Fate/Grand Order story · Ordeal Call, Bellum Novae Humanitatis, Archetype Inception
Summer Vacation on Earth
Bellum Novae Humanitatis, Archetype Inception. Old Dubai
2 scenes, 214 lines
1. Before the battle
128 linesEarth is beautiful. Nature is beautiful.
Whether they are good or bad, anyone taking in this sight would think the same.
In their heart of hearts, they may fear nature. They may see it as no more than a stage prop to make themselves stand out.
Whatever the case, so massive a natural landscape calms the mind. They would know that, for all of nature's many systems, there is no point to any of it.
There's no purpose to anything nature does. It experiences neither grief nor anger, neither joy nor arrogance.
It has no feelings and so is absent the elements of human society that make people lose heart.
That's why it's so calming. That's why it's so enticing. People can sense that they belong here, no questions asked.
But, one mage once said...
"Earth, nature, has a heart of its own. That's why it evolved to be so beautiful."
It was a theory built on a view of Earth as Gaia, one single, massive organism.
If true, it would mean that Earth itself, that nature loves humans.
If you want proof, just look at how it keeps flourishing...
...in spite of its resources being dug up, its waters polluted, and mountains of trash being piled atop it.
As far as Earth is concerned, humans' environmental pollution is no more harmful than a first-degree burn.
This planet has a lot of love to give. That must be why people feel its love is so beautiful.
...What nerve.
The blood spilled from fishing. The ground contaminated from urban development.
Wildfires. Desertification. Depleted water reservoirs. Marine pollution from illegal dumping.
Yes, Earth does have a heart.
It's just that her stage of lifethe scale of her very existenceis so much greater than humans' that they are unable to see it.
Just look at this hellish landscape. At this scenery practically dripping with resentment.
It was this fury, this pain of life constantly in flux that ultimately led to you humans dying out for good...
...and leaving only me, Earth, behind.
What a weird dream...
...That almost felt like Mictlān all over again...
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Say, what's going on outside?
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Oh, hey there. Did you only just wake up? It's almost noon, you know. It's not like you to sleep in so much.
Whoa, really!? (Was it because of that dream...?)Anyway, what's going on out here!?
Never mind that now. What's all the commotion!?
Is that...a Servant?
She looks like an actual princess!
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She's no ordinary Servant. I think she's probably Area H's Moon Cancer.
If she came here to see Jinako, Jinako would probably be dead by now.
So I think she must have some other reason fohm?
Chakerim doesn't know what to do. I think he came to take her order, but he's not having any luck starting a conversation.
Two vertical jumps. Definitely a sign he needs help. I've seen it before.
Come on then, Hakuno! Let's go help him!
Nope! I just can't deal with Servants who have, well, that face!
Okay, I was joking, but I'm still staying here. It'd be better if you went and talked to her yourself.
She doesn't seem like she can perceive AIs very well, so you being human makes you the best man for the job.
Then I think I'll stop by Masterbucks on my way to breakfast.
Good idea. I'd go with you, but it'd only complicate things. She doesn't seem like she can perceive AIs very well.
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Hi there. Everything okay?
Fujimaru!
Thank goodness you're here. This customer's having trouble. The touchscreen won't respond to her.
She doesn't seem to know how to order, either. I don't know what else to do.
I know how to order. I just don't know what any of these drinks are.
I can't drink something if I don't know what it is. I don't want to choose wrong.
That's a good point.
Finally, someone reasonable. Good day, human.
I'm Archetype: EARTH, Area H's Moon Cancer.
Um, may I ask who you are?
Are you from this town? Good day. A pleasure to meet you.
I'm Archetype: EARTH, the Moon Cancer from Area H.
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I know this is sudden, but could I ask you to show me around? These AIs and I seem to be on different wavelengths.
But you have a nostalgic scent about you, so I think we'll get along fine.
I heard a Moon Cancer was attacking, so I came as quickly as I could!
What's the situation!?
Quiet! She'll hear us! Now stay low, come over here, and take a look at Masterbucks!
Okay! I hope you don't mind my crouching next to you! Oh, hi, Anthony! I didn't know you were here, too!
Y-yes, I am. I'd like to run away as far as I could, but this is a crisis for Old Dubai.
I was also worried about Fujimaru...
...but that seems not to have been necessary. Take a look.
Oh, they're having a pleasant chat! You can almost feel the friendly vibes all the way up here!
Right? I noticed this when he saved me too, but Fujimaru really is incredibly amiable.
