While paying off more of Ludger's debt, Lloyd, Genis, Raine, and Scott go through fractured dimensions of their own, Colette and Zelos explain their roles as Chosen, Regal and Presea talk about the Lezerano Company and Presea's sister Alicia. Ludger is able to hear what's on Muzet's mind thanks to a device from Fenmont, and Jude helped with a monster extermination job, with an interaction from a woman prompting him to try to see Celsius again. While making a stop at Nia Khera, Sectonia talks to Ludger about something.

Sectonia Chapter 3- The Price of Beauty

"Ludger. I'm so glad you're here." Sectonia said.

"Something on your mind?" Ludger asked.

"Kind of. You see, back when I was ruler of Floralia, I had a friend named Taranza. We used to be such good friends, but when the Dimension Mirror came along, I went off the deep end, and... Well, the rest you already know. I just wish there was some way I could get him to forgive me."

"If he really is your friend, he'll forgive you, I'm sure."

"Thanks, Ludger. You always know what to say." Sectonia said as she smiled. Of course, a call from Vera had to ruin the touching moment.

"DODA here. We've detected a new fractured dimension. The rift is in Nia Khera. Please head there at once."

"Hmm... Maybe a fractured dimension would help me get my mind off of it."

"I'll come too." David said. "You'll never know what to expect in a fractured dimension."

"Thank you. Shall we be off?"

Ludger nods at this and brings Jude along. Ludger had a feeling about this. When they got to the rift, Nia Khera was like a ghost town.

"I wonder what the divergence catalyst is going to be this time." David said.

"This place is a ghost town. It could be anything that shows up." Sectonia speculated.

The three of them check the tents, and sure enough, there's no onw in the whole village. "You were right, Sectonia. I don't see anyone in the entire village."

"We should check the Hollowmont." Ludger suggested.

"Good idea, Ludger. Hopefully, we'll find some answers there."

When the group got to the Hollowmont, they saw a slender insectoid creature reaching her hands to the sky as if in prayer.

"It's just like with Muzet..." David muttered. There was a dark aura emanating from the creature. "...Especially since she's the catalyst."

"UB-02 Beauty, also known as Pheramosa." Sectonia said. "She seeks cleanliness from everything, and prides herself in it."

Pheramosa stops and looks toward the group. "Who are you?"

"D-don't mind us. We're just a bunch of travelers." David spoke.

"How odd... I was sure that the village was deserted. Those humans were filthy creatures, always using everything around them for personal gain."

"Wait... So, you're the reason the village became a ghost town?"

"That's right. I have exterminated every last one of them, and now the spirits are free."

Sectonia couldn't believe what she's hearing. "You're insane. How can you say something like that so casually? Rieze Maxia was built on the foundation that humans and spirits can co-exist. What you did is nothing short of total annihilation!"

"Like you're one to talk, former queen of Floralia. You did not hesitate to lay waste to those that stood in your way on your little bid of conquest."

"Th-that's..."

"Sectonia, don't let her get to you!" Ludger said.

"He's right! She's just trying to rile you up!" David said. "You went on this journey to prove that you're better than that. You're not going to stop now, are you?"

Sectonia became more determined than ever now. "No... You're right. Sorry for worrying you." Sectonia then looks to Pheramosa. "It's true that I've done terrible things in the past, but now, I'm trying to atone for them. But you... You will never stop, will you? You're an Ultra Beast! All you know is destruction!"

Pheramosa muttered something as the aura grows. "How dare you... How dare you say such insolent things?!" Her skins turns completely black, finalizing her transformation into a catalyst.

David got his broadsword out. "Looks like it worked. She ended up the same way she wanted you to end up. Talk about the ultimate irony." The rest of the group got into battle stances as Pheramosa charged at them. "Be careful. She's very fast. Attacks that cover a wide area might have a better chance at hitting her."

As the group fought her, Sectonia took out a scepter and charged up her magic. "Come, o silver light...Angel Ring!" Pheramosa got hit by the attack as it contrasts, covering a wide area.

"Jude!" Sectonia calls.

