As the group were about to leave Drellin, they checked on Elle.

"Elle..." Ramona said. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine..." Elle said in a low tone. "Nothing matters anymore anyway..."

David then turns to Ludger. "How's the burn on your left hand?"

Ludger told David. "It's Elle we should be worrying about."

"I understand exactly how Elle feels." Jude said. "And I'm sure Luffy of the Straw Hat Pirates does, too. We've been there ourselves."

"Luffy, I can understand." David said. "But you?"

"Jude..." Rowen said. "Would you be talking about when Milla died on the Zenethra?"

Jude nods. "Yeah. Everything I've done have been rendered meaningless. And convinced of that, I began lashing out at the people who were important to me. Leia was worried sick and trying to take care of me, and I threw the food she made for me against the wall."

"I had no idea..." Milla said.

"I figured Leia wouldn't say anything. I was awful to her. But she persisted in trying to take care of me, and that's the only reason I recovered at all. So please, keep looking after Elle. Do everything you can."

Ludger nods. "Okay."

As the group pay off another portion of the loan, Alvin goes to a fractured dimension where he's engaged to Presa and he fights himself, and Milla finds out from a flamboyant Aska that a woman by Milla Kresnik betrayed the old Maxwell.

When another portion has been payed, Ludger gets another call from Vera.

"Mr. Kresnik, could you verify your current whereabouts? As I mentioned in my text, we would like you to bring the Waymarker to Rieze Harbor in Marksburg at your earliest possible convenience."

"Sorry about that." David said for Ludger. "We were just caught up in something. We're on our way right now."

"President Bakur is heading there as well. He will provide you with further instructions. Good luck." The call ends at that.

The group made it to Marksburg, were Elle was sitting at the docks. Colette, Leia, and Elize check up on her.

"Rowen and the others filled us in on what happened." Genis said.

"I'd tell you to cheer up, but I'm guessing that dog won't hunt right now, will it?" Zelos asked. Ludger shakes his head, and gets another text. Scott decides to read it for him.

"'We have confirmed your arrival. Arrange the Waymarkers of Canaan into a five-pointed star.'" Ludger and Scott saw someone behind a pillar. "It just creeps me out how they always know where we are."

David thought. "Perhaps if we arrange the Waymarkers, they'll form a map to the Land of Canaan."

Elle looked down. "But...when Daddy gathered them, Canaan never appeared..."

"Remember, your father is an alternate version of Ludger. Maybe things will be different this time."

Elle put up a smile. "I will never understand how you can be so optimistic, even after everything you've gone through."

Rowen speaks up. "Sometimes, people use that kind of optimism to hide the pain they truly feel. David is just as shaken up about the events as anyone else."

"Nothing seems to get by you, Rowen." David said. "Alright. Let's arrange them into a star." Zelos, Scott, Sectonia, Raine and Elle got into their positions.

"Maxwell's Temporal Blade." Zelos said, setting the Waymarker down.

Scott went next. "Long Dau's Dust."

Then Sectonia. "Seafall Phantom's Eye."

Then Raine. "Ark Sentinel's Heart."

Finally, Elle, who set it hesitantly. "Ultimate...Chromatus Bearer." The Waymarkers start to gather together. "Ludger? You and Daddy are like the same person, right? Do you not want me because I'm a fake Elle, just like Daddy didn't want me?"

(Bonus Scene: Raine)

"How can you think that, Elle? Look, I used to have the same feelings that you did. But after I found out the truth, I realized that they were just as hurt about the events as I was."

"Did...your family not want you, either?"

"Of course they do. In fact, my mother made dolls of me and Genis just to believe that we're still with her."

"That sounds...kind of creepy."

"It does, but when you think about it, it shows that she really does care about us."

(Bonus Scene End)

"Hmm?" Lloyd said. "Guys, look!" The group looked to the sky. They saw a small moon crash into a big one and a tear opens, like a sort of eye.

"That's the Land of Canaan?" Ramona asked.

