Round 4: The Monster of the Bamboo Forest Labyrinth

Okay, as you can see, this latest occluded Singularity is located in a bamboo forest in Asia.

All right, where are you, dragon!? Quit hiding like a freakin' coward and show yourself, dammit!

So, Aśvatthāman is our designated dragon-slayer today?

I know what you're thinking.

True, there aren't any stories of him slaying a dragonat least, none that we still know about today. However

Okay, as you can see, this latest occluded Singularity is located in a bamboo forest in Asia.

All right, where are you, dragon!? Quit hiding like a freakin' coward and show yourself, dammit!

So, Aśvatthāman is our designated dragon-slayer today?

I know what you're thinking.

True, there aren't any stories of him slaying a dragonat least, none that we still know about today. However

You think I'm gonna let you lot have all the fun throwing down with Vritra!? No goddamn way!

This is a dragon not even Indra could ever fully destroy, right? Sounds like a helluva good time.

？！

Eh, that's all right. Even if it's not her, we'll still be fighting some kind of dragon today, right?

I just wanna cut loose against a worthy opponent! Long as I get to do that, I don't care who it is!

'Sides, this'll be my first time going up against a REAL dragon! I can't wait, dammit!

First thing I'm gonna do is see which is hotter: the dragon's breath, or my flames of fury!

...Aaand there you have it. There wasn't really any way to stop him coming along.

Still, he's obviously, well, fired up about this mission, so we're hoping his enthusiasm will be...helpful?

Besides, with this lineup, there should be enough synergy to offset his lack of combat experience against dragons.

...That's, um, the hope anyway.

...Aaand there you have it. There wasn't really any way to stop him coming along.

Still, he's obviously, well, fired up about this mission, so we're hoping his enthusiasm will be...helpful?

Besides, with this lineup, there should be enough synergy to offset his lack of combat experience against dragons.

...That's, um, the hope anyway.

Heh. Care to warm up first?

Fine with me, if only to make sure you don't slow me down.

？！

That's enough, you two! Settle down! Can't you behave yourselves in front of Master!?

Oh, right, Arjuna. I almost forgot you were here, too.

So hey, uh, this is probably as good a time as any to make this clear.

None of us are ever gonna forget our history...

...but right now, we're both Servants under the same Master. I don't think we need to dwell on anything else.

I couldn't agree more. All we need concern ourselves with is fulfilling our duties to Master.

So, now that we're all in agreement: Line up! Single file!

？！

Hehe. I'm sure you three have a great deal of history, but from where I stand, it's heartwarming seeing you all interact like this.

As a former soldier myself, I too remember those with whom I trained...

...but I never had any friends among them I could truly be myself with, not like you three.

I'm afraid you're mistaken there, Georgios. We are not friends. We simply learned how to fight from the same teacher.

Yeah! If anything, we fought against each other way more than we ever fought on the same side!

Ah, I see. My apologies.

At any rate, we should go over our route to our target.

This is a frozen bamboo forest, which means we will have poor visibility as well as poor footing.

It will also be difficult to retain our sense of direction, since all this bamboo has blocked off any paths we would normally take.

Make sure you stay close to us at all times, Master...

Even a moment's lapse in attention could result in your being lost here forever.

？！

Ugh, dammit! It's a goddamn dead end!

Who the hell does this punk-ass dragon think they are, anyway? Just bring your ass out here so we can fight, dammit!

This place is even more complex than I'd feared. It's as though we're traversing a labyrinth made of frozen bamboo.

I'm mapping the terrain as we speak. Would you like me to send what I've got?

Thank you, but no, that won't be necessary. I, too, am building a map of this area in my head as we speak.

That's wonderful, Arjuna. I should have known you would have the situation well in hand. I'll just keep this map going as a kind of backup, then.

If you decide you'd like to use it, just say the word.

Thank you, Mash. I'll do that.

All right, Master, let's go back to that three-way fork we saw earlier and try following the left path this time.

It's too bad I can't get much roadwork done here.

Ugh, this is pissing me off. We haven't seen a single enemy so far, and we can't even go in a straight line here.

