Archetype Inception

Sheba has stopped observing! According to my chronometer, we've gone back in time to A.D. 2999!

I'm seeing a...Reality Marble? All across the moon's surface! Matter is being converted to Spiri...trons...

And... Huh? I feel like...there was something...I had to do... What was it again...?

It's Phenomenon Containment! The moon's textures are being peeled away! No, wait. This seems less like storage and more like...reduction?

It's like...it's taking all the data that composes this place and making it as light as possible to make it easier to destroy?

...Making it so that any damage it sustains is multiplied a hundred million times?

Dammit, so that's its game! Hang in there, everyone! Try to stay motivated!

Lose focus even for an instant and your mind, your whole being...

...will come...undone...like...a rug being...pulled apart... But then...maybe that's...okay? It's not like...dying...

There I go being overly optimistic again... But then, optimism's a good feeling... A kind of...motivation...in itself...

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Hey, guys? What's wrong? Are you tired? Do you need me to shake you awake? Or maybe slap you out of it?

Huh!? How has your consciousness sunk so low you're deeper under than if you were asleep!? Are you cursed!? Is someone using some magecraft on you from far away!?

No, that's not it! Nothing's attacking us or anything! They're just becoming the kind of humans suited to this place!

Their capacity for thought has regressed to the level of early computing devices, if not lower!

So they're getting stupid!? What kind of attack is that!?

No, wait. You and I are the same as ever. Which means...

...this is only affecting humans from Earth?

Looks that way. And since the conversion is happening naturally, without any interference, there's no way to stop it.

In this world, it's just a matter of fact that human thinking would be impaired. That it's normal for humans to lose their intelligence.

Then what do we do!? Come on, Fujimaru! Hang in there!

Remember how gallant you were when you confessedI mean, scolded me in the underworld!?

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Ring!? What ring!? THAT ring!?

Then I'll crush it right now! Zi Kirika!

It didn't do anything!? No, it was more like...my Beast Flash didn't work!?

It's no use. That's just a visual representation. You can't touch or interact with it in any way.

That's why I couldn't do anything about it. Once it shows up, there's nothing anyone can do.

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...It began in A.D. 2800. Humanity had settled into an irreversible decline and predicted this very phenomenon.

They called it "the Moon Cancer."

It was born from humanity's stagnant collective unconsciousness in response to one of their fundamental urges.

The desire to be the dominant speciesthe prime speciesand their belief that they deserve to stay atop the food chain.

The more science advances, and the wiser humans become, the stronger the Moon Cancer grows.

It becomes a giant hand grasping them from behindone they can never shake off.

What does that even mean!?

The Moon Cancer is the very act of interfering with those leading the waythe other side of the very human nature BB Dubai found so beautiful.

It's the ultimate embodiment of humanity's flaws, and the aggression inherent to intelligent beings.

So it's trying to hold back those leading the way...why? Out of sheer jealousy?

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Now you're even forgetting how to speak!? Hang in there, dammit!

I'm so sorry. This is all because I failed to defeat you...

The Moon Cancer has different stages.

First, it induces changes in the world while that world still takes pride in its dormancy.

It simplifies the world's textures and naval charts, inhibits the thought processes of the humans atop those charts, and lowers their intelligence.

From there...it transforms all of humanity into Moon Cancers.

It has already completed seventeen percent of its transformation of Moon Dubai's citizens.

Once the number of Moon Cancers outweighs the number of normal humans, they'll come to topple the Burj Khalifa...

...all to prevent the new prime species, the Archetype they refuse to accept, from leaving for outer space.

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There's an Archetype!? In this tower!?

It's a highly advanced data crystal 0.8 millimeters in diameter. A segment of light no bigger than a grain of sand.

The Burj Khalifa was designed to serve as a rocket the Archetype could use to venture into outer space as soon as it woke up.

If the people of Moon Dubai destroy it, the Archetype will disappear, too...

...because it will immediately understand it is a child who was never wanted by its parents.

Moon Dubai's citizens may not be designed for combat, but their frames are all designed with very impressive specs.

If all of them change into Moon Cancers and attack, we won't stand a chance.

...That must have been the annihilation you were confronted with. Wasn't it, BB Dubai?

We can't do anything to stop all of this. Not even Space Ereshkigal can.

