Youtube! (3m02s - end) (I RECOMMEND WATCHING IT it's some of my favorite stuff but I'm not going to transcribe everything sob)
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 about being a vessel of innumerable hatreds and the ruination of the world, 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.
The party finds a small village that appears to be vacant; houses empty of people, with soot inside, but otherwise intact. Aegis wonders why.
Vicious: Ah, who cares? If it's somethin' we can use, it'd be wasteful not to use it. Misella: You're just using that as a pretext to scrounge for booze. Vicious: Ya really have taken the time to learn a lot about me, haven't ya, Misella? Startin' a fan club? Misella: Opposition research.
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 have 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. They're being killed en masse; everyone in the city seems to be being slaughtered.
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!
Vicious, Kanata and Misella finish defeating a giant enforcer. As it vanishes, Kanata and Misella look exhausted, though Vicious seems fine. Villagers around them react with shock that they managed to fight off the enforcers, but a young boy 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...
Vicious, in demon form, is facing down Kasque, apparently a goddess. As he fights her, the party exclaims that Vicious now seems to be just as strong as she is, if not stronger.
Vicious: C'mon, is that all you've got?
As he continues to fight, the party (and Kasque's minions) suddenly feel something come over them—a pain like someone gripping their heart, making it hard to move. Black flames erupt from nowhere, covering the whole city.
Vicious seems undeterred.
Vicious: Come on now, entertain me! You can take more'n that! SO TAKE IT! Misella: *Gasp*... Urk... Is this pain... from the flames...? Vicious: CONSUME! RAVAGE! Kanata: The flames...growing...spreading...everywhere... My strength... being sucked... out of me... These flames... They're... Vicious: MOLDER AND CRUMBLE. FUEL ME AND BURN TO ASH. Forte: What we'd heard about the Great Transgressor... That he "consumes all life to feed himself." Is this what that meant...? What he's truly capable of...?
A mysterious woman stands nearby and comments that Vicious is an idiot for releasing power that he's spent so much time suppressing.
Vicious continues provoking Kasque to fight, while the flames still spread and everyone else shudders in pain.
Kanata: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*... Vicious! That's... That's enough! Don't use...any more power! You have to stop! Vicious: What did you just say? You're not gettin' in my way, are ya, Kanata? Kanata: What? Vicious: Because anything that gets in my way...is dead. BEGONE! BEGONE! BEGONE! LET NOTHING REMAIN! Aegis: He's attacking! Kanata: Vicious, stop! Yuna: Non, Kanana! Your words will not reach 'im now. We 'ave to fight! Misella: Vicious, do you understand what you're doing? Vicious: It's your turn to entertain me, Kanata! Kanata: Vicious... Damn it... Do we really have to fight? Vicious: You better!
They have to fight. They're no match for Vicious.
Vicious: Ah ha ha! Not bad. You never fail to amuse me, Kanata. And that's gonna make this so much more fun! Kanata: *Pant* *Pant*... Urk... I... I can't even... move... Misella: But... if we don't stop Vicious... ???: It is beyond your power to stop him. Aegis: Who are you?! ???: At this rate, he'll consume every last bit of life in the area. That is what the Great Transgressor does. That is Vicious's true power. Kanata: This is the Great Transgressor? This is who Vicious really is? ???: He's spent all this time suppressing it out of fear of what he'd become, and yet here it is. His back must have really been against the wall this time. Hmm. So be it. Kanata: L-Look out! If he comes this way-- ???: ... Vicious: And YOU are?
The woman speaks some kind of incantation. A blinding light envelops Vicious, and when it fades he's back in human form, looking a bit worse for wear.
Vicious: ... Urgh... *Pant* *Pant* *Pant* Who the hell...? Kanata: He's back! Vicious is back to his old self! Vicious!!!
Kanata rushes over to Vicious.
Vicious: What, Kanata, you gonna burst into tears or somethin'? Tch. You look like such a tool. Kanata: Well whose fault is that?! I was worried about you! Vicious: ...Spare me. ???: Do not attempt to wield powers you cannot control. Especially if you have any regard for those around you. Kanata: Thank you so much, ma'am! But... who are you? Ivis: My name is Ivis. I'm but a humble traveling sorceress.
Vicious, the party, a pair of twins (Forte and Assid), and two younger kids (Nash and Sonia) are gathered in a town plaza. A girl in a risque outfit and a side ponytail with arcane glowing ?wings? is descending from the sky.
Kanata: The goddess... Kasque...? Kasque: ...... Aegis: That's... a god...? Yuna: Oh, just look at 'er! She is absolutely adorable!
The twins do not seem to like this reaction.
Assid: Get on your knees, you idiots! Forte: Are you too stupid to comprehend the majesty of what you are witnessing here? Prepare to be struck dead where you stand! Kasque: *sigh*... Listen, you two... Assid: Yes, Goddess! We stand ready to serve! Kasque: Stop.
She brandishes a staff with a large orb in the head of it, which begins to glow and spark.
Kasque: You're killing me with that crap.
She strikes down Forte and Assid with a blast of purple energy as they scream.
Vicious: Damn. Down go the doppelgangers. Misella: Guess the honeymoon's over. Kasque: I've been watching the whole time, you know. This "a great sinner will make me appear" crap? Like, seriously? That's not how this works.
Forte and Assid struggle to recover and respond.
Forte: B-But then, why?! Why have you decided to grace us with your glorious presence, my Goddess? Kasque: Because you're exhausting. And if I didn't come down and do something about it, you'd only get MORE exhausting. And as exhausting as it is to come down here, it's more exhausting to leave you be.
The party is gawking at this exchange.
Kanata: This is... not at all what I had been picturing. Aegis: Indeed. The word "goddess" suggested a certain... How to put this... Yuna: Smaller boobs? Aegis: Mm. Yes, that. Er, I mean, NO, not that! That is clearly not the direction I was heading in at all.
Misella narrows her eyes at him.
Aegis: I'm serious! Don't look at me like that, Misella! Kanata: This girl is really a goddess...?
Kasque turns her attention to them.
Kasque: I know you people, too. Kanata: Wait, us? Kasque: Uh, yeah. It's not like anyone else is running around shouting about destroying vision orbs and changing the world. And that makes you...
She brandishes her staff again.
Kasque: ....a REAL nuisance. I created the vision orbs so I could retire as a goddess. If you destroy them all, my retirement plan goes poof. Kanata: Retire as goddess...? Kasque: Not that you'd be able to destroy them anyway, but still. Anyway, since I already came all the way down here to deal with these idiots...
Her staff begins to glow and spark again.
Kasque: I'm thinking I should probably just kill you all and be done with it. Aegis: Is she... serious? Yuna: It is rather 'ard to tell, but it does seem we've upset 'er. And traditionally, upsetting gods does not end well. Kasque: Yeah, so hurry up and die. Misella: Th-This feeling in the air... Kanata: You guys, I think she's serious! Vicious: Heh heh. Now this is the good stuff!
They have an unwinnable boss battle in which Kasque smites them all with a mystic arte before they can do more than a fraction of damage to her.
Kanata: So much power... How? Aegis: It's utterly overwhelming... This is leagues beyond any battle we've ever fought before. Yuna: She is not kidding around! Zis could be ze end! Vicious: Damn it! What the hell ARE you?! Kasque: What am I? Were you not paying attention? I don't really like to flex, but... I'm God?
Kasque: Sooo... are you starting to realize how futile all this is? It'd save us all a lot of annoyance if you just... y'know, died. Kanata: Urk... Aegis: What chance do we have....against a god?! Misella: You don't think we can win? Kanata: There's no changing the world unless we defeat her! We have to win, no matter what! Aegis: Get ahold of yourself, Kanata! Has this battle taught you nothing? We CANNOT defeat a god! Kanata: But... we can't just give up! Aegis: Which is exactly why we must make a strategic retreat! Kanata: Huh? Aegis: Consider the worst-case scenario! If we die here, it's all over! Nothing will change! But another opportunity will present itself. We have to believe in that, and withdraw for now. Kanata: Aegis... You're right. Let's run!
Kasque, who has just been there listening to this, interjects.
Kasque: Ever think about discussing your secret plans in a lower voice? Because... yeah. I'm not gonna let you run. Vicious: Don't you worry, Your Godness. We ain't all gonna slink away with our tails between our legs. I'm gonna stick around to keep ya company.
The party reacts in shock.
Kanata: Vicious?! Are you insane?! Vicious: I'll stay here and blast the crap outta her. All y'all losers can run along. Misella: Vicious! You're worrying Kanata. Don't do it. Kanata: Vicious, are you... Are you covering so we can escape? Vicious: Pfft. Hell no. Who do you think I am, dumbass? Kanata: ......Right... Well, we'll catch up with you afterwards, Vicious! Aegis: You sure about this? Kanata: Yeah, it's Vicious. He'll be all right. Yuna: Ze man does have a tendency to cheat death.
Kanata turns to Nash and Sonia to try to get them to escape with them, but another woman comes along and offers to take care of them. They flee, and Kanata turns back to Vicious, who smiles at him.
Kanata: Vicious... Vicious: Get the hell outta here already. I got me a date with God. Kanata: This isn't goodbye, I know it! Vicious: Heh.
He flees, with the rest of the party, as Vicious turns back to Kasque.
Kasque: The Great Transgressor. Dang. Looking at you up close, you really are hot. Vicious: Uh... Kasque: It's a shame to have to kill you. Himbos like you are such treasures. Vicious: Now you're just pissin' me off. You don't even know if you can beat me yet. Kasque: I will beat you. I'm stronger. For that matter, are you just going to stay how you are now?
Vicious reacts to that with sharply narrowed eyes.
Vicious: You think you got me figured out? Screw you. Kasque: *Sigh* That one hurts. Especially coming from a hottie like you. Fine, then. Kid gloves off. Vicious: About time!
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...
Vicious and Yuna are looking around in an underground cavern.
Vicious: Yeah, I ain't seein' any signs of Kanata anywhere. Guess the kid's dead. Yuna: Been searching for 'im, 'ave you? Vicious: Doin' a duet with a degenerate liar gets old fast. It's makin' me miss my old toys, is all. Yuna: Ever ze smooth-talkin' gentleman, eh? You won't be making many new friends with zat attitude. Vicious: Don't need 'em, don't want 'em. Yuna: Wanting to be liked is a perfectly natural zing, you know. You needn't deny yourself. Vicious: Natural, huh?
Vicious looks pensive.
Vicious: Hey, ya ever been a butterfly? Yuna: Heh? What kind of question is zat? Of course I 'aven't! Vicious: Me neither. You can tell me flower nectar tastes amazin', and that flutterin' in a breeze is a blast, but I don't envy 'em one bit. A beast born to creep on the ground can't even imagine that stuff. Yuna: ..... Vicious: You get what I'm sayin', right? A person who's been alone from the beginning doesn't get lonely. Yuna: From the beginning? Zat can't be right. Surely you 'ad a family at one point? Vicious: Couldn't say. Don't got no memory of one, that's for sure. Yuna: ..... Vicious: First time I managed to rub two brain cells together, I was already "me." The villain of this world. You saw me back there, right, the way I looked fightin' that goddess chick? I was an avatar of ruin, keepin' myself goin' by consuming every living thing around me. That right there is what a Great Transgressor is. It's only "natural" that every person alive should hate me. After all, I could kill the whole lot of 'em just by existin'.
Yuna listens to all of this with a fairly unimpressed expression.
Vicious: Now, it took a while, but I managed to suppress that power, to an extent, and take the person-lookin' form you see before you. But at that point, the word had gotten out, and the whole world hated me. Vicious, the Great Transgressor, feared by all. Yuna: Hmm. You're 'aving yourself quite ze pity party, aren't you? Vicious: Huh? Screw you. Yuna: "Ze Great Transgressor, feared by all." Zen 'ow come I'm not afraid of you at all? Kanana doesn't fear you one bit, nor does Aegrouch, nor ze mademoiselle. Yuna: And do you know why? Because we are your friends. I do not believe zere is anyone in zis world who does not mind being despised, nor is zere anyone untroubled by loneliness. If you wish to bluff and bluster your way through zose feelings, go right ahead. But we do not 'ear ze boasts of ze Great Transgressor. We are too focused on divining what our friend Vicious is trying to say. Vicious: Hmph. This conversation is dumb. Yuna: It certainly is. Vicious: Friends... That's a pain in my ass I do not need. I ain't never had nothin', and I ain't never needed nothin'. Defyin' a world that rejected me is all I live for. And I don't need no one's help with that. Yuna: And is zat all you will ever live for? To be rejected, and to fight back? Zat isn't living. Zat is merely reacting. Do you not yearn for a deeper raison d'etre zan ze tantrums of a petulant child? Vicious: Hell no. That's reason enough for me.
[a yell comes from elsewhere in the cave, from a squad of knights.]
???: There he is! The Great Transgressor! Yuna: Ah, ze knights of Medegal. And so many of zem! Out on some excursion, per'aps? Vicious: Man, that's gotta suck, runnin' into the devil in the middle of your little field trip. Knight: When the output sent for reinforcements, I never imagined it would be something like this... Can't beat the timing, though. Just when we were itching to test out our little gift from the bioscience guys! Yuna: Bon... zat sounds ominous. Vicious: Ya think? Sounds to me like a party.
[a large monster roars from behind the knights.]
Vicious: Aw, look, they got 'emselves a darlin' l'il fur baby. Yuna: Do you not find it strange zat ze lofty and righteous Order of Knights are in cahoots with monsters now? Knight: This isn't some garden-variety monster. This is a top-secret biological weapon designed by Medigal's biosciences lab just to fight the Great Transgressor. Yuna: Oh la la. Ze Order 'as been branching out, eh? Good for you! I guess zis explains why Aegrouch was not familiar with ze local outpost. A top secret affair! Vicious: Aww, I can't believe ya made me a new toy just to blow the crap outta. You shouldn't have.
