Script of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Chapter 8

The eighth chapter of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, World Tree, starts to twist alliances as the final climb begins.

This page is divided into sections based on the Events Theater. Scenes not in the Events Theater (such as story quests or unvoiced dialogue) are shown as italic headers and given unofficial titles.

Together with Rex

Pyra and Mythra are in their shared dream of Elysium, both under the tree. It's silent - the bell from before is no longer ringing.

Mythra

It's quiet today, huh?

Pyra

Mm.
That bell... I think it was the sound of our heart.

Mythra

Has it stopped?

Pyra

Mm... It's stopped.

Mythra

But... Something's still ringing out...

Pyra

Yes! So...
...So we have to go now!

Mythra

We've got to be with Rex.

They both nod.

The scene changes. Under an opaque, stormy sky, covered in a green fog, sits a huge, modern city that has been left to age and fall apart for a great many years. In a relatively clear and flat area sits Rex, with Mythra resting on his leg. She moans as she wakes up.

Rex

Mythra...

Mythra

Rex...?

Rex

All in one piece?
I guess if you were injured, I'd be feeling it too...

Mythra

Huh? Yes, I'm OK.

She suddenly realizes the situation and gasps before skittering away.

Mythra
(embarrassed)

W-was I... ...in your lap...
this whole time?

Rex
(unfazed)

Mm. It's like the opposite of when we met.
...By the way, I see you're back to your old self.

Mythra makes a regretful sort of noise.

Mythra

I mean...th-thank you...
I...didn't say anything strange, did I?
Talking in my sleep, or grinding my teeth, or snoring, or... I'm such a terrible sleeper...

Rex

You snore and grind your teeth?

Mythra

W-well, not always, I-I mean, i-it was just a figure of speech, that's all!

Rex

Hahaha! It's OK.
What with all the fighting and stuff... You were out for the count.

Mythra

R-right... That's good to know...
Where are we...? Where is everyone...?

Rex

We're under the Cloud Sea...
This must be the place us salvagers call... the Land of Morytha.

He stands up. The camera flips around to show there's a powerful swirling updraft in the distance.

Rex

I don't know what happened to everyone else... Over there is where we fell.

Mythra gets up and follows him as he steps towards the edge of the floor and points at the updraft. They look up into the dark sky.

Mythra

From all the way up there...

Rex

Looks like there's some kinda powerful updraft coming from below...
It saved us. I wonder if it caught the others too.
I'm sure it did.

Mythra

Yeah...

Rex

Still OK? Let's get our bearings and then go look for them.
We need to find a way out of here...

Mythra

Any ideas?

Rex

Over there.

Rex points around a slab of rubble.

Mythra

Are those...the World Tree's roots?

We'll have to take her word for it, it's way too dark to actually see anything.

Rex

Yeah... I bet there's a way up there.

Mythra

There has to be. I'm good to go. Let's move!

Rex

Uh, how's Pyra?

Mythra

She's sleeping. Shall I call her?

Rex

Nah, let her sleep. She's been through a lot.

Mythra
(genuinely)

You're too kind.

Rex
(revving up)

Rule five of the Salvager Code!
Always be-

Mythra
(walking away)

I don't think we need to hear it.
C'mon! Let's go!

Rex

Heeey! At least let me finish, spoilsport.

He chases her down the cobbly hill she's decided to descend, as they proceed to start exploring this Land of Morytha.

Coffee with Milk

"Coffee with Milk" redirects here. For the character with this as an unofficial nickname, see Pneuma.

Rex and Mythra come to a Blocked Road. Rex has been telling Mythra about what's happened while she was away.

Mythra

Really... You got to meet Addam?

Rex

Yeah. I mean, it's like I have broken bits of memory about him.
Addam told me something.
He told me to fight for the things that I wanted to protect.
I made my choice. I fight for you and Pyra.
I mean, I'm still not good enough for you, but...

Mythra

Don't say that.
I've made a choice as well. Not to...live in fear.

They both look up into the sky, or perhaps towards the World Tree (it's dark enough it could be anything).

Rex

Hey, when you transformed before...

Mythra

That form...it's our true nature.
The sword changed, right?

Rex

Uh? Yeah.

Mythra

It's not just physically stronger.
It also lets us control Artifices at will, so be careful.

Rex

Careful?

Mythra

I mean, don't get carried away.

Rex

I-I see...
Which...one of you is it, in that form?

Mythra
(confused)

Which one?

Rex

Deep down...

Mythra

It's not one or the other...it's both at once.

Rex

Like...coffee with milk?

Mythra

What kind of a-
*sigh* Something like that, anyway.

Rex

So you're... Pythra? Myra?

Mythra

It doesn't matter.
Pyra, Mythra, they're both me. Call me whichever.

Rex

OK. Sure.

Rex must now decide whether he's going to be using "Pyra" or "Mythra" whenever he's talking to Pneuma.
The reader may select a name to view the script with, either here or with the SuperSelector at the top of any relevant page. The script will show "[Pneuma]" if neither selection is made, to show that Rex uses the selected name at that point.

Which name will you use?

Pyra
Mythra

Rex

You can transform at will?

Mythra

If I need to.

Rex
(mischievously)

I see...heheh...

Mythra

What? What are you laughing at?

Rex

Well...
I kinda preferred your hair in that form...

Mythra blushes and reels back.

Mythra

It's like that, is it? Ha... You jerk.

Sounds of combat come from the distance.

Mythra

That sound...

Rex

It's the others! C'mon!

♫

Running

Mythra

Yeah.

Desperate Jin

Not far away, Jin is being blasted by a red laser. He looks pretty exhausted.

Jin

Guh! I can't...
I can't lose to these fools!

Jin's opponent is some sort of black humanoid. It looks vaguely like a Common Blade, but its body is misshapen, and it moves like a zombie. Rex and Mythra arrive.

Mythra

Jin?!

Rex

He wound up here too?!

The monster slaps Jin in the head with a pretty meaty whack. He goes "Gah!" and goes down, breathing hard, a faint red mist surrounding him.

Rex

He's still wounded from before?

There's a visible chink in Jin's Core Crystal. Rex goes in.

Mythra

Rex?!

The monster goes for another strike, but it gets blasted and knocked down. Rex steps in front of Jin.

♫

Monster Surprised You

Jin

You?!

Rex

You can't move, right?
I can't just let you die here. Even if you are my enemy!

The monster gets up.

Rex

Mythra!

She reluctantly wanders into frame.

Mythra
(blatant disdain)

If we must...
But don't kid yourself that I think this is a good idea, Rex!

Jin the Flesh Eater

The monster, a Guldo, has been beaten down. Jin stands up.

Jin

But why did you help me... I'm...

Rex

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

He thinks about how Jin looked sad back at the Cliffs of Morytha.

Rex

No...it's nothing.

Jin's eyes narrow as he exhales. Then he grunts and drops to a knee again.

Rex

H-hey!

The Guldo gets back up and advances.

Rex

Wha—?!

