(SPOILERS) Union X: Confrontation

[Sign]

5 story quests have been added (No.966~970). Translations are available, thanks to goldpanner!

5 Proud Mode quests have also been added (No.961~965). Clear the challenges to get 1 of each gem and 10 Magic Mirrors.

(Flashback! Luxu and the Master continue their conversation in the control room.)

Luxu: Master, have you ever spoken with the Darkness?

Master: I have.

Luxu: What's it like?

Master: Hmm……

Well, it's not much of a conversationalist. Isn't great at communicating either.

It doesn't think like your average Joe.

Luxu: Sounds just like you, Master.

Master: Bwuh?!

(The Master is taken aback and falls over in his seat.)

Luxu: See, that's what I mean.

(He calmly gets back up.)

Master: Wow, Luxu. Don't you have any respect for your superiors? Maybe you're the one who's got more in common with the darkness!

Luxu: But, can it, you know, understand words?

Master: Of course it can. After all, it's been watching us this whole time.

Luxu: What! You mean like, right now?

Master: Could be!

I'm just kidding. It's not watching right now. It wouldn't come near people like us so easily.

Luxu: Please don't scare me like that.

Master: Oh come on, it was a joke!

Luxu: But, those exceptional kids - what are they called? Dandelions? What if the darkness showed up right in front of them? Would they be okay? They're the important cornerstone for the world's rebirth, aren't they?

If they were led astray by darkness, then…

Master: Honestly? Things would be dicey if they do wind up confronting the darkness. It's a tough customer, in conversation and in battle. But its true strength lies in mental warfare. I'd go so far as to say there's no one better.

Luxu: Then that means they're in danger!

Master: Darkness hates those who are pure of heart, and that's exactly why those kids were chosen.

There may be danger, but they're just the kind of people that darkness is weakest against. It can't comprehend a person's heart, or their thoughts. So even if it knows what they're trying to achieve, it can't understand why they're doing it.

It only knows what people hate.

But it's a double edged sword, since it means the darkness's actions don't make any sense to us either.

That's why we are simply incompatible as beings.

Luxu: What do you think the darkness wants to do?

Master: Who knows...

We can't understand each other, so I just haven't a clue.

(Back to present! The Union leaders confront Darkness.)

Brain: Who'd have thought the darkness' true form would look like some kid's drawing.

Darkness: True form…? I guess we are quite ncorporeal right now. We're usually invisible, though.

(Darkness vanishes and reappears elsewhere. Skuld runs to Ven's side.)

Darkness: Well then, think of this voice and this color as a special service.

Ephemer: What's your goal here?

Darkness: Goal…? Don't have one. We're just trying to get to know you.

Ephemer: What?

Darkness: You'd find it hard to understand us… 

We are completely different kinds of beings. We don't think like you do, or share the same thoughts as you. There's nothing we're trying to achieve.

Lauriam: Then why...? Why did you kill my sister?

Darkness: Because he wanted to.

Skuld: That's not true! Ven didn't even know Strelitzia. He had no reason to want her gone!

Darkness: True, he didn't know her. But there was something he wanted: power. So, we put it in his hands. The the power of a Union Leader.

Skuld: Ven would never want that!

Darkness: But he got it, didn't he?

Ephemer: Even if Ven did want power, he wouldn't achieve dominance by becoming a Union leader.

Darkness: That doesn't matter to us.

Lauriam: Doesn't matter…?

So there was no reason Strelitzia had to be sacrificed?

Darkness: None at all.

Lauriam: Don't mess with me!!!!

(He leaps at Darkness, enraged, but is easily flung back. He hits the wall and is knocked unconscious.)

Ephemer: Lauriam!

(Brain approaches Darkness.)

Brain: There's a few things I'd like to ask.

Darkness: Go ahead.

Brain: First, why did you choose Ven?

Darkness: Because it had already been decided.

Brain: What was?

Darkness: That he'd be the one to harbor darkness.

Brain: Are you saying it was set in stone? That Ven was meant to be a vessel for darkness?

Darkness: Exactly. The fated child as written in the Book of Prophecies.

Brain: You read the Book?

Darkness: Yes, not that it matters.

Brain: How then?

Darkness: We watched as it was being written.

Brain: You were there when the Book was written?

Darkness: Yes.

