Patxi's Decision

... ...

... ...A child, huh.

... ...I see.

After I was summoned as a Servant, I began killing people.

...I doubt I am the first to dirty hands as a Servant that were so determinedly kept clean in life.

Once one has been summoned as a Servant, bloodshed is all but inevitable. Especially given how central it is to Holy Grail Wars. They are, after all, events held for the sole purpose of fulfilling mages' desires.

And in one such Holy Grail War, I proved to be the worst kind of Servant imaginable.

All I have ever desired is to recreate the Primordial Man and save my persecuted people.

I threw away the sense of pride and the morals that I held so dear, all in pursuit of that goal.

I killed my own Master, who was just a child.

...I only know about this from records of the event. I can't remember their name or face.

Such a horrible deed, and I cannot remember anything about it.

But the records speak for themselves.

They torment me, proving beyond any doubt I am just as driven by my desires as any other ruthless mage.

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...We can't rule it out. Speaking for myself, I don't really care about that too much.

Whether a Servant remembers or not probably depends on them, and the sort of memories they're dealing with.

I know I don't care about remembering fighting in any boring-ass war, but I'd at least like to remember saving the world.

...If you feel bad about knowing you killed a child at some point, I'd say that just proves that deep down you're really a good guy.

But you're here now to save all of humanity.

You don't get to sacrifice yourself.

...Yes... I may just be making excuses...

Nonetheless...

Right now...we don't need a Servant. We need a giant... One that is powerful enough to stand up to that truly horrible beast of a tsar.

As for Kadoc Zemlupus...a word of advice.

Don't write him off. Don't underestimate him. If you do...you'll regret it...

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Master... I'm sorry.

But, I'm afraid...this is the only way I can be useful to humanity.

I leave the giant's command in your hands. Good luck, Master.

You have a long path ahead of you, and difficult choices to make. But I believe in you.

...Fight hard, courageous young man. You are human, but I know you have the strength you need to fulfill your duty...!

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Avicebron... I can't believe it... He didn't just use part of the Minotaur's labyrinth for a golem...

He used ALL of it...!

The hell!? Where'd this shadow come from!? Is that...a golem? Did Avicebron make that...?

Run awaaay! This place is going to turn into a battlefield!

...!

Hold it.

!

Don't point your gun at me. It makes me want to end you.

What the... My gun!

You're with Chaldea, aren't you?

That's right.

...Why would a Yaga help them? Are you a remnant of the rebel army?

No.

...Then again, I guess I am. I DID think about rebelling for a little while.

But I changed my mind as soon as I saw Ivan the Terrible in person.

I see. So you were THAT Yaga.

I was told you were all but undone when the priest decided to make you look upon the Tsar.

But it looks like you rather enjoyed it.

Wha...

It's okay. You needn't be afraid anymore. This disturbance will cause the Tsar to awaken.

...Which means that the Tree of Emptiness will finally start absorbing mana from the land.

...What are you talking about? Did you say that...thing...is going to wake up!?

That's right. I can see even the thought of that terrifies you.

But it's okay. We're going to defeat Ivan the Terrible ourselves.

Wha...!

Ahh, I said it. I finally said it.

I feel so much better now. I've been holding that in for a long time.

We're going to destroy the Tsar, the last vestige of Russia in this world.

What are you talking about? Are you betraying the Tsar?

...!

Well, that didn't take long. I suppose I should have expected that here. Nonetheless...

...!

...now that the Tsar is about to awaken from his dream, I'm afraid you Oprichniki have outlived your usefulness.

...At last, I will have the audience I desire. I can sense him here.

Stand in my way, and I shall kill you as well. Now take me to see him, you swine in priest's clothing.

I'm impressed you got through the Oprichniki and made your way here, especially with that pitifully frail Spirit Origin.

Very well. Out of respect for your hard work, I will grant you the audience with Amadeus that you desire.

Besides, he told me to let you through himself. In fact, his exact words were:

"If a man claiming to be my friend should ask to see me, please show him the way. He has every right to be here, you see."

