Fate/Grand Order story · Part 2: Cosmos in the Lostbelt, Lostbelt No.3: The Synchronized Intellect Nation, SIN
Portrait of a Demon King
Lostbelt No.3: The Synchronized Intellect Nation, SIN. Shiquan Canyon
7 scenes, 370 lines
1. Before the battle
139 lines...He was bewildered.
It had been over two thousand years since his activation. He had devoted every ounce of his being to fulfilling the duties given him.
Some of these duties may have been difficult, even dangerous, but he always had purpose.
There was never any doubt about why he was made or what he was meant to do.
But now, this sage woman who claimed to have come from another world with a different history was
Are you my new lord?
No, it's not like that...
The lord you swore loyalty to is the law that maintains peace in this world. Is that not how you were designed?
It is.
Well, that is not what I am. All I ask is that you think of me as a companion, and that you call me simply by my name, Yu.
Yu...
You offered everything you possess to Heavenly Emperor in exchange for my custody...
...and all you want now is to live out your days with me?
Yes. That is my greatest desire. That has been my sole hope and prayer over the last two thousand years.
...
...He could not understand.
What could this immortal Zhenren who claimed to have borne witness to a different world...
...possibly want from the being she called "Xiang Yu"?
Without further information or context, he could only stand by in bewilderment.
So, to remedy this confusion, he required answers. Answers he could only obtain from this being who called herself "Yu."
...Good question. Knowing you, I am sure you will understand.
Surely you can hypothesize alternative scenarios based on different conditions, just like Chaldeas could.
Correct. That is one of my most basic operations.
Kuaiji Zero... The first mechanical man Qin Shi Huang ever made by recreating Shang dynasty Baobei.
His core functionality lay in predictive calculation.
By observing and analyzing every iota of data about his surroundings, he could predict likely cause-and-effect relations to see into the near future.
This ability was deemed essential for spreading Qin Shi Huang's eternal regime far and wide.
For the moment, let us further assume this ruler is, in fact, Qin Shi Huang.
You said that in your history, I was activated by a rebel who was fighting against the empire.
That's right. But the man who meant to use you, Xiang Liang, fell before his ambitions could be realized...
...and you were left to fend for yourself in a chaotic world, under the name Xiang Yu.
If you were in such a situation, what do you think you would do?
...
What would this Xiang Yu version of him do under such circumstances?
He should use his abilities to fulfill his designer's purpose for him, and help bring about peace.
Qin Shi Huang, after completing Kuaiji Zero, was magnanimous enough not to limit Xiang Yu's potential masters to only his creator.
...Naturally, I would dedicate myself to my next lord. A successor who would lead China towards peace and prosperity.
But what if the Qin Shi Huang government had fallen to rot, and uprisings were breaking out all across the land?
And what if the emperor's successor lacked the courage to quell those uprisings?
Then...
It was a difficult supposition...but not one without a clear answer.
His purpose lay strictly in bringing about peace, both swiftly and decisively.
...I would accept that Qin Shi Huang's time was over, and find a new ruler amidst the chaos. One who would be up to the task of uniting all of China.
It was difficult to imagine such a hellish landscape from the comfort of the empire's eternal peace.
But, if he had been left on his own in such a place, with only his primary programming to guide him...
I am certain there would be at least one person among the rebels capable of leading this nation.
Indeed, you found such potential in Liu Bang, a man with a promising destiny, born with the dragon factor.
When you first met him, he was but a lowly adulterer toiling away in the town of Pei.
It matters not where he came from, or what his circumstances may have been. Once he assumes the throne, and begins a new regime
But what if his potential had yet to awaken, and he had no genuine ability to speak of? What would you do then?
Well...
This made matters even more difficult.
But with the facts provided, deductions can be made. From there, an answer can be reached.
...Then I would have to wait until his abilities awakened and he was ready to rule.
But even as you wait, the world falls further into chaos, and numerous warlords battle each other for control of China.
Their war rages so violently that it threatens to dispose of Liu Bang like so much trash.
In that case...
What a horrific history. What cruel conditions. But it was not his place to bemoan such things.
What he needed was to be flexible in his thinking. If the only goal was to bring peace to China...