Brain: Do you and the Master have history?

Darkness: We're old friends.

Ephemer: Friends? Was the Master working with the darkness?

Darkness: We don't need to work with people like you.

Brain: Next question. You've been biding your time. Why choose to appear now?

Darkness: Ah, but we weren't. We've been very busy. You just didn't notice.

It's less that we appeared and more that you finally became aware of us.

Brain: Final question. You keep saying "we." What do you mean by that?

Darkness: There's more of us than there is light.

Brain: I see. Then one more thing.

Are you the only one in this room right now?

Darkness: Yes.

Brain: OK, understood.

(Brain summons his Keyblade, the Master's Defender.)

Ephemer: Huh??

Brain: Ephemer, Skuld, this is the ultimate enemy. Let's give it our all!

(Darkness morphs into a ball of shadows. Brain launches a powerful blast of energy at it, and screen fades to black.)

(Back to the flashback of MoM and Luxu.)

Luxu: I'm worried about those kids…

Master: The Book of Prophecies contains future eras to come. They'll be alright.

Luxu: That sounds sketchy…

Master: I mean, it does record a huge expanse of time, so I haven't looked at all the fine details like what happens to who.

Luxu: But we entrusted the future to these children - they're important, right?

Master: You sound like a mother hen… Tell you what, since part of your mission is to observe, it's okay if you watch over them.

But meddling is strictly off limits, you hear?

Luxu: O-okay……

 

[The_Echo]

Summary

Spoiler Show

The Master seems to have talked with Darkness, but they do not come to a mutual understanding.
He claims Darkness is always watching (but not in that moment particularly).
Luxu reinforces that the Dandelions are an "important cornerstone" in the world's revival, and wonders if it'll be alright if Darkness appears before them.

Darkness reveals that they do not have a true form, their appearance and voice being a "service" for humans.
It claims they have no goal, and do not have feelings of wanting to accomplish something.
It calls humanity a separate existence, making it difficult for them to understand each other.
Darkness claims that Ven wanted Strelitzia to be killed, though this is an extrapolation from his desire to be a Union Leader.
Strelitzia's sacrifice wasn't necessary, but that "didn't matter" to Darkness.
Ventus is a "destined child" written in the Book of Prophecies. "An existence which houses darkness."
Darkness doesn't have desire or care, but the Book of Prophecies is an exception.
It has seen the Book, and claims the Master of Masters is an "old friend."
It claims that there is more darkness than there is light.

Luxu is worried about the Dandelions, but the Master knows things will work out because a future world is written in the Book.
Apparently, he can't see minor details due to the long amount of time being recorded. So the fates of individuals are something he can't see.
Luxu continues to worry, and the Master gives him permission to watch over them, but warns that interference is useless.

 

[KeybladeMasterJr]

[parsehtml]<p><a href="https://cache.sqex-bridge.jp/guest/information/72881">5 story quests have been added (No.966~970)</a>. Videos and translations will be available as soon as possible.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.khinsider.com/2020%20Uploads/12/Brain%20with%20Master's%20Defender.png"><img src="https://images.khinsider.com/2020%20Uploads/12/Brain%20with%20Master's%20Defender.png" alt="" width="500" height="281" /></a></p>
<p>5 Proud Mode quests have also been added (No.961~965). Clear the challenges to get 1 of each gem and 10 Magic Mirrors.</p>[/parsehtml]

Gosh it’s like I’m about to get to the new ones and they add more

 

[the red monster]

Darkness reveals that they do not have a true form, their appearance and voice being a "service" for humans.

Welp so much for darkness is vanitas.
but gonna say, that's a pretty unique kind of a villain (?)

 

[Any]

Darkness is a flip flopper lol unless I’m misunderstanding them. Darkness said they chose to hide in Ven because Ven wanted power. Then Darkness said they chose Ven because Ven was destined to be chosen. I’m just staring in confusion lol

And from what I’m understanding, MoM isn’t human since he was friends with Darkness? He’s just like or at least similar to Darkness?

 

[Sign]

This is why we wait for better translations lol

 

[LoneFox]

This was a nice surprise. I didn't expect to see the union leaders again until the Player returns from their quest.

