Book 49: Endgame—Chapter 27: Book, Librarian, Star and City
Music: Head Eye Claw
Um… Hey. I appreciate you cleaning me off for the reception, but I don't exactly feel up to snuff.
It couldn't be helped. Without all the Light that I've strewn across the City, many of my functions are limited.
As a result, I could not heal your every injury after that rampage you went on earlier.
Right… So, do we know anything about the opponents?
Almost nothing. The enemy either lacks unique attributes, or they are being shielded from view. At best we can tell what types of attacks to use, and what their intentions are.
Great… Could this get any worse?
Just hang in there as best you can. We aren't completely out of options yet.
Right… Hang in there.
…No problem.
Serum W is the only attack we have to see this turn, but it is a doozy. Baral is very much just like the Claw we fought back in Lobotomy Corporation, but unfortunately for us we can't just pile thirty agents on him for a gang-style beatdown this time around.
We'll have to make due with a quarter-dead Roland. Not ideal.
We have confirmation: the Library can still read and intercept our intentions, using a form of dilated time.
So they can see the manner of their own demise. Ultimately, they cannot stop it.
Make it quick, so that we can retrieve Garion and get out of here.
…
W Serum only hits one target, so instead of it being the Claw warping around the facility and hitting a bunch of agents…
Baral hits one Librarian and warps them around the entire facility.
All of it.
All of it.
Honestly it's one of the coolest attacks in the game.
It also just took Roland from quarter- to half-dead.
Come on… I just got this cleaned up!
…
VIDEO
…
Executioner.
…I’ll finish them.
…Halt.
Music: GeburaBattle03
Gebura's appearance comes complete with swords clashing, implying she's just gotten in the way quite effectively.
I also hope you liked Head Eye Claw, as it is done playing for the entire rest of the game. We have stolen the theme music back from the Head.
…Have we met before?
So that’s why Angela asked me to hang in there… It was to wake you up, huh…
What, you ain’t pleased to see me coming to save your ass?
…I’m not complaining, ma’am.
Don’t worry about it. Just pull yourself together and get up. It’s too early to flop down, y’know…
Aight… Thanks for coming. I definitely was not gonna make it through this alone. It’s a relief to have you.
Can’t guarantee that I’ll power through this, either.
Well… We’ll have to try and stop them for as long as we can…
Nevertheless, your efforts certainly are a joy to witness. Truly and indeed… While I would not mind to spectate the situation from a distance…
We must see to it that this place is dealt with thoroughly, so it would be wise for me to participate.
…And this just got more troublesome.
Gebura, how are you feeling?
This still isn't exactly my prime, but it's feeling a little bit closer. I'll see what I can do, but the Head is never an easy opponent.
For this battle, Gebura gets access to Gebura's Prowess, which…
…It's Myo's Prowess, but for Gebura. Other than that her page is mostly the same.
Her deck has 2 of each of her unique pages aside Onrush, which is at 1. All of her green pages also start at 1 cost, letting her rampage a little more easily. This is good, because Zena is almost custom-designed to shut her right back down.
While Binah specialized in Pillars and Fairies, Zena uses Lines. Every one of her pages is ranged, and completely negate Power. They also stop any die they clash against from being reused, making it difficult to damage her (because we can't do damage in Melee vs Ranged page clashes, and we'll need single big dice to overcome her large opening strikes).
It's incredibly rude!
Baral largely deals in big hits as well, and some of their dice have special effects that prevent them from being destroyed. This means they're immune to Roland's Wheels Industry and Furioso effects, among others.
Thankfully, we don't have to win. Our objective is to survive. If we make it to the end of the 8th turn, we clear the fight. There's an additional achievement for getting there with everyone still standing… It'll be a little dicey, but I want that achievement.
The key for right now is to try and take good clashes on Baral with Gebura's infinity die, and to try and mitigate how much damage Zena throws out.
You truly are as resilient as they say.
Khh… s'what I get for expecting something like those Fairies, that's all.
Onrush blocks Thick Line (but can't be reused for a hit), as the regular version overpowers her Counter die. That's fine, she's got a lot more wiggle room than Roland does. If anyone goes down in this fight it's almost guaranteed to be him due to the fragile state his HP starts at.
He's wide open!
…
I've got it.
