Chapter 7: Return of Sombron
Inside Destinea Cathedral…
Hortensia could be seen looking outside at the snow, being not in the lightest of hearts at the moment.
"Wow… the snow's really coming down out there." Hortensia remarked. "And Ivy isn't anywhere to be heard… She was fighting against the Divine Dragon and her army… what could have happened to her…?'
After some time passed, Hortensia heard the front doors of the cathedral be bashed open, as the entire allied group filed into the cathedral, as Hyacinth stepped forward with Hortensia to greet them.
"I bid you welcome to Destinea Cathedral. We're so happy to greet you, loathsome Divine Dragon…" Hyacinth remarked.
"Spare us your lies!" Alear roared.
"Alas, your presence indicates that Ivy lost her battle. A predictable outcome, of course." Hyacinth stated. "You don't appear to have taken her captive. I assume her body has been left out-"
"I'm sure you believe she's dead as well, don't you?" Siege asked. "I'm sure you want to spread that lie for little Hortensia so she can be your perfect little puppet for Sombron, don't you? Well, check it, Hyacinth."
"What…?" Hortensia remarked, before turning to King Hyacinth. "Father… is this true!?"
"Do not spare any trust in their-" Hyacinth remarked.
Siege suddenly procured proof of Ivy being alive. An Otherworld Emblem Ring, specifically, the Ring of Hope.
"Would you look at that… I believe this is the Otherworld Emblem Ring Ivy still had on her person, yes? You see, you have predictable tactics, Hyacinth. You gave Hortensia two Rings. One of the 12, and one of the Otherworld 8. Ivy still had one when we defeated her… and naturally, should a ring belong to a dead person before being procured, it would be blood stained and dirty. Prying it from a corpse would dirty it no matter how it is extracted. And the blood would rust the ring as a mark of sin." Siege remarked, holding it up in the sunlight. "Hm. Not a speck of dust… or a single drop of blood. Interesting."
Hyacinth could only choke on his own breath, as Hortensia looked at Siege and the ring, before then looking at her own father, as she did not know who to believe in.
"Please, if you will not join us… at least stand aside." Alear answered back. "We seek to save King Morion, and punish Hyacinth for his crimes!"
"SILENCE!" King Hyacinth yelled in rage. "THE HANDS OF FATE WILL SEE YOU DEAD FOR LEADING IVY TO BETRAYAL!"
"The hands of fate…?" Siege asked, soon gaining a wicked smile as his hair shadowed his eyes for a moment. "The hands of fate you say." He repeated, before darkly chuckling, which broke into maniacal laughter similar to a Blue Lion of a past time, which further unnerved King Hyacinth. "IS THAT SOME KIND OF TWISTED JOKE!?" Siege laughed. "The Hands of Fate, how rich, how NAÏVE you are to cling to such a thing, when the very being you serve is one who doesn't care about Fate. Well, news flash, Hyacinth." Siege said as he tucked the Ring of Hope away. "I don't give a damn about fate either. I made my name as a man who defied fate at every single turn! Your little clinch to fate won't hinder me! Or my allies!"
Hortensia looked right towards Hyacinth, before she then whistled, before Rosado came over, as she went onto his pegasus, while Goldmary immediately raised her blade, as if expecting an attack.
"What is the meaning of this, Hortensia…?" Hyacinth growled.
"...I just want my sister…" Hortensia spoke softly. "...I don't know if the Radiant Saviour tells the truth or not… but the ring is undeniable proof that there is at least a hope that Ivy is alive… and she needs me. I'm sorry, Father… but if you truly abandoned Ivy… I cannot fight for you."
"You insolent child! You will come back here and defend your own god!" Hyacinth growled. "If you dare leave, I shall have you marked as a traitor and hunted down along with your wretch of a sister."
Suddenly, Corrupt Morion moved, appearing in a flesh, as the undead reincarnation of Diamant and Alcryst's father rose his blade to strike down Hortensia, in a surprise attack.
"Declare Spell! Purify Sign: Cursruda Erasura!" Siege yelled, firing a beam of purifying energy that surged into Morion, causing him to wail in agony, as white light began to flow from his orifices, before the spell revived him and broke the hold of the Corruption in him, as his flesh returned to normal.
"Hah… Hah…" King Morion remarked.
"What…!?" Hyacinth exclaimed.
"I didn't make my name as the Radiant Savior for nothing." Siege quipped.
"Father!" Alcryst exclaimed with relief.
"You're alright!" Diamant exclaimed.
Hyacinth was about to give the order for the nearby Corrupted to attack Morion, only for Richard to use a Warp staff to drag him back, as well as Hortensia and her retainers, as the exhausted King slumped down.
"Damn… I feel like I have been put through an entire war from start to finish without a single wink of sleep…" Morion remarked. "...I remember the darkness… and nothing after…"
"You can rest now. We'll protect you." Siege told Morion. "After you rest up, you'll have to fight again, for Sombron won't give up just from my heroics alone."
"Rest easy, father. We will avenge this dishonour." Diamant assured his father.
Morion, seeing both of his sons to his rescue, merely smirked in pride, before finally collapsing down.
"Father… you…!" Hortensia exclaimed. "How could you! You would never have done this!"
"Silence! Lord Sombron's reign is absolute! If I must kill my own flesh and blood to bring his glory back, I shall do it without a single regret!" Hyacinth raged, before he then summoned the Dark Emblem Lyn by his side. "...Radiant Saviour… you have truly ruined my own plans, to have taken away my own warrior from me, as well as my own two children. I will make you suffer for this."
"You won't live to make true on that promise." Alear darkly answered back. "For what you have done, I sentence you to death, without any remorse. You are truly irredeemable."
"It does not matter! You are already too late! Once Sombron awakes, you shall all know despair!" Hyacinth declared. "This grand cathedral will serve as your shared grave. And the rings shall be Lord Sombron's!"
Hyacinth then warped himself into the inner chambers, as countless Corrupted began to rise from the ground of the cathedral.
"Hortensia… we will not force you to fight." Alear told the disgraced Elusian princess. "You have suffered enough already, having been tortured by your own father to believe your sister is dead, and almost killed for knowing the truth that she is still alive, and going to her aid, instead of aiding your demented father. I will not force you to kill your father, no matter what he has become."
"...No, I have to stop Father." Hortensia answered back. "...It's the only way I can save what remains of the Father Ivy and I know… this man before me… he's a twisted carcatiture of our father that Sombron made of him."
