As the gang readjusted themselves after that hard landing into the Land of Morytha, they continued to keep an eye on Mythra, who was still out for a while.

"Everything seems so…desolate…the air is very uncomfortable." Mayonaka said while she looked around.

"It's like we are in a whole new world." Zeke said.

"How are we supposed to find our way out of this gloomy place?" Floren asked while holding his arms in fear.

"Perhaps we could stick to a pathway and hope it leads to somewhere." Corvin suggested.

"But first, we should tend to Mythra. How long do you think she'll be out?" Mòrag asked.

"Not sure. She's been through a lot." Rex said while stroking her head.

"That she has." Agate said.

After a bit of a wait, Mythra slowly woke up. She looked up at Rex slowly.

"Rex…?" Mythra asked.

"All in one piece? I guess if you were injured, I'd be feeling it too." Rex said while Mythra rubbed her eye a bit.

"Huh…? Yes, I'm OK. Huh…?" Mythra yelled as she began to realize what was going on. She pulled herself away and scooted further back from Rex. "Was I…in your lap…this whole time?" Mythra asked while blushing.

"Easy. Rex only provided you comfort as you were resting." Mòrag said.

"It's like the opposite when we first met. By the way, I see you're back to your old self." Rex said.

Meanwhile, Nia reverted to her human form.

"Glad you're back Mythra." She said.

"I mean…th-thank you…I…didn't say anything strange, did it? Talking in my sleep, or grinding my teeth, or snoring, or…I'm such a terrible sleeper…" Mythra said while looking down at her lap.

"You snore and grind your teeth?" Rex asked.

"W-well, not always, I-I mean, it was a figure a speech, that's all!" Mythra said while looking annoyed.

"Hahahaha! It's OK. What with all the fighting and stuff. You were out for the count." Rex said.

"Well, Mythra. Welcome to the Land of Morytha." Jacu said while they got up.

"Oh. So that's where we are." Mythra said while she was curious as to where they were.

"You think this is where Robyn and Lilika are coming from?" Zeke wondered.

"Maybe. But this place really is creepy." Perun said.

"How we getting out?" Finch asked.

"Looks like our only way out is up. Check it out." Rex said while pointing further outward.

From within the darkness, they were able to barely get a glimpse of something sticking out from further away from the ruins. It didn't take them long to realize what it was.

"Are those…the World Trees roots?" Mythra asked.

"Yeah, and I bet there's a way up there. And that's where Robyn and Lilika are at. How's Pyra?" Rex asked.

"She's sleeping. Shall I call her?" Mythra asked.

"Nah, let her sleep. She's been through a lot." Rex answered, causing Mythra to smile warmly at him.

"You're too kind." Mythra said.

"Rule five of the Salvagers Code-!" "I don't think we need to hear it. C'mon! Let's go!" Mythra interrupted him and she began to walk away.

"HEEY! At least let me finish, spoilsport." Rex yelled while catching up to her.

"Let's just get going." Praxis said.

"Yeah, our friends need us." Nia pointed out.

"We must proceed with caution. Scans indicate human activity nearby. However, these humans appear to have gone through some sort of genetic alterations and mutation." Poppibuster said.

"That sounds…horrible." Agate said while shivering in her heels.

Suddenly, they began to hear the sound of a sword swipe and explosion nearby.

"What's that?" Zeke asked while they looked in that direction.

"Let's go check it out." Praxis suggested.

When they began to run towards the sounds, they froze up when they saw some monstrous humanoid with glowing spheres on its body. It was about seven tall, lumpy grey skin, tentacles growing out of a few portions of its body, and its eyes and mouth were glowing.

And the one that was fighting it was…

"Jin!?" Mythra yelled as they saw Jin, who was back to his original self, fighting against it.

"He wound up here too?" Rex asked.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?" Roc shouted in fright.

"I dunno what it is!" Nia yelled.

The creature attacked Jin with a beam from a crystal, causing him to fall to his knees. Red mist began to emerge out of his body, and a crack in his Core Crystal was visible.

"He's still wounded from before?" Rex asked before charging in at the monster.

"Rex!?" Mythra yelled.

"Are we to guard him, Master Rex?" Mayonaka asked when he pulled out his sword.

"This is a bad idea." Theory said.

"What should we do, Theory?" Praxis asked her.

"The same thing our Drivers would do…maybe." Theory said.

Rex fired a shot at the monster, forcing it back. Rex stood in front of Jin.

"You!?" Jin yelled when he saw him.

"You can't move, right? I can't just let you die here. Even if you are my enemy. Mythra!" Rex called out for her.

"If we must…" Mythra said while joining him. "But don't kid yourself that I think this is a good idea, Rex!" Mythra yelled while glaring at Jin and the others joined them.

"It looks like a Core Crystal. Aim for that!" Mòrag said while looking at the spheres on its body.

"Got it!" Brighid yelled.

They opened fire on the monster while protecting Jin. It took some doing and evading swipes and beams, but they brought it down.

"But why did you help me? I'm…" Jin was saying as he got up.

"Our enemy? Yeah, we know that. Even so, it would have been wrong. I just thought, I can't let it end like that." Rex explained.

"So, you're saying that it was the right thing to do?" Praxis asked while putting her lance away.