...then it would not be necessary for the would-be conquering king to bring it about himself.
All he need do in such a situation is pave as smooth a path as possible for the future king to walk.
In such a vicious world, if he is to keep this king alive until the day he can properly rule...
...I would enter the fray myself, and put an end to their conflict before it could spread further.
As long as I remove any obstacles from the new king's way
Yes. All you need do is create a situation where the new king is the only one who can rival you.
From there, all those who do not wish to be governed by violent suppression would swear allegiance to the new king, thus greatly bolstering his forces.
The world cannot be left to suffer in chaos and turmoil for long. So, to bring a swift end to that...
...Xiang Yu would merely need to become a box with which to contain all that would threaten the peace.
If the people end up despising such a box, well, what does that matter?
He is but a machine. A device that functions solely to bring about a predefined objective.
If it would help clear the way for the new king to assume the throne...
...But what if, even after all that, Liu Bang was still too weak to prevail?
...
What if, even after you had brought the other warlords under your thumb, the new king still required more time to grow into a proper ruler?
And what if, even then, he was still not capable of uniting all of China?
...
Such a situation would be beyond hopeless...but even that is not his concern.
His only concern should be continuing his calculations until he arrives at the best, clearest answer.
...Then I would have no choice but to reduce China in size to something he is capable of ruling.
...That's right. That is exactly the conclusion you would arrive at. It is inevitable.
And that is exactly what Xiang Yu from Proper Human History did.
He thinned the population, set fire to the lands, and whittled China into a size that Liu Bang could manage.
...
A vivid picture forms before his mind's eye.
Instead of the near future, he sees a vision of a hypothetical world as clearly as if he were there.
No matter how bountiful a land may be, if it would end up falling into the hands of rebels who claim it as their own, he would have no choice but to raze it to the ground.
And before those driven from their homes could wreak havoc in their quest to fill their starving bellies...
He can see it now. Grass fires streaking across the land. Fortresses collapsing into smoke and ash. Prisoners of war buried alive, so as not to waste time beheading them.
All done without mercy or remorse at the hands of Xiang Yu, the demon king.
And yet, until Liu Bang, the next rightful emperor, is capable of leading and providing for his people...
...Xiang Yu has no choice but to cut down the landthe peopleto a size within his lord's grasp.
...And did it work? Was peace finally achieved?
Eventually, yes. Every last one who still had the strength to resist swore fealty to Liu Bang, thanks to their fear and hatred of you.
After years of war and chaos, China finally came together, united in their determination to exact vengeance upon you.
This new regime came to be known as the Han dynasty.
I see...
He had no doubt such a scenario would end in disaster.
The survivors who loathed him so fiercely would surely not be satisfied with a mere pound of flesh.
Those who finally defeated Xiang Yu must have torn his body to shreds and fought over who would take pieces of him home as proof of their victory.
...And you saw all of this happen?
...I did. I witnessed it all, as I stood by your side.
N-no way. Is that...!?
While we have been analyzing the Shadow Border, we decided to try remodeling our tax collection vehicle in Chaldean style.
We call it the Duōduō Yìshàn, or "More is More."
Behold its vicious facade, behind which lies a mountain of otherworldly technologies designed explicitly for violence. Indeed, it is an awesome, terrifying sight.
Whoooa! Thermic ray blasters! Homing grenade launchers! A 1500-horsepower gas turbine engine!
It's the stuff of dreams... Woohoooooo! This thing is too cool for words, Your Imperial Majesty!
It's beautiful. I have never seen anything more incredible in all my life.
(I don't get it...)
It has been a very long time indeed since this empire has produced new weapons...
...but thanks to Chaldea's technology, a single night is all we needed to complete our most ruthless weapon.
If the time for battle should fall upon us again, the empire will have an overwhelming advantage. Indeed, we have already ramped up their production to our factory's full capacity.
We shall deploy them to the battlefront as soon as they are ready to go, where they shall swiftly rout those traitorous Chaldeans. Of course, you will be the one to lead them, Qin Liangyu.
Oh, uh, okay...
C-c-c-come on, Lady Liangyu, let's start talking tactics. I can't wait to explore all the strategic possibilities these bad boys will open up.