"Then… we'll allow you to fight with us. Until the conclusion, have this." Siege spoke, handing Hortensia the Ring of Hope, but not before summoning the spirit within. "Light our Way, Emblem of Hope!"
Appearing from the ring came a familiar light of a familiar figure, as she was dressed in holy white clothes and had a lance in hand, while light magic danced all around her and stopped as she posed.
"That's…!" Siege gasped upon seeing who it was, as the ring was now in Hortensia's grasp.
"I am Emblem Mina. The Emblem who resembles the Goddess of Hope from a far land. Young one, never let your hopeful spirit die, for as long as hope remains, victory lies at the end!" Mina told Hortensia in a melodious voice.
"Goddess of Hope…" Hortensia remarked. "...I see, this is salvation then… I shall take it with both hands!"
"Good. Then let's use that hope, to try and save your father!" Siege exclaimed.
Victory: Defeat Hyacinth
Defeat: Siege, Alear, Richard, Hortensia fall, or enemy reaches area
After 5 turns, Morion will join the fight
PLAYER PHASE
The allied force began to move through the cathedral, as they began to engage the Corrupted, as Richard noticed that there was a magic artillery cannon on the top of the stairway.
"Hey, Siege. I think that I can use that magical artillery to lay down some pain on the Corrupted inside." Richard remarked. "Think you, Alear and the others can carve a path ahead?"
"Oh you bet." Siege smirked.
"We got it handled." Alear answered back, before she then cut down one of the Corrupted spear-wielders. "You just let us handle the enemies ahead!"
"We're with you, Divine Dragon!" Diamant exclaimed, as he moved ahead, standing forth, and covering the left side, as Amber and Geina moved to his side.
"Sister, let us go forth!" Alfred exclaimed, as he and Celine moved to the right side of the stairway, as their retainers covered the entire width of the stairway.
Zendara would stick in between the middle of the kingdom groups, being from Solm, she wasn't exactly sure on where she stood in their alliance, due to her being a wanderer for the most part, but she still kept in a distance to strike down Corrupted as need be.
ENEMY PHASE
Corrupted immediately began to move in to try and take out the group, only to be met with dodges and low damage amounts as they were struck down with ease by the main force, as they fell quite easily at that.
PLAYER PHASE
Siege soon finished clearing a path. "Alright Richard, the cannon's yours!" Siege exclaimed.
"Alright, I've got it!" Richard remarked, before Alfred moved up to take out the mage Corrupted that was trying to move in position to utilize the magical instrument, as the entire device began to hum as Richard walked up to it. "Fascinating. I could do a lot with this. Quency, throw the gates open!"
"Aye aye Richard!" Quency exclaimed as she rushed up and used her lockpick abilities to have the door swing wide open!
"Alright, then let's get this started!" Richard remarked, before he then pulled out a Light Tome. "With my own brand of magic, this thing can hit far! Seraphim!"
The magical artillery then began to whir into motion, before it then fired a orb of light towards one of the Corrupted lying in wait inside, as the orb exploded into a massive burst of light that wiped the Corrupted away into dark ashes.
"With that, an advantage has been secured." Richard remarked. "Go now, Alear! My magic can reach far enough to provide support!"
Richard's Personal Skill - Magical Reach: All tomes used by Richard are assumed to have +1-2 Range depending on the spell, and -1 minimum Range as well if applicable, also applies to staves. Richard also has double effective Range when using Magical Artillery
"Let's go, mom, Lumi!" Mirai exclaimed as she ran ahead to get into the throne room.
"Right!" Alear exclaimed, as the advancing group managed to reach inside the inner chamber, as they noticed Hyacinth waiting for them.
"Take caution, that Emblem with him is capable of firing arrows from a great distance." Roy remarked. "It would be wise not to linger around in his range for long. A decisive strike is needed, from the moment that you perceive that he can reach you with his own attacks."
"Aaaah, decisive strike, phooey! I'll just run him outta uses with my large defense!" Zendara exclaimed, taking the point of the leading group. As a Berserker, she naturally had a high HP pool, but she was also built with stout defenses as well, meaning Hyacinth's long range arrows weren't gonna do much, and this was only bolstered farther by the Ring of Black Knight.
ENEMY PHASE
The Corrupted began to advance, just out of the group's range, before Hyacinth immediately summoned a glowing green bow.
"For Lord Sombron!" Hyacinth remarked, before he then fired a storm of arrows that turned into pinpricks of light that swerved towards Zendara, as they hit her, although she merely shrugged the attack off with minimal damage, shocking the Elusian King. "What…!?"
"Bwahahahaha! You call that an attack!? That was puny, PUNY!" Zendara laughed. "Let me show you how a TRUE warrior fights!"
PLAYER PHASE
Zendara Personal Skill: Rage - Once every two turns, Zendara can enter a state known as "Rage." While in this state, if she kills an enemy, she can move and attack again, each time inflicting a move penalty of -1. She can attack again even without Movement. All ranged weapons gain +1 Range, and Damage equivalent to half Zendara's Strength, plus the number of enemies she's killed this turn.
Zendara roared in fury and rushed forward, going on a tear and slaying foe after foe with her weaponry, soon being just out of range of Hyacinth, or so the group all thought.
"Oh, yeah, and another thing. Did you know I can also use magic?" Zendara said with a wide smirk, pulling out an Meteor Tome.
Zendara Personal II: Wild Soul - This unit can wield magic weapons, but doesn't gain Weapon EXP. The Rank of magic tomes and staves she can use is determined by her Axe Rank, in which she can wield weapons one rank below her Axe Rank. Attack value may be calculated using the higher value of Strength or Magic.
So, combat was initiated, as Zendara was staring down Hyacinth.
"You best be saying your prayers to Sombron, King! Oh, but I doubt he'll waste his time answering them for a pathetic wretch like you." Zendara taunted Hyacinth.
"You will not leave here alive! I will not allow it!" King Hyacinth stated. "I will ensure that all of you shall be Lord Sombron's next feast!"
"Sorry to burst your bubble, Your Highness but… Omae wa, mo shindeiru!" Zendara proclaimed, as combat started. "THIS IS MY STRENGTH!" She would yell, as her critical proc'd and she lobbed a huge ball of flames at Hyacinth's face.
Hyacinth was hit by it, as he was barely standing on his feet, as he could only glower at Zendara, as the rest of the group advanced towards him.
ENEMY PHASE
King Hyacinth refused to move, knowing that he would die in the attempt, although he saw that the group were getting close to him.
