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Final 2: No Matter What

The clear condition for this chapter reads “Confront the one who betrayed your trust” in long form, and “Kill the traitor” in short form.

Opening

kyra
...All right... That's another floor...
Redbeard, doing okay? You seem a little...
edward
(closes eyes) Haa... Haa... Hngh...
O-Oh, thunderin' typhoons... Why did they make this tower so big...?
What was the need? What do they even use it for...?
pericles
Atop this tower, my friend, is the mausoleum of the hierophants.
apate
The scions, more precisely.
I snuck in here a number of times. To... apologize, I suppose.
Once you know the truth, the tombs are a ghastly sight...
pericles
...This is also the final stop of the Anima pilgrimage.
Pilgrims climb to the top, receive the Mother's blessing, and return to the Font before the sun rises anew.
It is a spiritual experience. I remember mine well...
edward
Oh, can it, knight... Haa...
(opens eyes) Hey, Barlowe! What gives? We ain't seen anybody yet...!
barlowe
This tower is much too spacious to guard in its entirety.
I suspect they have amassed their forces in one of the upper floors.
They would let us tire ourselves out with the climb before ambushing us.
edward
Oh yeah, we're gonna have to fight after all this...
Ahh, c'mon... Why can't we all just be friends...?
apate
...!
Hush... I hear unsettling noises ahead.
kyra
Let's take a look. Careful now...
(Soter approaches.)
kyra
Soter...!
soter
The outer guard failed to stop you, I see.
edward
No chance you'll play nice, is there, old boy?
soter
You are the ones who foolishly refused our gracious offer.
You could have attained greatness alongside our champion, Sandraudiga.
Instead, your deaths will usher in her glorious new era.
kyra
You don't even feel the slightest bit of regret, do you?
soter
You could not be more wrong, Kyra. I am beside myself with sorrow.

If Pheme died

kyra
Were you beside yourself with sorrow when you chopped Pheme to pieces?

If Pheme survived

kyra
Were you beside yourself with sorrow when you bashed Pheme's head in?
soter
......
That is why you must all die.
I need to untether myself from these pointless feelings, if I am to join my liege's elite in the leap to our new world.
You have only ever known mediocrity. You could never--
(Kyra becomes agitated.)
kyra
Not another word! I'm sick of hearing you repeat that!
I have things far more valuable than the “greatness” you're so desperate for.
You had them too, once, and you were too stupid to appreciate them.
soter
No more stupid than you and your irrational hatred of us.
kyra
Even now, Soter... I'd try. I'd at least try to forgive you, believe me.
...But you don't want my forgiveness, do you?
You don't truly regret anything. You're set on this path.
soter
......
kyra
Be my guest. I won't let Sandraudiga, or you, get away with this.
edward
You'd best get ready, Soter. We ain't holdin' back!
soter
Tch... Never forget that it was you that brought this upon yourselves!
(Soter pulls back and calls soldiers to attack.)
soter
Brave followers of our champion! Architects of the new world!
Are we about to let our ascent to sublimity be halted here?!
Nay, I say! Cut the rebels down! Let them know the error of their ways!
May the flames of Hell make them repent their foolhardiness evermore!

When the White Dragoons are killed

First:

soter
Curses... What are you fools doing?! Stop them!
Are you not to be the new world's elite, handpicked by our champion herself?!
There has never been a more important bout! We must win!
Everything crumbles down if we fail here! Do you understand?!
Fight, dammit! Give your lives for the cause if you must!

Second:

soter
I can't believe it... Even we can't...
(Soter shakes with determination.)
soter
No! I am Champion Sandraudiga's right hand man! Her finest man!
In the new world, all will know my name! I will live forever in legend!
After everything I have sacrificed... All I have done to come this far...
I will not be dragged down by a gaggle of nameless nobodies!
(Soter becomes agitated.)
soter
I will kill all of you! Myself, if I must!
Your bodies will pave the way to the grand world we shall build!

Conversations

Soter

Combat

soter
Justice shall prevail over your wicked ways today!

Combat w/ Kyra

soter
Despite my... uncourteous words of late, Kyra,
I want you to remember, I never wanted this.
You had such potential. You could have had it all.
But you chose to let Elias die for your pride's sake.
That is when I knew you could not be reasoned with...
kyra
That's what you think drives me? Pride?
soter
What else? You cannot simply admit you are wrong.
You cannot accept that this is what is best for all!
Our champion's cause... My cause!
kyra
Enough excuses, Soter.
You don't need to lie to me. Truly, you don't!
You don't really believe in any cause at all.
Sandraudiga promised you power, and you took it.
Because you want to feel superior to everyone else.
soter
Bah! And why should I not be superior?
I have brawn... I have acumen...
I am exceptional! I deserve greatness!
kyra
Wow... Is that right, Soter?
There's just one thing that doesn't quite add up...
soter
And what would that be, pray tell?
kyra
If you're so amazing, how come you're about to die?

