"LET'S GET HIM!" Wulfric roared as they charged in at him.

"Fools! You dare strike at a servant of the Architect!? It's treason then! Take this!" Amalthus yelled as he struck at Wulfric, sending him backwards.

"He hits hard!" Wulfric grunted as he rubbed his chin.

Just as Lilika was readying her bow, it began to transform into a scythe.

"WHOA!" She shouted while looking at it.

"I normally not use that mode, but my Driver sure did." Akhos said.

"Wow! Let's test it out!" Lilika said with excitement, and a bit of a devilish smile as she charged in at Amalthus. "Let's try this move!" She yelled as she swung at his leg multiple times while spinning around. Amalthus grunted from the swings.

"Lilika! My turn!" Akhos called out.

"Alright!" Lilika yelled as she tossed him the scythe.

He caught it and turned the scythe into a shield.

"White Wave!" He yelled as a wave of ether shot out of it and damaged Amalthus, while also restoring health to the others.

"Hey Pandy, shall we show them a true power of electricity!?" Zeke yelled to her.

"Yes, my dearest Prince!" She yelled.

"Dynamic Spark Sword!" He yelled as he charged up his sword and took a powerful swing at Amalthus.

"You think that intimidates me? Then let's amp this up a bit! Divine Robes!" Amalthus yelled as he transformed his robes to a random element. His power now channeled dark element.

"Then let's try this! Pandy!" Zeke yelled while tossing the sword to her.

"You got it! Thunder Doom!" She yelled as she slammed the sword to the ground. She then pulled out the wand and twirled it. She then took the sword and shot it at Amalthus, dealing an explosion upon contact.

"Rex! You thinking what I'm thinking?" Nia asked while giving him the scimitar.

"Yeah, Mythra? Do you mind?" Rex asked her.

"Of course." Mythra said before switching to Pyra.

"This is where I belong." Nia said as she raised her scimitar with Rex.

"Our bonds are as one!" Pyra yelled as she raised her sword with Rex as well.

"All together now!" Rex yelled as they charged forward, and they slashed the swords at Amalthus.

"NEXUS FORCE!" They screamed and they dealt powerful damage to him.

Thanks to the combination they gave to him, a combination blast occurred, dealing massive damage in the process.

"Now! Anchor shot! Topple him!" Rex yelled as he fired his anchor to Amalthus's leg and managed to trip him.

"My turn! Robyn!" Patroka yelled.

"Go for it!" He yelled as he tossed the Cobra Bardiche to her.

"Time for a little payback! Great Garland!" She yelled as she swung her weapon around and jumped up. She then threw it at him, dealing a great deal of damage to her.

"You fool! Get over here!" Amalthus yelled as he grabbed her.

"AAHHHH!" She screamed as the tentacle squeezed her tight.

"No! Mòrag!" He called to her.

"Right! Brighid!" Mòrag yelled to her Blade.

"On it!" She said as she took the whips and channeled her power. "Go! Swirling Dragon!" She yelled as she spun around and shot flames at the tentacle.

"GAH!" He yelled as he dropped her. Robyn ran to her and caught her before she hit the ground. "You cannot stop me like this! That power will be mine! For the Architect's sake! Thousand Tentacles!" He yelled as he took his tentacles and began to strike at Robyn.

"Oh no you don't!" Praxis yelled as she used her ether barrier to protect them, who Robyn was shielding Patroka at the time.

"Thanks Praxis!" Robyn yelled while they looked at her.

"No problem!" Praxis yelled.

"Now Wulfric! Give it to him!" Rex yelled while calling to his Blade.

"Time to show my true power!" Wulfric yelled before going in. "HELLBOUND!" He shouted as he did several swings and jabs at Amalthus. He howled as he did the last jab.

The ground beneath Amalthus exploded like a volcanic eruption, dealing damage to him in the process.

"I've had enough of these slaves serving you all and not me! Try this! God Rage!" Amalthus yelled as his body exploded with red aura. Everyone was too close, and they were launched into the air.

"WHAAA!" Everyone screamed while they were launched. They slammed down hard onto the ground.