Darkness is a flip flopper lol unless I’m misunderstanding them. Darkness said they chose to hide in Ven because Ven wanted power. Then Darkness said they chose Ven because Ven was destined to be chosen. I’m just staring in confusion lol

Darkness wants the union leaders to turn against each other, therefore it lies. But it looks like there is some Truth in between the li(n)es. I'll comment more on that once the translated videos are up.

 

[Any]

This was a nice surprise. I didn't expect to see the union leaders again until the Player returns from their quest.


Darkness wants the union leaders to turn against each other, therefore it lies. But it looks like there is some Truth in between the li(n)es. I'll comment more on that once the translated videos are up.

Maybe so. Darkness is something lol

Also, is Nomura really gonna retcon Vanitas (no I’m not talking about Darkness theory). We’re just gonna pretend that he doesn’t exist anymore and isn’t Ventus darkness?

 

[Alpha Baymax]

This is why we wait for better translations lol

Exactly, I'm going to wait it out for Goldpanner's exceptional translation work.

 

[Idreamaboutcats]

Oh thank god! It’s finally out after their erratic scheduling.

I guess this really does confirm Eraqus’ lineage.

And from what I’m understanding, MoM isn’t human since he was friends with Darkness? He’s just like or at least similar to Darkness?

I mean, we do see his jawline, but with an eye like that he’s definitely not a normal human, even by wielder standards.

 

[yuyayuzu]

Darkness is a flip flopper lol unless I’m misunderstanding them. Darkness said they chose to hide in Ven because Ven wanted power. Then Darkness said they chose Ven because Ven was destined to be chosen. I’m just staring in confusion lol

And from what I’m understanding, MoM isn’t human since he was friends with Darkness? He’s just like or at least similar to Darkness?

Actually those are two different things
1. Darkness killed Strelitizia because Ven wants power and don't care about the reason he wants it
2. Darkness chose Ven to hide in because he is destined to be a vessel for darkness

 

[Ballad of Caius]

This is all very interesting in a bizarre way, so like others have said, it's best to wait for better translations.

 

[yuyayuzu]

Love how Skuld always protects Ven in this video
If Skuld is Subject X , I wish Ven will interact with her in the next game

 

[Dandelion]

Summary

I think you do the community a real disservice by posting these rushed translation summaries. There's little nuance and they lead to confusion and disinformation.

 

[kirabook]

They did say it was a summary... anyone taking that summary as hard core proof are the ones jumping the gun in my opinion.

Based on the summary, I don't feel Darkness is flip flopping? From a vague point of view, Darkness seems to go with the flow. It doesn't have deep desires of its own, it just "answers to the call" so to speak. Ven possibly had this small insignificant wish to be somebody or something and Darkess was like, "Oh, so you want this girl dead so that you can take her place. That's EXACTLY what you need! I'll help you!"

This aligns with what we already sorta know about Darkness doesn't it? It's not necessarily evil, it greatly depends on the user. Though either way you slice it, it does seem "negative".

 

[The_Echo]

I think you do the community a real disservice by posting these rushed translation summaries. There's little nuance and they lead to confusion and disinformation.

I think you need to chill.

I translated the dialogue in its entirety for myself, but because I'm still learning and I'm conscious of that, I only posted a general summary of the key points so that I don't push wrong information. And I don't think I'm rushing, considering I spent about two hours on roughly 5-7 minutes of dialogue. (Not saying more time wouldn't have helped.)
There are minor details I couldn't be 100% certain of, but I'm confident that my understanding of the scenes was accurate.
If I'm wrong then I'm wrong, doesn't really matter that much because Goldpanner's translations always get the most traction anyway.

 

[Dandelion]

I think you need to chill.

Savage.

I translated the dialogue in its entirety for myself, but because I'm still learning and I'm conscious of that, I only posted a general summary of the key points so that I don't push wrong information. And I don't think I'm rushing, considering I spent about two hours on roughly 5-7 minutes of dialogue. (Not saying more time wouldn't have helped.)

All I have to go by are the time stamps, and you're consistently the first person posting in these threads, with a summary, usually about an hour, little more, after the OP.

There are minor details I couldn't be 100% certain of, but I'm confident that my understanding of the scenes was accurate.
If I'm wrong then I'm wrong, doesn't really matter that much because Goldpanner's translations always get the most traction anyway.

