Sacred Stone Memories Chapter 11/Quest 17 - Storyline

Babel

Kudanstein	Don't you dare look down on the justice of our continent!!!
Sol	Aghh!!!
Basheeny	W-we did it!
Kagura	Ku...dan...
Kanon	Kagura!
Seida	She's fine. Just passed out.
Sol	Ug...ugff...!
Kudanstein	Acknowledge your own weakness. Whatever you've been trying to achieve, now you're on your knees before us. Whatever question you were hoping to get answered, this is your answer.
Sol	Shut up! Grk?!
Seida	Give up. The dark wind within you is gone. It's all over.
Sol	Over? Over?! Gngh... Wh-what...a joke... No matter how exhausted I might be...there is no way I could...lose to you.
Kanon	What is that? Some kind of light from his arm?!
Seida	I have no idea what that might be. I've never sensed anything like it.
Sol	O-of course you haven't... It's a power...that those like you...who know nothing but this world...could never know.
Yauras	His arm is...dissipating?!
Othima	Is he driving it into another dimension?!
Sol	I-impressive... I guess I should...have expected that...from the Hero of Lost Blue. Clever... Urgh... I-I can't believe...it's come to this. I was...saving this f-for...fighting Nimul. Never did it cross...m-my mind...that I'd have to use this...against you lot. I don't know what...y-you all were counting on...but there is no limit to my power!
Othima	Oh, no! Kanon!
Kanon	Ugh! Everybody, please! Lend me your strength once more!
Kudanstein	Huzzaaahh!!!
Kanon	Whoa! Wh-what are you...?
Yauras	Kudan?!
Kudanstein	I'll take care of him from here! Stay out of my way!
Kanon	What?! Now is not the time for blind gallantry!
Othima	Captain Kudan, you can't underestimate him just because he's wounded!
Sol	Heh...ugh! Fool... Are...you so eager to...d-die? I am happy to oblige!
???	S-stop.
Sol	...?
Acht	You...c-can't use that...power.
Sol	A-Acht!!!
Acht	Don't...cross that line. You'll n-never...be the...same. Y-your soul...will be lost...f-forever.
Sol	You think I fear such an outcome?!
Acht	D-don't...go.
Sol	Wha—?!
Acht	If...your soul is lost...I-I won't be able to...f-follow. P-please, Sol...
Sol	...
Acht	Please... D-don't...leave me. I don't want...to be...alone.
Sol	Acht...
???	Like I said, here is your answer.
Sol	What the—?!
Kudanstein	You could defeat me right now. You have the power to do so, yet you lack the conviction to see your ambitions through.
Sol	Y-you...! Nngh!
Kudanstein	Do you understand now what the difference between victory and defeat is? You don't, do you? There is only one difference. You still cling to your bonds to others.
Sol	M-my...bonds?
Kudanstein	Your comrades and your home, all the things you feel the need to protect... These bonds kept you from crossing the line into absolute isolation. That means you do not yet understand true despair. Those who do not understand the meaning of despair can never lead the world where it needs to go.
Sol	D-despair? Nngh... What are you on about...?
Seida	Be careful! He's still building up energy!
Othima	Captain Kudan! Don't get too close!
Kudanstein	All you've been doing is lamenting and grieving over your own misfortunes. You've never thrown yourself into absolute solitude by cutting all ties you have with those you love.
Sol	Shut up!
Kudanstein	...
Kanon	Captain Kudan!
???	I, on the other hand... I have chosen to sever all connections I had with this world.
Sol	Wha—?!
Kudanstein	I've burned bridges with my friends, my past, and even my physical being for the sake of this world!
Sol	Nngh?! N-no, stop!
Kudanstein	For the sake of this world, I will not hesitate to become a demon in the eyes of others. Without the conviction to do the same, you will never be able to kill me!
Sol	Nngh! Aaaaaahh!!!
Kudanstein	Dead the End!!!
Sol	Agh!
Kazahaya	D-did he do it?
Bud	He finally got him!
Sol	C-conviction...to...cut ties?
Kudanstein	Yes. That is the line that separates those who lead from those who follow.
Sol	Nngh! Urgh... H-how could I...be defeated...by...
Acht	S-Sol...
Sol	A-Acht...? I...I am the...s-sun...born in the sunken...city without light. Y-you have...n-nothing to worry...about.
Acht	...
Sol	I...w-will never...fall. I will always...l-light...your way.
Acht	S-Sol...
Sol	M-my light...will always be...with you.
Acht	Th-thank...you.
Sol	Mmph!
Sol Acht	...
Basheeny	S-Sol is... He's finally...!
Bud	The Templars...are...
Victor	We beat them!!! Huzzaaaahh!!!
Vettel	Finally. This should tip the scales of this battle.
Chloe	Indeed. Kanon?
