Quarta Cantica: Kālasūtra Hell (Ending)

Oh, good morning. You're awake now, mmm?

Try not to move, would you? You sprained your ankle when you took a tumble. It looks so terribly painful.

Oh, don't worry. It's still night. The sun hasn't risen yet.

...Oooh, don't be afraid. Fufu, we can cozy up a bit and be friends, can't we?

I just felt like doing this, you know. I WAS hanging around the peak until Kālasūtra kicked me off.

And wouldn't you know, while I was walking around, so DREADFULLY bored and wishing I had a kid of my own to eat, lo and behold, you dropped right into my lap.

First I was going to just...eat. You. Up. But then I thought...what's the point of a living human if I can't make them squirm a bit? That way I get dinner AND a show.

...Hehe, I'm just kidding.

Oh relax. If I was going to eat you, I wouldn't have patched up that poor widdle ankle of yours.

These sorts of chances don't come along every day, you know. We should enjoy this while we can. Would you like a drink, sweetie?

It's the height of elegance to share a drink before we get down to it, don't you think?

Aww, you're no fun. Oh, all right, I'll just drink it all up myself. Waste not, want not.

...(Gulp, gulp, gulp) Ahhh.

Mmm, yummy. Oh, that glare of yours made it taste even better.

In fact, it made me positively melt. Hehe, hehehehehehe.

Why, I'm an oni, born and raised. Look at these horns of mine. Sooo sharp, mmm? Completely obscene, aren't they?

Even in death, I'm still an oni. I don't know much about Heroic Spirits; all I know is that I'm still an oni.

And the thing about oni is...

We take what we want, we violate what or who we please. But...sometimes we show a bit of love for others when the mood strikes us. We even smile, when we want, as we destroy and consume whatever we wish.

That's who we are, sweetie. It's what eeeveryone is so terrified of. You've read the stories about us, right?

We are such wild, eeevil creatures. Eeeveryone's sooo scared of us, and eeeveryone hates us.

But I don't mind. Sometimes, we DO have an urge to just...go wild. Hehe. It's just who we are.

？！

？！

No idea, sweetie. They were the last time I saw them, though.

But come on, are they REALLY all that's on your mind right now?

I'm in a good mood right now. I'm feeling...generous. Normally, I'd never bother to patch up the leader of an enemy I'm about to fight. Sooo straaange, mmm?

Oh, I can just hear Empireo now, yelling about how I've gone crazy. Ehehehehe...

Of course I'm crazy! I'm a Heroic Spirit Swordmaster Berserker!

？！

You're welcome. I tried to be gentle so I didn't accidentally rip your foot off, you know.

Oh, good, I didn't cut off circulation. Hehe, what a twist it would have been if I accidentally made your foot rot off while I was trying to save it.

？！

..."Thank you"? Oh me, oh my, are my ears working right?

Teehee, well aren't you polite? Don't bother thanking an oni; I helped you because I felt like it. But, you're quite welcome just the same.

Try not to think much of it. After all, we'll be going at each other so ferociously veeery soon, won't we?

Of course.

Oh, no, no, no! Nothing of the sort. Kālasūtra Hell said we'd wait for you on the peak, remember?

？！

A promise is a promise, after all, even for those as wicked us Heroic Spirit Swordmasters. Hehe, why would you ever think otherwise?

？！

Mmm, you've got me there. We're pretty awful, aren't we. We're hooorrible, haaateful, wiiicked creatures.

...Fufufufufufu.

...Is that really what you think of us, sweetie?

Well that's too bad. The final two Swordmasters are even more wicked than we are cute. And that is truly saying something, don't you think?

The Saber of Empireo, a true master of the sword...and the Caster of Limbo, the mage.

They're both such freakish beings that even demons don't go near them! Hehe. You've seen them yourself once, right?

Even I wouldn't dare mess with them with this weak little Spirit Origin. I doubt Kālasūtra Hell would either.

If we had to fight them, I'd want to at least have the same bodies and power that we did when we were alive.

？！

Hmm, how can I put this...

Oh, it's nothing as simple as strength and weakness. It's more like Empireo and Caster are just...gruesome.

One is a creature whose one and only purpose is killing. A soul who is truly gifted at cutting human bodies apart in the most cold and efficient way possible.

The other has nothing but loathing for this world. They'd like nothing more than to see it all rot and burn away.

？！

Ahahaha! That's right! I was thinking exactly the same thing!