PLAYER PHASE
Zendara looked at the group, before she merely smirked, and crossed her arms.
"What… What is the meaning of this!?" King Hyacinth growled, as if finding Zendara's stance an insult to him. "You… You will not even deem me worth attacking, when you have left me like this!?"
"Don't get me wrong. I would do you in fast." Zendara scoffed. "But I think that there's someone more fitting to take that crown of yours with your head."
"And who is that?" Hyacinth glowered.
"Prince Diamant! Come and take your vengeance!" Zendara exclaimed, looking back to Diamant.
"You have my thanks." Diamant stated, as he moved in to combat Hyacinth, as he brandished his sword. "Hyacinth, you have done both Brodia and me a great insult. You almost had my father turned into one of your soulless husks, had it not been for the aid of the Radiant Saviour. I shall repay him the kindness by making sure that you will not be so lucky to have a chance to pull any other tricks off your withered sleeves."
Roy then appeared beside Diamant, as Diamant engaged with Roy with a flourish of red, in the same winged form as Lumera and Alear had when they were Engaged with their Emblems, before Diamant then struck his blade across the ground, as it became alight with fire.
"Now, burn away for your sins!" Diamant remarked, before he then swung his blade across, as it slashed right through Hyacinth in a single strike, causing him to collapse, as the strike also created a massive flame around him, which surrounded him.
"...Siege has told me that my father's folly was not striking you down first." Diamant remarked, still engaged with his Emblem. "But a simple death is too kind for you. You will rot in the flames that will burn away you and your putrid soul. Your death will be a cruel and agonizing one for it is retribution for the same thing that you have rendered upon hundreds, no… thousands of good men."
"Hortensia… Hortensia…!" Hyacinth begged. "Save me, I beg you! Save your father!"
Hortensia looked towards her father, before she then remembered what he did with Ivy, as she could only turn her eyes away.
STAGE CLEAR
MVP: Zendara and Zelgius
"Get me out of these flames!" Hyacinth begged, as the flames began to burn away onto his own cloth, as his flesh was being seared by the flames.
However, the flames suddenly dissipated, as a dark aura began to flare in the room, as Siege's eyes widened.
"Sombron…!" Siege gasped.
Veyle then appeared, as she was cloaked in the same black robe that she attacked Lythos Castle in, as everyone tensed up, while Veyle merely scoffed.
"Veyle…" Alear remarked.
"Oh, thank you, thank you! I thought I was finished there." Hyacinth remarked with relief in his voice, as he slowly rose up, barely doing so, with such a mighty wound inflicted upon him.
"I'm not being merciful. Merely pragmatic." Veyle declared. "The ritual was a success. The Fell Dragon will be here in a moment."
"The Fell Dragon can move again!? That means the ritual actually worked!" Hyacinth exclaimed.
"Here he comes." Veyle smirked.
Suddenly, the entire altar behind them both began to explode in a burst of dark energy, as it faded to reveal Sombron, who slowly walked down towards the group, his expression stone-like, as Hyacinth had a expression of glee on his face.
"Haha… .Lord Sombron-" Hyacinth remarked.
"Diamant, aside!" Richard exclaimed, as the prince glanced behind him, before noticing that Richard had an embellished light tome in his hands.
Diamant moved aside, before Ricahrd grit his teeth, as the magic in his hand began to intensify, before he then fired a massive beam of light right towards Sombron, who merely glanced at the attack, as if it was something trivial, as Veyle was surprised at the speed of the attack.
The attack then landed on Sombron himself, as the beam struck him, before turning into a rain of golden lasers that descended from the heavens themselves, as it kicked up a massive duststorm.
"Quick, while the attack is in use! We have to escape!" Siege exclaimed, before turning and seeing the doors slammed shut. "Oh frick, not good!"
The dust-cloud then faded, as Sombron had a large dark purple barrier that had his emblem marked on it, as it was cracked, with notable holes in it, but Sombron himself was mostly unscathed, with a malicious smirk on his lips, while Richard bit his lip.
"...I figured that not even Rexaura could be able to do enough…" Richard growled. "But I won't let you walk forward unmolested. Sombron, Fell Dragon… we meet for the first time."
"Such magical power… and yet you lack experience. You do not know this spell well." Sombron mocked. "But I will freely admit that your blow has managed to make me feel something. Take pride in that… as I will snuff your meager pride with your very life after I am done."
Lumera gnashed her teeth, as she was tempted to snatch Liberation out of Alear's hand, and try to attack Sombron while he was still gloating, only for Alear to stop her mother.
"...No, you can't fight him like this." Alear harshly whispered. "...I cannot afford to let you fight him and risk your life again, and lose it…"
Lumera barely managed to stem her own inner anger down, as she could only slowly calm herself down.
"Now then, it seems that my powers have returned because of you." Sombron remarked, facing Hyacinth.
"It was an honour, my lord." Hyacinth declared with absolute loyalty.
"And yet, I still hunger for more…" Sombron declared, as Hyacinth's glee was replaced with fear, as Hortensia froze.
"Please, my lord, devour those fools." Hyacinth offered, raising a hand towards the allied group.
"Hahaha, as fitting as it is to make a meal out of my former enemy, she lacks the power and divinity needed to supplement what I have lost." Sombron stated, before walking towards Hyacinth. "Alas, I have a different meal in mind."
Lumera could only glare at Sombron, while Hyacinth's fear grew stronger and stronger, uttering a shaky 'Huh?'
"Only sovereign blood will quell my hunger, you understand." Sombron declared, before a malicious smile appeared on his face, as his fangs could be seen with his mouth bared, as Hyacinth began to whimper, before Sombron grabbed Hyacinth's chin to make him look him in the eyes. "I want your blood… and I will take it!"
Sombron then transformed into a mist of purple energy, as the group could see a serpentine dragon's figure in it, which had the head and neck of a cobra, with spikes along its sides, as Hyacinth tried to flee, only for Sombron to throw his tail forward, as it had a talon on it that grasped Hyacinth.
Sombron then opened his jaws up, as Hyacinth could only see the gaping abyss down Sombron's own throat, as the Elusian King begged over and over again, before letting out a cry of despair, as Sombron's jaws snapped shut around him, as one of his hands which was left outside the jaws was snapped off with a gush of blood, as the droplets hit the ground, and the hand hit the ground, as Hortensia collapsed, with despair in her eyes.
