Episode 14
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- This article is about the episode itself. For the episode's release event, see Episode 14: Absolved Will Be the Seekers.
The fourteenth episode of Arknights' Main Theme and the end of the Shadow of a Dying Sun story arc is titled Absolved Will Be the Seekers.
Synopsis[edit]
Amnannam, the Cloudy Sky[edit]
Rhodes Island have successfully captured the Lifebone, a massive Feranmut skeleton capable of warping through time and space. The group intends to utilise its unique abilities to launch a direct attack on The Shard, but their connection with Lifebone's consciousness is unexpectedly severed mid-flight and they crash into a valley.[1] Fortunately, the group survive, but the crisis in Londinium has turned for the worse.
The Shard has successfully activated, raining down endless Originium upon Victoria. The battlefield is now an ever-changing mass of Originium clusters and mountains as entire buildings and battleships are consumed by black crystals. With the Blood of Teekaz now in the Confessarii's hands, the Sarkaz will complete the ritual and summon Amnannam, the Cunabula of Suffering, the first Catastrophe brought forward by the "first Originium." While what the Sarkaz intend to do with it remains uncertain, it will undoubtedly bring calamity to Terra.[2]
With the situation rapidly escalating, Rhodes Island must now tackle multiple problems at once. Siege plans to lead The Exemplars towards the frontline on Silverrock Bluffs and use the Sighs of Kings to turn the tides of battle. Meanwhile, the Doctor, Amiya, Kal'tsit, and Logos will cut through the Redmane Mountains towards the rear of the Nachzehrer army, where the Blood of Teekaz is being protected. Hoederer, Ines, Ascalon, and W's squad will protect the Lifebone while they are away. Hoederer will also try to make Ulšulah, the Lifebone's pilot, cooperate with them.[3]
Half a day later, one of W's scout team goes missing while exploring the northern canyons. Despite the rest of the team's warning, W brings the rest of her squad to explore the caves.[4] A whole day passes without any contact from them. While Hoederer continues pressing Ulšulah, the Royal Court soldiers have arrived at the Lifebone's location and use their Arts to manipulate the skeleton's muscles, allowing Ulšulah to break free from her chains and escape.[5] She relays her intel to General Manfred and Lieutenant General Nadine, who are planning a direct assault to retake the Lifebone.[6]
The group still need to hold out for at least one more day, so Hoederer comes up with a bold plan: to assassinate Manfred, thereby incapacitating their entire attack squad. Ascalon accepts the task while Ines is responsible for delaying the Military Commission's soldiers. W arrives just in time to help them, bringing with her fancy new explosive weapons that she found in an underground tomb guarded by a Confessarius homunculus. Ascalon sneaks to the back lines and manages to kill Manfred... until he reveals himself as the Damazti Cluster in disguise. The real Manfred had managed to bypass the resistance to confront Hoederer directly, delivering him a mortal blow with his sword. With Hoederer out of the way, Manfred's soldiers proceed to rout the rebels on the Lifebone.[7]
Braving the Storm[edit]
On their way to Silverrock Bluffs, the Exemplars encounter Bagpipe's squad in Gibsonham, who have been holding out in the city for quite some time. They are later approached by the Duke of Gododdin, who requests that the Exemplars fight on behalf of the Victorian Parliament.[8] Siege declines his offer and continues onward towards the Duke of Caster's military encampment, making contact with the Sir Bellingham. The Trilby Asher reveals to them that the Stone of the Sword is on the duke's flagship, the Gloriana. Siege is displeased with the Duke of Caster's trickery, yet complies nonetheless, understanding that the Sighs of Kings is an important key to winning the war.[9]
The Exemplars join the frontlines, where the Grand Dukes' battleships are attempting to siege the Nachzehrer army. Amidst the fighting, Dublinn soldiers begin to charge into the fray, alongside countless other bodies who are reanimated by Eblana's purple flames. Although not exactly allies, Eblana is able to easily destroy the Sarkaz's witchcraft altars.[10] Things start looking hopeful until something unexpected happens: the Duke of Wellington's battleship breaks out of formation and charges straight into the enemy. The other dukes, who were only acting as support, quickly find themselves surrounded. The Nachzehrer King Nezzsalem uses this opportunity to summon a huge wave of Originium that completely destroys the Gloriana. The Sarkaz begin to rapidly advance towards the wrecked battleship in order to eliminate the duke.[11]