This is a trialan Ordeal Call humanity must overcome themselves.

They can't possibly do that when they're the ones who're unintentionally responsible for it in the first place.

The Moon Cancer is just too strong against humanity. It's an Evil of Humanity that has no intention of letting them win.

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Master!?

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...Huh?

No way... How? How is this happening...?

They're...they're gathering around the Burj Khalifa to...protect it...

The citizens of Moon Dubai are working together to protect US!

Hrrrk, this is awful! Is this a Code Cast!? It feels like my brain is being microwaved or something!

I'll take this over my brain completely shutting down any day!

You know, I think it's growing on me! Haha! Just you wait! I'll do a way better job than any of you!

Weren't we just talking about the problems with being arrogant!? Oh, never mind! I'm just going to focus on doing my part, too!

Is it working, Anthony!? Are we keeping the Burj Khalifa safe!?

Yes, you're doing a great job of stopping the Moon Cancer from changing this world's textures!

The only way to handle situations like this is to fight fire with fire!

So keep devoting all your computing capacity to verifying the Burj Khalifa's existence!

Even if the rest of Moon Dubai is purged, as long as the Burj Khalifa is still standing, there's hope!

It's time for us to graduate for real!

I don't believe it. All those third-gen people...

I thought they'd be turning into Moon Cancers and destroying the Burj Khalifa, but instead, they're protecting it?

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...(Gasp!)

I'm sorry! I must have dropped my guard for just a second! I'm ready to get back to the operation now!

S-s-same here! Ugh, that was so embarrassing! I'm your senpai; I should be better than that!

But at least I'm wide awake now! Teach Me, Ms. Ciel! Is back and ready to go!

What's that all about? Are you saying you're a teacher too, Ciel!?

Oh, hey, looks like I'm okay too. What about you, me?

Of course I'm fine now. Man, you're all amazing, you know that? Talk about redeeming yourselves!

But, why are they doingWait. Did you say "Anthony"?

Enabling management AI admin privileges! Bring up the activity log for ID:04902, Anthony, right now!

...Understood. Opening activity log for ID:04902, Anthony.

Um, excuse me. You're ID:10023, Billy, right?

Could I have a moment of your time? There's something I'd like to talk to you about.

W-wait a second! You're ID:00197, Lloyd, right?

I, um... I know this is sudden, but I was hoping I could speak with you for a moment.

Hello. You're ID:82012, Tahir, right? Could I have a moment?

Hello, ID:00087, Kaoru.

Hello, Muammar.

Hello, Shaadi.

Hello. Hello. Hello. Could I talk to you for a moment?

That...IS Anthony, right? He's talking to so many people...

He keeps getting better and better at it, too. No, wait. I think he's actually starting to enjoy socializing...

I think so. But, what is he talking to them about?

He's apologizing.

He's been going around all of Moon Dubai, opening up to each and every person in the city individually, explaining his past, and telling them about how he feels now.

He's been doing it ever since he left Old Dubai.

Huh!? How do you know that, Hakuno!?

I haven't had much to do, really, so I've been monitoring him on video.

When I said you were all amazing, I didn't just mean the people here in this room.

I was talking about Anthony too. Him, along with everyone else in Moon Dubai who heard him out.

I hated myself. Not just for what I did in the past, but for who I'd become even now.

Looking at Fujimaru, Mash, and the Servants, the embodiments of the history the old humans left behind...

...I could see they had something we didn't, but what it was? I didn't know. I only knew I felt guilty.

So I just foisted everything on BB Dubai and tried not to think about the problem.

I figured this was just as far as intelligent beings from Earth could go.

...Yeah. We know. It's the same for all of us.

We should have stayed human. Turning ourselves into AIs was a mistake.

No. No, that's not it at all.

Jinako believed in us.

That human. That cowardly, lazy human who could never find a way to love herself...said she was proud of us.

Jinako had faith in the people from before 2400.

She was an old human herself, and she believed in the work we've left unfinished.

Work...? As in, that pointless activity?

Yes. Work IS pointless.

We're immortal. The first and second-gen AIs do everything we need done. We don't need to work.

But that wasn't the case for the people of Old Dubai.

At first, I didn't see the point either.

But when I needed to find a home for myself there, I had no choice but to start working myself.

