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alias_sqbrMasterlist of Code Realize posts
Content note: suicide, gore, genocide, weird consent issues
I was going to say "but it's mostly upbeat" then remembered how tense I was the whole time. It's good, though! And I can promise it doesn't end on a cliffhanger :) (Something I used to think went without saying for the good end of a dating sim, NAMELESS)
Chapter 11: The Alchemist's Secret
Cardia dreams.
Cardia: Elaine, how's-
Me: NOPE
*sleeps, answers email, does the laundry, plays some other games. Sighs. Starts up the Playstation*
A cute scene happens involving Elaine, and Cardia thinks "I wish I could stay this way forever".
We see a timer tick down to nine hours. THANKS GAME.
Cardia wakes alone, and her happy dream fades to depressing reality. But Victor is overjoyed to see her awake at last. They have some leads on the Zicterium repository Victoria needs for her plans, but not on Cardia's poison. But he's been working on it since they met and feels sure that he's close.
Victor: I'd do anything for you, even if I have to give my life in exchange.
Cardia: Why? I'm a monster created to spread poison. You should be revolted by my very existence.
Victor: You're a normal girl, and you deserve to be happy. And I don't want to lose you. I want to save you, and only you.
God. My options are "Don't be so kind to me" and "I want to be alone".
Cardia: Whatever we have between us will end when I become a true monster. It would be less painful for us both if we don't have as many memories to look back on. And I couldn't bear if you died.
Victor: I'm afraid of death, but more afraid of running away from you. I don't want to be like that any more.
She wonders what she is to him: a friend? Something more? Or a source of guilt? She finally asks him what he meant by "It's my fault Cardia was created".
He says she will probably despise him, but it's what he deserves. And the only way he can explain it is to start at the beginning.
He's Swiss (Yes I should probably have known that shh) but came to England to become an alchemist. He was doing well and got put in charge of the Philosopher's Stone project, but was disgraced when all it created was a "useless" toxin, Zicterium. Only Isaac still encouraged him, and got him a job researching Zicterium further. Victor was proud to be useful...until he found out it was being used as a weapon in the Vampire War. Victoria convinced him she'd stop that and that he should keep researching. But of course it was a lie.
He rushed to the front but it was too late, and all he saw was death: Men, women and children who'd all died in agony. Overcome by guilt, he ran, and made no further effort to halt the war. But after a while he heard that the British government was stockpiling Zicterium, and he vowed to rid the world of it all.
Victor: All the pain you've suffered, all the pain you'll suffer for the rest of your life...it's all my fault.
Cardia: Thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't exist. And I'm glad for the life I've lived.
And she hugs him to her chest. He trembles in her arms and thanks her in a shaking voice. Then he grips her hands and promises he will save her, and wonders when she became so precious to him.
THANKS FOR THE DEATH TIMER UPDATE, GAME
Van Helsing POV! The Lupin Gang investigate the house of an alchemist who worked with Isaac. Van Helsing recognises the nostalgic scent of a decaying body: the man seems to have killed himself out of guilt. They find a suicide note describing Victoria's plans. The next target is the poor area, Lowtown- near their hideout!
As they run to warn Victor and Cardia they hear an explosion.
Cardia POV. I AM. SO TENSE.
There's an explosion, and smoke. And a strange, sweet smell...
Victor covers Cardia's mouth and nose despite her protest. VICTOR. SHE IS MADE OF ZICTERIUM. AND YOUR HAND WILL MELT.
Ah, ok, he already made his gloves Cardia-proof.
The inhabitants of Lowtown panic and many die in the gas. But Cardia feels...weirdly energetic. He tells her to run ahead, and that he'll join her later: he can't stand by and let these people die. HMM SHOULD I OFFER TO HELP?
Some of the locals stay to help as well. Eventually the police arrive and Cardia and Victor flee. A coughing Victor says he should have stayed, but gets distracted when he realises how healthy Cardia is by comparison. He starts scrawling formulae on the ground with a rock, then grabs Cardia with joy.
Victor: Poison to stop poison! They cancel each other out and create something new! I can save you- with Zicterium!
But then freaking Twilight arrive.
Leonhardt POV!
Victoria: The impoverished district should be in a panic right now. Zicterium is the weapon of the devil himself.
Leonhardt, who grew up in that district: ...as you say.
"The strength in her voice could come from the surety of a noble commander- Or something else entirely..."
Chapter 12: Calamity
Six hours left.
Cardia and Victor are running from Twilight. Victor is gasping for breath.
Victor: Go ahead to the rendezvous, I'll act act a decoy.
Cardia: I'm staying with you.
Victor: But we don't have time-
Cardia grabs Victor and puts a finger to his lips.
Cardia: If I have to, I'll take my own life. But I choose to stay by your side, nothing is more important to me. My heart aches when I think of you...what is this feeling, Victor?
Victor, blushing: I think...it's what we refer to as love.
Cardia remembers her father saying she must never know love, and remembers Elaine. But this feeling pushes past everything else.
Cardia: Victor, I love you.
Victor, looking away: I don't have the right to be loved.
Cardia: That doesn't matter. Do you-
Aleister: The artificial monster speaks of love. So absurd, yet so genuine.
Aleister and his Twilight troops take Cardia as a hostage. Aleister tells Victor that if he finds the Zicterium in the next four hours, they can both go free. And he implies he will kill Cardia otherwise. A weapon that can't be controlled has no value.