While Wellington himself challenges Nezzsalem directly, the other soldiers struggle to hold back against the encroaching Sarkaz army. Sir Bellingham relays a message from the Duke of Caster to Siege: abandon the frontlines and protect the Sighs of Kings. However, he states his intention to side with the Exemplars instead, believing them to be more trustworthy. Siege then comes up with a plan to reach the Sword of the Stone. Delphine's team is in charge of securing the periphery, Indra and the other Glasgow members cut through the middle, while Horn and Bagpipe guard their rear. The Gloriana, though unable to move, is still able to provide cover fire, paving a way for the Exemplars.[12]
Siege almost reaches the Gloriana when she is influenced by Sarkaz Arts, losing the Sighs of Kings in the process. The Exemplars start to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of Sarkaz on the field. Just when all hope seemed lost, a Steam Knight suddenly crashes down onto the battlefield. Siege recognizes him as Charles Lynch, the Last Steam Knight who was protecting the Sighs of Kings back in the mausoleum. With his immense strength, he is able to plow through the mob of Sarkaz, allowing Sir Bellingham to retrieve the sword and toss it to Siege. Siege then inserts the sword into the stone, activating its golden light which slices through the Catastrophe clouds and dispels all Originium pollution in the air.[13]
Inspired, the the Exemplars quickly regain morale and fight with renewed vigour. The dukes' armies are able to slowly push back the Sarkaz and force them to retreat. The Duke of Caster sends her thanks to Siege, asking the Exemplars to join their counterattack. This time, she acknowledges the Exemplars as an independent force separate from the ducal alliance that can save Victoria.
Confrontation[edit]
The Doctor continues to lead Amiya, Logos, and Kal'tsit through the mountains. After being pursued by a Sudaram, fighting against horrifying Chimera monsters and escaping a trap set up by the Damazti,[14] they finally discover the altar where the Blood of Teekaz is stored. Nezzsalem, having received a message from Salus, withdraws from his fight against the Duke of Wellington in order to stop them. Logos constructs a bridge to get Amiya's team to the other side while he confronts the Nachzehrer King alone. He rings his own death knell before proceeding to use the full extent of his Banshee powers to cast countless incantations until his bone whistle and pen break. After getting severely injured, the infuriated Nezzsalem then hits Logos with his full power, causing him to fall off the cliff and into the depths below.[15]
Meanwhile, Shining confronts the Confessarius leader, Qui'sartuštaj, who is preparing to enact his own ritual. Qui'sartuštaj has conjured a method that would allow him to remotely steal the Black Crown from Amiya, which he will transfer into Nightingale's empty body. He would then possess Nightingale and usurp the position of King of Sarkaz, granting him the power to control Originium in the process.[16] Nearl the Radiant Knight arrives to assist Shining in fighting the Confessarii. Shining barely manages to awaken Nightingale from Qui'sartuštaj's control before the ritual's completion, putting an end to his plans, but at the cost of inadvertently shattering her soul. Qui'sartuštaj is then carried to safety by his servant, Qalid'čoa.[17]
Although one part of the Confessarii's plot has been foiled, Salus succeeds in completing the Blood of Teekaz ritual. The clouds darken and eerie red branches sprout out of The Shard as Amnannam descends. Their only remaining option in stopping Theresis' goal is to use the Lifebone, which has been recaptured by Manfred. W and the other fighters who weren't caught storm the Feranmut to face off against him. W manages to reawaken the Feranmut and convinces it to start warping. In a last ditch effort, Manfred pulls out a detonation switch to destroy the Lifebone. However, at this crucial juncture, he hesitates, and Ascalon throws herself at Manfred. The two of them fall off the skeleton and disappear into the space-time turbulence.[18]
Logos manages to survive Nezzsalem's attack thanks to a device left by his mother, Laqeramaline, and rejoins the Doctor's group. W guides the Lifebone towards the Doctor's signal and manages to rescue them.[18] The group witness the Military Commission's airship heading straight towards Amnannam atop The Shard. The Doctor deduces that Theresa must be the one piloting it. With time running short, the Doctor orders for the Lifebone to teleport next to the airship and latch onto it. Under the barrage of witchcraft, W decides to take a risk and crashes the Feranmut directly into the airship.[19]
The Doctor, Amiya, Kal'tsit, and W use the opportunity board the airship. After heading inside, they are immediately noticed by the Revenant powering the airship, who summons a surge of shadows to stop them. The Revenant's attacks separate the group, leaving Amiya to fend for herself while Kal'tsit is locked in a confined space without Mon3tr. W and the Doctor team up to fight against ghostly apparitions resembling the assassins who killed Theresa, eventually reaching the airship's core. They attempt to destroy it, but physical attacks do nothing against the Revenant's burning anger.