This time, it's shot from offscreen by a blast of blue fire, and vanishes.

Rex

Those flames!

Brighid

You've got a lot to learn.

Brighid is up on a ledge high above. Gramps and Poppi are with her.

Brighid

You've got to burn these monsters up.
That, or smash their Core Crystal.
Otherwise, they'll keep coming.

Rex

Brighid! Poppi! Gramps!

Gramps

Rex? Are you OK?

Poppi α

Poppi find friends!

Gramps

B-but...Jin?!

Jin

...

Jin somewhat comically flops forward. He's completely spent.
The new arrivals come down to meet the others.

Rex

Oh really... So you lost Tora and the others?

Poppi α

It's fine! Masterpon is not as soft as he look!

Brighid

It's faint, but I can feel the energy signature of Mòrag's weapons. She must be here too...

Rex

OK! Let's rest up, then go look for them.

Brighid

Hey, Rex. What about that scumbag there?

Apparently they moved Jin to be face-up on the ground.

Rex

Ah... I think I beat him up pretty bad in that fight.
I couldn't just leave him to die.

Gramps

I thought it'd be something like that...

Brighid

Ah... Your sweet, bleeding heart!
So. What are we going to do?

Rex

Uh...
Mythra, maybe you could, uh...

Mythra
(unhappy about it)

Fine! Whatever! Gimme a sec...

She turns into Pneuma and kneels down to hold her hand over Jin's face. With a flash, the chink is gone from his Core Crystal.

Brighid
(quietly impressed)

Incredible! What awesome power you've acquired!

Pneuma

This is the power of the Master Blade!
The Master Blade possesses the data of all Blade cores.
!!
This is...?!

Rex

What's wrong?

She stands up and reverts to Mythra.

♫

The Past Revealed

Mythra

His heart... It's a human heart!

Rex makes a faint "Uh?".

Mythra

He's...
...a Flesh Eater!

Somehow she seems surprised by this reveleation, like having a blue Core Crystal turn red and outliving his Driver wasn't enough of a clue.
Jin then wakes up. He sits up and is thrown for a loop that his crystal is repaired.

Jin

W-what... What did you do to me?

Rex

Easy. You'll be fine.

Mythra

It's not perfect. So be careful with it.

Jin

Mythra...

Mythra

My name... You still remember it, do you?
I guess that makes sense. You never did return to your crystal, did you?

Jin makes an uneasy noise.

Brighid
(smoldering)

You're a lucky man, Jin.
You've been given the second chance you denied to many brave Ardainians.
I doubt your luck would hold up so well if Mòrag were here!

Rex

Mythra... Didn't you and Jin...?

Mythra

Yes. We fought together against Malos, once.
That's why I need to know...
Why? Why did you take Malos's side?

Jin

You really want to know?
You only think you do. If you knew, it'd destroy you too.

Mythra

I can guess.
And I can tell you... It didn't lead me to the same conclusion as you.

Jin makes a very quiet huff.

Mythra

Lora... She's in there, isn't she?

Jin gasps softly.

Rex

With everything you've done, we can't forgive you.
And if you're going to keep standing in our way in the future,
keep trying to destroy the world, we will stop you.
But, right now...

Jin

Naive kid.
This is the Land of Morytha. And it's a place of more wickedness than you can imagine.

Rex

You know it?

Jin

This land was destroyed long before Alrest existed.
The birthplace of the Architect.
That's what Malos said.

Rex

The...Architect's...

Mythra

Jin...
I know full well there's no easy way to change your mind.
But hear me out.
Let's regroup, and climb up the World Tree.
Call it a ceasefire until then, OK?

Jin

A united front?
As you wish...
...It's not like I could take you on in this state anyway.

An Uneasy Alliance

Jin is officially On The Team, for now.

Rex

So...where do we go from here?

Mythra

Well, there's no point heading back, so I guess we just press on?

Rex

I guess so... Forward is the only way.
We'll just have to head over that fallen building.

Brighid

We may have him with us, but he's not in the best shape, and we have fewer fighters around than we're used to.
We should exercise caution as we proceed.

A Break in the Unknown

The party has spent some time nagivating around the rubble, and now come to another clear spot.

Poppi α

Time to take break?

Brighid

I think it might be.
Much as I would like to find Lady Mòrag without a moment's delay, it's not wise to overexert ourselves.

Poppi α

Rex in particular is only Driver we have right now, so would be dangerous for Rex to tire self out.

Rex

I wouldn't say I'm worn out just yet...
But you're probably right. Better to be safe than sorry.

Mythra

Jin... Do you think this area seems safe enough?

Jin

Yes. I don't sense any hostile presence.

Rex

Then breaktime it is!

A Promise

The party is taking their break. Jin, naturally, is sitting apart from everyone else. Brighid walks over to him.

Brighid

Can I have a word?

Jin makes a noncommittal grunt.

Brighid

I'm Brighid. But I hardly needed to introduce myself to you, did I?

♫

Contrition

Brighid

You must know practically all there is to know about me by now.

She holds out her journal.

Brighid

The stuff in here... The old me, the me you knew...
Is this journal the truth?

Jin

...

Brighid

I need to know if I can trust what I wrote in here.

Jin recalls finding the book in the old building.

Jin

If you knew... You think it would change anything?

Brighid

Explain.

Jin

The Brighid I knew... Well, you aren't her.
It's like talking to a whole new Blade.

Brighid

Makes sense. There's no going back to who I was.
But, I still need to know.
I want to know what I did, what I really thought...
And... It seems wrong to just forget about the people who were important to me before...
I need to remember them.

Jin makes another indistinct sound.

Poppi α

Jin! Please tell!

Poppi has wandered over. Jin has not been meeting Brighid's eyes (...as much as anyone can), but he looks at Poppi.

Poppi α

Really, Poppi is only just born. Doesn't know much!
But, even Poppi knows, stories of old Drivers very important!
Very precious indeed!
Memories of Masterpon very important.
Poppi always thinks, "must make many more Masterpon memories"!

This brings a new memory to Jin's mind. Surrounded by a bunch of people, Addam pins a medal on Lora's chest. The crowd applauds.

Lora

So, I'm officially a Tornan Driver now.

She looks at Jin.

Lora

OK... Let's make some memories!

In the present, Jin looks down and sighs instead of answering.

Jin

...

The scene skips ahead. Everyone but Poppi appears to be asleep. She waves a hand in front of Jin's face to confirm it, then scampers off. Mythra wakes and notices. Poppi places herself at the edge of a broken road and stares into the distance at the broken skyscrapers. Mythra catches up.

Poppi α

Very quiet...

Mythra

It is.

Poppi α

Poppi think...this world achieved very big technological advancement.
Many buildings. Many people.

♫

Sea of Clouds

Poppi α

Everybody...probably very happy here.
But...

Mythra
(disillusioned)

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

Poppi α
(worried)

Poppi was made by technological advancement too!
Will Poppi...
...destroy the world as well?