On a slightly different note...

You really don't mind having a nice little chat with me, do you?

You don't really strike me as the recklessly brave sort, either.

So, sweetie, why are you so comfortable around me?

？！

Mmm, is that so? I knew there was something different about you.

...Well then, why don't we try this? This will be for all the marbles, sweetie.

Now, now, don't try to run. Yeeesss, just stay niiice and still.

Theeere's a good boy. Don't move. No, no, I won't hurt you. We're friends now, right?

Just relax, sweetie. Everything's fine. Here. Feel my hand? It's sooo cold, isn't it?

Now, what would you say if I told you you could have aaanything you wanted, as long as you joined us?

？！

Mmm...reeeally?

If I was the sort of oni you knew from storybooks, I wonder what I'd say when I gave them back.

Ah, but I'm a real oni, so I would never do that. Sorry, sweetie.

？！

Oooh, shhh, shhh... I know, I know. It hurts sooo bad having me tear a hole in your stomach. Shhh...

Believe me, I know. I've been there. It used to happen to me sooo much more often than I'd have liked.

Especially when I was playing with Raikou and her Four Heavenly Kings; they never did learn to pull their punches. Especially that brat with the golden hair...

Of course, I used to gouge out their insides and stir them up all the time too... Mmm, turnabout's fair play and all.

That's what humans and oni do: kill each other, tear at each other, rip each other apart...

？！

Theeere you go. Hang on, sweetie. Thaaat's it. Just grit your teeth and bear it. Lie back and think of Chaldea.

Now, what were those called again? Magical...something? Ah, yes! Magical circuits.

I'm just going to play with yours a little, so bear with me, okay? Theeere's a good boy.

Oops! Silly me, that was a bone. Now, now, nothing to worry about. Oooh, I know it hurts, doesn't it?

Oooh, you can cry if you want to, sweetie. Bawl your eyes out. That helps with the pain, right?

...Ah, ah, ah, don't go screaming, now.

If you do, the neighbors might hear, and then what would they think? So you just be niiice and quiet. This can be our little secret, sweetie, okay?

Mmm, I'm sooo sorry about this. I know it hurts. It does, doesn't it? Makes you want to cry, doesn't it? I do feel so very, veeery bad about this, you know.

Is this your first time having your insides stirred up? ...Mmm, my bad. Oh so bad.

But you know, I can't stop now.

Hey, I know. Why don't you count the cracks in the ceiling! That might help take your mind off the pain.

Here, we can do it together. One, two, three, four...

...five, six, seven...

...eight, nine, ten...

...Poor thing. She cried herself right to sleep.

What a brave little girl she is, trying to keep her little brother safe. But in the end, she's still just a child.

She must be terrified right now. But she still managed to speak up through her tears.

No wonder she's so tired. Go ahead and sleep, little one. Now, what was your name again?

Onui. And your baby brother's name is Tasuke, I think? ...What lovely names your parents gave you.

... ...

...I think I recall a lullaby from the Edo period. ♪Sleep, baby, sleep...

Oh, my baby, sleep...♪

What a good boy you are. Good night, sleep tight...♪

Where did your guardian go?♪ Over the mountain, back to her village...♪

She brought you a souvenir...♪

...Nnn, what did she bring you...♪

...A pellet drum...and...a small...bamboo...flute...♪

Go on, Mom... What's the next part...? Please...sing the rest...

...

Ah! Wh-where am...!? Oh gosh, I'm so sorry...!

I-I'm sorry... I know you're not my mom. ...Was I asleep?

It's okay, Onui.

Huh...?

It's okay. You're still just a little girl. You don't need to worry about things like that.

Of course you miss your mother. Of course you might confuse another long-haired woman for her sometimes.

I don't blame you for that at all, Onui.

Huh? Are you...a nice lady...?

Does this mean...you're not a bad oni...?

I'm not sure. Maybe I am a bad oni. If I wasn't, I would have untied you.

So you must never let down your guard around me. We are oni. Two of the worst, most evil oni you will ever meet.

Ga ga ga♪ Goo♪

Tasuke likes you... He says you remind him...

...of our mom...

...I see. So...I remind this child...of his mother...

I...

Yes, in life I did try to be a mother to someone. Perhaps that is why he sees me that way.

Even though I have gone mad beyond redemption... Even though I believe this world to be a living hell...

Even though I have long since hit rock bottom, and my hands and soul alike are tainted with blood...

...Miss...?

