The demons of Xarcabard were much more concentrated and stronger than those we encountered in previous areas taken by the shrouded realm. However, we also had the combined strength of all four nations backing us up.

"Is this what Vana'diel would be like if the Dynamis Lord wins?" Nighthawk asked.

"I'm afraid so," King Trion said. "this is what we have predicted that the actual shrouded realm is like, as well, every single bit of it."

"Then we can't allow him to win." I said, speeding up the pace as much as I could.

'This is it...' Konami thought to herself. 'hopefully, the final battle against evil in Vana'diel...'

"The five sins of the children of Altana fuel my power..." a voice said.
"Why do they wish to fight against that which they created?... A mystery,
it is to me."

"We fight against the darkness for our own reasons," I said. "but we come together for one just cause, and that is to protect the peace of Vana'diel!"

"Peace is not deserving to a contamination." The voice responded just before energy focused near Castle Zvhal, appearing to be a much larger, darker version of the Shadow Lord. He struck us with a wave of dark energy, knocking back Konami, Nighthawk, and Mikan. Seldzar, Kalnor, Kirith, and I went onward toward the fiend.

"Your people created me long ago, and now it is your people that shall fight me to the death! So be it!" He yelled, sending more waves our way. Eventually, only Seldzar and myself were left running towards the Dynamis Lord, and we struck the fiend directly in the chest.

"Foolish mortals," the Dynamis Lord said. "none can harm me, I am the very incarnation of darkness!" He grabbed Seldzar by the head and tossed him away, and he landed hard on the ground and bounced like a rag doll.

"Seldzar!" I yelled, barely blocking the Dynamis Lord's next strike. "Ryuu Shuukyoku Dageki!" I added, hitting the Dynamis Lord with my most powerful attack, which pushed him backwards about three feet.

"Is that all you can muster?" He asked, releasing a strong wave of darkness directly at me, which knocked me off my feet, and cut across my chest. "That which plauges Vana'diel is weak... I see not why the Zilart Kings had such trouble ridding this world of you."

"Wait..." I said. "didn't they use you to break the Great Seal?"

The Dynamis Lord laughed and said, "I was the one who gave them the power to use such magics. I was ancient when the goddess Altana was born into this world. None can stand up against my might!"

"Kazu!" My father yelled, tossing his sword into the Dynamis Lord's chest. "My final gift... now go on... take him down!"

The Amanomurakumo dispelled the barrier around the Dynamis Lord, which I didn't see until it was being destroyed.

"This sword... how did you obtain it?" The Dynamis Lord yelled.

"It was a gift from the goddess Altana," my father said. "and now is my gift to my son, and all those who live in Vana'diel."

"Thank you..." I said. "I will not let you, nor anyone else down!" I struck the Dynamis Lord with Ryuu Shuukyoku Dageki again, and when I pulled out my lance I noticed blood on it.

The Dynamis Lord cried out in pain, and swung at me wildly. "I will not be defeated by the likes of you!"

I went to deliver the final strike, and when I did so his charged dark blast went directly into my heart. As the light faded from my eyes, I saw the Dynamis Lord fall to his death, along with the tower. The shrouded realm of dreams had finally been sealed away from Vana'diel, but at the cost of much life. The desolate lands of the north were to be an example to all of the effects of greed and lust for power...

"Kazu..." Konami said crying. "no... you can't die... not yet..."

"It's too late, Konami," Seldzar said, walking up to her as she kneeled by me. "he's gone now... and without the Phoenix, he can't come back."

"Kazu... no..." Konami said, ignoring him. "Kazu... I love you! You can't be dead!" She hugged me with tears coming down her face, and a force within me awakened. The clouds over Xarcabard parted with rays of light from the sun, restoring life to the north lands. I opened my eyes painfree, and saw Konami looking around at the forest of the north.

"You know..." I said smiling. "it's not quite as beautiful as you are."

"Kazu!" Konami said, hugging me again. "I thought you were..."

"Dead?" I asked. "What would anything be like without the one I love?"

"...Kazu." She said, blushing and smiling.

"It's finally over then," Seldzar said. "we can all go home."

"Home... that sounds good about now." Kirith said, holding onto Kalnor's hand.

"Let's... go home." I said, getting up with Konami before we all walked off into the sunrise of a new day, and a new era... of peace.