Umineko Twilight 51 – The Last Battle of the End of a Certain World (Row Row Fight the Power)

Do the impossible. See the invisible. ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER
Punch the unpunchable. Break the unbreakable. ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER
Solve the unsolvable. ROW ROW FIGHT BERNKASTEL
Troll the untrollable. ROW ROW FIGHT THE WITCHES
"what you gonna do is what you wanna do
 just break the rule, then you see the truth"

> Battler you magnificent son of a bitch.

Ikuko is still Ryukishi07 in disguise after Higurashi.
Umineko quite spoiled the twist of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd for me
All Umineko entries here combined would equal to a mystery novel.
According to some, Keikakudoori is an adult woman living in a remote
island writing mysteries and crafting theories.

I neither agree nor deny anything.

The tale of the great mystery writer behind the Rokkenjima forgeries. the woman behind the man.. or the man behind the woman. No, we are not talking about Yasu. This was the point the reader starts to catch up with the whole “who is Tohya” business Chiru has been all about.

Ikuko turned out to be a total personality. An almost about to be disinheritanced daughter from a rich family who spends her days in her mansion separated from the world writing mystery stories in the company of her cat – wait for it – Bern (goddamnit R07). But when Ikuko wasn’t earnestly working on her NaNoWriMo novel or keeping her hime-cut in order, she picked up guys straight washed out of the sea. Things were different back then for Ikuko before she became the acclaimed mystery writer she is later known for. This was the story how Ikuko and Tohya.

And what better timing to do it after Ange had been obliterated into nothingness and the reader’s mind is still fuzzy. The whole scene was ominous and confusing trying to figure who the person Hachiyo found was before the story actually got around it. Wait, is that person really – ? See, I make my own theories and usually try to stay away from theories and rumors but a few such as Ange=Battler=Erika’s identities got mixed up at some point in my mind resulting in my thought process introducing this information. Is that.. Ange? No, that’s not right but.. There were so few characters this mystery person could be. One or two possible characters, but I had to know for sure. It was not long before it became painfully clear that the person is indeed Battler who got headaches (thank you for the foreshadowing Will) every time he tried to recall the events of the past.

What we end up with is a Battler who rather not remember who he is because it is physically painful. However, we also get a Battler who refuses surgery to help him remember who he is out of fear of losing his identity in the process. And so the story reveals what happened to Battler in those years. The man cannot remember who he is and is not really all there. Strangely, the idea of magic was incidentally explained in so many ways for many.

It turned out that Battler was the one who motivated Ikuko into publishing her mysteries. when she thought they were no good and far from the level she wanted them to reach. And so the dynamic duo was born. A duo that would enjoy wonderful years of living with Ikuko, writing mysteries, writing countless drafts, drinking champagne, and passing out on Ikuko’s couch for the next years. A duo that would eventually write the famous fanfics by the name of Forgeries based on the rumored bottle message Beatrice sent. A duo that would spend hours comparing ideas and have brainstorming sessions to create the best mysteries they could make. A duo that would make a theatergoer by the name of Keikakudoori and many more work on theories around their work. The rest is really history.

Yes, we are talking about Ryukishi07, aren’t we?

The quick flashbacks of pretty much every scene on Rokkenjima were what Ryukishi07 will ever let the audience know of the truth behind Rokkenjima, at least for the next years. Ange reunites with her mom and dad and manages to come back to life. I was seriously down for the remaining minutes after the scene Ange commits suicide after learning the truth, and Bernkastel forces Ange into a “I have No Mouth and I must Scream” bad ending. I actually thought that this was it for Ange and that the story will wrap things up without her for a second. Glad it didn’t in many ways. For one, there’s the dog’s death Ange gets. Also, even without liking Ange if she were to die it’d mean that everything the audience has read until now has been an illusion. We can’t have that because what exactly would the point of the point of the story be. At least it needs a closure.

