Note: all names are blurred out and indistinguishable.
Vicious is traveling along a mountain path with two teenagers (Kanata and Misella) whining about how he doesn't have any alcohol. They are unsympathetic. He suggests Kanata turn into alcohol, and then that he knife a merchant and steal his alcohol (Misella: "Kanata isn't going to do that. Because that would be wrong."), and then eventually that he attacks the merchant, Kanata knifes him, and demands booze as a reward. Misella finds the last suggestion not unreasonable, but Kanata still rejects it as a scam. Vicious notes he's traveling with a goody two-shoes and an arsonist who shoots daggers with her eyes.
It turns out they are traveling to find an "information merchant" who will give them more information on where they are actually going.
Note: all names are blurred out and indistinguishable.
Vicious with two teenagers again, now in a forest. They are irritated with him for not having told them where they were actually going, which they thought was somewhere safe where "we transgressors could live without fear," but which is apparently somewhere called the "Nation of Sin."
Vicious: The Nation of Sin is FULL of transgressors who have escaped execution? C'mon, think of all the new friends you'll have to play with! That's what you two are all about, right? Makin' friends and holdin' hands and skippin' through the flowers? Besides, you guys could use some more pals. Misella: Not of the transgressor variety! I won't have you exposing Kanata to any more criminals!
Kanata tries to calm things down, but he's also mad. He doesn't want to part ways, though—he says they still need Vicious's strength, and he's curious to see if the Nation of Sin has other people in their situation. Vicious doesn't think it will.
Vicious: Place like that's gotta be packed with people lustin' for revenge against this insane world of ours. Kanata: Vicious, wait... Why exactly do you want to visit the Nation of Sin? Vicious: I think you already know the answer to that. I'm gonna unleash those bloodthirsty beasts... and send this world up in flames.
Before Kanata and Misella can react properly to this, they are interrupted by the approach of some knights, who they have to fight. The knights call Vicious the "Great Transgressor."
Note: It's not visible in the video, but the red-glowing weapons all three of them have are pulled out of the air with a magic glyph. The knights don't seem to have anything similar.
Note: all names are blurred out and indistinguishable.
Vicious meets up with five other people as they plan to visit an engineer's house. That includes Velvet (Silk from Bad End), though she doesn't seem to be as much a part of the group - but she says she's coming too, because "None of the other villagers know anything about the incarnation. That mystery engineer is my only hope."
At the house, Kanata knocks and calls out, but there's no answer. Vicious steps in and just kicks the door down, finding a teenage girl (Rita) who comes out furious. Misella uses Vicious as a shield when she hurls a fireball, and Vicious is on fire.
Aegis steps in to defuse the situation and explains that they were just trying to ask her to fix their ship, since the "mana converter" is broken. She refuses.
Vicious recovers ("Damn, that really burned. Little runt's one hell of a spellcaster.") Negotiations continue (Vicious offers money, and then immediately admits he has none) until Rita is distracted by some kind of reading - she asks if any of them are holding something weird, that came from a body of a monster. Yuna produces a crystal which Velvet identifies as an "incarnation crystal."
Rita has apparently never heard the monsters referred to as "incarnations" before, but she's researching them. They come to an agreement where she can collect more of the crystals from their boat in return for the repairs. They also agree to trade information on incarnations - though this seems to only apply to Velvet, who has an interest in them as well.
Kanata: Hey Vicious, do you have any hobbies? Vicious: I like to wake up early and read. Kanata: Why is your first instinct always to lie to me? Vicious: Because your first instinct is to ask me stupid questions. Kanata: I don't think there's anything stupid about questions that let me get to know my companions better. So tell me. Don't you have any hobbies besides violence and ridicule? Vicious: Man, you are just askin' to get shot. Those things ain't hobbies, they're who I am. Kanata: Somehow that's even worse...
Vicious then apparently gives the question some real consideration.
Vicious: But, hobbies, huh? I guess if I've gotta name one... Kanata: Yes? What is it? Vicious: Pissin' people off. Kanata: That's terrible! Why are you like this? Don't you understand it's better to get along with people? Vicious: Huh? Since when? People always abandon you eventually, right? Ain't it easier to just make 'em hate you from the get-go and spare yourself the trouble? Kanata: I don't understand that philosophy at all. Vicious: Yeah... Guy like you wouldn't need to.
Vicious, bloodied and bruised and looking honestly like he should probably be dead, staggers up to a group of people being threatened by a a girl with wings(?) supported by a pair of twins and a tiny girl.
Kasque: You can't win. It's over. Bye now. Vicious: Hold up there, Your Godness. You ain't even done with ME yet.
Kanata and the others seem very grateful to see him alive, and then appalled when he offers to fight for them while they escape again. Vicious talks about willpower and how it's not about what you can do, it's what you want to do, and how Kanata wants to change the world and that's not the sort of thing you give up on partway.
Kasque: ...What's up with you? Aren't you supposed to be a terrifying loner? What are you so obsessed with this kid for?
Vicious gives a long speech about how he's been hated by everyone his entire life and has just been living to spite the people who wanted him to die, and how Kanata is totally different from him, and just wants to help the people who condemned him.
Vicious: Crazy, right? And dumb as hell. Didn't make one lick of sense to me. And that's exactly what makes all of this so fascinatin'. If it weren't for that dumbass, life would be too damn borin' to put up with. So I ain't gonna letcha kill him. I'm gonna do the whole enemy of mankind thing...one...more...time!
Vicious says some kind of incantation, and in a cloud of black flames transforms into some kind of demon. Everyone is predictably shocked.