"Your kind heart is huge, it hurts that you would aide someone who tried to bloody kill you four times." Zeke said.

"What concussion did you suffer after that fall?" Vale asked with a disgusted voice.

Before Rex could answer, Jin grunted and fell to his knees.

"Hey!" Rex yelled as he ran to him.

Just then, the creature rose again and attempted to strike. Jacu took notice.

"Watch out!" Jacu yelled as she took out her ether cannon and struck the crystal on its head, causing it to break and the monster died from it.

"You've got a lot to learn. You've got to either burn these monsters up, or smash their Core Crystal." Brighid said.

"Why do they resemble Beast-Blade?" Finch asked while pointing at Wulfric. Wulfric growled at her. "SORRY…wait! What am I sorry for again?" Finch asked dumbfoundedly.

"These are the humans I scanned earlier that had that genetic mutation and evolution." Poppibuster said.

"How could this have happened!?" Agate yelled while trying to process what she had learned.

"This is something that'll take me a while to study and analyze." Adenine said while opening her book and read through it.

"Do we need to destroy them?" Floren asked.

"If we are to make progress and if they attack us, then yes." Mòrag answered.

Suddenly, Jin passed out from all the attacks he sustained. Wulfric went to him and held him.

"As much as I hate to admit it, he can't die like this. His skills may come in handy." Wulfric said.

"Uh Mythra, maybe you could…" Rex was saying to her.

"Fine! Whatever! Gimme a sec…" Mythra said before she switched to Pneuma. She then began to try to heal him.

"Incredible! What awesome power you've acquired!" Brighid said while holding her heart.

"This is the power of the Master Blade! The Master Blade possess the data of all Blade cores." Pneuma said while still healing Jin. Just then, she gasped when she noticed something about him. "This is…?" Pneuma asked while standing up.

"What's wrong?" Rex asked before Pneuma reverted back to Mythra.

"His heart…it's a human heart! He's…a Flesh Eater!" Mythra said.

"We kinda knew that." Zeke said.

"But…unlike mine, his Core Crystal is completely red! But…I wonder what makes him different from all the other Flesh Eaters?" Nia asked while looking at his crystal.

"I'm not sure. But by the looks of it…his 'heart' would know." Zeke said.

"Only he can tell us the answer." Mayonaka said.

Meanwhile, Rex was in thought for a bit.

"Hey, when you transformed before…" Rex was saying to Mythra.

"That form…it's our true nature. The sword changed, right?" Mythra asked.

"Uh? Yeah." Rex said.

"It's not just physically stronger. It also lets us control other Artifices at will, so be careful. Meaning… don't get carried away." Mythra warned him while leaning in and glaring at him.

"I-I see…hehehe." Rex chuckled a bit.

"What? What are you laughing at?" Mythra asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well…I kinda preferred your hair in that form." Rex answered.

Mythra gasped a blushed again.

"It's like that, is it? Ha…you jerk!" Mythra said while crossing her arms and looking away.

Slowly but surely, Jin woke up and sat up. He felt himself almost at full compacity.

"W-what? What did you do to me?" Jin asked, gaining Mythra's attention.

"Easy, you'll be fine." Rex said.

"Sinister Dark Angel…Jin…we are puzzled as to the reason behind your cores color as opposed to the other Flesh Eaters core color." Mayonaka said.

Jin was silent for a moment when she said that.

"Lora…" He whispered.

"Huh?" Rex asked.

"Lady Lora was…your last, and final Driver, wasn't she?" Mayonaka asked.

"Yes…her heart…I 'ate' it." Jin answered.

"EUCK!" Vale screamed while backing away from him.

"I could never imagine such a dark task!" Agate yelled.

"'The thought of forgetting me it's like one heart is being ripped in two.'" Jin quoted one of the last things Lora said.

"Sounds like a bond stronger than a Driver and Blade." Nia said.

"Like with many of us…so now what?" Rex asked.

While in thought, Jin looked up ahead and saw something unusual. He gasped a bit when he realized what it was.

"You spot something? More of those things?" Theory asked.

"That…that's…" Jin was saying while getting a better image of a silhouette from that distance. "Torna." He finished.

Everyone looked and saw what he was talking about…a Titan by the World Tree's root."

"The hell is all of this?" Nia asked.

"That Titan…is Torna!?" Zeke yelled.

"It's…horrible." Agate said.

After thinking things through, they agreed to form a temporary alliance with each other until they decide to go their separate ways. Mòrag was very keen on watching his every movement due to her life's work. They made their way up towards the roots and Torna that laid within them. They fought more of those monsters along the way but pushed on.

They finally arrived at the entrance of Torna.

"It's scorched, here and there." Brighid said.

"Traces of the Aegises battle, I reckon." Azurda said.

"Must've been some battle." Rex said.

"It's terrible." Perun said.

Mythra sighed as she was having flashbacks to the hype of the Aegis War 500 years ago, and moments that still haunt her to this day.

"I'm having a hard time believing all of this." Pandoria said.

After they entered, they came to a stop. They saw some weird things inside.

"What's…?" Rex was trying to ask.

"The Tornan Titan's matrix. Even in old Torna, few people knew this place existed." Jin said.

"I can scarcely believe it myself." Azurda said.