Then when I get bored and try to pass the time with a little fighting, Arjuna keeps stepping in and being all, "Now is not the time."

He really hasn't changed a goddamn bit.

？！

Yup. My old man was basically the martial arts teacher for the entire Kuru clan.

He taught Prince Duryodhana and his ninety-nine brothers, Prince Arjuna and his four brothers...

...and plenty of other guys in addition to me and Karna.

I've got tons of stories from those days that'd have you laughing your ass off. Maybe Karna's told you some of them?

...Well, probably not. Not unless you asked about them directly.

？！

Anyway, I'm sure my old man had his own stuff to worry about, being the teacher for the whole clan and all, so he couldn't teach everyone exactly the same way.

I bet Karna's got his own share of memories from that time that piss him the hell off, too.

He never let his bad experiences get in the way of his training, though. I always admired that about him...

...

Gaah, now I'm getting all wistful and shit! This friggin' sucks! I want to be pumped, dammit!

Quiet.

All right, Master, it looks like we'll need to go down the left path at the next fork in the

MORE friggin' twists and turns!? This is getting goddamn ridiculous!

Hang on. I've got it. Goddamn, why didn't I think of this before?

？！

I got it, Master! If we can't figure out which way to go, all we gotta do's make our own way!

Whoa, whoa, hold it. You don't mean

All right! Here goes!

Sudarshana Chakra Yamarāja!!!

What were you thinking!? At least give us some warning before youOh no!

That frozen bamboo up there just broke off and is headed our way like a volley of ice spears! Stand back, Master!

Hup!

Allow me!

？！

Now then.

Aśvatthāman? Do you have anything to say for yourself?

...No! I don't!

I'm sorry!

？！

I really am sorry about that, Master.

It's all right, Aśvatthāman. My defense was perfect. Impenetrable. Flawless.

Wouldn't you agree, Master?

？！

G-got it.

Anyway, I did save us some time, and that's gotta help. Right, Da Vinci?

True, this is taking longer than I expected.

It may not be the most peaceful approach, but as long as you can promise it's safe, this might not be a bad idea.

True, this is taking longer than I expected.

It may not be the most peaceful approach, but as long as you can promise it's safe, this might not be a bad idea.

...(Sigh) All right. If you and Master are sure about this, then I have no objections.

Okay then, Aśvatthāman, clear a path for us! I will use my arrows to keep Master safe!

You know, hearing that from you, I'm not so sure I wanna keep doing this anymore!

Don't be childish.

One, two... Hraaah!

That was great, Aśvatthāman. You've reached the signal source!

...Huh? Is that...?

Wow, really? That was your best way to get here? What a bunch of brutes. It's so stupid I just love it.

Kama, the god of love...or a copy of her, rather. Not typically one who comes to mind at the mention of dragons.

That's not a copy, Georgios. I'm getting a Servant signal from her! It's the real Kama!

That's right. It's the REAL me.

I'm working with Vritra by watching over this Singularity's core for her.

The hell!? So I'm not gonna get to fight a goddamn dragon after all!? Now I'm really friggin' pissed!

I don't know what it is you were hoping for here, but could you not stand so close to me? You reek of Shiva.

Besides, shouldn't you guys be all shocked to find one of your own betraying you?

Ugh, gods of destruction, always ruining any chance at dramatic tension... (Sigh)

THANK YOU! I was waiting for someone to ask!

At least one of you knows how these things are supposed to go, Master.

Freaking what!? You're talking like you expected this out of me all along!

I mean, I'm not upset. I'm actually kind of impressed by how well you get me.

？！

To get to why I'm doing this... I'm really just out to cause trouble here.

Oh, but it's not that I WANT to cause trouble for anyone per se. It's more like I have to, because of what I am.

What do you mean by that, Kama?

Don't you remember? The only reason I fired that arrow at Shiva was because Indra ordered me to.

And this...was my reward.

Now do you get it, son of Indra?

I only use a vajra associated with Indra to piss you guys off.

I don't know why Vritra is doing this, but I'd guess her reasons are pretty similar.

Basically, we're both demons and vajra buddies, so we have a lot in common.

