Chapter 81: The Dark God's Back?! Blessings at the Cat Shrine

So this is what the main hall of the Cat Shrine looks like.

What's that enshrined over there? Some kind of cat monster?

Shh! They'll hear you.

Wh-What the! There's two Otohas!

Mreheheh! Welcome back Otoha! Did you enjoy your time away?

Mrow, you're so boring. I'm so bored.

Nyanjiro, you must have heard about the ancient tomb, the tomb of the gods, that surfaced on the sea. You don't happen to know anything about the tomb or the dark god, do you?

When the third tomb rose, I knew you'd turn up here sooner or later. You are most welcome here. It looks like it's finally time. Allow me to tell you about the ancient gods.

Long, long ago, the final fight between the ancient gods unfolded on this land. After their fierce battle, the mother goddess had the dark god divided into three, each sealed away in a different tomb. Afterwards, the spirits, those who stood against the darkness, watched over this land where the god lay dormant. In Antiquity, the land inhabited by the Dragon God was said to be sacred, so they built a temple and worshipped him. It appeared they had completely forgotten about the fight between the ancient gods by this time.

So the dark god was sealed away by the mother goddess...

This fight between the ancient gods must be the fight that involved my titan ancestors.

Hypothesizing that the temple from Antiquity was Himika's shrine.

Nyanjiro, we've got to seal the Dark Lord's Tomb as it was before, and return it to the bottom of the ocean. And we have to get Eden back from Phantom! Do you know of anything we can do?

I do. There are three seals that have been handed down in this shrine for generations. If the binds of the dark god's tomb are broken, then they must be secured again using these three seals. Take the seals and go to Light's Fading. There you'll find the door to the Dark Lord's Tomb.

So we just need to close off the tomb using the three seals? Got it. Then where do we find these seals?

In each generation, of all those who serve this shrine, only the one with express permission may handle the seals. During my tenure, the seal bearer has been Necoco here.

Necoco, why don't you take them to the seal room?

Got it! As the trustee of the seals, I will give them the full guide! Okay, Aldo, it's this way! Follow my tail.

Okay, let's go, Necoco. We're counting on you.

Once you have the seals, go underground. This will lead you to Light's Fading. Your actions there have great impact on this world. Please take care.

This is the seal room, which stores the seals and keys to the underground waterway. Let's go.

Ta-dah! Here are the three magical seals passed down the Cat Shrine since the ancient times. Generation after generation, one priest who serves the Cat Deity is chosen as seal bearer. Only they may touch the seals. Nyanjiro trusted me with them one day long, long ago.

You see, Necoco, everyone has a star that they were born with. When we are born, we don't get to choose our parents, our birth, or our upbringing. We must follow that star as we walk through life. Never rushing, yet never resting.

......

Which is why... During my time, I'd like to entrust the seals to you, Necoco.

Me...? What about Otoha?

She believes herself the reincarnation of the Cat Deity. She is excused from the duty of seal bearer. And her performance can be a little inadequate. She is not seal bearer material.

Oh?

Do you understand, Necoco? If the time comes, we must contain the powers of darkness with these seals. Though I pray it never comes to this, if it does, I'll be relying on you. I would have preferred to take this on myself, but it is my duty to protect the shrine.

Okay, I understand. If all I've gotta do is stick a seal on a coffin, it'll be a piece of cake. Don't you worry, Nyanji! You can count on me!

That certainly is reassuring to hear. Unless you should die and I have to entrust this to someone else, no one may touch these seals other than you or I. Are we clear? I'll be relying on you, Necoco.

I've said I will, so I will. You've gotta trust me, Nyanji. I've got this!

Necoco? You okay there?

Huh? Oh, it's nothing. Don't you worry, I'm gonna take real good care of these things and get those tombs all sealed up for you.

To get to Light's Fading, we'll have to take a raft through the underground waterway. The keys to the entrance are right...

Mreow?! The keys aren't here! They're gone! No no no no no! It must be those naughty kittens again.

This is gonna be such a waste of time. We can't get to the underground waterway without the keys. So we're just gonna have to find the darn things.

But where would a cat be hiding?

Maybe somewhere in this room... But I don't see any good hiding places.

A-ha! I see paw prints! I bet they belong to our thief! If we follow these paw prints, I reckon we'll find the keys.

Hah...it's gone through this hole. I see through your little scheme here!

But we can't get through there. What are we gonna do?

Maybe {1} could get through that hole? What if they got the keys for us?

