Chapter 80: Demon Sword's Betrayal: Ark of the Underworld and Goddess of Madness

Huh? What's that crack? Was that there before?

What do you make of it, Riica?

Initiating analysis...

Energy flow similar to that of a wormhole, confirmed. Hypothesis: this crack in space is a dimensional rift!

A dimensional rift?!

But why would that appear now? Do you think it has something to do with the Ark of the Underworld?

Cyrus?!

What is the meaning of this!

It is reacting to the dimensional rift! I assume that glowing object is connected to the rift somehow.

What?! How long have you had that, Cyrus?

Ever since we first came to the Underworld. I've seen it before in my home town, so I took it out of curiosity.

Presumably that object was sea-drift from Antiquity.

I see. Might there be a chance that this sea-drift is resonating with Lady Himika?

The dimensional rift is now a gate! This has reduced The Ark of the Underworld dimension margin of error to 47%!

It reacted to the sea-drift? If this has got something to do with the Ark of the Underworld, stepping through here might get us closer. But is this really a good idea?

This isn't the time to be worrying, Aldo. Dawdling isn't going to make things any better.

You're right. It's not like there's any other way. Sink or swim, here we go!

So this is what the Ark of the Underworld looks like on the inside? It certainly looks...different.

Lady Himika must be here somewhere.

Let's keep going. Be careful everyone!

It would seem this is the heart of the ship.

Looks like this door is the only way forward. What should we do?

Hmm... The mystic gems... Perhaps the symbols of Lady Himika's soul are the key to opening the door that leads deep into the heart of this place. If we wish to break the seal and proceed onward, I believe our only choice is to find Lady Himika's mystic gems.

Okay then. Sounds like the mystic gems have something to do with this. Let's go find them!

Is this... Dragon God's Swamp from Antiquity? Himika's lost shrine!

Mom and Himika must be inside...

Okay! I'm coming for you, Ogre Rancorem. I'll get back your soul from Himika.

Aldo, wait!

What is it, Garam? Ngh?!

Ogre Rancorem?!

Wh-What the...

What is that?!

I have the feeling I've seen this before. Now where was it...

I have confirmed it is of the same nature as Zennon Ogre's sub-structure. I hypothesize this is a concentration of ogre souls...an ogre cluster.

An ogre cluster? But why would it turn up here?

So you're an ogre cluster? A solid mass of the curse and hatred of the ogres?!

Don't you dare get in our way. We cannot allow you to take one step further. That sword may be a double, but it is still a part of us. And we will never be your servant!

Wha? What is that?! I-I can't move!

The miasma from Ogre Rancorem? It looks like it's paralyzing Aldo.

Agh!

Aldo?!

Are you okay?!

How insolent, how ridiculous, for lowly humans to dare set foot in the land of the gods. Humans, your power could never match ours. You should know your place!

Eeek!

What's going on?

I have no more power...

Ngh! I can't move!

Guys! Grr... Ogre Cluster, you wretch!

This ends here, Aldo. You have no choice but to accept defeat at our hands!

Aaaaagh!

Wait!

You ogre curse, I can't let you do this!

Garam!

You are descended from the titans... You are one of our ancestors. Hah! What can you do? A deformed little thing like you. It's heresy to even call you a titan.

I may be those things... But I have a strong will. And you'd better watch out!

Aldo! I will take all of the evil thoughts of the ogres out of Ogre Rancorem!

Garam, what are you talking about?!

Do as I say here. Don't succumb to the ogres' miasma, Aldo!

Okay... Let's do this!

Ack! Ugh... Aaaaargh!

Ogres! If you really are descended from titans like me...

Then answer the demands the blood flowing through my veins! Come to me! Come to me, curse of the evil ogres!

Huh? Ogre Rancorem... It's now the holy blade of Palsifal...

Argh!

Garam! Are you okay?!

Don't worry about me. Now's your chance, Aldo! I can't hold the ogre miasma for long... You've got this. Come on!