...All while smiling the most innocent, angelic smile I have ever seen.

However, I must warn you before you see him. He is, after all, thoroughly exhausted.

He has been performing his Noble Phantasm without rest for the last two months.

I am afraid his Spirit Origin is more fragile now than decaying flesh, and the flame of his soul has dimmed only to scant embers.

Frankly, he's in no state to receive visitors.

...I thought that was you. I'd recognize those firm, uptight footsteps anywhere.

Ah, the Man in Grey. Are you here to kill me?

Mozart...!? What did you lot do to this prodigious talent!?

As you can see, we've been having him play the piano, though, I must confess, without time to rest.

But rest assured, we did not coerce him into doing so.

He volunteered of his own accord, after learning of the...special circumstances here in Russia.

I distinctly remember him saying, "Well great. Guess I'm just going to have to set a new record for longest performance of all time."

This is madness! You're playing the piano and the rest of the orchestra all on your own!? How have you been doing this for so long!? You hate hard work! You grow bored almost at the drop of a hat...!

Well that's not very nice. Sure, I'd much rather just play a single song, get paid, and go back to my life of leisure.

But given who I'm playing for this time, even I can't help but be motivated.

Besides, the Tsar was on the verge of waking up when I began to play. I didn't dare to give him anything but my best.

He could easily end up grinding this entire country to a pulp if he were to wake up, after all. What choice did I have but to ensure he kept dreaming sweet dreams?

So...that's why you've been playing the piano...?

You mean a greedy miser like you has been playing his heart out here in the frigid cold for months on end...

...for a demented old man who couldn't understand your worth if his life depended on it...!?

No need to be so rude to him. Though I will grant you that he's rather up there in years.

The Tsar has been an excellent audience. He told me my music was like paradise itself.

But, I'm afraid I'm at my limit. In fact, I won't be around much longer. This environment was just too much for a frail Servant like me.

I can't even move my fingers anymore. It's worse than the illness I contracted before I died the first time.

Still, if I have to die again here, I don't want to do it without being useful in some way.

So I thought you should kill me. I even told Macarius that was my condition for helping out.

Come on, the Grand Dutchess and the others are nowhere to be found. This is your chance.

You DO hate me enough to kill me, right? Then go on, just do it.

You...! Why would... Why would you say that!?

Your skill is divine! A gift from God Himself! And now...now you want me to kill you with my own hands!?

You want me to make those awful rumors the truth!? How can you say that...!?

Why not? If you hate me enough to kill me, go ahead and get it out of your system.

Who knows? You might feel a lot better.

Just don't expect it to save your life or anything. I might be a peerless genius, but there are some things even I can't help with.

Ghh...!

Mozart!

Whoops. Once I let myself relax, I guess I ended up like a puppet with its strings cut. I don't think I'll last another minute.

This is always how it went with us, wasn't it?

I'd show up unannounced, challenge you out of nowhere, then make impossible demands when I won.

Why break with precedent now? Salieri, when this is all over, would you play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star for me?

...What are you...?

...I knew it would come to this.

I may not have any hope of surviving, but you still have a chance to win.

Salieri. It's all about timing.

Friends and enemies alike must work together...or no one will be able to defeat that thing.

Salieri, you stayed closer to me than anyone else. You kept on hating me, even knowing your hate would never be requited. I always appreciated that.

So until the time to defeat the Tsar comes...I'm going to leave his lullaby to you.

Don't worry. This patron's ears aren't exactly the sharpest.

You and I may notice the many minute differences in our performances, but he never will.

So before I go, I'm going to put a curse on you.

Stop! You can't

...Now you must be Mozart for a while.

Ghh... Gaaaaaah! Mozart, you...!

Ahh, what an incredibly dull job that was...

But, then again...I guess it had its moments...? Seeing the greatest monster in the world...dreaming to the sound of my piano...

It was almost like...I was holding the world...in the palm...of my tiny hand...