"Got it!" Jude responds.

"Twin Lance!" The attack dealt Pheramosa two light-imbued attacks.

"It's time!" Jude said as he attacks his mystic arte. He deals her a flurry of punches and strikes. "My fists...will open...the heavens!" Jude charges in for a final punch. "Final Fury!"

Being a glass cannon, Pheramosa didn't take much hits before she went down. Ludger then proceeded to stab her in his chromatus.

Sectonia looked away from Pheramosa's fading form. "I have walked the path such vanity takes you, and now your destructive tendencies became your own undoing. I have finally decided...I will not run away from my past again." She says as the dimension breaks.

"Sectonia? Are you okay?" David asked in concern.

Sectonia nods. "Yeah. In fact, I'm feeling better than ever. The Pheramosa of that dimension was going that same path I was. But we all know I'm better than her. I don't have to be vain to think that."

Ludger nods. "Yeah. At least you weren't that way from the start."

"Thank you, Ludger, David. And tell everyone else that I thank them too. Because thanks to them, I've finally gained the courage to face my past. Look out, universe! Sectonia, the real Sectonia has finally returned!" Sectonia said with bravery.

"It's glad to have this side of you back, Sectonia." David said with a smile.

"Glad for it to BE back."

Character Episode End


After paying off another portion of the loan, Ludger gets a call from Vera that the final Waymarker has been located and he has to report to Spirius right away. When the group does, they run into Vera again.

"Well done. We've been expecting you." Vera tells the group.

"Even though we did most of the work." Scott mutters.

"Don't feel so down about it. Let's just go and grab that last Waymarker!" Sheena said.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple, Miss Fujibayashi. Something's preventing entry into fractured dimensions. We think it's the Spirit Maxwell. The CEO will bring you up to speed with all the details in his office."

"Maxwell?" Milla said.

"It would seem I need to have a chat with these Spirius overseers of yours." Gaius said.

"Alright then. Let's go." David said as they headed toward Bisley's office.

"Ah, just the people I need to see." Bisley said as the group walked in.

"I believe there's something you need to tell us. Something about Maxwell."

Bisley looked around and saw Gaius. "My goodness. No one said you brought a VIP."

"Please pardon the intrusion." Gaius said as the two walk towards each other. "I am the king of Rieze Maxia. Call me Gaius."

"It's a pleasure, Highness. Bisley Bakur, CEO of the Spirius Corporation." The two shook hands upon their greeting. "Are you certain you're safe here, what with the peace accord ratification ceremony fast approaching?"

"Fear not... He is under my protection." Muzet said.

"Who's she?"

"Oh, this is Muzet. She can be trusted." David said.

"Oh, I'm just a humble spirit. Don't mind me." Muzet said.

"You're a spirit. I see." Bisley said.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Sectonia asks.

Bisley nods and looks to Vera. "We've detected the fractured dimension that contains the final Waymarker of Canaan. Unfortunately, there's an obstacle somewhere within the dimensional abyss that's blocking all attempts at entry."

"Isn't there a way to circumvent it?"

Rideaux spoke up. "We tried to force our way through, but we were ever-so-rudely evicted...by the power of the Four Great Spirits."

"The Power of the Four?!" Jude exclaimed.

"That's got to be Milla! Chronos did mention that he hurled her into the dimensional abyss." David said.

Bisley took in this information. "Well coincidentally, Chronos placed her between us and the final Waymarker."

"But she has the Four Great Spirits! She should get herself out of there, no problem, right?"

Gaius spoke up. "Perhaps it's not a matter of wanting to return, but of being unable."

The group then looked to Milla, then Bisley spoke up. "Regardless, the final Waymarker is beyond our reach until something is done about Milla Maxwell. I would like to request the help of Rieze Maxia and Floralia with this situation."

"Very well." Gaius said. "We'll look for a solution on our end, too."

"The solution is clear, isn't it?" Milla asks as she runs off.

"H-hey! Milla!" David said, following her. Ludger, Sheena, Colette, Regal and Jude went after them.


When Milla and David were found, they were at the port.

