MGSFV?! Chapter 516. From God's View, Golden Serpent Exists Just to Draw Hate; Sleep You Two More Times
Looking at Golden Serpent from a god's-eye view, it really felt like he was created solely to draw hatred—so players could more easily accept the existence of the other Gray Serpents.
Just like when the Herrscher of Corruption appeared, suddenly even Herrscher of Domination seemed rather amiable in comparison.
But if one considered only the plot itself…
[Isn't it possible that… Golden Serpent is simply inhuman?]
[Not human.jpg (literal meaning)]
Whether Golden Serpent was meant to draw hate, or was simply devoid of humanity—or both—
let's keep watching.
In the story:
Though Mei mocked Golden Serpent as "not even human," he clearly felt no shame—rather, he took pride in it.
"As the firmest sentinel of Project Stigmata, this is the greatest affirmation I could receive."
Human beings had limits.
To surpass those limits, he had to transcend humanity.
So… he never had any intention of being "human" in the first place.
Thus, a mere jab of "you're not a person"… was nothing. It couldn't hurt him at all.
"And as repayment, until just now, I have always maintained a basic courtesy toward you."
"No matter what kind of resistance you claim… everything happening on this planet remains under Project Stigmata's surveillance."
"If you had never come this deep, never attempted to shake its roots—then whatever you and your companions wished to do, I would have tolerated."
[So basically treating them like pets, huh.]
[As long as you don't tear down the house, I'll tolerate you playing around. Yeah, that really sounds like a pet owner's attitude.]
And Golden Serpent added:
"—That is also the opinion of the Lord."
"After all, such matters do not affect the grand scheme. Some opposition, in moderation, may even aid in the long-term health of Project Stigmata."
[Kevin thinks this way? Doesn't sound right.]
[Definitely not!!]
[But Golden Serpent said it…]
[First of all, Kevin is not the type to discuss such things with Golden Serpent. Second, subordinates often misinterpret their leaders' intent. Very normal.]
[Even a god's-eye view can't fully read Kevin's mind. No way Golden Serpent can.]
At first, players frowned when they heard Golden Serpent claim this was Kevin's will—but quickly realized something was off.
Kevin, seriously sitting down with Golden Serpent for a heartfelt talk about maintaining Project Stigmata?
The mental image was absurd.
He'd never do that.
Otto maybe.
…
Back in the plot.
Mei seemed to be pondering the same thing: could this really be Kevin's will?
So she stayed silent.
Mei: "..."
"But here you are, regardless."
Golden Serpent didn't care if she replied—he just kept speaking: "Even after we granted you ample freedom, why must you overstep so far?"
Freedom? What freedom?
The "freedom" to play around, as long as you stayed inside the cage?
Project Stigmata might have its necessity—
but Golden Serpent's condescending tone was infuriating.
By comparison, Kevin's blunt attitude—if you don't like it, come break me; if you can't, then endure—
was far easier to accept.
Mei: "..."
"Yes, why indeed."
After all his prattling, Mei finally responded.
"Misunderstanding the legacy of an old friend, gambling on some supposed backdoor… only to find it futile."
Did she sound disheartened?
…Of course not.
In truth, she said this only because—
"[Why did I come here?]—That was indeed my question at first."
"But now, you've told me the answer yourself."
Mei raised her blade, pointing it at Golden Serpent.
Even if that wasn't her original intent, if she could slice this serpent down, her trip would hardly be wasted.
Besides—
"Right now, you fear me—don't you?"
The enemy's fear is exactly what we must hold onto.
[If we can beat up this inhuman thing a few times, our trip's worth it!!]
…
Thus, battle was inevitable.
"To draw a blade so quickly—what a bad habit."
"What's wrong? Already backing down?"
"The proper tools for the proper task. I'm more suited to command. For the actual cleanup… tools suffice."
Golden Serpent subtly stepped back.
And in his place, a swarm of those unusual Imaginary constructs Bronya had noted earlier appeared before Mei.
The in-game battle officially began.
"..."
[Wait… Golden Serpent just ran? With all that talk, I thought…]
[So basically he admitted he's weak and can't beat Mei? Why phrase it so fancy?]
[I only now realized—he talked so much earlier because he's terrified Mei might actually tear this place apart.]
[Calm on the outside, panicking inside (tsk tsk).]
[Golden Serpent—nothing special!! (hah, this line is so useful everywhere).]
The players' joy was simple.
And of course, since the battle wasn't difficult, they had the leisure to joke.
This fight felt easier than the one with Lady Raven of the little island explosion squad.
Well… aside from SP charging a bit slowly, she was actually pretty strong…
Raven: ???
But they seemed to forget Golden Serpent had just threatened Raven.
If he truly had so little power, how could he threaten her?
Clearly, it wasn't that simple.