... ...

But, even if this world is a living hell...even if my own children aren't here...

I still wish to be like a mother, if I can.

...Make sure not to move. I promise, I won't hurt you.

...Huh...? Miss, what...what are you doing with your katana...?

...Please don't move, Master. You need to stay still.

We found you here, collapsed here and with a terrible injury. I'm sorry it took us so long.

I used some of my clan's secret ointment to close your wound, but I'm afraid you must have lost a lot of blood...

...at least, if these bloodstains on the ground are any indication.

Please take some time to rest up. Just keep lying down, and let yourself recuperate.

Yeah, luckily it looks like nothing important was damaged, no vital organs or anything.

But like Kotarou said, you've lost a lot of blood, so don't try to sit up or anything.

I know we can't stay here forever, but you should try to get some rest for now. Don't worry, it's still night.

Don't worry, it's still night. We'll head out again once you've gotten some rest.

Like Kotarou said, it looks like you lost a whole lot of blood, so I don't think you can stand up just yet anyway. You need get some rest.

？！

Honestly, I wish we could just let you stay here, but we can't. We need you to fight with us.

So rest up until the last possible moment, and then we'll head back out.

Lord Muramasa and Lady Danzo are keeping watch outside. Again, I implore you to get some rest, Master.

Y-you think she was rooting around in your insides!? What the hell!? That's one of the worst things I've ever heard!

What was that oni thinking!? Did she avoid your vital spots on purpose just so she could mess with you!?

Th-that's terrible... I don't understand oni at all...

Good, you're awake.

I caught some fish and a rabbit. You can cook them on the campfire. Get some food in you so you can get your strength back.

Have one of those ninja's pills while you're at it. Once you can stand again, come with me.

Oh, and... I guess you can tell me what happened to you too.

？！

...I see.

Eat up, then get some rest. We'll head for the peak again at daybreak.

Oh? What's this? You got here a lot sooner than I thought you would.

We gave you until sunrise, which I think was more than enough time. I was looking forward to watching you all cowering in fear.

But it's only just past daybreak. Barely even morning.

I know the moon is still out, but that's just what happens whenever we get serious. Sorry about that. I know it's a pain.

Anyway, it's so nice of you to hurry all this way.

Of course, if you just want to hurry up and die, we're happy to oblige. I could always just twist your heads right off and drink your blood from the source.

We will not be drinking anyone's blood. We will simply follow our karma and allow our Curse of Annihilation to do the rest.

(...There's Kālasūtra. She's the only one I can do something about.)

(Saṃghāta likes to play around, so we should be able to handle her if we rush her all at once, but that definitely won't work on Kālasūtra.)

(The only way to defeat her is to best her in a head-on test of skill... But, am I really good enough for that?)

Hiii there, pretty oni! Thanks for sticking to your word and waiting for us at the peak like you said you would.

Must've been hard, as much as you two seem to hate each other's guts! I'm guessing you had some major differences of opinion, didn't you?

Not that I give a damn.

Now come on, we held up our end of the deal. Give us back the kids.

？！

Oh, the kids?

I already ate them. It had been so long since I had children, so I was sure to savor them. I ate every. Last. Bite. I started at the toes and worked my way up.

Bones cracked...blood gushed...muscles twitched...flesh tore...

And, before I knew it, there was nothing left, not even the bones. Sorry I don't have any leftovers for you.

...You ate them?

Did you truly kill those children!?

...

Enough with the act. Where are the kids?

I told you, I ate them. What's your deal? Oni are many things, but we aren't liars.

Even for a lie, that was in extremely poor taste, Saṃghāta Hell. If you'd done that, you wouldn't have bothered taking them hostage in the first place.

Saying you killed them doesn't help you.

Not knowing if they're alive or dead keeps us at a disadvantage. We have to act on the assumption that they're still alive.

If you were just going to throw away that advantage anyway, you wouldn't have needed to kidnap them.

...Then again, they could have just used them as bait to lure us out here.

How about it, Hells? Did you really eat them?

Heh.

Hehe, hehehehehe...

Ahh, what a joke. I thought you were smarter than that! Did you not realize you are dealing with two oni!?

Do you really think we oni care about right or reason!?

I mean, we care at least a little. Now that you've fought all those big oni and giant serpents on the way here...

...and now that your Master's had his insides all stirred up, and lost sooo much blood, he must be exhausted.

And arguing over whether we ate the kids or not is only going to make that worse, won't it?