"Matrix…like a womb?" Rex asked.

They then saw some sort of corpse laying inside an egg-shaped container.

"But…they look quite a lot like Titan, too…" Poppi said.

"These are Blades that perished in the process of becoming Titans. Titans grow Core Crystals with their bodies. I believe you've seen this once before. Blades…they aren't truly immortal.

They are born from Titans. And when their fire burns out…they return to the Titan that bore them. Eventually, the Blades that return, transform into Titans themselves." Jin explained their cycle.

"Can that be true? We'll end up like that, eventually?" Brighid asked while looking at the body.

"Oh…I think…I'm gonna faint!" Theory said while feeling lightheaded. She didn't like the idea of what would happen to them in the future. "I don't like this." She whispered.

"Are…Flesh Eaters also to share this fate?" Nia asked.

"Very unlikely." Jin said.

Just then, Rex took notice of Mythra.

"Mythra?" Rex asked.

"Yes. It's true." Mythra said.

"The new Titan has no memory of its life as a Blade. Just like returning to a core. These poor souls. They died along with their mother. Shared her fate." Jin said.

"So…even Brighid and I will have to endure this!?" Pandoria yelled.

"I don't want to forget! I want to remember everything with my Driver! Like I said a while back, Robyn is the best Driver I ever had. I can feel it!" Vale yelled while trying to endure the sadness that was building up. Just then, she looked at Agate. "Agate are you okay?" Vale asked as she saw the earth Blade was trembling with fear at the sight of some massive bugs.

"Ah! I…I'm….ah." Agate said before fainting at the sight of the bugs.

"Agate!" Mayonaka yelled with fright as she ran to her and pulled her away from the bugs.

"What happened?" Finch asked.

"Entomophobia. It seems Agate as an irrational fear of bugs." Mòrag said.

"If that's the case, don't look over there." Jin said while looking in said direction.

They did just that. They saw a large grey and orange bug that was about five times the size of Wulfric. The thing was tucked into a corner by a stairway that led upwards.

"Aside from Pyra, got any fire Blades here?" Nia asked.

"There's no point in trying to provoke it. If we keep our distance and be quiet, we can sneak around it." Jin said.

"You don't want us to engage it?" Pandoria asked

"We are not at our strongest right now. Some of you are without their Drivers, and we are watching over a fainted Blade." Jin said while looking at Agate.

"He does have a point." Jacu said.

"This is true. Those of us paired with either Mistress Lilika or Master Robyn are currently with temporary Drivers." Mayonaka said.

"Exactly." Jacu said.

"My lady. Perhaps we should take Jin's word for the time being." Dromarch said to his Driver.

"Right. Okay." She said.

After Wulfric picked up Agate, they slowly made their way around the bugs, and they took out more monsters along the way. It was easier said than done however when it came to avoiding the bugs, what with eggs nearby that they assumed the big one laid.

They finally came across a bridge that was clear of monsters.

"There. We can rest there for the time being." Jin said.

After they settled down, Wulfric laid Agate by a wall where she was still out for the count.

"There were so many…" Mayonaka said.

"Yeah. What's next?" Vale asked.

"I…don't know." Floren said.

"Let's just rest for now…huh?" Vale asked when they saw a droid walking by them and eyeing them. "What is that?" She asked.

"Must be one of those old droids that work for the World tree. They may be scouts of sorts." Jin said.

"Should we leave them be, then?" Brighid asked.

"They seem to not be that much of a threat…but why are they so rusty?" Jacu asked while tabbing it on the head.

It then looked up at her and the eyes zoomed in on her. It tilted its head at her and walked away towards Poppi. It began to scan her in the process.

"It…is interested in Poppi?" Nia asked.

"Meh-meh? Why is droid interested? Poppi no problem." Tora said.

"SCAN COMPLETE. ARTIFICIAL BLADE DETECTED. THREAT LVL 3. PROCEED WITH CAUTION." It spoke.

"Should we be concerned about that?" Mayonaka asked,

"Wait…maybe it's a low threat level?" Corvin thought.

It then began to scan Poppibuster.

"SCAN COMPLETE. ARTIFICIAL BLADE DETECTED. THREAT LVL 8. HIGHLY POWERFUL BOMB DETECTED. SURRENDER OR YOU WILL BE DESTROYED." It spoke as it began to ready its weapons.

Suddenly, more of them began to show up with their weapons armed.

"Not so much anymore! We gotta protect them!" Pandoria yelled as they assumed battle positions.

"Destroy them!" Jacu yelled as she grabbed one of them and threw it at a nearby wall.

Mayonaka aims at one coming from a distance and fires it. It was a bullseye and the droid detonated.

They continued to destroy the droids until they were nothing but scrap metal. After they defeated them all, they finally took a breather, and they began to rest.

Meanwhile, one of the droids sent word to Galea at the World Tree of the situations that were transpiring before it was destroyed.

"Ms. President, we have visitors." Galea said to Lilika, who just finishing up learning about the holidays of Alrest.

"Very well. Who are they?" Lilika asked as she closed the book.

"I'll pull up the monitor." Galea said and showed her a video of the gang attacking the droids.

"According to one of them, two artificial Blades are a threat. The big one especially." Galea explained.

