Save Scumming? It's on my Character sheet. (Re: Zero/Fate Grand Order)

…so, how many times DID it loop?
Can't have been too many. After all, the flaw of Prelati's plan is that time weakens memory naturally, and so his memory of events prior to this loop would eventually be almost none.
I think it was the first one since he's wiping Subaru's memory technically no time is passing for Subaru and since Prelati can't see Subaru's previous loops himself he was hoping for it to just go on forever.
 
I think it was the first one since he's wiping Subaru's memory technically no time is passing for Subaru and since Prelati can't see Subaru's previous loops himself he was hoping for it to just go on forever.
Prelati's erasing his memories, but not strengthening his old ones. Ergo, Subaru would suffer natural degradation of older memories is the loops covered any significant amount of time. So the number of times he has looped matters.
 
Nah, I'm pretty sure Prelati's just erasing Subaru's memories of the loop. And I'm pretty sure Prelati didn't actually kill Subaru yet though simply because loops are supposed to stay the same until Subaru does something, so it would be really weird that Phantom just shows up for no reason.
 
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When Satella breaks the block she's gonna be hella pissed. Probably to the point where the past shit we see her do looks small compared to what'll happen
 
Satella manifesting in a singularity this early? could be a trip.

Subaru after RBDing "Prelati you need to stop blocking her right now or else something really bad will happen."

Yeah, Prelati does… not understand just how bad an idea what he was doing was. Because if she had figured it out - and she would have, as Prelati would slip up at some point. Well… there are not words to describe what would happen other than we would learn if a Servant can truly die if destroyed thoroughly enough in one of the singularities. Because she would try.

Also I tend to agree this was the first loop. Prelati was too much an arrogant fool to not immediately trip up in the middle of his master plan coming to fruition. If it hadn't been the Phantom it would have been something else.
 
Nah, I'm pretty sure Prelati's just erasing Subaru's memories of the loop. And I'm pretty sure Prelati didn't actually kill Subaru yet though simply because loops are supposed to stay the same until Subaru does something, so it would be really weird that Phantom just shows up for no reason.
I'm not saying that Prelati's erasing more.

As time passes, you forget things.
Regardless of whether he remembers it or not, each loop Subaru foes through, his mind experiences.
Therefore, each loop Subaru goes through, his mind naturally forgets things, as time is passing.
 
But he didn't? That's what erasing memories is?
Just because he doesn't remember doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Time makes our minds lose old memories, or at least makes them fade. Prelati was wiping away new memories, not restoring old ones. So therefore, even if Subaru forgot the loop, the rest of his memories that Prelati didn't touch would still be slightly degraded by the passing of time.
 
Just because he doesn't remember doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Time makes our minds lose old memories, or at least makes them fade. Prelati was wiping away new memories, not restoring old ones. So therefore, even if Subaru forgot the loop, the rest of his memories that Prelati didn't touch would still be slightly degraded by the passing of time.
Except not, because would Subaru be going through the exact same loop (Because he wouldn't know that he'd gone through it before.)

And to him, he'd just been transported to Orleans. So the memories of his previous experiences would be fresh to him because to him he just got back from doing them. Plus RBD means that his consciousness is being transported not his physical body or brain.
 
Except not, because would Subaru be going through the exact same loop (Because he wouldn't know that he'd gone through it before.)

And to him, he'd just been transported to Orleans. So the memories of his previous experiences would be fresh to him because to him he just got back from doing them. Plus RBD means that his consciousness is being transported not his physical body or brain.
I'll walk through it:

At the end of every loop Subaru has forgotten small details about the time before that loop. It's not significant, but it happens. It's just how memory works.

But every loop his memory of past events does not refresh, he does not regain the memories he forgot during the previous loop. So he gradually remembers the time before each save point less and less. Under normal circumstances he successfully navigates the save point and is on to the next before this becomes at all noticeable.

Prelati erasing his memory each loop would not restore these memories either.

So his memory of the time before the start of this continuous loop would gradually get worse, as it would go through more and more cycles of details being forgotten, until it became obvious something was fucking with him.

Effectively the problem is that while he doesn't remember the loops being erased, he's still getting subjectively older, so his older memories are going through more and more cycles to decay. So he thinks his memories should be fresh... except they aren't. And that difference would not be obvious early on, but would rapidly stand out as Subaru has lived through enough he knows more or less exactly how well he should remember things. And if something that just happened feels like it happened months ago...
 
