＄03-00-04-08-2-0 [soundStopAll] [charaSet A 8001410 1 Mash] [charaSet B 98115300 1 Holmes] [charaSet C 23003001 1 Ganesha] [charaSet D 1019001 1 Rama] [charaSet E 1098123210 1 Goredolf] [charaSet F 1098127610 1 Peperoncino] [charaSet H 1098124510 1 "Da Vinci"] [charaSet I 98002000 1 Fou] [charaSet J 98115000 1 Effect] [charaPut J 1200,1200] [charaEffect J bit_talk_10_LowLevel] [scene 74900] [fadein black 1.0] [wait fade] [bgm BGM_EVENT_81 0.1] [wt 1.0] ？1：... ？！ [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 4] [charaFadein A 0.1 1] ＠Mash ... [k] [charaFadeout A 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk I] [charaFace I 0] [charaFadein I 0.1 1] ＠Fou Fou... [k] [charaFadeout I 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk D] [charaFace D 0] [charaFadein D 0.1 1] ＠Rama All right, it should be safe to discuss this now that we've come this far. What is the meaning of this? [k] [charaFadeout D 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 0] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino This world runs on the yuga cycle.[sr]But needless to say, these aren't proper yugas. [k] ＠Peperoncino A real Kṛta Yuga, or Satya Yuga depending on who you ask, is supposed to last for forty-eight hundred years. [k] ＠Peperoncino Then the Tretā Yuga is supposed to last for thirty-six hundred years, the Dvāpara Yuga for twenty-four hundred... [k] ＠Peperoncino ...and the Kali Yuga for twelve hundred. [k] [charaFace F 9] ＠Peperoncino And on top of that, these are in god years, where each one is equivalent to three-hundred and sixty human years. [k] ＠Peperoncino Suffice to say, we're talking[sr]about a reeeally long cycle. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes Whereas in this world, it would seem only the ratios have been preserved, given that each yuga is apparently four, three, two, and one day long, respectively. [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1200,1200] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 0] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino That's right. But the people I've talked to here said things weren't always like this. [k] ＠Peperoncino It used to be that the yuga cycle lasted for hundreds of years, or maybe even longer. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes So that is what this world was like immediately after it was pruned away and became a Lostbelt? [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1200,1200] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 9] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino Right. I'm sure the period where kali would show up had to have been proportionally longer back then... [k] ＠Peperoncino ...but I'd also bet they showed up much less frequently than they do now. [k] ＠Peperoncino Otherwise, the people here would[sr]have gone extinct long ago. [k] ＠Peperoncino But over time, the cycle got shorter and shorter,[sr]and now it only lasts ten days. [k] ＠Peperoncino I have to think that drastically shortened cycle is why there are so many more kali now. [k] ＠Peperoncino They used to only be let out a bit at a time, but now the floodgates have been opened, so to speak. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 0] [charaFadein A 0.1 1] ＠Mash Why did Arjuna shorten the yuga cycle so much? [k] [charaFadeout A 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 0] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino Part of it is thanks to that Disciple pouring poison in his ear, like I said earlier... [k] ＠Peperoncino ...and part of it is that the Tree of Emptiness has given him power he didn't have before that lets him do so. [k] [charaFace F 7] ＠Peperoncino Yes, I know that only addresses the how, not the why.[sr]I'm getting to that. [k] ＠Peperoncino I think the reason he sped things up so much...is to reach whatever end he has in mind for all this that much faster. [k] ＠Peperoncino In short, it looks like he's in a[sr]rush to create his perfect world. [k] ？1：What do you mean by that...? ？！ [charaFace F 0] ＠Peperoncino Okay, now I can finally answer the question that's been plaguing all of you: [k] ＠Peperoncino What exactly happened earlier? [k] ＠Peperoncino The answer...is that it's something unique Arjuna does. Something that isn't meant to happen in a normal yuga. [k] [charaFace F 4] ＠Peperoncino Whenever one of these shortened yuga cycles comes to an end, he purges everything he considers defective and unnecessary from this world. [k] ＠Peperoncino He believes that by repeating[sr]that process over and over... [k] ＠Peperoncino ...he'll eventually arrive at a perfect world, devoid of anything it shouldn't have...or, as he thinks of it, evil. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 7] [charaFadein A 0.1 1] ＠Mash ...! [k] [charaFadeout A 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1] [charaTalk H] [charaFace H 13] [charaFadein H 0.1 1] ＠Da Vinci Damn. That's one hell of a destination. [k] [charaFadeout H 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 5] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes I see. So this purging must include living things,[sr]not just inanimate objects. [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1200,1200] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 4] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino Right. And as far as I can tell, when a living thing is purged...it's like it never even existed. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk D] [charaFace D 5] [charaFadein D 0.1 1] ＠Rama So that's what happened to the poor dog that couldn't run after breaking its leg. [k] [charaFadeout D 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 4] [charaFadein A 0.1 1] ＠Mash I can't believe it... Asha loved that dog more than anything, and now, she doesn't even remember him... [k] [charaFadeout A 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk C] [charaFace C 4] [charaFadein C 0.1 1] ＠Ganesha Yeah... That's harsh. [k] [charaFadeout C 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 7] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino It happens to anyone who's unlucky enough to be killed by a kali, too. That's a sort of disqualifying offense. [k] ＠Peperoncino Same goes for people who end up as social pariahs, or if Arjuna himself ends up judging you to be flawed. [k] ＠Peperoncino When the next yuga rolls around,[sr]they just cease to exist. [k] ＠Peperoncino It might sound contradictory, but I think Arjuna adjusts for things like that whenever he remakes the world. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes I see. That would explain how continuity and discontinuity can exist simultaneously in a new yuga. [k] ＠Holmes For example, Asha may have completely forgotten her beloved dog, but she still remembered all of you. [k] [charaFace B 6] ＠Holmes But how does such a thing even work? [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1200,1200] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 0] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino I'm not entirely sure myself, but I can tell you what that blabbermouth Disciple of the Foreign God said. [k] ＠Peperoncino He said Arjuna collects every bit of data that makes up the world whenever he blows it away, kind of like a snapshot. [k] ＠Peperoncino Then, when it's time to begin a new Kṛta Yuga, he uses that data[line 2]let's call it Snapshot A[line 2]to reassemble the world. [k] ＠Peperoncino As he puts everything back together, he removes all the elements he deemed defective and unnecessary... [k] ＠Peperoncino ...and in the end, he has a new world based on Snapshot A, but reflecting the changes he's made. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk C] [charaFace C 5] [charaFadein C 0.1 1] ＠Ganesha Ohh, I get it. He's a cheater. [k] ＠Ganesha He's basically hacking his save data, changing the parameters to suit his preferences before reloading it. [k] [charaFace C 2] ＠Ganesha Cheaters! The scum of gamers everywhere. Don't they know hacking saves takes all the fun out of it!? [k] [charaFadeout C 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 0] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino He's not doing this to have fun. All he cares about is making what he considers to be a perfect world. [k] ＠Peperoncino A world consisting only of what is truly necessary,[sr]with nothing wasted or evil to be found. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk C] [charaFace C 5] [charaFadein C 0.1 1] ＠Ganesha Aha... Now I know what genre he's playing, too.[sr]He's into 4X games. [k] ？1：What're those? ？！ ＠Ganesha A 4X game is a simulation where the player just sets the initial parameters and then the world sort of plays out from there. [k] ＠Ganesha And if you're a cheater, if something happens in your sim that you don't like[line 2]say, if an enemy nation takes you by surprise and invades you... [k] ＠Ganesha ...you save your game, hack your data, and reload...and it's like the enemy nation that was bothering you never existed. [k] ＠Ganesha That's the kind of thing we're talking about here, right? Arjuna's just doing that over and over until he wins, right? [k] [charaFace C 5] ＠Ganesha I swear, what's the point of even playing if you're just gonna cheat to win! Death to cheaters, that's what I say! [k] ？1：Now I get what's going on... I think... ？2：I guess some people just care about the destination, not the journey... ？！ [charaFadeout C 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1] [charaTalk H] [charaFace H 15] [charaFadein H 0.1 1] ＠Da Vinci Video game analogies aside... [k] [charaFace H 24] ＠Da Vinci If that's true, it sounds like Arjuna isn't remaking the world from scratch every time he resets the cycle then. [k] ＠Da Vinci Instead, he's basically treating the world like a model, adding new parts and removing old ones. [k] [charaFadeout H 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes Then it would stand to reason that, strictly speaking, the people here may not be dying and being brought back to life. [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk H] [charaFace H 24] [charaFadein H 0.1 1] ＠Da Vinci Yeah. It seems more likely that everything down to their souls is being saved as data... [k] [charaFace H 25] ＠Da Vinci ...and that their memories are being modified when they're put back into the new world. [k] [charaFace H 13] ＠Da Vinci And if that's the case, we're talking about a much smaller-scale feat than creating the entire universe from nothing. [k] ＠Da Vinci It's still a big frigging deal, don't get me wrong. [k] ＠Da Vinci But if Arjuna's got every Indian Divinity AND support from the Tree of Emptiness, it's theoretically possible. [k] [charaFadeout H 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes Hmm... I'm beginning to see the larger picture. [k] ＠Holmes There is something about this Lostbelt that is almost reminiscent of a Singularity. [k] ＠Holmes The Russian, Scandinavian, and Chinese Lostbelts we've seen so far were all the result of a world where some definitive event happened in their respective pasts to dramatically change the course of history. [k] ＠Holmes But this Indian Lostbelt is still in the middle of its definitive event. [k] ＠Holmes Here, its king is continually trying to evolve this world by regularly recreating it with parameters that would be unthinkable in Proper Human History. [k] ＠Holmes While he has yet to reach his goal of a perfected world, I suspect the reason this world was pruned... [k] ＠Holmes ...is that the very act of trying to change it in such a manner was considered a mistake. [k] [bgmStop BGM_EVENT_81 1.0] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk E] [charaFace E 0] [charaFadein E 0.1 1] ＠Goredolf Ahem. [k] [charaFadeout E 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 6] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes Hm? What is it, Director Goredolf?[sr]If you have any questions, please, go right ahead. [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaSet I 1098167700 1 "Sacred Beast"] [bgm BGM_EVENT_77 0.1] [charaTalk E] [charaFace E 6] [charaFadein E 0.1 1] ＠Goredolf [f large]Do you! [wt 0.2]Ever! [wt 0.2]Shut up!? [k] ＠Goredolf I don't mind you explaining things, but I insist you do so concisely, in a report I can read at my leisure! [k] ＠Goredolf You just gave me flashbacks to one of my teachers in my Clock Tower days who would lecture me for what felt like days on end! [k] [charaFace E 5] ＠Goredolf Who cares if the people here are technically dying or not when this world is remade? [k] [charaFace E 8] ＠Goredolf The part that actually matters is that[sr]WE will die if we get caught in that! [k] [charaFadeout E 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes I suppose you do have a point. [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk E] [charaFace E 0] [charaFadein E 0.1 1] ＠Goredolf Of course I do. Now then, I say we pivot this discussion to more practical matters. Namely, how do we stay safe, and what is our next course of action? [k] [charaFace E 5] ＠Goredolf You there, Peperoncino! It's only by my good graces that you're running around outside instead of being confined in the Border under lock and key. [k] ＠Goredolf Now repay the favor by telling[sr]us something we can use, dammit! [k] [messageOff] [bgmStop BGM_EVENT_77 0.8] [charaFadeout E 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1200,1200] [wt 1.0] [bgm BGM_EVENT_70 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 4] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino Something you can use, hmm.[sr]Well, I guess I can think of one thing... [k] [charaFace F 0] ＠Peperoncino Pulling off a feat that massive takes a lot out of Arjuna, so he isn't able to move around much. [k] ＠Peperoncino And I don't just mean that long stretch of time at the end of a Kali Yuga when he charges up that Noble Phantasm. [k] ＠Peperoncino I'm pretty sure that, unlike most Servants, he doesn't do much of anything the rest of the time either. [k] ＠Peperoncino I guess he just doesn't have access to the energy he would need to do more than ride that Vimana of his. [k] ＠Peperoncino I think that's how he spends most of his time...just riding around the Tree of Emptiness on his Vimana. [k] [charaFace F 7] ＠Peperoncino Of course, he might look like he's spacing out up there, but I'm sure he's actually keeping a close eye out for the next bit of evil to purge. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk D] [charaFace D 0] [charaFadein D 0.1 1] ＠Rama It's probably got something to do with containing so many powerful Divinities within himself. It would also explain why he seems so devoid of personality. [k] [charaFadeout D 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 0] [charaFadein A 0.1 1] ＠Mash But then...isn't that exactly why he would need other Servants to handle other things for him? [k] ？1：Aśvatthāmān did say something about that, didn't he? ？！ [charaFadeout A 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk C] [charaFace C 5] [charaFadein C 0.1 1] ＠Ganesha Yeah, he did. I think he called himself a...Lōkapāla? [k] [charaFadeout C 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 0] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino Lōkapāla... In original Indian mythology, Lōkapāla were said to protect the world... They were the guardians of all directions. [k] ＠Peperoncino Though I don't know what that could mean. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk D] [charaFace D 0] [charaFadein D 0.1 1] ＠Rama We know who their Nezha is now,[sr]but who were those other two Servants? [k] [charaFadeout D 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 4] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino I'm afraid I don't know. I was already on the outs with Arjuna when he got around to summoning them. [k] ＠Peperoncino By that time, he just considered me an outsider he didn't need to worry about, though since I'm Aśvatthāmān's former Master, he did tell his Servants to eliminate me if they happened to see me. [k] ＠Peperoncino Suffice to say I have no idea what their True Names are, though I get the feeling they're an Archer and a Caster. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1] [charaTalk H] [charaFace H 34] [charaFadein H 0.1 1] ＠Da Vinci I think I could make an educated guess, but there's no point in speculation at this point. We need solid info. [k] [charaFadeout H 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes Well, this seems like a good time to tell you that those Servants are not the only enemies we face here. [k] ＠Holmes There are also the sacred beasts...the Mystical creatures the people here referred to as the “agents of god.” [k] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1200,1200] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 0] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino Oh, those? They're primitive guardian beasts Arjuna made to counteract the kali. They manifest naturally. [k] ＠Peperoncino And since there are almost no kali[sr]during the peaceful Kṛta Yuga... [k] ＠Peperoncino ...the beasts are supposed to just[sr]wander around like normal animals. [k] [bgmStop BGM_EVENT_70 1.0] ？1：Holmes, what did you mean by “this seems like a good time”? [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1] [charaTalk B] [charaFace B 0] [charaFadein B 0.1 1] ＠Holmes I suspect the answer to that, and your next immediate course of action, will be clear to you soon enough. [k] [messageOff] [charaFadeout B 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaPut J 1200,1200] ？2：“Supposed to”? [charaFace F 1] ＠Peperoncino Oh my, you're a better listener than I took you for.[sr]Attentiveness is a wonderful quality, you know♡ [k] [messageOff] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] ？！ [se ade246] [charaTalk I] [charaFace I 0] [charaFadein I 0.1 1] [wt 2.0] [charaFadeout I 0.1] [wt 0.1] [bgm BGM_EVENT_80 0.1] [charaTalk A] [charaFace A 7] [charaFadein A 0.1 1] ＠Mash Sacred beasts! [k] [charaFadeout A 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk F] [charaFace F 4] [charaFadein F 0.1 1] ＠Peperoncino I guess that means Arjuna really[sr]doesn't want us here, then. [k] [charaFace F 0] ＠Peperoncino So of course, they'll attack us on sight now,[sr]just like the kali. [k] [charaFadeout F 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk D] [charaFace D 0] [charaFadein D 0.1 1] ＠Rama You said these beasts wander around[sr]just like ordinary animals, yes? [k] ＠Rama Then we clearly can't let our guard down just because it's Kṛta Yuga now. [k] [charaFace D 1] ＠Rama Still, I don't know if it's the sunshine or what, but my body feels lighter now. This shouldn't take long! [k] [charaFadeout D 0.1] [wt 0.1] [charaTalk C] [charaFace C 5] [charaFadein C 0.1 1] ＠Ganesha Y-yeah! I'll show you guys how well I can hold my own[sr]in a fight! [wt 1.2][charaFace C 4]O-or at least, I hope I'll be able to... [k] [messageOff] [fadeout black 0.5] [bgmStop BGM_EVENT_80 0.4] [wait fade] [soundStopAll] [end]