He seems like the kind of person who could walk up to a living bomb and casually ask them what they were up to today. I really admire that sort of personality.
It's true! Senpai is the kind of person who would say, "So they're a bomb. That doesn't have to mean they want to blow up EVERY day"!
Hehe, I see. It seems both you and Fujimaru truly have the right stuff.
The...right stuff? What do you mean?
I mean that you two are both naturally bright and good-natured companions, and you'd rather talk than fight.
It's actually lucky that Fujimaru's by himself, too. The lack of combatants means the atmosphere is remaining decidedly noncombative.
On top of that, that princess may be a Moon Cancer, but she doesn't seem to be very interested in fighting.
Fujimaru was showing her around Main Street earlier. She clearly had no intention of attacking at any point.
That must mean she's not here for Old Dubai. She probably wants to evaluate the Master of Chaldea for hersel
Oh, look! Chakerim's bringing them lunch!
It looks like Senpai ordered... Huh? French cuisine? Well, that's not at all his usual.
It's a more mature choice. He must want to look good in the presence of royalty, hehe.
I see. The portion's not quite big enough for a young person like him, but since he's representing Chaldea, he must be keeping appearances in mind.
Meanwhile, the Moon Cancer ordered...
...a hamburger Merry Meal that comes with a toy! I never would have guessed!
Yay! It was my idea to model that meal on the solar system! I'm so glad she picked it.
Welp, looks to me like we can leave them to their own devices.
So this is what humans eat. I could tell a lot of work went into this meal. It was most enjoyable.
And not just this lovely lunch. Everything in this town is worthy of preserving.
And the stories you told me of Chaldea moved me very deeply.
Thank you for treating me like a neighbor and showing me around, all without being frightened of me.
I've never experienced summer vacation before. It's a lovely thing, isn't it? Thank you. You made my vacation.
You're very welcome.
I'm glad you liked everything I showed you.
...Well, not quite everything. Let me be more precise.
I didn't care for the Spice Souq. I saw nothing good there.
There's no specific reason I can point to for that. I just found it a bit...barbaric.
At any rate.
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Old Dubai is a wonderful city.
I am a Moon Cancer, so I understand that technically it exists in opposition to me...
...but I no longer have any desire to fight you Chaldeans or this area's Moon Cancer.
Besides, I never cared for the way this election is being handled.
Just take the name. Don't you think "The Final Boss of Humanity's Annihilation Showdown" is promising more than it can deliver?
If Moon Cancers are going to compete to be the final boss of humanity, they should ignore the voters and fight each other.
Suffice to say, I'm very displeased by the baffling choice to make this an election rather than a tournament.
Oh, um, please don't misunderstand. I was only joking.
I will not deny that humanity has gone extinct. As living beings, they were bound to end eventually.
My preferred method of annihilation is to simply watch over humanity until it comes to an end.
I have no intention of hurrying the process along myself. Do you know what I mean?
Of course. Although...
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Although?
I know it's silly to bring this up now, but...
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"Archetype: EARTH"? That's really your name?
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Right. I suppose you wouldn't be familiar with this concept.
I could simply TELL you, but now that we've gotten to know each other...why not show you with feelings and physique, mind and soul?
Yes, let us converse as though we were fire and ice coming together.
May I have this dance?
Um... Meaning...?
A battle, of course. It's only a formality, but I would still request that you bring all your strength to bear.
All right. I understand. Then I won't hold back!
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2. Before the battle
86 linesCarbon. Oxygen. Hydrogen. Helium. Untold amounts of gas and interstellar dust.
These are the elements that come together over the course of almost a million years to finally form planetary eggs.
This process is not especially rare. It could hardly be called "special" or "exceptional."
In space, this is a daily occurrence. So common is it that it exceeds the daily birth rate of any civilized society.
And just like chicken eggs that fail to meet quality standards, most planetary eggs disappear as swiftly as they are formed.
The problem is what comes after. It takes incredible good fortune for a planetary egg to become a celestial body itself.
Is the core the right temperature? Is there another celestial body near enough for it to become a wandering planet?
Does it have any neighboring celestial bodies destined to collide with it? Are the nearest galaxies too close?
And most importantly...does its sector contain souls that can grow and nurture life?
Life is the force of attractionthe power to draw other things in.
When a planetary egg forms in a sector of space imbued with that property, that is when a planet with the potential for intelligent life is born.
A planet's soul exists before the planet itself. It affixes itself to a celestial body to become its heart after the fact.
In the magecraft world, these souls are known as "Archetypes." They are the models for all creation to follow.