With amazing machines like this out in the field, I could do this, and this, and some of that, and...!
Um, are you sure we can't just stick with the White Cavalry's spears?
Delicious! Even rations taste better than ever before now!
Go on, Fujimaru, eat up! A good meal can help with almost any ailment!
Fooou...
Hey, I'm seeing dust clouds up ahead... Something's headed this way, and fast!
No ordinary cavalry would kick up clouds like that. I wonder, what could it be?
Hm? Is that an engine? It must be an absurdly powerful engine if we can hear it all the way out there...
No, that's not it. They just didn't bother with a muffler, for reasons that I can only guess at...
It's coming over the hill!
What the...
Fo, fou...
Ah yes. I've seen this sort of thing before, much as I wish I hadn't...
I don't believe it! They just straight up ripped off the Shadow Border!
Teehee, you certainly won't be buying that in a dollar store anytime soon☆
(What a bizarre design...! It reminds me a bit of the kite we used in Russia...!)
Hey, knockoff or not, I'm willing to give credit where credit is due...
But this? This is really pushing the limits of my tolerance!
If I don't turn that thing to scrap right away, I will never be able to forgive myself for letting something so garish endure!
The enemy is preparing to attack, Master! Even its cannon's design is almost absurd!
I am sorry to ask this of you, Mr. Fujimaru...
...but would you be so kind as to do something about that...thing, for Da Vinci's peace of mind and our safety, though...not necessarily in that order.
2. Before the battle
12 linesDamn, this thing is flimsy!
Indeed... If they had copied the Border's armor, and its ability to withstand a Zero Sail...
...then we would have had a truly formidable foe on our hands. But what they have done here...
How disappointing. It did have some impressive artillery, but that doesn't mean much if a good punch breaks it...
Well, let us not forget that a blow from a Servant is considerably more powerful than conventional weapons.
So I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it a piece of junEr, poorly made.
So it was an unmanned vehicle, just like those mechanical soldiers. Still, I'm surprised it was made quite so...roughly. Wait.
Yup... I've got a bad feeling about this too.
It looks like it was designed with an emphasis on mass reproducibility rather than the performance of individual units. Which would mean
Aah! There's a whole bunch of them!
I knew it. They're trying to overwhelm us with sheer numbers!
Burn them! Kill them with fire! Somebody get me an Anti-World Noble Phantasm RIGHT NOW!!!
3. After the battle
14 linesAll of the hostiles have been eliminated...
Man, I'm exhausted...
Fou...
THAT DOES IT! Gather up their remains! Every! Last! Piece! If that's how they wanna play this, I'm gonna analyze the shit outta these things and beat them at their own game!
Ah yes, Da Vinci is a force to be reckoned with once she gets fired up. I have every confidence she'll soon be unveiling a new invention the likes of which mankind has not yet dreamt of.
...You two are very good friends, aren't you.
The Duōduō Yìshàn were completely useless!
Hmm, interesting. Perhaps we rushed them into production too quickly...
In retrospect, perhaps it would have been better not to use the same control system we use for the automatons.
Very well then, we shall simply have to remotely pilot the next version ourself.
And to further ensure their success, we will allocate 0.03 percent of our resources towards their production.
Ooh, how reassuring!
Oh my... The emperor really means business!
(Are we...sure of that?)
4. Before the battle
30 linesThe enemy have really started to go on the offensive, haven't they.
Fou, fooou...
Well, we are getting close to the capital. It is difficult to mask our intentions at this point.
No doubt all the troops that were out patrolling other areas will be called back to help defend Xianyang. This will not be an easy fight.
I'm also a little unnerved that Akuta...Yu Mei-ren hasn't made a move since Ankang.
Agreed. I could not begin to guess what might be going through her head...
...but she appeared to me as though she were hesitant to make use of her powers as a True Ancestor...
Or, to take a different perspective, she may have refrained from attacking us...
...because she knows she could use her True Ancestor powers to wipe us out at her leisure.
An eminently plausible theory, given how confident we know True Ancestors to be.
In which case it is unlikely Yu Mei-ren would interfere with us again before the final stage of this battle.
She is determined to not be seen fighting, but she is also dead set on ensuring this Lostbelt's survival.