"I think…he's mad now." Finch said while rubbing her head.

"He's been angry this whole time." Roc said.

"Time to even the playing field. Blades, let's follow it up! First, Mayonaka!" Lilika yelled.

"Here I go! Astro Shot!" Mayonaka yelled as she fired three shots at Amalthus's head while successfully dodging his tentacles. "Corvin, you're turn!" She yelled to her fellow Blade partner.

"You got it! Lacerna Noctis!" Corvin yelled as he took a powerful swing at him with his sword. He then used his cape and swiped it at him a few times.

"NGH! How dare…wha? What is happening?" Amalthus asked as his rage aura dispelled.

"Simple! That's my special ability. That enrage you had was wiped away from me! Literally! HAHA!" Corvin yelled while mocking him.

"COME HERE!" Amalthus shouted as he grabbed Corvin and strangled him.

"YAAAAHHHHHH!" Corvin screamed.

"OH NO!" Lilika screamed with her hands to her mouth.

"Not today! Lilika, time for a little duet!" Akhos yelled.

"Right!" She yelled before running towards him and took a swipe at him with the scythe. "Catch!" She yelled while tossing it to Akhos.

"Yeah!" Akhos yelled as he caught it and ran to Amalthus. He then spun around with it so fast that he created a tornado around his body. He then turned the scythe to his bow and fired it at the tentacle that held Corvin. "Nice reaction!" Akhos yelled.

"Thanks Akhos!" Corvin yelled.

"HYAH!" Lilika screamed as she gave Amalthus one last swing with the scythe, dealing massive damage.

"Standing…novation!" Akhos yelled with pride.

"ENOUGH!" Amalthus screamed as he sent Robyn into a wall. Debris fell from above crashed down around him.

"Why am I not surprised!?" Jacu yelled.

"Hahahahaha! The strongest ancient one is the dumbest! Time to end this!" Amalthus yelled.

Suddenly, the room began to grow colder by the second.

"What…!? What's going on!?" Vale asked while keeping herself warm.

"Jin!?" Rex asked.

"This isn't me." Jin said.

"Robyn!?" Lilika called to him under the debris.

"What's going on!?" Floren yelled.

Perun and Theory went to the debris where Robyn was still at. They then heard him mumbling.

"Least he's alive. But…huh!?" Theory yelled as the debris began to freeze up like dry ice coming into contact with it.

"Robyn!?" Patroka asked.

"Sweetheart!?" Mòrag yelled.

"I'M GONNA MAKE IT!" They heard Robyn sing loudly when the debris

"RUN!" Perun screamed to Theory, and they scrammed.

Robyn bust out of the debris, and everyone gasped at his new appearance when he roared into the sky. His skin was pale, his eyes were blank, and his teeth were white as snow.

"His leg!" Akhos yelled as he pointed at Theory's sword that had been impaled into it. "The ether energy is flowing from the sword to his body! Like what that Vandham guy did!" He yelled.

Lilika felt her heart racing.

"Yeah…but…Vandham impaled his stomach and ultimately died, if you remember at the arena!" She yelled. "Sorry about Obrona. She must have been your beloved partner." She said softly to him.

"She was. Remember, Malos killed him with his Blade, Sever." Akhos said.

Robyn glared at Amalthus, who was curious about his appearance. After a growl, he opened his mouth and channeled ether into it. After exhaling, a beam of snow and ice blasted out of his mouth and struck Amalthus.

"WHOA!" Zeke shouted as he and Pandoria dove out of the way. "SHIT! ARE YOU SEEING THIS!?" He shouted to everyone.

"Whoa! Never have I seen anything like this before!" Mayonaka yelled.

Robyn ceased and ran to the near-frozen Amalthus. Lilika saw him run by with that much rage. She gasped as she realized that he had gone beast mode. He climbed onto him and grabbed Fan's Core Crystal.

"I'll take this!" He yelled while trying to pull it out.

"NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Amalthus shouted.

'But unlike you, Malos seemed like he REALLY did not care about his partner when he lost him.' Lilika thought to herself.