However, notice the atmosphere in the scene once Ange reunites herself with her family and joins Battler’s side after she learns the truth. There’s no hate, there’s no antagonism. It’s odd. I mention this because Ange’s attitude after learning the truth is unlike to what anyone would normally expect. One would normally lash out at the culprit the moment the individual knew who it is. That is the natural response. Considering that Ange doesn’t seem angry at anyone in particular. Considering that there should be “a” culprit responsible for the tragedies Ange must logically be furious at that person, but she isn’t. Even if there was someone with a level of culpability Ange should realistically still be angry at the whoever stole her family away from her, messed up her life, etc etc. Yet she isn’t.

One thing I could not get over was Beatrice mentioning how she regretted how she “half jokingly sent those bottles”. I cannot see how anything in those lines fall under “half jokingly”. Again, Beatrice’s behavior appears unjustified and quite deliberate while reading such lines. Everyone would readily hold onto the belief that “Well, the Rokkenjima mystery would not exist without the bottle messages” as a valid argument, and is a sound one because it’s true. However, one would expect the reason behind the bottle messages sent by Beatrice to be slightly better explained than attributed to possible moments of anger or mischievousness or despair. As the story indicates – though downplayed by Ange taking part of the blame – it is a fact that Yasu does bear personal responsibility for the events of the future such as the creation of the Rokkenjima mystery.

Think about it, child of man. Everything could be a lot worse.
- R07 could've have given up before releasing the final EP.
- The real culprit could have been Okonogi in disguise all along.
- Lambda could have Certainly been making puns using her name.
- The cousins could have gotten another episode.

Battler’s words to Ange confirm that “there is nothing about the truth” that was necessary to Ange. In fact, it only served to destroy the small hope she kept that everyone or anyone would come back. However, the miracle can’t happen because everyone is dead. Yes, dead. As you may have realized it in this episode or in past episodes. There is the reason of my cynicism towards fantasy explained in the Chiru arcs after figuring out everyone was dead after EP5 confirming my doubts after EP6.

My impression was both delight and intellectual dislike realizing that this was the answer we were going to get to explain Rokkenjima’s murders. My understanding of the situation is that Ange understood the culprit’s motives, what led to the tragedy, and realized there was no one to blame. Beatrice’s words and Ange’s forgiveness towards her spoke enough to make it clear Rokkenjima wasn’t nearly as flashy nor terrible as the Umineko Episodes depict.

There are then three major explanations to the Rokkenjima mystery: One involving the blame being shared by everyone, therefore it can’t be place on anyone in particular. Two – the tragedy due to an accident therefore there aren’t culprits per se. It ties with my theory in EP7 agreeing (despite obvious objections to such scenario) that it was possible everything was a huge accident. A kick to the mystery approach. Story-wise it fits, but it is something one cannot be glad about mystery-wise. The third depends on whether or not Yasu is the culprit (in any degree) of the tragedy. Based on Ange reaction and Battler’s attitude there is the implied possibility that though Yasu might be responsible she was also a victim of fate.

The more one tries to think of it the more one realizes that there are only so many possible truths to it. For many this scene spoke volumes in what direction the Rokkenjima’s mystery heads and where it doesn’t as well as it should. Make no mistake. I “like” EP8, however it is clear that Umineko Twilight is not perfect. There are glaring unexplained mysteries attributed to unknown causes and solutions that are only partially addressed or given. However, this was also expected as Twilight is not going to give the solution readers want but a closure to everything they’ve read. Still the problem happens when the audience is forced to either accept or deny what the story tells them – by far the most difficult task to do. Despite how much Umineko Twilight has spoken to the audience via Battler reassuring that things aren’t as horrible the world thinks, the matter is quite difficult.

Question was (and to many still is), can you, the reader, believe that?

–  Is that a Winchester or are you just happy to see me? –

Unused Phrases that never took off in Keikaku
- "What happens in Rokkenjima stays in Rokkenjima."
- "My intellectual rapist senses are tingling."
- Lack of puns on "Beatrice's explosive personality." 
- Anything starting with "Witches Love -"
- "Liking my Umineko like I like my wine."