Kanon	You left us...to pursue true isolation? True...despair? Is that what you said?
Kudanstein	It is. Had I not done so, I could never attain the strength required to lead the world into a new era.
Kanon	How could you?!
Seida	Huh. I don't know how convincing your words are.
Kudanstein	What?
Yauras	From where I'm standing, it just looks like you're making excuses to yourself.
Othima	The teamwork you two displayed a moment ago... I think that tells us everything we need to know. What was it you said? The justice of "our" continent? Admit it, you missed us.
Kudanstein	I suppose there is no point in lying. I did feel some sense of nostalgia. I must admit that I couldn't help but remember the days we fought shoulder to shoulder, charging forward toward the same goal... But those days are over. It does not change the fact that I do not need any of you with me to fulfill the goals I have now.
Kanon	Are you saying the bond you share with Kagura is something you can sever without a second thought?
Kudanstein	That is a ridiculous question. It was that bond that I had to separate myself from the most.
Kanon	Why?! Though she never said it out loud, you were always on Kagura's mind! Long after you left this world, she never forgot about you! She never stopped feeling remorse for failing to hold you back. Didn't you care for Kagura as well?!
Kudanstein	You don't understand.
Kanon	You're the one who doesn't understand! Don't you see how important you were to—?!
Kudanstein	It is exactly because she was so important to me that I had to get away from her!
Kanon	What...?
Bud	Wh-whoa!
Miuna	I-it's an earthquake!
Vettel	Look there!
Seida	That pillar of light... Could it be?
Kanon	The Tower of Babel?!
Kudanstein	Orion! Hey, you there. Protect Kagura.
Bud	Wait, what? Me?!
Kudanstein	You seem tough enough to live through this chaos. I expect you to keep her by your side. Got it?
Bud	You just said... I mean, I thought you chose not to care about Captain Kagura.
Kudanstein	That's true. I don't care about her anymore. I simply felt that a farewell gift was necessary.
Bud	A...what?
Kudanstein	Kagura followed me around like a little sister. I felt it necessary to be strong enough to protect her. There were times I failed to protect her, and I often considered isolating myself to achieve true power. Kagura was always there when I needed to grow stronger. There is no denying that I am who I am thanks to Kagura. Ensuring her safety is my parting gift to the past I share with her. I leave the task of keeping her safe to you. That's all there is to it.
Bud	Captain Kagura loved you like a brother, and yet you left her...just so you could gain more power? That's so selfish! What about her feelings?! Did you not think of how crushed she would be?! She's not some—!
Kazahaya	Reports are in! Greed Dike forces have breached the final line of defense! They will reach us here at any moment!
Kanon	Urk!
Basheeny	Whoa! Another one!
Vettel	The Tower of Babel is glowing brighter.
Kanon	We have to do something, but...!
Seida	What are you worried about? Go on, Kanon. Go to the Babel Ruins!
Yauras	It's your job to stop Orion, isn't it? Leave the rest to us!
Kanon	But you're all Phantoms, so if I leave this place...
Yauras	I thought we already told you. You were not the one who summoned us.
Kanon	That's...
Seida	You should focus on stopping Orion. Besides, look at all these friends you can count on.
Vettel	She's right. Some of us haven't had our share of hell-raising yet.
Victor	Aw, yeah! I'm so pumped right now!
Vettel	We can't go home without a heroic tale or two for Natalie and Ren! Let's go!
Miuna	We won't let Greed Dike run wild! Come on, Spica, let's get in on this!
Spica	Right!
Chloe	See, Kanon? Leave this fight to us. We're counting on you!
Kanon	Thank you, everyone!
Kudanstein	Sorry to burst your bubble, but there's no place for you in the coming battle against Orion.
Kanon	Huh?
Kudanstein	Jolting Strike!!!
Kanon	Wh-what? What are you doing?!
Kudanstein	I'm going alone.
Kanon	What?!
Kudanstein	After seeing you fight against Sol, I can tell you're in no way ready for this conflict. You'll only get in my way.
Kanon	You don't plan on fighting Orion alone, do you?!
Kudanstein	I do. You all can huddle together as you always do. Leave it to me to shoulder the despair of this world.
Kanon	Huh?
Kudanstein	Farewell.
Kanon	Captain Kudan?!
Seida	Shoulder the despair of this world?
Othima	Wow, I didn't think he'd go this far.
Kanon	What do you mean?
Seida	Captain Kudan plans to sacrifice himself to shield us from the calamities Orion will unleash upon this world.
Kanon	So he left us here...to protect us?!
Yauras	I guess we should have expected him to act like this. He always had an especially strong sense of justice, and cared very deeply for the well-being of his friends.
Othima	Apparently, despite severing his ties with both his friends and his past, he hasn't forsaken us. In fact, he abandoned us in order to gain the strength necessary to protect us all.