"Rest in Hell, Dark Lord Amalthus." Mayonaka said to him.

Robyn used what strength he had and pulled the core out of his head.

"NO!" Amalthus screamed, but just as he opened his mouth, Robyn held his mouth open.

Robyn channeled the ether once again and fired it into his mouth. After a bit, he stopped and jumped off of him, leaving Amalthus frozen in place solid. He returned to the others and pulled the sword out of him. He knelt down and he slowly turned back to normal.

"Robyn!" Lilika yelled.

"Give him some heat." Jacu said.

"You got it. I call upon the power of fire!" Pyra yelled as she and Brighid held him and channeled flames around him.

"I've been waiting for this!" Brighid yelled as she too did the same.

They defrosted him and he was back to his normal body temperature. All the while, Nia used her healing powers to restore his body from the sword that impaled him.

"Thanks everyone." Robyn said while smiling.

Suddenly, Amalthus broke free and glared at them.

"I cannot end like this. Not till I've met the Architect. Not until I erased everything with my own hands!" He yelled as he used his tentacles and wrapped them around the wall, merging himself with it.

"This is bad! The World Tree cannot hold!" Dromarch yelled.

"You might kill the World Tree, Amalthus!" Floren yelled while fearing the worst will happen.

"How!? How's that bastard still standing after the incredible thrashing we gave him!?" Zeke yelled.

"We must stop him!" Mòrag yelled while they charged at him.

Amalthus aimed his tentacles at Jin, who was trying to get up. Rex and Pneuma caught on and intercepted them.

"Jin!" Pneuma yelled.

The attack struck her and sent her to Jin. He caught her and she reverted back to Mythra.

"Pneuma! Rex!" Nia yelled.

"Mythra...you…" He whispered.

"D-Don't get me wrong, OK? I couldn't let him get your core, that's all. With even yours, he'd be unstoppable…" Mythra said while in a daze.

"Thank you…" Jin said to her, who smiled at him.

"All the cores, all the Architect's words…belong to me!" Amalthus yelled before launching his tentacles again at them.

Just then, Jin fired a wave of ice, stopping them in their tracks. In the process, he protected Mythra.

"Nia…take care of them both." Jin said to the Flesh Eater.

"I…I will…Jin…why didn't you kill me when I joined Rex and the others"? Nia asked while tending to Rex and Mythra.

"It wasn't a mistake, was it? Becoming the Blade of someone you trust." He said.

"Jin…" Nia whispered.

"I did that too, once…Lilika…Robyn…I know what I did was irredeemable. But I hope that one day if we meet again…we become true allies." Jin said while facing them.

"Jin…what are you saying!?" Lilika yelled.

"Shadow Dark Angel…do you honestly mean to…?" Mayonaka asked before stopping herself.

"Rex…all of you…you have to stop Malos. He's still searching for his own identity. Tell him the answers you found." Jin said.

"Jin…" Rex said.

"Are you…sacrificing yourself?" Mayonaka asked.

"Depends…" He said before facing Amalthus.

"You should have died with Torna." Amalthus yelled with anger.

"Let's end this now. Our duty had been handed down. Amalthus!" Jin yelled with anger as well.

"Your duty!?" Amalthus asked. "Your duty is as dust in the wind compared to my destiny!" He yelled as he fired a ball of dark energy from his body.

Jin used his power to deflect the attack. He then created floating ice spears in the air around him. He then fired them at him.

"THEORY!" Robyn shouted when he threw the sword at her.

"REBEL SISTER!" Theory screamed when she caught it. She then sent a large ice pillar at Amalthus.

"PERUN! EXTINCTION ICICLE!" Lilika shouted to her.

"AT ONCE! TOGETHER!" Perun screamed as she created a large lance made of ice and bombarded Amalthus with them.

Amalthus was grunting and shouting in pain from the attacks. Jin saw what was going on and allowed the attacks to continue.