Can’t a game piece catch a break? Furudo Erika, hell-on-heels intellectual rapist at your service, both a Detective AND a Witch bringing judgment day to the Golden Land. The whole Ushiromiya family plus servants Will/Eisierne Jungfrau plus servants plus all rest of the long cast of Umineko to long to name all. All of them vs. Goat Commander Captain Furudo Erika? I could get onboard with that.

Despite Erika’s overwhelming forces her orders were to civilly get Beato’s side to surrender if possible. I know. Beatrice surrendering sounded like a terribly long shot. The whole thing was still a type of formality, a farce in reality Beatrice’s side could not win yet they had to negotiate to buy time. because Aurora’s side wanted to keep the game board intact yet they were fine with sacrifying the pieces in the process if necessary. Erika was giggly to obliterate la-la land like an intellectual rapist would. Beatrice and the rest wouldn’t mind paying Erika back. Yet if they were to butt heads it could go either way. Erika would, likely, still emerge victorious but with formidable losses. The magic side could still have a chance of actually winning even if it was .01 out of 999999999. The tactic was a quite literal reminiscent of the siblings’ family conferences in every Episode. Basically it involved everyone disagreeing each other so they would never come to make decision to give up or fight. Yeah, if there was anything Umineko had taught us about the siblings is that they can quarrel for hours nonstop. And if this fine strategy would have worked if it wasn’t for that meddling Magical Chef Gohda.

I liked a lot the part when Godha’s messed up and Erika found out something was up for sure. I totally called it. If someone was going to mess up it was probably going to be Gohda. These things you notice. There was absolutely no way the detective with would not picked up on it. The choice, the only there always was from the beginning, was to fight to the death.

- I seriously hope you guys helped Lambdadelta be in the TOP FIVE.
- It's a crime to read this scene without Dai's 飛翔
- One wonders R07 doesn't write straight yuri just for fun. 
- I guess Lambda *puts on sunglasses* should've stuck with paper.

In the end, it was Lambdadelta who stepped up into the ring to win this fight. I liked how they’ve been making Lambdadelta one of the most logical and mature witches in the story. Is this character growth? Was she always like this? That I do not know. However, they unbelievably did turn Lambdadelta into the bad “good guy” towards the end of the story. Then again we all know that deep down 34-tan really wanted her revenge against Bernkastel because BECAUSE HIGURASHI. And they’re crazy like that (and I’m very much grateful they are)

For how disagreeable and controversial EP8 is I cannot come to hate it with the extreme prejudice like many do. It certainly has its extremely good moments it when it lays off the preaching and stops beating Battler’s white dead horse. I was fine with the story going away with a bang. I was fine with Lambda taking the spotlight. One detail I wasn’t fine with was the part where they mentioned Bern having few friends when she realized Lambda was going to go against the Senate for I doubted it was the best moment for comedy. I mean, it was fine in a way but the whole final moments were supposed to be dead serious, all things considered. It reminded me of those awkward moments R07 does comedy where he shouldn’t which can make incoming events lose some serious impact. Just my 2 cents on that.

Strangely and disappointingly enough Aurora didn’t play a strong role in the final episode which was disappointing because it does turn out that Bern was in charge of everything. Though it was her party which was no less than the special ceremony Tohya in the real world was throwing to reveal the book of truth, her character lacked the necessary moments to make her a more interesting character. Hell, I think Ikuko was way more interesting. It was nice to see everyone helping out Battler Ange and Lambda were desperately trying to reach the key even Eva Beatrice who did turn out to be Ange’s ally since the beginning (what a twisted way to do it) who then bails out Ange and Battler by getting rid of some of Bernkastel’s feline forces. A well representation of EVA – always one who works in the shadows.

Libera me from the worst Kakera.

