arrow_back Wuthering Waves Quests
Peaks of Prestige: Rekindled Duel
A girl named Anita invites you into the Peaks of Prestige fan club. From her, you learn that the club is hanging by a thread...
Quest List
Actor No. 1:
Excuse me, fellow student!
Actor No. 1:
Can I interest you in our fan club?
Anita:
Hi there, fellow student!
Anita:
Ever heard of Peaks of Prestige? Would you like to join our fan club?
Anita:
Peaks of Prestige is currently the hottest game in Rinascita. It's super easy to pick up and crazy fun! Sign up now and you'll even get a limited edition starter pack.
Anita:
On top of that, it's a great way to simulate Echo tactics and Tacet Discord behavior. Master the game, and writing your thesis and research reports will be a breeze!
Anita:
So you're new to the game? Well, allow me to give you a quick intro.
Anita:
Peaks of Prestige was developed by Mr. Furius. It's a simulation game based on Septimont's Echo battles.
Anita:
Unlike traditional Gladiator matches, the players, we call them "duelists," don't fight in person.
Anita:
Instead, they use their Terminals to deploy Action Cards and command Echoes from Preset Decks to challenge other duelists.
Anita:
Just download the game modules onto your Terminal, and you can challenge anyone, anytime, anywhere. Pretty handy, right?
Anita:
I'll get into the nitty-gritty details once we're in the tutorial match.
Anita:
In any case, welcome to our fan club!
Anita:
No worries, I've already sent you the game modules. Even if you don't plan on joining our fan club, it's a fun way to kill time between classes.
Anita:
By the way, our club's version of Peaks of Prestige is personally authorized by Mr. Furius himself.
Anita:
Besides the basic Echo cards, it also includes two work-in-progress expansion packs—"Novelties" and "Domains."
Anita:
The interface is completely redesigned, and there are a bunch of brand-new cards.
Anita:
Only downside is, for now, it's not compatible with Peaks of Prestige data from other regions.
Anita:
Haha, why don't we have a real match and let the game do the show-and-tell?
Anita:
I'll find you an opponent—right this way, Rover.
Ashild:
Anita! You're finally back...
Anita:
Don't be so jittery, Ashild.
Ashild:
Oh... Sorry. Who's this, Anita?
Anita:
Rover has serious duelist potential. I've got a feeling {Male=he's;Female=she's} our secret weapon against the professors.
Ashild:
Oh? You haven't heard, Rover? The professors are trying to shut us down...
Anita:
Ahem... All right, Ashild. We can talk about that later.
Anita:
The club won't be going anywhere anytime soon. For now, let's just enjoy dueling instead of worrying about what-ifs.
Ashild:
B-But...
Anita:
Mind going up against Rover, Ashild? Give it everything you got. {Male=He's;Female=She's} no pushover.
Ashild:
...Okay. Well... May the better duelist win, Rover!
Anita:
—Game. So, what do you think, Ashild?
Ashild:
You... you're something else. No wonder Anita picked you. If anyone has a chance of stopping the professors, it's you, Rover.
Rover:
...Now will you tell me what's really going on with the fan club?
Anita:
Oh, just a minor administrative hiccup, that's all. A few professors have some... well, mild opinions about us. Long story short, they want me to disband the fan club.
Anita:
Actually, it's really just Professor Calith who wants the club gone. The others probably have their own reasons, but they all ended up on the same side.
Anita:
Ever since he returned from a trip to Septimont, he's convinced that playing Peaks of Prestige is a bad idea. Thinks we're all going to start flunking because we're too obsessed with dueling.
Anita:
...In reality, we have a rule in our fan club: If your grades slip because you're spending too much time dueling, you'll be kicked out.
Anita:
But don't worry. We've never actually had to kick anyone out. Everyone here gets that school comes first.
Anita:
Anyway, to stop the professors from disbanding the club, I made a bet with them.
Anita:
I'm the "leader" for the club, and Calith is the "leader" for the professors. Each side picks members to duel, and the last two standing get a shot at taking us down.
Anita:
If a leader gets defeated before the faculty's disbandment request is approved, that side loses the bet.
Anita:
If we lose, or we can't beat them before the paperwork goes through... we can say bye-bye to dueling.
Anita:
But if we win, the professors have to back off and drop the whole thing.
Anita:
The problem is, all the professors are crazy good, especially Professor Calith. So far, nobody in the club has even come close to beating him.