Amiya manages to reach the airship's core, followed shortly by Kal'tsit, who was rescued by Mon3tr. Amiya confronts the Revenant's violent emotions by tapping into his memory, and there, she reads a rather sorrowful history—the summoning of Amnannam by the Farchaser, the first King of Sarkaz, during the dreadful "Descending War" that annihilated the Teekaz civilizations millennia ago, and the Revenant itself was one of the unfortunate sacrifices during the desperate ritual. She relates herself with the timeless suffering the Revenant endures as death has literally betrayed him, but she deems that their cycle of lamentation should not be brought forward to younger generations of Sarkaz. Amiya then uses her Arts to chain him, allowing W to enter the Revenant's shadow in order to locate its core. W navigates through the physical embodiment of the Revenant's emotions from within, finally finding the airship's true engine. Upon capturing the core, she rips the phantom out of it with her bare hands.[20] The airship, having lost its source of power, begins to lose control. Before vanishing, the Revenant uses its lingering connection with the airship to ignite it, intending to bring everyone down with it. It mocks Rhodes Island for being built atop lies and deceit, revealing to them the truth of Theresa's demise all those years ago, shocking even the Doctor.[21]
Logos arrives to rescue the Doctor and the others, using his Arts to dispel the Revenant's shadows. As the group prepare to cross the Lifebone's nerve bundles, they snap, leaving them trapped on the airship. Just then, Theresa appears and rescues the Revenant, soothing its anger before disappearing. They do not have time to ponder where she went as the airship rapidly accelerates, flying straight towards Amnannam. The instant the ship makes contact with the crystal, it is immediately enveloped by a tide of Originium, consuming everything in it, including Amiya. The Doctor frantically reaches out towards her and shouts at the Originium to stop.[21]
The Imperium of Consciousness[edit]
The Doctor falls into a series of hallucinations as they face the wave of protruding Originium. At first, they find themselves inside a mysterious space accompanied by a familiar figure: Priestess. They appear to be on a Rhodes Island of the distant past, when it still traversed the skies as a spaceship of the "Predecessors" before colonizing Terra. She asks the Doctor what they have been "dreaming" about. The Doctor recounts to her the many things they experienced, from the plight of the Infected to the many countries of Terra, as well as memories of Kal'tsit and Amiya. Priestess tells the Doctor of their past together, but knows she cannot make the Doctor stay. She allows the Doctor to leave, promising that once everything is over, they will undoubtedly return to her side.[22] The Doctor then finds themselves in the corridors of the current Rhodes Island and reunites with Kal'tsit. They traverse the landship and witness a completely different reality: a reality where Op Reserve A1 are still together, where Ace and Outcast have never died and where Talulah and FrostNova have became operators of Rhodes Island. Kal'tsit quickly reminds them that the scenes playing out before them are a manifestation of the Doctor's subconscious wishes created by the Originium. Thanks to her reminder, the two of them are able to escape the illusion.[23]
The two soon reunite with W, Logos, and Amiya, who is now wearing a white dress, presumably sewn and left there for her by Theresa. Stepping out onto the deck, they witness a vast golden sea stretching into the horizon in front of them.[23] Kal'tsit states that this "netherworld" is actually the Assimilated Universe, a hyper-dimensional space formed by the condensation of all information absorbed by Originium, a place which operates on its on laws. Under normal circumstances, they would have been assimilated into this sea of information, but the Doctor's subconscious desires changed Originium's rules and prevented this outcome. In the middle of this ocean stands a tall, tree-like tower that seems to stretch infinitely into the "sky". Everyone immediately understands what they now must do: climb the Tower of Babel.[24]
Under the Doctor's guidance, the Rhodes Island landship begins to sail towards the tower. However, this actions stirs up several unlikely entities within the golden sea—the restless myriad souls of the Sarkaz, the countless "spirits" of their ancestors who are unfortunately chained by the psychic nature of Originium inside this "netherworld", and are also the source of the Sarkaz's vengeful nature. Among the spirits include generations of the Kings of Sarkaz who sought to redeem these poor beings but ultimately succumbed to their waves of lamentation. The anguished spirits intend to halt the ship's advance, so Logos stays behind to quell their fury while the rest climb the tower.[24]