It was simple work, and it let me acquire a home. After that, I started seeking out new work on my own.

It changed my entire outlook. Maybe it even made me more like the old humans.

So, you worked to prove your humanity? Is that it?

No. I worked just because it was fun.

Work does have a lot of downsides. It eats into your processing speed and wears on your humanity.

But I sought it out all the same. I wanted to pay a price for my existence.

A price for your existence...? What are you talking about?

An AI who gave me help when I needed it once told me:

"We wanted to take on responsibilities, like the old humans did."

That's right. Work is responsibility. It's what we forgot when we became immortal.

We abdicated our responsibilities and, in that instant, we also stopped growing.

Haven't you ever wondered why we clung to immortality in the first place?

We don't need to be out and about like this. All of us know we'll always survive as records in the towers.

That we even have a word for being immortal is a clear sign we haven't truly escaped death.

And yet...here we are. Immortal humans, out and about, all the same.

It's not because we don't want to die. I think it's because deep down, we know we still have unfinished work.

Haven't we all thought the same? That there's something out there we still have to do?

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Work isn't about the present. It's about the future.

It builds what will ultimately endure for everyone who comes after us.

I want to finish what we started. No... I believe there's still one last job we can do, even as we are now.

Please. Help me release the Archetype into space.

I think that's what we're meant to do. And...I think it's how we pay BB Dubai back for watching over us all this time.

Ghhh! I had no idea working was so hard! You'd have to be insane to CHOOSE to do this!

But you were right, Anthony! It IS fun! Thank you! I forgive you!

There's nothing to forgive! Anthony didn't do anything wrong! Or if he did, it's nothing we aren't all guilty of!

We're still the result of countless people's hard work! The real sin we've committed is denying the value of their accomplishment!

For the longest time, I've wondered why we survived. What our purpose for being was.

Now, at long last, I finally understand. It's time for us to pass on the title of prime species to the newcomer!

Yeah! Let's see this thing through!

That's the work we have to do. That's the reason we humans came to an end!

...Thank you. All of you. Thank you all so much...!

(Sniffle) I thought it was the pain making me tear up. But no, it's...emotion. It's taking everything I have to stay conscious, but, I'm just so happy right now...

Right? This city's not all bad. That goes for you too, of course.

...You're...

Nobody's perfect. We all make mistakes. Together, we've made millions upon millions of them.

But we can still be proud of how far we've come. It took us a thousand years, but we made it all the way to the moon.

Ah...

But that's enough. We can be just as proud as the humans from any other world.

So now, all we need to do is let them take it from here.

You did good, Anthony. Once our work here is done, I'll buy you a drink.

...Don't mention it. Thanks for believing in me back then.

I'm afraid I have to decline, though. If this is going to be our last drink together, I insist on buying.

Dammit! They're putting up a great fight, but they're still toppling one after the other!

Some invincible Beast I am! I can't believe there's nothing I can do here...!

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Good grief. I hate to take on such a difficult mission, but I guess there's no other choice.

BB Dubai, I'm going to give you my Spirit Origin. Let's merge into a single BB.

Huh? You'd...give me your Spirit Origin? But, you're the original. I'm only based on you.

Hehe. I appreciate you seeing it that way, but you're wrong. I'm an isotopea copy of the BB from SE.RA.PH.

Okay, I may still be closer to the original than you, since you were made on Earth, but that's beside the point.

Your mind has reached the same level as the original BB's.

I know it wasn't easy to get there, so well done. You've proven worthy of receiving my Spirit Origin.

On which note, here goes! BB, cosmic puuurge!

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I'm sorry, Senpai, but this is where I take my final bow.

Oh. Come to think of it, I exited the stage from here once before too, didn't I? Doing it a second time shouldn't be a huge shock!

That being said, I didn't get a chance to say a proper goodbye the first time, so now, I'm going to remedy that.

Fujimaru. Did you enjoy your trip to Dubai?

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Right!? It might not have gone quite how I planned, but it ended up being a great time all the same.

The situation we're in right now? It's all thanks to what all of you achieved in Moon Dubai.

The Moon Cancers, the Beast, me... None of us alone could have caused this change in the new humans' mindset.

Chaldea has passed this succession trial with flying colors, and without me having to adjust humanity.

