Arx Ultima (Normal)

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*You managed to make it into Arx Ultima just before it reached completion. Inside awaits your final opponent: the emperor and so-called demigod Kartis.*

## Summary

Lord of Avillon confronts Kartis and he claims that the only way to stop the calamity is to unite the whole world. "Lord" is then killed.

## Character List

### Major

* Kartis
* Lord of Avillon

### Minor

* Alev Valkarios (Fire)
* Fram Berge (Water)
* Lucilicca La'elaya (Dark)
* Mei Ling Qiao (Fire)

## Content

Alev: Solphi was telling the truth…

Fram: That thing is… huge!

Lucilicca: They really were making a floating fortress…

"Lord": Looks like we’ve reached the end. The moment that thing’s completed is the moment our efforts vaporize into nothing.

Mei Ling: My liege…

"Lord": Hmm.

Mei Ling: My premonition is growing much, much stronger. It’s now almost a certainty. Something terrible awaits ahead…

"Lord": The emperor…

Mei Ling: I’ve never felt something this evil. Will you really be okay, my liege?

"Lord": … We won’t know unless we try, just like we always have. Now is the time to move forward in faith. You put your faith in me, and I’ll put my faith in you. That’s all we need to do.

Mei Ling: Yes, my liege!

...

Kartis: Is that them?

Cesaire; Yes.

Kartis: ...\*sigh\*

Cesaire: I am sorry for disappointing you.

Kartis: It’s not your fault, Cesaire.

Cesaire: Still… I’m sorry.

Kartis: They’re at least the first ones to ever make it this far. I’ll be interested to hear what their goal is. You should leave.

Cesaire: By your command, Your Majesty.

Kartis: What drives them? What causes them to resist my will so aggressively?

...

Laphlaes: Ngh…

Lairei: This is…

Aslan: This energy… It’s overwhelming.

"Lord": Seems the emperor’s finally going to show himself. Stay on your toes, everyone!

...

"Lord": Emperor.

(Exalted Emperor) Kartis: Are you their monarch?

"Lord": I am.

Kartis: I can see the loyalty in their eyes. You are a true ruler to them.

"Lord": ...

Kartis: You are a worthy opponent. Good. Before I draw my sword, I want to hear more about you.

"Lord": You want to talk?

Kartis: I want to know what drove you all the way here, and whether your motivations can win out against my convictions. What is your answer?

"Lord": I only want to make a better world.

Kartis: Heh… What is your shandard for “better”?

"Lord": A world in which we can reduce, even a little, the pain many people experience just for being born. A world in which people can find happiness and respect for simply being themselves.

Kartis: So, you're an idealist. Your motivations are pure… Far too pure, really. Do you believe you can make such a world? Genuinely?

"Lord": You don’t think it’s possible? If so, I’d like to ask why not.

Kartis: Heh. Well, it won’t be possible in this life, at least. And that’s because I’m here. I will strike down your ideals, so that you cannot make the world you speak of.

"Lord": You sound overly confident.

Kartis: I speak only the truth, without a hind of deceit. You cannot defeat me.

"Lord": ...

Kartis: Another question, then. If you were able to realize your vision, would you be able to protect the world from calamity? Let me rephrase. How would you overcome calamity?

"Lord": Are you referring to the calamity that destroyed ancient civilization?

Kartis: Yes. That calamity is cyclical. It will strike again.

"Lord": What...?!

Kartis: You should also know that the current cycle is almost over.

"Lord": That’s...

Kartis: The ancient civilization before us was powerful, and yet they still fell to the calamity. Do you really think the soft world you’ve envisioned could succeed where they failed? Happiness? Respect? Those are truly great values, but only if you can survive.

"Lord": What proof do you have of this calamity? You may be the emperor, but that doesn’t give you the power to see the future. I’m not convinced.

Kartis: I’ve been through it myself already.

"Lord": What do you mean?

Kartis: I’ve experienced it countless times… Dozens, at least. The calamity is coming, without fail. I am what’s called a Returner. I repeat life over and over, tethered to this current period in time.

"Lord": What nonsense are you...?

Kartis: Do you really believe the Arcane Revolution in the East occurred so quickly by coincidence? Do you think, when other nations are in their Bronze Ages, that a single nation could really develop such drastically better technology? It all comes from knowledge I’ve gained from dozens of lifetimes.

"Lord": ...

Kartis: This is the best I could do. Even after gathering all the people of the world under the flag of a single empire and combining our powers against the calamity, our chances of survival are still slim. The idyllic world you seek after could never survive.

"Lord": That may be, but do you really think a world ruled by fear and violence will have the strength to overcome the calamity?

Kartis: This was the only way... the only way to unify and persuade everyone to pursue the same goal.

"Lord": That’s nothing more than you being obstinate, a plan born from your own despair.

Kartis: Heh, you might be right. That’s why I had hope for you. You’re an irregularity, the first figure to show prominence in all of my lives. I even sent my entire army against you in the hope that it would help you grow stronger.

"Lord": You’re saying that’s why u never showed up until now?

Kartis: In the end, though, you were only a disappointment. I see no more reason for us to talk. Pick up your sword and let us see if you are qualified. It’s time for a test.

...

Kartis: If that was all you’ve got, you could never defeat me.

"Lord": Ngh...

Kartis: And if you can’t get past me, you won’t be able to protect anything. Your ideals are no more than childish fantasies if you don’t have the strength to back them up. This is where your journey ends. Goodbye.

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