The twins and the girl step up to fight him, but Vicious says they won't even last 10 seconds, which they don't. (Gameplay wise, you don't even get to tap the attack button.) He then turns to Kasque and says it's her turn.
Vicious, Kanata and Misella are in the woods with a fourth person (Reid). Kanata comments that Vicious must not be as big a deal as he thought, since while everyone knows the name of the Great Transgressor, no one seems to know his face. Eventually, Vicious points out that "transgressors" are born when someone records a crime and broadcasts it on "Vision Central," and the people who see it plead for justice. Reid confirms he recognized Kanata and Misella that way, since they had been on Vision Central just recently.
Kanata: Oh, I see. Since you were on Vision Central a long time ago... Vicious: Boom. Hell, even among the Order of Knights, only the most obsessive weirdos remember my face. People are fickle. They send men to their deaths in the name of justice, then forget all about it a few days later. They don't even remember what they were upset about in the first place, much less the face of the poor chump they condemned. Kanata: That seems irresponsible somehow. Vicious: But enforcers don't forget, they just keep on coming. So I ain't exactly home free. Kanata: And you've been fighting off enforcers this whole time. Vicious: Yeah, I'm a grizzled vet when it comes to this crap, so you lot had better start showin' me some respect. Misella: I think not.
Chapter 5 11-4 At the docks of a city festooned with banners and full of cheerful crowds, Vicious and his group (Kanata, Misella, Aegis, Yuna) are fighting off a huge army of pirates. They apparently have convinced the onlookers that this is all a show, part of the drama festival (and in fact Kanata, Misella and Aegis appear to have pirate costumes on).
Vicious: Heh heh. The perfect plan, am I right? And now we got our pick of their ships. My little Aifread lie was a work of genius.
Two preteen girl pirates(?) show up to be offended it was a lie and Aifread's treasure isn't actually there. One of them is offended Vicious thinks she's a child and doesn't know who she is ("Clearly you're all looks and no brains!")
Then some generic mob pirates stumble over them and the girls end up fighting them with the rest of them.
Chapter 5 11-9 They finish off the pirates as the crowd cheers. However, Vicious seems less satisfied, his attention elsewhere.
Vicious: Sorry, but I ain't the happy ending type. I prefer the part where the blades and bullets are flyin' all over the place. And I'm guessin' you do too, pal. Misella: Um, who are you talking to? Vicious: What, you think I can't smell that bloodlust waftin' off ya? Come on out already.
A blond man emerges.
Vicious: Who are ya, anyway? You obviously aren't just another pirate drone. ???: And you obviously are Vicious, the Great Transgressor. But that doesn't matter to me. What does matter is that you've made a mockery of Aifread's legacy. Vicious: Aww, did I? My bad. If I run into his crusty ol' corpse, I'll give him a proper thank you. After all, never coulda hooked a big fish like you without his help! ???: Flap your lips while you can, fool. I'll be shutting them for good. You will regret provoking the Reaper... from the depths of hell! Kanata: So, uh... this guy's another enemy? Vicious: Watch it, kid. This one ain't no joke. In fact, this is gonna be the most fun I've had all day!
They fight. Vicious is impressed the man stands up to him, and Kanata is impressed that this is the first time he's seen someone be a match for Vicious. However, the man is less impressed.
Vicious: What's wrong? Take another shot. I know that wasn't all you got. Dig deep, and hit me with everything you have! Ain't no satisfaction in killin' a man who's holdin' back. ???: Ah, but I'm not the only one hiding the true extent of his power. I can see it, squirming around inside you like a jet-black demon. Vicious: Oh? ???: Let it out. All of it. Vicious: Sorry, but that's a hard... No!
A gunshot rings out, and... Vicious has shot a mob pirate who was trying to sneak up on the other man.
Pirate: D-Dammit... I thought I could be... the man who took out Eizen the Reaper... Vicious: Gotta watch your back better than that, Reaper-man.
After huffing a bit, Eizen turns to go, saying that the debt has been repaid, and he'll forget his insult to Aifread. And, besides, as Vicious said... there's no satisfaction in killing a man holding back.
That seems to be the end of it, and the crowd cheers louder at this exciting finale. They wrap things up, and though it seems they've missed their time slot for their actual pirate play, they've achieved their goal - they can get a ship by taking the pirate flagship now that its owners are dead. Some of the party are a little dubious of the legality of this move, but they go along with it.
The setting is a village at night. A girl (Misella) stands on the roof of a building with a crowd gathered around. Cloaked and hooded figures (enforcers) appear out of nowhere and move towards her; a boy (Kanata) tries to fight them off with a sword he pulls from nowhere, but there are too many. There's one enforcer in particular that's much larger than the others.
Misella: They're here to remove me because I'm the transgressor that killed Nisha. It's okay, Kanata. I'm ready.
The giant enforcer envelops Misella in fire as she screams. A younger boy in the crowd (Nash) growls that it's the same fire that burned Nisha to death at the shelter, and she should feel the same pain. The crowd agrees that it's what she gets; she should burn.
Kanata: How can you say such things?! This isn't right! Misella: I'm... going to die... They're right. This is just recompense for causing Nisha's death. I deserve this.
Then Vicious's voice rings out as he appears.
