Lamentations, Manifestations Part 2

There's no need to shout.

We just got back. Are you feeling okay?

Fit as a fiddle, as you can see. Thank you for coming to check in.

Um, we spoke to the people of the Twilight Time layer as well, but...

Haha. Don't worry. They've never been the sociable type to begin with. They'll come back when they want to.

We filled Premaya in on what's been happening, and...

I would like to go with you. If...that would be acceptable, of course.

Certainly. We'll need all the help we can get to put a stop to the Cardinal Vestige's plans.

Turning all of humanity across every time layer into titans...

And afflicting them all with a deviant curse. What a twisted plan... And the fact that other time layers are involved really puts us on the back foot.

If we could focus all our efforts on this time layer alone, that would be preferable, but...

About that, actually. Ogre Rancorem says he has a plan.

Your...sword has a plan?

I do, and a fine one it is. Above all, you seem to have little other recourse but to accept.

The sword spoke?! This isn't ventriloquism or anything, right, Aldo?

A talking demon sword... I-I do not suppose this spear is in truth a talking magical lance, is it?

I shall create an opening for you. If, and only if, you have the resolve to make good on it.

Sure, we're resolved. I just thought your power was time magic, not stuff related to time layers.

If you refer to the Another Force, then yes, that is true. I can alter time's flow or stop it momentarily. However...does the name not inspire any questions?

Questions?

...You say it's the "Another" Force. Meaning there's more than one.

Haha. Indeed, yes. The power that precedes the Another Force... The Origin Force. This power resided within me when I was yet a holy blade... The power to affect time layers, and to right the distortions in them.

You can undo time layer distortions?!

I see...with that power, we could put an end to this time layer hopping and really put a wrench in the works. But you said the power was from when you were a holy blade, right?

Does that mean you can't use it now?

How dare you waste our time with something that irrelevant?!

Calm down, all of you. There is no need for me, in particular, to use the power. Bring me to the root of the World Tree. There you will find the power you seek.

The World Tree, huh?

Oh my, the World Tree! That giant, beautiful tree you can see all the way from Nilva, yes?

It's used as the setting for so many wonderful dramas and movie shoots... I have always wanted to visit it...

Um, Suzette?

...Ah!

A-ahem. Yes. The power to affect Time Layers. Of course. I agree with this plan!

Well, it's true that we don't have any other real options.

If there are no objections, then I suggest we get moving.

No time like the present. Let's go to the World Tree!

Amazing. I knew it was big, but this is something else entirely. If only I could be just as toweringly magnificent...

Don't tell me you're actually getting jealous of a tree, Dewey.

I-I am not! No one asked for your input!

Incidentally, according to the most common theories, the World Tree is at least 20,000 years old.

20,000 years?! I can hardly even imagine!

...It passes faster than you'd think.

R-right, I suppose so!

Ogre Rancorem says it's over here! Come with me, everyone.

Wow. I never knew all this was under the World Tree's roots.

What a strange place. It feels like time is standing still down here.

The spirits gather here... My diabolic ear can hear their whispers clearly.

That again, huh...

Haha. She might actually be right this time.

Some researchers have insisted for years that an ancient natural energy source circulates through the Tree.

What? Really?!

Oh, yeah. That reminds me of something this person I know said once.

This is the Manifestation Spring. It is a holy spring that shows the fated weapon of any who approach it, and brings the two together.

Fated weapon? So it's kind of like the mirror in the Spacetime Rift.

The mirror is like the spring, rather. For it was created as an imitation of the spring's power and essence.

Really?!

Your fated weapon?!

Yes. I am told that somewhere among the worlds, there exists a mirror that holds the same power, a copy.

Many of mankind's advances are copied from the natural wonders around us, after all.

But, wait a minute. You and I have already found each other, right? Unless... Unless we're not really...

Worry not, Aldo. Our goal here is to connect the current you to the past version of myself. If you have a fated connection not only with me, but with my past self as well... Stand before the spring and call out, Aldo. It will surely respond to you.

......

The past Ogre Rancorem, huh.

Haha. Our fates have always been intertwined. You just watch.

Show me, Manifestation Spring!

Ah! It's so bright!

What happened? Where are we?

I can't access our coordinates. We're in an uncharted location.

Have we been forcibly moved outside the satellite system's range?

A magical trap?! Or are we in the afterlife?!

I'm immortal, so I doubt this is the afterlife.

You're all being very casual about that possibility...

I never thought I would once again behold this place...

You know where we are?

We are still near the World Tree, but as for when...some few generations after the reign of the Thunder King. Though this is likely not truly the past, but a reconstruction created by the Manifestation Spring.

The Thunder King? The one who ruled millennia ago?

The hero who brought the ogre clans low and saw humanity to victory.

Hmph. The result of which was my creation, of course. After the end of the war with the ogres, I was brought here by his hand. To this place, bursting with holy power fit to rival the darkness within me...

I was sealed, in the end... But the World Tree suffered as much as I did, if not more.

Right. That's why the World Tree turned evil, because you were stuck into its roots.

Blame the Thunder King, not me. I certainly did not intend to cause such a result.

What is important is, at this time, the darkness within me was suppressed, and I manifested as holy for a time.

I warn you. At the time I was little more than a beast, trapped in the struggle between Order and Chaos.

Yeah, I can feel the power radiating from here. But... We don't have any choice but to keep on forging ahead, do we?

Hah. I knew you would say that.

Come on, everyone. The power to stop the Cardinal Vestige is just ahead!

Look there!

It looks much different from its present-day form.

Reminds me of how he looked when I first pulled him out of the root.

A result of the World Tree and myself influencing each other. It recalls my detestable time as a holy sword.

Yes. We need to borrow your power.

If that happens, it happens. But...

Right now, your power is the only chance we've got to make a difference, and save a whole lot of people. I can't turn my back on that chance, no matter how slim.

That's not an ogre soul! It's older... A titan?!

It's over, Ogre Rancorem!

Thank you, Ogre Rancorem.

Huh, felt like somethin' was callin' me down here...

And it's a freakin' fancy-lookin' sword with my name on it! Today's my lucky day!

Gonna pawn you off to some moneybags and spend the rest of my life on easy street, heh heh.

W-what the?!

S-stop! What're you...doin' to...

......

Are you alright? What happened here?

T-those men, they're being controlled by that sword somehow...and it wants me, too! Please, you have to help...

It's too late now. I'm sorry.

I should have known you were behind this... Ogre Rancorem.

Your miasma is strong...

And to think, you only just woke up. This is going to be one hell of a slugfest... But I command the power of the heavens. You will not break me as easily as you did these others.

Are you the priestess? Please... Place this blade in a purifying sheath...

That's...good...

, do! Aldo!

Answer me, man! Are you alright?! The moment you touched the sword, you froze up!

Huh? Y-yeah... I feel like I was dreaming.

Where are we?

I guess we're back at the spring...

...And this Ogre Rancorem isn't a dream. He's real.

Finally, we have an ace up our sleeve. We can stop the Cardinal Vestige!