Section 18: A New Deity Appears

I am Dagon...the god of distortion!

Did you say Dagon?

Now I see. This smell... I should have recognized it sooner.

So this is why I've felt a vague sense of unease ever since I first arrived here...

It's the aura of a Mesopotamian Divine Spirit.

You know this, uh, god!?

No. I almost never left the underworld, so our paths never crossed.

...Though I do think Nergal may have run into him.

But even I know of him. He's supposed to be one of the oldest, greatest gods in existence.

So what are you doing here, Dagon? And why do you look like a ghost?

Can you not tell from looking at me, mistress of the underworld, daughter of the gods of the heavens?

I, the former god of prosperity and grain, have been warped into this monstrous form!

...

I know humanity is unstable right now, but it's still almost unheard of for a Divine Spirit to manifest as is.

Usually, they only manifest a portion of themselvesa single, Divided Spirit aspect influenced by their vessel.

But you

I am Dagon. I became the distorted god, the monster among gods!

I refuse to accept that! With every fiber of my being, with all of my divine pride, I deny it!

Most of the legends of Dagon described him that wayhalf man, half fish.

There are theories that he looked very different back in ancient times when he was worshiped, though.

So I think what we're seeing here is a manifestation of one of the great earth gods...

...who's aware that his essence changed because of later generations' interpretations and stories.

...As a god myself, I understand your anger.

But your new nature has already been defined. There's no changing that.

So how are you going to deny that?

As if you didn't know. Gods are gods because of faith.

All I need is a new faith that sees me the right way.

I attempted to return to my rightful form by using the faith of my kin.

My detestable aquatic kin, and the water monsters with whom I share an affinity.

My plan was to gather them in vast numbers, feed them bait that would make them strong, and remake them into the kind of kin I wanted.

Then, once I had a flock of the right kind of kin, with the right kind of faith, I could retake my rightful godly form!

So the bait that would make them strong was the Taisui spritesthe Con.

Your kin were those merfolk, right? There was that one merman who was clearly stronger than the rest...

...so I guess it's no surprise there could be another, even stronger one.

And you said you only gathered the other water monsters here for their numbers?

Then why go to the trouble of assembling so many different species?

Aha... I just figured it out. He probably didn't have a choice in that regard.

Think back to all the kinds of water monsters we've seen.

Merfolk, hermit crab monks, bunyips, vodyanoys, a kelpie, rusalki...

There's one thing that sets them all apart.

？！

They might all be from very different regions, but except for the merfolk, all those water monsters live in lakes and rivers.

Well, in the hermit crab monks' case, I expect it's because crab monks live in rivers, since they're variants of those.

Anyway, that led me to two hypotheses.

First, that there's something special about the merfolk.

And, second...

...that this is actually a big lake, not the ocean.

B-but then, why is the water so salty?

Simple. This is a salt lake.

Of course, the salinity of the water was one of the first things we investigated.

Every sea has its own unique salinity measurement, you see.

I'm guessing the reason we couldn't see this earlier...

...was that the salinity had been carefully adjusted to a level that could have come from just about any sea...

...and because Dagon concealed the truth by making the island's springs seem to be fresh water.

That would be simple for him to pull off, if he's connected to the water itself via the power of the Holy Grail.

Right you are. Does that mean you've also realized which lake this is?

Of course. It's probably the legend of the wandering lake Lop Nur from Central Asia...

No, on second thought, given how big this place is, that's probably just what you used as a base.

Now, I'd bet this Singularity was formed as a cluster of certain concepts and phantasms.

The ones pertaining to moving lakes and wandering watering holes!

I have heard of such things, too.

They say that out in the western region, there is a large salt lake that moves about over time.

One year, it may seem to disappear, only to reappear elsewhere later.

Hahaha! You got it!

So this Singularity is built on the phantasms of moving lakes and watering holes from other worlds, with no clearly defined location...

That would explain why we couldn't determine its coordinates.

Oh, I just figured something else out, too.

If Dagon used the Holy Grail's power to partially integrate himself with that moving lake, then he could control where it went.

