For This Is a Prison Once More

Huh?

What's that look about?

It's hard to say for sure since you're wearing a mask...

...so I'm probably just imagining things because I doubt you'd actually do this, but...

...did you just smirk at what Master said?

It certainly seemed that way to me.

Kagekiyo.

What is it?

Cagliostro just said that his archenemy is using these seven trials to whittle down Master's mind and soul...

...and that his ultimate goal is to stop humanity's revival. You did, yes?

I did.

Then Master asked him who this archenemy is.

Who brought him to this Tokyo, imposed these trials on him, and killed his family.

And in response...

...he showed up.

So what are we waiting for? Come, Master. Alter, Salieri.

Now that our sworn enemy is in sight...

...do you imagine we have time to simply stand around, licking our chops!? Don't be absurd!

...!

Kagekiyo!

Come on! Follow my lead! Open your eyes and take a good look at him!

He is standing right before Master, yet he is clearly prepared for battle!

... ...

...That explains it.

I was going to congratulate you on overcoming the fourth trial and tell you the final three were about to begin...

...but it seems I underestimated you.

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Now, don't be hasty. It's still too soon.

I am not yet the one you must face. This is not where my seventh trial will take place.

That being said, the fifth and sixth trials will take place across the entirety of my prison.

In that regard, I commend your spirit, Taira-no-Kagekiyo. I see why you are regarded as hatred incarnate!

(Blush)

Don't you talk your way out of this.

Kagekiyo. He's just saying he's not going to fight us here. I think.

...I see. I suppose I can understand that.

Ignore the rest. How he says it doesn't matter.

Getting hung up on his words is just playing into his hands.

Yeah, I remember now. This is what you're like, isn't it?

You've been lurking behind the scenes, acting all cryptic since we got here...

...so I'd almost forgotten.

But look at you now. You're doing just fine.

Back when you were hanging out by Master's feet, you looked like your magical energy was almost gone.

What was that all about, then? An act?

I don't get it. You're the one who called us here, right?

And now you're, what, our enemy?

If this is a joke, then it's time to cut the crap.

Or don't, and I'll burn you till there's nothing left.

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... ...

...Hey, asshole.

I can deal with you ignoring me. We've got a whole oil and water thing going between us.

But Master?

Don't you dare ignore Master when he's talking to you.

I said, answer the questions. Right now. You hear me?

Say something, dammit!

We're talking about whether you did it or not!

...Yeah.

What!?

What the hell was that!?

Don't you "Yeah" us!

Who and what were you responding to!? Huh!?

Are you TRYING to piss us all off!?

...!

Since when do you use a sword? For that matter...were you always such a hardcore, close-range fighter...?

That's enough, Alter! You too, Kagekiyo. Sheathe your swords!

Tch.

Master hasn't ordered us to attack, and Dantès there hasn't made any threatening moves towards us.

From the sound of it, it's likely he's our enemy. Even so...

...Master. The decision is yours to make.

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...The final moment approaches.

Three trials remain, including mine. They shall therefore be called the Final Three.

If you wish to conclude your journey and reach Antarctica, then you must attempt them.

Both the fifth and sixth trials will pit you against fire of unparalleled strength.

If you do not fight with all your might, the whole of your soul, you will not walk away with your lives.

Fight. Overcome.

I will be waiting for you at the entrance of despair.

Ah!

Hmm. He's entered his spirit form.

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...I don't sense him anywhere nearby.

Freakin' duh. He just disappeared.

There's no way we can go after him in his spirit form, and we still can't sense hide nor hair of his magical energy.

... ...

No... Wait. Hold on a damn second.

Is this actually happening?

Did he really just spout a bunch of weird bullshit...

...and books it in spirit form?

Hmm.

I have never fought him seriously before, but I believe he has great promise as a villain.

Just when I thought it was the perfect time for him to show himself, hehehe! What a classy retreat!

It was quite the effective taunt.

Any army provoked to such a degree would surely be so enraged, they would need considerable time to regroup.

To that, I can only say, "Well done!" I shall have to employ similar tactics the next time I provoke the Genji.

You think he's taunting us?

...Nah. Not a chance.

That's not how he operates. I'm pretty sure that was just him being him.