Do the impossible. See the invisible. ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER
Punch the unpunchable. Break the unbreakable. ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER
Solve the unsolvable. ROW ROW FIGHT BERNKASTEL
Troll the untrollable. ROW ROW FIGHT THE WITCHES
"what you gonna do is what you wanna do
 just break the rule, then you see the truth"

OH MY OYASHIRO-SAMA.

Hi-gu-ra-shi. Higurashi’s witches and the oh-so-famous glorious battle few speak of and fewer know so. The two witches basically creating and destroy entirely universes everything time they clashed. This is exactly how I would have imagined – if I would have – the battle between the two voyagers. Yes, we had this coming since the story started because it was always a matter of time before the two went at each other (and a lot like you’d imagine it). They have always had a rivalry between the two after the Higurashi game, which had been only vaguely addressed. So this was IT. This was for you, me, and every Higurashi fan. You can imagine the satisfaction.

To recapitulate, initially Bern was introduced as a rival in Beatrice’s game lured to this game so Lambda would have her revenge on Bernkastel for taking her place as the strongest witch, however, this was scrapped (or should we say changed) halfway when Lambda reappeared as Bern’s ally for the next games. The whole idea of the Witch of Certainty Lambdadelta vs. The Witch of Miracles Bernkastel was never truly gone. In End they were still trying to go against each other even if secretly still in cahoots. In Dawn Lambda is a referee of sorts for Battler’s game. Lambda has little by little been taking a more neutral role in the story almost as a “good guy”, as it can get for a cruel witch. She was the witch for this role and moreover the only one who could remotely rival Bern.

This is completely off the record but the whole scene was reminiscent of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z and TTGL fights no matter how I looked at it. That said, after reading Umineko I’ve got ample proof R07 is a fan of the shounen legend. The obvious recurring over 9000 reference, the time Bernkastel turns into Lambda candy being a reference to the Majin Buu saga, not seen in this scene but when Battler kaiokens punches Bernkastel. Crazy talk? How about the time Lambdadelta saves both Will and Lion from the thousands of angry cats and a certain death at the very last moment not being a reference to planet Namek before it blew up? What if Instantaneous Movement and the like was actually voyaging between kakeras. *Clicks tongue* I’m onto to you R07.

Of course, it was not really about Lambda being an actual good guy. No, the voyagers aren’t that nice. It was about getting the spotlight. It was about seeing the best twist this final battle of the end of this world could offer. It was about getting back to Bern. It was about everything. It still didn’t reduce the number of points Lambda was getting because the cosmic konfetti battle was glorious.

This answered my questioned about how else they were going to stop Bernkastel seeing they’ve made it perfectly clear the voyager’s power level is immensely huge even compared to a witch. What I didn’t know was that there was that big of a difference. Can’t blame a theatergoer for that though considering most of what they’ve been doing was limited to throwing games, jumping through fragments and turning game pieces into statues and meat. The final battle Bernkastel vs. Lambdadelta left me speechless for a good while. As it should have. My reaction was the same as Battler and Ange when they realized neither of them was going to last five seconds against Bern.

Such segment was perfect I could only wish that UmiTwilight had not dropped the ball in other areas when they even chose the perfect song for this magical clash. That song is both sweet and fun. Or the feeling while being immersed in theory mode. Like a carnival in your mind.

I got three words for you : "Umineko Dream Team"
I got two words for R07 : Criminal Accessory.
Erika's got one for you : Afterimage, afterimage, AFTERIMAGE!

Initially, I figured that Erika would be embarrassingly defeated at the hands of the remaining opposing forces of Battler and Beato’s. I had no idea how many points in writing I was going to subtract if that were to happen. La Resistenza held their ground as much as they could. In fact, I was starting to really buy into the idea of COMRADE ERIKA actually losing for real. But, Pirate Erika losing in her final fight? Wrong answer, witch. Ryukishi07 firmly believes that bishoujos with pirate hats automatically get a power up from many goats are on the field. Hey, who am to disagree with that. I’m just another theatergoer.