Having been with you in Chaldea for so long now, I couldn't be prouder.

Thank you for everything. I hope you'll keep going along your merry journey just the way you have been.

And with that, I'm saying my goodbyes to Earth and heading off to the distant stars!

But don't worry, we'll meet again soon. You can't get rid of me that easily☆

...All right, BB. If you're willing, then I accept.

If it means defeating the Moon Cancer, demonstrating Moon Dubai's worth...

...and above all, proving once and for all that I'm your superior...

...then I'll combine the moon and Earth's technology, and become the ultimate gorgeous BB!

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Hello there, citizens of Moon Dubai gazing up toward outer space.

And to you, Master, as you stand there in the observatory, gawking, I say this: please close your mouth.

I'm sure anyone watching, as long as they're possessed of even a modicum of intelligence, must be saying to themselves...

"Who is that? Is she a person? A goddess? The final boss?"

"No, that's Golden BB!"

That's right! I am the bunny who guards this moon's golden city! The brand-new ultimate cyberdemon!

I am...Golden BB!

(Speechless)

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Okey dokey, time for some punishment! Fortunately, in this form, there's nothing I can't do.

Begin materialization. Define the Humanity Filtration Correction Phenomenon as being both tangible and visible.

Make that which cannot be seen, seen. Give that without substance, substance.

Now, show us what you really look like, Moon Cancer! We've got humans here ready to send you back where you came from!

I've finished making sure physics remain constant and the space is solid, Master. No more worries about being forced to the ground.

Now converting the infinite distance from here to Enemy Unit: Moon Cancer into finite, perceivable distance.

Employing zero to two-thousand kilometer shortcut. ...Success.

Okay, I've cleared away everything that made it impossible for you to attack it. The rest is up to you!

Would you like to take the fight to the Moon Cancer?

Of course! Mash Kyrielight, ready to fight with everything I have!

(Hm? Why did I just get a chill down my spine...?)

No, never mind! Whatever that was can wait! I'm going all out against that thing too!

Me too, obviously! That's the whole reason I came back. Let's go, Master!

Looks like this'll be our last chance to show off a bit. Coming?

Of course. That's Earth BB's mortal enemy, after all. I can't rest until I've torn it to shreds.

Hey, Master of Chaldea? Just a hunch, but I get the sense that thing is an expert at seriously messing up people's days.

So I suggest you put either me or the guy in the school uniform hat in your front line. Hell, use both of us if you want.

Oh, right. Can't very well fight wearing this, can I? Thanks for the reminder.

Right? You're pretty dependable yourself, Fujimaru. Okay, now that that's settled... Haaa!

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Let's do this thing, Moon Cancer! Nobody messes with a lunar city or BB on my watch!

We won! A perfect victory! Way to go, everyone!

Look, the textures are regaining their detail and complexity. Moon Dubai is returning to its old self.

I may not care for this place myself, but it's still a world where humans live.

So I'm glad we could keep it safe. Aren't you, Master?

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You want to get into that here? Now!?

...Well, okay. I guess this is the only chance we'll have.

After I fought you, Ereshkigal and Anki Ereshkigal realized they saw things very differently.

So they agreed that Ereshkigal would go to sleep in the underworld, and Anki Ereshkigal would disappear.

Well, that was the plan, anyway.

Only, Anki realized she actually agreed with Ereshkigal.

"Even if I lose my own purpose one day and become an obsolete underworld unvisited by any dead..."

"...there will still be someone who will come to visit me, even if he's still alive."

Then she said she wanted to see that for herself in this universe rather than her own...

...and agreed to fully merge with Ereshkigal.

When I was Anki, it was really just her using my body. We weren't yet of one mind.

But once we decided to merge, all of a sudden, we became like... Well, this!

I became a brand-new Beast with a Spirit Origin that's compatible with your universe.

Impressive, right? I couldn't believe it, either.

Still, as nice as my rebirth was, I still couldn't leave Anki's underworld.

All I could think to do was try harder to get out. Of course, that didn't work.

But then, just when I'd given up hope, a dimensional hole opened right in front of me, and I saw you were still here in Moon Dubai!

I figured you were in trouble, so I jumped right through the hole to help.

And that is how the brand-new goddess of the underworld was born☆

As for where the "Space" part came from... I don't really know, either.