"O, Architect! I should have been your chosen one. I lived as you wanted me to! I did-I ALWAYS!" Amalthus screamed as death was inching closer to him with each passing second. He then reached out above. "Father…why do you not answer my call? M-mother, I've…missed you." He whispered as he faded away from existence once and for all.

All the Blades ceased, and everyone put their weapons away. Perun and Theory fell to their knees and rested. Robyn and Lilika went to them, and they leaned on them for support.

"Jin…Perun…you did it!" Lilika yelled as happiness took over her.

"We all did it." Perun said.

Robyn got up and walked towards Jin.

"Jin… you don't have to fight anymore. Your curse is broken and she's at peace now. You did it." He said as he held a hand out for him.

Jin just looked at it until he took it. He then embraced Robyn.

"Thank you…for showing me the light I've missed." He spoke.

"Jin…" Mythra whispered.

When Robyn hugged him back, Jin slowly faded away into particles. After he disintegrated, everyone looked up where the particles were going.

"What a splendid soul you were…Jin." Azurda said.

"At least Robyn made his death more comforting." Jacu said when he rejoined them.

(A/N This was probably one of the hardest decisions I went with. Originally, I wanted Jin to live on and he can live in peace, but on the other hand, he needed to die. We talked about it a bit, and I was convinced. Sorry to those that wanted him to live.)

"May you rest peacefully…Jin." Lilika whispered. Suddenly, Akhos went to Lilika and hugged her. "Ah! Akhos, are you alright? Are you hurt?" She asked him while returning the hug.

"A bit, but I'm fine. But why…why did you lie to save me after everything I did to you, Robyn, everyone?" Akhos asked.

"What was I supposed to do? A main bad guy is suddenly put in peril, about to be killed by the sudden-appeared bigger villain, and the hero is nearby watching. What does the hero do in that situation? Just watch it happen, or try to rescue the one in danger?" Lilika asked while looking at him.

"I…" Akhos struggle to say.

"Akhos…I had to do it. My first lie and I think he believed it. After two days with you, it was plausible we would connect. What did you expect me to do…just let hi-MMPH!" Lilika was cut off when Akhos smashed his lips onto hers, stealing her first kiss.

"Ah!" Perun yelled with happiness.

"Not quite what I saw coming, but I do see some chemistry." Corvin said.

Lilika slowly melted into the kiss and cupped his cheek. After a bit, they broke the kiss.

"That was…my first kiss…you're the first man who's ever fallen for me." Lilika said.

"The legendary Akhos…" He said while adjusting his glasses and stepping away from her a bit.

"Wha…huh…?" Lilika asked while still being shocked.

"Forever…" He continued as he summoned his bow and arrow. "At your service. I have just the role…for you." He spoke.

"What…? Why…?" Lilika asked.

"I owe my life to you…Lady Lilika." He answered.

Meanwhile, Robyn held Mòrag while she hugged him.

"My hero…ah!" She gasped as he held her rear.

"Ahem!" Patroka said, gaining their attention. "I guess I owe my life to you…my new Driver." She said when she hugged them both.

"I hope this is alright with you all." Lilika said.

"We have all the reinforcements we need." Roc said.

Patroka snuck a kiss to Robyn and gave him Cobra Bardiche.

"I can get used to th-Akhos?" Robyn asked while he noticed that he had begun to shake and sweat.

"Akhos?" Lilika asked while turning to him.

He grunted and fell to his knees.

"My chest!" He grunted while holding his Core Crystal, which had begun glowing crimson red.

"Akhos! What's wrong!?" Lilika yelled while holding him.

The Core had now turned completely red. Mythra looked more into it, and she was surprised that there was more happening.

"This…how can this be…!?" Mythra yelled with her pupils shrank.

"What is UGH!" Patroka grunted as the same thing was happening to her. Robyn caught her and gently lowered her to the ground. "WHAT'S HAPPENING!? AAAHHHH!" She screamed in pain while holding her crystal.

"Wh-what's happening to them…and why!?" Nia yelled.

"Their hearts…are becoming more human. But I don't understand why it's happening now!" Mythra yelled.

But then, it hit Lilika and Robyn. They recalled what Akhos and Patroka did to them after Amalthus impaled them with his tentacles and with the ooze.