They fight the monster, but it doesn't seem to take any significant damage.
Knight: What did I tell you? It was developed specifically to take you down. Its hide is constructed from antimatter. Your bullets will never pierce it.
The knight is right - Vicious takes a shot that does nothing. On the other hand, the monster lands a painful hit on Vicious.
Vicious is injured enough to be immobilized. However, before the monster can land a finishing blow, a light shines from somewhere.
Knight: This light... Is this from a truesight stone? I've heard that they're cut from crystals mined in this region, but... to think we'd find a stone right here!
The light becomes blinding, and Vicious finds himself in a dark forest, with a dark, child-shaped shadow across from him.
Boy: *sniff*... Wh-Why? Why does everybody hate me? Vicious: ..... Boy: Don't get angry! Don't despise me! Please don't hate me anymore! Vicious: Ugh, seriously? Boy: Don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't-- Vicious: Hey, kid! Reel it in before... I...
The shadow transforms into a mirror copy of Vicious.
Vicious: Huh? Is that... me?
The shadow vanishes.
Vicious: Ah, so that's the deal. This is that whole facin' your inner self thing, yeah? God DAMN, is this lame. That's supposed to be me, right? The voice inside my heart, or whatever? What, did I really come to be that scared of bein' hated?
A light shines again, and now Kanata is standing there.
Vicious: Huh? What are you doin' out here? Kanata: I... I want to change the world! I'm going to do it! Vicious: ......Hey, slow down! Were you seriously plannin' on doin' that without me? Changin' the world, huh? Man, the stuff you say sometimes... Eh, I always get a kick outta you. Guess that's why... you're my reason.
Back in the cave, Vicious returns painfully to consciousness, where the monster is still ready to land the killing blow.
Knight: Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill kill kill kill kiiiiillll! Vicious: Ah ha ha ha. Knight: What? What are you laughing about? Vicious; All that hatred and malice... Feels kinda nice. Comfy, even! You think THAT would scare me? Hell, I love that stuff! Gimme more! I want all of it! Right here, pal, every last bit of that hate and anger and yearnin' to kill! Yuna: Erm, Vicious...? Vicious: I don't care if the whole world hates my guts! Why should I?! You see, I got me a reason. Because I know a guy who wants to change the world, and I am gonna follow that dumbass to the bitter frickin' end!
Black flames envelop Vicious, and he shifts to his demonic form.
Knight: What... What is this power?! Monster: HRRRAAAAHHH!!! Vicious: Round two, baby. Let's dance. TREMBLE TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT!
Vicious defeats the monster handily with his new power.
Knight: No way... That was a weapon designed specifically to defeat him, and he just... swept it away! How could we have so grossly underestimated his power? Vicious: I know, right? Knight: Eee.... eeep! Vicious: You know I can't let ya get away.
Vicious kills the knight unceremoniously.
Vicious: Heh. Yuna: ......I 'ave to ask... Is it safe to approach? Vicious: Huh? Why wouldn't it be? Yuna: Don't you remember what 'appened in Yednark? If you were to go crazy like zat again, I would be as good as dead! Vicious: Oh, get off it. That ain't never gonna happen again.
Vicious drops back into human form.
Vicious: At some point I guess I did start gettin' scared. Of unleashin' my powers, and of people hatin' me for it... And it made me lose sight of myself, and lose control of my powers... Pretty pathetic, right? Yuna: Not at all. In fact, if only just a little... je vous trouve plus cool. Vicious: Huh? The hell's that mean? Yuna: It means zat you seem like you're going to be okay. Vicious: Yep. Not a problem in the world. Yuna: Onward, then. Vicious: Yeah! Let's get movin'. Great Transgressor, sower of nightmares, comin' through...
The whole party (Vicious, Kanata, Misella, Aegis, Yuna, and Orwin), plus another hot lady (Milla) rush into a village like there's some kind of emergency, panting in exhaustion.
Kanata: *Pant*.. *Pant*... This is... your town...? Aegis: Dad! Mom! Where are you?!
A villager is there in the plaza.
Villager: What, that's... Aegis?! Aegis: Where are my parents?! Speak! Villager: Eep! Aegis: Why won't you answer?!
Another villager approaches.
???: Stay away from my villagers! Aegis: You're the village chief, right? Village Chief: Get out of here, transgressor. Your presence here is going to get us all condemned as collaborators! Misella: THAT's what you're worried about? Kanata: Rgh. Okay, everyone, please calm down for a minute! We just came here to rescue Aegis's parents! Aegis: Please, at least tell me where they are! I'm begging you! Villager: Yeah, bad news for you, pal. There's no way they haven't been eliminated yet. Aegis: What?! Villager: They were running all around town, begging folks to help hide them. So selfish! Shield a transgressor and you'll end up as a transgressor too. So we sent them packing--no way we were going to let that happen to us!
Vicious looks VERY unimpressed by this.
Villager: You can beg and plead all you want, but it won't get you anything. We don't want any part of this! Milla: Silence. One more word out of your mouth, and I'm going to become upset. Villager: Wh-Who the hell...? Aegis: It can't be true... My parents, are they... Are they really... Answer me, chief! Village Chief: Your parents were further disgracing themselves by attempting to flee from the enforcers. So we tied them up. Aegis: Wh-why would you... Village Chief: You know exactly why! We needed to make it clear to the world that we are not in league with transgressor scum like yourself and your parents. The only reward that awaits those who help a transgressor is a stain of guilt of their own! That's the last thing any of us want! Aegis: ...... Kanata: So Aegis's parents... They're really gone...? Village Chief: They were bound and fettered and expelled from the village. I'm sure it did not take long for the enforcers to enact justice. Aegis: .... Village Chief: You have your answer, Aegis. Now leave. And take your cronies with you. And remember that this village does not tolerate the presence of filthy transgressors! Aegis: ...Why? Village Chief: Did you not hear me, Aegis? Or do we need to tie you up, too, just like we did to those unseemly wretches who raised you?! Villager: This is what happens when the poors think their kid'll lift them out of the gutter. They shouldn't have gotten so cocky about their little knight. (a different) Villager: Get out of here, Aegis. Do not bring your treachery to our peaceful town. Village Chief: We should burn their house down, to make it clear that we are no friends to that cursed family. Hahaha. Yes, that's a great idea. Let's do it. Aegis: Why...? Why? Why would you act like this?!
Aegis draws his spear from nowhere. He looks incandescently furious.
Aegis: Unseemly? Wretches? Those are my parents you're talking about! Village Chief: Urk! Aegis: You think I'm just going to let you say that about them?! You think I'm not going to make you pay for this? I am going to kill every last one of you!
Kanata steps between Aegis and the chief, and the chief retreats.
Kanata: Aegis, calm down! Aegis: Do not interfere, Kanata! These are not human beings we're dealing with here! Kanata: Aegis... Orwin: This doesn't seem like the sorta thing we're gonna be able to reason him out of. Kanata: Aegis, I know how you feel right now, but... Aegis: Move, Kanata! Kanata: No! I won't move! This isn't you, Aegis! Aegis: I don't care!
--
Aegis: Stay out of my way, Kanata! Move! Kanata: No! You need to snap out of this! I don't want to have to fight you! Aegis: Then. Get. Out. Of. My. Way. Kanata: No! I won't! Because if I step aside, you're as good as dead! Aegis: I'M as good as dead? ME? Kanata: Yes! If you cut down these people, the righteousness within you will die! You'll regret it forever! And I don't want to have to see you suffering even worse than you already are! Aegis: What the hell do you know about anything?! Kanata: I know that your parents wouldn't want to see you like this! Aegis: Spare me your trite platitudes, Kanata! Kanata: They may be trite, but they're still--
Vicious finally steps up to intervene.
Vicious: Move. Kanata: Vicious?
Kanata moves.
Vicious: If he ain't gonna listen, we'll have to beat it into him. Hyah! Aegis: Vicious... Why would you of all people stop me?! You're always telling us to do what we want! And what I want to do is cut these vermin to shreds! What right do you have to stop me?! Vicious: I don't like it.
Vicious shoots Aegis in the arm.
Aegis: Urgh! Vicious: I tell ya, I don't like it!
He shoots twice more.
Aegis: Nggh! Vicious: Is this what you want? Is this who you are, Aegis? What happened to the snooty knight preachin' about justice from atop his high horse? He's gonna start murderin' folk now? You're tellin' me that's really what you wanna do? Aegis: ..... Vicious: Then I was wrong about you, Aegis. You ain't worthy to wield a blood sin after all.
Vicious does something, and Aegis's spear vanishes.
Aegis: Hyarrggghh! Vicious: Don't make me laugh. How bout you sleep it off over there for a while. Village Chief: Ha! Even your friends have forsaken you now? This is what you get, Aegis. That dirt is exactly where the son of criminals deserves to be. Misella: That man just won't stop. Vicious: All right.
--
Vicious approaches the village chief.
Vicious: Aaaaaall right. Village Chief: Wh-What are YOU coming this way for?! Vicious: Aegis pisses me off sometimes, but when it comes to being an ass, he's got nothin' on you lot. Die, you little worm.
Vicious shoots him.
Village Chief: Gah! Arggggghhhh!!! Y-You shot my foot! Aaahhh! Th-there's so much blood! Kanata: Vicious, what are you doing?! Vicious: Not another step! Kanata: ...! Vicious: Unlike him, I wasn't never no knight of justice. Killing a town full of jerks, that ain't nothin' to me at this point. I'm the Great goddamn Transgressor. Every inch of me is already fouled with sin.
Vicious moves to the next villager.
Villager: St-Stop this! Vicious: Shut up!
He shoots him.
Villager: AAARRGGGGHHHH! It hurts! It huuuuuuurts! Vicious: What, that didn't even kill ya? I swear, it's always trash like you that don't know when to die. (other) Villager: R-Run for your lives! Vicious: Ain't no one runnin' nowhere!
The party seems distressed by this.
Kanata: Vicious, stop! Misella: No, Kanata! Stay away, or you'll get pulled into this! Kanata: But... Yuna: Zat fool 'as lost 'is mind! What does 'e zink zis is going to accomplish?! Orwin: Just keep your heads down and get away from him! I ain't gettin' caught in the crossfire!
Vicious doesn't stop what he's doing.
Village Chief: D-Don't do this! We didn't do anything wrong! Vicious: Nah, you didn't, didja? You just did what you were supposed to do, right? Just let the consensus free ya from the burden of havin' to think for yerself. Everyone teamin' up to beat on that mean ol' couple together. Bet that felt good, didn't it? Got so drunk on the joy of it all that you didn't even realize you'd just murdered two people. Village Chief: N-No! We're not the ones who killed them! Vicious: That doesn't mean ya ain't guilty. Village Chief: ..... Vicious: Ain't no murder uglier than the one you tell yourself you're not committin'. You wanna kill someone, the least you owe 'em is to be honest yourself that you're doin' it. Feel yourself in the bullet that punches through their flesh. See yourself in the reflection of that blood-soaked blade. Now THAT's killing. And that's somethin' a big softie like Aegis could never do. That's why I'm gonna kill the whole lot of you for him.
Back with the party, Kanata turns to Misella.
Kanata: Is that what he's doing? Killing them so Aegis won't have to befoul himself? Misella: Vicious doesn't think like that. He just does what he wants to do. Kanata: Huh. It's actually kind of incredible. Misella: Kanata? Kanata: Vicious will bear his sins without making any attempt to justify them. He just follows his heart, and kills with no illusions about what he's doing... Just... completely aware that it's sin. I could never do that. Misella: .....
Vicious is still menacing the village chief.
Village Chief: St-Stop, please! Please! Vicious: Sorry. The die is cast. So die.
Aegis, conscious again, jumps in between them, and the chief flees again.
Aegis: Stop! Vicious: What was that? Aegis: Vicious, stop this. You have to stop! Vicious: These are scumbags who need to die. You said that yourself, Aegis. Aegis: Yes... I did. They're thugs who killed my parents and then spat on their memories. What they did is unforgivable. But even still... Even in spite of that... Do not kill them! Vicious: Why not? Aegis: Because revenge is not justice! Vicious: ...... Aegis: I understand that now, Vicious, thanks to you. Seeing them writhing in pain, soaked in their own blood... It's wrong. It's so clearly wrong! My mother and father believed in me until the end. They said I was their pride and joy. That belief is something I don't want to betray. Vicious: .....Huh.
Vicious smiles slightly and relaxes.
Kanata: Misella, go heal the people Vicious shot. Misella: Okay. Orwin: Sooo... We can come out now I guess? Yuna: *Sigh*... You certainly know 'ow to keep us in suspense, Vicious.
Suddenly there's massive shaking, and the whole party reacts in shock.
Orwin: Oh, what now?! Milla: There's been a massive disturbance in the mana...!
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.
Vicious with two teenagers in a forest. They are apparently 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 actually 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.
A blond boy (Kanata) cowers on the ground in a forest as a bunch of hovering cloaked figures approach him. Vicious jumps down from a nearby ledge guns blazing (literally) and dispatches them with style. After Kanata reacts with shock, Vicious asks—
Vicious: So you're a transgressor, eh? Are you from the Nation? Kanata: Wh-What? Vicious: You're not?! Tch, that ditz sent me after another dud.
With an unnatural sound, more of the cloaked figures appear from nowhere.
