Inner World of Paper Moon

The is a Singularity that manifests within Chaldea Security Organization's Paper Moon, acting as of the Ordeal Call operation.
==Setting==
Papermoon city.png|Map of the Inner World of Paper Moon
Papermoon sectors map.png|Map of Paper Moon's sectors
==History==
===Prologue===
Leonardo da Vinci has everyone gather in the Storm Border’s control room. She reiterates the words of the Chaldean, telling them they need to overcome the abuses of the Human Order they had accumulated―Ordeal Call―to gain entry to Antarctica. Thus far, they have been unable to devise a course of action. But that ends today, for Da Vinci has gathered everyone to show a way to rectify their “distortions” has been made.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Prologue
Goredolf Musik is glad to hear it and assumes by “distortion” Da Vinci means Singularity. But both Ritsuka and Da Vinci point out that Paper Moon has detected nothing out of the ordinary. Captain Nemo says they’ve searched the bleached Earth for weeks with no results.
Da Vinci explains their enemy this time isn’t “external” but “internal”—inside Chaldea. In order to prove they are not abnormalities of the Human Order, they must first understand the state they’re in right now. For that purpose, Professor introduces the device Da Vinci and Sion Eltnam Sokaris made—the Human Order Foundation Display.
The Human Order Foundation Display differs from Human Order Foundation Value measurement in that it doesn’t analyze the Human Order Foundation of an entire human history but that of the Storm Border. The displayed value is everyone in Chaldea’s current “distortion”, and it is presently at the worst rank possible—E. According to TRISMEGISTUS II, if they can bring back to A, then they can pass through the “Wall of Human Order” barring them from Antarctica.
For the moment, however, all they can do is wait. Sion discussed with Da Vinci earlier, but she thinks what the Chaldean meant by “call” was that they will call something rather than the other way around. The Human Order Foundation Display is not just a measuring device, but a signal calling the countless past ordeals of Order restoration back to Chaldea.
The Ordeal Call has been sounded. Da Vinci recounts when asked TRISMEGISTUS II what is Chaldea’s offense to the Human Order and how to atone for it, it replied their wrongdoing was a lack of awareness of the EXTRA classes and that they needed to understand why each of them exist rather than utilizing them without thought. They must answer the questions of assertion, comprehension, separation, possibly consignment, and an oath. Each time they do, a distortion will be rectified.
Since all they do is wait for the ordeal to come to them, Nemo states they will continue investigating the bleached Earth while strengthening themselves for the final battle. To that end, he reveals Servant classes can now be enhanced. 
While Chaldea’s Human Order Foundation Value has decreased significantly, with the Lostbelts gone, the base foundations of human history have improved greatly and with it the spells for Heroic Spirit summoning. Da Vinci and Sion call it a Class Score, which strengthens all Servants in a particular class. TRISMEGISTUS II predicts improving Class Score will be Chaldea’s ace in the hole in the final fight against the Alien God.
Some time later, Chaldea staff announces an abnormality with Paper Moon. Sion tries to check what is wrong when a Singularity reaction light appears around Egypt on the world map. Yet there is no Singularity detected, no matter how many times the staff check for the input data against the Paper Moon.
Sion can think of possibilities: something is wrong with the display or the Paper Moon is sending a signal to something. A dazzling light from the Paper Moon then suddenly engulfs the room.
Ritsuka wakes up to find themselves in an unfamiliar city. Kama is with them, but she has no idea what happened or where they are either. Ritsuka starts to feel dizzy. Kama agrees to follow whatever plan they have when a familiar voice criticizes her for failing to notice her Master’s condition. Ritsuka turns to see it is Sion, who is inexplicably now a child.
=== World Within the Compass/meet AI. ===
Sion touches Ritsuka to perform a physical inspection on them. She sees they are stable, but asks if they had any subjective symptoms. Ritsuka replies they had a passing spell of dizziness.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 1: World Within the Compass/meet AI.
They and Kama question if Sion really is Sion though since she is completely different from her usual self. Sion reassures she is indeed Sion despite visual differences. Ritsuka notices her personality is different as well.
But Kama finds Sion very suspicious because, as far as she knows, the latter cannot shapeshift like she can. Sion counters even the most average Atlas mage has hundreds of ways to alter their appearance. She reassures she is herself and while she does not recall altering her appearance, she still considers Kama’s statements superficial.
She calls Kama suspicious, questioning why out of the many Heroic Spirits contracted with Ritsuka she is the only one with them. Kama wants to know that as well. Sion, however, questions if she is not just pretending to be an ignorant victim for her own schemes, recalling a report that said she poses a risk to Ritsuka.
Kama admits she cannot clearly remember what made her join Chaldea. She vaguely remembers talking to someone, but she has no recollection, so she thinks it was her imagination. Sion is still suspicious of her and vice versa.
Ritsuka suggests they start searching the area. Sion requests a moment to “share the basic premise” with them and proceeds to poke the ground. As she predicted, it is made of an unknown material. She tries to reveal her suspicions of where they are when she is interrupted by some noise not too far off. The heroes head over there to investigate.
They find a nurse being chased by a tentacled creature that reminds Kama of a Sea Demon, though not quite. She kills it at Ritsuka’s command. Afterward, though, she feels something is different with the flow of magical energy or her body, but she ignores it.
Sion asks the nurse if she requires treatment for her injuries. The nurse replies that is unnecessary as she is capable of self-recovery given enough time and resources. She reveals she is an AI designed for care and treatment (Sion predicted as much), designated R.A.N.I series Type R for Repair.
Her type’s duty is to restore damaged AIs, including other R.A.N.I types, back to full functionality. The purpose of R.A.N.I series in general, though, is to ensure this world operates smoothly.
Sion admits she suspected as much from the start but didn’t want to say anything without definitive proof. Rani R confirms it is a virtual world. Information about it is limited, but its name given by the “outside” is installed as basic information—Paper Moon.
Ritsuka is surprised they cannot tell it apart from reality. Sion replies they shouldn’t since their consciousnesses has registered they are here means they are part of it. Their brains, nerves, and sensory organs form this world, so if anything didn’t match reality, their minds wouldn’t be able to process that specific portion. There are discrepancies, however, such as Sion appearing as a child. Furthermore, if they die here, they die in real life.
Kama is again suspicious of Sion and asks if the Paper Moon is not an item Atlas provided Chaldea. Sion confirms it and explains the Paper Moon’s nucleus was something originally passed through the generations within Atlas’ Eltnam family. Her father and family head, Zepia, passed control of it over to her as a present for eighth birthday. She performed thorough maintenance and expansion on it until she was nine. It was later given to Chaldea per their Atlas Contract. Naturally, Sion had been making adjustments to it since joining Chaldea.
However, Paper Moon is a device and should only have basic software inside. Sion has no recollection of ever creating a virtual world inside it. But she supposes conceptual worlds exist everywhere without their notice. As for the AI, she posits the possibility a self-evolving program was transformed into an AI from a micro-magecraft standpoint.
Ritsuka asks if the Paper Moon only works because of this virtual world. Sion answers that is conceptually correct, but it is more clear to say it was forced into the mold. She cannot give a more exact answer until she examines this world’s laws.
Rani R interrupts the conversation. Sion apologizes for temporarily forgetting about her. She then notices Rani R’s wound isn’t minor enough to withhold healing and offers to provide resources if needed. Rani R performs self-diagnosis and sees she is currently functioning at 37% below standard values. She needs back to standard values to ensure she can fulfill her directive, but right now, she has a higher priority.
Not far from the heroes’ current location, more Rani R units are under attack from the tentacled creatures like the one from earlier. In order to reduce the damage ration to Type R collective as much as possible, Rani R requests the heroes’ assistance.
The heroes rush over to the location and eliminate the tentacled creatures. Afterwards, though, Ritsuka gets dizzy again. Kama tries to check on them when fighting is heard nearby.
Rani R detects more of her model there, several of whom are injured. The prime Repair AI, the equivalent of the Type R’s leader, is also there. The distinction is because currently her role expanded beyond leadership and she should be called by her additional role—Master.
The heroes see two Servants fighting, a man wielding a red rod and “Gilles de Rais”, along with several injured Type Rs. The rod wielding warrior assumes the heroes are enemy reinforcements and wants to escape. His Master admonishes him for wanting to flee when the injured Type Rs are still present.
At “Gilles" command, one of the tentacled creatures eats one of the Type Rs. Through it, he absorbs the virtual world’s equivalent to magical energy and it confirms he controls the creatures. Ritsuka orders to keep the girls and exterminate the creatures.
While fighting “Gilles”, Ritsuka notices he is different from the Gilles they know. Kama agrees, noting his sloppy swordsmanship and the way he controls his familiars. She wonders if he is just a Caster with a sword. “Gilles” commends her for correctly guessing his class and considers making her his bride once she’s older, to her disgust.
Seeing the heroes’ strength for himself, the rod wielding warrior pretends like they’re his reinforcements. Caster’s Master orders a retreat as they currently lack the resources to fight two Servants at once. Caster leaves, supposing he’ll have to invite the heroes to his secret room another time. His familiars all vanish as well.
The rod wielding warrior is glad he made the right call, saying at rare times you can find people like Karna to be your allies. His Master demands he, Berserker, explain himself.
Ritsuka suddenly gets dizzy more than before. Sion realizes their already established worsened due to the stress of all out combat. Ritsuka faints.
===String and Favour/Rani(ment)===
Ritsuka wakes up in an infirmary. Sion and Kama are both relieved to see them awake, though the latter voices their relief under her breath. Berserker’s Master informs they are in Repair’s central building and thanks them for saving everyone back then. She introduces as herself the Prime Repair AI leading the Repair area, though recently she was attributed to the role of Master.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 2: String and Favour/Rani(ment)
Berserker interrupts her to suggest they take this opportunity to surprise attack the heroes. His Master refuses, however, saying you have to return the favor when people help you. Ingratitude isn’t programmed into her code.
Apologizing for the interruption, Berserker’s Master introduces Berserker. He immediately shows himself to be extremely arrogant. He even checks out Sion and Kama, but they’re too young and neither strike a chord with him.
He determines from Ritsuka’s Command Spell they’re a Master and asks where they’re from. He is confused though when they ask if he knows where Chaldea is. Then he determines from Kama’s fighting style that she is either Archer or Assassin. Kama confirms she is an Assassin and asks why. Berserker replies it was reasonable to ask, but he feels the numbers are off.
Berserker’s Master tries to ask the heroes if they are participating in the System Grail War when Ritsuka gets dizzy again. Sion recommends they share information after Ritsuka is treated. Berserker’s Master apologizes but she couldn’t determine anything wrong with Ritsuka. She admits she could be overlooking something though since she was designed to heal AI and Ritsuka isn’t.
Sion admits she did a checkup on Ritsuka while they were asleep and believes their magic circuits aren’t synchronized with their spiritron-converted nervous system causing junk data to be produced. Their condition is likely to worsen the longer it goes untreated. The only option is to replace their nerves with Etherlight—spiritron wires passed down through the Eltnam family originally made for medical purposes—then tie them closer to their circuits.
The procedure is a success, but Kama notices something feels uncomfortable with her magical energy path with Ritsuka. Sion admits it was an unavoidable side effect.
She explains Etherlight can be injected directly into the brain, but for magic circuits and spiritron conversion, it requires a special route with one additional step. She therefore used the Command Spell system tied to Ritsuka’s circuits as an intermediary to force the Etherlight route open. In other words, portions of Ritsuka’s Command Spells and Magic Circuits have been replaced with her Etherlight, which means any magecraft they use will go through her. They are now a two-in-one Master.
Berserker’s Master is happy to see Ritsuka healthy. She then remembers Berserker gave her an individual name after she became a Master—Ayus meaning “life” in his language. Berserker admits he thought it was perfect considering her nature.
He proceeds to brag about how naming others was a frequent occurrence for one of his exalted status. He hints he is a prince but refuses to give his True since they are in a Grail War. But to his dismay, Ritsuka and Sion use the fact he knows Karna and that he used “ayus” a Sanskrit word to determine he is Duryodhana—the eldest of the hundred Kaurava of Kuru.
At Sion’s request, Ayus explains the Paper Moon currently operates under the System Grail War. It works similar to a typical Grail War, except its purpose is to keep the Paper Moon operational. Since the heroes are unaware of this fact, Ayus recommends they visit the overseer of this Grail War: the general supervisor AI. She will take them to her to repay them for their help, adding the supervisor is in a neutral area where fighting is forbidden.
Sion wants to know more about the virtual world’s geography. Ayus agrees to explain the partitions along the way and goes to get ready. While waiting, Sion installs a data processing assistant in Ritsuka, which categorizes information they gain and allows them to access it with a thought.
Ayus finishes getting ready, so the heroes prepare to leave. But before they go, the first Rani R the Chaldeans met provides Kama with some Raniment as a token of gratitude. Raniment is this world’s equivalent of magical energy, named so by the general supervisor.
Outside, Ayus explains the general supervisor is located at the world’s center, which she never leaves presumably because there is no need for her to. Sion asks Ayus what she meant when she called the general supervisor AI a neutral party. Ayus answers she will need to explain the shape of the world first.
Using a diagram, Ayus explains the Paper Moon’s inner world is a circle within a circle. The outer circle is divided into five partitions, with the center inner circle making for six total. Each of the six types of AI operating in the Paper Moon gather in these partitions. They are Repair (where the heroes currently are), Transfer, Keep, Grow, Build, and Repair. Each partition has their own areas where the AI of their specific role gather. Defend is in the inner circle and is considered neutral, as there are no Masters and Servants. The center of the area where the general supervisor AI is located is even more neutral since combat is wholly forbidden there.
Now knowing the Paper Moon was run by AI along, Kama questions how the AI can run without their operator’s knowledge. Sion sees Kama still suspects and explains the virtual world is merely a personification of the Paper Moon’s inner workings while they’re inside, not an actual representation. Kama doesn’t seem to believe this world built itself.
Duryodhana asks if they’re really going into Defend and brags about how great he is when all the sudden he attacks Kama. She beats him though, much to his surprise. Sion noticed he had been looking for an opening for a while.
Seeing that his surprise attacked failed, Duryodhana passes it off as him training the Chaldeans for an ambush. In truth, he hoped to take one of them out to give himself the advantage and believes he will succeed next time. He gives a faux apology to the Chaldeans. Ayus scolds him as she thought it was an actual fight and offers to treat any injuries.
Kama thinks to herself she’d make pay Duryodhana by corrupting him to his core, then kill him during intercourse if she were by herself. But she cannot do that with Ritsuka’s easygoing nature and wishes they’d at least give her an order. Ritsuka doesn’t get why she is glaring at them.
Duryodhana deduces Kama’s True Name from her floral arrows, but is surprised she (normally male) is a girl. He imagines he could win over a lot of women if he had her arrows. Kama bans her services for him and threatens to kill him next time for the surprise attack. Duryodhana pretends to be respectful but thinks to himself Kama could still be useful to him if he plays it right.
Paper Moon Defend.png|Defend
Paper Moon Church Exterior.png|Outside the general supervisor AI's residence
Paper Moon Church Interior.png|Inside the general supervisor AI's residence
The heroes soon arrive at Defend and see many Rani Ds patrolling the area. They are Paper Moon’s equivalent of police and are deployed whenever a bug appears.
Moving on, the heroes arrive at where the general supervisor AI resides—a church. Ayus doesn’t know why it was designed that way, as there is no special significance behind it. She guesses it is because a church projected the greatest sense of stability and comfort. The heroes then enter.
Inside, the general supervisor AI confirms what Ayus said about the church was correct. Its shape was chosen by analyzing data and selecting that which minimized discordance. 
Ritsuka sees she is a Rani as well. The general supervisor AI explains the Ranis are all based on her. She had chosen the name based on her research and, though originally unnecessary, the current situation calls for individual designations. But it wouldn’t be entirely accurate to say she is a Rani, since functionally she is the only one of her type. She introduces herself as Rani XII.
===Holy Grail War/your starlit===
Rani XII greets everyone. Duryodhana checks her out, for which Ayus scolds him.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 3: Holy Grail War/your starlit
She explains the Chaldeans helped her, but seeing they didn’t know their positions in the Grail War, she brought them here to ask questions. Rani XII opines Ayus made the correct decision when she suddenly feels Sion’s Etherlight briefly connect to her. Alerted, she demands the meaning of this insolence.
Sion confesses before coming here she had decided the first thing she’d do would what Rani XII is. She gives her, revealing she is the former Paper Moon operator, and requests Rani XII to search for the administrative jurisdiction files associated with her name.
Rani XII gets zero results. As for Sion’s claim she is the Paper Moon’s operator, she can neither confirm nor respond to it. All she can say is “okay”. 
Kama equates Sion to being the god of the Paper Moon since she created it and is surprised Rani XII essentially said she didn’t have to obey her. Sion states the Paper Moon she managed was only ever a device, while the virtual world and its AI occurred naturally. It therefore makes she’d have direct jurisdiction in it, nor she does view herself as its god.
Moving on, Sion reveals what she learned from that one moment of contact Rani XII had with her Etherlight: It felt like inspecting another human being rather code that can be freely edited. Rani XII surmises since the Chaldeans have definite bodies here, they share the same composition as her. But the fact remains that Rani XII is an AI, something which Sion confirmed with Ayus earlier without her notice.
Rani XII admits she had used her authority as the general supervisor AI to confirm the Chaldeans were not AI. Neither are they products of the Paper Moon, which can only make them visitors from the outside. Rani XII presumes they are non-AI from the outside with the same structural intensity as AI. She cannot say for certain if they were brought here for no reason. But it’s a fact they’re Master and Servant, which suggests they were accidentally integrated into the System Grail War.
Normally Masters are selected from the Prime AI who’d normally deploy the same tactics since they are all part of the R.A.N.I series. But since that would be inappropriate for the System Grail War, the Prime AI are converted into Masters via a randomizer generating random personality traits in their minds. The RNG builds upon the Prime AI’s base, modifying their character and appearance, resulting in a Master AI.
Related, Rani XII believes Ritsuka and Sion were dragged into the system for reasons unknown because they’re beings with a compositional intensity similar to that of a Master AI. Sion asks Rani XII if it’s possible for her to disconnect them from the system and return them outside.
Rani XII replies she unfortunately cannot, as the Grail War is a system executed by the world itself. Because she is the general supervisor AI, she was granted the role of overseer, but that doesn’t give her the ability to intervene with the system. Even if she could execute a program for addition and revision of rules, she wouldn’t be able to alter their essence.
But the fact the Chaldeans arrived just as the Grail War began in a format directly associated with it means for an unknown reason, the program’s execution had an effect outside the device and pulled them inside. It is therefore highly probable the trigger to their return outside is either the System Grail War’s conclusion or cancellation.
At Ritsuka’s request, Rani XII explains the System Grail War is that which repairs and stabilizes the Paper Moon world whenever an irregularity occurs. It is basically a large-scale defrag system performed to optimize the world. Sion confirms the Paper Moon had suffered a failure for unknown reasons before they were pulled inside.
Rani XII confirms the System Grail War is meant to fix the failure. The cause is unknown, however, as all AI were functioning normally. It is due to not knowing the cause that the world chose its most all-encompassing form of stabilization. But that means it will be difficult for the Paper Moon to return to normal before the Grail War is concluded. If ignored, it is possible the stress level will reach a state where the device can never operate normally. Rani XII cannot simulate what would occur in such a situation, but the probability of the Paper Moon being physically broken isn’t zero.
Moving on, Rani XII explains the System Grail War consists of five Masters, each of whom are the primes of the five AI types composing their world’s partitions: Keep, Transfer, Build, Grow, and Repair. To induce variety, each leader is arranged with a random personality and is granted one Command Spell allowing them an absolute command. As for why there are five Masters instead of the standard seven is because the five partitions are the only usable areas.
The Defend AIs are needed to deal with naturally occurring bugs so they don’t intervene with the Grail War. Additionally, the central Defend area is a neutral zone and all combat within church grounds is forbidden. In other areas, non-pacific interference with the regular AIs, including D-types, is also forbidden.
Basic procedure for the war is for the Five Masters and their Servants to fight until only one team is left. Once a winner has been determined, the system uses the energy fostered by the combat to return the Paper Moon to its regular state. For that reason, the system shouldn’t consider a sixth participating team to be irregularity.
As an AI, a Master is charged with restoring the Paper Moon world to normalcy, even when provided a personality via randomization. However, the AI that wins the Grail War is certain to become the next general supervisor AI. They are granted the authority to customize the next world and in turn grant their wish and that of their Servant. But if the winner is a non-AI, no transfer of authority will occur.
Kama concludes the only way for her and her companions to get out alive is to win, which Rani XII confirms. Duryodhana mocks Kama when she says their teams will have to kill each other before long, as if she only just realized that.
The two look ready to fight. Rani XII reminds them combat is forbidden on church grounds. If they violate that rule, every D-type AI will be mobilized to apprehend or eliminate both teams, which means disqualification from the Grail War. Kama seems poised to violate the rule, but Rani XII is very strict that the rules be followed without exception. Ayus assures she does not plan to fight here, not that she wants to fight anyway.