Anita:
But then I met you... And that match earlier proved my hunch was right. You're the one who can defeat the professors and save our club.
Anita:
If you want to come out swinging, start with Professor Dennis.
Anita:
He's responsible for managing campus discipline. Total hard-ass, plays everything by the book.
Anita:
What's weird is that it doesn't seem like he's against Peaks of Prestige because it's "against the rules." He's got some other axe to grind.
Anita:
He'll definitely accept your challenge. Go get us that first win!
Anita:
Thank you, Rover.
Ashild:
Well, Good... good luck, we're counting on you, Rover...!
Ashild:
I-Is there anything I can help you with, Rover?
Ashild:
...Is it really that obvious?
Ashild:
It's just... I feel like I'm bad at everything. Even my grades aren't as good as everyone else's.
Ashild:
I sometimes think maybe I should just drop out... but whenever I think about my family's smiles the day I received my admission letter, I just...
Ashild:
...But then I met Anita. She may not be the most reliable person in the world, but she actually thinks I'm good at something.
Ashild:
She taught me how to play Peaks of Prestige and said I was a natural at it. It was the first time I remember being acknowledged by someone.
Ashild:
But even so, there's no way I can win against Professor Calith... If the club gets shut down, I might not even get to play anymore.
Ashild:
I'll be cheering for you, Rover! And... I'll try to get better, too!
Ashild:
Mm-hmm...! You must win!
Actor No. 1:
Hmm...
Dennis:
Hmm... Impeccable attire. A posture of pure refinement. A gaze both serene and discerning, without any hint of that dreadful toxic bravado...
Dennis:
Rover, I presume?
Dennis:
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dennis Lowell, responsible for maintaining campus discipline and decorum. And, I must confess—
Dennis:
—A Peaks of Prestige duelist. Highly experienced, if I might add.
Rover:
But Anita told me...
Dennis:
That I'm collaborating with Professor Calith to disband your little fan club? Yes, this is indeed a necessary step in my grand design.
Dennis:
But first, a question, Rover. May I know your unfiltered assessment of Anita and the current Peaks of Prestige fan club?
Dennis:
Tch. A surface-level appraisal.
Dennis:
I do not deny that Anita is a rare, powerful duelist. The club isn't lacking in talented duelists either.
Dennis:
But they lack something very, very important. And that is... ELEGANCE!
Dennis:
Victory is the destination, no doubt. But in my mind, true dueling must rely on flawless tactics, composure during advance and retreat, and winning with a flourish that leaves your opponents in awe!
Dennis:
Ah, that Anita... I regret to say it, but she lacks such an appreciation.
Dennis:
Her attacks are too aggressive. Victory achieved through straightforward, brute force while ignoring carefully planned combinations and the exercising of finesse... THE INELEGANCE!
Dennis:
What I find even more unbearable is that club members look at that barbarism... and see a role model!
Dennis:
Hence, my support for Calith's plan. But fear not, once the wrecking ball is swung, I shall persuade Madam President to approve my forming of a new club! A club where dueling is an art form, not a bar fight as Anita might have it.
Dennis:
I heard you are an outstanding duelist. Certainly, you understand the pursuit of elegance, do you not? You see my vision?
Dennis:
...I see, Rover. Words, it seems, are too crude a tool to foster understanding of the perfection I seek.
Dennis:
Let us duel! I shall teach you the meaning of elegance... ON THE BATTLEFIELD!
Dennis:
I have lost. The elegance I stood by... was defeated?
Dennis:
No... this is normal. After all, your dueling style possessed its own form of elegance. In a sense, elegance still triumphed...!
Dennis:
Is the grass green? Of course it is! Elegance is etiquette. Elegance is discipline. Elegance is order.
Dennis:
Students must be disciplined and elegant while on campus. And we professors should be shining beacons of that ideal.
Dennis:
Even club activities ought to require a professor's guiding hand, lest they descend into utter anarchy!
Rover:
Have you thought about being the Peaks of Prestige fan club's advisor, Professor?
Dennis:
The thought has graced my mind. But an advisor must be sufficiently affable to maintain good relations with students in the fan club.
Dennis:
But I am a disciplinarian! I must maintain an aura of unyielding authority! So I rejected such an idea.
Dennis:
Besides, I'm... not exactly a people person. I can deduct points according to Academy guidelines without problem, but beyond that, I struggle to interact with the students.
Dennis:
I'm aware the students regard me more with "abject terror" than anything close to fondness or respect.