It just kind of popped out, you know, on a whim. Maybe it has some relevance to me in the future?

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Oh. It looks like I'm out of time. Darn, I thought I would last a little longer.

I guess transforming has its drawbacks.

Transforming!? So that Space version of you was a transformation!? Is that true for Star Ciel, too!?

Uh, no, in my case, that's just a simple power-up, not a transformation.

Though it clearly is for you, Ereshkigal. I see you're now able to switch between Servantverse and Chaldea forms.

Exactly. Anki said that way would be much better, too. You see

Oh! If your Spirit Origin is completely back to its old self, then you can come back to Chaldea no problem!

That's right. Thank you, Mash. I'm touched that you're so happy for me.

I guess both my Anki self and my Space self had a soft spot for that side of you and Fujimaru.

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We can catch up later. Golden BB's spatial solidification is starting to come undone!

And we're eighteen-hundred meters up, so there won't be much left of us but red smears on the pavement if we fall from here!

Let's see. The Servants who can fly here are

D-d-d-don't look at me! I can't fly now that I'm just Ereshkigal again!

Well, I can just a little, but definitely not enough to keep anyone alive from all the way up here!

So, that would mean

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"How can this be happening?" "This isn't right." "This wasn't supposed to happen." "Things weren't supposed to be like this."

"We want it." "We don't need it." "We're jealous." "Must be nice." "That's terrible." "We're envious."

"We can't let it go." "We refuse to give it up." "We can't accept this." "We" "We" "Not yet" "Not yet"

"One" "Another" "Argue" "Over" "Alone" "Deathbed" "War" "Breakup"

"We worked so hard." "We endured so much." "And yet." "And yet." "Why?" "Why?"

"Why must we be left behind?"

...Hel...

...Help...me...

"We won't accept it." "You can't have it." "You're not going anywhere." "We won't allow it." "We won't forget." "We won't let you escape."

"We" "We" "We" "Always have been" "Always will be"

"Special" "Special" "Special" "Special" "Special" "Special" "Special" "Special, specialspecialspecia"

...Somebody...help...

...You're wrong.

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I know a human exactly like that.

Anyway, that was a fun question. Thank you for that. As a token of my appreciation...

...I'll tell you something I think you'll want to hear. Could you come over here, Lord Fujimaru?

I'm the only one left who knows what exactly he was trying to accomplish in Olympus.

Kirschtaria Wodime wanted to evolve every human in the world into a higher form of life, hoping that would put an end to conflict between people everywhere.

He thought if everyone became a god, and no longer had to worry about food, clothing, or shelter...

...they would be freed from the struggles of having to fight over resources or feelings of inadequacy, and could instead turn their focus to struggles unique to higher life-forms.

He believed that, while that way of life would have its own share of troubles, these new humans with their superior bodies could overcome them.

Of course, I'm sure some people would scoff at the idea, preferring he stayed out of their affairs.

But even people like that could simply focus on staying true to their own beliefs after they had ascended.

Kirschtaria had faith in every single human in the world.

He believed in those who could work hard and those who couldn't, that each and every person had their own individual struggles.

Which is why he meant to give every one of them an equal chance...

...with the sole exception of himself.

He never included himself in his efforts to save humankind.

After all, not even the greatest doctor in the world can operate on themself☆

He knew that, and he accepted it.

He dreamed of a better future for humanity. A future he knew would leave him and him alone behind.

He worked himself to the bone to make his dream a reality, knowing he'd be forgotten and abandoned, the last old human in the world.

He was a real person who really tried to make that happen. I know because I knew him myself.

There were plenty of others like him. Plenty. There always have been. There always will be.

I've known people who did everything they were asked to do and more...

...and left the stage freely once they knew they were done.

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...

I'll disagree with you there. This boy isn't weak at all. He has all the strength he needs to move forward.

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Now I see. So the Moon Cancers taking part in this election are allowed to summon a single Servant.

But it seems the question of who you should call upon and when never crossed your mind.

Maybe you didn't think you counted as an entrant? I see. You really are incredibly selfless then. How very "bene."

At any rate, I'm a Servant who was summoned automatically. Maybe you called on me unconsciously, or maybe it was the ones mobbing you right now.

Whatever it was, it told me I was the right one for the job, much as it was loathe to admit it.