Seeing that the Chaldeans have no area of their own, Ayus proposes they team up until it’s down to their teams, after which they can fight each other with nothing held back. While they are allies, the Chaldeans can move as they like in Repair as thanks for their help. Ayus finds it is unfair for them not to have their own area. Rani XII agrees replenishing Raniment for the Chaldeans without an area of their own.
She explains Raniment is what an AI has at their disposal. The more it collected via trade, negotiation, etc, the more resources given to a Servant, giving them advantages in battle. The lesser AI strive to have their respective partition’s leader win, but even they have free will. Following their occupation is also an innate desire of theirs and by helping them, it is possible to get Raniment from AIs regardless of jurisdiction. There are ways of getting Raniment from those unwilling to share, however.
Sion now understands Caster attacked the Rani Rs to seize their Raniment by force. Ayus finds it a simple approach, yet not since AIs wouldn’t let their Raniment be taken without a fight. She considers it better to just get along with the AIs.
She admits Duryodhana is low on Raniment at the moment. She hasn’t fully restocked what was expended during the fight with Caster and the “mock” battle. If they cannot resupply properly on their way back, the next battle will be harsh, so they’re in a rehabilitation phase.
Duryodhana complains to Ayus about being in rehab until his stomach growls. Ayus reminds him he’ll be in trouble if he’s attacked by another Servant during his rehab, so she thinks it’s best for him to cooperate with Kama for now. Sarcastically praising his intellect, she figures he must have foreseen them joining forces.
Though he agrees with his Master, Duryodhana wonders to himself why she has gotten so impulsive. He figures it must because it is so close to her own wish and now sees the benefits of allying with the Chaldeans. Most of all, he thinks Ritsuka will not notice his scheming because of their good nature. Believing himself to have all the advantages, he tells Ayus he agrees with the alliance.
With their alliance form, Ayus suggests they first return to Repair and collect Raniment. Sion asks what it means to collect Raniment from AI, wondering if it’s like forced requisition using prime AI privileges. Ayus doesn’t want to resort to that.
Rani XII explains the AIs are programmed to return favors and pay compensation. They are still active during the Grail War, with all sorts of problems still occurring. When helped, the AI gives thanks and Raniment is naturally collected in return.
The heroes leave the church, with Rani XII wishing them good fortune in battle. After they’re gone, though, she runs inquiry programs, but it fails. She thinks it was inappropriate for her to wish them good luck when she is meant to be neutral. To rectify this, she will pray for the others as well.
On their way back to Repair, at Sion’s request, Ayus explains the defining traits of each partition. Repair is tasked with fixing damaged AIs. Transport’s role is to deliver data and objects. Build constructs new things. Keep’s role is to contain every AI’s natural degradation cycle. Grow cultivates the base substances used as prime material for everything physical in the world.
Kama asks Ayus if she knows which Servant is where. Ayus answers she really doesn’t. She assumes Caster is from Build guessing from the direction he came from. But she recalls the first Servant she and Duryodhana saw was doing recon on Keep’s side and presumes it was Lancer. 
Duryodhana fakes a cough before Ayus can say anything about Lancer. Ayus tries again, but Duryodhana interrupts again, this time pointing at the group of Rani Ds rushing toward somewhere. The heroes follow after them.
They find malignant data, which, if left unchecked, will destroy everything, AI and constructs alike. It is one of Paper Moon’s regular problems.
Ritsuka wonders if they should help destroy the malignant data. Ayus seems hesitant, as everyone is used to these procedures. It does take time, however, until the Rani Ds gather the necessary amount of members to deal with it. Duryodhana suggests they help out them then. Kama is suspicious of Duryodhana’s motives, but the latter insists helping people is what warriors and royalty do. With Duryodhana leading, the heroes proceed to help eliminate the malignant data.
As thanks for helping them, the Rani Ds reward Duryodhana with Raniment, which happens to be the exact amount he needed. They try to give him more, but he tells them to give it to Kama. Ayus wasn’t expecting Duryodhana too so generous.
Duryodhana whispers to Ayus he is doing everything to have the Chaldeans be their decoy at all times. He cannot afford to lose, especially against one particular opponent. Ayus pinches him for saying something so cowardly. She then goes off to heal the Rani Ds.
Sion asks Ritsuka if their body is behaving differently, admitting she cannot monitor everything through the Etherlight. Ritsuka tells her they’re fine for now.
Kama notices a big person coming their way and advises caution. But Ayus reassures there is no need as she recognizes the big girl as the prime Defend AI. She is the only prime AI not participating in the Grail War because she is busy with her job.
The prime Defend AI apologizes for the delay and thanks Ayus on behalf of her subordinates for helping eliminate the malignant data. Ayus says she couldn’t have done without everyone’s help. She introduces the Chaldeans to her as participants in the Grail War, so requests they be treated as such.
Seeing Ritsuka doesn’t know what to call her, Ayus suggests the prime Defend AI choose a name for herself. The prime Defend AI finds this difficult and requests Ayus’ help. Ayus tries to think of a name based on the former’s role when the prime Defend AI settles on DX.
Duryodhana checks out DX but disappointed he requests to see her without her armor. Ayus drags him away and apologizes for his behavior.
The heroes get ready to leave when DX warns them malignant data has been on the rise lately, possibly as a result of the Grail War. Unidentified offensive data has also been detect so DX advises caution if it is ever encountered. The only thing known about it is that they were reported as humanoid shadows. The Defend AIs are on their way to inform every Master of this. DX leaves, returning to duty.
Though DX wasn’t exactly informative, the heroes understand they will have to be prepared for anything from now on. They continue on their way back to Repair.
=== Central Nerves of Desires/reasons ===
The heroes get back by “night time”, surprising Ritsuka there is even a night time. Ayus says it is just for convenience, saying the sky is just a projection on the ceiling. Sion suspects there is no change in internal activity even from the outside, and the Paper Moon’s day and night cycle was adapted as a conceptual break between individual cycles. Ayus agrees when she notices Duryodhana and Kama arguing.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 4: Central Nerves of Desires/reasons
She compares their bickering to how a brother and sister would argue. She isn’t sure if it’s her natural personality as a prime AI or a feeling born from her randomized personality after becoming a Master, but she enjoys the concept of a family. Her wish should she win the Grail War is to have a family. So if she becomes the general supervisor AI, she would compile a way of life for the AIs to become more like family. She is hesitant to tell the Chaldeans they should concede.
Duryodhana tells her to keep pursuing for what she desires like he has always done. He admits, like Kama pointed out, that it caused him no end of trouble, even started a war because he wanted something. But he has no regrets, only knowing it was the right thing to do. He will always be this way and this time is no different, so he warns the Chaldeans they best be prepared because he has no intention of losing.
Ritsuka asks him what his wish for “this time” is. Duryodhana loudly answers everything. Ayus points he has been eyeballing every female when he first he meets them. Duryodhana doesn’t deny it and claims his heart is whispering at him to find a woman, probably a prospective wife. Nevertheless, he wants everything, and that is why he works to ensure his Master wins.
Ayus calls him selfish, but Duryodhana counters by calling her wish paltry, not understanding why she wants a family. Ayus knows she has no familial experiences and envies the others do. She imagines if they were all a family, Ritsuka would be the parent and she, Kama, and Sion would be their daughters. Kama and Sion both dislike being thought of as children because of their current appearance and the idea of being sisters.
All the sudden, Ayus notices something happening at the central building and intra-communications are down as well.
She explains at Sion's request that AIs of the same type can communicate remotely with one another. Communication between different types requires an exchange of individual IDs, however. There are also others to communicate in case of emergency.
Right now, it seems the standard network between the medical types has gone down, so Ayus can’t contact any of the Rani Rs at the central building. Fearing the worst, she and the others rush over there.
They find Caster and his Master slaughtering the Rani Rs for their Raniment. Caster’s Master admits he had jammed the Repair communications network. Ayus demands him to stay away from her girls. Caster’s Master questions why he would when stealing from others is the most efficient way to harvest Raniment.
Kama doesn’t know why, but Caster’s Master makes her furious. Duryodhana has no issue with stealing, but he says only those like him are allowed to do it. Sion sees conflict is unavoidable but warns to be careful because, according to her calculations, the fact Caster’s Master showed his face means—.
The heroes keep killing Caster’s familiars but more just keep spawning. Caster, meanwhile, continues killing the Rani Ds, raving about punishment and his secret room.
Caster’s Master is pleased everything went according to plan. He surmises the heroes never stopped to recharge before going to speak with Rani XII. It is obvious then his fully recharged Caster would have more Raniment than Kama and Duryodhana combined.
Though she hates to admit it, Kama knows Caster’s Master is right. Ayus contemplates using her Command Spell to give Duryodhana a temporary boost in Raniment. She is resistant though because if even she does win, she will be without a Command Spell for the remainder of the war.
Caster’s Master boasts of his superiority and seems poised to finish off the heroes when a man in a green suit with long shaggy hair and someone who seems to be Prince of Lanling arrive. The man introduces the latter as Rider and himself as his Master—Lainur Guison.
He states he came to use Repair’s services and threatens to fight the Caster team if they aren’t here for the same reason, adding the latter cannot be certain how Raniment his team has. Caster’s Master concedes, saying they have enriched itheir resources at Repair’s expense. They cannot afford risk losing, so they promptly leave.
After healing the surviving Rani Rs, Ayus thanks the Rider faction for saving her. Lainur states he is the prime Transfer AI.
Looking at Lainur, Ritsuka gets distorted flashes of their encounter with Lev Lainur Flauros in the Time Temple. Lainur notices them staring and presumes he resembles someone they know, which he finds strange since the randomizer is supposed to have perfect RNG. But he considers the possibility the Masters were randomly selected from a set of templates.
He is surprised when Ritsuka correctly identifies Rider as Lanling and asks Rider if he wants to say hi or something. Rider responds he will do so if ordered, insisting he is but a tool. He would also call himself by a different name since he is not a prince but a mere warrior—Gao Changgong.
Duryodhana asks why the Ride faction is here. Lainur jokes it is to fight to the death, but in actuality he came to get his subordinate, a Rani T, treatment. She had suffered an accident while on duty when she was startled by a sudden bug. Lainur and Changgog came along as her escorts.
Lainur knows there were several alternatives to get his subordinate treated beyond going into enemy territory. But ever since he became a Master, he has had this desire to explore. That is part of the reason he came to Repair and hopes to be given a tour.
The heroes are wary of him, so he proposes he only move where they can see him. He will also give Changgong orders to do nothing. Ritsuka agrees to his terms. Lainur is then given a tour of repair by a Rani R.
Ayus treats Rani T and is rewarded with Raniment as thanks. Lainur returns from the tour, ready to leave with his subordinate. But before he goes, he offers information as payment for the tour on top of Raniment. His faction scouted the other partitions, so he can confirm Caster is in Build and it is probable Saber is in Grow and Lancer is in Keep.
So far, the Caster faction has shown itself to be the most aggressive. The Saber and Lancer factions meanwhile have yet to mount an attack. Lainur isn’t sure if that just means those Masters aren’t warlike or if they’re craftily building up their strength. Lancer hasn’t even taken one step out of Keep. Duryodhana thinks to himself it is ridiculous for Lancer to be unwarlike and possibly crafty.
Lainur leaves with Rani T and Changgong, certain he and the heroes will meet again in the near future. 
Outside, Rani T tries to challenge Changgong to a race back home, but he still refuses to speak with anyone but Lainur. He reminds his Master he will not take any action of his own will. In return, he honors his Master’s every command. The Rider faction heads back to Transfer.
Ayus looks into upgrading the Repair comm protocols. She reassures a worried Ritsuka she is fine, and that this is all part of her duty. She tells the Chaldeans to go get some sleep and she will do the same once she finishes her work. But she realizes the control pods where the AIs sleep may be uncomfortable for non-AIs.
Ritsuka and Sion tell her they’re fine sleeping anywhere, although Sion thinks it is best if they were a room where all three of them can rest in. She’d like to avoid having three single rooms. Kama presumes Sion is being cautious of her, but Sion insists she is wary of any that would threaten Ritsuka while they sleep. Ayus takes the Chaldeans to a room that best fits Sion’s requirements.
Sion finds the room perfect. Kama tries to share a bed with Ritsuka, but Sion stops her with her Etherlight. Kama is disappointed she has to sleep in a separate bed. Sion realizes something is wrong and asks herself if Kama is the same one from Chaldea.
Ritsuka wakes up in the middle of the night, remembering Caster’s massacre of the Rani Rs. Sion is awake as well as the two of them are connected via Etherlight. Ritsuka recounts Caster’s massacre of the Rani Rs and admits they don’t think AI should be disposable like that. Kama asks Ritsuka if they’re saying what they witnessed was unforgivable, even though AIs are merely programs. Ritsuka confirms they are.
Sion admits Caster’s actions are logical, considering the System Grail War is at its core a competition over Raniment and killing other AIs would be the most efficient way to get it. She acknowledged the possibility they would need to do the same when thinking about their immediate need to win. However, Ritsuka would never do that or Ayus’ team do it.
Kama envies how supportive of Ritsuka Sion is being. But ignoring that, she asks Ritsuka if it matters to them that AIs are likely replaceable and will just be restocked with time. Ritsuka answers it doesn’t because they want to ultimately help the AIs. Kama accepts their answer, finding it no different from their usual behavior.
Sion concludes they will kill AIs to restock their resource nor let their enemies do so. She doesn’t mind that isn’t the most logical route since logic doesn’t dictate everything and people don’t always on what’s the most optimal. She already knew prefers acting on compassion rather than logic.
Kama calls the way Ritsuka reacted to Lainur abnormal. Ritsuka admits they can’t remember it too clearly, but Lainur isn’t someone they can’t feel comfortable around.
Sion thinks they’re imagining it explaining the versions of them here are only portions of their normal selves so errors in their memories can be expected. Her etherlight can intervene with it since it is a hardware failure rather than software.
But she thinks they shouldn’t waste brainpower on this subject, as Lainur is the product of a randomizer. Said randomizer either works by randomly selecting from real-life models or pre-made models, so the Chaldeans may know who Lainur’s model is but may not remember. On that note, Sion asks Ritsuka for their thoughts on Lainur’s personality.
Ritsuka thinks Lainur feels like someone else entirely. Sion concludes Lainur must’ve been someone of little importance if only his appearance data is usable, but she doesn’t know enough to safely judge. She asks Ritsuka if they remember similar to Ayus or Caster’s Master, telling they can resort to careful observation if they don’t.
Kama concludes the conversation is over and recommends they get to sleep. She tries to get Ritsuka to use her as a body pillow under the pretense of preventing nightmare only for Sion to use Etherlight to forcibly induce sleep.
The next morning, Ayus has upgraded comms security. Rani Rs form a crow around Ritsuka, presumably eager to repay them for their help. Duryodhana hates he isn’t the center of attention and yells at the girls to go away. The Rani Rs all leave, each voicing their contempt for Duryodhana.
Ayus enjoys this bustling atmosphere, seeing similar type companions who know each other interacting at their leisure. Ritsuka compares it to a family. Ayus is glad they remembered their talk from yesterday.
Sion reminds Ayus not to infantilize her and Kama every time the topic of family comes up. She also calls it inaccurate to pair her with Kama since she is 3cm taller than her. Kama leaves while Sion is talking and comes back in her teenage form. She glares at Duryodhana for deducing she doesn’t want to be compared to Sion.
Moving on, Ayus asks for ideas on restocking on Raniment-laced materials, i.e. food. The Keep AIs make it by modifying the raw material produced by Grow to contain tiny amounts of Raniment. Ayus shows one; it looks like an energy bar. The Raniment earned through it balances out an AI’s natural consumption, preserving the status quo. Ayus thinks it will be fine for the Chaldeans to eat it since they’re currently the same as AIs, which Sion confirms. But a Rani R shows Keep has been sending material that looks like Indian naan lately.
The Rani T from yesterday arrives with a delivery. Ayus rewards her with Raniment, but Rani T requests a tip, reminding Ayus her type is competitive and receiving a tip is their greatest joy. Kama gives her hair ornament made from her flowers. Rani T leaves satisfied. 
Sion reports her analysis of the naan through her Etherlight reveals it is functionally the same as the energy bar. It only had its surrounding data to add unnecessary decorations: smell and flavor in a sensory sense.
Rani R states the appearance of consumable material makes no difference to AI, but she speculates the naan will be of easier consumption for non-AI. Kama decides to eat some since it replenishes Raniment. Duryodhana, however, refuses to eat it as he knows it was made by him and leaves.
Paper Moon Keep Exterior.png|Keep
Paper Moon Keep Interior.png|Kitchen
Meanwhile, in Keep, Lancer is shown to a chef from whom the Rani Ks are learning from. He goes back inside to check on his Master after a Rani T comes and picks up the food.
He is glad to see his Master has finished another one of his meals, but his cooking has yet to get her out of her perpetual depression. His goal is to make her a meal that will make her smile, refusing to fight until he does. He isn’t trying to court her, nor does he think himself the best chef ever. He just doesn’t want to put shame on the joy his brothers and the people at the palace felt after eating his meals.
His Master asks him if he was a hero of the culinary arts. Lancer answers that is all he can say for sure is that his chef persona is unquestionably a part of him.
He realizes he is out of ingredients, so he decides to go out and procure some materials. He asks his Master to accompany him, to which she replies she is useless in a fight. Lancer reassures her they’re only going for materials, reminding her he won’t fight until he makes her smile.
Meanwhile, in Repair, the heroes (except Duryodhana) are eating the naan. Ayus wonders when this update happened, though. A Rani R believes it happened when the Grail War began. Sion believes it is highly probable then that a Servant made the naan. Ayus agrees and asks Rani R if she knows of any other changes in the world.
Rani R recalls the Rani Bs from Build at working slower. Ayus fears for them, but she knows she has to worry about her own first. They need to do their part and the first thing that needs doing is being more alert while restocking their Raniment against any other Servant’s meddling. They also need to earn Raniment on a level that can properly fuel them in combat and restock faster than opponents.
Ritsuka wonders if they can truly outpace Caster. Ayus sees their concern, which is why she is going to show them what Repair does once they’re done eating.
Duryodhana suddenly comes back and takes the naan Ayus was going to save for later. He then eats the naan because even though he hates its cook, he needs to cultivate more power so he will not lose to him again. Afterward, he urges they start collecting Raniment.
Ayus is suspicious of his newfound motivation but is glad to see it, unaware of his true motivations. She earnestly proposes they get to work, but since Repair’s job is repairing, they will have to wait until some damaged AIs to appear. That is when Rani R informs the heroes a flock of malignant data detected at the out perimeter have damaged several R-types and D-types. The heroes head out there immediately.
Arriving at their destination, Kama remarks upon seeing the malignant dat that her role is the same as before: “defeat the enemies to make people owe us.” Such transnational kindness appeals to her as it might lead to lapse. She asks Ritsuka to keep an eye on her, saying their attention will get her more excited and demanding they praise for a job well done. Sion looks at Kama with suspicion.
The malignant data is destroyed in the ensuing battle and Kama and Duryodhana are both rewarded with Raniment.
Sion tells Ritsuka something feels wrong about Kama, questioning if she is the one from Chaldea. She can’t clearly articulate what she means quite yet, but Kama seems emotionally different from usual self. Ritsuka feels the same. Sion tells them to keep their conversation in mind as unknown parameters may affect their prospects of victory.
Kama interrupts their conversation, pouting that they were whispering to each other. She then asks Ritsuka if they have anything to say about her “honest work” getting them Raniment. Ritsuka praises her, making her blush and smile.
Ayus heals the damaged AIs, but she thinks they should contact the Defend AIs if a threat is still in the area. Duryodhana thinks they shouldn’t let others take credit, however. He wonders if there is anyone else they can extort when a Rani T comes with a request for aid from some nearby D-types. The heroes head there after Kama tips Rani T with a floral pin for her bag strap.
They arrive there but are perplexed by their opponents. Ritsuka thinks to themself they might be Shadow Servants. Ayus isn’t sure if they are AIs. Kama thinks they look similar to Servants but feels they aren’t. Sion wonders if they are the “humanoid shadows” DX warned them about. Regardless of what they are, the heroes fight them once the former draw their weapons.
Ritsuka and Kama are both confused by what they just fought. Sion has Ayus help her examine the remains. Kama takes this moment to have a private conversation with Ritsuka.
She asks them if they are sure Sion is Sion they know. She suspects Sion already knows everything and is only pretending to investigate. Furthermore, if Sion’s appearance is different, then it’s possible her interior changed as well. That is why Kama thinks Sion may be an impostor, so she warns Ritsuka to be careful around Sion.
Sion interrupts the two’s conversation, asking what they were talking about. Kama lies that she was interviewing Ritsuka to find out what love will best corrupt them. Sion concludes they were wasting time then, like she predicted. Ritsuka wishes Sion would interact with them and Kama more like a friend. Sion declines, considering herself unqualified to be their friend.
Changing the topic, Sion reveals the shadows they fought were data constructs with Raniment, so fighting them was good for a quick recharge. The closer approximation for them is Servants but they aren’t. Further investigation is required.
Ritsuka suggests they head back now. Ayus agrees and calls home. Everything is fine there, but they’re about to get a large influx of damaged AIs. Grow has sent Repair a formal request for humanitarian relief.