So now that he's so thoroughly tired out, I bet his meat must be nice and tender now...

It's about time to have a snack anyway. Mind if I try some to find out?

Look! Another giant black serpent!

Preparing for combat. I shall eliminate the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters in accordance with Lord Tajima's orders.

？！

Ahahahahaha! This is so much fun! I'd only just managed to rebuild that Orochi, you know!

Technically it's still descended from the god of Ooe, but you cut through it like it was nothing! Sooo scary!!!

Ahahahaha! I can't remember the last time I had this much fun!

Glad you're enjoying yourself, 'cause I'm reeeally not! That thing was tough...and slippery...and I hated it!

Well that's no fair. You shouldn't be able to move that well in an outfit that fancy!

But I guess that's okay now and then. Mmm, it's getting me all hot and bothered even now!

I'm falling for you so hard it's taking everything I can not to strangle you! Ahahahaha, your nape looks good enough to eat!

That's enough, you despicable insect.

No more games. It is almost noon, and so we will fulfill our end of the deal and face you in battle.

It is time for your execution... No, wait, this isn't an execution, is it.

I suppose the Lord Sorcerer has his reasons. At any rate, justice is not a concern of ours. That will make this more of a slaughter, a mass murder, indeed, a massacre.

If this world truly is hell...then we shall perform our roles as oni!

Her magical energy just surged! No, it's not just her. Saṃghāta Hell's did the same!

...!

Ahahahahahahahaha! I'm gonna go all out now! Try to last as long as you can, okay?

We Heroic Spirit Swordmasters are invincible! Blades, arrows, poison...not even cannons or fire can hurt us!

In the name of Lucifer, the great Satan himself, we will mercilessly slaughter humans everywhere!

？！

Sorry, Fujimaru, but diplomacy isn't gonna work at this point! They're not gonna listen to us!

They mean to kill us. There's no getting around that.

They won't stop until we're dead, or they are. No wonder they both have "hell" in their names!

Lord Kotarou, you handle the pure oni! I'll take care of the human one!

Get ready, samurai general! I'll block your lightning sword with my void!

That's the spirit! Very well then! In the name of Lucifer, the great Satan himself, we shall do battle!

Come forth, my blood-soaked frontier! This mountain of bodies and river of blood shall serve as the stage for our battle, and consume the loser's soul upon their defeat!

The Cursed Name of my blade is Berserker of Saṃghāta Hell! The True Name of my vessel: Shuten-Douji!

The Cursed Name of my blade is Rider of Kālasūtra Hell! The True Name of my vessel: Minamoto-no-Raikou!

Prepare yourself, Shinmen Musashi! Our final battle is upon us!

...Let's do this!

Fufufu...!

Fufu... Ouch. That wasn't very nice of you. But...that's okay...

Nobody wants to hear a story...about a bad oni winning, right...?

...Ooh, that hurts. It really hurts... I can't remember the last time my chest hurt this badly.

Then again, with this big a hole through me...I guess it should hurt pretty bad... But, you know...

Believe it or not...

...I really gave this all I had, you know?

？！

...I don't understand. I blocked your blade. How can it still hurt this much?

So, this is the power of the Myoujingiri Muramasa. No...this is your power, isn't it? The true power of Shinmen Musashi.

...Yes. I couldn't spot it back when I fought Lord Inshun...but with you two, it was all too easy to see.

I may still have a long way to go, but even I could see how completely your karma had stagnated. If I couldn't cut something so obvious, I'd have no right to hold a sword.

Thanks, Kālasūtra Hell. Without you two, I wouldn't have gotten the hang of severing karma.

...Keep your sarcastic thanks. You and I know full well you didn't need our help to figure that out.

...Still, I don't understand. How could a Servant like me lose to a flesh-and-blood human like you?

...You may excel at taking on large armies, but in a one-on-one duel, I had the upperno, that's not it.

The only reason I was able to beat you is because I've met swordsmen who are better than you before.

You were stronger than me. But I've already battled others who are stronger than you.

In which case, I can't afford to lose to you. Not when I've got bigger fish to fry.

...Heh, well that's nice. You already have someone you hate more than me, so I simply don't measure up, hmm?

...But, I suppose that's just what swordsmen are like. I see you're as fiercely competitive as any of them.

I envy that... I never had a rival who could push me so far.

This age's swordsmen are truly fascinating. In a one-on-one duel, they are all monsters in their own right.

