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Part IX: The Hero We Fought

Not much now between us and Artorius... We hope. We begin in a branch of the Danaan Highway. If you'll recall, Eizen ran off because he heard about a weird guy swinging a pendulum around who took out a bunch of exorcists. Let's see if we can't catch up. The Whirlwind

Well! You're good, whoever you are.

I'm Eizen, the reaper, and Aifread's first mate.

A buddy of Aifread's? Oh, this'll be too good!

So you ARE the one who took Captain Aifread from us!

Oh yeah, that's the spirit, pal!

Eizen, calm yourself! He's a malak AND he's against the Abbey. If we work together, we can pass the barrier.

Don't give me your peacemaking crap.

I'm settling this my way! Right here, right now!

Stay out of this!

I see. Well, two can play at that game. I'll handle this in my way. I'll beat you both until you're helpless, then open that barrier!

So this fight is actually a Tales first, believe it or not. So far as I am aware, this is the first time in the entire series where there's a three-way fight. You have Velvet's party on one hand, Eizen, and this new guy. It's a nice touch, and wonder why it took this long for the series to have one of these.

Well, we know how Eizen plays, right? He has all the typical artes, and he also has access to Draconic Drive, which he will use and can do a ton of damage. He has slightly less HP than our new friend has, so it would be best to focus him down first, but the other guy can easily interrupt you to make that not too viable an option. Still, neither of them are all that powerful, but they definitely won't make this easy on you.

Magilou was oh-so-kind as to use her Mystic Arte here, and it did quite a bit of damage. See, helping out isn't that hard.

Well, there's one down. Realistically, there's no reason the fight shouldn't end here, but we gotta smack some sense into this guy.

Yeah, it hurts when he uses it against you. Thank goodness only Rokurou got caught in it.

Kill the Shepherd.

Daaamn. That's a new one!

She's dead serious.

All right, all right. You won the fight. What do you want me to do?

Are you ready, my merry little malakhim? Now, line up before the barrier!

The rest is up to you. I just want to see the panic on the exorcists' faces.

Hold it. I still have questions for you.

That's enough for now, Eizen. If you persist, one of us will end up dead.

*gasp* Who are you? Tell me.

*takes off*

Definitely, definitely, don't think that's the last we've seen of Zeveid. Zaveid the Whirlwind, excuse me.

The barrier's gone. I won't stop you from going after him.

No, I walk with you. Besides, Melchior is still my surest link to Aifread's whereabouts.

Heh. Could've saved a lot of trouble if you'd listened to me from the start.

If I had good judgment, I wouldn't be where I am in the first place.

You really are a fool.

But before we get back to the gameplay, a skit. Let's just hope it never comes to what Laphicet and Eizen talk about here...

Hm, well, makes sense. Didn't seem like a bloodthirsty guy. Oh, as for why we're going away from the Empyrean's Throne, we got warped with that last fight to the far end of the north branch of the Danaan Highway, which means there's some things to explore. Nothing too critical, though, and certainly nothing that can't wait.

Like this area, which is an elevated area of the Highway we're more familiar with. There's only a Life Bottle in a chest here as anything notable, though. In the section of Danaan we have yet to explore, though, only an Apple Gel, Life Bottle, and Sage. So yeah, nothing that can't wait.

All malakhim guards, for the record. In the skit you get from arriving here, the reason for this location becomes clear: it's a "focal point of the earthpulse", according to Eizen. Apparently lots of energy flows underground around here, so a natural place for an important ritual, you'd think. The throne

I thought I ordered no one to enter.

Eleanor. Where are your malakhim?

They... They were eaten...by the left arm of a daemon.

Velvet.

What? You know of her?!

She was a student of mine. So she has bested Oscar, Teresa, and now, you.

Lord Artorius, I ask that you grant me fresh malakhim. I vow to destroy that daemon!

You are overcome with emotion. Will you fight a daemon with your hatred?

P-Please... I beg you to forgive my foolishness.

She broke the resolve of even an exemplary disciple like you.

My lord, if I may, there is but one thing I must ask. Why is there a giant daemon held captive at the villa?

Entry to that place is forbidden to all but legates, Eleanor.

It was restrained by a malak barrier. How could such a monstrous thing like that be held in the capital?!