Oh, good idea! It's worth a shot! There are four keys to the underground waterway. Will you try and find them for us? Thank you, kitty!

Well done! Good kitty!

That's {1} down.

We have a complete set at last!

We still have {1} to go!

Okay, now we can open the door to the underground waterway! C'mon, let's go!

Keep this up and we'll find 'em all in no time!

Oh! You got one! Well found!

This is number {1}... Which means we've still got...umm...

I think that's all of them!

We've got {1} left to find!

Oh you're right! Yay! Let's get going to the entrance to the underground waterway.

Yeah, you're right! Go on and find 'em, quick as you can!

This isn't a key. One of the cats really loves this toy. You'd better give it back.

One of the cats really loves this toy. I'll give it to him later.

Looks like you were hiding in this hole.

Just as I suspected!

That makes {1}.

This must be all of the keys. Shouldn't we be getting going to this underground waterway?

Quit your giggling. We've still got {1} to go.

I knew that already!

Yay! Well done you, driving this naughty kitten out of the hole.

Now we've found {1}!

Which is all of them.

Which means we've still got {1} left, right?

Yeah! Now we can open the entrance to the underground waterway!

That's right! Let's go search for the rest!

I always assumed that the one who inherited the power of the Sacred Beast would also be the seal bearer... But it doesn't look like that's the case. Necoco... If we were to lose you, this shrine would be a lonely, lonely place.

No...in truth, you should forget about the tombs and the seals, and just live your life as you please. Maybe that's what I should tell you... And yet, I know I never will. You see... You're still so young, yet you've always been here with me. I think of you as family, Necoco.

And yet, all of us have our own star that we were born with. Which is why we can never escape this fate. Please, keep yourself safe, and return to us, Necoco. All I can do is see you off, never uttering any of these words.

Please, Aldo, do take care of our Necoco.

Well done! But more are coming. Don't let your guard down!

Got it!

I feel a little better moving around anyway!

I will obliterate these fiends, no matter how many come!

Here's the next bunch!

Mreow! Keep it up!

Not a bad way to warm up.

A fine training exercise indeed.

I can handle this on my own. Why don't you go and rest?

Pfft. Perhaps it is you who should be resting. It would be most unwise of you to overdo it.

Hmph...

It doesn't look like any more are coming on this side.

We've got more coming our way! They sure are persistent!

Here they come! It's time to focus!

Phew! Is everyone okay?

Damage rate less than 10%. I could easily continue.

Darn! There's still one more.

Are they EVER gonna stop?

These things are so full of life, I imagine they'd taste great with some titan marinade...

A better idea would be to cut it in three and fire it in the dogu kiln.

Pfft. Those fins would make a fine stock.

They don't seem nervous at all...

We're about to arrive at the island! Just hold out a little longer!

Is that all of them?

Pretty sure that was the last of 'em. Well done, everyone!

Phew... Things've finally calmed down.

That was such a thrill. My heart's still pounding.

Looks like you've finished up, too.

Indeed. A shame these interruptions forced us to postpone our little competition.

What was that?!

A mysterious bio signature is approaching at high speed! This one's going to be big!

Mreow! It can't be...

What is this thing? It's huge!

That's the ruler of this underground waterway! If we don't do something, it's gonna destroy our raft!

Then we'll just have to defeat it. Let's go!

Okay, this time, that really was the last of 'em, I swear! We're totally safe now! You've done so well!

Yeah, looks like we managed to tide it over.

I was worried for a moment, but it looks like we're gonna get there in one piece now.

Okay, Light's Fading coming up ahead! Just a stone's throw away now!

Here we are at Light's Fading. This island leads to the Dark Lord's Tomb.

This place...

It feels...indescribable.

We've finally made it. Let's press on!

So this is Light's Fading?

Nyanjiro did say that this island held the entrance to the Dark Lord's Tomb. But do you think it really does?

Nyanji told me that this island belongs to the caretakers of our planet's future... It exists in this remote place, where the Dark Lord's Tomb had been sunk, and it'll act as a gateway should the tomb ever rise again.

Caretakers? Of the future? Then people live here?

I dunno really. I'm just telling you what Nyanji told me. Maybe people, maybe specters. But they must've lived an incredibly long time. 'Cause it was waaaay back in the past when the dark god got sealed away. Which means whoever lives on this island...

Has lived for an eternity in this place.

Eeeek! Wh-What the?! Don't scare me like that!

Who are you...?

You can call us the warders. We are the caretakers of the future of the bonds between man, beast, and god.

Man, beast, and god? I'm pretty sure those names are on the seals I've got...