Combat w/ Apate

apate
Before we do battle... Tell me, knight.
Is this what you had envisioned?
soter
I had not envisioned any of this.
You were supposed to disappear that day.
I would take my life back and leave in peace, and you would suffer the justice you deserved.
Those are the events that should have transpired.
If only Kyra had not been such a selfish fool...
apate
Don't you dare insult her, you filthy traitor.
That girl is a hundred times the person you will ever be.
A hundred times the person I will ever be...
soter
This is a surprise. Who are you trying to fool here?
From the onset, you used her to obtain your revenge.
What need have you to spew honeyed lies now?
apate
This feeling of belonging...
It has taken me centuries to feel it again.
It took you all of a night to throw it away.
It baffles even me. I cannot understand you.
What more could you have possibly yearned for?
soter
Hmph... Enough!
I know not what your intentions are anymore, but I shan't be distracted! Have at you!
apate
You had friends. You had a place in this world.
Now you will die alone, and for nothing.
I would pity you, if you did not disgust me so.

Combat w/ Phobos

phobos
Soter... Even after all the horrible things they did...
Even after they destroyed Percote, you still...!
soter
...I was no more pleased to see that than you.
But it was Kyra's fault. All of this has been.
If only she had never harbored the hag...
None of this would have happened, Phobos.
phobos
......
If you had not warned the Grand Inquisitor, none of this would have happened either.
soter
I did the right thing, boy!
You can do it, too. It's not too late.
(smiles) I know your heart is in the right place.
Join me in the new world, Phobos...
phobos
That's... I'm not even going to grace that with an answer.
Just die already! I can't bear to look at you!

Combat w/ Hecate

soter
You know something, Hecate? You disappoint me.
I fell for your act. I truly thought you smarter.
But you let sentimentality rule you.
And now you will lose everything for it...
hecate
I'm disappointed in myself too, Soter.
I should've driven my thumbs into your eyes that night.
Good thing it's not too late, huh?

Combat w/ Kairos

kairos
Tsk, tsk. What a shame, Soter.
We all considered you a good friend.
But there was no room in your heart for that.
soter
Dare not to lecture me, Kairos.
It is no wonder you were assigned to that hovel.
Far away, with only a few feeble minds to poison.
You are a disgrace to the church!
What kind of priest relishes violence so?!
kairos
What kind of knight so readily breaks his oaths?
I think it's rich for you to criticize me.

But that's okay.
You won't be criticizing much of anything soon.

Combat w/ Pericles

soter
Sir Pericles... I used to look up to you.
We all did. You were a paragon of knighthood.
How low the mighty have fallen...
pericles
You saw their evil in full, and still you returned. And for what?
Nothing, Soter. Nothing truly.
soter
Hmph! So you say.
But you are the ones who will die here!

Combat w/ Edward

edward
Soter! Face me, you stinkin' dastard!
soter
Childish insults, as I would have expected from you.
Hmph! Begone with you, Edward!
This has nothing to do with you!
edward
Oh, doesn't it?
soter
A foreign upstart, fancying himself a surrogate father.
Such a selfless soul, taking those children in...
Pah! As if! People like that do not truly exist.
I may not know what your agenda is, but...
I know you have one. You cannot deceive me!
edward
An agenda, eh? I guess I get it.
If you admit that people can just be kind, the lil' narrative you've made up in your head breaks.
And then your conscience might start acting up...
soter
......
edward
But y'know what? Want an agenda? I got one.
Those kids mean the world to me, Soter.
And the things you've done to them...
soter
...Nothing they did not bring upon themselves.
edward
Yes... That's it. Keep makin' me angry.

If Pheme died

It's high time someone sent you...
to apologize to that poor girl you butchered!

If Pheme survived

It's high time you got some punishment...
for all the evil you've done!

Combat w/ Telemus

soter
Another turncoat knight?
telemus
I could not be party to Tartaros's brutality.
soter
There was a time I felt the same way.
But then I realized how much I'd lost...
telemus
Truly? I cannot say I agree.
I believe ours to be the righteous cause.
soter
How unfortunate...
True justice lies with our champion, Sandraudiga.
telemus
The same woman who ordered her people burned alive?
You witnessed that as well, did you not?
To so casually ignore her crimes...
You are either blind, or as craven as she.
soter
Pah... I am alive, and soon, you will be dead!