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66: Galahad
66: Galahad

"-Go!"

The Castle Walls slam shut with a resounding crash. Natsuki Subaru will have to survive on his own from here on out. But that's fine. At this point, he's guaranteed to reach Paris, and at that point, 'victory is assured'.

…Unfortunately, that means my part is up. At this point, I can already feel it receding - the power of [Tactician's Command], which allowed me to stand and fight earlier, is all but gone. I suppose I ought to count my blessings - the very idea that the skill could function through proxy, via Gareth, is absurd enough on its own. It's my own fault that it wasn't enough, in any case.

"...What a blunder." I mutter as the chains bind me to the ceiling. It was an easy mistake to make. A foolish error that was just about impossible to anticipate - namely, the difference between fighting in my own body and that of Mash Kyrielight.

That is to say, the Homunculus girl is a good foot shorter than myself, with a shorter stride to match - and so I could not reach that man in time to prevent his Noble Phantasm.

"Gaaa…laaaa…haaad." That man rumbles in his madness, dragging himself across the red carpeted floor of [Dolorous Gard], towards me.

I am chained to the ceiling, with a broken arm, and enough blood loss that my chest is heaving for every breath and my vision is almost completely dark.

"I'm sorry." I apologize to the girl whose body I have stolen. "I'm so, so terribly sorry. But, Mash Kyrielight, if you can hear my voice… do not fear. It was I who thrust you into this mess. And I will not allow you to die for my mistake."

"GALAHAAD!" Roars that man, staring up at me. How chivalrous of him, to wait for me to come down to him.

With a heavy heart, I fully release my power.

My armor manifests fully, and strength surges through my limbs, the broken limb and injuries overwritten with the spiritual body of a Servant. At my hip, the all too heavy weight of a certain sword settles into place. With a flex of newly strengthened muscles, the chains shatter, and I fall to the ground below.

I will need to make this fast. This level of possession is completely unsustainable, and Mash Kyrielight's existence will be lost if I keep it going for too long.

And at the same time, if I push myself too hard, her body will most certainly give out on me, Saint Graph Ascension be damned.

That man has lost a leg, but that's all. He is still the mightiest Knight of the Round, and even without my handicap, I dislike my odds.

And of course, as my feet land upon the familiar carpeted floor of [Dolorous Gard], I can't help but recall - that man is my father. Glowing red eyes, black fog coating his body - none of that changes the truth.

"-Sir Lancelot, you're as insufferably self-centered as always. Must it really be my hand that ends you?" I ask through gritted teeth. "Must you truly make a kinslayer of me!?"

"Aaaah." He groans in the affirmative.

"Tch. If you're that obsessed with paying the price of betrayal, why not just hang yourself like Iscariot? You seem to have been content to imitate him before." I mutter angrily as I raise my shield towards him.

"Gaaaa…laaaa…HAAAAAD!" He roars, and charges me. Father is terrifically fast, even now, and I have mere moments to make up my mind.

It doesn't matter. There's only one option open to me now, no matter how much I may despise it. Even though the mere thought of using it makes me ill, even though I had sealed it and forbidden Mash Kyrielight from using it.

With a resounding crash, Father's blade meets my shield, gripped in my left hand. And with my right hand-

"-May God have mercy on me." With my right hand, I grip the sword I inherited from Sir Balin, all those years ago. As I begin to pull the weapon from its scabbard, a hole opens in my hand, blood covering the handle.

There are three prices to be paid for the drawing of this weapon. The first, a price of blood - upon drawing the weapon, a stigmata shall appear on my hand, to supply the color from which the Noble Phantasm receives its name.

"[ Red Hilt( Thou Shalt Surely Die) ]." The Sword of Certain Death is drawn. Flashing through the darkness, slipping out from behind my shield like a viper, I slash past Father's broken guard while he is still off balance from his attack-

At that moment, he loses balance, slips on the bloody stump of his leg, and falls out of the path of my swing, the sword missing him by inches. The [Protection of Fairies] - even now she gives him her protection. What a foolishly sentimental woman.

This sword is not easily avoided. The second price, the price of flesh - once swung, [Red Hilt] will always take a life.

[Red Hilt] is a sword that pronounces death. A Holy sword the sole principle of which is the fearsome, all-consuming wrath of God. Holy not for the metal it was forged from, but for the shard of the True Cross that its hilt was hewn from.