"Those two artificial Blades…are Tora's precious Poppi and Professor Soosoo's Poppibuster! Those two are not enemies! They are with our friends. What is going on?" She asked with eyes wide.

"They found a bomb in the big one." Galea answered with no hesitation.

"Oh….WHAT!?" Lilika screamed with fright.

"No wondered they attacked." Galea said while Lilika was straightening herself and calmed down.

"I assure you, Poppi and Poppibuster are not enemies." Lilika said.

"Noted. Sending all units that update." Galea said while sending said message.

"Hey…maybe we should get some sleep, Lilika. I'm getting drowsy myself." Robyn said when he entered the room with his eyes barely opened.

"Sounds good. We HAVE had a long day." Lilika said before she yawned.

"There's a breakroom for you two. Sleep well." Galea said.

"Okay…thank you." Lilika said as they left to retire for the night.

Back with the others, everyone finally got some sleep. Poppi and Poppibuster stood watch as they slept. Poppi was in thought for a moment. She then went over to Jin to make sure he was asleep, even waving her hand in front of his face to confirm it. She then left to look further out away from the group.

Meanwhile, Mythra heard her leave and followed her.

"So quiet…" Poppi said.

"It is…" Mythra said while looking beyond the distance with her.

"Poppi think…this world achieved very big technological advancement. Many buildings. Many people. Everybody…probably very happy here. But…" Poppi was saying but cut herself off.

"It doesn't matter how many fancy tricks they learn. Deep down, they're all the same. They thought they were making their lives better with all this stuff. But in the end, it destroyed them. Now… it's just a ruin." Mythra said.

"Poppi was made by technological advancement, too! Will Poppi…destroy the world as well?" Poppi asked when she looked away with fear.

"That's my problem, too. If this world is Father's world…then Father made me to be as dangerous as any technology." Mythra said while thinking about it herself.

"Poppi and Mythra are the same?" Poppi asked.

"Yes. Kinda." Mythra answered with a nod.

"Then if… If Poppi destroys the world…Masterpon might get destroyed too. Maybe Mythra should destroy Poppi?" Poppi assumed as her fear began to grow.

"Poppi….. Tora created you. You could never do something like that. I know it!" Mythra assured her.

"But…!" Poppi tried to say but couldn't.

Just then, Mythra had an idea.

"Hey. Let's make a promise." Mythra said with a smile.

"A promise…?" Poppi asked when she looked back at her.

"Yes. That's right, Poppi. I promise that, if you ever look like you're about to destroy the world…I will do what you asked of me. But… in return… can you promise me something?" She asked her.

"What would you like from Poppi? Mythra is scared of destroying the world too?" Poppi asked her.

"Well, I'm doing my best to stop it coming to that. It's something else… it's…" Mythra was saying but she stopped herself.

"Hmmm?" Poppi asked again.

"No, actually, nothing. I don't have a request right now. Can I think it over?" She asked.

"Of course! Then let's promise!" Poppi yelled as she raised her hand at Mythra.

"What's this" She asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Masterpon taught it to Poppi! He said it Nopon promise ritual! Lift hand up in air, then… 'boop' together!" Poppi said while demonstrating the 'ritual.'

"I see…" Mythra said as she raised her hand to her. They then gave each other a high five, sealing the promise.

"By the next morning, they woke up and prepared to press on. Jin was looking beyond the bridge they were on and saw an opening that'll lead them closer to the World Tree.

"What's through there?" Rex asked.

"The womb itself." Jin answered.

When they entered and entered the matrix womb, they saw rusty and destroyed ruins around them.

"So Blades are born from crystals, and Titans from Blades. The Titan, in turn, nurtures life." Brighid said while looking at a massive panel along the wall.

"And someday, births new Core Crystals." Rex said.

"Right. That's the life cycle of a Blade." Mythra said.

"It is the way the Architect ordained for the world." Jin mentioned.

"Old Torna worshipped this cycle." Mythra pointed out.

"In old Torna…we revered the Titans. Feared them. It was the sacred foundation of Torna. A nation where humans and Blades lived in harmony. But, humans couldn't live like that. The battle with Malos marked that end. It wasn't long after you and Addam left old Torna Mythra. He did it. That worm…Amalthus." Jin explained.

"It comes as no shock to me. He awakened Dark Overlord Malos with his wicked heart, and Master Rex felt as if he was speaking to the same Blade back in Indol. My question is, why would he wish this?" Mayonaka asked while pondering that question.

"It's his view towards humanity." Jacu answered.

"But, why? What caused this?" Floren asked.

"What did he do?" Mythra asked Jin.

"The one who really destroyed this place? It wasn't the Aegis…it was him." Jin said with a serious tone.

"Amalthus destroyed this place!?" Pandoria yelled while covering her mouth.

"Yes. He saw humanity and Blades as a changing species. His forces saw us as a threat after he became Praetor. After I 'ate' her, I avenged her death." Jin said while opening his shirt and revealed the same scar he had in his Flesh Eater form.

Everyone gasped at the sight of the scar. Mythra switched to Pyra, and she held her heart in sadness.

"Maybe we shouldn't have left. I never knew…" Pyra whimpered a bit.