Long ago, the dark god was sealed away with the power of three species who stood against the darkness. And now, those seals are applied again by their descendants. No matter what ending they face, it will mark the beginning of a new, hitherto-unseen time. Whether the three seals end up sealing the tomb once more, or unleashing the darkness... It is our duty to ascertain the answer our planet gives us.

If you say you're just "ascertaining," does that mean you're not allies of the dark god? Because I'd have assumed otherwise, what with where you live.

We do not take sides. We ask the intentions of those who visit, and we pray for those who proceed. That is all.

What do you mean by intentions?

You who possess the three seals to close off the tomb. Why do you wish to proceed?

Our goal has always been the same. We want to get Eden back. That's all. I think he's nearly in reach. I can't let him be consumed by the darkness again.

However, if we allow this dark god to be resurrected, Eden shall not be the only one. Our whole world will be plunged into darkness.

And we can't let that happen. Phantom is using Eden to resurrect the dark god, and we won't let it get away with this.

If Eden is recovered from Phantom, then Professor Madoka's wish will have been granted. This is effectively the greatest social worker mission in history.

This is a surprise. You are willing to challenge a god, just to help one friend.

It doesn't matter who we're up against. We just have to keep going.

I see... You have a rare strength of will. It is what has brought you this hapless fate of yours.

Fate...?

The descendant of a titan, who should have left the stage of history long ago... A specter, whom one might expect to stand with the darkness.

You could never have reached this place if your wills to save your world had not resonated and drawn you together.

I-I wasn't drawn to Aldo! Nothing of the sort! I'm the seal bearer for the Cat Shrine. It's a super important position! I'm just carrying out my duty!

You desire to fulfill your mission became the tie that bound your fate to Aldo's.

Meoow?!

I am the same. Though I wasn't born with a role to play. But that's why I wanted one. I wanted a role that could explain why I was born as a titan. And I got my answer. When I took on the curse of my people, and enabled you, Aldo, to conquer forward.

Me?

It all connects to the role of the titans. To help those going toward the future, to entrust them with the fate of this planet... We may have long since left the stage of history, but our duty has never changed. We will fight again and again if it means protecting the light of life that brims on this planet from extinction. This journey has taught me my duty. And if so, then this fate of ours is no coincidence.

Garam...

Hey this is no fair! I wish I'd said something cooler now!

So that's why we've come here, warder. Will you show us the entrance to the Dark Lord's Tomb?

Very well. We will watch to see how this turns out. The entrances up ahead are to the Mark of Man's Tomb and Mark of Beast's Tomb. Whichever you choose, the tomb keepers will try to obstruct your path.

The tomb keepers...?

Your wish makes you the ones to illuminate the planet. Their work makes them the ones to cast it into darkness. Their sins, or rather, the chaos inside them, has made them one with the tomb. They serve the dark god with inexhaustible power.

Ah...

You should bear this in mind, you who stand against the darkness.

Okay, let's brace ourselves and head on. Losing this fight is not an option. Thank you, warder. Watch over our fight.

After an eternity, the time finally approaches. We will find our answer. Will the dark god make his return? No matter what ending you face, it will mark the beginning of a new, hitherto-unseen time. You will be in our prayers as we watch over you, brave travelers.

Now I have all the keys, I can open the entrance to the underground waterway! You ready, Aldo?

Yes, go ahead!

Okay, leave it to me!

Right, get on this raft! All aboard!

Whoa it's going so fast!

You like it? This is a special raft, handed down by the Cat Shrine. We're just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Light's Fading.

Ugh, all this shaking's making me feel sick.

It does seem like it could take us to our destination fairly quickly.

But of course! We'll be there in the blink of an eye, so long as nothing gets in our way.

L-Like what, exactly?

Ahh!

Hey! Are you sure this raft's safe?

Don't be such a scaredy-cat. This is nothing!

You should be more like those guys.

I knew you were no ordinary man. You're mighty impressive.

Naturally. I cannot risk causing you any delays now, can I?

Huh... This level of impact is easily endured.

Interesting. So it's a test of endurance, is it? Don't admit defeat too quickly, now.

You talk big. But I'll soon break that confidence of yours.

Why are they turning this into a competition?

This is a prime example of male pride.

Wh-What was that?!

A monster? What's it doing here?

Uh-oh I thought they might turn up...

We'd better get rid of them!

It was most rude of you to interrupt, just as our competition was starting to heat up.

My blade is ready!

Guess we'll have to fight. Let's do this!