Section 23 Node 3 Recollection Quest (5/5)

Dammit, these guys just won't let the hell up! What a pain in the ass! The hell's going on here!?

C'mon, Kirschtaria, what're you holding back for!? Do the thing already!

Hm? What thing? Do you mean what I showed you on that beach back the

Not that, dumbass! Those meteors you love to throw around!

I never got to see 'em in Atlantis, and I wanna kick back and enjoy the show from the winning side for once!

Ahh, you mean my meteor rain. Naturally, I'm not going to hold anything back. However

...It would seem it's time.

Excuse me, Fujimaru, but would you mind pausing for just a few seconds?

Huh?

Master! The Tree of Emptiness's inner magical energy is spiking rapidly!

Get back! It's not safe!!!

？！

(Could this be the Foreign God's advent!? Though right now, I must admit...I'm more concerned with that sky.)

(It's neither the night sky nor outer space... It's not even the same cross-dimensional space where Chaos resided!)

(Even I can't make heads or tails of it! What IS that!?)

Did the Tree of Emptiness's insides just disappear? ...No, wait, I can see something inside...

Is that...a giant? It looks humanoid...

Mmm! Mmmmmm! Indeed! That is the body of our god!

That glorious form of our glorious god is the very reason we Disciples were summoned!

Excellent work, Kirschtaria! Excellent! I'm impressive to see a mere human accomplish this! Well done!

I admit, I had my suspicions that your little tiff with Chaldea may be violating your contract with the Foreign God...

But, as they say, all's well that ends well! And indeed, with this, humanity has fully and finally reached its end!

Now, no one can stop the advent of God!

...

The Foreign God cannot take physical form on this planet. Thus, when the Tree of Emptiness grows to completion, and its hollow is fully filled...

...the Foreign God will descend to Earth, using the tree as their vessel.

It's just like what you did with Grand Summon Article Aether. It's over. Game, set, and match.

？！

Mmm, hehe. Hehehehehe!

I don't think so, Fujimaru!

You put up a good fight, but you're simply far too late and far too powerless!

You know, since this is all so incredibly thrilling, I think I'll go ahead and deal with you myself, so that Lord Kirschtaria need no longer

However...there is no place for the Foreign God here.

Look closer, Limbo. See for yourself exactly what's inside my Tree of Emptiness, what is offered to it.

Hm? What are you talking about? That form inside the Tree of Emptiness is clearly the body of... Of... What!?

What is this sickening Divinity!? How can there already be another god inside!?

Who is this loathsome squatter!? Who is this other god!?

Who the hell do you think? You forget all the times Kirschtaria mentioned his name?

This Tree of Emptiness's name ain't Magellan. It's Atlas!

!? Then... Then...

You mean you summoned a Divine Spirit inside the tree!?

Atlas... Grrr, who is this Atlas!?

In Greek mythology, Atlas is the name of a titan who literally carried the world on his shoulders...

So you brought him here ahead of time, Kirschtaria?

Yes, I did. I actually summoned three Servants in total.

Caenis, a Divine Spirit from Proper Human History. The Dioscuri, from this Lostbelt.

And Atlas, the giant who served as the foundation of the Greek world in Proper Human History.

After coming to a mutual understanding, he agreed to aid me in my plan

A plan to build a new Age of Gods on this world, rather than hand it over to the Foreign God.

How dare you!? This is a clear breach of contract!

Not at all. I've obeyed every instruction the Foreign God gave me.

Our agreement was that I grow my Tree of Emptiness to completion. We never agreed on what was going to fill it.

Despite its name, it didn't feel right having it sit there so empty, so I took the liberty of preparing a resident for it ahead of time.

Th-the halos are glowing red!? You mean its communications have been cut off!?

This is a disaster! The Foreign God will never be able to descend like this!

What is the meaning of this, Kirschtaria Wodime!? How dare you disobey the Foreign God!?

Obedience was not what I offered the Foreign God to begin with. We merely made a deal, as equals.

I've never stopped believing in the future the possibilitiesof humanity.

My own body may no longer fit in with Proper Human History thanks to the Foreign God resurrecting me...

But I never attempted to overthrow humanity for the Foreign God's sake.

I moved away from Proper Human History so I could expel them.