I was pretty sure Erika detractors were dying for Erika to fall by the hands of the Ushiromiya and do terrible things to Erika (oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you), but that was like all male Ushiromiya actually mattering, it was hardly going to happen. Yet it was all good for the Ushiromiya. Krauss got to put his gloves again which he hadn’t wear since EP4, Eva shot at goats, George proved despite being a terrible character could do things, Maria got her revenge on Erika, Rosa Musou went full ROSA MUSOU even wielding the infamous pen on Erika and shoveling a Winchester down Erika’s throat. Even Hideyoshi – of course that never happened, Hideyoshi didn’t do shit. Oh god, Hideyoshi didn’t do shit in the final episode. All the Ushiromiya did get to have their personal revenge on detective Erika for getting into their incestuous, shady, murderous personal family business at least once. Everything about this scene was just right action wise. Should there be any suggestions from my side was never having a glorious “showdown” between Erika and Will. Now, that would blow my mind away on so many leveles. In case, you are wondering that is something I will always regret.

Despite Erika dominating the first half, the siblings and company managed to turn the tables around on Erika a couple of times. The writing especially made sure Erika went from dominating to barely dodging the incoming attacks. That afterimage effect. The scene was so outrageous. In Umineko’s case, as indicated multiple times, being outrageous happens to be a good thing. Let us not forget the awesome scenes in which Virgilia and the magic side counterattacked. Let us not forget the shivering scene where Rosa gaining supernatural speed while attacking Erika and pinning her to the ground. Let us not forget Rudolf and Kyrie doing some sort of special combo like they’re in Ōgon Musōkyoku. Regardless of how one may think of them the fighting scenes were terrific.

They all successfully managed to corner Erika into the main boat in which she duels Beato one last time. I mean, at this point who was going to win was any goat’s guess.

Quotes straight from Umineko Twilight:
- "Even Humans are not powerless. They have guns."
- "What a romantic and fragile illusion is the end of the world."
- "What are these people!?"

Exactly. What was positively most baffling about it is the possibility of everyone being good. This goes deeper than whether or not there were murders committed at sall, which by the way based on the reactions gotten seemed to be and even less likely. What if would the readers be following if everything, everything was made up? That’s the question. On one hand, we have *this* truth with a positive almost unbelievably positive explanation for everything where all the characters turn out to be misunderstood and negatively portrayed by rumors and Ikuko’s fancy writing. A pleasant wishful truth. On the other, we have the rational less than positive world where conclusions have led us and is consistent with what the story has shown the audience. So which one is real? The operant word is “wishful” as it does not mean it is actually a result all readers want despite they may to, a degree, believe in it. One may wish for not all those involved to be heartless backstabbing bastards. Yet the idea that one, two, or more are culprits, existing have always been a realistic possibility. That is biggest conflict.

The Ushiromiya’s defense to any mystery theory, or theory for that matter, was that Erika (in this case representing the reader, theorist, outsider the game board) was never present to witness any of these events to know with certainty about anything what the games depicted (also outside the games) was true at all. This is seen Shannon not deceiving George at all, seen in Rosa’s excessive case of lack of parenting and other details not being true, etc. Of course, Kinzo’s case is the most unbelievable as it could not have been true at all yet he pursues the possibility that he could be alive that day because no one from the outside saw his death. Umineko went into full defense mode I could not hide my flabbergasted reaction to such claims. The whole idea of it is contradictory because they either are or they aren’t. There is no such thing as in-between. If they aren’t then why were such negative details included by Tohya unless there was a degree of truth?

There is a bitter taste again while reading Umineko Twilight because part of the reader wants to believe they are telling the truth then there’s the more logical part telling them this is all but idealism. Add this factor to reading a story for hours and hours based on a belief then be told the total opposite even after some preparation that hardly clicks right. There is a strong feeling that the author tried to be hold back a lot and rationalize the situation to send the Ushiromiya away in a better light than they would have otherwise.