"By the Divine One…" Alfred remarked, seeing the cruelty that Sombron committed. "He even… killed his own benefactor…"
Mirai, meanwhile, was both afraid and angry, seeing all of this, and seeing the power difference as the fear was turning to anger by each moment, and as it was, subtly, power was swelling up inside her.
"Hahaha! Now that was entertaining!" Veyle cackled. "Truly expected from my own father! Did you see his face? The shock! The betrayal!"
"You wretched…!" Siege exclaimed, before reminding himself he couldn't strike at Veyle for the fact she needed to survive.
"Stop laughing!" Hortensia remarked, before she then grabbed one of Yunaka's knives, as she raised it. "You… You killed my father! I'll make you pay!"
Hortensia then slashed at Veyle, who noticed the attack, as she dodged back, only for her to get nicked across her face, due to Hortensia's anger, as it blew the hood off, as the rest of the group could only look in silence at Veyle's revealed face, as her once calm blue eyes were now a evil red.
"You irritating girl!" Veyle remarked, before she then raised her hand, as a familiar dark circle of flames encircled Hortensia.
"Hortensia, get back!" Siege yelled as he was able to drag Hortensia out of harm's way before Veyle could hit her with her spell.
"Even with all our Emblems… we're not strong enough!" Zendara exclaimed, seeing all this.
"You had to go and ruin my fun… This is why I detest humans." Veyle growled at Hortensia. "But let me be civil this once. I am Sombron's daughter, the Fell Princess. You may call me Veyle. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Veyle…" Alear remarked. "...I see. So you are the one that attacked us back in Lythos Castle… using the body of someone who wished to find her own sibling… you are truly sick…!"
"Oh? Are you deluding yourself that I am someone that you know?" Veyle remarked back.
"Enough idle chatter, Veyle. Take the rings." Sombron growled.
"As you wish, Father…" Veyle declared, as a horde of Corrupted began to manifest bgehind Veyle.
"Everyone, there's no time to stick around for full formalities!" Siege exclaimed. "Full on retreat, full! On! Retreat!" Siege ordered.
However, as the group turned to run, they were suddenly intercepted by four individuals, and three of them were the familiar faces of Zephia, Marni, and Griss, while the other appeared to be a black haired man in hefty silver and blue armor.
"Damn you, Zephia, get out of our way!" Siege yelled.
"Well, well, well. Aren't you and the Divine Dragon in a mighty hurry. Fancy running into you here." Zephia remarked. "Don't go, I haven't given you some of our special hospitality for coming here to greet Lord Sombron."
"You…" Alfred growled.
"And if you concern yourself about the man who lead the attack with me in Firene Castle… he's properly disposed of." Zephia remarked. "After all, he couldn't achieve such a simple task, and expects to live with his tail tucked between his legs. A pathetic wretch like him deserves death. Now, since you know my name… I shall tell you who I am. I am a Mage Dragon of great power… and Lord Sombron's humble servant in all things. As for my companion here… they are like family to me. Together, we are known as the Four Hounds."
"Hah! You tell yourself that. She's a dragon, and the rest of us are humans. Family, she calls us…" Griss scoffed. "The name's Griss, and I'm not the prisoner-taking type."
"Call me Marni. I heard we'd be meeting some royalty today…. But you look like a bunch of losers to me."
'You wretched girl…!" Diamant remarked.
"I am Mauvier. The pleasure is all mine. Lady Veyle has told us much about you. "
"Tch…" Siege growled before noticing Veyle's magic around the Draconic Time Crystal, before he quickly broke the hold and grabbed it, before she could snatch up anything other than that, but noticed she had all their gathered Emblem Rings, minus the Otherworld Emblem Rings. "Veyle's got our Emblem Rings!" Siege exclaimed.
"What!?" Alear exclaimed, before seeing the ring on her hand gone.
"Oh, you seemed to have noticed just now. Shame I can't get the Draconic Time Crystal back… but your Emblem Rings will do." Veyle remarked, before she then raised her hand again, as purple energy flowed from it. "And now, I'll take those Otherworld Emblem Rings."
"No… you won't… you… you… YOU!" Mirai exclaimed, as she was beginning to swell in more power, as the power forced the Otherworld Emblems to manifest.
"You shall not!" Leo remarked, before he then manifested, before Richard felt the ring begin to brand itself onto his hand, as if it was resisting with all of its strength, as Richard held back a wince, as blood leaked from his fingers.
"I will not let you take me away from my heroes!" Mina declared, as she immediately caused her ring on Hortensia's finger to glow golden, as it felt warm in Hortensia's hand, like a divine embrace.
"These are my friends! I won't abandon them!" Fjorm exclaimed as her ring froze itself to Mirai's ring finger, as she was still in the midst of growing in power.
"I shall not abandon a warrior worthy of my power!" Zelgius exclaimed, shrouding his ring in the dark of night to avoid the magic.
"You won't take me from Siege! Never!" Dezna yelled, a demonic hand grabbing on tight as Siege winced in pain only slightly.
"We managed to safeguard the Otherworld Emblem Rings…" Lumera remarked with relief.
"Huh!? Mirai!?" Siege exclaimed.
"I… won't let you… HURT MY FRIENDS ANYMORE!" Mirai yelled, as her power erupted in golden light, as she gained dragon wings of red and blue on her back, as golden sparkles surrounded them, and her hair went from being tri-colored to double-colored, being a mix of golden and blue streaks, as she opened her eyes, revealing a familiar green, as Siege soon broke out in triumphant laughter.
"Hell yes! That's my girl!" Siege laughed.
"What is this!?" Sombron exclaimed, for even he was surprised.
"Time for a little explanation about who I am, to all of you. I'm not just a human like the rest of you. No. I belong to an elite race of warriors from a distant world, who look like humans, but our will to fight and to stand goes deeper and stronger than any normal human. No, I'm not human, I, am a Saiyan. And as my daughter, Mirai got the very same Saiyan genes." Siege smiled. "And as my child of a legendary warrior… she more than qualifies of legendary status. What you all see before you is not just a Divine Dragon… and not just a Saiyan… you all now bear witness… to the Divine Super Saiyan Dragon!" Siege laughed.
Mirai soon glared at Sombron, with eyes green and full of fury, as she charged energy into her palms.
"LET US GOOOO!" Mirai yelled, as she shot an energy blast that split into multiple beams, as it ravaged the cathedral multiple times over, the very attack knocking Sombron into a staggering stance for a moment, as even Veyle had to evade the attack due to its sheer strength. The result was a hole being blown open in one of the cathedral walls, allowing passage into a forested area.