And that...wasn't too bad...at all...

Ah... Aah... Aaaaaah.

AaaaaaaaaAAAAAAaaahhh!!!

That's right. I remember now... I... I...!

Now, go ahead and play your requiem as much as you like.

You may play it for Amadeus, or the Tsar...or for yourself, when you lost sight of who you are.

You will find an instrument right over there.

That's ridiculous! What the hell are you thinking!?

Are you completely insane!?

I have been quite sane for a long time now, Yaga. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

We now have Chaldea, those Servants, Kadoc, myself...and that giant.

That giant is from a realm, from a time that Demonic Beasts could not hope to touch. So I'm going to cooperate with that boy and his team.

Together, I'm certain they will achieve a miraculous victory.

...So they're gonna take down that mountain of a tsar?

That's right. Otherwise, this world will never be saved. Everything we do, we do for the sake of this world.

...Oh yes, I almost forgot. There's a very important detail you should know.

Do you know what those devils at Chaldea are attempting to do?

Huh...?

I believe they mean to restore this planet to its proper form, in order to restore humanity.

But that doesn't mean you Yaga are going to benefit from that. Your mistaken historyyour erroneous pathwill merely be pruned away.

I take it you know that human from Chaldea well? Then please, tell me everything you can about him.

Does he really know what it is he should be doing?

The Tsar is waking up. The Tsar is waking up.

After all this time, the Tsar is waking up. ...Now, it is time for us to move on.

Glory to the great Tsar.

The lopsided Spirit Origin readings in Yaga Moscow are dropping like flies!

I think the Oprichniki are disappearing!

As we expected. Once a battle began in Yaga Moscow, it was only a matter of time before the Tsar woke up.

...Though I will say that I certainly didn't expect THIS to begin moving!

Wh-what is...? Are my eyes deceiving me? Is the monitor broken? Is this one of Da Vinci's practical jokes!?

What's going on here, Holmes!? What is that...thing on the monitor!?

Huge doesn't even BEGIN to cover it! For that matter...

...is it just me, or are we headed straight towards it!?

Stop the vehicle, Meunière! Hit the brakes!

What could we hope to accomplish by going there? Nothing, that's what! We'll just end up a stain on the bottom of that thing's foot!

Give Fujimaru the order to retreat! Forget about investigating this Tree of Emptiness or whatnot!

We're leaving Russia right now! If we must risk our lives, I'd rather take my chances on a Zero Sail!

That's impossible. We have team members in Yaga Moscow. We can't retreat now.

That thing could catch them and crush them in just a few steps, well before they have a chance to escape!

No, our conditions for victory are unchanged. Defeat Ivan the Terrible and capture the Crypter.

If we are to accomplish those goals, we will need everything we have at our disposal.

...How are things shaping up over there, Da Vinci? Skip your opinions and just give me the numbers.

The Ortinax exoskeleton is operating within expected parameters. Internal pressure regulation, combustion, and weaponry are all good to go.

...Armor checks out. Ready to transport her at any time. Beyond that...it all depends how mentally prepared she is.

Just the numbers, Da Vinci. Mr. Meunière, take us into Yaga Moscow's western area.

By my estimation, we should rendezvous with the investigation team in ten minutes and thirty seconds!

Stop, damn you, stooop! Phoenix or not, I won't be able to make it out of this aliiive!

Ivan the Terrible is no ordinary Yaga.

Long ago, an ancient primordial beast was discovered in Russia's tundra.

By merging with this creature, Ivan the Terrible began a period of...growth.

...And perhaps due to his heroic temperament, or his imperial bloodline...

...that growth continues to this day.

It is said that mammoths and saber-toothed tigers went extinct when their tusks and fangs grew too large...

...but Ivan the Terrible has moved beyond such concerns.

He is no longer beloved or worshipped. Now he is no more than a horrific monster.

Keep playing with every ounce of hatred you can muster, Salieri.

Now that his nap is over, the Tsar is finally about to come face-to-face with reality.