And that means

That's right. I didn't call the water monsters here. I flew this lake all around the world to collect them from their respective regions.

That's why they attacked this land; because they felt like their territory was being invaded!

Little did they know I meant for them to eat the bait I had prepared for them.

But to successfully gather the water monsters on this island...

...I needed a living beinga beacon of sortsthey could look to as a leader.

That was my turtle disguise. I couldn't change it after the fact because I had already built it into the system.

Hmph. If you hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have had to keep up that ridiculous act.

Yeah, I'm sure pretending to be a senile old turtle was tough. And that's before we took out all of the water monsters you painstakingly gathered.

Indeed. But now, the Con have grown in number beyond my wildest imagination! The Taisui's vitality is truly spectacular!

Even without the water monsters here, all I have to do is eat all those nice, ripe sprites myself...

...and I expect I'll be able to use them as sustenance to create my true kin.

What's more, I've already eaten all the ones swept away in the floodabout half of them!

They were delicious. Truly delicious. And thanks to them, I'm now far stronger!

？！

The mist is a byproduct of me using the Holy Grail's power to galvanize the lake.

Just take a look. You can see I am incomparably stronger than I was.

Now, come to me, water! Sweep every Con on this land into me!

Aah! The water... It's coming back!

It's okay! We're not done yet!

Ugh... This is pretty nerve-racking.

I sense a strange presence in the village. What could it be

Huh!? Oh no. The pressure is building again!

Here, Lam-Lam, have another!

Hang in there, Lam-Lam!

WhaHey! What do you think you're

...Dammit! I need all the power I can get right now!

...Oh?

That was close! Good thing Lambdaryllis is still hanging in there!

It looks like the water power Dagon is using to try and engulf the village...

...and Lambdaryllis's Noble Phantasm holding it back in that water sphere are evenly matched!

There's enough water left here to keep the Taisui floating!

So, that Servant who smells of sea serpent is behind this again.

Then I'll just have to get rid of her.

Again!?

No, this is different. I think...he's moving the lake around! Over and over and over!

Crap! Here come more water monsters!

Oh crap. I think they're all going after Lambda!

？！

You can't. Not when I'm going after her, too! Hahahaha!

Oh no, you don't!

He dived into the water! Oh, this is bad! We need to hurry after him!

Our mobile defense network is still operational, if a little beat-up from all this up-down movement!

We can still use it!

Indeed.

Fellow Mesopotamian god or no, I can't let him get away with this.

This may not be the underworld, but I, Ereshkigal, mistress of the underworld, am ready to pass judgment on him regardless!

Right. I'm ashamed that I didn't see through the Elder's disguise...

...but I'm not about to let that stop me from protecting everyone else!

？！

Khh... I don't know how much longer I can keep this up...

...What's that sound?

？！

Master? Why did you run all the way here? You look like the very earth beneath your feet's been pulled out from under you...

You must really want to see my dancing up clo

Kur Ki Gal Irkalla!

Oh, it isn't just you. I see.

Well, excuse me for not being Master! Now buck up! We need you to focus!

It's a long story, but basically, the Elder turned out to be a bad guy! And it won't be long before hehe's here!

You have no chance!

So Dagon's in front, and the water monsters are coming in from the sea behind him...! I think we'll have to split up to deal with them all!

We'll take care of Dagon!

Oh, all right, I suppose I can help. Torturing a fish-smelling god sounds interesting, at least.

Just try not to slow us down, Empress.

I could say the same to you, girl.

We'll take out the water monsters!

I don't think we'll be able to see both ahead and behind all at once, so we'll be counting on you to give orders as needed, Fujimaru!

？！

(I know we have no choice but to fight...)

(...but between Dagon absorbing a great deal of Con, and all the water monsters he's brought in...)

(...it's impossible to say how this battle will go.)

(Come on, Da Vinci, think. Is there anything you can do to help make sure they win...?)

Ugh! There's just too many of them!

Our attacks aren't working!?

It's pointless to fight! Warped though I am, I'm still a god!

Come on! Get a hold of yourselves!

Still...this is not looking good...

Wanna eat us?

...We can't.