I realised later that Twilight has split from the government and Aleister is pursuing his own agenda.
Aleister: If you remove your tracking device, or evade your escort, or tell your accomplices...remember that your precious doll can be easily broken.
All the doll imagery around Cardia is interesting having just played Nameless.
Blaming herself for Victor being forced to repeat the pain of his past, Cardia throws herself on the sword of the soldier holding her, but it just melts.
Victor: Don't give up. I promise I will save you.
Victor POV. We actually see a Cardia sprite on the main screen, which is interestingly surreal. He decides he only has time to focus on saving her, and will worry about the rest later. He knows he must destroy the Zicterium, or countless lives will be lost. Yet all he can think about is her.
He meets up with Van Helsing, who says the others are with the Zicterium stockpile. As Victor explains about Zicterium treating Cardia, he taps out a message in morse code: Cardia taken hostage. Being watched.
Van Helsing briefly narrows his eyes, then says the Zicterium is underground, near Buckingham Palace.
Cardia POV. She is tied to a chair at Aleister's house. He squees about "Isaac's best invention", the phonograph (You didn't have to make him invent EVERYTHING, guys) in a way that would be endearing from anyone else, but no. When Cardia gets angry at him he just muses about whether she is a soulless doll, pretending to have emotions. And then he leaves to make her a "final supper".
Alone, Cardia calmly observes the room and finds a way to cut herself...but her blood doesn't melt the rope! Has her poison become weaker as she transforms? Battling through fatigue and pain she manages to slip out of the rope using techniques from Lupin. She gets a dagger from one Twilight soldier but is overcome by others. And then Impey comes to the rescue in his ornithopter!
Victor POV. He meets with the others at a huge facility. Just as they're explaining that they can't figure out how to open the door to the Zicterium, an overwhelming number of Twilight soldiers arrives.
Victor, knowing Aleister is listening: We're the only ones who know how to open the door, and you don't have time for a leisurely torture session. Stop attacking, and bring Cardia here!
Aleister, over intercom: ...fine. We'll dispose of her on our end. And once you're all dead, I will head over there at my own leisure. I have a policy against taking risky bets.
Van Helsing, cocking his gun: So much for talking our way out.
But then... Cardia shows up with Impey!
Aleister: So that's where the little rabbit ran off to.
Victor embraces Cardia and says she gives him strength, and everyone prepares to fight.
Aleister POV: There is a knock at the door of his room.
Twilight soldier: We've been surrounded by the military!
Aleister, drawing his sword: I thought the Queen would take longer to find us. But I suppose I need some exercise.
And then he stabs the soldier, and leaves, covered in blood and cheerfully humming to himself. He murders his way out of the house, and vanishes from the centre stage of history.
One hour left.
In the Zicterium facility, the Twilight soldiers fall to the guns of the Royal Guard, under the command of a coldly unemotional Leonhardt...and then point their guns at the Lupin Gang. And then...Victoria appears!!
This was the point where I belatedly realised Aleister was plotting against/separate to Victoria. But TURNS OUT SHE WAS MANIPULATING HIM ANYWAY.
Victoria and Saint-Germain have a smug-off, and he points out her "sacrifice the few for the good of the many" numbers only add up if you exclude the rest of the world.
She says this facility is one giant weapon created by Isaac: a self destruct device to protect the knowledge contained in the city. She will set it off, so that those who remain harbour hatred towards "terrorist nations".
Victor: But you'll die too!
Victoria: And I will burn in Hell forever. But I have made arrangements for my plan to continue without me.
For a moment she looks sad. "I envy you, Dr Frankenstein, wielding justice like a weapon without an awareness of it's costs..." But then she regains her unfaltering confidence, and walks to the door...holding the pendant. The door opens.
Isaac is often compared to Prometheus, and now she says Finis was their Pandora. Victoria asks Victor and Cardia to come with her, saying she will help fix Cardia since it would mess up her plans for London to remain a deadly wasteland forever.
Victoria: Once this is all over, you must go to the government for protection. Please lend me your strength as Britain faces these difficult times.
Cardia: You mean let myself be used as a weapon. What if I refuse?
Victoria: Then you will be the one that kills all of London, including your friends. Or I terminate you now. My plan will always succeed. So what will it be? Allow yourself to survive, or have you all die together?
And without me even having to interfere, Cardia chooses to stay with her friends, to the end.
Victoria just turns and walks through the door with Leonhardt.
Victor: I've realised I can't escape my past. Victoria doesn't want to deal with her country's past, but she's just creating more hatred. That's why I'm going to stop Victoria. But I'm going to save you too, no matter what.
He holds out his hand and she takes it. They stare into each other's eyes and Lupin teases them and says they should get going, he and the other guys will take care of the soldiers.
Chapter 13: A Princess's Knight
The narrative keeps reassuring us that Victor is brave and loveable despite being a bit timid *mutters about toxic masculinity*. Anyway.
As they run, Cardia feels hot and her vision is wavering. Victor has to help her keep moving. She reaches for the dagger.
Victor: We don't even know if it would work. And you don't understand how painful it would be for me in a world without you.
Cardia: A kind woman once died because I wanted to live. I don't want to go through that again.
Victor: I am the one who created that poison, and have also watched people die because of it. You and I are the same, and my offense is greater. I'll drive away all your fears, but you have to trust me.