"You get it now, don't you? How to bring Maxwell back." David nods sadly at that. "That's right. The one who's keeping your Milla from returning is me."

"Sorry..." Elle said, she knows that she was the one that brought Milla to this dimension in the first place. If it wasn't for that, the group would've gone after the final Waymarker by now.

"How do you know this?" Regal asked.

Milla explained. "Because two identical things can't coexist in the prime dimension. This world's not big enough for two Millas. Yours can't return until I'm gone."

"Milla... What are you saying?" Colette asked.

"The way to bring her back into her rightful dimension is obvious. You have to kill me."

David was shocked at this. "Milla... Don't you understand what you're asking us of?!"

"I do... But if you wish to obtain the final Waymarker, get the Universal Core key from Bisley, and save the universe...it's the only way." David couldn't believe what he's hearing. There's no way he can do this to a comrade!

"You really want to pressure the guy with this?" Alvin asked as he walked in.

"No point in hiding it. It's the truth."

"Yeah, well, it's gonna have to wait. Gaius and Sectonia just called. They got word that Exodus is planning a whopper of an attack."

"Don't tell me they're targeting the peace accord ceremony!" David exclaimed.

"They want our help 'nipping this thing in the bud', so to speak. What do you say?"

"I'm in. There's no way I'm letting this slide. Right, Milla?"

"Wait, you want me to come, too?" Milla asks.

"Of course! We're a team, after all."

"Okay. I'll go with you." Milla looked away, making sure no one hears her. "It would hurt less if they just didn't care..."

"Let's hurry, then." Alvin said. "Gaius and Sectonia are already on their way to where they're holding the ceremony in Marksburg."

"Still, do you think it's true? About no two of the same thing existing in the prime dimension?" David asked.

"I'm not sure. There's no definitive proof yet." Regal said. "What happened in the Epsilla Ruins?"

Elle spoke up. "Well, Rollo met another Rollo, and the Rollo with the weird voice disappeared. It was like...our Rollo just replaced him."

"I see."

David spoke up. "The other Milla entered the prime dimension while this world's Milla was trapped in the dimensional abyss."

Alvin spoke up. "So she could be the cork in the bottle that's stopping our Milla from getting back in. It all adds up."

"It all comes together! Sorry... couldn't help it."

"So if we return the fractured Milla to her fractured dimension..." Jude starts before he was cut off.

"It won't work, because we already destroyed her dimension, remember?" Colette asked.

"She's right." David said sadly. "And besides, once we enter a fractured dimension, we can't go back until we destroy it. Why...? Why does it have to be like this?"


The group made it to Marksburg and met up with Gaius and Sectonia.

"You're here." Gaius said.

"What's happening?" Sheena asked.

Sectonia spoke up. "Based on the documents we have obtained, we're rounding up Exodus agents that slipped into the city. Quietly, of course."

Alvin spoke up. "Yeah. It would be bad news if the public found out."

"If people found out, you can just erase them from history. That's your specialty, right?" Milla asked.

"Milla, what are you trying to say now?" David asked. "It just doesn't work that way!"

"He's right." Gaius said. "Our world's Milla wouldn't act disagreeably towards those who mean her no harm."

"What about the ceremony?" David asks Sectonia.

Sectonia tells the group. "We've captured most of the Exodus agents in the city. Now we just need to guard against attacks from without."

"I can't believe this! They totally used me!" Said a man as he stepped on Rollo's tail, causing him to screech. "Oh, sorry about that, kitty!"

"Marcus?" Alvin asked.

Marcus looked up and recognized Alvin. "Huh?! A-Alvin?!" Marcus then ran.

"Wait, hold up!"

"He a friend of yours, Alvin?" Sheena asked.

"Yeah, back when I was still in Exodus."

"Don't worry, you two. We got him." Colette said. "You just keep an eye out for suspicious types at the city gate." The group went after Marcus.

"One last thing." Gaius said, stopping Milla. "If the Milla we know had to die to fulfill her duty, you should know she wouldn't hesitate for a moment."

