“Ever since my coronation a couple months ago, my reign has seen me fail to establish myself as a strong figurehead of Arcadia.”

“I’ve failed to defeat an unworthy heir to a tyrant’s throne.”

“I’ve failed to work with his bitch of a queen to take down a kidnapper and a neglectful father.”

“I’ve failed to prove myself worthy of avenging the fallen after losing the title match.”

“After being knocked down so often, I’ve begun to question my abilities as a fighter. Perhaps because of me doubting myself, I’ve begun to wonder why I get back up at all.”

“That’s when I remind myself about the thousands of innocent lives taken at the Red Light District. I remind myself that their killer needs to face justice, or else they’ll never rest in peace.”

“Despite falling short of accomplishing my goals, I reminded myself of what must be done and pushed myself up to my feet.”

“I survived that explosion for a reason. I will do whatever it takes to ensure they get their revenge.”

“That’s what gives me the passion to stand up and keep fighting.”

“What about you, Ferryman? What gave you the drive to get back up from your lowest points? The hatred for humanity? The love of your profession?”

“I’ve heard the tales surrounding you, Tombstone. You were a terminal man before you became what you are now. If it hadn’t been for you finding the ferry you row, you would’ve been another lost soul in the Underworld.”

“That was the reason you pushed yourself up at first, wasn’t it? You didn’t want to die in such a pathetic manner, so you forced yourself to work through your illness.”

“Then your illness subsided and you forgot why you took the job in the first place. In turn, the reason you kept lifting yourself up was lost to time as well.”

“You’ve reasoned with yourself to keep fighting before now. You said once before that humanity disgusts you before you were betrayed by someone trusted to walk alongside you. Then you fought to regain your position as Ferryman after it was wrongfully stripped from you.”

“But why now? What forces you to keep going now that you have everything you wanted?”

“I believe it’s because of those chains you carry. Every time you fall, they lift you up like the puppet you are.”

“There is no fire in your heart to keep you moving, Tombstone. That was extinguished the moment you died back at the last Red Snow.”

“While I still have the desire to see my goal through, the hand that forces you on your feet needs you to complete their purpose for you before they let you rest, despite accomplishing just about everything here.”

“However, it decided to interfere with my objective.”

“I’ll sever the chains that connect you two, ruining their plans and forcing you to fall for the final time.”

“In the end, I will stand myself up and keep fighting, while you and your master will suffer in eternal darkness.”