Chapter 111: Last Train From Old Lashval

Lashval...

It's the "city of water" now, alright...

Let's try and find the Shore Runner station.

You sure that train's not gonna have, oh I dunno, water damage?

I share your concern, but all we can do right now is go and see for ourselves. We've no time to waste milling about at the bottom of the sea.

Yeah, let's hurry!

There it is! The Shore Runner, Zomas 86!

Is that...an ancient mek steam engine?

That thing's basically an antique! Don't tell me ya really expect that hunk o' junk to still work!

We won't know until we try and power it up.

There won't be any need for that.

Wh-Who the, ?!

I-It's a ghost! I-Is that the conductor?!

G'day friends. It's been quite a while, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten you. You saved a lot of mek lives when you stopped Zomas all those years ago.

He and I kept runnin' the shores for a long time after that, right up until the day my lightspark finally ran out. I've been sleepin' here ever since.

I guess hearing your voices again must've woken me up. Looks like Zomas and I have got one last job to run.

, All aboard!

Okay... Let's get on!

Thanks mister conductor...

You have my gratitude.

C'mon partner! Full speed ahead!

Wow! How is it still spewing steam?!

Perhaps the steam is some kind of ectoplasm? That's the only explanation I can think of given it's the ghost of an ancient train...

It's unbelievable! We're riding an antique train around the bottom of the ocean! I don't even know what to think anymore...

Well, I'm sure it won't be the last strange phenomenon we experience before this adventure ends.

You might as well just sit back and enjoy the ride like the rest of us, Jillfunny. You might even grow to enjoy it.

Yep! We're all in this together!

Aldo... Feinne... Thank you.

We're here for you, so cheer up, okay?

We'll be arriving at the current barrier shortly! Hold onto your hats, ladies and gents!

We're counting on you, mister conductor!

, Full speed ahead!!!

We've crossed the barrier safely.

Nice!

You have our thanks, my friend.

Wah!

What's wrong?!

Blast it! Something just crashed right into us!

What?!

If this keeps up the train will be completely destroyed!

Alright, leave it to us! We'll go and check the cause!

My goodness!

Something's definitely out there. Let's head up and check it out!

What IS that thing?!

It seems familiar somehow...

There is a high probability that it is the same type of mechanical lifeform that was inhabiting the Tree of Time.

Yeah, no doubt about it. Looks just like Nidhogg.

I guess it somehow adapted to life on the ocean floor.

It must have had no choice after losing its native territory...

Well, it's gonna derail the train if this keeps up!

Hmph. It doesn't look interested in talking things out.

We've got no other choice. Let's do this!

Got it！

Indeed. There's nothing left to stand in our way.

All we have to do now is ride it out until we reach Omegapolis!

Yep. Let's go back to the engine room for now.

I wonder what it was that it was protecting down here? What kept it going for so long?

Looks like we made it to Omegapolis safe and sound.

Yeah. Now let's just hope we can find something here to fix Guilty Hades.

Don't worry. We will.

I'm afraid this is as far as I can go, friends. Zomas 86 will be waiting for you when you're ready to head back.

Thanks again, mister conductor.

I'm happy to have been of service.

Ah, before we go...

You wouldn't happen to know about a scientist who was researching gravity in Omegapolis, would you?

Gravity? Actually yes, I did hear about a quantum physicist who was living in the city.

Is that so?

Yes. Quite the eccentric fellow from the sounds of it. They were working towards perfecting anti-gravity technology. The research building is adorned with rather unique signage, so it shouldn't be hard to locate.

Interesting. I guess even the meks had their share of oddballs. Thank you for the information.

If that's all then I'll be on my way. Stay safe out there.

Okay, we should start by tracking down this physicist's house.

Agreed. We need to fix up Guilty Hades as soon as possible.

Judging by the sign, I'd say we found the place.

Let's see here... Give me a few minutes to investigate.

How's it looking, Ashtear? Anything we can use?

Well, it looks like our physicist never made it past the theoretical stage, but they were definitely on to something big. The plan was to draw antigravity particles from another dimension, but they couldn't stabilize the field.

Luckily for us, I've got just the thing for that, the Gate Holder.

Really? That's great!

Give me just a moment to make the adjustments.

We're counting on you, Ashtear.

Good luck!

Don't worry, I've got this.

...Aaand done. I call it the Graviton Eraser. Basically, it uses anti-gravitons to cancel out normal gravitons. The energy generated by this process is siphoned into subspace, so there's no risk of it exploding.

Sounds pretty cool... I think.

Are you SURE that thing is safe?

Are you doubting my expertise, Velette? Have some class for once.

Now, now. It's hardly the time to be fighting amongst ourselves.

Yep. We need to get back to Guilty Hades and cancel out the council's gravity curse.

Yeah. Let's get going.

Are you ready, Ashtear?

Yeah. Stand back everyone.

Activating Graviton Eraser!

Nice! It's moving again!

You're amazing, Ashtear! You really did it!

Heheh... The word "impossible" isn't even in my dictionary.

Then ya must've bought a misprint. Why do ya always have to be such a stinkin' show-off?

