Scenario:Siegfried - Exempt from the Cycle

Exempt from the Cycle

Following the battle with Rugiet, Siegfried learns that the orca's appearance was due to an ecosystem disturbance caused by rampaging sharks. After making sure he's fully prepared for combat, Siegfried heads to the shore intending to face the beast alone, but the local fishermen insist on lending their aid.

---

A ferocious orca by the name of Rugiet had suddenly appeared in the ocean. Caught in the uproar, Siegfried had promptly driven the orca away after an intense battle.

Later that night, Siegfried visits the Tourism Association to check up on the dolphin caretaker he had rescued.

Dolphin Caretaker: I don't know how to thank you... I really owe you my life.

Siegfried: I'm glad to see that you're already on your way to recovery. Besides, it's your dolphins that saved me back there—thank you.

Fisherman: It's good that we're all safe now, but you two were way too reckless out there! What were you thinking, standing up to Rugiet?

Siegfried: I apologize for any worry I've caused.

Fisherman: You've gotta be outta your mind... It's already bad enough fighting an orca in the middle of the ocean, much less Rugiet.

Siegfried: Hm... What exactly is an "orca" anyway? I've come to Auguste on several occasions before, but it's my first time seeing one.

Dolphin Caretaker: Orcas are very similar to dolphins. Despite their wild tempers, they're very smart, so they usually don't attack people without a reason.

Fisherman: Right. They don't come near the shore 'cause they don't want trouble with people, and they don't seem to care even if fishermen happen to wander into their territory.

Fisherman: But Rugiet is different. Its temper and strength are on a whole different level. Put even one toe in its territory and you're dead.

Dolphin Caretaker: Rugiet is most likely a mutation of an orca. Different parts of its body are developing in an abnormal way.

Dolphin Caretaker: Its vocal organs are especially remarkable. Rugiet's voice has become so strong that it's basically a shock wave now.

Fisherman: If you're careless and stray too close, Rugiet'll sink your entire boat with just its voice. It's infamous among fishermen as being the "songstress of the stormy seas."

Fisherman: A few of my own friends have gotten involved in some trouble with Rugiet before, so none of us go near it anymore. Who'd have thought it'd actually come to us though...

Siegfried: Hm, so you've been peacefully coexisting up until now. What do you think would make it come into your territory?

???: Most likely, something has disturbed the ecosystem.

The chairman of the Tourism Association strides into the first aid room, a somber look on his face.

Siegfried: Do you mean the shark mutation caused by a meteorite strike that happened here before?

Chairman: Indeed. Since the number of creatures in the ocean drastically decreased due to attacks from rampaging sharks, other carnivorous animals are now starving.

Fisherman: The size of our hauls has diminished too. It's almost impossible for us to get any fish out in the open sea.

Chairman: That's why we opened up an area where tourists can swim with the dolphins, in hopes of boosting our revenue, if only a little.

Fisherman: We've been doing our best to help too. We fed the dolphins small fish so that more of 'em would gather near the shore. But then...

Siegfried: Rugiet showed up to target the dolphins. Is that right?

Dolphin Caretaker: Yes... We've had several dolphins disappear recently. It's probably Rugiet's doing...

Siegfried: So that's why you risked yourself like that and stood up to Rugiet.

Dolphin Caretaker: Since I'm the one who called the dolphins, I have to protect them... Or that's what I thought, but I got knocked out so easily. I can't be any more ashamed of myself...

Thinking back to the fearful events that happened just a few hours ago, the caretaker's hands begin to shake.

Dolphin Caretaker: Thanks to your help, the dolphins and I managed to escape safe and sound this time. But who knows if we'll be so lucky next time...

Fisherman: Sigh... If this is how it's gonna be, we can't have dolphins swimming here anymore.

Fisherman: We should let 'em back into the open sea. The longer they're here, the more danger we're in as well.

Dolphin Caretaker: You can't be serious! Are you suggesting we sacrifice the dolphins for our own safety?

Fisherman: That's right! If we wanna stay safe, we gotta make some sacrifices!

Fisherman: We might find ourselves suffering even more damage the next time Rugiet shows up. We don't have a choice anymore!

Dolphin Caretaker: Still, that can't be right! You were looking forward to swimming with the dolphins yourself, weren't you?

Fisherman: We have to make some decisions! Once an ecosystem begins to degrade, you can't fix it again that easily!

Chairman: ...

A look of pain flickers across the chairman's face as he watches the frustrated exchange between the fisherman and the caretaker.

Siegfried: Let's calm down. There's no need to get so pessimistic.