I didn't mean to make light of the efforts of learning and translating the language. I think it's great that you're learning Japanese and I can understand wanting to post a quick summary while longform translations are on the way out but, and I'm not saying this as an insult; the summaries consistently lack that nuance and imply things that are otherwise, well, wrong. Everyone is capable of making mistakes of course. Blaine was something we couldn't have foreseen being wrong. But, it's not a standalone issue here, it happens almost every update and it can be very frustrating to the staff who are spending hours translating/confirming/adapting/and editing videos.

Currently I'm not technically a site staffer, but I do occasionally assist Goldpanner with translations and adaptation. I don't put in nearly the amount of work that GP or Sign do on this, but I do know firsthand how frustrating it can feel to do the work and automatically feel like you have to challenge an idea born from a mistranslation. I don't *think* you had anything to do with this particular example, but the amount of hate GP and even KHI in general got for saying that Strelitzia was Lauriam's sister rather than Elrena's was absurd and we ended up being correct in that all along.

I'm not actually asking you to stop but I am asking that you to take that into consideration

 

[The_Echo]

the summaries consistently lack that nuance and imply things that are otherwise, well, wrong.

As a summary it inherently lacks detail and nuance. I think most of us here have the wherewithal to understand that and act accordingly.
I could just post my full translations, and I have in the past, but that is when I get things wrong most often (though usually nothing major, to my recollection) as I miss more complex grammar or something like an idiom I wasn't familiar with.

Currently I'm not technically a site staffer, but I do occasionally assist Goldpanner with translations and adaptation. I don't put in nearly the amount of work that GP or Sign do on this, but I do know firsthand how frustrating it can feel to do the work and automatically feel like you have to challenge an idea born from a mistranslation.

I'd never dream of diminishing or obstructing the work Goldpanner and Sign do. And I know very well the struggle of combating misinformation in this community (not at all limited to translations).
With my own translation efforts, I'm always quick to explicitly state when I'm not certain of something.
If I saw myself being consistently/harmfully wrong, then I wouldn't be posting.

I don't *think* you had anything to do with this particular example, but the amount of hate GP and even KHI in general got for saying that Strelitzia was Lauriam's sister rather than Elrena's was absurd and we ended up being correct in that all along.

With that instance in particular, it was a crapshoot that couldn't be helped. We just didn't have enough context to know for certain which interpretation was accurate. An unfortunate side-effect of high-context language. Though I think that little mystery was by design, as I recall confusion within the Japanese community over that as well, and the line could've easily been made more clear with only a word and a particle.

 

[isakiri]

Savage.


All I have to go by are the time stamps, and you're consistently the first person posting in these threads, with a summary, usually about an hour, little more, after the OP.



I didn't mean to make light of the efforts of learning and translating the language. I think it's great that you're learning Japanese and I can understand wanting to post a quick summary while longform translations are on the way out but, and I'm not saying this as an insult; the summaries consistently lack that nuance and imply things that are otherwise, well, wrong. Everyone is capable of making mistakes of course. Blaine was something we couldn't have foreseen being wrong. But, it's not a standalone issue here, it happens almost every update and it can be very frustrating to the staff who are spending hours translating/confirming/adapting/and editing videos.

Currently I'm not technically a site staffer, but I do occasionally assist Goldpanner with translations and adaptation. I don't put in nearly the amount of work that GP or Sign do on this, but I do know firsthand how frustrating it can feel to do the work and automatically feel like you have to challenge an idea born from a mistranslation. I don't *think* you had anything to do with this particular example, but the amount of hate GP and even KHI in general got for saying that Strelitzia was Lauriam's sister rather than Elrena's was absurd and we ended up being correct in that all along.

I'm not actually asking you to stop but I am asking that you to take that into consideration

Maybe just let the guy post his summary. Don't really see any harm in what he's doing especially when there are summaries that will come out in a few hours that will be more accurate/word for word translations.

 

[Alpha Baymax]

Maybe just let the guy post his summary. Don't really see any harm in what he's doing especially when there are summaries that will come out in a few hours that will be more accurate/word for word translations.

Welcome to the forums, I agree. There's no harm in providing rough translations if it forms engaging discussions.

Besides, it wouldn't be the first time that meanings were lost in translation. Ephemera turned out to be Ephemer, Blaine turned out to be Brain and there was debate as to whether Strelitzia was the sister of Lauriam or Elrena.