Episode 13

A Bloody Showdown as an Offering to Annihilation (消滅に捧げる血闘) is the thirteenth episode of the The Eminence in Shadow anime adaptation.

Synopsis
Alpha faces off against an empowered Nelson in a vicious battle. Elsewhere, Cid and Aurora reach the Sanctuary's core, but a door only a hero can open blocks their path.

Summary
Delta easily cuts down Nelson's copies, but feels something is wrong. Nelson explains that the closer they are to the center of the Sanctuary, the more of their power is drained. Alpha adds that at the same time the closer is Nelson to the center, he gains more power. Nelson was hoping to get even closer, but states this far is enough to be able to defeat them.

Cid and Aurora reach another memory, a battlefield with many casualties. They find young Aurora crying again and Aurora takes Cid's sword wanting to kill her to end the memory. However as she gets close, the dead return to life and start attacking them. Aurora explains that the Sanctuary is rejecting them. Cid wonders what will happen if Aurora dies and she guesses she will return in the first room where they met.

Epsilon's group find a sick person, but as it goes through Epsilon the person disappears. Epsilon then explains that it probably was a memory that reacted to them and materialized. They find an archive with information about the possessed and realize this could have happened to them too if they didn't met Shadow. Eta had created polaroid cameras based on information from Shadow and they take pictures of the information.

Cid and Aurora are easily defeating the zombies, but as more are coming, Cid goes and kills the young Aurora, ending the memory. The two then reach the center of the Sanctuary. Meanwhile, even though she is loosing power, Delta is obliterating Nelson, who is shocked by her power.

Aurora tells Cid that they need to destroy the magic core, which is on the other side of the door. Cid considers cutting the chains and the door, but feels the sword will break. Aurora notes there should be a key. There is a sword in front of the door and Aurora explains its written on it that it can cut the chains. Looking at it, Cid is sure he won't be able to pull it out from the ground. As he attempts and can't pull it out, he confirms, stating it must be drawn out by the chosen one. Aurora then sees a sign stating that the holy sword can only be drawn by direct descendants. Aurora is surprised that Cid managed to decipher the magical inscription that fast. Cid states he is versed in all the standard formulas, surprising Aurora that he formulized all of the countless magical scripts encryption patterns and memorized them. As there is no other way to open the door, the two then sit down.

Watching Delta fight Nelson, Alexia wonders if she is really working with Shadow. She explains that Delta's fighting style is totally different than the sophisticated techniques that he used. As Delta defeats another close of Nelson, the memory breaks and Nelson is surprised she managed to defeat over hundred copies without even breaking a sweat. Alpha states that even if he was able to create a hundred copies, they all still have one brain and he couldn't control them all that well. Nelson then sees a statue of Olivier and calls for Olivier to come. Olivier comes out, but at the same time Epsilon joins Alpha and states they are done with the investigation and can leave. Nelson is surprised that they are running away, but Alpha explains their objective is to cut off the source of power and now know how the Sanctuary defenses work, so they will be returning again.

As Alpha and the rest leave, Nelson starts wondering what to say to the rest and guesses he will explain that he lured them here to expose their identities and that with Alpha's blood they can perfect the Beads. He then gets a notification that someone is in the Sanctuary's center. Cid asks Aurora if she wants to disappear. Aurora explains that once the core is destroyed, she will be free and that this is a prison of memories that repeat into eternity. Cid tells her to wait a bit and soon things will work out. Cid expects the protagonist to show up and be able to pull out the sword. However, Nelson appears and Cid wonders if its one of those scenarios where the bad guy comes first and tries to stop the protagonist. Cid sees Olivier and that she has the same face as Alpha. Nelson then sends Olivier at them and Cid goes to face her, knowing that she is quite strong.

Olivier attacks Cid, who blocks her attacks, but she sends him flying everywhere and ends up breaking his sword. Nelson wonders why is Cid smiling and Cid realizes he indeed is smiling. Olivier attacks again and manages to injure Cid, who notes that a battle without conversation is tedious and that she doesn't have a heart and isn't answering any of his questions. Nelson doesn't understand what he is talking about and orders Olivier to finish him off. Aurora jumps in and asks him to stop. Even though she doesn't remember it well, she knows that no human can defeat Olivier. She tells Cid he have done enough and gave her more new memories that she could have asked. Nelson laughs at her, noting that without magic she can't do anything, but if she agrees to help him, he will spare Cid. Cid interrupts them, stating that he doesn't need help and they shouldn't assume he will lose. Annoyed, Nelson orders Olivier to kill him and she jumps in and stabs him. Cid, who has been keeping his right eye closed for a while, opens it, stating he got them.