Siegfried: It's true that repairing an ecosystem after it's degraded is no simple task. But it seems to me that we can only solve this issue if we get Rugiet away from here.

Dolphin Caretaker: Huh? Oh, um... You're right...

Siegfried: You mentioned how Rugiet is smart, and that's why it never came near people before.

Siegfried: If that's the case, then we'll just need to teach it that coming here again will only bring trouble.

Dolphin Caretaker: Y-you have a point...

Siegfried: In order to do that, I'll have to ask you to continue letting the dolphins swim in the shallow area.

Dolphin Caretaker: You mean you want the dolphins to be decoys to draw Rugiet here?

Siegfried: That's right. But there's no need to worry—I won't let them get helplessly eaten.

Siegfried: When Rugiet comes for the dolphins, I'll take it down and make sure it remembers not to come near the shore ever again.

Fisherman: Wh-what! Are you out of your mind? Didn't the last fight teach you anything about how strong Rugiet is?

Siegfried: It certainly did. And that's how I can see a way to conquer it now.

Siegfried: I'd like to make the appropriate preparations for my fight against Rugiet. Could I ask for your assistance?

The Men: ...

Curious as to what Siegfried plans to do, the two men look at each other before agreeing to help.

Fisherman: You said you wanted a harpoon. Will this do?

Siegfried: Oho, that is quite the fine weapon. Both the material and craftsmanship are on par with the blades a captain of the knights would wield.

Fisherman: Yeah, I brought the best one we had. Though I don't know if it'll work on the orca... What're you gonna do about your clothes?

Dolphin Caretaker: It'd be hard to prepare any suitable armor. Whether we use cloth or metal, its resistance and weight will make it inconvenient for underwater movement.

Fisherman: Well, we can't have 'im going out there naked, can we?

Dolphin Caretaker: Of course not. Which is why this will do.

Siegfried: Hm. Shark hide?

Dolphin Caretaker: It's not as smooth as a person's flesh or a live shark's skin, but the resistance underwater should be minimal.

Siegfried: So if we make something from this, it should give me at least some kind of protection.

Siegfried: Thank you very much for offering such valuable items. This will be enough.

Thus, Siegfried proceeds with the preparations for his rematch against Rugiet.

Siegfried: ...

A few days later, Siegfried stands on the beach, a large harpoon in hand.

Siegfried: (The fish near the rocks have been restless since this morning. If my guess is correct, it should be here soon.)

The knight narrows his eyes and looks out at the blue ocean.

Dolphin Caretaker: I still can't believe he's going to take on that thing all by himself.

Fisherman: He said he had something worked out, but what exactly does he plan on doing?

Rugiet: ...

Siegfried: There it is.

Fisherman: I-it's here! I'd recognize that dorsal fin anywhere!

Calmly climbing onto the boat he borrowed, Siegfried gets ready to depart.

Siegfried: Now then, all that's left is to set sail...

The Men: Huff, huff...

Siegfried: So you really did follow me. I thought I told the two of you to leave it to me.

Dolphin Caretaker: I-I'm aware of that... But it wouldn't sit well with me if we just let you go alone into such a dangerous situation... not to mention for our sakes!

Fisherman: Besides, I'm better at steering. And we know a lot more about the ocean than you do.

Fisherman: So you should let us come with you!

Siegfried: ...

Siegfried: Heh... I see now.

Dolphin Caretaker: Um... What's so funny?

Siegfried: Sorry, I was just thinking how I've never had many people worry about me like this before.

Siegfried: (It's true that I'm no expert when it comes to things of the deep. Though I came as prepared as I could, having these two with me would be a much safer option.)

Siegfried: I appreciate the help. I'll leave the steering to you then.

Fisherman: You got it! But before that...

The fisherman puts a large seashell to his lips and blows into it.

Fisherman: It's a battle to defend everyone on this island! We'll need as many boats out there as we can get!

And with that, the men depart for the open sea where a furious showdown awaits.

Exempt from the Cycle: Scene 2

Siegfried heads out to sea with the fishermen to await Rugiet's appearance. After using dolphins to lure the orca, the fishermen cast their nets, but a frenzied Rugiet sinks their boat with a sound wave. Siegfried unleashes the power of Fafnir to save the fishermen, and with their help he is able to wound the beast and drive it away.

---

Fisherman: The net's ready! How's it going over there?

Dolphin Caretaker: I got all the dolphins out of the area!

The fisherman is readying a large net on the boat while the caretaker urges the dolphins to swim toward the open water.

Rugiet: ...!

Having noticed the pod of dolphins, Rugiet charges in the same direction.

Siegfried: (Okay, it's about time.)