"Amalthus was afraid of the Aegises' power. After Malos was defeated, he tried to wipe us out…the remnants of Torna were annihilated in the attempt. But…you'd already vanished by then. So we were slaughtered…for nothing." Jin finished.

"So THAT'S why you hate humanity so much. Because of that, they took away the only person you really loved, more than just a Driver…but as a family you desired." Theory said while putting the puzzle pieces together about him

"Exactly. Even if he wasn't trying to get you, Amalthus, the humans…would've done what they always do. We're the Architect's children. We turn into Titans. The ground beneath their feet! But they feared us." Jin added on.

"So that's the reason he attacked you." Pyra said.

"To save the world? No. His real desire for Elysium is his desire for the Architect's power. Amalthus want to use it to wipe out Blades and Titans." Jin finished.

"So that's why he was taking care of Rex, the Aegis, Lilika and Robyn." Azurda said.

"So he can use them for easier access." Mòrag added on to Azurda's sentence.

"What a twisted…corrupted plan." Mayonaka said while holding her heart.

"Then…WHAT ARE WE DOING!?" Zeke screamed with the reality of what was going hitting him.

"If Amalthus is really responsible for this, maybe we should form an alliance to stop him." Jacu suggested.

"Even if that's true. You lot and Amalthus are the same!" Rex yelled.

"You may be correct, Master Rex." Mayonaka said.

"Didn't you say you wanted to destroy the world? Take out the Architect himself?" Rex asked the Flesh Eater.

"I did say that." Jin answered.

"You know, I'm not so sure." Rex said.

"What?" Jin asked in confusion to what Rex said.

"I don't buy it. I can't believe that's what you're really trying to do here." Rex answered.

"Why do you say that? Haven't we…" Jin was saying until he was trying to figure out where he was going with this.

"I could tell when we were fighting. I saw it in your eyes. The sadness. It was the look of someone who just wanted to die. Someone with no other way out. You know…it was the way Pyra looked the first we met." Rex explained while looking at her.

"Why seek such destruction? Haven't we all gone through enough?" Floren wondered.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Keep your stupid comments to yourself. You better believe we'll do it." Jin demanded.

"I think what he means is…even if you do succeed in destroying the Architect and the world…you'd still gain nothing. You'd be destroying more than what Amalthus would ever do." Mòrag said.

Jin gasped a bit and froze from those words. It was then when he finally realized more what Rex was talking about. He'd be worse than Malos…worst than Amalthus. Lora wouldn't want any of this.

"Something up?" Nia asked.

"I…" Jin was trying to say.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook. Something slammed behind them. They looked and saw another monster similar to the ones they faced, only this one was massive, bigger than the bug they saw yesterday.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Tora screamed while flapping his wings violently.

"As I thought." Jin said.

"What's that?" Rex asked as it began to make its way towards them.

"They're not really alive. Just autonomous cybernetic organisms. Once their central control is gone, they're programmed to act on their own. To destroy." Jin answered.

"These guys!?" Rex yelled when it stopped.

"Testaments to human hubris. Now do you see?" Jin asked when they prepared to strike.

"POPPI! QT MODE!" Tora screamed.

"Roger that Masterpon." Poppi said as her cape swirled around her and flames blasted from it. She emerged in her QT mode and readied her mech arms.

The monster began to absorb the element from Poppi QT to use for itself, causing it to be a fire monster. As they fought, they realized that it was extremely durable. Even Jin was having a problem with it.

"Pyra! Let's go!" Rex yelled.

"Right. Flame…Nova!" Pyra yelled as she commenced her special.

"WAIT!" Jin shouted, but it was too late.

When the attack connected, the monster began to charge up an attack, and exploded at everyone, dealing massive damage.

"GYAAAHH!" They shouted as they were sent backwards.

"I tried to warn you! That creature can absorb your element and use it against you!" Jin yelled. It then fired a fire beam at Jin's head, causing him to scream in pain. "That's it! Heavenly Disrupt" He yelled.

They watched as Jin charged in and bashed the monster, causing it to hunch over. He then slashed his sword down onto its head, making it fall on all four. He then slashed the sword up and it began to spin in the air. He then screamed while he jumped up and slammed it into the ground, dealing massive damage.

"Healing Halo!" Nia yelled as she spun the rings around, healing the team from that previous attack it did to them.

"Rex! Tag me!" Jacu yelled.

Rex tossed the Aegis sword and he took the Ether Cannon.

"Alright! Let's see what you can do!" Rex yelled while firing shots at the monster. He then tossed it back to her. "Go for it." He said to her.

"You got it!" Jacu said while taking the cannon and fired a powerful burst of green water from it. "Acid Rain!" She yelled as it begun to rain acidic water upon it.

"I'll show you what I can do." Jin said while readying his attack. His body glowed and channeled ether to his sword. "Ice Revolution!" He yelled.

He shot at it and did a powerful force palm to the gut, following up with powerful swings to the body, dealing tons of damage. The combination of elemental attacks dealt tremendous damage afterwards.

"Mayonaka! Let's follow it up together!" Vale said to her fellow dark Blade.

"Of course. I'll go first! Astro Shot!" Mayonaka yelled while shooting three shots while easily evading a powerful attack from the monster.

"Rex! Call me up!" Vale yelled.