"There! We have our exit! Grab King Morion and let's go before we lose anything else!" Siege exclaimed.
The group all rushed outside, as Mirai was still in her transformed state, panting slightly.
"Hey, kid, you alright?" Siege asked.
"Yeah… that last attack took a bit out of me. But… this power… was I always able to achieve this?" Mirai asked.
"Questions we'll have to answer later. Thankfully, we have King Morion with us and all of our Otherworld Emblem Rings. We can still make gains and get out of here with the devastation you caused for Sombron and others." Siege remarked.
"Marth… I'm sorry…" Alear remarked, with sorrow in her voice.
"We'll get him back as quick as we can, my love. I promise." Siege said. "Right now, since we have the Time Stone, Veyle can't get any rings we get while we're escaping, so let's take what we can get." Siege added.
"To think that wretched child would have been able to ruin my plans…" Sombron growled. "I underestimated that spawn of the Radiant Saviour and the traitor…"
"Father, I shall make them pay for this insult." Veyle declared. "Declare the incantations, and wrest the rings for us. We shall use them to kill their former masters."
"Indeed. With those loathsome Otherworld Emblems with them, the Dark Emblems must be used to ensure their demise." Sombron stated, before focusing on the Emblem of the Hero King, as it floated before his very face, as the others did the same, as the Emblems were all summoned as one, realising their masters were gone.
"...Alear…" Marth remarked, before turning around to see Sombron. "You;... Fell Dragon. You have managed to snatch us from our masters…"
"Indeed, you have been left behind." Sombron mocked. "They have left you behind, because they lack the courage to fight me with my strength returned. You have been abandoned, lost to me. And now, you shall pay the price for them, as I shall make you all destroy the very hope you seek to protect."
"...You lie. They did not leave on their own will or on cowardice." Marth declared defiantly. "I know that you do not have a single Otherworld Emblem in your possession. They shall remain forever out of your reach, and even we shall be reclaimed by them in time. You will not win this day. Medeus has attempted to crush hope in my lands, and so have many more from the other Emblems' world, but they have failed, and you shall fail, no matter what you will do to us."
"Insolence." Sombron hissed. "I shall see if your defiance will hold when I purge the Divine Dragon influence from your very ring, and corrupt it with my own. Shine on, Emblem of Beginnings…"
Marth then felt a stabbing pain through his entire body, as the corrupt influence began to swarm his body and mind, as he felt his entire spirit and mind being split into pieces, as he struggled to keep himself steady, as his own ethereal body began to grow several dark crystals that jutted out of his body, as it was causing dark purple energy to seep across his entire form, as it turned all around it into a dark evil red.
"Provide for us, Emblem of the Holy War." Sombron declared, as Sigurd began to collapse onto his knees, grabbing his shoulder, as the same dark crystals exploded from it. "Care for us, Emblem of Echoes. Heal us, Emblem of Dawn."
As the Emblems succumbed to Sombron's incantation one by one, all in absolute agony, as Marth's consciousness was fading away, as his entire head was the only thing uncorrupted.
'Dezna… Protect the Divine Dragon, and the Radiant Saviour… in my… stead…' Marth thought, before he thought no more, as his transformation was complete.
As Sombron was casting incantations, Morion returned back to consciousness.
"King Morion! Good, perfect timing to be awake." Siege remarked.
"Ugh… did you all win!?" Morion asked.
"No… Sombron's back, and stronger than we thought. We need to make a tactical retreat before things get any worse. This isn't out of fear, but out of necessity. Even you know when to retreat in war, yes?" Siege asked.
"Of course. And if that's the case then so be it, let's retreat, so we can come back twice as hard! Strong of heart, strong of body!" Morion declared.
As they prepared to escape, Dezna appeared as her eyes were towards the ground.
"Dezna… I know Marth was close to you… but-" Siege was about to say.
"I know… but he's still talking to me… he wants me to protect you and the Divine Dragon… and so I shall. We must gather other of the 12 Emblems, and perhaps, even the remaining Otherworld Emblems, to stand against Sombron." Dezna stated.
"I know that well… so-" Siege was about to say when he saw Veyle appear. "Shoot! Veyle's here, we have to move, people!" Siege exclaimed.
"You have nowhere to run, Alear and Siege…" Veyle declared, as Corrupted, as well as wyrms corrupted by Sombron appeared, as they moved forward. "Your Otherworld Emblems will not protect you from the full extent of my hatred. You and all your allies will be killed… by your beloved friends… the Emblems."
Veyle then threw her hand out, as six red lights appeared above her, before they then scattered, as the Emblem Rings manifested on the hands of several Corrupted.
"And I suppose in charity they can have one back, if only to make this more entertaining." Veyle remarked as she noticed she put one right near the group, as Siege took note.
"Right there!" Siege exclaimed. "Without the Draconic Time Stone, Veyle can't get that ring back! It's the Ring of the Young Lion!" Siege exclaimed. "Maybe it's the good Veyle, shining through… I hope so."
Victory: Siege, Richard, or Alear escape
Defeat: Siege, Richard or Alear fall
Special Condition: ?
PLAYER PHASE
"Let me take back the ring." Morion declared. "I deserve to make up for my poor showing!"
Morion then moved forward, before he then attacked the Corrupted, before readying his blade.
"Step forth!" Morion declared, before he then used his greatsword to land a spinning slash that destroyed the Corrupted from the sheer force alone, as the Ring of the Young Lion dropped to the ground.
"The Ring!" Alear exclaimed, as Morion picked it up, before then throwing it in a fast pitch, as Richard caught it, and handed it over.
"Incant it! Before Veyle pulls another trick!" Richard declared.
"Rise up, Emblem of Binding!" Alear chanted, as Roy appeared, back to normal.
"What… What happened…" Roy remarked. "I was under Sombron's influence as a Dark Emblem… and then I am here… Did… Did I harm you, Divine Dragon?"
"No, we managed to save you… but the others…" Alear remarked, seeing the distant Corrupted, with the Dark Emblems.
"...I think that I'm the only one you can rescue…" Roy remarked. "...It's a harsh bitter truth to swallow, but I know that my return is a sign that you will have them returned to your hand. Your life takes precedence over all of us. We can survive as we are… without you, we will remain forever as Dark Emblems."
Mirai would look back at Veyle, then down at her own form as she soon had eyes of determination, and dashed for Veyle.
"Mirai! What are you doing!?" Siege exclaimed.