Kanata: They're still coming... Vicious: Pain in the ass, yeah? And I ain't got time to kill every last one o' em. Kanata: ...... Vicious: Huh? Ain't ya gonna bolt? Kanata: But... I'm a transgressor. Everyone wants me gone. They prayed for it. I'll accept my punishment and go away for the greater good. Vicious: ......You're makin' me wanna puke over here.
Vicious takes a shot at Kanata.
Kanata: What are you doing? Vicious: You're gonna die because everyone wants you to? But what about what YOU want? Vicious: Look, this world ain't big enough for everyone to live how they please. Whenever someone insists on doing things their own way, somethin' else has gotta give. Sooner or later, everybody's way of life is gonna crash into somebody else's. Kanata: ...... Vicious: You wanna live, ya gotta kill! You wanna exist, ya gotta fight! You want something, ya gotta take it! That's just the truth of this crowded old world. Yet you're gonna give up your piece of it to some asshole ya don't even know! If that's all your life means to you, then ya deserve to lose it! Hell, if you got that little self-respect... Maybe I'll just kill ya myself!
Vicious takes a second shot at Kanata.
Kanata: Urk!
Vicious: So long, kid.
And another shot.
Kanata: Huh? Whoa!
Vicious grins.
Vicious: Dodged that one, huh? You're quicker than ya look. But still not quick enough. This time, it's bye-bye.
Kanata: No. I can't keep running away... I'm going to die. I'll be... gone... Ah... Ahhhhh!
Vicious: ...Whaddaya cryin' about? Don't tell me ya got regrets now! You're the one who chose to throw his life away! Little late to get choked up about it, don'tcha think?
Kanata: I... I fouled these hands with blood! I'm a transgressor beyond redemption! I know I deserve to be condemned, and yet... I don't want to die! I want to live! Vicious: Do ya, now? Then you gotta face the music.
Vicious summons a column of black crackling energy and stabs it through Kanata's chest, pinning him to a tree.
Vicious: So you regret your crime, then? If you could go back to when ya did it... You'd do things differently? Maybe keep them pretty little hands clean? Kanata: I... No. If I did that... I couldn't save Misella!
Kanata struggles, but steps forward and makes a fist.
Kanata: No matter what anyone says... No matter how horrible the crime I committed... I don't regret it for a moment! Vicious: Huh. In that case... I'm gonna give ya a do-over.
Vicious releases the black energy blade, and it levitates Kanata into the air.
Vicious: You wanna own your sin, or you wanna let it own you? Carve the answer out of your own fouled soul!
The energy shocks through Kanata, and he finally reaches and grabs it with both hands. The energy is absorbed into a mark on his palm, which changes shape. He levitates back to the ground, now fine, and with conviction, he pulls a large sword out of a glowing glyph in the air, the same way Vicious summons his guns.
Kanata: Sinful sword of crimes repugnant... Patricidal Edge! Vicious: Heh...
Vicious and Kanata arrive in a small village. Kanata is exhausted and relieved, saying it seems like home. Villagers approach, recognizing Kanata. They are surprised that he's alive. Kanata politely asks for them if they could provide them some food and water and a place to rest.
Villager 1: Are you out of your mind?! You're a transgressor! Kanata: What? Ow! Please stop! Vicious: [grinning] I'm guessin' your friends here are throwin' rocks 'cause they ran out of confetti? Villager 1: We know what you did, murderer! Villager 2: Cody was a great man, and you kiled him! His trueborn son! Kanata: Th-That's not... You don't know the truth about my father! Villager 1: I won't listen to you slander him, transgressor! Villager 3: You need to be be punished! Villager 2: Stay away from our town, murderer! Kanata: It's futile. They won't listen.
They are interrupted by a squad of knights entering the town, led by Aegis and Leon.
[SKIT INTERLUDE don't worry too much about when they're having this conversation]
Kanata: Why won't anyone let me explain? Vicious: Because no one gives a damn about your reasons. You commit a crime, they want you condemned. All they care about is havin' everyone say the same thing. Clean and simple, yeah? No one wants to complicate it up by knowin' WHY a crime was committed. Kanata: But...
[SKIT INTERLUDE END]
They fight off the knights for a while, but Kanata is exhausted.
Aegis: Steady now, men! Seize the Great Transgressor! And don't let the transgressor lad get away either! Kanata: *Pant* They... *Pant* just keep coming... Leon: The Great Transgressor fights on, but the lesser transgressor has reached his limit. Kanata: Urk...
Vicious steps in front of Kanata.
Vicious: Alright, that's far enough. If your little band of knights pursues us any further, I'm gonna kill everyone in this town, one by one. You cool with that? Aegis: What?! Kanata: Vicious, what are you saying?! Vicious: Hey, I'm already the Great Transgressor, right? What's another mass murder gonna matter? Villager 4: The Great Transgressor... THAT'S the Great Transgressor?! Villager 2: They say he's killed thousands of people... Wiped whole cities off the map... Kanata: Th-That's not true! Vicious would never...
Another swordsman approaches from the villagers.
Cress: Hold, knave! Point not your blade at the good people of this village!
Vicious: Guh? Who the hell are you? Kanata: Master Cress! Cress: Kanata? What are you doing in the company of the Great Transgressor? I heard of the incident with your father, but refused to believe you would carry out such an act without just cause. Kanata: Of course not...
Kanata is distracted enough that a knight approaches him from behind.
Knight: The transgressor dropped his guard! Now! Kanata: No! I can't parry! Vicious: Ain't gonna happen.
Vicious intercepts again, shooting.
Knight: Arrrggghhhh! Kanata: Thank you, Vicious... Vicious: Heh. I told ya, I don't give a damn about your thanks.
Vicious knocks Kanata to the ground and plants his boot on his back.
Kanata: Bwah! Vicious, what are you doing?! Cress: What is the meaning of this, fiend?! Vicious: Don't move a muscle, pal. If you want your star pupil to survive, you'll need to let me kill ya. Cress: What?! Kanata: Vicious, no! Don't do this! Vicious: The shrimpy knight was right: You're done. If we don't get you outta here... you're a dead man. Anyhoo, I figured this would be the best way to make our escape. Kanata: What kind of reasoning is that?! Vicious: Just shut up and be a good little hostage. Kanata: Oof! Cress: Kanata! Vicious: Look, I am frickin' starvin' over here, and I don't wanna waste time dealin' with the likes of you. Not to mention, you all actually look pretty tough. Cress: ... Vicious: So what's it gonna be? It's obvious that throwin' away one little transgressor brat is the smart play... But you can't do it, can you? Not when he's one of your students. Cress: You vile craven. Vicious: Baby, I'm all that and more.
He shoots Cress, who collapses to the ground.
Cress: Arrrrghhhh! Kanata: Master Cress! Cress: Bloody hell... Vicious: Guess even he's not so tough when he can't defend himself. But I went ahead and avoided the vital organs. Consider it my way of showin' respect for a beloved educator. Kanata: Vicious...! Vicious: How's that, kid? If you wanna thank me again, I'm all ears this time. Kanata: I was certain that everyone who called you a vicious savage had you wrong! I was certain you were a good person at heart! Vicious: More fool you, then. I am what I am, not what you WANT me to be. Kanata: You're a terrible person who's beyond redemption! Vicious: Heh. Big words from the daddy-killer.
Vicious turns back to Aegis and Leon.
Vicious: Right then, knights! Now that I've taken care of our little uninvited guest, it's just you and me. You make up your minds yet, or should I start murderin' villagers! Aegis: Is there no end to your depravity?! Leon: It seems we have no choice but to retreat. Aegis: Indeed. Protecting the innocent is our top priority. All knights, withdraw! Vicious: Smell ya later. Kanata: ...
The knights retreat, and Vicious and Kanata are left with the villagers. Kanata is quiet as Vicious orders them to bring him food and drink.
I'm just doing a writeup for this one since it's an event story and the video is a bit hard to follow.
Vicious and Kanata are tagging along with a group of three others - Natalia, nobilty of some kind, and Guy and Chloe, who are defending her. They are following a villager clutching his vision orb - a pendant around his neck with a spherical gem in the center - and there are a number of other villagers around. Everyone present except for Vicious and Kanata seem to have an identical pendant.
Villager: I'm gonna let the people of the world decide if this was a crime or not! Natalia: Oh, no!
At the center of the village, there is a monument with a much larger orb, now displaying a scene. In it, the villager and a few others are yelling accusations at a younger man.
Villager: So now we gotta live in fear of natural disasters and monsters both?! And it's all because you killed the guardian deity's totem creature! This was no natural occurrence! That river took my house and my father from me!
The young man looks stricken, both in the recording and where he stands nearby.
Some chatter begins to come through the vision orbs - it's people across the world, responding with their judgment.
???: Destroying a town by killing an emissary of its guardian deity... That is twisted! ???: If his father was swept away by a river, he has to be dead. Meanwhile the culprit walks around without a care in the world.
Young Man: N-No... Kanata: What you're doing is absolutely heartless! Villager: And it's all he deserves! What he did was heartless too! Kanata: But you understand that he didn't know that! You told me yourself that removing animals from the cave is town policy! Villager: Some people just have terrible luck. Kanata: But that's not--!
Natalia steps in.
Natalia: I-I'm going on too. Guy! Record me with your vision orb! Guy: Huh? Natalia: Chloe! No matter what happens, I need you to explain to my father that Guy is not to be held reponsible! Chloe: But...! Guy: Natalia, slow down! I can't do this! I swore to your father that I'd protect you! Natalia: Then you're content to watch this young man be condemned like this? Guy: ....! Natalia: He was merely doing what he'd been taught. To allow him to be condemned for that... I will not sit idly by while my subjects are erased! Vicious: You're seriously gonna put yourself on Vision Central just to try to keep that kid safe?
Everyone present appears to think this is a bad idea. A female villager steps up to plead--
Villager 3: Lady Natalia, please reconsider! If you do this, you could end up facing the same fate! Guy: At this moment, people are huddled around their Vision Centrals pleading for his condemnation. If you were to try to change their minds at this point... They could easily see you as a collaborator. They might end up pleading for YOUR condemnation too! Natalia: I am well aware. Nevertheless, I am the daughter of the lord of this land. Guy: And you're saying this is what a leader does? What if this sort of thing happens again?! If you try to protect every one of your subjects who winds up on Vision Central, you'll never have a chance to STOP! Natalia: And if I were to give up on a single one of them, the faith my people hold in me would be lost. A ruler must make it clear that she is always ready to protect her subjects. There comes a time when we must stake our lives and reputations on what we think is right. What I need you to understand, Guy, is that that time is now. In this world of vision orbs, such is the fate of those who presume to stand above others. I must protect my subjects. This vision we broadcast will be a vision of justice. Kanata: Lady Natalia... Guy: ...Okay. Let's do this.
Guy begins to record Natalia, and she is displayed on the central monument instead.
Natalia: Everyone, please, I implore you to wait. My name is Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. The young man in the previous broadcast, who killed the totem creature of our guardian deity, is a subject of mine. And I appeal to you to reconsider your judgment of him. This man had been fulfilling his town-assigned duty of patrolling the shrine when this terrible error occurred.
She explains the details - the young man killed an animal at the shrine thinking it was a pest, and the guardian deity is punishing them with endless rain, monsters, and disasters. Some of the chatter from the vision orbs subsides. But not all of it.
???: So what, you're going to forgive him? Are you kidding me? People are dead beacuse of what he's done! ???: It's not like he has some way of taking responsibility for the damage he's caused! He needs to atone with his life!
Young Man: N-No! I don't want to be condemned! Kanata: Even hearing the truth won't change their minds? Natalia, it may be too late... Natalia: No! There is still hope! All of you, please, listen! There is one more thing I beseech you to consider. The judgment we render today will forever live on as a precedent for how such mistakes are handled going forward. A great number of people have appeared on Vision Central, and we have cast our judgment upon them. Those verdicts have shaped within each of us our impressions of what is and is not a crime. I will not deny that this man has made a grave error. However, it was a mistake made in a good-faith attempt to fulfill his duties. For an honest man to be erased from this world over a single mistake... A world in which such punishments are a matter of course is not one I would care to live in.
More of the chatter subsides as some people are convinced by this.
Natalia: Must we all go through life terrified by the prospect of attempting any new endeavor? Our future will be determined by the decision we make today. We can create our future right now, through our vision orbs.
However, a new kind of chatter starts up, and Natalia's vision orb begins to cloud with black energy.
???: What the hell is this broad's deal? So what, she's saying I was wrong to wanna condemn that guy? ???: She had no business stickin' her nose in this in the first place! ???: I was really lookin' forward to seeing that guy pay, too! ???: He's already a loser if he has to work a job, anyway! Let's get rid of both of 'em!
Natalia: My vision orb...! Guy: Natalia! Kanata: Why won't they listen?! Vicious: Now I'm gettin' pissed off.
Vicious steps into frame on the vision, holding a gun to Natalia's head.
Vicious: Spare us the motivational bullcrap already, lady. Natalia: ....! Vicious: We can create our future right now. Pfft. You think those vision orbs are there to make your lives BETTER? Chloe: What does he think he's doing...? Vicious: Don't sweat the details, folks, just go ahead and condemn away! Trust me, it'll make it all the more hilarious when it's YOUR turn to be the scapegoat. And the more folk that get condemned, the stronger the Great Transgressor gets!
Vicious grins widely.
Kanata: Wait, is that true?! You never told me that! Natalia: Vicious... Vicious: ...Aww, where'd all that bloodlust go? Seems like they're not itchin' to condemn ya anymore. Hell, if they ain't gonna do it, guess I just gotta murder the two of you myself. Chloe: What?! You fiend!
The chatter from the vision orbs dramatically changes in tone.
???: We need to get rid of the Great Transgressor! ???: We need to save her! ???: How I despise that awful man! ???: He's the one that needs to go!