Hm.

It seems clear this Count is entirely capable of infiltrating a place and escaping on his own.

Yes, we just fought a difficult battle, but he was still able to hold his own against you two, each powerful Avengers...

...and make a perfectly clean getaway.

The Edmond Dantès registered at Chaldea could never do anything like that.

Never mind the differences in his appearance or combat style. They don't matter.

The important thing to note is his incredible stealth capabilities.

He appeared before us in the blink of an eye and did so without revealing a hint of Servant aura or magical energy to alert us.

When did he gain that ability? And how?

He only used his spirit form when he made his escape. He was quite clearly still in physical form when he appeared.

Hehe. Hehehehe!

As I said, he is my archenemy, and the one behind this entire incident.

All of this version of Tokyo is his personal garden. That is why he is able to appear seemingly from thin air.

Well, in his case, I'm sure he could still do so easily regardless.

Seriously?

What's so funny? And why the hell're you acting like you're on our side, anyway!?

Because I am.

Oh, of course. Silly me. What do you wanna do with this clown, Master?

You may do with me as you wish. I assure you, I am on humanity's side; I am your ally.

I will follow your orders obediently. If you think me suspicious, you need simply command me to go away.

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Yes?

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A lie.

Thanks to my infiltration, the third trial is effectively moot.

If I had to guess, I would say that between Boudica and

Me?

Yes. It appears each of you served as half of the trial, and so together counted as completing the third.

Oh come on. Just like that?

It's my archenemy, Edmond Dantès's decision to make. And I daresay Avengers excel at making arbitrary decisions, wouldn't you?

Oh, right, my apologies. I almost forgot.

You're all Avengers yourselves, aren't you? I should have chosen my words more carefully.

... ...

You certainly like to talk.

On that, I agree. I also cannot help but notice your tendency to express your opinions as objective facts.

I'm a cold, calculating man. Hahahah, well, I'm only half joking.

Seriously?

(That was supposed to be a joke?)

I only mean that I was able to learn some things while I was pretending to be the third trial.

I had a number of chances to interact with both the queen and Dantès, you see.

Hmm... I suppose that does make sense.

Right?

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Oh my, how very strict.

But, under the circumstances, I of course understand your caution.

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Understood.

I will cut off his head if he tries anything untoward. I take it that is all right with you?

...If that is how it must be, that is how it must be.

Very well.

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Seems way too lenient to me...but if that's what you want, fine.

In the meantime, I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this. Mind if I try to sort this out?

For starters...who the hell is that Dantès, anyway?

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Hm?

What? Why're you staring at your feet all of a sud

Wait. Wait just a damn minute! You don't actually think he's gonna show up again, do you!?

We just saw him run off in a mask to who knows where! He's not still gonna be hanging around your feet!

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Huh?

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Hey, Master. What do you mean, different?

... ...

!

Huh!?

I... Wha... Huh!? H-he actually showed up!?

Yes, I can see that. Now, quiet.

Oh come on! How can you NOT be shocked by this!?

... ...

His magical energy is stretched quite thin. The masked Count's magical energy was completely hidden...

...but here, it's clearly just running low. And it's obvious why.

First, he used a great deal of magical energy to bring Alter and me here during the fight against Britomart Alter.

Second, he's been using magical energy to enhance the three of us on a constant basis. We've all experienced the like.

So, does that mean this flimsy Dantès, and the masked one we just saw...

...are different people, with different Spirit Origins?

Yes, they are. And assuming this shadow is the Dantès we know at Chaldea...

...the masked one must be a newly summoned Spirit Origin.

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Hmm.

Huh? What's that supposed to mean?

Exactly what he said. Perhaps he is, perhaps he is not.

But regardless, you seem to have an idea of who he is. Am I wrong, Master?

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The Gehenna of your mind, hmm. I see.

Uh...

So... Um...

I...guess I see...?

Hang on, gimme a sec. I think I've got it, but let me make sure.

So, you're saying...

...there's been a Dantès hanging out in the recesses of your mind this whole time!?

And it's not the guy we see at Chaldea!?

That must date back to the prison tower incident.

According to the records I've seen, Master's mind and soul were trapped for seven days in a Singularity, the coordinates of which were not known.