...The Tsar's dream is ending. ...He is about to wake up.

We are born from the Tsar's dreams. Once he awakens, we will return to dust.

Glory to the Tsar! Long live the Tsar!

Huh? The Oprichniki are...turning into dust...?

Does this rumbling mean he's woken up!? ...Uh oh. What about the golem!?

It's still coming together. Its stone body is being assembled piece by piece, like muscles growing on a skeleton...

Holy shit! That is HUGE!

!?

？！

...Is this some sort of joke?

...Doesn't look like it.

So, he has finally awakened.

...Ivan the Terrible is said to have once moved the capital of Russia from Moscow to the city of Alexandrov in the northeast.

But that city no longer exists in this Lostbelt.

It disappeared from this world as Ivan the Terrible continued to sleep, to mutate, to undergo further growth and mutation.

...Indeed, that mountainous creature is what remains of the man who fell back into a dream after his return from Alexandrov.

Ivan the Terrible is no longer man, nor even Yaga.

He is a beast of the gods. The engorged culmination of his many dreams.

Anastasia! Anastasia! The Oprichniki told me what you said!

Is it true? Have you betrayed me!?

Were the peace and happiness you told me of nothing but lies!? Tell me, AnastasiaaaAAAaaa!

What...IS that...? Don't tell me that's...?

The Tsar is furious... We're all doomed...

O-oh God...

We can't defeat THAT... Nobody could... We should never have gone against it...!

Keep your distance! Do not get caught up in the civilians' evacuation!

Never mind the lines between rebel army and civilian now!

Keep them in line and get as far away from here as you can!

G-got it!

...I have fought both Demonic Beasts and giants before, but...

...I have never seen one of this size. I think he would even give the gods of Olympus's true forms a run for their money.

I've heard there were giant folk all over the place back in the Age of Gods...

...but at least where I lived, they only grew to be about ten meters at best!

See!? This is why I told you not to wake the Tsar up!

There's nothing anyone can do against a monster the size of a mountain!

Excuse me, but you never told us he was LITERALLY a mountain-sized monster!

If you'd just mentioned that one tiny detail earlier, we'd have been a lot more prepared for this sight!

Besides, he's not a mountain! He's a mammoth! A kind of giant elephant!

Huh? Elephant? What's an elephant!? Some sort of animal!?

...Oh, right. I guess all the elephants in this world went extinct a long time ago... I don't know how I would go about describing one now...

Anyway, the point is, he's an elephant, not a mountain! A really, REALLY big elephant, but still an elephant!

You mean these elephant creatures are common in your world!? Wow!

Hmm. Let me take a good look...

...I'd like to cut him down starting at the legs, but I don't think that'll work. Even my Heavenly Eye can't see a way to beat him!

I'm kinda not sure he can even feel pain! If we're going to take him down, our only choice is to kill him.

It doesn't matter whether we can or not. We've just got to fight him, no matter what.

？！

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Now that's how a general ought to be. Keep an eye on the big picture from on top of the golem for us, okay?

We'll be counting on you to use a Command Spell and play our trump card when the time is right.

...That said, he's not actually seeing us right now, is he?

He's calling for Anastasia. Saying something about her betraying him.

That's because she did.

？！

This works out nicely. If you're still alive, then help us out.

...You WILL help us, right?

At least you're not a complete idiot.

The Oprichniki are gone, and Ivan the Terrible's awake.

All that's left now is to take him down.

Okay, maybe you ARE a complete idiot. I mean I want to work together to defeat Ivan the Terrible.

？！

...You're after our golem, huh?

That's right. In this Russia, Ivan the Terrible's neither human, nor Yaga, nor even a Heroic Spirit.

He's a walking natural disaster, an active volcano that only causes destruction whenever he wakes up.

It's better for everyone if we get rid of him once and for all.

We need to build a new Russia, and your arrival here gave us the perfect chance to do it. Don't get it?