She promises not to give up. He takes off his gloves and puts his hand to her cheek, explaining that Zicterium loses it's poison during it's transformation. This is the first time Cardia has ever felt human touch and she is a fan. And then they say some VERY ROMANTIC THINGS. He says he loves her and that they can carry the weight of their past together.
And then they run forward to the diffusion device, which is...a big glowing blue mechanical tree?? I guess Cardia is already an example of Zicterium based life.
Victoria says she's glad her people won't suffer which...does not jive with what we have seen of death by Zicterium. She says the device is already activated and cannot be stopped except by destroying it. And when Victor goes to destroy it, Leonhardt challenges him to battle.
Victor says using force to win would make him as bad as them which...look. I know you're Swiss, Victor, but no. You can use knockout gas on the people attempting mass murder, it's ok. Leonhardt isn't quite able to stab an unarmed scientist so hits Victor with the flat of his blade.
Leonhardt: Aren't you afraid of death?
Victor: If your plan succeeds, we'll all die anyway. My standing here is a matter of conviction.
Leonhardt breaks his leg, and Victor falls. And then a cold chime comes from the tree.
Victoria: It seems we're out of time. This...marks the end of my duties as Queen.
Victor stands to his feet, the intensity of his gaze making Leonhardt take a step back.
Victor: You think I should sacrifice myself for the one I love. But I refuse to give up and leave someone I care about behind!
Leonhardt: Do you really mean to keep fighting based on such a self-centred notion?
Victor: I'll fight as long as I have to. My battle is to convince you! You know this is wrong. If you won't agree with me, then kill me!
Leonhardt:I'm only following orders I am her majesty's blade!
Victor argues that it's dishonourable murder etc. And then says "Britain will fall if you don't do this? Are the people of this country so weak?"
Leonhardt stabs Victor's leg. Victor grabs Leonhardt's arm before he can retrieve the blade.
Victor, weak with pain: I was...so full of regret when the Zicterium was used. Why didn't I fight back...when I had the chance? There is no cause worth that!
Leonhardt: My faith lies in her majesty after being honoured with a knighthood, She is my justice, and my path!
Victor: You have not protected her from going down a path from which she will never return. If you are a true knight, if you truly care for her...you're the only one who can save her!
Victoria: Kill him!
Cardia, throwing herself in front of Victor: If this is your fight, it's mine as well!
Victoria: Fine, kill her. The doctor can't do much now anyway.
Leonhardt: I...I can't. Where is the justice in murdering a good woman who stands here, unarmed, to protect her friend?
Me: Unlike...all the unarmed, good women...in London...
Victor: Thank you, Cardia, you protected me again :)
Bleeding and barely able to stand, he goes to the control panel.
Leonhardt: This is the wrong path.
Victoria: Even if it is, I can't stop now!
The device grows brighter and brighter and Victor becomes desperate, as Cardia holds him up so he doesn't fall.
Victoria: Step aside, Leonhardt! You saw how much blood had to be spilled for this plan, are you going to make it go to waste?
There is a blinding white light as Victor slams something into the device. And...then the light fades.
Victor: I deactivated it.
Victoria: No-
Alarm: Awooga!
Victor: I also set off a self destruct protocol :)
For a moment, Victoria looks like an abandoned child. Then she smiles at Cardia and takes out a pocketwatch.
Victoria: The plan is still in motion ^_^
Leonhardt: It's dangerous here, I must get you to safety.
Victoria: But I'm finally going to be saved.
Leonhardt grabs her and starts to pull her away...
...so she stabs him.
Victoria: I'm sorry, Leonhardt. Let us die...together.
Leonhardt, with a gentle smile: Your Majesty, I have always...respected you. So please pardon this disrespect.
And then he punches her in the stomach, picks up her unconscious body, apologises to the others, and walks away.
Cardia only has a few minutes left. But she's not alone.
Victoria dreams.
When she was young, she was a kind woman who advised her father to pursue a path of peace. She saw colonised people treated like slaves, looking at her with hate. She decided she had to run the country herself. Edward noticed her growing influence, and planned to have her assassinated. So she killed him first. And eventually she stopped shedding tears over the blood she spilled cleaning up her fathers mess. She stood atop a pile of corpses, and never looked back. She'd thought she would finally be free of this burden.
She wakes in Leonhardt's arms. It is a bittersweet reminder of him having saved her in the past.
Victoria: Why did even you betray me?
Leonhardt: I didn't. For all of eternity, I swear I will be your loyal knight, devoted to you completely.
She looks at the blood dripping down his back, a reminder of what she did to him.
Victoria: I have one final order. If that girl does not become a true monster...kill me. I will take responsibility. These hands are so stained with blood I don't want to look at them. Please...save me.
Leonhardt: I cannot. Britain needs you. Death is not the same as taking responsibility.
Leonhardt persuades her that's she's a good queen because all that genocide made her feel really bad. A single crystal tear rolls down Victoria's cheek as he persuades her to feel again. Woo :/ "If you say you will fall to Hell, then I shall accompany you to those depths" is good though.
But I am excited for...
AN EXPLODING POISON CRYSTAL TREE
It will take slightly longer to finish the de-poisoning process than Cardia has left. Victor thinks her exposure to Zicterium during the gas attack buys them enough extra time, and the city should be safe, but he is evasive about the possibility of him getting poisoned. Just as she's pondering killing herself to make sure he's safe, she collapses. She can feel something within her, trying to get out.