...Fujimaru, was it? The Master who came here from the far-off land of Chaldea?

Please take good care of those two children. You should find Onui and Tasuke in the small shrine up ahead.

Saṃghāta HellShuten-Douji was indeed lying earlier. We didn't lay a finger on them.

I simply can't bring myself to kill children...

I must have been broken inside, right from the beginning...well before I was embedded with the Curse and became a Heroic Spirit Swordmaster.

That's why I just couldn't act how I was supposed to.

If we Heroic Spirit Swordmasters are supposed to curse everything that is good, and embody all that is evil...

...then I failed, because I'm broken.

Still...I'm glad I'm broken. Thanks to that...

...I didn't end up killing those children.

？！

...Could I ask you to give Onui a message for me?

What is it?

Tell her...tell her I'm sorry for tying her up. I'm afraid I got a little rough when I cut her ropes.

Whether I tell Onui your message or not is up to her. It depends on what she thinks of you.

Okay...

And, if I may ask you something as well, Lord Fujimaru...

We Seven Heroic Spirit Swordmasters are wicked creatures attempting to consume this entire world. Please, make sure you defeat all of us, prevent the arrival of Onriedo...

...and save the children of Shimousa from our scheme.

Thank you.

Agreed. No doubt I will be a different version of me should that happen...but I would certainly enjoy having a leisurely cup of tea with you.

Having supper together would be lovely too.

？！

Ahh, I wish Kintoki were here. You two would have gotten along so well.

If only he were here...I could have died at your hands sooner.

I am a disgrace as a mother...

...Well fought, Rider of Kālasūtra Hell. Berserker of Saṃghāta Hell.

I found them! They're okay! Neither has a scratch on them!

...Thank goodness. That is a tremendous relief.

You said it.

But...I thought they were tied up...

The tall lady with the sword went "swoosh" and cut them for us! Say, where is she?

She said she was going to go talk to all of you. Are you done talking already?

Yup, we're all done. She left already. There was something important she had to take care of, but she did ask us to tell you she says hello.

I see...

... ...

She said she was an oni, but...she wasn't really a bad person, was she...?

？！

I knew it!

Ga ga goo♪

You know, when Tasuke was getting fussy, she lulled him back to sleep right away.

She also let me rest my head on her lap, and sang us a lullaby...

She...reminded me of Mom...

So...

？！

...I see. That's great, Onui. But you shouldn't stay outside for too long, or you'll catch a cold.

Let's go home. We'll go straight to bed, and have breakfast at noon after we wake up.

Oh, she gave me a message for you. What was it again... She said she was sorry for tying you up.

...It didn't hurt at all. The ropes were really loose.

I see.

You know, Grandpa... She really did remind me of Mom...

What is it?

She was just like her...

Yeah.

...She was just...as warm...

...as Mom was...

Lady Danzo, we should be on our way. Master and the others are heading back to the hermitage.

... ...

...Lady Danzo, are you

Oh, no, my apologies. I was simply rebooting. Please go on without me, Lord Kotarou. I shall catch up soon.

O-okay, got it. Then I'll see you at the bottom.

By the way, Lord Kotarou, earlier you didn't quite finish speaking. Was there something else you wanted to tell me?

No, it's...it's nothing. Please, pay it no mind!

(...That's right. It IS nothing, since you don't remember me.)

(This world is different from its original history. And I don't think it began here in Shimousa or Toke.)

(That's why you're still operating, and continuing to serve as a ninja.)

(...Isn't that right, Mother?)

Onui and Tasuke are both fast asleep. After the day they had, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't wake up until tomorrow.

They must be exhausted after everything that happened, so we should let them rest for as long as they need.

She really is. And she's still so young, too.

Hell, when I was her age... On second thought, never mind. Let's not get into that.

Great idea! I've got a special udon recipe I've been holding onto for just this sort of occasion!

In fact, I just learned a really nice way to make udon dough while I was traveling around Sanuki recently.

We can use dried fish for the soup stock... On second thought, maybe kombu would be the way to go...

？！

...Oh, right, I've got something else to tell you before Grandpa Muramasa heads to his smithy.

Basically, I have some thoughts about Saṃghāta Hell and Kālasūtra Hell that I thought I should share.

In a word...they seemed kind of strange to me.

I've faced oni several times before, not just in Onigashima.

But I've never met any oni quite like them. Of course, they were still very oni-like. But...