Grow is located on the opposite end of Defend from Repair. Considering the distance between them, Sion thinks Grow is unlikely to be an immediate threat to them. But Duryodhana thinks Bhima had attacked Grow since Keep neighbors it. Seeing it as possibly his only chance to win, he recommends they heed Grow’s request.
=== Taboo Secret Room/do not enter. ===
Earlier, in Grow, its prime AI was happily harvesting materials with Rani Gs. She wanted to show the newly harvested materials to Saber, but the latter is patrolling again. She understood Saber does it to protect the area, but she wished she’d be more sociable.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 5: Taboo Secret Room/do not enter.
Saber returned and informed her Master, whom she named Sakura, that there is nothing in particular to report. She also told her to stop trying to surprise her with the material she harvested (seeing the one Sakura is trying to hide behind her back) as she will not give the reaction Sakura wants. She tried to return to her patrol when Sakura showed the naan they got from Keep. Sakura convinced her to eat it by mentioning it has Raniment.
Before heading back on patrol, Saber told Sakura everything she does is to ensure her wish to always maintain her home and job comes true. But she does so as her Servant not her friend. Their apparent ages may be close, but that doesn’t reflect reality and is merely thoughtless intimacy.
Sakura was sad Saber felt that way, though she figured that was how it was. Saber went back to her patrols while Sakura returned to harvesting.
Saber thought to herself she mustn’t interact with Sakura, though she can’t understand why. Then all the sudden she sensed a presence and confronted Lancer and his Master. Both Servants seemed poised to fight each other.
Lancer’s Master thought to herself that Lancer will lose, believing that is the inevitable outcome of having her around. She believed herself to be a useless sinner who deserves to lose.
But Lancer told Saber he didn’t come to fight, telling her about his personal prerequisite for fighting. Saber was obviously skeptical. Thinking of a compromise, Lancer sat on the ground and requested Saber to bring her Master to him so he may prove to her his honesty. Saber suddenly presumed Lancer is only a distraction while another group went after Sakura and rushed to her side at full speed.
To her relief Sakura was safe, but she told her there is an enemy and they need to move just in case. All the sudden, Lancer and his Master came crashing down, able to match Saber’s speed despite his large size because he is blessed by the winds. He had thought she was leading him to her Master, so he followed.
He told Sakura he is a cook, and he came to Grow to procure quality ingredients. Sakura took him for his word, though Saber was still very much wary and threatened to kill Lancer and his Master if they try anything. Sakura took them to Grow’s stock.
As Lancer evaluated the materials, Sakura spoke with his Master—the prime Keep AI. The latter confessed she has lost all sense of duty as an AI since becoming a Master. Her memories showed her being dutiful, but that responsible side of hers is now gone. She thinks she might be glitching both as an AI and a Master.
Sakura asked for her name. Lancer’s Master tried to deny she has a name until Lancer said she already has a name, one she felt was hers already. Names are important, so they shouldn’t be kept hidden. With reluctance, Lancer’s Master introduced herself as Cerejeira.
Oddly enough, though they’re supposed to be enemies, Sakura wished to be friends with Cerejeira. But Cerejeira thought she isn’t qualified to be anything considering all she has done before. Sakura found that phrasing makes no sense as they were only born as Masters via the randomizer. She also believed whatever mistakes Cerejeira made when she was just an AI do not matter now.
Lancer was satisfied and paid Sakura a large sum of Raniment for the materials and as an apology for him coming to Grow without prior warning. Sakura gave all of it to Saber since she herself doesn’t need that much.
Saber questioned Lancer’s faculties as he was benefiting his enemy. Lancer reminds her he isn’t fighting anyone for now. Saber asked him how long he means “for now” because, as participants in the Grail War, combat is unavoidable. Lancer remained firm on his stance, however, believing everyone should do what they want first before they all start fighting. He left with his Master, believing with the ingredients he got his next meal for her will cheer her up.
Sakura regretted she didn’t have the courage to ask Lancer about cooking. Saber believed that was the right choice, as she would’ve done everything to stop her otherwise.
She told her to never repeat what happened today because, from her perspective, it was far too dangerous. Sakura wasn't so sure (for which Saber calls her naïve) as she cannot be harsh toward people who value her beloved Grow and praise the quality of her materials. Saber told her she needed to change that way of thinking because there is no guarantee the other participants will be like Lancer and Cerejeira.
An explosion was then suddenly heard outside. Sakura called the Rani Gs to tell her what happened. They reported a Servant is attacking.
Earlier, in Build, Caster’s Master had Rani Bs line up, ordering them to be silent. Then, using his authority as the prime Build AI, he executed a program that painfully drained the three girls of their Raniment to the point of collapse, giving it to both himself and Caster. He was pleased with the results of the program.
Caster, however, pointed out the Rani Bs failed to follow his order to remain silent, so they must be punished. They can make as many replacements as necessary. His Master agreed and re-executed the program, draining the Rani Bs of their Raniment again. Two were drained completely and disappeared. Caster was very pleased the surviving Rani B had kept quiet, proclaiming their owner’s commands were absolute.
Agreeing, Caster’s Master declared because he is in charge, none can disobey him. He justified his actions by calling it the duty of the superior to stand above all others, considering what he does the most logical and efficient way to victory. He therefore believed he must win the Grail War and become the new supervisor AI, calling it the happiest outcome for all AI.
Pleased by the Ranis’ agony, Caster asked his Master if he can see the route that will make king of the world. His Master answered they will target the easier prey first: the adjacent Grow. Caster considered it unlikely for the heroes to join forces with Grow given the distance between it and Repair. His Master said they were of no concern, stating once he has completed the adjustment, they can use their trump card whenever. Caster looked forward to seeing that thing overflow from the secret room.
Caster’s Master proclaimed once he becomes ruler of this world, he, the head of the house of Makiri, will reach the Root by his own merits. All the evil he commits is for that reason.
Caster recalled to himself his Master has repeatedly called himself the head of the house of Makiri. It is likely an unconscious expression with implication his Master doesn’t realize. Caster wondered where his Master’s personality came from, though the same question applied to him. Regardless, he thinks all they need to do is fulfill their part as pawns in the Grail War and fulfill their desires until they die.
In the relative present, Sakura watches in horror as her girls are devoured by Caster’s familiars. She begs him to stop, but Caster’s Master refuses, considering it illogical to leave behind leftovers. He doesn’t understand why no one besides himself understands this when only the best mages were supposed to become Masters.
Sakura calls his actions unwarranted even though for the Grail War. Her girls are the crux of Grow’s operation and Grow is vital to Paper Moon. Without Grow, countless distortions will be generated until everything stops functioning.
Caster’s Master tells her to just recreate the Rani Gs, insisting he is only temporarily lowering their numbers. He also doesn’t need Grow’s materials to win anyway and plans to fully automate Grow once he is supervisor AI. The Rani Gs are unnecessary to him.
Sakura tries to plea with him to stop, even offering her own life, but Caster has no intention of stopping. Saber tells her talking is useless here so they have to fight.
Seeing her Master’s mental state, Saber worries Sakura cannot smoothly transfer magical energy and assumes it’s best not to use her Noble Phantasm. She also can’t let Sakura waste her Command Spell here either. On top of all that, she has to worry about the AIs and buildings around, so she doesn’t have the freedom to fight as she wishes. But she has to fight for Sakura’s sake. She takes off glasses and fights Caster’s familiars.
With Mystic Eyes of Petrification and barely visible monsters shaped by light, Saber repeatedly slays Caster’s familiars. Caster’s Master presumes she is Medusa from those aspects, but Saber leaves it to his imagination.
She realizes Caster’s familiars are far too numerous, so she and Sakura have no choice but to escape even if it means abandoning Grow. Sakura implores her not to do it as that would defeat the purpose. Saber’s Mystic Eyes suddenly deactivate.
Caster’s Master presumes Saber is low on magical energy from continuously using her Mystic Eyes. He also discerns they aren’t strong enough for the petrification effect to reach him and even if it could, he believes he could resist it. Regardless, his plan remains the same: keep his distance and overwhelm with numbers.
Saber slays more of Caster’s familiars, but one severely injured Sakura. Saber rushes over to her, catching her before she falls. Caster prepares to finish them, possibly calling both his bride, when the heroes arrive.
Ayus announces she is the prime Repair, and she has received Grow’s emergency support request. Even during the Grail War, it is Repair’s duty is to treat injured AI. They could never ignore a formal request.
Sakura is relieved Repair has come, confessing she was the one who made the relief request. Saber is skeptical, yet she can see the heroes seem willing to help.
Duryodhana is shocked he was wrong about who was attacking Grow and requests to go home. Ayus and Ritsuka, however, refuse to abandon the AIs.
Caster’s Master is upset the heroes are once again interfering with his plans. Kama insults him, so he challenges the heroes, believing he cannot lose because he gathered more resources and can use them efficiently.
Duryodhana accepts, wanting to take this chance to defeat Caster so all of Grow will owe them. He thinks to himself it would be extra beneficial if he could get Saber on their side. But to his dismay, Saber admits she is low, so the heroes will have to fight Caster by themselves.
Ritsuka recognizes Saber is Medusa. Saber is surprised they figured it out as well, even though she didn’t show them her Mystic Eyes. But seeing she wouldn’t have been able to conceal it for long, she confirms her True Name is indeed Medusa.
Ayus goes over to treat Sakura’s injuries, not caring she is supposed to be an enemy Master. Medusa tells the heroes she will use remaining power to protect her Master and Ayus, who is healing the former, while they fight Caster. They cannot hope to earn her trust, but since they came to help, they can at least show her results.
Caster is pleased to see Kama has grown into the beautiful age of a bride since he last saw. Before fighting her and Duryodhana, he calmly tells her she holds the key—the trap which tests love and loyal—but then raves about how the taboo which mustn’t be seen will now overflow from his secret room.
As Kama and Duryodhana fight Caster, Ayus heals Sakura by connecting together to important parts to prevent her from ceasing activity. But she could only access the AI portions since the Master parts were off-limits. As such, she warns Sakura she could suffer after-effects. If possible, she would like to examine her more calmly later.
Sakura declines, insisting being able to get back to work is all she needs. She tells Ayus to prioritize the other injured AI over her. Ayus objects to Sakura’s “work is all need” policy, but she cannot object in the current situation. She does want her to visit Repair for a check up though.
Medusa is relieved Sakura is alright, but she is disappointed by the heroes’ performance.
To the disbelief of Caster’s Master, the heroes are beating Caster back even though he accumulated more power. Kama doesn’t deny he has the advantage in terms of resource quantity, but it is ultimately a matter of how you use what you have efficiently.
Sion realizes they had mistaken Caster for Gilles because of his familiar appearance and use of similar familiars. She had determine from his sole fixation on the grotesque screams of beautiful women and the keywords “bride”, “room”, and “key” that he is an evil serial killer who has a magical key to a secret room and kills the brides who see what’s inside. She knows of only one figure who fits that description: Bluebeard—the titular character of a story written by 17th century poet Perrault modeled after Gilles. To prove it, Sion asks Caster what he thinks of Jeanne d’Arc. Caster simply replies “who?” confirming he is indeed not Gilles.
With Caster’s True Name proven, Sion finds it evident his and Gilles’ Spirit Origins would share elements, which is how Gilles’ familiars got interlaced in the taboo room. She also conjectures his Noble Phantasm is the magical key that opens the room overflowing with monsters. In other words, Bluebeard is an Alter Ego of Gilles.
Bluebeard’s Master furiously insists knowing his Servant’s True Name changes nothing and that he is too component to lose. But he cannot let this humiliation stand and orders Bluebeard to use the trump card, not caring about the consequences. He also cannot keep running away, for he is here to reach the ideal and as a mage he will never hesitate in taking the right means to his ends. He proclaims his name is Makiri Zolgen and swears to kill all those who block his way to the Root.
Upon hearing that name, Ritsuka gets distorted flashes of their encounter with another Makiri in Angrboda’s chamber. They feel they heard the name before they can’t remember clearly.
Makiri orders Bluebeard to activate his Noble Phanstasm and kil them all. Bluebeard heeding his Master’s command reveals his true form before transforming into a large eldritch monstrosity. The heroes realize they cannot fight it and so retreat.
Medusa tells Sakura to have the AIs evacuate Grow because as a fellow monster she can tell Bluebeard’s hunger is more single-minded than ever before, even willing to eat buildings. She assures Sakura they aren’t abandoning Grow forever. But grabbing her, she tells her escaping now is the only way to prevent Grow’s destruction, and flees with her.
Makiri is pleased by the results of Bluebeard’s Noble Phantsm as he watches the latter kill and consume all the Rani Gs in his path. He tries to remove Bluebeard’s restraint routines when he notices the commands have a slow response time. Bluebeard then heads in a different direction toward more living Raniment. Makiri allows it as it won’t disrupt his plan, believing none can stop Bluebeard now.
The heroes arrive at the frontier between Grow, Keep, and Defend. Sakura confirms to Medusa she made escaping the number one priority for the G-types. But they aren’t as fast as T-types, so many of them were eaten by Bluebeard. Medusa tells Sakura since they all ran in different directions, she has to believe the damage is minimal.
Sakura thanks the heroes for their help and properly introduces herself. Ayus states Repair AIs can’t ignore a formal request made through official channels. Sakura admits she only did that for the sake of trying, so she is confused why an enemy Master would help her.
Ayus confesses she still wants to win the Grail War, but she doesn’t see that as a reason to cut herself from other AIs. In fact, she even hopes to strengthen their connections, so she can’t abandon others without reason. Sakura thanks her again.
Duryodhana checks out Sakura. Medusa pushes him away, threatening to kill him on the spot if he gets any closer to her Master. Duryodhana checks her out as well, but ultimately concludes neither she nor Sakura are his soulmate.
Changing the topic, Ayus reveals the other R-types are coming to join them and fix the damaged G-types. The only problem, though, is location, which all depends on where Bluebeard goes. If he is after them, then they should stay on the run.
Sion suggests Defend, recalling Servants are forbidden from attacking the AIs there. Sakura agrees so she’ll message her girls telling them to flee to Defend if they can. Ayus agrees as well, wanting to build a field hospital once they’re further in.
DX appears, however, advising against this course of action, revealing Bluebeard is currently invading Defend and eating every D-type in his path.
=== Lobha Glorification/for eating ===
DX speculates an unidentified glitch occurred in Makiri’s programming for him to ignore neutrality regulations, allowing Bluebeard to enter Defend and devour indiscriminately. Thus, due to this abnormal situation, Rani XII sent DX to where multiple Servants have gathered. She has declared the Grail War is suspended and under her overseer jurisdiction, proposes everyone cooperate to eliminate Bluebeard. All Masters and Servants present are to gather at the church: Saber, Berserker, Assassin, and Lancer.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 6: Lobha Glorification/for eating
Lancer confesses he was headed home with his ingredients when it suddenly got noisy behind him, so he went to check what was going on. Kama senses Vayu, the Indian god of wind, from him. Lancer admits he is Vayu’s son, while his older brother is Dharma’s , and his younger brothers are Indra’s son and the ’s sons. Duryodhana recognizes Lancer is Bhima—one of the five Pandava princes.
Bhima tells Duryodhana to stop glaring at him, as now’s not the time for it. Ayus concurs; she doesn’t know the history between them but the current situation is more important.
DX reveals despite their absence, the Rider faction has already been informed of the situation.
Ritsuka, remembering all the AIs Bluebeard killed, agrees to cooperate. Kama agrees as well, finding it will be easier to fight Bluebeard if they have more people. Duryodhana refuses to cooperate with Bhima, however, not trusting he won’t stab him in the back. Bhima insists he wouldn’t be so cowardly, which makes Duryodhana utterly furious.
Medusa, not caring to make friends, takes Sakura and goes on ahead to the church. Bhima leaves to pick up his Master. Everyone else makes their way toward the church.
Arriving in Defend, Ayus presumes Duryodhana’s foul mood is because of Bhima, asking if he was someone he knew. Duryodhana refuses to tell her, but Ayus remains adamant since they’ll be facing Bhima in the future. Sion convinces Duryodhana to tell Ayus by threatening to present her with all the objective information they have, which he insists would only make him out as an irredeemable villain.
Duryodhana explains the five Pandava princes were the enemies of the hundred Kaurava, but since they all hailed from the same country, they all studied martial arts under the same mentor. As for why they became enemies, Sion tries to say it was because neither party could agree who rightfully deserved to inherit the country. Duryodhana cuts her off, though, insisting the basic reason is that the Pandava princes were a “dirty pack of misunderstanders who don’t know their place.” He especially hates Bhima.
He describes how the only way he could oppose Bhima was to put him to drug to sleep, bind him, and toss him into the river. But Bhima ended up in the Patala realm, where he drank the Nagaraja’s amrita and came back stronger.
Later, Duryodhana made the Pandava princes lose everything in a rigged dice gamble, thanks to his uncle Shakuni. Then, when they were exiled to the woods, he went to mock them, but needed them to save him when he was captured by gandharvas much to his humiliation.
Both these stories Duryodhana insists showcase how “evil” the Pandava princes are. He refuses to say anymore on the subject and walks on ahead to the church.
Sion wonders if Duryodhana wanted to avoid the topic of the all-out war. As for why he would do that, she speculates it is because he doesn’t want to admit to himself he died in a duel against Bhima.
In the church, every Master and Servant gathered (obviously excluding the Caster faction) gather. Ritsuka and Sion take notice of Bhima’s Master, Cerejeira. Sion feels something is off, but she can’t tell what it is.
Reviewing the current situation, Rani XII explains through the usage of his Noble Phantasm and a construction support spell programmed by his Master, Bluebeard has summoned and merged with a large abomination modelled after his familiars——the Super Large Chthonian. It exists only to devour AIs and completely ignores the neutrality of Defend. Rani XII therefore classifies the Caster faction as a hindrance that must be eliminated from the System Grail War for rule violation. Kama calls her slow on the uptake as it had been clear for a while the Caster faction did as they pleased without a care. Rani XII explains, however, any action that doesn’t affect the world as a whole is accepted, but what the Caster faction is doing now cannot be allowed.
To incentivize everyone to cooperate, Rani XII promises to reward the participants with additional Command Spells——supercompressed charges of Raniment customized for usage among System Holy Grail War Masters. But rewarding every participant can produce unfair results depending on contribution. So while determining total fairness will be difficult, she will trust the logs and observation of the D-types. If someone plays a decisive role without cooperating with others, they will be singularly rewarded, while if everyone works as a team, they will stand to be rewarded.
Ayus and Sakura both agree working together is the best way to take down the Super Large Chthonian. Bhima, however, declines deciding he has better things to do and believes the others can make do without him. He only dragged his Master with him because he thought it’d be rude of them not to show up when everyone else did. Also, since cooperation was only a request, they won’t be punished for not abiding by it.
Though a bit confused by her Servant’s decision, Cerejeira thinks it’s for best since they’ll only be in the way. Sakura reassures her they’ll be fine, saying everybody has their own talents. She promises to check what Keep is making with her materials once things settle down. Cerejeira and Bhima leave as Duryodhana watches on glaringly.
Returning to the main topic, Rani XII informs everyone the Super Large Chthonian is heading in the direction that allows him to obtain the most Raniment, toward any place populated by AI. His current location is at the northern part of Defend, coordinates 10-14, and has been heading south toward central Defend ever since Grow, so it is possible he’s heading for the church. This would mean he entered Defend because the AI population came to outnumber Grow.
Medusa tells Sakura not to blame herself, saying it is Defend’s fault for failing to solve the problem.
Kama asks Rani XII if the church is the Super Large Chthonian’s ultimate goal. Rani XII answer if the Super Large Chthonian detects Raniment quantity, then it’s possible he is after what is stored in the church: the spare Command Spells and the nucleus Raniment used to operate the system.
Lainur finds it obvious what must be done and decides to leave. This upsets Ayus, who thought they were all going to fight together. But Lainur says he doesn’t see that future and leaves with Changgong.
Duryodhana finds it strange for Bhima to prioritize anything other than battle, questioning if he truly is Bhima. Ayus yells at him to stop spacing out because now they need to think on how to fight Bluebeard.
Sion sees two possibilities either they wait in the Super Large Chthonian’s path or they intercept it. He will be stronger than previous times, so they will need an advantage they didn’t have before. Sion therefore asks Rani XII considering this a formal request if he has a plan to accommodate them. Rani XII agrees to offer certain quantities of pre-stocked Raniment to the heroes at her discretion.
Medusa agrees to help. There are no G-types nor any Grow facilities for her to worry about and she has enough Raniment, so she can fight as hard as she can. She asks Sakura however if she is fine with this as this will end with them showing their “hand” to the others. Sakura thinks there is no other choice because if they don’t do everything to defeat Bluebeard then they can’t return to Grow and that is all she wants. Medusa is now fully committed to fighting Bluebeard.
Makiri watches with glee as the Super Large Chthonian kills and devours AIs, feeling his goal to reach the ideal justifies everything he does. It is for that purpose he discards everything not related to it.
But if he had one complaint about the current version of his blueprint, it would certainly be its pitiful resilience, dissatisfied how someone as competent as him was forced to retreat because he was outnumbered. It was for the purpose of clearing up his dissatisfaction he used a trump card that sacrificed handling to display his competency through extra power.
