Chapter 84: The Dark God! At the End of the Eternal Battle

I think we did it!

Not quite! Don't think this is over just yet. The real fight begins now. Even if you can subdue our lord's movements for a moment... You can never completely seal him away! Our lord is immortal! Our lord is indestructible!

What?!

The dark god is summoning the void! It will destroy the dimensional balance and open the door to the next world! Behold! Both genesis and the apocalypse are upon us at last! Every last one of you will be consumed by the hellish chaos!

It's summoning...the void!

The hellish chaos? What is that?!

Nyanjiro! What's happening?

Chaos?! It can't be! If chaos awakens now, all of history will be rewritten, all of time and space will be extinguished! Aldo! Necoco!

Eeeeek!

We are sinking! What is the meaning of this?!

I can't increase output! I think it's absorbing all my power!

None of my sensors are receiving a response from within this vortex. Hypothesis: we are traveling through a different spacetime...a domain in a different dimension.

So we've got no idea what'll happen if we drop?

Is there nothing you can do, Hydra?!

It's hopeless! My output is dropping rapidly! I am at a loss!

So we're all gonna get swallowed up by this vortex? We're gonna die?!

We can't let him get away with this! What can we do?

No. We can't let this be the end, not here!

This will not do!

Ogre Rancorem?!

I was not aware that he would try to destroy the world. I won't stand for this!

But under these conditions, what can we do?

Feinne, I'll need your help.

Huh? M-Me?

As his power increases, it is causing spacetime to warp and the boundaries to fluctuate wildly. Use your newly gained power. Call across time and space, to the souls which resonate with me.

Call across time and space? Souls? Resonate? Um...

You mean Kamlanage's resonance ability?!

Precisely. We alone cannot contend with this power. Listen to the souls that respond to my call! Surrender yourself to the Echoes of the Gyre Melody and reach out to them! I don't know if it will work... But call them! You must try, Feinne!

Um... All right!

Feinne!

Geo...please! Connect our thoughts! Make our hopes and prayers as one... And send them across time and space!

Oh? Where am I?!

What is the meaning of this...?

Who is calling me?

King Miglance, the Thunder King... King Palsifal, too?!

Why did you bring them here? How absurd!

Where am I? What is happening?!

Your Majesties, please, lend us your strength! Or else all will be consumed by chaos, by the darkness!

King Miglance, Thunder King, King Palsifal... Please, help us!

Ogre Rancorem, the cursed demon sword?! And is that you, Aldo?

Aldo? Did you fellows call me here?

Who are you people? You seem to know me?

King Palsifal! It appears he does not recognize us!

So the three kings all been summoned from their various spacetimes? Though it looks like this King Palsifal is from long ago, before he ever met us...

I don't know from which point in time they've been summoned! The swords and their masters were called from whenever the resonance was at its strongest within the flow of time.

Swords? So the Sacred Blade led me here, across space and time?

Very well. I, King Miglance, will fight with you, Aldo!

If that is the case, I have no objections either.

How interesting! The ancient titan sword is singing. Then I will lend a helping hand as well.

You who stand against the darkness, let us face this together! I lend you my sword!

Oh shining sacred blade! Dispel the evil darkness and show us the way!

The distant Palsifal... There are things we will always believe in. There are people we will always love.

We've stopped falling!

It helped?

As pleased as I am about our current success...

Here it comes, Aldo!

Urgh...the chaos?!

Where are we?

Huh?!

So this is chaos? Both the beginning and the end of the world...

No matter who or what we're up against, we can never back down! The reason why I am Aldo... The reason why we all were born... The reason why we're each fighting to stay alive right now... You're about to find it out! Come on, everyone! Let's put an end to this drawn out fight!

Where are we?

Huh?!

So this is chaos? Both the beginning and the end of the world...

No matter who or what we're up against, we can never back down! The reason why I am Aldo... The reason why we all were born... The reason why we're each fighting to stay alive right now... You're about to find it out! Come on, everyone! Let's put an end to this drawn out fight!

I was worried for a minute, but we did it!

We no longer need to fear the world will be consumed by chaos, for the time being at least.

By my estimations, we have skillfully avoided a worst-case scenario!

He certainly made a satisfactory opponent.

This was the first time I've ever had such a fight...

You all did so well!

I worked so hard...