Cardia: Meeting you, and loving you, gave me all the happiness I needed. So please, kill me!
Victor: Never! I won't let you die!
The watch reaches zero, and she thinks back to watching Elaine die. Her chest burns with pain and then a blinding light. Poison oozes out of her, and she feels herself transform into...something else.
Goddamn, I get a choice? I BETTER NOT BE KILLING VICTOR WITH THIS. *picks "I believe in you"*
As everything's going blurry, he pours a blue liquid into her mouth...but she can't control her body any more and it spills out. So he kisses her to help her swallow (shh it's very romantic)
It tasted sweet to her but putting poison in his mouth was not great for Victor. He coughs and says he'll be fine, the liquid form isn't quite as deadly.
And then the device explodes and everything goes white.
The closing credits play.
Luckily Hakuoki taught me to expect an actual ending after the credits or I would have been pissed.
Just as Cardia and Victor's fatigued bodies were reaching their limits, Lupin and the others found them and took them to safety. They had a long rest, and then a good bye party as the others leave to pursue their own goals awwwwww :(
Lupin and Impey went in pursuit of their original goal of finding "something".
Delly didn't kill van Helsing and instead they are working together to help the remaining vampires.
Saint-Germain said he had some business to take care of so GAVE THEM THE MANSION and left for France.
Ahaha so at the party, Cardia dragged Victor off to bed saying "Stay with me" and then fell asleep. But he liked seeing her sleeping face.
Cardia: Did I look funny??? I don't want to put you off with my weird sleeping habits.
Me: Cardia, you used to be MADE OF POISON, I think he can deal with it.
Victor: Every little thing was adorable. I was already happy when you asked me to stay with you. It's always nice when the girl you love relies on you.
That is. The cutest reaction to a girl asking you to bed then falling asleep. Ever.
Victor: Um...since it's just the two of us living here...
He goes increasingly red.
Victor: ...do you want to sleep in the same bed?
Cardia: !
Victor: It's completely innocent! ...ok, maybe not completely. *cough* But I want to be able to stay with you as long as possible.
Cardia: On the one hand, that sounds nice, but on the other hand you'd...die?
Aww, she's not permanently de-poisoned?
Victor: Don't you remember my promise to you? Drink this.
Cardia: Oh! I feel warm!
Victor: It's working! Let's test it out :D
He kisses her, and she tries to push him away, but...
Awww. She looks much happier in the next version of the CG and gets very into the kissing, but this was too...unique to resist.
With regular medicine she can suppress her poison.
Cardia: So I can touch you??? :D :D
Victor: Yes :D :D
Me: :D :D
They say some very sweet things about making each other happy and kiss again.
THE END
I have unlocked Victor's extra scene, and also...one quarter of an image of what looks like some short haired dude with a slightly unsettling smile? Is that Lupin?
Path of Genesis has opened in the title menu! This allows me to replay any chapter from the common route or Victor's path. Nice.
omg the image for Victor's Extra scene is the CUTEST LITTLE CHIBI OF HIM
Anyway, that was SO GREAT. I LOVED IT. Am a bit eh about that last Victoria scene but will see how things play out for her overall. I didn't use a walkthrough once, most of the answers were VERY obvious and it seems not to be too picky. But checking one out now, I actually had about the right mix of bold/cautious, even if the specifics weren't always right. Not feeling up to seeing the bad ends right now though I am VERY CURIOUS to see Cardia's FULL DEATH GOD WARRIOR form.
The one down side is that this was so utterly perfect for me that I feel like all the others will be a disappointment. I trust the writers to make everyone feel just as central to the plot and Cardia's emotional arc but the whole "Victor invented Cardia's poison and is the one who cures it" arc was so great I'm curious to see how. I'm not sure if the other DLC I have involves spoilers for other paths so am hesitant to play it right now, maybe I'll use it as a chaser if I play the bad ends.
I made a half assed height comparison using the Cardia sprite:
I got confused by their hats and different poses but I think Van Helsing, Lupin and Saint-Germain are basically the same height. Victoria too, afaict.
Also, I finished the main route at just before midnight on New Years Eve, because I know how to party ;)
*Content note: unexpected consent issues!*
Victor's Extra Scene:
This is set relatively early in the game, I think it was originally a DLC. Cardia comes across Victor doing some weeding for Saint Germain. They bond as she helps him out, and he encourages her to grow some flowers herself. She loves the idea, such a change from just causing plants to die.
And then Victor starts freaking out because a poisonous caterpillar (?!) fell into his clothes.
Cardia: POISON?! I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU *starts pulling off Victor's shirt*
Victor: CARDIA! STOP!
Cardia: STAY STILL, THE BUG COULD BE ANYWHERE. MAYBE IT FELL DOWN YOUR TROUSERS.
Victor: THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN BUT...AHHH HEY STOP THAT
Wow this "Victor struggles as a pair of disembodied hands doggedly removes his clothes" CG and him crying out for her to stop sure is. Uh. Something. Especially in contrast to the bouncy music. I'm happy for the people into this sort of thing, I guess, even if it's a bit...much...for me.
Cardia: Well I didn't find any signs of injury but Victor looks weirdly upset. He must really hate caterpillars! If any more show up I'll KEEP HIM SAFE.
THE END
THe CGs in this game are SUPER pretty and Victor's are great, here's all of them, but bear in mind what I said about the last one.