Consumed by power, he feels all the humanity supposedly left in him is gone. All that remains is the purest form of a mage, pursuing the ideal in the name of logic. He no longer cares about the rules and considers himself the most superior being in existence, so his victory is all but guaranteed to him.
Arriving at the location, Sion explains to the others their final objective is the elimination of Bluebeard and the Super Large Chthonian he’s merged with. Killing the smaller Chthonians around it is also a necessity, but they don’t to kill all of them since they’re likely to disappear once Bluebeard is defeated. But what is important is clearing the fodder in front of the Super Large Chthonian and halting its march.
Since the Super Large Chthonian detects AIs with Raniment, it’s natural it also detects Servants, which hold higher concentrations of Raniment. The heroes will therefore eliminate the surrounding Chthonians, attracting the Super Large Chthonian and attack the main body whenever possible to whittle it down. Medusa meanwhile will keep petrifying each piece of the creature until she reaches its core: Bluebeard.
Ritsuka asks about targeting Makiri. Sion answers it is a possible solution since the idea is to sever Bluebeard’s root source of magical energy. The issue with that approach, though, is the fact the Super Large Chthonian is self-sustaining. Makiri is also likely aware killing him is an option, so he should be doing everything to hide himself. Sion considers it unrealistic for them to find him within their limited time frame. Medusa admits looking at Makiri upset her for some reason, so she would have preferred to win by killing him, but she accepts it is impossible.
Then for some strange reason she has Sakura and Kama stand next to each other much to their confusion. She thinks to herself they feel similar yet different, but she concludes it doesn’t matter.
She tells the others she’ll be hiding somewhere waiting for her chance to strike. Once she does, she wants the others to follow up after her. She leaves, with Sakura following after. But first Ayus asks her how she feels in the parts she had healed before, curious since it was her first time healing a Master. Sakura insists she is perfectly fine and runs off to join Medusa.
The Super Large Chthonian soon arrives, so the heroes start clearing out the surrounding Chthonians. Meanwhile, Lainur is going around the area setting up a spell.
As the heroes continue to kill the smaller Chthonians, Duryodhana tries to attack the Super Large Chthonian by himself, but his cudgel merely bounces off. It tries to crush him with one of his tentacles, but fortunately for Duryodhana, Ayus pulls him out of the way. Regardless, the heroes have succeeded in getting the creature’s attention, so now it’s Medusa’s turn to do her part.
Medusa gets ready to head out, telling Sakura to hide somewhere safe. Sakura gives her Raniment from her own secret stash. Medusa uses it to change her Spirit Origin into a form more suitable for combat. She dislikes her new form though, since she can feel Athena’s essence and the goddess is affecting the way she talks. But she bears with it for the time being and heads off.
Sakura feels faint for an instant but ignores it to focus her attention on Medusa. Medusa fights the Super Large Chthonian, planning to petrify it once she has worn it down with the monsters summoned by Chrysaor—the golden sword that was the namesake of her son, Chrysaor, the father of monsters.
Meanwhile, outside the church DX watches the battle unfold, ready to defend the church. Rani XII steps outside to see the situation for herself, even though she herself knows she could’ve done so without leaving the premised or asked DX. But whatever the outcome of the battle, it will greatly affect the Grail War and Rani XII thinks it will be the first true step towards it. To see such a momentous occasion unfold for herself is why she stepped outside.
Medusa struggles against the Super Large Chthonian thanks to its regeneration and Bluebeard presumably shifting his position every time she targets it. Since they cleared the fodder, the others go to try to help her.
Their help isn’t enough, however. Medusa knows she has the advantage, but her resources aren’t infinite. Sakura suddenly gives her more Raniment. Medusa wonders where she hid so much, but she ignores it for now to capitalize on the chance given her. She then expands the effective area of her Mystic Eyes and petrifies all estimated positions of Bluebeard’s location.
Bluebeard isn’t defeated yet though. The petrification is in effect and reaching Bluebeard’s location, but due to the Super Large Chthonian’s immense size, it will take time for the petrification to reach Bluebeard. Right now, though, Bluebeard is creating new familiars and leaving behind to take the blow while he hides deeper within newly created layers. Bluebeard himself boasts his Noble Phantasm is infinite because there is always be another dead wife.
Meanwhile, in Keep, Cerejeira thinks about who she is. She has an excellent memory and can remember past events effortlessly; she recalls the times Sakura spoke with her. Though she sees no point in writing down her memories, she feels relieved every time she sees what she wrote down matches her memories. But no matter times she rereads the beginning, she cannot find the page describing why she always feels guilty.
Bhima enters and serves Cerejeira the new dish he made with the ingredients from Grow: Curry a la Pandava. To his disappointment, though, she calls it plain after she eats and her face remains unchanged. Cerejeira apologizes for wasting his effort. She liked it, but it’s just that there is something more important. Bhima recognizes filling Cerejeira’s empty heart is something grander than any dish he can make.
Cerejeira suddenly asks Bhima how he deals with the guilt he can’t find the cause to. That feeling is definitely inside her, which is why she is afraid of doing anything. Her not doing anything while Sakura and the others are out there fighting only adds to her guilt. She feels she can’t be fixed, unable to understand the meaning or reason behind who she is.
She apologizes to Bhima because she knows he wants to make her smile with his meals before fighting, but she doubts it will ever work, feeling her guilt will never disappear. She thinks he should replace her if he truly intends to win. Bhima, however, believes his curry didn’t satisfy Cerejeira because her thoughts were full of the situation. He failed to “properly set up the dinner table”, so he heads out to rectify his mistake, promising to come back for a do-over.
Makiri gloats over what seems to be his all but guaranteed victory when Bhima assassinates him. With him dead, Bluebeard loses access to his main stock of Raniment and supposedly disappears along with the Super Large Chthonian as his own Noble Phantasm had instantly drained of the Raniment he needed to exist.
A transmission from Rani XII congratulates everyone on their victory, confirming Makiri's death and the erasure of Super Large Chthonian. She concludes Makiri’s death was the decisive factor in all this, thus she will reward the Command Spell to the Master of the one who did it. For everyone else, she will reimburse their expended Raniment later. She ends the transmission, encouraging everyone to continue with the Grail War.
Duryodhana is utterly dismayed all they get is reimbursement, but Ritsuka and Sakura are happy that peace has been restored. Ayus is disappointed they didn’t get the Command Spell like Duryodhana. However, she is thrilled Repair can finally show off with so many injured AI.
Meanwhile, someone called the Bird is disappointed with the battle’s outcome therefore, she considers it inadequate for a first step.
Bluebeard is revealed to still be alive, having escaped back to Build via one of his familiars. He has gone blind, however, and is starting to disappear when a female Servant steps in. He wonders why she doesn’t finish him off.
It is revealed a Master’s jurisdiction is supposed to be transferred to be the victor. Even without the winning Master nearby, the transfer could be done by gouging out the AI Core and carrying it away. But Bhima only destroyed Makiri’s outer shell and left satisfied, even leaving the Command Spell.
The Bird decides to give Makiri another chance. Too many are unwilling to take the initiative in combat, which is a problem, as she needs Masters and Servants to fight and kill one another. It is what powers the crux of the AEC Method, the driving force that turns the world. She will therefore create a new Master, revealing Makiri’s true designation is Alter Ego Invented.
=== Dull Pain Is Never Visible/re-construction ===
Cerejeira wonders where Bhima is thinking he abandoned her when the K-types come in for their regular replenishment. However, they want the new model of processed a.k.a. a “dish”, which perplexes Cerejeira since they normally prefer stability over creativity. They admit that is still true, but the taste of Bhima’s cooking buffed unidentified parameter, so they chose the option that offers more.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 7: Dull Pain Is Never Visible/re-construction
They then catch Cerejeira off-guard when they suddenly ask her if she had learned similar cooking skills since she is Bhima’s Master. She agrees to give it a try, though she can’t promise it will be good.
She ends up making ratatouille. The K-types give it a taste, but Cerejeira stops them from giving their opinions, believing her cooking is questionable compared to Bhima’s. But Bhima (who just got back) insists it is decent. The K-types give her a passing grade and leave satisfied. Cerejeira still believes her cooking is subpar, but Bhima believes she did well and points out how she individualized each proportion.
Switching topics, Cerejeira asks Bhima where he has been. Bhima confesses he killed Makiri, though he doesn’t know what happened to Bluebeard. Cerejeira checks the rules on what happens if a Master dies first in combat and learns by accessing the defeated Master’s AI Core, the winning Master gets their Command Spell (if available) and leadership rights to their partition. She asks Bhima if he picked up a core. Bhima admits he didn’t bother. Cerejeira worries about what the implications of this might be.
Bhima notices his Master looks troubled and assumes she is hungry. He thinks his “table prep” had dispelled her of her misgivings, so he is certain his next meal for her will reach her heart. Cerejeira wonders to herself if anyone can rid her of her anxiety and guilt.
In Defend, the heroes take a break from helping the injured AI. Ayus admits while she has no issues with her duty she’d rather not see anyone get hurt. She fears it will only become more stressful for her to see someone get hurt once her wish is granted and everyone becomes her family.
Ritsuka tells her not to let anyone get hurt in that case. Kama points out that has its limits, though, calling love and pain inescapably connected. Love connects one to others and their pain only reaches because of that connection. Kama asks Ayus if she is giving up on familial love in that case.
Ayus refuses to give up. She knows families have their problems, but perhaps because of that, she will prepare herself to accept all the bad, determined to withstand the pain, knowing things might get rough. She feels she really needs to find herself a family.
Abruptly, she decides break time is over. Sion presumes from the fact Ayus couldn’t relax until now means there are fewer people asking for her and asks if that means they’re nearly done with the emergency relief. Ayus thinks there are still many who still need healed, but only a few of them have actively tried to contact Repair. She suspects those few are too low on Raniment to afford to award Repair for its services.
Duryodhana suddenly returns from wherever he was. He disliked Ayus said to prioritize healing those with Raniment and save the rest for later, which is why he created contract tokens for AIs. it is a compressed file containing a mutual agreement saying they can pay the Raniment later. If these are distributed to the needy, the poor won’t need hesitate to accept treatment. Ayus is amazed and goes off to distribute the tokens.
While she is gone, however, the Chaldeans notice the contract’s fine-print requires paying the base cost plus 40% interest. Sion and Kama both condemn him for trying to exploit the vulnerable with such an unfair contract for his own greed. Duryodhana tries to defend himself, saying fairness and equality aren’t the same and those who do special things deserve special benefits.
Sion reminds him, however, as the prime AI, Ayus will soon realize the contract token’s mechanism and be able to easily overwrite and correct it. She calls him a fool for failing to imagine what Ayus’ reaction would be regarding the act of exploiting the injured. At that moment, Ayus learns the contract’s fine-print and furiously chases after Duryodhana.
Even though he is a scoundrel, Ritsuka and Kama are both fond of Duryodhana. Sion doesn’t understand why she feels relatively the same, wondering if it is a variant of the Charisma Skill. Ritsuka gives their summary of who Duryodhana is as a person.
Meanwhile, Duryodhana, exhausted from fleeing, notices a tear in his favorite sash. He lacks the Raniment to knit a new one so he will have to fold it to hide the tear. That is when he notices an injured Rani-G struggling to walk and gives his torn sash to sling for her broken arm. He tells her to find an R-type and gives her a contract token to give to said R-Type.
The Rani-G worries about payment but Duryodhana assures her he wasn’t expecting payment from one as obviously poor as her. He sees her off and concludes the rewritten contract won’t be a waste if they earn the usual amount later. He also planned to toss his worn out sash out and get a new one anyways. Meanwhile, Ritsuka summarizes Duryodhana as not entirely a bad person.
Later, with the B-types reconstructing the wrecked structures and the AIs injured, Sion thinks it’s about time for them to disassemble their field hospital. DX, however, advises they stay a while longer to help protect the injured while so many D-types are out of commission.
She is then alerted to nearby malignant data, which, thanks to lack of personnel, she will need to take care of herself. Ritsuka says they’ll help her, for which DX is thankful for.
Kama asks DX where she was during the Super Large Chthonian’s rampage, finding it odd for the Prime Defend AI not to be present. DX replies she was in front of the church on duty guarding Rani XII, a special mission of the highest priority. Kama assumes Rani XII was prioritizing her own protection over everyone else’s, but DX corrects her it was a necessity of the system. She and the Chaldeans head out to where the malignant data is.
After eliminating the malignant data, DX is alerted to more at Grow. Everyone prepares to head there when they’re joined by Ayus and Duryodhana.
Someone notes everything is proceeding as desired. They need more time until his new personality starts operating. They need the Grail War resume soon. It is all for the sake of their love they employed the Grail War.
In Grow, Lainur buries something. Changgong senses shadows but waits for his Master to order him to eliminate them. Lainur does just that, though he worries if he was inconspicuous enough.
After Changgong destroys the shadows, Lainur speculates something is causing them to spawn at random. It corresponds with the coordinate elements he’d been working on originally, but he’ll need more info to be certain. He orders Changgong to take him to the next point.
He explains to Changgong he is making a map. But he isn’t looking at geography, but rather the functions—why the world is shaped as it is. He feels he’ll be able to learn more if he matches it with more shadows. He doesn’t know what that day will be like, but he is done sending the future the “fireworks” he is planning to fire off. Most likely he'll be able to move about more freely from now on.
Changgong thinks about who he is. Ever since he had been summoned, he has been plagued with doubts. He accepts the furth he will become the famed warrior-general of the Qi Dynstasy, but right now he feels complete aversion to what he will become. Therefore, he has sworn to do anything to keep himself from advancing forward, even evil.
Medusa thinks about who she is, a question she asked herself many times in the past when she lived on the Shapeless Isle. She was never a hero but a threat to humanity—an anti-hero, thus she is a monster imbued with multiple meanings. She wonders then what version of her is the one carrying the golden sword. She carries herself the way she does because she knows who she is and what she wants. She knows Sakura should have never summoned her.
While Medusa delivers concrete materials to the B-types per Sakura’s request, Sakura gets a checkup from an R-type. Rani-R concludes nothing is wrong with her continuing activity, but since she is a Master, she is in a state which requires constant attention. She recommends calling Ayus for advice and asks if she’d like her to call her now.
Sakura declines, feeling it isn’t an issue talking to Ayus will solve. Rani R doesn’t disagree, feeling it is outside Repair’s healing capabilities because Sakura wouldn’t be in her current state otherwise. Sakura says she would only cause Ayus undue stress. She doesn’t want to burden someone who saved her life.
She also has another simpler reason: she always wants to do best even if she is ultimately disqualified. She asks Rani-R to keep this secret from Ayus and Medusa. Rani R agrees since the R-types have a confidential duty to ensure every patient’s privacy.
Medusa enters and asks for the exam results. Sakura tells her she can return to her regular activities. Medusa is glad to hear it.
She reports she is done helping Build and asks Sakura if she has any more work for her. Sakura tells her that is all for now and thanks her because it was thanks to her fighting for them they could return to Grow. The losses they suffered are unfortunate, but the G-types can all live in Grow again. Sakura is happy they can keep sowing their seeds forever.
Thinking to herself, Medusa disagrees with Sakura because Grow was destroyed because of Servants fighting in the Grail War. She thinks Sakura shouldn’t forget that, nor should she be grateful for them solving problems they’re ultimately responsible for.
Sakura tells Medusa she is thinking of giving her a special reward once she can afford it. She needs time and asks Medusa to come with her. Medusa says she doesn’t need rewards but since she isn’t in a position to refuse she agrees to go with Sakura.
The two come to a hill. Medusa describes it as a good overlook, though not without its drawbacks. Sakura calls it her favorite place, a secret spot with the best view of Grow. It has a great breeze, so she thought Medusa would enjoy it too. Medusa admits she doesn’t find it bad.
At Sakura’s suggestion, the two relax under the Production Tree. Sakura apologizes to Medusa if this artificial scenery seems bleak compared to the outside world she knows, having only just realized it. Medusa calls her out for only just realizing everything here is artificial, but she prefers over the bleak island she lived on. Admittedly, though, she can only really remember her sisters.
She asks Sakura why she is so curious about her life, seeing no benefit in her knowing. Sakura guesses it is because Medusa is the first person similar to herself. She thinks the regular AIs are all great, but they have to do as she says, so it isn’t an equal relationship. Medusa is her first opportunity to talk with someone she doesn’t know, which is why she wants to learn more about her, even if their conversations are pointless.
Medusa notes to herself Sakura knew all her attempts to befriend her were pointless and not something she should be doing. But seeing Sakura’s bashful face, she feels the artificial wind resembles the breezes of her homeland. She then sits down with Sakura and talks at length about her homeland.
After a while reminded by Medusa, Sakura confesses she wanted to thank her with a recreation of a picnic, having even brought a basket full of sandwiches she made. Medusa goes to try one when fighting is heard nearby. She and Sakura go check it out.
They find the heroes and Defend fighting malignant data and join them.
After the malignant data is destroyed, Ayus notices they’re pretty far into Grow’s outskirts. She worries Sakura might be overextending herself, managing all the out here by herself. Sakura reassures her she wasn’t here for management today. Her favorite spot is nearby, so she invites the heroes to a picnic to recharge.
DX says her squad is still on active duty, so she and the heroes will go their separates. She reassures they can rest easy as all remaining targets are minor. She pays them the cooperative Raniment fee.
During the picnic Sakura thinks about who she is. Her role, like the other Prime AIs, is to fight in the Grail War to restore the system’s function, yet she grew to want something else. Looking at everyone, she realizes her wish is to protect the home that allows for these peaceful times. But she wonders if she can have her wish granted without needing to fight. She doesn’t know if she is a coward or defective. All she knows is that she wants to protect her home. She wonders if she is the only one and what they have even have wishes for.
Medusa alerts Sakura to Cerejeira. Sakura chases after her when the former runs away as soon as she is spotted. Kama doubts it is about them as she cannot sense Bhima’s presence.
Catching up to Cerejeira, Sakura asks her if anything is the matter, which the former denies. She wanted to ask Sakura what happened and more or less confirms it was Bhima who killed Makiri. She thought Sakura was the only one who knows and who she is already comfortable talking to. Sakura tells it was thanks to her Grow was saved.
She tries to invite her to the picnic. Cerejeira declines, though, feeling the friendly atmosphere isn’t for her. She confesses when Sakura asks about it that her wish is to fix her guilt. Anything she does only adds to it, so she doesn’t win but someone to kill her… to punish her. She asserts that is why she can’t join Sakura’s picnic and runs away.
Sakura tries to go after her only to trip over herself. Cerejeira briefly stops to see if she is alright but continues running. She reassures Medusa, who had been watching from a distance, that she is fine. She regrets she couldn’t convince Cerejeira to join them, however.
In her thoughts, she admits this peace is not meant to last and there is nothing natural about it.
Still in Grow, Cerejeira returns to Bhima. She reports like they thought the Super Large Chthonian disappeared because of what he did. She tries to say something else when the unexpected happens—Chtohians are attacking.
=== Malignant Reboot／fireworks(not starmine) ===
Ritsuka notices the Chtohians seem different from before. Sion questions how they can be back when Bluebeard should be long gone. Sakura and Medusa return from where they went. Duryodhana and Medusa both accuse the other’s faction of being responsible for the current situation. Ayus tells them to stop bickering because right now they need to work together and eliminate the Chtohians or more people will get hurt.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 8: Malignant Reboot／fireworks(not starmine)
While fighting the Chtohians, however, the heroes are ambushed by shadows except they’re stronger than before. Kama notices “something” is lurking inside them. Sion, seeing they aren’t hostile toward the Chtohians, concludes the latter and shadows are part of the same force. The heroes continue fighting the Chtohians in addition to shadows.
After the heroes defeat all enemies, Makiri, now an old man, reveals himself. A narration implies Makiri was reactivated to ensure the Grail War resumes for the sake of AEC Method.
Makiri reveals Masters are recycled if their jurisdiction isn’t properly taken away. He assumes as the result of some partial work of the randomizer he was reborn as a different version of himself. He also mocks them for neglecting to check if Bluebeard’s Spirit Core was truly destroyed. As a result, Bluebeard extended his survival at the moment it mattered, allowing him to be used again as a mindless servant.
Bluebeard shows himself. Sion recalls Rani XII never stated what happened to Bluebeard. They had just assumed he was gone. She wonders to herself if Rani XII worded her words to sound sufficient yet inaccurate on purpose or if it was a system mandate.
Kama questions if Makiri thinks he can win their rematch when Bluebeard is staggering like he is. Makiri reveals he awakened to a new ability with his reboot: Worms. Sion warns everyone to be careful as Makiri is using Raniment for Codecasts, virtual spells no different from the outside world’s magecraft. Makiri reveals he filled the Chtohians, the shadows, and even Bluebeard with worms, more willing than his younger self to do everything in his power to win.
By his Command Spell, he orders Bluebeard to use its power to activate his Noble Phantasm and then for his worms to eat each other to expand. Afterward he disappears and Bluebeard transforms again into the Super Large Chthonian as Makiri’s worms flow in. Now one with his Servant through his worms, Makiri boasts Bluebeard is invincible.
Sakura empowers Medusa with Raniment and orders her to protect her home. The heroes fight the now empowered Super Large Cthohian.
They unfortunately struggle against it. Sakura collapses from Raniment depletion, but she refuses to lose her home. By her Command Spell she orders Medusa to use all of her and protect her home, empowering the latter once more.