Come on. Really? Ah, fine, I'll explain. When you got here, I saw a chance. Long time coming, but I saw it, so I took it. I used you to further my own ends. No, I don't feel bad about it. Get with it, Fujimaru.

...Well that's an awfully roundabout way of doing things.

If you'd just asked nicely from the start instead of being a jackass, Fujimaru would've been glad to help.

I'm not here to make friends. My only goal is to get more game pieces I can use to beat him. Understand?

So I set up a game board.

One where the rebel army, Chaldea, Anastasia, and me would all have no choice but to defeat him.

Well, Fujimaru?

You're used to this sort of thing by now, right? Let's go save this world.

Good answer.

We start by using that Golem Keter Malkuth of yours to hold him back.

？！

Ivan the Terrible's got at least one weakness: he's slow.

...Does that even matter?

I'm with Beowulf on this. He may not be as big as a Daidarabotchi, but we're still talking literal mountain size here. Of COURSE he's gonna be slow.

It means he can't keep up with you Servants. If nothing else, you know he can't dodge your attacks.

He can't fly. He packs tremendous force.

He can cause an avalanche with a single step. He can even slam his trunk into the ground in place of an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm.

His only weak point is the crown on his head...that is, his real body.

？！

Try enhancing your vision. You should be able to see it, even in this blizzard.

？！

...Ugh. Amateur.

Yeah, there it is. Doesn't look any bigger than a pea from here, but still probably monstrous compared to us.

It's gonna be tough to get up there. Even running up his trunk at full speed won't be enough to keep from getting swatted before one of us reaches the top.

Are you all here?

...With matters having come to a head, we must now put our old allegiances aside.

Disaster has struck, and the Tsar has awoken. He won't stop until he destroys everything.

I understand why you might bear a grudge against me, but right now, we all need to work together.

...Anastasia, the Tsar is after you.

So...

Yes. I'll hold him back with my Noble Phantasm for as long as I possibly can.

After that, it'll all depend on how motivated you are. Can you do this?

...I have no right to be a ruler. I hate the people. I hate this land.

Everything I cared about is long gone. I don't even know why I became a Servant in the first place.

I barely even remember my own life anymore. All I have in my head now is knowledge of this Lostbelt.

Still, I did love my family. And they loved Russia.

So...

...I will not shirk my duties. I refuse to drown in my grief, or to flail around in desperation.

I will simply do everything in my power to eliminate Ivan the Terrible, no matter how hard it may be.

...There you have it. Please, help us. ...You do want to save the world, don't you?

Guess we've just gotta go along with this, huh... Sheesh.

No word from the Border, Fujimaru? Are the comms not working right?

We'll just have to decide this for ourselves. Although...

(This feeling... I don't think I'll be able to stick around here much longer...)

Know what, never mind. Let's just get going. There's no time to waste.

...Guess Billy's not gonna make it. Might as well give Shanshan a message for him in the meantime.

...All right, do it.

Anastasia, I'll back you up with Command Spells.

Atalante, I'm sure you can tell this is no time to be worrying about a rebellion.

... ...I know.

Then go on the attack. You should be plenty strong enough to provoke him.

Show him your speed, show him how high and far you can jump.

...After that, I don't care. Figure the rest out on your own.

Come on, Anastasia. The Tsar's waiting for you.

...Hehe. The fire inside him may be little more than petulant embers, but it never goes out.

He's indifferent, jealous, and hateful in equal measure... How wonderfully human.

Master of Chaldea, do you really think you can defeat my Master?

...No need to answer now. You can tell me later.

Okay, let's get going. Master, we'll be counting on you to back us up.

It looks like this Noble Phantasm golem answers to your commands...

...so make sure you have it put up a good fight!

Okay, guess I'll be off too! See you later, Fujimaru!

Be careful to stay put. I use a lot of arrows, and they do not care what they hit.

...What'd I tell you, Fujimaru? This world is finished now.

Are you nuts? Just look at that thing.

It's destroying this whole city and it's not even breaking a sweat. How is he not a literal demon?

...You're actually going to fight? With this huge golem?

