[And then abruptly, he lashes his head up defiantly, gritting his teeth.]

Oi, OI! ARE YOU LISTENING?! YOU, THIS 'OTHER PERSON'...IF YOU KEEP A BIRD CONFINED FOR TOO LONG, SOMEONE IS BOUND TO OPEN THAT CAGE!

COME OUT HERE! FACE ME! WHY ARE YOU KEEPING ARIEL-SAN BOUND HERE?! WHAT IS THIS?!

ANSWER ME!!!

[He'd scream all day, if he were allowed to. But he isn't. He's being taken away. Battler doesn't get a showdown with whatever--whoever--caused that noise. He gets the marks on his hands, proof Ariel existed, and even then those will fade.

But what he does get is resolve.

If this is the new game he's playing, so be it.

Ushiromiya Battler never intends to lose.]