Chapter 115: The Final Curtain Rises

I'm just glad nobody got hurt.

Yes, the stars were truly watching over us today.

I wouldn't be so sure about that if I were you.

What are you talking about, Ogre Rancorem?

Hey! What are you doing?!

If that thing had been left to run amok, it would have devoured our world and everything in it, including me. That's why I decided to stand by on the sidelines while you did what needed to be done.

Then what, ?

But the seal must still be destroyed, and I will be the one to do it. The time has come to raise the curtain on this world's final act., So begins the end of the world.

Ogre Rancorem! What're you planning?!

You need only bear witness to it to understand!

What's happening?!

Ah! What are you doing here, Guilty Hades?!

Something's not right.

Dangit! That blasted sword is makin' it go berserk!

Hrmph! Nothing good can come of this...

Are you alright, Guilty Hades?! Just hold on! I'm on my way!

Kamlanage! Stop!

Argh! Wh-What?! What's wrong Guilty Hades?!

Guilty Hades is, !

What did it do?!

It's absorbing what's left of Nihilus's power, the nullon energy!

My word!

Is that, ?!

, The Golden Sword?!

The Winged Beast is planning to use it?!

Stop this, Ogre Rancorem!!!

That's our world! That's Migleina!!!

Did he just break the seal on the Hollow?!

With that, our time layers have merged into one.

The imperial fleet!

Emperor Chronos!!!

And so, it begins. Wait for me, Madoka, Goddess of Time.

By my hand, our eternal struggle will finally come to an end.

What in the world is going on?!

First, we lose control of Ogre Rancorem, and he turns Guilty Hades red...

...And somehow becomes the Sword of Gold...

All those ships crossing over into our time layer... If we don't do something quick...

Why, Chronos?! Why do this to our world?!

Eep!

Picking up a MAJOR interruption in spacetime! Oh boy, and there's nothing in my database even close!

Blast it! Now what?!

What...is that?!

Man...what was that?! It was like a huge vortex opened and we all just got sucked in...

This is...the Moonlight Forest?! Except...not the way I remember it? It's different somehow, is it because of the tear in the hollow time layer?

Looks like it's just me here... I wonder where everyone else is, or if they even made it...

What did you do Ogre Rancorem? ...And why?

...... Silent treatment, huh? Well, at least you're back in your sheath.

Well, can't just stand around waiting, I should go and look for the others.

Baruoki seems like a good place to start.

Hold tight, guys. I'm coming.

Huh. This...is different.

I'm in the Nauru Uplands, right? It looks like it, but everything's all wrong. ...Like that blue box, I don't remember seeing that before.

Woah!

And this monster, too. It kinda looks normal, but something seems off...

What in the world is happening... I sure hope someone in Baruoki can help me find some answers here...

Uh, where did Baruoki go, and how am I already in Unigan? I guess the bright side is Unigan seems mostly how I remember it...

I just hope the people are okay...

Just...can you tell us what to do, at least?!

Yeah, and also why everything is all weird now!

Isn't that...

Right, for now all we can do is ask that you please remain calm!

Kinda hard to remain calm when everything's all garbled up and gone crazy, you know!

Did you SEE the weird monsters? Also, hello? The sky? What is up with that?!

I'M JUST SO CONFUSED! PLEASE! Tell us what to DO!

We're looking into it now, so please just bear with us.

Looking to it shmooking into it! BAH! I'm gonna be over there panicking till the sky comes back.

Everyone, I know that you are scared. I agree, who could remain calm in the midst of all "this"?

Your Majesty!

Nothing about what is happening makes any sense. Believe me, I understand your fear.

I'm so anxious my anxiety's got anxiety!

But remember, this is not our first crisis as a nation, is it? You trusted me before, all I ask is you trust me again.

...!!

I protected you against the beastfolk, and against the east... We overcame those struggles, and we will overcome this one as well. Our enemy may yet be unknown to us. But as your king, I promise I will defend this nation to my final breath.

All hail the King!