Luck, Agility, Strength - all these are insufficient. The wrath of God, poured out, can be avoided by one method and one method only.

Sacrifice.

Space distorts, and the blade hews through reality itself. The world splits in twain, its very texture peeling back. White light cascades forth from the blade, slashing through to the Reverse Side of the World, all the way to Avalon, the realm of the Fairies.

I receive only the briefest glimpse of her. A beautiful blonde woman standing amidst a field of flowers. In the instant before holy fire claims her, the Lady of the Lake, my adoptive grandmother, locks eyes with me. She gives a small, sad smile - and [Red Hilt] claims its due.

"...You idiot." I murmur from behind warm eyes.

This is the third price. The price of sorrow. No matter what occurs, no matter what circumstances it is drawn under - upon using [Red Hilt], I will regret ever having laid eyes upon it.

Even still, so long as Mash Kyrielight survives, I will bear this sorrow.

Reality folds back into place, and I slide backwards, finding unsteady footing once more upon the familiar floor of [Dolorous Gard], with my sword once more firmly within its scabbard.

For a moment, I try to get my bearings through the dark film of blood-loss, vision almost completely absent as the world spinst-

"[ARON…" -But there's no chance for that before Father lunges out of the shadows, sword raised.

"[Lord-!" I shout, raising my shield reflexively - but that's a mistake. It's a catastrophic mistake. My mana reserves are already dry. [Red Hilt] spent the last of them. There were a dozen other options, but I chose the worst possible one. At this point, only divine intervention will save me.

"..DIIIIIIGHT]!" Lancelot roars, light roaring forth from his sword.

"...Camelot]!" I finish the invocation, slamming the shield down in front of myself as my legs lose all feeling and my knees buckle. Desperately, I cling to my Noble Phantasm, as much to stay standing as to deflect the attack, praying with all my might for a miracle.

Please. Please. Just a bit more. I need just a bit more, from anywhere-!

Something touches the edge of hazy awareness. A hidden wellspring of mana, totally unnoticed until now - somehow, some way, it appears exactly when I need it, and I devour it with the greed of a starving man.

Life surges within me, my vision growing clearer and my body lighter, as my Noble Phantasm springs to life.

I brace desperately, trying to hang on - and find it shockingly easy, as Father's attack peters out near instantly. A moment later, his sword also falls to the ground.

Standing on unsteady feet, I peek out from behind the shield, and take in the sight.

"Aaah…" Groans Lancelot as his arms continue to dissolve into spiritrons. Painfully, he slides forward with his one remaining limb, only for that too to begin dissolving. Above my head, sunlight starts to filter in as the roof starts to dematerialize. "Aaaarrrr… thuuuur…"

"Wha-" I start to ask - and then it hits me. I let out a strangled giggle that slowly turns into a half-crazed laugh at the irony of it. "Ha… Hahahaha!"

Slowly, Father dissolves into nothingness, without me even needing to land a lethal blow against him. It was all useless. All of my fighting was pointless. I drew that miserable sword and slew Vivian for absolutely no gain.

He ran out of mana. Of all the stupid things… did his master stop providing for him when he used his castle? I know he can't exit it, could it be that stupid witch thought he was useless at that point and cut him off?

Of course, that leaves the question of where that mana came from. It certainly wasn't from Chaldea or Natsuki Subaru. Mash Kyrielight is the only one providing mana to this body, and though she is a homunculus designed to become a Demi-servant, I don't believe she had any such features as an emergency extra mana reserve built into her body.

"Then how…?" With some confusion, I consider the manners in which a Servant can obtain mana once more - from the Holy Grail, from their Master, from Mana Transfers, and…

From consuming souls.

Icy hands grip my organs. It can't be.

I try to switch back - to sink back into Mash Kyrielight's subconscious - and find nothing.

It can't be it can't be it can't be it can't be.

There's nothing there. An empty shell.

No. No. No no no no no nononono.

She was there. I felt her there, just a few minutes ago. I'm certain, Mash Kyrielight was still in this body just a few short minutes ago!

But that existence, which I had tried so hard to protect, is nowhere to be found within my awareness.

And the reason for that is-

The price of sorrow. No matter what occurs, no matter what circumstances it is drawn under - upon using [Red Hilt], I will regret ever having laid eyes upon it.

I scream.

