"Okay…so what's the plan here?" Sally asked.
"I guess we can't just go up there and knock him off?" Riolu asked.
"No. At least not yet. He would have…" Ainz said, pinpointing something. "Yes. That makes sense. As Hermit mentioned he's created a powerful barrier. But lucky for us, it's only being generated from two different points. If we destroy them, we can bring down the barrier."
"Hmm…he's not going to leave any of those points unguarded though." Shun said.
"Yes. Our counterparts will likely be guarding one of them." Zelestia said.
"Mauvier, Marni, Madeline, Zelestia, Gregory, Veyle, you six doing okay over there?" Zi-O asked. "This is going to be the last time we'll be facing Zephia and Griss. What are your thoughts?"
"While I may feel guilty slaying a fellow Mage Dragon, she can't be allowed to continue causing harm to innocent lives." Zelestia said.
"Yeah. There is no hope in reigning them in like with Mauvier and Marni. We don't have a choice. We have to take them down." Gregory said. "Speaking of Mauvier and Marni, I am a bit concerned for them. They are their former comrades, after all."
"After seeing how much Veyle was put through by Sombron and Zephia, I will continue being her knight first and foremost just as I've always been, along with protecting Marni too." Mauvier said as he showed a smile to the two.
"Well said, Mauvier. It doesn't matter who I am facing. I will follow you to the ends of the earth!" Marni said.
"When our Mauvier died, I was at a crossroads as to how I would honor his sacrifice." Madeline said. "And I realized that way is to fight alongside this one and put an end to Sombron and his subordinates, no matter who they may be."
"I want to do whatever it takes to stop Papa, and with everyone's help I know we can do it." Veyle said. "Sooner or later, I have to face them. Let's go."
The group soon later arrived in Gradlon which was composed of magma and had lava falls in different parts of it along with glowing orange flowers planted in different parts of the ground.
"This certainly is similar to the Fire Kingdom." Baril said. "Still, the heat seems bearable here at least."
"So what're we even looking for that we need to destroy?" Hilda asked.
"They would be the Fell Dragon Shards." Marth said.
"That's right. And it's nearby!" Veyle said.
"You can sense them?" Lythisea asked.
"I'm a Fell Dragon. So naturally I can sense powerful sources of Fell Dragon Magic." Veyle said.
"She is correct. It is up ahead, but it seems to be guarded." Nel said as Griss and Zephia were seen guarding it.
"Yes. Zephia and Griss." Alear said.
"Well, this is it. No turning back now." Cure Starlight said.
With that, the group faced the Mage Dragon and Sadomasochistic Sage head-on.
"Surprised to see us?" Connor asked. "You should know that Eveyle is gone. Veyle wiped her off the face of the planet."
"And you're next in line to join her." Prometheus added.
"I never thought you'd come out on top, defect." Griss said.
"This will be the last time you call Veyle that." Ace said.
"Before we fight for the last time, why do you follow Lord Sombron?" Geiz asked. "Give us a good reason why. Be honest to us."
"I've done so for a very long time, fully committed to anything he needs." Zephia said.
"What kinda question is that?! I'm here because I wanna be, OK?" Griss said.
"You know what? You don't have to tell us." Cheetah said. "None of that will matter once we are done with you anyway."
"Cheetah is right. We are ending this, right now!" David said.
"Let's do this!" Hope said.
(Cue- Battle with the Four Fiends- Final Fantasy IV)
"Lyn, I apologize, but I won't be using your ring in this battle." Cheetah said.
"You won't? That's a surprise. Who do you have in mind?" Lyn asked.
"...Celica." Cheetah said.
"Ah, I see… You are going to fight Griss, are you?" David asked. "Well, I won't stop you. In that case, I'll take Zephia. You are free to come along if you wish, Zelestia. I might need some backup."
"Of course." Zelestia said.
Cheetah passes off Lyn's ring for the moment, exchanging for Celica's. "I hope you don't mind, Celica."