Now is the time we band together! For a united Unigan, is a SAFE Unigan! A STRONG UNIGAN!

Thank you, your Majesty! We believe in you!

(I said what needed to be said, and while it was the truth...) (Even I can admit this is well beyond anything we have faced before. I don't even know where to begin...)

King Miglance!

Aldo! Once again you arrive to light Unigan's darkest hour! But perhaps...

Perhaps, I might have been tangentially involved in all this because of a huge battle that went south? I'm working on a way to fix it. So please, just bear with me here...

Say no more. If you are leading the charge, then I have no doubt it will end in success. And now I can focus all my efforts on easing my people's fears.

Sorry, we will make this right. I promise!

*sigh* I was relieved to see you were all right, Aldo, but now I see you're already running headfirst into danger...

I would not worry, dear Sister. This is Aldo you're talking about.

He is made of sterner stuff. Always has been and always will be a survivor.

You're right. Aldo, do not worry about Unigan. We have things under control. You go do what you have to do!

And if you don't do it quick then I'll be forced to do it myself!

Heh. Understood. Then I guess I'll be off!

Now that I know it's not just me here, where to find everyone else... Would be nice if everyone was just waiting here in Unigan...

Aldo! There you are!

Feinne! Ashtear! Korobo!

Oh wow. I'm so glad you're okay! We were so worried!

I wasn't really worried, actually.

Heh. Is it just you three? Any sign of the others?

We all just kind of appeared here together. Just the three of us.

I guess that means we've all been split up somehow... Do you guys know what's happening here? Is this even our world? It looks like it, but...

I don't think this is our world.

But this IS Unigan, right?

So, I took some readings, and yeah, this is Unigan for all intents and purposes. It's everything else that's changed. My going theory is that when they were releasing the hollow time layer, it got interrupted somehow...

Did you notice that vortex?

Y-Yes?

Ah... So, this is Unigan, our Unigan, but it got moved into the vortex? Do I have it right?

Good job, Aldo! You got it! The good news is we're on familiar territory, the bad news is there's no way to tell what made it over and where it all is.

Yeah, I started in the Moonlight Forest, and I thought I was headed towards Baruoki, but then I ended up here? Actually, we should go over to the Nauru Uplands. There's something real weird going on with the monsters.

Okay, maybe it will help answer some of the questions I have about this place.

And maybe we might run into some of the others?! Who knows!

Then it's settled, to the Nauru Uplands!

It's right through that gate, weird right?

Hm...it's like a puzzle where all the pieces got rearranged...

You okay, Feinne?

It is a lot to take in, but I think I'm okay...

Just worried about everyone else... I hope they're okay...

Well, we were fine, right? I'm sure it's the same for everyone else.

What worries me though, is...

Yeah?

You, Feinne. I'm worried about you.

...Me? Why? I'm fine, see?

I think he's talking about the whole thing with you dying before his very eyes?

I just...why did you jump out like that?

I didn't really think about it. My body just moved on its own.

Jillfunny was hurting because of what Commonsarg did, and, well... She lost one brother, and now her other brother was trying to kill her. I just couldn't take it anymore...

So, my body just moved on its own. Felt like I was you for a second, Aldo.

......

I realize now that what we have is special. I'm lucky to have a brother that cares as much as you do. I won't ever take that for granted again.

Great, then just be sure not to run headfirst into any more certain death situations.

Or I just need to try harder so that you won't need to put yourself in that kind of position ever again.

...Countin' on ya, Big Bro!

Heh. All right, let's go and check out the Nauru Uplands.

Woah!

Look! Over there!

*cough* Am I crazy or did you guys see a huge ship crash into the ground?

I don't think my heart can take many more surprises like that...

Looks like it might have crashed just over that hill.

Is that...an imperial ship?

Why do you think it crashed? Was it attacked, you think?

It takes a lot to bring down one of those ships, but we can't rule it out...

But either way we won't know until we go have a look for ourselves. Might even find some clues about what exactly is going on here, too.

...And what exactly happened with the imperial fleet.