"You go it!" Rex said while tossing the Ether Cannon back to Jacu and took the lance. Rex began to attack the monster from the back side. The land was already doing more damage since a combo has been done. "Show me what you're capable of Vale!" Rex yelled.

"With pleasure. Tainted Palace." Vale yelled when she took the lance back and began attacking it from a distance.

Just then, Pyra held Rex's wrist.

"I think it's time we wrapped this up. Don't you think?" Pyra asked while smiling.

"Let' give it to it." Rex said while taking the sword.

Pyra transformed into Pneuma and grinned.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing her transform like that." Brighid said while continuing to attack.

"Then let's give it hell!" Rex yelled.

"Of course. Genesis Saber!" Pneuma yelled as she fired countless swords of light all around it, dealing damage left and right.

The swords glowed dark before taking damage, finishing another Blade combo.

"Poppi! Let's finish this!" Tora yelled while he was still firing rockets at it.

"Right! All together everyone!" Poppi yelled while all the Blades took their weapons and unleashed everything at it.

All the elemental attacks overpowered it to the point that it wasn't even able to move at all. The creature exploded from all the attacks and if finally collapsed onto the ground, all the lights dimmed away in the process.

As they all began to leave the behemoth to rot, Rex came to a halt when he saw something next to it. He knelt down and picked up an ID card.

"This is…" Rex was saying when he was thinking about what they just did.

"Rex-Rex? What matter? Find something?" Tora asked when he joined him.

"Uh…no. It's nothing." Rex lied when he quickly pocketed the ID.

"We talk about what to do next. Rex-Rex should join." Tora suggested.

"Ah…yeah…OK." He said when he followed him to join the others. "It can't be…" He said to himself.

"Master Rex?" Mayonaka asked when she heard about what he said.

"It's…it's nothing. Anyway, we're gonna need to climb the World Tree. Robyn and Lilika are our new objectives." Rex said.

"Climb up the World Tree to the top? Very, very tiring." Tora complained.

"It doesn't look far up to the surface at least. We can manage that, surely." Rex said as they looked up.

"Don't you ever quit with that optimism, hmm?" Nia asked with an unamused look.

"Hehehehe…" Rex chuckled in embarrassment.

"Rex. I can see why we brought Jin, but I advise not to let your guard down." Mòrag said while glaring at Jin.

"Mòrag!" Rex yelled.

"Got a point." Zeke said while agreeing with her.

"I don't need your remorse now, Jin. But when we are past this crisis, I'm taking you in. I owe it all to my leaders, and my people. If you resist, we will kill you. Brighid and I." Mòrag threatened.

"Yes." Brighid said.

"Mòrag!" Rex yelled once again but was stopped by Pyra. Just then, the ground beneath them shook again. "What? Another monster? What is it this time?" Rex asked while they kept their balance.

"Masterpon! Above!" Poppi yelled while pointing upwards and waving with that arm.

They saw a familiar ship slowly descending upon them. It came as no surprise as to what it was.

"It's the Monoceros! Are they here for Jin?" Nia asked.

Jin then placed a finger onto an earpiece.

"Akhos, come in! Don't attack!" Jin ordered. Unfortunately, a gun turret rose up and took aim.

"Are they planning to attack anyway!?" Kassandra yelled while holding Zeke's arm.

"Locking on targets." Poppibuster said while taking aim with his own guns.

"Wait a minute…" Mòrag said while looking closer. Her eyes widen when she saw what was happening. "They're aiming…AT ME!?" She screamed while pulling out Praxis's lance.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO ATTACK!" Jin shouted, causing a powerful shock wave to blast out of him, tripping everyone around him, and throwing the Monoceros off balance a bit.

"What should we do!?" Agate yelled while still trying to keep her balance.

"You sly devil. Hid that up your sleeve, didn't ya?" Zeke asked Jin.

The Monoceros began to bring an elevator down to them. Jin boarded and was being brought back up to the deck. He then looked down at Brighid.

"Brighid!" He called out to her.

"Huh?" She asked when he caught her attention.

"You're still…like you used to be." Jin said before vanishing from view.

"Jin…" She whispered as she can safely confirm that her past lives were just as she knew from her old journal.

"Damn! Arseholes!" Nia yelled as they just watched as they flew off.

"That's a bit unsporting of them, using a giant boat." Zeke said in annoyance.

"We must hurry. The longer we wait, the bigger their advantage." Dromarch suggested.

"Yeah. We gotta go, Rex!" Nia yelled.

They began to make their way up the roots. They saw an entrance that was highly technological. They were amazed by it. Not only that, but they noticed that the void was fading.

"The Great Void…it's almost completely gone." Nia said.

"After all, the Great Void was Ophion's doing." Pyra pointed out.

"Yes, indeed. So with Ophion gone, the Great Void could not support itself." Azurda said.

"If only we were above the surface, we could easily cross." Dromarch said.

"I wonder what it'll be like now that it's gone." Jacu said.

"I mean, it doesn't look impossible to climb…but it's nastier than any mountain." Nia said.

Pyra then saw something inside the tree. Something she felt within her to check out.

"Everyone. Here!" Pyra said as she walked off.

"Pyra?" Rex asked.