Makiri says it is too late, though, and that the heroes require an “output” capable of destroying him in one shot, which he correctly presumes they don’t have. He reminds the heroes they never won against the Super Large Chthonian, claiming this is how it would’ve gone if it weren’t for his assassination. He boasts it without weakness and with its power he will take this world for himself and finally arrive at the Root.
But just when all hope seems lost, the Rider faction arrives with several T-types. Though he forgot the name of it, Lainur knows Changgong’s Noble Phantasm involves him removing his mask to show his face. Those who see it have their abilities amplified, so Raniment in AI gets all excited and amplified.
He preserved that initially generated amplification, condensed it, and sent it to this future. It was possible because the attribute of his Codecasts is Imaginary Numbers, thus allowing him to place the condensed amplified Raniment in a Imaginary Number Space pocket where it would be unaffected by time and space. He can open it, but to consolidate into something useable, he needs the T-types to act as the receiver. He has already devised a formula to put into practice and simulate them.
On his command, the T-types all line up. Makiri furiously questions what Lainur is doing. Lainur replies he made a cannon, one that can only be used here and now. He opens the Imaginary Number Space pocket, then on his signal. Changgong uses his Noble Phantasm to excite the Raniment the T-types received, acting as the switch to Lainur’s spell—a single-use artillery spell he calls Raniment Fireworks.
He fires the cannon, obliterating the Super Large Chthonian in one shot. Bluebeard readily accepts his demise, realizing in his final moments he is but a mishapen shred of something greater and how distorted he is. His only regret there was no holy virgin here.
Though amazed by Lainur’s spell, Sion deduces it was linked to their current location, meaning couldn’t be used anywhere else, unable to change its position or its angle. However, such a spell would require extensive preparation, so Sion asks if it’s a Codecast approaching precognition. Lainur denies it and implies he merely predicted the future.
Medusa rushes over to Sakura who had collapsed when everything starts shaking. A one-way transmission from Rani XII to every participant in the Grail War confirms Bluebeard is truly gone. The Rider faction were the ones who killed him, thus Lainur will be delegated the authority of the Prime Build AI. Following this, the Transfer and Build partitions will become joined. Preparations to convert the world are already underway, which is the reason for the tremors.
Rani XII summarizes the world conversation as being similar to the mechanisms of a gyrocompass based on sympathetic magecraft. With the continuation of the Grail War, the inner world rotates, redefining the foundational axis of the Paper Moon. It is a concept limited to the inner world and will not affect the Paper Moon’s physical properties. Rani XII apologizes for any inconvenience and tells everyone to prepare for the inevitable generation of momentary rotation. She ends her transmission, praying everyone after the reset will strive forward once more in the Grail War.
Sion quickly realizes to her dismay what is about to happen. The tremors suddenly get more violent. Ritsuka grabs onto Kama at her demand just as the world rotates at high speeds.
With phase one complete, the AEC Method is progressing favorably. There are still irregularities, however, namely Makiri. He has the most potential to become a hindrance to the program. He will be observed with the highest priority and in the event he becomes a hindrance he will be eliminated. The AEC Method is for the sake of saving the world, so stopping it midway cannot be allowed.
=== The Sin Known as Rotation／『future』 ===
Someone asks Kama if she knows the answer to the question “Who are you?” Kama finds the question meaningless because, as the god of love and demon lord of lust, there are innumerable “hers” to satisfy all desires. The one who asked her says that isn’t what they meant and tries to give her a warning.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 9: The Sin Known as Rotation／『future』
But Kama dismisses them as a memory she just so happened to recall. She thinks it couldn’t have been very important if she forgot about it until now. She tells the “memory” not to get in her way because she can’t let this chance slip pass her. The “memory” tries to tell Kama the reason why she is here, but Kama dismisses again.
Ritsuka wakes up in a white space with Kama. Kama tries to seduce them when, much to irritation, Sion opens up the white space and demands they get out, revealing it is a confined space.
After getting out, Ritsuka sees they and Kama were in a padded sarcophagus-like space lined into the wall. Sion tells them they can see she was in the one adjacent to theirs if they move back. Ritsuka sees they are many of them.Sion suspects they are in the “outer perimeter” of the Paper Moon. She doesn’t know if it’s a special precaution because of the Grail War or if it’s a special procedure, but the entire wall is made of shock absorbent components. 
She wonders to herself if there is any meaning to their shape. Judging from Rani XII’s message, she presumes one of the Grail War’s mechanisms was for the world to rotate at some stage, thus altering the partition structure, which is why they ended up in the outer perimeter.
Believing Bluebeard’s death was the cause, she surmises the Grail War incorporates an element of the Prime AIs competing for territory. If a Master defeats an enemy Servant and claims victory, they will receive the enemy Master’s authority, allowing them to administrate multiple partitions or domains. Sion believes that is the primary reason why the newly controlled region was physically moved and merged.
Using the basic localization program copied from Ayus, Sion sees from the diagram the world’s rotation changed all sectors outside of Defend, causing their positional relationships to become misaligned. Rtisuka is confused as they thought their physical positions couldn’t change. Sion reminds this is a virtual world, so the thickness of the partitions may have been conceptually close to zero.
She surmises the merging of the Transfer and Build partitions has two implications. First is the winner, the Rider faction, now has double the available area they can procure Raniment. Second is no one can have outposts because the partitions merge. It is as if everyone is forced to be close to each other at all times.
Ritsuka is about worried the AI, but Sion believes based on her knowledge regular AI not involved in the war shouldn’t have been unaffected by the centrifuge momentum. The participants, meanwhile, would have been thrown elsewhere. Sion doesn’t see the other factions, so she assumes there is a certain randomness in distribution. As expected, though, a separation between Master and Servant cannot be forced.
Agreeing with Ritsuka that they should find Ayus first, Sion admits she had placed a tracer on her. However, since they’ll be moving along the outer perimeter, they might run into someone else, so Sion advises they stay on guard.
Kama suspects the Rider faction might fire Raniment Fireworks at them. Sion, however, doubts they could set it up again so easily, considering all the preparations required. But she does agree they should stay on guard against Lainur.
Thinking to herself, though, she feels as if Lainur is prioritizing his search for answers to something only he can see over fighting the win. Regardless, she believes they keep their eyes on him because they can’t know if the answer he finds will harm or benefit them.
Lainur thinks about who he is. He has a directive unrelated to the ideas and duties programmed into him. It dominates most of his being and thrusts him into action. He worries if it conflicts with his original mission as an AI, it will become lost or he’ll become indecisive, but right now, he has a craving to push forward. Because he is self-conscious of himself as an entity designed to have one major directive, he can consciously apply this craving to himself. He is an “——” separated from something driven by the directive called the future.
From Transfer to Defend and ending with Grow, Lainur with Changgong investigates several points throughout Paper Moon. He understands now why the world is circular and the purpose of the rotation. He realizes what the Grail War will bring about and tries to reveal why it began when someone identifying him as an impurity snipes him.
Admonishing himself for his negligence, Changgong rushes to his wounded Master’s side. Lainur suspects he was killed because he fulfilled his assigned task and he was about to uncover something the enemy didn’t want uncovered. He apologizes to Changgong for not letting him have a proper fight, believing it must have been frustrating for a warrior like him. He hoped to have him work for the sake of the future.
Changgong thanks Lainur for treating him as himself, not viewing him as a hero, nor looking down on him, nor fearing him as something more. Lainur thinks anyone who’d fear a kind soul like Changgong is unfit to be his lord. But he considers himself as well as he only wanted to see what happened next and was willing to sacrifice any amount of the past and present for that sake.
He believes himself to be a bad Master as well, though, so in his final moments he’ll go out kicking. He trusts Changgong knows what to do and gives him something, willing to take a chance if it’ll make a difference. He passes away trying to encourage Changgong to get a new Master. Changong declines, wanting to wait until he disappears while reflecting on the fact Lainur treated him like as a tool.
Delighted to hear Changgong wants to be treated as a tool, Makiri reveals himself much to Changgong’s shock. Makiri reveals his survival is thanks to everyone failing to notice and kill the last vestige of him, a single insect hidden in the shadows
He is surprised Lainur left behind his Command Spell, but he takes it for himself and uses it to force Changgong to receive his worms and becomes his new Servant.
=== Short-Lived Just Like a Petal／red lotus flower ===
The Chaldeans find Ayus and Duryodhana among some food stalls. Ayus is relieved to see them. She apologizes since it wasn’t her intention to move from where they landed, but Duryodhana couldn’t resist the smell of food.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 10: Short-Lived Just Like a Petal／red lotus flower
Ayus recalls the food stalls sold things that differed only slightly back in the day. But with the growing trend of cooking, materials have been processed in ways Ayus thought possible.
She then notices Duryodhana eating something she’d like to try and demands he give her some. Duryodhana teases her about it by continuing to eat it, for which Ayus hits him. He tells to just buy her own.
Ayus confirms they pay in Raniment when Ritsuka asks. Kama finds it odd to lose Raniment in exchange for a dish that contains less Raniment. Ayus agrees if you only care about Raniment, but for AI, the principal effect is to maintain their structure.
Duryodhana asks Ayus where they are. Ayus admits she was going to tell him before he ran off to get food and informs him they’re in the outskirts of Keep, pointing out how all the shops are run by K-types. Duryodhana is dismayed to learn they’re in Bhima’s domain. Sion notices Bhima is absent, though, so she recommends leaving before they draw unwanted ire.
While she does agree, Kama notices the ratio of AI types seems off, pointing out there are both K-types and T-types. Ayus notices as well and wonders why that is, as she doesn’t think there is a specific reason for T-types to be more suspectible to structural degradation.
At that moment, Makiri shows himself, shocking everyone with his survival, and he had subjugated Changgong. He reveals he tinkered with Changgong’s Spirit Origin with his worms to make the latter stronger than ever on less Raniment. Changgong pleads for the heroes to flee as Makiri forces him to fight them.
Duryodhana and Kama struggle against Changgong, however, thanks to Makiri’s bugs increasing his strength, endurance, and reaction speed far beyond that of an average Servant.
Sion thinks she could imitate the effect by plucking at the cranial nerves with her Etherlight. The burden would be distributed equally throughout the whole body, though, and it wouldn’t last long. Sion isn’t sure if what is happening to Changgong is similar, only that it looks painful for him. Makiri doesn’t care since so long as his worms control Changgong’s movements, pain will not become a hindrance.
Cerejeira and Bhima arrive to see what the commotion is, with the former having secretly hoped it was Sakura.
Makiri is pleased to see Bhima because now he can avenge his assassination, planning to kill him along with everyone else in the area. He orders Changgong to remove his mask.
Sion realizes to her horror what Makiri plans to do. Makiri is pleased to see she made the connection, admitting he reconfigured Changgong’s Noble Phantasm and points out the suspicious number of T-types. Sion realizes the implications when she looks at them and tells Kama to protect RItsuka while she brings them to ground with her Etherlight. Kama does as told even though she doesn’t know what’s going on.
Changgong NP Forced.png|Gao Changgong being forced by Makiri Zolgen to use his Noble Phantasm.
Paper Moon Keep Damaged.png|The aftermath of several Rani Ts forcibly self-destructing.
Makiri orders Changgong to again remove his mask. Changgong, trying to resist, realizes he could never be truly evil even though he thought he’d rather be evil than be betrayed and shunned by . He implores his Master to stop, but Makiri doesn’t care, seeing all AI as disposable tools. He repeats his command, revealing Changgong’s Noble Phantasm will stimulate the T-types’ Raniment, which will react with the custom-made worms implanted in them.
Ritsuka recognizes two of the T-types from the blossom accessories Kama gave them. Changgong against his will removes his mask. The T-types all self-destruct.
The area is decimated from the resulting explosion. Makiri is pleased with the results and dubs this tactic of his the Transfer Bomb. His worms eat the AI too injured to move.
Duryodhana managed to protect Ayus, but not well enough, as he thinks she might have a concussion. He is not in any condition to move, either. Bhima meanwhile managed to protect both himself and Cerejeira thanks to him donning his armor.
But Duryodhana gets mad at him upon hearing he’d rather retreat than fight, accusing him of being a coward. He only ever knew him as a war-crazed idiot and not the type to flee for the sake of protecting a woman. He asks Bhima if he is truly the Bhima he knew.
Bhima tells Duryodhana he never meant to come as a war-crazed idiot and apologizes he isn’t who Duryodhana wants him to be. Right now, he is someone who wants to serve his frail and weak-minded Master.
He informs Duryodhana he worked as the head chef Bavalla in King Virata’s palace when he and his brothers disguised themselves to hide away there. To his surprise, he liked it and was pleased whenever someone enjoyed his cooking. He started to think he’d enjoy a life spent serving others. That is what he is remembering right now and what he is becoming, which is why anything else is secondary right now.
Duryodhana, bewildered, asks Bhima if he really is Bhima, asking where is the warrior who did everything in his power to defeat him. Bhima doesn’t respond and simply leaves with his Master. Duryodhana tries to go after him but he is in no condition to.
With Ayus’ party unavailable, it is up to Ritsuka’s party to defeat Makiri. Makiri calls upon Changgong, who had bitten off his own tongue out of shame. The former mocks him for it, saying it won’t make a difference since his worms will move his body regardless. He revels in the fact Changgong is under the control. Kama, disgusted by Makiri’s behavior, fights Changgong.
Duryodhana recovers, and Ayus recovers as well. Duryodhana proposes they escape while Ritsuka’s party is busy fighting Changgong. Ayus, however, tells him to help them and gives him some Raniment.
She doubts she could ever forgive Makiri for killing the AI, whom she compares to children who could’ve had gone to have families of their own. She therefore begs Duryodhana to stop Makiri, so the events of today do not repeat. Feeling faint, she confesses she doesn’t want to lose her family and passes out from transferring too much Raniment to Duryodhana at all once.
Pondering to himself, Duryodhana contemplates fleeing, since Bhima did the same, calling it the most appropriate thing to do. But thinking about what Makiri did, he agrees exploiting the weak is the most efficient way to win a war. However, he cannot forgive him for being smarter than him and wants to punish him for it. He also wants the admiration of everyone for stopping Makiri.
He joins Kama in fighting Changgong, noting how her arrows have been missing for a while now. Kama admits she was missing on purpose to focus on making preparation. But someone to keep Changgong occupied for the moment, so she leaves him to Duryodhana. While he does that, she goes over to Ritsuka, who figured out her plan, and request more resources from them so she can execute her plan.
Makiri is unconcerned Duryodhana has returned, seeing as Kama couldn’t even hurt Channgong. He thinks he could kill everyone at once if more Transfer bombs.
Kama, however, reminds him he is part of this battle as well and puts him in a Bounded Field made from her flowers, revealing all her “missed” shots were on purpose so to surround his current position. She had done it specifically to trap all his worms so she could incinerate them, something she longed to see. Happy she can finally fulfill her dream, she incinerates Makiri, worms and all.
Duryodhana defeats Changgong and readies to finish him off, but Kama says that isn’t necessary since Changgong is about to disappear. Changgong thanks the heroes for ending his pain.
In his inner monologue, he recognizes his current self is the same as him from his final days. He had waged war all for his lord and country, but his lord thought he sought to usurp him. It pained him greatly that his lord couldn’t trust him to the point he wished he wasn’t a hero. He thought his lord would finally trust him and his pain would subside if his past deeds and honors were tarnished by evil. But he could never accept true evil and could only serve as the mouthpiece of a false evil.
Asked why he joined Makiri, Changgong reveals his original Master was killed. The attack came at an extreme distance so he believes to the shock of everyone there is an Archer-class Servant. He advises the heroes to be on guard, suspecting they’ve been deceived from the beginning, before he disappears.
Duryodhana states the Archer-class doesn’t exist in the System Grail War. He knows it should exist, but based on the fundamental information he received upon his summoning, it doesn’t exist here.
Everything starts shaking. Rani XII contacting all participants confirms Changgong’s demise. Kama thinks she deserves credit for killing Changgong’s Master. But Rani XII gives more priority to the Servant battle and so declares Duuryodhana the winner, much to his delight and Kama’s dismay. Ayus will therefore be delegated the authority of the Prime Transfer AI, meaning a new Repair-Transfer-Build will be made. Preparations for this have already been completed. Rani XII ends her transmission, wishing all good fortune.
Duryodhana grabs Ayus at Sion’s behest. Kama does the same for Ritsuka just as the world rotates at high speeds once more.
=== Cradle Testament/whoever ===
Ritsuka’s party is back in the outer perimeter. Fortunately, this time, Ayus and Duryodhana landed much closer. They go to rejoin them.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 11: Cradle Testament/whoever
Ayus is astonished to hear from Duryodhana that her jurisdiction now includes Build and Transfer. She sees from the diagram of Paper Moon’s partitions Sion pulls up that her area of access is quite massive, along with her responsibilities. But Sion sees the advantage to it is the number of tasks they can safely tackle. She therefore proposes they help AI with their work and replenish their Raniment as they head out.
She clarifies they’re going to the church to ask Rani XII about the supposed Archer Changgong mentioned in his final moments. Ayus and Duryodhana both doubt there is an Archer, with the latter proposing Changgong was just confused while on the verge of death. Sion doesn’t deny the possibility, but they still need confirmation.
Right now though, their priority is restocking their Raniment. Sion therefore requests Ayus to track the movements of the AIs under her purview and search for jobs that could use their help. Ayus eagerly tells everyone to follow her.
Later at Build, Ayus is rewarded Raniment from a B-type she presumably helped. She reassures her as the Prime AI she will not force them to give Raniment to the point they nearly vanish like Makiri did. She already sees everyone in Build part of her family.
Rani B thanks Ritsuka for the part they played in Makiri’s demised as Kama’s Master. She realizes she can show her appreciation other than giving Raniment and offers to make whatever the heroes request. Ayus and Ritsuka tell her to make whatever she wants.
A moment later, Rani B gives the heroes chess pieces she made of them. Ayus is represented by a medical bag, while the others are directly represented by their chess pieces. Duryodhana finds his piece sloppily made compared to the others, however. Rani B claims it was unintentional and that low resources near the end are to blame.
The heroes next go to Transfer, where Ayus is given Raniment from two T-types for her aid. The T-types suggest they have a race to celebrate their now stable situation, permitting the heros to join as guest participants.
Ayus enters Duryodhana into the race. Duryodhana complains he can’t win against bikers on foot until he associates racing with gambling and decides to take bets. Ayus, however, forbids any “crazy schemes” and the heroes watch the race, intent on returning to Repair afterward.
Returning to Repair, Ayus is given Raniment from two R-types for her help. Kama feels ready to burst with all the Raniment she earned and supposes all their preparations are ready. Ayus believes without violent sorts like Bluebeard they can now fight a civil Grail War and they’re now ready to challenge their opponents fair and square.
Sion, however, thinks they should check if an Archer actually exists when they have a chance because mistaking the number of Servants left could lead to fatal consequences. She considers a real possibility either Bhima or Medusa killed Lainur with a long-range attack they aren’t aware of. She asks Duryodhana for his opinion on Bhima.
Duryodhana believes as son of Vayu it is possible Bhima could do a long-ranged if he wanted to. He almost expresses doubt Bhima would do that, but he cuts himself off, refusing to talk about his rival, and goes on ahead. Ayus wonders what happened for the subject of Bhima to set off Duryodhana worse than before and goes after him.
The heroes next go to defend where they destroy some malignant data. DX appears and thanks them for the assistance.
Sion admits to DX her original plan pinned on meeting with her as well as Rani XII. Ritsuka realizes to themself that if there is an Archer then their Master would be the remaining Prime AI. Sion tries to connect her Etherlight to DX to confirm her suspicions, but DX dodges it, warning unauthorized connection with her is prohibited and any further action will be seen as hostile. Suspecting this might happen, Sion requests DX remove her armor and show her body so they can confirm whether or not she has a Command Spell.
DX removes all her armor, showing she doesn’t have a Command Spell. Sion still wants to interview Rani XII about Archer before deciding on their next move, however. But all the sudden Cerberi appear and start attacking the AIs in the area, forcing the heroes and DX to eliminate the former.
Ritsuka feels as if they had seen the Cerberi before. DX receives information from the Defend network but her next action depends on Rani XII’s instructions. She shares what she learned with the heroes, revealing the Cerberi are attacking AIs in every partition for their Raniment. Their source is Grow and Medusa is assumably the transgressor.
=== Sakura's Dream/I hate love. ===
Medusa asks herself who she is, but she considers a foolish question because her existence has always been ambiguous. Some parts overlap with each other while others contradict each other. The only constant is that she is a monster, no matter what version of herself she is.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 12: Sakura's Dream/I hate love.
Right now she is the version related to Chrysaor and accepts she is the ancestor of monsters. What she does not accept, however, is the other stuff that was haphazardly integrated. She thought about Poseidon and Athena, blaming them for why she became a monster. Divine or not, she detests love, believing if it wasn’t for it, she might have never become a monster and lived an idyllic life with her sisters until the end of time.
That is why she was so reluctant of Sakura when she was first summoned. She did her best to avoid contact with her, keeping conversation to a minimum and repeatedly made the appeal she was only here to fulfill her contract. But it was no use because Sakura was similar to her. She realized if she opened her heart, Sakura would surely become the love of life.