Baral is a much softer target here, being able to be overpowered by Gebura's Prowess on her infinity dice.
How unfortunate that there is still nothing you can do to us. Beholder.
I've seen through it all.
What in the-?
Ghh… Angela, how did..?
I'm not certain.
Reading intentions isn't something only your Library can do. That moment of separation… it was a weakness, and now your fighters can't move.
VIDEO
…
You still managed to hold out for a greater deal of time than we anticipated. ‘Tis a shame that it must end this way…
Now…
Music: BinahBattle03
Thankfully, we get a full SR heal here as someone interferes.
It's not a particularly big surprise. The Library only has three natural fighters.
…It is indeed true that verbosity leaves you vulnerable.
Garion…
That is a name I have not heard in a long while… Although, I suppose that name is not for me anymore.
Despite having received news of you… I didn’t expect you to come out and greet us this late.
…What took you so long?
I was simply watching you from afar for a moment.
Really now, until we got all battered up?
Look after yourselves before you blame me. This strife will have to resume soon enough.
However, I suppose we can call you to account later.
We will tear down your grave and extract you before long.
I can only pity you and your vain endeavor to seek an entity whose husk is all that remains.
…
Executioner. Be prepared. It will take place any minute now.
Now that we've got Binah, we can start fighting back in earnest. One thing to note is that some of Baral's attacks seem to have an unmarked passive ability that lets them deal damage through Ranged pages if they win the clash. We can't just Pillar and forget against their big attacks.
Anyways, here's Serum R. It's the Claw's dash attack, and it's a big die we don't have a good answer for aside GSV or Pillar. I don't want to waste either of those on this, so Roland will have to take a little bit more of a beating.
Zena also shows us Thin Line (As Line, but weaker and two of them) alongside Birdcage. Birdcage's second die can lock us out of one of our Speed Dice, but it doesn't nullify Power so it's where Gebura's infinity die goes.
Binah, your attacks seem… different.
It is as you noticed. I have finally finished properly stretching.
As for Binah, she no longer has 'Degraded' anything. All of her pages got some kind of slight buff, but since it's only active for the literal last fight in the game and nothing important
really changes I won't go into details here.
Hmm.
You're wondering something, aren't you?
Indeed. There was one thing which was bothering me, ever since you mentioned it. Now that I recall everything, it's come to me once more.
Might be a little late, but what'cha g—
HEURRGH!!
It is quite bold of you to turn your eyes away from where they must be facing.
Then I shall place my focus upon you. I would like clarification on something.
Yes, I am quite certain that you would.
How unfortunate, then, that I have no intention of providing any.
..!
We set up Bleed and Fairy on Baral, who brings Roland even closer to out.
Yeah, that's the Head for you. They won't spill a thing about anything, no matter how you ask them.
Your eyes fall to me, but I fear you too are looking for someone who has long since become a husk.
Just shut up and hit the enemy again, eh?
As you prefer.
Actually, if we're asking questions that are in the back of our minds, I have one too.
I'm quite certain you—
Not you. I don't have anything to say to you.
Hey, Binah? That shockwave earlier…
What of it?
Why did I see Sephiroth in the middle of it for a second?
Oh… that.
I required a body to create the effect I wished for.
Aha.
I will revive him later. Do not concern yourself too much with what transpired.
Baral is using Serum K this turn, which will restore 50 HP next turn. This is a hint to something very interesting: The enemies here
do have HP and SR values. We can't see them, but their bars will deplete like normal.
For now, I ignore Zena as much as possible and focus on Baral. Binah once again lines up as many onesided attacks as she's able—it's okay if Gebura and Binah take some hits here, they've got plenty of gas in the tank.
Given that we dealt with Argalia and his ilk for you, I would think you'd be a little more forthcoming.
How presumptuous you are. We don't owe you anything for the actions you took.
If I am presumptuous, then
you paid no attention. His goal would have remade the City in its entirety.
He would not have been able to effect any meaningful change. The only Impurity here is you and your Library. That man's plan was doomed from its start.
Because from the very moment that the Ensemble had entered the Library…
Even the way you puzzle it out is entirely too humanlike.
Alright. Let's see how claws do against getting slashed through the middle.
…
Hm..?
..!
That's a new one.
You hurt?
Nah, just wasn't expecting that.