Suffice to say, Limbo: I've always despised you, and the way you take twisted pleasure in destruction.

How dare you speak to me like that, you wretched traitor!?

Not so fast, idiot! You wanna get to Kirschtaria, you're gonna have to go through me first!

Khh...! Impudent false Divine Spirit! This is a new low, even for a barbaric Servant like yourself!

You think? I hardly gave you a second thought, Limbo.

You wasted so much energy mocking everyone you could that I knew you were gonna end up the biggest laughingstock of all!

So...does this mean the Foreign God isn't going to come here then?

Correct. There is already another god occupying the one place they could manifest.

So the Foreign God will never appear here as long as Atlas is around.

Then...does this mean Kirschtaria did all this to protect Earth from the Foreign God?

...If only it were that simple. But it isn't, is it, Kirschtaria?

At long last, I'm finally beginning to see exactly what it is you pose a great threat to.

...Right you are, sage of Chaldea.

Your insight and observational skills are remarkableall the more so considering that Zeus interfered with your mind.

I have no desire for the Foreign God to rule Earth. But, I also refuse to submit to Proper Human History.

Huh!? But, you just said that you were going against the Foreign God! That everything you've done was to help humanity's future!

Not humanity's future. Humans'.

I have no wish to protect Proper Human History, nor do I think that human history thus far has taken the optimal path.

In that regard, it makes no difference whether I or the Foreign God use the Tree of Emptiness, Mash.

I simply can't bring myself to choose a future for Proper Human History. You of Chaldea are the only ones who can do that.

Is this... the calm before a great flood? The kind that once drowned the world of Proper Human History?

No, that can't be right. This will still no doubt destroy the world, but...it's so very warm...

The rebirth of humanity, of course.

？！

The bell of revolution has been rung.

Atlas will use the magical energy stored in the Tree of Emptiness to create new lawsnew texturesand spread them across the world.

As for myself, I will make my declaration. Human wisdom has met its defeat. Human power alone is simply incapable of progressing beyond this point.

Humans are fundamentally incapable of making the right choice. I, of course, am no exception.

No matter how many times we deliberate, fight, and so on and so forth, our history will never become what it should.

Why? It should be obvious. Humans are hopelessly limited by our life spans.

We are weak. Exceedingly so. Not as individuals, but as a species.

Only those within certain, privileged environments are capable of love, acceptance, and respect.

At its heart, human intelligence is built on taking from otherson selfishness.

There is no utopia to be found down that path. Worlds such as that will always produce innocent victims.

The hell that was Proper Human History proves as much beyond a shadow of a doubt.

But...that doesn't mean we can give up. For something this important, there's no room for compromise or backpedaling.

What I'm after is simple.

If a utopia is beyond current human reach, then I'll revolutionize what it means to be human.

If the human species is weak, then I'll make it stronger.

...That's right. Every human on this planet is about to be reborn.

They will leave their weak human forms in favor of superior bodies, heightened senses, and marvelous potential.

I will have them become something greater than humana new life-form that even surpasses the machine gods.

Naturally, that goes for all of you as well.

This is my plan: a new Age of Gods.

Once everyone is like unto a god themselves, there will be no more inequality.

Every last person will have the power, and the responsibility, to influence the world.

And one day, should all these new gods be willing...they will give birth to a new intelligence who can and will lead history to a much better place.

That is my conclusionmy own Operation God Destroyer.

As of today, humanity will bring down the very concept of gods.

D-does that young man realize what he's saying!? Grr, why is this ship only picking up audio!?

Get Kirschtaria up on the screen already, dammit! Ugh, I can't believe the god-unfearing delusions that not-so-sweet summer child is spouting!

How dare he try to make all of humanity into gods!? We can't let him get away with such a dastardly

Wait. Did he say gods? Not monsters, or spare parts for some nightmare ritual?

No, no, that can't possibly be right. There's simply no way he could do that.

That's the whole trouble with kids these days.

They think they can attract all the votes they need just by dangling an impossible manifesto in front of

I don't think he's exaggerating, Director. It looks like he's telling the unvarnished truth.

All the Storm Border's instruments support what Kirschtaria is saying.

Right now, Tree of Emptiness Atlas is spreading the True Fifth ElementTrue Ether, across the world.

