It took the combined effort of Vyse, Karol, Don, Khazim, Domingo, Robinson, Kirala and Izmael to get everything that Ilchymis wanted. "I apologize for the delay, but I couldn't leave my life's work behind."
Kirala and Khazim didn't seem to mind, "Hey you were great Khazim. Maybe you'd like to do a Mikoshi carrying with me one of these days. We might even have enough muscle to two man it!"
"I suppose… whatever a Mikoshi is."
Urala and Polly both made plenty of food for the guys who worked. Casey however slapped Raven's hand before he could grab any. "Hey, what was that for?"
"You and the brooder on the bridge didn't help so you get nothing."
Pinta was sitting nearby, "If he really wants to help, than he can help me, Marco, Robinson and Domingo in securing all hatches before we dive into the deep sky."
The Delphinus was diving slowly, with the crew ensuring everything was set as they approached an opening from the east. Judith donned her full set of armor as she and Ba'ul guided the Delphinus through the cragged opening into the hollows of Valua.
Even before they entered the passage the deep skies were rather dark below the cloud cover. Entering the cavern only made it feel more like they had traversed to an even stranger world.
The Delphinus' light accidently caused a colony of rabbats to scatter delaying them for just a moment. Estelle's new blastia started to pulsate and glow the further they traveled through the tunnel. The pulses were getting faster as the glowing started to get brighter. Rita quickly tried to adjust the formula for the blastia and Ilchymis was on standby just in case Estelle started to feel worse.
There were plenty of ancient looking creatures that have remained undisturbed since the Great Seal was placed. Ba'ul seemed to be getting more restless as the tunnel they were flying through opened to a massive opening.
Ba'ul and Judith looked up and the lights followed to find a massive yellow limb hanging. "Is that…?"
"That is Yeligar, the Yellow Gigas." Yeligar was similar to a jellyfish with the way the limbs hung down from its body, though one of these limbs had a lens that could very well be its head. "Silvite Mages managed to put him to sleep. Then they sealed him in here. Yeligar is extremely powerful, so it's best that we don't wake him." Which was apparent as even so the creatures of the tunnel seem to avoid it. Fina looked to Yeligar with some hint of fear in her eyes, "The Crystal is in Yeligar's possession. We have to find a way to remove it without waking him."
Ba'ul suddenly started to jerk away from Yeligar while at the same time Estelle collapsed and her blastia started glow intensely and she was in pain. "Estelle!"
Rita and Ilchymis did their best to help her, however Estelle was looking to Yeligar, "It's awakening… I'm sorry…"
Yeligar's limbs started moving as the Gigas pulled itself off the seal its back was attached to. It's single green eye lite up as it turned to look at the Delphinus. Soon sparks of electricity started to jump around it. The creatures of the cavern quickly flew through the tunnel as Ba'ul even retreated back.
Vyse didn't need any more convincing about the danger that was coming, "Engines, full reverse!" The Delphinus quickly pulled away from Yeligar as the energy became blinding to look at.
With a mighty roar the energy around Yeligar started to surge into a blinding light before that energy was focused on the Great Seal above it. In seconds the seal started to crack before it was completely blow away by the Gigas in a single blast.
Karol was freaking out, "This is bad! This is really bad!"
Rita was almost speechless, "He made breaking the seal look easy. What kind of power does this Gigas have?"
"It looks like we're going to have to fight him to get the Crystal. Battlestations! Let's take that thing down!"
Ba'ul and Judith both returned to the interior of the Delphinus before they chased after Yeligar in the open skies of the Valuan valley range.
Fina looked back to Estelle, "Yeligar… Ancient records say its thunder tore open the skies themselves, and its roar shook the ground."
Enrique helped Estelle to her feet, "And now that it sees us as a threat, it'll focus that power."
"Looks like Judith gets her wish about destroying all of the Gigas."
Rita was watching Yeligar's action in relation to Estelle's blastia. "Estelle, I know this might be too much, but see if you can't at least try to command the Gigas."
"I…I've tried before. None of them ever responded."
"That's usually because you weren't as close to the Moon Crystal and the one commanding it. This one doesn't have a master and your blastia is starting to resonate with Yeligar's electric bursts."
"I see," Ilchymis put his supplies away, "And the royal families unusual condition was never curable because it never stemmed from any known disease, it was the connection that Yeligar attempted to create with them. If Yeligar just needed Estelle as a stimulant to awaken, the Great Seal proved to be too much of a barrier to connect."
"Exactly. Now, Estelle if you can't slow it down then it's all up to the captain and the Delphinus."
Estelle started to concentrate, focusing her mind to make the Gigas to stop. The Gigas suddenly let out a loud roar, breaking Estelle's concentration, "I…He won't. He won't stop until everything has been destroyed…"
"Then we have no choice but to take this thing down." The Delphinus was keeping its distance before, but now Vyse moved closer to give Khazim and Belle a chance to attack.
A quartet of torpedoes launched as the turrets turned to follow Yeligar. The cannons and subcannons started to fire as the torpedoes started to come down on the Gigas.