Mythra

That's my problem, too.
If this world is Father's world...
...then Father made me to be as dangerous as any technology.

Poppi α

Poppi and Mythra are the same?

Mythra

Yes. Kinda.

Poppi α
(anxious)

But if... If Poppi destroys the world...
...Masterpon might get destroyed too...
Maybe Mythra should destroy Poppi?

Mythra

Poppi...
Tora created you. You could never do something like that. I know it!

Poppi α

But...!

Mythra has a "hmm".

Mythra

Hey. Let's make a promise.

Poppi α

A promise...?

Mythra

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

Poppi α

What would you like from Poppi?
Mythra is scared of destroying the world too?

Mythra

Well, I'm doing to my best to stop it coming to that. It's something else...
It's...

She suddenly looks unsure.

Poppi α

Hmmm?

Mythra

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

Poppi α
(now excited)

Of course!
Then let's promise!

Poppi raises her hand into the air.

Mythra

What's this?

Poppi α
(hopping excitedly)

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

Mythra

I see...

Mythra raises her hand. Poppi jumps up and they high-five.

Next Step to the Tree

Break time is over.

Mythra

I think we're all rested enough. Let's move out.

Rex

We're slowly but surely getting closer to that World Tree...

Poppi α

Poppi just hope Masterpon and others also heading for World Tree...

Mythra

Hoping is all we can do on that front.

Rex

Even if we don't meet up with them on the way, I think we should wait a while at the base of the Tree.

Brighid

That does seem best.

The camera blinks and people are standing in different positions.

Jin

What's the holdup? Are we leaving or not?

Mythra

I'm coming, I'm coming!
Honestly, the nerve of this guy...

Brighid

It looks like the next stage of our journey will have to be through that opening.

She presumably means the tunnel ahead.

Rex

Yeah... Let's get moving!

Do or Die

Passing through Great Wall Tunnel No. 8, the group finds a large congregation of Guldos.

Poppi α

So many many...

Rex

Mythra?!

Mythra

There's no way around...

Rex

Yeah...

Jin decides to just walk at them.

Rex

Ack!

♫

Monster Surprised You

Jin draws his sword.

Jin

No time to play around.

Rex

No arguments there...

Brighid

No option but to wipe them out. Let's do it!

Rex nods as they ready up.

Torna's Titan

The group is done with the Guldos.

Rex

I didn't know there were monsters like that...

Gramps

Nothing like Alrest, for sure.
They've got a rotten knack of healing themselves...

Brighid

Almost like...Blades...

Jin

I dunno, but...maybe they're leftovers from the culture that created us.
This is the Architect's world. I guess nothing should come as a surprise.

Rex

I wonder what kind of a person he is...

Mythra

I didn't get to meet him.
I mean, I have fragments of memories, blurred images...
That's why I want to meet him.

Rex

To create this awesome civilization...
I can't imagine.

Jin
(disgusted)

Awesome? This?

Rex

Huh?

Jin

It's a heap of smashed-up crap. Look at it.

♫

With People and Darkness

He turns towards the side of the tunnel. It looks like part of the wall was melted long ago, cooling and hardening before getting too far inward.

Jin

It was melted by a warhead or something.
All that's buried here is the hubris of mankind.
If the Architect was born here, then he must be as flawed as any other.
No different from you people of Alrest...

Rex

Why do you hate us so much?
What is it that you think we've done?

Jin turns towards Rex, but instead of answering, spots something in the distance.

Rex

Jin!

Jin

That...That's...

He's looking out of the tunnel, where they were heading towards. It's difficult to make out what he's seeing in the distance - there's just patterns, no identifiable shapes - but it's more organic-looking than the skyscrapers.

Jin

Torna...

Elsewhere, the Monoceros is diving under the Cloud Sea. Akhos and Patroka are at the consoles they manned in the previous chapter, so this must be the Monoceros's bridge. Mikhail is at the controls. Malos is idling at the back. They must be pretty deep, given it's very dark, alarms are going off, and things are creaking menacingly.

Mikhail

Gah!

Patroka

Mikhail! This is bad!

Mikhail

Akhos! How deep are we?

Akhos

28,000 peds!
We're nearly at the limit already!

Patroka

It's too much! Any more and we're...

Mikhail

We're nearly out of the Cloud Sea! Just hold out a bit longer!

Patroka

Yeah, but-

Mikhail

What about Jin?
Are we just going to abandon him?

Patroka

Well, I mean...

The ship continues to shake.

Mikhail

Just a little... Just a little bit more...

The clouds on the viewscreen thin out. Skyscrapers become visible.

Mikhail

We're out!

The Monoceros hovers through the Land of Morytha's sky. The crew is in awe.

Patroka

This is the Land of Morytha...

Akhos

First time I've seen it...

Mikhail

Yeah. Wouldya look at that.

Malos
(the party crasher)

It's nothing to shout about.
Just a bunch of ruins.

Mikhail

Malos?

Malos

A testament to their hubris.

Mikhail

Their hubris?
So...humans lived here...?

Malos
(smug about it)

Alrest will suffer the same fate.

Akhos

So that's why Jin...

Mikhail

Is it really justified?

Patroka

What are you sayin'?

Mikhail

I know why Jin wants to destroy everything... But...
"everything" can't mean EVERYTHING, can it?

Malos

You're not there yet. That's OK.
You'll understand soon enough.

He walks up and pats Mik on the shoulder.

Malos

Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, huh?

Mikhail

Hmmm...

The Monoceros drifts along.

To See the Past

Jin is still looking out the tunnel.

Jin

I'm going over there.

The camera blinks and he's already almost to the edge of the road.

Gramps

The Tornan Titan... Looks like he's quite eager to see it up close.

Mythra

I think anyone would be curious...

Rex

Come on, let's go with him.

Mythra

Agreed.

Unborn Blades

The party has climbed up to an opening in the body of the Tornan Titan.

♫

Heart in the Fog

Brighid

It's scorched, here and there.

Gramps

Traces of the Aegises' battle, I reckon...

Rex

Must have been some battle...

Mythra

...

They're now close enough to see inside.

Rex

What's...

Inside the cavern are several things that look like huge eggs.

Jin

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

Gramps

I can scarcely believe it myself.

Rex

Matrix... Like a womb?

He gasps as he sees one of the eggs nearby is broken. What looks like a stone-colored Blade lies inside.

Rex

These are...!
Blades?

Poppi α

But...they look quite a lot like Titan too...

Jin

These are Blades that perished in the process of becoming Titans.
Titans grow Core Crystals within their bodies.
I believe you've seen this once before.

Rex remembers how Vandham pulled a Core Crystal out of a Titan once. But how did Jin know he knew that?

Jin

Blades... They aren't truly immortal.
They are born from Titans...
And when their fire burns out... they return to the Titan that bore them.
Eventually, the Blades that return, transform into Titans themselves.

Brighid

Can that be true?
We'll end up like that, eventually?

Mythra pointedly looks away.

Rex

Mythra?

Mythra
(reluctantly)

Yes. It's true.