Vicious: Acting pretty righteous for a girl who stabbed me in my sleep. Misella: You? But... how? Vicious: Takes a hell of a lot more than a heart wound to kill me, sister. Don't you know who I am? Oh, don't get me wrong, it was a real nice stabbing. That's why it took a little while for me to recover. I'd be mad... but meh! Looks like you already got what you deserved. Havin' fun up there? Misella: ...... Vicious: Whoa, if looks could kill, yeah? You got somethin' you wanna say, go ahead and spit 'er out. Misella: I'm a murderer with no right to a future. This is fair justice. But... I shouldn't, but... I... I... I hate this. Kanata didn't do anything wrong. He only tried to save me, and now he's been condemned. Nobody understands how kind he is! What a righteous man he is! Vicious: Yeah, that's pretty much the way this ol' world works. Nobody knows much about anyone else, and nobody cares to learn. But once they wanna see you condemned, they tell themselves they know everything they need to. It's pretty messed up. Misella: I can't leave Kanata alone in this cruel world. I know I can never be redeemed for what I've done, but even if I have to bear this guilt forever... I want to survive and protect Kanata's light! Vicious: Heh. Well, that oughta be enough. You wanna own your sin, or you wanna let it own you? Carve the answer outta your own fouled soul!
Vicious summons a blade of black flame which he stabs through Misella's chest. She screams, but grips it, and it's absorbed into a mark in her palm, which changes form. Glyphs appear around her arm, and she summons fire in her hand.
Misella: I will be the fire that keeps Kanata safe! Annihilation Flame!
Misella: Is this... my power? Kanata: Misella, are you alright? Misella: Yes. Kanata: I never imagined that she'd be able to use a Blood Sin as well... Vicious: Yeah, it's a thing, alright. Maybe we should have a long talk about it while we all get killed. Kanata: Yes, of course. We need to find a way out of this. Misella: I'll join your fight. That's what this power is for. Vicious: All right, sweetheart. Then let's dance!
They fight off the enforcers, including the giant enforcer. BOSS BATTLE.
As the giant enforcer vanishes, Kanata and Misella look exhausted, though Vicious seems fine. The villagers react with shock that they managed to fight off the enforcers, but the boy from before approaches them, and after some crying, pulls a knife.
Misella: That's a knife. Do you plan to kill me?
Nash sobs as Kanata and Misella are silent.
Nash: Someone bring them to justice! Someone kill them!
Kanata: ... Misella: ... Vicious: You got the knife, kid. We ain't gonna wait all day.
Nash just sobs more.
Misella: I'm sorry, Nash. But I'm going to live. Kanata: Misella...
Having escaped the city, Vicious comments that the Knights appear to have made themselves scarce. They're in the open, for now. Kanata and Misella have a private conversation about what to do next, while Vicious lingers out of earshot. (Their conversation is not in the memory.) Eventually they approach him again.
Kanata: Sorry about that, Vicious. We're ready to go. Vicious: Oh, I don't care. ...Kinda expectin' that was gonna end with a kiss or somethin', though. Kanata: Wh-wh-what?! Vicious: Let's get movin'. Dunno when our pursuers are gonna show their ugly mugs again. Kanata: But where are we going? Vicious: That's still a secret. But I think you two will like it. Kanata: You know somewhere we can be safe? Vicious: Could be. Kanata: Very well. We'll just have to trust you.
Vicious turns to lead them off.
Vicious: Ain't you a shrewd little fella? You want a pat on the head? Misella: Do not lay a hand on Kanata. Just guide us, if you would. Vicious: What, you're comin' too? Misella: I'm certainly not leaving Kanata alone with you. Vicious: Meh, whatever. Follow me, brave transgressors! Kanata: Let's go. We just have to believe there's something ahead for us. Even as transgressors...
The party is gathered in the woods, and Kanata remarks on Vicious's ability to use his power.
Vicious: Hey, when I actually give a damn, ain't nothin' I can't do with ease. Yuna: What are you talking about? I saw you at ze brink of tears, whining about 'ow zis was impossible! Misella: That's an obvious lie. Vicious would never do anything as human and relatable as crying. Kanata: You don't think so? I bet even Vicious cries sometimes. Like, from onions maybe. Misella: Then, to test the theory, let's saute Vicious in a pan full of onions. Aegis: That is utterly barbaric! If you're going to use onions to make him cry, do it humanely! Yuna: So you DO want us to use onions to make a comrade cry? 'Ow savage.
Yuna brings the subject back around and remarks that when they'd been fighting Kasque and Vicious went "full Great Transgressor," it had felt like their life was being drained out of their bodies. If that happens again when he uses the power, it could be dangerous.
Vicious says that won't be an issue since he can control the power now... probably. And anyway, if he only takes the form for a short time, he won't need to absorb that much energy regardless.
This does not reassure everyone that he will not be slowly draining away their life force as they fight. Aegis suggests that maybe they should accept it - his power is useful, even if it comes with an element of risk.
Vicious: It's a bit late to be worrying about that, dumbasses. At the point you're hanging out with me, you're already accepting a hell of a lot more than an "element" of risk.
Everyone ultimately agrees that's true.
Chapter 8 12-2
The party finds a small village that appears to be vacant; houses empty of people, with soot inside, but otherwise intact. While they take advantage of a vacant house to rest, Aegis decides to investigate what happened here.
When he returns, he reports that a random passerby told him the whole story: The village had been destroyed about 20 years ago, by the Great Transgressor. The town was completely enveloped in black flame, and all the residents were incinerated without a trace. One refugee managed to get a chance to see the person responsible, and instantly recognized him as the Great Transgressor. Yuna pointedly turns to Vicious to elucidate.