"So what?" Milla asked. "I don't even know what my duty is anymore."


When the group caught up with Marcus, Alvin decides to walk up to him.

"Marcus, buddy. Thought I told you to ditch Exodus and fly right." Alvin told him.

"I... I'm sorry." Marcus said shaken.

"So you still roll with those guys?"

"Maybe..."

David gave a flat look. "Not intimidating at all."

"In what world is this guy a terrorist?" Milla asks.

"Don't jinx it, Milla."

"Don't worry, he's harmless." Alvin tells the group. "He just hangs out with the wrong crowd, that's all. Whenever the plan calls for a disposable stooge, he's their guy."

Marcus sighed. "You're right... I got played, as usual."

"Care to elaborate?" Regal asked.

"Well... I heard a transmission from the main group. The Exodus guys in town are for show. The real action's out there." Marcus points to a ship. "The E.S.S. Pelune. That's where Chancellor Marcia is."

David is understandably mad at Marcus. "You're trying to assassinate the Chancellor of Elympios?! This is serious! We need to tell Sectonia and Gaius about this!"

"It's too late. Exodus agents are onboard posing as crewmembers. They should've struck by now."

Alvin couldn't believe it. "You dumbasses! Chancellor Marcia is a moderate! She opposed the Otherworld Reactor Plan! Meanwhile, lots of other politicians are yelling for Elympios to put the screws to Rieze Maxia, and possibly Floralia. If you guys take out the chancellor, the peace process dies with her."

"I didn't make that plan. Look, there's no way to save her now."

"Exodus has definitely got the upper hand here." Milla thought.

"Not for long." Jude said. "They're not wasting the time Milla gave us." Jude takes out his GHS and sends a text. "I've brought Gaius and Sectonia up to speed. Alright! It's time to board this ship!"

"We're coming, too!" David said.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Positive! Right, Ludger?" Ludger nods at this, and Jude smiles.

"It looks like we've got some new do-gooders in town."

"We...actually got that from you, Jude." Ludger said.

"That's right. You were the first friend we've made since our journey began. You're bound to rub off on us." David said.

(Bonus Scene: Alvin)

"But, you know..." Alvin said. "This won't fix all the problems between Rieze Maxia and Elympios. Not by a long shot. I mean, if we stuck our heads in the sand on this, nobody would be the wiser."

"Don't be ridiculous, Alvin." David said.

"I'm not, but you can't blame a guy for cutting his losses, right?"

"Alvin... You're really willing to sacrifice the Chancellor just to save your own skin?"

"Of course not. I'm not that kind of guy anymore." Alvin then smacked his own cheeks. "Alright, Alvin, put on your big-boy pants."

(Bonus Scene End)

"Marcus, get us a barge, man. Hop to it."

Marcus was shocked at this. "What?! Why me?!"

"And thanks for agreeing to be our decoy while we board the Pelune."

"Decoy?! But I didn't agree to nothing!"

"Well, if you're going to be like that, might as well hand you to the cops."

"Wait... Okay, okay. I'll do it."

"Attaboy. Way to be a team player." Alvin pats him on the back, and Marcus slumps on the ground.

"Man, you treat me worse than Exodus does, and those guys are a bunch of terrorists!"

"You need better friends, man." David told Marcus. "If you took Alvin's advice in the first place, this wouldn't have happened."


Thanks to Marcus, the group got aboard the Pelune, hiding behind crates as Exodus members guard the door.

"You know what to do, Marcus." David said.

Marcus nods and walks over to the guards. "I'm Marcus with infiltration. I need to talk to the main squad."

The guards got into defensive stances and one of them spoke. "Freeze! You're in violation of mission protocols!"

"Wait! Come on, you guys. Just hear me out!"

The female guard spoke. "Save it for the holding cell."

"This is bad." Alvin said, looking at the scene. "I thought for sure they'd take the bait."

"In that case." David said, loading his pistols. "Time for a change of plans!" David opens fire on the guards, then swings his broadsword at the big guard.

"This one over here's mine!" Milla said, confronting the female guard.