That Singularity was created by the Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantès, on behalf of the King of Demon Gods.

Oh...

Is that the time when Master was in REM REM mode for a whole week?

It must have been.

In the end, the Singularity was resolved, and the Count of Monte Cristo opposing Chaldea disappeared.

Of course, that was a different Spirit Originin essence, an entirely different personthan the Edmond Dantès we know at Chaldea. However

So, that Dantès didn't actually disappear...

But instead...whatever's left of that Spirit Origin have been inside Master this whole time?

Since all the way back at the prison tower? That's a long-ass time.

...Is that true? Has he really been with you this whole time?

...!

...!?

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I see... Y-you don't say...

So, like, he's just been there 24/7 for years now?

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But...like...

...doesn't that make him kind of a parasite or something?

From what Master has explained, he sounds more akin to an immune system, or a kind of filtration device.

He takes the dregs of the threats, hostility, fear, and other malignant data that accumulate in the depths of Master's mind on his journey to restore humanity...

...and reduces them all to ash.

So basically, he incinerates bad stuff, huh. Okay, I get that.

But it's still creepy as hell! Oh, and another thing!

I'm only hearing about this shit now...

...but it sounds like Amakusa and the other Jeanne kind of already knew about it!?

And they're both Rulers!

Yes. Is that what is bothering you?

It's just like, you think you know a guy... You think he's part of your Avenger crew...

...and then you find out he kept all this crucial stuff from you the whole time! Ugh, bastard!

...You could interpret it that way, if you chose, I suppose.

Now, now. Hahahaha, it is cute to see you get so worked up, Alter.

There is nothing at all strange about wanting to know your friend's(?) secrets.

Frie

We are NOT friends. You can shut that shit down right now.

Keep saying that kinda crap and I'll burn you both to the ground.

My, my. How bloodthirsty.

I feel as though I am being lumped in somewhat unfairly there...

At any rate, Master, you're saying you think this Dantès may not be the one from Chaldea...

...or even a newly summoned version...

...but the remnants of the man you encountered at the prison tower?

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Hmm, I see. Hence the seven trials.

I dunno. Something's still not adding up for me.

I get what you're saying, Master, but it still sounds like a real mess.

Probably 'cause this guy still refuses to say a damn word.

... ...

Seriously, it's kind of freaky how you just showed up without saying anything.

So, according to Master, it sounds like the you from the prison tower...

...and the you from Chaldea share some of the same memories or something.

You'd be making our lives a lot easier if you'd just tell us whether that's true.

Of course, you're not saying a damn thing, are you?

... ...

... ...

...C'mon. You can give us at least a yes or no, yeah?

So answer me this.

Is that masked bastard the one from the prison tower?

You don't even have to say anything. Just, like, nod or shake your head or something.

... ...

!!!

Oho.

Hmm.

Well now.

H-he moved! He actually responded!

But...which was it? Yes or no?

... ...

G-gotcha. So that's how it is, huh...

At first, I thought he was completely ignoring us, like the masked one...

...but maybe him showing up means he wants to help?

If that's true, then I have even more questions for him.

If we can ask the right yes or no questions, maybe he can even tell us what the masked Count wants, and where he

Well, never mind.

It seems his magical energy was even lower than before. I doubt we'll be able to call on him whenever we like.

(The records of the prison tower incident I saw at Chaldea said it lasted for seven days and had seven trials.)

(And now, we face seven trials here as well...)

(Why is the masked Count doing this?)

(He did say something about them being necessary to reach Antarctica at the end of our journey...)

(...but Chaldea will never be able to make it there if we can't raise our Foundation of Humanity rating.)

(So then, what could these trials be)

Hmm. This is...not good.

Huh?

We may have taken a little too long. The trial is over, yes, but there is still no sign of any people anywhere.

Which means the trial ground must have been renewed.

Ahh, forgive me, everyone. I should have been more careful.

Please get ready. The next ones are coming.

Hmm. Was that two trumpets?

That was fast. And in rapid succession this time, too.

Well, guess the lull in the fighting's over now that the leader's revealed himself.

Fine with me. Bring it on.

There's only three trials to go now, yeah? So let's get these two over and done with!