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Whoa there. Eyes forward, young one I've never seen before. This is the first time you've been the one to summon me.

Maybe you and I have met before, but if so, it was a different me. I don't know aaanything about you.

But.

I can tell you're a capable guy. I'm a genius, you know. It's easy for me to get a read on people.

You lack confidence? Your opinion isn't correct? So what?

All you need is the will and the desire to continue moving forward. That alone has led people to commit plenty of sins.

...And you really have done well to make it this far. Even for those who came before, it's inspiring.

That's right. So accept it already. I'm a renowned Renaissance genius. I've lived for the future more than anyone alive or dead.

And I think this boy's coming from exactly the right place.

Look. You can see the moon, right? That's your goal. But are you sure you can make it there, battered as your legs are?

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Oh, all right. But just once, and just a little, okay?

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Now go on. You have every right to move forward. Your sins, your achievements, your bravery... I support it all!

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...Oh. It's you.

...Good morning, Archetype. It's nice to meet you.

(Huff... Huff... Huff... Huff!)

Come on, come on, come on! Move, move, move!

You have...to catch him...no matter...what! So come on! Move, dammiiiit!!!

(Huff... Huff... Huff... Hu...ff...)

...Really? That's it? Well, that was way easier than I expected!

I could've walked here and still had plenty of time. Now I feel like an idiot, wasting all that energy for nothing.

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Yeah, it's me. Protea Alter, your lord and mistress. Sucks for you that there were no other nicer Servants around.

I was just kind of slacking off in the area when I saw you falling from the sky.

And hey, we've got a contract now, even if it is just limited to this world, right? So I kind of HAD to slide in and catch you.

You'd better appreciate this, okay? One second later, and they'd be scraping what's left of you off the street.

I seriously doubt Protea could've pulled this off, either. Lucky for you, I'm very athletic.

Golden? What, is that your way of saying I'm the best? I appreciate the sentiment, but I have to say, your taste in superlatives leaves kind of a lot to be desired.

Of course I am. You know I can make cake, right? Well, baking cake's a lot more physically demanding than you'd think!

Hm. Hang on. Did you just call me "Palter"?

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Eh, whatever. I don't have the energy for all this pointless chatter anyway.

Knowing you, you're really worried about the others, right? Relax. They're fine.

They must've all made it down from the Burj Khalifa by now.

I also bet they saw me catch you, so they're probably pretty relieved themselves.

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You're kidding...right? Hell no. Put those twiggy little legs of yours to use and go meet them yourself.

I'm sick and tired of moving. And since it doesn't look like there are any more enemies around, I'm gonna go ahead and disappear.

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You're my Master. Can't you tell? I'm barely holding it together. I got stubborn and pushed myself way too hard.

I'm not usually one to push it like that, but I had my reasons this time.

And look what I got for my trouble. Just goes to show you should always stick to what you know.

I swear, some threat to humanity I turned out to be. What a joke, killing myself trying to protect a human city.

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Never mind that. Just go already.

Seriously. I mean it. My hand's itching like crazy right where you're standing, and I can't scratch it until you go.

Unless...you're so terrified you can't even move? Makes sense. You ARE standing in the palm of a kaiju's hand.

All I have to do is squeeze a little, and that'd be it for you. Or would you rather get eaten instead?

I bet if I ate you, like Kazura did when she turned into Protea, my Spirit Origin would be A-OK again.

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Well, excuse the hell out of me! Yeah, yeah, you're right! I can't even move a finger anymore!

So...go already.

I'm an Alter of Kingprotea. Being an invincible badass is my whole identity.

So...I really don't want anyone seeing me disappear so miserably.

It wouldn't be fair to Protea, either. She'd probably complain about me dragging down her reputation.

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What was that? You find out I can't move and suddenly you're all brave? I swear, you humans

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So, what? You're saying if I was in Chaldea, you'd make a proper contract with me or something?

Like one that isn't just a matter of weird circumstance? Even though Protea's already there?

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...(Sigh) I knew I should've just thrown you right at the Burj Khalifa when I had the chance.

I'll just chalk that up to me deciding to be polite. Bye, my temporary Master.

Sorry, but forget what I just said.

Having two overgrown Servants running around would burn through Chaldea's magical energy pretty quickly, right?