God's Skyboulder

So you don't know what God's Skyboulder is either then, Lakshmi?

No, I don't. It was there when I was first summoned here, and it hasn't changed at all in the time since.

At least, I don't think it has. I haven't been watching it this whole time, so I can't say for certain.

Well, I have been watching it this whole time, so I can. It definitely never changed.

Since we haven't actually asked, you don't know what it is either, correct?

That's right. I just noticed there was a big, weird cube in this Lostbelt, and didn't think anything more of it.

I mean, sure, I considered investigating it and getting rid of it in case it turned out to be something dangerous, since it is so bizarre and all...

But I hadn't the slightest idea how to go about it, so I decided to just keep an eye on the thing.

(Not to mention Daybit told me I was better off leaving it alone.)

(...Don't dismiss something before you've seen its true nature, huh. True, if I did, I'd be no better than Arjuna.)

It was the same with me. I didn't know what it was, so I couldn't do anything about it.

I could see that giant tree and the cube no matter where I went, but I had more pressing matters to attend to.

Rather than bother with something I knew nothing about, I figured my time would be better spent helping the people here who had been led astray by this unjust god.

That is very admirable of you. But are you sure it's okay to leave that village unattended?

They should be fine during the early yugas. Especially while there are barely any kali around.

They have weapons now, even if they were hastily assembled, and I've taught them how to fight as best I can.

They should be able to handle themselves in a pinch. The only thing I'm worried about right now are the sacredThere.

It's another pack of sacred beasts, Master. Let's hide and wait for them to pass again.

Hmm, it's not just sacred beasts. There's something else there, next to the road.

Wait. Is that...a person?

I'm not picking up any vital signs. I'm afraid it's a dead body. Perhaps they died of disease, or in an accident...

Why are you going over to it?

Damn. We're too late...

...

？！

So you didn't know then? That's one of this world's mistakes. The sacred beasts purify the bodies of anyone who happens to die unexpectedly.

...!

My guess is the false god thinks dead bodies don't belong out in the world, and wants them gone as soon as possible.

I see. So if this world were a single entity, the sacred beasts are the white blood cells of its immune system.

Since we can assume this world's god would be the head, the sacred beasts must be its macrophages, created to detect, isolate, and remove any foreign elements...

So then, does that mean the kali they fight are something like a virus? Most intriguing.

...Whatever the case, people are people. When they die, they shouldn't just be cleaned up like trash.

Their karma should determine what they become in their next life. At least, that's what my people believe.

That's what a true Saṃsāra cycle is meant to be.

We cremate dead bodies to free their souls, and ensure they go on to their next life without issue.

But here...as long as the sacred beasts are around, nobody will be able to hold a proper cremation.

If this world has no respect for the journey of the dead, and no hope for those who are left behind...

...then it is nothing but a world of death.

So that's why you were concerned about the sacred beasts showing up in Dival.

Because one of your elderly had passed away.

Right. He was an old man whose time had come. There is nothing anyone could do about that...

...but I didn't want the false god stealing our right to give him a proper farewell. You really helped us out there.

...They're finally leaving.

If they haven't already spotted you, then I would urge you to hold back for now.

You're almost to God's Skyboulder, and I would very much prefer to avoid making a commotion wherever possible.

I know. I would have stopped them if I had found the body first, but as things stand now, my only choice is to let them go...

We should be okay now. I'm certain the sacred beasts can't detect us from this far away.

Good. I'm glad I didn't have to sneeze while we were hiding. Let's go.

(Wow. I knew she was cool and collected, but I didn't know she also had such a charming sense of humor...)

My, my, seeing it this close up really makes you realize just how big it actually is, doesn't it?

Ooh, I've got an idea. Why don't we take a little group photo to commemorate the occasion?

？！

Was that a joke, or were you just trying to avoid facing the reality of our situation? Either way, it wasn't funny.

If you want a pic, go ahead and take all the selfies you want. Just don't come running to me if the whole thing turns into a jump scare.

Fou fou, fooou!

Aww, you guys are no fun. I was just trying to lighten the mood a little.

So, um... These numbers we're seeing are accurate, right? Our sensors aren't on the fritz or anything, right?

That's right. We made it to the area near the cube without a problem, but...

Where did all these kali come from!? I thought there were barely supposed to be any during the Kṛta Yuga!?

I think it's the place, not the time.

They're showing up as though they've just been here all along, rather than coming from somewhere else.

Be that as it may, the sheer number of them is almost absurd.

There are as many here as there were during the Kali Yuga... Maybe even more!

Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't we just run away! Seriously!

You have a point. We can't investigate the cube with all these kali around. Annoying, since we just got here.

If they surround us, we'll have nowhere to go.

True, we can only take so many risks when it comes to safety. And there's certainly nothing to be gained by attempting to complete an impossible goal.

？！

Understood! We'll break through the kali behind us and make a run for it! Awaiting your orders, Master!

(Huff, huff) Okay, I think that's enough distance between us and them.

I never imagined there would be that many kali gathered there.

I expected it might be dangerous, but with numbers like that, adding one more to our ranks still won't be enough to fend them off.

You don't have to rub it in. I wish my Noble Phantasm were capable of blasting them all away at once, too.

My apologies; I assure you I was not speaking sarcastically. I was merely reflecting on my failure to foresee a situation like this.

I see. That's all riNo, I'm sorry. I was being oversensitive.

...While we're on the subject, this seems a good chance to tell you this. Naturally, I will do everything in my power to accomplish our mutual goal. I have no intention of holding back.

But I should warn you, for your own safety, you shouldn't expect me to come through when it really counts.

I have never truly been able to accomplish the things I most wish to do. That is just my lot in life.

(Well that's a strange opinion to have of oneself. Perhaps her failure to defend her country in life had a traumatic effect on her?)

...Be that as it may, there is no doubt whatsoever that you are far more useful in combat than a detective in a remote location.

So I hope you will continue to lend Mr. Fujimaru your aid.

Of course I will. I would be pleased if you trusted me on that much.

At any rate, there really were a ridiculous number of kali there. Lends the impression that it may be even more important to this Lostbelt than we thought.

Indeed. It was as though those kali were there solely to guard the Skyboulder.

The fact that we can no longer see them after putting just a little distance between us and the Skyboulder would only seem to confirm that.

I wonder what this could mean...

...

For that matter, we still don't know what those kali demons actually are.

I'm guessing Holmes is probably right in that they're like a virus infecting this world, in opposition of the sacred beasts...

...but still, we have not the slightest idea what they are, where they come from, or where they go...

I don't know either, but I can say they're not any ordinary kind of creature.

Given that they stick around even after the world is remade, maybe Arjuna uses them as a means to determine who is worth preserving...

...or maybe they just remain here out of necessity.

If it's the latter, that would mean they're a crucial part of the stage Arjuna uses to run this world.

So, if we defeat him...maybe they'll all just go poof?

？！

At least we now know that God's Skyboulder is protected by vast numbers of kali, and can't be approached lightly.

It may not be much, but it is more than we knew before.

In the meantime, I suggest we return to Dival and plot our next course of action.