Nullifier's been spent so we can hit Baral with the big stuff now, just as soon as I find some more big stuff to throw at them.
In the meanwhile we just want to keep them rolling as many dice as possible.
On the next turn another W Serum comes out, but it's a Slash attack targeting Binah so I completely ignore it. I also ignore Zena aside the one move targeting Roland, and set Binah up for more onesided attacks on Baral.
Executioner. Finish them by any means necessary.
Worried that things are taking a little long, eh?
Worry is not something which I feel. The fact that I am here means that you have already lost.
That's what it is to stand against the Head as an Impurity.
I would not be standing here were that the case, no?
That you have failed in your duties is an aberration. One we shall correct by removing your corpse from this place.
If that is what you say.
..!
You have reached as far as you were able…
Be careful that you do not extend your grasp so far that you lose control of your fingers.
…
If you're done, I'll step in and clean up.
The effort is appreciated.
It seems the fight has not yet left you.
Executioner.
Tri-serum Cocktail is the last of Baral's unique pages, and comes with a trio of dice with good rolls on them.
Anyways, Gebura has +3 Strength from Focus Spirit so her infinity die will completely crush it using Spear. I also have her intercept some of Zena's attacks and focus everything else on Baral again. Binah is still getting as many onesided attacks as possible.
Such tenacity… I can truly see why they called you a legend at one point.
Not yet you haven't. But it's coming, alright.
Rage against the heavens as you like. It will only make what comes next more satisfying.
Such surety in one's steps, and such certainty of one's position… the young are truly enviable.
I must wonder… was this what led to defeat by your hands, Gebura? No, Kali, the Red Mist?
If you want to find out, I'll gladly go another round with you later.
Just remember we can't beat these guys if we fall into infighting, right? …Right?
Of course. We must remain ever-focused on the issue at hand.
… ..!
Geh..!
This battle shall be decided by the first one to fall.
I could not possibly agree more. This battle shall be decided by who falls first.
So I shall have you kneel.
On the turn she reaches Emotion Level 4, Zena will use Shockwave. It's a Mass Summation with a max roll of 30 that will Feeble us if it hits. Roland has Crystal Atelier on tap to block it, so we shouldn't lose anyone here…
…But better safe than sorry. I always save Shockwave for this turn myself.
Angela, dear?
I am not loaning you any further Librarians.
…A pity.
I shall send a more appropriate welcome to them, then.
…Perhaps I was too loquacious for my words to have properly gotten through to a disgraced fixer, a dead legend, and a foolish traitor.
The Head has come to remove you, that which makes this City impure.
The most you can do is struggle and fail.
Because our power is
overwhelming.
You ruined my floor.
I've only changed the decor to something befitting your kind.
..!
Be careful, then, that your Executioner does not become something befitting your leadership.
Such rot… fitting that it comes from the mouth of a corpse.
Dunno about all that, but this one's not looking so hot anymore.
Ma'am, they're clawing through you right now.
Eh, I'll walk it off.
They're about to have it
much worse, believe me.
..!
Arbiter Zena, the Executioner is approaching their limit.
From only this much? It appears that there will be more work to do after we are done here…
Here we go. Just one last push..!
Leave it to me.
I've always wondered how hard it was to beat one of these things, you know? Guess now we know.
. . . . . .
While the objective is to survive for 8 turns, that's not the only way to end the fight against the Head. It can also be ended by draining the HP of either Baral or Zena, and by judiciously throwing around Fairy and Bleed it's entirely possible to defeat either one of them here and trigger the ending early. That red X beneath Baral means that we've done just that: units that would be killed during this fight are Immobilized instead, like during the Keter realization. We've guaranteed the survival of all three of our characters, and we get to go home on turn 7 instead of 8.
I swear I'm bad at this game.
Now this is truly unexpected… I suppose you've earned your place as an Impurity. Not that it will change a single thing, in the end.
Now that you stand alone, I would ask you again: Why was an Arbiter sent to wipe out such a small research facility in the Outskirts?
You do not deserve an answer, you mockery of a human.
Hold on a moment, Beholder.
Yes, Arbiter Zena.
That was the grand question you wished to have answered? And nothing else?
Indeed. I had forgotten about it before I returned to this form… but now that I can recall the conversation once again it bothers me still.