Kanon	Captain Kudan!
Yauras	Othima.
Othima	I know, I know. Kanon, we'll be going ahead now, okay?
Yauras	There's no time to waste. You know what you must do, don't you?
Kanon	I do! I cannot let Captain Kudan fight alone! Stopping Orion is my responsibility! I'm sorry to leave you all, but I'll be going to join Captain Kudan!
Chloe	All right, let's go! This will be the final battle to defend the justice of this world!
Later...

Holy Guard Knight A	Wh-what is that?!
Holy Guard Knight B	A tower of light?! Is that the legendary Tower of Babel?!
Greed Dike Soldier	That must be the legendary tower His Excellency has done all this for.
Waginau	Finally, the time has come. Now, my friend, descend before us!
Kanon	Haa... Haa... Th-this is...?!
???	Glorious, isn't it? This is the legendary tower sought by the most powerful people in this world.
Kanon	Wha—?!
Orion	Before you stands the ancient herald of the greatest of alchemists, the true form of the Tower of Babel!
Kanon	Orion!
Orion	You should be honored to be present at this historic moment, Lord Commander. The glow of divinity... The Alchemy Source awaits me at the end of this light.
Kanon	Don't you understand that what you're doing could destroy this world?!
Orion	Of course. None who are without power will be left alive.
Kanon	Why, you...!
Orion	If everything will come to an end, then so be it. I will be the founder of a new nation built on the ashes of the old.
Kanon	So survival of the fittest is the code you will enforce upon this world? You're no different from Sol!
Orion	Sol? Hmph, I should be offended to be seen in the same light as that whelp. Still, I will concede that he and I may seem the same to those who can only comprehend the superficial process of restructuring the world. From ancient times to the present, humans have evolved and their civilizations have made spectacular advances to follow suit. Yet, even after such advances, humans continue to fight amongst each other. Why do you think that is?
Kanon	Are you trying to say it's because our civilization is not grounded in the "survival of the fittest" ideal?
Orion	Exactly. The sinfully proud notion that the weak must be treated as equals of the strong is what causes all of the tragedy in this world. There will always be strife without clear, incontestable differentiation between the weak and the strong!
Kanon	How can you believe that?! A world where people are segregated can only cause more conflict! Isn't that obvious?!
Orion	You are wrong. Those with true power will lead and those without will follow. This structure, if enforced properly, will leave no room for conflict to arise. If that whelp was advocating for such a world, then he had the right idea.
Kanon	Is that truly your ideal world?
Orion	The world I dream of lies beyond anything that whelp was able to imagine.
Kanon	Beyond...? What do you mean?
Orion	I dream of a world in which we have overthrown the gods and freed ourselves of their rule.
Kanon	The gods?!
???	Nnrgh...
Orion	You still live? You are not as weak as I expected.
Kanon	Huh?
???	...
Kanon	Captain Kudan!
Kudanstein	Ugh... Wh-why are you here?! I-I told you...n-not to follow me!
Kanon	I'll do as I please! Let go of Captain Kudan!
Kudanstein	N-no... Stay back. He's...out of your league.
Kanon	I'm well aware of that! I met him in the palace and saw his power for myself!
Orion	Does this Lord Commander have difficulty learning? Can you not see it was such foolish bravado that resulted in the death of Cadanova, the Flame Dragon King?
Kanon	You're wrong! It was Captain Cadanova who taught me that a strong heart is the most powerful weapon one can have in times of distress! I believe he is watching over me now, and I know it was his teachings that got me through the fight against Sol!
Orion	Hmph. I take it your overconfidence comes from your luck in defeating that whelp. I must say, if you were having trouble with him, then you will certainly be outmatched here.
Kanon	What are you trying to say?! Sol said you might equal his strength after getting your hands on the Alchemy Source.
Orion	An equal? To him? Is that what the whelp thought? Hahahahaha!
Kanon	What's so funny? The only reason you could best Captain Kudan is due to his wounds from the battle against the Templars! If we were to fight you together—!
Kudanstein	I-it wouldn't make a d-difference...if I were at f-full strength.
Kanon	What?
Kudanstein	I-I'm telling you! Leave! Th-this man is f-far beyond your level!
Kanon	Has he already attained Nimul's powers?!
Kudanstein	N-no! We simply underestimated...the caliber of those who are fit to be called...a Vessel of Reincarnation!
Kanon	What?!
Orion	Hahaha. "The only reason"? I am in no way overconfident of my strength. If I ever felt Sol would become a threat, I would have immediately moved to subjugate him.
Kanon	Do you mean you've always had power surpassing that of Sol?!
Orion	It looks like there's still some time until the manifestation of Nimul. Since you're here, perhaps you can provide me with a little entertainment.