"Like hell!" The female guard said, fighting off Milla then pointing a gun at her. "Now die!" She was about to shoot before David knocked her out.

"Milla, seriously..." David said as he puts his weapons back. "There's a difference between a rescue mission and a suicide mission."

"So what if I die?" Milla asks. "Is that what you want?"

"That's exactly what I was going to ask you."

Milla looked down before looking to Marcus. "Where's the chancellor?"

"Oh... I know that." Marcus said. "She's locked in the central hall with her aides."

David nods. "Thank you. But, you should quit the bad-guy act. it doesn't suit you."

"Maybe you're right."


As the group travel the Pelune, they fought wave upon wave of Exodus members, discovering that Jude's father was a member of Elympios, and gave up that life when he was born. When they reached the central hall where Marcia was held, guess who they run into.

"Don't come any closer!" Marcia exclaimed as he was held by Rideaux.

"No one gave you the floor, Madame Chancellor." Rideaux said.

"Rideaux..." David said with venom in his voice. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Aww, now don't give me that look." He said as he kicked a man tied to a chair. "I'm here to help you solve your Maxwell problem." He then transforms using the chromatus.

"Rideaux has a chromatus too?!"

Rideaux dashes in super fast speed towards the group and starts attacking them.

"Just are you trying to say?!"

"Spirius knows the calculatrics arte for summoning Maxwell."

Rideaux blocks David's attack. "Yeah right, Rideaux. And I'm the King of Rieze Maxia."

Rideaux continues to fight off the group. "Would you still think I was bluffing if I said Spirius was founded by Kresnik, the first human ever to summon Maxwell? If only the arte wasn't so messy. First of all, you need to have a living circuit." Rideaux restrained the group except Ludger and Milla to pillars being held by glyphs. "And the secret ingredient is..." The area below Milla starts to glow. "...a living sacrifice." The floor collapses and Ludger uses the chromatus to hold him in place as he grabs a falling Milla.

"Ludger! Milla!" Elle exclaimed in fright.

"Damn you!" Jude yelled.

"Rideaux, when I get out of this, you are a dead man!" David said in rage.

"There is no need to feign anger, Jude Mathis and David Ishihara." Rideaux said. "You miss Maxwell, don't you, Jude? Your beloved wandering spirit."

Elle took Milla's sword and continously strikes Rideaux with no damage being done. "Take this! And that! Make this stop!"

"I see you're quite a hit with the kids, phony."

"I don't care if she's a phony! Milla...is Milla!"

"Touching, but afraid not." Rideaux said, kicking Elle.

"Elle!" Milla exclaimed.

No matter how much he wants to save Elle, Ludger can't bring himself to let go of Milla.

Milla begged Ludger. "Just let me go! He'll kill Elle!"

"Don't give up, Milla! No matter what!" Elle said on the ground.

"That's rich. You're the one that needs to give up!" Rideaux said.

(Bonus Scene: Milla)

Ludger begged Milla. "You can't give up! Elle needs you!"

"I'm sorry..." Milla said weakly. "I'm gonna have to leave the rest to you." She then mouths a few words to Ludger before she forces his grip off her.

(Bonus Scene End)

"Milla!" David screamed as she fell into the abyss.

"Please!" Milla tells Ludger. "Look after Elle!"

{Cue Song: Splendid Dance Performance of a Spirit- Tales of Xillia 2}

In the abyss, Milla saw Milla Maxwell ascend and nod. "I knew that...I wouldn't like you."

The glyphs break off and a blue pillar of light shoots out where Milla fell. When it fades, a woman lands gracefully. She looks like Milla, but she has a white and blue outfit. Even more so was the Four Great Spirits appearing behind her.

David looked on in amazement. "So this...is Milla Maxwell."

Sheena was amazed as well. "She even has her own Four Great Spirits as well! I like her already!"

Rideaux got back up from the force of the pillar. "How nice of you to join us, Milla Maxwell!"

Milla walks up to Elle. "May I borrow that sword from you?"

Elle holds up the other Milla's sword. "This is the other Milla's sword. Knock Rideaux down a peg for her!"