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...I can tell.

None of the Servants, or even this golem, can match the Tsar.

You really think you can beat him just by working together? You're out of your damn mind.

The Tsar is THE strongest being in this world. Period.

That's why it's impossible to beat him.

Deep down, you know that's true. Don't you, Fujimaru?

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...When I saw that thing, and heard him speak, that was it. I was done.

I mean come on, WHO'D believe they could rebel against that kind of ruler?

You think you can beat that thing? Well you can't!

He's a god! A real-life, flesh-and-blood god!

He's the ultimate being! There's nothing that can stop him from doing anything he wants!

So...we Yaga have no choice but to submit to him. Come on, you get it, right?

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...What?

？！

...What!?

I... Huh!?

Anastasiaaaaaa!

...Do keep your voice down, Your Imperial Majesty. I can hear you just fine.

You are right to be angry. You are right to be furious.

But...the time has come for you to pass your fury on to another.

At this point, your very existence has become a sin.

Russia no longer has any need of your backward notions.

We are the ones who must lead it into a new era.

I refuse!

I AM Russia! I am the one who bears this world on his shoulders!

No obsolete human upstart will take that away from me! Not now, not ever!

Hm? That sound...!

？！

Who are you!? Where did you come from!?

？！

Chaldea... The keepers of Chaldeas! You let some of them escape, Koyanskaya!?

...I know Avicebron the golem master made that.

And I know it's possible to ride on its shoulder, since it's outfitted with defensive spells, but...it's one thing to know it and another to DO it!!!

Are you out of your damn mind, Fujimaru? Hmm... Maybe this is exactly the sort of crazy you need to be to succeed in these sorts of situations.

I'll have to remember that one! Dammit!

...This must feel like a terribly unfair punishment to you, my tsar.

But, this is simply what fate has in store. Prepare to die, Ivan the Terrible!

Dammit...!

I knew this going in, but he's just too damn strong...!

Still, we've got all our trump cards ready. Our enemies, our allies, and even our dead are all working together.

Maybe if Amadeus had lasted a little longer...? No, we couldn't have done this any faster.

All we have to do now is beat him. Nothing to it.

I know I can do this! I know it...!

Sumerki Kreml'. Viy Viy Viy!

Dammit, his hide's just too tough!

I cannot believe it! Even my arrows cannot blind him...!

Dammit... He's even stronger than I thought.

If only I had the Emergency Prerogative... No, forget about that.

Macarius! You're out there smirking even as you're watching this all go down, aren't you!?

Well that's not very kind. I prefer to think of myself as more of an overseer.

So, why have you called for me? Does this mean you're finally ready to escape from this Russia?

That you have exhausted all of your options?

Not yet. I've still got you.

...You've got something up your sleeve, right? I know you've been hiding something from Anastasia.

If you're still hanging on to some kind of trump card, now's the time to play it. This is your problem as much as it is ours.

Yes, I suppose you're right.

Neither Anastasia nor I can escape the Tsar's wrath any longer.

So I've got someone to help.

He may be quite ordinary compared to Mozart, but that only motivates him to try so much harder.

In fact, that effort makes his performances so much more emotional in a way prodigies like Mozart would never even bother to attempt.

Kadoc. Your idea of using Mozart's music to keep the Tsar asleep was a good one.

But that was never going to solve the fundamental problem. You still need to learn how to stir up other people's emotions.

...Is that so? Thanks for the warning. So what IS your trump card, anyway? Knowing you, I bet it's in terrible taste.

The only way to fight a dead-end delusion is with a delusion devoid of hope.

Did you really think waiting patiently would bring you salvation, that you could achieve greatness if only you had talent? I am afraid you are dead wrong.

One needs neither talent nor repentance. Now, come, conductor. The time to blossom is at hand.

Now is the time to let your howls resound. Take a page from Kadoc's book, and fix your mistakes.

I can't...! I can't, I can't, I can't!

My piano could never hope to pacify the Tsar's fury!