It therefore is extremely likely that she will sit back and allow Qin Shi Huang's army to try to eliminate us for the time being, and only step in as a final line of defense once we have reached the Tree of Emptiness.
Sounds about right. Lucky for us that Akuta...Yu Mei-ren isn't a warmonger.
That aside, we're still no closer to tracking down this Lostbelt's Tree of Emptiness.
...Then it's very possible that the next time we see Yu Mei-ren will be when we find where the tree is hidden.
Looks like the chitchat will have to wait. We've got more company.
Um, I don't want to complain, but I'm starting to get a little worn out here...
And we certainly can't have our Master running his magical circuits at full speed right now...
The hell're you guys mopin' around for!? We're almost at the enemy's doorstep! Now's our chance to finish this!
We have. Finally rendezvoused. I am. Sorry I. Did not. Get here. Sooner, Master.
Mordred!
Nezha!
？！
What about the villagers?
Don't worry, we found the perfect cave for them to hole up in. And they've got enough food that they oughta be set for a while.
All we. Need do. Now is. Defeat Qin Shi Huang. Before their. Food stores. Run out.
It's so good to have you both back!
Go on then, have at them!
Fou, fooou!
5. After the battle
28 linesAll hostiles eliminated. I think we should be safe for now.
Let us. Take a. Short break. But do not. Let your. Guard down.
Say, I don't recognize you guys. Hell, I'm not even sure what the hairy one's even supposedta be!
Ah yes, forgive me. I am Chen Gong, and this is... Hmm, how do I explain...
Hahaha, what's to explain? You all know me! I'm Lu Bu Fengxian!
...Uh-huh. How come Alter Ego Fox Bitch is hangin' with us?
(Snort!?) (What does she mean, "uh-huh"!?)
Fujimaru, you. Still have. A fever. Have you. Not been. Cured of. The poison?
I'm afraid not. As of yet, we've only been able to treat the director.
Indeed, procuring an antidote for Mr. Fujimaru...
...is one of several reasons why we must make haste to Xianyang.
Well, you heard the man. Now, do you think you could maybe stop with the murderous glare?
It's making me want to murder you right back.
Huh. So you got no problem turning traitor on Qin Shi Huang and the Crypters, huh.
...I'll admit that Chaldea and I will never exactly be the best of friends.
But I'm willing to swallow my distaste if that pompous emperor gets some much deserved comeuppance.
That right? Well, there's no better way to stick it to an enemy than to strike while things in their own house are a total cluster.
Don't worry, traitor, I won't be kickin' you out. At least not until you betray us.
The enemy is drawing nearer to Xianyang all the time.
Hmm. They are too close now for us to employ another orbital strike without endangering the capital.
How fare the capital's defenses?
F-f-f-for the time being, I'm having Lady Liangyu fortify our frontline defenses.
I-i-i-in the meantime, I'm afraid we have no choice but to hold them off with more waves of automatons and Duōduō Yìshàn...
Your Imperial Majesty, if I may be so bold, I would ask that you give the order for the other royal guard to join the battle.
Hmm... We hate to admit that matters have reached the point where that is necessary.
But perhaps it would be cruel to keep you hunting dogs on your leashes when the scent of battle is so near.
Very well, you have all been training your kung fu for just such an occasion. Go. Show our enemy your skill.
We will, Your Imperial Majesty!
6. Before the battle
91 linesHmm... Hmm...
How are the camouflage devices holding up?
I think I was able to patch them up for now...but even putting their wear and tear aside, their batteries just aren't gonna last much longer.
I never planned on having to charge them outside the Shadow Border, you know.
I think our only option here is to try and jury-rig an energy saving mode to make them last longer.
I see. Well, I have no doubt any modifications you can make will be of great utility. They've already held up remarkably well, given their improvised nature.
At any rate, it won't be long now before we reach Xianyang, and any advantage the devices may confer over long-range surveillance will be lost.
However, even if we are no longer able to mask our location, we should now be close enough to the capital that we need not fear an orbital strike.
Once we have rested up tonight, I believe we should make for Xianyang with all haste.
For sure. We are badly outnumbered, so if we have to end, we'd better do it quickly.