After the other four reach the top, the heaven and the earth instantly reverse, flipping the ocean and sky. There, they not only find the remaining essence of the airship's Revenant whose rage has now subsided into peaceful calm, but also Theresa, who is sitting there calming the Revenant. At first, Amiya and W rebuke her in disbelief, struggling to reconcile the Theresa they once knew with her current self. While Theresa understands their reaction, she reveals her full intentions to the gang: by summoning Amnannam once again, she seeks to gain authority over Originium itself. As part of her goal to not only end the threat of Originium once and for all but also to pacify the Sarkaz masses, she had to enter the Assimilated Universe through Amnannam so that she could liberate the myriad souls residing there, removing the very source of the Sarkaz's eternal bitterness and laying the myriad souls to rest. Such is the reason why she was willingly resurrected through the Confessarii's hands and collaborated with the ultra-nationalists faction: only through them could she unite the Sarkaz under her leadership to recreate the required ritual once more. In Theresa's eye, she is purely trying to remove the Sarkaz from their suffering and rewrite their destiny.[25]
Even after revealing her intention, Amiya feels that Theresa has gone astray from her original goal. She fears that her noble goal could easily be weaponized by others, and her vision of a prosperous utopia no longer include the non-Sarkaz who suffer the same fate as the Sarkaz. Kal'tsit also fears that Theresa has uncovered too many secrets through Originium, which could eventually awaken the unseen, otherworldly "danger" that could bring untold disaster upon Terra. Nevertheless, Theresa deems that Amiya has to go through a trial in order to fully inherit the title of the "King of Sarkaz" and the burden of a savior, or else they will only be treated as the enemies of the Sarkaz, and a conflict ensues between the two factions within this "netherworld".[26]
"Her Memory be a Blessing"[edit]
As the King of Sarkaz and a "prophetess" who has revealed the whole secret of Terra, Theresa's abilities goes beyond the known laws of Terra. With the authority of Originium being held in her hands, she is able to alter the structure of the entire space and utilise the information inherent within Originium. Presuming that Theresa must be under the influence of the Sarkaz's myriad souls, Amiya and W attack the myriad souls directly, temporarily silencing them. Despite this, Theresa remains unaffected, revealing that even after her resurrection, she has always remained the same person. Theresa then begins to emulate the power of the Civilight Eterna, the black crown of the King of Sarkaz, using Originium, forcing Amiya to use her Arts to defend everyone. She wakes up to find herself within her own memories kept inside the Civilight Eterna. Amiya comes face-to-face with Theresa inside, perceiving her truest emotions. Theresa admits that her past self had failed to unite the Sarkaz, leaving her with no other choice but to use war, forced to kill even her old friends. She tells Amiya to overcome her, accomplish what every King of Sarkaz before could not, and prove to her that she can fulfill Babel's broken dreams.[25] Amiya thus willingly accepts the anointment as the genuine King of Sarkaz and gains Theresa's healing power stored within the black crown. With her newfound abilities, Amiya is finally able to defeat Theresa.[27]
Even though the gang succeed in overcoming Theresa's trial, they realize they have been distracted for too long. The "first Originium" that brings forward Amnannam has been sent back to reality, and the "tower" is now set ablaze by white flame. Nevertheless, Theresa congratulates Amiya for setting up the "flames that burn away all decay," a symbol of a new era to not only the Sarkaz but all of Terra. With the flame, Theresa can finally liberate the myriad souls from their eternal bondage, allowing them to rest in peace, but this also means that Theresa herself will have to lead them to the afterlife, and Theresa' spirit will no longer be held by Originium and thus can no longer return back to the mortal world. Nevertheless, before her departure, she give a warm farewell to Amiya, Kal'tsit, and W. She is proud to see that Amiya has matured and encourages her to continue pursuing her ideals in this unforgiving world, and she thanks Kal'tsit for being her dearest friend and for having been by her side for so long. She comforts a crying W in her arms, and gives her a special gift, a long overdue promise: W will no longer be W, but Wiš'adel -- "a wish for home"—and W promises she will cherish this name forever.[28]