Combat w/ Lorenzo

soter
Sir Lorenzo... You betrayed us!
Filthy traitor! How dare you?!
lorenzo
You are as much a traitor as I am, Sir Soter.
We are the same manner of wretch, you and I.
soter
The difference is that I made the correct choice.
You have forfeited your life!
lorenzo
...That remains to be seen.

Combat w/ Begoña

soter
Hmph... Look at you. Filthy criminal.
Living proof of Kyra's immeasurable folly.
To let a fiend like you live, after everything...
I lost so much respect for her when she took you in.
Begoña
Not gonna deny it. I'm scum.
But at least I'm loyal scum.
I'm scum that's tryin' to do better.
Puts me a little ahead o' the likes of you, traitorous, unrepentant scum!
soter
You dare to insult me? You?
(smiles) Hah! You're about to be no more than dead scum!

Combat w/ Coronis

soter
Coronis?!
coronis
...It's really you...
The traitor to the rebellion... It's you...
soter
Only a traitor to myself, Coronis. But no longer.
This world will be purged of sin and heresy.
And then everything shall be bright...
Would you return to my side, Coronis?
Even now, I would forgive you...
coronis
Forgive me? Surely you jest, Soter...
soter
I gave everything up for you, Coronis. I loved you!
And then you abandoned me! You left me with nothing!
coronis
Do you recall the last thing you said to me?
I do. It was “I should have arrested you that day.”
Curious way to profess love, is it not?
soter
I-I was angry! I lost my temper...
One small mistake, and you forsake me?!
I sacrificed everything just to be with you!
coronis
And I would've been content to live on with you.
I may have lost everything that I ever had, but I would've accepted it, as long as I still had you.

But you'd rather have kept all you had than me, right?
I was too paltry a prize to make up for what you lost.
For you, leaving the knights was no sacrifice.
It was a mistake.

soter
......
coronis
There is nobody you care about but yourself.
I'll admit, you are good at keeping it hidden.
You fooled me. You fooled these people, too.
But now the truth is out. Where will you run next?
soter
Me? Nowhere. I am where I must be.
You fools are the ones who will try to run!
coronis
I'm not going anywhere this time, Soter.
You and the knights have hurt far too many people.
Come.
It's time for it to end.

Combat w/ Pheme

soter
I cannot believe it... You truly draw breath still...
How? Nobody could have survived such a blow...
pheme
I'm not here to talk with you, Soter.
You didn't extend me that courtesy before.
Why should I?
soter
Hmph... That's just as well.
I will finish what I started, and--
pheme
Shut up and fight.

Death

soter
No... N-No! Wait! Don't kill me!
I don't want to die yet... I can't die... yet...
H...Help me... My... fr--

Ending

If Phobos, Hecate, and Kairos are alive

phobos
Is... Is that it? Is he...?
hecate
Yes...
kairos
May the Mother's mercy be upon his misguided soul.
hecate
That is more than he deserves.
phobos
......
He brought all of this on us.

If Pheme died

He killed Pheme...
I hope he rots.
kairos
I know I should disagree, but... I'm finding it difficult to do that.
kyra
Everyone... Please, stop.
It's over. He's dead. There's nothing more to be said.
...He's not worth it.
hecate
...You're absolutely right, Kyra.
We still have to deal with the puppeteer pulling his strings.
The woman these lunatics are calling champion now...
kairos
(smirks) Heh. I'm rather surprised she didn't have them call her “Mother.”
Shocking amount of restraint she showed there.
phobos
C'mon, why are we still wasting time here?
We can't leave her unchecked any longer! Let's go!
kyra
Couldn't have said it better myself. Let's go, everyone!

If any of the above are dead

edward
Well... That's the end of him.

If Pheme died

That poor girl he killed can finally rest easy...
Kyra, are you feeling all right?
kyra
Sigh... What's the point? It's over. He's dead.
There's nothing more to be said.
...He's not worth it.
edward
You got that right.
It's just the big girl herself left now...
kyra
She has been allowed to run amok long enough. Let's go.
...Courage, Redbeard. I think it's only five more floors now.
edward
(grins) Hah! I'll survive.

If Pheme is alive

pheme
......
kyra
...C'mon, Pheme. You heard me, right?
Don't waste time on him. He doesn't deserve it.
pheme
......
(Pheme hugs Kyra and closes her eyes.)
kyra
W-Whoa! What are you...?
pheme
......

(Pheme begins crying.)

Sniff...

kyra
......
All right. Let it all out...
(closes eyes) It's almost over now. It's almost over...
pheme
(smiles) ......

Character Descriptions

Soter
The traitor who betrayed Kyra and her friends to restore the glory he once enjoyed as a holy knight.

Legendary Weapon: Greed
Hallowed weapon that expunges sin.

Elite
All hail Sandraudiga!
All hail her new world!