However.
Just because these Archetypes existed before planets does not mean they were the first form of life.
They are, at their core, mind and soul. Materially speaking, they may as well not exist at all.
At this stage, Archetypes fall under the same category as Divine Spirits and planet-born Elementals.
They only become life-forms after the fact.
Once intelligent life has begun to grow on a planet, the Archetype realizes...
"Oh, I see. So this is what we looked like at our initial illusion, and in our essential conclusion."
And, by dreaming, they are born.
Although Archetypes are formed along with their planet, it is not until civilization matures that their model is finally created.
Despite being inherently supernatural as their planet's brain, they can't even tell what they themself look like without intelligent life.
That is what makes an Archetype: CELESTIAL. They are a given planet's ultimate form.
However, CELESTIALS are still only concerned with matters pertaining to the entire planet. They have no interest in the intelligent life-forms growing on the planet's surface.
As intelligent beings, Archetypes are not the first form life takes. Rather, they are the first way it looks.
In other words...they are souls looking to create new planets meant to succeed them.
What the...?
It feels like my mind was just expanding...
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Are you back with us now? Please, don't pay that any mind. It's no big deal.
At any rate, I think I've been here a bit too long. I'd better be on my way.
But first, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a question, Fujimaru.
Why do you think BB Dubai is holding this final boss showdown?
Because she won't be free until humanity is gone for good.
Oh, I see. Yes, that could be part of it.
She'll never be able to leave Moon Dubai as long as humanity exists.
However.
...Because she can't make up her own mind?
...Exactly.
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As I see it, BB Dubai is unable to make this decision herself.
And not one of the intelligent beings on Moon Dubai has the answer.
So she's collecting samples of various extinction theories with the intent to choose one of them.
This is the largest mystery surrounding heror rather, Moon Dubai itself.
Why is she searching for a clear reason for humanity's extinction when the fact of their extinction is already beyond dispute?
And for that matter, what DID annihilate the people of Earth?
Solving this mystery falls to you, visitors from the twenty-first century.
Later That Day, 8:00 p.m.
Welcome back, everyone!
Nice work, everyone!
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Yeah, seriously, great job! I'll be poring over all this data you brought back about Areas H and I for sure☆
She who controls the information, controls the election. This data will make it easier for us to strategize.
Hmm, so Area H really is a noncombat zone, huh. Looks like it's just a straight-up amusement park.
Yeah. Nothing there even looked like a weapon. All the attractions were fun and exciting.
I just wish we could have seen what the area's Moon Cancer looked like.
Yeah. I never would've thought she'd come to Old Dubai herself. Thank goodness nothing bad happened.
Quite right. At worst, she could have killed Lady Jinako and Master both while we were away.
But fortunately, it looks like her visit was happily uneventful.
Just knowing that Area H's Moon Cancer, Lady Archetype: EARTH, isn't our enemy is more than enough.
...
What is it, Ms. Ciel? Something on your mind?
No, it's just... Well, are you sure that Moon Cancer was really Archetype: EARTH?
From what you've told us, she sounds nothing like the Archetype: EARTH I know.
You're familiar with her, Ciel?
Huh?
W-well, I've never MET her or anything. I do know the same things about her as every Executor, though.
The Archetype: EARTH I know of is a True Ancestor vampire who has no common sense, thinks only of herself...
...can't read a room, and causes trouble everywhere she goes. They say not even grass grows in her wake.
So, she's a walking natural disaster?
Right. Imagine a hurricane that's always bouncing around on its axis while it moves. That's her in a nutshell.
She didn't seem anything like that to me...
No, based on what you've told us, she doesn't to me, either. Maybe they just look alike?
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At any rate, it's good that we know who Area H's Moon Cancer is now.
I think we can afford to wait and see how things play out with her.
Um, what about Area I? What did you find out there?
They've stopped producing mechanized soldiers. Now, they're building...something near the Ferris wheel.
Lady Ciel believes it's some kind of transformer station.
A transformer station? At the Ferris wheel?
What's that lion thinking? Is he trying to attract votes by offering free rides or something?
Well anyway, in that case, let's wait and see what he's up to! Besides, if the Ferris wheel starts working again, it'll liven things up for all of Moon Dubai!
I, for one, fully support Moon Dubai getting more recreational facilities! These AIs clearly need all the fun they can get!
All right then, once the Ferris wheel is back in operation, let's infiltrate Area I...and bring along plenty of snacks!
We can thank Edison for contributing to Dubai's development and serve him up an iron fist of justice all at once!