"I do not. I have a few words for Griss myself." Celica said.
"Then let us band together!" Cheetah said as she Engaged with Celica. She wore the same robes Celine did when Engaged with her. "Now!" she said as she used Warp Ragnarok to teleport to Griss' location. "It's over!" she said as she gathered a large sphere of energy before launching it at Griss.
"Exquisite…" Griss said as he was sent flying before landing on his feet. "So, gonna use Celica against me, are you?"
"It seems fitting. Of the Hounds, you were with her the most." Cheetah said. "I consider it the ultimate irony to be defeated by someone wielding the same ring you yourself used so much."
"Ho-ho… A woman right after my heart." Griss said. "From the look in your eyes, quite literally."
"Celica herself has a few words for you too." Cheetah said.
"Griss… Although the time we spent was when I was tainted with Fell Dragon magic… I will not deny that you have taken quite the care for me during that time. Perhaps… You may not seem all bad after all. Farewell, Griss… I will not forget everything you have done." Celica said.
"Now, enough talk… Let's finish this!" Griss said as he fired a blast of magic at Cheetah.
"Yes. I'll give you all the pain you could possibly want!" Cheetah said as she zipped past Griss' magic blasts as she charged at him. She fired a blast of her own from Celica's Seraphim tome.
"Oh, yeah. Mortal wounds… The really good ones. Can't say no to any of that." Griss said as he fell to the ground near death. "Dying like this…to someone like you… Doesn't feel…so bad."
"Are you certain you wanted to be the one to finish him?" Celica asked.
"Yes… Based on what he said, it was probably how he would have wanted to go out." Cheetah said. "I couldn't possibly say no to that."
"I see. But I am still glad you took me to see him one last time." Celica said. "It seemed fitting that my abilities would end him."
"Perhaps so." Cheetah said. "Ishihara, the rest is on you now. Don't mess this up."
Meanwhile, Zelestia was busy dealing with her own counterpart.
"I must admit, I never once imagined seeing anyone like me working for Sombron." Zelestia said. "It pains me to have to put an end to this."
"Really? Cause I won't miss you one bit!" Zephia said, firing spells at Zelestia who skillfully avoided them.
"Just like Gregory and Madeline's counterparts, we fight exactly alike." Zelestia said. "However…" she said flying in close while charging a spell. "I would never be so cruel to Madeline!" she said unleashing Elthunder at close range as Zephia screamed as she plummeted down to the ground.
"Nice shot, Zelestia." David said as his Engage faded.
"Ugh…so…this is…how it ends." Zephia said weakly.
"I'm sorry. But this has to end. Both Sombron and his evil." Zelestia said solemnly.
"Hmph. Well…let me give you some advice. The other shard…you all will never be able to shatter it lest you fall victim to what guards it." Zephia said as she held out a purple crystal.
"I think we'll take our chances." David said.
"And you…" Griss said to Gregory. "Don't let our Mauvier die like yours did, you hear me…? If you do, I'll claw my way out of hell…and beat some sense into you myself…"
Both hounds were soon lying there close to each other, both lifeless as the others shattered the shard.
"In the end… The hounds were all just castoffs looking for a place to belong." Sectonia said.
"Yeah. Is it weird that I kinda feel bad for them?" Jexi asked.
"I don't think so. If the circumstances were different… Maybe there would've been a chance." David said.
"Agreed." Boss nodded. "A shame it had to end this way. Now, about that crystal Zephia is holding…"
"It's a key. A key to the other shard." Veyle said.
"But…what did she mean by…beware of what guards it?" Zelestia said.
"That's something we'll have to find out for ourselves." Nel said.
"Luckily, it isn't that far off." Ainz said.
"He's right. I can feel its power even from here." Veyle said.
"Lead the way." Simon smirked.
In a distant building in Gradlon, the fell crystal sat in wait. As it did, two hulking figures were on both sides of it with eyes glaring out.