Content note: suicide, gore, genocide, weird consent issues
I was going to say "but it's mostly upbeat" then remembered how tense I was the whole time. It's good, though! And I can promise it doesn't end on a cliffhanger :) (Something I used to think went without saying for the good end of a dating sim, NAMELESS)
Chapter 11: The Alchemist's Secret
Cardia dreams.
Cardia: Elaine, how's-
Me: NOPE
*sleeps, answers email, does the laundry, plays some other games. Sighs. Starts up the Playstation*
A cute scene happens involving Elaine, and Cardia thinks "I wish I could stay this way forever".
We see a timer tick down to nine hours. THANKS GAME.
Cardia wakes alone, and her happy dream fades to depressing reality. But Victor is overjoyed to see her awake at last. They have some leads on the Zicterium repository Victoria needs for her plans, but not on Cardia's poison. But he's been working on it since they met and feels sure that he's close.
Victor: I'd do anything for you, even if I have to give my life in exchange.
Cardia: Why? I'm a monster created to spread poison. You should be revolted by my very existence.
Victor: You're a normal girl, and you deserve to be happy. And I don't want to lose you. I want to save you, and only you.
God. My options are "Don't be so kind to me" and "I want to be alone".
Cardia: Whatever we have between us will end when I become a true monster. It would be less painful for us both if we don't have as many memories to look back on. And I couldn't bear if you died.
Victor: I'm afraid of death, but more afraid of running away from you. I don't want to be like that any more.
She wonders what she is to him: a friend? Something more? Or a source of guilt? She finally asks him what he meant by "It's my fault Cardia was created".
He says she will probably despise him, but it's what he deserves. And the only way he can explain it is to start at the beginning.
He's Swiss (Yes I should probably have known that shh) but came to England to become an alchemist. He was doing well and got put in charge of the Philosopher's Stone project, but was disgraced when all it created was a "useless" toxin, Zicterium. Only Isaac still encouraged him, and got him a job researching Zicterium further. Victor was proud to be useful...until he found out it was being used as a weapon in the Vampire War. Victoria convinced him she'd stop that and that he should keep researching. But of course it was a lie.
He rushed to the front but it was too late, and all he saw was death: Men, women and children who'd all died in agony. Overcome by guilt, he ran, and made no further effort to halt the war. But after a while he heard that the British government was stockpiling Zicterium, and he vowed to rid the world of it all.
Victor: All the pain you've suffered, all the pain you'll suffer for the rest of your life...it's all my fault.
Cardia: Thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't exist. And I'm glad for the life I've lived.
And she hugs him to her chest. He trembles in her arms and thanks her in a shaking voice. Then he grips her hands and promises he will save her, and wonders when she became so precious to him.
THANKS FOR THE DEATH TIMER UPDATE, GAME
Van Helsing POV! The Lupin Gang investigate the house of an alchemist who worked with Isaac. Van Helsing recognises the nostalgic scent of a decaying body: the man seems to have killed himself out of guilt. They find a suicide note describing Victoria's plans. The next target is the poor area, Lowtown- near their hideout!
As they run to warn Victor and Cardia they hear an explosion.
Cardia POV. I AM. SO TENSE.
There's an explosion, and smoke. And a strange, sweet smell...
Victor covers Cardia's mouth and nose despite her protest. VICTOR. SHE IS MADE OF ZICTERIUM. AND YOUR HAND WILL MELT.
Ah, ok, he already made his gloves Cardia-proof.
The inhabitants of Lowtown panic and many die in the gas. But Cardia feels...weirdly energetic. He tells her to run ahead, and that he'll join her later: he can't stand by and let these people die. HMM SHOULD I OFFER TO HELP?
Some of the locals stay to help as well. Eventually the police arrive and Cardia and Victor flee. A coughing Victor says he should have stayed, but gets distracted when he realises how healthy Cardia is by comparison. He starts scrawling formulae on the ground with a rock, then grabs Cardia with joy.
Victor: Poison to stop poison! They cancel each other out and create something new! I can save you- with Zicterium!
But then freaking Twilight arrive.
Leonhardt POV!
Victoria: The impoverished district should be in a panic right now. Zicterium is the weapon of the devil himself.
Leonhardt, who grew up in that district: ...as you say.
"The strength in her voice could come from the surety of a noble commander- Or something else entirely..."
Chapter 12: Calamity
Six hours left.
Cardia and Victor are running from Twilight. Victor is gasping for breath.
Victor: Go ahead to the rendezvous, I'll act act a decoy.
Cardia: I'm staying with you.
Victor: But we don't have time-
Cardia grabs Victor and puts a finger to his lips.
Cardia: If I have to, I'll take my own life. But I choose to stay by your side, nothing is more important to me. My heart aches when I think of you...what is this feeling, Victor?
Victor, blushing: I think...it's what we refer to as love.
Cardia remembers her father saying she must never know love, and remembers Elaine. But this feeling pushes past everything else.
Cardia: Victor, I love you.
Victor, looking away: I don't have the right to be loved.
Cardia: That doesn't matter. Do you-
Aleister: The artificial monster speaks of love. So absurd, yet so genuine.
Aleister and his Twilight troops take Cardia as a hostage. Aleister tells Victor that if he finds the Zicterium in the next four hours, they can both go free. And he implies he will kill Cardia otherwise. A weapon that can't be controlled has no value.
