… If we do this, we do this with pride. We won’t let Constantine’s visage down. We defend and we stall and we minimise casualties and defend as he would. Be as worthy of his trust and companionship as possible. We do it for him.
And so- you were faced with a question.
What did it mean to walk in another's shoes? To truly do so?
You had transformed before, but it had been… well, flippant. To embody someone else, to take in their ethos, logos, and pathos and the power that was born from it… that was something different.
You focused hard on the image of your Rider. On the memories, on the actions, on the data, on the bond… and your shape began to shift.
A feeling hitched in your chest. A heartbeat, strong and fast, like the beating of a thousand war drums. A hand instinctively clutched at it, the thrum of magical energy, the essence of a Heroic Spirit.
You shoulders felt heavy. So agonizingly heavy. Despite no weight being on them, they bore the ache of someone who had to carry so much in such little time.
Your shoulders ached. Your heart ached.
Your body forced itself to stand anyways, as you began to take in that pathos. You had seen flickers of his past, and the history books could fill in the rest, but the 'feelings' swarmed your mind like a raging fire that wouldn't quit even if you begged every rain god at once.
His situation was impossible. He had inherited a kingdom, a decaying empire, rapidly approaching a 'dead end'.
There was always the option to give up. Perhaps it would have saved more lives, at the cost of every part of his legacy and his people's disappearing into dust. Run away and serve as a vassal, a puppet as everyone watched him act in cowardice. Maybe they would have understood… maybe they would have scorned him.
Those 'maybe's were meaningless to him, as that wasn't his path.
What man wouldn't feel rage? What man wouldn't scream out into the heavens at his situation, as he was forced to face impossibility?
However, even if his fate was determined. Even if help wouldn't come, even if his attempts at politics fell apart and he had to work with the little he had… he would still try. As long as he was there, his people would live. His empire would live, as long as he was there.
To run away in the face of difficulty. To weep in the face of strife. That was the antithesis of the Marble Emperor.
Stand strong. Turn that despair into rage, and that rage into a drive to protect.
Even if it all turns to ash, hold as much as you can in your hands, and let the heat of your body burn it into something solid.
'Even if we lose, and we very well may… I was here.'
…And now, you were here in his stead.
"This is the moment of truth, Masters."
MUSASHI: "…Make him proud."
She patted your shoulder, before drawing her blades.
The opposing armies readied themselves...
NIKITICH: "THIS IS A BATTLE TO LIVE, SO--"
DANTE: "--FOR THE SAKE OF DIVINE JUSTICE--"
NIKITICH/DANTE: "ATTACK!"
You watched Servants snap into action. NIKITICH shoot into the skies on her steed, beginning to cleave into angels. DURYODHANA leap into the fray with his mace. Your Sabers sprinting past you into bladed combat with an excitement that could only come from those accustomed to fighting.
You stomped your feet, your Mystic Codes activating, a surge of adrenaline shooting through your body as you darted forward into the fray as well.
They were right when they were saying this was for life or death.
The coastline had fallen into combat and chaos, voices shouting, weapons being swung.
One of the Holy Army soldiers charged towards you, slashing. Like instinct, you drew your sword to parry, effortlessly knocking their blade away before thrusting forward, stabbing through- cleanly.
A spray of red that seemed to oxidize into code in the air.
The soldier stumbled backwards, sliding off the blade, his eyes going blank.
As the body dropped before you, fading into data.
Something in your chest tightened.
...Hadn't one of the locals said that, when you had spoken about making a memorial for CONSTANTINE?
That their bodies decomposed into data, and just recycled itself, so there was no need for graves or memorials. Still, just watching someone fade away like that…
You had done distance combat, watched from the sidelines, fought machines, mindless programs, or enemies that could ostensibly 'take it'.
But transforming like this, becoming the echo of a hero and having a body that was 'strong'…
The way RICHARD patted your back, the way MUSASHI returned your hugs, the way KOYO had gently rested your head on her lap… how much awareness did it take to be gentle with this much monstrous power? Was that also part of being a hero?
You stalled for a moment, watching as your allies fought.
Your two Sabers didn't carve through the recklessness of butchers. Their strikes were pristine, focused. Knocking down the ones that had enough hesitation in their blades to show that they had sense left and giving them a chance to scramble back and retreat, while cleaving through those who would have gleefully cleaved through them in turn. It was unfortunately more of the latter, by a large margin.
You watched as MUSASHI danced between enemies, her blades flashing as she cut through wave after wave of foes.
MUSASHI: "Come on, come on! At least make me sweat a little, it's not like I want to risk my life, but isn't this too easy?"
HOLY ARMY SOLDIER: "Surround her! Don't give her a chance to move!"
MUSASHI: "Oh, awesome! Stay clumped together like that!"
In a whirlwind of blades, she shot forward, enemies collapsing around her.
RICHARD: "I've been given permission to go all out by my Masters! So, allow me to perform a trick! You're familiar with slight of hand, yes?"
He reached down, picking up a dented sword from a fallen Holy Army soldier.
HOLY ARMY SOLDIER: "Trying to fight us with worn weapons?"
RICHARD: "Worn? No, in my eyes, this will work just fine as--"
The dented sword gleamed, before transforming into a shining, beautiful, gold and crimson holy sword.
An explosion shook the ground, a beam of light carving forward and upwards, even disturbing the circling angels above.
Being on the front lines in the body of a 'hero'… that was the type of discernment you had to make. Whether you lived or died, or who lived or died in your stead. You didn't have to relish in it... but it was unavoidable.
But your commander had said that the goal was to stall. Defend and stall. Routing would be a wonder, and total victory would be a miracle.
As the fighting raged on, the summoned archer notched his bow, aiming towards you, before letting loose an arrow.
It spun in the air, less like an arrow and more like a bullet, striking you in your newly armored chest.
You watched TIANJUE dart like a bullet past you, leaping up onto the deck and begin engaging the archer, as you looked down at the damage done. It didn't fully pierce, but the dent was there- ugly and heavy.
The pain was immense. Even in a frame like this… 'Endurance' didn't mean immunity from pain, it just asked 'how much can you take?'…
It meant to keep fighting, despite pain. To recover. To stand as a bulwark.
This is what it meant to be a wall. To defend. Enduring pain, but still standing and being able to tell yourself and your allies:
'I am here! I am still here! Stand tall, because I am still here!'
That was the ethos that resonated through every inch of the body you now inhabited.
Echo of the Marble Emperor! Hold the line!
Summon Greek Fire -- Restrict their movements!
Some of the Port's militia is losing ground-- help them out!
They're trying to make ranged attacks! Block what you can!
Your sword burns with holy energy -- Sear through your foes!
Phantoms of a past army summon next to you -- Attack, attack, attack!
A phantom horse appears by you -- Ride fast, and disrupt!
Boost morale! Don't falter, don't falter, don't falter!
Stand tall! You're here! You're here! You're! Still! Here!
Voting ended onJan 29
This is a difficult situation-- but BALANCE the poll as best you can! An unbalanced poll gives the enemy a chance to break through, with the loss increasing depending on how unbalanced the poll is! Also, drastically unbalanced polls will cause you to lose focus and drop your current form!