In fact, even as we speak, it's refining your soul's spiritual formatits grade, in other words.

And not just for you. It's doing the same for Fujimaru, Mash, and all the Border's staff, too.

If this keeps up, even as you retain your humanity, you guys really will turn into beings that will eventually have the same capabilities as Heroic Spirits.

Or, to measure you on humanity's scale...you'll end up being on the same level as gods.

Oh come now, surely you jest.

Master, your magical circuits are improving in both mass and quality!

No, wait, it's not just you. It's happening to me, Macarios, and Adele too!

...!

...Unfortunately, Mr. Wodime, that plan is pure fantasy.

You think making everyone into superior, godlike beings will usher in a new world?

Even if you succeed at giving people everything they need, whether it be a sense of fulfillment, long and healthy lives, or physical abilities that eliminate the necessity for competition...

...so long as people retain their intelligence, there will always be conflict.

The only difference will be in scale and destruction. What you are trying to do here is

I understand that. As long as individuals exist, fighting will remain the only cycle of growth.

But, that WILL come to an end one day.

With a larger perspective, broader wisdom, and a longer life span in which to learn and grow...

...humanity will be sure to reach the next cycle.

...That's right. You will all be able to break the chains that humanity thus far could not.

From here on, humans will no longer need to make gods to save them. Everyone will be a god capable of saving everyone else.

...

？！

...That being said, some things will certainly be lost in service of this greater good.

This revolution will be limited to humanity on Earth as it exists right now. I don't have the power to bring back the people from Proper Human History.

Once Atlas's textures cover Earth, Proper Human History will be gone foreverwell and truly lost.

After all, it will no longer have any place to return to, just like the Foreign God cannot occupy the Tree of Emptiness with Atlas keeping them away.

What...? But...then...

Then your plan is essentially the same as the Foreign God's...

It's not any different from having wiped Earth clean...

...What do you think, Fujimaru?

Don't you agree that my plan has merit?

？！

Do you think I am merely running away? That I seek to abandon the past and the present?

...You're not wrong. I have no good response to that.

While I do believe you're capable of bringing that past and present back...I also can't deny that I'm passing all that work onto you.

You're wrong there, Fujimaru. It may not be my place to say anything, but since I'm the elder Master, let me give you some advice.

Now that you've seen the Lostbelts for yourself, you know they're no different from Proper Human History.

They all had the same goals: unify humanity, make full use of Earth...and keep the world alive.

But the Foreign God is different. They don't care about Earth or humanity.

You might be wondering why they bleached the world then. And you would be right to.

Think back to Goetia. He didn't incinerate humanity simply to destroy it, not really. It was only a side effect of his true goal.

The same holds true for the Foreign God.

？！

...It seems the Foreign God has taken measures to deal with me.

I suppose it only makes sense that they would seek to end my life, since they can't touch the Tree of Emptiness.

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid none of you have a choice.

I'm going to use Tree of Emptiness Atlas to revolutionize the world before the Foreign God can break our contract.

What you do next is up to you, Fujimaru and Mash.

You can choose this revolution and its bright future a future of gods where everyone is happy...

...or, you can choose Proper Human History in all its bleakness, with its myriad problems and dead ends.

But be warned: if you try to interfere, I will show you no mercy.

This is MY Grand Order; it is the ideal I have fought for through my entire life.

If you wish to stand in its way, then you must fight with all the strength you possess.

This planet's future rests upon the outcome of this battle.

If you think you can choose a greater future than I...

If you believe you are strong enough for me to entrust you with the Tree of Emptiness...then prove it.

I am Kirschtaria Wodime.

As a Crypter, I denounce Proper Human History.

I am an enemy of Chaldea, and by extension, you...

And I am the leader of Team A, who fought to protect humanity!

(...I see. So this is the Master you raised, Doctor.)

(I feel as though I'm going to be blinded. I feel as though my heart is going to burst.)

(I was never too worried about what might happen if I collapsed along the way, or if I lost my way altogether...)

(...because I trusted Daybit would be there to carry on where I left off.)

(But amazingly, it looks like there was yet another candidate stronger than me all along.)

？！

Indeed, you've put up an incredible fight, Fujimaru.