I realised later that Twilight has split from the government and Aleister is pursuing his own agenda.
Aleister: If you remove your tracking device, or evade your escort, or tell your accomplices...remember that your precious doll can be easily broken.
All the doll imagery around Cardia is interesting having just played Nameless.
Blaming herself for Victor being forced to repeat the pain of his past, Cardia throws herself on the sword of the soldier holding her, but it just melts.
Victor: Don't give up. I promise I will save you.
Victor POV. We actually see a Cardia sprite on the main screen, which is interestingly surreal. He decides he only has time to focus on saving her, and will worry about the rest later. He knows he must destroy the Zicterium, or countless lives will be lost. Yet all he can think about is her.
He meets up with Van Helsing, who says the others are with the Zicterium stockpile. As Victor explains about Zicterium treating Cardia, he taps out a message in morse code: Cardia taken hostage. Being watched.
Van Helsing briefly narrows his eyes, then says the Zicterium is underground, near Buckingham Palace.
Cardia POV. She is tied to a chair at Aleister's house. He squees about "Isaac's best invention", the phonograph (You didn't have to make him invent EVERYTHING, guys) in a way that would be endearing from anyone else, but no. When Cardia gets angry at him he just muses about whether she is a soulless doll, pretending to have emotions. And then he leaves to make her a "final supper".
Alone, Cardia calmly observes the room and finds a way to cut herself...but her blood doesn't melt the rope! Has her poison become weaker as she transforms? Battling through fatigue and pain she manages to slip out of the rope using techniques from Lupin. She gets a dagger from one Twilight soldier but is overcome by others. And then Impey comes to the rescue in his ornithopter!
Victor POV. He meets with the others at a huge facility. Just as they're explaining that they can't figure out how to open the door to the Zicterium, an overwhelming number of Twilight soldiers arrives.
Victor, knowing Aleister is listening: We're the only ones who know how to open the door, and you don't have time for a leisurely torture session. Stop attacking, and bring Cardia here!
Aleister, over intercom: ...fine. We'll dispose of her on our end. And once you're all dead, I will head over there at my own leisure. I have a policy against taking risky bets.
Van Helsing, cocking his gun: So much for talking our way out.
But then... Cardia shows up with Impey!
Aleister: So that's where the little rabbit ran off to.
Victor embraces Cardia and says she gives him strength, and everyone prepares to fight.
Aleister POV: There is a knock at the door of his room.
Twilight soldier: We've been surrounded by the military!
Aleister, drawing his sword: I thought the Queen would take longer to find us. But I suppose I need some exercise.
And then he stabs the soldier, and leaves, covered in blood and cheerfully humming to himself. He murders his way out of the house, and vanishes from the centre stage of history.
One hour left.
In the Zicterium facility, the Twilight soldiers fall to the guns of the Royal Guard, under the command of a coldly unemotional Leonhardt...and then point their guns at the Lupin Gang. And then...Victoria appears!!
This was the point where I belatedly realised Aleister was plotting against/separate to Victoria. But TURNS OUT SHE WAS MANIPULATING HIM ANYWAY.
Victoria and Saint-Germain have a smug-off, and he points out her "sacrifice the few for the good of the many" numbers only add up if you exclude the rest of the world.
She says this facility is one giant weapon created by Isaac: a self destruct device to protect the knowledge contained in the city. She will set it off, so that those who remain harbour hatred towards "terrorist nations".
Victor: But you'll die too!
Victoria: And I will burn in Hell forever. But I have made arrangements for my plan to continue without me.
For a moment she looks sad. "I envy you, Dr Frankenstein, wielding justice like a weapon without an awareness of it's costs..." But then she regains her unfaltering confidence, and walks to the door...holding the pendant. The door opens.
Isaac is often compared to Prometheus, and now she says Finis was their Pandora. Victoria asks Victor and Cardia to come with her, saying she will help fix Cardia since it would mess up her plans for London to remain a deadly wasteland forever.
Victoria: Once this is all over, you must go to the government for protection. Please lend me your strength as Britain faces these difficult times.
Cardia: You mean let myself be used as a weapon. What if I refuse?
Victoria: Then you will be the one that kills all of London, including your friends. Or I terminate you now. My plan will always succeed. So what will it be? Allow yourself to survive, or have you all die together?
And without me even having to interfere, Cardia chooses to stay with her friends, to the end.
Victoria just turns and walks through the door with Leonhardt.
Victor: I've realised I can't escape my past. Victoria doesn't want to deal with her country's past, but she's just creating more hatred. That's why I'm going to stop Victoria. But I'm going to save you too, no matter what.
He holds out his hand and she takes it. They stare into each other's eyes and Lupin teases them and says they should get going, he and the other guys will take care of the soldiers.
Chapter 13: A Princess's Knight
The narrative keeps reassuring us that Victor is brave and loveable despite being a bit timid *mutters about toxic masculinity*. Anyway.
As they run, Cardia feels hot and her vision is wavering. Victor has to help her keep moving. She reaches for the dagger.
Victor: We don't even know if it would work. And you don't understand how painful it would be for me in a world without you.
Cardia: A kind woman once died because I wanted to live. I don't want to go through that again.
Victor: I am the one who created that poison, and have also watched people die because of it. You and I are the same, and my offense is greater. I'll drive away all your fears, but you have to trust me.