There is nothing to be gained by staying here long.

You're right. It doesn't look like Phantom or Eden are here... Okay, let's take Hydra home.

It's great that we repelled the chaos, but what do we do about that vortex?

What even is it?

We must do something about the Dark Lord's Tomb as well... But what, I wonder?

You need not worry yourselves. We will take care of that.

Nyanjiro! And Your Majesties...

It looks like you got yourselves involved in a rather frightful battle.

But you weathered the storm using your own strength. Just as you always do. You did well, Aldo.

I never thought I'd be meeting you again like this, Thunder King.

I have the feeling I'm the only one who doesn't entirely know what's going on. Am I daydreaming? In any case, it certainly has been an interesting experience.

Umm... I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for calling you here. It was selfish of me. Ah...um... It's umm... It's not like it was me who called you here... But we wouldn't have managed this without Your Majesties' help...

Don't worry about it, Feinne. Besides, I imagine it was all that demon sword's idea. We who are fated to carry the holy blade would never quail at such a trifling matter.

Let's leave that for now, okay? Nyanjiro, can you really do something about that vortex?

There is nothing to worry about. You have done so well up to now. Please leave the rest to me. Though, I must confess, it is not myself who will be fixing this directly. As in the past, I will be relying on the help of a giant, a spirit, and the Dragon God.

Nyanji, I...umm... I couldn't seal the coffin...

There is absolutely no need to blame yourself for this, Necoco. You did well. No one could have predicted that things would turn out this way. But instead of disaster, we have been met with good fortune. So there's no need to worry.

Thank you, Nyanji...

Well then! Perhaps it is time to head toward the vortex once more. We will just need to get everyone assembled.

Then we should let Professor Madoka and Himika know. I'm sure they'd want to see this for themselves.

Yeah, you're right. I think that's a good idea.

I will also need Altena to come with us, to have her call the Sacred Beast. Necoco, you can help Altena with that.

Me?

Then it looks like it's about time for us to leave. Too many cooks spoil the broth, as they say.

Quite. We will be watching to see how your final fight ends. Remember, never let your guard down.

Well then, let us head toward our final destination.

Wait. There's something I want to check before that. Where's Eden? Where's Phantom? Do you know anything, Nyanjiro?

Hmm... I'm afraid I haven't a clue. I saw no signs of them in the tomb when I went to greet the kings.

Oh...

Where could Eden be?

With the proto-Geo going out of control, things were put in motion before our plan was complete. Does this mean it's not possible to fully resurrect Eden at our current stage? There must be a way. Whatever happens, I will never abandon you, Eden... Not ever!

Madoka, you needn't worry. It will be all right. I'm sure we'll find him soon.

Let us finish this off before we worry about the next thing. We cannot leave this vortex as is forever. Necoco, summon the Sacred Beast with Altena...

But it's Altena who's got the Sacred Beast's powers! It's got nothing to do with me!

Necoco. Listen to me. You are without a doubt a superb maiden of the Cat Shrine. And you are the one who was entrusted with the seals. Have a little confidence in yourself, and call the Sacred Beast.

......

I would appreciate it too, Necoco. I really want your help. I need you. Okay?

Altena...

Well then, Necoco. Everyone's waiting for you.

Okay. I'll help pray to the Sacred Beast then.

Good. Then let us begin.

Sacred Beast... Please lend us your strength so that we may lay the dark god in eternal sleep once more...

Please! Heed the three prayers of man, beast, and god to seal the god's coffin right here!

This should be enough from the Sacred Beast. Next, we must ask this favor of Snake Bone Island.

Snake Bone Island?! What do you mean?

Wait...was that the ancient Dragon God? Snake Bone Island was actually the Dragon God itself?!

And lastly... The descendants of the ninjas... Are you ready?

Sorcerous Supreme! And also Tsubame and Kamome?!

Then this giant has taken on the role of the ancient titans?!

So this was their duty as ninjas?

Now is the moment of truth... Giant, spirit, god... Give this your all, you three!

Light is forcing the vortex of darkness back into the tomb!

That voice!

Eden?!

Eden!

Eden! Eden, where are you?!

Then...

Indeed. Eden is with me, within this vortex you are attempting to contain.

What?!

Oh no...