Jin

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

A Way for Us to Live

♫

Elysium in the Dream

The group finds themselves in a circular room within the Tornan Titan. Its walls are marked with diagrams of how Blades and Titans of varying shapes are related to each other.

Brighid

So Blades are born from crystals, and Titans from Blades...
The Titan, in turn, nurtures life...

Rex

And someday births new Core Crystals.

Mythra

Right. That's the life cycle of a Blade...

Jin

It is the way that the Architect ordained for the world.

Mythra

Old Torna worshiped this cycle.

Jin

In old Torna...

A flashback plays of a settlement with humans and Blades mingling amongst each other in a casual way not seen in the present.

Jin

...we revered the Titans. Feared them.
It was the sacred foundation of Torna. A nation where humans and Blades lived in harmony.

The flashback ends.

Jin

But, humans couldn't live like that.
The battle with Malos marked the end.
It wasn't long after you and Addam left Torna.
He did it... That worm, Amalthus.

Rex

The Praetor?

Mythra

What did he do?

Jin

The one who really destroyed this place? It wasn't the Aegis...
It was him.

Rex

Huh?!

♫

With People and Darkness

Another flashback begins. Humans and Blades alike flee an attacking army, its armed Titans shooting them down with ease. Jin is pulling Lora along awkwardly. The next round of artillery lands right next to them, causing Lora to lose Jin's grip. For whatever reason, her choice of reaction is to turn and stand as if she wants to take a shot for him, and she sure does take one right to the midsection.

Jin

Lora!

He picks her up and they stagger on. The Titans have trouble keeping up as they enter some woods, but another shot is a near miss, blasting the two off their feet. The attackers look around as they reach an overhang.

Indoline

Find them! They must be somewhere nearby!

Under the overhang is a tunnel. Jin has managed to get himself and Lora a good ways into the tunnel. She lays on the ground, with him leaning over her.

Jin

Lora...

Lora

Don't worry...
If I die, you'll just go to sleep...
...Someone will find you... ...reawaken you...someday...

Jin is looking aghast.

Lora

For us humans... Being forgotten is a much worse fate than death.
We struggle...so hard to make our mark...on the world...

She grimaces and falls back.

Jin

Lora!

Lora
(breaking down)

...When you awaken... ...To you, it'll be like I never even existed.
Jin...
the thought of you forgetting me...
It's like one heart is being ripped in two.

Jin starts to emit the "I'm going to stop having a body soon" glow.

Jin

I won't forget you! I refuse to forget you!
How could...I ever...

She puts a hand to his face.

Lora

I thought I was ready for this...
But now the time has come, I'm hopeless...
I'm so sorry to do this to you...

Her hand falters and starts to fall. He grabs it.

Jin

There is one way... One final chance...
A way that we can be together...

He whispers it in her ear.

♫

Walking With You

Lora closes her eyes and makes a very small and slow nod. Jin rears back and plunges his hand into her chest. There's a flash of light. He drops her hand to the ground as his Core Crystal starts to glow red.

Jin

Ugh... Hroarrrggggghhh!

Presumably attracted by the noise, several Indoline warriors find the tunnel opening. Jin stumbles towards them with sword drawn, then runs at them. The violence is skipped but presumably did not last long. Victorius, Jin looks at his hand in horror at what he's done. It starts to rain.

The flashback is over.

Jin

I...
I ate her.

He pulls off his chest cover for a moment. The others gasp, but the audience doesn't get to see - not like it can be much, we saw the gash in his super form's chest. Pyra comes out.

Pyra

Maybe we shouldn't have left. I never knew...

Jin

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

Pyra

...

Jin

No...even if he wasn't trying to get you, Amalthus, the humans...
...would've done what they always do.
We're the Architect's children... We turn into Titans. The ground beneath their feet! But they feared us.

Pyra

So that's the reason he attacked you.

Jin

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

Gramps

So that's why he was taking care of Rex and the Aegis...

Rex

Even so!
Even if that's true.
You lot and Amalthus...you're the same!

He thinks of how Jin's squad killed Vandham and Haze.

Jin

...

Rex

Didn't you say you wanted to destroy the world? Take out the Architect himself?

Jin

I did say that.

Rex

You know, I'm not so sure.

Jin

What...?

Rex

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

Jin

Why do you say that? Haven't we...

Rex

I could tell when we were fighting.
I saw it in your eyes. The sadness.
It was the look of someone who just wanted to die. Someone with no other way out.

Jin makes a small gasp.

Rex

You know... It was the way Pyra looked the first time we met.

Pyra's not sure what to make of this.

Jin
(aggressive mode)

You don't know what you're talking about. Keep your stupid comments to yourself.
You better believe we'll do it.
We will destroy the one responsible for this world.
And we will destroy all the humans who lived by his mercy.
We are sick of being used as tools by humans.

Rex

Well, then, there's only one thing to do.

There's a big crash.

♫

Ophion

A very large, non-humanoid Guldo has entered the room and is approaching.

Jin

As I thought.

Rex

What's that?

Jin

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

Rex

These guys?

Jin

Testaments to human hubris. Now do you see?

Bolt from the Blue

♫

Ophion

Jin suddenly goes down.

Jin

Guaah!

Rex

Jin! Pyra! Use the Artifice!

Pyra

It's no use! The Cloud Sea is interfering. I can't give it commands.

Rex

Damn! So it's all down to us, huh?
Pyra! Move in close if you can get a shot!
Then get Mythra to use Foresight, quick as you can!

Pyra

Understood! Ready to go!

Rex

OK! Let's do it!

Before they can do it, the Guldo is blasted by lightning.

Rex

Lightning? Could it be...?

He turns around to see the whole rest of the party has arrived - Nia, Dromarch, Tora, Mòrag, Zeke, and Pandoria.

Tora

Look, Rex-Rex!

Zeke

Rex! Pyra! You OK?

Nia

Jin?! What the hell?

Rex

That can wait! First deal with that!

Tora

OK!

Nameplate

The giant Guldo has been taken down. The party starts to walk away.

♫

With People and Darkness

Rex notices something small on the ground next to the Guldo. He bends down to pick it up. It looks like some sort of ID badge - a whitish background, a blue stripe, and a front-facing photo of a person's face.

Rex
(unsettled)

Th-this is...

Tora has turned back.

Tora

Rex-Rex? What's matter? Find something?

Rex

Uh! N-no...it's nothing.

Everyone else is up on the upper level of the room.

Tora

We talk about what to do next. Rex-Rex should join!

Rex

Ah...yeah...OK!

Tora moves off. Rex looks back at the Guldo.

Rex

It can't be...

He goes to catch up with the others.
Presumably a short time later, the party is now outside, probably from an exit near where they were discussing.

Tora

Climb up the World Tree to the top? Very very tiring...

Rex

It's doesn't look that far from here to the surface at least.

He looks up at the Tree. It's pretty close now.

Rex

We can manage that, surely?

Nia

Don't you ever quit with that optimism, hmmm?