She promises not to give up. He takes off his gloves and puts his hand to her cheek, explaining that Zicterium loses it's poison during it's transformation. This is the first time Cardia has ever felt human touch and she is a fan. And then they say some VERY ROMANTIC THINGS. He says he loves her and that they can carry the weight of their past together.
And then they run forward to the diffusion device, which is...a big glowing blue mechanical tree?? I guess Cardia is already an example of Zicterium based life.
Victoria says she's glad her people won't suffer which...does not jive with what we have seen of death by Zicterium. She says the device is already activated and cannot be stopped except by destroying it. And when Victor goes to destroy it, Leonhardt challenges him to battle.
Victor says using force to win would make him as bad as them which...look. I know you're Swiss, Victor, but no. You can use knockout gas on the people attempting mass murder, it's ok. Leonhardt isn't quite able to stab an unarmed scientist so hits Victor with the flat of his blade.
Leonhardt: Aren't you afraid of death?
Victor: If your plan succeeds, we'll all die anyway. My standing here is a matter of conviction.
Leonhardt breaks his leg, and Victor falls. And then a cold chime comes from the tree.
Victoria: It seems we're out of time. This...marks the end of my duties as Queen.
Victor stands to his feet, the intensity of his gaze making Leonhardt take a step back.
Victor: You think I should sacrifice myself for the one I love. But I refuse to give up and leave someone I care about behind!
Leonhardt: Do you really mean to keep fighting based on such a self-centred notion?
Victor: I'll fight as long as I have to. My battle is to convince you! You know this is wrong. If you won't agree with me, then kill me!
Leonhardt:
Victor argues that it's dishonourable murder etc. And then says "Britain will fall if you don't do this? Are the people of this country so weak?"
Leonhardt stabs Victor's leg. Victor grabs Leonhardt's arm before he can retrieve the blade.
Victor, weak with pain: I was...so full of regret when the Zicterium was used. Why didn't I fight back...when I had the chance? There is no cause worth that!
Leonhardt: My faith lies in her majesty after being honoured with a knighthood, She is my justice, and my path!
Victor: You have not protected her from going down a path from which she will never return. If you are a true knight, if you truly care for her...you're the only one who can save her!
Victoria: Kill him!
Cardia, throwing herself in front of Victor: If this is your fight, it's mine as well!
Victoria: Fine, kill her. The doctor can't do much now anyway.
Leonhardt: I...I can't. Where is the justice in murdering a good woman who stands here, unarmed, to protect her friend?
Me: Unlike...all the unarmed, good women...in London...
Victor: Thank you, Cardia, you protected me again :)
Bleeding and barely able to stand, he goes to the control panel.
Leonhardt: This is the wrong path.
Victoria: Even if it is, I can't stop now!
The device grows brighter and brighter and Victor becomes desperate, as Cardia holds him up so he doesn't fall.
Victoria: Step aside, Leonhardt! You saw how much blood had to be spilled for this plan, are you going to make it go to waste?
There is a blinding white light as Victor slams something into the device. And...then the light fades.
Victor: I deactivated it.
Victoria: No-
Alarm: Awooga!
Victor: I also set off a self destruct protocol :)
For a moment, Victoria looks like an abandoned child. Then she smiles at Cardia and takes out a pocketwatch.
Victoria: The plan is still in motion ^_^
Leonhardt: It's dangerous here, I must get you to safety.
Victoria: But I'm finally going to be saved.
Leonhardt grabs her and starts to pull her away...
...so she stabs him.
Victoria: I'm sorry, Leonhardt. Let us die...together.
Leonhardt, with a gentle smile: Your Majesty, I have always...respected you. So please pardon this disrespect.
And then he punches her in the stomach, picks up her unconscious body, apologises to the others, and walks away.
Cardia only has a few minutes left. But she's not alone.
Victoria dreams.
When she was young, she was a kind woman who advised her father to pursue a path of peace. She saw colonised people treated like slaves, looking at her with hate. She decided she had to run the country herself. Edward noticed her growing influence, and planned to have her assassinated. So she killed him first. And eventually she stopped shedding tears over the blood she spilled cleaning up her fathers mess. She stood atop a pile of corpses, and never looked back. She'd thought she would finally be free of this burden.
She wakes in Leonhardt's arms. It is a bittersweet reminder of him having saved her in the past.
Victoria: Why did even you betray me?
Leonhardt: I didn't. For all of eternity, I swear I will be your loyal knight, devoted to you completely.
She looks at the blood dripping down his back, a reminder of what she did to him.
Victoria: I have one final order. If that girl does not become a true monster...kill me. I will take responsibility. These hands are so stained with blood I don't want to look at them. Please...save me.
Leonhardt: I cannot. Britain needs you. Death is not the same as taking responsibility.
Leonhardt persuades her that's she's a good queen because all that genocide made her feel really bad. A single crystal tear rolls down Victoria's cheek as he persuades her to feel again. Woo :/ "If you say you will fall to Hell, then I shall accompany you to those depths" is good though.
But I am excited for...
AN EXPLODING POISON CRYSTAL TREE
It will take slightly longer to finish the de-poisoning process than Cardia has left. Victor thinks her exposure to Zicterium during the gas attack buys them enough extra time, and the city should be safe, but he is evasive about the possibility of him getting poisoned. Just as she's pondering killing herself to make sure he's safe, she collapses. She can feel something within her, trying to get out.