"Damn you, Origin... I can't believe that you hid it there!" Milla mutters. The tear closes and forms a dark sphere in the sky.

"So... Canaan has finally revealed itself." Regal said.

"Who would've thought that the Waymarkers were the means to summon Canaan?" Gaius asked.

"We know where it is now." Colette said. "Now we just need to find a way there."

"We might be able to get there if we had an airship." David said, how he really wished he had a ship like the Dimensional Heroes and the Shining Hope Squad right now.

"As much as I appreciate your efforts, merely approaching will not grant you access." Said a familiar voice, revealing it to be Chronos holding Julius.

"Chronos!" Zelos said, recognizing him.

"So that's the Spirit Chronos." Sheena said.

"Great Spirit, young summoner." Chronos corrected her. "I have never imagined you'd get all the Waymarkers. I wasted too much time dealing with the seeker." Chronos tossed Julius to the ground.

Julius spoke weakly. "Just give up, Ludger. You can't beat him." Julius reaches for his watch, but Chronos steps on his hand.

"You should heed your own advice, human, lest you wish to become a divergence catalyst."

"So it's true..." David mumbled. "All those catalysts we've seen...you never created them, did you?"

"Your observation is also quite dangerous, leader of the Brave Adventurers."

"Even Chronos goes with that name..."

"All the same, you are correct. All I did was grant the power of the chromatus to the scions of Kresnik. Catalysts are the result of those Kresniks surrendering to their desires and abusing their power. Where did you know about that?"

"One of the catalysts hinted that himself. He said, and I quote: 'All power comes at a price to pay.' Besides, you gave the Kresniks the power of the chromatus in the first place, which makes this whole fractured dimension thing partially your fault. I suggest you keep that in mind before you start playing coy."

"You picked a fine time to develop some backbone, young human. However, bravery can only get you so far."

Julius was writhing in pain from Chronos standing on him. "Ludger! Run!"

"No way!" Lloyd said. "We have to save Julius!" Ludger charged at Chronos without transforming, but Chronos knocks him away easily. "This is bad... He can't use the chromatus without risking Elle..."

Julius gets in front of Ludger after being freed. "You have to stop using the chromatus!"

"Stubborn creatures, to the end." Chronos says as Julius gets into his own chromatus, but Chronos knocks him away before summoning bits. "And foul beyond reckoning!" Chronos sends the bits on the group, but are all encased except for Ludger, Milla, Gaius, Muzet, David, Sectonia, Ramona, and Sheena.

"Those are shield artes!" Muzet exclaimed.

"Too scared to handle all of us?" Ramona asked.

"Were you the only ones who dodged them?" Chronos asked as the bits come back to him. "How pathetic."

(Bonus Scene: Milla, Sectonia, and Ramona)

The three strike Chronos, but are deflected by his bits.

"That's quite enough. Dispel the arte!" Ramona demanded. "We've already gathered the Waymarkers! Tell us how to enter Canaan!"

"For the sake of mankind?" Chronos asked.

"No, for man and spirit alike!" Milla declared.

"That's what you said when you made the schism. How many times must you repeat the same mistakes?"

"We've all made mistakes." Sectonia said. "However, we're willing to atone for them, even if it takes us the rest of time!" The clash ends with all parties being pushed back.

"You leave me no choice, but to hurl you all headlong into the abyss!"

(Bonus Scene transition to Muzet, David and Sheena)

Muzet takes to the sky, and looks to the group down below. (This might graze the slowpokes. I'll just make sure to apologize later!) Muzet gathers a ball of dark energy. "Take this!" Muzet hurls the sphere. The group managed to get out of range, but Chronos survived unscathed.

Chronos took the full force of the attack. "Maxwell's shoddy creation is trying to be clever!"

Sheena looks to Muzet. "Probably would've been more effective if she didn't shout that she was attacking."

"Like we have any room to talk, Sheena." David commented.

Muzet descends to rejoin the group. "Well, well... Are you a durable one?" (How could he have survived that?!)