Rex

Hehehe...

Mòrag

Rex.
I can see why you've brought Jin, but I advise you not to let your guard down.

Jin glares at her.

Rex

Mòrag!

Zeke

Got a point.

Nia

...

Mòrag

I don't need your remorse now, Jin.
But when we're past this crisis, I'm taking you in.
I owe it to my leader and to my people.
If you resist, we'll kill you.
Brighid and I.

Brighid

Yes.

Rex

Mòrag!

He makes to run at her, but Pyra stops him. A low rumble then shakes the ground.

Rex

What? Another monster? What is it this time?

Poppi α

Masterpon! Above!

The Monoceros has found them. It descends slightly.

Nia

It's the Monoceros! Are they here for Jin?

The ship's crew see that Jin is with the good guys, without them fighting each other, and are perplexed.

Akhos

That's Jin. What's he doing with them?

Patroka

Weird. Let's ask questions later, huh?

Akhos gets a call in his ear.

Patroka

After we've finally smashed 'em up.

Akhos
(confused)

Huh? Seriously?
W-Well, OK!

Patroka

Hmm? Jin?

Akhos

Yes...
Don't attack, he says.

Patroka

What?! But it's the perfect chance!

Patroka goes to the controls anyway. One turret pops out of the hull and aims for the party. Rex makes a vaguely concerned "huh." sound.

Jin
(yelling)

I told you not to attack!

An invisible pulse of energy comes out of Jin. Patroka recoils from the controls as if she got shocked.

Patroka

Wah!

The pulse also staggers the rest of the party, all shouting in surprise. Zeke follows up with a "Hngh!".

Zeke

You sly devil. Hid that one up your sleeve, didn't ya?!

Malos
(unconcerned)

No idea why he said that, but he must have his reasons.

Patroka

Huh?

Malos

You can't be too predictable.
Right, Mik?

Mikhail

Sounds like a plan. Never seen that side of Jin before.

Malos

Let's bring him up! Then it's World Tree climbing time!

Akhos

Yes sir!

The scene skips ahead. Jin is now standing on the Monoceros.

♫

Loneliness

Jin

Brighid!

Brighid

Huh?

Jin

You're still...
like you used to be...

Brighid

Jin...

The Monoceros starts to head back up.

Nia

Damn! Arseholes!

Zeke

That's a bit unsporting of them, using a giant boat.

Dromarch

We must hurry! The longer we wait, the bigger their advantage!

Nia

Yeah! We gotta go, Rex!

Everyone starts to run across the long root that leads to the World Tree's trunk. Rex doesn't move, looking away.

Rex

Gramps. You knew, right? About Jin?

Gramps

Indeed.

Rex

Why didn't you tell me?

Gramps

He is not like Malos.
To be honest, I didn't know if you could handle it.
You care too much at times.

Rex

...

Gramps

Jin and Malos must be defeated.
Who knows how that'll turn out.
But facing them is Pyra and Mythra's unavoidable fate.
So I kept quiet.

Rex turns to watch the others run.

Rex

Pyra and Mythra's fate...

Gramps

She shoulders the burden of sustaining your life.
Rex... What burden are you taking for her?
Can you live for something, and hold true to it?

Rex

Yeah. Of course!
I'm living for them. Pyra and Mythra!

Gramps

I see.
Well, I guess you're OK then.
Just be sure to walk your own path, Rex.
Believe in yourself.

People have finally noticed that Rex hasn't budged, and have stopped to yell at him.

Nia

Rex! Old man! What're you doing?

Gramps

Uh...? "Old man"?!

Rex

Sorry! Wait up!

He starts to go after them.

Death Throes of a Titan

Over in Mor Ardain, Niall takes news from a soldier.

Soldier

Your Majesty! Yesterday, we sealed Section 47.

Niall

I see. This is even faster than the surveys estimated.

Soldier

Furthermore, we've detected surges of geothermal energy in the royal precincts.

Niall

So we can't hold out for long. Even here.

Soldier

The ether flow is the lifeblood of the Titan. The temperature is increasing with its age.
Perhaps we should hasten moving the capital to Gormott.

Niall

We've only just recalled the consul.
And with no good explanation to the Gormotti.
We don't want to sow discord for no benefit.

Soldier

It's just, I fear time is running short...

Niall

Indeed, but not only for us.
Gormott is fertile for now...
But the harvests have been declining for years.
It's like a cry issuing up from the center of the world.

He sighs in frustration as he looks out the window.

Soldier

Your Majesty? What is it?

Niall

Nothing... Just my imagination.
My sister... Where are you now?

Back in Morytha, the party looks up as they get closer to the World Tree. There is no visible gap between its trunk and the Cloud Sea. There's an exaggerated full-group gasp.

Nia

The Great Void... It's almost completely gone...

Pyra

After all, the Great Void was Ophion's doing.

Gramps

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

Dromarch

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

Nia

I mean, it doesn't look impossible to climb...
But it's nastier than any mountain, that's for sure.

Pyra

Everyone! Here!

She starts to continue walking closer.

Rex

Pyra?

There's no answer. Bemused, they all follow.
Suddenly the group is walking through a mechanical opening into an artificial structure. For some reason the scene just skipped over any transition. As the party gawks, Pyra is in front of a glowing green pedestal further in.

Rex

The insides of the World Tree... I'd never have thought...

Dromarch

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

Pneuma is summoned. She presses one of the holographic buttons on the glowing green pedestal. A metal shutter opens to reveal another such pedestal in a cylindrical room. She then becomes Pyra again.

Pyra

It seems like we can use this to travel up.

Rex

Up? Pyra... What did you do?

Pyra

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

Rex

Why?

Pyra

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

Rex

Not good.

Brighid

Seems this is some kind of elevator.

Zeke

That's some fancy glazing...

Pandoria

Ooh, you never were good with heights. Shut your eyes!

Pyra

Let's go.

A Promise Kept

Jin is resting in the recovery pod again, in the room with Lora's body.

♫

With People and Darkness

The pod opens. Jin gets out to see Malos.

Malos
(hey buddy)

You can die when we're done.

Jin seems more down than usual.

Jin

We made it this far. I don't plan on giving up.

Malos

Damn. If Judicium hadn't have gone down...
...we might have got you some better treatment.

Jin

Uh-uh.
When human cells are woven into the body of a Blade...
...they awaken strange abilities.
That's good enough for me.
This'll do fine.

Malos

Even though she'd hate you for it... Right?

Jin

I know Lora wouldn't have wanted this.
Even so, I've got to keep my promise.

Malos

All right. I'm with you...all the way.

Jin gets out a smile as he sighs and turns away.

Malos

Hey, Jin. You better not get sentimental.

Jin

I found the ruins of Torna down in Morytha...

Malos
(interested)

Oh?

Jin

There were half-rotted Blades there. Couldn't grow into Titans.

Malos

They must've lived on for a while down there.

Jin

A man once said, 'Live together with the humans.'
Really, we were just living for the humans.
That was what the Architect ordained for us.
And look what we became.