Dennis:
...Indeed. Mr. Furius mentioned in his lecture that dueling can sometimes be far more effective than words.
Dennis:
Fellow duelists tend to resonate with one another... Perhaps you're right. Instead of being a professor whom students merely fear, I could be one... whom they respect.
Dennis:
But if I am to lead everyone, I cannot afford another defeat such as today.
Dennis:
To become an advisor with skills so elegant that future club members weep at its beauty, I must continue to refine my dueling skills.
Dennis:
As per the rules, you still need to defeat Professor Festa before your final match with Professor Calith.
Dennis:
She has proven to be a terrifying duelist. Though her style may have all the elegance of a spreadsheet, her precision is as deadly as a machine.
Dennis:
Be on your guard, Rover.
Actor No. 1:
...What went wrong here?
Festa:
If a certain variable gets introduced into the curve, it would partially account for the discrepancies between the data and the model. But an answer like that wouldn't satisfy those people...
Festa:
The real question is... what does this variable even represent...?
Rover:
Excuse me, are you Professor Festa?
Festa:
...Ah, that is correct. So you've come, Rover.
Festa:
No, it's nothing. I was working on a new model to explain a mutagenic Rabelle's Curve, one triggered by unique Awakening causes. I'm trying to find a common denominator in such events.
Festa:
But I need more time to perfect it. Anyway, it's not a major issue.
Festa:
Let's set that aside. I heard you defeated Dennis the same day you joined the Peaks of Prestige fan club. Is your goal now to challenge me and Professor Calith?
Festa:
Huh... Well, that's just...
Festa:
...No. It's a... thrilling outlier! Dennis's dueling style is rigid. He's easy to beat once you crack the pattern he follows.
Festa:
But it's still a deck strategy he's been refining for a long time. And you... you dismantled it with such ease in your very first match.
Festa:
I have a feeling our duel will be a fascinating one!
Festa:
Affirmative. At this moment, I'm not Professor Festa, but Duelist Festa!
Festa:
Unlike Dennis, I've modeled my entire deck and strategy mathematically. This allows me to forecast different outcomes and execute the most efficient countermove—
Festa:
—Unless I'm facing a wildcard like Anita, or a true prodigy like Professor Calith, my victory is statistically guaranteed!
Festa:
All right, that's all the information I'll reveal for now... Let's duel, Rover!
Festa:
I... lost?! But all the input parameters were perfect... How could the results deviate this much...?
Festa:
...Unless... Rover, you're the one... Could this be what Mornye was talking about?
Festa:
...A tiny deviation, given enough calculations, can completely overwrite the expected future state.
Festa:
Just like that variable I couldn't account for in my proposed model.
Festa:
Even in a system as simple as Peaks of Prestige, it holds true. Though I can't figure out how you introduced a deviation that even I couldn't detect...
Festa:
That's it? No... If I follow that logic... Are you implying that human will and emotion can interfere with theory to create unpredictable outcomes?
Rover:
I've seen something like this before. Whether it's the Tethys System's simulations or so-called fated "prophecies," human will can defy predicted outcomes to create new futures.
Rover:
Maybe that's what the "unknown variable" in your model really represents.
Festa:
...Very well, this is somewhat inspiring. But fundamentally, even if this theory is sound, this so-called "human factor" cannot even be quantified...
Festa:
The model would need to account for infinite branching paths, like a snowflake's unique formation... Ah, never mind. I'll chew on it later.
Rover:
By the way, Professor Festa, you don't really seem to care too much about disbanding the Peaks of Prestige fan club, do you?
Festa:
Of course not. I'm an ultra-hardcore duelist! I think Peaks of Prestige is the most interesting game to come out in years!
Festa:
Oh, to watch my opponents' carefully designed strategies and decks walk right into my calculations, like bugs caught in a spider's web, helplessly awaiting their doom...
Festa:
It's a victory for mathematics! It's exhilarating!
Festa:
I have zero interest in disbanding any club. But Professor Calith promised that if I worked with him, I'd have no shortage of powerful duelists wanting to challenge me...
Festa:
To be honest, he wasn't wrong. But out of all the challengers, only our duel was brilliantly satisfying.
Festa:
This feeling of giving it your all, only to come up just short... it hurts, but it's not the worst, huh?
Festa:
Perhaps. Well then, my mathematical models need some modifications. Until next time, Rover.
Rover:
Up next, the final duel with Professor Calith.