Let's go ahead and try and return to the surface.

Ahh!

What the, ?! What's wrong Guilty Hades?

The Tree of Time...

I can hear it calling!

What?!

Then we need to get over there right away!

Hrmm... Perhaps The Tree of Time is calling to Guilty Hades. But why only now?

There's only one way to find out... We need to go and see it for ourselves. The Tree of Time must still be somewhere out there at the bottom of the ocean.

Alright. Let's head back to Omegapolis for now.

Yuki...

Is this really the future that awaited the Tree of Time? I came back for you... I'm here...

Time to go and see what's waiting for us.

We came, Tree of Time. What did you want to tell us?

Yuki?!

Beware...the Golden...Sword...

Yuki... You don't have to worry about me anymore. Everything's going to be alright.

Even in death...we pray for the ones we love...

Wh-What's happening?!

The Tree of Time is calling out...

The Tree of Time? The one from the old stories?

Guilty Hades, too...

There's something...close...

The Tree of Time...the Winged Beast...and the Golden Sword!

Everybody get back to Guilty Hades! There's something very wrong here!

Yuki... I promise I'll be back.

Incredible! The Tree of Time is floating atop the ocean!

They're calling out to each other. Guilty Hades, the Tree of Time, and...something else.

......

Well, I'm just happy to see the sky again.

Me, too! The wind feels so nice!

The Tree of Time must be happy to finally bathe in the light once more...

Careful ladies, that salty sea breeze can be a right-angle u-turn for your skin. It's no problem for me and my special alloy coating, but for you...

You better not be saying my skin reminds you of a dirty street corner, Riica!

What does "right-angle u-turn" even mean...

Yuki... You need to be careful, too.

So now what?

We need to go to the Sword Hall and meet with Bladelord Galdmagid right away!

The Sword Hall?

My family estate. It has to be the place that the Tree of Time and Guilty Hades are calling to.

The Bladelord, my brother, is waiting for us there.

The Sword Guard's private estate...

As head of the Sword Guard, my brother must know something about the Golden Sword.

I've already confronted him about it once, which is what led to me leaving the hall. If it were up to me, I'd never speak to him again, but it doesn't look like we have any other options.

He needs to face the consequences for what he let happen to Commonsarg.

But he's your brother, right? I'm sure he'll understand if you explain the situation.

I wish I could believe that... If I'd only had the strength to confront him sooner, If I hadn't turned my back on my family's destiny, my little brother might still be alive.

How exactly do we get to the Sword Hall?

Wh-What in tarnation?! I-Is that a giant?!

Huh? Who was that?

First we got trees sproutin' straight out of the ocean, and now we've got giants knocking at the gates?! D-Don't eat me ya big galoot! I'm sure I taste terrible!

H-Hey! Wait a second!

...So there you have it. This thing's not a giant and I promise it won't eat you.

Haha, that's a heck of a tale. But it still doesn't explain what business humans have got around here... Aha! You're with the Empire, aren't ya? That thing must be an imperial golem!

Wrong again. We're not with the empire. In fact, we're fighting against them.

You don't say... Well, in that case we're as good as allies! We don't take kindly to imperials around here, y'see.

Not that I can offer you much in the way of support.

It's fine. All we need is for you to tell us where we are. We just surfaced from underwater, so we're a bit disoriented.

Well, you just popped out of the northeastern reaches of the central sea. I spend a lot of time out here catchin' fish to sell to the folks over at the Tower of Wisdom.

It almost gave me a heart attack when that big ol' thing came crashin' out of the sea. Say... You don't think that's the Tree of Time, do you? The one from the old legend? There's no way, right?

I don't know much about the legend part, but yeah, that's definitely the Tree of Time.

We're near the Tower of Wisdom? I see... That could be fortunate for us.

Why's that, Jillfunny?

Because that's exactly where we need to go next.

And what, pray tell, is the Tower of Wisdom?

It's a place where powerful mages compete in tests of mystical fortitude.

The thing is, there isn't any gate leading to the Sword Hall. We'll have to go by air...

It just isn't the kind of place the average rok would ever want to go. They only see it as the source of a rot that will one day destroy our world.

That means the only way we're getting there is by finding a way to equip Guilty Hades for long-distance flight., And I think the mages at the tower might be able to help us do just that.

You've got business in the arena?

If that's the case, you're welcome to tag along with me.

Really? Thanks! We'll follow you, then.

This is the place. I'll let the people in charge know you're coming, so feel free to take a look around.

Thanks again!

Don't sweat it. I got to see some pretty amazing sights thanks to you, and like I said, any enemy of the Empire's a friend of mine.

I guess we should take a closer look around the Tower of Wisdom.

I'm sure we can find someone to aid us.

I've been looking forward to this! Places like this really get my blood pumping.

Hmph. I admit that I'm at least a little interested in what kinds of warriors this era has to offer.

Hey, you two! You know we aren't here to play around, right?

D-Don't be absurd! I'm well aware that we're not here for a leisurely stroll...

It does sound like fun, though!

Not you, too, Feinne! Please don't treat this like some kind of sporting event!

Come on everyone, let's get going.