He recalls the cave full of dead Blades in Torna.

Malos

You're still sure about what you want, right?
That thing...

Jin

It's a reminder.
To remind me what a fool I was to ever have faith in the Architect.

They're talking about Lora's body.

Into the World Tree

♫

Land of Morytha

The inside of the World Tree is a foreboding artificial complex. There is no action or dialogue.

Amalthus's Ambition

The party has been moving through the inside of the World Tree. They approach a three-sided bridge. Rex is looking contemplative.

Tora

*sigh* Rex-Rex look worried...
Maybe Rex-Rex lost wallet?

Rex

It's not that.

Tora

Oh! I see! Well, maybe your worry is your wallet's empty.

Rex

Well that's true. I don't work much these days...
Hey... Why are you so interested in my finances all of a sudden?

Zeke

What is up with you, kid? You've been a right gloomyguts lately.

Rex

Mmm... I was thinking about Amalthus.

♫

Contrition

Rex

If what Jin said is true, the Praetor doesn't just hate Blades...
...but humans too.
I mean, he basically hates the whole world, seems like.

Nia

How so?

Rex

In old Torna, humans lived together with Blades that eventually became Titans.
So destroying Torna was the same as destroying the Titans.
Amalthus must have known that the Titans have been dying off over the last few centuries.

Tora

Cannot live without Titans! Everybody go bye-bye!

Mòrag

Maybe the Praetorium saw it as an obstacle to their power.
If the Blades were becoming Titans and creating new land, people might have more faith in the Blades.
If a new faith emerged, it would threaten the Praetorium and its dogma.

Rex

I understand that much. That's just war and politics.
But...

Pyra

Rex...

Rex

Hating people, hating yourself... where does it end?
What do you do when you hate the whole world?

Nia

You mean...

Rex

Destroy it. That's all that's left.
Tell me I'm wrong.

Brighid

That's a leap of logic... But I think a lot of mortals are like that.

Rex

D'you remember?
Talking to the Praetor... I said it felt like talking to Malos.

Nia

Yeah. You did say that.

Rex

It's a funny thing. Malos and the Praetor, they want the same thing.

The scene moves to Indol. Amalthus is thinking.
A flashback begins of a forest somewhere. It's night, it's raining, and two people are breathing hard.

♫

With People and Darkness

The two people are Indoline, a woman and a child. Exhausted from running, they collapse, next to some sort of ridge or cliff.

Child

Ugh... Mother!

Mother

Ammy...

That's close enough a nickname to presume that the child is a young Amalthus. She holds his face.

Amalthus

What is it?

Mother

Leaving you alone in the world like this...
I've failed you as a mother...

Amalthus

Huh?

Mother

But...

The two shakily stand up. She puts her hands on his shoulders.

Amalthus

Mother?

Mother

Forgive me...

She pushes him off the cliff.

Amalthus

Wargh!

He lands on what could be a root not too far below.

Amalthus

Gah...ugh!

There's indistinct yelling in the distance, getting closer.

Male voice

Where's she gone?

Mother

Stop! Stoooop!

She runs away.

Male voice

Here! She went this way!

Amalthus

Mother! Mother!

Time passes. The rain has stopped. Amalthus is wandering alone, limping but alive. He comes upon a group of men sleeping by a campfire. Then he sees his mother next to them, dead with her eyes open, a blanket haphazardly thrown over her.

Amalthus

Mother...

He thinks he's going to be sick for a moment, where he does or not is unseen. He closes his mother's eyes and starts to move with cold fury on his face. He goes over to one of the sleeping men, picks up a big heavy rock, lifts it above his head, and brings it down.

The flashback is over. As Amalthus pontificates, a group of monks are standing in a circle in the chamber, with a big green circle of ether on the floor between them.

Aide

Your Eminence! We'll be exiting the Cloud Sea shortly!

♫

Over the Sinful Entreaty

The scene skips over to the cockpit of the Marsanes, Tornan Warship. It looks exactly the same as the Monoceros's cockpit, so the blatant caption is indeed necessary. Akhos and Patroka are here. Something gives the ship a good shake.

Patroka

What?!

Akhos

Below!
A dark mass in the Cloud Sea...
It's...

We finally see the exterior of the Marsanes, which looks a lot bulkier and spindlier than the Monoceros, as the Indoline Titan rises up to meet them.

Akhos

It's Indol!
What?!

The Titan fires a set of beams from orbs on the leading edge of its wings. The Marsanes takes a direct hit to no apparent effect. Cavalry begins to deploy in the form of warriors on small flying Titans, taking attack runs against the Tornan ship and firing lasers up close. There's a lot of explosions, but no visible damage.

Akhos

They...took us by surprise!
Patroka! Prepare the defenses! I'll analyze the threat!

Patroka

I'm on it! You need to counterattack, damn it!
Stop trying to give orders and get to it!

They're finding it pretty hard to press buttons while everything's shaking.

Akhos

Ugh...!

Patroka

Aghh! Where's Mikhail? What a time to let us down!

Akhos

Mikhail's down below.

Patroka

Below? But...

Akhos

Got it! A bypass to the cannons!
Watch this, scum!

Laser blasts now come out of the Marsanes at various angles, taking down several attackers.
Mikhail is at the console in the Core Crystal room. He looks back to see Jin and Malos arriving.

Jin

Ready?

Mikhail

Ready.

The viewscreen shows scores of Blade Bots at the ready.

Mikhail

The ship'll get you as far as the boundary layer.
We can drop you and Malos off there.
We'll have to. Alrest ships can't make it past the boundary layer.

Jin

Yeah, no sweat.

Mikhail

Jin. You are OK with this, right?

Jin

Mikhail...

Mikhail

Mm?

Jin

Take care of Lora.

He turns to walk away.

Mikhail

Jin?!

Jin and Malos appear on the bridge.

Jin

Akhos. Fire up the Blade Bots.

He steps up to the main controls.

Jin

Time to strike.

Akhos

Jin! Malos!

The new arrivals look at Indol, firing at them, on the viewscreen.

Jin

Indol... They got here sooner than we thought.

Malos

They gave up on the boy pretty quick. No surprise...

Patroka

Hatch open. Ready to launch!

Jin

OK! Launch!

The sky is now full of Blade Bots fighting the Indoline army.

Open War

Indol is now a hostile power. You can no longer continue any quests that you accepted in Indol.
Merc Missions accepted / Dev Points acquired in Indol will be transferred to Leftheria.

The Deal of Being Me

The group approaches yet another elevator.

Zeke

Well, no way I'd ever have guessed the World Tree was like this on the inside.

Dromarch

It definitely appears to be man-made.
Created by the same civilization as Morytha...

Rex

The birthplace of the Architect... That's what Jin called it.

Zeke

Then maybe the Architect built this thing...
Do you really think we're going to find him at the top? And Elysium too?
From what we saw in Morytha, it seemed like all that stuff happened a gazillion years ago.
Or maybe two gazillion, I don't know.
Not even Titans live that long.