Before preparing for the departure, Theresa also meets the Doctor to bid them farewell. Theresa is happy to see the Doctor living up to themselves, not a hero with a cumbersome burden but a person who enjoys their current life, and she is glad that the Doctor is no longer the once infamous "Evil Spirit of Babel" who would only worsen the endless cycle of vengeance of the Sarkaz. She entrusts Rhodes Island's future to them because not only are they the key to harness the full potential of Originium so as not to disappoint the countless sacrifices made by the Predecessors, but they are also crucial to lead Terra in responding to the "threat" that once wiped out that civilization. In her final words to them, she reveals the location of Amnannam, which is crucial to stop Theresis' mission. While observing the departing spirits, Logos too receives his messages from Theresa and questions where she will be going after the liberation. Even though Theresa cannot give a definite answer, she believes that Logos has the answer after their departure -- "From death comes new life." As their honor, Logos makes a special prayer that marks the end of the myriad souls' suffering and the ascension of their benevolent king.[28]
Outside in reality, the Sarkaz sense the departure of the myriad souls. Paprika, who stayed on the side of Hoederer and Ines, begins shedding tears; Shining sees an unusual vision; Manfred and Nadine feel a sense of relief and realize this is all part of Theresa's sacrifice. Even Nezzsalem and the Nachzehrer troops feel this in their souls, and after praising her achievement, Nezzsalem declares that he will continue the mission.[28]
Babel Reunited[edit]
Having successfully escaped the Assimilated Universe, the Doctor and the others return to the airship, which begins to rapidly plummet as the Revenant is no longer in control of it. Amiya, assisted by a program left by Theresa inside the Civilight Eterna, uses the full extent of her Arts to land the airship safely. Under the chaos of the airship's landing, the group escape via an underground passageway. With the Shard deactivated, the Exemplars continue marching onward to reclaim Londinium. Wiš'adel broadcasts to all Military Commission soldiers that the war has ended, and that it's in their best interest to retreat immediately, signing off as "Babel".[29]
The other factions in Victoria also begin to react to the Military Commission's imminent defeat. A mercenary group led by Allerdale—who managed to escape the Mausoleum of Kings—has been actively helping the Self-Salvation Corps by supplying them with weapons under the pseudonym of "Millscar." She keeps a close eye on the Exemplars' progress and secretly helps clear the path for them from the shadows. Reunion also makes contact with the Self-Salvation Corps and helps supply them with protective equipment by robbing the privileged who refuse to help others. While checking up on local Londinium residents, Ch'en runs into Nine herself.[29]
The Duke of Wellington turns openly hostile against the other Grand Dukes as he formally declares the independence of Tara. The flags on the duke's battleships are burned away to reveal the Taran flag and Dublinn soldiers raise the Taran flag in multiple cities across the country. From a distance, Loughshinny becomes worried as she sees her sister's fiery purple flames raining down on the city.[29]
The war in Victoria is finally reaching its end, but the Twin Kings have already accomplished their mission. The "first Originium," Amnannam, the power to change all of Terra, lies in Theresis' palm. The regent swears that he will continue Theresa's goal and bring judgement down upon this arrogant land.[29]
Operations[edit]
Harder operations are in orange-red; cinematic operations and those with a fixed squad are in dark gray.
| Main | 14-1 • 14-2 • TR-25 •14-3 • 14-4 • 14-5 • 14-6 • 14-7 • 14-8 • 14-9 • 14-10 • 14-11 • 14-12 • 14-13 • 14-14 • 14-15 • 14-16 • 14-17 • 14-18 • 14-19 • 14-20 • 14-21 • 14-22 • 14-23 |
|---|---|
| Extreme Mode | H14-1 • H14-2 • H14-3 • H14-4 |
| Secret | EG-6 |
| Additional information | |
All operations are worth 48  . | |
Additions[edit]
New mechanics:
New devices:
New enemies:
| Normal |        |
|---|---|
| Elite |             |
| Boss |   |
Trivia[edit]
- Episode 14 is the first Main Theme episode that does not feature the name of the location where the event took place, possibly because it took place in two seperate locations: Victoria and the Assimilated Universe.
- The episode's Chinese, Japanese, and Korean titles translates to "Tower/Lighthouse of Compassion", which is reflected in Episode 14's Extreme Mode operations being named "Operation Pharos", after the Greek name for the Lighthouse of Alexandria.