Vicious: Oh, I don't remember nothin' about that. That woulda been when I was a little kid. Back when I was just a dumb brat spewin' out destructive power that I couldn't control... Kanata: Uh... We should probably leave. Like right now. Let's just get our stuff and go. Vicious: Huh? You tryin' to protect my feelings there, Kanata? Lemme be clear. I ain't about to atone for nothin'. All I did was what came naturally to a monster like me. Ain't nothin' more to it 'an that. I was just me being me. I don't feel anything special about it.
Kanata and the others seem unconvinced, but Vicious just leaves to get some sleep.
Vicious: A mass murderer spending the night at the scene of his crime... that's good stuff, right?
Chapter 8 12-3
Later that evening, Misella finds Kanata making gravemarkers for the residents of the town with some possessions he's found, so they can pray for them. He seems deeply affected by so many people having their lives ended.
Misella: Are you the one who should be doing this? Kanata: I wonder. The weight of our sins can never be lifted. Despite what Vicious said, he knows that better than anyone. That's why he doesn't make any excuses for what he's done. That's why he doesn't attempt to atone for it, in order to make his pain go away. In a way, the way he deals with this life is tougher and more honest than what any of us do... But I could never do that myself. That's why I'm making these gravemarkers. To at least make myself feel a little bit better. Misella: .....I'll help. Kanata: Are you sure? Misella: You're doing the right thing, so I'll help. For my own sake. Kanata: Okay, thanks!
A little ways away, Vicious and Yuna were apparently listening in to all of this.
Vicious: Tch... Who the hell asked 'em to do that... Yuna: I zink it is commendable. It wouldn't 'urt you to be a little bit grateful. Vicious: It's got nothin' to do with me. They said it themselves; it was for their own damn sakes. Yuna: You don't to be like zis, you know. At the very least, you could be happy for the confirmation... Zat no matter how much zis world 'ates you, you no longer have to suffer alone. Vicious: Well, if they're gonna keep amusin' me by doin' weird crap like this, I guess I'll keep 'em around. But when they ain't any fun anymore, I'm cuttin' 'em loose. Yuna: *Sigh* And 'ere we go again.
In a makeshift city of boats and tents, faceless cloaked figures are hunting people down. All of the people (transgressors) have tattoos/marks somewhere on their body, and the cloaked figures (enforcers) are clearly supernatural, spearing them with extending claws and that sort of thing.
A knight-looking guy (Aegis) is attempting to stop them, ushering transgressors away. Then he stops in front of an enforcer, which moves to kill him.
Vicious: Can't let ya do that, pal!
Vicious steps in and shoots the enforcer, which dissolves in light.
Aegis: The Great Transgressor...! Vicious: Given' up yer own life to save another. Man, you knight types are somethin' else. Aegis: ...... Vicious: ...Nah, that wasn't it, was it. Suicide by enforcer, eh? Aegis: I don't even know anymore. My own values have betrayed me... I fought to protect the very transgressors I'd branded as evil. What the hell am I doing? What the hell SHOULD I be doing? What am I... supposed to believe? Vicious: Kind of a dumbass, aren't ya? You're so used to clingin' onto words that you can't even stand on your own two feet. "Knights," "justice," "righteousness"... You don't even know what they mean. You're just in love with the way they sound. Aegis: Maybe you're right... Maybe the ideals I lived by were nothing more than ornaments. Maybe I never really knew what they meant. Maybe that's why I committed half-measure after half-measure. Maybe that's why I hurt Queen Rebecca so. I could see the way she felt about me. But I used our different stations as an excuse to keep averting my eyes from her. I'm a coward who spoke pretty words about saving her, but wouldn't summon the will to take her hand and run away. And that two-facedness killed her. It was all my fault! Vicious: And you think your death's gonna be some sort of atonement? Not that it makes any difference to me. Aegis: Maybe it would be... Atonement for the feeble morals that got her killed. That was my true crime. Vicious: So get yourself killed already. Then everything'll be just peachy, right? No regrets or nothin', yeah? Like, I dunno, failin' to fight against the cruel reality that ya just opened your eyes to?
In the background, trangressors yell as the enforcers continue to execute them.
Aegis: I... Despite it all, I... I still want to save them. These people being harmed right before my eyes! I want to save them. I want to keep them safe. Not because it's morally correct, or because of some sort of knightly code, but... Because I want to! I might misstep again, but I won't stop reaching out my hand to those in need. I don't care if it's a crime. I don't care if I'm merely serving my own ego. I want to continue to be the blade that protects the weak! Until the day that I die! Vicious: Heh. Finally decided to start lookin' forward, eh? Now that you've got yourself a dream, go make it come true!
A blade of black energy appears in Vicious's hand.
Vicious: You wanna own your sin, or you wanna let it own you? Carve the answer outta your own fouled soul!
He stabs the blade through Aegis's chest. Aegis yells and grabs it, but after a moment it's absorbed into him, a glowing brand over his heart shifts form, and he draws a spear from thin air.
Aegis: O howling glaive that protects the weak! Wavering Heart!
Kanata appears.
Kanata: You've summoned your blood sin! That's wonderful! Aegis: Blood sin... I finally understand what you were trying to tell me, Leon. Only my personal desires were truly right. Come, Kanata! Let's save as many of them as we can! Kanata: I'm right behind you!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Memory 1: We're All Dead Men
Note: all names are blurred out and indistinguishable.
Vicious is traveling along a mountain path with two teenagers (Kanata and Misella) whining about how he doesn't have any alcohol. They are unsympathetic. He suggests Kanata turn into alcohol, and then that he knife a merchant and steal his alcohol (Misella: "Kanata isn't going to do that. Because that would be wrong."), and then eventually that he attacks the merchant, Kanata knifes him, and demands booze as a reward. Misella finds the last suggestion not unreasonable, but Kanata still rejects it as a scam. Vicious notes he's traveling with a goody two-shoes and an arsonist who shoots daggers with her eyes.