They followed her further towards the tree until they came across what appeared to be the entrance to the tree's laboratory.

"The inside of the World Tree…I'd never have thought." Rex said while they looked up.

"It seems to be an artificial tower enveloped by gargantuan plant life." Dromarch said.

"I sense him…Robyn…he's above us." Vale said while holding her heart.

Meanwhile, Pyra reverted to Pneuma and looked at a panel. She pressed a button, and a doorway opened. She then reverted back to Pyra.

"It seems like we can use this to travel up." Pyra said.

"Up? Pyra…what did you do?" Rex asked.

"Honestly, I'm not sure myself. It's like my body is remembering something all by itself. It must be…another power granted to the Master Blade by Father…so…we need to hurry." Pyra said.

"Why?" Rex asked with concern.

"This was hardwired into my brain. So, Malos must have the same thing." Pyra answered.

"Not good." Rex and Vale said.

"Seems this is some kind of elevator." Brighid said while looking at what was behind the doorway.

"That's some fancy glazing." Zeke said.

"Ooh, you never were good with heights. Shut your eyes!" Pandoria said to her Prince.

"Let's go!" Pyra said.

The gang finally entered the elevator, and they went up.

Meanwhile, Galea appeared by Lilika.

"Madam President…they're here." Galea said.

"Oh!?" Lilika asked as she grew a big smile and got excited. "Finally! It's only been only a few days, but it seemed way longer than that since Robyn and I saw everyone!" Lilika yelled while getting up.

"It seems that Robyn is talking to the chieftain of Torigoth at the moment, so…let's go welcome them to the tree!" Galea yelled.

"Okay!" Lilika squeaked before she ran off and Galea went back into the system.

She quickly made her way down towards the elevator where the others were coming from. She waited to the point where she kinda hoped a bit due to her excitement. When the doors finally opened, there they were.

Corvin, Mayonaka, and Perun gasped, and their happiness grew.

"Mistress Lilika!" Mayonaka yelled.

"Guys! Long time no see! Glad to see you all again!" Lilika yelled.

"DOGPILE!" Corvin shouted with happiness as they jumped onto her and hugged her tight, pinning her to the floor.

Lady Lilika…we're so happy right now!" Perun yelled when they got back onto their feet and continued to hug her.

"But…where's Robyn?" Vale asked.

"He's talking to Torigoth's leader at the moment. Pyra! Glad you're okay!" Lilika said when she shared a hug with her.

"Same to you!" Pyra yelled.

"HEY!" Robyn's voice screamed nearby. He turned the corner and he saw everyone. Pyra gasped and ran to him. "Hi!" He said before she embraced him tight.

"Robyn! How are you both? Okay?" She asked.

"We're fine. Also…I'm sorry that I pulled that stunt. I didn't want them to take you like that." He said while Pyra pulled away.

"It wouldn't have mattered…but thank you." Pyra said while cupping his cheek.

"You'd be surprised on their treatment to us while in their cell." Lilika said.

"ROBYN!" Theory screamed as she jumped onto him and cried into his neck. "I missed you so much!" She sobbed as tears, which were as cold as ice, poured out and landed onto his shirt.

"I missed you too." He whispered as he held her.

Vale then grabbed him and kissed his cheek.

"Don't ever do that again!" She demanded when Jacu embraced him.

"Right…Mòrag!" Robyn said while looking at the inquisitor.

Mòrag slowly approached him with a serious look. She then smacked him hard in the face, causing him to hold the spot where she smacked him.

"Do that again…and there will be consequences!" She growled at him.

"Lady Mòrag! This is your special someone! Surely, you can show a bit of happiness to him!" Brighid yelled from her actions.

"Right…" She said before kissing him on the spot. Just when Robyn was about to return the kiss, she broke it and pulled away. "Don't ever risk your life like that again…please." She spoke.

"I can only promise to try. Given what's going on…that's the best I can do." Robyn said.

"So, what went on with you guys?" Lilika asked everyone.

"Before you answer that…Rex, where'd that come from?" Robyn asked while pointing at his new suit.

"Oh…Pyra gave it to me when she awoke." He answered.

"It looks good!" Robyn said while Jacu hugged him again, this time rubbing her cheek onto his.

"Robyn and I had plenty of time to learn all we can about Alrest while we waited for you all. I'm glad you guys took care of our Blades for us." Lilika said.

"Lady Pyra took on a new form, and Master Rex became the Master Driver." Mayonaka said.

"New form?" Robyn asked while looking at her.

Suddenly, Galea appeared on a terminal.

"More specifically, Pneuma." She spoke.

"GYAH!" Nia shouted while jumping backward in surprise. "Where'd you come from?" She asked.

"I second that. You almost scared the eyepatch off of me." Zeke said while they all turned towards the A.I.

"Oh! Right, everyone, this is Galea. She's a former co-worker of ours who saved us from being killed by Torna." Lilika said.

"I know you. They mentioned you back at Tantal. You left behind a message about a terrible situation." Mòrag said while they approached her.

"Indeed. Anyone who is a friend of Robyn and Lilika is a friend of mine." She said while giving a bow.

"So, what's the current situation?" Lilika asked.

"We learned that Amalthus was the one responsible for old Torna's destruction." Zeke answered first.