Rex

Even Pyra and Mythra have never actually met him. But this tower's right here. It's real...
So...

Mòrag

'Seeing is believing', is the phrase, hm?
We'll just have to find out for ourselves. There's no use speculating.

Tora

Nia, what's wrong? Is tummy started rumbling?

Nia
(ready to punch)

Oh, for the...
Every time with you it's 'have you lost your wallet?' or 'are you hungry?'
Is that really all you can think of?

Tora
(what do wrong???)

Mehhhh...
Wh-wh... T-Tora thought food is only thing that makes Nia all...um...growly-growly.

Nia

Watch it, furball...

Poppi α

What is Nia's problem?

Nia

That's not a nice way to ask, Poppi. But I'll let it slide.
There's something I want to ask you Blades.

♫

Elysium in the Dream

Nia

Tell the truth... Have you ever wanted to extend your life?

Brighid

Avoid returning to our cores?

Nia

Yeah.

Brighid

That's a tough question...
I would like to keep learning about my former selves... But to keep living after Mòrag is dead...

Oops, that might be rude to say when she's right there.

Brighid

Oh, I'm sorry...

Mòrag

No, I understand.

Brighid

*sigh* The idea of living on without her does not appeal to me.

Pandoria

Yeah, same here.
I want my memories of the Prince to be just between us.

Zeke

You're going to make me blush, Pandy!

Nia

Dromarch?

Dromarch

As long as I'm by my lady's side till the end... ...then I'm satisfied.

Poppi α

Poppi is artificial Blade. So it is very sad for me to think about.
When Masterpon is gone, Poppi will be widow.

Tora

Mehhhhh!

Nia

Well, not quite. But I get where you're coming from.
Pyra?

Pyra

Well, I...

Rex

It's different for you, right? You've been alive for a few centuries...

Nia

Did I ask you? Pyra, what do you think about it, really?

Rex

Hey...

Pyra

Sometimes I wondered why I have to keep on living forever...
...Just on and on. No end in sight.
But...
...it's different now.
I'm glad I've stayed alive all this time.
Parting is always sad, but it's just part of the deal of being me.
Though...maybe...
...Maybe one day I'd be happy to close my eyes forever...with someone special there by my side.

Rex
(awwww)

Pyra...

Nia

That's our Pyra.

♫

Contrition

Nia

Thanks, guys. Thanks for sharing with me.

Rex

So...what made you ask?

Nia

I'm a Flesh Eater.
So... I don't know how long I'll live for.
I mean, for all I know, I might just snuff it tomorrow.

Dromarch
(you can't say that)

My lady...

Nia

But I can say this much. My life and death isn't tied to any human.

Rex

And?

Nia

It's Jin.
I've been wondering.
Jin was collecting Core Crystals.
But why didn't he use them? Doesn't he hate humans?
He could use them to create Blades, then turn them into Flesh Eaters.
He could expand Torna with no need for humans in the mix.

Brighid

They do lack numbers. Is that all of them?

Nia

Yeah. It's just the five of 'em. That's it.
When Malos suggested getting Obrona and Akhos to resonate, Jin was dead against it.
So I think maybe... Maybe Jin feels the same way as us...

Pyra

The same way as us...?

Nia

I think maybe that's why he won't resonate with anyone.

What the World Tree Really Is

The party walks through a large door that leads outside at the end of a hallway. They get maybe one step through before something somewhere blows up.

Rex

An explosion?

Mòrag

A battle, perhaps?

♫

The Impending Crisis

They hustle forward to the edge of a balcony. While still surrounded by metal, parts of the tree itself are also visible.

Rex

So, this is what the World Tree's really like...

Nia

These... They aren't leaves... They're glyphs?

She's looking at the glowing holographic bits encircling the tree's upper regions.

Tora

Hey, look!

They've spotted the Marsanes fighting Indol, a fair bit away and not far above.

Gramps

An old Tornan warship... Didn't think there'd be any of those left...

Nia

Never mind that! What's this?
I had no idea Indol could make it up this high.

Tora

Cloud Sea loooooooong way down!

Gramps

It appears that Indol has modified their Titan as old Temperantia did with theirs.
But, that much firepower...
I did not know Indol possessed so much force.

Brighid

No need to ask what they plan to do with it.

Mòrag

They anticipated it. That Jin and Malos would try to ascend.

Rex

So...Jin is inside that thing?

Mòrag

Yes. No doubt.

Rex

Let's hurry! We can't let them make it to Elysium!

Malos and Amalthus

The group gets maybe a hundred steps in before the next scene of the two combatants firing big fat lasers at each other begins. Amalthus watches the viewscreen with the Marsanes on it, but slips into a flashback.

♫

The Past Revealed

A younger Amalthus stands alongside Malos in a field. An army of Titan ships floats towards them. Malos dispassionately points his sword at the ships. A huge sphere of darkness erupts, presumably consuming them all. Amalthus recoils at the power. Malos is a cool guy who doesn't look at explosions, and turns towards his Driver as if to say "yeah, it's great isn't it?" Amalthus seems unhappy.
Amalthus is now in his study, looking at the Pneuma crystal on his desk. He hovers his hand above it for a moment.

Malos

You know you can't control it.

Malos leans back against the door. Amalthus turns towards him in surprise, not expecting him to be here.

Malos

I hear you've been promoted...by the Praetor.

Amalthus

You... Why?

Malos

Hmph. Just thought I'd come and say goodbye.
Would you rather I leave without saying anything?

Amalthus

"Goodbye"?! What would compel you to leave me?
You are my...

Malos

I've got full control of all my powers now.
It doesn't matter if you die. I can keep on going.

Amalthus

What are you saying, Malos?

Malos

The Praetorium, the believers...I despise them all. Humans aren't fit to breathe our air.
So...I'm going to give you what you always wanted.

Amalthus

But I never...

Malos

I'm clearing out the worthless.
Isn't that why you sought the Architect? Why you climbed the World Tree?
Yet look at you now.

Amalthus

...

They stare at each other for a moment. Malos is then suddenly gone. Amalthus turns back to his desk.

Amalthus

There must be someone out there who can use this core...
I'll send them after Malos...

Back in the present, Amalthus watches Rex's group run across the exterior of the World Tree with an extremely evil grin on his face. It is now more clear than ever that of the three patches of hair on his forehead in the past, in the present, the middle one is missing.

Tidings from the Praetorium

The party reaches the 7th Perimeter Center Floor to see that a group of Indol warriors is waiting for them.

Rex

Indoline warrior monks?!

♫

A Brewing Storm

Monk leader

To the Aegis and her Driver. We're here to pass on an order from His Eminence.
You are to use the Aegis's power to bring down that ship!

Rex goes "Huh?".

Monk leader

What's wrong? This is your duty, pilgrim!

Rex

My only duty is to open the way to the World Tree!

Monk leader

You cannot do it?
If so...then we must take the Aegis into custody.