"Gonna try to knock sense into Veyle!" Mirai exclaimed.
"You're not going alone!" Richard exclaimed. "I can feel that Veyle is weaker than she could be… considering that my purification must have caused some internal conflict that weakened her… but we don't know how much."
"We'll cover you!" Mokou declared, as Geina, Nihilister, Mokou and her engaged the Corrupted Wyrms and the nearby corrupted, while Alear and the natives began to move south.
Mirai soon engaged Veyle, as she was in her father's Super Saiyan stance.
"Veyle… I know you're in there… I know it… please, please come back to us all! To mom, to dad!" Mirai pleaded.
"You would attack me, just to make an appeal to me? How brave, and foolish." Veyle smirked. "I shall make you the first to die by my hand, since you are so willing to step before me. I will make Alear fall in despair, when she sees your very corpse in my hands."
Veyle then threw her spell forward, as Mirai was able to dodge the attack, before hitting Veyle with her spear, which managed to do decent damage, although it merely ticked Veyle off.
"Mirai, stand back!" Richard remarked, before he then rushed forward, as Leo manifested by his side. "...Mirai is appealing to that other 'you' that you hate so much. But I condemn you, the one who took her away. You WILL return the Veyle that you have imprisoned under lock and key. She deserves a better life than you shall send her through."
"Such heroics. I'll be sure to echo them right to the Radiant Saviour, who holds you close." Veyle remarked.
Richard then immediately used Rexaura again, sparing no effort to knock some sense in Veyle, as the attack caused Veyle to tumble back, before she then threw her spell forward, as Richard braced himself, before the pillar of dark flames sent him flying back, as he skidded across the ground.
"That was nearly a fatal blow…" Leo remarked. "You need to escape here… She will kill you if you fight her again."
"She won't be fighting anymore." Richard remarked with a weak smirk, as Veyle slowly rose up.
Veyle was about to attack, before she then grabbed her head, as if some sort of extreme pain coursed through it, as she cried in agony, before her eyes snapped open.
"The bandage… The bandage…" Veyle remarked, as she was speaking in a trance, as one of her eyes was blue, while the other was red. "Alear… bandaged me…"
"Be silent! You exist as a mere spyglass into this world!" Veyle roared, as her eyes returned both to red for a moment, as her words were directed to her other self.
"No! I won't let you hurt them!" Veyle's other self declared, as her eyes turned blue for a moment.
"Veyle!" Mirai exclaimed with a smile upon seeing the blue eyes.
Veyle then screamed in agony, as a dark aura surrounded her head, as she thrashed about, only for her to recover, although she looked fairly fatigued.
"Damn you… What did you do to me!?" Veyle cursed.
"I made that loathsome self you hate so dearly, much more stronger than before." Richard answered back. "I told you, you will return her, because you're not just fighting on the outside, but within your own mind against her. And she will not relent!"
"This… this is not over! I will purge her from my mind, no matter what it takes! I will be Sombron's loyal daughter!" Veyle declared, before she then warped away, as the Dark Emblem Rings were taken with her.
Framme noticed the condition that Richard was in, as she immediately moved forward, and used a Warp Staff to bring Richard behind allied lines, as Jean moved over with his Recover Staff.
"Here, some aid for you." Jean told Richard, as he healed him cleanly.
"Thank you, Jean. Once again, you saved my life." Richard told Jean with gratitude.
ENEMY PHASE
The Corrupted to the south began to advance against Alear's fleeing group. However, without the aid of the Dark Emblems that Veyle could have given them, they were far too weak to do any notable damage, and some were killed on the counter.
At the same time, the Four Hounds appeared, as they bore 4 of the 5 stolen Emblem Rings, one for each of them.
"It seems that they have managed to drive Lady Veyle away…" Mauvier remarked.
"Hehehe, looks like girlie here is gonna be my first victim." Marni remarked, seeing that Mirai was ahead of them.
"Orders are orders. I just hope that girl will be able to get a few good slices on me." Griss remarked.
"None of you will escape, by Lady Veyle's command." Zephia declared.
"You think you can take me on, all four of you!? I dare you, bring it on!" Mirai taunted.
PLAYER PHASE
"Mirai! I know that you can handle them, but do not be lenient! Use the terrain!" Richard exclaimed. "Four against one is not a fight that you want to have on the enemy's terms!"
"Right, right! And I can even help myself here." Mirai remarked, moving back slightly, before Engaging with Fjorm, as it bolstered her aura with icy snowflakes, with the same halo on her back, and golden hair and eyes as well, the blue aura now replaced with ice deep blue, as Ice terrain appeared.
Fjorm Engage Skill: Ice of Nifl - Makes icy terrain in a 2 tile radius. Enemies that step on it slide in the direction they step on it for 3 tiles after they leave the ice. Any enemy that slides into the unit this Emblem is equipped to is immediately attacked with the unit's current equipped weapon, as if they have suffered Break, regardless of weapon advantage. Doesn't affect fliers.
"Alright, I assume that you got this handled." Richard stated. "But still, Geina, Mokou, cover her flanks!" Richard ordered.
"Yeah, get out of here, Richard." Mirai remarked.
Richard nodded, before using a Rewarp staff in order to rejoin the front-lines, as the allied group began to advance further.
Meanwhile, as their progress triggered an ambush, a large number of enemies were cutting the group off at their escape route, with numbers enough to even delay them with the use of their Emblems.
"More enemies! How are we going to get out with the time Mirai is buying us…" Siege remarked.
Suddenly, the familiar flapping of wyvern wings was heard, as Ivy and her retainers appeared, and approached Alear and Siege, with Hortensia and her own retainers near enough to see it.
"Ivy!" Hortensia remarked with absolute relief. "You're really… really alive!"
"The Divine Dragon's and Radiant Saviour's forces…" Ivy remarked, before noticing Hortensia with them. "...And they even managed to persuade Hortensia to come with them. Good, I was afraid that we wouldn't catch them in time."
"And it seems that they have been chased, and lacking many of the Emblems that they possess… It is not a good outlook for them, despite the fact that they evened the odds slightly to avoid making this a dire battle." Kagetsu remarked. "Let's get them the rings we have."
"I have returned, Princess Ivy." Zelkov remarked, appearing beside Ivy. "Unfortunately, I could not take the sole ring that Sombron's daughter held. It seems that she is in internal conflict, since she speaks to herself. I barely managed to avoid being cast to oblivion by the grace of her own lack of focus. I did, however, manage to retrieve Elusia's Otherworld Ring in the chaos."