Chronos lets out some bits. "It's time you've all learned, some things in this universe are truly indestructible!"

The group battle Chronos, who has no weaknesses and is every bit the annoyance he was last time.

"Know that there is one thing you'll never break." Gaius said.

"Our will!" David said, linking with Gaius.

"Such fleeting emotions." Chronos said.

"You don't get it, do you?" Muzet asked, linking with Ramona.

"That emotion is what makes us stronger!" Sectonia said, linking with Sheena.

"Ramona!" Muzet called.

"Got it!" Ramona responds.

A circle appears below them and a dragon-like essence circles around it as the two leap in the air and swing down. "Wyrm Wrath!" Ramona links with David to pull of another Linked Arte where David encases Ramona's hammer in ice as swings it down. "Frozen Hammer!"

Ramona takes this moment to activate her own Mystic Arte. "Curtain call! My hammer cries out." Ramona spins while swinging her hammer, she then jumps into the air where her hammer grows in size. "You'll regret being in the end of this!" Ramona then swings it down. "Tyrant Hammer!"

When Chronos' health is about halfway through, Chronos starts preparing something.

"You are about to learn a fatal lesson about what kind of spirit I am." He fires bits at the group, which David deflects with his guns.

"You'll find we know..." David starts.

Ramona deflects another bit. "More than you think!"

Milla, Gaius, and Sectonia then went to pierce Chronos, who leans forward.

"Pay close attention. You don't want to miss this." Chronos said as clocks appear around him and his wounds disappearing.

"Is he regenerating himself?" Sectonia asked.

"His wounds heal so quickly." Milla said.

"Why bother with healing when you can reverse time itself?" Chronos asked.

"Now that's just not fair!" Sheena said.

"But...we can use this to our advantage." David said.

"Yes." Ramona said. "Because now we know how he survives our attacks."

"And we now know that he's nothing more than a huge prick."

"You think knowing the secret of my power will work?" Chronos asks. "Then I invite you to overcome me, if you can."

A magic circle appears underneath David. "O merciless queen of ice, lay my enemies in eternal slumber under your silver embrace...Absolute!" A freezing circle appears below Chronos, who is frozen solid momentarily until the ice shatters.

Ludger activates his chromatus when he sees Chronos about to rewind time again, even though he knows it puts Elle at risk, and activates his mystic arte again. Projectiles appear behind Ludger, who stands across from Chronos. Ludger fires all of the projectiles at Chronos, one at a time. Afterward, Ludger hurls his lance at the opponent, lunges toward him, catches the lance, and runs Chronos through. Ludger then delivers the final blow by lunging forward and piercing Chronos with his lance. "Form Destroyer!"

Chronos goes back up in the air again. "You are resolute. But I suppose you wouldn't have summoned Canaan were you weaker of will." Chronos uses his trick again.

"Damn it..." David mutters. "He's reversing time again!"

"This is getting us nowhere!" Sectonia exclaimed.

"Time is infinite, but yours is at an end." Chronos said simply. He was about to charge at Ludger.

"Stop!" Elle yells, getting in front of the group.

"What's this? The arte faded already? Step aside."

"No, I won't!"

"So be it."

Chronos was about to attack when Bisley got in front of Elle. "You only get one life. Don't waste it."

"Bisley..." David muttered. "You're here."

"Ah..." Chronos stops. "Bisley Bakur."

"There's a secret to entering Canaan and I possess it!" Bisley said. Bisley mutters a few words, but Elle understands what he says. "...correct?"

"You presume much."

"I should tell you, we acquired the final Waymarker of Canaan, the ultimate chromatus bearer, in a fractured dimension. So in this world, it still very much exists." Bisley said as an armor appears around him for a moment.

"Bisley has a chromatus, too?!" Scott asks.

"I knew it..." David mutters.

"Knew what?" Bisley asks. "That I really am Ludger and Julius' father? I can understand why even after connecting all the dots, you're still surprised about it." Bisley points to Ludger while still looking at Chronos. "Maybe you can beat the Key of Kresnik alone, but can you handle the both of us? I don't think you can, seeing as though you can't even defeat his cohorts."