Qì'é Wǔnǚ (translation: penguin dancer) could only do it so fast because of her Melt Envy.

That is what lets her dissolve and absorb whatever she touches.

Yeah... It would take us much longer to eat you, let alone to gain strength from you.

(Plus, I think we'd have to literally take bites out of them, and I'm not sure I could bring myself to do that...)

Ugh... So this is it...?

I knew it. We aren't strong enough to change anything. Whenever we try to stand up, we just get beaten back down.

We're not real heroes. We can't actually help anyone. The best we can do is ACT bold...

Boss-Boss?

...I'm sorry.

I'm sorry you didn't get someone stronger. A winner.

You guys should have gotten someone better than us. Someone who could save you...

Sister, that's

？！

Master is right!

Dùn Qié Zi (translation: Shield Eggplant)!? When did you get here!?

Just a moment ago, as soon as my equipment was ready and the Rayshift was set to go.

？！

O-of course! I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner, Master!

I know I can't turn this situation around on my own, but I was also entrusted with something else.

First, I need to throw this special anchor arrow into the lake!

All right, we're in! Now to do some high-speed hacking!

That water and the Holy Grail are connected, right?

And not only that, it's currently warping around automatically to replenish water monsters.

Plus, after all the other warps we've seen it do by now, we've got plenty of data to work with.

A little quick and dirty hacking should be enough to let us change its warp coordinates to somewhere we choose at least once!

You're going to bring this moving lake somewhere we want it to be?

But there'd be no point unless it gave us an advantage. Where could that possibly be?

You need to ask?

The place you two can be your best selves: your homeland, Northern Vietnam.

What?

A fame bonus? The kind that lets Servants use their full power wherever they're known best?

That's right. And we know just the spot.

You could even say it's the opposite of how people's beliefs warped Dagon.

You see, we also know exactly what kind of beings...

...you two have become in your homeland.

Huh...?

This warmth...

Yes, I can tell. It's about me, after all.

But, is this right? I mean, I...we lost.

We went to our deaths never having accomplished anything!

？！

But...why? I really don't understand.

It couldn't be simpler, Trắc.

She's right!

Nhị?

So what if we lost? So what if we died!?

You know what I thought back then? "That'll show 'em."

"I bet they'll respect us at least a little bit from now on..."

"...and these oppressive taxes will end."

Nobody regretted following us into battle.

You're my awesome big sister, and a wonderful king. The best king anyone could've hoped for!

That's why everyone still remembers you. That's why they think of you as a god!

...You really think so? I hope you're right.

Okay. I've got it. This is who I amwho we are.

This is our divine power...and we're going to make the most of it!

Ahh... It feels like I'm standing at the bottom of a dark, quiet pool. It's so calming.

I guess we look a little intimidating now? Well, that's okay. We're still us.

It's said that later generations began praying to the deified Hai Bà Trưng for rain during times of drought.

That's apparently the faith people had in them when they came to be seen as gods of fortune.

Maybe people asked the sisters for rain because they believed they had a natural affinity for water.

And faith is what gives form to gods...! Curse you. Curse you!

I'M the one who was distorted! That faith should be mine! MINE!

Very well then. I'll just have to eat you, and take it for myself!

Oh no, you won't!

？！

(Now that they're gods of fortune with an affinity for water, and are fighting on their home ground, they definitely stand a much better chance.)

(But will it be enough to defeat Dagon now that he's boosted his strength with all those Con...?)

(I guess there's only one way to find out!)

Hahahaha! It's futile! You upstart godlings can never match an ancient god like me!

No...! It's still not enough?

It's not over yet. We're not giving up!

(Everyone's doing the best they can. But...)

(...it's still not enough. If only we had something to give us an edge...!)

Footsteps? Who could that be?

You are making such a commotion that I cannot even pet this creature in peace. It has grown irritating.

Morgan!?

So YOU'RE who's been constantly Rayshifting there without authorization!

But never mind that now! For the time being

？！

I'm asking you, too! Please! We could really use your help!

... ...

If there's anything you can do, we'll buy you the time you need! So please, hurry!

At this point, we'll do whatever it takes to save the Con!