It turns out they are traveling to find an "information merchant" who will give them more information on where they are actually going.
Memory 2: To the Nation of Sin
Note: all names are blurred out and indistinguishable.
Vicious with two teenagers again, now in a forest. They are irritated with him for not having told them where they were actually going, which they thought was somewhere safe where "we transgressors could live without fear," but which is apparently somewhere called the "Nation of Sin."
Vicious: The Nation of Sin is FULL of transgressors who have escaped execution? C'mon, think of all the new friends you'll have to play with! That's what you two are all about, right? Makin' friends and holdin' hands and skippin' through the flowers? Besides, you guys could use some more pals.
Misella: Not of the transgressor variety! I won't have you exposing Kanata to any more criminals!
Kanata tries to calm things down, but he's also mad. He doesn't want to part ways, though—he says they still need Vicious's strength, and he's curious to see if the Nation of Sin has other people in their situation. Vicious doesn't think it will.
Vicious: Place like that's gotta be packed with people lustin' for revenge against this insane world of ours.
Kanata: Vicious, wait... Why exactly do you want to visit the Nation of Sin?
Vicious: I think you already know the answer to that. I'm gonna unleash those bloodthirsty beasts... and send this world up in flames.
Before Kanata and Misella can react properly to this, they are interrupted by the approach of some knights, who they have to fight. The knights call Vicious the "Great Transgressor."
Note: It's not visible in the video, but the red-glowing weapons all three of them have are pulled out of the air with a magic glyph. The knights don't seem to have anything similar.
Memory 3: To the Engineer's House
Note: all names are blurred out and indistinguishable.
Vicious meets up with five other people as they plan to visit an engineer's house. That includes Velvet (Silk from Bad End), though she doesn't seem to be as much a part of the group - but she says she's coming too, because "None of the other villagers know anything about the incarnation. That mystery engineer is my only hope."
At the house, Kanata knocks and calls out, but there's no answer. Vicious steps in and just kicks the door down, finding a teenage girl (Rita) who comes out furious. Misella uses Vicious as a shield when she hurls a fireball, and Vicious is on fire.
Aegis steps in to defuse the situation and explains that they were just trying to ask her to fix their ship, since the "mana converter" is broken. She refuses.
Vicious recovers ("Damn, that really burned. Little runt's one hell of a spellcaster.") Negotiations continue (Vicious offers money, and then immediately admits he has none) until Rita is distracted by some kind of reading - she asks if any of them are holding something weird, that came from a body of a monster. Yuna produces a crystal which Velvet identifies as an "incarnation crystal."
Rita has apparently never heard the monsters referred to as "incarnations" before, but she's researching them. They come to an agreement where she can collect more of the crystals from their boat in return for the repairs. They also agree to trade information on incarnations - though this seems to only apply to Velvet, who has an interest in them as well.
They agree, and head for the ship immediately.
Memory 4: Vicious's Hobbies
Kanata: Hey Vicious, do you have any hobbies?
Vicious: I like to wake up early and read.
Kanata: Why is your first instinct always to lie to me?
Vicious: Because your first instinct is to ask me stupid questions.
Kanata: I don't think there's anything stupid about questions that let me get to know my companions better. So tell me. Don't you have any hobbies besides violence and ridicule?
Vicious: Man, you are just askin' to get shot. Those things ain't hobbies, they're who I am.
Kanata: Somehow that's even worse...
Vicious then apparently gives the question some real consideration.
Vicious: But, hobbies, huh? I guess if I've gotta name one...
Kanata: Yes? What is it?
Vicious: Pissin' people off.
Kanata: That's terrible! Why are you like this? Don't you understand it's better to get along with people?
Vicious: Huh? Since when? People always abandon you eventually, right? Ain't it easier to just make 'em hate you from the get-go and spare yourself the trouble?
Kanata: I don't understand that philosophy at all.
Vicious: Yeah... Guy like you wouldn't need to.
Memory 5: Just You
Vicious, bloodied and bruised and looking honestly like he should probably be dead, staggers up to a group of people being threatened by a a girl with wings(?) supported by a pair of twins and a tiny girl.
Kasque: You can't win. It's over. Bye now.
Vicious: Hold up there, Your Godness. You ain't even done with ME yet.
Kanata and the others seem very grateful to see him alive, and then appalled when he offers to fight for them while they escape again. Vicious talks about willpower and how it's not about what you can do, it's what you want to do, and how Kanata wants to change the world and that's not the sort of thing you give up on partway.
Kasque: ...What's up with you? Aren't you supposed to be a terrifying loner? What are you so obsessed with this kid for?
Vicious gives a long speech about how he's been hated by everyone his entire life and has just been living to spite the people who wanted him to die, and how Kanata is totally different from him, and just wants to help the people who condemned him.
Vicious: Crazy, right? And dumb as hell. Didn't make one lick of sense to me. And that's exactly what makes all of this so fascinatin'. If it weren't for that dumbass, life would be too damn borin' to put up with. So I ain't gonna letcha kill him. I'm gonna do the whole enemy of mankind thing...one...more...time!
Vicious says some kind of incantation, and in a cloud of black flames transforms into some kind of demon. Everyone is predictably shocked.
The twins and the girl step up to fight him, but Vicious says they won't even last 10 seconds, which they don't. (Gameplay wise, you don't even get to tap the attack button.) He then turns to Kasque and says it's her turn.