I understood what the author did here. I understood the positive wishful idealism behind it and also that not everything told in the story is true. That’s the point of Umineko final episode, that in fact – many details in a story can be exaggerated, fallacious, yet there is still some truth to some of them. This scene, this episode, explained that. Yet it still remains difficult to believe even unattainable for the skeptic reader. Rather than simply thinking the Ushiromiya goes into full defense mode in this scene, it makes more sense when you realize they are also fighting and doing whatever they can to protect the proof they existed to not be erased. It is a curious thing that Umineko has done with the story seeing that although I wanted one side to win more than the other I also really did not want either side to lose.

Despite the engine being limited the writing and the effects made me recreate all the scenes in my mind so I could exactly picture the whole thing. But it did a fine job as always. Take the voyager’s epic battle for example. It was so legendary that .gifs alone couldn’t do it enough justice so here’s a video of it instead about deadly konfeti, explosions, ZTS, and Lambda wanting to do terribly unspeakable things to Bern and vice versa. Untz Untz Untz!

Deep down we all wish we had this deep of a connection.

The magical battle was something I don’t wish to see animated because the original VN leaves so much to the own imagination of the readers. Anything that wasn’t shown, the writing makes up for it by properly narrating how godly it was. And was it ever. Oh, Bernkastel misses! Lambda attacks; Bernkastel counters. Neither of them stop their attacks. Bernkastel summons her hungry pack of cat familiars to furiously ravage 34-tan. Lambda is turned into candy and is swallowed by Bern. Bern realizes what she tasted did not taste like Lambda. How does she even know that. That’s not important. about to be Lambada is about to be overwhelmed by Bern’s love. Her words not mine.Lambda reappears right after feigning defeat. Lambda summons from the innermost multicolored amounts of explosive energy to violently end Bern. Even Bern struggles. Their eternal battle can go on for centuries. Yet even the two can tired themselves. Bern is about to lay exhausted so does Lambda. The dance doesn’t end. It can’t end. Another furious whirlwind of mystical energy and emotions possesses the two. The two are really like the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object (note. Lambda would be the lesbianraging unstoppable force; Bernkastel’s persistence would be unamuseable immovable object).

But that’s just being eloquent.

The two can really go at each other. As a result who the winner is anyone’s guess. This battle was much a what-if : What Higurashi may have been given the right conditions. In their battle we come to understand further the two of voyagers and their desperate craving for the thrill of feeling alive. The cosmic battle presents the two romantically obsessed, twisted yandere displays of not only Lambdadelta but also Bernkastel while they try to ruin each other. Every time they connect worlds are destroyed and created, being repeated countless of times, like witnessing what no man has before, the legendary creation, the Big Bang, and such. It was beautiful. What can I add to this – it was beautiful.

What drove me nuts was how outrageously powerful Featherine was. No, it wasn’t just that was godly powerful, it was that she was that powerful even compared to a voyager. Poor Lambda I say. I was so Pro-Lambda every time Lambda risked herself to go out with a Bang. Featherine turned out to be some type of Hokuto no Ken, by the time you’ve realized it you were already dead. The whole scene exaggerated that she is the only boss that has killed you and she still hasn’t decided how she would kill you. Talk about unbalanced overpower figure. The fight between Lambda and Featherine wasn’t even a fight. It was similar to putting a yoga instructor vs. a professional boxer. Like putting a chihuahua vs. a pitbull. No contest, no fight. Still Lambda taking a fall despite her own agenda showed the audience a Lambda that was more than an spectator. I’m not making her out to be the kindest witch ever Virgilia-tier or something like that but she provided sufficient bro moments to deserved the recognition she got. Hell, she stole the show. Congratulations on making to the Top Five Lambda.

– Battler You Magnificent Son of a Bitch.