Milla smiles at Elle's enthusiasm as she takes the sword. "I will." She walks back to the group and goes to battle stance with them. "How nice of you to summon me here."

Rideaux dodges the attacks of the Four Great Spirits. "So that's how it is. Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the abyss!" Rideaux charges at the party, who actually work well with Milla's Four Great Spirits, especially since he's weak to pretty much everything.

"Sorry you have to fight the minute you wake up, Milla." David said, deflecting Rideaux's cohorts.

"It's okay. I am well aware of the situation you're all in. So I will do my part to help." Milla tells the group.

"My humble thanks, Maxwell." Regal said.

After a while of fighting, David fights Rideaux.

"That's enough, you monster!" David said as he strikes. "You've given Ludger that hefty loan, forced him to work for Spirius, tried to turn him against Julius...and now, because of you, Millia is dead!" David goes into Over Limit. "This time... This time you're going to pay!"

"An Over Limit?" Colette asked.

"No way..." Alvin asked. "Are we about to see his own mystic arte right now?"

"This is the end!" David twirls his blade to create a tornado, then shoots Rideaux to bounce him upward. "My conviction carries me forward. My hopes form the blade that cut me the path." David jumps where he's above the tornado, and forms a giant sword of ice. "Can you handle this?" David rushes in and Rideaux sticks to the tip of the blade. "Arctic Mayhem!"

After taking the full force of the attack, Rideaux is out of his chromatus and stands up weakly. "Well, aren't you a strong one, Milla Maxwell. I admit, I'm rather impressed. I hope you'll go after the Waymarker with a familiar sense of fervor." Rideaux said as he backs away.

"Just do us a favor and slither on back to hell, coward!" David said angrily.

"Spare me your threats."

"Don't you lecture me." Milla said. Rideaux bows and activates a smoke bomb, making his escape.

"Nuts. He got away!" David said.

Chancellor Marcia walks up to the group. "You have my thanks. You're here from Spirius, right?"

Ludger nods and tries to shake his hand, but is hesitant to because he couldn't save Milla.

"It's not your fault, Ludger." Elle said. "It's because of Rideaux...that Milla's gone..."


When the group got back to Marksburg the rest of the group were joyous.

"It's really you..." Gaius muttered upon seeing Milla.

"Milla!" Muzet said, embracing her. "I searched everywhere for you!"

"Sorry, Muzet." Milla said. "I didn't mean to worry you. Any of you."

"Aw, I wasn't worried!" Leia said.

"We knew you'd be okay." Elize said.

"It's good to see you again." Rowen said with a smile. Gaius nods in acknowledgement.

"But... we had to lose...the other Milla." David muttered sadly. Elle felt bad for David, knowing he doesn't like seeing his friends get hurt, let alone die.

"It was a brave thing she did." Chancellor Marcia said. "Because of her and her selflessness, we can proceed with ratifying the peace accord."

(Bonus Scene: Rowen, Gaius, and Sectonia)

Marcia walks up to the three and bows. "King Gaius. Queen Sectonia. Prime Minister Rowen. For foiling this assassination attempt, you have my most sincere thanks."

"You'd have done the same." Gaius tells her.

Marcia looks to Rowen, who smiles. "Given what's occurred, perhaps you'd like to sign the treaty here and now? Harmony between Rieze Maxia, Elympios, and Floralia would please me very much."

"Here on the ship?" Gaius asked.

"We've heard that many high-ranking Elympion officials stand against the treaty." Sectonia said.

"Don't you worry." Marcia said. "We'll employ this attack as our chance to press the offensive against them. No doubt many of them have ties to Exodus. And if we can't find proof, we'll make some up.

"Figuratively speaking, of course."

"Didn't hear what? I was just thinking aloud. But whatever you choose to do with that tidbit is up to you."

"You're certain, Madam?" Rowen asks.

"I pay my debts in full, Prime Minister. And besides... If I were too much of a do-gooder, you wouldn't trust me."

Sectonia giggles at that. "Are we really that easy to read?"