Okay, let's do this, cursed soul of Ogre Rancorem! This sword Garam has granted me will clear our path! It's on, Ogre Cluster!

Garam, are you okay?

Yes... Then I'll return... The ogre miasma...the curse... To your sword, Aldo...

Well done, Aldo! You did great!

That's what I should be saying. I couldn't have done this without you.

Aldo!

Are you all right, Aldo?

Thank goodness you're all okay.

We'd have been in real trouble if it hadn't been for Garam. I'd never even considered that Ogre Rancorem could work like that.

I dread to think what would have happened if you weren't here with us.

I'm just glad I could help. And that you're all safe.

......

We should get going. The real Ogre Rancorem and Himika must be waiting for us. We can't just loiter about here.

Come on, Aldo! We've got to get Mom back!

Okay, let's go to Himika's shrine! We'll make sure Himika comes to her senses, and then we'll bring Professor Madoka back with us!

Where are you Himika? Show yourself!

There's no need to make so much racket. I'm here.

Is that really you, Lady Himika?!

Wh-Why does she look like that?

It looks like she's fully assimilated the darkness.

She doesn't really look like the type you'd want to hang out with, does she?

Remarkably, I 130% agree with Helena!

It looks like we've got our work cut out for us with this one.

Ogre Rancorem!

Long time no see, Aldo. How have you been?

You've done well to get here. What is it you want?

H-Himika! Where is she? Where's my mom!

Don't worry. Madoka's safe. She and I are two halves of the same whole, after all. Can you imagine what it's like? Gazing at all of time and space as we drifted through the flow of time together? Madoka and I... We can remake the world, space, time... Even the dimensions!

What are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?

Far from it... Oh great darkness! Oh chaos! All of you, behold this ark! We will create new, dark life right here! We will evolve! I will become the holy mother of chaos! I will destroy time, space, and the dimensions...and create a new world... and a new Eden!

That's ridiculous! You're just being manipulated by the power of darkness!

Lady Himika! Please wake up! Come back with us, to our own world...

You too, Ogre Rancorem! Hurry up and come back to me!

I'm afraid to say I cannot do that, Aldo. Now I have been freed from the seal by the powers of darkness, I can do whatever I want! And destroying the world and the dimensions with Himika sounds rather fun.

Madoka's project will soon enter its final stage. Then Eden can be resurrected! We will not back down! Just try and stop us!

Urgh! It looks like she won't listen to us!

Come at me, Aldo! Show me what you can do. And bear witness to my true power!

Aldo, what should we do?

I guess we've got to fight!

Are you happy now, Ogre Rancorem? Himika? We'll fight you. Whatever it takes, we will defeat you and bring back Professor Madoka! Let's do this!

Guagh!

We did it!

Lady Himika!

Lady Himika! Are you all right?

D-Don't come any closer, Cyrus! I...I haven't lost to you yet...

The fight is over, Lady Himika. Please come to your senses!

That was nothing! I...I can still fight! Do not underestimate the power of darkness!

It doesn't look like we can release her from the power of darkness so easily. This is going to tear her apart and leave her as nothing more than an empty shell.

Please, Himika! Stop this!

Hmm? What in the...?!

Huh? Lady Himika's mirror! It's...?!

Ah... It's so bright! I can't see!

Hmm? Lady Himika's comb, too?

Oh, I understand. Lady Himika, I will return this mirror and comb you once entrusted to me. Please take them!

Wh-What's going on! I...can't...move...

Your thoughts from bygone days are trying to warn you now.

And now, I will use Tenkiri Maru, the sword left to me by my dear friend, Varn.

Huh? Wh-Who is that! Who said my name?

That voice... Then this mirror... D-Don't show me! I don't want to see how I am now!

O Tenkiri Maru! Use the radiance of this mirror and the prayers of this comb to purge the darkness that has possessed this woman... I am so sorry!

This mirror... For me?

Yes, of course. Please, use this mirror to reflect your lovely likeness, Himika. I polished it to perfection while thinking of you. Nevermore shall it be clouded!

What a fool you were, Varn... I'm far from lovely... I just wanted you to see me that way...