Three cloaked figures appear out of nowhere.
Kanata: Enforcers...! Enforcers are coming your way, Vicious! Vicious: Huh. Ya know, it seems like they're anglin' for me here. Natalia: The light on my vision orb has dimmed again... Young Man: Mine too... Kanata: Maybe Vicious's stunt distracted people from pleading for your condemnation? Natalia: Vicious... to protect me, you... Vicious: Don't get the wrong idea. I just thought it'd be fun to swoop in and steal the show. Kanata: Regardless, we need to get out of here before all these people get caught in the crossfire!
Kanata and Vicious flee, pursued by an increasing crowd of enforcers.
Natalia: Oh...! Villager: I can't believe this! That guy was the Great Transgressor?!
Kanata, Misella and Vicious are travelling through some grassy hills. Kanata remarks they should stop worrying about liquor and consider food. They could hunt or fish, but they don't have anything to season it with.
Meanwhile, Misella is just munching down on some grass. She is apparently starving.
Kanata: You should have said something! I'll cook you a proper meal! Come on, Vicious, let's go hunting. We'll make sure Misella eats the finest monster meat tonight. Vicious: Ehhh, I ain't feelin' it. Besides, she's already got a belly full'a grass, yeah? I'm sure she's fine with that. Misella: Yes. I'm fine. Kanata: When you say you're fine while grimacing, it rather undermines your point. Wait here, Misella, I'll cook you up some game.
A bit later on, Kanata has some meat for her.
Misella: Thank you, Kanata, but I don't need any. Kanata: What? But it's fresh meat! Is something wrong with it? Vicious: She a vegetarian or something? Kanata: No, Misella loves meat. Whenever we had it at the shelter, she ate more than anyone. Misella: No, really. *Munch* I'm fine. *Crunch* This is all I need. Kanata: Misella, what are you eating? Misella: Soybeans.
Kanata reacts in horror.
Kanata: Whaaat?! Raw soybeans?! By themselves?! Misella: It's fine, Kanata. They say soybeans are the meat of the field. If you close your eyes and ignore the texture, and also pretend it tastes completely different, then it isn't entirely dissimilar to meat. Yes. *Munch* It's more like meat with each bite. *Snarf* Except for the flavor and texture and smell. But if I fully devote myself to imagining it as meat, then I'm sure at some point... Kanata: Misella, you're obviously preoccupied with meat, so stop playing mind games with yourself and eat the ACTUAL meat! Misella: Oh, I don't need that. I have my soybeans. You know, the meat of the field. Field meat. Ergo, meat. Kanata: I'm telling you, you don't need to trick yourself! Vicious: Hoo-boy, this one...
Misella continues to eat.
Misella: Mmm. *Munch* Meat. So good. Vicious: That ain't meat, kid. That ain't even soybeans. You're still chowin' down on grass. Misella: You don't understand. If soybeans are the meat of the field, then grass is the meat of the prairie. And meat is meat. Kanata: That doesn't even make sense! Misella, I'm begging you to eat this! I made it for you! Misella: Is that... pork miso soup? Kanata: Yes, it's pork miso soup! Your favorite! Aren't you hungry? Don't you want to eat some REAL meat? Misella: ...No. I don't want it. I'm happy with this. In fact, I'm so full now.
Misella's stomach growls even as she ineffectually continues to try to deny it.
Kanata: Why are you doing this to yourself? I don't understand! Misella: I'm not... doing anything...
Vicious, who has been watching all this while rolling his eyes, finally breaks in.
Vicious: This is goddamn pathetic. Hell, you're actually scared, ain'tcha? Scared of happiness. Misella: ......! Kanata: Scared... of happiness? Vicious: Wah, you're a transgressor. Wah, you murdered someone. Wah, you don't deserve to laugh or smile or experience joy ever again. Bah! Pathetic! Misella: What the hell do you know about the way I feel? Yes, I've decided to live on despite what I've done, but that doesn't mean I'm not stained by my crime. I killed someone. I murdered Nisha. Kanata: Misella... Misella: But being with you, Kanata? It makes me feel better. And going on a journey like this is... Well, it might actually be fun. Laughing together... Telling stories over pork miso soup... That would be so wonderful! And THAT is what I'm afraid of. Being so heartless a person that I could commit a crime and enjoy myself like nothing happened.
Misella looks fraught, and Kanata has turned somber.
Vicious: Like I said, pathetic. Wake up and accept that you're garbage already. Kanata: Vicious! Don't you dare call her that! Vicious: What you did ain't ever gonna change, but you're still choosin' to live on. Livin' ain't eatin' grass. It's gettin' mad, and cryin', and laughin', and cryin' again, then laughin' and gettin' mad some more, and then maybe more laughin'. All you can do is put it behind you and smile like the human trash you are.
Vicious looks a bit distant at this. Probably he is not just talking about Misella.
Misella: ... Kanata: I'm so sorry, Misella. I didn't realize you felt that way. But even despite all that, I want you to be happy! Misella: Kanata... Kanata: Now have some pork miso soup before it gets cold. Misella: ...Okay.
She finally eats some soup.
Misella: ...! This is... Kanata: Ah, you noticed. It's a little different from my usual recipe. I didn't have any actual miso, so I used a miso-like substance I extracted from the monster. Misella: Miso-like... substance... Vicious: Welcome to Kanata's. Where good intentions and bad decisions meet. Misella: Um... This is Kanata's pork miso soup. It's going to be delicious. This is Kanata's pork miso soup. It's going to be delicious. Kanata: Well, Misella? Is it good? Misella: It's... delicious... Kanata. Kanata: I'm so glad! You have some too, Vicious. There's plenty to go around. Vicious: Nah, I'm good. Stuffed, even.
The party are gathering metal from the corpse of a large monster they seem to have slain. With them are a pair of twins (Forte and Assid) and an angry-looking woman (Velvet).
Aegis: We retrieved plenty of metal. Rita should be able to fix our convertor with this. Yuna: Zen shall we 'ead back? Forte: Mind if we tag along? We were hoping to stay the night at a nearby town. Kanata: There's a village right on our way back. We'd be happy to guide you to it. Assid: Awww, thanks, guy. You're a sweetheart.
Vicious, Kanata and Aegis gather aside from the rest of the group.
Kanata: Do you think Forte and Assid have noticed that we're transgressors? Aegis: They haven't said anything, so I would imagine not. Hopefully we can keep it that way until we reach the village. Vicious: Or we could come right out with it and see how things go. I'm itchin' for a good fight. Aegis: Why are you always so eager for a brawl? Vicious: What's more natural than seein' someone strong and wantin' to fight 'em? That's how men are! Aegis: That's just how YOU are.
At this point Assid comes over.
Assid: Ooh, what are we all gossipping about? Let me in on the fun. Kanata: Oh, uh, no! Nothing! We're not gossiping at all! Assid: If you can't tell me what you're gossiping about... Ah-hah! Yeah, all right. I get it. Gettin' a little smutty, are we? Kanata: What? Assid: What else could it be beneath those hushed tones? Boys only ever have one thing on their mind, after all. Vicious: You're a little spark plug, ain'tcha? Assid: Hehe. Well, what kind of man would I be if I didn't like a little dirty talk now and then? Vicious: Now here's a guy I wouldn't mind havin' a drink or ten with. Assid: What a treat! Alas, I don't drink. Vicious: No problem there. I'll drink enough for the both of us. Kanata: Huh... Those two are really hitting it off. Aegis: Boorish prattle.
Back with the rest of the party, Misella is staring at Forte intently.
Forte: Is there something on my face? Misella: No, it's not that. I was just noticing how similar you and Assid look. Even for brothers. Forte: We're twins. People mistake us for each other all the time. Yuna: I would imagine zat is inevitable when you look so much alike. Ah, I could 'ave so much fun if I 'ad a twin. You are so lucky! Forte: Fun? Yuna: For example, when I met someone, I could 'ave my twin leap out from be'ind to surprise zem! I could run towards a friend, my twin running 'idden be'ind me, when we suddenly run in different directions! It would appear I 'ave split in two! If someone is giving out free sweets, I could get one, leave, and zen return claiming to be my sister in order to get a second one! Forte: Yeah, we've done all of those. Heh. I guess it was kinda fun. Misella: You did ALL of those things? Seriously? Yuna: Ah, 'ow I wish I 'ad a twin! Zen I could 'ave 'er do everyzing I do not like to do, while I live in total comfort. Forte: Yeah, that one's a little trickier. After all, your twin would probably be thinking the exact same thing. Yuna: Ah, I 'ad not considered zat. Per'aps it is just as well. It could 'ave ended in death.
Vicious competes in an exhibition match of beach volleyball to lure an alpha monster out of the sea. They fight the monster and kill it, leaving the beach safe, and then return to finish their match.
Deep in a cave, a very injured Vicious returns painfully to consciousness. Yuna is there, as well as a knight, and a large, bizarre-looking monster, ready to attack Vicious.
Yuna: Vicious! You 'ave to move! Knight: Too late! Deliver the killing blow! Monster: HRRRRAAAAAHHHHHH! Knight: Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill kill kill kill kiiiiillll! Vicious: Ah ha ha ha. Knight: What? What are you laughing about? Vicious; All that hatred and malice... Feels kinda nice. Comfy, even! You think THAT would scare me? Hell, I love that stuff! Gimme more! I want all of it! Right here, pal, every last bit of that hate and anger and yearnin' to kill! Yuna: Erm, Vicious...? Vicious: I don't care if the whole world hates my guts! Why should I?! You see, I got me a reason. Because I know a guy who wants to change the world, and I am gonna follow that dumbass to the bitter frickin' end!
Black flames envelop Vicious, and he shifts to his demonic form.
Knight: What... What is this power?! Monster: HRRRAAAAHHH!!! Vicious: Round two, baby. Let's dance. TREMBLE TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT!
Vicious defeats the monster handily with his new power.
Knight: No way... That was a weapon designed specifically to defeat him, and he just... swept it away! How could we have so grossly underestimated his power? Vicious: I know, right? Knight: Eee.... eeep! Vicious: You know I can't let ya get away.
Vicious kills the knight unceremoniously.
Vicious: Heh. Yuna: ......I 'ave to ask... Is it safe to approach? Vicious: Huh? Why wouldn't it be? Yuna: Don't you remember what 'appened in Yednark? If you were to go crazy like zat again, I would be as good as dead! Vicious: Oh, get off it. That ain't never gonna happen again.
Vicious drops back into human form.
Vicious: At some point I guess I did start gettin' scared. Of unleashin' my powers, and of people hatin' me for it... And it made me lose sight of myself, and lose control of my powers... Pretty pathetic, right? Yuna: Not at all. In fact, if only just a little... je vous trouve plus cool. Vicious: Huh? The hell's that mean? Yuna: It means zat you seem like you're going to be okay. Vicious: Yep. Not a problem in the world. Yuna: Onward, then. Vicious: Yeah! Let's get movin'. Great Transgressor, sower of nightmares, comin' through...
Vicious, Kanata and Misella are travelling through some mountain paths, but Vicious is dragging his feet in despair.
Vicious: Bah, it's hopeless. We're all dead men.
Kanata and Misella look very unimpressed.
Misella: ...... Kanata: That's a tad dramatic, don't you think? I mean, just because you've run out of liquor. Vicious: Damn it all! I shoulda robbed that town of every last drop'a booze! Now the amount of hooch I got is zilch, and the amount of ass-dragging brats I got is two. Am I the only one who sees how demoralizin' that is?! Kanata, I need ya to fix this. Transform into booze right now. Kanata: Now that's just absurd! Misella: This is no time for nonsense, Vicious. Even if Kanata COULD transform into alcohol, he would be a crystal-clear spirit of flawless purity. Not the sort of brackish swill that you deserve. Kanata: Wow, thank you... Actually, you know what? If that was supposed to be a compliment, I'm not feelng it. Sorry. Vicious: DRINK! DRINK! GIVE ME DRINK!
Vicious whines obnoxiously.
Vicious: Hey, Kanata? Do me a solid, yeah? Go knife a merchant and bring me back whatever booze he's carryin'. Misella: Kanata's not going to do that. Because it would be wrong. Vicious: All right, fine. Then I'LL attack the merchant and let Kanata knife ME. Then he can demand booze as a reward for savin' the merchant's life. Misella: I suppose that's... not completely unreasonable. Kanata: Misella! We are NOT going to participate in a scam like that! Vicious: Oh, right. I forgot how every little thing's gotta be sooooo damn scrupulous for Kanata the Righteous. Kanata: Please stop describing my character as if it were some manner of insult. Vicious: Welp, I got no booze, and Kanata's too stingy to help. Guess all that's left is to press on forward. Misella: As if that's your plan of last resort? That's the only value you have. Vicious: And then there's the little arsonist who shoots daggers from her eyes. You two really are a barrel'a laughs.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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 about being a vessel of innumerable hatreds and the ruination of the world, 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.
Me Being Me
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. Aegis wonders why.
Vicious: Ah, who cares? If it's somethin' we can use, it'd be wasteful not to use it.
Misella: You're just using that as a pretext to scrounge for booze.
Vicious: Ya really have taken the time to learn a lot about me, haven't ya, Misella? Startin' a fan club?
Misella: Opposition research.
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 have 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.
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. They're being killed en masse; everyone in the city seems to be being slaughtered.
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!
You Got the Knife, Kid
Vicious, Kanata and Misella finish defeating a giant enforcer. As it vanishes, Kanata and Misella look exhausted, though Vicious seems fine. Villagers around them react with shock that they managed to fight off the enforcers, but a young boy 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...
Bathing
Will You Entertain Me?