…Yeah, come to think of it, it didn't make sense when Hod told me the story…
Wait, you were listening then?!
Hmph. If such a trifling thing is all you wish to know… Shall we call it a reward, for your valor in standing against an unbreakable wave? Or perhaps I should simply express my own amazement at how unable you are to connect even the most obvious lines.
It was you, Impurity. You were the reason an Arbiter was sent.
Don't lie so brazenly. You said I belonged in the Outskirts.
And you do. However, your creation was supported by a number of the Wings themselves. I believe even you remember this much?
…
Such a treasonous sentiment required a message to be sent. And so it was.
Is that true, Binah?
I have no recollection of such things any longer.
No. Of course you wouldn't. …But I digress. Beholder?
It's time.
VIDEO
…Looks like they’re gonna press ahead with the plan.
…
Garion… As much as it is a shame that we’ve failed to retrieve your once crumbled body…
The end is nigh.
…
This place will be expelled as planned. Prepare to be sent to the Outskirts, a truly great distance from the City. Beget not fear. You are simply being relocated to where you belong…
I only ask that you do not return. The City cannot leave room for beings such as you.
So mark my words well, and stay where you rightfully belong.
…
The shaking intensifies, and with a final look…
The Head teleports themselves out.
And then, everything begins to crumble.
VIDEO
Music: None
The Outskirts look much more barren than I had imagined.
Music: Wind ambiance
I plan to live on. And I plan to change.
Change what?
Well, my vengeance… hasn’t ceased entirely. I’m still eager to see it through. I’ll continue to write books, and reopen the Library at some point.
It likely won’t resume immediately, though.
…Really?
From now on, I’ll properly face who I should direct my anger at. Tragedy and suffering not unlike what we went through would keep happening on a daily basis in the City.
Thus if that’s the case, I want to know why such pain is perpetuated.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to part with my resentment and wrath otherwise.
Oh yeah, like the whole treadwheel thing you mentioned…
A word of advice as former cityfolk: It won’t be an easy road to take. You’d have no idea where to even start.
If you ask me, it’s as natural as water flowing… In a City full of humans—tragedy, violence, and loss follow as a matter of course.
I’m still going to give it a shot. Even though the journey will be quite long…
Perhaps this is one of the ways I can repent for what I’ve done.
Of course, the Library will be run in a different way from how it was up to now.
…Hmm, that is this… and this is that, huh.
What about your list then?
Since the circumstances have changed, I’ll have to rethink my wishes.
Sadly, I won’t be able to taste that “sick” meat stew with this body.
That’s a huge shame…
What do you mean?
The biggest surprise you’ve had here.
Oh, that… You somehow remembered it.
I can remember anything, you know.
Sigh… This one’s really personal.
We have all the time in the world. I can wait years for your answer.
Alright, fine!
About what I’d seen of the City, and its people.
Though I gave up ‘cause I had no talent in writing whatsoever… My writing was just too crude. I couldn’t show it to anyone.
I’d love to give it a read.
…Laugh at me if you want. A grown man like me, wanting to write books. I’d laugh at myself, too.
It’s not laughable at all. Though I do find it surprising…
…Recording the City and the lives of its people, huh?
Don’t tell the other librarians! This stays between you and me, alright? Keep it zipped!
It would be my honor, Miss Director.
Wrong, try again. You should know by now that’s not the right way to address me, don’t you?
The true Library of Ruina experience ends here.
The logo itself turns off to showcase this.
And we get… Prizes. There's a lot of interesting pages here to use, the Unity pages have a unique mechanic where they all add dice to each other and all of the Ensemble Key Pages got another special attack to add in as well.
We also get access to Keter's final set of Abnormality Pages…
…And the final set of E.G.O!
Unfortunately, the game is over. There's nothing to use any of this on unless we want to either go back and replay an old reception or else play some of the mods for the game. I will be doing neither of those things, so what the new stuff does doesn't really matter.
Next time, on Library of Ruina: Ad Meliora
Videos
Head Battle Talk 1
Head Battle Talk 2
Head Battle Talk 3
The Head 2
vs The Head (Unedited combat footage; may cause distortions. Watch at own risk.)
A visitor from the Head, huh… The Eye and the Claw, too…
Although this is only a temporary retreat, similar to how guests are greeted.