"The thunder of conquest—truly worthy of its name."
Golden Serpent's lingering voice echoed, dripping with provocation. "But it seems… you still haven't realized your situation."
[Still mouthing off… do all Serpents have this stubborn mouth?]
Mouthy? Yes, but here Golden Serpent was more than that.
Right after he spoke—
Suddenly, the game resounded with a cacophony of countless human voices all at once.
It blasted in everyone's ears.
Their minds buzzed, ringing with dizziness and pain.
"...?!"
"These voices… what is this?"
"So, you feel it now."
Golden Serpent explained at once:
"From beginning to end, you have all been under Project Stigmata's control… there is no escape."
At least, unlike Kevin, he wasn't a riddler. Golden Serpent always said things plainly.
The players decided that when it came time to beat him down, they could… hit harder.
To spare him suffering, of course. They were kind souls.
"Heh… confused?"
"Your so-called noble aid has not earned humanity's recognition."
"Herrscher of Thunder—what you face is not only me, not only your inner self, but… the dream of humanity itself you wish to liberate."
…
[So Mei is being attacked by Project Stigmata itself?]
[Yes, if humanity's dreams support Project Stigmata, it makes sense they'd be here too.]
[That's not the point! The point is Mei is now being attacked by humanity's dream!]
[Honestly I'm not surprised. Feels like a normal development.]
"Raiden Mei… no matter how strong you are, you cannot cover up the weakness and smallness of the majority."
"Understand this—you are destroying their only refuge."
"Don't you think you are being reckless with others' lives?"
[...]
[Coming from him, this feels so wrong. You were just about to erase humanity and replace them with Stigmata's will. And now you lecture Mei from the moral high ground? Golden Serpent, you're not worthy.]
[An inhuman machine trying to argue from 'humanity'? Please.]
Had anyone else said it, it might have sparked debate.
After all, "escapism" may be shameful, but it is undeniably useful—many people would choose it.
But because Golden Serpent said it, the players' judgment was unanimous.
Given his actions, his words rang hollow.
He sounded like someone quoting lines he couldn't even comprehend.
Rigid, mechanical. Fitting for him.
Raven had called him a mechanical brain.jpg
[Still, the fact he resorted to this shows he really fears Mei destroying this place.]
Indeed.
But Mei, whose resolve was already firm, was utterly unmoved.
Instead, she saw Golden Serpent's fear.
His weakness lay exposed.
"Gray Serpent, don't forget what a Herrscher is."
"Shall I give you your own catchphrase? [Destruction, then rebirth.]"
The words had barely left her lips when—
Thunder of conquest fell.
Crimson tides of destruction swept through the space, unstoppable, overwhelming the enemy before her…
With a single strike—obliterated all.
[Mei-sama is glorious!!]
The chat was filled with applause for Mei.
But then—
Clap clap clap~~
Clear clapping sounds rang out.
Players: ???
Looking in-game, they saw—Golden Serpent himself was applauding?
What was this?
Your mechanical brain applauding?
Mei's strike hadn't even hit you yet. Did it scramble your circuits?
And also…
[Not the right time to ask, but why do Gray Serpent's mechanical hands make fleshly clap sounds? Shouldn't it be metallic clanging?]
Good question.
Why did his metal hands clap like human palms? Strange indeed.
[Maybe… he has little flesh pads in between (doge).]
[Totally unnecessary design—just so clapping sounds normal? Makes no sense. Feels like Vill-V secretly "beautified" Mobius's blueprint.]
"About that… I think I once asked Mr. Otto about it…"
Elysia paused the story momentarily, recalling something.
"You ask him the strangest questions," Mei instantly retorted.
"Strange? Don't you feel curious too?" Elysia countered.
"Uh…" Mei hesitated.
Thinking carefully, maybe… yes. Cough cough.
But Kiana immediately nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, it is something to be curious about!"
"So, Elysia—tell us, what did he say?"
"Hmm…"
Elysia recalled, then mimicked someone's tone as she recited his answer.
"Why can Gray Serpent clap with human sounds, even with mechanical hands? You ask that…"
"Let me think… ah, perhaps Gray Serpent simply plays a recording of clapping. He isn't actually doing anything. Doesn't that make more sense?"
"This is called—built-in voice. Impressive, no?"
She even imitated that person's smug, self-convincing tone.
Mei: "..."
Kiana: "Sounds kind of impressive, but… I can't say why."
"Hmm…"
Elysia thought, then concluded: "Probably because Mr. Otto could say such things with a perfectly straight face."
Mei: "..."
Hearing this, Mei gave Elysia a sidelong glance, her face showing unspoken words.
Because… to be able to perfectly deadpan repeat Otto's ridiculous explanation—
didn't that make Elysia even more impressive?
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