It was odd, talking with them like that. And then there's things like Saṃghāta Hell sticking her hand in your stomach without killing you.

...How's your wound doing? It still hurts, doesn't it?

？！

Is that so. Are you just trying to tough it out?

Are you seriously trying to make sure I don't worry about you?

Or do you feel like you can't afford to let a little pain stop you when we still have two Swordmasters and their ringleader to fight?

...'Course, I guess it could be all of the above, huh?

In fact, I'd bet that's what it is. Even when all the odds are against you, you never back down.

And it's not because you know you can always find a way to escape. It's because you never give up on life.

？！

...I'll take your silence as a yes.

Well, I'm not about to back out either. Now that we've come this far, I'll stick with you to the end.

If you wanna fight, I'll fight. If you wanna run, I'll join you. I'll follow you anywhere, even to another world.

But you're not going to run away, are you?

Hehe. I figured you'd say that!

Not to mention we still have to fulfill our promise to Lord Inshun. We have to take care of everything that's threatening Shimousa!

That's right. We promised him we would take care of everything that's threatening Shimousa, didn't we!

？！

I'm staying with you until that's done. Who will you face next? Who will you protect? Who will you save?

I trust you to do whatever you think is right. Me, I'll just stick to fighting however I like!

...The race for blood has reached its climax.

Between Hitachi, Shimousa, the army slaughtered at the Arakawa River, and Sagami, there are now well over ten thousand humans dead.

Through these massacres, the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters have spread regret and loathing across this world, even as they offered up their own souls upon their deaths.

What a truly, truly, truly fantastic job they did!

Saṃghāta Hell, the Berserker oni! Kālasūtra Hell, the motherly Rider!

I applaud you both for your excellent work! You have proven your foolishness and been utterly humiliated beyond compare!

Fantastic! No wonder you both left your marks as heroes of humanity!

You were both excellent role models for Anti-Heroes everywhere. Fantastic. Splendid! Wonderful!

...Sure is a lot more elbow room in this place now.

The two bloodstained flowers who bloomed brightest at night are both gone.

This Master of Chaldea person and Shinmen Musashi are stronger than we thought.

Fujimaru! Shinmen Musashi! They are the protectors of the human world, whether they realize it or not!

They fight so they may live! They struggle so they may live!

Ahh, such contemptible, righteous souls...! They are the spitting image of Seimei himself!

That is as it should be. Our opponents should strive for nothing less.

There is no point in slaughtering those who have given up on life. However, there IS meaning in destroying a world overflowing with the desire to live.

Uh huh.

The way you say that makes it sound like you have a lot of faith in them, Lord Sorcerer.

If you've run out of other pawns, does this mean I'm up next?

I was all set to rot away in the mountains. You're the one who brought me back.

I never had any attachment to life. If you want to send me out next, I'll be happy to go out in a blaze of glory.

No need. All you need concern yourself with is remaining by my side. Besides, if you were to go out...

(...? What did the Lord Sorcerer just say? "If you were to go out, it would all be over too quickly"?)

(Ha... Haha, how absurd! How preposterous! Clearly I misheard him!)

I see. In that case, I'll just devote myself to being your worthless right-hand man until this is all over.

The time is already upon us. With the race for blood finished, Onriedo will soon be complete!

As a Holy Grail, Onriedo shall collect the Heroic Spirit Swordmasters' souls. It has already collected five, even as they have brought many other souls with them.

Heroic Spirit Swordmasters, your ultimate purpose is to die. You are not here to prove your prowess with a sword.

You harbor bloodstained blades within your souls. Go forth, kill, and die!

You are naught but sacrifices whose blood knows only slaughter. Offer up your souls, bladed ones, and bring Onriedo to fruition!

Only two of you remain! I am of course speaking to you, Limbo and Empireo!

Even after I embedded your souls with the Curse of Annihilation, you have retained your sense of self! Your blades are tainted beyond redemption, with none of a Heroic Spirit's pride!

Now go, and fulfill your final duty! Once you have, my Onriedo will manifest here in Shimousa!

...I understand.

Everything is for our ambitions, for our karma. When all is turned to hell, we shall triumph.

Mmm... What a lovely thing to say!

You have neither pride to lose, nor a soul to taint! No wonder you have attained such beauty... It is more than I can bear!

Now that your blade has fallen as far as it can go, tainted beyond repair, I look forward to seeing where it leads you!

May you have an excellent slaughter, and an excellent death.