Vicious, in demon form, is facing down Kasque, apparently a goddess. As he fights her, the party exclaims that Vicious now seems to be just as strong as she is, if not stronger.
Vicious: C'mon, is that all you've got?
As he continues to fight, the party (and Kasque's minions) suddenly feel something come over them—a pain like someone gripping their heart, making it hard to move. Black flames erupt from nowhere, covering the whole city.
Vicious seems undeterred.
Vicious: Come on now, entertain me! You can take more'n that! SO TAKE IT!
Misella: *Gasp*... Urk... Is this pain... from the flames...?
Vicious: CONSUME! RAVAGE!
Kanata: The flames...growing...spreading...everywhere... My strength... being sucked... out of me... These flames... They're...
Vicious: MOLDER AND CRUMBLE. FUEL ME AND BURN TO ASH.
Forte: What we'd heard about the Great Transgressor... That he "consumes all life to feed himself." Is this what that meant...? What he's truly capable of...?
A mysterious woman stands nearby and comments that Vicious is an idiot for releasing power that he's spent so much time suppressing.
Youtube: Chapter 7 7-4: Spreading Flames
Vicious continues provoking Kasque to fight, while the flames still spread and everyone else shudders in pain.
Kanata: *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*... Vicious! That's... That's enough! Don't use...any more power! You have to stop!
Vicious: What did you just say? You're not gettin' in my way, are ya, Kanata?
Kanata: What?
Vicious: Because anything that gets in my way...is dead. BEGONE! BEGONE! BEGONE! LET NOTHING REMAIN!
Aegis: He's attacking!
Kanata: Vicious, stop!
Yuna: Non, Kanana! Your words will not reach 'im now. We 'ave to fight!
Misella: Vicious, do you understand what you're doing?
Vicious: It's your turn to entertain me, Kanata!
Kanata: Vicious... Damn it... Do we really have to fight?
Vicious: You better!
They have to fight. They're no match for Vicious.
Vicious: Ah ha ha! Not bad. You never fail to amuse me, Kanata. And that's gonna make this so much more fun!
Kanata: *Pant* *Pant*... Urk... I... I can't even... move...
Misella: But... if we don't stop Vicious...
???: It is beyond your power to stop him.
Aegis: Who are you?!
???: At this rate, he'll consume every last bit of life in the area. That is what the Great Transgressor does. That is Vicious's true power.
Kanata: This is the Great Transgressor? This is who Vicious really is?
???: He's spent all this time suppressing it out of fear of what he'd become, and yet here it is. His back must have really been against the wall this time. Hmm. So be it.
Kanata: L-Look out! If he comes this way--
???: ...
Vicious: And YOU are?
The woman speaks some kind of incantation. A blinding light envelops Vicious, and when it fades he's back in human form, looking a bit worse for wear.
Vicious: ... Urgh... *Pant* *Pant* *Pant* Who the hell...?
Kanata: He's back! Vicious is back to his old self! Vicious!!!
Kanata rushes over to Vicious.
Vicious: What, Kanata, you gonna burst into tears or somethin'? Tch. You look like such a tool.
Kanata: Well whose fault is that?! I was worried about you!
Vicious: ...Spare me.
???: Do not attempt to wield powers you cannot control. Especially if you have any regard for those around you.
Kanata: Thank you so much, ma'am! But... who are you?
Ivis: My name is Ivis. I'm but a humble traveling sorceress.
That's... a God?
Vicious, the party, a pair of twins (Forte and Assid), and two younger kids (Nash and Sonia) are gathered in a town plaza. A girl in a risque outfit and a side ponytail with arcane glowing ?wings? is descending from the sky.
Kanata: The goddess... Kasque...?
Kasque: ......
Aegis: That's... a god...?
Yuna: Oh, just look at 'er! She is absolutely adorable!
The twins do not seem to like this reaction.
Assid: Get on your knees, you idiots!
Forte: Are you too stupid to comprehend the majesty of what you are witnessing here? Prepare to be struck dead where you stand!
Kasque: *sigh*... Listen, you two...
Assid: Yes, Goddess! We stand ready to serve!
Kasque: Stop.
She brandishes a staff with a large orb in the head of it, which begins to glow and spark.
Kasque: You're killing me with that crap.
She strikes down Forte and Assid with a blast of purple energy as they scream.
Vicious: Damn. Down go the doppelgangers.
Misella: Guess the honeymoon's over.
Kasque: I've been watching the whole time, you know. This "a great sinner will make me appear" crap? Like, seriously? That's not how this works.
Forte and Assid struggle to recover and respond.
Forte: B-But then, why?! Why have you decided to grace us with your glorious presence, my Goddess?
Kasque: Because you're exhausting. And if I didn't come down and do something about it, you'd only get MORE exhausting. And as exhausting as it is to come down here, it's more exhausting to leave you be.
The party is gawking at this exchange.
Kanata: This is... not at all what I had been picturing.
Aegis: Indeed. The word "goddess" suggested a certain... How to put this...
Yuna: Smaller boobs?
Aegis: Mm. Yes, that. Er, I mean, NO, not that! That is clearly not the direction I was heading in at all.
Misella narrows her eyes at him.
Aegis: I'm serious! Don't look at me like that, Misella!
Kanata: This girl is really a goddess...?
Kasque turns her attention to them.
Kasque: I know you people, too.
Kanata: Wait, us?
Kasque: Uh, yeah. It's not like anyone else is running around shouting about destroying vision orbs and changing the world. And that makes you...
She brandishes her staff again.
Kasque: ....a REAL nuisance. I created the vision orbs so I could retire as a goddess. If you destroy them all, my retirement plan goes poof.
Kanata: Retire as goddess...?
Kasque: Not that you'd be able to destroy them anyway, but still. Anyway, since I already came all the way down here to deal with these idiots...
Her staff begins to glow and spark again.
Kasque: I'm thinking I should probably just kill you all and be done with it.
Aegis: Is she... serious?
Yuna: It is rather 'ard to tell, but it does seem we've upset 'er. And traditionally, upsetting gods does not end well.
Kasque: Yeah, so hurry up and die.
Misella: Th-This feeling in the air...
Kanata: You guys, I think she's serious!
Vicious: Heh heh. Now this is the good stuff!
They have an unwinnable boss battle in which Kasque smites them all with a mystic arte before they can do more than a fraction of damage to her.
Kanata: So much power... How?
Aegis: It's utterly overwhelming... This is leagues beyond any battle we've ever fought before.
Yuna: She is not kidding around! Zis could be ze end!
Vicious: Damn it! What the hell ARE you?!
Kasque: What am I? Were you not paying attention? I don't really like to flex, but... I'm God?
Youtube: Chapter 7 5-2 We Can't Defeat a God!
Kasque: Sooo... are you starting to realize how futile all this is? It'd save us all a lot of annoyance if you just... y'know, died.
Kanata: Urk...
Aegis: What chance do we have....against a god?!
Misella: You don't think we can win?
Kanata: There's no changing the world unless we defeat her! We have to win, no matter what!
Aegis: Get ahold of yourself, Kanata! Has this battle taught you nothing? We CANNOT defeat a god!
Kanata: But... we can't just give up!
Aegis: Which is exactly why we must make a strategic retreat!
Kanata: Huh?
Aegis: Consider the worst-case scenario! If we die here, it's all over! Nothing will change! But another opportunity will present itself. We have to believe in that, and withdraw for now.
Kanata: Aegis... You're right. Let's run!
Kasque, who has just been there listening to this, interjects.
Kasque: Ever think about discussing your secret plans in a lower voice? Because... yeah. I'm not gonna let you run.
Vicious: Don't you worry, Your Godness. We ain't all gonna slink away with our tails between our legs. I'm gonna stick around to keep ya company.
The party reacts in shock.
Kanata: Vicious?! Are you insane?!
Vicious: I'll stay here and blast the crap outta her. All y'all losers can run along.
Misella: Vicious! You're worrying Kanata. Don't do it.
Kanata: Vicious, are you... Are you covering so we can escape?
Vicious: Pfft. Hell no. Who do you think I am, dumbass?
Kanata: ......Right... Well, we'll catch up with you afterwards, Vicious!
Aegis: You sure about this?
Kanata: Yeah, it's Vicious. He'll be all right.
Yuna: Ze man does have a tendency to cheat death.
Kanata turns to Nash and Sonia to try to get them to escape with them, but another woman comes along and offers to take care of them. They flee, and Kanata turns back to Vicious, who smiles at him.
Kanata: Vicious...
Vicious: Get the hell outta here already. I got me a date with God.
Kanata: This isn't goodbye, I know it!
Vicious: Heh.
He flees, with the rest of the party, as Vicious turns back to Kasque.
Kasque: The Great Transgressor. Dang. Looking at you up close, you really are hot.
Vicious: Uh...
Kasque: It's a shame to have to kill you. Himbos like you are such treasures.
Vicious: Now you're just pissin' me off. You don't even know if you can beat me yet.
Kasque: I will beat you. I'm stronger. For that matter, are you just going to stay how you are now?
Vicious reacts to that with sharply narrowed eyes.
Vicious: You think you got me figured out? Screw you.
Kasque: *Sigh* That one hurts. Especially coming from a hottie like you. Fine, then. Kid gloves off.
Vicious: About time!
The memory ends as their 1-on-1 fight begins.
Annihilation Flame
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...
Truesight Stone
Vicious and Yuna are looking around in an underground cavern.
Vicious: Yeah, I ain't seein' any signs of Kanata anywhere. Guess the kid's dead.
Yuna: Been searching for 'im, 'ave you?
Vicious: Doin' a duet with a degenerate liar gets old fast. It's makin' me miss my old toys, is all.
Yuna: Ever ze smooth-talkin' gentleman, eh? You won't be making many new friends with zat attitude.
Vicious: Don't need 'em, don't want 'em.
Yuna: Wanting to be liked is a perfectly natural zing, you know. You needn't deny yourself.
Vicious: Natural, huh?
Vicious looks pensive.
Vicious: Hey, ya ever been a butterfly?
Yuna: Heh? What kind of question is zat? Of course I 'aven't!
Vicious: Me neither. You can tell me flower nectar tastes amazin', and that flutterin' in a breeze is a blast, but I don't envy 'em one bit. A beast born to creep on the ground can't even imagine that stuff.
Yuna: .....
Vicious: You get what I'm sayin', right? A person who's been alone from the beginning doesn't get lonely.
Yuna: From the beginning? Zat can't be right. Surely you 'ad a family at one point?
Vicious: Couldn't say. Don't got no memory of one, that's for sure.
Yuna: .....
Vicious: First time I managed to rub two brain cells together, I was already "me." The villain of this world. You saw me back there, right, the way I looked fightin' that goddess chick? I was an avatar of ruin, keepin' myself goin' by consuming every living thing around me. That right there is what a Great Transgressor is. It's only "natural" that every person alive should hate me. After all, I could kill the whole lot of 'em just by existin'.
Yuna listens to all of this with a fairly unimpressed expression.
Vicious: Now, it took a while, but I managed to suppress that power, to an extent, and take the person-lookin' form you see before you. But at that point, the word had gotten out, and the whole world hated me. Vicious, the Great Transgressor, feared by all.
Yuna: Hmm. You're 'aving yourself quite ze pity party, aren't you?
Vicious: Huh? Screw you.
Yuna: "Ze Great Transgressor, feared by all." Zen 'ow come I'm not afraid of you at all? Kanana doesn't fear you one bit, nor does Aegrouch, nor ze mademoiselle.
Yuna: And do you know why? Because we are your friends. I do not believe zere is anyone in zis world who does not mind being despised, nor is zere anyone untroubled by loneliness. If you wish to bluff and bluster your way through zose feelings, go right ahead. But we do not 'ear ze boasts of ze Great Transgressor. We are too focused on divining what our friend Vicious is trying to say.
Vicious: Hmph. This conversation is dumb.
Yuna: It certainly is.
Vicious: Friends... That's a pain in my ass I do not need. I ain't never had nothin', and I ain't never needed nothin'. Defyin' a world that rejected me is all I live for. And I don't need no one's help with that.
Yuna: And is zat all you will ever live for? To be rejected, and to fight back? Zat isn't living. Zat is merely reacting. Do you not yearn for a deeper raison d'etre zan ze tantrums of a petulant child?
Vicious: Hell no. That's reason enough for me.
[a yell comes from elsewhere in the cave, from a squad of knights.]
???: There he is! The Great Transgressor!
Yuna: Ah, ze knights of Medegal. And so many of zem! Out on some excursion, per'aps?
Vicious: Man, that's gotta suck, runnin' into the devil in the middle of your little field trip.
Knight: When the output sent for reinforcements, I never imagined it would be something like this... Can't beat the timing, though. Just when we were itching to test out our little gift from the bioscience guys!
Yuna: Bon... zat sounds ominous.
Vicious: Ya think? Sounds to me like a party.
[a large monster roars from behind the knights.]
Vicious: Aw, look, they got 'emselves a darlin' l'il fur baby.
Yuna: Do you not find it strange zat ze lofty and righteous Order of Knights are in cahoots with monsters now?
Knight: This isn't some garden-variety monster. This is a top-secret biological weapon designed by Medigal's biosciences lab just to fight the Great Transgressor.
Yuna: Oh la la. Ze Order 'as been branching out, eh? Good for you! I guess zis explains why Aegrouch was not familiar with ze local outpost. A top secret affair!
Vicious: Aww, I can't believe ya made me a new toy just to blow the crap outta. You shouldn't have.
They fight the monster, but it doesn't seem to take any significant damage.
Knight: What did I tell you? It was developed specifically to take you down. Its hide is constructed from antimatter. Your bullets will never pierce it.