Once, Eden spent an age in the depths of Chronos' Umbra. How much time will he be spending here, I wonder? Forevermore? Trapped with me and the dark god in this burial ground!

Phantom, how could you?!

Aldo!

Eden?! Wait! Eden!

Farewell! You will never see him again! Mwahaha... Mwahahahaha!

The darkness is disappearing! Eden's... Eden's still inside! Wait! Eden!

Madoka, don't!

Wait, Professor Madoka!

Eden! I won't leave you on your own again! I'll be with you!

Mom!

I'm sorry, Cecile... Kyros...

Professor Madoka, you can't! Stop this!

Mom, please!

Madoka?!

Mom?! Nooooo!

The Dark Lord's Tomb... It's returned to the bottom of the ocean!

Mom?! My mom...and my brother... They're...

Feinne...

Thank you, Sacred Beast.

The Dragon God and the ninja giant have gone back, too.

At least we have put an end to this matter.

Though we have lost a great deal in the process.

Yes... We really have.

......

So, the Dark Lord's Tomb has sunk to the bottom of the ocean and the dark god has been put to sleep once more. We did all we could. We gave it our all.

Indeed. All that truly matters is that we prevented a great disaster from befalling the world. All thanks to the Sacred Beast, Sorcerous Supreme, and the Dragon God who sealed away the darkness and the chaos.

I never could have imagined that the one carrying out my ancestors' duty would be a giant controlled by humans...

Those who stand against the darkness... Now it is not just Aldo. That description refers to all of us here.

Though of course, that troublesome demon sword doesn't count.

When we started looking into the mystery of history being rewritten, I never thought it would end up like this.

My intellect boasts of an 120% future prediction success rate, yet this possibility somehow slipped through. A future in which we confronted a god was not in my calculations.

It's all thanks to everyone's hard work that the world's at peace again, right?

Which means it's all thanks to me doing such a brilliant job! Mreheheh!

......

Though you, Aldo... You kept messing up!

But...what about Mom? My mom and my brother... Eden... What happened to them?

Well...

Madoka...

Huh? This song...

Song? I don't hear any song?

Can't you hear it?

I think I've heard it before... It feels so nostalgic.

Oh, I remember. It's Professor Madoka! It's a lullaby she used to sing to Feinne, or rather, Cecile, when she was lying in her cradle.

What? Mom's singing...to me?

Aldo, Feinne, you certainly are acting strange...

Where are we?! Where is everyone?

P-Professor Madoka?!

Mom!

You've done so well, Feinne, Aldo. Or rather, Cecile and Kyros... My beloved children. I am so grateful to you.

Professor Madoka...

Who's that child?!

This is Eden.

That's Eden?! Why's he a baby?

Eden needs to go back to the beginning and start again. In the vortex of chaos, I became one with Eden... And I finally understood. Every single piece of his soul was eaten away by Phantom, chaos, and the darkness with which he had been one for so long... And when he fell to Chronos' Umbra, transformed into Menas and brought darkness to the world... It was all too much for a child to take.

Eden...

Eden and Madoka have been completely consumed by the chaos. In such a state, they can never return to the world.

Phantom! You wretch! Where are you?!

I, too, am one with the chaos. My consciousness will fade before long. The voice of the planet is telling Madoka... It's time to sleep and watch over the flow of time. The ocean of time, Zurvan, is both the beginning and the end. All life returns to it.

What? Just what are you saying?

Don't worry. We will meet again. I'll be waiting for you, Cecile, Kyros. With Eden... But until that time, this is farewell.

Mom... Eden...

Be well, my beloved children. I love you. I will always love you...

Professor Madoka?!

Mom?!

Aldo, Feinne, behold. The Goddess of Time... She is returning. To the ocean of time, the beginning of it all. All for Eden, all to open the gate to paradise.

What?! The Goddess of Time is returning to the ocean of time? Eden...? Paradise...?!

"On the day of the awakening from visions of the Time Dream, the Goddess of Time shall return..."

Aldo? Feinne? What's going on? You're both spacing out!

Huh? Oh... We...saw Professor Madoka and Eden...

My goodness! Can this be true?

Professor Madoka and Eden... They both returned to the ocean of time. Where all life returns.

Oh! Well...

Maybe Professor Madoka's feelings for you are what called you to her.

No way!

You're likely over thinking this.