Gramps

I get it now.
They just wanted to use Mythra's power to burn up their little problem...
Nothing new under the sun...

Rex

I didn't say we couldn't do it. But we have to stop Jin.
Tell your boss that's what we're doing. OK?

♫

Still, Move Forward!

Monk leader

We don't negotiate holy decrees.
If you don't comply, then prepare for righteous chastisement!

Power of the Praetor

The cult has been beaten off. Presumably they aren't dead, just leaving.

Rex

They're gonna tell the Praetor. That we're...

♫

The Beginning of Darkness

A green energy vortex surrounds the main spire on Indol (this has been seen in a few scenes earlier). Brighid then lights up that same color and stumbles, having trouble standing.

Brighid

Ugh!

Mòrag

Brighid?

The effect repeats itself across the rest of the Blades in the party.

Mythra

Ah!!

Dromarch

Gah...

Rex

Mythra!

Nia

Dromarch! Gah...

Dromarch

W-what on...? S-something...someone...!

It's affecting Gramps too.

Gramps

Th-this effect... Can it be...?

An unnecessarily large hologram of Amalthus appears off the edge of the balcony.

Amalthus

Please forgive my interference.
Time runs short.

Rex

A-Amalthus?!

A blue crystal, in the shape of a down-pointing triangle, is revealed on the middle of Amalthus's forehead.

Mythra

*gasp* That's...
Haze's Core Crystal!

Nia

Fan la Norne's...?
Oh, that's it all right! The other half...!

Rex

What is it? Nia!

Nia

A-Amalthus... He took Fan la Norne's Core Crystal...
He's using...her power!
Gah...!

Amalthus

Not only that. This is in fact my original, primal power.

Mythra's crystals glow in the same way as when she's about to send a laser down from Siren.

Rex

Mythra!

Mythra
(struggling to hold back)

Th-the Artifice...
N-no... S-stop...

The crystals flash and dim. Mythra falls to her knees while Haze's effect presists.

Rex

Mythra! Mythra!

Amalthus smirks as a Siren beam fires. It passes by the Marsanes, but does not hit it. The crew inside is not pleased.

Akhos

Ugh!

Patroka

Argh!

Akhos

Is that the Artifice? Is it...the Aegis?

Malos

Heh. No.

Patroka

But who?

Malos

Amalthus.

Patroka

Amalthus?

Malos

He's my Driver...and I'm an Aegis.
If that energy gets any stronger, he won't just control the Blades, but Mythra too.

Akhos

...

Malos

Amalthus, you never disappoint!

Amalthus is still posturing towards the party outside. The hazing has stopped.

Amalthus

I am the Driver of the Master Blade.
Bow before me...
the Master Driver.
I possess the power to command all Blades.
Every Blade alive...
Indeed...
even the very Titans are under my control.

♫

Misgivings

Torna is watching the hologram bluster; they can hear him but he probably can't hear them.

Patroka

...That must be how he repelled the attack... Sooner or later, he'll control us too.

Malos

Don't worry.
Half-breeds like you won't come under his control.
Sure, he can dampen your power.
But that's why we built those things.

Some of the Blade Bots are visible outside, still fighting the Indol regiments.

Malos

Mikhail's creations will not submit to Amalthus's control.

Mikhail then calls in from the room below.

Mikhail

And neither will this bucket of bolts!
We're nearly at the boundary layer.
Jin! Malos! Get ready!

Jin

Roger!

He turns and starts to leave.

Jin

Malos, let's move!

Malos

Yeah!
Mikhail! Akhos! Patroka!
It's up to you now!

Akhos

Sure.

Patroka

Yeah, we get it.

Mikhail

Hey, when you see our daddy dear...
Tell him "thanks for everything" from me.

Malos nods with an awkward "sure whatever" smile and dips.

♫

Over the Sinful Entreaty

The Marsanes is now sitting right up next to the World Tree's trunk. The party moves some steps closer.

Tora

Rex-Rex! The Torna ship stopped moving!

Zeke

Looks to me like they're gonna try and get inside!

Rex

Amalthus! We're going to stop Jin!
But you've got to stop this!

Amalthus

You're speaking nonsense, boy.
Now is the hour of their doom.
You leave me no choice but to perform your duty for you.

Rex

Destroying Jin and Torna? We're only trying to stop them!
Not kill them!

Amalthus

You believe you can sway them with words of reason?

Rex

Well, yes!
Jin told me what happened. What happened 500 years ago.
And you were the cause of it, weren't you, Praetor?

Amalthus

I was nothing but the mouthpiece of the Architect.

Rex

When I meet him, I'll ask him myself!
About me, about Pyra and Mythra!

Amalthus

That is not your right! It is mine!

He attempts to take control of Mythra again.

Mythra

Ah!

Siren fires, but again does not hit anything.

Amalthus

Hngh! You resist?
Again? You defy me again?

Mythra

Amalthus! You won't get what you want!
I...I'm...Rex's Blade!

Gramps

Th-that's right! Rex! You're the Aegis's Driver!
There's nothing he can do that you can't!

Rex

Does that mean...?

Nia

Rex, it's true!
Power depends on the heart of its wielder... Right?

Rex and Mythra nod at each other. He then holds up their sword.

Rex

Hyaaaarrrgh!

A big fat beam of light shines upward.
Somewhere, there is a bright yellow floating rectangle with tiny protrusions on the sides that make it resemble an Aegis Core Crystal.
Rex wills his beam of light to be very bright. Somehow this causes some sort of feedback surge within the Audience Chamber where Amalthus is standing.

Amalthus

Urgh!

He is disrupted.

Mythra
(straightening up)

I can...move...

Rex turns off whatever he was doing and stumbles, panting from the effort.

Mythra

Rex!

Rex

I'm OK...
I...I won't let him get away with this any more.
He's just manipulating humans and Blades alike. That's not the Architect's will at all!
Give it up, Amalthus!
You can leave Jin and the rest to us!

The group runs onward.

♫

Ophion

The scene goes back to the Marsanes's bridge.

Patroka

Where are they?

Akhos

The tree.
Soon Malos will activate Aion.
If we can hold this position and prevent the scum from ascending...
...then victory is ours.

Patroka

OK then.
We've got to go all out!

The dogfight between the Artificial Blades and the forces of Indol continues. Shortly, a group of the Blade Bots reaches Indol itself and start to focus fire their face lasers on one of the smaller pillars. There's an explosion, and the pillar topples to the ground. The party watches this from afar.

Rex

The vortex!

The destruction is not unnoticed by the Indoline.

Monk

Your Eminence! The tower!

Amalthus

At peace, Brother. The field of effect is only a little reduced.
Hm. It is drawing near...
Gather the Brothers together! We must exterminate the vermin!

He watches the party run forward on the viewscreen.

Amalthus

No soul alive...
...may sully the Architect's presence!

Haze's crystal glows once more. The Titan of Mor Ardain appears and fires a large blue laser from its chest towards the World Tree.

Chapter Eight:
World Tree