"He feared Aegis power. Jin mentioned that before arriving." Tora followed up after Zeke.

"Jin?" Lilika asked.

"That right. Amalthus killed Tornan survivors…including Driver. That how he became Flesh Eater." Tora answered.

"That's just…so sad. His bond with Lora must have been truly special. Perhaps that was why he encased her body in ice." Lilika said while holding her heart in sadness.

"Maybe she had a thing for him?" Zeke wondered.

"Or rather he had a thing for her." Corvin said.

"Who knows? Either is plausible…and I'm not about to ask him." Lilika said.

"Anyway, onto better subjects. Tora, the chief of Torigoth wanted me to pass on a message. Soosoo and Tatazo have finalized blueprints to help Poppi…grow up?" Robyn asked while thinking about what that message meant.

"MEH-MEH MEHMEHMEHMEH! That Poppi's final form. Poppi Quantum Technochampion π, or QTπ for short!" Tora yelled while jumping up and down.

"Q…T…π…Smooth Tora." Lilika said with annoyance in her voice.

"Perhaps we can head out there now so we can get her upgraded?" Robyn asked.

"Maybe…but what about Torna? Shouldn't we also go after them before they reach the Architect?" Lilika asked.

"Way ahead of you. I ordered a couple of Sirens to be on standby from above. They'll be monitoring their movements since their fight at Morytha." Galea said with a confident smile.

"Huh? Wait…IT WAS YOU THAT SENT THAT SIREN!?" Rex shouted in shock.

"Guilty." Galea said with no hesitations.

"I approved authorization to activate and send it to help you guys against Malos and Jin." Lilika said.

That shocked Pyra big time. This was the first time that her own Artifices were given orders from someone else that wasn't her or Mythra. She then switched to Mythra.

"You…WHAT!?" She shouted with eyes wide as dinner plates.

"Yeah. We also sent other Artifices to give you all a hand if case things got ugly." Lilika said while backing away from the Aegis.

"They can get you to Torigoth at any time." Galea said.

"Okay." Lilika said.

"Which reminds me…Robyn. You. Me. My ship when we get there." Mòrag said with that serious tone again.

"This is about Patroka, Special Inquisitor?" Lilika asked her.

"And then some." She added.

"By the way…did this belong to you?" Rex asked Galea when he pulled out the ID and showed it to the A.I.

She looked at it for a moment and looked down with a bit of shame.

"So…you found what's left of me, didn't you?" She asked.

"Huh!?" Rex yelled.

"Where did…where did you get that Rex?" Lilika asked with worry.

"I found it after we defeated a monster the size of a house before we got here. This fell out of it." Rex answered.

Robyn and Lilika gasped loudly from that. This couldn't be.

"Galea…did your physical body become…A MONSTER!?" Lilika screamed with fear and sadness.

"That's what happened. Remember a while back when I told you how I became a part of the tree? That's what became of my body. Nay, many of us." Galea said as she too grew sad.

"Wait…so that means….we just killed off….I think I'm gonna be sick." Zeke said while covering his mouth and holding his stomach as he couldn't handle the situation of what they did.

"Robyn…I think…Klaus unintentionally saved our lives by sealing us away. It was a blessing in disguise." Lilika said while holding both of his shoulders.

"But how do we even know that was what went down? Unless he found a way to play God or simple convenience." Robyn said.

"I suppose he really is the Architect…either way, we were spared." Lilika said while smiling at him.

"Yeah. But why would humanity do that?" Robyn asked while they had begun to leave.

"Don't worry about us, everyone. I'm pretty much the only one that can still help. A Colossus will get you to Torigoth, but you may have to do a bit of walking." Galea said.

"No problem. Galea, thank you very much for everything. We really appreciate it." Lilika said.

"If you need to return, or go anywhere you wish, the Artifice Colossus will get you to a specific location for free." Galea said.

"Wait a minute! You gained control of most of Malos's Artifices!?" Mythra asked.

"It took some doing, but they are ours to command. How else did we save you lot from falling down the Great Void?" Galea asked the Aegis.

"Good point." Nia said.

"Good luck." Galea said while bowing once again.

They got outside and an Artifice Colossus appeared before them from above. They hopped aboard it and held on.

"Take us as close as you can to Torigoth on the Titan Gormott." Robyn ordered it.

"BY YOUR COMMAND." It said before they took off.

"Good to be back with you all." Lilika said.

"Good to have you back." Corvin said while Mayonaka had her head on Lilika's shoulder.

"We missed you guys." Robyn said while Poppi sat by him and smiled at him.

"Poppi missed friend too." Poppi said.

"Yeah…so you ready for that upgrade?" Robyn asked while rubbing her head.

"Poppi is ready!" Poppi yelled while raising her hand up.

"I wonder what you'll be like." Jacu said.

"Poppi know not." Poppi said while looking down.

"Probably an adult. Just imagine how much stronger you could become. The future is now thanks to science!" Robyn yelled.

"Poppi cannot wait!" She yelled.

With the gang reunited at long last and new allies in the waiting, the gang returns to Torigoth to help with Poppi with her final upgrades. What of Torna, more specifically Akhos and Patroka? How long will they be able to keep up with their little treason of helping Robyn and Lilika? Find out more next time as the story continues.