I just don't have that sort of talent!

It's impossible! I know myself better than anyone!

I know all too well what I'm capable of! And I can't play the piano the way we need!

I...I can never hope to be a match for you, no matter how hard I try!

Silence!

A prodigy like you would never understand what it's like to be forsaken by the god of music!

I am a Salieri born only of a desire to end your life!

Who cares about instruments!? I forgot everything I knew about them back when I was alive!

The...the world...? You expect an Avenger like me to...

Ghh... Khh... Ghh... Gaaaaaahhh!

I could never hope to make the kind of music that you do...the kind that resonates with every listener's heart as they hear your requiems.

I'm incapable of moving people like you could.

Ah, but...Mozart, you phantasm of my own deluded mind, there is one thing I do know...

I know your dark side.

I know how you covered your face in shame, in a pit utterly devoid of light!

You never saw us...us common folk, us humans. And why would you?

The only thing you ever fought with were your own inner demons!

You loved music more than they did. You loved music made by human hands, no matter what manner of demons preyed upon your mind!

And yet...neither music, nor society, nor anything humanity could make brought you salvation.

So if you continued to play the piano with such elation, even after becoming a Heroic Spirit...

...then I too have a reason to play the piano.

So I WILL play, no matter what sort of humiliation I suffer, nor what mockery I am subjected to.

There you go again, Mozart!

Very well then. I shall play. I shall play for all I'm worth!

Your prodigious talent is far too unreliable to be taught in textbooks anyway!

I WILL catch up to you, even if I must employ every musician's technique ever created!

Well!? What do you think of this!? Have I caught up to you now!?

...No.

No, this isn't it! I'll never catch you like this!

...Let my emotions guide me? My emotions are grief, anger, and my lust to end your life.

Is that truly how you want me to play!?

...How's this!?

Feel my anger! My hate! I'll kill you! Behold, Mozart!

Look upon my regret, my hate, my passion, my fury!

Silence! Be quiet and listen!

I am not your brother! I will follow my own path!

I hear music playing throughout the town... I think it's coming from the top of the palace?

It's Salieri. This must be his own personal Dies IraeDay of Wrath.

It's not about talent anymore. He's just whaling on the keys desperately, even furiously.

Which is exactly why it speaks to the heart. At least it seems to be getting to the big guy.

This sound... This anger... Stop! Do not bind my heart!

？！

...I don't get it. Salieri's Spirit Origin his Noble Phantasmis growing stronger!?

How is that possible...? There's no way anger should be able to boost a Servant's abilities like this...

Of course there is. At least, if that anger is a core part of that person, rather than something fleeting and superficial.

He has finally abandoned all pretense. That scream you hear now is Antonio Salieri's true nature.

He admired Mozart more than anyone, which is also why he hated, feared, and pitied him.

He loathed the masses who failed to understand Mozart's genius, calling them all fools and idiots.

He feeds his own anger, but so does Mozart, and the very period of time that created their relationship.

That is Antonio Salieri, the Man in Grey turned Avenger. Now, he is pouring every experience of his life into this very performance.

Listen well, Ivan the Terrible! Yaga of grief, and of anger!

For a long time you have been doing the pruning, but now, it is your turn to be cut away! You may be livid, but your anger is misplaced!

You supped the blood of hundreds...thousands of Demonic Beasts in order to gain that enormous body! For countless years, you have used your power for cruelty and tyranny!

You let your Oprichniki roam free, killing Yaga after Yaga for untold generations!

You say everything you did was done to survive.

But even so...

...your existence now is nothing more than a monument to sin!

How dare you worm your way into my mind...! Begone, miserable little musician!

Khh...!

？！

That bastard. I can't believe he'd burn down his whole palace just to get at Salieri!

He won't if we have anything to say about it! If we're gonna hit him hard, now's the time to do it!

I know that! This is our last chance! We have to pull him off that mammoth, no matter what!

Get the golem ready, Fujimaru! We are going to stop this Demonic Beast once and for all!