Huh? It's...so they can hunt and catch prey...is it not?

You are dismissed. That knowledge is not for you.

*marches out*

Hmmm...haven't we seen that somewhere before?

So Velvet is coming. The ties that bind us must at last be severed.

Well, so much for the element of surprise. After that scene, we get a skit about our new friend Zaveid. Magilou suspects he might have a connection with the Abbey, but for now, we just have too few answers regarding him.

So the primary objective of this dungeon is to activate three of these little nodes. Don't know what they are, but I know what they do: they remove barriers the Abbey has set up. This first one is located outside the first barrier, the next two protect the upper reaches of the temple where Artorius seems to be.

The temple itself is dominated by two massive staircases that lead up to the higher reaches, but until we remove the barrier, we have no particular reason to go there.

This ladder is the one you'll want to take first. There is a closer ladder, but unfortunately it's up right now, so we have to take this one. Mostly because there's a Flame Ward at the top of it, which is always nice to pick up.

There's number one, but don't leave too fast, because...

There's a well-hidden Katz Box nearby. For some reason, you can't travel directly from that little dais the barrier key is on to the grass, so you have to go the long way around.

And this is the ladder you can interact with to create a shortcut. Not that we really have any reason to come back here, but still. Always nice.

On the opposite side, there's this chest, and a Flame Ward in a silver chest that's marked on the mini-map right now.

And there's the third key. Not too secure, this place, but I suppose getting in would be impossible to most anyone but us and the Abbey's legates. Well, works for us. Another ladder across from that key platform creates another shortcut, but I have a feeling we're just about done here...

There's no going back now.

It's a very, very small pixel of this screenshot, but once you go up the first flight of stairs, go right a bit and you'll find an ornate chest with Velvet's Shell Shredder in it, the best weapon she can have right now. Once you reach the top of the stairs... Before the battle

Velvet. What is Artorius' method of fighting?

He wields a long sword in his left hand. And he once had a malak named Seres who used fire. Had... But I killed her.

And since then, he's tethered a new malak named Innominat to use in her place?

As far as I know, yes. But I can't imagine a new malak will work with him as well as Seres did.

Must be pleasant to always assume the best.

If I'm wrong, that's where all of you come in. The four of you will strain his tether to the malak. Then I'll chew through it, at which point Artorius becomes nothing more than a simple human.

But how will you get close to him in the first place?

I'll use Laphicet's artes. He will cut me. He will burn me. And I will keep charging forward. Your job is to keep healing me so that I can stay on my feet.

A sacrificial assault, then. Well, it's not a bad plan. There's a good chance you'll catch him off guard.

If you don't immediately die.

Personally, I'd listen to Magilou. Not to mention we have no idea what he's capable of. Three years is a long time to be completely in the dark about what your opponent has been doing with his life. And there's no way a guy like Artorius would let himself slack off.

B-But Velvet, you'll--!

...All right.

*takes off*

So in the end, you're still just a tool to her. Bet that hurts.

Afterwards, the final skit for the first part of the game. Who is to say... Fated confrontation

Artorius!

*looks over* Daemons and malakhim. Unlikely companions to say the least.

Seres is here, too. In my stomach.

So you chose to be a mother bird, Seres. *stands up*

Things will be different this time! I will have my revenge... Revenge for Laphicet!

*gasp*

Very well.

So, as you might expect, Artorius is untouchable. Not *exactly*, since spirit artes like what Magilou can do will damage to him to some extent (not breaking triple digit damage. Don't get too excited), but physical attacks? Don't even bother. He has no resistances and no weaknesses, but he has more than 60k HP. Not to mention that he'll dodge about 80% of your attacks. Everything else will just do nothing.

But, he's not totally unmerciful. In fact, he'll only rarely attack and if he does, an unblocked attack doesn't do that much damage. After about a minute of this...

Velvet!

Please...

*heals*

This isn't over! *charges at Artorius*

Seems like there's just a fundamental difference in skill...

*screams* Once more, Laphicet!!

*heals*

The fourth maxim!

*gasp, releases Velvet*

*collapses*

*heals*

Hmph. "Never let your guard down, even when victorious"? I will not let you win so easily. I will use my full strength, as is just and proper. Aid me, Innominat!