The knight is right - Vicious takes a shot that does nothing. On the other hand, the monster lands a painful hit on Vicious.
Youtube: Chapter 8 5-6: That Light... Could It be?
Vicious is injured enough to be immobilized. However, before the monster can land a finishing blow, a light shines from somewhere.
Knight: This light... Is this from a truesight stone? I've heard that they're cut from crystals mined in this region, but... to think we'd find a stone right here!
The light becomes blinding, and Vicious finds himself in a dark forest, with a dark, child-shaped shadow across from him.
Boy: *sniff*... Wh-Why? Why does everybody hate me?
Vicious: .....
Boy: Don't get angry! Don't despise me! Please don't hate me anymore!
Vicious: Ugh, seriously?
Boy: Don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't hate me don't--
Vicious: Hey, kid! Reel it in before... I...
The shadow transforms into a mirror copy of Vicious.
Vicious: Huh? Is that... me?
The shadow vanishes.
Vicious: Ah, so that's the deal. This is that whole facin' your inner self thing, yeah? God DAMN, is this lame. That's supposed to be me, right? The voice inside my heart, or whatever? What, did I really come to be that scared of bein' hated?
A light shines again, and now Kanata is standing there.
Vicious: Huh? What are you doin' out here?
Kanata: I... I want to change the world! I'm going to do it!
Vicious: ......Hey, slow down! Were you seriously plannin' on doin' that without me? Changin' the world, huh? Man, the stuff you say sometimes... Eh, I always get a kick outta you. Guess that's why... you're my reason.
Back in the cave, Vicious returns painfully to consciousness, where the monster is still ready to land the killing blow.
Knight: Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill kill kill kill kiiiiillll!
Vicious: Ah ha ha ha.
Knight: What? What are you laughing about?
Vicious; All that hatred and malice... Feels kinda nice. Comfy, even! You think THAT would scare me? Hell, I love that stuff! Gimme more! I want all of it! Right here, pal, every last bit of that hate and anger and yearnin' to kill!
Yuna: Erm, Vicious...?
Vicious: I don't care if the whole world hates my guts! Why should I?! You see, I got me a reason. Because I know a guy who wants to change the world, and I am gonna follow that dumbass to the bitter frickin' end!
Black flames envelop Vicious, and he shifts to his demonic form.
Knight: What... What is this power?!
Monster: HRRRAAAAHHH!!!
Vicious: Round two, baby. Let's dance. TREMBLE TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT!
Chapter 8 5-7: Before I Knew It...
Vicious defeats the monster handily with his new power.
Knight: No way... That was a weapon designed specifically to defeat him, and he just... swept it away! How could we have so grossly underestimated his power?
Vicious: I know, right?
Knight: Eee.... eeep!
Vicious: You know I can't let ya get away.
Vicious kills the knight unceremoniously.
Vicious: Heh.
Yuna: ......I 'ave to ask... Is it safe to approach?
Vicious: Huh? Why wouldn't it be?
Yuna: Don't you remember what 'appened in Yednark? If you were to go crazy like zat again, I would be as good as dead!
Vicious: Oh, get off it. That ain't never gonna happen again.
Vicious drops back into human form.
Vicious: At some point I guess I did start gettin' scared. Of unleashin' my powers, and of people hatin' me for it... And it made me lose sight of myself, and lose control of my powers... Pretty pathetic, right?
Yuna: Not at all. In fact, if only just a little... je vous trouve plus cool.
Vicious: Huh? The hell's that mean?
Yuna: It means zat you seem like you're going to be okay.
Vicious: Yep. Not a problem in the world.
Yuna: Onward, then.
Vicious: Yeah! Let's get movin'. Great Transgressor, sower of nightmares, comin' through...
It's so clearly wrong
The whole party (Vicious, Kanata, Misella, Aegis, Yuna, and Orwin), plus another hot lady (Milla) rush into a village like there's some kind of emergency, panting in exhaustion.
Kanata: *Pant*.. *Pant*... This is... your town...?
Aegis: Dad! Mom! Where are you?!
A villager is there in the plaza.
Villager: What, that's... Aegis?!
Aegis: Where are my parents?! Speak!
Villager: Eep!
Aegis: Why won't you answer?!
Another villager approaches.
???: Stay away from my villagers!
Aegis: You're the village chief, right?
Village Chief: Get out of here, transgressor. Your presence here is going to get us all condemned as collaborators!
Misella: THAT's what you're worried about?
Kanata: Rgh. Okay, everyone, please calm down for a minute! We just came here to rescue Aegis's parents!
Aegis: Please, at least tell me where they are! I'm begging you!
Villager: Yeah, bad news for you, pal. There's no way they haven't been eliminated yet.
Aegis: What?!
Villager: They were running all around town, begging folks to help hide them. So selfish! Shield a transgressor and you'll end up as a transgressor too. So we sent them packing--no way we were going to let that happen to us!
Vicious looks VERY unimpressed by this.
Villager: You can beg and plead all you want, but it won't get you anything. We don't want any part of this!
Milla: Silence. One more word out of your mouth, and I'm going to become upset.
Villager: Wh-Who the hell...?
Aegis: It can't be true... My parents, are they... Are they really... Answer me, chief!
Village Chief: Your parents were further disgracing themselves by attempting to flee from the enforcers. So we tied them up.
Aegis: Wh-why would you...
Village Chief: You know exactly why! We needed to make it clear to the world that we are not in league with transgressor scum like yourself and your parents. The only reward that awaits those who help a transgressor is a stain of guilt of their own! That's the last thing any of us want!
Aegis: ......
Kanata: So Aegis's parents... They're really gone...?
Village Chief: They were bound and fettered and expelled from the village. I'm sure it did not take long for the enforcers to enact justice.
Aegis: ....
Village Chief: You have your answer, Aegis. Now leave. And take your cronies with you. And remember that this village does not tolerate the presence of filthy transgressors!
Aegis: ...Why?
Village Chief: Did you not hear me, Aegis? Or do we need to tie you up, too, just like we did to those unseemly wretches who raised you?!
Villager: This is what happens when the poors think their kid'll lift them out of the gutter. They shouldn't have gotten so cocky about their little knight.
(a different) Villager: Get out of here, Aegis. Do not bring your treachery to our peaceful town.
Village Chief: We should burn their house down, to make it clear that we are no friends to that cursed family. Hahaha. Yes, that's a great idea. Let's do it.
Aegis: Why...? Why? Why would you act like this?!
Aegis draws his spear from nowhere. He looks incandescently furious.
Aegis: Unseemly? Wretches? Those are my parents you're talking about!
Village Chief: Urk!
Aegis: You think I'm just going to let you say that about them?! You think I'm not going to make you pay for this? I am going to kill every last one of you!
Kanata steps between Aegis and the chief, and the chief retreats.
Kanata: Aegis, calm down!
Aegis: Do not interfere, Kanata! These are not human beings we're dealing with here!
Kanata: Aegis...
Orwin: This doesn't seem like the sorta thing we're gonna be able to reason him out of.
Kanata: Aegis, I know how you feel right now, but...
Aegis: Move, Kanata!
Kanata: No! I won't move! This isn't you, Aegis!
Aegis: I don't care!
--
Aegis: Stay out of my way, Kanata! Move!
Kanata: No! You need to snap out of this! I don't want to have to fight you!
Aegis: Then. Get. Out. Of. My. Way.
Kanata: No! I won't! Because if I step aside, you're as good as dead!
Aegis: I'M as good as dead? ME?
Kanata: Yes! If you cut down these people, the righteousness within you will die! You'll regret it forever! And I don't want to have to see you suffering even worse than you already are!
Aegis: What the hell do you know about anything?!
Kanata: I know that your parents wouldn't want to see you like this!
Aegis: Spare me your trite platitudes, Kanata!
Kanata: They may be trite, but they're still--
Vicious finally steps up to intervene.
Vicious: Move.
Kanata: Vicious?
Kanata moves.
Vicious: If he ain't gonna listen, we'll have to beat it into him. Hyah!
Aegis: Vicious... Why would you of all people stop me?! You're always telling us to do what we want! And what I want to do is cut these vermin to shreds! What right do you have to stop me?!
Vicious: I don't like it.
Vicious shoots Aegis in the arm.
Aegis: Urgh!
Vicious: I tell ya, I don't like it!
He shoots twice more.
Aegis: Nggh!
Vicious: Is this what you want? Is this who you are, Aegis? What happened to the snooty knight preachin' about justice from atop his high horse? He's gonna start murderin' folk now? You're tellin' me that's really what you wanna do?
Aegis: .....
Vicious: Then I was wrong about you, Aegis. You ain't worthy to wield a blood sin after all.
Vicious does something, and Aegis's spear vanishes.
Aegis: M-My blood sin... It's gone?!
Vicious: Seeya.
He knocks Aegis out.
Aegis: Hyarrggghh!
Vicious: Don't make me laugh. How bout you sleep it off over there for a while.
Village Chief: Ha! Even your friends have forsaken you now? This is what you get, Aegis. That dirt is exactly where the son of criminals deserves to be.
Misella: That man just won't stop.
Vicious: All right.
--
Vicious approaches the village chief.
Vicious: Aaaaaall right.
Village Chief: Wh-What are YOU coming this way for?!
Vicious: Aegis pisses me off sometimes, but when it comes to being an ass, he's got nothin' on you lot. Die, you little worm.
Vicious shoots him.
Village Chief: Gah! Arggggghhhh!!! Y-You shot my foot! Aaahhh! Th-there's so much blood!
Kanata: Vicious, what are you doing?!
Vicious: Not another step!
Kanata: ...!
Vicious: Unlike him, I wasn't never no knight of justice. Killing a town full of jerks, that ain't nothin' to me at this point. I'm the Great goddamn Transgressor. Every inch of me is already fouled with sin.
Vicious moves to the next villager.
Villager: St-Stop this!
Vicious: Shut up!
He shoots him.
Villager: AAARRGGGGHHHH! It hurts! It huuuuuuurts!
Vicious: What, that didn't even kill ya? I swear, it's always trash like you that don't know when to die.
(other) Villager: R-Run for your lives!
Vicious: Ain't no one runnin' nowhere!
The party seems distressed by this.
Kanata: Vicious, stop!
Misella: No, Kanata! Stay away, or you'll get pulled into this!
Kanata: But...
Yuna: Zat fool 'as lost 'is mind! What does 'e zink zis is going to accomplish?!
Orwin: Just keep your heads down and get away from him! I ain't gettin' caught in the crossfire!
Vicious doesn't stop what he's doing.
Village Chief: D-Don't do this! We didn't do anything wrong!
Vicious: Nah, you didn't, didja? You just did what you were supposed to do, right? Just let the consensus free ya from the burden of havin' to think for yerself. Everyone teamin' up to beat on that mean ol' couple together. Bet that felt good, didn't it? Got so drunk on the joy of it all that you didn't even realize you'd just murdered two people.
Village Chief: N-No! We're not the ones who killed them!
Vicious: That doesn't mean ya ain't guilty.
Village Chief: .....
Vicious: Ain't no murder uglier than the one you tell yourself you're not committin'. You wanna kill someone, the least you owe 'em is to be honest yourself that you're doin' it. Feel yourself in the bullet that punches through their flesh. See yourself in the reflection of that blood-soaked blade. Now THAT's killing. And that's somethin' a big softie like Aegis could never do. That's why I'm gonna kill the whole lot of you for him.
Back with the party, Kanata turns to Misella.
Kanata: Is that what he's doing? Killing them so Aegis won't have to befoul himself?
Misella: Vicious doesn't think like that. He just does what he wants to do.
Kanata: Huh. It's actually kind of incredible.
Misella: Kanata?
Kanata: Vicious will bear his sins without making any attempt to justify them. He just follows his heart, and kills with no illusions about what he's doing... Just... completely aware that it's sin. I could never do that.
Misella: .....
Vicious is still menacing the village chief.
Village Chief: St-Stop, please! Please!
Vicious: Sorry. The die is cast. So die.
Aegis, conscious again, jumps in between them, and the chief flees again.
Aegis: Stop!
Vicious: What was that?
Aegis: Vicious, stop this. You have to stop!
Vicious: These are scumbags who need to die. You said that yourself, Aegis.
Aegis: Yes... I did. They're thugs who killed my parents and then spat on their memories. What they did is unforgivable. But even still... Even in spite of that... Do not kill them!
Vicious: Why not?
Aegis: Because revenge is not justice!
Vicious: ......
Aegis: I understand that now, Vicious, thanks to you. Seeing them writhing in pain, soaked in their own blood... It's wrong. It's so clearly wrong! My mother and father believed in me until the end. They said I was their pride and joy. That belief is something I don't want to betray.
Vicious: .....Huh.
Vicious smiles slightly and relaxes.
Kanata: Misella, go heal the people Vicious shot.
Misella: Okay.
Orwin: Sooo... We can come out now I guess?
Yuna: *Sigh*... You certainly know 'ow to keep us in suspense, Vicious.
Suddenly there's massive shaking, and the whole party reacts in shock.
Orwin: Oh, what now?!
Milla: There's been a massive disturbance in the mana...!
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.
To the Nation of Sin
Summary:
Vicious with two teenagers in a forest. They are apparently 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 actually 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.
Patricidal Edge
A blond boy (Kanata) cowers on the ground in a forest as a bunch of hovering cloaked figures approach him. Vicious jumps down from a nearby ledge guns blazing (literally) and dispatches them with style. After Kanata reacts with shock, Vicious asks—
Vicious: So you're a transgressor, eh? Are you from the Nation?
Kanata: Wh-What?
Vicious: You're not?! Tch, that ditz sent me after another dud.
With an unnatural sound, more of the cloaked figures appear from nowhere.