Rover:
I'd better go discuss our options with Anita first, just to be safe.
Actor No. 1:
I-I won't lose!
Actor No. 2:
You're time is running out.
Olof:
Ugh! I'm the No. 2 duelist in the fan club! You... just who do you think you are...?!
Chessa:
Huff... Sorry. That's it, kid. Match over.
Olof:
Tch... It'll take more than that to beat Anita!
Ashild:
...W-What should we do... Even Olof lost to her...
Chessa:
...Excuse me, but is Anita around? Am I allowed to challenge her now?
Chessa:
So tired. Let's just get this over with already... The sooner this is handled, the sooner I can get some rest.
Ashild:
Ah, Rover! You're finally back!
Ashild:
This is Olof. He's the strongest duelist in the fan club, after Anita.
Ashild:
And this is...
Chessa:
...Oh, I'm Chessa. I'm just with the support staff.
Chessa:
Look, no hard feelings, alright? Just following orders. You understand.
Olof:
Don't get cocky, Chessa! Rover here just beat Professor Dennis and Professor Festa!
Olof:
If you want a shot at Anita, you'll have to go through Rover first!
Chessa:
This is really annoying. So... Rover, how do you stack up? Guess you're now No. 2, and Anita is No. 1...
Olof:
...Fine, fine. I'm No. 3. There, I said it. Happy now?
Chessa:
Alright then, Rover, the new No. 2... I challenge you to a duel.
Chessa:
Phew... Finally. My job here is done.
Chessa:
That's it for me. Bye-bye, everyone.
Olof:
...Wait!
Chessa:
Huh? We don't have some complicated beef or anything... I was just backup Calith called in.
Chessa:
Owed him a small favor, and now we're square. Come on, just let me go.
Olof:
I have to know... how did you get so strong? What's your secret?
Chessa:
Huh? Nothing special, really. I was on shift when I ran into Calith, and it looked like something was bugging him. I asked out of curiosity.
Chessa:
Next thing I know, he's insisting I play Peaks of Prestige with him. After one game, he said I was a natural. Haha... do I look like a natural to you?
Olof:
...
Chessa:
He wanted me to play against this fan club. I figured it'd be a good way to pay him back too.
Chessa:
Sigh... If I'd known it'd be this much of a hassle, I would've just looked the other way. But since I lost, guess I wasn't cut out for it. He can't complain.
Olof:
...H-Hassle? Don't you have any interest in Peaks of Prestige at all?
Chessa:
Of course not. I hate anything that requires effort. And I'm always getting dragged into errands by my boss or some professor.
Chessa:
If the Academy were under attack by Voidworms or a TD outbreak, I'd gladly put my life on the line to protect everyone.
Chessa:
But this kind of meaningless scut work? No thanks.
Chessa:
Don't mention it... Well, I'd better get going. Bye-bye.
Chessa turns and walks away. You can almost see the weight of this meaningless task lifting from her shoulders with every step she takes.
Olof:
...
Ashild:
Olof...?
Olof:
Oh, I'm fine. Well done, Rover. Thanks for helping our fan club.
Olof:
Haha, who knew there was a hidden powerhouse like you at the Academy?
Olof:
But that's not to say you can slack off. I may not be strong enough to beat you now, but one day, I'm taking back the title of No.2!
Olof:
By the way, Anita said she'd go find Professor Calith to arrange the final showdown.
Rover:
Understood. I'll head over right away.
Ashild:
Good luck, Rover!
Olof:
What was that about...? What does being a natural even mean?
Olof:
I practice every single day... wracking my brain thinking of how to be a better duelist...
Olof:
I thought it was my DESTINY to defeat the professors and save the club... But what's the point of all my effort... compared to natural talent?
Olof:
And the worst part... she doesn't even care about Peaks of Prestige! I lost to someone like that...
Olof:
...No. I can't fall apart. I am... No, I was the club's No. 2...
Rover:
(Doesn't seem to be a good time to talk to him right now. Maybe I should give him some space.)
Anita:
Ah, Rover. There you are.
Anita:
The final showdown is about to begin. Are you ready?
Anita:
To be honest, I don't know much either. I've never dueled him myself. I've only heard stories... they say he's on another level.
Anita:
But he seems to really hate Peaks of Prestige. He's publicly announced that it's just a game for kids, and that it's dangerously addictive.
Anita:
I admit, he's a good professor... Students think his lectures are fun, and he's surprisingly approachable. He can make even the most complex topics feel simple.