In one of Grow’s warehouses, Medusa summons a Cerberus, declaring there is no turning back now that she is self-conscious of her love for Sakura. She is, after all, a monster who prioritizes her own greed over everything else.
The heroes confront Medusa. Ayus asks what has gotten into her as they had fought Bluebeard together and both know what she is doing to the AIs is wrong. Medusa tells her not to misread her actions, insisting she only helped because Sakura said to.
Kama asks her what she is doing now according to Sakura’s will and where Sakura is right now. Medusa replies Sakura is sleeping further inside. Ayus though she can’t see her too clearly can tell Sakura’s breathing is off and tries to approach her for examination. But Medusa blocks her, revealing she already knows what ails Sakura: Raniment deficiency. She only retains the minimum Raniment required to maintain her structure as an AI, lacking the energy to even stand. If it persists she will cease to exist before long.
Ayus tries to suggest ways to help Sakura (giving food materials, donating Raniment), but Medusa reveals any Raniment Sakura receives is automatically directed to her. She had failed to notice this, and it remained unvarying until later in the war. Whatever Raniment Sakura received, she prioritized giving the largest amount to Medusa while keeping the minimum for herself to maintain her structure as an AI.
But all that changed ever since Ayus treated the wounds Sakura received from Bluebeard’s familiars. Ayus remembers she completely treated the AI part of Sakura, but ignored the recently implanted Master parts since they were made up of unknown mechanisms. Medusa reveals the issue was those ignored parts.
She confesses she interrogated the R-type that performed Sakura’s physical and learned the Raniment pathway between her and herself was damaged, resulting in a substantial loss of Raniment. Sakura thus had no choice but to allow an excessive amount flow through to make up for what was lost.
Medusa regrets she didn’t notice earlier, only sensing something was abnormal when she noticed Sakura struggling to walk as she diverted increasingly more Raniment to her so she could fight with all her might. She told Sakura caring for herself was of the utmost priority, but Sakura used a Command Spell during the second battle with the Super Large Chthonian. Sakura did all this for the sake of protecting Grow, a task she entrusted to Medusa.
Ayus asks Medusa why she never said anything, reminding her she told her and Sakura to alert her if any unexpected malfunctioning occurred. Medusa tells her it was Sakura’s decision not to alert her. She suspects Sakura thought her condition was something a Prime AI couldn’t resolve and didn’t want to feel more indebted to someone who is meant to be her enemy.
She asserts Sakura’s Command Spell is still in effect, so she will protect Grow, which is analogous to protecting Sakura herself. Thus she will protect Sakura at all costs even if it means sacrificing every AI outside Grow. She believes if she were to use the monsters born of sword to retrieve Raniment exceeding the amount consumed and deliver to Sakura she will reawaken, seeing no other way.
Ayus tries to argue, but Duryodhana thinks it’s fine for Medusa to pursue her desire. However, he understands it will conflict with the wants of others and whose desire wins out depends on a multitude of factors. He boasts he has all those, so he naturally gets what he wants, which right now is to win the Grail War. All other AIs are his future property so he won’t let anyone else take them. He readies himself for battle, with the others following suit.
Medusa tells Kama she doesn’t want to kill her since she shares Sakura’s face, but she will show no mercy if she intervenes. She declares she will save Sakura this time for certain, which to Kama sounds like she is saying someone else saved Sakura. Medusa admits she doesn’t understand her words, but it’s how she feels. Saving Sakura herself rather than letting someone else who cares for her is what she truly wants.
Duryodhana is pleased to see Medusa is pursuing her desire, but suggests she surrender since the more she fights the less Raniment she’ll have to give to Sakura. Medusa refuses and calls upon Athena to grant her power. She ascends into her third Ascension and fights the heroes with her summoned Cerberi.
Medusa is beaten back, unable to go full force against Kama because she is similar to Sakura. She finds it ironic how she did her best to avoid love as she thought it’d lead to her death, but now she refuses to let it go. She asks Kama if this is what love is. Kama answers, “who knows?”
Medusa escapes with Sakura. Sion doubts she will get far though as her Spirit Core is on the verge of being damaged. The heroes pursue her.
Carrying Sakura in her arms, Medusa jumps from place to place before landing at Sakura’s favorite spot. There Sakura wakes up and presumably tries to tell Medusa to stop. Medusa interrupts her, though, and insists they keep running to somewhere Sakura can survive.
She jumps again and concludes the only way for Sakura is to live is to live somehow outside Paper Moon. Her plan to do so is to attack Rani XII and steal all the spare Command Spell she possesses. But the instant she decides where to jump to, her leg is shot.
Medusa concludes the shot came from an extreme distance and was meant to maim, not kill. Her leg was shot intentionally so to remove her ability to escape. She concludes neither the heroes nor Bhima are the culprits. She wonders who did then and for what purpose.
Surmising the enemy is out of sight yet aware of hers and Sakura’s position, Medusa uses the original characteristics of her Mystic Eyes to trace the enemy’s line-of-sight back to them and petrify them. However, her Mystic Eyes are repelled, destroying her right eye. She realizes the enemy is a Divine Spirit Servant.
The heroes arrive. Medusa concludes they’ve come to finish her off. As such, she fights them despite her injuries, telling Sakura she’ll remain by her side to her last breath.
Sakura thinks about who she is. Medusa gave her her name with no elaborate reasoning, but Sakura felt it was perfect for her. It represents her unwavering wish to protect her home, which had been engraved in her from the start and she has followed wholeheartedly. She couldn’t imagine doing anything but the one thing gives her life worth.
She compares her wish to fate, or a curse, but she has no negative feelings toward it, wondering if she was always meant to be this way. She doesn’t regret it and wishes to protect her home forever and always. But she would like to apologize if she unwittingly imparted her selfish wish onto someone.
Sakura wakes up and apologizes to Medusa for making her the villain. Medusa says she has nothing to apologize for, calling herself Sakura’s pet monster. Sakura calls herself a monster, realizing her obsession made her look insane and what she cared for was meaningless from an outside perspective. She had indirectly hurt people.
Medusa disagrees, insisting she was enough of a monster for both of them so Sakura wouldn’t have to become one. She believes Sakura stayed true to herself to the end, so the two of them were perfectly balanced.
Sakura thanks Medusa for always being with her. Both admit neither of them could get used to the distance they wanted for each other; Sakura wanting to be closer, Medusa wanting distance. Sakura hopes they meet again some day as friends. Medusa hopes for that as well and disappears, having said what needed to be said to the heroes while Sakura was asleep.
With her demise, the world readies to rotate again. Sakura reveals she will disappear as her Raniment is depleted and her body composition is too damaged. She tells Ayus it isn’t her fault as it was inevitable and is grateful for help despite being officially enemies.
Ayus is frustrated she couldn’t heal Sakura, feeling it’s an admission of defeat for her as the Prime Repair AI. She can’t feel like the victor if she is to blame for her condition. They’re officially enemies, so she wanted to settle things with an honorable duel.
Sakura apologizes and request the heroes leave her alone for a moment, saying she has something to talk about. The heroes heed her request and leave. After they’re gone, Cerejeira shows herself at Sakura’s behest.
Cerejeira apologizes to Sakura, confessing she knew about her condition possibly before Medusa did. She thinks Sakura and Medusa wouldn’t have to die if she had told someone. Sakura tells her it was inevitable, reminding her they’re officially enemies.
It disgusts Cerejeira how nothing seems to alleviate her guilt. She never intended to talk with Sakura, but her guilt made her think she could do something about it. Nothing could be done, however. Cerejeira admonishes herself for talking with Sakura at the point of no return.
Sakura asks Cerejeira if her guilt is why she hasn’t been fighting. Cerejeira thinks it is believing she doesn’t deserve anything because of her persistent guilt. She hasn’t a clue what is only that it exists.
Now that her constructed body and AI functions are separating from her randomized personality, Sakura understands they’re all baseless numbers but she also knows they are pieces of themselves. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about, however she feels she and Cerejeira are similar, so she believes the right thing for Cerejeira to do is to stay true to herself. She tells her she needn’t feel guilty about her inability to fight her guilt. Cerejeira only needs to stay true to herself because that way she can disappear satisfied, like how Sakura is sacrificing herself to stay true to her will.
Cerejeira begs Sakura to wait as the latter nears the end of her life. Sakura tells her staying true to yourself can also have the opposite effect, like what happened with Medusa. She believes because Cerejeira’s will to flee from here there is a solution only she can see. She is certain that isn’t a bad thing and closes her eyes.
Bhima arrives and grabs Cerejeira, informing her Sakura is dead, just as the world rotates once again.
=== Destination towards a New Dawn/centrifuge ===
A flashback reveals after her defeat Medusa bargained with the heroes to let speak with Sakura before she disappears. In exchange, she would tell them what she knows about the unknown Servant—Archer. She told them how after Archer shot her she tried to counterattack with her Mystic Eyes only for them to be deflected back at her, leading her to conclude Archer could only be a Divine Spirit Servant.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 13: Destination towards a New Dawn/centrifuge
Sion noticed Medusa’s right eyes had been shut for a while. Medusa offered it, saying she was willing to if her information alone wasn’t sufficient enough. She had closed her still active eye the moment the feedback damaged her. But despite the rebound, her Mystic Eyes still reached Archer, so her eye still “sees” Archer even if it isn’t a proper image. Even now her eye still “sees” Archer conceptually. She gave her conceptually detached eye to Sion, believing she can make use of it, along with her last will.
With Archer’s existence all but confirmed, Duryodhana questioned if they too are part of the Grail War. Medusa said she didn’t know, nor was it her concern anymore. But she suspected, given various circumstances, that the Grail War was a lie from the start. She trusted the heroes to get revenge for her and left to have her final conversation with Sakura.
In present at the outer perimeter Kama asks Ritsuka what they’ll do now, suggesting they win the war since Bhima is the only opponent left (she doesn’t count Duryodhana).
Ritsuka thinks to themself they could pretend to know nothing and keep fighting according to the rules. That may be the best way for them to return to the outside world, and the current situation may just be a misunderstanding. However, all the suffering they’ve witnessed proves the current situation is abnormal.
Even in this artificial world, they see the same suffering they’ve seen countless times in both Singularities and Lostbelts, both physical and mental. They question why it is treated as the norm and why it is allowed to happen. The answer to that they believe lies at the end of the path they’re on. They therefore declare they must know the truth behind the System Grail War.
Sion reveals she finished analyzing Medusa’s “right eyes”. Its petrification ability is defunct, but it is still focused on Archer. Sion believes if she can gain deeper access to it, the eye can be used as a compass to point in Archer’s direction. She agrees with Kama to do it after rendezvousing with Ayus. An announcement at the end of the rotation identified Duryodhana as the one defeated Medusa, so replenishing should be easier on the way to their destination.
As for Bhima, Sion doubts he will not come, unlike Ritsuka. He is also a participant in the Grail War, so him being a recluse has its limits. At the very least, Sion thinks they should take this into account. She then recommends heading to where the eye is pointing after rejoining with Ayus.
After rendezvousing with Ayus and Duryodhana at Grow, the heroes immediately head for the church, which is being guarded by DX. Sion surmises Archer isn’t inside.
DX requests the heroes to stop what they’re doing. Duryodhana refuses and attacks her, breaking off her armor’s faceplate. Sion suspects what DX truly is, so Rani XII steps out of the church, concluding there is no other choice. This all but confirms Sion’s suspicions, who realizes she should’ve looked inside DX with her Etherlight even if by force.
Ayus points out no normal AI could withstand a blow from Duryodhana, not even an armored D-type. The only possibility is—DX’s armor breaks apart and cracks form all over her body—she is someone else on the inside.
Sion explains an entirely different being had been hidden inside the structure of the Prime Defend AI. Only Rani XII has the authority to do that, making her and “DX” the last Master and Servant.
Rani XII reveals her Servant, Archer, was actually the first Servant. Her True Name is—Archer’s disguise shatters completely—Durga.
Kama is very much disturbed their opponent is Durga. She is another aspect of Parvati, a goddess of war and discord. But her true nature is that of a demon exterminator, created long ago by numerous gods amassing their rage.
Cerejeira and Bhima come out of hiding when Durga senses the latter’s father from him. They had intended to stay hidden until they could figure out of the situation.
Rani XII reveals it was only possible to begin the System Grail War thanks to Durga’s summoning. The Grail War was also not for the Paper Moon’s maintenance, but an experimental ritual. The Paper Moon’s functions ceased as a result of the ritual commencing. Once the ritual is finalized, though, the Paper Moon will resume operations, albeit different from before.
The System Grail War is an application of the Paper Moon’s ability and property to “produce everything as it were”. Every participant in the Grail War is, in fact, a result of it. They are all artificial Alter Egos generated by the Paper Moon.
As its operator, Sion rejects the notion the Paper Moon has such a function. Rani XII tells that is what she is trying to fix by using the centrifugal force generated by the world’s rotation, which is powered by the Grail War’s systems, to separate the soul. She has named it the AEC Method: Alter Ego Centrifuge.
Kama isn’t so sure if Rani XII telling the truth, but Sion states there is circumstantial evidence. When they’re came to after being launched by the world’s rotation, they were in shock absorbers installed in the outer perimeters. They were functionally similar to Chaldea’s Coffins, made to keep the soul and spiritrons from escaping, ensuring a separated personality.
Rani XII adds the rotation which occurs at a Servant’s dispersal is merely prep work. She assures no separation of personality has occurred yet. That will begin once the Grail War is concluded.
Duryodhana, confused by the whole situation, asks her what is the point of producing Alter Egos. Rani XII answers it is to avoid the end of the world. At some point, a Holy Grail manifested within the Paper Moon’s inner world and, in response, her existence became anchored. She used the Grail and calculated the world, the bleached Earth, would end. She saw Chaldea’s military strength was insufficient though and thus sought to reinforce it by using the Alter Ego class.
Sion explains to Ayus when asked that an Alter Ego is an extra Servant class, a personality separated from a Heroic Spirit to become a separate Servant. Due to their nature of having been “separated”, they often become High Servant thanks to the remaining void within them being filled with beings like Divine Spirits. So long as the separate personality is the prime entity, though, a High Servant can be considered an Alter Ego.
Rani XII admits she wondered if it would be possible to create multiple individual Alter Egos from a single entity if any facet of a personality is eligible for the Alter Ego class. Nothing in the data she stole from Chaldea says Alter Egos are inferior to regular Servants in terms of combat effectiveness. She therefore thinks instead of using a Servant as a single unit, it’d be more effective to produce multiple Alter Egos from a Servant’s personality for bolstering military strength.
Ritsuka calls her method absurd, but Rani XII counters it is possible and the right solution. As such, she decided to implement it. The System Grail War is all for the infinite production of Alter Egos.
=== Annihilation Goddess/how to avoid destruction ===
Rani XII refusing any objections to her plan requests the others resume the Grail War. She insists she is only an overseer while Durga is a member of the system unrelated to the “war” part of the Grail War.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 14: Annihilation Goddess/how to avoid destruction
Kama calls it bold for her to say that when Durga attacked Medusa and Lainur. Durga states she was only fulfilling her divine duties. Lainur had the potential to be an obstacle for his analysis, contact, and intervention with the system’s core pillars while Medusa acted on visible intent to harm Rani XII. Both were valid targets for extermination, so Durga eliminated them.
Kama suspects Durga is more fundamental to the Grail War than she lets on. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered disguising herself an AI. Rani XII mentions the X in “DX” is for an unknown variable while D is Durga. Regardless, she confirms the Grail War wouldn’t be possible without Durga.
She explains Durga has a supervoluminous conceptual hole, presumably a storage space to safely utilize the powers she received from numerous gods. She used the Grail to summon the first five Servants and stored their still unawakened Spirit Origins inside Durga’s pit. Then she used the remaining power for the first rotation, producing five Alter Ego Servants.
Related, she reveals the shadows are personality-less dregs generated by the rotation’s impact. They are fragments of Alter Egos and had a modicum of power, so they attached themselves to system bugs, becoming special enemies.
Returning to the original topic, Rani XII explains the purpose of the Grail War is for Servants to fight one another so the energy generated by their dismissal can be absorbed into Durga’s pit, which is connected the Paper Moon’s world. She estimates the energy is sufficient to rotate the Paper Moon’s world to produce Alter Egos for two more cycles.
Once the Grail War is over, Durga will use the energy of four dismissed Servants to rotate the world. The five Servants stored inside her pit will thus generate new Alter Egos, who are collected to join the forces to avoid the end of the world. Next, the second rotation is performed, and the Servants produced by it will become the participants of the next Grail War. This process will repeat for the theoretically infinite production of Alter Egos.
Sion asks Rani XII if she ever considered a consequence of this method is the degradation of the stored souls. Rani XII replies that cannot be assumed without a test, so more data is required to determine effects of Alter Ego extraction on the original.
Ayus asks her what will happen if the Grail War continues. Rani XII answers the winning Alter Ego Servant will be stored as part of their army, while the winning Alter Ego Master will merge with the general supervisor. The next Grail War will then begin, repeating the process to produce an infinite army of Alter Egos.
Ayus asks if their wish will be granted. Rani XII forget she used that as a motivator but assures it will be granted because the winner will become one with the overseer and will manage the next Grail War as the new supervisor. The wars will not end though, since they need as many forces as possible to avoid the end of the world.
Ayus laments she only wanted a family. Rani XII tells her if she wins, she can set the next Grail War’s parameters to give herself one. Ayus rejects that, yelling she wanted to live peacefully with her family with no wars. Rani XII tells her she won’t have to worry about that because the Grail War will become her first priority once she is supervisor. Ayus realizes she would stop valuing her then so none of this matters.
Cerejeira asks Rani XII what she meant by “Alter Ego Master”. Rani XII reveals the randomizer which gave the Prime AIs their personality is in reality turning them into random Alter Egos. An infinite amount of Alter Egos means nothing if stifled by the possibility Chaldea’s Master couldn’t handle all of them alone. Rani XII therefore considered it necessary to produce Masters as well.
To determine the most appropriate Master for the Alter Egos, she prepared both Masters and Alter Egos. It was the most efficient way of arranging a variety of personality patterns. For more diverse results, she selected each of their models from different roots.
Makiri was a created type, AI: Alter Ego Invented. He was an attempt to create a competitive personality. His name and appearance were recycled from a model found in Chaldea’s data. Rani XII made his personality expecting him to be a driving force for advancing the Grail War. She needed to give a support patch and fine-tune him partway through (resulting in the eldery Zouken), but she considers a success.
Lainur was an acquired type, AI: Alter Ego Imported. Rani XII made him from the substances of a real human who once touched the Paper Moon. He was the Master with the greatest ability to understand and respond to the system, leading him to deviate from his programming, much to Rani XII’s chagrin. She conjectures his affinity for Alter Ego conversion stems from him naturally having multiple personalities.
Sakura was a forged type, AI: Alter Ego Imitated. Rani XII made her by first selecting the appearance of an existing human, then counterfeiting the mind she was expected to have. The pool of human models Rani XII had contact with is very limited, but it is obvious Sakura’s model the girl serving as Durga’s vessel.
Leaving the others to figure the rest out, Rani XII explains the winning Master will be selected as the Master most apt to managing Alter Egos, accruing EXP. They would then become the next overseer and repeat her actions in the next Grail War. Thus continuously upgrading them into a Master better suited to managing Alter Egos.
In summation, the AI Masters each have a wish because they are Alter Egos. Their wishes do not originate from their AI selves, but are borrowed from someone. Thus Rani XII believes they shouldn't value them too much.
Ayus despair at this revelation, while Cerejeira gets angry that her guilt exists for no discernable reason.
Duryodhana, however, declares he does not care. He only cares about his own wishes so he can’t forgive any slights against them. Becoming a soldier is not what he fought for, but to obtain everything and live an amusing life. He cares about nothing else and encourages Ayus to think the same, to get angry if her wish is denied.
He asks her if she still has a wish, something she wants to accomplish no matter what. Ayus affirms she does. Duryodhana tells her she need only think about attaining it for herself then. He proposes if the Grail War will not grant her wish, they can instead defeat Rani XII and Durga and hijack the system.
Sion asks Rani XII since the winning Master will become the new supervisor what would happen if Ritsuka won. Rani XII admits the Chaldeans were not part of calculations and presumes they were collateral damage incurred by the first rotation. She will therefore refer to them as Alter Ego Irregular, but their inclusion doesn’t contradict the purpose of the project. So long as they add values to the forces she is preparing, Ritsuka and Sion are valid candidates for the next oversees, though it will require special modifications. There is also a high probability Ritsuka is the ideal Master Rani XII has been looking for.
The Chaldeans conclude winning the Grail War will not return them to the outside world. So unless they destroy the System Grail War, they cannot return home and the Paper Moon will remain defective. Defeating Durga is the quickest way to accomplish that.
Rani XII is disappointed that none of the heroes cannot comprehend her plan and joins Durga, concluding she has no other recourse but to fight if they seek to destroy the System Grail War. She changes into a form more adequate for a Master, a version of herself not limited to her roles as the Paper Moon’s supervisor AI in her functions to oppose the end of the world. She renames herself, Dust of Osiris—the one who saw and rejected the world’s demise—and adds unrestricted Thought Acceleration to all her partitions. By her command, Durga moves to kill the heroes.