Marcia walks up to Gaius. "I so look forward to dancing the diplomacy two-step with you, King Gaius."

Marcia and Gaius shook on it, and along with Sectonia gave their signatures.

"By your signatures, the treaty is ratified." Rowen said.

"Very good. We've crossed the first bridge, at least." Gaius said.

"A bridge of mere paper and ink." Marcia said.

Sectonia spoke up. "The gap between this deed and the will of the people is not easily traversed."

"A difficult road still awaits us." Gaius said.

"Well, it's as the saying goes." David said.

Elle finishes for him. "Every journey begins with the first step!"

"Well, that's a threadbare cliche." Gaius said. "However, it does ring true at the moment."

Rowen nods to this. "Indeed. If we keep setting one foot before the other, we can reach the ends of the earth."

(Bonus Scene End)

Marcia looks to Ludger and the others that were on the Pelune. "You were all a great help, as well. It's not much, but consider this a small token of my thanks." She said giving the group a snowflake necklace. "I believe this belongs to the boy with the big sword."

David recognizes the necklace. "Of course. This is my necklace. I guess it came off when I was fighting Rideaux."

"Is this necklace special to you?" Elle asked.

"Yes. It's a memento of my family. This is all I have left of them."

"I'm... I'm so sorry. I was so focused on my Milla, I didn't realize..."

"You don't need to apologize, Elle. She was a dear friend to you."

"But... If I hadn't pulled her from the fractured dimension, this wouldn't have happened. Even though Rideaux killed her, it's my fault she's gone. So, I'll keep going. That's what she would have wanted."

Milla spoke up. "Yes, especially since the battle for the Universal Core draws near. We must make haste to Canaan. The soul-purification process has reached its limit. In the abyss, I saw it with my own eyes. There are too many fractured dimensions."

Muzet spoke up. "Canaan is the only realm across all dimensions where the reincarnation process occurs. Thus, it stands to reason that the impurity which must be cleansed from all those countless dimensions must be flowing into Canaan."

Ramona spoke up. "So, if we don't eradicate those dimensions, the soul-purification process will break down."

Sectonia asked something. "So, the fractured dimensions are not only dispersing soul energy, but it's also concentrating this impurity?"

"Wonderful." Scott comments. "Sounds like either one of them is enough to destroy the universe on its own."

"What happens if soul-purification breaks down?" Leia asked.

Milla spoke to the group. "The resulting poisonous miasma will probably overflow."

"Couldn't Origin just step in and lend a hand, or something?" Zelos asked.

"Only if the people of this world are worth saving." David said. "Which I'm certain is the whole point of this trial."

"So that's how it is." Sectonia said. "I guess the only option now is to reach Canaan and pass the Great Spirit's trial for the sake of the world's people."

"Then the wish we make is clear. 'Destroy the fractured dimensions...so this one may live'."

Ludger got a call from Vera. "We have detected that Maxwell is no longer blocking our passage."

"It wasn't easy. We had a run-in with Rideaux."

"Did something happen with Director Rideaux?"

David wished to tell Vera the truth of what Rideaux did, but knows that nothing good would come of it. "Nothing too major. Anyway, this means we can get the last Waymarker now, right?"

"Correct. However, right now, the dimensional abyss is highly unstable. It will be some time before you can enter the rift with any degree of safety. We'll contact you once we've made our preparations."

"Understood." David said as Vera hung up.

"It's my fault." Milla said. "I unfortunately caused it when I harnessed mana out of the schism to take on a physical body."

"It couldn't be helped." Muzet said. "The Temporal Crossroads were gone."

"It's taboo nonetheless. I'm using mana meant to preserve our world, and the entire universe, to maintain my physical form."

"Then...that means..." Scott mutters.

"Unfortunately so, Scott. I can only remain in the living realm for a finite amount of time."

Jude was shocked to hear this, especially since he's seeing her again now.

"We understand." David said. "Hopefully, you can maintain your form long enough for this Universal Core business to be settled."

"I'm counting on it." Milla said. "I'll help in any way I can."


A/N: Inspired by Jexi the Hunter and Hope the Victor