and lead. Go and face the rolling stones that fall down the hills, screaming as they go.

But in the end... I believe that you can learn to love. It is eternally pure. It is the child of every breathing creature. It is our nature.

Go. Kal'tsit. Go see your surroundings, then see what lies by the most distant of mountains. Go seek what forms existence takes. I must go back.

She had once taught me everything, once explored everything with fervor. But she has changed. She will not give me much time to act of my own accord.

May we meet again, next time. We will meet again. Kal'tsit.

......

...!

Doctor—!

......

Because they chose to stay in the past.

They had seen through their duty, and the new era they founded has no place for them.

Legends are forgotten. Heroes pass out of memory.

And death arrives as it always does. None can escape it.

Duty spurs a hero to write an answer with death, to tread a muddy road.

That is our fate.

Perhaps after many years, those who were left behind and vanished after we built our home will join us in our causes.

They will bear a name wracked with infamy and settle this debate for us.

Perhaps.

So is this where we part ways?

It is. Here, where we joined hands to change Kazdel, we part.

Even though you have been their King for so many years, at times... you are as you were back then.

Back when we were still young, I would often prick my fingers as I was sewing, staining the robes I would sell. Do you remember?

Yes...

At the time, you were still a gloomy recruit, not allowed to wield a real sword, always dreaming of becoming a soldier of Kazdel one day.

I, for my part, still did not understand why we had to hide wherever we went.

But then came the day that the Royal Court took note of my work, and I got to meet Yliš. During that meeting, I summoned my courage to ask the King of Sarkaz—

Where does our future lie?

He had no answer, only bidding me to leave.

Only once I saw our defeated troops return to their homeland in ruins did I finally understand. The answer I sought could not be found in other lands, but 'here'—

—In 'Kazdel'.

Kazdel will only return to glory when one of us is gone.

But the one who is destined to lose is you. Must you persist with this, Theresa?

There are many by my side who support me.

Most Sarkaz who have suffered oppression and humiliation choose rebellion and violence.

No matter if those who remain wish it or not, they will eventually be swept along by the tides and drawn into wars.

But our generation must do something. I do not wish for this hatred in my hand to pass on to the next, where it will continue to fester and grow anew.

Even if I cannot change the future, the hope that will ignite the spark must be carried forward.

I too must take charge of those who follow me.

The cries answering the war do not come solely from Kazdel. There is no place for us anywhere in these lands.

All I can do is give them a push.

And so I will stay here. I choose to stay in the past, where the new generation of Sarkaz will one day look back.

Just like you.