It can fairly be said that you defeated me.

Of course, that doesn't change the fact that you, like me, are so utterly spent that you can no longer stand.

So you accept your defeat? Does that mean you're going to shut down Atlas?

...I can't do that. At this point, not even my death will cause Atlas to stop.

I'm afraid you're all going to become new gods, whether you want to or not. For that, I am truly sorry.

But once you have, you're free to use the Tree of Emptiness however you like.

...There may not be a way to defeat them now, but once your senses have been heightened to godly levels...

...I'm sure you'll eventually find a way to stop the Foreign God's plan as we

The sky is burning... No, it's not the sky. Is it...the Tree of Emptiness's branches...?

Mash, Fujimaru, get back! It's not safe!

The branches stretching across the sky are setting fire to the Tree of Emptiness!

!

？！

How is this happening!? Nothing should be able to burn a fully grown Tree of Emptiness from the outside!

I know. That's why I burned it from the inside.

I burned down another Tree of Emptiness right from its roots and used its branches to spread our wildfire to your tree.

You said the trees' branches formed a network, right? So I used them to deliver a little...viral payload.

？！

Damn, seriously!? Have you ACTUALLY got eyes in the back of your head, Wodime!?

I could say the same to you, Beryl. I thought you would be more careful than this.

Even if you had managed to kill me now, the Chaldeans are still alive and well.

So I have a hard time imagining how you could make it out of here without a Servant.

Well, damn. Aren't you Mr. Calm and Collected?

You figure out I was all kinds of eager to get my backstabbing on or something?

Not until just now, no. To be honest, I'm still a little shaken.

You have no reason to betray me, Beryl. Why are you interfering with my plan now?

Don't you understand that this will make you a god too? Once you are, you'll be free of the Foreign God's control.

(Sigh)... You really don't get it, do you? Figures. Of course you wouldn't.

So hey, on a different subject, Kirsch: Why were you so scared of the British Lostbelt?

It's not like you ever came by to see it for yourself, right? So how'd you know something had to be done about it?

...Because I spent awhile thinking on it...

...and realized it posed a different but equally serious threat as the Foreign God themselves.

No good could ever come of a Lostbelt appearing in Britain. It could only be a...curse that would take this very planet down with it.

Damn, seriously!? I don't know what you're talking about, but it sounds like a hell of a thing!

They're definitely a scary bunch, that's for damn sure! But hey, that's what made this all worthwhile!

So as thanks, I'll let you in on a little secret of my own. I'll tell you why I came to your Lostbelt.

You remember what I told you before about how I betrayed the fae folk, right?

Well, thanks to that, they've got it out for me reeeal bad.

In fact, all I'd have to do is raise my voice a bit and say "Here I am!" and they'd bring divine retribution down on my ass just...like...that.

...! Macarios! Adele!

Oh good, so you know what's coming then. Awesome. Welp... So long, Wodime. It's been real.

Mash! Fujimaru! Get out of here!

？！

Kirschtaria is right! We need to evacuate immediately! Then again, the sheer heat is so immense that

Everyone, this way! I can at least let all of you escape to the Crown!

(It's no use! We'll never make it in time! Especially given that we're all still exhausted from our earlier battles!)

(Queen Europa can most likely only manipulate gravity and offer physical protection. It won't be nearly enough!)

(Then again, even if we were able to teleport to Olympus proper, that light is going to punch straight through everything in its path!)

...No. This isn't over yet!

I won't let this happen! I can't let their journey end now...!

...No? Well, guess you get to die after all.

Especially since you're vulnerable as shit right now.

...Kh... Gh...

Wanna know why you lost, Wodime? It's 'cause you were too damn busy.

You never would've been so stupid as to let me handle Britain if you'd ever seen it for yourself.

You know, originally, I was just gonna burn this Tree of Emptiness down and head back to Britain...

But after that bullshit speech you made, I pretty much had no choice but to shiv your sorry ass.

What was it you said? Everyone will be like a god unto themselves?

That basically means it'd be a world where I couldn't kill anyone anymore, right?

To hell with that. I'd die of boredom before the end of the first day in that new world.

I don't wanna be some great enlightened version of myself. I'm perfectly okay with staying a piece of shit.