Duke stood alone on one of the mountain peaks as he looked up to the battle that was just about to start. Khroma appeared in her Krityan guise. "Duke, you know this area is dangerous now. We need to leave."
"Not yet."
"Yeligar will turn this land flat. We cannot afford to risk our lives needlessly."
Duke remained vigilant of the battle that now ragged above, "You may leave to ensure the Moon Crystals remain guarded. I will remain to see the outcome. I must."
Khroma hesitated to leave him alone, but there wasn't much she could do to convince him otherwise until the battle ended.
The cannons fired off again but only a third of the shots actually hit. Khazim was getting furious, "We're not using all of our cannons!"
Yuri looked out to the Gigas. "It looks kinda flat…" He then moved over to the tube, "Hey, Vyse, do you think you can get us underneath this brute?"
Raven yelled through the tubes, "In case you forgot, that thing first bolts of lightning from its legs and those ship seeking thunderbolts from its back. I think we're good as is."
The Delphinus however started diving, "We need a new attack angle. The underbelly might not be as heavily armored as the rest. Gunners, get ready to fire everything we've got! Let's try to get Yeligar off-balance."
The turrets aimed for the underbelly along with a few torpedoes being loaded up to fire. The first volley was fired by Khazim followed soon by Belle and her friends on the subcannons. Three set of torpedoes launched, crashing into the Gigas instead of coming around.
Even before the smoke cleared Yeligar was charging its electricity to retaliate for the attack. The blast was a direct hit to the bow. "Power surge has killed propeller three. I'm on it…"
Casey was frustrated, "This thing has no weak spots to exploit! And it won't stay still long enough for the big gun."
Aika pointed as Yeligar as its seem to be picking up speed, "Um… more importantly… is it just me or does that thing look a little more… active? Is the seal weakening on it or something?"
The pulsing of Estelle's blastia was constant now, "Yes. Yeligar has been using us to restore its strength. To 'thank' us its coming around to use its most powerful attack."
Rita rushed to the door, "Keep that thing in the sights. The Moon Stone Cannon will be ready before you know it!"
"You heard Rita, don't give Yeligar a break and keep the barrage going." The Delphinus started to level out with Yeligar as the cannons continued to fire relentlessly.
Yeligar retaliated by launching its own 'torpedoes'. The balls of electricity slammed into the Delphinus however that didn't stop them. Raven managed to get to one of the tubes, "Any time would be lovely Rita…"
"Give me a minute, I just got here!"
Yeligar continued the ranged assault in retaliation for all of the hits it's taken and then some and the Delphinus' cannons retaliated just the same. The Gigas looked ready to do something now as it started gathering more Moon Stone energy.
"We're all set. Get this cannon firing!"
The Delphinus came to a stop and the bow opened up. "Moon Stone Cannon—Fire!" The beam got a direct hit, blasting Yeligar and interrupting the energy it had gathered.
Yeligar's flight patterns now was in a stagger now as the Gigas was having difficulty correcting itself. Even Estelle's blastia was starting to flicker. "Alright! That did it! It's off balance!"
"Leave it to the Moon Stone Cannon! Alright, everyone…now's our chance! Open fire! Give it everything we've got!"
The cannons redoubled their firing and even a few torpedoes were launched in an effort to bring this thing down. The Gigas was taking a beating but it still wasn't enough. "Hey, what are you waiting for? Fire the Cannon again!"
Enrique was surprised, "Rita, doesn't the Cannon need more time to charge?"
"Don't worry about how this is working, just fire!"
Vyse leveled out the Delphinus again, "We shouldn't complain. With this shot we should be able to bring it down for good." The gunners stopped firing as the bow opened again, "Moon Stone Cannon—Fire!"
This time the shot actually pierced through Yeligar's armor, just like Bluheim. And like the Blue Gigas, Yeligar came crashing down. Yeligar crashed into the ground before the overload caused the Gigas to explode.
"We did it!"
"That wasn't easy…" Vyse turned the Delphinus, "Let's get down there."
Duke could see the crater and the only surviving remnant of Yeligar, the Yellow Moon Crystal. Khroma was waiting around the bend. "I thought you left."
"If they had lost, you would have needed a way of reaching the Gigas to attack with Dein Nomos." Duke climbed onto Khroma's back as they few away while the others recovered the Yellow Crystal. Now the only problem left was to destroy the Valuan Empire and Ramirez.
A small team was at the crater to recover the crystal. Karol was happy that they were able to defeat the last Gigas, "It's amazing that we were able to get it before the Armada. Not that they'd have been able to beat Yeligar."
Rita slapped Karol, "Of course. Without the Moon Stone Cannon, they'd never have been able to do anything. Even the Draco Cannon could only do so much before its speed got it in trouble." She looked back to Estelle who's blastia was no longer glowing and she was showing no signs of pain or fatigue.
Yuri was watching the skies, "Well before we all start celebrating we should get going. The guards over the Seal might have been able to get a message out before they were destroyed. And as much as I'm sure some of us wouldn't mind blasting the entire Armada on their home turf, we won't last long."