...Oh, very well. I am a Chaldean Servant now, in any case.

And I suppose I should at least repay these creatures for all this petting.

I will not, however, be helping you personally.

？！

There is one better suited to do so than I.

With Mash here, I can help you call on them.

Huh?

I, too, am intimately familiar with your Round Table's construction. Now, stand it up here, on the ground.

You don't mean... O-okay! Here goes!

Having said that, this is an unorthodox approach, and so the pump, as it were, must be primed to summon them.

Hmm...

Perfect. I will take a hair from each of you.

Ow! Did you just pluck out one of my divine hairs!? What the Kur!?

What do you think you're doing, stealing one of my hairs!? Are you some kind of stalker!?

How dare you treat my royal person with such irreverence!

One to prime the pump for divinityan affinity with the underworld, deep in the bowels of the earth.

One to prime the pump for affectionthe ties that bind for whom we care, and who in turn care for us.

One to prime the pump for knowledgeconfirmation of existence, and the definition inscribed upon humanity.

My knowledge? Hmm. Could it be...?

And now, the pump of the spell is primed. And, of course, the greatest catalyst...

...that which is below us as one and around us as many. Your own body shall be your catalyst.

Gather round, children. Now, begin your chant, Master.

I don't get it, but got it!

？！

Huh!? No way. Is that... It is!

That's the deified form of Taisui... Taisui Xingjun!

？！

Indeed, that is his Chinese name. In Japan, I believe he is known as Taisai.

Taisui is not only a monstrous mass of flesh.

Simply put, he is considered Jupiter's oppositea hidden star within the earth.

And it is no surprise that, being a star, he was deified, in one sense of the word.

At least, that is what I was once taught in my Taoist studies. Though again, in Japan, I believe the same is taught as part of... What was it called again? Oh yes. Onmyoudou.

At any rate, that very deity is Taisaithat is, Taisui Xingjun.

So this irregular Divine Spirit summoning is possible because you're using the actual Taisui as a catalyst...?

Dammit! I hate to admit it, but you really are a magecraft genius, Morgan!

Um... Are you Taisui Xingjun...?

...

？！

There is something about him you should know.

Just as Taisui is an ominous being who curses clans to death, so too is Taisui Xingjun not a kind or loving god.

He is a god of both curses and ill omens.

I do not know what sort of curses he may be cloaked in right now. It is even possible that he is unable to understand us!

But, that's an amalgamation of Conor really, their avatar, right?

So he should at least be able to spea

Ah...

...This...is not right.

I will change...into a more appropriate form.

...Thank you.

Helldyste! It's great to be here!

!?!?

？！

Hmm. So, just as ice turns to water to stabilize itself in warm environments...

...so too does Taisui Xingjun transform into what is apparently a more stable form for this one. Interesting.

...

(That ribbon... Does that mean...?)

(...Hehe. So you're there, too.)

So, that's basically the Con's...avatar or something?

I can kind of tell. He's got the same aura as they do.

It feels like all the Con we've met and played with up till now...

...are all there inside him.

Hey! Can you fight!?

Oh, hey there, Boss-Boss.

Of course I can! I'm super-duper strong now! Just leave it to me!

...You heard him.

Come on, Trắc! Let's finish what we started, along with them!

Yeah. Let's fight together!

Got it, got it!

？！

You still do not know how to treat an empress, I see.

I sure hope you can dance enough for my part, too. I'm itching to get back onstage.

Looks like this is our final push.

I'm the only other god of Mesopotamia here, so I'm going to put you back where you belong, Dagon!

Ghh... GRAAAAAAH!

Waha! We did it!

Phew...

We won... This time, we definitely won!

How. How could this happen to me...!?

If no one else will say it, I will. ...Pathetic.

You... You pity me, Ereshkigal!? How dare you!?

You, who are crammed into such a worthless vessel! If anyone should be ashamed, it is you!

Sometimes, even a god must know his place.

You've lost sight of yourself, and for that, you should be ashamed.

But I also know this, Dagon, ancient god of grain.

I know that you once existed, and that people once worshiped you.