"I see." Ivy answered back, before he then collected the rings, before heading for Siege and Alear with rings in tow.
"Princess Ivy! Why are you here?" Alear asked Ivy.
"I wanted to try, one last time, to change my father. I was too late, as I assumed from the dark presence in the cathedral." Ivy answered back. "He is certainly dead, if Sombron is as cruel as he is depicted. But I have managed to acquire both Elusian Emblem Rings, as well as the Otherworld Ring that was hidden within the halls of the cathedral, before it fell in the dragon girl's possession."
The rings shown were the Rings of the Lady of the Plains, the Princess Exalt, and Salvation.
"You… You are willing to turn against your own country for us?" Alear asked with concern.
"Right now, Elusia is nothing but Sombron's puppet. What I am doing is preserving Elusia, by allying with you to take it back from Sombron." Ivy answered back. "For my kingdom, for my father. This is the only course of action. I know that this isn't enough to atone for all my hostilities, but… I sincerely hope it is enough to broker some forgiveness."
"Ivy… we are glad to have you with us." Siege remarked with a smile. "For now, this boon will give us even more of an edge in the fight ahead. Inspire us, Emblem of Salvation!" Siege exclaimed.
Being summoned from the ring was a man wearing a black jacket, complete with blue jeans and sneakers as he soon shot out flaming attacks, before blowing out his finger and smirking.
"I am Emblem Kyo Kusanagi. I guess you all need some help." The man spoke. "Let my fires of salvation cleanse the evil of this land!"
"Kyo… That's an interesting pick." Siege mused.
"I shall activate both rings." Alear stated, before taking the Ring of the Princess Exalt in her head. "Reignite us, Emblem of Awakening!"
Lucina was then summoned by her side, as Alear noticed the similarities that the Exalt had with Marth, in her original Emblem form.
"My name is Lucina." Lucina declared. "I understand that the Hero-King was your partner. I cannot replace him… But I can aid you. I strive to be a light in the dark, a light for all who have fallen to despair. For now, we can only escape. But as long as we survive, hope will survive."
"Sweep Across, Emblem of Blazing!" Alear declared, as the Ring of the Lady of the Plain glowed, before Lyn appeared, in her original Emblem form as well.
"I'm Lyndis. Just call me Lyn. Ready to turn this battle around?" Lyn told the group.
"Alright. We're at least out of the red zone. Three of the 12, and six Otherworld Rings." Siege mused.
"And Sombron only got five, with our retrieval of Roy." Richard answered back. "We have the advantage, and we will press it further when we acquire the remaining rings."
"Right. Let's focus on getting out. Nihilister, catch!" Siege exclaimed, as the Ring of Salvation went to Nihilister as she caught the ring and slid it on.
"Oh yeah, burning away foes with the power of salvation! I'm game!" Nihilister smirked.
With Ivy's allegiance and more rings on their persons, the group pushed on to the exit.
ENEMY PHASE
"Come on! Bring it!" Mirai taunted the Hounds as she had Fjorm's axe, Nifl's Bite, equipped to counter anyone who decided to attack her distantly.
"Oh, this one is smart!" Griss remarked, before he then summoned a Dark Emblem copy of Celica. "I can't wait to make it hurt, so that she can hurt me even harder back!"
Griss then disappeared, before he then nailed Fjorm with a powerful Warp Ragnarok, as Mirai summoned an ice barrier that rose to defend against the attack, as the magic blow hit the barrier.
Fjorm Skill: Ice Mirror - When receiving a range attack, damage is reduced by a flat 50%. If unit can counter, unit strikes back with the absorbed damage added to the attack.
Griss then reappeared, before noticing that his warping counted as movement, as he was right in front of Fjorm, causing him to slide into her swinging range. Instead of being afraid, Griss looked fairly eager.
"That's right! Hurt me real hard like I did with you!" Griss declared with passion.
"God… I'm fighting a masochist…" Mirai said as she hit Griss dead on with the swing of her axe, hearing his laugh as he got hit, as he was sent skidding back across the ice with a great wound. "I don't know how to feel about that…"
Mirai had to shake it off, because she knew Griss wouldn't be the only one attacking. And even with the barrier, she had taken slight damage.
"That felt good! But not good enough…" Griss remarked, before he slowly rose up, and retreated from the field.
"Anyone else want a shot?" Mirai taunted, looking at the other Four Hounds.
"Tch, that terrain of hers has us on a disadvantage…" Zephia remarked in annoyance. "But I am in flight, and so I shall face her. The rest of you, ignore her. Go for the others."
"Understood, Zephia." Mauvier stated, before regarding Mirai. "...You have forced me into a state where I cannot join the battle. You have indeed inherited some of your father's own wiles."
"Bah… Now I can't get you. But if I'm quick, I can get your friends!" Marni remarked.
"Lay a hand on them and you'll find yourself in a grave!" Mirai yelled at Marni.
"Your foe is me, little dragonling." Zephia remarked, before she flew over the ice, as she summoned Marth by her side. "Besides, wouldn't you want to try and retrieve your mother's beloved Emblem Ring back?"
Zephia then attacked, as her experience proved formidable, when she used a Levin Sword to land a lightning-infused slash on Mirai, which did fair damage, despite being empowered by her Engage, while Marth's attack damaged her as well.
"Damn…!" Mirai cursed as she got hit, but soon got enraged. "I'll NEVER lose!" Mirai yelled, as her critical proc'd as she used the ax to knock Zephia off balance, before…
"Kamehame… HA!" Mirai yelled, using the attack her father had taught her to blast Zephia, which sent her and her wyvern into the air.
"Urgh… and I was trying to be merciful to you. I'll be sure that Lady Veyle know of how much power you have." Zephia remarked, before turning away, due to being wounded severely from the attack. "We will meet again, spawn of the traitor. Oh, we shall."
"I think you're missing something~" Mirai taunted… before holding up Marth's ring.
"What!?" Zephia remarked, before looking at her own bare hand. "You…!"
"Fell off when I blasted you. You really need to keep a better hold of these things. Oh wait, seems that you have ways to steal it from us.. But you don't have ways to safeguard us from taking it back ourselves, unlike how I made the Otherworld Emblems fight against Veyle's attempt to take them! Anyways, my job's done!" Mirai giggled.
"...Damn you…" Zephia growled, before flying away.
PLAYER PHASE
"Richard! I need a Warp!" Mirai exclaimed.