Memory 6: Forgotten Feeling
Vicious, Kanata and Misella are in the woods with a fourth person (Reid). Kanata comments that Vicious must not be as big a deal as he thought, since while everyone knows the name of the Great Transgressor, no one seems to know his face. Eventually, Vicious points out that "transgressors" are born when someone records a crime and broadcasts it on "Vision Central," and the people who see it plead for justice. Reid confirms he recognized Kanata and Misella that way, since they had been on Vision Central just recently.
Kanata: Oh, I see. Since you were on Vision Central a long time ago...
Vicious: Boom. Hell, even among the Order of Knights, only the most obsessive weirdos remember my face. People are fickle. They send men to their deaths in the name of justice, then forget all about it a few days later. They don't even remember what they were upset about in the first place, much less the face of the poor chump they condemned.
Kanata: That seems irresponsible somehow.
Vicious: But enforcers don't forget, they just keep on coming. So I ain't exactly home free.
Kanata: And you've been fighting off enforcers this whole time.
Vicious: Yeah, I'm a grizzled vet when it comes to this crap, so you lot had better start showin' me some respect.
Misella: I think not.
Memory 7: Pirates & The Reaper
At the docks of a city festooned with banners and full of cheerful crowds, Vicious and his group (Kanata, Misella, Aegis, Yuna) are fighting off a huge army of pirates. They apparently have convinced the onlookers that this is all a show, part of the drama festival (and in fact Kanata, Misella and Aegis appear to have pirate costumes on).
Vicious: Heh heh. The perfect plan, am I right? And now we got our pick of their ships. My little Aifread lie was a work of genius.
Two preteen girl pirates(?) show up to be offended it was a lie and Aifread's treasure isn't actually there. One of them is offended Vicious thinks she's a child and doesn't know who she is ("Clearly you're all looks and no brains!")
Then some generic mob pirates stumble over them and the girls end up fighting them with the rest of them.
Chapter 5 11-9
They finish off the pirates as the crowd cheers. However, Vicious seems less satisfied, his attention elsewhere.
Vicious: Sorry, but I ain't the happy ending type. I prefer the part where the blades and bullets are flyin' all over the place. And I'm guessin' you do too, pal.
Misella: Um, who are you talking to?
Vicious: What, you think I can't smell that bloodlust waftin' off ya? Come on out already.
A blond man emerges.
Vicious: Who are ya, anyway? You obviously aren't just another pirate drone.
???: And you obviously are Vicious, the Great Transgressor. But that doesn't matter to me. What does matter is that you've made a mockery of Aifread's legacy.
Vicious: Aww, did I? My bad. If I run into his crusty ol' corpse, I'll give him a proper thank you. After all, never coulda hooked a big fish like you without his help!
???: Flap your lips while you can, fool. I'll be shutting them for good. You will regret provoking the Reaper... from the depths of hell!
Kanata: So, uh... this guy's another enemy?
Vicious: Watch it, kid. This one ain't no joke. In fact, this is gonna be the most fun I've had all day!
They fight. Vicious is impressed the man stands up to him, and Kanata is impressed that this is the first time he's seen someone be a match for Vicious. However, the man is less impressed.
Vicious: What's wrong? Take another shot. I know that wasn't all you got. Dig deep, and hit me with everything you have! Ain't no satisfaction in killin' a man who's holdin' back.
???: Ah, but I'm not the only one hiding the true extent of his power. I can see it, squirming around inside you like a jet-black demon.
Vicious: Oh?
???: Let it out. All of it.
Vicious: Sorry, but that's a hard... No!
A gunshot rings out, and... Vicious has shot a mob pirate who was trying to sneak up on the other man.
Pirate: D-Dammit... I thought I could be... the man who took out Eizen the Reaper...
Vicious: Gotta watch your back better than that, Reaper-man.
After huffing a bit, Eizen turns to go, saying that the debt has been repaid, and he'll forget his insult to Aifread. And, besides, as Vicious said... there's no satisfaction in killing a man holding back.
That seems to be the end of it, and the crowd cheers louder at this exciting finale. They wrap things up, and though it seems they've missed their time slot for their actual pirate play, they've achieved their goal - they can get a ship by taking the pirate flagship now that its owners are dead. Some of the party are a little dubious of the legality of this move, but they go along with it.
Memory 8: Annihilation Flame + Follow, Brave Transgressors!
The setting is a village at night. A girl (Misella) stands on the roof of a building with a crowd gathered around. Cloaked and hooded figures (enforcers) appear out of nowhere and move towards her; a boy (Kanata) tries to fight them off with a sword he pulls from nowhere, but there are too many. There's one enforcer in particular that's much larger than the others.
Misella: They're here to remove me because I'm the transgressor that killed Nisha. It's okay, Kanata. I'm ready.
The giant enforcer envelops Misella in fire as she screams. A younger boy in the crowd (Nash) growls that it's the same fire that burned Nisha to death at the shelter, and she should feel the same pain. The crowd agrees that it's what she gets; she should burn.
Kanata: How can you say such things?! This isn't right!
Misella: I'm... going to die... They're right. This is just recompense for causing Nisha's death. I deserve this.
Then Vicious's voice rings out as he appears.
Vicious: Acting pretty righteous for a girl who stabbed me in my sleep.
Misella: You? But... how?
Vicious: Takes a hell of a lot more than a heart wound to kill me, sister. Don't you know who I am? Oh, don't get me wrong, it was a real nice stabbing. That's why it took a little while for me to recover. I'd be mad... but meh! Looks like you already got what you deserved. Havin' fun up there?