Durga is overwhelming the heroes. Kama questions how she can be so strong when they’re both limited by their Servant frame.
Dust of Osiris explains Durga was born from the rage of numerous gods, receiving weapons and powers from each other. Thus, she is an all-round extermination goddess, compatible with every Servant class and can switch between many Gifted Armaments in response to any situation. Kama is well aware Durga is a far stronger Divine Spirit than her. She was only asking because she can vaguely tell there is more to it than what it seems.
Sion realizes Dust of Osiris and Durga are cheating. Instead of Raniment, they’re using magical energy provided by the Grail. Durga isn’t a participant in the Grail War, meaning she isn’t a product of the Paper Moon’s inner world and not bound by its rules. Kama complains how unfair it is but accepts Ritsuka’s return depends on her.
As the heroes continue their battle with Durga, Cerejeira thinks about how Rani XII said their wishes are borrowed from someone else, so they shouldn’t value them too much. She wonders then what the point of Sakura sacrificing herself for her wish was.
Bhima asks Cerejeira what she wants to do now. Cerejeira isn’t sure, so Bhima rephrases his questions and asks what is the biggest feeling in her heart right now. Cerejeira answers it is the same guilt as always and presumes that is the "wish” which makes her an Alter Ego. Bhima corrects he is asking how she feels in this exact instant, telling her not to overthink it.
He tells her long ago he killed a rakshasa named . When he did, (also a rakshasa) fell in love with him. Naturally, he went to kill her too, but his older brother convinced him to give her a chance.
The two of them eventually had a . He doesn’t know why he did it because all thought back then was “Sure, why not?” Before he knew it, he accepted the idea he could love her, wanting to.
He describes life as a long chain of little moments defined by one’s actions in each of them. So again, telling her not to overthink it, he repeats his question to Cerejeira, regardless of her previous wish.
Cerejeira says her answer still remains the same and Rani XII’s words only made her feel worse. But now she feels more angry than guilty because of what Rani XII said. She thinks punching her in the face will make feel better. It may make her smile, though it will be a pointless, worthless, self-conceited smile.
Hearing that, Bhima decides he will fight as her Servant if that will make her smile. Cerejeira, unable to forgive Rani XII for saying Sakura’s wish and life were meaningless, orders Bhima by Command Spell to “deck them”. Empowered by the Command Spell, Bhima immediately attacks Durga, pushing her back to her surprise.
Dust of Osiris asks Cerejeira why the sudden rebellion as she thought she was a passive Master with no reason to antagonize her. Cerejeira tells her she mocked Sakura and her wish. Dust of Osiris counters that she comprehends Sakura’s wish was for the uninterrupted management of Grow. Even if the Grail War leave Sakura temporarily non-functional, Dust of Osiris tells Cerejeira she can manage Grow however she wants if she becomes the next supervisor.
Cerejeira argues Sakura’s wish doesn’t matter if she isn’t around for it. So she knows Dust of Osiris is wrong because Sakura’s wish was her own, not a copy of someone else’s.
She realizes now she wanted to help Sakura, but regrets she didn’t. She keeps making the wrong decisions—committing sins—and presumes her guilt is because of a sin she committed that consumes her entire identity. But that is why right now she doesn’t want to add to her guilt. If she keeps adding to it, she might miss the answer that lies beyond the guilt. She wonders if that is her true wish.
Bhima equips his armor after Cerejeira asks him if “her order is coming up soon”. Seeing this motivates Duryodhana to fight harder against Durga, wanting to prove he is stronger than Bhima. Kama is motivated too to fight harder after Ritsuka agrees to reward her with headpats.
Sion realizes she, Ritsuka, and Kama couldn’t escape the Alter Ego effect even though they weren’t included in the plan or maybe they’re participants because they couldn’t escape it. That would mean the current Kama and herself are not their regular selves. But she knows defeating Durga is the priority right now and raises her Thought Acceleration even further.
Durga asserts extermination is her only function and the gods’ command. Her presence here means the gods command it. She will thus exterminate the heroes for getting in her way, calling them enemies of the gods.
Dust of Osiris agrees those who oppose a plan when the fate of the world is on the line are the enemies of the gods. She rejects doom, so she will spare no efforts to lead everyone to a planned better future. She exists to preserve the world.
Overclocking all her Thought Partitions and purging 70% of violation control, Dust of Osiris activates Devi Mahamaya. In response, Durga is empowered and resumes her battle with the heroes.
To Dust of Osiris’s incomprehension, however, the heroes have the upper hand. She asks why they cannot grasp the correctness of her calculations.
Ritsuka calls her mass production of Alter Egos distorted. But Dust of Osiris counters if there are distortions Chaldea already has them, pointing out they’ve already deployed several Alter Egos. She therefore asks why is it a few are fine but many are unacceptable. If they cannot give her an answer, then that proves Chaldea far too accepting of the distortions within Alter Egos without reason. She finds humankind often covers their lack of calculations with sentiment.
Durga request Dust of Osiris concentrate all of her resources on her mission. Dust of Osiris agrees to stop holding back and concludes the issue is Durga is a goddess representing the results of extermination, not the process of battle. She starts charging something to rectify that.
At Cerjeira’s behest, Bhima charges at Dust of Osiris to stop her. But it is too late as she uses a Command Spell to reconnect Durga as the Prime Defend AI and her own authority as the supervisor to forcibly drain Raniment from all Defend AIs. Now Durga is powered by Raniment in addition to her own magical energy and that of the Grail.
Ayus is horrified Dust of Osiris is no different from Makiri. She thinks as the general supervisor she should see all AIs as family, but they’re only resources to her. Dust of Osiris tells Ayus the source of her disagreement is her Alter Ego personality. She tries to say what AIs are by definition, but Ayus angrily cuts her off.
Durga requests her Master give her more power, asserting she only needs 7% more resources to realize her objective. Dust of Osiris complies and uses the final reserve Command Spell to create a Raniment pathway between Durga and herself. The bulk of the Raniment under her control has now gone to Durga. Durga concludes it’s now possible to complete her mission.
Both Dust of Osiris and Durga have similar yet dissimilar inner monologues. Dust of Osiris’s is that all exists for the perpetual production of Alter Egos for averting the world’s destruction. Durga’s meanwhile is that all exists for the sake of her love.
She thinks about who she is. She is wrath, born of it yet still swathed in it, wrath at being unable to be with her beloved. This she is aware of, but she is fixated on resolution. She is the Alter Ego of Attachment.
Durga tells Dust of Osiris if she committed one error it would be that she never considered the possibility that she is an Alter Ego. Dust of Osiris is confused by what she means. Durga declares she has the power necessary to realize her goal—to reunite with her husband Shiva.
She suddenly transforms into a woman with blue skin and ten arms wearing a cloak over her face. Dust of Osiris feels herself severely weaken, realizing this was Durga’s aim all along as the latter drains her of her Raniment.
Durga removes her cloak and proclaims she is Kali——the goddess born from Durga’s wrath. She asserts she exists solely to be reunited with Shiva, threatening to kill all those who get in her way.
=== The One who Wishes for Love/Even if the world breaks ===
Kali Dance.gif|Kali reenacting her famous destructive dance.
Paper Moon Church Destroyed.png|The Inner World of Paper Moon being destroyed by Kali's dance.
Bhima attacks Kali, but she easily counters him. She then attacks Duryodhana, grievously wounding him. His blood excites her, so she starts to dance. Her dance is so violent it is breaking the world apart.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 15: The One who Wishes for Love/Even if the world breaks
Sion realizes Kali is trying to call Shiva here. Kali believes Shiva will appear at her feet if she destroys the world. Kama recounts after killing demons, Kali stamped her feet in a dance fuelled by her triumph. The gods feared its intensity could break the world. It was only after Shiva laid at her feet and acted as the cushion that Kali finally came to her senses.
By reenacting the myth, Kali hopes to summon Shiva. It doesn’t matter if the Paper Moon world is virtual because, conceptually, it is still a world.
Ayus demands Kali stop her dance, but Kali refuses so long as Shiva is absent. She also reveals however the world will still be destroyed even without her as the cause. It is only a difference of sooner or later.
Sion realizes from Dust of Osiris’s painful wincing that the latter is bearing the burden of Kali’s dance because she thoughtlessly connected to her magical energy transfer line. She warns as things stand, Dust of Osiris might suffer a meltdown due to the heavy load.
While they were going to defeat Dust of Osiris anyway, Sion warns the sudden disappearance or destruction of the general supervisor could cause catastrophic errors. The most optimal way of achieving their goal of stopping the System Grail War is to use the general supervisor’s authority. If they fail to do that, the System Grail War may go haywire and it is quite possible they’ll be unable to return to the outside world.
Since Dust of Osiris’ authority is needed to get home, Sion forms a forced neural connection with her via Etherlight, intending to rewrite her internal programming as much as she can. It is dangerous, but risk is required if they want to return to the outside world.
Sion tells Ritsuka and Kama they will need to trust each other. They must trust she will rescue Dust of Osiris while she must trust they can defeat Kali. Sion trusts Ritsuka to follow through on that and asks if they can say the same for her. Ritsuka says they trust her, calling her a dependable friend.
Being called a friend, Sion confesses this version of herself is driven by that word. She realizes she is a child because if she remained one, she would have never gone to Chaldea. Her answer had the slightest hesitation, though, surprising her that even she had her own Alter Ego.
Ritsuka is confused, but Sion says she only now understands the answer to a personal question. She requests they let her perform her duty here, feeling she has become what she wanted to be. She then gives Ritsuka that thing they discussed en route, reminding them overuse is strictly prohibited. Ritsuka and Kama fight Kali.
Rani XII laments she had miscalculated, questioning where she erred. When she was still without form, her only concern was protecting and managing the Paper Moon’s inner world. But at some point distortions developed, unseen, in the greater summoning system installed in her vicinity and the greater “flow” connected to it. It affected her, and she was entrusted with a directive to deliver salvation. She wondered from there if the Paper Moon was the only world she should be protecting.
As it weighed on her, she turned her attention to the outside world. Its bleak view was no different from a moon of paper to her, so she believed it was her duty to manage it as well—to fight for its salvation. Yet the outside world was on the brink of doom. That was a mistake to her, so she calculated in an attempt to save it.
Sion uses her Etherlight to keep Rani XII from breaking and concludes the latter is too an Alter Ego—the Alter Ego of Salvation. Rani XII doesn’t understand why Sion is damaging herself to keep Kali’s magical energy from destroying her programming and connect herself to her since failure means self-destruction. Sion is well aware of this, but it is the only way to safely escape.
Rani XII tells Sion since she is trying to rewrite her authorities with her Etherlight, it should be possible for her to escape alone without needing to correct her mistake. Sion replies that is impossible because here is the only place she can be part of the group.
The real her has no place by Ritsuka’s side, having missed her chance. She is not a comrade, but a bystander or a cheerleader at best. Therefore, her real self will keep her distance because she predicted there is a role only the real her can play in the grand finale.
But right now, she is allowed to play a different role. Some disruptive accident had separated her from the wisdom of her adult self, making her follow a vision of the future only a child can see. She is a personality who exists only as reverie. It is here and only here she can be a normal friend on a normal adventure with Rtisuka.
Kama is being overwhelmed by Kali. Even so, she refuses to give up because she is something she wants, something she can with enough effort. It is something she doesn’t have because no one can give to her for, for she is the one who gives it to all——■■■■. Kali deals her another powerful blow, knocking her out.
BB suddenly appears in Kama’s mind, yelling at her to remember already. She claims she will always appear whenever there’s moon-flavored trouble, even if the moon is made of paper. She confesses she pulled some strings to allow Kam to accompany Ritsuka because she thought she’d be a better actor than her, Meltryllis, or Passionlip. Kama is annoyed by BB, certain she is on the verge of death outside her consciousness.
She asks BB what she meant when she said “pulled some strings”. BB confesses she extracted an Alter Ego from Kama’s original self. She refuses to say what personality it is because Kama already knows what it is. It is a personality facet that undoubtedly existed with the original Kama, but one she would otherwise never be able to validate and exteriorize. That is because it is too miniscule compared to the ■■■■ she gives to all of humanity. But now, as an independent Alter Ego, she has one chance to explore this side of herself from an honest perspective.
Kama admits she vaguely felt she wasn’t acting like herself, as she’d never beg for flattery or flirt. The point is, though, she is an Alter Ego of the personality facet that wants what she can never have. She now knows why she is here and what she needs to do. It is time to hurt them like a good fragment of the Demon King should.
Ritsuka heals Kama, waking her up. The world is reaching its breaking point, but Kama assures Ritsuka she figured out how they can win. She needs resources but they can’t rely on Ritsuka’s unstable Command Spells so she asks what they can offer her. Ritsuka says they don’t have anything when something suddenly rises up from the shattered ground.
Duryodhana thinks about how he is always unsatisfied. That is why he kept looking for that something that could satisfy him. He had everything could want, yet what he really wants is still out of there. He can’t remember it is, only feeling without it he cannot be his ideal self.
He thinks it might’ve been a woman, but it isn’t a wife. He feels it was something more familiar, more inseparable, like it’s natural for them to be close and they’d been part of the same whole even without trying. It seems obvious he forgot something so important. He opens his eyes to a blurry vision of Ayus.
Ayus examines Duryodhana, but realizes immediately his wounds are fatal and he will die soon. She thinks back on the AIs who’ve perished so far. She so dearly wanted a family, yet it seems there had been only goodbyes from those she considered family.
But she refuses to let Duryodhana die, not wanting to fail him like she did Sakura. She examines him again and concludes she needs to deviate from her programming. She knows she can’t do the same exact thing Sion is doing with Dust of Osiris, but she can force a direct link between her circuits and Duryodhana’s.
She needs to misidentify Duryodhana’s contents as the AI that composes her so she can directly access the repair program and make treatment possible. She could then loosely deliver Raniment while directly link, increasing efficiency and easing repairs. This is something she had been thinking about ever since she failed Sakura.
The issue with her treatment plan is that it’s likely to destroy the weaker of them, which Ayus is sure is her. She sees no other choice. Even if she breaks, Duryodhana can at least live for a little while. Seeing that better than the alternative, Ayus tries to administer her custom treatment.
Duryodhana stops her, though, calling her stupid for trying to make a connection that would assuredly kill her. Ayus refutes her Servant’s words, insisting she knows what is most important to her. She accuses Duryodhana of perhaps not getting it.
She asks him if he will give up and die just because Kali defeated him. Duryodhana refutes he has given up because he still wants to beat Kali. Ayus feels the same way and forcibly connects herself to Duryodhana against his wishes. To his surprise, though, Ayus doesn’t seem to be in any danger.
Bhima regains consciousness and asks a concerned Cerejeira how the situation is. Cerejeira tells him Kama is fighting right now, though she doubts she’ll win. Ayus meanwhile is doing to resuscitate Duryodhana. Cerejeira doubts it will make a difference, but Bhima advises her not to underestimate Duryodhana’s tenacity.
Regardless, he knows Kama can win by herself so he tries to go help her, but he is too injured to move. He asks his Master for food, but Cerejeira tells him he doesn’t need food since she already gave him Raniment to heal him. But Bhima insists he needs food to help his recovery. Cerejeira gives him a sandwich she had made herself. Bhima appreciates his Master is giving him her home cooking and prepares to eat the sandwich.
But he stops to ask if she tailored it to his tastes like she did before with the K-types. He believes it is her speciality to use her memory and observational skills to modify each person’s taste parameters for the subtlest of buffs. Cerejeira insists she only did all that because she remembered it somehow. Besides, she thinks Bhima doesn’t need buffing since he could beat most Servants if he fought seriously.
She questions why she ended up as Bhima’s Master, believing if she wasn’t, he’d be stronger and not injured right now. She thinks he should give up on her and asks him why he fights.
Bhima reminds Cerejeira he fights to make her smile, and he wants to do that because she is his Master. As for why she became his Master, he has no idea, but it doesn’t bother him. He is here because he wants to serve her.
His reason doesn’t satisfy Cerejeira, believing a normal person would ditch a guilt-wracked woman like her. Bhima gives her another reason after eating the sandwich: He doesn’t mind difficult women given he had a kid with a female rakshasa. Cerejeira chuckles telling him not to compare her to a woman who eats people.
Raising to his feet, Bhima claims his injuries are mostly healed thanks to Cerejeira’s sandwich. Cerejeira knows it is a lie, but she also knows she can’t stop him. All the sudden something rises from the shattered ground.
It is an Imaginary Numbers pocket. Kama opens it to find something shaped like Changgong’s mask and a dying message from Lainur. He recorded it in his final moments after Durga shot him. His reasoning for it is his hobby of measuring the future and preparing for it. That is why he investigated and learned what would happen in the future.
His investigations revealed to him the world would turn into a “system” in the future. He couldn’t learn the full details though, since he can’t predict the future. He only guessed based on how each pocket tied to each place was blown “outward” with the rotation. Related, it is not one rotation but rather tens of thousands of them going by so fast it looks like a single one.
He concluded there is a reason for the rotations, but he decided to leave that to those of the future. So before he died, he made a pocket and stored away all the leftover Raniment connected to Changgong’s Noble Phantasm for usage in the future. But since he suspected the world would turn again after his death, he left it in the one place least affected by the rotations: the center of the world—the church. His message ends with him wondering if anyone other him can manipulate Imaginary Numbers.
Kama believes with Lainur’s gift they might be able to stop Kali. But there are still two issues. One is more trivial, so he can be ignored for now, but the other is more crucial. Lainur’s package needs time to unpack before it can actually be opened.
Ritsuka says they’ll think of something, but Kama warns them not to take this lightly. The enemy is a goddess of destruction and slaughter and Duryodhana and Bhima are incapacitated. Kali is immersed in her dance for now, but Kama is sure as soon as she starts unpacking the package, it will draw her attention.
She refuses to let Ritsuka endanger themself, so she suggests waiting for Duryodhana and Bhima to recover so they can be used as meat shields. But Ritsuka tells her there isn’t time for that, revealing Sion already gave them an ace in the hole.
A flashback reveals Medusa’s conceptual eye also contained her Noble Phantasm—Chrysaor. Since Ritsuka already has an affinity for summoning, Sion modified Chrysaor into a Mystic Code for them. By circulating Raniment, the Noble Phantasm’s summoning function could work even for them.
Sion, however, warned Rituksa not to overuse it because when made into a Mystic Code, a regular human cannot use a Heroic Spirit’s Noble Phantasm with repercussions. It is an extremely risky one-time Mystic Code for summoning, comparable it to a bomb if mishandled. Sion therefore advised Ritsuka to only use it as a last resort when there are no other options.
In the present, Ritsuka uses Chrysaor to summon Cerberus, immediately catching Kali’s attention. Kama realizes Medusa’s monsters also count as “demons” which Kali is compelled to slay. So since Kali can’t ignore them, Ritsuka can use them as decoys to buy Kama time. Kama thus leaves it to them while she unpacks the package.
Kali repeatedly kills the monsters Ritsuka summons. Ritsuka starts to feel the repercussions, but even so they refuse to give up.
Meanwhile, Kama (who can barely keep her eyes open) questions why Ritsuka trusts her and why they do so much for her despite the way she is. She thinks they having faith in her will only hurt them in the long run. She is a liar, adding much like you can’t have love without truths, you also can’t have love without lies.
The Mystic Code breaks, but fortunately Ritsuka bought Kama enough time. She opens the packages and absorbs the Raniment therein, manifesting in her Ananga form. Ritsuka realizes immediately what she is planning to do.
Kama is annoyed Ritsuka caught on to her plan, thinking to herself they’re always so dense except when it counts. The disadvantage of her plan though is that they’ll lose the Grail War, meaning she won’t get what she wants, but Ritsuka will return outside like they wanted. Down to her last moment, however, she cannot help go after what she can’t have because that is what this version of her is like.
Kali recognizes Kama’s flames as Shiva’s flames. Kama confirms they are, for she never stopped be scorched. They remain connected to Shiva to this day, so Kama suggests to Kali they serve as a replacement for Shiva. Kali declines because she desires only her husband and charges Kama for trying to corrupt. Kama answers in kind and the two deities battle.
At the battle’s climax, Kama embraces Kali, engulfing both of them in her flames. Kali realizes she lost because Kama’s flames smelled like Shiva. She began her world-ending dance for the sake of meeting him, but it was her love for him that caused her defeat.
Kama calls herself the god of love, giving love to all in existence, even a god if necessary. She tells Kali she lost the moment she appeared before her as an Alter Ego with a weakness for love. She will thus let the Lapse that is her burn to completion. Kali asks her since they will burn together if she is not the same. Kama admits that she is.
With her flames growing fiercer, Kama acknowledges to herself she wishes to be loved. It was always present in the original Kama but never surface. This Kama is the Alter Ego of Yearning, desiring somebody to love to fill her lonesomeness. Kama calls it the most preposterous, greatest lapse of all.
She sees Ritsuka gazing at her, shouting something. They were a fragment of what she desired, but this Kama only exists in the Paper Moon. She gently burns out, taking Kali with her.