Kanata: They're still coming...
Vicious: Pain in the ass, yeah? And I ain't got time to kill every last one o' em.
Kanata: ......
Vicious: Huh? Ain't ya gonna bolt?
Kanata: But... I'm a transgressor. Everyone wants me gone. They prayed for it. I'll accept my punishment and go away for the greater good.
Vicious: ......You're makin' me wanna puke over here.
Vicious takes a shot at Kanata.
Kanata: What are you doing?
Vicious: You're gonna die because everyone wants you to? But what about what YOU want?
Vicious: Look, this world ain't big enough for everyone to live how they please. Whenever someone insists on doing things their own way, somethin' else has gotta give. Sooner or later, everybody's way of life is gonna crash into somebody else's.
Kanata: ......
Vicious: You wanna live, ya gotta kill! You wanna exist, ya gotta fight! You want something, ya gotta take it! That's just the truth of this crowded old world. Yet you're gonna give up your piece of it to some asshole ya don't even know! If that's all your life means to you, then ya deserve to lose it! Hell, if you got that little self-respect... Maybe I'll just kill ya myself!
Vicious takes a second shot at Kanata.
Kanata: Urk!
Vicious: So long, kid.
And another shot.
Kanata: Huh? Whoa!
Vicious grins.
Vicious: Dodged that one, huh? You're quicker than ya look. But still not quick enough. This time, it's bye-bye.
Kanata: No. I can't keep running away... I'm going to die. I'll be... gone... Ah... Ahhhhh!
Vicious: ...Whaddaya cryin' about? Don't tell me ya got regrets now! You're the one who chose to throw his life away! Little late to get choked up about it, don'tcha think?
Kanata: I... I fouled these hands with blood! I'm a transgressor beyond redemption! I know I deserve to be condemned, and yet... I don't want to die! I want to live!
Vicious: Do ya, now? Then you gotta face the music.
Vicious summons a column of black crackling energy and stabs it through Kanata's chest, pinning him to a tree.
Vicious: So you regret your crime, then? If you could go back to when ya did it... You'd do things differently? Maybe keep them pretty little hands clean?
Kanata: I... No. If I did that... I couldn't save Misella!
Kanata struggles, but steps forward and makes a fist.
Kanata: No matter what anyone says... No matter how horrible the crime I committed... I don't regret it for a moment!
Vicious: Huh. In that case... I'm gonna give ya a do-over.
Vicious releases the black energy blade, and it levitates Kanata into the air.
Vicious: You wanna own your sin, or you wanna let it own you? Carve the answer out of your own fouled soul!
The energy shocks through Kanata, and he finally reaches and grabs it with both hands. The energy is absorbed into a mark on his palm, which changes shape. He levitates back to the ground, now fine, and with conviction, he pulls a large sword out of a glowing glyph in the air, the same way Vicious summons his guns.
Kanata: Sinful sword of crimes repugnant... Patricidal Edge!
Vicious: Heh...
Be a good little hostage
Transcription:
Vicious and Kanata arrive in a small village. Kanata is exhausted and relieved, saying it seems like home. Villagers approach, recognizing Kanata. They are surprised that he's alive. Kanata politely asks for them if they could provide them some food and water and a place to rest.
Villager 1: Are you out of your mind?! You're a transgressor!
Kanata: What? Ow! Please stop!
Vicious: [grinning] I'm guessin' your friends here are throwin' rocks 'cause they ran out of confetti?
Villager 1: We know what you did, murderer!
Villager 2: Cody was a great man, and you kiled him! His trueborn son!
Kanata: Th-That's not... You don't know the truth about my father!
Villager 1: I won't listen to you slander him, transgressor!
Villager 3: You need to be be punished!
Villager 2: Stay away from our town, murderer!
Kanata: It's futile. They won't listen.
They are interrupted by a squad of knights entering the town, led by Aegis and Leon.
[SKIT INTERLUDE don't worry too much about when they're having this conversation]
Kanata: Why won't anyone let me explain?
Vicious: Because no one gives a damn about your reasons. You commit a crime, they want you condemned. All they care about is havin' everyone say the same thing. Clean and simple, yeah? No one wants to complicate it up by knowin' WHY a crime was committed.
Kanata: But...
[SKIT INTERLUDE END]
They fight off the knights for a while, but Kanata is exhausted.
Aegis: Steady now, men! Seize the Great Transgressor! And don't let the transgressor lad get away either!
Kanata: *Pant* They... *Pant* just keep coming...
Leon: The Great Transgressor fights on, but the lesser transgressor has reached his limit.
Kanata: Urk...
Vicious steps in front of Kanata.
Vicious: Alright, that's far enough. If your little band of knights pursues us any further, I'm gonna kill everyone in this town, one by one. You cool with that?
Aegis: What?!
Kanata: Vicious, what are you saying?!
Vicious: Hey, I'm already the Great Transgressor, right? What's another mass murder gonna matter?
Villager 4: The Great Transgressor... THAT'S the Great Transgressor?!
Villager 2: They say he's killed thousands of people... Wiped whole cities off the map...
Kanata: Th-That's not true! Vicious would never...
Another swordsman approaches from the villagers.
Cress: Hold, knave! Point not your blade at the good people of this village!
Vicious: Guh? Who the hell are you?
Kanata: Master Cress!
Cress: Kanata? What are you doing in the company of the Great Transgressor? I heard of the incident with your father, but refused to believe you would carry out such an act without just cause.
Kanata: Of course not...
Kanata is distracted enough that a knight approaches him from behind.
Knight: The transgressor dropped his guard! Now!
Kanata: No! I can't parry!
Vicious: Ain't gonna happen.
Vicious intercepts again, shooting.
Knight: Arrrggghhhh!
Kanata: Thank you, Vicious...
Vicious: Heh. I told ya, I don't give a damn about your thanks.
Vicious knocks Kanata to the ground and plants his boot on his back.
Kanata: Bwah! Vicious, what are you doing?!
Cress: What is the meaning of this, fiend?!
Vicious: Don't move a muscle, pal. If you want your star pupil to survive, you'll need to let me kill ya.
Cress: What?!
Kanata: Vicious, no! Don't do this!
Vicious: The shrimpy knight was right: You're done. If we don't get you outta here... you're a dead man. Anyhoo, I figured this would be the best way to make our escape.
Kanata: What kind of reasoning is that?!
Vicious: Just shut up and be a good little hostage.
Kanata: Oof!
Cress: Kanata!
Vicious: Look, I am frickin' starvin' over here, and I don't wanna waste time dealin' with the likes of you. Not to mention, you all actually look pretty tough.
Cress: ...
Vicious: So what's it gonna be? It's obvious that throwin' away one little transgressor brat is the smart play... But you can't do it, can you? Not when he's one of your students.
Cress: You vile craven.
Vicious: Baby, I'm all that and more.
He shoots Cress, who collapses to the ground.
Cress: Arrrrghhhh!
Kanata: Master Cress!
Cress: Bloody hell...
Vicious: Guess even he's not so tough when he can't defend himself. But I went ahead and avoided the vital organs. Consider it my way of showin' respect for a beloved educator.
Kanata: Vicious...!
Vicious: How's that, kid? If you wanna thank me again, I'm all ears this time.
Kanata: I was certain that everyone who called you a vicious savage had you wrong! I was certain you were a good person at heart!
Vicious: More fool you, then. I am what I am, not what you WANT me to be.
Kanata: You're a terrible person who's beyond redemption!
Vicious: Heh. Big words from the daddy-killer.
Vicious turns back to Aegis and Leon.
Vicious: Right then, knights! Now that I've taken care of our little uninvited guest, it's just you and me. You make up your minds yet, or should I start murderin' villagers!
Aegis: Is there no end to your depravity?!
Leon: It seems we have no choice but to retreat.
Aegis: Indeed. Protecting the innocent is our top priority. All knights, withdraw!
Vicious: Smell ya later.
Kanata: ...
The knights retreat, and Vicious and Kanata are left with the villagers. Kanata is quiet as Vicious orders them to bring him food and drink.
Late-Summer Sunflower
Vicious and Kanata are tagging along with a group of three others - Natalia, nobilty of some kind, and Guy and Chloe, who are defending her. They are following a villager clutching his vision orb - a pendant around his neck with a spherical gem in the center - and there are a number of other villagers around. Everyone present except for Vicious and Kanata seem to have an identical pendant.
Villager: I'm gonna let the people of the world decide if this was a crime or not!
Natalia: Oh, no!
At the center of the village, there is a monument with a much larger orb, now displaying a scene. In it, the villager and a few others are yelling accusations at a younger man.
Villager: So now we gotta live in fear of natural disasters and monsters both?! And it's all because you killed the guardian deity's totem creature! This was no natural occurrence! That river took my house and my father from me!
The young man looks stricken, both in the recording and where he stands nearby.
Some chatter begins to come through the vision orbs - it's people across the world, responding with their judgment.
???: Destroying a town by killing an emissary of its guardian deity... That is twisted!
???: If his father was swept away by a river, he has to be dead. Meanwhile the culprit walks around without a care in the world.
Young Man: N-No...
Kanata: What you're doing is absolutely heartless!
Villager: And it's all he deserves! What he did was heartless too!
Kanata: But you understand that he didn't know that! You told me yourself that removing animals from the cave is town policy!
Villager: Some people just have terrible luck.
Kanata: But that's not--!
Natalia steps in.
Natalia: I-I'm going on too. Guy! Record me with your vision orb!
Guy: Huh?
Natalia: Chloe! No matter what happens, I need you to explain to my father that Guy is not to be held reponsible!
Chloe: But...!
Guy: Natalia, slow down! I can't do this! I swore to your father that I'd protect you!
Natalia: Then you're content to watch this young man be condemned like this?
Guy: ....!
Natalia: He was merely doing what he'd been taught. To allow him to be condemned for that... I will not sit idly by while my subjects are erased!
Vicious: You're seriously gonna put yourself on Vision Central just to try to keep that kid safe?
Everyone present appears to think this is a bad idea. A female villager steps up to plead--
Villager 3: Lady Natalia, please reconsider! If you do this, you could end up facing the same fate!
Guy: At this moment, people are huddled around their Vision Centrals pleading for his condemnation. If you were to try to change their minds at this point... They could easily see you as a collaborator. They might end up pleading for YOUR condemnation too!
Natalia: I am well aware. Nevertheless, I am the daughter of the lord of this land.
Guy: And you're saying this is what a leader does? What if this sort of thing happens again?! If you try to protect every one of your subjects who winds up on Vision Central, you'll never have a chance to STOP!
Natalia: And if I were to give up on a single one of them, the faith my people hold in me would be lost. A ruler must make it clear that she is always ready to protect her subjects. There comes a time when we must stake our lives and reputations on what we think is right. What I need you to understand, Guy, is that that time is now. In this world of vision orbs, such is the fate of those who presume to stand above others. I must protect my subjects. This vision we broadcast will be a vision of justice.
Kanata: Lady Natalia...
Guy: ...Okay. Let's do this.
Guy begins to record Natalia, and she is displayed on the central monument instead.
Natalia: Everyone, please, I implore you to wait. My name is Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. The young man in the previous broadcast, who killed the totem creature of our guardian deity, is a subject of mine. And I appeal to you to reconsider your judgment of him. This man had been fulfilling his town-assigned duty of patrolling the shrine when this terrible error occurred.
She explains the details - the young man killed an animal at the shrine thinking it was a pest, and the guardian deity is punishing them with endless rain, monsters, and disasters. Some of the chatter from the vision orbs subsides. But not all of it.
???: So what, you're going to forgive him? Are you kidding me? People are dead beacuse of what he's done!
???: It's not like he has some way of taking responsibility for the damage he's caused! He needs to atone with his life!
Young Man: N-No! I don't want to be condemned!
Kanata: Even hearing the truth won't change their minds? Natalia, it may be too late...
Natalia: No! There is still hope! All of you, please, listen! There is one more thing I beseech you to consider. The judgment we render today will forever live on as a precedent for how such mistakes are handled going forward. A great number of people have appeared on Vision Central, and we have cast our judgment upon them. Those verdicts have shaped within each of us our impressions of what is and is not a crime. I will not deny that this man has made a grave error. However, it was a mistake made in a good-faith attempt to fulfill his duties. For an honest man to be erased from this world over a single mistake... A world in which such punishments are a matter of course is not one I would care to live in.
More of the chatter subsides as some people are convinced by this.
Natalia: Must we all go through life terrified by the prospect of attempting any new endeavor? Our future will be determined by the decision we make today. We can create our future right now, through our vision orbs.
However, a new kind of chatter starts up, and Natalia's vision orb begins to cloud with black energy.
???: What the hell is this broad's deal? So what, she's saying I was wrong to wanna condemn that guy?
???: She had no business stickin' her nose in this in the first place!
???: I was really lookin' forward to seeing that guy pay, too!
???: He's already a loser if he has to work a job, anyway! Let's get rid of both of 'em!
Natalia: My vision orb...!
Guy: Natalia!
Kanata: Why won't they listen?!
Vicious: Now I'm gettin' pissed off.
Vicious steps into frame on the vision, holding a gun to Natalia's head.
Vicious: Spare us the motivational bullcrap already, lady.
Natalia: ....!
Vicious: We can create our future right now. Pfft. You think those vision orbs are there to make your lives BETTER?
Chloe: What does he think he's doing...?
Vicious: Don't sweat the details, folks, just go ahead and condemn away! Trust me, it'll make it all the more hilarious when it's YOUR turn to be the scapegoat. And the more folk that get condemned, the stronger the Great Transgressor gets!
Vicious grins widely.
Kanata: Wait, is that true?! You never told me that!
Natalia: Vicious...