Lady Himika! Are you all right?

Yes... I am quite all right now. Thank you, Cyrus. I'm afraid I've caused you quite some trouble.

It was but a mere trifle, nothing more. All I did was return the mirror and comb you once gave to me.

Thank you. This is just like when I was saved long, long ago. I felt like I could hear a voice in the pitch-black darkness. One that I miss so dearly... Varn's voice...

...... Indeed? I am sure that was him doing whatever he could to help you, Lady Himika.

Cyrus... He's...gone, hasn't he? I'll never see him again, will I?

I am sorry, Lady Himika. It was in the west... I was too young and unseasoned. I couldn't save him.

Humans! You're so simple-minded. So easily placated by bonds of the past.

Ogre Rancorem! I'm sorry, but I can't free you just yet. You have to remain my sword for the time being. So go back to normal.

Hmph, I've no choice then. This is the end of the line. It was a fun little distraction, at least. I guess I'll have to be good for a little while longer.

Phew, looks like he's returned. Hopefully this is settled for the time being then.

Now that that's sorted...

Where is she? Where's my mom!

Feinne.

Mom!

Professor Madoka!

Are you okay, Mom?

I'm okay. It looks like you've returned to normal, Himika.

Yes, my mind and body are finally back together again. I'm sorry for worrying you. This was all your doing, Madoka. Thank you.

That's not true at all. We two were as one. But I am so very happy for you. It has been such a terribly, terribly long time...

Listen to me, Madoka. When I assimilated the power of darkness, I felt something, very faintly. The boy...Eden...who disappeared in Chronos' Umbra... I felt his presence.

Are you sure, Himika?

I'm certain of it. And what's more, the feeling kept on intensifying.

Really? In which case, the Underworld must be in a dimension relatively close to Chronos' Umbra.

Feinne and Aldo's presence might be calling out to pieces of my lost son.

Oh! The Book of the Time Dream, it's awakened?!

The Xeno-Domain main system has restarted automatically?! Why would it do that?

What's that?!

The terminal core has come back? It's moved through spacetime?!

Wha?!

Feinne!

Feinne's Geo and the terminal core's proto-Geo are causing some sort of resonance phenomenon? Stage two of Project: Another Eden has been activated automatically? The plan was for it to move to the next stage at the point where Eden disappeared. Why is this starting now...

What are these beads of light?

Eden's Alpha Geo... His lost soul! But Feinne's Geo shouldn't be able to summon Eden's Alpha Geo. Are the proto-Geo and Feinne's Geo calling Eden?!

These are fragments of Eden's lost soul?

But a prisma resonance phenomenon can't put the countless fragments of Eden together as one. It is not possible to have Eden materialize in this world at this time.

Then what do we do about Eden?

I'm his mother. If we use my body, we should be able to bring Eden back to this world. If I act as an intermediary, I will be able to give Eden a new life!

But if you did that, what would happen to you, Professor Madoka?

Unlike with Himika, this won't be a matter of my spirit being possessed. In exchange for Eden's resurrection, I imagine I will cease to exist.

No... Mom, you can't do that! We've only just found each other again!

I'm sorry, Feinne. But I can't leave Eden like this. Now that the plan has moved on to this stage, I can't just stop it! If I miss this opportunity, I have no way of knowing how long I'll have to wait until the conditions are met again!

Mom, wait! Please!

Do you really intend to do this, Madoka?

There is not a doubt in my mind. I am not afraid. I have been waiting for this moment for so, so long. Eden! Come to me! Inhabit my body and be born anew in this world!

Stop! Wait, Mom! You can't!

...?! Feinne?!

Isn't that spirit resonance? That power Kamlanage has? Why would Feinne...

Did she absorb Kamlanage's ability?

(Feinne... You would do well to remember that sensation. It is sure to be necessary in the future.)

Eden... Can you hear me? I need your help! Make your heart as one with mine. And live here! Come back to yourself. Please!

E-Eden?

Eden!

H-Has Eden really been resurrected?