Yeah... You're probably right.

But I know we'll see them again! Both Mom and Eden. I just know it.

Yeah. You're right. I'm sure the day will come when the Goddess of Time Returns and the gate to paradise opens.

Yeah!

It appears everything has been resolved, Aldo.

Thunder King!

It's about time we returned to the eras in which we belong.

The chaos has been sealed and the spacetime fluctuations are abating. The time is right to return the kings back to when and where they belong. But before that, there is one thing...

It matters not to me. This already feels like a dream.

Very well. In that case, shall we be off?

You who stand against the darkness, forward!

May glory shine upon our swords for eternity!

Farewell, Aldo. Friend of we who wield the cursed sword!

Hey, do you have a minute? I want to talk to you about something. When history was rewritten, Migleina Continent fell under the control of the east. But that was because of Professor Madoka's desperate wish to save Eden. So, rather than return history back to normal, shouldn't we live with this new history? We can hardly erase Madoka's feelings... Or the other Eden.

So what do you think? Of course, we've got to make the East withdraw from our land. But I doubt Genshin and Garneli will complain. What with us saving them from being trapped in the depths of darkness for the rest of their lives...

Yeah, I'm fine with that.

I have no objections!

I think that's the best thing to do.

Ditto.

Wasn't this the plan from the beginning?

Roger that!

Thank you, everyone!

Great! Then it's decided. It's about time we headed back to where we each belong. The people who care about us will be waiting!

In the distant future... Such an incident will occur involving the Goddess of Time? Hmm... It sounds like you've been through a lot, Lady Himika. I'm glad you're safe!

So what do we do about this? For the sake of our descendants, we should assign someone the duty of preparing for this calamity.

Someone willing to live in hiding, equipped with the unique abilities to face such a disaster? Ninjas, perhaps? That's not a bad idea. Make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible.

Yes, Your Majesty! This is going to be interesting!

Your Majesty. King Palsifal?

Hmm? Oh... I was in a world of my own. I had the strangest of dreams.

A dream, you say?

I do not remember it so clearly, but I believe it involved me traveling across time.

Across time, huh. That's an odd coincidence. I have a plan I've been wanting to discuss with you for some time now. A plan for a tower that can see time dreams from the distant future...

A tower that can see time dreams? How interesting! Tell me more, masked Oracle.

Of course.

Wakey wakey, Big Bro! Aldo... Wake up, Aldo!

Ngh... Wha...

C'mon, Aldo, it's morning! Get up already!

*yawn* I guess you're right. Mornin', Feinne.

Don't you "mornin'" me. The sun has already passed over those weird trees, whatever they're called.

Wha, ? G-Guildna?! What are you doing here? Where's Feinne?!

Feinne? Feinne's not here. Your half-asleep cowardly brain must've imagined that.

My half-asleep cowardly brain? That's a bit harsh...

Whatever. Everyone else woke up long ago, and they're waiting for you. They don't have time to loiter around like you. I'm sure this goes without saying, but I'm including myself in that camp.

And don't even think about keeping me waiting and going back to sleep.

Uh-oh! If I value my life, I'd better just do as he says and get up. Okay then. Time to give this day all I've got!

Okay, I'm going to approach the center of that vortex, the dark god. Are you ready? Head to the bow. You can face him there. But remember, be careful. You're going against a god, after all.

Got it. Thanks, Hydra. Let's go!

So...this is the dark god? This is one enemy we absolutely have to defeat!

Indeed! If he were to run riot on the surface, it would cause unspeakable damage! We must stop him, right here, right now!

Total length and weight measurement failed. Total inherent energy estimated to be beyond that of Nayuta Cluster.

The ancient god really has awakened. Will our power match up to the task?

Pfft... Fights where you know you're going to win are never as fun. A god should make a more than satisfactory opponent! Let's try and make the most of this!

In the name of the Cat Deity, I will eradicate you, whatever it takes! Prepare yourself!

My ancestors sealed this god away. And I will be the one to put it to sleep once more!

I don't really know how long we can keep up this fight. But we're doing this for Eden! Losing isn't an option!

We're coming for you, Eden! We're going to defeat the dark god and get you back! Dark god, you should never have awakened! We're going to send you back to the world of dreams! Let's find out how our strength compares to a god's! Bring it on, dark god!