Section 5: Focus and Tuning Are Both Off

Hahaha! So, you've conquered all ninety-nine of Hotel Ziggurat's floors and made it to my chambers! Well done!

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You just had to make a ton of extra work for us, didn't you?

Ahaha... Physical labor isn't exactly my forte, either...

H-here... H-have some...healing toadstools... One bite of these babies...and you'll be living life on the edge...

Not bad for a group of jester understudies. As for your reward, I will pass judgment on you myself.

I have had more than my fill of your mockery.

Perhaps, when you are in the suffocating embrace of excruciating agony, you will be ready to beg me for the sweet mercy of oblivion.

Hmph. All that floor climbing, and you still fail to understand my hospitality? You really are a pitiful Beast.

Very well then, I will just have to straighten you out myself. Bring it on!

Hm!?

What the heeeeeeeeell!?

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Mother is here!

I finally caught up to you, Beast VI! Now give yourself up!

Tiamat!?

Sétanta! What do you think you're doing, working with Beast VI!?

You'd better have a good explanation for this!

Hold it, much, much smaller Tiamat.

Oh. It's Gilgamesh the Second-and-a-Half.

Second-and-a-Half?

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How...uh... How do I explain this?

As I recall, Nebuchadnezzar II called himself Gilgamesh II back during the Seventh Singularity.

However, he was actually a clone of Gilgamesh, which means he wasn't a real successor, and so he couldn't be the second to inherit the name, so...

Ahaha, this really IS hard to explain!

Dammit, Tiamat! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you!?

Well, no matter. ...No, wait. This is a huge matter.

But, it can wait until later.

What are you doing here, Tiamat? Why are you sticking your nose in this?

Huh? Mother just wants to save her child from the Beast.

...I can't believe it. You truly think THIS is going to be the next great threat to Chaldea?

Even farce has its limits, you know? At this point, I cannot even laugh.

All right, I've heard enough. You can all do whatever you like for all I care.

Hmmm??? Thanks?

Gilgamesh! Tiamat! How dare you

Okay, Fujimaru! Come to Mother!

It's okay. You don't have to worry about a thing. Mother will give you a big hug and everything will be fine.

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You're...welcome?

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Huh!?

B-but...why?

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...

...

Well, there you have it, Tiamat. This Master's pretty stubborn too, ya know.

So how 'bout you let this go, just for now? Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep him safe.

... ...

... ...(Sniff)

Uh... Tiamat?

Waaaaaah!

What the...!?

Gaaah!

Waaaaaaaaah! My little boy's a delinqueeent now!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Ahahaha! It's always something, isn't it!?

Dammit! Quiet down, you fool!

This is exactly what I hate about dealing with gods! I've seen toddlers more moderate about their tantrums!

The evil Beast has lured him over to her siiiiiide! WAAAAAAAAAH!!!

(Sob... Sob...) (Lips trembling as eyes fill with tears)

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Great... Now what're you gonna do?

This is your fault, Master. You deal with it.

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Mother doesn't know what she's going to do. My mind's gone numb...

I have to do something... I have to squash any wicked Beastevil insect?that comes near my child...!

Hmm, looks like we're going to have to calm her down, one way or another.

Yeah, I figured something like this was gonna happen!

Dammit, this was never part of my contract! Be warned, I'm going to charge you extra for this!

Ghh, Divine Tiamat! Please, calm yourself, dammit!

I hear you. Do not shout. It makes my head hurt.

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How? How did things come to this?

Where did I go wrong?

Mother will never approve of you being with that Beast! You hear me!? Never!

Waaaaaaaaah! This isn't oveeeeeer!

Aaand she's gone.

All that fuss and she just takes off without so much as a backward glance! This is exactly why no good ever comes from associating with goddesses!

That does it, I've had as much as I can stand. All of you, leave. Go on. Dismissed.

Why you little

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Hm? Oh, right. The Incarnadine Demonic Beast. Here.

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That thing never suited my treasury, anyway. If you want it, you can have it.

But, you are a Floor Guardian. Are you truly going to ignore me? A Beast!?

This is not up for debate, mongrel.

I have but one thing to say to you: take this seriously.

Wha

The further up this spiral you go, the more you will need to face what lies within you, in more ways than one.

There is no greater disgrace than having one's secret garden ravaged. Tremble in indignation all you like.

And remember to ask yourself this: "Why am I ascending this spiral?"

...I...

Lady Nero...

Still, you have made a good choice of partner with which to tread this path. I won't say he's the best partner, but he is the best choice.

All right, enough of this chatter. Your ride is here.

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Go now. With things concluded here, the seventh imitation Singularity is closing up shop, as it were.

Well then, looks like this is goodbye for now. Take care out there.

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No, I want to check up on Tiamat. But don't worry. I just might see you again later.

May the flowers' blessing be with you on your travels!

Ooh. I can sense you're much stronger now, Lady Nero!

Indeed. This one feels like...Luxuria.

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Yes. That is the Incarnadine Demonic Beast who captured you at Chaldea.

I had all of the Incarnadine Demonic Beasts go by the names Demon God Pillars. Of course, their true names differ.

Avaritia, Superbia, Acedia, Gula, Invidia, Ira, and Luxuria.

All that for just one, and we need seven. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us.

Our next destination is the sixth imitation Singularity, where we should find Ira.

Ira is the Incarnadine Demonic Beast disguised as Alloces, the Peering Star of Death.

Be warned. The Seventh Singularity may have been something of...a letdown, but the Sixth Singularity is sure to be a harsh journey indeed.

This imitation is a deadly pilgrimage that will not end until we reach the Holy Land...

...the forgotten Holy City turned gravestoneLost Jerusalem.