Egil stumbled backwards, not fully in control of his body, as Shulk began to glow with godly power. He felt his throat constrict as he watched, helplessly, as Zanza appeared, unable to do anything to stop him.

Soon enough, the god was there, the Monado in his hand. "Ah… finally free. It's too bad, Shulk would have made a fine vessel…"

He looked around at the group before turning to look at Egil, a grin on his face. He felt sick, seeing the god's real face after all this time. Seeing how similar he looked to Shulk… The same eyes and hair, but sharper angles and clearer skin… It was as if he had modelled himself after Shulk, but as perfection.

"Don't look like that, Egil." Zanza rolled his eyes, flicking his wrist. "This would have happened, either way, despite what Dickson said. It would come down to this, come down to the cycle of destruction and rebirth…" He paused, pointing the Monado at Egil's neck. "Unless a certain someone has something to say about it?"

"Cycle of destruction and rebirth…" Kallian frowned, finally speaking. "You don't mean…?!"

"The High Entian royal family knows well what I mean. The end of life and the start of new." Zanza looked towards him. "This one has been boring me for a while now."

"You think we'll just sit down and take that?!" Tyrea's voice came out a snarl as she freed herself from Alvis's grasp. "We're not just going to bow and let that happen!"

She dashed forward, but Dickson was quick to knock her to the ground, gun pointed at her head. "I suggest you don't do that, little lady. Lord Zanza isn't something a mere bug like you could defeat."

"Is this why you attacked Mechonis as well?!" Vanea spoke up then, running to Tyrea's side and holding her up, glaring at Dickson. "So you could kill your own people and restart it all?!"

"That, and…" Zanza looked back to Egil, eyes trained on the chest piece. "I was starting to think this world truly only needs one god."

Egil glared up at him and, with a deep breath, released the reigns of his body.


"You're wrong, Zanza!" The voice that came out of Egil's body was strong, feminine… It was that of Meyneth, as she glared up at her fellow god, holding her Monado in her hands. "This world… it belongs to our children! Not either of us!"

"How foolish!" Zanza rolled his eyes. "You truly believe that? Then show me your resolve, Meyneth!"

He turned and an attack was launched at Egil's friends. Meyneth took no time moving in front of it, blocking it easily enough and slamming her own blades into his. He grinned at her and soon, a true battle was underway.

As she parried his attacks, trying to reach out to him and get him to understand, she noted the Nopon, Oka, moving. She and Linada were at Shulk's side now, doing what they could for the boy… Good, at least one less victim of Zanza.

"You need to listen to me, Zanza! Their lives are not for us to do with as we please!" She landed, firm as he swung at her again. "We must leave the future to them!"

"How ridiculous, look at us, Meyneth! Our Monados! Proof the only ones capable of shaping this world is us! Gods!" Zanza clashed with her again, face turned up in a scowl. "The sooner you accept this, the sooner you can leave this world in capable hands!"

"You say this, but as I have stood next to them all, have travelled with them… I have learned the truth!" She glared up at him, channeling more power into her Monados, allowing them to fully take their own power, the chest piece of Egil's vanishing fully. "These mortals, who love their worlds… Their hands are more capable than either of ours, Zanza!"

"You've been fully poisoned by them, then." Zanza clicked his tongue. "A shame, here I was thinking I could convince you to give up. Instead I suppose I'll have to force you!"

An attack shot out, one too powerful for her to block and ensure her own survival. She braced herself and pulled herself free of her host, staring forward at the fate she knew was coming for her.

"Zanza….!" She screamed out his name as his attack connected, listened to her children scream out her name. But this was fine… Her death would mean nothing, not if… "Please, my children…" She looked at them, eyes trained on Alvis, the way his eyes shook even as he tried to act firm. "Make a world… with no need for gods."


Egil reached out for Meyneth's Monado as it fell, desperate. The last piece of his goddess, who had given her life to save them all… But before his hand could touch them, Zanza had pulled them to himself with his godly power. Had taken all that was left.

"And here I thought she would put up more of a fight." Zanza sniffed and Egil could feel his consciousness fading from him. "Well, then. We don't have time to play here. Dickson, Alvis, come along."

Alvis?

Egil watched as Dickson and Alvis both walked past the group, only Alvis sparing a glance back. A glance aimed right at Egil, with an emotion he couldn't quite place in his eyes. Egil continued to reach out, this time for Alvis, as the world went dark.

This… this couldn't be happening.


Vanea had pulled Egil up into her arms to the best of her ability as Linada picked up Shulk. They were both still alive, that meant there was hope. Even if Zanza was here again, likely planning on repeating the tragedy and bringing more… There was hope.

"Back to Colony 6!" Kallian was quick to take control. "We can treat the two of them there and regroup after that!"

"Yes." Vanea nodded and started towards the bridge, holding Egil as close to her as she could. She would not lose him, not here.

The group moved fast, quietly. Tyrea and Kallian led the group, both their shoulders tense with anger. Vanea couldn't blame them. Egil had brought everything to a peaceful conclusion and then Zanza…

Zanza had ruined it, as he always ruined things for her brother. It filled her with such a rage, if she could wrap her hands around that stupid god's neck… There wouldn't be a god left to cause people pain.

As they went, Oka stopped, whimpering. "Oka hear strange sound…"

Vanea listened carefully, and soon she heard it too. A familiar sound. "Is that…"

"Junks!" Linada pointed, Shulk in one arm.

In the sky was the ship Vanea had been one once or twice, when assisting her father. Had Melia contacted the Machina as planned? They were just in time…! The technology on Junks would be plenty to help both Egil and Shulk!

Kallian was quick to wave it down as he noticed the recognition on the Machina's faces, and soon it was level enough they could jump over. Soon enough, standing on Junks, Vanea was greeted by the hearty chuckle of Miqol.

"Looks like we made it just in time!" There he was, looking the group over. "Egil has seen better days, though, I must say."

"Indeed he has." Melia stepped out from behind him, looking at the group. "...Ah, but where is Alvis?"

"Alvis… he has…" Kallian placed a hand to his chest. "Betrayed us. But now… now isn't the time for that."

"We need to focus on these two!" Tyrea gestured with her head. "The two of them took the brunt of the injury and exhaustion, but Linada thinks they'll both pull through."

"Betrayed…" Melia furrowed her brow but nodded. "Of course. We can talk more on the way to Alcamoth. Minister Lorithia believes something horrible could be happening."

Vanea noticed the way Kallian paled at that, but said nothing, instead following after Linada. For now, she would focus on Egil. The problem, likely one involving Telethia, would be one for the High Entia to approach…

She just hoped no one on the ship had the genes to make them fall to the curse.