Cardia: Meeting you, and loving you, gave me all the happiness I needed. So please, kill me!
Victor: Never! I won't let you die!
The watch reaches zero, and she thinks back to watching Elaine die. Her chest burns with pain and then a blinding light. Poison oozes out of her, and she feels herself transform into...something else.
Goddamn, I get a choice? I BETTER NOT BE KILLING VICTOR WITH THIS. *picks "I believe in you"*
As everything's going blurry, he pours a blue liquid into her mouth...but she can't control her body any more and it spills out. So he kisses her to help her swallow (shh it's very romantic)
It tasted sweet to her but putting poison in his mouth was not great for Victor. He coughs and says he'll be fine, the liquid form isn't quite as deadly.
And then the device explodes and everything goes white.
The closing credits play.
Luckily Hakuoki taught me to expect an actual ending after the credits or I would have been pissed.
Just as Cardia and Victor's fatigued bodies were reaching their limits, Lupin and the others found them and took them to safety. They had a long rest, and then a good bye party as the others leave to pursue their own goals awwwwww :(
Lupin and Impey went in pursuit of their original goal of finding "something".
Delly didn't kill van Helsing and instead they are working together to help the remaining vampires.
Saint-Germain said he had some business to take care of so GAVE THEM THE MANSION and left for France.
Ahaha so at the party, Cardia dragged Victor off to bed saying "Stay with me" and then fell asleep. But he liked seeing her sleeping face.
Cardia: Did I look funny??? I don't want to put you off with my weird sleeping habits.
Me: Cardia, you used to be MADE OF POISON, I think he can deal with it.
Victor: Every little thing was adorable. I was already happy when you asked me to stay with you. It's always nice when the girl you love relies on you.
That is. The cutest reaction to a girl asking you to bed then falling asleep. Ever.
Victor: Um...since it's just the two of us living here...
He goes increasingly red.
Victor: ...do you want to sleep in the same bed?
Cardia: !
Victor: It's completely innocent! ...ok, maybe not completely. *cough* But I want to be able to stay with you as long as possible.
Cardia: On the one hand, that sounds nice, but on the other hand you'd...die?
Aww, she's not permanently de-poisoned?
Victor: Don't you remember my promise to you? Drink this.
Cardia: Oh! I feel warm!
Victor: It's working! Let's test it out :D
He kisses her, and she tries to push him away, but...
Awww. She looks much happier in the next version of the CG and gets very into the kissing, but this was too...unique to resist.
With regular medicine she can suppress her poison.
Cardia: So I can touch you??? :D :D
Victor: Yes :D :D
Me: :D :D
They say some very sweet things about making each other happy and kiss again.
THE END
I have unlocked Victor's extra scene, and also...one quarter of an image of what looks like some short haired dude with a slightly unsettling smile? Is that Lupin?
Path of Genesis has opened in the title menu! This allows me to replay any chapter from the common route or Victor's path. Nice.
omg the image for Victor's Extra scene is the CUTEST LITTLE CHIBI OF HIM
Anyway, that was SO GREAT. I LOVED IT. Am a bit eh about that last Victoria scene but will see how things play out for her overall. I didn't use a walkthrough once, most of the answers were VERY obvious and it seems not to be too picky. But checking one out now, I actually had about the right mix of bold/cautious, even if the specifics weren't always right. Not feeling up to seeing the bad ends right now though I am VERY CURIOUS to see Cardia's FULL DEATH GOD WARRIOR form.
The one down side is that this was so utterly perfect for me that I feel like all the others will be a disappointment. I trust the writers to make everyone feel just as central to the plot and Cardia's emotional arc but the whole "Victor invented Cardia's poison and is the one who cures it" arc was so great I'm curious to see how. I'm not sure if the other DLC I have involves spoilers for other paths so am hesitant to play it right now, maybe I'll use it as a chaser if I play the bad ends.
I made a half assed height comparison using the Cardia sprite:
I got confused by their hats and different poses but I think Van Helsing, Lupin and Saint-Germain are basically the same height. Victoria too, afaict.
Also, I finished the main route at just before midnight on New Years Eve, because I know how to party ;)
*Content note: unexpected consent issues!*
Victor's Extra Scene:
This is set relatively early in the game, I think it was originally a DLC. Cardia comes across Victor doing some weeding for Saint Germain. They bond as she helps him out, and he encourages her to grow some flowers herself. She loves the idea, such a change from just causing plants to die.
And then Victor starts freaking out because a poisonous caterpillar (?!) fell into his clothes.
Cardia: POISON?! I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU *starts pulling off Victor's shirt*
Victor: CARDIA! STOP!
Cardia: STAY STILL, THE BUG COULD BE ANYWHERE. MAYBE IT FELL DOWN YOUR TROUSERS.
Victor: THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN BUT...AHHH HEY STOP THAT
Wow this "Victor struggles as a pair of disembodied hands doggedly removes his clothes" CG and him crying out for her to stop sure is. Uh. Something. Especially in contrast to the bouncy music. I'm happy for the people into this sort of thing, I guess, even if it's a bit...much...for me.
Cardia: Well I didn't find any signs of injury but Victor looks weirdly upset. He must really hate caterpillars! If any more show up I'll KEEP HIM SAFE.
THE END
THe CGs in this game are SUPER pretty and Victor's are great, here's all of them, but bear in mind what I said about the last one.