Punching Bernkastel was without a doubt, one of the finest, if not the finest moments of greatness of Battler in this philosophical acid trip. I’d said before and said it again, I don’t know about the rest, but Battler hasn’t been a favorite of mine. He is a very difficult to like character even in the VN, especially in the first games because of his multiple inconsistencies and his goofy character. In one EP you love him while in the others you hate his guts. And not even in EPs but also chapters. Nevertheless, EP8, the final Chapter fleshes out his character showing exactly what makes him a great character in spite of it all. Aside from the initial confusing moments when this game started I could not come to dislike Battler once. He is not the same guy he was before these games started. He does not senseless go into battle without a plan. He knows when to do and when not to. He understands the situation – the world of Umineko. He is a different person. In fewer words, his character has matured. Everything in this game capitalizes on what Battler has become. Moreso, Battler vs. Bernkastel capitalizes his undying will to fight no matter how impossible something may be. The scene spelled out respect like no other before.

What more fitting way for Battler to go down that with mystery showdown but damn it wasn’t even a fair mystery duel with Bernkastel. Bernkastel outdoes Battler in everything. Like Lambdadelta said, they had only been able to go on against Bernkastel and the like because the “rules” of the game board were protecting them, guaranteeing a fair match between the two regardless of the actual difference in power. In reality, without the rules the overwhelming difference between the two would be similar to god vs. a man. Such display is demonstrated by GM Battler’s final impossible struggle to solve multiple mysteries mercilessly thrown by Bern in forms of serpents. An impossible task considering the mysteries keep growing in numbers and no brain no matter how intelligent, no man’s mind could possibly keep up.

Battler was killed trying to teach Ange something in the process. No, he could not go down like that, I thought.

It cannot end like this. No, it can’t!

You know the story is doing its job right when you realize you care about the characters enough to not want them meeting their final end. This was the final push for Ange to become Ange Beatrice Witch of Resurrection, bringing the Ushiromiya and magical side servants back to life. Bringing Battler back to life despite Bernkastel’s red saying “Battler had died”. Goddammit, Ange believing despite the red! The scene was more heartwarming than I imagined. Battler gets up for – in his own words – round two unleashing his Endless Nine powers rendering Bernkastel’s power momentarily useless. Battler and Ange gattai to beat up Bern. Ange backs up Battler by providing him with her power and healing while he tanks takes on Bern. The scene was a reminiscent of R07’s like for RPGs I imagine for those that missed it in addition to being the final match for the last boss of Umineko.

My real beef with Featherine is how hyped her character was in Dawn just to not do much in Requiem then at the last moment she just leave just like that after Battler’s die gets the advantage. I know that she “realizes” something after seeing Battler and Ange struggle, but come on. In the end, there was no way there was no one who could defeat Featherine if she felt like screwing everyone up so the story made her lose interest. It left me wondering what Featherine’s (not Ikuko) real purpose was other being omnipotent the writer figure of this tale. Her leaving them alone made her seem like she was just bored and had doing it for amusement instead of having some actual interest in Beatrice’s game board or the truth.

Of course, Battler best moment is going full TTGL on Bernkastel doing the impossible and attempting to solve Bernkastel’s multiple mysteries one after another after Lambda was crushed by Featherine. And of course, the most gratifying one Battler going endless nine and punching Bernkastel’s troll face for once. Now, here’s a man who can say he was mad and punched a witch. Game set.

By then there was only one thing left to do. We had to come back to Ange making her decision whether to stay with Battler and everyone or go back to reality and move on with her life.

Well, choose one. But let me save first.

– Final Thoughts –

Twilight is a difficult mix. Calling it difficult is an overstatement. It’s one that many won’t like and one many will. I’m right in the middle. There are two main segments that though significant still more fan service material in nature meant to delight the readers in my opinion more than anything.