So, wouldn't you know it, I just couldn't help myself.

Yes, that's right. There are some aspects of what I'm doing here that are simply beyond my control.

Most of them are fun, since they're things I'd choose to do anyway, but there are also some I really can't stand.

...Everyone, is there any chance that she's under some form of mind control?

I do know that some evil dragons are capable of that. Perhaps Vritra is one of them.

No, that's just regular Kama. She's being entirely true to herself. I can tell.

...

Hmm, I see. So that is just who she is.

That does make me somewhat reluctant to fight her... Then again, maybe it doesn't?

？！

Of course. Santa has no mercy for those who would interfere with his duties.

So I will continue to fight until I have become a worthy Santa (read: warrior), whether I must face a god or a demon.

That is what Christmas is all about.

Um, I'm no Christmas expert, but even I know that's not even kind of what it's about.

Anyway, as long as you Indra-related gods consider me a nuisance, that's all I need to be satisfied.

Now then, let's try to make sure we both come out of this alive, shall we?

You may not technically be a dragon yourself, but the way you prioritize your own tastes and desires above all else is certainly something you have in common with them!

Grr, I don't even care anymore!

If you're the only one here, then I'll just have to take out all my pent-up anger on you!

You better put up as good a fight as a dragon! Do you hear me? Now come on, let's freakin' GO!

(Sigh) I honestly expected to upset you gods connected to Indra more than that.

But I guess my fun was bound to end the moment a god connected to Shiva showed up too. Hmph.

Hey, if anyone's got a right to complain here, it's me. Get Vritra's scaley ass out here so I can have a real fight, dammit.

I only agreed to work with her so that I could have some fun. I can't make her do anything.

If you want to see her that badly, I guess you'll just have to look in another Singularity.

Well, so long. Merry Christmas and all that jazz.

Thank you. Santa will never let a holiday greeting go unreturned, so...

Merry Christmas.

Once I've become a worthy Santa, I'm sure I'll be able to bring you the best present you could hope for.

...(Sigh). They just do not get sarcasm...

Anyway, the important thing's that you guys won.

We still don't know if Kama helping Vritra out here has any greater significance, but we can worry about that later.

For now, go ahead and take care of that Singularity core.

Anyway, the important thing's that you guys won.

We still don't know if Kama helping Vritra out here has any greater significance, but we can worry about that later.

For now, go ahead and take care of that Singularity core.

？！

Well hey, since you're already there and all, why not enjoy some bamboo forest therapy before you head back? Could be refreshing.

Well hey, since you're already there and all, why not enjoy some bamboo forest therapy before you head back? Could be refreshing.

Good idea. Now, let's see if I can find the best spot for that special shot...

...I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to head back now. There's something bothering me and I want to look into it.

？！

Ugh, refreshing my ass. I'm barely even warmed up here, dammit.

You guys're gonna stay here for a while longer, right? Perfect! Come on, Karna, let's spar!

And none of that stopping right before you make contact bullshit this time. Hit me like you mean it!

Fine by me. I was just thinking about how I didn't get any decent training done here.

Wandering a labyrinth with a bunch of dead ends doesn't lend itself to training, really.

Hahaha! You should've just punched through them, like I did!

You've got that right!

...

I knew it. Something doesn't add up.

Most of them are fun, since they're things I'd choose to do anyway, but there are some I really can't stand.

No, that's just regular Kama. She's being entirely true to herself. I can tell.

Those two statements are completely at odds with each other. Why? What does it all mean?

...Maybe one possibility is... No, that can't be it. But that would mean...

... ...

If I'm right...then this might get to the heart of who Vritra is, too.

Could that be why Lady Pārvatī chose not to get involved? Because she already knew about this?

You got it. But that's all I'm going to say. I'm counting on all of you to take care of this, okay?

Yes, my lady. I understand.

All right then, what should I do next?

As if I didn't know. I need to find out who Vritra truly is for myself.

And if I'm going to do that...

...I guess I'm going to need his help. His eyes are sharper than anyone's, and besides...

While I might not be able to deal with this any longer myself, for him, things might take on an entirely different meaning...