Wh-Where...am...I?

That's enough!

Eden?!

Phantom! What've you done with Eden?

I have taken Eden. He is within me, deep down inside. We are bound as one.

Eden!

Madoka!

Mwahaha! It's too late now.

Take a look! At the third tomb... The final constraint on the ancient god!

The third tomb?

Hypothesizing that "final constraint" refers to that which determines the whether the Goddess of Time is awakened.

Goddess of Time? You fools. It is not the tomb of the Goddess of Time. It is the dark god sealed within. It is the Dark Lord's Tomb.

What? It's not The Goddess of Time's tomb?!

Why, you deceived us!

Deceived you? How dare you say something so scandalous. I only ever said it was the Tomb of the Gods.

It can't be... The Tomb of the Gods!

The Tomb of the Gods? What is that?!

It's a tomb for immortal gods from ancient times.

It was all just a misunderstanding. You jumped to conclusions, assuming it was the tomb of the Goddess of Time.

Guh!

I am most grateful for Eden. I don't yet have a body, but I can still absorb his power.

Give me back my brother!

The dark god will awaken soon. The era of the followers of darkness is upon us! Soon, no one will be able to stop us. But if you still intend to fight the darkness and get back Eden, you should go to the Dark Lord's Tomb!

Do you suppose you have the power to fight a god and push back the darkness? Mwahaha... Hahahahaha!

Wait, Phantom!

Eden...!

Aldo, what should we do?

I wonder... I guess we should return to our world for now. Let's take Hydra and try to work out what we should do next.

Yes, let us do that. Of course, we will be escorting you two as well, Lady Himika, Professor Madoka.

We have to save Eden no matter what!

I know, Feinne. Let's go everyone!

Let's have Professor Madoka and Himika rest here for now. So much has happened, they must be exhausted.

Yeah, I think that's a good idea. So what do we do now, Aldo?

No matter what, we've got to get Eden back from Phantom. And if this dark god really is going to be revived as Phantom said... We can't just sit and watch that happen. It looks like the Dark Lord's Tomb has risen in response to the power of Feinne, Ogre Rancorem and even us. We'll have to do something.

Hmm... I agree. But what do we do, precisely?

Just so you know, I cannot approach the skies above this mysterious tomb. It looks like there's a vortex of unique electromagnetic energy. I've no idea how that will affect my nervous system.

I am unable to confirm any information on the dark god or the Dark Lord's Tomb in any database.

Which means we must face an unknown enemy on an unknown land.

So what should we do?

Perhaps you should leave this to us.

Tsubame! Kamome!

Long time no see. You're all looking well.

Hmph. You do like to appear out of nowhere like ghosts, don't you?

True. We asked Hydra beforehand, to come and pick us up any time we needed. Just in case something bad happened with this sealed tomb.

And who could deny a polite request from a young lady or two?

You really can't say no, can you?

But what do you mean, leave it to you? Do you know something?

We ninjas have always been taught to prepare for the return of the Goddess of Time. This was likely to ensure we would be vigilant of the dark god, as we need be now.

You should head straight to the Cat Shrine.

The Cat Shrine?

Yes. You should go to the main hall deep within the shrine and ask about the Dark Lord's Tomb. Beyond there, the door to the future... The path to the Dark Lord's Tomb is sure to be concealed.

There's a path to the Dark Lord's Tomb? What's that doing there?

Okay. If that's the case, we should head to the Cat Shrine.

If Nyanjiro knows anything about the Dark Lord's Tomb, we should most certainly talk to him.

Feinne... I'm sorry. I've caused you and Aldo such a great deal of trouble...

Don't say that, Mom. You don't need to apologize.

That's sweet of you. I just wanted to give you a normal life, so you could be a normal girl...

That's okay! I am a normal girl, Mom. And I've learned so much on my travels with Aldo and the others. We'll find out a way to help Eden, I know it. There's no need to worry.

You've grown so strong, Feinne.

That's because I'm your daughter.

......

Good grief! Humans really are such annoying creatures.