Siegfried stays concealed in the shadows of the rocks, waiting for the perfect moment.

Dolphin Caretaker: Fweeeee!

Dolphin: Squee, squee!

Rugiet: ...?

At the sound of the caretaker's whistle, the dolphins disperse.

Only Siegfried remains, harpoon at the ready as he looks the orca squarely in the eye.

Siegfried: ...

Rugiet: Scree!

Fisherman: Gotcha! Take that!

The fisherman swiftly throws a net between Rugiet and Siegfried.

Rugiet: Screeee!

Siegfried: (We've briefly limited its movements. While it's distracted, now's my chance!)

Siegfried kicks off from a rock and heads straight for the orca. He braces the harpoon for impact.

Rugiet: Scrooooaaaar!

Siegfried: ...!

Fisherman: The net!

Sensing danger, Rugiet flies into a frenzy and bites through the net around its body.

Rugiet: Screeeee!

Fisherman: Damn it!

Dolphin Caretaker: Aaaah!

Everything happens in an instant.

Rugiet jumps out from the water and lets out an intense sound wave, sinking the boats in the area one after another.

Rugiet: Scrooooaaaar!

Dolphin Caretaker: Eeek! D-don't come near me!

Fisherman: Hey, over here! Climb up onto these rocks!

The people who have fallen overboard look desperately for a foothold, but the angered orca continues its attacks relentlessly.

Dolphin Caretaker: Eek!

The dolphin caretaker is making his way up onto the rocks when he senses something behind him. He turns and comes face-to-face with Rugiet.

Dolphin Caretaker: Aaaaah!

Rugiet: Scroooooaaaar!

Rugiet opens its mouth wide in an attempt to swallow the caretaker whole.

Siegfried: Haaaah!

When all seems lost, an invisible impact hits the water, making concentric ripples that grow bigger and bigger.

Both Rugiet and the people clambering onto the rocks turn to look at the source of the impact.

There stands Siegfried, cloaked in a layer of dark energy as his eyes flash with a dangerous fire.

Siegfried: (Come... Come to me!)

Rugiet: ...!

Rugiet: Scrooooaaaar!

Rugiet spins around and charges toward Siegfried, diving into the water.

Rugiet: Scroar!

Dolphin Caretaker: He's fighting evenly with Rugiet... His speed is unbelievable!

Fisherman: I doubted my eyes last time, but... what is this energy I'm feeling from him? I can't stop shaking...

Everyone's eyes are glued to the two shadows clashing with each other under the surface of the water.

Dolphin: Squeeee!

Dolphin Caretaker: Whoa! You picked this up for me?

A dolphin pops its head out from the water, holding a spare net from the sunken boat between its teeth.

Fisherman: Come on, let's focus! We gotta throw the net over it again when we have the chance!

Siegfried: Hraaaaah!

Rugiet: Screeee!

Siegfried: (Speed's down to half... We're both getting exhausted.)

Siegfried: (How much longer will this power last? I have to find some way to finish this in one blow!)

Dolphin: Squeeee!

Siegfried: (What?)

Siegfried looks up at the dolphin that seems to be calling out to him from near the surface.

That's when he notices the fisherman and the others holding up a net and signaling to him.

Siegfried: (All right!)

Having understood the signal, Siegfried begins to swim toward the rocks, with Rugiet hot on his heels.

Fisherman: Ready... Now!

Rugiet: Squeeee!

The men throw the net over the orca once again, but it doesn't take long for Rugiet's sharp teeth to cut through it.

However, the split second in which Rugiet untangles itself from the net is more than enough time for Siegfried to unleash his power.

Siegfried: Graaaaaah!

Rugiet: Scrooooooaaaar!

The harpoon sinks deep into Rugiet. It lets out an ear-splitting shriek as it writhes in agony.

Siegfried: Hrngh!

When Siegfried yanks out the harpoon from the orca's body, blood sprays out like a red fountain.

Desperate to protect itself, Rugiet abruptly turns and swims as fast as it can back into the open sea.

Several days later.

The fisherman reports seeing Rugiet in the ocean, and that its wound from Siegfried's attack had already closed up.

It appears the songstress has returned to its home, continuing to sing its song in its own territory.

After that, just as Siegfried had predicted, Rugiet never dared to go near where people dwelled ever again.

Exempt from the Cycle: Scene 3

Having retrieved his blade from the ocean, Siegfried looks out at the peaceful waters, pondering the fact that he and Rugiet both exist outside the circle of life. Just then Lancelot and the other knights turn up, saving him from his brooding thoughts. Elsewhere the chairman of the Tourism Association nods to himself, vowing to restore Auguste to its former glory.