***

Thou Shalt Surely Die: Red Hilt
Rank: A---
Type: Anti-Unit
Range: 1-10
Maximum Number of Targets: 1

The Sword of Certain Death, inherited from Sir Balin. A holy sword that behaves as though it was a cursed sword - so much so that later on in history the Church would denounce its very creation as a hubristic mistake, and seek to destroy it.

The operating principle of the weapon is "The Wrath of God", and as a result three prices must be paid to satisfy its wrath:

First - the wielder will be wounded each time he draws it, with the wounds intensifying each time.

Second - upon being swung, Red Hilt will always slay someone, usually the target, but there are circumstances under which the blow can be redirected. If another person willingly sacrifices themself to block the attack, they will perish instead. And if the target is truly pure and without sin, the blade will instead turn upon its wielder.

Third - Red Hilt distorts its wielder's destiny, such that he will always regret having used it. This effect is stronger the higher the user's Luck stat.

To confirm - the Sword with the Red Hilt is one of Galahad's swords in Arthurian legend, though the redness of its hilt is actually variable - the cursed aspect is pretty consistent. Its previous wielder, Sir Balin, first uses it to kill(?) the Lady of the Lake(???), and gets kicked out of Camelot for it - and then goes around getting in all sorts of misfortune, leading up to him delivering the blow that wounds the Fisher King and kicks off the whole Grail Quest.

It's the Lance of Longinus that traditionally deals the blow, but when researching the red hilted sword I remember seeing a telling where balin used it instead - though now I can't find it at all, so maybe I'm getting mandela effected. Anyway, seeing it as interchangable with Longinus is why I made it also a crazy powerful holy sword. Might just change it to the Tyrfing knockoff it's most typically considered to be when we get to the big edit. We'll see.
 
Congratulations, Sir Galahad. In trying to protect an innocent girl, you've annihilated her soul.

Do you feel like a hero yet?
 
Wait... did mash accidentally hit or did she try and take the hit for Lancelot? or was it she used her soul as power for Galahad's NP and the sword didn't kill anyone?
 
Wait... did mash accidentally hit or did she try and take the hit for Lancelot? or was it she used her soul as power for Galahad's NP and the sword didn't kill anyone?
The sword killed Vivian, and either Mash gave up her soul as fuel to help Galahad or Galahad accidentally ate her in his desperation and is trying to rationalise it by blaming the sword. At least, that's my interpretation.
 
The sword killed Vivian, and either Mash gave up her soul as fuel to help Galahad or Galahad accidentally ate her in his desperation and is trying to rationalise it by blaming the sword. At least, that's my interpretation.
Wait... Vivian was actually there I thought that was a mental thing to guilt Galahad?

Was he not trying to use the sword on Lancelot? or did Vivian turn up in person to protect Lancelot?
 
Wait... Vivian was actually there I thought that was a mental thing to guilt Galahad?

Was he not trying to use the sword on Lancelot? or did Vivian turn up in person to protect Lancelot?
As far as I understood, the battle was something like this:

Lancelot (+ Vivian's Blessing) VS Galahad (+ Mash's soul inside)

Galahad used "[Red Hilt]". It was going to strike Lancelot, but instead it hits his protection of the fae, which kills Vivian.
Vivian is considered without Sin (or at least that personality, because I won't try to understand the whole mess with Morgan/Vivian/Morgan Le Fay), as such, it is going to punish Galahad, killing him, but Mash takes the hit for him. And because that strike doesn't hit Lancelot, the swing was meaningless.

Galahad strikes Lancelot again with "[Red Hilt]", this time it kills Lancelot and he realizes that at some moment, Mash's soul was destroyed, which makes the whole battle meaningless.
 
Wait... Vivian was actually there I thought that was a mental thing to guilt Galahad?

Was he not trying to use the sword on Lancelot? or did Vivian turn up in person to protect Lancelot?

Galahad strikes Lancelot again with "[Red Hilt]", this time it kills Lancelot and he realizes that at some moment, Mash's soul was destroyed, which makes the whole battle meaningless.
No, Vivian via Lancelot's protection of fairies takes the hit from Red hilt, than Lancelot uses his np, so Galahad panics and uses lord Camelot to block it but doesn't have the prana to block so he either accidentally uses Mash's soul, or she gives it up to empower him, then Lancelot dies because Jalter pulled the plug on him cause using dolerous guard renders himself unable to leave.
 
Also notable is that, per the sword's curse, using it was entirely pointless - Lancelot was about to die of mana-starvation anyway. If he had instead just defended with the same mana Lancelot would have died then anyway.
 
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