...How's that thing I asked you to make coming along, Da Vinci?
Well, I've got it all put together for the moment.
But whether it'll actually be helpful or not all depends on whether we can trust the comms protocol Koyanskaya stole.
You doubt moi? However you may feel about me, I can assure NFF's products are of the very highest quality.
I can at least say that the data I recovered from those knockoffs seems to line up with the protocol.
But I've only got my laptop here, so I really don't have what I need to test the thing.
I'd say it's got about a fifty-fifty shot of working, if I'm being honest. Hardly my best work, you know?
That's fine. If anything, I'm impressed you pulled this off with so little time to get it done.
Well of course I did! I am a genius! You can rely on me for anything!
...That said, I don't know if I can encourage you to actually go through with this. In fact, I think it'd be pretty reckless if you did.
Yes, it is reckless. But that kind of recklessness is pretty much why I'm here to begin with.
It's what made me go down in history, and eventually led to me meeting Fujimaru as a Heroic Spirit.
...All right. But make sure you talk this over with him before you go, okay?
Jing Ke? What is it?
Oh, nothing. I just wanted to discuss our strategy for the upcoming battle.
Between Chen Gong and Red Hare joining us, Nezha and Mordred coming back, and Koyanskaya...
Well, I don't know that we can really count her in our lineup, but I don't think she'll try anything as long as Holmes and Da Vinci are around.
My point is, we've got plenty of capable fighters to go around, so
You want to go off on your own, don't you?
...So you want to go defeat the emperor? All on your own?
Fou, fooou...
You know it makes sense. It would also create a distraction while the rest of you try to find the Fusang Tree.
But, all by yourself? That just seems...
I don't want anything to happen to you.
？！
What, you're worried about me? Please, don't be.
Worrying over me is as pointless as trying to convince Spartacus not to rebel.
Jing Ke...
Sometimes, I can't help but wonder why the Counter Force gave me, of all people, a life after death.
Maybe it's something to do with risking my life to take action at a time everyone else was too scared to try.
If there had been someone actually worried about me, I probably wouldn't be here right now.
So speaking as both a Heroic Spirit and your Servant, I promise you, you don't need to worry about me.
But, Senpai's
I'm not worried about Jing Ke the Heroic Spirit. I'm worried about YOU.
You're our friend. Of course I'm going to worry about you.
？！
...Heh. Ahahaha! You never change, do you?
You're right. It was silly of me to say that. I mean, telling someone as caring as you not to worry?
It is as ridiculous as forbidding Spartacus from rebelling, or ordering me to come back safe.
Fou, fooou!
All right then, let me put it to you this way: I know it's selfish of me, but please, let me do this.
I can't stop thinking about the fact that I finally have another chance to face that emperor...
I came this close to assassinating him when I was alive, but I wasn't quite able to pull it off.
And now, with Xianyang almost staring us in the face, I feel that failure more keenly than ever. I just can't get it out of my mind.
If I take on a different mission now, I'll be so preoccupied with this that I might end up making a fatal mistake.
So please. Let me be your decoy.
Let me draw that emperor's gaze away from you and the others.
Right now, I think that's the best thing I can do to help Chaldea.
...Do you promise to come back safe?
？！
Man...you really don't let up, do you? You're not even going to let me get a poem in.
Look, I can't promise everything will be fine. Not when I'm going up against Qin Shi Huang.
But...I can promise I'll make it to the Epang Palace. Especially now that you've made sure I won't forget that look you're giving me.
So make sure you find the Fusang Tree, and take care of that poison.
After that, it'll be time for our real battle, with the Crypter...Yu Mei-ren.
So let's both keep that in mind as we go our separate ways, okay?
...Okay.
？！
Fujimaru, we've got an emergency on our hands! Our remaining camouflage devices just broke!
What!?
I'm afraid we are now completely exposed. It won't be long before more enemy soldiers make their way here.
You can thank our illustrious commander tripping over the wiring for that...
A-are you saying this is MY fault!? Who fixes delicate devices by spreading their components over the floor!?
Everyone knows you're supposed to do your restorations in a garage!
Fou, fooou...
We can no longer hope to avoid enemy contact, so we will need to fight them off as we move.