---

Siegfried: Whew... I'm glad I was able to retrieve it before it got swept away by the waves.

Siegfried floats on the surface of the water, smiling down at his blade that he recovered from the depths of the ocean.

With Rugiet back in its own territory, the waters are now safe to swim in again, and the shores buzz with activity once more.

His sword at his side, Siegfried looks out at the ocean as he takes in the sea breeze.

Siegfried: (The weather is perfect. The skies are clear, the ocean blue, and the wind and waves are calm. It feels nice.)

Siegfried: (Rugiet is no longer a threat to the creatures of this area. The fish don't seem alarmed anymore.)

The knight takes a deep breath, filling his lungs with the ocean's salty air.

Siegfried: (That power I unleashed earlier...)

Siegfried: Haaaah!

Siegfried: (It was stronger than anything I've unleashed before.)

Siegfried: (The great dragon is so ferocious that even monsters cower in its presence. I drank that dragon's blood and received its power.)

Siegfried: (To eat, or be eaten... Both the great dragon and Rugiet can be considered exempt from this cycle.)

Siegfried: (And now, I, too... may have already become an exception myself.)

Siegfried thinks back to a conversation he had with the fishermen and the dolphin caretaker after his battle with Rugiet.

Dolphin Caretaker: Thank you so much for driving away Rugiet for us.

Dolphin Caretaker: Not only did you save my life on multiple occasions—you brought peace back to these waters. You're our savior.

Fisherman: You were so strong, you could've taken down Rugiet even without our help. I'm sorry we got in your way.

Fisherman: I'm glad we had you with us though. When you drew Rugiet's attention, for a second, you almost looked like something entirely different...

Fisherman: Ah, what am I saying? I just didn't have the guts to do anything. But I'm gonna keep working on myself so that I can protect these waters.

Siegfried: ...

Siegfried: (Perhaps both the concept of a savior and of a monster are essentially the same.)

Siegfried: Hm? A beach ball?

???: I'm terribly sorry! That's our ball!

Lancelot: Huh? Siegfried?

Siegfried: Ah, Lancelot. So you're back from Tono Island.

Vane: So this is where you've been! Here I was thinking you'd left Auguste without us.

Siegfried: There was something that I wanted to look into. I see Percival is with you as well.

Percival: I happened to hear that a knight with a harpoon had suddenly appeared to drive off an enormous sea creature the other day.

Percival: So it really was you, Siegfried.

Vane: Wha! You mean that huge fuss in town about a sea creature... You took care of it all by yourself?

Siegfried: Yes. It came to my attention that something strange was happening in the ocean, and that's how I ended up getting involved.

Lancelot: In that case, you should have talked to us about it too.

Percival: Honestly... When will you learn to stop acting on your own like that?

Siegfried: I wasn't alone. I had ocean experts and dolphins helping me along the way.

Percival: That's not what I'm talking about—

Vane: Whooooa, that's amazing! What kind of sea creature was it exactly?

Siegfried: It was a powerful creature comparable to a dragon, and swam so fast it looked like it was jumping in the water. Its cry also proved quite troublesome.

Vane: Its cry? I wonder what that sounds like...

Vane: But you still managed to beat it in the water? Your strength really knows no limits, huh!

Percival: Stay down and stop interrupting, mongrel!

Lancelot: Calm down, you two. You're overwhelming Siegfried.

Lancelot: I'm sorry, we didn't mean to disturb you while you were relaxing by yourself.

Siegfried: I don't mind. What were all of you doing, by the way?

Vane: We were playing beach volleyball at the court over there!

Lancelot: We're planning to leave in the evening so we won't be playing for too long, but would you like to join us, Siegfried?

Siegfried: Sure, I'd be glad to.

Vane: All right! You can join my team, Siegfried!

Lancelot: Hey, that's not fair. I want him on my team too!

Percival: Sigh... How old are you two?

Vane: Come on, Percy. Don't tell me you don't want Siegfried on your team too?

Percival: Tch. I'm merely thinking from a strategic point of view. Teaming up with Siegfried would raise the probability of winning much higher compared to either of you.

Siegfried: (Haha. Being with these three makes me feel silly for brooding so much all by myself.)

Siegfried: (I'm glad they're here.)

Siegfried follows Lancelot and the others to the beach volleyball court.

A smile spreads on his lips, his expression as clear as the cloudless sky above.

Meanwhile, at a different location.

Chairman: (Auguste's ecosystem has been completely messed up...)

Chairman: (I must return it to its original state... and protect my beloved Auguste!)

In a deserted area of the beach, a single man nods to himself and walks briskly away.