Fina however seemed distracted by her own thoughts…
Returning to Crescent Isle, Fina was uncertain what to do now. They had three of the Moon Crystals, but without the other two her mission wasn't complete. Back in the meeting room Karol tried getting Fina's attention, "Hey, Fina are you alright?"
"…I'm fine…"
Vyse knew better. "It's about what Duke and that mural said. The Silver Gigas and your family."
Fina hesitated, "…I was told that long ago, when the Rains of Destruction fell upon the land, and most of the world's population was killed… The most powerful Silvite mages met at the Great Silver Shrine. They combined their energy to send it into the sky…above the destruction."
Enrique pointed out, "And now with the contradicting information you're not sure what to believe."
Raven looked away, "From what I can tell the Krityans have nothin' to gain from lying to us."
Aika then asked the obvious, "So then who's the liar?"
"The Silvite Elders." Judith immediately answered without hesitation. She looked to the Moon Crystals on the table, "Unfortunately going into any details would break a promise I made. But as Raven assessed, the Kritya of Myorzo have nothing to gain from lying about history nor can such murals be easily altered. They continue their existence away from both the Silvites and the world."
Estelle didn't want to have Fina feeling so down, "But how do we know if the Silvite Elders weren't trying to save everyone. We should talk with them before making any rash decisions about anyone."
Casey interrupted, "But how? The mural made it clear that even with our current engine the Delphinus would never be able to reach the Great Silver Shrine."
Fina looked to the map, "The only vessel that could get us there would be my ship. But, when I was attacked by Valua, my ship sank beneath the clouds…"
Casey smacked Raven before he looked over the map. "Last time I was in Valua as Schwann I heard a rumor about a new island fort that De Loco was constructing."
Yuri didn't see the point, "So what? Valua's got forts all over it territory."
"Not below the clouds." That peaked their interests now. "The rumors about why is all over the place, but I was able to get a rough where…" Raven circled an area that was rather close to where Fina was attacked.
Vyse knew that they had to do something. "Alright, we'll investigate this new base and see if we can't get an idea on what they're up to. We'll dock at Sailor's Island first before diving."
Hidden from the eyes of the world, Dangral Island had a view similar to Valua, dark clouds and the voids of nothingness before it. The meeting room however had no windows to this bleak abyss and once the Admirals were seated Galcian got started. "Admirals of the Valuan Armada… I have urgent news that affects all of you."
"Hoho…words of wisdom from the Grand Admiral himself? Please…enlighten us?"
Despite Alfonso's insolence, Galcian did not flinch as he announced, "From this day forth, the Armada will no longer be under the Empress' control." This took the other Admirals completely by surprise. Even Belleza had no knowledge of this plan, "Those that do not wish to walk this path that I have chosen, leave now. Those that wish to hear my plans, stay."
Alfonso was the first to finally regain his voice, "What? What is this?!"
Sodia wanted to say something, however Flynn managed to keep her at bay as Gregorio questioned him, "Admiral Galcian! Do you know what you are saying?!"
Alfonso had enough, standing up, "Have you gone insane, Galcian?! Are you rebelling against the Empress?"
Galcian simply smirked, "Hahaha… Fear not, Alfonso. I still have my wits about me. I am following my own path. It's your decision whether or not you wish to follow me.
"Hehehe…so, Galcian finally shows his true intentions…" Alfonso pointed to Galcian, "Those words are treasonous! The punishment is death!" One of the chairs was pushed back as Alfonso turned to its origin, "Ramirez?!"
Ramirez was giving Alfonso a death glare, "If you speak in that manner again, I shall cleave you in two."
Alfonso, being the coward that he was, pulled the chair between himself and Ramirez, "What? What do you mean?"
As much as Galcian seemed like he wished to watch this, he raised his hand, "Wait, Ramirez… There is no need for you to waste your energy on this whelp." Galcian turned to the table, "What about the rest of you? Will you follow me?"
Belleza seemed hesitant, yet even so… "Lord Galcian…"
That lug Vigoro smiled, "It doesn't make any difference to me. As long as I get to fight, I don't care who's in charge."
De Loco also didn't seem to mind, "I will stay in the Armada as well. I still haven't finished building the ship that can go into Deep Sky. Also, if I stay in the Armada… I'll probably get to fight Vyse again! Hehehehe!"
The only Admiral yet to speak, and the one Galcian seemed the more interested in hearing from, "Gregorio… what will you do?"
Flynn and Sodia seem conflicted. They seemed to agree with Alfonso, yet they would still defer to Gregorio's decision. Gregorio was thinking for a time before looking to Galcian, "Lord Galcian… what is your goal? I do not think you are seeking the Imperial Throne…What is it you want?"
Galcian smiled, "Hahaha…you are correct…that is not my goal. I want more power…more control than Valua has ever had. That is all I will say for now."
Gregorio was not satisfied with that response. "Lord Galcian…Just what are you up to…"
A/N: For those that don't know, Mikoshi is a portable Shinto shrine that is carried by people over their shoulders via poles during festivals or events.