Vicious: ...Aww, where'd all that bloodlust go? Seems like they're not itchin' to condemn ya anymore. Hell, if they ain't gonna do it, guess I just gotta murder the two of you myself.
Chloe: What?! You fiend!
The chatter from the vision orbs dramatically changes in tone.
???: We need to get rid of the Great Transgressor!
???: We need to save her!
???: How I despise that awful man!
???: He's the one that needs to go!
Three cloaked figures appear out of nowhere.
Kanata: Enforcers...! Enforcers are coming your way, Vicious!
Vicious: Huh. Ya know, it seems like they're anglin' for me here.
Natalia: The light on my vision orb has dimmed again...
Young Man: Mine too...
Kanata: Maybe Vicious's stunt distracted people from pleading for your condemnation?
Natalia: Vicious... to protect me, you...
Vicious: Don't get the wrong idea. I just thought it'd be fun to swoop in and steal the show.
Kanata: Regardless, we need to get out of here before all these people get caught in the crossfire!
Kanata and Vicious flee, pursued by an increasing crowd of enforcers.
Natalia: Oh...!
Villager: I can't believe this! That guy was the Great Transgressor?!
The Meat of the Field
Kanata, Misella and Vicious are travelling through some grassy hills. Kanata remarks they should stop worrying about liquor and consider food. They could hunt or fish, but they don't have anything to season it with.
Meanwhile, Misella is just munching down on some grass. She is apparently starving.
Kanata: You should have said something! I'll cook you a proper meal! Come on, Vicious, let's go hunting. We'll make sure Misella eats the finest monster meat tonight.
Vicious: Ehhh, I ain't feelin' it. Besides, she's already got a belly full'a grass, yeah? I'm sure she's fine with that.
Misella: Yes. I'm fine.
Kanata: When you say you're fine while grimacing, it rather undermines your point. Wait here, Misella, I'll cook you up some game.
A bit later on, Kanata has some meat for her.
Misella: Thank you, Kanata, but I don't need any.
Kanata: What? But it's fresh meat! Is something wrong with it?
Vicious: She a vegetarian or something?
Kanata: No, Misella loves meat. Whenever we had it at the shelter, she ate more than anyone.
Misella: No, really. *Munch* I'm fine. *Crunch* This is all I need.
Kanata: Misella, what are you eating?
Misella: Soybeans.
Kanata reacts in horror.
Kanata: Whaaat?! Raw soybeans?! By themselves?!
Misella: It's fine, Kanata. They say soybeans are the meat of the field. If you close your eyes and ignore the texture, and also pretend it tastes completely different, then it isn't entirely dissimilar to meat. Yes. *Munch* It's more like meat with each bite. *Snarf* Except for the flavor and texture and smell. But if I fully devote myself to imagining it as meat, then I'm sure at some point...
Kanata: Misella, you're obviously preoccupied with meat, so stop playing mind games with yourself and eat the ACTUAL meat!
Misella: Oh, I don't need that. I have my soybeans. You know, the meat of the field. Field meat. Ergo, meat.
Kanata: I'm telling you, you don't need to trick yourself!
Vicious: Hoo-boy, this one...
Misella continues to eat.
Misella: Mmm. *Munch* Meat. So good.
Vicious: That ain't meat, kid. That ain't even soybeans. You're still chowin' down on grass.
Misella: You don't understand. If soybeans are the meat of the field, then grass is the meat of the prairie. And meat is meat.
Kanata: That doesn't even make sense! Misella, I'm begging you to eat this! I made it for you!
Misella: Is that... pork miso soup?
Kanata: Yes, it's pork miso soup! Your favorite! Aren't you hungry? Don't you want to eat some REAL meat?
Misella: ...No. I don't want it. I'm happy with this. In fact, I'm so full now.
Misella's stomach growls even as she ineffectually continues to try to deny it.
Kanata: Why are you doing this to yourself? I don't understand!
Misella: I'm not... doing anything...
Vicious, who has been watching all this while rolling his eyes, finally breaks in.
Vicious: This is goddamn pathetic. Hell, you're actually scared, ain'tcha? Scared of happiness.
Misella: ......!
Kanata: Scared... of happiness?
Vicious: Wah, you're a transgressor. Wah, you murdered someone. Wah, you don't deserve to laugh or smile or experience joy ever again. Bah! Pathetic!
Misella: What the hell do you know about the way I feel? Yes, I've decided to live on despite what I've done, but that doesn't mean I'm not stained by my crime. I killed someone. I murdered Nisha.
Kanata: Misella...
Misella: But being with you, Kanata? It makes me feel better. And going on a journey like this is... Well, it might actually be fun. Laughing together... Telling stories over pork miso soup... That would be so wonderful! And THAT is what I'm afraid of. Being so heartless a person that I could commit a crime and enjoy myself like nothing happened.
Misella looks fraught, and Kanata has turned somber.
Vicious: Like I said, pathetic. Wake up and accept that you're garbage already.
Kanata: Vicious! Don't you dare call her that!
Vicious: What you did ain't ever gonna change, but you're still choosin' to live on. Livin' ain't eatin' grass. It's gettin' mad, and cryin', and laughin', and cryin' again, then laughin' and gettin' mad some more, and then maybe more laughin'. All you can do is put it behind you and smile like the human trash you are.
Vicious looks a bit distant at this. Probably he is not just talking about Misella.
Misella: ...
Kanata: I'm so sorry, Misella. I didn't realize you felt that way. But even despite all that, I want you to be happy!
Misella: Kanata...
Kanata: Now have some pork miso soup before it gets cold.
Misella: ...Okay.
She finally eats some soup.
Misella: ...! This is...
Kanata: Ah, you noticed. It's a little different from my usual recipe. I didn't have any actual miso, so I used a miso-like substance I extracted from the monster.
Misella: Miso-like... substance...
Vicious: Welcome to Kanata's. Where good intentions and bad decisions meet.
Misella: Um... This is Kanata's pork miso soup. It's going to be delicious. This is Kanata's pork miso soup. It's going to be delicious.
Kanata: Well, Misella? Is it good?
Misella: It's... delicious... Kanata.
Kanata: I'm so glad! You have some too, Vicious. There's plenty to go around.
Vicious: Nah, I'm good. Stuffed, even.
Twins
The party are gathering metal from the corpse of a large monster they seem to have slain. With them are a pair of twins (Forte and Assid) and an angry-looking woman (Velvet).
Aegis: We retrieved plenty of metal. Rita should be able to fix our convertor with this.
Yuna: Zen shall we 'ead back?
Forte: Mind if we tag along? We were hoping to stay the night at a nearby town.
Kanata: There's a village right on our way back. We'd be happy to guide you to it.
Assid: Awww, thanks, guy. You're a sweetheart.
Vicious, Kanata and Aegis gather aside from the rest of the group.
Kanata: Do you think Forte and Assid have noticed that we're transgressors?
Aegis: They haven't said anything, so I would imagine not. Hopefully we can keep it that way until we reach the village.
Vicious: Or we could come right out with it and see how things go. I'm itchin' for a good fight.
Aegis: Why are you always so eager for a brawl?
Vicious: What's more natural than seein' someone strong and wantin' to fight 'em? That's how men are!
Aegis: That's just how YOU are.
At this point Assid comes over.
Assid: Ooh, what are we all gossipping about? Let me in on the fun.
Kanata: Oh, uh, no! Nothing! We're not gossiping at all!
Assid: If you can't tell me what you're gossiping about... Ah-hah! Yeah, all right. I get it. Gettin' a little smutty, are we?
Kanata: What?
Assid: What else could it be beneath those hushed tones? Boys only ever have one thing on their mind, after all.
Vicious: You're a little spark plug, ain'tcha?
Assid: Hehe. Well, what kind of man would I be if I didn't like a little dirty talk now and then?
Vicious: Now here's a guy I wouldn't mind havin' a drink or ten with.
Assid: What a treat! Alas, I don't drink.
Vicious: No problem there. I'll drink enough for the both of us.
Kanata: Huh... Those two are really hitting it off.
Aegis: Boorish prattle.
Back with the rest of the party, Misella is staring at Forte intently.
Forte: Is there something on my face?
Misella: No, it's not that. I was just noticing how similar you and Assid look. Even for brothers.
Forte: We're twins. People mistake us for each other all the time.
Yuna: I would imagine zat is inevitable when you look so much alike. Ah, I could 'ave so much fun if I 'ad a twin. You are so lucky!
Forte: Fun?
Yuna: For example, when I met someone, I could 'ave my twin leap out from be'ind to surprise zem! I could run towards a friend, my twin running 'idden be'ind me, when we suddenly run in different directions! It would appear I 'ave split in two! If someone is giving out free sweets, I could get one, leave, and zen return claiming to be my sister in order to get a second one!
Forte: Yeah, we've done all of those. Heh. I guess it was kinda fun.
Misella: You did ALL of those things? Seriously?
Yuna: Ah, 'ow I wish I 'ad a twin! Zen I could 'ave 'er do everyzing I do not like to do, while I live in total comfort.
Forte: Yeah, that one's a little trickier. After all, your twin would probably be thinking the exact same thing.
Yuna: Ah, I 'ad not considered zat. Per'aps it is just as well. It could 'ave ended in death.
Christma Sparking and Santa Closs
Vicious learns the origins of Christmas.
Passions on the Sand
Vicious competes in an exhibition match of beach volleyball to lure an alpha monster out of the sea. They fight the monster and kill it, leaving the beach safe, and then return to finish their match.
My Reason
Deep in a cave, a very injured Vicious returns painfully to consciousness. Yuna is there, as well as a knight, and a large, bizarre-looking monster, ready to attack Vicious.
Yuna: Vicious! You 'ave to move!
Knight: Too late! Deliver the killing blow!
Monster: HRRRRAAAAAHHHHHH!
Knight: Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill kill kill kill kiiiiillll!
Vicious: Ah ha ha ha.
Knight: What? What are you laughing about?
Vicious; All that hatred and malice... Feels kinda nice. Comfy, even! You think THAT would scare me? Hell, I love that stuff! Gimme more! I want all of it! Right here, pal, every last bit of that hate and anger and yearnin' to kill!
Yuna: Erm, Vicious...?
Vicious: I don't care if the whole world hates my guts! Why should I?! You see, I got me a reason. Because I know a guy who wants to change the world, and I am gonna follow that dumbass to the bitter frickin' end!
Black flames envelop Vicious, and he shifts to his demonic form.
Knight: What... What is this power?!
Monster: HRRRAAAAHHH!!!
Vicious: Round two, baby. Let's dance. TREMBLE TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT!
Vicious defeats the monster handily with his new power.
Knight: No way... That was a weapon designed specifically to defeat him, and he just... swept it away! How could we have so grossly underestimated his power?
Vicious: I know, right?
Knight: Eee.... eeep!
Vicious: You know I can't let ya get away.
Vicious kills the knight unceremoniously.
Vicious: Heh.
Yuna: ......I 'ave to ask... Is it safe to approach?
Vicious: Huh? Why wouldn't it be?
Yuna: Don't you remember what 'appened in Yednark? If you were to go crazy like zat again, I would be as good as dead!
Vicious: Oh, get off it. That ain't never gonna happen again.
Vicious drops back into human form.
Vicious: At some point I guess I did start gettin' scared. Of unleashin' my powers, and of people hatin' me for it... And it made me lose sight of myself, and lose control of my powers... Pretty pathetic, right?
Yuna: Not at all. In fact, if only just a little... je vous trouve plus cool.
Vicious: Huh? The hell's that mean?
Yuna: It means zat you seem like you're going to be okay.
Vicious: Yep. Not a problem in the world.
Yuna: Onward, then.
Vicious: Yeah! Let's get movin'. Great Transgressor, sower of nightmares, comin' through...
The Crime of Truth
We're all dead men
Vicious, Kanata and Misella are travelling through some mountain paths, but Vicious is dragging his feet in despair.
Vicious: Bah, it's hopeless. We're all dead men.
Kanata and Misella look very unimpressed.
Misella: ......
Kanata: That's a tad dramatic, don't you think? I mean, just because you've run out of liquor.
Vicious: Damn it all! I shoulda robbed that town of every last drop'a booze! Now the amount of hooch I got is zilch, and the amount of ass-dragging brats I got is two. Am I the only one who sees how demoralizin' that is?! Kanata, I need ya to fix this. Transform into booze right now.
Kanata: Now that's just absurd!
Misella: This is no time for nonsense, Vicious. Even if Kanata COULD transform into alcohol, he would be a crystal-clear spirit of flawless purity. Not the sort of brackish swill that you deserve.
Kanata: Wow, thank you... Actually, you know what? If that was supposed to be a compliment, I'm not feelng it. Sorry.
Vicious: DRINK! DRINK! GIVE ME DRINK!
Vicious whines obnoxiously.
Vicious: Hey, Kanata? Do me a solid, yeah? Go knife a merchant and bring me back whatever booze he's carryin'.
Misella: Kanata's not going to do that. Because it would be wrong.
Vicious: All right, fine. Then I'LL attack the merchant and let Kanata knife ME. Then he can demand booze as a reward for savin' the merchant's life.
Misella: I suppose that's... not completely unreasonable.
Kanata: Misella! We are NOT going to participate in a scam like that!
Vicious: Oh, right. I forgot how every little thing's gotta be sooooo damn scrupulous for Kanata the Righteous.
Kanata: Please stop describing my character as if it were some manner of insult.
Vicious: Welp, I got no booze, and Kanata's too stingy to help. Guess all that's left is to press on forward.
Misella: As if that's your plan of last resort? That's the only value you have.
Vicious: And then there's the little arsonist who shoots daggers from her eyes. You two really are a barrel'a laughs.