"Bisley, what are you trying to say?"

"I confess." Chronos said. "A battle such as that would be challenging." Chronos then goes to Ludger and kicks him down. "One-on-one is better!"

"I agree!" Julius said as he activates his chromatus and falls into a space with Chronos via his magic.

"Julius!" David calls out. "Damn it... They're gone..."

"So little power left, and he risks it all." Bisley mutters.

"Bisley... Is it true...? Do you really know the way to Canaan?" David knows that Bisley is not the type to lie, so the answer is obvious.

"Of course."

Elle then looks to David. "David?"

"Hmm?" David looks to Elle.

"I... I need to think about this... If I really want to go..."

David can see it in Elle's eyes. The loss of the other Milla, the loss of her father, and now she's at risk of becoming a divergence catalyst. He also knows that she heard Bisley say something when he said he knew the way to Canaan. "I understand... We still need to eliminate the fractured dimensions, so... Take some time to think about it, and let us know soon. After all, we made a promise to go together."

Elle nods, and gives the watch to Ludger. "I don't need it anymore. Everyone... Thanks for everything up until now." Elle said as she runs off.

"The girl's right about one thing, Ludger." Bisley said. "You don't need the chromatus anymore."

"Expended his use, has he?" David asks.

"No. He has simply fulfilled his duty to my full satisfaction. Our family spent eons dreaming of this day. And now, thanks to him, and you all, it's finally arrived." Bisley then extends his hand. "Ludger, David, I want you two to know that I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks, but... I'm more worried about Elle, and...part of me doesn't feel right to leave things like this."

"You really are a hero, through and through, are you? However, if Ludger continues using the chromatus, she'll transform into a divergence catalyst. I hope you realize that. Don't you worry about a thing. One of the staff will keep an eye on her. Like she said, she needs some time to consider if she really wants to go to Canaan. And David, don't think I've forgotten our deal." Bisley tosses David the white key. "The key to the Universal Core is now yours to do as you wish. For you, that makes two."

"Speaking of which, how do we enter Canaan?"

"This will be explained back in HQ. No need to feel anxious. Canaan's not going anywhere. I would never let it."

"Very well."

When the group leave Marksburg, Elle walks up to Bisley.

"Look who's returned." Bisley said, sensing Elle. "Go ahead. Tell me what it is you want."

"Don't make Ludger and the others disappear." Elle said. "Please."

"That's one wish I cannot grant. Not without your help. You'll need to obey my orders, right down to the letter. What say you?"

"I'll do it."

"Then we have a deal."

"Ludger... Everyone... I'm sorry, but I'm doing the right thing. After all, I'm just a fake..."

When the group got in front of Spirius, they saw Nova with President Verland.

"You want us to just forget about his debt?" Verland asks. "What kind of sob story did he feed you, anyway?"

"Mr. President! Something really is wrong with Ludger!" Nova says in concern.

"Of course. Something is always wrong with people who need that kind of money. The guy even has a terrorist in his family."

"That's not true! Ludger and Julius are-"

"If you can't do your job, then I'd be happy to accept your resignation. There's no room for bleeding hearts in the banking business, my dear." Mr. Verland walks away, leaving Nova sad.

Ludger walks up to Nova. "Thanks for trying to help. And...sorry."

Nova looks to the group. "It's okay. It just burns me up to hear him talk about you and Julius that way."

"Yeah..." David mutters. "Trust me. I would feel the exact same way you would. How about we pay you another huge portion of the loan as thanks?" David knows they'll have to wait until Elle comes back, anyway.

"Thanks...and sorry." Nova said, smiling at David. "You always know how to make a girl feel better."

"He's had practice." Sectonia said, remembering how he consoled her about her problems.

A/N: Well, that was a big twist. Anyway, let me know in the reviews who Ludger should face off with next chapter. Jude, Milla, David, or Sectonia?

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