Misella: ......
Vicious: Whoa, if looks could kill, yeah? You got somethin' you wanna say, go ahead and spit 'er out.
Misella: I'm a murderer with no right to a future. This is fair justice. But... I shouldn't, but... I... I... I hate this. Kanata didn't do anything wrong. He only tried to save me, and now he's been condemned. Nobody understands how kind he is! What a righteous man he is!
Vicious: Yeah, that's pretty much the way this ol' world works. Nobody knows much about anyone else, and nobody cares to learn. But once they wanna see you condemned, they tell themselves they know everything they need to. It's pretty messed up.
Misella: I can't leave Kanata alone in this cruel world. I know I can never be redeemed for what I've done, but even if I have to bear this guilt forever... I want to survive and protect Kanata's light!
Vicious: Heh. Well, that oughta be enough. You wanna own your sin, or you wanna let it own you? Carve the answer outta your own fouled soul!
Vicious summons a blade of black flame which he stabs through Misella's chest. She screams, but grips it, and it's absorbed into a mark in her palm, which changes form. Glyphs appear around her arm, and she summons fire in her hand.
Misella: I will be the fire that keeps Kanata safe! Annihilation Flame!
Chapter 1 15-3: A Way Out
Misella: Is this... my power?
Kanata: Misella, are you alright?
Misella: Yes.
Kanata: I never imagined that she'd be able to use a Blood Sin as well...
Vicious: Yeah, it's a thing, alright. Maybe we should have a long talk about it while we all get killed.
Kanata: Yes, of course. We need to find a way out of this.
Misella: I'll join your fight. That's what this power is for.
Vicious: All right, sweetheart. Then let's dance!
They fight off the enforcers, including the giant enforcer. BOSS BATTLE.
Chapter 1 15-4: Lamentation
As the giant enforcer vanishes, Kanata and Misella look exhausted, though Vicious seems fine. The villagers react with shock that they managed to fight off the enforcers, but the boy from before approaches them, and after some crying, pulls a knife.
Misella: That's a knife. Do you plan to kill me?
Nash sobs as Kanata and Misella are silent.
Nash: Someone bring them to justice! Someone kill them!
Kanata: ...
Misella: ...
Vicious: You got the knife, kid. We ain't gonna wait all day.
Nash just sobs more.
Misella: I'm sorry, Nash. But I'm going to live.
Kanata: Misella...
Chapter 1 16-1: Follow, Transgressors!
Having escaped the city, Vicious comments that the Knights appear to have made themselves scarce. They're in the open, for now. Kanata and Misella have a private conversation about what to do next, while Vicious lingers out of earshot. (Their conversation is not in the memory.) Eventually they approach him again.
Kanata: Sorry about that, Vicious. We're ready to go.
Vicious: Oh, I don't care. ...Kinda expectin' that was gonna end with a kiss or somethin', though.
Kanata: Wh-wh-what?!
Vicious: Let's get movin'. Dunno when our pursuers are gonna show their ugly mugs again.
Kanata: But where are we going?
Vicious: That's still a secret. But I think you two will like it.
Kanata: You know somewhere we can be safe?
Vicious: Could be.
Kanata: Very well. We'll just have to trust you.
Vicious turns to lead them off.
Vicious: Ain't you a shrewd little fella? You want a pat on the head?
Misella: Do not lay a hand on Kanata. Just guide us, if you would.
Vicious: What, you're comin' too?
Misella: I'm certainly not leaving Kanata alone with you.
Vicious: Meh, whatever. Follow me, brave transgressors!
Kanata: Let's go. We just have to believe there's something ahead for us. Even as transgressors...
Memory 9: Full Great Transgressor
Chapter 8 12-1
The party is gathered in the woods, and Kanata remarks on Vicious's ability to use his power.
Vicious: Hey, when I actually give a damn, ain't nothin' I can't do with ease.
Yuna: What are you talking about? I saw you at ze brink of tears, whining about 'ow zis was impossible!
Misella: That's an obvious lie. Vicious would never do anything as human and relatable as crying.
Kanata: You don't think so? I bet even Vicious cries sometimes. Like, from onions maybe.
Misella: Then, to test the theory, let's saute Vicious in a pan full of onions.
Aegis: That is utterly barbaric! If you're going to use onions to make him cry, do it humanely!
Yuna: So you DO want us to use onions to make a comrade cry? 'Ow savage.
Yuna brings the subject back around and remarks that when they'd been fighting Kasque and Vicious went "full Great Transgressor," it had felt like their life was being drained out of their bodies. If that happens again when he uses the power, it could be dangerous.
Vicious says that won't be an issue since he can control the power now... probably. And anyway, if he only takes the form for a short time, he won't need to absorb that much energy regardless.
This does not reassure everyone that he will not be slowly draining away their life force as they fight. Aegis suggests that maybe they should accept it - his power is useful, even if it comes with an element of risk.
Vicious: It's a bit late to be worrying about that, dumbasses. At the point you're hanging out with me, you're already accepting a hell of a lot more than an "element" of risk.
Everyone ultimately agrees that's true.
Chapter 8 12-2
The party finds a small village that appears to be vacant; houses empty of people, with soot inside, but otherwise intact. While they take advantage of a vacant house to rest, Aegis decides to investigate what happened here.
When he returns, he reports that a random passerby told him the whole story: The village had been destroyed about 20 years ago, by the Great Transgressor. The town was completely enveloped in black flame, and all the residents were incinerated without a trace. One refugee managed to get a chance to see the person responsible, and instantly recognized him as the Great Transgressor. Yuna pointedly turns to Vicious to elucidate.