First is the Ushiromiya VS. Furudo Erika battle. A reminiscent of the crazy magic battles in Umineko. Her stance is the one of the mystery reader bent on uncovering the truth. The famished army of goats represent the hundreds of readers craving for the truth. Erika’s character – as the detective of the series – seeks to both preserve the game board as instructed and to uncover the truth by doing so. Both motives equally signify the wishes of part of the readers for these engrossing mystery games to endlessly continue and the other part that wishes to uncover the truth.

Much of the point is that there are still multiple truths that can only be verified by those who were part of it and not by the outside world. The validity of them is highly questionable yet impossible to verify taking into account the entire story of Umineko is seen and narrated by someone else’s POV. Aside from a great memorable battle signifying the end of the Golden Land, how much of what they actually say is truth depends on how much the readers want to believe in the characters. The point is stressed enough.

The second is glorious impossible to dislike Higurashi (how could anyone?) Lambda and Bern’s most flamboyant voyager showdown. Another strong contender for the greatest scene among the many highlights of the final chapter. What better way to give what all readers want to read. The Witch of Miracles going one on one on The Witch of Certainty. What a show.

We come back to what Battler initially meant for the reader to do. Pick a door, choose the ending we sought by our own decision. It is no surprise that as the last game master Battler wanted the purpose of his final game was to show Ange that there are memories one forgets over the course of life. That in some cases these truths are modified and regrettably completed changed replaced by outside truths from the world. The party was meant to prove to Ange that there were pleasant moments before any tragedy happened. That in turn if she was to deny it she succumbed to the truth modified by the outside world instead of the truth she initially believed in.

It is so that Battler’s intention of having Ange to pick one door over the other is apparent. This to Ange becomes a sign of mistrust to trick her into forgetting what she set up herself to find. Of course, Battler’s point wasn’t that such events had happened to the exact detail but that he knew that such warmth at some point existed, and this was the final message he wanted the last of the Ushiromiya to be sent away with. Moreso, Battler’s and I believe the author’s stance was that Ange would not gain anything from the actual truth other than learning the reason why and how it happened. As alluring as the truth may sound, to Ange weighting the truth and happiness the truth didn’t mean as much. This is proven by her struggle and still desire to deny the truth that her family had died wishing for the miracle that at least someone of her family would return to her world. In Ange’s case learning the truth convinced herself that such hopeful idea was, therefore, impossible.

Admittedly half of Umineko Twilight gives bitter taste whilst reading it despite being such a thrilling experience. On one hand, the audience can be ecstatic to be delivered such glorious full-on extravagant battles. On the other they have reservations about the final game’s execution. As Ryukishi07 himself admitted based on some fan reactions he may have messed up in some parts in the process getting his full message across. Not to try to excuse the author or anything but things were bound to happen when keeping so many truths opened and having all these elements come together in the final game. Umineko’s story was extremely difficult to write. Twilight was a clear reflection of it.

Ange’s final and best of moments outside of the final Tea Party section don’t make as much sense the moment you read it. Initially, it seems Ange is in ultimate self-denial (which did make me gave it a skeptic quizzical look) by not denying the red which allows her to counter Bernkastel and reach her ultimate state as the Witch of Resurrection. However, it makes the most sense after completing finishing Umineko because then it makes sense why Ange could do it and why the golden truth surpasses the cruel red in that scene. It is not that alone the power of magic beat Bernkastel’s red. It was that the actual truth had not been fully revealed but only fragments of it. The witches had played in the uncertain world where such truth was thought to be absolute and irreversible. Ushiromiya Battler had indeed died but he was still alive.

Bernkastel’s embarrassing defeat at the hands of the two and everyone else signifies the end of these game boards and the way the future was to be constructed in the hands of the last Ushiromiya. Though not exactly what happened but, in a way, a miracle which was zealously not granted was beaten out of Bernkastel. In Umineko’s words : the cat who first absent the moment the box was opened returned still alive when it was opened the second time.

And so with it the final decision to conclude this intense story. Trick or Treat. Mystery or Magic. So what door did you choose? That, I leave to the discretion of the readers until next time.

* And then there was only one last remaining Umineko Twilight entry.