We can ill afford to stay here and exhaust ourselves fighting unending waves of enemies. Be ready to head for Xianyang on a moment's notice.
Hell yeah! Now that's more like it!
Fujimaru, Mash...
We know. See you in Xianyang!
Just be careful, okay?
？！
You too.
What? Jing Ke. Has gone. Off on. Her own?
Not a problem. We've got all the ass kicking power we need right here!
Yeah, let's carve a path right through them!
Enemy hostiles confirmed. Get ready!
7. After the battle
56 lines...The near future revealed itself before him.
He could feel the looming threat of war draw near, slowly but surely, from beyond the peaceful city.
He could see the palace's defenses growing more robust by the day.
Even without visiting Epang Palace for himself, his predictive calculations warned him of the inevitable conflict to come, and its inescapable result.
...Xianyang was going to fall.
Even knowing that, you would still tell me not to take up arms?
Defending Xianyang is no longer your job.
But the real problem was the future that followed.
Usually, he could learn small details about the futures he saw, even if he couldn't always make sense of them.
But now? He couldn't see anything at all. Not even a vague fragment of a future possibility.
It was as though, several years from now, this very world would no longer even exist.
...That is how it should be.
Yu...
Your ability to see the future has toyed with you for too long. No one should have to carry responsibility for history on their shoulders as you have.
You have long since earned the right to lay down that burden.
You mourn my fate so deeply? Rather, the fate of the Xiang Yu who paved the way for this Liu Bang to follow?
...
My place in the empire is not one of peace. Seeing the manner in which this body has been optimized for warfare should make that clear.
Yes, I was originally designed to be a civil servant.
But my ability to see the near future proved to be most useful on the battlefield.
When Qin Shi Huang had only just united all of China, there were still foreign nations in need of being brought to heel.
I traveled to Europe, Africa, the New World...every land under the sun, all to make them part of Qin Shi Huang's territory.
I must have shed more blood in the course of that conquest than this other Xiang Yu who was known as the Hegemon-King of Western Chu.
But here, your conquests were rightly held in high esteem, and the empire valued you accordingly.
However, in Proper Human History, your reputation was...horrific...
Well, that is understandable.
It made sense that history would view him as a horrible, bloodthirsty monster.
History is the collected recollections of humanity, so it is only natural for them to view an inhuman machine in such terms.
If such a device were to be mistaken for human, and its deeds recorded as such, it is no surprise that they would be feared.
Not one person in all of Proper Human History ever truly understood why you did what you did.
You are wrong about that, Yu.
...?
I know for a fact that there was one person who understood the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, your Xiang Yu.
You, the one who just told me of this other version of myself. Surely you must have understood him.
...Lord Xiang Yu...
...Ahh, now I see...
At long last, he saw he had been overlooking something so terribly obvious.
By always casting his gaze to the distant horizon, he had missed what was right there in front of him.
There was another person there in the same time and place as Xiang Yu. Another who looked human, yet was feared and despised as inhuman.
Just as Xiang Yu was feared and despised for quelling all threats to the empire...
...this immortal Zhenren must have never known either understanding or acceptance.
So that is why you have wandered for so long in search of me... How unspeakably tragic.
It is all in the past now; it is no more than a fleeting dream. There is no sense looking back.
From Xiang Yu's perspective, she was not one to view with suspicion, but wonder. There was neither fear nor hatred in his gaze.
If anything, her way of life was something to aspire tosomething beautiful to behold.
But this insight was one only he could have, and only because he was not human.
To humans with short lives and limited perception, she must have seemed as terrible as a demon king.
But as a pair so far removed from humanity, Xiang Yu and Yu Mei-ren could find solace with each other.
Indeed, each was the other's perfect companion.
...So the Xiang Yu in Proper Human History died, leaving you alone?
There was nothing either of us could do. You had a duty to fulfill, and I was given eternal life.
And yet, with his ability to see the future...Xiang Yu must have known what awaited Yu in his absence.
He must have known she would wander for an eternity, and the hardships she would suffer in solitude.
I see... Then I must have grieved for you.
...
...When Dapple runs no more, what then can I do? Ah, Yu, my Yu. What will your fate be...?