Vicious: Oh, I don't remember nothin' about that. That woulda been when I was a little kid. Back when I was just a dumb brat spewin' out destructive power that I couldn't control...
Kanata: Uh... We should probably leave. Like right now. Let's just get our stuff and go.
Vicious: Huh? You tryin' to protect my feelings there, Kanata? Lemme be clear. I ain't about to atone for nothin'. All I did was what came naturally to a monster like me. Ain't nothin' more to it 'an that. I was just me being me. I don't feel anything special about it.
Kanata and the others seem unconvinced, but Vicious just leaves to get some sleep.
Vicious: A mass murderer spending the night at the scene of his crime... that's good stuff, right?
Chapter 8 12-3
Later that evening, Misella finds Kanata making gravemarkers for the residents of the town with some possessions he's found, so they can pray for them. He seems deeply affected by so many people having their lives ended.
Misella: Are you the one who should be doing this?
Kanata: I wonder. The weight of our sins can never be lifted. Despite what Vicious said, he knows that better than anyone. That's why he doesn't make any excuses for what he's done. That's why he doesn't attempt to atone for it, in order to make his pain go away. In a way, the way he deals with this life is tougher and more honest than what any of us do... But I could never do that myself. That's why I'm making these gravemarkers. To at least make myself feel a little bit better.
Misella: .....I'll help.
Kanata: Are you sure?
Misella: You're doing the right thing, so I'll help. For my own sake.
Kanata: Okay, thanks!
A little ways away, Vicious and Yuna were apparently listening in to all of this.
Vicious: Tch... Who the hell asked 'em to do that...
Yuna: I zink it is commendable. It wouldn't 'urt you to be a little bit grateful.
Vicious: It's got nothin' to do with me. They said it themselves; it was for their own damn sakes.
Yuna: You don't to be like zis, you know. At the very least, you could be happy for the confirmation... Zat no matter how much zis world 'ates you, you no longer have to suffer alone.
Vicious: Well, if they're gonna keep amusin' me by doin' weird crap like this, I guess I'll keep 'em around. But when they ain't any fun anymore, I'm cuttin' 'em loose.
Yuna: *Sigh* And 'ere we go again.
Memory 10: Blade to Protect the Weak
In a makeshift city of boats and tents, faceless cloaked figures are hunting people down. All of the people (transgressors) have tattoos/marks somewhere on their body, and the cloaked figures (enforcers) are clearly supernatural, spearing them with extending claws and that sort of thing.
A knight-looking guy (Aegis) is attempting to stop them, ushering transgressors away. Then he stops in front of an enforcer, which moves to kill him.
Vicious: Can't let ya do that, pal!
Vicious steps in and shoots the enforcer, which dissolves in light.
Aegis: The Great Transgressor...!
Vicious: Given' up yer own life to save another. Man, you knight types are somethin' else.
Aegis: ......
Vicious: ...Nah, that wasn't it, was it. Suicide by enforcer, eh?
Aegis: I don't even know anymore. My own values have betrayed me... I fought to protect the very transgressors I'd branded as evil. What the hell am I doing? What the hell SHOULD I be doing? What am I... supposed to believe?
Vicious: Kind of a dumbass, aren't ya? You're so used to clingin' onto words that you can't even stand on your own two feet. "Knights," "justice," "righteousness"... You don't even know what they mean. You're just in love with the way they sound.
Aegis: Maybe you're right... Maybe the ideals I lived by were nothing more than ornaments. Maybe I never really knew what they meant. Maybe that's why I committed half-measure after half-measure. Maybe that's why I hurt Queen Rebecca so. I could see the way she felt about me. But I used our different stations as an excuse to keep averting my eyes from her. I'm a coward who spoke pretty words about saving her, but wouldn't summon the will to take her hand and run away. And that two-facedness killed her. It was all my fault!
Vicious: And you think your death's gonna be some sort of atonement? Not that it makes any difference to me.
Aegis: Maybe it would be... Atonement for the feeble morals that got her killed. That was my true crime.
Vicious: So get yourself killed already. Then everything'll be just peachy, right? No regrets or nothin', yeah? Like, I dunno, failin' to fight against the cruel reality that ya just opened your eyes to?
In the background, trangressors yell as the enforcers continue to execute them.
Aegis: I... Despite it all, I... I still want to save them. These people being harmed right before my eyes! I want to save them. I want to keep them safe. Not because it's morally correct, or because of some sort of knightly code, but... Because I want to! I might misstep again, but I won't stop reaching out my hand to those in need. I don't care if it's a crime. I don't care if I'm merely serving my own ego. I want to continue to be the blade that protects the weak! Until the day that I die!
Vicious: Heh. Finally decided to start lookin' forward, eh? Now that you've got yourself a dream, go make it come true!
A blade of black energy appears in Vicious's hand.
Vicious: You wanna own your sin, or you wanna let it own you? Carve the answer outta your own fouled soul!
He stabs the blade through Aegis's chest. Aegis yells and grabs it, but after a moment it's absorbed into him, a glowing brand over his heart shifts form, and he draws a spear from thin air.
Aegis: O howling glaive that protects the weak! Wavering Heart!
Kanata appears.
Kanata: You've summoned your blood sin! That's wonderful!
Aegis: Blood sin... I finally understand what you were trying to tell me, Leon. Only my personal desires were truly right. Come, Kanata! Let's save as many of them as we can!
Kanata: I'm right behind you!