Anita:
But when it comes to this fan club, it's like he turns into a totally different person.
Anita:
Maybe... Well, that's all I know about Professor Calith. So, what do you say, Rover? Ready to duel?
Calith:
Anita. Rover. You're here.
Calith:
The application to disband your fan club is nearing final approval. As agreed, defeat me, and I'll withdraw it.
Calith:
And if I win... Heh. Well, I doubt you'll be fortunate enough to find another club member who can best me.
Anita:
...Heh, I have complete confidence in Rover.
Calith:
Very well. I have confidence in myself as well—I will disband your fan club.
Rover:
Professor Calith, why exactly are you doing this...?
Calith:
...I won't deny it. I am biased against Peaks of Prestige.
Calith:
It's because I witnessed an immensely talented, brilliant person go down a self-destructive path because of it.
Calith:
I will not allow such a thing to happen to any student at this Academy ever again.
Anita:
But...
Calith:
Enough wasting time. We can discuss this after the duel.
Anita:
...Fine by me. Then let the duel—BEGIN!
Anita:
Good work, Rover. I never expected Professor Calith and Furius to be former classmates...
Anita:
It's nice to see friendship and connection help to clear the resentment in his heart... Well, I'll spare you the lecture.
Anita:
At least everything is settled now, and the fan club is safe from getting shut down...
Rover:
You've been way too calm through all this. Almost like you were never worried about the club being disbanded in the first place. You've got another card to play, don't you?
Anita:
How perceptive... No wonder President Lucilla picked you. She did say there was no need to keep secrets from you.
Rover:
President Lucilla?
Anita:
Oh yeah. President Lucilla is the Academy's No. 1 duelist. Not that she cares much for the matches.
Anita:
This fan club was formed with her direct approval. So even if Calith's application had gone through, she would've vetoed it at the final stage.
Anita:
She said she was "eager to see the competitive drive and spirit"...Ahem, that everyone would show in a crisis.
Anita:
She believes that's the mark of a true duelist, and that it's good for the "character development" of both students and teachers.
Anita:
And she told me that you, Rover, were the one duelist skilled enough to not only beat Professor Calith, but to earn his respect.
Anita:
Haha, now that's all settled... how about a match with me?
Anita:
Ahem. I, Anita, am the division manager for the Peaks of Prestige Ranked Tournament, Lahai-Roi division.
Anita:
If you can beat me, you'll earn your qualification for the Ranked Tournament.
Anita:
I'll explain all the rules after our duel. Here we go, Rover!
Anita:
...Impressive. Your skills speak for themselves, Rover.
Anita:
Now, as division manager, I grant you the qualification to participate in the Lahai-Roi division Ranked Tournament.
Anita:
Unlike the single-elimination "Apex Duelist Championship" held in Septimont, our divisions follow a points-based system.
Anita:
Qualified duelists can challenge anyone on the tournament roster. Win, and you earn points.
Anita:
When the season ends, the duelist with the highest score will be crowned the Division Champion.
Anita:
I've already sent the coordinates of the other competitors to your Terminal. Feel free to challenge them anytime.
Anita:
Good luck, Rover! I'm looking forward to the day you become our Division Champion.
Anita:
How's the tournament treating you, Rover?
Anita:
Sure, I'll go over it again for you. The Lahai-Roi division runs on a points system.
Anita:
You need to challenge other qualified duelists in the region and rack up wins to earn points.
Anita:
When the season ends, the duelist with the highest score will be crowned the Division Champion.
Anita:
Great. Show 'em what you got, and bring home the Lahai-Roi division champion's title!
Anita:
Ah, let's see... You sure did! You currently rank No. 1 in points among all duelists in Lahai-Roi.
Anita:
Congratulations, Rover! You are now the Lahai-Roi Division Champion!
Anita:
Well, there was supposed to be a big award ceremony... Ahem. But my request to use the auditorium got denied by the President.
Anita:
B-But, you'll still get your championship prize though! So don't worry!
Anita:
Ahem... Anyway, they run similar points-based tournaments in other regions too.
Anita:
If you're interested, you can seek out their division managers to compete for some pretty sweet rewards.
Anita:
Plus, if you win enough division championships, you can qualify for the Peaks of Prestige Grandmaster Championship. It's held every three years.
Anita:
...Oh, don't get hung up on the details. It's what Mr. Furius told me, anyway.
Anita:
Well, congrats again on becoming Division Champion, Rover!