...This is the best you could hope for now. It's too bad you couldn't be satisfied with it.

Of course I couldn't, Ereshkigal; Queen of Kur.

One day, you may well end up walking this same path.

When the faith in you is distorted, you may find that you have become something just as hideous, well past all recognition.

I can't say for sure that I'll never end up like you, no.

Maybe I'm sufficiently small next to you that I've managed to sneak by unscathed so far.

Then what would you have done in my position? You would not have meekly accepted your fate! Surely, you would have fought back however you could!

...Good question. I don't know.

The only thing I know for sure right now...

...is that the Age of Gods is long since over.

It may not be comforting, but the fact is, it's up to humans to make of the gods what they will now.

... ...

But that's also exactly why...

...I'm grateful for this miracle that lets gods and humans interact on equal footing...

No, no, no!

I will not accept this! I will NOT give up! I'm not done yet!

If I can't find the faith I desire, then I'll spread a curse as far as I can!

What!? Isn't this where he's supposed to finally understand and just disappear in peace!? What's going on!?

Am I just that uncharismatic? Does this mean I can't actually save anyone when I'm just the perpetual downer Queen of Kur?

Ooh, you're right. This does smell like a curse.

I have used the last of my power to transform this body, and the water to which it is connected, into cursed poison!

Huh!?

Now, it will teleport somewhereit doesn't matter where.

And when it does, this phantasmal toxic lake will seep into the water there, creating a spring of pure death!

Haha, hahahaha! By then my Divinity will be utterly distorted.

Perhaps humans will take notice of me once I go completely over to the side of evil!

Maybe then, they will finally abandon their absurd beliefs! Hahahahaha!

It looks like he's finally disappeared...and is vanishing underwater!

Look how the color's changing... It really has become a toxic lake!

What!? My torture pot contains all the poisonous water I need! There is no place in this world for any more!

Is there nothing we can do!?

Can't you do something to stop the teleportation, Da Vinci!?

No, I can't! The sequence is already underway! There's no room for me to hack in!

Aah! It's happening!

We're even starting to see the sun, though it's been hidden here all this time.

And it's not because Dagon's not controlling the clouds anymore. It's because the lake's coordinates are starting to stabilize!

This is terrible. If it merges with a water source, there'll be no way to undo it.

This cursed poison will spread throughout the world via its water and kill untold numbers of people!

Got it. Then if we act now, we still have a chance to stop that from happening.

You're right, Nhị. We do.

？！

Wait. There must be something else we can try... I know! Morgan! Can't you neutralize the poison somehow!?

This poison was once a god's divine body, near death though it was.

To neutralize or purify this poison would require a Divine Spirit of equal strength and with a connection to water.

As this is Proper Human History, I cannot use my Water Mirror to send it back to the past. Though it pains me to say this, there is nothing more I can do.

I thought so. Which means this is our only option.

？！

...Do you know how our story ended?

We had just lost a major battle, and the Han army was right on our heels.

All the others had scattered and run away, but we were about to be captured.

So we decided, if we were just going to end up tortured and executed...

...we'd rather take our chances in the freezing cold water. So we held hands just like this and jumped in together.

Although at that time, it was a river, not a lake.

That's right. Back then, we only jumped in to escapeto put an end to everything.

...But not this time.

This time, we're going to jump so you can make sure this world has a future.

Ahh... Now I wish we'd jumped with this same feeling back then, too.

Hehe. I guess this means we're getting another chance to do it right.

？！

Unfortunately, yes.

We're going to use our divine, water-based bodies to neutralize Dagon's poison. That's the only option we have.

Boss-Boss... Does this mean you're going away?

Yes, but that doesn't mean we'll be gone forever.

Yeah. We'll see you again.

You will?

Okay then. I'll miss you...but if you're coming back, I can wait.

But you'd better come back soon, okay? I'll sunbathe while I wait!

I'm sure we will!

Thank you so much, everyone.

Thank you for saving the Con, and for helping us.

Thanks to you...I feel a little bit better about what we accomplished.

Farewell, comrades in arms!

Goodbye! May our paths cross again someday!

？！