"Our blood!" Lilika yelled.

"And Amalthus's venom that had the essence of Blades!" Robyn yelled.

Akhos and Patroka screamed as their bodies went through a transformation that will change their lives forever.

Akhos's body was channeling electricity. Shards of metal attached to his body and his skin. His chest was exposed as his shirt ripped, and metal began to magnetize around his Core Crystal. His pants also ripped from new metal shards attaching and materializing as armor. A small generator slowly grew out of his back. A helmet formed around his head and a visor closed in front of his eyes. His bow and arrow got a slight upgrade, which it can now fire multiple arrows at once, ending his transformation.

Patroka, on the other hand, had earth form around her body. Portions of her clothes ripped as earth-themed body armor formed on her flesh. Her gloves grew longer up to her shoulders and patches of moss formed on her arms. Her left hand grew ruby gems on her knuckles, while the right had sapphires. Her skirt formed into a smaller skirt that matched her new look and her leggings ripped as her heels turned into thigh-length high heels and grew lavenders and quartz. Her top turned into a sports bra that hugged her breast. A tiara formed on her head and pulled her hair out of her face. Around it grew cobalt, gold, platinum, and in the center formed a diamond, ending her transformation.

Akhos fell flat on his stomach with his legs and arm outstretched, while Patroka was on her knees and used her arms for support. They were hyperventilating for a bit until the pain faded.

"Whoa…talk about an upgrade." Zeke said.

"But…how?" Mythra asked while still wrapping her mind around this

"Amalthus attacked me and Robyn with those tentacles. Patroka and Akhos came into contact with our blood…that's all I understand." Lilika said.

"Well…at least it's not bad." Rex said while looking at them.

Akhos slowly got up to his feet and examined his body. His visor opened and revealed his eyes and glasses.

"Lilika…" He said while being very nervous.

"A…Akhos?" Lilika asked while slowly approaching him.

"Uh…well…how do I look?" He asked with concern.

"You look…completely different. A completely new costume for your new roles as my…Blade." Lilika said. 'I don't know if I can get used to seeing and using Akhos as a Blade!' She thought to himself.

Patroka groaned and slowly got up. She too examined her body and looked at Robyn with fear.

"Well…this is unusual an-WHOA!" Patroka screamed as her new heels made it hard for her to keep her balance. She fell onto Robyn, and she caught her. "Sorry!" She yelled while regaining her balance.

"Are you alright…Your Highness?" Akhos asked her.

"I'm fine! But…hey…can we have a serious talk about how you women fight in these high heels!?" She yelled while still trying to keep her balance.

"It takes practice, but it comes naturally to me." Brighid said.

"How about I teach you a thing or two to make walking and running in them easier?" Jacu asked.

"Please!" She begged while trying to walk.

Just then, Dromarch heard a distant sound coming from behind.

"My lady, do you hear that?" Dromarch asked her.

"I do!" Nia said.

"It sounds like it's coming from the hole Amalthus came from." Mòrag said while they looked at the hole.

"Let's investigate." Praxis yelled.

Some of them peeked down the hole and they saw a figure waving both arms at them.

"Poppi, Roc, can you two get that person?" Rex asked.

"Leave it to us." Roc said.

"You can bet on Poppi!" Poppi said.

They dove down the hole. Poppi was the first to return with Lora still frozen, and Roc returned with Mikhail.

"MIK!?" Akhos shouted.

"How the hell is he even alive!?" Nia yelled.

"Is that…LORA!? Just how strong is Jin's ice!?" Lilika yelled while looking at the frozen Ardanian warrior.

"Your survival is quite a miracle…even I'm impressed." Mayonaka said to the Blade Eater.

"First question…updraft and pure dumb luck. Second question…about as durable as blue ice." Mikhail answered. He then turned to Patroka and whistled. "Well…that's new." He said with a grin.

"Don't even think about it!" Patroka sneered at him.

"Amalthus struck me and Robyn…Patroka and Akhos came into contact with our blood to heal us." Lilika answered.