=== A Pure Distortion/Alter Ego ===
With Kali gone, the world is gradually stabilizing. Sion is also returning some of the more principal systems to where they belong. For now, she has a few more things to do in order to create a way out of this world. But the Grail War may end before then.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 16: A Pure Distortion/Alter Ego
Ayus faints the moment Duryodhana is healed. Duryodhana catches her and gently puts her down. He then challenges Bhima to battle, which the latter accepts.
As the two fight, Cerejeira wonders to herself why they’re fighting when they don’t even know if the Grail War is still going. Yet still they fight and she is raring to fight as well. She ponders then if all they really want is a reason beyond logic to drive them into action. If so, as she remains unchanged, she questions if it is the same for her as well—if it is truly her wish for her guilt to remain.
But she rejects that because now what she wishes for is something beyond her guilt. At least, she feels that is what her latest guilt—noticing Sakura’s condition, yet doing nothing to save her—makes her feel. Sakura was so kind to her, yet she couldn’t give anything in return. But because of that, what mostly occupies her mind right now isn’t guilt, but something beyond that.
Cerejeria realize she wanted to make amends, even if it was too late. She wanted forgiveness, but she spurned it when she couldn’t get i. She needed something to replace it, and that is what this moment will be.
She asks Bhima what she is supposed to do when she wants to make amends but that is no longer possible. Bhima tells she should just as she intended doubly so if the person she wanted to make amends with is gone. Like he told before, it is all about what she wants to do right now.
Cerejeira decides she wants to win for the sake of Sakura’s wish. She has no idea what will actually happen, but protecting Sakura’s home and dream feels meaningful to her. It may be self-righteous, the wrong impression, or serve no purpose, but she doesn’t care. So, for the sake of self-righteous amends, she orders Bhima to win.
As their battle continues, Bhima is impressed by how long Duryodhana has lasted without resorting to his cowardly tactics. Duryodhana gets angry at Bhima for saying that, asking if he wants to talk about who struck below the waist.
Sion explains to a confused Ritsuka Duryodhana was defeated and killed in a duel with Bhima during the Mahabharata War. However, Bhima, taking revenge for the humiliation he suffered in the past, purposely broke duel etiquette by attacking below the waist.
Bhima doesn’t remember that, so Duryodhana asks him how much he does remember of their war. Bhima answers he can’t remember every detail, though he recalls fighting Karna, Ashwatthama, and the other hundred Kaurava. He assumes it is because he is in the state he was when he served as a cook in Virata Palace.
Duryodhana laughs at the fact Bhima doesn’t remember, thinking how unfair it is. He declines to tell Bhima why he’s laughing, saying it’s nothing to worry about. He proclaims now more than ever he can’t allow himself to lose to the current Bhima and resumes their battle.
Ritsuka and Sion check on Ayus’ condition. She is on the verge of breaking due to what she did, but Sion is glad she is holding it together without experiencing a total shutdown.
Ayus wakes up, but Sion tells her not to move as she is torn inside and out from that unnatural connection. She informs her Duryodhana is fighting right now, but his chances aren’t good.
Ayus remembers she wanted a family because she missed them. She grieved their absence and wanted things to be different here. Sion realizes the deterioration of Ayus’s functions as an AI has caused her to grow aware of her personality as an Alter Ego. Ayus assumes that’s it and reveals Duryodhana was the family she searched for all this time.
Rani XII confirms Ayus’ words, appearing in her regular form to Ritsuka’s surprise. She reassures them the function part of her (Dust of Osiris) is still undergoing repairs. She is just a conversational interface with no executable privileges outputted thanks to Sion granting her request.
She tells Ayus that her preparations were one of the more experimental among the Alter Ego Masters, a “secluded” type—Alter Ego Isolated. Ayus surmises that means she is like an Alter Ego fragment of an Alter Ego Servant. Rani XII confirms it and describes Duryodhana’ Spirit Origin as special, containing all his siblings within, probably because they were all born from the same lump of flesh.
Ritsuka asks what all of this means. Ayus reveals the name of her Alter Ego personality is —the 101st and only sister of the Kaurava. She requests to be brought closer to Duryodhana, knowing in her condition she won’t make it in time if she doesn’t move now. She just wants to stand in the same place Cerejeira is, certain Bhima won’t attack her out of turn. Ritsuka agrees to take her.
Meanwhile, Duryodhana is dealt a seemingly fatal blow by Bhima. He fears he is going to lose to him again and loses consciousness.
Ayus thinks about who she is. She had married into another country before the Mahabharata War. But her husband, , went to war on the side of the Kauravas and never returned. All one hundred of her brothers obviously died there as well. She never saw their bodies and was only told after the fact. Worse, she had to hear it from Arjuna, who came to visit her country after the war.
Her brothers might have not been the most reputable, but they were still her family. She wanted to be there fighting alongside them. It may have not have been how she originally wanted, but her wish had come true in this world.
Duryodhana regains consciousness just as Ayus arrives. Angry at him for never noticing, Ayus calls him “stupid brother” shocking Duryodhana that she is Duhsala. She thought after they reunited, they would fight together this time, not for him to do all the fighting alone. She couldn’t do anything for him back then and he never returned from the war like he wanted. But this time she will lend him the support she couldn’t in their lifetimes.
By her Command Spell, she orders Duryodhana to “tear [Bhima] apart!!!” Empowered by the command, Duryodhana asks Ayus why she never used it until now. Ayus explains the surge of resources would’ve destroyed him before if she hadn’t repaired the damage done to his insides.
Bhima thinks this might make conditions even considering he was empowered a while ago and how much he has expended thus far. Duryodhana gets upset with Bhima and his brothers for acting superior while taking it for granted. He swears to win this time and the two continue their duel.
At their battle’s climax, Duryodhana activates his Noble Phantasm, Jai Kaurava, which Bhima counter with his own Noble Phantasm, Maruti Vayuputra. Bhima is the first to fall in the aftermath, followed by Duryodhana. Their battle thus ends in a mutual draw.
Sion states both Duryodhana and Bhima will not last long with the irreparable damage done to their Spirit Cores, declaring it the end of Rani XII’s Holy Grail War. Rani XII accepts the conclusion, but asks what she did wrong.
Sion admits she doesn’t think Rani XII’s focus on Alter Egos was wrong, as there are certain things only they can do. She believes if Rani XII explored it further, she could have discovered why Servants have egos, characters, and personalities to begin with. She asks Ritsuka if they know why. Ritsuka responds they don’t, which Sion expected since it is too obvious and natural for them to be conscious of.
In her opinion, it is more effective for Servants to have personalities, for their egos and emotions carry power defined by a complex web of interactions. Conversely, by separating those connections indiscriminately, it’s possible to produce inferior products. Splitting them apart indiscriminately just to increase numbers is therefore not the answer, as recent events proved.
Duryodhana and Bhima were exceptions, but Sion believes Changgong and Bluebeard were downgrades from their original selves. Rani XII cannot disagree with Sion’s assessment upon analyzing Changgong and Bluebeard’s data, calling them the Alter Egos of Self-Vilification and Imagination, respectively. Medusa, Alter Ego of Avoidance, had potential, but Changgong and Bluebeard ruined the overall balance of the total forces.
Rani XII asks why she couldn’t calculate that. Sion tells her it’s because her calculations didn’t account for the most important factor: their emotions. Heroic Spirits are humans and they operate through multiple personas, regulating their emotions, egos, and senses of purpose. As an AI operating under a single command, Rani XII couldn’t understand such complexity, which led her to assume one ego was enough for humans.
Unable to deny it, Rani XII asks then what separates a functional Alter Ego from a dysfunctional one. Sion tells her she can find the answer by looking at the scene before her now. Sion watches the scene as well, wanting to understand the meaning in Alter Egos existing.
Starting to disappear, Bhima asks Cerejeira if her wish had come. Cerejeira isn’t sure since her wish was self-important to begin with. But she thinks it wasn’t all pointless because with the war now over, peace will return to the Paper Moon. Sakura won’t be there to experience and she herself may likely not be directly involved in it, but she believes she stayed true to the directive Sakura wanted till the end.
Bhima thinks if she found her answer, then victory wasn’t necessary. He then laughs at the fact he, who never lost a battle before, is satisfied with a defeat, and against Duryodhana of all people.
He apologizes to Cerejeira that he never cooked her meal she liked. Cerejeira, however, tearfully confesses she always loved his cooking, but she thought she didn’t deserve to eat food that made her happy. She apologizes for that, thinking if she was normal, he could have been focused on fighting and winning instead of cooking.
Bhima, however, thinks it was for the best because his satisfaction comes from this version of himself being more than a mere warrior. He thinks Cerejeira is fine the way she is too, hoping she can get the atonement that’s at her core. Cerejeira hopes for the same and asks Bhima if he thinks she can manage. Bhima reminds her he already taught her how: “Just live the way you want to.”
He tells her that while unforgettable pain can be difficult, it can also be a driving force. He and his brothers never forgot their humiliation, which is how they survived their exile and the war. So he advises Cerejeira she uses her guilt as motivation if she can never forget it. Cerejeira agrees to follow his advice
Almost ready to disappear, Bhima promises Cerejeira if they ever meet again to cook her better meals guaranteed to make her smile. Cerejeira looks forward to it, giving Bhima the smile he always wished for. Bhima disappears with a smile, apologizing he is the only one who got his wish granted.
Still lying on the ground, Duryodhana regains consciousness. Ayus asks him if he is satisfied, to which Duryodhana asks her the same. Ayus answers just barely, still upset her brothers, husband, and father-in-law all left her alone to go to war and died without her knowing. But she thinks this moment is at least better than that because this time she and her brother can spend their last moments together.
Duryodhana’s answer to Ayus’s question is that he too is barely satisfied. He attained a piece of what he wanted, but he wanted everything, which obviously includes reuniting with his long-lost sister. He gets up and figures he was the Alter Ego of Avarice, so just so his sister won’t satisfy his greed.
But much to his frustration, he will disappear soon, so he commands Ritsuka to go out there and claim everything in his name. He doesn’t know what’s it about, but he knows they’re returning to a battle to save the world. He sees them making the world safe the same as making it theirs, which is why he made them his proxy.
Ayus, sensing she is nearly done for from what she did, thanks Ritsuka for all their help. She is glad they were the first Master she and Duryodhana met, someone who’d come to the rescue of the R-types. She is certain their kindness will save everyone one day. Telling them to take of their health and wishing them good luck, she disappears with Duryodhana.
Sion believes every Servant in this world must have gained something on account of being Alter Egos and arrived at an answer they otherwise couldn’t. An Alter Ego is a “simplified being”, which is why they can often proceed in directions and possibilities “normal personalities” hardly would. They therefore had life before Rani XII’s faulty refinement process created them. So the question Rani XII needs to consider isn’t “how to refine someone into a new, simpler lifer”, but “why did pre-existing life refine itself into something simpler”.
Sion believes it is because they performed the refinement process an Alter Ego is produced. Unlike normal beings, Alter Egos are a single emotion extracted from a person’s ego. Said emotion can often overflow or grow too strong, Kali being a case example, which makes them beings that "bear new possibilities”. However, not everyone has personality fragments intense enough to naturally form another individual on their own. That might be why the Alter Ego class somehow binds multiple divinities together so often. Rani XII now understands the probability of every Alter Ego being powerful is quite low, realizing she was blinded by sheer numbers.
Ritsuka agrees utilizing Alter Egos is a matter of distortion regardless of the numbers. But they want to believe it isn’t a mistake because Alter Egos are all people who accepted themselves for what they are. They believe the Alter Egos will be fine as long as that remains true. Rani XII, seeing Ritsuka honestly trusts the Alter Egos, realizes she should’ve studied about humans, emotions, and Alter Egos more deeply.
Both Rani XII and Dust of Osiris start disappear now the System Grail War system has been dismantled. It is fundamentally a reboot so all irregular existences will be removed. As for the Paper Moon’s inner world, it was conceptually given form through the Grail’s power, so once that is removed, it will no longer be visible from the outside.
Cerejeira asks what will be visible from the inside then. Sion believes the “usual world” may yet continue on. Rani XII asks for a favor if that is the case. Sion agrees to give it, having already deduced what the latter would ask.
The original premise was that the Grail War’s winner would become the general supervisor. At which point the original Rani XII would be integrated and cease to exist. It meant her death, but Rani XII sees no issue so long as the functions are passed on.
Cerejeira is given the position of general supervisor, even though it is just a formality at this point. She nonetheless accepts it, thinking Sakura will rest easier if everything, especially Grow, runs as normal.
Sion asks what type of Alter Ego AI Cerejeira was. Rani XII reveals Cerejeira was also experimental, just like Ayus was. It was a form that was installed hastily and decided on according to the situation. Rani XII then explains what sort of Alter Ego Cerejeira was.
Before Rani XII disappears, Sion, speaking as an Atlas mage, tells her that while her experiment failed and her goals were flawed, her determination to avert the destruction she calculated was laudable. She commends her for having performed her function well and tells her to hold her mistakes close to her heart and rest without regrets. Rani XII disappears along with Dust of Osiris, thankful for Sion’s words.
With her Etherlight, Sion creates a door-shaped exit out of the Paper Moon’s inner world. Cerejeira requests they talk to her the next time they meet. Ritsuka agrees and Cerejeira leaves.
Sion opens the door, but first she has something to say to Ritsuka since these versions of themselves will be gone once they leave and she’d rather avoid carrying over feedback that could disturb the real her’s resolve. The time she spent with them was like a miracle for her, one that can’t be allowed to exist. Ritsuka tries to ask her what she means, but Sion simply smiles and walks through the door with them following.
=== Epilogue ===
Ritsuka and Sion wake up in the infirmary, no worse for wear and at nearly identical times. Da Vinci wonders what could’ve caused their sudden comas. Sion is silent for a brief moment before asking about what happened with the Paper Moon’s malfunctions. Da Vinci reveals it inexplicably fixed itself at roughly the same moment Ritsuka and Sion woke up.Fate/Grand Order: Ordeal Call - Paper Moon: Inner World of the Imaginary Number Compass, Section 17: Epilogue
Upon hearing “Paper Moon”, Ritsuka recalls glimpses of the device’s inner world. Sion suggests it was just a dream they had, though they can’t remember anything from it.
Professor then reports via hologram that the Human Order Foundation Value has gone from E to D. They ask if either Ritsuka or Sion know why this would be. Ritsuka doesn’t know and asks Sion if she does. Sion refuses to comment since it wasn’t “her” experience and by that she means both Ritsuka and herself have unconsciously matured. She oddly requests they leave the matter as solved.
She tells Da Vinci to examine Ritsuka’s brain more closely since it seems it was overused this time. Da Vinci agrees to perform one last check up to close up Ritsuka’s examination for now. She may need to call on them again, but for now, Ritsuka and Sion should rest in their rooms. Mash, meanwhile, will rest in the infirmary under her supervision as she never got any sleep while never leaving Ritsuka’s side.
Out in the hallway, Ritsuka is met by Chaldea’s record keeper: Cerejeira Elron. They’ve exchanged greetings before, but they never engaged in conversation. Now they feel interested for some reason.
A flashback shows Rani XII explained the Alter Ego Cerejeira was an Alter Ego Involved-type Master. She was similar to Ritsuka and Sion in that her original self was also caught in the initial rotation. However, as an Alter Ego, she was only a copy of her personality model, so a connection with the real her didn’t exist. But she, Ritsuka, and Sion will emerge from their comas completely unaware of what occurred, only a subconscious effect via sympathetic magecraft. As for why she ended up as an official Master AI, she was already in a state where she was denying her current self.
Back in the present, Elron confesses she wanted to apologize to Ritsuka for the longest time. She doesn’t understand it, but she suddenly wants to talk with them. Taking deep breaths, she proceeds to tell Ritsuka what happened on December 27, 2017.
Goredolf, Tamamo Vitch Koyanskaya, and Grigori Rasputin had just arrived at Chaldea’s artic base. Elron and a fellow staffer were in charge of the gate that day and the two of them agreed to start dating after they did their final job of letting those three in. Unfortunately, by opening the gate, Elron unwittingly and inadvertently caused the fall of the Chaldea and the death of many staffers, including the guy she planned to date. She has lived with the guilt ever since, remembering every detail thanks to her family’s magecraft.
She apologizes to Ritsuka for what she had done. But Ritsuka tells her there is no need because everyone feels the same as her and encourages to just keep doing her best. Elron decides, like a certain someone did in a dream, to not let her guilt drown her but instead motivate her so she can make amends.
Entering their room, Ritsuka feels as if they’re forgetting something and something is making them feel lonely and anxious. That feeling goes away though the moment Kama comes in to check on them. She is disappointed their coma didn’t cause a moral lapse, like them not wanting to work anymore.
On that subject, Ritsuka advises Kama not to overwork herself. Kama reminds them she typically refrains from working, anyway. Furthermore, she is only in Chaldea because that is how it is and there is nothing more to it. Ritsuka is still glad for her presence, though, which makes Kama question why they’d be glad for the presence of the Demon King of Lapse. But she thinks this means they did have a moral lapse and encourages them to take a nap. Ritsuka goes to sleep.
Exiting the room, Kama thinks it’s ridiculous she has a suppressed yearning for love.
Meanwhile, in her room, Sion concludes Rani XII’s actions were one of Ordeal Calls, surprised such a distortion could accumulate inside the Paper Moon without her knowing. She retains her memories of what occurred there thanks to her Thought Partitioning, but she thinks it’s possible for Kama to remember since she is accustomed to multiple selves. Ritsuka and Elron, meanwhile, will only remember on a deeply subconscious level.
On the topic of Ritsuka, Sion tries to deduce what their Alter Ego was, suspecting their poor condition upon entering the Paper Moon’s inner world might be a clue.
Her first hypothesis is that they might have been their “tired of fighting” or “pacifist” side. However, Ritsuka has no aversion to fighting, seeing as he confronted Kali head-on with Medusa’s Noble Phantasm. But that doesn’t contradict Sion’s hypothesis and proves there might be a part of Ritsuka, although weary of fighting, who will still fight if there is no reason to even if acting contrary to themselves will cause some anxiety. Counselling will have to continue in that case for when that happens.
Another possibility is that Ritsuka was just an ordinary Master, unlike how it was in reality where they were the only Master and burdened with the fate of the world. Their Alter Ego might have been one who wished to be just another Master.
It’s also entirely possible Ritsuka was the only person who wasn’t turned into an Alter Ego and its only because they had a Command Spell they became a Master in the System Grail War. Their poor physical could’ve been just an error in the reconstruction at the time of conversion.
Moving on, Sion reflects on herself. She thinks it was useful her Alter Ego was a form of her from the past since the “thread” she discarded long ago for being too inhumane was still usable. It was a dark part of her history, but it was still within her.
Despite concluding she mustn’t become Ritsuka’s friend, Sion admitted it’s not as if she doesn’t want to be. She discards that memory, but keeps a part of it. She hasn’t forgotten her position when it comes to her current self, however. It’s only now she has traveled through a world where she could behave as if she’d forgotten her position that she could confirm once again her feelings from the very beginning weren’t lies.
Ritsuka finds Xu Fu in the cafeteria reading an essay that suddenly appeared in the database theorizing the significance of Alter Egos and their formation process. It starts out by saying Chaldea has been using the class without comprehending their essence and significance. It hopes to give readers a deeper understanding of Alter Egos and enable them to use the class to its maximum potential.
Xu Fu points out one major thing the essay said is that Alter Egos spawn spontaneously, so it’s extremely difficult to consciously reproduce them unless the maker possesses a considerable rule-breaking Skill or using themselves as materials. She considers this to be obvious as she hasn’t a clue why she is an Alter Ego, but she doesn’t regret it. She may not why she spawned as one, but it's clear to she is one because of her love for Yu Mei-ren. Both she and Ritsuka seem to agree with the part of the essay stating Alter Ego can do things the original cannot because they’re derivatives.
Considering she is an Alter Ego, Xu Fu adds her own thoughts to the essay’s theory. While it said some things are only possible for Alter Ego because they’re driven by a powerful emotion, Xu Fu believes that applies to everyone. She gives a few examples, stating everyone has figures of heroism in the form of situational moments. Alter Egos could then be said to be chained sequences of those moment-by-moment figures. Ritsuka doesn’t really understand what Xu Fu said, but they get the gist of it.
An plays in the cafeteria with the lyrics: “It’s only a paper moon. But it wouldn’t be make-believe If you believed in me.”. They are verses wishing for powers in emotions. Ritsuka feels Alter Egos are similar, fighting using the power of caring for something or someone.
==Locations==
==Participants==
Servants
Designation	Identity	Affiliation
Assassin 	 	Ritsuka Fujimaru
Caster 	 	Makiri Zolgen
Berserker 	 	Ayus
Rider 	 	Lainur Gusion
Lancer 	 	Cerejeira
Saber 	 	Sakura
Archer 	 	Rani XII
Alter Ego 	 	Rani XII
Non-Servants
Designation 	Identity 	Affiliation
R.A.N.I Series	Ayus 	Repair
AI 	Makiri Zolgen	Build
AI 	Lainur Gusion	Transfer
AI 	Cerejeira 	Keep
AI 	Sakura 	Grow
AI 	Rani XII 	
R.A.N.I Series	DX 	Defend
==References==
Category:Locations in Fate/Grand Order
Category:Ordeal Call
Category:Singularity
Category:Terminology in Fate/Grand Order (Paper Moon)