"Let me get in position!" Richard remarked, before he then moved in range to use the Warp Staff, using himself as a relay point to get Mirai from more than half the battlefield away near Siege and Alear again.
"Mirai, you're safe! Are you alright, after fighting those Hounds…" Alear asked with concern.
"Yeah! I'm okay! And look what I got back!" Mirai exclaimed with glee and handed Marth's ring to Alear.
"Marth!" Alear exclaimed, before she then swiped the ring from Mirai's hand in a haste. "Shine on, Emblem of Beginnings!"
Marth then reappeared, as he was back to normal again, as there was a smile.
"It seems that my prayers have been answered…" Marth remarked. "I am truly glad that I managed to return to your side before they could use me against you."
"Atta girl, Mirai! Way to go!" Siege smiled, patting Mirai on the back. "Now! We can get out of here!"
Siege soon charged through a Corrupted guarding the exit, as Alear occupied its space.
"All units! Full retreat!" Siege yelled.
"Argh, they're getting away!" Marni whined.
"Do not pursue them. We have already lost two of Sombron's Emblem Rings in this skirmish alone…" Mauvier warned Marni. "He will be most displeased about this result."
STAGE CLEAR
MVP: Mirai and Fjorm
"Follow my lead. I know a way out of this area." Ivy informed the group.
"Hey, this is the way to Solm, isn't it?" Zendara exclaimed, recognizing the path.
"That is correct." Ivy answered back. "For Hortensia's sake, we must seek refuge in their kingdom, as it is the only one that is still fairly untouched by Sombron's schemes."
"Well, I wouldn't mind sharing some banter with the good Queen herself! Hohoho!" Morion laughed heartily.
"Father, we made it out of this… all safely." Alcryst remarked with hope in his voice.
"We were so close to losing you…" Diamant declared. "But it was thanks to the miracle that both the Divine Dragon, and the Radiant Saviour… No, them and their shared child, that we managed to come out of this with a ray of hope in these dark times."
Siege noticed Alear's downtrodden look, despite their good fortune, as he suddenly held her hand in comfort. "What's wrong, Alear?" Siege asked. "Please, you can tell me."
"I'm still fairly afraid of what Sombron can do… You tell me that Richard is a magician with only a few peers of his own level, right?" Alear asked. "...To think that a spell of his, which I assume is one of his strongest against a Fell Dragon like Sombron… was barely enough to pierce the barrier, but not enough to be able to harm him through it… Sombron is no less powerful than he was before."
"That I can concur." Lumera stated solemnly, before determination run through her face. "But this time will be different. I still remember what has led to his sealing. Perhaps you have grown stronger than before, Siege, and your allies are a boon that we never had since our last war. For the first time, we can do more than simply stall his warpath."
"Indeed, look at the good fortune we have as well." Siege remarked. "We have recovered 4 of the Emblems, and even have 6 of the 8 Otherworld Emblems. That in of itself means we possess half of all the rings. Richard was right. We have the advantage. So let's use it." Siege added.
"Siege… Mother… you're right." Alear stated, as her mood lightened up.
Hortensia then grabbed Ivy in a great hug, as she bawled into her own big sister's chest.
"Ivy…! I've missed you! I'm sorry for trying to be better than you! I just wanted to be useful!" Hortensia sobbed.
"My poor sister, Hortensia. None of this is your fault." Ivy soothed her own little sister.
Alcryst looked at the scene, as his own hatred for Ivy and Hortensia began to evaporate, upon seeing that the two royal sisters cared for each other as much as he did for Diamant.
Ivy noticed that Alcryst was looking at her with conflicted eyes, before she then let go of Hortensia. "...You do not forgive me truly yet…" Ivy stated.
"Princess Ivy… As much as I should hate you for the fact that your interference stopped us from getting to Father's aid, even with the Divine Ones' help… you did help us not once, but twice." Alcryst admitted. "I admit that I cannot forgive you so quickly, but after seeing all of this… I believe that hating you would be illogical, for the good you have done for us."
"If you dislike me, you are free to do so. I merely am regretful that I couldn't stop the ritual, both for Elusia, and for my father's sake." Ivy answered back.
Meanwhile, Mirai suddenly reverted to normal, panting as Siege recognized it and smirked.
"Tuckered out, kiddo?" Siege asked Mirai.
"Yeah… yeah, a lot…" Mirai remarked.
"We'll have to work on training your stamina a bit. Until then you rest up while we travel to Solm, okay?" Siege suggested.
"Okay, dad." Mirai tiredly smiled.
"Everyone, I must speak." Alear stated, before stepping in the centre of the group. "This may seem like a defeat to us, but while we have lost the battle, the war is far from over. We have managed to snatch several long-term victories, retrieving back two of our friends before they could be beyond our help for a long time. We have managed to inspire justice in Veyle, who is Sombron's own direct priestess, which can hamper his efforts. Not only that, but not one of our allies have fallen. King Morion lives still, and Hortensia and Ivy stand united as part of our alliance, to represent the Elusia they wish to save. We will one day bring back all of the Emblems, and with their combined power, we will defeat Sombron. All I ask is your faith in me."
"You know I am. Let's turn the tables on them." Alfred declared with a raised fist. "We will not let them take any more Emblem Rings."
"For what they have done to Brodia, I shall make them pay dearly." Morion stated. "And I will do it alongside all of you. You have my blade, as well as my sons'. Am I right!?"
Diamant and Alcryst nodded in agreement together.
"I shall help you too, if you'll have me still." Ivy stated.
"And if Ivy cannot come with, then take me at least!" Hortensia exclaimed. "After all, this army needs a little more cuteness and some Elusian royalty to make the alliance of the three kingdoms official!"
"Hey! The cuteness was my thing!" Anna pouted.
"I may not be Solm royalty, but I am a representative of Solm. And I stand with you." Zendara spoke.
"You will have our aid to the last breath, Divine Dragon Alear." Richard declared genuinely, with a hand to his chest. "We will not give up on this world, and the countless lives on it, no matter what comes before us. Sombron is a formidable threat, but nothing more. His hubris in underestimating our power shall be his downfall, as with the same on foes that are much more alike than you would imagine."
"I shall stay with you no matter what, my child." Lumera answered back. "I will not turn my back to the suffering of Elyos as long as I draw breath."
"Thank you, everyone." Alear declared. "Now, to the queendom of Solm. We march now, for Sombron shall not rest as long as we are alive to defy him."
The group then boarded the Somniel, as they headed for the desert-like lands of Solm.