"Guys! The ice is melting!" Wulfric yelled.

"What's going to happen to her body?" Agate asked while kneeling down at the ice, which was melting.

"It must be because Jin is gone." Theory said.

"Scans indicate that she is thawing from a cryo slumber, despite being without a heart." Sigma said.

"Can she be saved with a heart transplant?" Galea asked.

"I am no medical droid, but I do have a suggestion for a potential life support." Sigma said.

"Please share, Sigma. Lora and Jin meant more to each other than any Driver and Blade could comprehend." Lilika said.

"A heart transplant could potentially save her; however, a Legendary Core Crystal might be powerful enough to sustain her. If all goes well, I calculate that there is a 58.62% chance that she will survive." He explained.

"You want to turn her into a Blade Eater?" Zeke yelled.

"But…who would donate?" Agate asked while holding her core.

"Let me." Mikhail said out of the blue.

"Mikhail!?" Mythra yelled at him.

"I do owe her a debt for taking me in 500 years ago…" He admitted while looking at her.

"Mind giving us a summary?" Lilika asked him. He did just that and even told her about how he became a Blade Eater. "Oh…" She said.

"But there is a chance it won't work." Mythra pointed out.

"I'll risk it. She saved my life, I'll save hers." He said.

"You could be sacrificing yourself for nothing." Robyn said.

"Sticks and stones Robyn. I already decided on potential death anyway. I did my part, and I'm just done." He said.

"Mik…" Patroka said while taking aback a bit. Not once has she seen him like this before.

"If you are insistent…I wish you luck." Mayonaka said.

"If Lora returns…she won't have her beloved partner, Jin anymore." Lilika said.

"I know." Robyn said. He then saw something from a distance, a Core Crystal. "Hey Mik! You might need this just in case." Robyn said while taking the Core Crystal and tossed it to him.

He caught it and nodded.

"If we can get you both to Mor Ardain, we could have a suitable heart for her and the potential technology for it." Mòrag said.

"Make haste then." Theory said after she froze the ice to last much longer.

"See ya on the other side. Leave it to me to tend to the details on how to do the procedure, and Patroka…take care of Robyn, will you?" He asked while looking at her and winked.

"Eugh! That I didn't miss. But that reminds me." She said as she slowly approached him and slapped him hard in the face. "But that…promised lived." She finished.

After Mikhail left with Lora, they watched as they were being taken to Mor Ardain. Galea already sent word ahead to them for preparations, and Sigma began to help with repairs with his forces.

"Well everyone, see you at the top." Galea said before disappearing.

"I wish you all luck." Lilika said to everyone.

"But first…time to call some old friends from Uraya." Rex said.

"Might I ask who you intend to contact?" Brighid asked.

"Simple…our Common Blades at the Merc Camp in Garfont in Uraya." Robyn answered.

"Oh…right." Lilika said in embarrassment as she had forgotten about them.

"Let's make a quick trip there and collect them." Dromarch said.

"Okay." Lilika said.

They hopped aboard a Colossus, and they were heading for the back of the beast. They ended up arriving at the stomach. Fortunately, they were able to arrive at Garfont thanks to a mercenary that was heading or the back entrance.

Lilika whistled for everyone.

"Everyone! We need all of our Blades for the final battle." Lilika said.

As if it was on cue, their Common Blades ran to them and had a wonderful reunion with them.

"Milady! You have been missed!" Dai said while hugging Nia and lifting her up.

"Master Rex! The time has finally come for us to show you just how powerful we have become." Hirashi said with his ax ready.

"It is a great honor to be back at your side, Master Robyn." Haruma said with his rings presented to him.

"Mistress! We missed you." Takibi yelled as he and Midori joined her.

"Don't ever leave us again." Midori said while hugging her.

Now that Amalthus is gone, and so many things were finally calming down, they now had only one thing left to do. They needed to stop Malos once and for all, and with their Common Blades back with the group, and Akhos and Patroka now on their side, their chances have increased. What will await them at Elysium, and who is the Architect? Find out next time as the story continues.